[Chapter 83: Global Frenzy]
In the room, Ian quietly discussed his upcoming plans. The dim light illuminated Ian's face, but each word he spoke carried a sense of darkness and pervasive calculation.
Listening to his scheme, Lena's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh my god, Ian, you're a genius!" Even Gaskill looked taken aback.
As an experienced banker, Gaskill had a wealth of knowledge in business operations, but when it came to running a news outlet, his expertise simply couldn't compare to Ian's. After a moment, he shook his head with a smile and said, "This plan is truly mind-blowing. Ian, you're fantastic."
Ian raised his glass with a grin. "Thanks for the compliment."
Gaskill continued, "The plan is good, and I'm all in, as long as you can find them."
"I will. Crips already has eyes on it. You know, a rat knows its own way!"
"But there's an issue you need to handle," Gaskill interjected. "To get CBS on board, you have to enhance your businessman persona. You can't keep putting yourself in danger. You need to downplay your presence in all violent news and boost the role of Butterfly. A future media mogul shouldn't be a reckless reporter; they should have a team of fearless reporters!"
Ian nodded. "I think the same. That's why I'm bringing Leyso into the mix." Ian paused, contemplating. "I have an idea, Gaskill. I believe Butterfly shouldn't just be a person but an organization -- one that's willing to risk everything for the news!"
Gaskill looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Ian elaborated, "While many reporters are willing to take risks for substantial stories, few are ready to wager their lives. I need a squad of die-hard journalists -- whether in the open or covertly."
Lena gently caressed his cheek. "Like Philip Leyso?"
"Exactly." Ian kissed Lena softly on the lips. "Just like Philip, but we can't rely on him alone -- he might only have a year left at best."
Though Leyso had a year and a half to live, Ian figured he would likely be bedridden in the final stretch, so a year of contribution would be noteworthy.
Gaskill caught on. "You want to find people who are nearing death?"
Ian nodded. "Yes, but not by our seeking them out. We'll let them come to us."
Lena was intrigued. "How do we make them seek us?"
Gaskill laughed. "It's simple: just build a hospital for terminal illnesses or establish a charity foundation."
Ian grinned. "Precisely! I want to create a charity foundation... AIDS could be problematic; I need those who can manage well enough without affecting their physicality. The foundation will have a broader outreach compared to a hospital, which tends to be too localized."
Gaskill chimed in, "That means it's purely burning through cash."
Ian downed his drink. "What wealthy person doesn't engage in philanthropy?"
Gaskill chuckled. Ian was right: wealthy individuals rarely avoided charity, regardless of the dirty laundry behind the scenes -- public appearances needed to be upheld! If it was charity either way, it was better to find something beneficial for themselves.
With this charity foundation, they could freely select the candidates they needed. As for the expenses, that wasn't an issue.
First, a well-run foundation could actually turn a profit, and secondly, it was about working within their means. Everyone could help according to their capacity, and who could blame them if the assistance was minimal? Donations of a hundred thousand represented one thing, while claiming to donate a million was another altogether.
Gaskill nodded. "This is doable; I can help you arrange it. Initially, we won't need too much money -- just a million to get started. We'll scale up as the organization grows."
Ian nodded eagerly. "Then it's settled."
Gaskill added, "Oh, by the way, I suggest you buy some new clothes. And, if necessary, consider changing residences."
Ian shook his head. "Not in a rush; I'm putting all my funds into development."
Gaskill laughed. "Ian, Ian! Didn't I tell you before that sometimes investing in yourself is investing in your business? You are the owner of Carr Media; you are Ian Carr! You are one of the most recognized journalists and entrepreneurs in the country, and you need to present a better image! There's nothing wrong with giving yourself a boost in spending -- this isn't excessive luxury but rather appropriate branding! The key isn't about being frugal, but rather about recognizing your worth and treating yourself accordingly. Don't overdo it with luxury, and don't skimp excessively!"
Ian thought this over; he understood Gaskill's perspective well.
After all, Gaskill was willing to lend him money, not because he liked the tabloid but because he believed in Ian!
When investors looked at a venture, they first examined the owner, not the plan! They determined whether the person leading the company was worth their investment.
This wasn't Ian being stingy; his business had scaled faster than his spending habits. There were habits in everything, including spending, and his consumer mentality hadn't caught up with the rapid growth of his company.
Of course, there were exceptions. Some people's spending habits exceeded their growth speed, leading to catastrophic business failures.
Ian nodded. "I'm on board."
Gaskill advised, "Let Lena accompany you. You know women are often much better at fashion than men."
Lena laughed joyfully, wrapping her arms around Ian's neck, softly saying, "I'll make you a charming gentleman, but you must always remember that I'm the most important person in your heart!"
Ian nodded solemnly. "Of course, Lena, sweetheart. Being with you is my greatest fortune, and it's Gaskill's greatest love for me. No other woman can take your place in my heart!"
---
The next morning, Ian returned to the newsroom first, relaunching the story about the robbery inside the bank. This was the follow-up report to further explore the news potential -- accomplishing the third hot topic.
The Palos Bank robbery had spread globally, and everyone already knew that an eccentric journalist and owner named Ian Carr was chasing down the robbers' vehicles for interviews.
Ian had lived up to what he had claimed during his interview -- he would interview even with the guns pointing at him!
The comment section erupted into a joyous frenzy, diving into a global celebration:
"Ian, you did an amazing job; I've never seen such outstanding journalism!"
"This is real news! This is what journalism should be!!!"
"If every reporter had Ian and Butterfly's professionalism, the world would be a better place!"
"I still prefer Butterfly."
"He has AIDS!"
"I still love him!"
"Ian Carr, come on, interview me! I'm planning to rob a jewelry store tomorrow! I'm serious!"
"Ian Carr, do you actually want someone to kidnap you? I think your suggestion is decent; those guys worked hard for over two hundred grand -- why not kidnap a wealthy person?"
"I guess when you try to kidnap him, he'll be holding a camera and asking about the emotional journey of being kidnapped."
"No need to guess! That guy would hope for a microphone even falling from a tall building!"
...
All the hilarious comments made Ian unable to contain his amusement, and the bank robbery turned into a global carnival.
Every now and then, someone called in, seriously informing Ian that they indeed had plans to rob a place and hoped to collaborate.
To which Ian responded, "Sure, as long as you dare to act, I'll dare to film."
The Palos Bank robbery, under Ian's direction, swiftly became a global sensation, even eclipsing the burning torch. After all, this kind of adrenaline-inducing interview while dodging bullets was not just rare but virtually unprecedented. Combined with Ian Carr's fame and that unique interview style, it was truly a worldwide uproar.
*****
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