"Uh… do I really have to wear these props and shoot a short film? And if I need to use the bathroom… what should I do?"
Donnie joked with the Russian bodyguard, but the man remained stone-faced, clearly not amused. "This is an order from my young master. You must wear it. If you need to use the bathroom, just take it off."
"Alright, your boss is the one calling the shots." Donnie didn't dare act stubborn. After all, on the way here, there had been a Ferrari Enzo, a first-class private jet, and a Tiger armored vehicle. He knew that this boss, Mavi, was powerful and not someone to mess with.
However, just as Donnie was about to close the door and put on his Iron Man suit, he saw a massive, muscular green giant with a fierce and grotesque expression stiffly walking past the doorway.
Behind this green giant, there was a small bug-like figure with glowing headlamp-like eyes, followed by a man wearing a blue mask and carrying a shield…
Donnie almost burst out laughing at the sight. Compared to painting his entire body green, wearing the Iron Man suit seemed much more comfortable.
Mavi hadn't hired the original actors to play the Hulk, Spider-Man, or Captain America. It wasn't because he was trying to save money, but because it wasn't necessary. After all, the Hulk was created with CGI, and Spider-Man wore a mask—no one could tell who was underneath it anyway.
After putting on the somewhat over-the-top Iron Man suit, Donnie walked stiffly out of the dressing room. At the same time, Black Widow (Johansson) and Thor (Hemsworth) also emerged.
None of them had much to say about their outfits. They just wanted to finish filming the short and get paid, treating it like attending a cosplay party for a rich guy.
Under the escort of bodyguards, the three arrived at a platform resembling an airport helipad. Several MiG fighter jets were parked there, making it look like an actual military base.
Looking at the setup, they felt that the production was surprisingly professional. Soon after, they met the film crew and the director, but they didn't see the boss who had hired them—the mysterious tycoon named Mavi.
Just as Johansson, Donnie, and Hemsworth were starting to feel puzzled, a young Russian man wearing a black T-shirt casually arrived with his bodyguards, making his presence known to the crew.
The action director, who had been explaining the scene to the actors, immediately approached with a flattering smile and said, "Young Master Mavi, the actors and props are all in place. How do you want us to shoot the next scene? Do you have any specific instructions?"
The director was hired by Mavi—not for his talent but because he was competent enough and, more importantly, would follow orders.
Mavi's arrival instantly caught the attention of Johansson, Donnie, and Hemsworth. They all looked at him curiously. It was evident from their expressions that they were surprised by his appearance and, more so, his youth.
"Just make sure everything is safe," Mavi said casually. However, when he said "safe," he didn't mean it in the usual sense. Everyone would soon find out what he meant.
"Understood! I'll continue briefing the actors," the director replied respectfully.
Mavi gave a slight nod and then glanced at "Black Widow," "Iron Man," and "Thor," who stood nearby.
If this had been in his past life, Mavi would have been ecstatic to see Hollywood stars up close. He would have immediately pulled out his phone to record the moment, maybe even ask for a photo and an autograph to show off on social media.
But in this life, things were different. His identity and mindset had changed.
When Mavi's gaze landed on them, 16-year-old Johansson gave him a polite smile, while Donnie and Hemsworth also nodded at him in greeting.
These three actors would go on to dominate Forbes' list of the highest-paid actors in the world. Yet here they were, actively trying to make a good impression on Mavi. Life truly was unpredictable.
Mavi turned away, feeling somewhat strange about the situation. Maybe it was because of the contrast between their on-screen personas and reality.
The director continued assigning roles. Today's scene was about the Avengers attempting to prevent the world's destruction by storming a military base. In the climax, Iron Man would fly into the air and fire his automatic cannons, destroying the helipad to prevent enemy fighters from taking off in pursuit.
In sci-fi movies, epic battle scenes are mostly done in post-production. The real filming process isn't as grand as it seems—it's just actors following the action director's instructions, striking dynamic poses, and making cool movements. That's basically all that's required.
For example, in the final shot, Donnie, dressed as Iron Man, would "fly" into the air, open multiple missile ports from his arms and chest, and unleash a barrage of attacks on the helipad.
In reality, there were no actual missiles—just Iron Man striking a pose and pretending to launch an overwhelming assault.
"Alright! Cut! Great work, everyone!" The director clapped the slate, signaling that the Russian scenes were wrapped. The actors, exhausted from wearing their costumes, could finally relax. Some started changing out of their outfits, while others removed their props. The crowd quickly began to disperse.
With a broad smile, the action director approached Mavi and asked, "Young Master Mavi, the Russian scenes are all done. What would you like us to do next?"
"Good work. Now, make sure everyone evacuates immediately. No one should be within 500 meters of the platform," Mavi instructed without hesitation.
"Huh? Right now? Alright, I'll notify everyone immediately!" The director had no idea why Mavi was suddenly ordering everyone to leave in such a hurry. But since he was just an employee, he didn't ask questions.
"Attention, everyone! Please leave the helipad immediately! Stay at least 500 meters away from the platform!" The director shouted through a megaphone.
The actors and crew members were confused by the sudden urgency. There were still plenty of lighting rigs, cameras, and other equipment on set—it would take time to clear everything out.
Sixteen-year-old Johansson, still dressed in her tight Black Widow suit, followed the crowd out, her curiosity piqued. She had no idea what was about to happen, but seeing the Russian bodyguards sealing off the site, she figured something important was coming next.
Donnie, moving clumsily in his Iron Man suit, watched as the crew packed up their gear at a slow pace, not taking things too seriously. Some people were even running over to take selfies with the MiG fighter jets in the background…
Seeing this, Mavi shot a glance at his bodyguards. One of them immediately grabbed a megaphone and yelled,
"Everyone, hurry up and leave! In fifteen minutes, the Russian Air Force will destroy this helipad!"
"Repeat! Everyone, hurry up and leave! In fifteen minutes, the 1564th Russian Air Force Unit will bomb this helipad! This is not a drill! This is not a drill! This is not a drill!"
The moment those words left his mouth, the slow-moving crew and casually exiting actors all froze in shock!
(End of Chapter)