I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema!

"Okay, seniors." Nohara Hiroshi gently placed a thick stack of drawings that still exuded the fragrance of ink in the center of the conference table.

The movement was like that of a skilled chess player who, after setting up a winning strategy, slowly and steadily placed the first decisive piece.

"This is the complete storyboard for the first episode of 'Wonderful Stories of the World,' 'Touch of Terror.' Feel free to pass it around."

His voice was calm, with a soothing power.

Kenji Sato, a third-level director who wears gold-rimmed glasses and looks quite gentle, was also the liaison sent to coordinate between Hiroshi Nohara and these veterans. He was the first to pick up the manuscript.

The group of veterans of the "Kanto School" around him - executive director Yamamoto Takeshi, director of photography Matsushita Kai, art director Oshima Nagisa, screenwriter Kudo Ryosuke... also subconsciously came over.

Their faces showed the caution of professionals, and they also showed consideration for this somewhat too young 'section chief'.

They came to fight and to reclaim their own glory.

But the prerequisite is that this young general is really worthy of their following.

However, when their eyes touch the smooth and precise lines on the paper, the composition full of visual impact, and the lens language marked with concise words in the corner of the picture, which can be said to be the finishing touch.

That caution was gradually replaced by surprise.

Their eyes were shocked.

"This...this is..."

Kudo Ryosuke, the screenwriter who wore thick glasses and looked a little dull, was the first to exclaim.

He pointed to the last page of the sketch, the shocking reversal that could overturn everything. His eyes, which always seemed dim, suddenly shone with an unprecedented light:

"The ending... there's actually such a twist?! The man who saved the heroine is the real murderer?! This isn't a good ending, it's a bad ending!? This... this is simply a genius idea!"

Kudo Ryosuke was so shocked that he couldn't even speak clearly.

Because this is such a novel and anti-routine idea!

To know.

Not to mention it’s 1990, even in 2025, this kind of reversal and anti-routine ending for movies and TV shows can be considered a small highlight.

It is a novel and eye-catching idea.

so.

Placed in the neon of the 90s.

It was just like the Hiroshima atomic bomb, exploding in their hearts and making all of their heads shake!

My mind is blown away and I can’t concentrate!

Especially when everyone has read the plan before and already knows that this is a reversal, but expressing it through comics gives them a clearer understanding visually and mentally.

I am even more amazed by the idea of ​​this reversal!

"It's more than just the end!"

Yamamoto Tsuyoshi, the executive director with eyes as sharp as an eagle, also had an undisguised look of shock on his face.

He pointed to a page, his voice filled with the excitement of an expert. "Look at this storyboard! It's a close-up of the heroine touching the murder weapon for the first time. The camera moves from her fingertips to her eyes, using the contraction of her pupils to express her inner fear... This... This is no longer a simple comic storyboard. This could be used directly as a filming script! Even the shot size and camera movement are designed for you!"

“And the treatment of light and shadow!”

Director of Photography Matsushita Kai couldn't help but speak. His eyes, which always carried a hint of artistic decadence, now lit up frighteningly:

"Look, before the truth is revealed, half of the second male lead's face is always shrouded in shadow. This... this is using light and shadow to suggest the character's duality! So brilliant! So brilliant!"

In this small office, exclamations rang out one after another.

This group of veterans who had been marginalized by Tokyo TV for several years and had long lost their minds were now completely ignited by the thin sketch in front of them!

They looked at the young man who had been smiling calmly from beginning to end. The depression, loneliness and unwillingness in his eyes were gradually fading away, and were replaced by a ignited excitement and enthusiasm.

They realized that they were not following a lucky person who had risen to power through factional struggles.

But he is a true genius that only appears once in a century!

A monster with absolute control and execution power!

"How's it going? Isn't Section Chief Nohara awesome?"

In this almost pilgrimage-like silence, Nancun Xing's voice, with a bit of unconcealable pride, quietly rang out.

He placed his hands on his hips, his young face filled with pride, like a loyal servant showing off his treasures to outsiders. "Let me tell you, this is just routine! When we were working on 'Dark Zhiju', the section chief did the same thing, handling all the core creative ideas and storyboards by himself! We were just helping him out!"

"That's right!"

Hasegawa nodded vigorously, his eyes, always a little shy, now gleaming with admiration. "We've all seen how powerful the Section Chief is! The expressions on your faces now are exactly the same as when we first saw the draft of 'An-Zhi-Ju'!"

He deliberately pronounced the three words "Anzhiju" one by one, and the sense of superiority that belonged to a veteran was almost overflowing from his face.

These words made the faces of the veterans even more shocked. They looked at the three young men in front of them with expressions that said 'you guys are a bunch of country bumpkins who have never seen the world'. The pride that belonged to the seniors in their hearts was completely shattered at this moment.

"So, that's how it is!"

Yamamoto Takeshi let out a long breath, and that breath seemed to take away all the depression and resentment he had felt in the past few years.

He walked up to Nohara Hiroshi and without any unnecessary courtesy, he just bowed deeply to him.

It was a bow full of determination and respect that belonged to a samurai when he met a lord worthy of his loyalty.

"Section Chief Nohara." He stood up straight. In his eagle-like eyes, all scrutiny and consideration had faded, leaving only pure conviction. "From now on, Executive Director Yamamoto Takeshi will obey all your orders!"

His words sounded like a clarion call.

"Director of Photography Matsushita Kai, follow my instructions!"

"Art Director Oshima Nagisa, at your beck and call!"

"Writer Kudo Ryosuke, at your beck and call!"

……

For a moment, the echoes in the office merged into a torrent that was enough to shake the entire building.

It is an ambition that has been suppressed for too long, and when it finds an outlet worth burning for, it resonates with people's blood.

Looking at the veterans in front of him with the fire rekindled in their eyes, Nohara Hiroshi finally revealed a smile that came from the heart.

"very good."

He nodded, his voice calm but with a force that brooked no argument. "Since everyone agrees, let's discuss the issue of 'equipment'."

He turned his gaze to Yamamoto Takeshi and said, "Director Yamamoto, we have the script and storyboard. The next step is the actors."

"Hi!"

Yamamoto Takeshi immediately stepped into the role of executive director. He pondered for a moment and offered the most reliable advice: "Section Chief, I think the choice of host is crucial. He needs to have sufficient national popularity and a calm demeanor to hold the scene. I recommend Mr. Tian Sen from the News Department. He has hosted the evening news for thirty years and has a deeply rooted image in the hearts of the people."

"As for the actors in the unit drama."

He paused and continued, "Considering our budget and the risks of an S-level project, I suggest inviting some veteran actors with solid acting skills but less popularity, or some second-tier stars with buzz. This way, we can both ensure the quality of the performance and control costs."

This statement is flawless and is the standard answer that any experienced producer would give.

It is also a qualified answer.

However, Nohara Hiroshi just smiled indifferently and shook his head.

"Director Yamamoto, your suggestion is very good and sound." There was a hint of approval in his voice.

But then he changed the subject, and a confident light flashed in his clear eyes.

Now Hiroshi Nohara has taken on the role of section chief.

just now.

He is the one who gives orders.

"But playing it safe has never been my style."

He stood up, walked to the whiteboard, picked up a pen, and wrote two words under the title "Wonderful Stories of the World".

——“Making stars”.

"Our host doesn't need any national popularity."

Nohara Hiroshi's voice was quiet, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. "I need someone with a unique image and a mysterious aura, preferably someone you can't forget after just one look... a 'symbol'. He doesn't have to be famous, or even a professional host, but he must be the 'face' of our show."

"As for the actors..." Nohara Hiroshi's lips curled up even more boldly. "I don't need veteran actors or B-list stars. I want newcomers who have just graduated from art schools, still fresh and green, yet full of potential; those who were once very popular but have now faded for various reasons and are eager for a chance to make a comeback."

He turned around and looked at the group of veterans who were shocked beyond words by his decision, his voice filled with a calmness that seemed to show he knew everything.

"Everyone, have you ever thought about what it would mean if our S-rank project succeeded?"

"It means that we not only created a great work, but we also personally made famous a group of stars that belong to TV Tokyo and can be firmly controlled by us."

"It means that our small production team will have its own 'direct force'. From now on, we will have the final say on what we want to shoot and who we want to use."

"This is the true value of an S-level project."

There was deathly silence in the office.

Everyone was completely shocked by the grand and tempting blueprint described by Hiroshi Nohara.

They looked at the young man in front of them with eyes as if they were looking at an omnipotent strategist.

They finally got it.

This young man's ambition has never been just the success of one work.

What he wanted was to carve out a kingdom in this forest of power that truly belonged to him, a kingdom where he could roam freely!

"I...sweep the temple!"

Yamamoto Takeshi's body trembled slightly due to extreme excitement.

He looked at Nohara Hiroshi, and for the first time, his eagle-like eyes revealed an almost fanatical admiration.

Then he said in a deep voice, "Section Chief! I'll contact the artist management department right away! We in the Kanto faction also have many new talents with great potential, but they just lack opportunities! This time, we can give them a chance..."

"Very good." Nohara Hiroshi nodded with satisfaction.

He knew that from this moment on, this once "defeated army" had been completely twisted into a rope by him.

Of course, Kanto-style projects require people from the Kanto-style.

They were all friends at first.

They are all colleagues.