America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 429 Saving Martin

Every May, the biggest event in New York's fashion and entertainment circles is the charity gala hosted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The most attractive aspect of the gala comes from the bizarre and outlandish outfits of celebrities, models, and stars.

Here, you'll often find the most avant-garde designs and the most outrageous outfits, where beauty and ugliness are taken to the extreme.

Kim Kardashian took Bruce's advice and wrapped herself up tightly in plastic tape covered with the "Kardashian" logo, causing a sensation on the red carpet.

Celine Dion wore an extremely tall feather headdress, and because there wasn't enough room in the car, she had to open the sunroof and stick her head out to get there.

There were also men wearing skirts, and women dressing up as cats, and so on.

In contrast, Taylor Swift, dressed as an angel in a white bodycon dress, looked rather ordinary.

It's not easy to stand out among so many monsters and demons.

Reporters were also discussing the matter in the media area in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's multi-tiered steps.

"Alessandra Ambrosio wore angel wings directly on the red carpet."

"Kardashian's duct tape outfit is absolutely eye-opening. I bet a bottle of bourbon that she must have some expert guidance behind the scenes."

"Yes, it's very obvious that the videotape scandal was manipulated. We need to find out who's behind it."

"I feel like even Celine Dion has been overshadowed by her. Who can surpass her?"

"I heard that Hollywood's most famous troublemakers have come to New York, and it seems they're going to walk the red carpet tonight."

"Nicholson? Martin? Leonardo?"

"Look, a huge vehicle is coming!"

"That's a really big vehicle!"

On Fifth Avenue, a yellow bus slowly drove up, gradually approaching the main entrance of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In past red carpet ceremonies, reporters have seen cars, SUVs, convertibles, and so on, but they have never seen anyone arrive by bus.

Inside the car, Martin, Menez, Bruce, and Leonardo, dressed in black silk suits, stood holding onto the handrails.

To prevent wrinkles, the four of them didn't sit down again after changing their clothes.

Beside the four people's feet lay a strangely shaped, somewhat cartoonish European-style coffin.

From the honeycomb-like vents in the coffin lid, Nicholson's voice suddenly rang out: "Not here yet? You bastards, you're not planning to drag me to the cemetery and bury me alive, are you?"

Martin replied, "We'll be there soon. Wait for me to give you the signal."

Nicholson added, "I must have seen Satan to believe your nonsense and walk down the red carpet in my coffin."

"Didn't you want to be famous throughout the city, the center of attention in all of New York?" Leonardo wouldn't give Nicholson a chance to back down at the last minute: "You old bastard, think about it, since the beginning of the red carpet, who has ever walked down it lying in a coffin?"

He said rather exaggeratedly, "There has never been one before, and even if there is one in the future, they will only be imitators of you."

Bruce glanced at Martin, then at Leonardo, his gaze finally settling on Nicholson's coffin. He thought to himself, "These three idiots are all so unreliable."

Menez kept looking outside and saw the tall feathered headdress that he had helped choose. He just wanted to get the coffin onto the red carpet as soon as possible and then go find Celine Dion, whom he had been longing to see.

The bus stopped in front of the red carpet, and Martin said, "Guys, let's begin."

Four men lifted the coffin containing Nicholson.

Nicholson quickly warned, "Slow down, slow down, I'm about to throw up."

Martin said sternly, "Jack, show some professionalism. It's not your turn to speak yet. Did you think your three Oscars were all for nothing?"

Nicholson remained silent.

Amidst the astonished gazes of hundreds of onlookers, the bus opened its spacious rear door, and four men dressed in black silk suits carried a coffin off the bus.

Although its shape is a bit peculiar, resembling that of medieval Europe, it doesn't stop it from being a coffin!

The four pallbearers were Martin and Leonardo walking in front.

The media reporters went crazy, disregarding the restrictions of the media area, rushing out of the barriers and gathering in front of the red carpet, frantically pressing the shutter button to capture this amazing scene.

Forget tape packaging, feather heads, and angel wings, they all have to step aside!

This scene has never been seen before in the North American fashion and entertainment industries.

"Only Martin and Leonardo, what about Nicholson?"

The reporters' cameras were constantly clicking, and their mouths were never idle either: "Where's the trio? One of them is missing!"

"Is Nicholson lying in a coffin?"

"Is Nicholson dead?"

"As expected of the trio, they're really good at causing trouble!"

Not only media reporters and onlookers on the red carpet, but even guests who had already entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art came out to share this shocking juicy gossip.

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, Martin, Leonardo, and three others carried Nicholson's coffin to the front of the multi-tiered steps of the red carpet and carefully placed it on the ground.

Martin kicked the side of the coffin three times in a row.

Nicholson pressed a button, and with a loud bang, the lightweight plastic coffin lid suddenly burst open and fell to both sides of the red carpet.

Martin announced loudly, "Welcome, Your Excellency."

Leonardo also said loudly, "Welcome, Your Excellency."

A pale-skinned hand with extremely long nails was raised from the coffin.

Under the camera flash, it looked somewhat eerie at first glance.

Upon closer inspection, it's actually a bit funny because the hand is chubby.

Immediately afterwards, Nicholson, with his slicked-back hair, wearing a black cloak with a red lining and revealing two long, sharp teeth, sat up from the coffin.

The classic Count Dracula look.

It's not uncommon at all; every year at the Halloween parades in New York and Los Angeles, there are at least twenty, if not a hundred, people dressed like this.

But no one has ever climbed out of a coffin for a red carpet event.

Nicholson, clutching his cloak, stood up unsteadily. Perhaps he had been lying down for too long, as his legs were numb. He almost fell as he stepped out of the coffin.

Martin reacted quickly and helped him up.

Bruce automatically stepped back to the bodyguard's position.

Menez spotted Celine Dion at the top of the steps and ran up to her.

Nicholson, the new-age Dracula, pulled sunglasses from his pocket, put them on, and beckoned to Martin and Leonardo: "My servants, come and take a picture together."

The three stood in front of the steps, facing hundreds of cameras, striking their coolest poses.

The red carpet was in complete chaos; there were too many reporters and it was too crowded, with many people breaking through the barriers.

A large number of security personnel came to maintain order. An executive from the organizer found Martin and his two companions, whispered a few words to them, and the three of them stopped and walked up the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art together.

The media interview area organized by the organizers was set up on the platform of the steps.

The trio of bastards were immediately surrounded by cameras as soon as they went up.

A host from New York exclaimed, "Jack, you guys were awesome today!"

Nicholson adopted the air of the trio leader, saying, "Of course, the three of us are the best partners, the coolest and most stylish super team."

The host then asked, "Who orchestrated all of this?"

Leonardo and Nicholson together pushed Martin forward to take the blame: "These were all Martin's ideas. He's a top-notch strategist and the idea expert for our trio!"

The host shoved the microphone in front of Martin: "How did you come up with these ideas?"

"I think history, fashion, fantasy, and legend can be effectively combined, and it's proven to be very effective." After rambling on, Martin specifically mentioned, "Actually, I got this inspiration from Nolan's *The Dark Knight*, that film seamlessly integrated all of these elements..."

He gave a long, enthusiastic review of The Dark Knight, which was scheduled to be released in July.

The host then asked about Leonardo DiCaprio and also mentioned Gisele Bündchen, who was also present that day.

Leonardo DiCaprio handles these kinds of problems more easily when he's not drunk.

The host asked about the alleged conflict between Nicholson and Martin.

"My personal relationship with Martin has never been a problem. We're best friends and the best partners. We just have some different opinions about the Dark Knight role." Nicholson began to change the subject according to the script, putting his arm around Martin's shoulder: "He didn't listen to my advice and became too immersed in the Joker role, which caused some psychological and mental problems."

Martin nodded in agreement: "It's not easy to get into the role of the Joker, and it's even harder to get out of it. My therapist even said that I developed a hidden personality because of it."

Nicholson pointed to the lightweight plastic coffin being carried away down the steps and said, "I'm over sixty years old, why am I going along with Martin and Leo's antics? Because I want him to truly relax and be happy."

He seized the opportunity to boast and pat himself on the back: "This stunt worked well; look, Martin's smile has relaxed."

Nicholson is a very loyal person, so Martin naturally played along at this moment, smiling much more relaxedly than in his recent public appearances.

Leonardo DiCaprio wasn't to be outdone: "One of the reasons Jack and I came to New York this time was to save Martin."

He placed a hand on Martin's shoulder, looked at him with deep affection, and said solemnly, "Brother, you must win this war against the Joker and get rid of him completely."

Martin nodded repeatedly, "moved" by his two good brothers.

In that instant, Nicholson and Leonardo's character was elevated, and they climbed to the pinnacle of integrity by stepping on Martin.

After the interview, the trio of scoundrels went into the Metropolitan Museum of Art's lobby.

Because of the commotion they had caused earlier, they became the center of attention as soon as they entered.

Many people watched the three of them with great interest, wondering how they could capitalize on the hype tonight.

Of course, many people were also annoyed that they stole the limelight and cast envious, jealous, and hateful glances at them.

The trio of scoundrels had skin thicker than the Metropolitan Museum of Art's supporting walls; they didn't care about any of that and instead looked for things that interested them.

(End of this chapter)