Some people rejoiced; others could only stew.
Vivian appearing out of nowhere and snatching away the role that originally belonged to Ann Darrow was more than enough to make the blue-eyed Hollywood beauty bear a grudge.
As people in the same industry would say: "Damn it, she stole my job. I'm gonna fight her for it!"
But the very next day, when Ann Darrow arrived on set, she instantly realized the gulf between herself and Vivian.
Vivian didn't even need to memorize the script deliberately—she could reproduce it on the spot, line-perfect, easing more than half the pressure on the entire crew.
That wasn't just a pleasant surprise for the production team; it was a surprise for Vivian herself.
"Huh? How come I never noticed I had this kind of talent before? This has to be thanks to Saitama!"
Vivian chalked all of her changes up to Saitama and even silently offered a wish to some unknown god.
"Amen!"
Saitama's lips twitched.
Looks like he'd really awakened the actress side of Vivian…
On the giant cruise ship, the crew following Vivian were shooting on deck. In front of them stretched the vast, rolling sea; behind them, a living painting of curves and beauty. From time to time, Saitama would show up for a hero cameo, turning it all into a full-blown epic superhero film.
All of this threw Carl into hesitation.
If he could just cozy up to Saitama and the others, why did he have to go anywhere near Skull Island off Sumatra?
To hell with that place.
Carl took a hard drag on his cigarette, then flicked the butt into the ocean.
Over on the other side, filming for Vivian and Saitama was wrapping up. The director called out to them, "OK!"
Saitama gave an "OK" in response, then he and Vivian slipped into relaxation mode.
By this point, the displaced Ann Darrow had already been completely conquered by their acting.
She really had no choice. Both Saitama and Vivian were already stars used to massive productions—one from the One Punch Man world, and one from the Transformers world. You didn't have to like it, but you did have to respect it.
"Hero, could I get your autograph?" Ann Darrow asked.
Saitama glanced at Vivian. Vivian signaled that she didn't mind, so Saitama signed his name on Ann Darrow's notebook. The smooth success of that little interaction made Ann Darrow feel like she still had a chance to push things further.
But that was when Carl could no longer suppress his desires.
He decided he was going to Skull Island after all.
Carl thought to himself: If I can film a guns-and-explosions blockbuster on Skull Island starring Saitama the "hero" and Vivian the "beauty," I'll definitely snag this year's Oscar!
"An award, an award—I'm gonna win the big one and make all those bigwigs who look down on me kneel at my feet!"
People like Carl, who drifted around high society, were often sneered at by the true elites. Either you got used to the contempt and became numb to it, or you buried your resentment deep and waited for the day you could flip the script and grind them under your heel.
So Carl snuck into the captain's cabin.
One of his buddies was in there, chatting with the captain.
"Captain, just like we agreed before—set course for the island," Carl said.
"Carl, if you're really going over there, I've gotta make this clear," the captain replied. "I'm only taking you because we go way back—I'm not breaking navigation regulations for you. And once we arrive, you get off the ship right away. I won't be coming back to pick you up."
Carl nodded without hesitation.
That surprised the captain. He'd heard where Carl was planning to go: Skull Island.
For people of the sea, Skull Island was something you avoided whenever humanly possible, not a destination you sailed toward on purpose.
If Carl weren't so desperate for fame, why on earth would he choose that place to shoot a movie?
Still, they were old friends. The captain decided to give it one more shot.
"Buddy, don't," the captain urged. "Think this through."
"Save it. My mind's made up," Carl said.
The captain stared. He rarely saw Carl this deep, this confidently serious.
"Huh. Just a few days and suddenly you've grown a backbone?"
"Carl, let me ask you straight—how come you're not scared anymore?" the captain pressed.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm hugging Saitama's thigh now," Carl said.
Up till this moment, the captain still had no idea that a world-saving hero had boarded his ship.
"Saitama… you mean…?" the captain stammered.
"Yeah. That Saitama," Carl confirmed.
The captain sucked in a sharp breath, then promptly shoved the ship's wheel into Carl's hands.
"Bro, you steer for now. I'll be right back!"
Carl was speechless. "Why don't you drive it yourself…?" he muttered under his breath.
"Of course I'm going to get a photo and an autograph from the hero!" the captain called back as he hurried off.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Carl thought that, up till now, he'd assumed his captain friend was at least a bit more grounded than the people he'd met before.
Now it seemed people were all the same.
Heh. So much for that.
In the blink of an eye, word that Saitama had appeared on the giant cruise ship spread throughout the vessel.
There were plenty of girls from noble families on board—from aristocratic grandmothers in their eighties to young ladies still waiting to be married off—and every last one of them developed ideas about Saitama.
And why wouldn't they?
Saitama was too cool, too handsome, too stylish.
A man who could shoot a superhero blockbuster without any props at all—was he even human?
Of course he was—he was a superhuman.
Every time Saitama stepped in front of the camera, the whole set exploded with excitement.
If it weren't for the fact that they knew they couldn't match up in looks, those women eyeing Saitama's body would have already swarmed him in a frenzy.
All of this put pressure on Vivian.
So Ann Darrow picked up a new duty: as female lead of an action blockbuster, she also became responsible for supervising the male lead and making sure he didn't get himself into "weird situations."
Half a month later, in the dead of night—
On the evening they wrapped filming on the "Saitama Series Blockbuster: Giant Cruise Ship," the vessel drew near to Skull Island.
Before midnight, everyone on board felt a sudden, creeping sense of dread.
Nightfall. Torrential rain. Lightning.
Each one was enough to make sailors uneasy; this time they came with howling gales and towering waves.
"Everyone, hurry back to your cabins and don't come out!" the crew shouted.
Then they scattered across the decks and into the critical parts of the ship, checking for leaks, damage, and anything they might have missed.
In their cabin, Vivian and Saitama sat side by side, watching the storm rage outside. Their hearts were calm.
Because ever since coming ashore, this was one of their rare moments of true alone time.
Vivian's pretty face flushed red. She opened her mouth, about to say, "Dear Saitama—"
Knock, knock, knock.
A sudden knocking interrupted her.
Ann Darrow stood at the door, dressed in a white outfit, her face pale from the rain. She looked like she'd just been dredged up from the bottom of the sea—anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was filming a horror movie.
"S-Something's happened!" Ann Darrow blurted.
(End of Chapter)
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