Chapter 438

On the mud-splattered playground, only one figure remained standing, swaying but still upright. As the dark clouds dispersed, the brilliant sunset appeared on the distant horizon, bringing a fateful shock to the final roar of the human figure.

Naoki Nagayama, Ito Shuichi Itō, and Masataka Komori watched the carefully edited grand scene on the small screen together, as if they were looking at a treasure they had crafted with their own hands, finding it more pleasing the more they looked at it.

After more than half a month of working overtime, the editing work for "Crows Zero" finally neared its end.

However, after seeing the latest segment, Masataka Komori said: "Naoki-san, Ito Shuichi-san, after the series of foreshadowing and teasing earlier, the audience's emotions are at their peak! I feel that if we cut it off here, it will have just reached the climax!"

Ito Shuichi Itō, however, was somewhat dissatisfied: "I always feel like something is missing... It stops abruptly at the peak~"

"Of course, it's missing a sense of aftertaste and anticipation!" Naoki Nagayama's expression was solemn; he was definitely not saying anything strange. "At the very least, we still need to add a little bit of ordinary plot afterward as a consolation."

"After all, we still need to leave suspense for the audience and prepare in advance for the next installment!"

Ito Shuichi Itō and Masataka Komori immediately looked over: "Next installment?"

"Of course!" Naoki Nagayama rolled his eyes. "This clearly has the same potential as a major IP like 'Tora-san' or 'Zatoichi'."

"Is that so?" Ito Shuichi Itō had never envisioned a long-term film series; such things were generally only considered by major production companies.

"As long as the 'Crows Zero' IP takes off, it will be a goose that lays golden eggs from now on!" Naoki Nagayama recalled the film universes like Marvel, DC, and monsters of the future, painting a big picture for the two of them. "This generation is Tamao Serizawa; Ito Shuichi-san, you can film the next generation, Genji Takiya; Masataka-kun, you can go film the next, next generation—who will be the overlord of Suzuran?"

"With such iterative updates, we can root the popularity of Suzuran High School among young people..."

"As long as the delinquent group still exists—no, as long as young people still exist, such an IP will not lose its vitality!"

A round of sweet-talking left Ito Shuichi Itō and Masataka Komori feeling extremely excited. Sure enough, as a boss, other things aren't important, but the ability to paint a big picture for employees must be practiced well.

Naoki Nagayama didn't plan to participate in the remaining content personally. Today was already the weekend, and he still had to meet an old fox with Fumio Otomo tonight; it was another heart-taxing and energy-consuming affair.

Driving that night was the newcomer Takeharu Kawahara. Naoki Nagayama and Fumio Otomo sat in the back row chatting about the arrangements for the dinner party later.

"For today, Otomo-san, you didn't inform them that I would be going, right?" Naoki Nagayama asked Fumio Otomo beside him.

"Yes, I didn't say anything at all." Fumio Otomo nodded and replied. "I only said we would talk further about the cooperation."

"Then I won't participate in the discussion for the time being. Otomo-san, just chat with them according to your previous attitude. Anyway, I will join in when the time is right."

Naoki Nagayama planned to give them a surprise. "Otomo-san, just back me up according to the situation. Today, we must take down that old guy!"

"Yes!"

The location for the treat was an old-fashioned Japanese restaurant in Azabu-Juban. As a famous wealthy area in Minato Ward, high-rise buildings stood in great numbers here, yet it was also interspersed with various long-standing boutique old shops. From time to time, one could see foreigners of different skin colors on the road; it was also a place where Eastern and Western cultures blended.

Naoki Nagayama looked through the window at the convenient facilities outside, the neat and orderly streets, the exquisite high-end shops, and the residences that were quiet amidst the noise, feeling his desire to buy stir again.

"It would be great if I could buy a house here in the future~ It's so convenient~"

Fumio Otomo listened from the side and couldn't help but laugh. He only found out two days ago that Naoki Nagayama had bought a courtyard in Kyoto, and then bought an apartment in Nakano. Now, he actually wanted to buy a house again?

"Naoki-san, is your obsession with real estate too high? You're almost at 10 properties in your hands, right?"

Naoki Nagayama glanced at him: "Otomo-san, didn't I tell you before? Real estate is definitely the best investment method for the next ten years! If we don't take advantage of now to buy a few more, we will definitely regret it later!"

"Hahaha, Naoki-san is still so fond of persuading people to buy houses." Fumio Otomo laughed and said to Takeharu Kawahara, who was driving in the front row, "Takeharu-kun, if you want to buy real estate, you must follow Naoki-san~"

"Hahaha~" Takeharu Kawahara could only laugh in agreement.

"If you don't believe me, just wait and see~"

Naoki Nagayama knew that one shouldn't persuade people more than three times, so he was just mentioning it occasionally now.

When they arrived at the booked restaurant, Naoki Nagayama and Fumio Otomo both got out of the car, only letting Takeharu Kawahara stay behind to watch the car and send them back later.

After not having to drive himself, he felt that drinking was much more convenient.

The private room had already been booked. After reporting their names, the two soon arrived in a Japanese-style room under the guidance of the waiter, where Etsuro Kikuchi and Masato Arai were.

Masato Arai was already accompanying his old boss to drink with Fumio Otomo for the third time, and he had also helped persuade him many times, but this old fox Fumio Otomo wouldn't loosen his mouth no matter what.

And Etsuro Kikuchi on his side seemed to be possessed, definitely wanting the operating rights to Cat's Eye, making him feel a bit annoyed now, but he still needed to maintain a loyal and grateful image in the workplace, so he had to come.

However, this time it was a bit strange. Fumio Otomo used to come alone, but this time he actually brought a junior... to let him gain some experience? But he seemed a bit familiar?

"Kikuchi-san, Arai-san, it's a little late." Fumio Otomo greeted them enthusiastically as soon as he entered the door. After all, they had drunk so much, so they could at least be considered drinking buddies; it was normal to be a bit intimate.

"Fumio-san!" Both nodded to indicate. "We just arrived too."

Fumio Otomo had no intention of introducing Naoki Nagayama beside him, sitting directly opposite, and Naoki Nagayama just sat silently to the side.

"Fumio-san, what have you been busy with lately?" They were both old foxes, so naturally, they couldn't get straight to the point. Etsuro Kikuchi started with pleasantries first.

"Mainly the promotion of Yutaka Ozaki's second album. It's really been busy lately." Fumio Otomo drank a sip of water very naturally and then chatted about his recent main work.

Masato Arai nodded in approval: "This album by Yutaka Ozaki really set off a huge wave in the industry! I remember it was number one on the Oricon chart last time, right?"

"It really stepped into the realm of first-class singers all at once." Etsuro Kikuchi naturally knew about the overwhelming promotion.

"Yes, thanks to the support of everyone inside and outside the industry."

Fumio Otomo smiled very happily. After all, chatting with anyone now couldn't avoid this currently hottest singer. It is said that several idol singers had chosen to postpone the release of their new songs to avoid his edge.

"Your company's Kyōko Koizumi's 'Half-Girl' also achieved good results!" Fumio Otomo also offered commercial mutual praise at the right time.

As Kyōko Koizumi, who debuted in the same batch as Akina Nakamori, her popularity was also very good.

"Hahaha~"

After a period of commercial mutual praise, the food and drinks were already on the table. After several rounds of drinking, the atmosphere of the entire dinner party reached its peak.

Etsuro Kikuchi saw that the atmosphere was well-prepared, and finally started the main topic:

"Fumio-san, regarding the operation of Cat's Eye discussed before, you can occupy 20% of the shares of the new agency. This is already our greatest sincerity. What do you think?"

Because of the drinking, there was a hint of redness on Fumio Otomo's face, but he was still very cautious in his mouth: "Regarding this point, didn't I say it before? It's not about the shares, but the issue of ownership."

"Even if we cooperate, the ownership must still be under our GG agency."

Masato Arai toasted a glass of wine and helped persuade: "Fumio-san, in fact, relying on our resources, Cat's Eye will get more room for development.

Even if it's 20% of the shares, the commercial profits brought will be more than what you have now..."

As the Minister of the Media Public Relations Department of the Burning agency, Masato Arai was very confident in what he said: "As long as they join the Burning system, whether it is in announcements, endorsements, advertisements, records, or film and television, the resources and opportunities Cat's Eye gets will go to a higher level."

Etsuro Kikuchi also started playing the emotional card: "Yes, Fumio-san, the Wild Cat Group has such potential!"

Fumio Otomo was still stammering: "But if that's the case..."

"Isn't it the wish of the creator to give their own idol group a bigger space?" Etsuro Kikuchi persuaded while persuading to drink. "When the children grow up, they naturally need their own sky!"

Naoki Nagayama, who was listening from the side, almost laughed. It was clearly poaching, yet they could pull it off so outrageously. The skin of these two guys was really thick!

Fumio Otomo was vague and refused to speak, leaving the two opposite helpless, and they still wanted to continue persuading: "Fumio-san..."

"Otomo-san will not agree!"

Naoki Nagayama, who had been eating and drinking silently on the side, suddenly spoke up, surprising the two opposite. "Persuading is useless!"

Suddenly interrupted by a young man, Etsuro Kikuchi was a bit angry: "Who are you? How dare you speak like that!"

Fumio Otomo introduced him at this time: "Kikuchi-san, Arai-san, this is our agency's president, Naoki Nagayama!"

He originally thought it was just a handsome junior he hadn't paid much attention to just now. It wasn't until this moment that Masato Arai looked at him seriously:

"I was wondering why he was so familiar; it turns out to be Mr. Naoki Nagayama!"

As the Minister of the Media Public Relations Department, Masato Arai had a basic understanding of all kinds of celebrities.

However, this guy Naoki Nagayama was a bit of a weirdo. Apart from "Hana Yori Dango" in the first half of the year, his exposure in the entertainment industry was very low, and his current style was very different from that time, which was why he didn't recognize him at a glance.

"Sorry, I came here rashly and didn't introduce myself. It was really rude."

It was the first time meeting both of them, and speaking up so suddenly was indeed a bit strange. "I am Naoki Nagayama. Nice to meet you, please take care of me!"

"Yes, I am Masato Arai/Etsuro Kikuchi. Please take care of us too~" Both replied.

However, Etsuro Kikuchi was more concerned after all, and asked anxiously: "Nagayama-san, what did you mean by 'impossible' just now?"

"It means exactly what it says. GG agency will absolutely not give up the operating rights." Naoki Nagayama directly sealed off the retreat.

Etsuro Kikuchi immediately became anxious: "Why?!"

"Because I don't allow it!"

Naoki Nagayama said it casually, like an innocent and stubborn child.

"The idols I made popular myself have already been snatched once. How could they be snatched a second time?"

Looking at Naoki Nagayama's young face, they didn't know for a moment whether what he said was true or false.

Etsuro Kikuchi's eyes also looked toward Fumio Otomo, wanting to seek some answers.

However, Fumio Otomo just kept drinking and eating at this time, with no intention of replying at all.

After a while, Masato Arai asked: "Nagayama-san, is there really no room for negotiation? We can raise the shares to 30%!"

"There's no need to consider this... Arai-san."

Naoki Nagayama was still very firm.

"I'm not interested in making money~"

"Uh..." The two were speechless for a moment.

Even Fumio Otomo, who was burying his head in eating, looked up in surprise.

"Cough, cough..." Suddenly saying a famous quote from the future, Naoki Nagayama blushed slightly. "Arai-san, Kikuchi-san, I have a proposal."

Masato Arai sat upright: "Please speak."

"Recently, I planned a program with people from TBS. The tentative name is 'Evening Meow Meow'..."

Naoki Nagayama thought about his previous conversation with Yasushi Akimoto. "It's a program similar to an audition, but the program format is different."

"We are thinking of using open auditions for ordinary high school girls to serve as guests on the program, creating a very civilian-oriented idol group."

Masato Arai was very surprised to hear this: "High school girls, civilian idols? Nagayama-san, will anyone pay attention to such idols?"

And Etsuro Kikuchi shook his head even more: "This isn't an idol at all!"

"Hahaha, what exactly is an idol now? After the idol disqualification incident, the public also has many questions about this."

Naoki Nagayama laughed. "The idols who debuted this year don't have very good popularity."

"This is a civilian idol..."

"The civilianization of idols is a trend. According to our research and judgment, this idea has great prospects! It is expected that it is very likely to trigger a trend."

Naoki Nagayama directly informed them of the answer affirmatively and continued: "In short, we plan to use the guests in the program to create an idol group, using the method of constantly replacing members to maintain the vitality of the girl group.

Creating an idol group that breaks conventions and leads the trend of the times is what I want to do."

"At present, Cat's Eye is just right to be used as a gimmick for the first phase."

Naoki Nagayama looked at the two. "The Wild Cat Group is the original girl group. If possible, we actually want to keep this girl group going and become a legacy."

Masato Arai and Etsuro Kikuchi looked at each other: "Nagayama-san, did you come for this?"

"Yes, apart from the name of the Wild Cat Group, I actually don't have much need for the two of you." When bargaining, one naturally has to belittle the other party.

"With the addition of TBS producers and the Fuji TV Production Bureau, we can already start preparing for the program."

"This..." Etsuro Kikuchi thought for a while and thought of the key point. "Nagayama-san's meaning is that this girl group is not under your agency?"

"Yes, the three parties plan to establish a new company specifically to operate this girl group."

Future Nogizaka46 and AKB48, aren't they operated this way?

Now the two understood. Naoki Nagayama was going to let Etsuro Kikuchi—no, the Burning system behind him—join the partnership!

Etsuro Kikuchi was an old fox after all: "Nagayama-san, besides valuing the Wild Cat Group, you must also have valued the Burning system, right?"

"Ha, there is also such a part of the reason, but it is not necessary. Our strength is already almost enough." TBS and Fuji TV, plus Naoki Nagayama and the others, can already be considered a strong alliance in the industry.

However, Naoki Nagayama still proposed: "Of course, if the Burning system can join, that would naturally be even better.

At present, I and Otomo-san cannot spare the energy, and the TBS producer is also very busy. The newly established company still lacks a person in charge... If there is someone with rich experience like Kikuchi-san..."

Etsuro Kikuchi's breathing began to quicken: "Nagayama-san's meaning is..."

"We are willing to hand over the executive president of the new company to you. As for the share part... it needs to be discussed further, but judging from the current situation, it is about 10%."

Naoki Nagayama directly stated the proposal. "After all, it depends on the resources that the Burning system and Kikuchi-san can bring..."

Etsuro Kikuchi fell into deep thought, and Masato Arai didn't speak either.

The road ahead was cut off. Etsuro Kikuchi's idea of opening an independent agency was originally a desperate gamble, and this sudden proposal made Etsuro Kikuchi's heart move.

However, Naoki Nagayama had no intention of continuing to accompany them:

"Let's stop here for now. Our opinions have been exchanged. If Kikuchi-san has decided, please reply as soon as possible... The program is about to enter the preparation stage."

"Then today, we will excuse ourselves first." As he said this, he stood up and signaled Fumio Otomo to leave together.

"Eh? This..." Fumio Otomo stood up and said, "Sumimasen."

Then he followed Naoki Nagayama and left.

Etsuro Kikuchi and Masato Arai didn't even have time to keep them.

Just as they reached the door, Fumio Otomo asked: "Naoki-san, are we just leaving like this?"

"What's there to keep chatting about?" Naoki Nagayama said casually. "If he agrees, that's the best. If he doesn't agree, we haven't lost anything. Anyway, he won't come to pester Otomo-san anymore."

"But... you didn't even give them time to consider..."

"It's not us who are anxious now; we are Etsuro Kikuchi's life-saving straw." Naoki Nagayama thought about Etsuro Kikuchi's anxious look just now. "This is called extreme pressure, one of the methods Americans often use.

However, I think he will agree!

If things go smoothly, it will be when we go out..."

"Nagayama-san! Fumio-san! Please wait a moment! I agree!"

Etsuro Kikuchi's shout came from the stairs behind them.

Fumio Otomo looked at Naoki Nagayama in front of him, his eyes wide open. Is this guy in front of him capable of fortune-telling?