*Chapter 199: The Duel Between Two Gunners*

The next day on set, filming was in progress.

"Agent Eric, doesn’t this woman have any talent?" the designer Viktor shouted.

Viktor was played by the renowned actor Michael Caine, a highly talented veteran. His character, Viktor, was the image consultant for the Miss America pageant, hired to transform the tomboyish Gracie into a graceful lady in a short time.

"Don’t say that in front of her; it’ll embarrass her," Eric teased while eating a pie.

"I never said I could teach her talent, nor can I get her ready in five hours," Viktor complained.

"Wait a minute, what are you talking about?" Eric put down his pie and wiped his fingers with a napkin.

"I’m saying that tomorrow she’s going to stand on stage clueless, or maybe perform the act of breathing in oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide."

Seeing Gracie about to sneak a bite, Viktor snatched the pie from her hand and handed her a carrot instead.

Gracie rolled her eyes and crunched on the carrot.

"Hey, you said you couldn’t make her beautiful in two days, but now she looks amazing," Eric commented, glancing at the now-smiling Gracie. He paused and added, "I mean, compared to how sloppy she looked before, she’s much better."

Gracie huffed and continued munching on her carrot.

"My duties are outlined in the contract, and I’ve fulfilled them. This is no longer my problem," Viktor said.

"You better think of a talent for her, or else—"

"Are you threatening me?" Viktor asked indignantly.

"Listen, you old—"

"How dare you call me that, you jerk!"

"Cut!" Director Donald called out. "Richard, control your expression. Make the tone more intense!"

"Got it!" Richard nodded, adjusting his expression.

"Richard, be careful, or I’ll stuff these back in my bra," Sandra warned, pulling two pies out from her bra. During the argument, she had slyly hidden them there, ready to sneak them away.

"Alright!" Richard chuckled, returning to his position with Michael Caine.

"Scene 98, Take 2, Action!"

The clapperboard snapped, and Richard wore a stern expression, pointing a finger at Michael Caine.

"Listen to me, you better come up with a talent for her, or I’ll—" This time, his tone was more severe and cold.

"Are you threatening me?" Michael Caine, ever the seasoned actor, responded perfectly.

Earlier, when Richard’s emotion was subdued, Michael matched it. But as Richard’s tone intensified, Michael quickly adjusted, raising his voice accordingly.

After performing with the veteran actor for three scenes, Richard felt at ease—likely why Michael had become such a celebrated supporting actor.

"Listen, you old—"

"You jerk! How can you say that?" Michael Caine shot back angrily.

Richard glared at him, his expression growing colder, looking ready to strike.

"Hey, stop, stop!" Sandra stepped between them, stuffing the pies back into her bra. "I just remembered I do have a talent. I haven’t done it since high school, but I’m still pretty good—like riding a bike."

"Don’t you dare perform XJ on stage!" Michael warned.

"Oh, I didn’t know that was allowed. In that case, I can call room service," Sandra said, throwing her hands up.

"Cut!"

"That’s a wrap!" Director Donald announced.

After wrapping up that scene, the crew took a short break before resuming filming.

After over three weeks of shooting in Los Angeles, most of the early scenes were complete. On April 20th, the crew moved to Las Vegas for the next phase of filming.

Meanwhile, Paul’s match was about to begin.

"How are you feeling?" Richard asked as he entered the dressing room the evening of the fight. Paul and his coaching team were preparing for the match.

"No problem, I’m confident I can beat him," Paul said, swinging his thick arms, his torso bare.

"Good. Hasim has a pattern: when facing a strong opponent, he’s cautious in the first few rounds, usually going at least eight rounds. But when he thinks his opponent isn’t much of a threat, he’ll go all out from the start, trying to finish the fight in just a few rounds. You can gauge how he views you based on his approach in the first round. My advice is to let him make the first move. Assess his power—see if it’s as brutal as mine. If you can’t take it, go on the offensive early, leaving him no chance to retaliate. If you can handle it, play it safe; whether to attack or hold back is up to you," Richard explained calmly.

"I understand. I don’t think his punches are stronger than yours," Paul grinned, flashing his white teeth.

"Don’t get cocky. Hasim’s counterpunches are deadly—12 of his 34 opponents have fallen to them," Richard reminded.

"I got it!" Paul nodded, clenching his fist.

"Remember, it’s okay to get knocked down in the fight—just get back up. Losing a few rounds isn’t the end of the world, but you must keep going. You’re just one step away from the championship belt. Once you have it, you can stay in Los Angeles for good."

"I understand!" Paul nodded firmly.

As the match drew near, Richard returned to the audience. The arena was packed, with over 20,000 seats nearly filled—a turnout rivaling that of a light heavyweight title fight, showing just how popular heavyweight bouts are among fans.

Before the match, the stage hosted a performance by a group of dancers—scantily clad, gyrating energetically to the music, with high splits and a lot of skin showing.

"Richard, aren’t you going to stay by the ring to coach?" Norman asked from the front row, tearing his eyes away from the stage.

"No need. I’ve said all there is to say. The rest is up to Paul," Richard replied, taking an empty seat.

"But I’d feel better if you were down there," Norman persisted.

"Yeah, Richard, you’ve got a million bucks riding on this—aren’t you worried Paul might lose?" Mike asked with a grin.

"You should trust Paul. He’s been in 29 fights; he knows what he’s doing," Richard replied. He didn’t want to be down there, partly to avoid putting too much pressure on Paul and partly to avoid stealing the spotlight at someone else’s fight.

"Richard’s right to sit here," Andy chimed in. "If Richard were by the ring, it would make the other side nervous. Everyone knows Richard is a tactical genius—they’d be more cautious. Now, with Richard staying out of sight, they might be caught off guard."

"That makes sense!" The others nodded in agreement.

"Don’t make me sound like some mastermind," Richard joked.

"Aren’t you?" they all laughed.

"Richard, do you think Paul can win?" Mayweather asked. He had been training in Las Vegas recently and had time to catch the fight.

"He can," Richard said confidently.

In Chapter 199, titled "Duel of the Two Gunners," the story unfolds in a high-stakes boxing match between Paul Pielbert and Hasim Rahman. The match is not only the semi-final of the WBC Championship but also a challenge for the WBC International Champion title.

As the match begins, both fighters enter the ring amid the roaring cheers of the crowd. Paul, with his imposing 196 cm height and 206 cm arm span, faces off against Hasim, who, though slightly shorter at 189 cm, has a longer arm span of 208 cm. The physical stats of the two fighters are nearly identical, setting the stage for an intense battle.

The match starts with Hasim taking the initiative, launching a fierce offensive against Paul. Despite Paul's attempts to counter, Hasim's well-practiced combination punches seem to give him an early advantage. The crowd is electrified as both fighters exchange powerful blows, each one appearing to aim for a knockout.

However, as the first round ends, Hasim lands a solid uppercut, nearly knocking Paul off his feet. The crowd erupts in excitement, believing that Paul might be on the verge of defeat. In the second and third rounds, Hasim continues his aggressive assault, and Paul's defensive tactics are put to the test. Although Paul is knocked down, he manages to get back up, showing incredible resilience.

In a surprising turn during the fourth and fifth rounds, Paul regains his strength and mounts a relentless counterattack, pushing Hasim back with a series of powerful punches. The crowd is now fully behind Paul, cheering him on as he appears to regain control of the match.

However, the sixth round brings a shift in momentum. Hasim begins to use his signature "cold punch," a sudden and devastating strike that has knocked out many of his previous opponents. In the eighth round, Hasim lands a powerful punch that sends Paul crashing to the canvas. The crowd falls silent, sensing that the match might be over.

As the referee begins the countdown, Paul's corner, led by Richard, urges him to get back up and fight on. Just before the count reaches zero, Paul stands up, battered but determined. Richard reminds Paul of his training and the importance of this fight, motivating him to give it everything he has left.

The ninth round begins with both fighters exhausted but determined. Paul's coach uses a psychological technique, telling Paul to imagine that the heavy training weights he once wore have been removed, filling him with a renewed sense of strength. Paul's opponent, Hasim, also feels the pressure as he realizes that Richard, the renowned tactical master, is closely watching the fight.