The Tyrant Billionaire

Christmas Night.

The Super Idol grand finale.

The grand hall of the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the same venue where several Oscar ceremonies had taken place, was now hosting the Super Idol talent show. Today, the audience wasn't just ordinary people it was filled with Hollywood elites and stars.

One could say that the number of celebrities present wasn't any less than at the Oscars.

Many political figures from Los Angeles also attended: the mayor, police chief, several council members, and other department heads.

Many of these people showed up out of respect for Hardy, as he was not only the chairman of the Actors Guild but also one of the most powerful figures in Los Angeles.

Back in the 1940s, when gangs were rampant, Hollywood became increasingly safer. No criminal forces dared to come to Hollywood to cause trouble or harass stars, all thanks to Hardy. After all, this was the territory of the Los City Gang.

The law and order in Los Angeles had improved significantly since then. Gang activities were rare. The Los City Gang managed many gray industries, such as monopolizing the alcohol supply for bars and nightclubs across the city, running underground casinos, and handling punching machines and slot machines.

They also ran more legitimate businesses, like investment companies and garbage disposal services. Bill's men were busy with all kinds of enterprises, so they didn't bother with petty crimes like robbery or extortion.

On the contrary, to maintain their territory, the gang would deal with any out of town criminals themselves, before handing them over to HD Security Patrol. As a result, over the past year, the crime rate in Los Angeles had improved drastically.

With better public safety, entertainment activities flourished. People often went out at night to have fun, and bars and nightclubs were packed, indirectly boosting Los Angeles prosperity.

With a safer environment, more investors felt comfortable coming to Los Angeles, further fueling the city's commercial growth.

The Competition Begins.

First, the 32 finalists took the stage to perform, followed by the official competition. The finale involved four contestants competing for the top four spots.

It had to be said,

Every contestant who made it to the finals had exceptional talent. Shania's voice was powerful and resonant, Monroe was sultry and captivating, and the other two had their own strengths. All four performed remarkably well, clearly having prepared meticulously.

In the end, the scores weren't determined by the judges but by votes from the live audience.

Each person could cast one vote, and they could only vote for their favorite contestant. The voting process was intense and exciting.

Hardy didn't plan to intervene with the results, as it didn't matter to him where Monroe placed.

After all, in his previous life, there hadn't been such a talent show, yet Monroe still became a Hollywood sensation through her seductive charm.

There were over 400 guests in the audience. Votes were cast and tallied on site, ensuring fairness. All four contestants stood on stage, each with a flip scoreboard beside them.

At this moment, an estimated ten million households across the United States, with 40 to 50 million people, were watching the Super Idol finale on TV. The show had become the hottest program in America this year, with a staggering 90% viewership rating.

On Christmas Eve, after families had dinner, they gathered around the TV to watch the show. Hardy's goal was to make Super Idol as an iconic event to Americans.

At this moment, countless people were eager to see who would claim the top spot.

Some families even quarreled over their favorites.

"I think Shania sang the best. I like Shania."

"I prefer Patti Page. Her voice is the most beautiful; no one can compare."

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"I support Marilyn Monroe. Monroe is the most gorgeous; there's no woman more enchanting than her. I'll love her forever," a young man shouted.

"Monroe's singing isn't that good," a girl pouted.

The young man immediately retorted, "This is Super Idol, not Super Singer! The audience can vote for whoever they like."

The girl was momentarily stunned she had forgotten that this wasn't just a singing competition.

Tonight's main host was Irina, accompanied by a male and a female co-host from the television station. As the hosts announced the votes, the scorekeepers added the points.

Halfway through the tally, a clear gap had formed. Shania was in first place, followed by Monroe in second, with only a slight difference in votes. Patti Page, in third place, was already far behind.

It seemed that the battle for first place would come down to Shania and Monroe.

As the votes continued to be counted, Monroe gradually overtook Shania .

To be honest, even Hardy was a bit surprised. He glanced around the hall and noticed that the majority of the audience were men, and then he understood.

Damn it.

What's the point of listening to music when the real decision is based on looks?

This reminded him of an internet survey from his past where the poster asked, "Would you prefer a pretty face or someone well-educated?" Most men in the group voted for, "Big breasts."

The world sure is brutally realistic.

This time, Hardy hadn't manipulated anything. He had left it entirely to the audience's votes. The result was out of his control.

In the end, Monroe won the first Super Idol championship with 211 votes. Shania was the runner-up, and Patti Page came in third.

Monroe was also awarded the title of "Most Popular Singer with the Audience." As she accepted the trophy, tears of joy rolled down her cheeks.

After the Show.

Instead of dispersing, the crowd moved to Hardy's mansion in Beverly Hills for a Christmas party.

Some older officials said their goodbyes and left, but the majority, especially those from the entertainment industry, flocked to Hardy's mansion. There, they sang, danced, drank, chatted, and socialized. Fireworks lit up the yard, bringing the atmosphere to a peak.

The Year 1949.

This year would be extremely significant.

Just after the New Year.

The Hardy Group received a telegram from the Western Australian government. The state parliament had finally made a decision: they would only sell 500,000 square kilometers of land to Hardy.