Chapter 116, Chapter 148 14 Actor Trevor (1)
[Middle East].
A town within [Kuwait].
A group of terrorists called the [Ten Rings] suddenly appeared and attacked this frontier town a dozen minutes ago.
They dragged all armed personnel who had sided with the American army, along with their families, to the square in the center of town.
A middle-aged man with a cold face and the typical beard of an Arab man stepped forward.
He casually raised his hand and randomly selected ten people to be publicly executed.
"Some people say I'm a terrorist, but I think of myself as a teacher... Now, are you in America ready to witness the fate of traitors with me?"
The bearded man said to the camera that had been following him.
His voice was deep and powerful, creating an invisible sense of oppression.
Then, he slowly raised his arm and waved it down.
Bang bang bang—
With a series of gunshots, the ten pro-American elements who had just been selected fell into a pool of blood.
The families of the deceased, forced to witness the entire execution, burst into heart-wrenching wails.
But they were quickly drowned out by the cheers of the [Ten Rings] members.
They waved their weapons and cheered as if they had won a great victory.
However, the bearded man, who had been so domineering in front of the camera, was so frightened by the sight of blood and brains that he collapsed to the ground, screaming in a trembling voice:
"Mr. Killian... what's going on?"
"Why were they really killed? Weren't we supposed to be acting?"
The surrounding noisy cheers suddenly quieted down.
Then, a blond man in an expensive suit with a slicked-back hairstyle walked over from behind the crowd.
Aldrich Killian slowly bent down, patted the bearded man on the shoulder, and comforted him with a smile:
"Trevor, don't be so nervous. The effect of this shooting is crucial to my next plan, so... these people, as key props, naturally have to be real!"
"And you... as a professional actor, I think you should be able to convince yourself to treat everything in front of you as acting, right?"
Trevor Slattery trembled slightly upon hearing this.
He never expected that this seemingly gentle man would describe those living lives as props, and say it so naturally.
Trevor suddenly had a feeling of being deceived and secretly groaned in his heart.
Sure enough, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Even if it does fall from the sky, it must be a big trap...
Half a year ago.
Due to the exposure of the Extremis incident by the media, Trevor's thriving acting career plummeted to the bottom.
The ensuing breach of contract fees, taxes, credit cards, loans, and other issues became the last ton of straw that directly crushed the camel.
So, in order to escape a long prison sentence, Trevor began to hide his name and wander the streets of [London].
Until about two months ago.
Aldrich Killian found him, not only promising to help him escape prison, but also offering a generous contract on the spot that was hard to refuse.
As for the content of the cooperation... it was to ask him to play the head of a terrorist organization.
What else could Trevor, who was desperate, do?
Of course, he agreed gratefully!
So, after two months of preparation, there was this scene of the first official shooting today.
But who would have thought that this scumbag was actually playing for real?
Even though Trevor was aware of the seriousness of the problem, he had no way out and could only bite the bullet and tentatively said:
"Mr. Killian, I'm really a bit squeamish. Why don't I complete all the performances in the studio, and then go through post-production, which can also present the effect you want..."
The smile on Aldrich Killian's face gradually disappeared. He slowly got up and stared at Trevor condescendingly, saying:
"You should know that besides our [AIM], no one else would hire a drug addict like you to perform,
and they certainly wouldn't spend a lot of money to give you plastic surgery to escape the pursuit of the [DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration)], so you'd better cherish this hard-won opportunity."
"If the performance is successful, you will have everything you want in the second half of your life, money, women, marijuana... everything."
"But if you screw it up, your little life may be like those pro-American elements who were just executed, left to rot in the streets!"
Out of fear, Trevor's body curled up slightly, obviously smelling the aura of death from the other party's words.
So he had to cheer up and said with a forced smile:
"That... Mr. Killian, please rest assured, I dare not say anything else, but I am professional in acting."
"And before this, I have done enough homework. I will use my heart to interpret the role of 'Mandarin' and shape him into a powerful existence that everyone fears!"
Aldrich Killian's expression softened a little upon hearing this, and he nodded noncommittally, "I know you are a good actor, and that is why I chose you."
"But I still have to remind you that the purpose of spending a lot of money to give you plastic surgery is to show the world the face a demon should have,
just like the heads of those terrorist organizations who have brought despair and fear to countless people!"
"There's no way, who made it so that since those aliens who 'fell from the sky' and the giant monsters that jumped out of the sea appeared one after another, simple intimidation can no longer fool the public..."
Aldrich Killian stretched out his hand and made a gesture of invitation, then lightly dropped a sentence before turning to leave.
"However, you'd better get into character before these people are all killed."
Trevor saw this and scrambled to his feet from the ground.
What was in front of him was a single-choice question directly related to "life and death."
But fortunately, he quickly gave his choice.
A trace of determination and ruthlessness flashed in Trevor's eyes.
Based on the principle of better the friend die than me, he began to use everything he had learned to forcibly transform the bloody scene in front of him into a normal shooting scene.
"These are all stand-ins, all prop blood..."
Trevor got into character in a second. While slowly straightening his body, his face also returned to the cold and domineering look he had before.
Then he repeated the previous process again.
[Select executioner] → [Say lines] → [Order execution]
After failing three more times in a row.
Blood and slaughter seemed to successfully numb Trevor's senses.
He finally overcame his squeamishness and nervousness, and found the acting state he was best at on weekdays.
So this time, the entire shooting process was completed in one go.
Even when he was excited about the performance, Trevor, who was completely in character, picked up an AK and pulled the trigger on a pro-American armed man.
Even Aldrich Killian, who was on the side, marveled at the scene full of such a huge contrast.
See, this is called professional!
Ugh...
After completing all the shooting tasks, Trevor's tense mood finally relaxed a little.
At this time, his stomach began to contract and spasm violently, and then the feeling of churning in his stomach rushed straight to the top of his head, making him feel dizzy.
Trevor had to lie on the ground and vomit violently.
Damn, can't be cool for more than three seconds?
At this time, a bald man chewing gum walked over from behind the crowd with a gangster-like pace and reported to Aldrich Killian:
"Boss, news just came from [Afghanistan] that the mission failed."
"The operation we planned in [Kandahar] happened to be disrupted by the [War Machine] who was performing a mission in this area, so we failed to blow up the passing American convoy and hijack the target."
"A bunch of useless waste!"
Aldrich Killian was furious upon hearing this. Underneath his exposed skin, strands of orange-yellow light suddenly appeared.
It was as if clusters of flames were burning in his body, and even the surrounding temperature rose by several degrees.
Fortunately, he quickly regained his composure.
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"Boss, don't get excited..."
The bald man said with a smile: "Although this mission failed, it was not without gain."
"Our hidden cameramen used the data analyzer developed by the company to accidentally intercept some of the signals and data codes transmitted by the [War Machine] to the outside."
"I think the value of these data is far more important than the success or failure of an attack."
"At least it provides us with a new direction to bring down... no, to kill [Iron Man]!"
"Well, that's indeed good news..."
A look of surprise appeared on Aldrich Killian's face, and then he thought for a while and ordered: "Eric, have them upload the relevant data to the company's cloud for analysis and cracking immediately."
"As for [Kandahar]... the follow-up plan will be carried out in advance, and let those terrorists continue to create attacks under the banner of the [Ten Rings] to attract the attention of the [War Machine]."
"Then we will take the opportunity to use those unstable second-phase experimental subjects to attack the air base here!"
"But remember to remind our people there not to show any flaws."
"Before the character I created has a certain degree of popularity, no one must associate the [Ten Rings] with [AIM]... So, no matter who it is, they must be cautious."
Speaking of this.
Aldrich Killian turned his gaze back to Trevor and smiled grimly, "You performed well today. After returning to the station later, I will have someone send the tape to your room."
"Take some time to watch it a few more times and remember the feeling you had before."
"I believe that it won't be long before you have the opportunity to talk to the President of the United States face to face!"
…………
……
Inside a secret base of the [Ten Rings].
Trevor, who was originally a little nervous, depressed, and scared, was overjoyed when he saw the celebration three-piece set that Aldrich Killian had carefully prepared for him - "Champagne, beauties, and drugs."
He directly threw all the little remaining conscience and fear in his heart behind him.
Life is short, what could be more pleasing to the body and mind than enjoying the moment?
So, before officially starting, Trevor first heavily氪ed with two fair-skinned and beautiful prostitutes, then had a hearty battle, and then got up alone and heavily氪ed again.
The dedicated Trevor actually took the initiative to turn on the TV and watch the video from the daytime.
At this time, he was in an abnormally excited state, and he was already able to turn a blind eye to the bloody and cruel scenes in the picture.
He focused all his attention on himself and tried to find flaws in his acting that were not perfect from the small sample.
Just to be able to interpret the big man he plays in a better state in the next shoot.
Faced with the dual temptation and threat of profit and death.
Even if Trevor knew that his current behavior was helping the evildoers, what could he do?
Strike?
Protest?
Or directly call 911?
Please, it's better for others to die than for me to die!
Besides, as long as he successfully completes the performance entrusted by Aldrich Killian, he can easily get everything he wants, which is obviously so cool, okay?
Now, Trevor has completely figured it out.
Anyway, even if he does nothing, he will still be arrested by the Drug Enforcement Administration and sent to court after returning to [London], and then he will wait to sit through the bottom of the prison for the rest of his life.
It's better to seize this opportunity.
To win a more colorful second half of his life for himself, and to have the addiction of being a boss by the way!
After all... wealth comes from danger.
As for what kind of bad influence his performance will cause, and how many people will lose their lives because of it, Trevor doesn't care at all now.
Anyway, I'm not the real "Mandarin"!
I'm just a fake.
The person who really makes decisions and gives orders is boss Aldrich Killian!
So...
If anyone really wants to settle accounts, then go to him.
However.
Just as Trevor was enjoying his wonderful performance during the day.
A creepy and eerie scene suddenly unfolded.
The picture on the TV, as if it was stuck, suddenly froze strangely.
Immediately afterwards.
The Trevor in the still picture slowly turned his head, looked at the Trevor outside the TV, and grinned strangely:
"Trevor, it's time to make a change and reverse your destiny!!"
PS: Warm (seeking) heart (survival) reminder (desire):
The Mandarin and the Ten Rings mentioned in this text are fictional personas created by Aldrich Killian.
They are used to conceal the illegal activities of . (Advanced Idea Mechanics) Group, which secretly utilizes the Extremis virus.
They are not related to Xu Wenwu or Zheng Zu from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and the aforementioned two will definitely not appear in subsequent plots.
