Reborn Action Star: Starting in Hollywood

"So... is it related to the British? Or to those guys?" Lin Yuan was a little uncertain.

As he gradually entered the highest level of the power struggle, he still didn't quite understand the intricacies of it all.

Those guys, of course, refer to the established financial groups that excluded him, a Chinese American, from entering the top circles, such as the Rockefeller Group.

The fact that Rear Admiral Ross, who was previously stationed at the Bangor submarine base, arranged a potentially deadly route for him was a manifestation of this will.

But Lin Yuan believed that no matter how much those old conglomerates disliked him, they wouldn't go so far as to openly arrange such an attack at the Star Avenue awarding ceremony attended by 500,000 people.

Because the impression is so bad, this is a completely bottom-line game, and no one can bear it once it is exposed.

No need, really no need.

Could it really be a British guy?

Lin Yuan: ()
He suddenly realized it wasn't impossible, after all, his reputation as a troublemaker was truly widespread.

Betty nodded: "Yes, I suspect it's related to the Duke of Westminster's family in England."

"Doubt? The Duke of Westminster's family?" Lin Yuan could only ask again.

Fortunately, he had Betty as a guide; otherwise, Lin Yuan would have had a hard time getting to the poker table on his own.

No, it should be said that they will never even have the chance to be served.

“Then I’ll explain it to you in detail,” Betty said earnestly.

She knew that not only Lin Yuan didn't understand, but the other women in the room didn't understand either.

As Lin Yuan's assistants, they need to understand the top power structure better, so Betty took this opportunity to extend the introduction a bit.

The House of Grosvenor is one of the wealthiest noble families in England. It rose to prominence in the 17th century and was originally a landowner in Cheshire.

The core assets are London’s most expensive properties, including top affluent areas such as Mayfair and Belgravia.

The family maintains its wealth through land monopolies, offshore trusts, and modern investments, and is known as 'Britain's most successful landlords.'

"The 17th century? Older than the history of the United States," Taylor Swift remarked. "But it's probably ancient and moldy by now, right?"

"He sounds like a nouveau riche. What does that have to do with me?" Lin Yuan asked, puzzled.

Betty smiled and looked at Taylor Swift: "Even though it's old and moldy, it's still standing for four hundred years. Doesn't that prove it's something special?"

“In fact, it’s very difficult to maintain a stable ecological niche by relying on collecting rent,” Betty continued to explain, going into great detail.

Lin Yuan knew that Betty was just taking the opportunity to supplement the knowledge of the others present, so he followed up with Betty's words, saying, "Yes, that's right. How many people are eyeing this easy way to make money? Without enough merit and ability, it's impossible to keep this profit for long."

China has a long history spanning thousands of years, and the answers to many questions can be found in historical records.

The famous essay "Chulong Persuades the Queen Dowager of Zhao" in the "Strategies of the Warring States" contains the following passage:

He holds a high position but has no merit, receives generous stipends but has no labor, yet he wields many powerful weapons.

Now, Your Majesty has honored Lord Chang'an with a high position and bestowed upon him fertile land and many important gifts, but has not yet made any contribution to the country. If the dynasty collapses one day, how will Lord Chang'an entrust himself to Zhao?

Even during the Warring States period more than two thousand years ago, the Chinese had already deeply understood this principle:
Those who have made no contributions to the country and only think about lying around and sucking its blood can't last long!

Countless powerful figures will emerge later, standing on the moral high ground, to rightfully eliminate you, and you will have no power to resist.

"So, the Duke of Westminster's family did a lot of other things besides being landlords who collected rent?" Taylor Swift immediately understood: "And Lin Yuan blocked all of these things?"

“The cultural sphere? British capital in Hollywood?” Charlize Theron asked further.

"You're so clever. I just gave you a hint, and you all guessed the truth by following your line of thought," Betty said with a smile, encouraging them.

Although Europeans often think Americans are crude and uncultured, no one can deny that the center of world culture is in the United States.

American culture, with Hollywood at its core, integrates many elements such as American pop music and American lifestyle, forming the banner of American ideological export. Together with the US military and the US dollar, it forms the three pillars of American hegemony.

Countries like France and Germany, even if they covet Hollywood's influence, have little chance due to racial and cultural barriers.

But the British, who share the same roots, don't face this obstacle.

In fact, British capital has always had a place in Hollywood.

The Harry Potter film series and the Game of Thrones television series are examples of this phenomenon.

In the early days before Lin Yuan rose to prominence, British capital had provided him with assistance.

It was precisely because of the double whammy of Shrek and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone that The Mummy Returns suffered such a disastrous box office failure, indirectly helping Lin Yuan win the early battle.

At that time, British capital was not an enemy to Lin Yuan.

However, as Lin Yuan rose to prominence, his share of the Hollywood pie continued to increase.

Although he offered a larger share, it would undoubtedly squeeze out the share of the original players, with British capital being the most unfortunate among them.

After all, British capital is from outsiders, so if anyone has to suffer, then they are undoubtedly the best choice.

With Lin Yuan's rise to prominence, the films produced by Lin Yuan Film Studio, as well as films from other companies he participated in, achieved unprecedented box office success.

However, neither the Lord of the Rings series nor the Harry Potter series, which are considered the pinnacle of British capital productions, reached the same heights as their predecessors.

Even director Peter Jackson, a British capitalist disguised as a New Zealand director, had multiple Oscars snatched away by Lin Yuan, significantly diminishing his influence.

It can be said that British capital suffered the most during Lin Yuan's rise to power.

"So, behind Hollywood's British capital is the Duke of Westminster?" Taylor Swift asked. "But it's still a bit strange; it seems a little late to be doing this now?"

Lin Yuan Film Industry has been rising for several years, while British capital has long since declined.

Taking action now seems to have no effect other than venting anger.

Betty laughed and said, "That's true. That's why the Duke of Westminster's family seemed to have swallowed their anger until the incident involving Major General Ross this year, when they started to stir again."

"What does it matter? Does the British have considerable influence in the US military?" As soon as he said it, Lin Yuan suddenly felt that it was very possible.

The father-son relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is well-known, and the armies of the two countries have a very deep historical connection.

During the Normandy landings (1944), the United Kingdom and the United States established the Supreme Command of the Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), with American Eisenhower as Commander-in-Chief and British Montgomery as Commander of the Ground Forces, setting a precedent for cross-national command.

Core command positions in NATO, such as the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, are often held by US military generals, but British officers have long served as deputy commanders or key theater commanders, such as British generals commanding multinational forces during the war in Afghanistan.

It is not uncommon for British generals to directly command US troops.

In short, the close relationship between British and American troops is akin to "sharing the same brain and nervous system, but retaining their own bodies."

Betty nodded and said, "Major General Ross's faction not only has the support of the Rockefeller Group, but is also a long-term ally of the British. That's why Brooke Whitmore, who is of British descent, became his operations staff officer. In fact, there are quite a few other British officers under Major General Ross."

Along with the previous submarine plot, they were all wiped out in one fell swoop.

Lin Yuan: "So, I made a whole bunch of British officers unemployed?"

Betty nodded. "That's right."

Lin Yuan understood now.

No wonder Brooke Whitmore, that crazy woman, planned and constructed it so meticulously, with specially made handcuffs and a heartbeat-sensing detonation device.

He's a professional soldier, so it's normal for him to be more professional. And he lost his job because of me. How could he not hate himself?
In reality, she probably didn't want to drag him down with her just because she couldn't have him, as she claimed.

It should be said that hatred accounts for at least half of the reason.

It was the intermingling of love and hate, two of the most extreme human emotions, that drove her to do such a terrible thing, like a madwoman.

It can be said that the threat she posed to Lin Yuan was unprecedented.

This was the first time Lin Yuan had ever felt so afraid.

It wasn't because of the fear of death, but because she truly threatened the lives of those Lin Yuan cared about most.

"You just said you 'suspiciously' that it's related to the Duke of Westminster's family, so there's no concrete evidence?" Lin Yuan continued to ask.

"That's right. They raided Brooke Whitmore's home address and seized her computer, but they didn't find any very compelling evidence."

It must be said that the cunning of the British is perfectly embodied in the old foxes of the Duke of Westminster's family. Betty shrugged helplessly.

"But everyone knows that Brooke Whitmore alone could not have launched such an attack without the help of outsiders."

"But there's no evidence, so we have to let them go?" Lin Yuan was already considering whether to secretly go to England after his injuries healed.

I don't need any evidence. If I can't get revenge through conventional means, then I'll use his own methods.

He knew that doing so would pose a great risk, but the thought of killing arose naturally from the presence of a sharp weapon in his heart.

He had tasted this kind of success many times in the past.

Betty immediately guessed Lin Yuan's thoughts. She rolled her eyes and said, "Don't even think about doing anything stupid. There's no chance. Believe me, with your notorious reputation, the moment you set foot on British soil, you'll be under constant, round-the-clock surveillance."

That's not America, so there's not much I can do to help you there.

"A bad reputation... surely not?" Lin Yuan said.

"You don't believe that no one ever suspected you in the deaths of Mills Brown of MGM and Arthur Mellon of the Mellon Corporation, do you?" Betty asked.

How could no one have any doubts?
Including Morio Mitsui of the Mitsui Group, Lin Yuan has sanctioned a total of three people.

He never concealed his intentions, and even harbored thoughts of intimidation.

"I left no evidence."

“In the eyes of those in power, evidence is not important at all. As long as you have the ability and are worthy of being suspected, that is enough to take action.”

"Thank you for cleaning up my mess."

"No need to thank me. Although I played a role, what really made everyone tolerate you was due to two factors."

First, it's because they trampled on principles first, so it's only natural that they were punished. Otherwise, if everyone followed suit, then everyone would be in danger.

The second point is the most crucial: you must be able to bring in sufficient benefits, otherwise you won't fare well. Betty replied.

This was also said to the other people present.

Betty is trying to help them understand the rules at the top of the power structure.

Those who trample on bottom-line principles should certainly be punished.

However, if Lin Yuan does not have sufficient value, then punishing the violators and eliminating Lin Yuan are not contradictory and can be done simultaneously.

Therefore, for Lin Yuan, his value is the foundation of his existence.

After hearing Betty's explanation, Taylor Swift immediately asked, "I understand. No wonder it's unclear what kind of compensation Lin Yuan will receive, because they're unsure if Lin Yuan still has any value at this moment!"

Betty smiled and nodded: "Taylor, you're so smart, you get it right away, that's just how it is!"

Even if there is no concrete evidence, it doesn't matter.

The Duke of Westminster's family will inevitably have to pay a price for this incident.

That is the shareholding of British capital in the defense industry, as well as many command positions in the military.

However, the Duke of Westminster's family may not offer much compensation to Lin Yuan for the resources they relinquish.

Charlize Theron and Anne Hathaway, who were standing to the side, remained silent and listened attentively.

It turns out that once someone is caught red-handed, they really do have to be bled dry as punishment, but the blood drawn doesn't necessarily have to be used to compensate the victim; instead, it can be divided up among everyone.

Although Lin Yuan was the victim, how much he could get depended entirely on his value at that moment.

Lin Yuan, lying in his hospital bed, naturally understood this principle. He asked helplessly, "If I die or become disabled, I won't get any substantial compensation for this, right?"

Betty nodded: "Well, if that's the case, you might only get a token amount of financial compensation."

"What if nothing happens to me? What do I get in return?"

Lin Yuan was suddenly filled with curiosity.

This incident has had a huge impact and will inevitably lead to a redistribution of many interests.

He was eager to know what kind of benefits he could gain.

"Want a ticket to a military-industrial complex?"

"Huh?" Lin Yuan could hardly believe his ears.

"You want the 5% stake in Northrop Grumman and the 3.5% stake in Raytheon, both acquired from the Duke of Westminster?" Betty asked with a smile.

"Is this...really okay?"

Can I become Commissioner Smith too? (End of Chapter)