YM778.TV Chapter 90: Chapter 90 Publicity And Hype
Five assault teams surged inward, followed closely by a photographer, while police officers trailed behind.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Gunfire suddenly erupted from one location.
One of the teams encountered an emerging robber who, upon seeing the security team, immediately reached for his gun.
However, he was no match for the assault team. The team leader raised his hand and showered the robber with a flurry of bullets, leaving him with several holes.
The gunfire awakened other robbers.
Three individuals emerged armed, but the situation was far more severe than they had anticipated. Upon emerging, they became immediate targets for the security personnel, who greeted them with snipers and assault rifles fire.
The robbers dared not venture out further. A gun barrel protruded from a window, and there was even a heavy machine gun wildly firing outward.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The intense gunfire continued.
"Boom!"
Richard found a gap, and a sniper bullet penetrated the window, accurately hitting the machine gunner\'s head, silencing the heavy machine gun.
But within seconds, another robber seized the machine gun and resumed firing outward. The sound of continuous gunfire and whizzing bullets filled the air.
The police officers remained hidden behind the mountains of garbage, none daring to expose themselves. Even the photographers continued to extend their lenses, capturing nonstop footage.
"Use the grenades!"
Following the command, team members retrieved their carried grenades and hurled them towards the building. A couple landed accurately inside.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Several explosions ensued, quieting the room instantly.
"Advance! Eliminate any resistors on sight!" ordered Commander Kerry.
Dozens of security team members swiftly rushed towards the building. Observing this, the photographers ran alongside, but the police did not keep pace.
To them, the recent combat resembled a battlefield. They had never experienced such warfare before and were still shaken. If those heavy machine gun bullets had struck them, they surely wouldn\'t have survived.
Nevertheless, they admired the HD Security personnel. Clearly, these were battle hardened veterans who faced the onslaught of enemy firepower with unwavering resolve. They charged forward without hesitation.
They had never experienced real war and had no idea. That actual warfare was a hundred times more brutal.
Some robbers resisted stubbornly and were immediately shot dead. One injured man clutched his chest, watching as the security team advanced, pleading, "I don\'t want to die. Please, save me."
"Team 5, control the bandits and escort them out. Other teams, continue the search."
Team 5 members seized the bandits limbs and carried them outside.
After the search, all the robbers here had been neutralized. Only the injured one remained alive but soon succumbed.
"Commander, 8 robbers dead, 1 injured. Mission accomplished. Please give us the next order." Kerry reported over the radio.
"Search for the money\'s whereabouts."
"Understood."
After a few minutes of searching, they discovered a small cellar within a room. All four cash boxes stolen from the bank were inside.
"Wow!"
The cash boxes were opened, revealing colorful stacks of bills. Several boxes were placed together, creating a visually striking scene.
The photographers aimed their lenses at the cash boxes.
"Commander, the money is located."
"Good. Send a team to retrieve the cash. Other teams, search the vicinity for any other suspicious individuals," commanded Lancer.
"Copy."
One team carried the money away while the remaining teams continued their search.
As the team emerged with the cash boxes, journalists gathered at the entrance, frantically snapping photos.
Indeed, these journalists had been tipped off by Hardy.
The higher the heat surrounding this incident, the better for HD\'s publicity.
Initially, the journalists only heard intense gunfire and explosions. Later, when a robber covered in blood was carried out. The reporters finally found an opportunity to take photos. Soon after, the security personnel brought out the cash boxes, signaling the successful completion of the operation.
When Lancer stepped down from the command vehicle, he was immediately surrounded by journalists, each holding up microphones to ask questions.
"Is all the stolen bank money recovered?"
"What happened to the robbers? Is there only one survivor?"
"HD Security--what kind of company is it? Can you introduce it to us?"
Lancer had anticipated this scenario and calmly accepted the interviews, detailing the operation.
Finally, he mentioned, "We filmed the entire operation. Soon, you may see this documented in theaters."
The journalists persisted.
"Mr. Lancer, who designed your security personnel\'s equipment? It looks very impressive."
"It was designed by our company\'s Chairman."
"Why did your company apprehend the robbers instead of the Los Angeles Police Department?" asked another journalist.
Currently, few outsiders are aware of HD Security\'s collaboration with the LAPD. This was the perfect moment to announce it.
"We at HD Security have reached a cooperative agreement with the Los Angeles Police Department. We serve as a supplementary force, assisting in the capture of highly armed and dangerous criminals. In the future, HD Security will also contribute to protecting the citizens of Los Angeles."
In a luxury sedan nearby, several executives observed everything.
Mayer chuckled, "Today\'s been quite a spectacle--not just the swift capture operation but also the publicity hype tactics Hardy used."
Capitalizing on this bank robbery, Hardy transformed HD Security into a star company. From now on, HD Security will rank among the top security firms in Los Angeles.
"As long as it can serve the safety of the citizens of Los Angeles, I am willing to see such an enterprise develop," Mayor Ross said with a smile.
Only President Johnston frowned and said:
"I\'m not sure if we should be celebrating. From start to finish, we at Bank of America were the victims. Our lobby was destroyed, our reputation tarnished, and we even had to pay HD Films $200,000 for publicity. While the robbers faced consequences, we\'ve only incurred losses."
Hardy looked at Johnston and said with a smile, "Mr. Johnston, this incident is not just an opportunity for HD security. It\'s also an opportunity for Bank of America. When the documentary film comes out, I believe you will feel that the $200,000 was not wasted. This publicity fee will definitely yield more than what you invested elsewhere."
"I hope so," Johnston shrugged.
The next day, newspapers across Los Angeles were filled with reports of the Bank of America robbery being solved and the robbers being killed.
The Los Angeles Times led with a photo of several HD Security personnel dressed in black tactical uniforms carrying out bloodied robbers.
They used colored photographs deliberately. The robbers clothes were torn, bloodied, and their faces contorted in pain, while the four security personnel exuded sharpness.
Their "HD Security" labels were prominently displayed.
This attire, resembling future special operations gear, looked impressive and drew significant attention.
This photo alone ensured that many would remember the name "HD Security."
It was undoubtedly the best advertisement.
The written reports detailed the entire incident clearly.
Bank of America had been robbed by unusually brutal criminals, who indiscriminately shot and killed, resulting in 13 deaths and 16 injuries--the most deadly robbery in the United States in the past decade.
Public opinion condemned the robbers actions, and Bank of America offered a $20,000 reward for information on the robbers whereabouts.
Los Angeles HD Security, mobilizing intelligence personnel, finally tracked down the robbers hiding in a scrap recycling station five days later.
Yesterday, HD Security and the Los Angeles Police Department launched a joint operation, assaulting the robbers. The battle was intense, involving assault rifles, heavy machine guns, and grenades, ultimately resulting in 8 robbers killed and 1 seriously injured.
All the stolen cash was recovered and the injured robber was admitted to the hospital.
The seriously injured robber admitted in the hospital that they had collaborated to rob the bank. Originally, they wanted to avoid the limelight before splitting the money, and live freely elsewhere.
However, HD intelligence discovered and targeted them during their hiding, resulting in their total destruction.
Afterward, reporters interviewed HD Security\'s general manager and the operation\'s commander, James Lancer.
Lancer, a retired Marine Corps officer injured in service, explained that all HD Security personnel were veterans with combat experience in Europe and Asia.
HD Security had recently established a collaborative partnership with the Los Angeles Police Department, thereby becoming a key security presence dedicated to safeguarding the city\'s residents.
Lancer mentioned that the operation was fully filmed and would be made into a documentary premiering in major U.S. theaters, showcasing the entire incident.
Other newspapers also covered the arrest operation.
Some used photos of HD Security personnel carrying the robbers, while others showed them carrying bank cash boxes.
The cause and effect were explained thoroughly.
It was inevitable--Hardy had prepared scripts beforehand. These journalists merely followed them, ensuring clarity.
A few days ago, Bank of America robbery had made headlines nationwide.
Now, with the latest news about the robbers, public interest was unusually high.
After reading the newspaper reports, the entire city of Los Angeles, even California and the whole United States, knew about the Bank of America robbers demise and the existence of HD Security.
Analysts noted that HD Security\'s publicity impact was so great that even a million dollars in publicity funds might not match the current effect.
And this wasn\'t the end, they are also planning to make a documentary and send it to cinemas to show the entire incident.
The promotional impact was expected to be even greater.
The owner of HD Security wasn\'t just an experienced veteran who built such an elite security force, he was also a master of publicity and hype.