Hollywood Director 1992.

Chapter 480 Life-or-Death Sniping on the Red Carpet
I had a good night's sleep.

Link woke up early in the morning next to his girlfriends. As usual at home, he ate breakfast, went for a morning run, read the newspaper, and then had breakfast with them after they got up.

Because the girlfriends come from different countries, have different tastes, and therefore different requirements for breakfast.

Some people require a rich diet, while others prefer low-fat and low-calorie options. Some don't eat pork or beef, while others prefer French breakfasts, resulting in an unusually diverse range of foods on the breakfast table at home.

Link is not a picky eater and has a large appetite; most of his girlfriends' breakfasts end up in his stomach every day.

While having breakfast, the TV on the wall was playing FOX News, and one news item caught his attention.

Yesterday, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Anti-Drug and Narcotics Division received a report from an informant and dispatched over a hundred SWAT officers to 18th Street in South Oakland to arrest drug dealers involved in drug trafficking.

After the SWAT team arrived at the scene, they attempted to talk to the drug dealers and persuade them to surrender.

Gang members and drug dealers preemptively opened fire on the police, attempting to break through the police encirclement.

A fierce firefight broke out between the two sides.

Thanks to the effective coordination and meticulous planning of the Los Angeles Police Department leadership, the SWAT team successfully destroyed the gang's stronghold and stormed into the building to arrest the drug dealers.

In this operation, police killed 13 gang members and drug traffickers, arrested 72 people, and seized 200 pounds of various drugs, as well as a large number of firearms, ammunition, and heavy weapons.

The Los Angeles Police Department's operation was a great success.

During an interview in front of the police station, Chief Robert Luna was so excited that his face turned red, and he pumped his fist as he said many inspiring things.

"How come the Los Angeles Police Department has suddenly become so powerful?"

Angelina Jolie asked.

"They probably got new equipment."

"I think it was thanks to the informants. They worked together from the inside to take down the gang. If it were just the police, it would have been impossible to take down so many people."

"Hopefully they can maintain this level and not become as useless as before."

At the dinner table, Sofia, Liv Tyler, Cameron Diaz, and others made fun of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The main reason is that the Los Angeles Police Department is too incompetent. Last year, four robbers robbed the Hollywood branch of Wells Fargo Bank in Los Angeles. More than 60 police officers surrounded the four robbers, but were forced to retreat repeatedly.

During the shootout, three police officers were shot and killed, and eight others were injured. The robbers then drove away in a police car.

Yesterday afternoon, it is said that more than 3 police officers attacked a group of gang members, but were killed in retaliation by the gang members, and three people were injured.

Prior to this, Los Angeles police had been repeatedly repelled by criminals such as robbers, drug dealers, and gang members in operations, and there were very few news reports of them winning in firefights.

Conversely, Los Angeles police officers often fight bravely when dealing with people of color or ordinary citizens.

All sorts of negative news have led to a very bad impression of the Los Angeles PD.

This time, the Los Angeles Police Department suddenly rose up and won a great victory in Oakland, killing more than ten people, arresting more than seventy people, and seizing a large amount of spoils.

Some people couldn't believe that the Los Angeles Police Department would do something like this.

Link smiled and didn't join his girlfriends' discussion.

After breakfast, he accompanied his girlfriends on a walk on the grass, pushing strollers and playing cricket.

Midway through, I received a call from Kauf Black, the Blackwater company manager.

Kauf told him that yesterday Blackwater sent a 10-man combat team to participate in the police raid on 18th Street in Oakland, killing 26 gang members and capturing three gang leaders.

Last night, during a surprise interrogation, they learned from three prisoners that the armed squad that was targeting him yesterday had encountered an unexpected situation on the way and had not yet made a move.

The person who hired the gang was called 'Ladybug,' a professional assassin. However, during last night's firefight, 'Ladybug' was shot dead by security personnel, and they have found his body.

The inspection department and intelligence agency are examining the 'ladybug's' corpse, trying to find useful clues.

Link told them to continue the investigation.

"Link, it's your turn to hit."

On the lawn, Charlize Theron, wearing a halter top and a short pleated skirt that revealed her long, fair legs, held a cricket racket in her hand and gave him a sweet smile.

Julie, Diaz, Mila, Drew, Catherine, Winslet, and others nearby also dressed like this.

Seeing them in the clear morning sunlight makes the air feel incredibly fresh, and even lifts your spirits.
-
"Hiss~, so many people have died, did Link have someone do this?"

Hitman Jon and Bald Johnson are in a motel, watching on TV the news of the police shootout with gangsters on 18th Street last night.

Yesterday they received information that the armed group had ties to local gangs in Auckland.

Unexpectedly, the local gang's hideout was raided by the police just one night later.

The Los Angeles Police Department displayed a speed and combat effectiveness that exceeded everyone's expectations in this operation, leading them to suspect that Link was involved or that he had bribed high-ranking police officials; otherwise, the Los Angeles Police Department would not have gone to such lengths.

“It’s very likely that Link did it. I know those police officers in Los Angeles. They’re all fat and bloated, and they can’t even fit in a police car. I can take on an entire precinct by myself. With their fighting ability, there’s no way they could defeat a gang of over a hundred people.”

"Bald Johnson said with a sneer."

"Link is indeed a ruthless person. As soon as he heard that someone was in danger, he took the initiative to strike without waiting to find evidence and uprooted the enemy. He's too ruthless. This kind of person is not easy to deal with."

Assassin Jon frowned, his expression turning serious.

When he accepted the mission and saw that the target was Link, he felt relatively relaxed.

Link is a director and an artist. People like him have not experienced the baptism of war or witnessed gang warfare. They lack awareness of the cruelty of the world and are prone to neglecting their own safety.

According to analysis of internal data from the assassin organization, these targets are considered relatively easy to kill.

It was only after arriving in Los Angeles and learning more about Link that they discovered he was different from ordinary directors; he was more like a ruthless capitalist.

Link is very security-conscious and always has bodyguards with him when he appears in public. Recently, he apparently received information that someone wanted to assassinate him, and the number of bodyguards around him has obviously increased.

In addition, Link is a man of good character and healthy lifestyle. Although he has hundreds of girlfriends, he never goes to shady entertainment venues, does not have the bad habit of cheating on his girlfriends at night, and does not touch drugs, health or beauty products.

Link is also quite a homebody.

When filming, he spends almost all his time on set. After returning to Los Angeles, he stays home with his girlfriend and children after get off work every day and rarely goes out to participate in other activities.

If Link doesn't come out, they won't find an opportunity to make a move.

Last night's events also showed them another side of Link. Link is extremely ruthless and merciless towards his enemies. Once he knows where the enemy is, he will never let them go easily.

Assassinating such a person is extremely difficult, but also quite exciting.

"Should we still go to the premiere of 'Armageddon' tomorrow?"

"Bald Johnson asked."

“Go and observe Link closely. Find out his habits and routines. As long as we persist, we will eventually find his weakness, and that will be his death day.”

The assassin, Jon, clenched his fists tightly.

Because they were attending the premiere of "The Great Cataclysm" the next day, the two didn't chat much and went to bed early.

They continued to track Link the next day.

Because Link's bodyguards were very vigilant, they didn't dare to get too close and only waited in places where Link often appeared, such as outside the Guess the Movies building and the Beverly Hills villa area.

In the morning, they noticed Link's van leaving Beverly Hills. After staying at Guess the Movies for more than four hours, Link met up with Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, and others at the Huaxia Grand Theatre around 2 p.m. to attend the screening of the Disney film "Armageddon".

The assassin Jon disguised himself as a reporter and infiltrated the scene, while Bald Johnson, having seen Link on set, felt it inconvenient to appear in front of Link again, so he remained in the car to observe.

"Link's here!!" When Link's Cadillac stopped at the entrance to the red carpet, everyone at the scene became excited. Reporters moved towards the entrance, and the assassin Jon, holding a camera, was also pushed and shoved by the crowd to walk out.

The weather in Los Angeles was hot in the afternoon, and he was quickly squeezed out of the crowd and became covered in sweat.

"Link, look here!"

Link, I love you!

"Link, let go of Liv, she's mine."

At the entrance to the red carpet, Link, dressed in a sharp suit, led the fair-skinned Liv Tyler out of the car, and the reporters and fans at the scene shouted loudly, the sound deafening.

The crowd of fans and reporters became even more congested, with everyone pushing forward.

The assassin, Jon, looked at the group of people with a puzzled expression. He couldn't understand why the fans were so excited and crazy, as if they had seen God.

Is a celebrity or a billionaire worthy of such fervent worship?
He didn't understand why the reporters around him were so excited. Was interviewing Link really that important?

But in order to get close to Link, the assassin Jon tried to squeeze to the front row with his camera. He was stopped by security guards and stood outside the barrier, waiting for Link to come over.

Click!

While adjusting the camera, Jon suddenly heard a strange sound from the side. Based on his six years of battlefield experience and five years of experience as an assassin, he could accurately determine that it was the sound of the pistol safety being released.

While Jon was checking his camera, he glanced around and saw a middle-aged man with glasses and an ordinary appearance holding a strangely shaped camera, looking at Link as he walked in from the red carpet entrance.

Jon took a few pictures of Link with his camera, then, pushed by the crowd behind him, he moved to the second row, behind the middle-aged man.

Using his camera as cover, he glanced at the man and quickly sensed a kindred spirit in him. This man was a professional assassin, and his weapon was very likely that strangely shaped camera.

If the camera really does contain a modified gun, the middle-aged man has a high probability of successfully assassinating the suspect.

Assassin Jon secretly regretted that his colleague's modified weapon was too powerful, and he had no chance to compete with his colleague for Link's head.

However, something unexpected happened. When Link walked onto the red carpet, more than a dozen sharp-eyed security personnel stood guard at the barrier, keeping an eye on the reporters and fans outside the barrier as they walked forward.

"Shet!"

Jon heard the middle-aged man in front of him cursing under his breath. The man tried to pick up his camera several times, but had to put it down each time he was scanned by security personnel.

Jon twitched the corner of his mouth, feeling sorry for his colleague.

"Director Link, please wait a moment. We have a few questions we'd like to ask you."

A group of reporters shouted loudly.

"I have two minutes to answer your questions, please ask them quickly."

Seeing Link stop, Jon immediately looked at the middle-aged assassin. A hint of surprise flashed across the assassin's face. He quietly took a few steps back, trying to fire from a more concealed spot.

Jon held up his camera to take pictures, his eyes fixed on his colleague's movements. He noticed that the other person raised his camera several times but did not fire.

As an assassin, he knew that if the distance was too close, he would be easily detected, while if the distance was too far, it would be difficult to aim with this strangely shaped gun.

They won't act in public unless they're 80% certain, to avoid being exposed.

Link answers reporters' questions on the red carpet.

The first question is how to evaluate the new movie "Armageddon" and predict its box office performance.

The second question was asked by a reporter from the Los Angeles Times, inquiring about the recent rumors that a crew member was injured during the filming of "Pirates of the Caribbean" due to an accidental discharge of a gun. Is this true or false?

Link confirmed that it was true; the staff member sustained minor injuries and has since been discharged from the hospital, contrary to rumors of death.

The third question, asked by a USA Today reporter, was related to "Armageddon".

As the reporter asked questions, the assassin Jon noticed that the middle-aged assassin in front of him had already put down his camera and was communicating with his partner through an earpiece. He seemed to be saying that there were too many people here and he could not interview Link up close. He asked his partner to try to interview Link from a distance.

After the middle-aged assassin finished speaking, he glanced discreetly at the building on his right. It was one of the Los Angeles branches of the American Kanglong Group, an office building more than ten stories high.

Jon took a few steps back again, using the camera as a cover, and turned to look at the tall buildings on his right. Suddenly, he noticed a flashing light in a window on a high floor, about two kilometers away from the red carpet.

If that person is an experienced sniper, they will have a sniper rifle with a long range.

Link is doomed today.

Jon secretly regretted that he probably wouldn't get the $20 from his employer.

“Mr. Link, please don’t go. I have one more question.”

"Link, I heard Diana is pregnant. Is that news true?"

On the red carpet, as the interview session ended, Link waved and walked forward, prompting the reporters to shout incessantly.

Jon stared intently at the scene, waiting for the assassin on the high-rise to pull the trigger.

puff!
A bullet flew down from upstairs. Link leaned down and spoke into Liv Tyler's ear. The bullet passed over his head and hit the movie poster behind him.

Because the fans' shouts were so loud, everyone's attention was drawn to Link, and no one noticed anything unusual.

"Your marksmanship is terrible!"

Assassin Jon curled his lip, expressing disdain for the marksmanship of his fellow snipers. In the Marine Corps, there were quite a few snipers who could accurately hit targets from two kilometers away.

and many more!

Jon snapped out of his daze and saw Link with Liv Tyler walking quickly toward the movie theater, as if they were running away from something.

Did he discover the bullet hole?

Link walked incredibly fast; before the sniper could fire a second shot, he had already stepped off the red carpet and was standing among a group of actors waiting for him.

Jon sighed inwardly at the pity.

Such a good opportunity, yet they failed to kill Link.

It won't be easy to find such an opportunity again.

The middle-aged assassin in front also looked regretful. He glanced back at Jon, made a warning gesture, and then walked away.

Jon was stunned for a moment before he realized that the other party might have discovered his presence long ago, but just hadn't revealed it.

After Link left, the reporters didn't leave; they continued to interview the next guest and take photos of the celebrities on the red carpet.

Jon didn't leave either; he planned to sneak into the movie theater to take a look.

Buzz!
While Jon was queuing outside the movie theater, his cell phone rang. It was a call from bald Johnson.

Johnson excitedly told him on the phone that someone had just been arrested in the parking lot. The men who did it were in civilian clothes, and they were quick, precise, and ruthless, just like the Marines.

Jon quickly asked what the arrested person looked like.

Johnson told him the man was of medium height, wore glasses, and looked like a reporter; his glasses were knocked to the ground when he was arrested.

Jon was stunned. The one who had been captured must be the middle-aged assassin.

He just didn't understand how the people could have spotted him if the middle-aged assassin hadn't made a move in the crowd.

Will I be exposed as well?
Jon dared not stay any longer. He quickly found a trash can, threw the camera in, changed into a t-shirt, and quietly left the scene while calling Johnson.

(End of this chapter)