Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

Chapter 44 He can't possibly kill us all.

Although Zhengyi acquired a cinema chain, it is still too small.

The Japanese film market is now dominated by a series of theater chains led by three major companies: Shochiku, Toho, and Toei.

They bound a large number of independent cinemas to the three major companies through exclusive contracts, strictly controlling the source of films and screening schedules.

If you want a movie to have good box office results, you definitely can't avoid them.

Zheng Yi arranged a time to gather the three key figures from each company to discuss the issues of scheduling and revenue sharing.

The three families exchanged glances.

I decided to give the Sumitomo family some face.

"When will your film be released?" Takeshita from Shochiku asked.

“On Halloween,” Zheng Yi said.

The three exchanged glances. Their company didn't have any major movies released on Halloween, so they weren't in competition with Zheng Yi.

“No problem, our theaters will give Mr. Zhengyi enough screen time,” Takeshita said with a smile.

"That's good." Zheng Yi nodded and said, "I don't know much about the entertainment industry, and I don't know what the normal percentage of revenue sharing is for movies."

"What do you say, how about I give your cinema 30%?"

The three of them looked at each other again.

This rich kid really doesn't understand the entertainment industry. He paired a new director with a female idol, and the script was even written by the rich kid himself.

We've already done you a favor by letting you have a theatrical release, yet you still dare to ask for 70% of the box office revenue?
Do you think you're making a Hollywood blockbuster?
"Ahem." Finally, Zhu said, "Mr. Zhengyi, the normal box office share is 50%, but since this is a script you wrote yourself, we have high hopes for your film, so we have decided to give you 60% of the box office share."

Zheng Yi ignored him and said to himself, "Then let's talk about the film scheduling."

Zhuxia's face darkened.

The profit-sharing arrangement hasn't been finalized yet.

"The number of screenings on the first day should not be less than 50%, and the number of screenings should be increased every day as needed," Zheng Yi said.

The three men's faces darkened further.

If all the screenings are given to your movie, what about our company's movies?
I've never seen anyone ask for so much.

"Mr. Zhengyi, you..."

"What? You can't do it?" Zheng Yi asked.

“That’s really impossible,” Takeshita said, his face grim.

70% revenue share and 50% of the screenings on the first day? Are you crazy? Are we supposed to beg for food on our knees?
Having been in the Japanese entertainment industry for so many years, they have never been treated like this before.

Zheng Yi wasn't angry after being rejected; he simply put the newspaper he was holding on the table.

Takeshita glanced at the newspaper casually.

I noticed it was the recently established Justice Daily, and I vaguely saw that Zheng Yi killed someone because of business competition.

He swallowed hard, but did not back down.

Behind him is the Shochiku Film Company. Even if Zheng Yi is the son of a wealthy family, he still has to consider Shochiku's reputation.

“I told you, I don’t understand the entertainment industry, nor do I understand film distribution,” Zheng Yi said.

Takeshita said with a forced smile, "You don't need to know these things. Just find someone who does to work for you. Why would you need to come and discuss this personally?"

“But I’ve come to talk to you in person now,” Zheng Yi said.

Takeshita wiped the sweat from his brow and said to Masakazu, "Mr. Masakazu, this is the best I can offer."

She was staring intently at him.

Takeshita chuckled dryly as he looked at him.

In the end, Masakazu sighed, as if he had given up trying, while Takeshita showed a relieved smile.

Even if you're a big shot from out of town, you still have to be careful in the film industry. Without the support of our three companies' theater chains, even the best film won't sell at the box office.

If you want to survive in the film industry, you have to lower your head.

"Since we can't reach an agreement, let's wait a bit longer," Zheng Yi said, standing up.

Takeshita's smile froze, and he suddenly had a bad feeling.

Zheng Yi didn't waste any more words with him and walked straight out of the restaurant.

It seems impossible to move these greedy people with my sincerity.

Since sincerity won't work, we'll have to call on Conan.

It seems that the world's misunderstanding of him is about to deepen even further.

At this moment, only representatives from the three film companies remained in the restaurant after Zheng Yi left. The three looked at each other, and the atmosphere was somewhat silent. Yamashiro from Toho spoke first:

Did that guy pay for his meal?

"Is this the time to talk about this?" Takeshita asked him irritably.

Yamashita glanced at the dishes on the table.

This meal was quite expensive.

Takeshita picked up the newspaper that Masakazu had thrown down, glanced at it briefly, snorted coldly, and tossed it to Yamagami and Yamamoto.

"This guy is a real killer. We didn't agree to his demands. Will he send someone to kill us?" Yama said worriedly.

Takeshita sneered: "We are all people of standing, after all. Does he dare to kill us outright?"

Shan Shang shook his head.

Hard to say.

"Takeda, who was also a very influential person in the construction industry, was still taken down by Masakazu?"

He was shot eight times in the back and was almost presumed guilty of suicide. Although it wasn't ultimately ruled a suicide, his son went to jail as the murderer. "Yamashita said with a heavy heart.

Too brutal.

"That's just a special case," Takeshita said stubbornly.

"What about Fujiwara? That guy was a respectable man, but he still committed suicide. Even his theater chain was bought by Shoichi for scrap metal prices."

"Fujimoto was already on the verge of bankruptcy, so what kind of person is he?" Takeshita said disdainfully.

Fujiwara doesn't even deserve to be compared to them!

Although they were just executives of the three companies, not shareholders, the three companies controlled 80% of the box office in Japan.

Would Zheng Yi dare to risk offending these three major companies by killing them?
"What did Yoshii and Matsumoto Kiyonaga say?" Yamashita asked again.

A Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department official poisoned someone at their daughter's wedding.

Yotsui Group is a very powerful group in Tokyo, yet they drowned someone's daughter at her birthday party.

Is there anything this guy wouldn't dare to do?

Even though he's become this arrogant, no one can punish him.

If he is Zheng Yi, he will only become more and more arrogant.

Takeshita continued stubbornly, "After all, they didn't directly kill Matsumoto and Yotsuji; they just threatened them."

Yamashita and Yamamoto looked at Takeshita with a quiet gaze.

What, do you really think you're some kind of big shot?
If they take us out, wouldn't that be perfect for threatening the film companies behind us?

Takeshita seemed to have thought of this as well, and could only make a last-ditch effort, saying, "What are you afraid of? He can't kill us all."

(End of this chapter)