America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Halfway into semi-retirement, what Nicholson lacked most was fun.

The more interesting the affair, the more he wanted to be involved.

Upon hearing the names of the Oxenberg mother and daughter, Martin asked, "Has Keith Raniere appeared in this film crew?"

"No." Nicholson was certain of it, "I haven't seen him on set."

He knew what Martin was getting at and asked, "Keith Raniere hasn't met Marina, has he?"

Martin replied, "Marina was at the art gallery at the time, it's hard to say."

After Leonardo returned to Los Angeles, he made special inquiries, "It's said that Raniere's biggest fetish is to tame beautiful, sexy, and strong-willed women into his slaves."

Nicholson said, "Perhaps Marina's unique temperament caught his attention."

Martin asked, "No one called the police about his female slave business?"

Leonardo said, "It's all been smoothed over."

Martin roughly had an assessment that perhaps for these cult groups, the female slave matter wasn't particularly serious.

Nicholson pushed up his sunglasses and picked up another pair of binoculars to look around the studio. When he turned to the parking lot, he alerted Martin, "I see the Oxenberg mother and daughter over there, in the parking lot."

Martin slightly moved the binoculars and also looked toward the parking lot.

The Oxenberg mother and daughter stood by a car, embroiled in an argument, clearly quarreling. Both seemed very agitated; India pulled down her trousers and pointed at her private parts for Catherine to see, probably uttering words that provoked Catherine, who walked over and gave her a sharp slap.

India squatted down on the ground, holding her head and sobbing.

Catherine knelt down again to hold her and comfort her.

Not long after, the two left the parking lot and entered a nearby two-story office building.

After watching for a while, Martin and the others saw the film crew finish work and the staff pour out of the studio. They too descended from the building.

Once in an ordinary black business vehicle, Leonardo sighed, "Another day without any results."

Nicholson said, "You should stay busy with the Oscar PR. The game of spy-watching, which requires patience, doesn't suit someone as impatient as you."

Martin asked, "Great detective, do you plan to dig deeper?"

Nicholson said, "I'm getting old; I've seen and played too much, my threshold is too high. It's not easy to find such thrilling games."

He had recently done some careful research, "The spies that America and the Brits have caught were basically in contact with only one line and did not have lateral connections with others. I think it's very likely that Marina's contact is that uncle in Paris."

Leonardo said, "Let's go, let's go, today's detective game is over, let's go back and enjoy life."

Martin took out his phone and called Natasha, asking, "The project Marina took on, 'Game of Dogs,' what's the deal with that?"

Natasha replied, "There's a casting director I know named Susie Flavio who came to our company to select actors and chose Marina. The film crew, like many in Hollywood, pays special attention to plot secrecy. Marina's only a minor character, only having received her character's script. Her role seems to belong to some secret organization, with scenes ranging from resistance to submission..."

Martin had already turned on the speakerphone and said, "Don't tell anyone else about this call."

Though puzzled, Natasha readily agreed, "I promise."

The great detective Nicholson went online, picked up his phone, and dialed, "Help me check the connection between Susie Flavio and NXIVM, yes, that's Nxivm!"

Before long, the call was returned, and Nicholson also switched on the speakerphone.

Someone on the other end said, "Susie Flavio is a member of NXIVM, she has been frequently seen coming and going at the NXIVM house on Mulan Boulevard starting two years ago."

Martin wasn't surprised at the outcome.

That person continued, "Jack, I'm sending NXIVM's information to your email."

"Make it quick." Nicholson hung up the phone.

Martin asked, "The producer is from NXIVM, and the casting director who chose Marina is also from NXIVM, what does that imply?"

Leonardo said, "Someone wants to mess with us!"

The great detective Nicholson swore, "Those scoundrels want to steal our swallow!"

Leonardo agreed, "The swallow is our joint property, anyone trying to take our stuff is an enemy to us!"

Martin speculated, "It might be connected to Keith Raniere."

"Who else but him could get all these NXIVM women to act in unison?" Nicholson pushed his sunglasses up, speaking sharply, "So, they want to steal our swallow, fine! Let's get him!"

Leonardo reminded him, "A while back in New York, you specifically warned me and Martin that dealing with these guys would be very troublesome."

"That's because at that time he hadn't tried to take our swallow!" Nicholson retorted with conviction, "The situation is very clear now, Keith Raniere wants to steal our swallow, so who else should we deal with if not him?"

He then glanced at Martin, "Don't forget, we have the ultimate troublemaker as our trump card, sure to make him howl."

Martin objected, "Jack, you are the trump card of the Trio of Scoundrels!"

Nicholson and Leonardo's gazes fixed on Martin.

Martin said with resignation, "I wanted to be the good guy."

Nicholson said, "When the assets of a good person are violated, they too will pick up a gun and valiantly fight back, blowing the robber's balls off!"

Leonardo grabbed Martin's shoulder, "All that scheming bubbling in your gut, all the bad ideas in your head, let them out quick, or I'll throw you into Sacred Valley to enjoy the same treatment as Pitt."

Martin said, "I don't know much about this organization."

Nicholson's phone made a 'ding' noise, signaling the arrival of a new email.

He opened the mailbox and said to Bruce, who was driving, "Old Cloth, head to Burbank Mulan Avenue."

Bruce nodded, turned the steering wheel, and took another road.

Nicholson glanced at the email and then gave Bruce another address.

Soon, the black minivan turned into Mulan Boulevard, passed three intersections, and stopped by the roadside.

Martin looked across the street, where a sizable office building sat with a "Nxivm" sign erected on the rooftop.

That was the home of Nike Sam.

The sunlight streamed through the car window, reflecting off Detective Nicholson's sunglasses in a burst of golden light.

The great detective, pinching his chin, said, "Externally, Nike Sam is marketed as a pyramid-structured company, but in reality, it is a sect, with its headquarters located in Albany, New York, and branches in Los Angeles, Washington, Mexico, Canada, and Brazil."

He glanced down at his phone again and continued, "In recent years, the Los Angeles home of Nike Sam has shown a tendency to replace Albany as the headquarters, largely because Sect Hierarch Keith Ranier spends most of his time in Los Angeles, aiming to develop followers in Hollywood. He has a particular fondness for actresses and female artists."

Leonardo said, "No wonder Lily was involved."

Upon hearing Lily's name, Martin frowned slightly and sent a text message on his phone.

Lily quickly responded, "I'm in Atlanta, planning to take a long vacation and head to Harbor City with Elena for a getaway."

Martin replied, "Stay there a bit longer, no rush to come back."

Lily asked, "Why?"

Martin simply replied, "Keith Ranier is out to seize important assets from me, Leo, and Jack."

Lily, knowing she couldn't be of much help and might even become a burden if she returned, responded, "Okay, I'll come back after hearing of your victory."
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"Remember to bring bodyguards," Martin reminded.

Lily answered back, "I am."

Martin put away his phone and looked up, his seemingly calm face filled with a fighting spirit.

Nicholson curiously asked, "No more worries?"

Martin nodded, "Lily is not in Los Angeles."

Leonardo looked towards the Nike Sam house opposite and said, "Then there's nothing more to discuss, let's quickly figure out a way to deal with this Keith Ranier."

Nicholson picked up binoculars and observed the entrance to Nike Sam house, where nearly all the people coming in and out were women.

Recalling a scene he had witnessed at the production studio parking lot, Martin said, "Have someone check up on Catherine and India mother and daughter. I get the feeling India disagrees strongly with her mother."

Nicholson had seen that scene as well, "India is not old; she may not have been a member of Nike Sam for long. I'll have someone look into it."

Leonardo reminded, "Cases involving Keith Ranier and the abuse of women in Nike Sam have cropped up several times and all ended up unresolved. Focusing solely on this aspect is unreliable and may even alert Nike Sam, making them more guarded against us."

Nicholson nodded, "You make a good point."

Martin thought for a moment and said, "My opinion remains the same as before, either we leave them alone, or if we strike, we make sure they're done for good."

Leonardo said, "I agree."

"While I enjoy the process of dealing with someone, we also aim for the best outcome," added Nicholson, lifting his sunglasses. "I've decided, this operation will be called 'Hunt,' and I will take the role of commander-in-chief. Do you three agree?"

With the boss having spoken, what could Martin and Leonardo say?

Let alone Bruce, who was driving.

Martin patted the back of the driver's seat, "Let's head back and come up with a suitable plan."

Bruce started the car and left.

Nicholson asked, "Got any ideas?"

Martin shook his head, "I've been busy all day at work, my head's spinning, how can I just come up with something on the spot?"

Leonardo stated, "We can only make a suitable plan with a clear head."

Without a second thought, Nicholson said to Bruce, "Old Cloth, stop by Night Color Club to freshen up. We'll talk other matters when we're all clear-headed."

Martin gave a thumbs up, "As expected from our boss."

The black minivan headed straight for Sunset Boulevard, with Bruce taking Martin and the Trio of Scoundrels to the Night Color Club.

Half an hour later, three refreshed men came out and headed straight to Martin's estate to discuss how they would take action.