The next stretch of time was all about the intense prep work for the movie.
First up was reaching out to the Kremlin in Russia. One of the scenes needed to be shot there, so getting their approval was a must. Without it, the crew could be staring down the barrels of some very cold rifles.
Mr. Eisen, the producer, had been worried the negotiations might hit a snag. But when the Kremlin's office heard that Luke was the one behind the film, they greenlit it without hesitation.
Not only did they allow the crew to film in non-sensitive areas of the Kremlin, but they even enthusiastically offered to send staff to assist with the shoot.
Eisen was over the moon, marveling at how Luke's global influence just kept growing.
With the Kremlin sorted, the next stop was Dubai's Burj Khalifa.
(Note: In this parallel timeline, it was completed a few years earlier.)
The talks went just as smoothly. When Dubai's royal family learned Luke was involved, they rolled out the red carpet.
The ultra-wealthy royals even offered to cover the crew's accommodations and meals during the shoot. As for borrowing venues, staff, or vehicles? Not a problem at all.
Eisen had braced himself for a tough negotiation, maybe even burning through some resources to seal the deal. But a few phone calls later, everything was settled. He couldn't help but shake his head in amazement.
Meanwhile, Luke wasn't just sitting around.
He carved out time to help Taylor Swift shoot the music video for Love Story, nailing his cameo as the male lead.
Then he squeezed in a meeting with the two executives running his media platform company.
In those talks, Luke laid out his vision for the company's direction.
For the film studio complex, he insisted on prioritizing areas for shooting historical dramas, shooting down the executives' proposal to build a Republican-era set.
Around the early 2000s, Republican-era dramas had been all the rage, but stricter regulations soon tanked their popularity. Meanwhile, fantasy wuxia and historical idol dramas exploded, becoming the biggest slice of the TV and film market.
With his foresight, Luke knew the studio needed to focus on what would actually pay off.
Spreading resources too thin would just dilute everything. Better to keep the focus tight.
Outside the studio plans, there was the matter of acquiring land in major cities for CBD developments.
Luke pushed to prioritize the four biggest tier-one cities. With the $10 billion in funding not fully secured yet, secondary regional cities could wait for phase two.
He knew it'd be nearly a decade before land prices in those cities skyrocketed, so there was no rush to tie up funds now.
Once the rest of the money came through, they could expand more aggressively.
But what surprised the executives was Luke's insistence on adding Xiamen to the list, alongside the big four.
They were puzzled. Xiamen's economy wasn't exactly top-tier. Why skip a city like Hangzhou and zero in on Xiamen?
Luke couldn't exactly explain, but the truth was Xiamen's real estate prices would soar, consistently ranking among the top four in the country, even hitting third at one point.
If they didn't snatch up land now, the costs would be astronomical later.
By the time Luke wrapped up all this, Yuffie arrived in New York with her mom in tow.
Fresh off filming The Family of Gold Powder, she hopped on a plane to join the King of Espionage crew.
---
New York, Conrad Hotel, King of Espionage Kickoff Press Conference
Luke sat on stage, a slight grin on his face.
This hotel held some memories for him.
It was here he first met Director Sommers for The Mummy Returns—and watched the guy's career crash and burn.
It was also here he'd faced off against Mike Tyson in the ring, shocking the North American fighting world.
And that poor guy who got knocked out cold? He was sitting with the crew today, attending the press conference.
Because Tyson was playing a key villain in the movie.
Staring out at the sea of reporters, flashbulbs popping like crazy, Luke was completely at ease.
Years of experience had made him a pro at handling scenes like this.
But Yuffie, sitting next to him, was a nervous wreck. The scale of the event was overwhelming, and the "fairy sister" was visibly flustered.
Then she felt a hand quietly slip under the table and grab hers.
She'd held that hand countless times—she knew it was Luke. No one else would dare.
She glanced at him, and he flashed her a reassuring smile.
With her boyfriend's support, Yuffie's nerves settled considerably.
Today's press conference was her first time facing Western media, and she knew there'd be plenty of questions aimed at her. But now, she felt ready to handle them.
The clock struck, and the press conference kicked off.
"Welcome, everyone, to the King of Espionage kickoff press conference," the host began.
"I know what you're all dying to talk about. Let's be real—your focus is probably on the very dashing Mr. Luke, right?"
The room erupted in good-natured laughter.
"No need to keep you waiting then," the host continued. "Let's bring out Mr. Luke!"
After a brief intro, it was time for the crew to speak.
Normally, the director or producer would take the mic. But King of Espionage was built entirely around Luke.
He was the biggest star in the room, so putting him front and center would maximize the film's media exposure.
Luke picked up the microphone, bringing it to his lips. Before he could even speak, the room burst into applause.
He nodded in thanks, unfazed by the enthusiasm.
Yuffie, watching from beside him, couldn't help but marvel.
She'd always known Luke was a big deal now. The buzz when he visited the Family of Gold Powder set was proof enough.
But seeing him command this kind of adoration from the media? That was the kind of clout most celebrities could only dream of.
Her gaze lingered on him, a mix of pride and admiration.
Luke was a master at working the press. He knew exactly what they wanted.
As the applause died down, he leaned into the mic and delivered his opening line:
"This will be the most thrilling, heart-pounding movie ever made. And you're all lucky enough to witness its birth."
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