*Chapter 195: I Need Your Help*

"Eric, I figured it out. I’ve deciphered the terrorist's messages."

The next day, the filming continued.

On set, in an FBI office, Richard, dressed in a sharp suit, was walking and discussing food with someone beside him. Sandra, holding a piece of information, hurried over.

"I compared the language patterns in several of his letters. I discovered that he used a code, and there's a word that keeps repeating—‘Miss.’"

"Hart, Hart, stop right there."

Eric interrupted her.

"Can I finish first?"

Gracie Hart spread her hands excitedly, "The word ‘Miss’ might be hinting at the Miss America pageant. Do you understand?"

Eric smiled slightly, "Yes, I understand. The FBI Intelligence Department thinks so too."

"What?"

Gracie said, frustrated.

Eric smirked and walked into the office.

"Cut!"

"That’s a wrap on this one. Prepare for the next scene!"

Director Donald shouted.

After finishing a scene, Richard walked outside the set, holding the script, continuing to familiarize himself with the plot and lines.

Today’s scene is about the FBI receiving a secret letter. After analysis by the intelligence department, it was concluded that the terrorists plan to sabotage this year’s Miss America pageant. The FBI deputy director appoints Eric to handle the case, and Gracie is a member of the team.

After a short break, the crew resumed filming.

"Scene 15, Take 1, and action!"

The clapperboard snapped, and the actors began their performances.

"Does anyone have any suggestions?"

Richard, dressed in a blue shirt, holding a cup of coffee, with a work badge hanging around his neck and a fake FBI badge clipped to his belt, asked.

"Cut! Richard, pay attention to your expression when you turn around. Make it more cold and remember, this is a comedy."

Director Donald called out.

"Okay!"

Richard turned around, back facing the camera. In this scene, the FBI team members were discussing how to solve the case. Eric is the team leader.

Now faced with a difficult problem, he felt troubled, and except for Gracie, the rest of the team were a bunch of useless members. They eat snacks during work and discuss food after work. Of course, Eric himself is also included in this group.

This setup was meant to highlight Gracie as a very competent female agent.

When Richard first saw this script, he was quite frustrated. Last year, he played a rookie agent, and now he was playing another agent without much skill.

These roles were full of irony.

"God, we only have 48 hours. Where should we start?"

Richard scratched his head and looked at his subordinates.

"Um..."

"Um... I have a cousin in Texas."

The subordinates were clueless, saying all sorts of irrelevant things.

"First, we should liaise with the TV station, and at the same time, contact the pageant organizers. We may need their cooperation in the future."

Sandra suggested.

Everyone looked at her dumbfounded. Richard touched his chin and nodded seriously, "Yes, yes, I agree. Everyone heard that, right? Let’s do that!"

"What about the jurisdiction issue?"

A subordinate asked.

"No problem, the terrorists targeted us first, so jurisdiction isn’t an issue. But we should inform the San Antonio branch in advance, make arrangements, and avoid overstepping. In necessary situations, we can get manpower and technical support."

While Sandra was explaining, Richard frowned, looking like a clueless student. After listening for a while, he suddenly understood and waved his hand, saying,

"Everyone, follow my orders. Let's do it!"

"Great idea!"

"That's a brilliant plan!"

The subordinates echoed.

"One more thing, terrorists like to create chaos. They might strike during public events, such as outdoor preliminaries and televised broadcasts."

Sandra added.

"Yes, we should monitor the inside of the convention center."

An agent suggested.

"It’s not just that. There are many places in the competition that only contestants can enter, like backstage, hotel rooms, etc. We need an inside person."

Sandra said.

"Yeah, yeah, now I get it."

Richard stood up, leaned on the table, and smiled mysteriously, "How about we arrange an undercover?"

"Boss, great idea!"

"Boss, you’re right!"

The agents all chimed in.

"I have a suitable candidate."

Richard smiled.

"Cut!"

Director Donald watched the footage, pointed out a few minor issues, and the crew reshot the scene.

---

"Richard, Paul’s on the phone!"

Around 1 PM, after the filming was done, Richard was about to have lunch when Mike came over with a phone.

"Did he say anything?"

Richard asked as he took the phone.

"About the competition. He’s nervous and needs you to reassure him."

Mike smiled.

"This guy’s mental toughness needs some work."

Richard smiled slightly, took off his shirt and tie, handed them to Mike to put away, and then, dressed only in a T-shirt and shorts, he dialed the phone.

Paul's fight against Hasim Rahman was scheduled for April 22 in Las Vegas.

Hasim Rahman, 28 years old, two years older than Paul, started his career in 1994. He has a record of 34 fights with 32 wins and 2 losses. He is a former USBA heavyweight champion, former IBF Intercontinental heavyweight champion, and the current WBC International heavyweight champion.

Ranked 20th among heavyweight boxers, Rahman is ahead of Paul, who is ranked 42nd. In terms of experience and ability, Rahman seems slightly superior.

"Paul, how are the preparations for the fight going?"

Richard asked, holding the phone between his shoulder and ear while carrying two boxed lunches to the office table. Since the set was in an office, the dining area was casual.

"Richard, who do you think is better, me or Hasim?"

Paul asked.

Richard raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Of course, it's you, no doubt."

"Richard, I want the truth."

Paul sighed, "This is really important to me."

Richard smiled softly, took a bite of broccoli, and asked, "You're not confident about the fight?"

"Yes!"

Paul sighed again, "Before I went pro, I thought I was unbeatable. Apart from you, there was no one who could match me. Even after losing two matches last year, I didn't think it was because I wasn't strong enough—I blamed the coach's tactics.

But this year, each match has been more difficult. The more I fight, the harder it gets, and I almost couldn't hold on during the last one."

"It’s the same for everyone. Continuous matches do drain your energy and patience. But if you can push through, there's hope to reach the top."

Richard smiled. He was glad to hear Paul say this.

Usually, overly arrogant people lack humility and self-awareness. Paul had always had an overconfident attitude, but now he seemed to have matured.

"Richard, did you feel the same way before you won the championship belt?"

Paul asked.

"I didn’t. I’m a superhuman boxer, so I didn’t have ordinary people's feelings."

"."

Hearing this, Paul nearly had a heart attack.

"Okay, just kidding. I did feel that way sometimes, but not often because I won the championship belt in the first round, so the pressure wasn’t as intense."

Richard laughed.

"So what should I do? I've been watching Hasim Rahman's fight videos over and over again these past few days. His punches and technique are as good as mine. How can I beat him?"

"I don’t know, but I do know that if you want to win, you have to be confident first.

You're Paul Pilbert, ranked 42nd in the heavyweight division. Your skills aren't far behind the likes of Lewis, Holyfield, Tyson, Klitschko, or David Tua. You can definitely beat Hasim.

Second, follow the guidance of your coaching team. Your interests align with theirs, and they know you and your opponent best. They’ll give you the strategy that suits you the most. Of course, if you have any concerns about their tactics, talk to Andy.

Third, keep training. Overthinking won’t help; doubts, hesitation, and fear will only dull your punches.

Lastly, if the pressure is too much, take a few days off, spend time with your girlfriend, or read a book. I have some autobiographies of boxing champions like Ezzard Charles, Joe Louis, and Rocky Marciano in my study. They’re all great reads. Once you go through them, you’ll understand why you’re feeling this way."

Richard suggested.

There was silence on the other end of the line.

"Heh, Richard, you're a tactical genius. Could you come up with a strategy to help me win this fight? I need that belt—not just for my career but also for my love life. Please!"

Paul pleaded.

Richard smirked. So that’s why he called—it was all about this. His previous advice had been for nothing.

"Alright, I can help you!"

Richard thought for a moment and agreed.

"Really? What strategy do you think I should use to beat Hasim?"

Paul asked excitedly.

"Do you think strategies are like guns? You ask for one, and I just hand it over?"

Richard scolded.

"Uh, so when can you come up with one?"

Paul urged.

Richard shook his head, "My strategies are tailored to my own situation and are adjusted based on the opponent. You can't win with a one-size-fits-all approach, so before I can devise a strategy, I need to understand both you and Hasim."

"Alright, there’s still half a month left. We’re not in a rush. Take your time."

Paul chuckled.

"I'll discuss this with your coaching team. They’ve worked with you for over a year and know you best. If necessary, I can temporarily join your coaching staff."

"Haha, that’s great. With you on board, I suddenly feel more confident."

Paul laughed.

"Don’t rely too much on tactics. To win, it’s still up to you. You need to keep training and stay sharp."

Richard advised, then hung up the phone. While eating, he texted Andy.

Before coming up with a strategy, he needed to understand both fighters, so watching their fight videos was essential.

"Alright, I'll have them delivered to you tomorrow."

  (End of Chapter)