mesbooks Chapter 313 Establishing a Foothold in North America
Chapter 313 Establishing a Foothold in North America
Chapter 313 Establishing a Foothold in North America
Steve Jobs' private dinner was essentially a high-end exchange of capital and fame.
In North American society, where the law of the jungle and individualism reign supreme, excessive humility and restraint are often seen as weakness. Kitahara Shin understood this perfectly. His fluent English, tinged with a touch of California laziness, coupled with his effortless ease when dealing with Hollywood moguls, quickly made him the center of attention in the entire banquet hall.
"Mr. Kitahara, your control over the camera is truly captivating." A female star who has appeared in numerous Hollywood blockbusters swirled her champagne, her eyes sparkling with undisguised admiration. "If I have the chance in the future, I really hope to visit your film set and experience that breathtaking tension."
"Of course, as long as the script is suitable, Kitahara Productions' doors are always open." Kitahara Shin smiled calmly and raised his glass in a gesture of respect.
He didn't display any obsequiousness or eagerness for quick success. On the contrary, his unwavering composure made these Hollywood stars, accustomed to being fawned over, even more eager to curry favor with him. In just one hour, Kitahara Shin had effortlessly built a top-tier network of connections within Hollywood's inner circle.
Just as Kitahara Shin politely declined yet another young actress who wanted to leave her phone number, he was preparing to go to the terrace for some fresh air.
A white man with a slightly receding hairline, holding a whiskey, and with a unique melancholy and neurotic air about him walked straight toward him.
Upon seeing this face, Kitahara Shin's gaze sharpened slightly.
Nicolas Cage!
In 1998, Nicolas Cage was undoubtedly a Hollywood superstar. He had just won the Academy Award for Best Actor two years prior for his role in *Leaving Las Vegas*, and subsequently starred in a series of globally blockbuster action films such as *The Rock*, *Con Air*, and *Face/Off*. At this time, he was at the peak of his acting career, a guarantee of both box office success and acting prowess.
"Good evening, Kitahara." Cage walked up to Kitahara Shin and, instead of making small talk about computer effects or Apple stock like the others, he spoke directly in his signature deep voice, "I must admit, I really like the movies you make. Especially that one—'The Wives of Yakuza'."
Upon hearing this name, Kitahara Shin paused slightly, a genuine surprise flashing in his eyes.
"The Wife of a Yakuza"?
That was shortly after he transmigrated, and in order to gain a foothold in the film industry, he collaborated with legendary Japanese actress Shima Iwashita on a gangster film. Although it achieved good results in Japan at the time, the subject matter, full of Japanese yakuza culture, finger-cutting apologies, and traditional gang feuds, was definitely an extremely niche film in the culturally barrier-ridden Western market.
He never expected that a Hollywood Oscar-winning actor would actually go looking for such obscure old movies to watch!
"You've actually seen 'Yakuza's Wife'?" Kitahara Shin couldn't help but chuckle, his tone now tinged with genuine interest. "I thought that an actor like you, used to Hollywood blockbusters, would only be interested in big-budget action scenes."
The subject matter of that film wasn't very popular in North America.
"Watching too much of Hollywood's industrial assembly line gets boring. I really enjoy collecting independent films and underground videos from various countries." Cage took a sip of whiskey, his eyes gleaming with artistic fervor. "You in that movie were simply amazing. Without that deliberate Hollywood heroism, the look in your eyes as you stood in the rain, gripping your katana, that sense of despair—oppressed by fate yet coldly ruthless like a beast—it was fantastic! That raw, unadulterated aesthetic of violence made me watch it three times!"
These words gave Kitahara Shin a completely new understanding of the Oscar-winning actor in front of him.
As expected of a man known as a "film fanatic," his sense of cinematic art and aesthetic appreciation is indeed exceptionally keen. Following this topic, the two discussed everything from the fatalism of Japanese gangster films to the rigidity of the Hollywood acting system, and then to the future direction of action-suspense films.
After a few drinks, the two hit it off and felt like they had known each other for a long time.
"Nicholas, since you're so fond of scripts full of tension and a sense of destiny, I happen to have a new project in development." Kitahara Shin shrewdly seized the opportunity, throwing out bait, "A hard-core thriller about cops and robbers, undercover agents, and the crazy tug-of-war between the underworld and the legitimate world. I plan to produce it with an all-Hollywood cast. It not only has the visual impact of a blockbuster, but also a depth that touches the heart. I guarantee it's an Oscar-caliber script tailor-made for you."
Upon hearing "Oscar contender" and "psychological thriller," Cage's eyes lit up instantly. What he has no shortage of right now is commercial resources; what he craves most is a script that allows him to push his acting limits once again and win a second Oscar!
"If you can really come up with a script of that caliber, Kitahara, I'll definitely be your lead!" Cage agreed without hesitation.
The two agreed to cooperate so easily in a few seemingly casual jokes.
After the party, to show hospitality and to celebrate their verbal alliance, Nicolas Cage warmly invited Kitahara Shin to visit his private mansion in Malibu the next day.
"California's sunshine and waves are unparalleled in the world. Tomorrow I'll take you to experience the real West Coast life!" Cage said, patting Kitahara Shin on the shoulder.
The next afternoon, Malibu Beach.
The sunlight poured down relentlessly onto the golden sands of this affluent neighborhood. Cage's mansion was built on the edge of a cliff, offering a panoramic view of the vast Pacific Ocean just outside the door.
The two changed into beach shorts, drank chilled Corona beer, and lay under a parasol, enjoying the uniquely Californian leisurely pace of life. Cage also enthusiastically showed Kitahara Shin around his garage collection of several limited-edition Ferraris and vintage muscle cars, and their relationship quickly warmed up during this purely male-dominated entertainment.
"Kitahara, can you surf?" Cage asked, pointing to the rolling waves in the distance, laughing. "In Malibu, you can't say you've been to California if you can't surf!"
"Let's go, let's give it a try." Kitahara Shin smiled.
The two, carrying custom-made surfboards, walked side by side toward the waves.
The seawater was slightly cool, and the soft sand rustled under his feet. Just as Kitahara Shin was about to step into the shallow water, he suddenly felt something hard poke his sole.
He stopped and looked down, where he saw something half-buried in the sand washed by the waves. Kitahara Shin bent down and picked it up.
It was a shark tooth, weathered and yellowed from long exposure to seawater. A rough but sturdy silver wire was wrapped around the base of the tooth, making it into a vintage pendant. It looked like a talisman that a surfer had accidentally lost on the beach.
The moment Kitahara Shin's fingers touched the shark tooth pendant, the system that had been dormant in his mind for a long time emitted a crisp notification sound.
[Ding! A lost item imbued with the wild spirit of the West Coast has been detected, meeting the special environmental trigger conditions.]
[Congratulations, host! You have picked up and obtained an epic (purple) special equipment: Fang of the Balance of the Deep Sea.]
[Equipment Attributes: This is a token that has witnessed countless battles with the waves. Wearing it will fully unlock the host's spatial awareness and dynamic visual potential.]
[Passive Skill 1: Absolute Balance. Whether on a turbulent sea or in a narrow, turbulent predicament, the host's control of their center of gravity will reach a perfect, superhuman level, rendering them immune to all conventional states of imbalance.]
[Passive Skill Two: Adrenaline Time (Bullet Time). When the host encounters sudden danger and their heart rate spikes, dynamic vision will be forcibly maximized. In your eyes, all high-speed moving objects around you will appear as if in slow motion, like in a movie.]
Upon hearing the system notification, a hint of surprise flashed in Kitahara Shin's eyes.
This equipment came at just the right time. He had previously acquired a purple-grade weapon, the "Worn-out Wooden Sword," while filming in Japan. That weapon granted him terrifying muscle memory and fighting skills, making him a "Martial Arts Prodigy." Now, this "Fang of the Deep Sea's Balance," with its "Absolute Balance" and "Bullet Time," perfectly completes the final piece of his puzzle in terms of dynamic perception!
With the combination of these two, Kitahara Shin has now reached an unfathomable level in the realm of pure physical combat.
He casually rinsed the sand off the pendant with seawater, put it around his neck, and then grabbed his surfboard and paddled into the deeper water.
A perfect wave, more than two meters high, surged in from behind.
With the aid of "Absolute Balance," Kitahara Shin didn't even need to consciously find his center of gravity. He pushed off with both arms and exerted force with his waist, instantly standing firmly on the surfboard.
He spread his arms, letting the wind tousle his hair, his surfboard carving a sharp yet beautiful white trail through the massive wave tube. He executed a breathtaking wave-cutting spin at the crest of a wave, his movements as effortless as if he were strolling on flat ground.
Cage, who was also surfing not far away, couldn't help but whistle loudly when he saw Kitahara Shin's smooth and skillful maneuvers.
The two played in the sea for more than half an hour until they were almost exhausted, and then they returned to the shore on their surfboards.
"Well done, buddy! Your surfing skills are way better than those so-called professional instructors!" Cage walked ashore with his surfboard and handed Kitahara Shin a bottle of ice water.
Just as the two were sitting under a parasol on the beach, preparing to continue discussing the details of the new script.
Suddenly, a sharp argument and a woman's scream came from the public beach area not far away.
Kitahara Shin and Cage turned to look. They saw four tall, burly Black youths covered in exaggerated gang tattoos surrounding two young white female tourists in bikinis. One of the thugs even reached out to snatch the expensive SLR camera from one of the women's hands, hurling vulgarities at her.
The two girls were terrified and frantically backed away. Although the surrounding tourists looked indignant, no one dared to step forward to stop them because of the thugs' menacing appearance and the knife hilts that were faintly visible at their waists.
"These scumbags from the streets of Los Angeles are actually running wild on the edge of a private beach in Malibu!" Cage frowned, and as a public figure, his instinct was to take out his phone and call the police.
But the moment he took out his phone, Kitahara Shin, who was standing next to him, put down his water bottle and stood up.
"Calling the police was too slow." Kitahara Shin's tone was calm and without any fluctuation.
Before Cage could react, Kitahara Shin had already taken long strides and was walking slowly toward the scene of the incident.
"Hey! Kitahara! Don't be impulsive, these street gangs might be carrying guns!" Cage was startled and quickly tried to stop him. He knew Kitahara Shin was a billionaire and a famous director, but in this kind of street conflict, status and money couldn't stop bullets!
However, Kitahara Shin seemed not to hear him and walked straight behind the group of thugs.
"Let go of that camera and get out of here." Kitahara Shin's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling, authoritative quality.
The four thugs who were harassing the girl paused for a moment and turned around. When they saw that the person standing in front of them was just a tall, slender Asian man wearing beach shorts, they burst into mocking laughter.
"Damn it, where did this Asian kid come from? Trying to be a hero and save the damsel in distress?" The leader, a black thug who was over 1.9 meters tall and as strong as an ox, spat arrogantly, threw down his camera, grabbed a fist the size of a casserole dish, and smashed it hard towards Kitahara Shin's face with a whooshing sound!
"Ah! Watch out!" the two female tourists screamed in fright. Cage, who was holding his phone in the distance, broke out in a cold sweat.
At this critical moment.
The moment Kitahara's heart rate slightly increased, the [Balance Fang of the Deep Sea] on his chest emitted a hidden purple light.
The passive skill [Adrenaline Time] is activated instantly!
In Kitahara Shin's dynamic vision, all the surrounding sounds were stretched out infinitely; the wind and the sound of the waves became muffled and slow. The black thug's originally incredibly powerful fist now appeared to him like a slow-motion replay, with every muscle exertion and the trajectory of the punch clearly visible, moving at an appalling slowness.
Kitahara Shin didn't even take a step back; he merely tilted his head slightly, and the fist missed its mark just past his ear.
At the same time, the "Martial Arts Godhood" muscle memory originating from the [Old Wooden Sword] within his body was instantly awakened.
With a deft slide, he cut into his opponent's inner circle. His right hand, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, precisely gripped the black thug's thick wrist, while his left hand smoothly supported the opponent's elbow, and he suddenly exerted force from his waist.
A perfectly executed ancient-style jujitsu shoulder throw!
"Bang!"
With a dull thud, the massive body, weighing nearly two hundred pounds, was slammed heavily onto the hard sand. The immense impact prevented the thug from even letting out a scream before his eyes rolled back and he instantly passed out.
The remaining three thugs were completely dumbfounded. They never expected that this seemingly refined Asian man would possess such terrifying explosive power!
"Kill him!"
The three, realizing what was happening, immediately turned red-eyed. Two of them pulled out spring-loaded folding knives from their beach shorts pockets and lunged at Kitahara Shin from both sides.
"Watch out for the knife!" Cage yelled from a distance.
Facing the two blades gleaming with a cold light, Kitahara Shin's eyes remained completely unmoved.
With the combined effects of "bullet time" and "absolute balance," he seemed to be delivering a devastating blow. He leaned back slightly, and the blade grazed his chest by a hair's breadth. Immediately afterward, he raised his right leg and delivered an extremely sharp high side kick, tearing through the air with a crisp "snap," striking the knife-wielding thug on his right with perfect accuracy in the chin.
The thug was hit like a speeding car; he tumbled through the air before crashing heavily into the sea.
Then, Kitahara Shin spun around and delivered a powerful elbow strike to the ribs of the thug on his left. With a sickening cracking sound, the third thug collapsed, clutching his chest in pain.
Less than five seconds!
Of the four menacing street thugs, three were already lying on the ground, incapacitated. The last thug, unarmed, looked at his companion's miserable end and then at the Asian man in front of him who wasn't even breathing. Terrified, his legs went weak, and he knelt down on the beach with a thud.
"No—don't hit me! I'll leave right now!" The thug trembled and begged for mercy incoherently.
Kitahara Shin gave him a cold glance and didn't make another move. He simply bent down, picked up the DSLR camera that had fallen on the beach, and handed it to the still-shaken female tourist next to him.
Only then did a burst of enthusiastic applause and exclamations erupt from the distant beach. The two rescued female tourists, their faces flushed with excitement, repeatedly thanked Kitahara Nobunaga.
Nicolas Cage, standing at a distance, was completely dumbfounded.
Having acted in action movies his entire career, he knew all too well how unbelievable what had just happened was. Kitahara Shin's clean, crisp, and deadly fighting techniques were even more exaggerated than in the movies!
"My God—Kitahara, that was so cool! Did you receive some kind of special forces training?" Cage stepped forward and looked Kitahara Shin up and down with the eyes of someone looking at a monster.
"I just like to practice some self-defense techniques in my spare time," Kitahara Shin said with a faint smile.
A dozen minutes later, Los Angeles Police Department patrol cars arrived with sirens blaring.
Because of the testimony of superstar Nicolas Cage, and the willingness of many tourists to provide statements, the police treated Kitahara Shin very politely, simply taking a statement before handcuffing the thugs and putting them in a police car.
However, in this era of advanced information dissemination, this matter could not simply be left unnoticed.
At the time, several tourists on the beach used their portable DV cameras to film the complete scene of the thugs provoking him first and Kitahara Shin's legitimate self-defense.
Early the next morning.
The largest local newspapers and television stations in Los Angeles featured the beach clash on their front page morning news.
In the scene, Kitahara Shin, wearing beach shorts, faces four thugs. His fluid, action-movie-like, and deadly counterattack is clearly seen by audiences across the United States.
"A real-life action blockbuster! Asian billionaire subdues thugs with his bare hands on Malibu beach!"
"Kitahara Shin: A man who's even more hardcore in real life than in his movies!"
TV presenters on various channels excitedly narrated the fight scene, repeatedly playing the less than ten-second video.
This incident is like pouring another bucket of gasoline into the North American entertainment industry, which was already full of curiosity about Shin Kitahara.
Hollywood's initial impression of Shin Kitahara was limited to commercial labels like "wealthy investor" and "special effects genius." But now, the aura of "kung fu master" and "tough guy" has been forcefully bestowed upon him. In American culture, which venerates strength and heroism, this kind of top-tier tycoon who is both intellectual and martial is simply the most talked-about and perfect idol.
Beverly Hills, the president's office of the North American branch of the Kitahara Group.
Kitahara Shin sat behind his large desk, a freshly brewed cup of black tea in his hand, listening to Aida's report.
"President, Mr. Nicolas Cage's agent has officially sent over the letter of intent. They've shown great interest in the new script." Secretary Aida adjusted his glasses, his tone tinged with excitement. "Furthermore, since yesterday morning's news broadcast, our branch office's front desk phone has been constantly busy. The management teams of several Hollywood A-list stars, including Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, have contacted us, expressing their desire to meet with you to discuss potential collaborations."
After listening to the report, Kitahara Shin put down his teacup and casually picked up the brand-new, printed and bound script on the table.
That was the weapon he planned to use to dominate Hollywood.
"Tell those agents that the script is still being polished. When the time is right, I will personally hold the auditions," Kitahara Shin said calmly, leaning back in his leather chair.
He doesn't need to actively cater to anyone. In this world of fame and fortune, as long as you hold absolutely top-quality resources and unparalleled financial backing, those Hollywood stars who are usually high and mighty will naturally line up to come to his door.