Hollywood Director 1992.

Chapter 485 Assassins, Please Take Your Positions
Link was unaware of what had happened to Harvey. He continued his vacation in Hawaii, practicing flying planes on Lanai Island every week, and also began drawing storyboards for The Talented Mr. Ripley.

"The Talented Mr. Ripley" tells the story of a clever poor boy who kills a playboy rich kid and then lives as a rich kid in Italian high society.

This is a more artistic thriller, which is in Link's comfort zone and not particularly difficult to film.

He chose to direct the film himself because the script for "The Talented Mr. Ripley" was well-designed, and if filmed well, it could be an Oscar-worthy movie.

Secondly, he has been making three movies a year for the past few years, most of which are big productions. His busy schedule has left him with no time to rest and not much time to deal with company and family matters.

"The Talented Mr. Ripley" was small in scale, low in cost, and easy to make; it could also be used as a break.

Furthermore, according to Blackwater's intelligence, the employer has not given up on assassinating him, and the danger remains. He needs to be extra careful while filming.

Filming in a smaller crew reduces the likelihood of problems arising.

The production team for "The Talented Mr. Ripley" has been assembled, with some staff members flying ahead to places like the Bay of Naples and Tuscany in Italy to set up the filming location.

The main cast for the film has also been confirmed.

Including Matt Damon, Jude Law, Julie Delpy, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and others.

After several twists and turns in casting the female lead, last year, after receiving the script, the original plan was to have Jennifer Connelly try out for the role of Maggie.

With Jennifer Connelly's pregnancy, the role became vacant again.

Many of my girlfriends would be suitable for this role, including Cameron Diaz, Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Kate Beckinsale, Liv Tyler, and Naomi Watts.

To avoid conflicts among his girlfriends, Link hosts an audition at Moon Beach Manor, with Monica Bellucci, Jodie Foster, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sofia, and Winona Ryder serving as casting directors, and the other girlfriends participating in the voting.

After three rounds of selection, Julie Delpy performed the best.

She possesses the elegance and sexiness of the lead actress Maggie, as well as the artistic qualities that the other actresses lack. In addition, her salary is relatively low, which allows for cost control.

Furthermore, from a market perspective, of the three lead actors, Matt Damon is from the United States, Jude Law is from the United Kingdom, and Julie Delpy is from France, in addition to Cate Blanchett from Australia.

This combination can improve a film's overseas box office performance.

After casting, Link flew to Hong Kong Island, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney and other places to promote his new movie "Armageddon". He also took the opportunity to check on the business performance of several companies this year, and also spent time with his girlfriends Joan Chen, Norika Fujiwara, and Izumi Sakai.

Chen Hong, Jiang Qinqin, and Zeng Li all became pregnant after spending two weeks with him on set in June. They are currently resting in their villa on Hong Kong Island, and it is expected that their family will have a few more children next year.

As Link roamed the world, the assassins waiting in Los Angeles grew increasingly impatient.

“Link is such a bastard, he just stayed on the island after filming the movie and didn’t go anywhere. We finally got to wait for him to leave the island, but he just flew all over the world, not giving us any chance to assassinate him. He’s so annoying.”

Bald Johnson angrily pounded on the wall in the motel.

They initially came to Los Angeles from Chicago, intending to stay for a few days, kill Link, and then return to Chicago.

However, the mission took many unexpected turns, and their short stay turned into a long one, resulting in them paying two extra months' rent to the motel.

Los Angeles summers are hot, and the motels are in poor condition; the longer he stayed there, the worse his mood became.

"Calm down. Link's stronghold is in Los Angeles. No matter where he goes, he'll come back someday."

Assassin Jon took aim with a dart and threw it. The red and black dart 'thud'ed into the bullseye of the target.

"The newspapers say that after Link finished his promotional tour in Singapore, he flew to New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, then to China and Japan. After leaving Japan, he'll probably keep flying. It's going to be endless. Are we going to have to wait here forever?"

"What else can we do? If we don't keep waiting, all the arrangements we made before will be wasted."

"I can't help it," said assassin Jon helplessly.

They could have chosen to fly to track Link and assassinate him abroad, but the airfare was too high, and they didn't have enough funds to do so.

According to sources within the organization, some wealthy assassins have also gone abroad to assassinate Link, but so far no media outlets have reported Link's death, indicating that their assassination attempt failed, and perhaps many others died in the process.

"Will there be a chance if we keep waiting?"

"Bald Johnson asked. The assassin, Jon, didn't know the answer."

Ding Dong!

The pager received a message: 'Link is back.'

The assassin, Jon, immediately perked up. "Link is back. According to our intelligence, Link is expected to stay in Los Angeles for a week before heading to Italy next week to film a movie. If we want to complete our mission as soon as possible, we must seize this opportunity."

"Understood. This time I must kill Link and get back to Chicago as soon as possible. I don't want to stay in this lousy place, Los Angeles, for another day."

Bald Johnson pulled a pistol from the sofa and stared menacingly at the Link poster on the wall.

Upon hearing that Link had returned to Los Angeles, the two immediately set off, driving to Beverly Hills.

I ran into Link's convoy on the Coldwater Canyon driveway.

Because Link was accompanied by several bodyguards and his car was modified to be bulletproof and blast-proof, it would be difficult for them to kill Link under these circumstances, given their current firepower.

They could only watch Link's convoy from a distance, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

While keeping watch, assassin Jon observed through binoculars that there were many of his accomplices around. He identified three of them and estimated that there would be more hidden in various buildings and vehicles.

"It seems that many people are interested in this $100 million."

The assassin Jon was a little excited, as if he were participating in a hunting competition, but also under some pressure, because there were too many colleagues involved in the assassination, and it would be difficult for them to be the first to take Link's head.

"Why don't they investigate the employer's identity and claim the million-dollar bounty Link has placed?"

"Bald Johnson said unhappily."

"Since we are all assassins, we are better at killing than investigating our employers. I believe there will be a lot of people involved in investigating our employers right now."

"Should we stay here and wait for Link to come out?"

"Wait a little longer and observe any changes in his itinerary over the next few days."

Assassin Jon gazed at Beverly Hills in the distance, along with the numerous luxury villas scattered throughout the hillside and the limousines coming and going in the driveway, a burning ambition flashing in his eyes.

Unfortunately, they waited for two days but Link didn't come out of the villa area. On the afternoon of the third day, things took a turn for the better. Link drove to Hollywood Boulevard, went into an upscale coffee shop, and chatted and drank coffee with Quentin Tarantino in the terrace booth area.

"Great opportunity, I'm going to take Link's head."

Bald Johnson shouted excitedly.

"and many more!"

The assassin, Jon, lowered his binoculars and grabbed Johnson, who was about to get out of the car.

"What are we waiting for? We've been waiting for months for this moment, to find an opportunity to put a bullet in Link's head. Now is the perfect opportunity, so why don't we make our move?"

"I can't believe it," bald Johnson asked, puzzled.

"Don't you find it strange? After the assassination, Link has been very careful every time he goes out, but this time he's sitting in an open-air place drinking coffee. Isn't he afraid of dying?"

The assassin, Jon, frowned deeply.

"You're overthinking it. Link's position is higher up, and there's glass around him, so it looks safer. Look over there, someone's started making their move. We have to hurry, or someone else will steal Link's head."

"Bald Johnson said impatiently."

"Wait a bit longer! Find a good spot and try shooting from a distance with a sniper rifle."

"Hehe, Link, I hope you can live a little longer and not be killed too soon."

Johnson slung his sniper rifle case over his shoulder, followed Jon out of the car, and quietly crept up to the building across the street.

(End of this chapter)