[Chapter 535: Grand Convoy]
It was 8 a.m. on July 6th at Los Angeles Hollywood Burbank Airport.
When Linton stepped off the plane alongside Danny and Li Xiaoran, they were greeted by a sight both imposing and unmistakably powerful. His freshly purchased security convoy had already driven into the airport -- a formidable lineup of two armored vehicles and four military-grade Humvees, each fully armed and exuding an unmistakable air of menace.
Peter from the FBI's Los Angeles branch and Crowell from the LAPD were also on site, each commanding six patrol vehicles. Even more striking, both had brought heavily armed helicopters hovering overhead. Despite their tireless efforts to manage the fallout from the five deadly homicides that had rocked the city just three days prior, both men knew they were walking a precarious line -- they were in serious trouble.
Their superiors had delivered a crystal-clear message: the severity of their punishment would depend entirely on Linton's attitude. Whether they'd be quietly reassigned to some low-profile department for a cushy retirement, face outright dismissal, or be prosecuted for gross negligence was now in Linton's hands.
Determined to make a good impression, both Peter and Crowell personally brought their best equipment and elite operatives to the airport to greet Linton and escort him to the specialty store. Yet despite this show of loyalty, beneath it all was a deep, unspoken fear. Over the past couple of days, they had left no stone unturned -- questioning everyone from the raucous partygoers at the Viper Club's first floor, to the few surviving women at the Gardena estate, and even scene-mugging nearby homeless individuals who might have witnessed something. They'd deployed the latest forensic technologies to painstakingly scour each homicide scene.
But they found nothing. No trace of the murder weapon, no shards of evidence clinging to the victims' wounds. Whatever knife or blade was used was undeniably razor-sharp and unyieldingly tough -- but completely unidentifiable, leaving them with zero leads. It was as if the killer had descended from the heavens, dispatched the victims, and vanished back into thin air.
It didn't make sense. Even if such a person was flying through the air, someone should have seen it -- unless they could vanish like ghosts. But did those kinds of people exist in real life? It was the stuff of comic book superheroes, the stuff even Hollywood wouldn't dare portray.
This deep uncertainty left Peter and Crowell with a chill at the back of their necks -- they feared their heads might roll at any moment, literally or figuratively. That was a key reason why, despite their looming accountability, they willingly grovelled before Linton.
Linton couldn't help but smile to himself at the absurdity of the scene. Not only had he wiped out the entire gangs of would-be robbers, but even if the thugs were unharmed, who in their right mind would dare challenge this armored escort? Still, he accepted the show of force; sometimes, projecting strength to the outside world could diffuse future troubles.
Today's grand escort, delivering both the Vitality Pills and Beauty Pills to the specialty store, was bound to ignite a media frenzy nationwide. There would be plenty of praise -- and plenty of criticism. But to Linton, it was just free publicity, adding an almost legendary aura to the two elixirs.
...
That morning, residents of Los Angeles witnessed something normally confined to the big screen. An 18-vehicle convoy rolled out of the airport, a fusion of armored cars, military Humvees, and customized Cadillacs, flanked by two armed helicopters overhead.
The last time the city saw such a spectacle was during the tumultuous riots of '92, but back then, people were too terrified to even leave their homes -- they caught only glimpses on news broadcasts, too afraid to indulge their curiosity. Now, the breathtaking convoy paraded openly along the streets, with crowds lining the route, snapping photos, cheering, and calling friends to witness the event.
Naturally, media and paparazzi swarmed the scene, converging from all directions at lightning speed. Some savvy reporters quickly figured out this wasn't a movie shoot but the real deal -- the transport of Vitality and Beauty Pills. Photos and reports flooded the internet immediately, with major TV networks interrupting regular programming to cover the story, even live-streaming parts of the procession.
...
By 8:30 a.m., the full convoy came to a halt on Rodeo Drive. Police had cordoned off a dedicated lane, allowing the armored vehicle carrying Linton to pull up right in front of the specialty store's entrance. Pedestrians lining the promenade gaped as the armored car rolled onto the exclusive walking street.
It wasn't until store manager Alexis and head of security Guli, flanked by several other guards, stepped out to unload large crates from the vehicle that the crowd realized the convoy was delivering the highly coveted Vitality and Beauty Pills. The grand scale and formidable security sent the perceived value and prestige of the pills soaring even higher in the minds of the waiting customers.
...
After finalizing the transfer, Linton had no further business at the store. He immediately left with Danny and Li Xiaoran, heading back to the estate. He trusted the store's security implicitly. And indeed, the specialty store officially opened at 9:30 a.m.
Within less than an hour, all 145 bottles of Vitality Pills sold out. By 3 p.m., the entire stock of 2,500 bottles of Beauty Pills vanished.
...
Meanwhile, the massive security escort, police barricades, and armed helicopters had sparked a media storm across the country. TV, newspapers, and the internet were flooded with coverage, sparking endless debate.
Unlike previous times, when commentary about Linton was overwhelmingly positive, this event split public opinion sharply.
On the internet, his fans responded with unrestrained enthusiasm, proud to see their idol displaying such commanding power. Though a few critical voices emerged, they were quickly drowned out.
But on traditional media -- TV and newspapers -- experts and commentators were scathing. They argued that Linton's extravagance was a gross abuse of public resources, a waste of taxpayers' money, and an impediment to everyday life and traffic flow.
Nevertheless, for Linton, this calculated display of power was just another step in cementing his unshakable reputation.
*****
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