I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema!

Chapter 46 Conspiracy

The atmosphere in Iwata's classroom was completely different from the discussions outside.

The desk that Iwata Masao had overturned had been straightened and wiped clean by his diligent assistant. The mess on the floor had also been cleared away, as if the outburst had never happened.

Masao Iwata changed into a brand new suit, combed his hair meticulously, and put on that familiar smile with a bit of arrogance and dominance on his face again.

He was holding a glass of champagne and accepting the "congratulations" from his subordinates with great enthusiasm.

"Section Chief! I knew it! The first place is definitely ours!" The confidant named An Ren was now more fawning than ever: "What's this 'Anzhiju'? It's just a clown who got lucky! In front of your truly magnificent masterpiece, its true colors are finally exposed!"

"That's right! Rules are rules! Average ratings are king! This proves that our 'Kimi no Sasuke' has won the audience's love from the very beginning. It's a true powerhouse!"

"The Section Chief is wise! Deputy Director Takada is wise!"

The endless sounds of flattery filled the office with a cheerful atmosphere.

Masao Iwata swirled the golden liquid in his cup with a carefree air, savoring his victory. He seemed to have returned to being the all-powerful Section Chief Iwata.

This was a victory won with power and shamelessness.

He also enjoyed it very much.

However, behind those flattering smiles, there are several pairs of eyes that cannot hide their guilty consciences.

They know better than anyone what the price of this "victory" is.

Just yesterday, the Finance Department officially issued a notice that the subsequent production budget of "Ghost Shop Samurai" was... cut.

This means that there will be no second season for their so-called "epic masterpiece".

It is like an extremely gorgeous ephemeral flower that is born with money. After blooming briefly and completing its mission as a tool of political struggle, it is ruthlessly discarded.

They won face, but lost substance and the future.

Iwata Masao certainly knew this, but at this moment, he could only use alcohol and flattery to numb his heart, which had long been gnawed by fear and humiliation.

……

As the night deepened, Iwata Masao finished a celebratory banquet, still drunk, but instead of going home directly, he took a detour to the most upscale jewelry store in Ginza and used his newly-earned "Ichiban" bonus to buy a priceless diamond necklace.

Then, like a prisoner about to be guillotined, he drove to Takada Toshihide's mansion in Minato Ward with his last hope.

The person who opened the door was Takata's wife, Mikishiko, who was also Iwata Masao's cousin.

A woman who is nearly forty years old, but well-maintained and still has charm.

She was wearing a silk home dress and exuded a scent that was a mixture of expensive perfume and laziness.

"Oh, it's Masao, come in quickly." Seeing Iwata Masao, Mikishiko's face immediately bloomed with a warm smile: "Your brother-in-law is not in a good mood today. You've come at the right time. Please help me persuade him."

As she spoke, she let Iwata into the living room.

"Cousin, this is just a small gift, not a token of respect." Masao Iwata quickly handed over the exquisite jewelry box, his attitude as humble as a poor relative who came to pay a visit to an important person.

Of course, the facts are similar.

"Oh, kid, you just came, why bring any gifts?" Mei'anzi was polite in his words, but his hands were unambiguous in their movements.

She opened the box skillfully, and when she saw the diamond necklace sparkling brightly under the light, her eyes, which always showed a bit of shrewdness and calculation, instantly burst out with an undisguised surprise and greed.

"Wow... so beautiful! Zhengnan, your taste is really getting better and better! This necklace is a perfect match for the Dior evening dress I just bought last week!"

She put the necklace on her still fair neck, ran to the mirror, looked around, and was overjoyed, completely forgetting her husband's "not so good" mood.

Just then, the study door opened.

Takada Toshihide came out wearing a dark robe.

There was no expression on his face. He simply glanced at his wife fiddling with her clothes in front of the mirror and the dazzling diamond necklace, then said calmly, "Mei Anzi, go back to your room first. I have something to talk to Zhengnan about."

"Hi~" Mei Anzi winked at her husband and cousin contentedly, then twisted her waist and went upstairs contentedly.

There were only two men left in the living room.

Takada Toshihide walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of whiskey, but didn't offer any to Iwata Masao. He sat down on the sofa, holding the glass, and remained silent for a long time before he spoke slowly.

"You are... becoming more and more like a good person."

It was impossible to tell whether his voice was a praise or criticism.

"Hey!" Iwata Masao's heart instantly rose to his throat, and he quickly bowed 90 degrees and said, "It's all thanks to your good guidance, cousin-in-law."

"Hmph!" Takada Toshihide snorted and took a sip of wine. The amber liquid seemed to ease his mood a little.

"Sit down." He pointed to the sofa opposite.

Only then did Masao Iwata dare to sit down carefully, only sitting on half of the sofa, with his back straight.

"Have you watched "An Zhi Ju" these days?" Takada Shunying suddenly asked an irrelevant question.

Iwata Masao was stunned and quickly replied, "I saw... I saw it."

"how do you feel?"

"The production... is rough, but... but the creativity does... have some good aspects." Masao Iwata squeezed out this reluctant truth from between his teeth.

“There are more than just some good places.”

Takada Shunei's lips curled up in a cold arc. "I heard that those pretentious guys in the bureau are holding private classroom seminars, and all they're discussing are those so-called 'urban horror stories.' Even several top-tier directors are praising that 'psychological horror' approach. They say it seems to be a new direction in the development of the horror genre."

His words were like poisoned knives, stabbing Masao Iwata's heart and making his already pale face even paler.

This is not a low evaluation.

A first-level director of Tokyo TV, a pillar-level director of the station, actually said that "An Shibaju" is a new direction for the development of horror themes.

As long as this is spread to society.

But it was just a storm!

The flames of jealousy burned wildly in his chest, almost burning him to ashes.

He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.

"Deputy Director, then...then Suzuki and the others..."

"They won't be able to jump around for much longer." A fierce look flashed in Takada Shunying's eyes. He knew what Iwata Masao was going to say, so he took a sip of his wine and gritted his teeth, "I've already made up my mind. Once this furor is over, I'll find an excuse to pack him up and throw him and his classroom to Hokkaido! Asumi, without his most capable dog, I wonder how he can fight me!"

He paused, his bottomless eyes fixed on Iwata Masao, and said in a serious tone:

"But before they go away, there's one more thing you have to do."

"Please give me your orders!"

"Although the Suzuki classroom is full of trash, there seem to be one or two people in it who have potential."

Takada Shunei tapped his knuckles against the glass. "Especially that young man named Nohara Hiroshi. I've checked. Not only is he the original creator of 'Anshibi', he's also the hottest newcomer on Shonen Jump right now. It's a shame to have such a talent like that go to Hokkaido to feed bears with that stubborn old Suzuki."

He looked at Masao Iwata with the eyes of a skilled hunter teaching his hound how to capture the most cunning prey.

"Go and contact them. Tell them that Suzuki's fate is already determined. A wise person should know how to choose a ship that will not sink. Especially that Nohara Hiroshi, if I can use him..."

A meaningful smile appeared on Takada Toshihide's lips.

"Then we have not only removed a chess piece from Tomorrow Sea, but we can also turn this chess piece into the sharpest knife in our hands."

"Hey!" Iwata Masao swallowed his saliva. Although he was still very dissatisfied and jealous, he bent down again and bowed deeply: "I will do it!"

Chapter 47 Recruitment

When Masao Iwata returned to his home and basked in the light of his favorite desk lamp again, the determination that had just been forced into him deflated silently like a popped balloon.

He didn't know how to do this.

do not know either.

What identity should I use to do this?

A defeated general who had just used all despicable means in the battlefield of ratings, but was still completely defeated mentally by the opponent in an almost humiliating way?

He seemed to be able to see the young man named Nohara Hiroshi's sarcastic look when he heard the purpose of his visit.

Especially when you have mocked the other person.

This is difficult to do.

……

The atmosphere at Tokyo TV became somewhat subtle over the next few days.

The farce about the ownership of the "No. 1" position was like a stone thrown into a deep pool. Although it quickly returned to calm on the surface, the ripples that spread out quietly changed the direction of the water flow beneath the surface.

Iwata Studio remained high-profile, launching an overwhelming publicity campaign that covered every corner of Tokyo like free snowflakes, with the name of "Onibo Samurai" plastered all over the place.

Their ratings, driven by the huge influx of capital, have indeed remained at a fairly decent level.

However, anyone with a discerning eye could see that it was just the last gasp of a dying force.

on the contrary.

It was the unusual quietness of Suzuki's classroom.

They did not refute, argue, or even respond to the insinuations from the outside world.

They are like a group of giant whales diving in the deep sea, completely ignoring the noise of the boring seagulls on the surface.

They were just quietly doing their own thing.

Because they know that when the second season of "An Zhi Ju" comes to the late night time slot of 11 o'clock and the planning proposal is still on the desk of the production bureau's review department, who is the real winner is already self-evident.

On Wednesday afternoon, Masao Iwata finally arrived.

He did not choose to meet in the crowded office, but instead made an appointment with Nohara Hiroshi to meet in the cafe downstairs through Hashiji Ichiro.

He changed into the most low-key grey suit, and the arrogance on his face was completely restrained, replaced by a kind of gentleness and calmness that was deliberately created, belonging to a senior.

He even arrived a quarter of an hour early and personally ordered a cup of expensive Blue Mountain coffee for Hiroshi Nohara.

When Nohara Hiroshi walked in slowly and sat down opposite him, he even stood up and bowed slightly, showing full courtesy.

"Nohara-kun, nice to see you again."

Iwata Masao wore what he thought was his most sincere smile. "I apologize for the intrusive invitation."