Chapter 549 - 356: Don Quixote’s Name Is Really Useful

Chapter 549: Chapter 356: Don Quixote’s Name Is Really Useful

"Assign him a role with a helmet," he said, turning to pat the assistant director on the shoulder. "Pull the visor down. Just don’t show his face."

Having said that, he turned and left briskly without any hesitation, heading straight into the soundstage.

Only the assistant director, a middleman watching from afar, and over a dozen extras remained at the door. The extras looked at Don Quixote’s retreating figure and the helpless assistant director, then glanced at Ryan Reed, who was standing frozen in place. The schadenfreude in their eyes quickly morphed into jealousy.

"How do you know Don Quixote, Ryan?" one of the extras asked.

"Is he... is he very famous?" Ryan asked, walking up to the assistant director, looking completely overwhelmed.

"We really don’t have any scenes requiring helmets today," the assistant director said awkwardly, his brows knitted together in a tight frown. "Don’t you think it would be weird for a militia member to wear a guard’s helmet?"

The light in Ryan’s eyes died out again.

The assistant director looked at him, gritted his teeth, and said, "Stand to the side for a bit. After I’m done here, I’ll squeeze you in for a Royal Hall Guard gig. Just stand all the way in the back, keep your helmet on, and stay out of the frame."

Ryan nodded frantically.

"Next!" the assistant director called out, having him step aside while tapping his pen on the registration sheet. "Hurry it up!"

Inside the dressing room, Don Quixote sat next to Li Wei while Irene recreated his makeup from yesterday’s shoot. Once Irene finished his styling, packed up her tools, and stepped out, Don Quixote pulled his phone from his inner suit pocket.

"That plane you asked me to keep an eye out for," he said. "I found one."

Li Wei took the phone and glanced at it. On the screen was a profile photo of a white Gulfstream G700, its fuselage lines sleek and elegant.

"It’s a Gulfstream G700, less than three years old with under 700 total flight hours," Don Quixote said. "The seller is a Dubai Prince. He barely flew it after buying it because he thought it was too small."

"Isn’t the Gulfstream the largest business jet available?" Li Wei asked, looking up.

"He wanted to install a swimming pool for his racehorses." Don Quixote shrugged. "So he bought a Boeing 777 and is currently having it modified."

"Rich people..." Li Wei muttered. "How much?"

"Forty-seven million," Don Quixote replied. "It also includes the remaining two years of Gulfstream’s complimentary refurbishment and hosting services. What do you think? I’ve been negotiating with him for half a month and only managed to knock five million off the price. I don’t think he’ll budge any further."

Although it was a bit pricey, Li Wei still decided to buy it. The [Knight’s Collecting Habit] quest had been occupying his quest panel for a long time, and it was quite an eyesore.

The Cadillac Escalade was a one-in-a-hundred find, and the Koenigsegg was one in a thousand. If he were to apply the one-in-ten-thousand, 10 million USD requirement to a car, he would probably have to buy a collector-grade, god-tier vehicle—and he might not come across one of those for another three to five years.

"Buy it," Li Wei said, handing the phone back to Don Quixote. "Bill it to the Horizon Holdings account. We can use it to claim a tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service next year."

"You learn fast," Don Quixote chuckled, stuffing the phone back into his pocket.

Li Wei simply shrugged.

At 2:00 PM, the lighting crew finished their final round of adjustments. The main stage in Zone A of Soundstage 9 had been switched to the daylight lighting setup for the royal palace hall.

"A-3! Take 1!" Del Toro’s voice rang out from behind the monitor. "Action!"

[Militia Lovi and Thief Tucker are escorted into the royal palace hall by two knights. Their hands are bound with rope, and iron chains drag from their ankles.]

["This is all your fault. Your footsteps were too loud," Tucker muttered as he walked. "Why did you have to wear shoes?"]

["Because I’m human," Lovi hissed, rolling his eyes. "Humans wear shoes. Understand?"]

["But wearing shoes makes noise!"]

["What does this have to do with wearing shoes?" Lovi snapped, losing his temper. "Couldn’t you tell they spotted you ages ago and were just waiting at the door for us to walk right into their trap?"]

[Tucker chuckled. "I was originally going to make you the scapegoat, but I didn’t expect you to catch on so fast."]

[Lovi ignores him and looks toward the center of the hall.]

[The royal palace hall is different from last time—there are no noisy councilors, nor is there a drowsy, obese King. Instead, it is filled with solemnity and silence.]

[The Speaker, draped in a long robe, stands atop the high platform of the Speaker’s seat with his arms crossed over his chest.]

[Behind him, ten Silver Armored Knights stand motionless, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords.]

As Li Wei acted, he noticed that the eyes of the knight standing at the very edge looked somewhat familiar. On second thought, he realized—wasn’t that Ryan?

["Lord Speaker," Tucker suddenly drops to his knees. "I’m just an accomplice! I was instigated by Lovi—"]

["Silence," the Speaker says, picking up a scroll from the table and unrolling it. "Last night, two towns in the northeast of the Kingdom, Ashenvale and Blackstone, were attacked simultaneously. There were no survivors."]

[The hall falls silent.]

["Two hundred and seventy-three civilians," the Speaker says, closing the scroll. "Nothing is left but melted stone, burned houses, and scorched earth."]

["It was a dragon!" Lovi blurts out.]

[The Speaker’s gaze lands on Lovi.]

["Some believe it was a dragon, while others suspect it was an enemy Mage," he says slowly. "Our armies are all pinned down at the border. We cannot spare a large number of troops right now."]

[His gaze sweeps back and forth between Lovi and Tucker.]

["And you two just happen to be idling in the dungeon with nothing to do."]

["Wait!" Tucker hastily raises his bound hands. "Lord Speaker, I am merely a thief. I only steal things—"]

["A thief broke into the royal palace and stole fifteen chests of Gold," the Speaker nods. "Tomorrow, Thief Tucker will be beheaded."]

["What fifteen chests of Gold?!" Tucker flies into a rage. "Don’t frame me just to balance your books!"]

["Alternatively, if you investigate and uncover the cause," the Speaker says, unhurriedly pulling a token engraved with a crown from his robe, "you may choose one treasure from the vault as your reward."]

A light on the ceiling of the soundstage flickered.

[Tucker’s eyes light up.]

["Anything I want?" Tucker asks.]

["Within reason," the Speaker replies.]

["Deal," Tucker says.]

[The Speaker turns. "The Knight Commander will oversee your journey." He turns and gestures to the nearest Silver Armored Knight. "Depart at once. Seek out the elves first. They have lived for so long; perhaps they can offer some advice."]

[Lovi and Tucker are led away.]

[Lovi glares at Tucker.]

["What do you mean you were instigated by me?" he demands.]

["That is a thief’s principle," Tucker shrugs. "Adaptability, Lovi."]

"Cut!" Del Toro shouted. "That’s a wrap for this scene! Next group, get ready!"

Li Wei took off the [Deceiver’s Mask] and rolled his neck to stretch. Right at that moment, the system quest happened to update.

[Heart of the Dragon (3) Quest Updated]

[The Royal Palace Knight Commander (Gold) has joined your party]

[You have collected (2/3) companions]

[Free attribute points +0.1]

He had 3.8 points now! Li Wei silently calculated in his mind. Just 0.2 more attribute points, and he would have a clean four.

"Mr. Li Wei," the first assistant director walked over and handed him a bottle of water. "The afternoon scenes are finished. We still have an exterior shoot tonight."

Li Wei nodded. "Understood."

"Mr. Li Wei!"

Li Wei turned his head and saw Jason Miller, whom he hadn’t seen in days, walking over from a distance. He was wearing a dark blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms.

"Jason," Li Wei smiled at him. "How have things been lately? Are you getting used to everything?"

"For the past few days, I’ve been learning the financial management procedures from Patrick and sorting through the accounts," Jason Miller said with a smile. "Then I went over the budget sheets with the executive producer, Magos Weber. I only came over after hearing you finished your scene.

"Oh, right, Mr. Li Wei, there is something I’ve been trying to find a chance to tell you."