The Tyrant Billionaire

Since this money wasn't clean, it was given to McCarthy in cash. And since the money couldn't be declared, it resulted in tax evasion.

Even with solid evidence of these crimes, McCarthy adamantly denied everything, refusing to give a statement and calling in his lawyer for defense.

As a former judge, he was well-versed in these processes.

A week later, McCarthy walked out of the investigation bureau, having paid a hefty bond for bail. He had no intention of staying in jail.

Someone came to pick him up and take him home.

However, just as their car reached a highway, a speeding truck slammed into the middle of McCarthy's vehicle. The car was smashed to pieces, its shape unrecognizable by the time it came to a halt.

The truck driver got out, silently walked to a nearby phone booth, and called the police to report the accident, voluntarily surrendering.

It's hard not to recall the saying: "Only the good die young, Bad weeds grow tall."

Even with the car wrecked beyond recognition, McCarthy didn't die. He was severely injured and rushed to the hospital.

When people saw him, his body was riddled with tubes. The doctor remarked, "He has over a dozen fractures, especially in his head. A skull fracture suggests he's highly likely to become a vegetative state."

"Even if he wakes up, he'll probably be mentally impaired."

At last, McCarthy was silenced.

Because someone wanted him to shut up—for good. And this method was swift and efficient.

...

McCarthy was struck and rendered a vegetable. After the news appeared in the papers, many people called him lucky because it meant he wouldn't have to go to prison.

Hardy summoned Henry and asked, "Who did this to McCarthy?"

Henry shook his head. "We couldn't find out."

The hit on McCarthy wasn't orchestrated by Hardy. Hardy's plan for him was to send him to prison, where he would slowly experience the harsh realities of incarceration—like dropping the soap in the shower.

Becoming a vegetable was letting him off too easy.

Moreover, it risked arousing suspicion that Hardy was behind it. After all, he was the one who took down McCarthy in the first place. Thinking it over, Hardy realized who was likely responsible.

It had to be those politicians who had previously supported McCarthy. Now that McCarthy had outlived his usefulness, they decided to discard him—and they did it cleanly and thoroughly.

Damn.

Politicians can be even more ruthless than the mob.

"Keep an eye on that driver," Hardy instructed Henry. "If there's a chance, dig deeper into who orchestrated this."

"Got it, boss," Henry replied.

With McCarthy taken out, the investigative committee was also disbanded.

A few days later, the White House announced the cancellation of the investigative committee. They stated that future investigations of this nature would be conducted with greater caution, ensuring they were grounded in the principles of the U.S. Constitution and eliminating opportunities for abuse of power.

During these days, Hardy was contemplating how to restore Hollywood to its former glory. First came the Paramount Decree, then McCarthy's scandal, both of which dealt heavy blows to the film industry.

Adding to this was the rise of television, which posed a significant challenge to the movie business. Hollywood's current state was far from its golden era.

Describing it as a depression wouldn't be an exaggeration.

This year, a few blockbusters had lit up the screens. Early in the year, Taylor'sBeauty and the Beastwas a hit. In the middle of the year, Eastwood'sRaiders of the Lost Arkdominated the box office. And now, Marilyn Monroe'sSome Like It Hotwas still showing in theaters.

Some Like It Hothad been a sensation since its release. Monroe, already a star, had now become the public's favorite sex symbol.

Two months after its release,Some Like It Hotwas still enjoying immense popularity. Over 300 theaters were still screening it, and its box office earnings had surpassed $16 million, making it the undisputed box office champion of the year.

All three of these films were produced by Hardy's HD Films. As for other studios, none had been as fortunate as HD Films. This year, eight out of ten films from rival studios lost money, leaving many of them struggling to survive.

After two days of pondering, Hardy had an idea.

He summoned Edward, the head of HD Films.

"In my name, invite MGM, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Universal, Disney, and 20th Century Fox. Tell them I want to discuss the future of Hollywood with them."

Edward promptly began reaching out to the major studios.

With Hardy taking the initiative, the studios took it seriously.

Hardy wasn't just the owner of HD Films anymore. His Hardy Group was now a massive conglomerate, with its own bank, dozens of companies across the U.S., and substantial holdings in the Cayman Islands and Japan. Its power was on par with any major financial consortium.
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In fact, it wouldn't be inappropriate to call it the Hardy Consortium at this point.

The studio executives all agreed to attend.

The meeting was set at Hardy's Beverly Hills estate. Conveniently, these executives also had estates in Beverly Hills, so it felt more like a friendly visit.

Once the servants had served coffee and left the room, closing the doors behind them, Hardy addressed the assembled film industry moguls. "Gentlemen, haven't the past couple of years been rough for all of us?"

Mike Warner of Warner Brothers shook his head with a bitter smile. "It's been very tough. This year, Warner Brothers released only 13 films, and none performed well. We're projected to lose over $5 million."

"We at Paramount are in a similar situation," said Paramount's CEO.

MGM's Louis B. Mayer looked at Hardy and said, "I'd say only Hardy's HD Films has been thriving. This year, your studio produced three films, all of which were huge hits. They're ranked first, second, and third at the box office. Especially Monroe's film, which alone is expected to earn HD Films over $10 million in pure profit."

"Mr. Hardy, what is it that you want to discuss with us?" asked Disney's CEO.

Hardy took a puff of his cigar and said calmly, "The Paramount Decree and the McCarthy affair have dealt major blows to Hollywood. I think we should come up with ways to revitalize the industry. As the leading studios, we can set the tone and lead the way."

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