America: My Time

Chapter 535 Worry
Chapter 535 Worries

"Have you heard? The big boss called Moritaka Chisato and her manager into his office. I've said it before, we can't let artists run wild, but that woman didn't take it seriously. Now she's finally getting dragged into this. It wasn't her fault at all, but now she has to take the blame for this rebellious girl. How pathetic!"

"You can't say that. She brought this on herself. If she had been stricter and less indulgent towards this rebellious girl, Chisato Moritaka, none of this would have happened. The idol market has undergone such a huge change. It takes even more resources to promote newcomers. It's normal for the big boss to be angry. Now we are no longer an independent company, but an agency under the Phoenix Group. Naturally, we have to make some changes."

"That's right, we really need to make changes. With the Phoenix Group as our backing, everyone's life will be better!"

"Sigh! Sachiko, why do I have to keep waiting and training? When will I be able to debut? Even that rebellious girl, Chisato Moritaka, was able to debut, and she wasted all the resources the company invested in her for a year. But I don't have any chance at all. I don't know what the company is planning."

"Actually, you're just overthinking it. The company isn't too strict with idol training, but it's very strict with training solo artists and lead singers in bands. We trained for a long time for our first single, as you know. So your debut won't be long. As long as you can satisfy the producers, you can debut! Actually, our debut was just a fluke. It was only because of the Fuji Rock Festival that we got this opportunity."

"Indeed, you're all incredibly lucky. The company is shifting towards a band model, so you, the first batch of members, naturally benefit the most and receive the most resources. Right now, singers throughout the Japanese music scene are all eyeing the two major music festivals, vying for a chance to perform. The success of the previous two music festivals has made those people restless, and some are even attacking idols for not appearing at music festivals. I don't know what those guys are thinking. This isn't up to them; it's our big boss's decision. Who dares to change it? The management is still TV Tokyo, so how could those guys influence it? Speaking of which, some people in the company are also resentful. The appearance of Yoshie Kashiwabara and Seiko Matsuda is taking up company spots, and some people are very unhappy about it!"

"That's not quite right. Both Seiko-san and Yoshie-san are very talented and quite good among idols. Their participation in the summer music festival brought a lot of popularity. Moreover, TV Tokyo has also made an explanation. It's all for the sake of the music festival's popularity. Idols have a lot of popularity. The two major music festivals are all-encompassing in Japan and have a global reach, so popularity is very important and is one of the important criteria for deciding whether to perform on stage!"

"Only a fool like you would believe such nonsense. Those two were able to go on stage because of Naoko's recommendation, and they both know our big boss. Now everyone in the company says you're lucky to have been personally groomed by the big boss. You don't have to worry about resources at all. Just look at Chisato Moritaka. Even though she's so rebellious, she still gets plenty of resources. That's the benefit of the big boss's approval. Don't be silly. Spend more time communicating with Naoko-senpai! I can tell that Naoko-senpai likes you a lot!"

In the eyes of many in the agency, Izumi Sakai was lucky. When the big boss inspected the agency, he saw her performance and decided to make her the lead singer of the band. The band ZARD was formed with her as the core, and the company's resources were also tilted towards her. So many people were envious, and Maki Ohguro was just one of them.

Good luck is very important in this industry. No matter how hard you work, you may not succeed if you don't have good luck. Naoko really liked Izumi Sakai. She often took this younger sister shopping and chatting with her. After making the decision to retire, Naoko stopped appearing at the agency, left the industry, and returned to her family. However, she still occasionally asked Izumi Sakai to go shopping, chat, and talk about music.

"Naiko-senpai has already retired, I feel too embarrassed to bother her!"

"Sigh! This must be what they mean by 'fools have good luck.' Why don't I have such good fortune?" Upon hearing Izumi Sakai's words, Maki Ohguro couldn't help but sigh.

When Chisato Moritaka made the change, the agency was surprised. It seemed that this rebellious girl had finally woken up. However, she had wasted a year, which had a certain impact on her. Especially at this time, idols were in a period of stagnation. Even if she could regain the company's support, it would not be the same as the previous year.

In Japan, those guys were all keeping an eye on John. They quickly learned what was happening at the agency, and as they prepared to make their move, Akio Morita couldn't help but sneer. These guys pinning their hopes on beautiful hostesses was simply too presumptuous and overconfident. Having guessed their scheme, Morita had been closely monitoring developments, searching for evidence to prove everything. Soon, he found a clue and let go. As long as his guess was correct, there was no need to continue. Continuing would only alert them, or even make them enemies. This old man, Morita, didn't want to be antagonized by those bastards.

"Riko, what's the situation with John? Has the Phoenix Group completed its integration? Is he still wasting time and energy on those trivial matters at the firm?" At this moment, Akio Morita inquired about John's situation during this period. Ever since John started getting involved in the affairs of the Japanese Phoenix Group, he felt that there was a problem. He did not believe that such a capable guy would be seduced by beauty or change his plans because of beauty.

“Mr. John has long since relinquished control of the Phoenix Group’s integration and is now handling sales and branding for the Eien Group in Japan. Unlike Naoko, Akina, and Hitomi Kuroki, who did not receive shares in TV Tokyo, he only secured a few good advertising contracts from the Eien Group!”

"The Eternal Group, could it be that they're expanding into the retail industry?" At this moment, Akio Morita frowned. He didn't care about the idols who were throwing themselves at him, but instead focused his attention on the retail industry.

"There was no expansion, but rather a clear rule to stop further expansion. During this period, shopping malls in Japan continued to grow. The Eien Group has stopped expanding its luxury brand expansion and has now begun to shift towards fast brands. If it weren't for this shift, no one would have realized how amazing the development of those fast brands has been. They have almost spread throughout all the cities and towns in Japan. 7-Eleven convenience stores have also completed their full layout in Japan and have stopped expanding!"

"Riko, have you checked whether it's just a halt to expansion in this area, or if he's stopped expanding his entire investment portfolio in Japan?" At this moment, Akio Morita had a bad feeling, sensing that something big was happening behind the scenes, something that might be beyond his imagination. If it was a complete halt, there must be a serious problem behind it!

"I'm not too sure about that. After all, it's not something an outsider like me can understand about a company's internal development plans. I've been paying more attention to the clothing and convenience stores because so many people are interested in them, and because they're related to the Mandarin Oriental Group's real estate investments!" Riko quickly explained. Although it wasn't something she could understand, she still needed a reasonable explanation, otherwise Akio Morita would just think she had a problem with her abilities.

“That’s true. With your abilities, it’s impossible for you to know the internal development plans of these companies. If you did, then the companies would be close to bankruptcy and liquidation. But what is this little John trying to do?”

"There's some unconfirmed news that Mr. John is planning to give all the people at the Neon Phoenix Group a vacation as a reward for their integration during this period. They might be allowed to go on a seven-day trip to Hawaii in batches, and even the artists could receive such a reward!" At this moment, Riko revealed a piece of news that shocked Akio Morita.

In an instant, Akio Morita's expression changed drastically. Instinct made him feel the pressure once again, and he said in a deep voice, "Riko, where did you get this information? Can you confirm its authenticity?"

"I got this news from Naoko. Although it's just a suggestion, it shouldn't be a big problem. In a few days, Naoko and the others will also be going to Lanai Island in Hawaii with Mr. John for a vacation. I heard that it's Mr. John's private island!"

“It seems John is about to make his move. His plan is complete. Lanai Island in Hawaii is indeed his private island, not only a luxurious resort but also a heavily guarded security facility. He's not going on vacation; he's about to launch an operation. I wonder if it's about selling real estate, making early repayments to banks, or some other decision!” At this moment, a glint appeared in Sheng Nan Zhaofu's eyes. He also needed to be vigilant and not be careless in the slightest, lest he inadvertently fall into a crisis.

A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall. If John were to make a big move, he would naturally want to be in the safest place to ensure his own safety. In Akio Morita's view, Lanai Island was the best safe place. Those who are interested know how crazy and terrifying John's construction of Lanai Island has been. Many people only see the luxury of Lanai Island, but they do not see the powerful defense force behind it. It has all kinds of weapons and is also a base of the Jaguar Security Company!
(End of this chapter)