I became the emperor in the comic book series.

...........................

P.S.: On the first day of this month, my latest chapter was rejected by the review committee. It happens once a month. I keep revising it, but it still doesn't pass the review and gets frozen. The scope of the freeze is getting bigger and bigger. I was pranked on April Fool's Day. It's like I was trying to boost my performance.

I've written it so plainly, where's the sensitivity? I originally planned to update 10,000 words a day, but I've been busy revising the text and contacting the editor to try and revive chapter 149. This chapter is a combined total of over 4,000 words.

Chapter 152 Not Worth Mentioning

"Regarding the termination fee, it seems to be related to Ms. Toyokawa. After learning that Mitsumi Hatsuka terminated her contract in order to form a band with Ms. Toyokawa, her agency did not make things too difficult for her."

Upon hearing Kongming's explanation, Higashino Akira immediately understood.

The agency that Mikawa Hatsuka originally signed with seemed to have some connection with the Toyokawa family, so when his subordinates saw an opportunity, their desire for advancement couldn't be suppressed.

So instead of taking advantage of the situation, they actively cooperated.

After comforting Mana Junda, who had just been brought over by her teammates, and reminding the lady to pay attention to her diet, Akira Higashino didn't keep her around. Instead, he sent her to watch the performance and rehearsal of the band where Hatsuka Mikami, who was juggling two relationships, was working part-time.

He continued to review the work reports recently submitted by Yunmeng Group.

He doesn't need to worry about the development of ordinary enterprises. With Kongming around, he only needs to occasionally put forward a general direction or a rough idea, and let Kongming analyze and improve it. Under such circumstances, it only takes up 60% of Kongming's energy.

While managing Yunmeng Group's YiD, Kongming did not give up his love for art. He did not give up his work as an artist manager. Although he did not sign any other artists, while arranging the development of Yuejian Yingzi, he also took the time to catch up with the trend and wrote a few popular songs and put them into the group's copyright song library.

It was definitely not tiring, after all, cultivating one's character was, for Kongming, merely a moment of relaxation amidst his busy schedule.

The rest of my energy was devoted to matters that weren't openly discussed within the Yunmeng Group and could only be discussed with a select few absolutely reliable colleagues.

For example, Akira Higashino is currently reviewing the intelligence and news reports submitted by Luan L.

Are the three heirs of the Shinomiya family fighting each other?

"Were we the ones who did it?"

Kongming stood quietly behind his lord, watching him review various intelligence reports and memorials.

Upon hearing this question, he simply waved his feather fan modestly.

"The old patriarch of the Shinomiya family is in increasingly poor health, and the successor is still uncertain. They still dare to plot against our lord. We don't even need our lord to take action personally. Ryo only needs to release some information, whether true or false, to stir things up a little, and they will start to make a mess of things on their own."

Clearly, Kongming was not proud of this. This was just a small favor he did in his spare time, and it was not worth mentioning to him.

Because the version is not very advanced, the Kongming recruited by Higashino Akira cannot borrow the east wind at will, nor can he perform human body refining. He is just an ordinary person who knows a little about feng shui and divination and has a high enough IQ.

Previously, when facing those possessed stars and mirrors, it was difficult to get a chance to fight back. It wasn't until Higashino Akira arranged for henchmen from the supernatural field that he was able to successfully inflict casualties on the opponents.

However, the Shinomiya family, being a purely mortal force and not a violent organization like the military, but merely a commercial conglomerate, might not possess the same level of martial virtue as the Yunmeng Group did in its early days, making them incredibly easy to deal with.

It wasn't that Kongming was arrogant; it was just that, from the perspective of someone like him who had followed his boss to start a business and accomplish great things, his past experience had taught him that conventional businessmen were really not suited to sitting at the table and eating.

"Unfortunately, it will take some time to prepare before we can take over the Shinomiya Group. Only when that old wolf with the guts to overturn the table falls can we minimize the impact."

It wasn't that they were eyeing the Shinomiya Group's money. The Yunmeng Group, which had a fixed daily income, had never lacked money, especially since their activities of acquiring land and buying up properties in the rural areas of the island nation had never stopped.

Even the daily cash reward cap for Akira Higashino is constantly being increased.

Otherwise, given the current level of benefits offered by Yunmeng Group, it simply cannot afford to support so many full-time employees.

Kongming was mainly interested in some of the resources and industries of the Shinomiya Group. Just as the other party was eyeing the only high-quality industry that Yunmeng Group had shown so far, game development, if Yunmeng wanted to reach the top, it had to pull down those big conglomerates and groups above it, occupy their market share and ecosystem, and absorb the assets they owned that were beneficial to Yunmeng Group to accelerate its own development.

Akira Higashino wasn't worried about this, probably because there are too many rich young ladies in anime, which has led to a large number of top conglomerates in this anime world.

“If the Shinomiya family can’t hold out, we won’t be the only ones eyeing it. There’s no need to be someone else’s pawn. We’re not in a hurry. We just need to get what we want.”

For other conglomerates, those whose heirs only have daughters or an only daughter are the easiest to deal with. For those who don't have an only daughter, it doesn't matter if others help them have one.

Without the protagonist and plot halo of a single world view from the original work, the competition in the commercial field is actually more realistic and fierce.

The older generation can still hold their own and keep fighting, but it's hard to say when the next generation takes over.

Xiao Deng is the easiest to bully.

As you can see, a certain little blue octopus has been turned into a soft, chewy little cake that only dares to breathe outwards.

Akira Higashino asserted, "Time is now on our side."

As I continued reviewing applications, I came across another one that piqued my curiosity.

"Kongming wants to take leave?" Higashino Akira raised an eyebrow. "This is the first time. Has he run into some trouble?"

When a top-performing employee suddenly submits a report requesting a vacation, instead of his usual routine of scheduling work in advance and squeezing in time for a break, it's hard for Higashino Akira not to overthink it.

After all, Kongming was somewhat addicted to work. He would only rest when he asked for it, rather than working tirelessly day and night for Yunmeng.

"Thank you for your concern, Lord. This leave is only to fulfill my previous friendship with my classmates. Liang has received a lot of help from them in the past. Now that they are forming an academy idol group and preparing for their debut, Liang, as a well-known agent of Yunmeng Entertainment, should go and help support them. If that group has potential, we can also consider signing them in the future and adding another capable member to the group's entertainment department."

"who?"

"Students at the language school."

"I'm asking for your name."

The concept of school idols reminded Akira Higashino of an ancient anime where a school, facing enrollment difficulties and seemingly planning to close down, formed an idol group to perform and use the group's fame to help the school recruit enough new students.

Because it was so long ago, almost thirty years ago, he couldn't remember the specific characters and plot, but he vaguely remembered that the animation was quite popular.

"Tang Keke".

"Never heard of it."

I really don't recognize this name. At first glance, I thought it was Tang Youyou's younger sister from the sitcom "iPartment" who came to Japan to study.

Although I can't remember clearly, I still have the basic logic of Akira Higashino. International students don't need to enroll in a school that's about to close down, let alone try to save a school in an island nation.

It's probably a background character derived from the concept of related works.

Chapter 153 How dare you assume my gender?

At night.

Akira Higashino browsed social media, trying to soothe his racing spirit in preparation for a more enjoyable driving experience next time.

As for Motoyo Nagasaki, after a runaway where she could leave all her troubles behind and just run forward, this young and pretty widow finally stopped harassing him with regular messages every day because of Shoko Toyokawa's new band.

Perhaps she felt shy?

It is said that the feng shui of the Nagasaki Su family is quite remarkable.

It's amazing that a girl with a motherly aura and a mother with a girlish charm could both be raised together. Every time Higashino Akira thinks about it, he can't help but click his tongue slightly in amazement.

It's somewhat contrary to the Heavenly Gang, which is the case.

Meanwhile, on Goto Ichiri's side, Higashino Akira received an invitation from Kita to visit their school's cultural festival in a while, saying that there would be a performance by Pochi-chan.

Akira Higashino happened to have no other plans that day, and after a little thought, he agreed.

It's not that I enjoy watching performances, but I'm more interested in the cute, gloomy, almost dying expression that Ichiri would probably make in such situations.

In addition, I haven't met with her recently, and Guitar Hero's Twitter posts haven't been updated with any new material. The quality and length of the content have shrunk significantly. I need to give her some inspiration.

Akira Higashino has now become the leader of the abstract fandom on the Guitar Hero account. All thanks to his constant eccentricities, Guitar Hero has gained a group of strange and quirky fans as a result.

Miko and Xiaohua actually posted the photos of themselves with Mai Sakurajima from their last trip to Okumizome on social media, but they probably set viewing restrictions, so there weren't many likes.

Higashino Akira glanced at it, couldn't help but chuckle, and casually saved the photo to his phone, giving it a like.

What kind of pose is this? Are all high school girls this weird these days?

It has a slightly abstract yet cute feel to it.

Akira Higashino felt he was a bit out of touch with the times. Back when he was in school, group photos were all about people putting their arms around each other, giving a thumbs up, or making a peace sign.

Just as I was thinking about it, Mai Sakurajima sent me a message.

Mai Sakurajima: "Someone secretly told me today that there's a guy who looks a lot like Higashino-kun running hand-in-hand with other girls on the street."

Akira Higashino: "I like working out, Mai-san knows that."

Mai Sakurajima: "Hmm~"

Akira Higashino: "For example, double push-ups."

Mai Sakurajima: "That's perverted, like something Higashino-kun would say."

Akira Higashino: "It was Mai-san who planted a spy next to me to follow me first, and then she turned around and accused me. How terrifying! Mai-san is so terrifying! Is this what they call a yandere?"

Mai Sakurajima, who was filming in Itomori, saw this reply and her eyes widened immediately, her pretty face turning red.

It is clear that it was not because of shyness.

Without even asking, Akira Higashino quickly identified the suspect as the one who had reported him, after briefly reviewing the areas of his and Mai Sakurajima's shared social circles in his mind.

There's a national idol with incredible abilities who, while filming on the front lines, managed to place spies near my rear command post and turn my trusted confidants against me. How clever!

Akira Higashino: "Kana, or Miko? Or both?"

Mai Sakurajima: "I don't know."

Akira Higashino: "Little traitor!"

Mai Sakurajima: "You're the one who came here! We're all in this together! Hmph..."

Akira Higashino: "Forming cliques for personal gain?"

Mai Sakurajima: "We clearly share the same interests."

Akira Higashino: "Sir, I want to join you."

Mai Sakurajima: "This is a women's tea party."

Akira Higashino: "How dare you assume my gender?"

Mai Sakurajima: "???"

Akira Higashino: "My gender is Golda, so if you don't let me join, Mai-san is discriminating against me."

What kind of stupid American nonsense is this? Far away on the other side of the internet, in Itomori Town, Mai Sakurajima was curled up in her blankets, and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Then, I took a screenshot of the following conversation and sent it to the group chat with Jianzi and the others. In an instant, the three girls, especially Yimoduo and Yimoduo's best friend, gained a better understanding of the older brother who, apart from being a bit of a playboy, was actually quite reliable.

This was the first time Yotsuya Miko had ever known that her 'older brother' had such an abstract and quirky side in private.

I originally thought he was a very serious person.

As she laughed, the smile on Miko Yotsuya's face suddenly faded.

Make up the difference!

Doesn't that mean that 'brother' is only stricter with her?

Oh no! Miko Yotsuya, who had never had an older brother before, was momentarily unsure whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.

.........

Time flies like water.

In the blink of an eye, a week has passed, and a new semester has begun. Yukinoshita Haruno, or rather, her younger sister, has been sent back to Higashino Akira's side.

This time, they finally got to fight again, even though they hadn't been able to arrange it before. The two of them went back and forth, fighting fiercely and unable to sleep all night.

The poor little cow kitten, who had been tossed to the other side of the bed by a mischievous older sister under the pretense of learning experience, couldn't sleep all night. Its pupils were wet, and it was so embarrassed that it felt weak all over and inexplicably hot.

The following day, Zongwu High.

"Hey there... Xiaoxue, long time no see."

"The holiday is finally over, and I missed you so much! I asked you to hang out, but you were always busy, which was such a shame..."

In the Service Club activity room, a lively girl with light pink hair greeted her best friend warmly and shared her feelings.

However, Yukino Yukinoshita, who is always mindful of her image and etiquette, couldn't resist her fatigue this time. She responded softly and absentmindedly. As she listened, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and her little head bobbed up and down as she gradually began to doze off.

His sleepy appearance made the pink-haired girl next to him speak softer and softer.

"Xiaoxue looks very sleepy."

Yui Yuigahama silently moved a chair over to Yukino Yukinoshita's side, sat down next to her, and used her body as support to prevent Yukino from falling to the ground while she was asleep.

Perhaps out of trust in Yui Yuigahama, Yukino Yukinoshita, half-asleep, unconsciously leaned against her, her head gently resting near Yui Yuigahama's shoulder.

The camera panned down, taking in the sleeping face of the other person. The exquisite features made even Yui Yuigahama, who was also a girl, gasp slightly and subconsciously become careful, silently exclaiming in her heart how cute she was.

Across the long table, a boy with deadpan eyes, standing far away from the two girls, silently responded, "After all, it's the first day of school. It's common for people to be sleepy the next day because they're excited or for some other reason and can't sleep."

"Oh, right..."

The boy's voice made Yui blush slightly, and she successfully looked away from her best friend's cute face, glancing over shyly.

"Hey, Xiao Qi looks much stronger than last semester."