Chapter 355

Time had not yet come for the fiscal year-end (Japan's fiscal year runs from April each year to March the following year), but this year, under the leadership of Fuji Television President Kameyama, Fuji Television achieved significant profit growth, with the parent company Fuji Media's projected annual financial report showing annual revenue rising from 420 billion yen last year to 435 billion yen this year, of which at least 12 billion yen was contributed by Fuji Television, the main module being the successful production of 《Sea Girl》, President Kameyama's strong advocacy for the ratings miracle of 《God's Hand SP》, and the robust performance of advertising business.

Although 《Sea Girl》 is NHK's morning drama, it is mainly produced by Fuji FNS Production Bureau, and the previous Production Bureau Director has already been promoted, with Abiru Kazuhiko now holding the important position of FNS Production Bureau Director.

This position is highly prestigious and also a super lucrative sinecure; if it weren't for Abiru Kazuhiko initially proposing and pushing for the Odaiba building lockdown, this position would actually have been impossible for him to obtain.

As for 《God's Hand SP》 and advertising business, there's no need to elaborate—they are entirely due to the super strong capabilities of the partnership between Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai,

their topicality, and the public's morbid curiosity, which together created miraculous ratings, and thanks to this program, advertising revenue naturally also crept up.

For a television station, ratings are life, almost the sole standard for measuring success or failure.

This year's financial report showed net profit up 36% compared to last year, operating profit up 23.5%, and ordinary profit up 24.1%; President Kameyama was looking at the projected financial report and chuckling to himself, when he heard a bolt-from-the-blue piece of news from his secretary.

Someone died on the NHK Taiga Drama set? And Uesugi Muneyuki was also at the scene???

"You won't tell me that NHK had Uesugi Muneyuki conduct on-site forensics, and even used the Taiga Drama's filming crew to record the entire process, will you?" President Kameyama, upon hearing this news, sprang directly up from his chair.

"NHK probably did exactly that, President." The secretary could only say so.

"Pfft! Indeed!" President Kameyama, upon hearing this news, was furious: "Still the Japan Broadcasting Corporation? Simply a despicable, shameless thief! A sinister, vicious tengu! How can NHK do this? This is the wisdom crystallization of our Turtle Mountain Company! It is the precious experience our entire broadcasting station sacrificed Hirooka Mariko and Miyano Sai to obtain! How can NHK treat human life as child's play?"

"Yes, President." Faced with the Fuji Television President's outburst, the secretary dared not say another word, after all, the President's abilities have already been recognized by the Fuji Media Group,

"TMD, how did the august Japan Broadcasting Corporation become like this?" President Kameyama pondered carefully, and indeed, our Turtle Mountain Company truly has no way to deal with NHK, he cursed furiously: "Shamelessly plagiarizing our station's creativity, exploiting its unique position to stop at nothing for ratings, truly shameless!"

"Go tell NHK, our station is very dissatisfied with this matter; from now on, whatever morning drama production, news sharing, and joint public institution projects—don't even think about it! As long as I remain in the president's position, let NHK dream on!" After a bout of impotent rage, President Kameyama said to the secretary.

"Yes, President." The secretary nodded, drenched in sweat, unsure what to do; there is no doubt that President Kameyama Chihiro's intention is for him to notify NHK.

However, NHK, as the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, enjoys extremely high social standing in Japan, and as previously mentioned, under Japan's high-level system and the government-business revolving door, everyone in an industry is essentially part of the same group; offending NHK, how will he continue to mix in the news media industry thereafter?

Offending NHK will doom oneself in the future, but offending the current President Kameyama will doom oneself right now!

The President's secretary is truly torn, unsure what to do.

At this moment, the phone rang.

"Yes, this is Iwamoto, yes, the President is at ————. What? Is this really true? Wow———. Unbelievable, okay,

Does the President need to take the call personally? Okay, I will relay it to him, okay, if there are any follow-up messages, please call back immediately, thank you." The President's secretary hung up the phone, his face still bearing an expression of disbelief.

This was a two- to three-minute call, President Kameyama's residual anger not yet subsided: "What else? Bad news?"

"Well, it is, and it isn't... President, our NHK insider revealed that after Uesugi Muneyuki conducted forensics at the death scene on the NHK set, he uncovered an entire Taiga Drama corruption scandal, including the deceased Assistant Nishimura consuming large amounts of empty rations meant for extras, the props team leader substituting inferior goods to defraud props expenses, and many more on-set corruption issues."

The secretary's facial expression was very strange: "As always, all cases handled by Uesugi-san have complete human evidence, physical evidence, and corroborating evidence,

the perpetrator has already confessed, NHK Chairman Matsumoto is currently rushing urgently to Wood Prefecture, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office have already been deployed, currently the entire 《Gunshi Kanbei》 Taiga Drama has announced suspension of filming, NHK has convened an emergency board of directors to decide to directly suspend and cut this Taiga Drama in half, and it is even possible that what gets cut in half is not 《Gunshi Kanbei》, but the Taiga Drama history dating back to 1963."

President Kameyama, upon hearing this news, was first stunned, then his entire face's wrinkles all smoothed out, the corners of his mouth rose high, his eyes stared wide and round, after letting out a short "Ha," he desperately inhaled and exhaled, striving to make his expression become one of "embarrassment," picked up the whiskey on his desk and took a sip, filled with sorrow: "Tragedy!"

"Tragedy~" The secretary also couldn't help but laugh a little.

"How great, Uesugi-kun!" President Kameyama shook his head vigorously: "Our society needs such a Mito Komon-like figure."

"Great, no need for many words!" The secretary sighed along.

"His friendship with our Fuji Television will last forever~" President Kameyama closed his eyes, expressed deep sympathy, and incidentally reviewed his own earlier life's hardships and struggles. Hmm, plus his regret over losing Hirooka Mariko as a fuck buddy.

"Forever~" The secretary, being perceptive, sighed along with the President.

"What a pity, 《Gunshi Kanbei》 is a good drama, having aired only the first episode with a premiere rating of 18%, and then it was unfortunately cut in half like this, ah, this is a major blow to Okada Junichi!" President Kameyama this time indeed felt a bit regretful, after all, Fuji Television's cooperation with the Kansai Johnny's Office is still very close.

"President, NHK's side seems to hope that all major television stations can cooperate with their press releases, but you previously said we do not intend to cooperate with NHK again..."

"No! No no no, Iwamoto, you misunderstood me! NHK's position as Japan Broadcasting Corporation in Japan is unquestionable,

we Fuji Television are merely a humble commercial broadcaster, what need is there to refuse NHK's cooperation request? We must not only cooperate, but cooperate sincerely! We must not only give NHK front-page headlines, but also produce special programs, invite various guests, and deeply investigate the truth of corruption on the Taiga Drama set!" President Kameyama spoke righteously and firmly: "Not only that, we must also bring Uesugi-kun's on-site forensics to 《God's Hand》! Give the entire nation an explanation! Tell everyone, our Fuji Television will forever stand on the side of justice!"

"Justice!" The secretary straightened his back, shouted in agreement, and locked eyes with President Kameyama, both seeing the other's excitement bottled up like Seba.

For ratings, we are willing to do anything!

Uesugi Muneyuki, you are simply our Fuji Television's dear father!

After the secretary left, President Kameyama finally couldn't help but burst out laughing loudly in private.

But he also felt a bit relieved, fortunate that he initially did not agree to Abiru Kazuhiko's suggestion, to have vagrants come in each year to kill someone and stage a live broadcast.

Uesugi Muneyuki's abilities are too strong; if one person dies, he will definitely dig deep, and will definitely uncover some internal matters.

Can't possibly investigate everything? Which television station doesn't have a bit of darkness?

Fortunately, Uesugi Muneyuki is still satisfied with "Green Room hospitality," and as for our station's female anchors, they are also very willing to form a connection with Uesugi Muneyuki and have something happen, merely saying that currently it's not yet determined whom Uesugi Muneyuki prefers more, President Kameyama Chihiro thought that as long as a female anchor could gain Uesugi Muneyuki's favor and influence his decision, any morning or evening news anchor position could be given!

As long as the friendly relationship with Uesugi Muneyuki is stabilized, every time he breaks a big story, our station can ruthlessly reap a large wave of traffic and eyeballs! This guy breaks wherever he goes, and it seems he will never lack program material in the future!

Moreover, the future detective drama adapted with him as the protagonist aims not only to surpass the Taiga Drama, but also to trample NHK's face!

President Kameyama chuckled, he could hardly wait to see what would happen next.

Death is good, we need death, now we've lain and won again!

How did I become this awesome?

Night fell, lights began to shine, the late January Tokyo night wind blew like a knife.

Uesugi Muneyuki, scolded by his grandfather, had a somewhat unsightly complexion.

Grandfather Uesugi Kuninori, upon hearing of the incident, was furious to the point of near death, especially after NHK came to plead, Uesugi Kuninori on the spot called and berated Uesugi Muneyuki for a full 15 minutes and 57 seconds.

"I painstakingly secured a Taiga Drama cameo appearance for you two brothers to brush up on fame, and this is how you repay grandfather? Moreover, you probably forgot, I am still serving as historical consultant in the drama crew! Snow Pine Maru, you this eight-gar, doing this has dragged both your brother and grandfather down together!"

After Grandfather Uesugi Kuninori berated Uesugi Muneyuki, he still retained some old-school Showa man's backbone, hearing that human and physical evidence were indeed present on set and corruption was severe, he could only sigh once, saying Japan as a nation is truly becoming more and more rotten, then instructed Uesugi Muneyuki, this case ends here, at most it may spread to the drama troupe, do not let it continue to extend to the entire NHK television station, otherwise you will have no way to mix in Japan's media industry thereafter.

As for Grandfather Uesugi Kuninori's side, he still has many connections, he will come to deal with it, and then Uesugi Muneyuki's side will cooperate by saying a few lines like "NHK's original intention was good, it's just the lower production teams that are corrupt," "actors are also innocent, they are also victims of the pits," attempting to reduce the scope of this matter.

"You brat! Truly———" Grandfather Uesugi Kuninori still complained: "Chitoku Maru is not like you, he has always been fine! Snow Pine Maru, it's no longer the Sengoku period now!"

Uesugi Muneyuki could only mouth agreement, thinking it's no wonder the founding noble families of the Muromachi Shogunate basically all transitioned from military to civil, and by the time of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi in the Edo Shogunate, samurai had also begun thorough transformation into court nobles.

Everyone is unwilling to offend or provoke others, all wish to peacefully share wealth and honor, the corruption of the national system is also inevitable.

Of course, this refers to Japan.

In the sushi restaurant, Uesugi Muneyuki and the head of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Unit, Kirekawa Ryoichi, sat together.

Kirekawa Ryoichi's complexion was also not good, thinking I, as the head of the Special Investigation Unit, an elite bureaucrat with an annual salary of 13.5 million yen, while you, Lord Uesugi Forensic Examiner, Japan's superstar newcomer, actually invited me out just to eat this?

Really stingy!

"Here, take this." Uesugi Muneyuki silently handed an envelope to Kirekawa Buchou.

Kirekawa Buchou took the envelope, glanced at it, his expression changed slightly, his previous dissatisfaction vanished instantly, and his eyes shone with light!

This is exactly the crucial reconciliation statement hidden by the victim of the Taiga drama film set case, Nishimura Yuzuru Shōzō! The documents inside detail the props team's issues and the kickbacks taken by numerous crew members led by the producer!

With this—

"How did you get this?" Kirekawa Buchou immediately took the documents and stuffed them into his coat.

"I specifically asked Department Manager to come out because I didn't want to answer this," Uesugi Muneyuki said in a low voice.

"Great! Very good!" Kirekawa Buchou instantly understood Uesugi Muneyuki's meaning, feeling that Sushirou was truly a blessed land of cave heaven, even the cheap tofu skin sushi in his mouth became delicious: "But why?"

"Actually, I have a request, hoping Buchou can help."

"Oh, I understand, so there are exchange conditions, huh." Kirekawa Buchou nodded: "Go ahead, what is the request?"

"It's about—"