Chapter 50: Working for three or four years, you might not even be able to earn this much!

"Nani? They actually made such a demand?"

BURNING Agency's Public Relations Director, Etsuro Kikuchi, received a call from his confidant, Masato Arai.

It was said that there was a problem with the acquisition of CATS; the creators of the girl group had set conditions: in addition to a transfer fee, they also needed a batch of television station distribution channel resources.

"Kuso, can't Kenichi Hino even control his own subordinates?!"

The project to acquire CATS was orchestrated by him single-handedly, and even the General Manager already knew about it.

As the Public Relations Director, if he wanted to advance further, he needed to achieve success in truly profitable areas.

And the traditional idol business of BURNING Agency—from auditions to debuts, then to releasing records and concerts—the traditional ways of making money were firmly held by the Planning Department.

Acquiring a new form of girl group like CATS was actually an attempt to make a breakthrough in a new field; otherwise, why would he send his confidant Masato Arai to handle this matter?

"Kuso, if this becomes a big mess and I get mocked by Masato Oda of the Planning Department, that wouldn't be good." Etsuro Kikuchi closed his eyes, weighing the gains and losses of the transfer fee versus the distribution channels.

If he were mocked by the Planning Director, that wouldn't be something that could be laughed off in the workplace.

That would be a sign that his reputation and methods were looked down upon; if he wanted a promotion, it would be delayed by at least two or three years.

Earlier,

Otomo Yoshimura was sitting opposite Kenichi Hino.

"Yoshimura-kun, do you really have to go this far?" The president's face was very ugly. "You have to know, if I make that call, then our ten-plus years of good cooperation will be over."

Otomo Yoshimura told him about the current situation of CATS and the conditions of Naoki Nagayama and the others.

The "good cooperation" the president referred to, besides referring to BURNING Agency, also alluded to the ten-plus years of employment relationship between him and Otomo Yoshimura.

"President Hino, there's nothing else to be done; those are the necessary requirements from the other side."

Otomo Yoshimura was already prepared to resign.

In fact, from the time the agency threw him into a new business he had never done before,

and then sold it off without mercy after he achieved results,

he also knew that he was being marginalized step by step in the agency.

After the girl group was sold, what could he do if he stayed in the agency?

The advertising business already had a new Planning Director in charge. Was he, this "General Manager," supposed to be demoted under a junior?

Or was he supposed to go back to being a manager?

Or become a rubber stamp for administrative matters?

But that position was already occupied by someone else!

This small agency had absolutely no department that needed him anymore!

For a Japanese person in a lifetime employment system, changing jobs at over 40 is indeed a major decision.

But the time spent collaborating with Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Itō was undoubtedly a period filled with passion and days that made one look forward to tomorrow.

Having tasted that, he was truly unwilling to return to his old salaryman routine...

More importantly,

Regarding the transfer fee to be paid, Naoki Nagayama indicated that the three of them would split it, with Otomo Yoshimura taking half!!!

Even if the transfer fee for each person was only 5 million yen, Otomo Yoshimura could at least get over 12 million!!!

Working for three or four years, you might not even be able to earn that much money!

In the end, Etsuro Kikuchi agreed to the transfer fee, but he would rather raise the transfer fee to 6 million per person than give away more distribution channels.

He could still distinguish between liquid assets and sources of wealth. In exchange, the shell company GG handed over all operation and distribution rights of CATS to BURNING Agency, and even the patent for the cat-ear hair accessory was granted to CATS for exclusive, indefinite use.

After signing the contract, all three breathed a sigh of relief.

"Otomo-san, you haven't had a chance to take a long vacation after working for so many years~ Why don't you take a vacation for a while?"

Naoki Nagayama said, looking at the somewhat haggard Otomo Yoshimura. "Afterward, we'll consider how to build up the Girl's Group."

This shell company, started on a whim, would be the three of them's true business from now on.

After all, having just received 15 million, to say Otomo Yoshimura was very sad...

Wasn't that a joke?

But a certain amount of loss and confusion was unavoidable.

Shuichi Itō also said: "That's right, Otomo-san, going to Xia Weiyi for a vacation at this time of year is quite nice~"

"Xia Weiyi, let's forget about it; my English is really not good..." Otomo Yoshimura laughed.

"But I can go back to my hometown to escape the heat; the summer in Nagano is still very cool. It's been a long time since I've been back..."

Back to his hometown?

When people are anxious, they always want to return to that initial harbor.

So there was still some anxiety, after all...

It looks like it will take some time to adjust.

After saying goodbye to the two, Naoki Nagayama arrived at the shop in Shibuya.

The agency had called earlier to say the shop had been tidied up and the procedures were all handled, asking when he would come to inspect it.

When Naoki Nagayama arrived, the agency staff were already in the shop. From the outside, it was indeed cleaned up, the large display window was spotless, the storefront was repainted, and even the space for the sign was left empty.

The agency wanted to take him through an item-by-item inspection, but it was only 50 square meters, with one or two display racks added for small accessories; what was there to look at?

Naoki Nagayama strolled around the shop, took a rough look, and then promptly settled the final payment. Next was to order a sign and find a salesperson to watch the shop, and then they could open for business.

He had originally wanted to make it a specialty shop for Wild Cat Group merchandise, but now, let's sell cat ears first, and in the future, open it up to all the merchandise of the girl groups under GG.

The patent and transfer fees from this period made Naoki Nagayama's wallet bulge a bit again.

That heart for buying land began to stir again~

However, with over 15 million in funds, he couldn't afford a very good place, so he'd wait until he earned more later.

It seems he's idle again~

Just past noon, Naoki Nagayama didn't want to go home and continue lying flat, so he came to the house in Bunkyo Ward again, preparing to practice the piano for a while.

He had almost treated this place as his piano room.

He hadn't noticed when he bought it, but this three-story western-style house was particularly close to the school, and most of the residents were students.

During the day, they were basically all in class, so it was very quiet.

Naoki Nagayama's room was on the second floor, with only two rooms, a living room and a bedroom; outside the glass sliding door was a balcony, and outside the balcony was a lush cherry tree.

This suite didn't have much furniture; the largest item was a piano standing by the window.

A desk with a small bookshelf was left by the previous tenant; it was a bit old but still usable.

There were also a few chairs and a kettle for boiling water.

Oh right, on the tatami in the bedroom, there was a futon that Naoki Nagayama occasionally used for a nap.

Opening the window and the glass sliding door of the balcony, fresh air instantly flooded into the room, blowing the few sheets of manuscript paper on the desk.

The house he visited often didn't have much dust.

Boiling a pot of hot water and tidying up a little,

Naoki Nagayama sat down to prepare to practice the piano.

The permanent residents nearby probably knew that this house had a new owner, who seemed to be from the music conservatory, as they could occasionally hear pleasant piano music coming from inside. ===== CHAPTER 51 =====