I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 173 No Factions Left! Sakata Nobuhiko's Communication, or Rather Warning! Takada Toshihide's Relief!

Even Nobuhiko Sakata often wondered how this kid's brain worked. How could he create so many excellent works in such a short period of time?

It completely overturned his understanding!
"No wonder... this guy is called a 'monster'."

Nobuhiko Sakata quietly tucked this sentiment into his heart, like a luminous pearl that could no longer be concealed in the darkness of night.

He nodded slightly.

He indicated that Hiroshi Nohara and Eiji Kurosawa could leave for the time being.

"We'll take our leave, Director Sakata." Hiroshi Nohara and Eiji Kurosawa were quite tactful, nodding and bowing as they departed.

As the office door was gently closed, shutting out the outside noise, Nobuhiko Sakata's composed figure arrived at the edge of his office—the one located on the top floor of the production bureau, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking most of Tokyo—and quietly waited.

The afternoon sun in winter carries a cool, golden hue, slanting through the huge French windows and casting a solemn halo over the interior.

Takada Toshihide pushed open the door and entered, bowing respectfully to Sakata Nobuhiko's back: "Director Sakata."

"Ah."

Sakata Nobuhiko responded without rushing to speak. He gazed out the window at the bustling Tokyo cityscape, and after a moment, he simply walked slowly to his desk and sat down gently.

He picked up the cup of tea on the table, which had long since gone cold, took a small sip, and calmly focused his gaze on the back of Takada Toshihide.

There was no blame or anger in his eyes, only a deep scrutiny.

"Takada-kun, you've arrived." Nobuhiko Sakata finally spoke.

"Hi!" Takada Toshihide's body trembled suddenly. He walked quickly to the desk and bowed deeply to Sakata Nobuhiko, his posture as humble as that of a junior who had just entered the workplace.

"Director." His voice was slightly hoarse, but every word was clear: "I'm here to report to you about the attendance list for the New Year's Eve dinner. I've decided to give my personal spot to Hiroshi Nohara. Just like the reason I gave you before, Hiroshi Nohara is indeed the future of our TV Tokyo, and we should focus on cultivating him."

Nobuhiko Sakata did not respond immediately, but simply looked at him calmly.

Those deep eyes remained completely still, as if they were scrutinizing a bottomless lake, trying to see the most hidden reefs and undercurrents at the bottom.

Takada Toshihide felt uneasy under his gaze, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. His already tense anxiety was amplified to the point of almost consuming him completely.

After a long while, Nobuhiko Sakata slowly put down his teacup, a faint yet appreciative smile curving his lips.

“Very good, Takada-kun.” Nobuhiko Sakata’s voice was also tinged with amusement. “You did a great job this time. You know how to make choices and understand the big picture. It seems you’ve finally become what a deputy director should be like.”

This praise was like a thunderclap, exploding in Takada Toshihide's heart!

Director Sakata's praise is quite rare.

So much so that Takada Toshihide stood there dumbfounded, his usually gloomy face frozen in an instant, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He never imagined that his promise to Sato Tokugawa to allow Hiroshi Nohara to meet him, which he had to give up his spot at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government banquet, would receive such high praise from the bureau chief!
He originally thought that Nobuhiko Sakata would reprimand him for acting on his own initiative.

But now... instead of blaming him, Nobuhiko Sakata praised him for "knowing how to make choices and understand the big picture," and even said that he "has the demeanor of an executive deputy director!"
This...this is quite an unexpected surprise.

It was a bit of a... delightful surprise, like a mishap turned out to be a happy one!

At this moment, Takada Toshihide's heart was filled with mixed feelings, a mixture of sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy.

He felt a mix of smug satisfaction at the unexpected praise he received and a touch of shame at his "accidental" motive.

Looking at Nobuhiko Sakata's calm face, and that long-lost recognition from his superior, even his heart, which had long been hardened by factional struggles, was stirred with complex ripples.

He hadn't heard such praise in a long time.

too long.

"Director...you flatter me." Takada Toshihide's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly. He lowered his head, avoiding Sakata Nobuhiko's gaze, afraid that the other would see through his complicated thoughts.

Nobuhiko Sakata simply smiled, a knowing glint in his deep eyes.

He was well aware of Takada Toshihide's little scheme, and he also knew that he might have other plans behind the scenes.

But he also knew that at times, even if the motives were impure, they could still be used for the greater good.

"You flatter me?" Nobuhiko Sakata shook his head, his tone becoming even more earnest: "No, not at all. Takada-kun, do you really think that Hiroshi Nohara's spot was arranged by me at the last minute, using your spot?"

Takada Toshihide looked up, his face full of confusion.

Looking at his puzzled expression, Nobuhiko Sakata slowly put down his teacup and sighed softly, "Takada-kun, you're wrong. Hiroshi Nohara's spot was already decided internally. Moreover, it wasn't arranged by me; it was requested personally by Mr. Fujiwara, the deputy director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Public Relations Department. And it's said that Mr. Fujiwara's superiors approved of Hiroshi Nohara, which is why he was specially nominated."

"What?!" All the color drained from Takada Toshihide's face in an instant, leaving only a deathly pale expression.

His eyes were filled with horror!
Lord Fujiwara?!
That powerful figure who controls the propaganda lifeline of the entire Greater Tokyo Area?!

He actually... he actually personally called out Hiroshi Nohara's name?! This... this is simply an unprecedented honor!
Even Fujiwara-sama's superiors approve of this.

This……

It was like a thunderclap! It completely shattered his thoughts!
He then realized how insignificant and laughable his little tricks were in the face of real power. He had thought himself a chess player, but he had never imagined that he was nothing more than an insignificant pawn being manipulated at will!

Ignoring Takada Toshihide's shocked expression, Sakata Nobuhiko continued, "Takada-kun, you need to look further ahead. Our Tokyo TV, and indeed the entire Greater Tokyo Area, is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. The economic boom and cultural rise herald the arrival of a brand new era."

His gaze returned to Toshihide Takada, his eyes carrying a hint of warning yet also brimming with expectation: "The Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area is the Kanto region. The Kanto region is the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area. These two concepts are inevitably merging into a larger, more unified whole. And our TV Tokyo, as the most important mouthpiece in this region, is also destined to merge into one, becoming a brand new 'Greater Tokyo faction'."

"If we continue to wallow in factional infighting and backstabbing, we will fail to maintain the Greater Tokyo Area's leading position in publicity and culture, and will be surpassed by other regions, or even other countries. The government will definitely hold us accountable. Do you understand?"

These words struck Takada Toshihide's heart like a heavy hammer blow!
His pale face was filled with shame and...fear.

He then understood what Nobuhiko Sakata meant by "the big picture." It wasn't a simple factional merger, but a grand scheme concerning the future of TV Tokyo and even the entire Japanese television network!

Hiroshi Nohara has actually reached such a level...

It instilled fear in even Takada Toshihide!
That's right.

It's fear.

It was precisely because he, Takada Toshihide, knew just how cold, ruthless, and indifferent those white-haired old men and those in high positions truly were that he felt fear.

If I really hinder those old men's plans.

Then myself...

They'll probably be crushed to death on the spot!
"Director...I...I understand." Takada Toshihide's voice trembled slightly. He lowered his head, not daring to meet Sakata Nobuhiko's gaze.

He was really scared.

Looking at his fearful expression, Nobuhiko Sakata finally smiled with satisfaction.

He knew that Takada Toshihide had truly taken it to heart.

“Very good, Takada-kun.” Nobuhiko Sakata’s voice softened again. “Now that you understand, you’ll need to cooperate more in the work ahead. Especially with that young man, Hiroshi Nohara. He’s a genius of this era, a trendsetter who is very likely to lead the way in Japan now and in the future. His talent and his works are enough to change the world and showcase Japanese culture to the world!”

"Therefore, from now on, there should be no more distinction between the 'Tokyo faction' and the 'Kanto faction' among you. From now on, our TV Tokyo will only have one 'Greater Tokyo faction.' All resources and all talent will be used for it. Let's work together to create a new era that belongs to our TV Tokyo!"

Takada Toshihide's face was filled with complex emotions.

He looked at Nobuhiko Sakata and then thought of Hiroshi Nohara's excessively young face, and his heart, which had long been hardened by countless power struggles, was now rippling with bitterness.

"Yes...yes, Chief." Takada Toshihide's voice had a slight, barely perceptible hoarseness.

He lowered his head, not daring to utter another word.

Sakata Nobuhiko looked at Takada Toshihide's complicated expression and simply smiled, a knowing glint in his deep eyes.

"Takada-kun, don't you think it's a bit unbelievable that Hiroshi Nohara has achieved so much at such a young age?" Nobuhiko Sakata's voice carried a hint of meaningful teasing.

Takada Toshihide abruptly raised his head, his face filled with shame. He knew that Sakata Nobuhiko had once again seen through his thoughts.

“Director…I…I do have some feelings.” Takada Toshihide’s voice was tinged with bitterness. “He’s only twenty-three years old. What he has achieved has already surpassed the heights that we older generation struggled for half our lives to reach. I…I do feel somewhat ashamed of myself.”

Nobuhiko Sakata simply smiled.

“Yes, he’s only twenty-three years old.” Nobuhiko Sakata just smiled and said, “His achievements are enough to allow him to live off his past glory in this world of fame and fortune for at least twenty years.”

"Twenty years?" Takada Toshihide's heart clenched. He had never imagined that Sakata Nobuhiko would have such a high opinion of Nohara Hiroshi!

“Yes, twenty years.” Nobuhiko Sakata’s gaze fell on the vast Tokyo Bay outside the window. “He could even become a symbol, a legend, if he wanted to. He could become the brightest star of this era.”

“So, Takada-kun.” Nobuhiko Sakata slowly turned his head, his gaze calmly landing on Toshihide Takada’s face. His eyes held a hint of warning, yet were also full of expectation: “You must also look further ahead. Don’t just focus on the gains and losses in front of you, don’t just care about temporary honor or disgrace. You must see the future, see the future of our TV Tokyo, see the future of our Japan.”

"Hiroshi Nohara is more than just a genius. He is the most precious gift that this era has bestowed upon TV Tokyo. What we should do is not to be jealous of him or to suppress him. Instead, we should embrace him, nurture him, and help him succeed. Only in this way can TV Tokyo remain invincible in this torrent of the times."

All of Takada Toshihide's gloom and arrogance seemed to vanish at this moment.

He understood what Nobuhiko Sakata meant by "the future".

That was not a simple transfer of power, but a grand scheme that concerned the future of TV Tokyo and even the entire Japan!

Nobuhiko Sakata has already shown him the way.

He knew that Hiroshi Nohara's era was unstoppable.

He knew his only option was to go with the flow, collaborate with Hiroshi Nohara, and work together to expand the Tokyo TV production company.

This is the wisest decision.

He slowly lowered his head and bowed deeply to Nobuhiko Sakata.

"Director... I've learned a lot." Takada Toshihide said with relief.

From this moment on, his life trajectory will be completely changed.

He will no longer be the number two figure of the "Tokyo Faction" who is obsessed with factional struggles, but will become a brand new version of himself who strives for the future of the "Greater Tokyo Faction".

Seeing the complex expression on his face, Nobuhiko Sakata nodded and smiled: "Very good, Takada, you are indeed my disciple. It's good that you understand."

“Yes… teacher!” Upon hearing the title of ‘disciple’, Takada Toshihide’s thoughts instantly returned to twenty or thirty years ago, when he was still Sakata Nobuhiko’s disciple.

But Takada Toshihide did not linger. He bowed deeply, said goodbye, and turned to leave the director's office.

The door opened and closed again.

Once again, only Nobuhiko Sakata remained in the office.

He sat in his seat, watching the weak winter sunlight outside the window being scattered by a sudden gust of cold wind, and the sky gradually darkening.

However, in the approaching twilight, a raging fire seemed to ignite in Nobuhiko Sakata's heart.

"Yes, Hiroshi-kun," Nobuhiko Sakata muttered to himself, "You kid are really... amazing. So amazing that even this old man can't help but want to play second fiddle for you."

His gaze returned to the vast Tokyo Bay outside the window, his eyes as deep and unfathomable as the starry sky.

On the sea, a huge oil tanker is slowly sailing into the distance, leaving a long, hopeful wake on the shimmering surface.

……

As the heavy door closed quietly behind him, shutting out Nobuhiko Sakata's gaze from the chill of the winter afternoon, Toshihide Takada's steps were no longer as leisurely as before.

He walked along the empty corridor on the seventeenth floor of the production bureau, each step extremely slow, as if measuring the length of an era, or bidding farewell to a part of his own past.

I arrived downstairs at the end of the corridor.

The office, which he had opened countless times and issued orders from behind its door, was now unusually quiet.

Pushing open the door, Iwata Masao, Ashikaga Takashi, Asano Kita, Yasui Takashi, and Ito Nagasu were sitting in twos and threes on the sofa, some with their heads down in silence, others staring blankly out the window at the Tokyo skyline shrouded in gloom.

They looked like a group of soldiers who had just been defeated on the battlefield, still bearing the marks of gunpowder, their faces filled with exhaustion and bewilderment.

They did not have a pleasant New Year either.

Upon hearing the door open, the five people instinctively looked up.

When their gazes fell upon Takada Toshihide's slightly tired yet unusually calm face, a barely perceptible hint of confusion flashed in their eyes.

They had assumed that Takada Toshihide would return in a rage, and as usual, unleash all his blame and failures on his subordinates.

But at this moment, he remained completely calm and undisturbed.

“Everyone’s here,” said Toshihide Takada.

He slowly walked behind the desk, not sitting down immediately, but calmly scanning the five people with his deep eyes. Then he calmly said:
"The director just announced a decision to me. From today onwards, our TV Tokyo will no longer have a distinction between the 'Tokyo faction' and the 'Kanto faction'."

Upon hearing this, the room fell into a deathly silence.

"There's no longer a distinction between the Tokyo faction and the Kanto faction!?"

"is that so?!"

"really……"

Shock was written all over the faces of the five people. They subconsciously looked up and stared at each other, their eyes filled with disbelief and horror.

Factional strife is ingrained in their very being, and has even become part of their survival strategy.

And now, Toshihide Takada has actually announced that he will erase the traces of this faction that has existed for several years?!
However, the shock did not last long.

They pondered for a moment.

A thoughtful look and a deep-seated, unspoken sense of helplessness, known as "as expected," appeared on his face.

"What? Aren't you all surprised?" Takada Toshihide looked at their unusually calm reaction and was somewhat puzzled.

Yasui gave a bitter laugh, shoving his long-extinguished cigarette into the ashtray with a hint of self-mockery in his voice: "Surprised? Of course we're not surprised... From the sudden emergence of 'Super Transformation,' to the box office phenomenon of 'Seven Samurai,' and then to Director Kurosawa's own admission that he was just that kid's 'assistant'... we should have been prepared long ago."

“Yes.” Ito Nagaan also sighed, his eyes filled with complexity: “That young man, Hiroshi Nohara, his talent and vision have far surpassed all of our imaginations. Whether it’s anime, TV dramas, variety shows, or movies, he can handle them all with ease, and every work he creates generates a huge social impact. He… he really is a monster.”

"We lost." Ashikaga Takaji's voice carried a hint of resentment, yet was filled with helplessness: "We lost completely, we lost fair and square. Faced with a monster like him, we... we simply had no will to fight. At least for now, that's how it is."

Kita Asano nodded in agreement, his face etched with exhaustion: "He was like a lightning bolt that pierced the darkness, instantly illuminating the way forward for us, and also making us old folks see our own narrow-mindedness and stupidity, which had long been eliminated by the times."

Iwata Masao didn't speak, but just lowered his head, his pale face filled with complex emotions.

He recalled Hiroshi Nohara's calm and composed demeanor and confident air during the recording of "Super Transformation".

He was reminded of his own novel, "The Samurai of the Cherry Blossom Tree," which was criticized as "dog shit" by Toshihide Takada.

The contrast between the two situations overwhelmed him like a tidal wave, completely drowning his deep-seated inferiority and helplessness.

Masao Iwata has already resigned himself to his fate.

He... was indeed no match for Hiroshi Nohara.

Looking at the five people's frank admission and their deep-seated helplessness, all the gloom in Takada Toshihide's heart vanished at that moment.

He slowly sat down behind his desk, exhaling a long breath, a breath that seemed to carry away all the stubbornness and resentment of his life.

"It seems you've all come to terms with it. That's good, much better than being blinded by those pointless factional disputes and wasting half your life in a tragic way."

He paused, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice: "But then again, you guys are really spineless. You've given up so quickly? You weren't like this back on the set of 'Super Transformation'."

There was a hint of sarcasm in those words.

Yasui gave a bitter smile. He picked up the coffee cup on the table and took a small sip. The bitterness was nothing compared to the feeling in his heart at that moment.

“Deputy Director Takada, please stop teasing us.” Takashi Yasui shook his head helplessly. “At first, we thought he was just a lucky country bumpkin, an opportunist who could get away with one or two ideas. But now, he’s slapping us ‘experts’ in the face with one work after another. What else can we do but admit defeat? Are we supposed to be crushed like you before we give up?”

There was a hint of sarcasm in those words.

But it's the truth.

Takada Toshihide's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

He wanted to refute, but couldn't utter a single word. Because Yasui Takashi was right; he was indeed the one who was utterly crushed by Nohara Hiroshi.

Just then, Ashikaga Takashi pulled out a neatly folded fax from his pocket, his face now filled with complex emotions.

"Deputy Director Takada, directors." Ashikaga Takaji's voice was slightly hoarse, yet full of helplessness: "This is a fax just sent by Kenta Tanaka of Kinema Junpo. It's a film review about 'The Samurai of the Cherry Blossom Tree'."

Takada Toshihide's brow twitched almost imperceptibly. He knew that this fax would be the final straw that broke the camel's back.

Ashikaga Takashi handed the fax to Takada Toshihide.

Takada Toshihide took the fax, his gaze falling on the powerful lines of text.

"The Samurai of the Cherry Blossom Tree: A tragedy ruthlessly swallowed up by the tides of time. It is not without merit. If it had been released last year, it might have grossed 1 billion yen at the box office thanks to its excellent production and the appeal of its idols. With full support from capital, it might even have reached 1.5 billion yen."

"However, it was born at the wrong time, its misfortune being that it competed with 'Seven Samurai' on the same stage. In the face of 'Seven Samurai's' magnificent narrative and its profound insights, all the splendor and superficiality withered like dead leaves. No one was its match, and no one could compete with it."

"Director Ashikaga, there is no need to be discouraged by this. Even if Eiji Kurosawa at his peak were to come, he would have to bow down and admit defeat in the face of the timeless scope of 'Seven Samurai'."

"Please keep up the good work and create even better works."

After Takada Toshihide finished reading the fax, the room fell into dead silence once again.

The faces of the five people were filled with a complex mix of emotions.

As they looked at the fax, their eyes held a mixture of resentment, helplessness, and relief, but also a deep-seated awe for Hiroshi Nohara's unfathomable talent.

"It seems that old man Kenta Tanaka did say something fair."

Takada Toshihide slowly put down the fax, a faint look of fatigue appearing on his face.

He leaned back in his chair, let out a long sigh, and said with a hint of self-deprecation, "But then again, the male and female leads that Sato Tokugawa arranged were really... utterly trash."

Upon hearing this, Ashikaga Takashi and Asano Kita both nodded in agreement, their faces filled with helpless, bitter smiles.

They knew all too well that the two "idols"—Shunsuke Kamiki and Miyuki Kitagawa—who were elevated to godhood by capital, had nothing but their faces and their arrogant, overbearing demeanor.

"Sigh..." Ashikaga Takashi sighed. He remembered Kamiki Shunsuke's arrogant face on set, and Kitagawa Miyuki's acting skills that could only glare. All the resentment and anger in his heart turned into a helpless sigh.

“Yes.” Asano Kita shook his head, his face full of exhaustion. “They don’t understand what movies or art are at all. All they know is to use their own popularity and fame to trample on everyone’s hard work.”

Looking at the four people's exhaustion and helplessness, all the anger in Takada Toshihide vanished in that instant.

He knew they were innocent, that they were also victims.

He turned his gaze to Masao Iwata, who had kept his head down the entire time, like a transparent person.

"Iwata." Takada Toshihide's voice was gentler than ever before: "You've worked hard."

Iwata Masao was slightly taken aback, and he subconsciously looked up. He had never imagined that Takada Toshihide would speak to him so gently.

"This...this isn't entirely my fault!" Iwata Masao's voice trembled slightly, yet was filled with grievance: "It's...it's that guy, Kamiki Shunsuke! He...he doesn't listen to orders at all! He..."

“I know.” Takada Toshihide waved his hand, interrupting his explanation, a knowing glint in his eyes: “This movie is indeed quite good. Although it can’t compare to Seven Samurai, it’s still above average among the movies released at the same time. You did a great job, Iwata.”

Masao Iwata stood there, frozen in place, all the expressions on his face contorted in an instant.

He didn't know why Takada Toshihide said those things to him.

"Deputy Director Takada, what... what is this?" Ashikaga Takashi couldn't help but ask, his face full of confusion.

Takada Toshihide simply smiled, then slowly stood up, walked to the window, and calmly gazed at the vast Tokyo Bay outside.

“I understand.” Takada Toshihide’s voice carried a hint of relief, yet was full of strength: “I understand what the director means. I understand… the path that Tokyo TV, and indeed all of Japan, must take in the future.”

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the five people, his eyes carrying a hint of warning, yet also filled with expectation.

“Iwata, you certainly have talent. Especially in animation production, your vision and creativity are top-notch. If it weren’t for encountering that monster Hiroshi Nohara, I was planning to promote you to a second-level director.”

Upon hearing this, Iwata Masao's face instantly turned bright red.

He looked at Takada Toshihide, his eyes filled with disbelief and a deep-seated emotion.

He never imagined that Takada Toshihide would be so certain of him.

He never imagined that his talent, which had been overlooked by everyone, would be so highly valued by Takada Toshihide.

“Yes.” Yasui Takaya sighed, looking at Iwata Masao with a bitter smile on his face: “Iwata is indeed quite skilled in animation production. If it weren’t for that monster Hiroshi Nohara, the ‘Yamishibai’ project would probably have been a great success by Iwata.”

“That’s right.” Ito Nagao nodded as well. He looked at Iwata Masao with a complicated expression in his eyes: “We four also encountered that monster Nohara Hiroshi and were beaten so badly, didn’t we? Iwata, you don’t need to feel ashamed. You were just born at the wrong time.”

Ashikaga Takashi and Asano Kita nodded in agreement, their faces filled with helplessness.

They knew that Masao Iwata was indeed a hidden gem whose talent had been overshadowed by Hiroshi Nohara's.

Masao Iwata's eyes instantly reddened.

He looked at Takada Toshihide, Yasui Takashi, Ito Nagayasu, Ashikaga Takashi, and Asano Kita. The understanding and affirmation from his colleagues flowed through his heart, which had long been eroded by inferiority and powerlessness, like a warm current.

He knew he was understood.

He was recognized.

“So, Iwata,” Takada Toshihide’s voice rang out again, “from today onwards, you will return to the animation classroom and continue your animation production. I will give you the greatest authority and the greatest support. I only hope that you remember that your talent should not be buried, and your dreams should not be abandoned.”

"Yes...yes, Deputy Director!" Iwata Masao's voice trembled slightly as he bowed deeply to Takada Toshihide, his posture as humble as a child who had just been reborn.

“Very good.” Takada Toshihide nodded in satisfaction. He glanced at the five of them again, his tone becoming earnest: “You should also look further ahead. Hiroshi Nohara, that young man, has shown talent and vision that is enough to change the world. What we should do is not to be jealous of him, not to suppress him. Instead, we should learn from him, embrace him, and help him achieve his potential.”

“I even think that if the opportunity arises in the future, we will cooperate with Hiroshi Nohara. If there is anything you don’t understand, you can ask him. He will help you.”

Upon hearing this, all five people's faces were filled with shock.

They never imagined that Takada Toshihide would encourage them to learn from their former "enemy".

"Deputy Director Takada, what... what is this?" Yasui Takashi's voice trembled slightly as he looked at Takada Toshihide, his eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.

"Are our Tokyo faction and Kanto faction really going to end here?" Ito Choan couldn't help but ask.

Although it's real, it all feels fake now!

"Yes, it really is coming to an end." Takada Toshihide sighed, walked to the window, and calmly looked out at the vast Tokyo Bay.

"Factional strife is a product of history." Takada Toshihide's voice carried a hint of desolation, yet also contained a sense of relief after being thoroughly cleansed: "Before acquiring Kanto Television, our TV Tokyo didn't have any so-called 'Tokyo faction.' It was only in recent years, with the intensification of competition, that this factional strife gradually formed."

He paused, his tone becoming serious: "The director has seen through all of this. He hopes that our Tokyo TV can put aside all internal strife, all prejudice, and all selfishness. He hopes that we can embrace a new era with a completely new attitude, a unified 'Greater Tokyo faction'."

"He hopes that we can devote all our energy to creating works, cultivating talent, and contributing to the future of TV Tokyo. He hopes that we can jointly create a new era that belongs to TV Tokyo!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt, hitting the hearts of everyone present hard!
Only then did they understand what Nobuhiko Sakata meant by "the big picture".

This is not a simple factional fusion, but a grand scheme that concerns the future of TV Tokyo and even the entire Japan!

They then realized that the reason why Takada Toshihide made such a big change was not because he was completely conquered by Nohara Hiroshi's talent, but because he was completely shocked by Sakata Nobuhiko's far-sighted vision and his unquestionable authority!

As they looked at Takada Toshihide's calm face, their hearts, already filled with weariness and helplessness, were stirred with complex emotions.

They knew that an era had ended.

And a brand new era, an era belonging to Hiroshi Nohara, is about to arrive with a bang!

The five people exchanged glances.

They both saw a sigh in each other's eyes.

They slowly stood up and bowed deeply to Takada Toshihide.

“We understand, Deputy Director Takada.”

Their voices were slightly hoarse, yet full of power.

"Very good. From now on... please keep up the good work!" Looking at the five people's frank admission and relief, a faint smile finally appeared on Takada Toshihide's face.

If Hiroshi Nohara truly possesses unparalleled talent, he will undoubtedly expand TV Tokyo's business even further.

So what will they be like then?

Can't you still enjoy the sweetness of the cake?

"That's how it is." Takada Toshihide leaned back in his chair, unable to suppress a hint of helplessness. "But why did that rough gem end up in Asumi's hands? It's just... so unfair!"

But as he spoke, Takada Toshihide couldn't help but let out a helpless smile, exhaling a long sigh of relief, having adjusted his mindset considerably.

PS: I had my head spinning from the air conditioning yesterday, so there should be one more update today. Two updates today, going to bed early, and I'll make up for it with more tomorrow! Thank you in advance!

(End of this chapter)