I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema!

"I, Kei Tanaka, am willing to offer my long-rotten heart to you, to this great work that can change the times!"

These words were so powerful, like a clarion call announcing the death of the old self and the rebirth of the new self, echoing in this vibrant office.

Kenji Sato and Takeshi Yamamoto, who were standing by, looked at the dramatic scene in front of them, and saw a smile of relief that came from the heart in each other's eyes.

They knew that Kei Tanaka, who had fought alongside them at Kanto TV and was full of talent and vigor, was back.

No, it's rebirth.

Under the command of a more powerful monarch named Nohara Hiroshi, he gained a gorgeous new life that was enough to allow him to burn out all his light and heat.

And Nohara Hiroshi, looking at the man in front of him who had been reborn, finally showed a satisfied smile on his face.

He slowly stood up, walked up to him, stretched out his hand, and patted his still slightly trembling shoulder heavily.

"Welcome back, Director Tanaka."

His voice was calm, yet it carried a power that was enough to make even the most stubborn stone nod.

"Go clean yourself up."

"Then, come back for the meeting."

"Remember to call the elites in your team and tell them that a new battle has begun."

Chapter 100: Kei Tanaka joins the game! Tanaka team assembles!

"Yes... yes! Section Chief Nohara!" Kei Tanaka turned around quickly and excitedly. Every step seemed to be stepping on the node of fate, heavy but with a new throbbing.

When he walked out of the door and was bathed in the bright light of the production department corridor again, he had the illusion that he was in another world.

The light was no longer dazzling, but instead brought a long-lost warmth, dispelling the coldness that had lingered in the depths of his soul for so long.

In the main entrance area of ​​Tokyo TV, people come and go. Every person who passes by is like a creature from another dimension. Their faces may have a confident smile or be tired from work, but they are all full of the breath of "being alive".

And he, Kei Tanaka, has been nothing more than a walking corpse in the past few months, a lonely soul ruthlessly abandoned by the tide of the times.

The strange looks around him were like invisible needles, still piercing him.

There is pity, contempt, schadenfreude, and pure curiosity.

They seemed to be watching a poor creature fall from the altar and be smashed to pieces.

People who knew him talked about his past glory and his current predicament.

People who are not familiar with the show wonder why there is such a rude and disrespectful homeless guy in Tokyo TV.

Right on this execution ground that attracted everyone's attention, two figures appeared before him as if they had agreed.

Kenji Sato and Takeshi Yamamoto.

After explaining Tanaka Kei's current plight to Nohara Hiroshi, they took a shortcut to the main entrance of Tokyo TV Production Bureau, just blocking Tanaka Kei's way.

They were extremely angry with this old friend.

Especially seeing this honor.

So angry!

"Hey, isn't this Director Tanaka, our Kanto School's most famous variety show talent?"

Yamamoto Takeshi's voice was filled with undisguised scorn. He looked up and down at Tanaka Kei, who looked like a homeless man. His sharp eyes were filled with anger and resentment at his lack of ambition. "What? Have you had enough of drinking and finally decided to crawl out of your moldy doghouse? Or are you planning to go to the TV station's trash can to find some leftovers to exchange for a new bottle of shochu?"

These words are vicious and mean.

If it happened half an hour ago, it would have been enough to crush Tanaka Keina's already fragile self-esteem into powder.

But now, Kei Tanaka just endured it silently. For the first time, a deep shame that came from the bone marrow emerged on his face, which looked a little swollen due to long-term alcoholism.

He didn't argue or get angry, he just bent down to the two of them.

"sorry."

His voice was hoarse, yet it carried an unprecedented solemnity: "Yamamoto, Sato... and, Section Chief Nohara. It was me, blind to the truth. It was me, sitting in a well and looking at the world from a narrow perspective. It was me, with my rotten soul, who tried to guess the true big picture."

This sudden apology made Yamamoto Tsuyoshi's prepared, even more harsh words stuck in his throat.

It means that my old friend has finally returned to normal.

No need for their stimulation.

A subtle flash of surprise flashed in Kenji Sato's eyes, hidden behind his gold-rimmed glasses. He stepped forward, grasped Tanaka Kei's arm, and frowned slightly. "You... why are you suddenly so serious? We're not really mocking you! But what exactly is the plan that Section Chief Nohara showed you? Why are you so surprised?"

He knew his old friend too well.

He was arrogant and talented, but it was this arrogance that caused him to fall into despair and completely sink after that crushing defeat.

What kind of terrifying magic is contained in that plan that can make him say such words?

"I..." Tanaka Kei stood up straight. In those dead fish-like eyes, there were now two balls of blazing fire burning, enough to start a whole prairie fire. He looked at Sato Kenji, his voice trembling slightly with extreme shock: "What I saw was not a plan. It was a brand new universe... enough to bury all the old-fashioned variety shows!"

He paused, as if recalling the grand blueprint that was enough to overturn all his cognition. Uncontrollably, a hint of enthusiasm, almost like a pilgrimage, emerged on his face.

"That's a terrifying plan... that will overturn the existing variety show structure."

"Horrible?" Yamamoto Takeshi frowned even deeper. He and Sato Kenji looked at each other and saw confusion in each other's eyes.

Kenji Sato spoke directly, "I've seen Section Chief Nohara's initial proposal before. The nationwide participation and creative imitation... are indeed impressive and interesting. But to say it's 'overthrowing the horror of the existing variety show structure'... isn't that a bit too exaggerated? Can a variety show really be as effective as a horror movie?"

"No, you don't understand." Kei Tanaka shook his head. His eyes were like a believer who had seen the oracle, full of a sense of superiority that mortals could not understand.

He didn't explain any further.

Because he knew that the grand plan contained in that business plan, which was enough to shake up the entire society and involve the entire population, was beyond the scope of what words could describe.

Before you see it with your own eyes, any explanation seems so pale and powerless.

"I'll excuse myself." He bowed to the two of them once more. "I need to go... wash off this stench of decay from my body. Then, as a warrior, I will face the great war that is about to come."

After he finished speaking, he ignored the two people's looks full of surprise, turned around, and walked out of the building that he thought he would never set foot in again with an unprecedented, steady and firm step.

The sunlight shining on his hunched back seemed to have coated him with a layer of new golden edge.

……

"This guy... is he crazy?" Yamamoto Takeshi looked at Tanaka Kei's back, which seemed to have been reborn, and scratched the back of his head subconsciously. His face, which was always as sharp as an eagle, was filled with pure confusion.

Kenji Sato didn't say anything.

He just pushed the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, and his eyes, which always wore a gentle smile, stared at the direction where Tanaka Kei left. The gaze behind the lenses was like the deep starry sky, flashing an elusive and complex light.

In that light, there was curiosity, exploration, and even a kind of... imperceptible calculation.

"What exactly is that plan?" Sato Kenji muttered to himself.

"Hey, Sato."

Yamamoto Tsuyoshi nudged him with his elbow, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes. "Why are you so focused on that variety show project? This isn't like you. Don't forget, we're currently working on the second season of 'Wonderful Stories of the World'! This is the foundation of our Kanto faction! There are countless eyes on us at the station, waiting for us to make a mistake! If anything goes wrong, Deputy Director Asumi will definitely not let us off!"

"Of course I know." Kenji Sato withdrew his gaze and put his signature gentle smile back on his face.

He shrugged, his gesture as casual as if he were just discussing the weather. "I'm just simply curious. I'm curious about how many brilliant ideas our young section chief has hidden in his head, ideas that would make the world tremble."

As he spoke, he turned and walked towards the office. His back was still gentle and calm.

Yamamoto Tsuyoshi looked at him, his sharp brows furrowed even deeper.

He always felt that something was wrong with Sato today.

……

Yifanxing Business Hotel, Room 3306.

Kei Tanaka stood shirtless in front of a huge floor-to-ceiling window.

He had just used scalding hot water to thoroughly wash away his soul, which had long been emitting a foul odor, as well as the decadence all over his body.

In the mirror, there was a man reflected. Although his eyes were sunken and his face was pale, his eyes had become as sharp as a knife again.

Kei Tanaka, who was once hailed as the "most talented variety show host" at Kanto TV, is back.

He picked up the pager on the table that was stained black with vomit and wiped it clean with an almost pious gesture.

Then, he took a deep breath and, with unprecedented power in his fingers, quickly edited a rallying order that would be enough to reawaken those long-dormant souls.

My name is Kei Tanaka. 3306: PM, Ichibanboshi Business Hotel, room . Put on your best clothes. This is about the future of all of us. We, the Kanto faction, now have a brilliant variety show project! It could completely transform us!

The message is sent.

Like a stone thrown into stagnant water, it instantly stirs up ripples of hesitation, numbness, or disdain.

……

In a single apartment in Nakano Ward.

The sour smell mixed with the stench of vomit in the air was enough to make any normal person nauseous.

A talented variety show writer who was once very famous on Kanto TV was now like a puddle of mud, collapsed on the tatami mat scattered with countless empty bottles, snoring like a dead pig.

Beside him, a haggard-looking woman was silently shedding tears as she cleaned up the mess.

'Beep! Beep!'

On the bedside table, the pager, which was also covered with dust, suddenly made a shrill scream.

The woman walked over and took a look at the information on the screen. Suddenly, a faint light, like a candle in the wind, appeared in her eyes that had long been filled with despair.

She stretched out her hand and, using all her strength, shook the unconscious man violently.

"Kenta! Kenta! Wake up! It's...it's Director Tanaka's pager!"

……

In Suginami District, there is a game arcade filled with bright lights, loud music and the smell of cheap perfume.

A producer who was once a little famous in Tokyo TV was now staring with red eyes at the machine in front of him that was constantly devouring his last bit of savings. His face, which looked a little swollen due to staying up late for a long time, was full of the madness unique to gamblers.

'Beep! Beep!'

The pager in my pocket vibrated.

He took it out impatiently, took a look at it, and then stuffed it back into his pocket like throwing away garbage.

"Tanaka? Are you still dreaming? The variety shows produced by the Kanto faction can never compete with Tokyo TV!" He sneered and threw the last steel ball into the insatiable machine.

……