Associations

Bar.

"Anton, thank you."

Eddie was already somewhat drunk, but his spirits were high, his eyes seemingly aflame.

Ever since he heard Anton, on behalf of the Daily Bugle, agree to restart his investigation into the Life Foundation, he had become a different person, as though he had found his purpose in life again.

"No need to thank me. Good luck."

Anton did not take credit. He lifted his glass for a sip, then made a disgusted face.

He did not like the taste of whiskey.

"That said, there's something I need to remind you of." Anton set down his glass and warned, "The Life Foundation holds considerable influence in San Francisco. The homeless incident may prove that the Life Foundation has crossed the line of human decency, but at most, it'll only leave the Life Foundation tangled in trouble. With so many medical patents in hand, those benefiting from it won't abandon the Life Foundation. As a former reporter, you should understand that better than I do."

Eddie nodded silently.

The excitement in his gaze faded, and he gave a bitter smile. "Exposing what the Life Foundation has done, ruining its name, making things difficult for Carlton Drake, and hopefully sending him to prison... that's all I can do."

"Also, you can't go back to San Francisco."

Anton continued.

Eddie looked somewhat surprised. He stared at Anton, opened his mouth, but said nothing.

"You've made it too obvious, Eddie."

Anton said, "Remember, you're no longer a reporter running around in public. You're the editor-in-chief sitting at the Daily Bugle and commanding operations across the country. You absolutely cannot return to San Francisco to do frontline work. We both know that the moment you show your face, you'll immediately put the Life Foundation on alert and expose the fact that we're working against them."

The investigation into the Life Foundation could not be carried out openly.

Of course, to ensure the investigation proceeded smoothly, aside from Eddie being forbidden from leaving New York, the newspaper's staff would be at his disposal.

First, they would find the evidence and expose the Life Foundation. Then they would press their advantage.

That was the safest process.

"I understand what you mean." Eddie became sullen.

"Once the Daily Bugle fires the first shot and sparks public debate, there won't be so many restrictions." Anton spoke meaningfully, then added, "Don't worry. By then, even if you want to hide, you won't be able to."

"Alright."

Eddie understood Anton's good intentions. He was not someone who stubbornly insisted on his own views without considering anyone else's thoughts, so he agreed seriously.

"That's it, then."

Anton handed the bartender several large-denomination bills, covering both the drinks and the tip, then rose to his feet. "I have business in Los Angeles tomorrow. The Daily Bugle is in your hands."

Eddie watched Anton leave.

On the way back, Anton thought over Eddie's experience.

Eddie Brock, San Francisco, the Life Foundation, fired.

Those words made it hard for him not to think of the Venom movie from his previous life.

After pondering for a moment, Anton pulled out his phone and searched for the Life Foundation. He found news about a rocket crash.

It had happened not long ago.

"So the symbiotes have already arrived on Earth?"

Anton frowned.

Sure enough, the more he knew, the more dangerous this world seemed.

The rocket had crashed in eastern Malaysia.

With the cooperation of multiple parties, the wreckage was awaiting disposal.

But Anton knew that what the Life Foundation needed to handle was far more than wreckage.

According to the plot, the Life Foundation should currently be actively collecting the symbiotes that had arrived on Earth with the rocket.

The only difference was that Eddie had come to New York from San Francisco.

With one flap of a butterfly's wings, the future might have changed.

Still, Anton firmly believed that no matter how things changed, the symbiotes could not possibly stir up any real trouble on Earth.

He understood the worldview of the Marvel universe.

Although the world he was currently in seemed to have merged a lot of messy movies, there was one thing Anton was one hundred percent certain of—wherever Tony Stark was, S.H.I.E.L.D. would be there.

Founded after World War II, S.H.I.E.L.D. had experience dealing with aliens since the 1990s.

That incident had even given rise to a powerful superhero.

Ms. Marvel.

Or rather, Captain Marvel.

With that kind of foundation, Anton knew the symbiotes would not disrupt Earth's order.

If Earth could really be destroyed so easily by these aliens, then the symbiotes would not even get a chance. It would have been completely finished back in the 1990s when it faced the Kree army.

The facts proved that among the countless inhabited planets in the universe, Earth was definitely a player with cheats enabled.

After running through all of that in his mind, Anton returned home.

The retired old man was nowhere to be seen, something Anton had long grown used to.

Ever since the old man had suddenly started enjoying life, he was no different from an unleashed husky, liable to vanish without a trace at any time.

The next day.

Anton brought the ace screenwriter Browning to Los Angeles.

The staff who met them at the airport took them to an upscale residential area near Hollywood.

Inside a high-end apartment, Anton and Browning finally met the late-arriving Jim Lambert.

"Anton, you're finally here."

Jim got straight to the point. "The production is nearly ready. Next are the main casting choices. Do you have any suggestions?"

"That's your job. I just want filming to start as soon as possible."

Anton shrugged.

He had no interest whatsoever in the production preparations. All he cared about was when the movie could finally begin shooting.

After learning about Eddie Brock's story and the Life Foundation's situation, his understanding of the Marvel universe had deepened.

In short, he felt a little insecure and inexplicably urgent.

It was always better to finish the movie as soon as possible, achieve his goal, and redeem the Batman template.

"Alright."

Jim said regretfully, "The male lead is basically settled. But I thought you might have other requirements for the female lead, seeing as this is Hollywood."

Anton's eyes widened. "Wait, are we casting today?"

"Tomorrow. We've already invited seven or eight actresses, every one of them a beauty."

"Remember to call me."

Anton immediately changed his tune and said with righteous seriousness, "I do have special requirements for the female lead. At the very least... she has to be pretty and obedient. Also, she needs a perky butt and big breasts."

Jim gave him a look that said he knew the game.

After that, Browning discussed the script with Jim and promised to complete the first draft within three days before taking his leave.

Browning's home was in Los Angeles.

This upscale residence was the place Jim had prepared for Anton.

It was not because Anton had no other place to stay in Los Angeles, but because this location was close to Hollywood and convenient for work.

"What about the props department?"

After thinking for a moment, Anton added, "I have fairly high standards for this movie's costumes and props. The designs you sent me before were too formulaic and didn't meet the standards I have in mind."

He had ready-made templates here. How could he possibly think much of the props department's stingy designs?

"No problem." Jim nodded.

As both investor and director, Anton held almost the highest authority over the film.

Even producer Jim served Anton. When it came to matters involving the film's production, there was no room to argue, nor any need to.

It was all work, anyway.

The money Jim received would not increase or decrease because of it.

All he wanted was success.

Over the next few days, Anton worked like a machine, busy day and night without pause. At last, he had tentatively finalized the props and the cast for the film.

The day before shooting began, Anton received a budget sheet.

One hundred and ten million.

Anton's mouth twitched.

That was ten million more than the investment he had agreed upon with Tony Stark.

But when he recalled the budget Nolan had used to make Batman Begins in his previous life, he knew Jim had not deceived him.

Moreover, this world's technological level was no lower than that of his previous life. With all kinds of amateur inventors, black technology, and things that had only existed in his dreams in his previous life, this budget was entirely within the normal range.

Anton silently signed the sheet and mortgaged all the assets he owned, gathering the full one hundred and ten million in funding.

At last, filming began.

Anton was full of ambition and grand aspirations as he directed his dozen or so assistant directors, ready to make his mark.

At the same time.

The reporters Eddie had sent to San Francisco to secretly investigate the Life Foundation also sent Eddie some specific information.