Global Security Company

Given Mark's current age and strength, going head-to-head with the Blackfire Gang would undoubtedly be the stupidest thing he could do.

"Then I can only rely on the police to deal with the Blackfire Gang."

Mark quickly made his decision.

However, before dealing with the Blackfire Gang, Mark first contacted a top local security company in New York by phone—Global Security Company.

Global Security Company had been founded by former Secret Service agents who had left the presidential detail. It specialized in serving political and business tycoons, ultra-wealthy clients, and celebrities, and had an excellent reputation in the industry.

"Right now, I need your best bodyguard team. Send them to the Hilton Hotel on South Lake Street immediately!"

Mark had Alice disguise his voice as that of a gruff adult man.

For a top-tier bodyguard team, Global Security Company would dispatch two tactical squads totaling twelve people to protect the client in shifts.

They would also provide armored vehicles, riot shields, sniper rifles, and other powerful weapons, along with surveillance and intelligence monitoring of the surrounding area.

Such security services cost an astronomical two million dollars per year.

Yet Mark did not hesitate for even a moment before deciding to pay.

After all, as long as he kept growing, he could become Superman someday!

If he died before he had the chance to grow stronger, Mark would never accept it.

"Certainly, sir. We'll arrange for someone to head over right away!"

Hearing about such a major order, the receptionist's voice immediately became extraordinarily enthusiastic.

After hanging up, Mark knocked on Rosalie's door next door and told her that the Blackfire Gang had targeted their film crew and that he had hired a bodyguard team.

"Huh? New York is still far too dangerous. Once we're done filming, we should get out of here as soon as possible!"

Rosalie said anxiously.

Clearly, even though she knew danger might be waiting for them, she still instinctively wanted to finish filming before leaving.

Perhaps ever since she had fallen out with her family over her dream of becoming a star, acting and becoming famous had become her greatest obsession.

Half an hour later, the people from Global Security Company arrived.

Rosalie first brought the manager leading the team, Scott Davis, up to the hotel room, while the other twelve squad members remained downstairs on standby.

"Ms. Payne, could you first tell me what threat you've encountered?"

After entering the room, Scott asked with a serious expression.

Their security company had to understand the situation from the client first before they could arrange protective measures accordingly.

"It's this gang called the Blackfire Gang. They've targeted our film crew."

Rosalie answered, pointing at Damir's photo on the display mounted on the wall.

Hearing that it was only a gang, Scott immediately relaxed.

With a confident expression, he said, "Ms. Payne, please rest assured! The members of our bodyguard team are all retired special forces soldiers and former Secret Service agents. With them protecting you, mere gangsters pose no threat to you or your family."

Global Security Company's reputation had been built battle after battle.

They possessed combat strength no weaker than a regular military force and had no fear of gangs whatsoever.

"That's good, that's good!"

Rosalie finally felt relieved.

She then signed a one-year employment contract with Scott and used the bank card Mark had given her to pay the two-million-dollar fee.

Though it pained her a little to spend the money, Rosalie's worries were completely put to rest.

After Scott went downstairs and left, six heavily armed bodyguards soon came up and entered Rosalie's room.

"Ms. Payne, I'm Michael Green, captain of the first squad, and these are my team members. The second squad is waiting downstairs for rotation. For the next year, our two squads will be responsible for protecting you and your family's safety!"

The leader, a tall, powerfully built young man wearing camouflage fatigues, gave Rosalie a military salute before speaking.

This six-person bodyguard squad consisted of two women and four men, clearly arranged specifically for the convenience of protecting their employer.

"All right, all right. Thank you for your hard work! I'll follow your arrangements from here on out."

Rosalie said gratefully.

Michael did not stand on ceremony. He immediately led his team through a full inspection of both Rosalie's and Mark's rooms before making several suggestions.

"Ms. Payne, I suggest that you and Mark stay in the same room. That way, we can avoid having our squad picked off one by one! Also, the windows must remain closed and the curtains must be drawn. Surveillance cameras must be installed outside the door, and you and Mark must wear the emergency call bracelets we've prepared..."

Since they were professional bodyguards, Rosalie naturally had no objection to his suggestions and nodded in agreement to each one.

Mark quickly gathered his belongings and moved into Rosalie's room.

The commotion also alerted the other members of the film crew, who came out of their rooms to see what was happening.

"Rosalie, who are they?"

Looking at the six fully armed bodyguards, Caleb asked Rosalie in surprise.

"Here's the situation..."

Rosalie pulled Caleb into her room and told him that the Blackfire Gang had targeted their film crew.

Caleb did not quite believe it at first, but after seeing the footage captured by the drone, he had no choice but to believe it.

"Those damned gangsters! They've already collected protection money, and now they still want to come after our film crew!"

Caleb gritted his teeth in fury.

He then took out his phone and called Lester Bell, president of Bell Film Company, telling him that they had been targeted by a local New York gang.

"Don't worry. I'll immediately send an elite security team to New York to protect the film crew! Filming can be suspended for now. We'll talk once the security team arrives."

Lester immediately gave his response.

Previously, to cut costs, the film crew had not arranged for professional security to accompany them to New York.

Now that the crew had been targeted by a gang, they had no choice but to send security personnel over.

Hearing Lester's arrangements, Caleb finally felt relieved.

With the security sent by the company and the bodyguards Rosalie had hired, the film crew's safety should be guaranteed.

"All right, all right, go back to your rooms. Rosalie only hired a bodyguard team, that's all!"

After leaving Rosalie's room, Caleb said this to the members of the film crew still gathered outside.

He and Rosalie had agreed not to tell everyone that the Blackfire Gang had targeted the crew for the time being. They would wait until the company's security team arrived.

After all, loose lips sank ships. If the news leaked and the Blackfire Gang acted ahead of time, that would be troublesome.

"That damned Rosalie! Where did she get so much money that she can afford bodyguards from Global Security Company?"

Rachel returned to her room and cursed bitterly, her tone full of jealousy.

In Hollywood, only A-list stars or top celebrities could afford to hire bodyguard teams from Global Security Company.

Now Rosalie was actually enjoying such treatment as well. How could Rachel not be envious and jealous?

But with Rosalie now under the protection of bodyguards, Rachel did not even dare mock her to her face like before.

Night soon fell, and Michael began assigning his team members their security duties for the evening.

Two female team members entered Rosalie and Mark's room to provide close protection.

Two male team members stood guard outside the door.

The final team member entered the surveillance van downstairs to monitor the cameras.

Michael himself controlled the drone to observe the area around the hotel, ready to issue combat orders at any time.

"Actually, you can let Alice take over your drones and surveillance systems."

Watching Michael make his arrangements one by one, Mark hesitated slightly before offering his suggestion.

They would be living together day and night for the next year, so there was no need to hide certain things from them. Besides, it would be impossible to hide them anyway.

Moreover, Global Security Company had always had an excellent reputation and had never once leaked a client's private information.

"Alice?"

Michael looked confused. He crouched down, looked at Mark, and asked, "Little Mark, who is this Alice you're talking about?"

"Alice, come out and say hello to everyone."

As soon as Mark finished speaking, the display on the wall lit up.

Alice appeared on the screen, wearing a white princess dress and possessing delicate features as lovely as an angel's.

"Hello, everyone! I'm Alice!"

Alice lifted the hem of her skirt and gave a curtsy.

"Th-this is artificial intelligence?"

Seeing Alice's expressions and tone, both as lifelike as a real person's, Michael and his team members widened their eyes in shock.

"Of course not. There probably isn't any true artificial intelligence in the world yet. Alice is only an intelligent program, roughly at the level of weak AI."

Mark shook his head and continued, "However, with Alice's current capabilities, she can already take over your drones, communications equipment, surveillance systems, and so on."

"How do you know so much?"

Michael looked at Mark in disbelief. He did not resemble a five-year-old child at all.

"Because Alice was created by me."

"But you're only five years old..."

"So what if I'm five? Tony Stark could make circuit boards by himself when he was four. I won't be inferior to him!"

Mark lifted his chin with an unconvinced expression. Only then did he finally show a trace of childishness.

At first, Michael and the others still could not believe that Mark, a five-year-old child, could have created an intelligent program like Alice.

But after watching Mark skillfully operate the computer and connect their drones, communications equipment, and every surveillance feed to Alice, they had no choice but to believe him.

So there really were geniuses in this world with intelligence this astonishing.

"Alice, order Drone Number Six to take off and investigate the area one hundred meters south of the Hilton Hotel."

Michael tried issuing an order through his radio.

Buzz!

As soon as he spoke, Drone Number Six immediately flew out through the window.

"No anomalies detected!"

A moment later, the drone returned, while Alice reported the results of its inspection to everyone.

"Alice's scouting efficiency is far higher than when I control the drone myself!"

Alice's performance delighted Michael.

With Alice joining them, both he and the member assigned to monitor the surveillance feeds could free up their hands for other tasks. It was as if the squad had gained two additional members.