"You're back just in time, Matthew," Michael Cudlitz said, gesturing to Matthew. "James investigated based on the clues you provided. Tom West and Kate Jeffrey are definitely meeting in that warehouse, and not just once!"
Matthew put away his backpack and asked, "What do you want to do?"
"Get rid of Tom West!" Michael Fassbender said directly to Matthew. "Let the crew replace him with a new instructor."
James McAvoy added, "We met Damian Lewis today. Their training focuses more on tactics and weapon use. They also have similar military training, but their instructor is a retired military officer who has been in the film and television industry for many years, not a rookie like Tom West. That instructor said there's no need for such rigorous training; just understanding is enough, and many things can be adjusted during actual filming."
"We can give feedback to Gary Goetzman," Matthew said, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "There's no need to..."
Michael Fassbender shook his head directly. "The contract between the crew and Tom West includes a penalty clause. If Tom West doesn't breach the contract, the crew would have to pay a large penalty if they fire him arbitrarily."
Matthew frowned and asked, "What do you plan to do?"
"Make him resign!" James McAvoy sniffed, and Matthew then noticed his nose was red. He asked, "Are you catching a cold?"
James McAvoy nodded. "Yeah. So, even for the sake of our health, Tom West has to go."
Michael Fassbender echoed him, "This series could make us famous. Do you want to be replaced by others because you fall ill?"
"No!" Michael Cudlitz shook his head repeatedly. "Absolutely not!"
Matthew shrugged, deliberately reminding them, "Only four people aren't enough."
"Who said only four?" James McAvoy said confidently. "I went to the other people's dorms before I came over. They all agree that Tom West should leave. On this, they unconditionally support us!"
He looked at Matthew. "We've included Kate Jeffrey in the plan! Matthew, don't you want to make her look bad? You won't keep enduring, will you?"
"I'm not a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle!" Matthew quipped.
"Alright then..." James McAvoy pinched his reddened nose, as if orchestrating a military coup. "Tonight, I'll gather everyone. Fassbender and I have a preliminary idea, and we'll discuss it together."
Subsequently, James McAvoy and Michael Cudlitz left one after another.
Matthew didn't mention his own plan until they left. Now, Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy were the masterminds; he was just going with the flow, so if anything went wrong, there would be room for maneuver.
As for the experiment he conducted, he would see if he could secretly act on it after learning James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender's plan.
This way, he would also have a cover.
That night, more than twenty actors, who deeply resented the devil instructor, gathered together, formed an offensive and defensive alliance, and silently approved James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender's plan.
In fact, Matthew guessed that many people's thoughts were similar to his. Anyway, James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender were taking the lead, and if something really went wrong, the crew would first hold them accountable. It was impossible to fire all twenty-odd actors for one instructor.
However, in Matthew's opinion, James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender dared to do this, so they must have some leverage, and their plan indeed had a chance of success.
Training resumed, and Tom West continued to train the actors as if they were new recruits.
He completely disregarded their complaints. Matthew observed him for a long time and gradually formed some guesses about him.
Tom West's actions were likely due to several reasons: first, his personal character; second, the inertia of having just retired from the military; and third, his desire to complete his work diligently.
There was also another possibility, which was that he was doing it deliberately when no one could find fault with him, and others were suffering because of it... But Matthew thought this possibility was low.
The actors endured for another three days, but they weren't idle during this time. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, following the clues Matthew provided, confirmed many things. The most crucial was that Tom West and Kate Jeffrey had a particular fondness for the warehouse, especially the one storing weapon props, and would meet there during lunch breaks every few days.
Matthew further confirmed that their meetings were very regular, occurring every two days.
Additionally, he had entered Tom West's locker room several times and found that the box of condoms was still there, and the number had decreased again.
The day before confirming that James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender might act, Matthew, after leaving the dorm building where the locker room was located, returned once more. Wearing rubber gloves, he slipped into Tom West's locker room, opened his backpack, took out the prepared equipment, grabbed the box of condoms, and, as he had experimented before, used a micro-sized medical syringe to inject peppermint oil into the front of the condom packaging, then sealed the almost imperceptible needle hole with quick-drying glue of the same color.
He observed carefully; if not directly facing a light source and looking closely, it was basically impossible to see any abnormality on the packaging.
Matthew was most worried about the smell. After all, peppermint oil has a strong scent. Although he had mixed in some liquid fragrance, it couldn't completely mask it.
Fortunately, there was still James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender's plan; even if it failed, those two wouldn't have an easy time.
Subsequently, he injected peppermint oil into the front of every condom packaging and then sealed the needle holes with quick-drying glue. After doing all this, he put them back in their original positions.
Matthew checked one last time, making sure he hadn't left any traces, and left the locker room.
Back at his military barracks dorm, Michael Fassbender, who had gone to discuss with James McAvoy, hadn't returned yet. He checked the time and called Britney.
"Hi, Matthew."
Hearing Britney's voice, Matthew's heart, which had been restless from revenge, calmed down a bit. He said, "Finished rehearsing?"
"Not yet..." Britney seemed very troubled. "The producer isn't happy with my vocal performance on one song and wants me to practice harder. I've been so busy lately, and with the time difference between us, it's not even convenient to talk on the phone."
Matthew could only comfort her, "After this show is filmed and you finish your concert tour, we'll have time."
"Mmm!" Britney's mood brightened slightly. "We'll go on vacation together then!"
Then, she started to grumble again, "This is my first concert, and I can't lip-sync. The record company is very strict; at the very least, I have to sing along with the live original sound."
"I believe in you, Boo Boo," Matthew encouraged her. "You'll definitely do your best!"
He had heard Britney sing. Frankly, there was a bit of a gap between her original singing and the studio-recorded album.
However, according to Britney, this was basically the norm for pop singers; few actors could sing live like they did on their albums.
Recording had various equipment to assist, making every singer a master with explosive vocal skills.
As for lip-syncing at concerts, in the fiercely competitive music industry, once exposed, the negative impact would be too great.
The two chatted for a few minutes, then Britney had to go back to work, and Matthew voluntarily hung up the phone.
Putting away his phone, he sat by the window and read the day's newspaper. Even though the training was exceptionally tough now, he still maintained his reading habit whenever conditions allowed.
It would be too sad if an actor couldn't even understand a script with a bit of depth.
After finishing a copy of The Times, the dorm door was pushed open from the outside, and Michael Fassbender walked in. He came directly to Matthew, dragged over another chair, and sat next to him.
"Our plan might start tomorrow," Michael Fassbender said in a lowered voice. "According to past habits, Tom West and Kate Jeffrey are very likely to meet in the warehouse tomorrow at noon."
His voice dropped even lower. "I've contacted the assistant producer who brought you guys over. He's been oppressed by Kate Jeffrey since joining the crew and will cooperate with us..."
Matthew nodded, but said nothing, like a small minion obeying the orders of Michael Fassbender, the big boss.
Night gradually deepened, dorms one by one turned off their lights, and the entire building was unusually quiet. Everything was no different from before.
The next day, the rigorous training continued. The actors practiced individual curved running. Several staggered foxholes had been dug on the training ground, and according to Tom West's requirements, every actor had to skillfully move between the foxholes and was strictly forbidden to run in a straight line.
The actors' performance was no different from before; those selected for important roles in this crew certainly had basic acting skills that passed muster.
After the morning's training, Tom West left as usual, minding his own business. The actors, however, were different; many of their paratrooper uniforms suddenly showed wear or tears.
Everyone first went to the cafeteria for lunch. After receiving notification from the person monitoring, and at Michael Fassbender's suggestion, they all went to find the assistant producer responsible for their group of actors to request new uniforms.
That assistant producer, who had previously brought Matthew and other North American actors to the airport, checked their clothes, took a few photos for filing, and then led them out of the small office building and together walked towards the warehouse where the costumes were stored.
Matthew was mixed in among the actors, not saying a word from beginning to end. He didn't need to do anything now; he just waited for Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy to make their move.