Tokyo Tycoon, Start as a Writer

Chapter 48 You Just Know You're Finished
What does it feel like to have no desire in life?
It's like I'm the fish and they are the butchers.

The world that Seiichiro Ito sees now is dim and dull, like the lead-gray dirty water flowing out of a gutter.

There were only two people in the meeting room at this time.

"That boy is too arrogant. I won't let him go like this!" Chief Editor Nitta covered his swollen face with his hands, veins popping out on his forehead. "Call the police. I must call the police and get that boy..."

"Shut up!"

Ito Seiichiro roared.

"Section Chief?" Chief Editor Nitta looked at him in surprise. "What's wrong with you? Why did you suddenly agree to that kid's request? This is different from what we agreed on..."

Ito Seiichiro did not answer. His face looked very unhappy and he was thinking about something.

"Forget it, if you agree to publish it, just publish it. What should the new book be called? No matter what it is called, do not give him any resources for publicity and promotion. I want to see if he can still have that expression when his sales plummet..." Editor-in-Chief Nitta said viciously.

Ito Seiichiro still didn't speak.

The sunlight came in through the gaps in the curtains and shone on his feet, but now the light could not shine into his heart.

"The video recording of the meeting..."

These words echoed repeatedly in his mind, like the switch of a time bomb.

As a senior government official, Seiichiro Ito knew the seriousness of this matter better than anyone else.

Some things within the rules can be played as dirty as possible under the table.

But when things that happen under the table are brought to the surface, the consequences can be devastating.

The Ministry of Culture is oppressing emerging authors and plundering copyrights. Once this kind of thing is confirmed, the Ministry of Culture will inevitably be condemned by the entire cultural community and the entire society. As the person who planned the whole thing, Seiichiro Ito will inevitably be fired.

Thinking of the consequences, Ito Seiichiro felt cold all over.

"Ding~"

The phone received a message.

I clicked on it and saw that it was a YouTube video link.

The switch of the bomb was pressed, and Ito Seiichiro's hands began to tremble.

"Section Chief Ito, what's wrong with you?"

Editor-in-Chief Nitta noticed that his face looked strange, so he walked over and found that he was watching a video on his mobile phone.

The content of the video...

In an instant, Editor-in-Chief Nitta turned pale and trembled all over.

If this video goes viral, he will definitely be finished. The top management of Xinchao will not tolerate the existence of an editor who helps outsiders to harm the company's interests, and the door to his peers will definitely not be opened to such a traitor.

It's all over.

His career was about to end in such an ignominious way...

"How, how could this happen? I clearly checked it..." Editor-in-Chief Nitta was trembling all over, looking around in astonishment, and finally found a small raised bump on the edge of the carpet.

Instantly, he understood what it was, and angrily cursed with gnashing teeth: "Oshima, it's that bastard Oshima..."

The young security guard whom he never took seriously gave him a fatal blow.

"Captain Ito, think of a solution!" Chief Editor Nitta knelt down with a plop, hugged Ito Seiichiro's legs and trembled, with a look of desperate fear on his face, "I follow your orders in everything, you can't just ignore me, Captain Ito..."

"roll!"

Ito Seiichiro kicked him away and replied to the message with trembling hands.

【Where are you? 】

【The coffee shop opposite. 】

【I'll be there right away.】

Seiichiro Ito stood up and ran out hurriedly.

Absolutely not, absolutely not surrender...

He, Seiichiro Ito, was born to be a beast of burden.

His parents grew potatoes in Hokkaido and he didn't have much of a family background. His achievements today were due not only to his own hard work, but also to his kneeling before a fat senior schoolmate whom he disliked during college.

So what if you come from a poor background?

So what if social classes are rigidified and it is difficult to advance?

He pursued the second daughter of the Tachibana family and even abandoned his dignity to win the favor of the lady from the old noble family.

After graduating from university, he entered politics under the arrangement of the Tachibana family and rose to prominence from then on.

Thanks to his efforts, the future is developing in a good direction.

If nothing unexpected happens, he will have the opportunity to be promoted to vice minister within ten years... By then he won't have to rely on the Tachibana family, and the Tachibana family won't be able to control him, so he can pursue true love.

Now, because of a trivial matter, he suffered a major setback and everything he had would be ruined!

We must not let this happen!

Seiichiro Ito trotted into the coffee shop across the street. The atmosphere there was quiet, filled with the sounds of a spoon stirring coffee and books turning pages.

The man sat with the young editor, and the seat opposite him was empty.

"Mr. Matsueda, I'm here." "Oh, sit down." Matsueda Kiyoaki said without raising his head.

Afterwards, Seiichiro Ito sat down on the other side of the table. The young editor did not look at him, but was absorbed in looking at the manuscript in his hand.

The waiter came to the table and asked the new guest what he wanted.

Ito Seiichiro ordered a cup of coffee, and after the waiter left, he gritted his teeth and asked, "What do you want? Money?"

"You look angry?" asked Kiyoaki Matsueda.

The tone of the voice when he said this was very cold, and Ito Seiichiro clenched his teeth almost instantly and glared at him fiercely.

It's a sunny noon in midsummer.

In the coffee shop, the atmosphere was like a confrontation.

"1000 million!" Ito Seiichiro gritted his teeth and said, "I'll give you 1000 million, give me the video."

Kiyoaki Matsueda picked up the coffee and took a sip, looking very relaxed.

"I remind you that the Tachibana family has deep backgrounds in all aspects, so you'd better quit while you're ahead." Ito Seiichiro said with his fists clenched.

It would be best if this matter could be settled with money...

"Section Chief Ito, do you think 1000 million is a lot for me?" Kiyoaki Matsueda asked calmly.

...Actually, there are a lot of them for now.

Of course, it is just a small amount for him in the future.

Ito Seiichiro's breathing was rapid. He finally calmed down and weighed the pros and cons to make a new offer: "5000 million, no more. This is my limit. Even if you force me to death, you can't get more."

“It’s not really about the money.”

"It's not a matter of money? Well, I can guarantee that the Ministry of Culture will always give you the green light in the future!" In order to get the video back, Seiichiro Ito no longer cared about so many things.

“That’s quite tempting.”

"So you agree, right?"

"But it's not enough."

"...What else do you want?" Ito Seiichiro's eyes twitched and veins bulged on his forehead.

However, Kiyoaki Matsueda didn't even want to look at him. He turned his head and looked at the sunny streets of Shinjuku outside.

"Do you want me to apologize..."

A dry, weak voice came out from Ito Seiichiro's lips.

The two people sitting across the table seemed not to hear it.

Kobayashi Midori completely focuses on Matsueda Kiyoaki, but Matsueda Kiyoaki doesn't want to let him go at all.

Time passed slowly, one minute after another.

The sweat on Ito Seiichiro's face was getting more and more, and his expression was becoming more and more uneasy and humble.

Completely panicking, he pulled out his cell phone and told the head of the Tachibana family what had happened, asking for their opinion.

[Humble yourself, admit your mistakes and apologize. It's up to that young man to decide how to deal with you.]

It's all up to him to decide...?
Do I want a commoner to decide my life?
No, that's impossible. I'm an official!

My status is higher than his, and my background is stronger than his. Why should I let him decide my life?... Seiichiro Ito held his head in his hands, with an expression of great pain.

This guy who has no power at all holds the fate of an elite like me, the director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau!
Seiichiro Ito regretted deeply why he had provoked him in the first place.

Is there any other way to remedy this?
…I think it’s gone.

After a long time of thinking, Ito Seiichiro finally gave in. He supported himself on the table with both hands and bowed his head deeply: "I'm sorry, please forgive me."

After a while, Songeda Qingxian turned his head.

Ito Seiichiro raised his eyes to look at him, and managed to squeeze out a voice from his throat: "I was wrong about this matter, and I feel very guilty now. Please forgive me once..."

Kiyoaki Matsueda drank his coffee silently.

"I hope you can give me a chance to apologize. I'm so sorry!" Ito Seiichiro continued to plead, "As an official of the Ministry of Culture, I am really ashamed to have abused my power for personal gain."

After he finished speaking, he slowly knelt down beside the dining table and put his head on the floor: "I'm sorry, please forgive me."

The guests around all looked over with surprise.

Ito Seiichiro covered his face with his hands, his endurance had reached its limit: "Please let me go... Please, please let me go, please..."

"I refuse!" said Kiyoaki Matsueda.

"Please, please. Mr. Mishima, Mr. Matsueda, you can let me work like a slave for you in the future. I really know I was wrong..." Ito Seiichiro pleaded in a low voice.

Kiyoaki Matsueda shook his head: "You just know that you are finished."

These words shattered Ito Seiichiro's heart. He collapsed to the ground, motionless, like an empty shell without a soul.

■

At the beginning of the month, I would like to ask for monthly tickets.

It will be released this month, and will be updated based on the number of monthly tickets.

(End of this chapter)