I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema!

On his left and right were the section chief of the Production Bureau's Finance Department, a representative of the Audit Department, and the head of the Copyright Procurement Section.

These people constitute the core operating center of this TV station.

Each name represents a chain of power that is enough to determine the life or death of a work.

"Nohara-kun, please take a seat."

Seeing Hiroshi Nohara coming in, Yamamoto stood up and greeted him warmly. His attitude seemed as if he was not welcoming a newly promoted fourth-level director, but an industry giant of equal standing.

"Director Yamamoto, seniors, good morning." Nohara Hiroshi bowed slightly, his attitude was humble but not servile.

He calmly sat down on the chair that had been prepared for him opposite Yamamoto, and swept his eyes across the room, taking in everyone's expression.

"Nohara-kun, I invited you here this time mainly to express my sincerest congratulations and gratitude to you on behalf of the station."

Yamamoto spoke first, his voice booming and filled with official praise: "Your 'An Shibaju' can be said to be the most successful dark horse show on TV Tokyo this year, no, in the past three years! Its legendary 8.12% viewership is not only a miracle for the late-night show, but also a huge impact on the entire industry! Everyone here is your loyal audience!"

As soon as he said this, there was a burst of goodwill in the conference room.

"Yes, Mr. Nohara, the concept of 'Paper' is simply genius! Our review department is now studying it as a model for innovative projects."

"The Finance Department has also done the statistics. The input-output ratio of 'An Zhi Ju' has set a record high for our station in the past ten years! Nohara-kun, you are the pride of all of us!"

Praises came like a tide, filling the small meeting room with warmth like spring.

Nohara Hiroshi just listened quietly with a gentle smile on his face, and occasionally nodded politely in response to the compliments.

He knew better than anyone that these were just a few exquisite but light appetizers before the 'Hongmen Banquet'.

Sure enough, after the greetings, Yamamoto cleared his throat.

The real purpose is revealed.

"Nohara-kun, it's precisely because of the tremendous success of 'Anzhiju' that the top management of the station, after careful study, decided to elevate this project brand to a strategic level."

His voice grew serious, carrying an official tone that brooked no room for argument. "We hope that the station will officially purchase all subsequent rights to 'An Zhi Ju', including animation adaptation, live-action film and television adaptation, and peripheral development rights. We will assemble a top-notch team and invest the highest-quality resources to build it into a truly nationally recognized brand that represents TV Tokyo."

coming.

Nohara Hiroshi chuckled in his heart, but his face showed a hint of surprise and reluctance just right.

He frowned slightly, as if he had heard a request that embarrassed him. After a long silence, he slowly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of the unique attachment to his work that only creators have: "Director Yamamoto, I'm very grateful for the station's appreciation. It's just that... 'Anzhiju' is like my first child to me. Selling it... I... I'm a little reluctant."

His words were so sincere and heartfelt that everyone present nodded subconsciously.

There's nothing wrong with that.

No one would easily sell a chicken that is laying golden eggs.

Yamamoto had obviously anticipated this reaction. His smile remained unchanged, but his tone carried a hint of advice and guidance from someone who had experienced it:

"Nohara-kun, we completely understand your feelings. However, you must understand that the growth of a project brand requires a broader platform and more professional operations. You are talented, but your energy is limited. Instead of letting this 'child' fight alone, why not entrust it to our more powerful 'family' to cultivate it and let it grow into a truly towering tree? Isn't this better for its future?"

"and……"

Yamamoto paused, then unleashed his long-prepared trump card. His voice held a seduction that any young person drifting in Tokyo couldn't resist: "Nohara-kun, you still live in an apartment, right? It's too far from Taichung. Besides, your registered residence is still in Akita, right?"

He looked at Hiroshi Nohara with eyes like a skilled hunter, slowly tightening the trap that had been set long ago.

"As long as you agree to this copyright transfer, the station will not only provide you with a substantial sum of money, enough for you to buy your own house in Minato-ku or Setagaya, but our Human Resources Department will also immediately initiate the special talent recruitment process and secure you a Tokyo residence permit, allowing you to truly settle down in this city."

The conference room fell silent.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Nohara Hiroshi.

A house in Tokyo, a household registration in Tokyo.

This is a dream that countless young people from other places may not be able to realize in their entire lives.

And now, it is right before our eyes, within our reach.

No one thought he had any reason to refuse.

Nohara Hiroshi fell silent.

He leaned back in his chair, looking out the window at the concrete and steel walls. For the first time, his handsome face revealed a young man's perfect struggle and hesitation.

After a long time, he let out a long breath, as if he was making an extremely difficult decision.

"Okay." He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse with a hint of compromise: "I understand. I agree to transfer the copyright."

A relieved smile instantly appeared on Yamamoto's face as well as everyone present.

It became.

"But, as for the price..." Nohara Hiroshi raised his head. All hesitation had faded from his clear eyes, leaving only calmness. "I hope it's 10 million yen."

Ten million!

This number was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing small ripples in the hearts of everyone present.

This is indeed a sky-high price.

But for a planning brand that has created a ratings myth and has unlimited potential, it is within a... completely acceptable range.

What's more, the executive deputy director has nodded.

There was nothing to stop them.

Yamamoto exchanged a glance with the finance manager, who nodded imperceptibly.

"No problem." Yamamoto made the final decision, a victorious smile on his face again: "Let's do as Nohara-kun says."

"Then there is only one last thing left."

Just when everyone thought the dust had settled and was about to stand up and shake hands to celebrate, Nohara Hiroshi's voice sounded calmly again.

"I just have a small, even somewhat petulant request."

He looked at everyone, his eyes like a father about to say goodbye to his child, full of reluctance and worry: "I hope to include a special clause in the contract."

"Special terms?" Yamamoto was stunned.

"Yes."

Nohara Hiroshi nodded and said word by word, "If, and I mean if, the station's subsequent production of 'An Zhi Ju' has an average viewership rating of less than 5% for three consecutive weeks, then I will have the right to forcibly reclaim the exclusive production rights for the next two seasons of 'An Zhi Ju' for one yuan."

He paused, facing the stunned gazes of the crowd, and added, "Of course, the copyright still belongs to the TV station. All I need is the production rights, the rights to the last two seasons."

The conference room fell into deathly silence again.

This clause sounds like a childish, meaningless bet.

5%?

What a joke!

The average viewership rating of the second season of "Dark House" is almost over 7%. Even if the third season is worse, it is impossible for it to fall below 5%!

Yamamoto looked at Nohara Hiroshi's face which was full of "stubbornness" and "naivety", and the unhappiness in his heart caused by the other party's exorbitant price disappeared in an instant.

He even found it a little funny.

After all, he is still a young man. He has more than enough talent, but he doesn't understand the cruelty of the business world.

This clause was nothing more than his last futile struggle to protect his pitiful dignity as a creator.

What's wrong with satisfying him?

I can also do him a favor by the way.

"can."

A genuine smile appeared on Yamamoto's face.

He stood up and extended his hand to Nohara Hiroshi. "Nohara-kun, it's a pleasure working with you. On behalf of TV Tokyo, I welcome you to become a most important member of our family."

Nohara Hiroshi also stood up and shook that hand.

"Pleasant to work with."

There was also a gentle smile on his face.

However, beneath that smile, in the depths of those clear eyes, there was a fleeting flash of cold light, like the one that appears when a chess player sees his prey walk into a trap.

It wasn't a child he sold.

He simply exchanged a soon-to-be-outdated brand project for a house, a household registration, 10 million in cash, and... a perfect stage that would be enough to smash his opponents to pieces in the future.

He himself will take that S-level plan to open up a broader new world that truly belongs to him.

He had already seen the ending of this game.

"Very interesting." Nohara Hiroshi's mouth curled up slightly.

PS: It's now online. I'll keep updating four times a day. I hope everyone will support me. Please give me more recommendation votes and monthly tickets.

Chapter 65: The Impact of "World Wonder" on Tomorrow Sea

Soon, Hiroshi Nohara came to Asumi's office.

Brought in by the secretary.

But he didn't expect that there was another guest sitting in this office that symbolizes power and the future.

He was an old man, probably in his early sixties, with gray hair that was combed meticulously.

He was wearing a dark grey suit of fine texture, which looked a little loose due to the wear of time, but the dignity and character of the elite of the old era were still clearly visible.

He just sat quietly on the sofa, his slightly cloudy eyes staring absentmindedly at the sky outside the window.

Like a defeated loser.

"This is..." Information about the old man flashed through Nohara Hiroshi's mind like a fast-forwarded movie.

Kurosawa Eiji.

The former mainstay of Kanto TV, a first-class director in the true sense.

What he excels at is the ancient war drama, which is the most mainstream of this era and the one that best reflects the production strength and sentiment.

Whether it is a Taiga drama or a movie, he has produced classics that are worthy of being recorded in history.

The warriors in his lens are tragic, resolute, full of classical romance and sorrow, and were once the spiritual totems of a generation of Japanese men.

It's a pity that the hero is old.