Chapter 256: Another Murder Case at Fuji TV

By now, even though they had already seen the corpse, everyone at the scene still assumed this was part of the production team's script.

To record this world-renowned "God's Hand SP," Fuji TV had mobilized almost its highest specifications; not only did they invite Shirakawa Mai and Uesugi Muneyuki, but they also brought in five A-list Comedians at once, maxing out the entire budget, gathering the station's best scriptwriters and screenwriters, and even having a Department Director present on-site to oversee things.

Besides, didn't a female announcer die at Fuji TV last year? How could someone die again this year? And why did it happen to coincide with the time when both Uesugi and Shiro were present?

It couldn't be such a coincidence, could it?

To say nothing of the rest, the Banana Man duo, Shitara and Himura, both looked bewildered, wondering what kind of stunt Fuji TV was pulling, while Tsuchida remained in a sleepy-looking state, watching the situation unfold; only Sawabe of Haraichi frowned, thinking that even if it were a script, playing a joke like this was going a bit too far.

Japanese Comedians have it rough, especially those with low status; it is common to see them play the fool or a pervert, there are reality shows where they are almost completely naked with only skin-colored tape covering their private parts, they are injured by various electric shocks, flames, and mud pranks, and there are even those who have to stick their heads into piles of spiders, centipedes, and frogs.

In short, the more a Comedian fears something, the more everyone loves to watch it; the bigger the Comedian's reaction, the more the audience likes it.

Even so, having someone pose as a corpse is going a bit too far, right?

The screams of the two young Idols rang out; Yamaguchi Maho was so terrified that her face turned completely white and her whole body couldn't stop trembling. The girl retreated in fear, her calf hit a low table, she twisted her ankle, and the sequins on her stage costume cut her palm, splashing blood onto the table.

As for Miyawaki Sakura, it was even more exaggerated; the girl screamed as she retreated, her eyes rolled back, and she accidentally tripped over a power outlet on the floor. Fortunately, Sakura had good physical fitness and had practiced dancing, so she only stumbled and fell. In extreme terror, the girl simply crawled on the floor with her hands and feet moving in unison for about ten meters. Amidst the chain of shocks, Sakura's body swayed, she clamped her legs tightly, nearly losing control of her bladder, and instinctively began to cry loudly.

No matter how scheming or calculating she might be, she was ultimately just a sixteen-year-old girl; where had she ever truly seen a corpse?

And the reactions of these two young Idols, along with Uesugi Muneyuki's solemn expression, finally made everyone realize that something major had happened!

The A-list Comedian, Miyahara Toru of the Umbrella Duo, was dead!

"Why are you just standing there? Call the police!" Seeing that the production team still hadn't reacted, Uesugi Muneyuki had to repeat himself, then said to the director: "This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a script; he is truly dead! Stop the recording and notify the Metropolitan Police Department immediately!"

"Oh... oh..." Director Yayoi finally reacted and hurriedly signaled the staff to call the police, but when he wanted to have the production team stop the recording, Department Director Abiru interrupted him rudely.

"Don't listen to him, don't stop, record it for me, record it hard!" At this moment, the Department Director's face was brimming with a twisted excitement. He watched Uesugi Muneyuki prepare to perform an Autopsy, watched the chaos at the scene, Yamaguchi accidentally injuring herself, Sakura crawling on the floor with hands and feet moving in unison, and the panic-stricken Comedians; he simply couldn't control his joy of the harvest, and his whole body was filled with energy!

This is what I wanted!

This is the program effect this station wanted, this is the Live Broadcast this station wanted, this is the ultimate goal of inviting Uesugi and Shirakawa to this station!

Miyahara-san! On behalf of all of Fuji TV, I thank you for your contribution!

Department Director Abiru immediately took out his phone to notify President Kameyama.

And at the scene, Uesugi Muneyuki and Senior Mai exchanged a look, and Uesugi Muneyuki immediately took his tool kit from Eirina and began the Autopsy.

To be fair, this set of field operations to discover a corpse was actually a bit stiff, but Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai couldn't come up with a better method on the spot. After all, they were both outsiders to variety shows; one was an actor and the other was a Forensic Pathologist, neither were Comedians. If it were too deliberate, it would be easy for professional Comedians to notice something wrong, and if they let others realize that they knew in advance that someone was dead and that the corpse was here, then it would really be impossible to explain.

Moreover, stiffness has its own advantages.

Under sudden circumstances, this is what looks real!

……………………

Meanwhile, at the Fuji TV Odaiba Building, in the President's office.

President Kameyama was complaining to his Secretary: "Did you read Director Hieda's report?"

Fuji TV belongs to Fuji Media Holdings, and Fuji Media Holdings belongs to the Fuji Sankei Group. Director Hieda is a Board Advisor for the Fuji Sankei Group in charge of media and is also President Kameyama's main competitor. The other party once had high hopes of succeeding Kameyama as the head of Fuji TV, but unfortunately, because last year's Live Broadcast was too successful, Kameyama's butt was stuck to the President's seat and couldn't be moved.

"I read it, President." The Secretary lowered his head.

"When I read the beginning and the middle, I thought he was my friend!" President Kameyama was clearly very unhappy: "How could he say that about me? Exploiting the dead? Smearing Fuji TV's image? And saying I'm a performance ATM? No personal likes or dislikes, no emotional fluctuations, paying out on demand, honest and fair to all?"

"Yes, Director Hieda's report is not particularly accurate." The Secretary kept his head down.

"??? Not particularly accurate?" President Kameyama looked up abruptly.

"I mean, President, it is particularly inaccurate." The Secretary hurriedly added: "I mean the last part; you also said the beginning and the middle were objective."

"That's more like it. Who was it that single-handedly created so many classic Moon Nine Dramas? Who was it that originally advocated for the building-lock Live Broadcast that turned defeat into victory and saved this station? And defeated the Kohaku Uta Gassen to win last year's viewership championship?" President Kameyama was finally satisfied: "For our TV station, viewership ratings are everything! 72% of Fuji TV's revenue relies on advertising, and 60% of that advertising comes from Dentsu and Hakuhodo. Dentsu and Hakuhodo support me, so what can he, Hieda, do? He..."

Just at this moment, the phone rang.

President Kameyama signaled the Secretary to answer it.

"Hello, this is the President's office." The Secretary picked up the phone: "Yes, the President knows you are recording the program... Hmm? Oh? No way? Are you serious? Someone has passed away?"

Hearing that someone had passed away, President Kameyama looked up abruptly: "What is it? Bad news?"

"Emmm, yes... and no." The Secretary covered the receiver of the landline with his hand, looking conflicted, and said to Kameyama: "Department Director Abiru says that an accident occurred during the location recording of the program. Miyahara Toru of the Umbrella Duo was found dead in the lounge, and Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai are performing an Autopsy on the scene."

"???" Kameyama Chihiro froze for a second after hearing this news, then his eyes widened, the corners of his mouth couldn't stop rising, his eyebrows arched high, and his mouth couldn't close as they twitched violently.

After panting heavily a few times, President Kameyama snatched the phone from the Secretary's hand: "Abiru, is it true? It's really not a script or... something you arranged?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, Kameyama Chihiro couldn't restrain himself even more. He let out a few pig-like snorts, then pursed his lips tightly and closed his eyes hard, brewing his emotions for a few seconds before putting on a sad face: "Abiru, what a tragedy."

"Yes, President, it is truly a tragedy." Abiru's voice was full of sorrow.

"Miyahara Toru was a very great artist." Kameyama said sadly.

"Yes, very great."

"We at Fuji TV will always be grateful for everything he did for us." President Kameyama took a tissue from the Secretary and rubbed the corners of his eyes.

"Forever and ever~"

"Is the program still recording?"

"Not missing a single detail."

"Pfft-woo-woo-woo~" The President really couldn't restrain his ecstasy. He said in a soft voice: "Very good, very good indeed. Abiru, I trust you to handle things."

"I'm coming over now. Also, confirm with Uesugi-kun to ensure that Miyahara Toru is truly dead." President Kameyama continued: "I think fifteen million people across the Kanto Region will want to watch this episode."

"I think there might be twenty million people who want to watch it; everyone wants to pay tribute to the final performance of a great Comedian."

"Hehehehehahaha~~" President Kameyama and Department Director Abiru finally couldn't help but laugh.

Great God Sengen, thank you!

………………

Odaiba Building, 7th Floor, Lounge.

When President Kameyama and a group of Fuji TV executives arrived at the scene, the irrelevant people around had already been cleared out. Only Uesugi Muneyuki and Ikeda Erena, who were performing the Autopsy, remained at the scene. At the entrance, Sakura, who was crying bitterly in fear, was being held and comforted by Senior Mai, while the injured Yamaguchi Maho, after receiving simple bandaging, sat alone to the side using a bag to alleviate her symptoms of "hyperventilation."

In short, it was a symptom of "oxygen poisoning" caused by excessive emotional agitation and high pressure leading to hyperventilation, which required inhaling some carbon dioxide to neutralize it.

The surrounding Comedians had retrieved their phones from the staff and were all making calls to explain the situation, and the Fuji TV employees around them were even paler.

It happened once last year, and it's happening again this year?

Furthermore, after that incident last year, the ghost of Hironaka Mariko had been appearing in the Odaiba Building even before Shirakawa Mai performed the exorcism, and it once became an urban legend that was seen by multiple people.

Now it's going to become a male and a female pair?

Oh my god, could it be that Hironaka is lonely and needs a companion?

Good heavens, Hironaka, we know you're desperate because you didn't get married, but don't go finding someone so ugly!

"Namo Amitabha, Namo Amitabha~"

But no matter who they were, they were all crowding at the doorway to peer inside.

An on-site Autopsy! And it's an on-site Autopsy by the legendary rookie Forensic Pathologist Uesugi Muneyuki!

To have the chance to witness this now, it would be against the laws of nature not to watch!

Uesugi Muneyuki performed a brief examination and said with certainty: "The cause of death is an asthma attack, death by asphyxiation."

"The complexion is cyanotic, with the lips, earlobes, and nail beds showing obvious signs; this is due to severe hypoxia causing an increase in reduced hemoglobin in the blood, making the skin and mucous membranes appear bluish-purple."

"The neck muscles are rigid or show slight bruising due to intense respiratory movements, and the mouth is open, an attempt to force breathing."

"Due to the drastic change in intrathoracic pressure caused by hypoxia, it may have triggered tiny petechial hemorrhages in the conjunctiva or facial skin."

"Pale complexion, cold sweat all over the body."

"There are no signs of neck compression, no mechanical asphyxiation characteristics such as external strangulation or ligature marks, and no foreign objects blocking the mouth or throat."

Uesugi Muneyuki concluded: "Therefore, the cause of death is death by asphyxiation from a sudden asthma attack."

The crowd at the scene was in an uproar, and the program director asked: "Although I don't understand medicine, hearing you say this, Forensic Examiner Uesugi, does that mean Miyahara-san died from a sudden illness by accident?"

"It looks like it." Uesugi Muneyuki grinned.

"But it was not an accident... it was murder!"

(End of this chapter)