I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema!

What level is this?!

They know it clearly!

This is invincible! This is unrivaled in the world! This is number one in Tokyo!

No.

This is a neon first!

Kenji Sato and Tsuyoshi Yamamoto clenched their fists, not knowing what to think. Their faces flushed as they looked at the old brothers around them who looked similar to them, breathing in the air in big gulps, as if they were so excited that they could hardly breathe!

"We did it! We really did it!"

"Section Chief Nohara! You are God!"

Everyone was cheering, everyone was shouting, everyone was breathing heavily, adrenaline was secreted, and they were so excited!

They looked at the young man who had been smiling calmly from beginning to end. His eyes seemed to be looking up at a god that they had just created with their own hands and was emitting a thousand-foot-long light!

"Everyone calm down."

In this frenzied ocean, Nohara Hiroshi's voice was like a clear spring, instantly calming the restlessness in everyone's hearts.

He walked over to the TV that was still on and checked the time.

10:28 pm.

"Alright everyone, the real trial has just begun." A meaningful smile curved his lips. "Let's enjoy the third season of 'Anshiji Residence' brought to you by our 'excellent colleague', Iwata Classroom."

These words instantly made the office quiet.

Everyone had a smile on their face as if they were looking forward to a good show.

On the TV screen, the familiar opening credits, with a bit of weirdness and old-fashioned feeling, appeared on time.

However, when the story officially began, everyone's brows subconsciously frowned.

The picture is no longer the familiar masked Kamishibai uncle.

Instead, there was a young Onmyoji wearing a hunting robe, holding a talisman, and looking righteous.

The content of the story surprised everyone.

It is no longer those urban legends that come from life and are terrifying when you think about them carefully.

It is a story about an evil ghost with a green face, fangs and black air coming out of his mouth, who is chasing down several high school students who accidentally enter an abandoned shrine.

Finally, at the critical moment, the handsome Yin-Yang master descended from the sky, chanting meaningless spells and using a golden talisman to scare the evil ghost to death.

"..."

When the four large characters "Evil spirits, retreat" filled with a middle school atmosphere appeared on the screen, the entire Nohara classroom fell into an eerie silence.

Then, a burst of laughter, enough to blow the roof off, filled with contempt and disdain, broke out!

"Hahahahaha! What the hell is this?!"

"Exorcising demons? Do they think this is a filming of 'Young Onmyoji'?!"

"Oh my god, they actually turned 'An Zhi Ju' into this weird urban ghost battle show? This is simply the biggest insult to the original work!"

Even the usually calm Kurosawa Eiji couldn't help but shake his head at this moment. A look of regret and a mixture of laughter and tears appeared on his face, which always looked a bit serious.

"What a waste! What a waste!" He sighed. "They simply don't understand. The horror of 'Dark Zhiju' stems from the unknown, from the abnormalities of everyday life. Once the 'ghost' is materialized, and can even be eliminated, all its horror disappears."

Nohara Hiroshi just watched quietly with a knowing smile on his face.

He knew that the war was over.

……

At the same time, on the top floor of Tokyo TV, in the luxurious box overlooking the entire city night view, the atmosphere was completely different from the relaxed atmosphere in Nohara's classroom.

This is the real power center of Tokyo TV.

Nobuhiko Sakata, Director of the Production Bureau, is having a regular dinner in a harmonious atmosphere with several directors of the same level, including those from the News Bureau, Sports Bureau, and Overseas Bureau.

Nobuhiko Sakata always has a friendly smile on his face, but his eyes, which occasionally narrow, gleam with the sharpness of a superior.

"Director Sakata, I heard that your production department has a new and remarkable person recently."

The head of the News Bureau, a seemingly capable woman, held a glass of red wine in hand and jokingly said, "It's 'Anshiji' again, 'Yu Yu Hakusho' again, and now 'The Strangest Tales of the World' coming out, it's got all the young people in Tokyo in a state of turmoil. You've really created quite a bit of buzz for our News Bureau."

"Hahaha, it's just a little fight, sorry to have made you laugh." Sakata Nobuhiko waved his hands, his posture was humble, but the pride in his eyes could not be hidden.

Just then, his secretary walked in quickly and whispered something in his ear.

The smile on Nobuhiko Sakata's face froze instantly.

Then, that smile seemed to be injected with new fuel, becoming brighter than ever!

He slowly put down his glass, cleared his throat, and announced to everyone present in a casual yet boastful tone:

"Everyone, I just received the news."

"The final ratings for our production department's half-baked S-rank project, 'The Wonderful World's Stories', were released on its first airing—"

He paused deliberately, enjoying the curious looks from everyone.

"20.3%."

"..."

If the atmosphere in the box was harmonious before, now it was like a depth bomb was dropped.

"Na...Nani?!"

"20.3%?! In the secondary prime time zone?!"

"Director Sakata, you... you're not kidding, are you?!"

All the directors present, without exception, lost their composure!

They know all too well what this number means!

This is no longer a simple success, it is a legendary achievement that will be recorded in the history of Tokyo TV!

It can even be recorded in the records of the Neon Broadcasting Association!

"Oh, I was surprised too."

Sakata Nobuhiko picked up his wine glass, his chubby face filled with Versailles-style distress. "Young people these days have increasingly bizarre tastes. But since this has been a success, it's a credit to our production department and to all of Tokyo TV. Come on, let's drink, everyone!"

Looking at Nobuhiko Sakata's ungrateful look, everyone present felt as sour as if they had eaten ten pounds of lemons, but they could only raise their glasses and give him the most sincere compliments.

"Congratulations, Chief Sakata! Congratulations, Chief Sakata!"

"Under your leadership, the production bureau is truly full of talented people. The future is promising!"

Nobuhiko Sakata accepted everyone's congratulations with a smile, but he was already very happy in his heart.

He doesn't care about the Kanto faction or the Tokyo faction. As long as he can produce results and make his position as the director of the Production Bureau more stable, or even move up to a higher position as a government official, that would be a great thing!

As for the young man named Nohara Hiroshi...

That handsome and calm face appeared in Sakata Nobuhiko's mind.

Perhaps, it is time to meet in person this lucky general who has made an unparalleled contribution to him.

……

The ratings storm created by "Wonderful Stories of the World" spread much faster than anyone imagined.

While Tokyo TV was still reeling from the shocking data, the shockwave had already crossed geographical boundaries and slammed hard into the faces of its competitors who were watching from the sidelines.

Osaka, Kansai Television (KTV) headquarters building, inside the production director's office.

Smoke billows.

Director Hiroshi Yamauchi, an industry tycoon known for his iron fist and sharp eyes, was staring intently at the replay of "The Touch of Horror" on the TV in front of him. For the first time, a solemn look appeared on his face, which was always as cold as an iceberg.

"check."

He slammed the cigarette butt into the ashtray, his voice icy cold without a trace of warmth:

"I don't care what method you use. Within three days, I need to see a very detailed report on this Nohara Hiroshi. His background, his resume, his works, his creative habits, even what he likes to eat and drink. I want to know!"

"besides!"

He raised his head, his hawk-like eyes sweeping over the silent subordinates in front of him:

"Immediately establish a special research group on 'Urban Tales'! Break down 'Anshigai' and this 'World's Wonderful Stories' frame by frame and analyze them for me! I want to know how they captured the audience's imagination! Why is this golden goose the Tokyo TV station has to monopolize?!"

……

Nagoya, Chukyo TV.

"Imitate! Imitate me now!"

The production director roared in the conference room, looking at his subordinates who had also been brought back to the company at night, spitting everywhere:

"I don't care if you copy or borrow from me! Next season, I must see a work similar to 'The Wonderful World' in our late-night slot! If Tokyo TV can do it, why can't we?!"

……

Fukuoka, Kyushu Broadcasting.

"The gap...is this the gap between us and the big stage?"

A white-haired veteran producer looked at the ratings report from Tokyo and sighed deeply, his eyes full of powerlessness and loneliness.

Even within the Neon Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), which always seems to be high and mighty, takes pride in producing Taiga dramas and morning dramas, and has always looked down upon the operations of commercial television stations, it caused quite a stir.

"This young man named Nohara Hiroshi is very interesting."

A senior director in charge of cultural programs looked at the report in his hand and pushed his glasses thoughtfully:

"His works may seem to be about ghosts and gods, but in reality... they are about the human heart. This creative technique of using a whimsical exterior to wrap profound social issues may be worth learning from."

……

Overnight, the name Hiroshi Nohara and the genre of "urban ghost stories" he pioneered, like a sudden tsunami, swept across the entire Japanese television industry.

For the first time, those big guys who used to be complacent and immersed in their own little piece of land were taught a lesson by a young man who was only 23 years old in the most arrogant and unreasonable way!

They realized that a brand new era full of unknowns and possibilities has quietly arrived.

And this fire called "Urban Tales" ignited by Hiroshi Nohara himself has just begun to burn across the entire Japanese television industry.