76-80

Chapter 76: Making More Money with More Money

Swish, swish...  

After signing three documents, Milo accepted a $100 million check from JP Morgan's representative, Alex Ferrari, and handed it over to Nelson beside him.

He shook hands with Alex Ferrari and said, "Thank you, and I look forward to working together."

"Looking forward to it!"

Alex Ferrari was clearly in a good mood.

Although the loan didn't yield much profit, the return was still guaranteed.

The key lay in the collateral: stocks of some of the most high-profile companies in Silicon Valley.

The board of directors would undoubtedly be pleased.

Loans to well-established billionaires like Milo were their favorite.

High-quality assets as collateral meant low risk and guaranteed returns.

"Mr. Blackburn, while we can’t raise your personal credit limit at this time, we can simplify the process to quickly lend you the money you need, should you request it," Alex Ferrari added, recalling recent news from the board that suggested he might soon get promoted.

Maintaining relationships with top-tier clients like Milo was crucial.

"Thank you, Alex. Aren't we friends? Just call me Milo. As I’ve mentioned before, this loan is only the beginning. I have big plans ahead, and I'm not joking. When the need arises, JP Morgan will always be my first choice."

Milo’s deep gaze and serious expression underscored his sincerity.

Alex Ferrari responded earnestly, "Looking forward to it! Always at your service!"

---

After the JP Morgan team left, the finance staff quickly transferred the check's amount into Paladin Investment Company’s account.

“All $400 million in loan funds have been received,” Nelson reported, though his tone carried a hint of worry. "Boss, starting tomorrow, we’ll have to calculate daily interest."

Milo shrugged. "As long as we make more money than the interest, there’s nothing to fear."

Nelson nodded. He had no other choice now.

Over the past two days, the company made a huge profit trading London gold—turning $5 million into over $10 million in under three days.

It was undeniably a successful speculation, likely ranking high on this year’s Wall Street profit charts.

But perhaps because of this success, the boss suddenly decided to leverage even more funds for further speculative action on Wall Street.

As Milo put it: "Make more money with more money!"  

Nelson, however, felt the boss was letting victory go to his head.

Just yesterday, Milo had instructed the team to secure collateral loans from a few banks they worked with—and he wasn’t joking.

Clearly, the boss wanted to play big this time!

As Paladin Investments’ general manager and chief trader, Nelson should have been thrilled by the influx of capital.

But this $400 million was entirely backed by Milo’s collateralized loans.

If they incurred losses...

Knowing a bit about Milo’s family background only added to Nelson’s pressure.

He resolved to be extra cautious in the next phase of trading—his life might very well depend on it.

"Tomorrow will be busy. Let’s give everyone an early day off today," Milo instructed.

After Nelson nodded in agreement, Milo left the office with Monica.

---

*One hour later.*

As dusk began to fall, just across the street from Paladin Investments—about 70 meters away—stood the Morgan Stanley building.

In the office of Morgan Stanley’s market department, Alex Ferrari from JP Morgan’s loan department was warmly greeted by Yu Katona, head of the fifth team.

“Hey, Alex. Judging by your expression, things went smoothly.”

“Absolutely smooth. He signed the contract without even reading it—just wrote his name right away,” Alex Ferrari said with a grin as he accepted the coffee handed to him by Katona’s secretary, Yuna. He couldn’t resist giving her a playful smack on the rear.

Smack!  

The sound was crisp, drawing a coquettish scold from Yuna.

But neither Katona nor Yuna seemed bothered by Alex’s audacious behavior—it was as if such antics were routine.

As the stunning secretary swayed her hips while leaving the office, Alex turned to Katona.

"Tonight, let Yuna keep me company. After all, I helped you out!"

Katona shrugged indifferently. "As long as Yuna agrees, I have no objections."

A secretary, after all, was just a secretary.

On Wall Street, it wasn’t uncommon for beautiful secretaries to double as perks for entertaining clients.

"Yuna won’t refuse," Alex said with confidence.

---

Once Alex left to find Yuna, Katona pressed a button on his desk phone.

“Hardy, bring Lewis and come in.”

A few minutes later, two impeccably dressed young professionals entered Katona’s office.

Without inviting them to sit, Katona went straight to the point. "The fish is on the hook. From now on, monitor Paladin Investments' capital flows closely. Stick to the plan we discussed—understood?"

Hardy and Lewis nodded quickly.

Katona waved them off to start their work.

(Chapter ends.)  

Chapter 77: This Time It's Really Big

It had been more than ten days since Milo arrived in New York.

As time passed, the calendar for 1996 moved from January into February.

On the morning of the 5th.

In the suite at the Waldorf Hotel.

Milo, freshly showered and dressed in dry, casual clothes, shook the water droplets from his hair as he walked into the living room and sat down at the dining table to enjoy breakfast.

He took a bite of a delicious hot dog stuffed with plenty of veal and flipped open the newspaper in his hand.

Having spent more than half a year in America after his rebirth, Milo had developed a daily habit of reading the news during breakfast.

Normally, his personal assistant, Monica, would be there to assist him, but at the moment, she was still fast asleep on the Simmons mattress.

So, David, who had been his personal bodyguard since Milo was ten, temporarily stepped in as a stand-in butler.

David placed The New York Times at the top of the newspaper stack, following Milo's usual reading preferences.

After all, the Blackburn family owned about 3% of the shares in that newspaper.

It was for this reason that last year, The New York Times was the first publication to praise The Da Vinci Code and to cover the ensuing debates among church officials.

Watching his employer unfold the newspaper, David, who had already finished his own breakfast, smiled and reminded him:

“Boss, check the entertainment section. You’ve made the news—and in a big way!”

“Oh?” Milo raised an eyebrow, smiling as he casually replied, “I thought I was already somewhat famous, haha…”

“No, now you’re even more famous!” David said immediately. “Lots of papers are reporting about you today, and Wendy even called about it an hour ago.”

“I told her you were still sleeping, and she said not to rush to wake you up. She said you’d have a great day once you read the news!”

“Oh?”

Milo’s interest was piqued. He turned to The New York Times.

“Go straight to the entertainment section—front page,” David suggested.

Milo nodded and flipped to the entertainment section.

Right there on the front page, in large bold type, was the headline:

*Box Office $450 Million!!*

Milo began to read.

The article in The New York Times recapped the performance of Angels & Demons, which had been in theaters for a month and had, up to that point, grossed a worldwide box office of $450 million!

Although the film was still showing in some parts outside the United States, most of its box office potential had been realized.

Even if it stayed in theaters for another couple of weeks or a month, the most it might gain would be a few million more—perhaps ten or twenty million at best.

The New York Times estimated that, beyond the current $450 million, the total could reach around $460–$470 million by the end of its run.

The article then broke down Milo’s earnings from the movie.

There was no doubt—he had struck gold with this film!

The total production budget was $40 million, with an additional $20+ million for marketing.

Altogether, the costs were under $65 million.

In Hollywood, a movie typically needs to double its budget to break even.

By this standard, Angels & Demons only needed $130 million to recoup its investment.

Now, with a box office exceeding $450 million, the film had far surpassed expectations.

The New York Times projected that with $470 million globally, the production company would keep about 44% of the total revenue after distribution cuts.

That amounted to roughly $206.8 million.

With Disney holding a 25% stake in the film, Milo’s share would amount to $155 million.

This was only from ticket sales.

The New York Times further calculated revenue beyond the box office, including VHS, VCDs, the emerging CD market, and various merchandising and licensing deals.

Typically, these revenues range from one to four times the box office.

With Angels & Demons pulling in around $470 million at the box office, revenue from these additional channels over a decade could reach $400 million to $1.6 billion.

Assuming a conservative estimate of $1 billion after deductions, Milo’s net share—after expenses—would be about $500 million.

Milo, with his 75% stake, would receive an additional $350 million.

In total, The New York Times calculated that Milo would profit approximately $505 million from Angels & Demons.

The article continued:

[… As for the costs? That’s simple to calculate. Milo Blackburn’s total investment was 75% of the $65 million budget, which is $48.7 million.]

[In other words, our genius screenwriter and best-selling author Milo Blackburn turned an investment of less than $50 million into $500 million!]

[What does this mean? Last year, the third most profitable Hollywood studio was Paramount Pictures, which reported earnings of $450 million.]

[Assuming Paladin Films makes no other movies this year or doesn’t release any new projects, Milo’s production company would still rank among the top three studios solely based on the profits from Angels & Demons.]

[How Milo managed to pull this off is anyone’s guess, especially since, before this, he was merely…]

[…]

As an ally of Milo, The New York Times continued with unabashed praise.

Milo skimmed over the rest, enjoying the pleasant sense of validation, and looked up at David with a smile.

“Oh—it does seem like I’ve become quite famous this time.”

“And that’s not all,” David said with a grin. “Over half the entertainment sections today are all about you, boss!”

“Is that so? Well, I should take a look.”

Milo smiled and picked up a few more newspapers.

For instance, he flipped through The New York Post, a publication he had started reading after coming to New York.

Owned by Rupert Murdoch, The New York Post had a tendency for more flamboyant language and entertainment-focused articles.

Whether due to his collaboration with Fox on Shakespeare in Love or simply the paper’s style, their coverage of Angels & Demons and Milo himself was even more extravagant.

Phrases like “The Rise of Hollywood’s Ninth Studio,” “The Second DreamWorks Emerges,” “Superstar Director,” and “Youngest and Greatest Screenwriter” were thrown around with abandon.

The accolades were so over-the-top that even someone as self-assured as Milo felt slightly embarrassed.

As he flipped through the other papers, he found similar stories in the entertainment sections—all highlighting the massive box office success of Angels & Demons and Milo’s newfound status.

As the author of both The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, and as the investor, producer, director, and screenwriter of the film, Milo Blackburn’s name had finally become a household one throughout America.

And this time, it was different from before.

Previously, he was known mainly as the author of a bestselling book caught in the crossfire of theological debate. Religious leaders had used his name as a talking point, engaging in public debates about the book’s implications.

While Milo had gained recognition, it was somewhat indirect.

But this time was different.

The staggering box office success and financial return of Angels & Demons, combined with the ongoing sales of The Da Vinci Code and the publicity generated by past religious debates, had solidified his fame.

This time, Milo Blackburn’s name was truly etched into the public consciousness of America.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 78: The Sizzling Hot Milo

“...Ah, I know. I’ll be careful not to talk nonsense. Damn it, I’m not a kid!”

“Shakespeare in Love wraps up tomorrow? I’ve got things here; I can’t go back anytime soon. Keep an eye on it, but I think post-production should start as soon as possible. While I’m this hot, we need to get it released quickly.”

“Pause the negotiations with Paramount and MGM for now. They’re the ones who need me now. But don’t turn Disney down—they’ve had a taste of success and wouldn’t want to miss out on the more promising The Da Vinci Code.”

“That’s it. Things here are crucial, too. Wendy, I’m leaving LA to you.”

On the streets of Manhattan Island, inside the backseat of a Cadillac cruising through the city—

After hanging up Wendy’s call, Milo’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.

With the final box office numbers for Angels & Demons released, Milo, as the creator and driving force behind the film, had officially made a name for himself. A single movie pulling in $500 million meant he was now undeniably on fire.

The buzz had fermented for a while, and after breakfast, Milo received numerous calls—from his father, his friend Hector, and many others in Hollywood and the media industry.

These included names like Murdoch, Redstone, and Michael Eisner.

His father and Hector both asked if the news was true.

When Milo confirmed that the film had indeed brought in hundreds of millions of dollars:

“It seems you’ve found your path,” remarked his father, Joseph.

“Damn it! I want to make a movie with you now. Milo, how about giving me a stake in your next film?” exclaimed Hector.

As for Murdoch and the others, they were clearly reaching out to collaborate.

It was simple logic.

If Angels & Demons, a prequel, could gross $470 million globally, there was no reason why the more famous The Da Vinci Code, with a built-in audience and a novel as its foundation, wouldn’t perform even better.

Everyone believed The Da Vinci Code would be a goldmine.

Since Milo could collaborate with Disney on Angels & Demons, why not partner with others for The Da Vinci Code? It wouldn’t hurt to try.

After dealing with these calls, Wendy called at the agreed time. Milo then discussed the next steps with her.

By the time he hung up, it was already 10 a.m.

Milo’s convoy had reached 1011 Wall Street.

Shortly after, he and two bodyguards appeared at Paladin Investment Company.

Entering the trading room, the sharp-eyed Nelson quickly approached him with a grin, greeting his boss:

“Good morning, boss. Congratulations on earning the annual profit of a listed U.S. company with a single movie.”

The U.S. stock market had 7,339 listed companies as of last year.

Of these, around 2,000 reported losses for the year.

Among the profitable ones, fewer than 1,500 earned over $400 million annually.

In other words, the profits from Angels & Demons would place Milo in the top 1,500 of listed companies in terms of profitability.

Of course, the math wasn’t that simple.

According to The New York Times, the film’s $505 million in revenue translated to Milo pocketing roughly $155 million within six months.

The remaining $350 million—or possibly more—would trickle in over the years, averaging $30 to $50 million annually.

The $350 million represented the projected ten-year total income from merchandise and video sales.

A discerning reader could see the truth, but newspapers loved sensationalism.

Instead of clarifying the ten-year timeline, they bundled the numbers to make it seem like Milo would receive it all immediately.

For instance, The New York Post went as far as claiming $1.6 billion in ten-year revenue and calculated Milo’s earnings from the film at $755 million—a whopping $250 million more than The New York Times.

“You read this morning’s reports too?” Milo chuckled at Nelson. “It’s not that exaggerated. Just made a bit over a billion, no big deal. Hollywood’s profitable, sure, but Wall Street is where the real money is. What’s the situation today?”

The two walked into the trading floor, where over 20 traders were focused on their screens.

Nelson whispered, “We’re still accumulating stocks, with $1.15 billion in holdings now. As of this hour, we’re up $15 million in unrealized gains.”

“Up by $5 million?” Milo raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, $5 million more than yesterday!”

Nelson added softly, “I think someone’s trying to compete with us for the shares—or maybe someone’s losing patience.”

Milo fell silent.

Recently, he had mortgaged his film company and stocks in various internet companies to secure $400 million in loans from five Wall Street banks.

Using a 10x leverage, this $400 million was gradually invested in defense stocks on the U.S. stock market.

Thanks to Nelson’s cautious approach, which Milo approved, they had been building their position slowly.

Using $2 billion in total, they had so far spent just over half the funds.

“Can you identify who’s competing with us?” Milo asked after a brief pause.

Nelson shook his head. “It’s difficult. They’re very cautious. But I’m pretty sure it’s an institution. I just can’t pinpoint who yet.”

As he spoke, he noticed Milo’s contemplative look. Suddenly, Milo closed his eyes, striking a meditative pose that seemed almost mystical.

Just like ten days ago.

A few seconds later, Milo opened his eyes.

“Don’t hesitate, Nelson. From now on, go all-in. Stop holding back. I’ll secure more funds. Go big and get as many shares as possible!”

“Uh…”

Nelson was momentarily stunned but quickly caught on. “Boss, do you think the institutions have joined in?”

“No, if you can’t tell, neither can I. But I heard the voice of God, and He told me this is the right move.”

Milo smiled.

Nelson: …

Here we go again?

Last time, it was the same story.

Despite the massive risk, Milo had raised funds and bet heavily on defense stocks.

Yet ten days in, the defense stocks remained lukewarm.

Though they were now up $15 million, after accounting for interest, Paladin Investments hadn’t made much.

Nelson wanted to protest but knew Milo wouldn’t budge.

“Well, the boss is a genius at making movies,” Nelson thought. “Even if he loses money trading stocks, it’s no big deal. Besides, the Blackburn family has his back.”

With that thought, Nelson nodded and instructed the traders to ramp up their stock acquisitions in the secondary market.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 79: A Lucky Break?

Afternoon, Manhattan.

Wall Street, Morgan Building.

Serving as the New York headquarters for Morgan, both Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan currently share office space in this building. Prior to 1933, before the Glass-Steagall Act was enacted, they were one company.

After the Act was passed, the original Morgan entity was split by President Roosevelt into Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan. However, by 1996, the remnants of Roosevelt’s legacy were dwindling. Voices within the U.S. calling for the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act were growing louder.

Now, the once-separated Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan were essentially operating as one, even sharing the same building. Back in Roosevelt’s day, even with ten times the audacity, Morgan wouldn’t have dared such an arrangement.

23rd floor of the Morgan Building.

This was the office and trading area of the fifth team in Morgan Stanley’s Market Department, led by Yu Catona. At the moment, Yu Catona’s face was slightly grim as he stared at the computer screen in front of him.

“They’ve put all their money into defense stocks.”

One of Yu Catona’s trusted assistants, Lewis, spoke quietly.

The other assistant, Hardy, couldn’t help but say:

“Did they get an inside tip? It doesn’t seem like it; they entered the market ten days ago, and the news only broke two days ago.”

“I think it’s possible,” Lewis said, glancing at his boss’s expression. “After all, his father is a Congressman. Getting inside information is not unusual for him.”

“That’s impossible,” Hardy said incredulously. “The decision was only made two days ago after the Washington meeting. Before that, even those at the top didn’t know how the vote would go. Milo Blackburn can’t be clairvoyant, can he?”

Unlike Nelson.

Nelson couldn’t use capital flows to accurately identify which institutions were targeting defense stocks like Paladin Investments.

Paladin Investments was still a relatively new firm.

Nelson’s previous role at Bank of America was as a senior investment manager, but nothing extraordinary.

He and Milo lacked connections in Wall Street and the broader financial sector.

Unless Milo turned to Hector and sought help from the financial core of the Boston Group.

Otherwise, in terms of financial intelligence and insider information,

Paladin Investments couldn’t compare to an institution like Morgan, which had been entrenched on Wall Street for over a century.

Thus, Yu Catona and his team could monitor capital flows and analyze intelligence to track Paladin’s movements.

Simply put, the Blackburn family, including Milo, was relatively weak in this regard.

Just as Morgan and Rockefeller were weak in religious matters.

“Maybe we could short-sell, push down the stock’s momentum. After all, he’s leveraged ten times; there’s a chance he could go bankrupt.”

Hardy proposed an idea.

Before Yu Catona could respond, Lewis, who had been observing his boss’s reaction, shook his head.

“No, the risk is too high and it could backfire. Right now, nearly everyone knows what Washington’s next move is. Defense stocks are on the rise; if we short them now, we could face a backlash.”

Hardy fell silent. He knew Lewis was right.

But hadn’t their boss been instructed to target Milo Blackburn in the financial market?

The first time they detected Milo’s moves was during the London gold market episode.

However, that event was too brief.

They were busy capitalizing on the international spot gold market at the time and didn’t have a chance to deal with Milo.

Afterward, they discovered that Milo had secured a $400 million loan through collateral.

Since then, they had been closely watching Paladin Investments’ capital flows.

Through meticulous observation, the fifth team at Morgan Stanley found that Paladin’s $400 million loan had been funneled into defense stocks in the U.S. stock market.

After a week of continuous monitoring, they were ready to act against Paladin Investments.

With capital in place, they were prepared to crush the nascent firm.

But then, circumstances changed.

Two days ago, Washington held a secret meeting that wasn’t made public.

Shortly after, defense stocks in the U.S. market became the consensus pick on Wall Street.

The backstory tied into an event from last May.

Washington’s secret meeting two days ago was related to it.

Last May, across the ocean,

the son of America’s ally came to power and soon visited the U.S.

This visit crossed a line.

Tensions in Asia escalated quickly.

The regional situation heated up, prompting Washington to send a carrier to back their ally’s son.

For months, U.S. defense stocks surged.

However, after both sides’ high-level discussions, tensions eased significantly.

Lockheed Martin, which had surged to $145.3 per share, dropped back to around $100.

Raytheon, once hitting $90 at its peak, fell back to $65.

It seemed like the matter was settled.

But it wasn’t over.

From last year to now, the ally’s son had not stopped stirring the pot.

There was a steady stream of provocations in Asia, coupled with substantial lobbying efforts in Washington.

Recently, tensions began to rise again.

So, two days ago, Washington held a closed-door meeting.

The result was a resolution.

The meeting, held two days ago, was a secret and wasn’t disclosed.

But Washington had never kept secrets from Wall Street.

Shortly after the meeting ended,

many well-connected Wall Street insiders caught wind of the decision.

Washington’s stance was firm this time; things might escalate.

There was talk that the Gulf War of 1991 might replay in Asia.

The major players on Wall Street set their sights on defense stocks.

The news leaked two days ago.

To secure maximum gains,

Wall Street giants maintained their usual discretion.

They quietly accumulated shares before making any noise.

Thus, over the past two days, companies like Lockheed Martin saw a sudden surge in stock buying.

Yu Catona and his team, who had been watching Paladin Investments’ capital movements,

had been ready to strike against Milo Blackburn.

But under the current circumstances, there was no way Yu Catona could take that risk.

Defense stocks were on the cusp of a rally, and targeting Milo now

would be tantamount to challenging all of Wall Street.

If discovered, they’d be crushed by the collective might of Wall Street.

Even within Morgan Stanley, other teams wouldn’t hold back if given a chance.

As the head of Morgan Stanley’s fifth team, Yu Catona wasn’t foolish.

He decisively rejected Hardy’s proposal. “Damn it, Hardy, shut up. Forget shorting. Let’s lower the entry price and grab as many shares as we can. Wait—”

Suddenly, Yu Catona noticed something on the internal monitoring software used by Morgan Stanley.

Paladin Investments, which they had been tracking, was suddenly buying up defense stocks in the secondary market en masse.

“What’s going on? They were discreet before, but now they’re not holding back at all?” Lewis said in surprise.

“What are you waiting for? Start buying!”

Yu Catona didn’t hesitate and ordered Hardy and Lewis.

Hardy and Lewis responded promptly.

Yu Catona stayed back, staring at the data on the computer screen with a puzzled look.

He wondered why Paladin Investments had targeted defense stocks ten days ago.

The meeting had only happened two days ago, with the information leaking afterward.

As far as Yu Catona knew,

before the meeting, Washington’s consensus was not to escalate tensions.

Asia wasn’t a small desert nation.

They had major weapons, and the U.S. couldn’t push too far.

If that hadn’t been the case, the President wouldn’t have called for de-escalation after a phone call with the other side’s leaders

*Chapter 80: Starting the Star Route*

Milo had no idea about the stir caused by his investments until someone brought it up. Over at Paladin Investments, he stayed at the office until the afternoon.

He observed Nelson leading the traders, who were aggressively acquiring defense stocks in the U.S. market.

By 4 p.m., confident that there was nothing else requiring his attention, Milo prepared to leave the office.

Just as he was heading downstairs, Kenny stopped him.

“Boss, there’s a situation downstairs,” Kenny said.

“Huh?”

“There’s a crowd of reporters blocking the building’s entrance. We asked around, and it turns out they’re here for you.”

“Reporters?” Milo was surprised, looking at his security chief. “What do they want with me?”

Kenny glanced at David, and the two exchanged wry smiles. “It’s probably because of the newspaper coverage this morning. No doubt about it—you’re a celebrity now. Since you rarely give interviews, the reporters are eager to get your story.”

Milo nodded in understanding.

He recalled that morning’s papers. Out of ten, at least six entertainment sections had featured stories about the profits from Angels and Demons.

He had always maintained a low profile in the media. Apart from a single exclusive interview with The New York Times, Milo had largely avoided the press.

This unavailability seemed to have created a “scarcity” effect.

Now, with such a big news story, it was no wonder the press was desperate to interview him and grab the scoop.

Earlier that day, during a call with Wendy, she had mentioned that her team had assembled a temporary advisory group to provide suggestions for handling the situation.

The group advised that Milo should start adapting to life under the spotlight.

After all, in America, anyone can become a star—singers, actors, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, even politicians.

This is a country where entertainment rules supreme and celebrity culture dominates.

As long as someone is packaged well and appeals to the public’s curiosity, they can win favor.

For example, the current resident of the White House—the most charismatic and “star-like” president in history—secured re-election with ease.

The advisory group believed that if Milo wanted to build a celebrity persona, he needed to embrace this reality.

Given that the group included image consultants and PR experts who had previously worked with his uncle and grandfather, Milo took their advice seriously.

“Follow the plan we discussed earlier. Just ensure tight security,” Milo instructed after a moment of thought.

David and Kenny nodded. Kenny picked up his radio and alerted the team to prepare.

A few minutes later, when Milo stepped outside the building, he was instantly surrounded by a horde of reporters.

Despite the swift actions of his security team, the reporters had him completely hemmed in.

“Mr. Blackburn, I’m with the New York Post. What do you have to say about the reports claiming your film made $500 million in profits? Is that true?”

“I’m with The New York Times...”

“Mr. Blackburn, I’m from...”

The chaotic scene was overwhelming, but Milo remained calm. Shielded by his bodyguards, he steadily made his way toward his car.

Once he reached his vehicle and saw Kenny nod, Milo stopped and raised his left hand. “I’ll only answer three questions!” he shouted.

The crowd erupted into a frenzy of shouting questions. Milo scanned the faces briefly and declared, “Let’s go with the question from The New York Post. It’s the only one I actually caught.”

The crowd quieted down, microphones and recorders thrust toward Milo as everyone eagerly awaited his response.

“Yes, it’s true,” Milo confirmed. “The success of Angels and Demons has indeed brought in hundreds of millions in revenue. However, this money isn’t immediately accessible to me. It will take about ten years before I see the full amount.”

This information was public knowledge. Even a casual search could verify it—let alone the IRS, the U.S. tax agency.

Of course, the IRS has its ways, and wealthy individuals have theirs. For those with real wealth and connections, there are always strategies to reduce tax liabilities.

Before anyone could ask a follow-up, another reporter shouted, “There are rumors that your second novel is about to be released. It’s said to involve wizards—is that true?”

Recognizing the reporter as the one from The New York Times, Milo smiled subtly. Clearly, this was a planted question.

“Yes, that’s correct. My second novel is finished. Its style is entirely different from The Da Vinci Code. This one is inspired by a dream I had during a childhood trip to London, aboard a rural tourist train. It will be released next month.”

As Milo finished, another sharp question rang out:

“Mr. Blackburn, Washington D.C. Archbishop Theodore McCarrick accused your works of defaming the Church. What is your response?”

This was a tricky question.

While The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons had been wildly successful, their portrayal of the Church was controversial.

If these works had debuted in Europe instead of the U.S., they might have faced outright bans.

Fortunately, this was America—a nation with a Protestant majority and a more flexible Catholic community compared to Europe.

After a pause, Milo responded in a clear voice:

“On September 16, 1620, my ancestors faced similar accusations in Plymouth, England. Persecuted for their beliefs, they risked everything to sail to North America and spread their faith.”

“I was born into a devout Christian family. I’ve been a faithful believer since childhood. In fact, I studied theology in college, and many of my family members—my great-grandfather, great-uncle, and grandfather—were or still are pastors.”

“Tell me, reporters, do you think someone like me would disrespect God?”

The crowd fell silent.

No reporter dared answer the question, knowing any response could invite backlash from religious groups.

Milo had deftly reframed the issue, shifting the focus from “defaming the Church” to “disrespecting God.”

Without giving them a chance to recover, Milo stepped into his car.

As the vehicle pulled away, Milo exhaled and glanced at the frenzied reporters outside.

“Looks like I’m going to be living the life of a Hollywood star from now on,” he muttered with a wry smile.

David stayed focused on driving, avoiding any incidents with the reporters. Kenny remained vigilant, ensuring everything stayed under control.

Thankfully, the car left the crowd safely and exited Wall Street without incident.

(Chapter Ends)