[Chapter 204: Signing Tom Cruise]
"As expected, it's not that simple."
Daniel shook his head.
At that moment, Liv also woke up. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, feeling soreness and an unfamiliar heaviness in her body, instantly recalling the madness of last night. Her face flushed, and then her gaze sharpened as she remembered the serious matter at hand.
Nervously, she looked at Daniel. "How is it? The mark... is it still there?"
Daniel didn't hesitate. He grabbed a mirror and held it up behind her.
Liv glanced back, and her face immediately drained of color. Disappointment and despair filled her eyes.
"It's still there... Why is it still there? Did my method not work at all?" She covered her face helplessly. "Does that mean I'm still doomed?"
"Don't panic." Daniel reached out and pulled her gently into his arms. "Although the mark hasn't vanished, we did make some progress. I'm going to turn your home into an impregnable fortress."
He looked back at Liv, his eyes flashing with determination.
"I originally planned to set up a small warning Ward, but now... I'm going to create a grand Ward!"
...
Since he did not have much of premium crystals, Daniel asked Marcus Hale to procure a shipment of high-quality crystals and have them sent over urgently.
After nearly half a month of meticulous work, Daniel finally crafted the extensive Ward stones he had envisioned.
On this day, Daniel came back to Liv's house.
"You finished?"
Seeing Daniel's arrival, Liv's face lit up with anticipation.
"Yeah."
Daniel nodded, walked to the center of the courtyard, formed a hand seal, and gave a low chant.
The thirty-six crystal Ward stones shimmered, transforming into streaks of light that sunk into the ground around the mansion and vanished without a trace.
A soft, barely audible chime echoed in the air -- a sound only a Soul could perceive.
Liv stood near the floor-to-ceiling window, holding a cup of coffee when a gentle warmth suddenly spread through her body.
Her nerves, which had been wound tightly by fear, unexpectedly relaxed.
It was like standing outside on a freezing winter day, then suddenly being wrapped in a thick quilt soaked in the warmth of sunlight. Her sense of security surged.
"This is... a Ward?"
Liv pushed open the door and stepped into the yard, glancing around in wonder.
Though nothing about the scenery had changed, the air itself felt fresher. Even the sunlight seemed softer somehow.
"This is incredible. Everything looks the same, but it feels completely different."
Liv was full of awe.
Daniel smiled. "It's very safe now. If any evil spirits get close, I'll know right away."
She turned to look at him, admiration shining in her eyes.
"Daniel, thank you." Liv embraced him tightly, pressing her face against his chest. "Without you, I honestly wouldn't know what to do."
Soon another pleasant but heated session began.
...
Daniel suspected the Ram Cult would make a move again. But nothing happened for a long time. It seemed the Ram Cult hadn't even noticed that Annabelle had been destroyed.
Still, Daniel didn't lower his guard; he kept a close watch over Liv's home.
Time passed, and before anyone knew it, it was May 2005.
Then something shook all of Hollywood.
On the Oprah Winfrey Show, the superstar Tom Cruise, known for his suave charm and elegance, suddenly lost his composure. He leapt onto the sofa, shouting like a manic patient, insisting on pulling his new girlfriend Katie out to proudly show her off.
The next morning, public opinion exploded.
[Tom Cruise Suspected of Mental Instability!]
[The Hollywood Golden Boy's Waterloo?]
Once Hollywood's golden boy, Tom instantly became a public laughingstock. The media mocked him relentlessly. Talk shows ran parodies day and night.
Even executives at Paramount openly questioned his mental state. They worried his bizarre behavior would tank the box office for the upcoming War of the Worlds.
All of Hollywood was watching -- and mocking.
The praise that once surrounded him turned to whispers and scorn.
Just as Tom was mired in a full-blown PR crisis, Daniel made his move.
...
Inside Daniel's mansion in Beverly Hills.
Peter Berg eyed Daniel uncertainly. "Daniel, isn't it too risky to sign Tom right now? Everyone's calling him crazy. There are even rumors he's been brainwashed by some cult. If we cast him in Hancock now, won't audiences just reject the film?"
Daniel swirled his red wine glass, watching the infamous "sofa jumping" parody video replaying on the TV, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Peter, don't you see this as a gift from God?"
He set down his glass and pointed at the screen.
"Who is Hancock? He's a damaged hero -- disliked, misunderstood, mocked by the public. Isn't Tom Cruise the real-life version of Hancock right now? He desperately needs a movie to prove himself, to let out all that frustration, to slap the faces of those who mocked him. Is there a casting more perfect than this? A madman playing a madman -- it couldn't be more fitting."
Peter blinked, then his eyes lit up.
"My God, Daniel, your perspective is... truly unique. But his salary is huge -- usually $20 million plus 20% of box office profits."
"That was before." Daniel said coolly, "Now, he's a 'box office poison' in the making. Go tell his agent we'll give him the role to help rebuild his image. The salary is $20 million buyout -- no box office cut, no merchandise revenue."
Buying out Tom Cruise for $20 million?
That would have been unthinkable before. Tom was a top member of Hollywood's exclusive "$20 Million Club." His real value wasn't his salary -- it was the massive box office shares he commanded.
But now, this was possible.
...
A few days later, Variety's front page blared: [Tom Cruise Confirmed for Hancock! The Script That Wandered for Years Finally Finds Its Star!]
The Hollywood Reporter ran: [A Crazy Gamble? Daniel Pictures' First Major Production Teams with Peter Berg to Create an Alternative Superman!]
Tom Cruise's first confirmed blockbuster after the sofa-jumping incident -- his first superhero movie.
The news shook Hollywood to its core.
The Hancock script had circulated for nearly ten years, passing through countless hands. Great directors and producers rejected it because the lead character was too anti-traditional, too irreverent.
No one expected this 'orphan' script, shunned by all, to be purchased by a newcomer to film production.
What was more shocking was that the lead role went to Tom Cruise himself!
Putting aside Tom's tarnished image, he was sitting at the center of a PR storm, someone everyone wanted to avoid.
Yet here was someone willing to make him a superhero.
But not your typical cape-wearing Superman -- this was a cranky, scruffy, foul-mouthed antihero.
That rebellious tone sparked genuine curiosity.
Despite the skepticism, pessimism, and mockery, for a while Daniel's company and the Hancock project became Hollywood's hottest topic.
Without spending a dime on promotion, just by signing Tom Cruise, they gained at least $30 million worth of buzz.
That's the power a superstar can bring.
*****
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