Chapter 250: Barefoot Not Afraid of Wearing Shoes

Whether it was Akiwara Yuto or the person in charge from Dong Ying Film, they were very dissatisfied with this negotiation.

From Akiwara Yuto's side, Dong Ying Film using the box office of a "magic-modified" niche movie as a balance to evaluate the copyright valuation of *The Devotion of Suspect X* was very unreasonable.

And Dong Ying Film believed that since the box office of the movie adapted from the *Zoo* series was average, Akiwara Yuto should accept the fact that the offer had dropped.

In the situation where both sides held different opinions, this negotiation broke up in discord.

However, when leaving, the person in charge from Dong Ying Film left a sentence: "Teacher Akiwara, if you haven't found a suitable partner yet, please remember to contact us."

The implication was that the conditions they could provide were the best.

Facing this kind of "provocation," Akiwara Yuto didn't even say polite words, just watched them leave.

"Akiwara, if it goes on like this, it's estimated that it will be very difficult for the work to be filmed." Asano Aiko said in a worried tone.

Akiwara Yuto pondered for a while, remembered the large film companies that had rejected his request before, and found that using "box office share" as a condition was indeed a bit difficult, so he suggested: "Would it be more suitable to find some medium-sized film companies?"

In Japanese society, the larger the company, the more they care about so-called industry rules, and to a certain extent, they have formed a "cartel" model—reaching consistent cooperation conditions within a specific range to form a monopoly.

Instead, for medium-sized companies, there will be more room for negotiation.

Asano Aiko saw Akiwara Yuto's firm attitude, so she nodded to indicate she knew.

Regarding this aspect of things, she still paid more attention to it; after all, if it could be filmed, it would inevitably pull another wave of sales for the standalone volume.

Having made the decision, she made several phone calls and began to contact some friends who knew the film circle well.

After a week of tossing and turning and selecting, she finally found one.

……

"It should be here," Asano Aiko got off the car with Akiwara Yuto in Setagaya Ward, then pointed to a house not far away; Akiwara Yuto looked from the other side of the car and discovered it was a 6-story building.

This building looked white overall and didn't look much like a film company.

Akiwara Yuto looked at it a few times and walked over with Asano Aiko; after all, it was the result of Asano's hard work, and it was said she even asked quite a few headhunters.

If it wasn't suitable, he would just refuse it at worst.

When arriving, Akiwara Yuto discovered that three men in loose suits were already waiting at the door, and one middle-aged man who was older took the initiative to walk up, bow politely, and introduce himself: "Hello, I am the president of Jichuan Stock Company, Jichuan Gen; nice to meet you, please take care of me."

Akiwara and Asano also responded politely, then took the elevator upstairs with the other party and sat down in a reception room.

Inside the reception room, the female secretary of this President Jichuan poured tea for everyone, and after Jichuan Gen exchanged pleasantries, he soon entered the main topic: "Teacher Akiwara, Miss Asano, I have already understood your intentions roughly, but I am very sorry, we cannot accept it here."

Akiwara Yuto revealed a puzzled look, and Asano Aiko asked suspiciously: "President Jichuan, when contacting you by phone before, didn't you indicate that we could talk in detail?"

She found this film company through a headhunter and had made several phone calls before, confirming that the other party could initially accept the requirement of box office share, so she arranged for Akiwara Yuto to meet with the other party.

Jichuan Gen sighed and said helplessly: "We also have unspeakable difficulties."

Next, he talked about a lot of problems regarding copyright and scripts, and then said that he was different from Dong Ying Film and didn't have much experience with scripts adapted from such literary works.

While he was speaking, although Akiwara Yuto was frowning, he had also been observing his expression.

He discovered that this President Jichuan was stammering while speaking, and many words seemed to be spoken after pondering, as if they were deliberately fabricated lies.

But he didn't quite understand what factors would make this president do this, and even change the initial intention.

Asano Aiko tried to persuade again, but Akiwara Yuto waved his hand to stop her. Seeing Akiwara Yuto's action, Asano Aiko's face changed, and she could only give up this plan.

That President Jichuan also tried to invite the two to stay and have lunch at a nearby restaurant. However, the two Akiwaras were not in the mood to exchange pleasantries, falsely claiming they had something to do, and left in a hurry.

When returning to the car, Asano Aiko took the initiative to say: "Akiwara, this matter is very strange."

When contacting by phone before, Jichuan Gen's attitude was very enthusiastic, and there was even a kind of joy of finding a pie falling from the sky; never expected that meeting today, it was like a different person.

Akiwara Yuto nodded and then said: "It's estimated that he was coerced, right."

Asano Aiko asked puzzledly: "Coerced?! Who can coerce him."

"Asano, you thought wrong," Akiwara Yuto continued: "You imagine, if our copyright can't be sold, who will be the biggest beneficiary?"

Asano Aiko frowned and considered for a while, then said in an uncertain tone: "Dong Ying Film?"

Akiwara Yuto defaulted to this statement and said: "From the motivation point of view, Dong Ying Film and other large film companies are all possible; from the ability point of view, they indeed have the ability to coerce Jichuan Stock Company."

Although Jichuan Stock Company is a medium-sized film company, whether it is production ability or resources in the circle, it is far from large companies like Dong Ying Film.

And such a gap makes it very likely that Jichuan Stock Company would give up the cooperation with Akiwara Yuto if facing the threat of Dong Ying Film.

"Akiwara, then what should we do now?" Asano Aiko asked, "Should we accept Dong Ying Film's conditions?"

Akiwara Yuto shook his head and said: "Then I'll trouble you to continue contacting companies that are interested."

The filming copyright of *The Devotion of Suspect X* is a very big "cake" after all; he didn't believe all film companies would refuse his request because they were afraid of Dong Ying Film.

Now the thing he lacks the least is time and patience.

……

After Akiwara Yuto left, a young man named Yongshan Yi Ren, who had originally stood behind Jichuan Gen, clenched his fists excitedly.

During lunch break, he returned to the office, aimed for a time when no one was around, and dialed a phone call with the desk phone.

After the call was connected, he said excitedly: "Nei Hai, aren't you looking for a suitable script? I found a good opportunity here!"

"Don't hang up the phone! Let me tell you, do you know that Akiwara Yuto? He came to our company; it seems he was talking about the filming copyright of one of his works!"

"Of course it didn't succeed, otherwise why would I tell you. Let's do this, let's talk in detail at the original izakaya tonight!"

Putting down the phone, a happy expression appeared on his face.

Regarding Akiwara Yuto's filming copyright matter this time, he roughly knew the specific reason inside.

It was because Dong Ying Film released wind through the industry association, requiring other film companies to act according to "industry rules," especially not to overstep.

So their company president compromised and conceded under this threat and gave up his original intention.

But Yongshan Yi Ren, as a senior screenwriter, had also read *The Devotion of Suspect X* and had great confidence in adapting this work into a movie.

So he believed this was the best opportunity!

And barefoot is not afraid of wearing shoes; for some people, Dong Ying Film's threat is useless.

So he prepared to instigate his friend, who was an independent producer, to talk down this copyright, and then take this copyright to find a few investors to cooperate to obtain funds.

He didn't believe that with Akiwara Yuto's big banner, he couldn't pull in a few investors!

If he really missed this opportunity, he estimated he would regret it for half a lifetime! ===== CHAPTER 251 =====