I am Hollywood

[Chapter 1145: The Flaw]

When Robert Cromwell spoke those words, the atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

After a while, Robert chuckled and shook his head, saying, "Alright, I seem to have revealed too many flaws."

Eric smiled as well and replied, "If it weren't for your complaints about politicians just now, I might not have noticed this. Bob, you actually want this job quite badly. Even though you pretended to be indifferent, you've been trying to persuade me all along. If I'm not mistaken, you envy the intelligence agencies of authoritarian countries. The Firefly system could provide a similar environment for you; while we're not a country, we do have enough economic power. Most importantly, at Firefly, you won't have the constraints of a system. You just need to convince me."

"That's right," Robert nodded, admitting, "Eric, over the years, I've actually wanted to create a perfect security intelligence team. But the fact is, the Special Operations division has always been increasingly restricted, like dancing with shackles. Even some agents in the department who should strictly obey orders have started demanding higher salaries and more relaxed working conditions, but their mistakes on the job have been increasing. Can you imagine? A common thief in a nightclub can easily approach a high-profile figure enjoying themselves and steal their wallet without any trouble. After the incident, the agents responsible for protection argued that they only ensured the safety of the target. It's absurd."

Eric looked at the elderly man's almost indignant expression and couldn't help but ask, "Bob, how do you know the team you create won't have similar issues?"

Robert Cromwell responded, "Eric, no team is perfect. However, I can ensure that the kind of person I just mentioned won't be in my team."

"That sounds challenging," Eric said. "You also mentioned that society has changed; people always try to demand more while wanting to contribute less. Besides, we're not an official agency, so we can't bind a team with certain moral concepts."

"You're mistaken, Eric. As gregarious beings, humans inherently have a tendency to obey groups, leaders, and the strong. We just need to spark that instinct, and we can achieve a highly loyal team, which is not limited to just one country. Any organization, or even an individual, can accomplish this if they have enough strength."

"You mean brainwashing?"

"Yes," Robert nodded, then smiled and said, "Eric, brainwashing is actually not as mysterious as ordinary people think. It's not about setting up a small room, hanging a picture of the Fuhrer, and repeatedly drilling a certain idea into the subject's mind a thousand times. Simply put, every country's populace has its own unique living habits, thinking patterns, and even linguistic emphases. This is the large environment's brainwashing effect on individuals. Therefore, we just need to place our team in a specific environment that facilitates accelerated growth through comparison and reinforcement of their thinking and behavior patterns."

"However, it doesn't seem easy to find such people."

"Eric, you live too comfortably and don't realize that many people in this world are struggling for a chance to change their lives."

"I certainly know that," Eric replied, "but, Bob, to be honest, I need a truly outstanding team. Yet, this creates a paradox: truly exceptional people usually don't have survival issues. They may not be willing to take on a dull, mundane, and high-pressure bodyguard job. Just look at the Secret Service. To be honest, their job capacity aside, the overall quality is hard to commend. Events like soliciting prostitutes, drinking, drug use, and fighting have never really ceased. I would absolutely not tolerate a team like that."

"I personally wouldn't tolerate it either," Robert shook his head and said, "So, Eric, I will implement very strict selection measures from the start and immediately kick out any problematic members. But that's just a short-term plan because I know you need to establish a security team quickly. However, for the long-term plan, I hope we can cultivate our team from the very beginning."

Eric raised an eyebrow slightly, "The very beginning?"

Robert Cromwell frankly confessed, "Eight years old is a very suitable age."

"That sounds a bit like a movie plot."

"Movies have always been inspired by reality."

Eric shook his head and said, "Bob, I don't want Firefly to become a societal enemy."

"Eric, you're taking this too seriously," Robert Cromwell replied. "We are not a criminal organization, nor do we intend to train these children to become professional assassins. On the contrary, we can approach it very formally, with the sole goal of cultivating the talents we need. Moreover, Eric, Firefly is already a world-class conglomerate, so there's no need to restrict our vision to the harsh societal frameworks of North America or Western Europe. We can do this in Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia, or even Africa."

Eric gently rubbed his coffee cup, contemplating for a moment before asking, "Could you be more specific?"

"First, set up a fund and form a dedicated team to pick suitable 'seeds' from around the world. There are far too many children born with high IQs who end up lost in life and unable to become elites. So, we can easily select a large batch of the best and not pay a heavy price. In poorer regions like Eastern Europe and Latin America, Firefly would only need to pay $1,000 per 'seed' annually to reclaim their lives and train them according to our method. With a scale of 10,000 'seeds,' Firefly would only need to invest $10 million a year. $10 million, Eric, is hardly anything to you, is it?"

Eric nodded.

He remembered that during previous conversations with friends, Chris had calculated that with Eric's wealth, if he wanted to spend it all, he would need to squander $8 million each day.

But now, the figures had become even more shocking.

According to the financial data of various companies within the Firefly system from the previous year, as a major shareholder, Eric could easily take $4.6 billion in dividends from the profitable companies within the Firefly system.

$4.6 billion meant that he would need to spend $12.6 million daily just to burn through that wealth.

And this was just the beginning; in the future, the profits generated by the entire Firefly system could reach hundreds of billions.

In comparison, $10 million was trivial.

But it could easily impact the lives of ten thousand children.

Thinking that way, just as Robert Cromwell was about to continue, Eric interrupted, "Bob, could you please stop using the term 'seeds'?"

Robert paused, a bit taken aback, then smiled and nodded, "Of course, Eric. Well, regarding these, um, children, we certainly don't need ten thousand in the end. I will implement very strict elimination mechanisms over the ten years from ages eight to eighteen, ultimately leaving just 100 people. If we completely follow my vision for their training with a 1% elimination rate, I can guarantee that these individuals will become the most loyal guardians of the Firefly system. Because the interests of Firefly, or rather, the Williams family's interests, would be deeply etched in their instincts throughout this decade of training. Eric, if needed, they would do everything for you, even give their lives. Moreover, if given enough support, the entire training process can be cycled, and you could receive 100 such guardians each year."

"Bob, I have to admit, the prospect you're painting is quite enticing," Eric said, locking his gaze on the elderly man, "But what about you? Why are you doing this?"

Robert Cromwell met Eric's gaze head-on without flinching, replying openly, "Eric, you can think of me as a blacksmith, a craftsman who wishes to forge the sharpest spear and the sturdiest shield. I was born in 1932, during tumultuous times. Although I was fortunate enough to be born into a comparatively decent family, you know that British aristocrats had a significantly higher mortality rate than commoners during those wars. Many aristocrats lost their heirs in the two World Wars, including my father and many relatives. Since I was old enough to understand, I wanted to protect my country, and I have dedicated my life to that. But in reality, I have never been satisfied with the results of my work, just like a blacksmith who never encounters a piece of steel suitable for forging top-tier weapons."

Pausing for a moment with a hint of nostalgia, the elderly man continued slowly, "Now, an opportunity lies in front of me, and I want to fulfill my long-standing wish. A craftsman who creates the finest tools naturally intends for them to serve their proper purpose. Moreover, there's another important point: you are Jane's son. Further back, your great-great-grandmother also had the surname Cromwell. You may not care, but you do indeed carry the blood of the Cromwell family, so you are someone I can trust to handle these 'tools.' Otherwise, Eric, even if this opportunity arose, I wouldn't go to such lengths for an outsider."

Upon hearing Robert's mention of bloodlines, Eric felt slightly uncomfortable and casually took a couple of sips from his coffee.

Robert smiled and, once Eric set down his cup, said, "Eric, I can see that you are somewhat estranged from your mother, but that's an issue for the previous generation. If possible, I still hope you can get closer to your maternal family. James, or rather, Carly's father, your uncle, may have a strict personality, but he has always felt a sense of guilt towards your mother. If you were to connect, even if you are still a penniless kid, he would definitely accept you and do his best to help."

Although Eric had always restrained his curiosity about certain matters, hearing Robert say this made him unable to hold back any longer, "Bob, back then, what exactly happened?"

"Well, that's not something I can tell you," the old man shook his head. "If you want to know, you can ask your mother; she will tell you."

"Forget it, then."

Eric shook his head as well, feeling this was certainly a topic that would make everyone uncomfortable.

Robert chuckled, "Alright then, we can call the waiter to order some food. You can think about what we discussed earlier."

Olivia had shown her trust without reservations, and with the elderly man having already said so much, Eric had basically made his decision in his heart.

However, after a moment of thought, he still said, "Bob, I have one more question. You just mentioned that you're, um, 67 years old?"

"That's right," Robert nodded, not showing any concern about his age. "But I believe I can still work for another ten years."

"But you have to consider who your successor will be, and you also need someone to assist you, right?" Eric said. "By chance, I can recommend two students to you."

Robert assessed Eric for a moment, then replied with a smile, "Female?"

"Twins."

"Ha, if they're willing, bring them to me. Actually, women are often better suited for this profession than men; they are calm, meticulous, and tend to be more obedient. It's just that, usually, people harbor significant bias against women."

"I think so too. And you may already be aware of certain things. Therefore, I hope that at least half of the team you cultivate will be women."

"It seems I've already secured this job," Robert nodded with a smile. "I can promise you that."

"And about that plan you mentioned earlier, the 1% elimination rate is indeed a bit cruel. The fund you hope for should create a global grant foundation. Even if those children are eliminated, I still want them to continue receiving support and have a chance to change their lives."

"Eric, you are a very kind person; that's a good thing," Robert nodded approvingly, adding, "Furthermore, from a professional standpoint, doing so can also serve as a cover for our true plan. But if the entire plan is to be cyclic, a single foundation's goal would be too obvious; it's best to set up scattered different funds in various locations."

"Bob, you can discuss those details with my assistant Kelly Haynes. She is currently drafting relevant plans, and I intend to establish a security company that serves the entire Firefly system. If you are willing, Bob, you can be personally responsible for this company in the future."

"Eric, you might need to find someone else for that," Robert shook his head, "I'll be in charge of selecting and training the team, but I'm not too skilled in the specifics of company management."

Eric had initially intended his comment as a last test, but hearing Robert say this eased any lingering concerns in his heart.

After all, Eric had never planned to hand this security company over to anyone; if anyone was to have absolute control, it would have to be him.

As for the specific operations, Eric intended for Carter Moen, Kelly Haynes, and the elderly man across from him to work together, each responsible for different departments, which was the ideal management structure in Eric's mind.

*****

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