Tokyo: Bubble, but the system is Sengoku.

Thinking about his next move, Sato went home, finished his bento, wiped himself down with a towel, and headed to the company.

The company's location isn't exactly in the city center, but it's still much better than his home.

As a company on the verge of bankruptcy, many employees with backup plans have already fled.

What remains are either the true core members or, like teenagers, those who can't escape.

Upon Sato's arrival, the people around him merely glanced at him amidst their greetings before slowly shifting their gaze away.

The company's half-dead state mirrors its declining fortunes.

The ship was about to capsize, and no one cared about a boy who was destined to sink with it.

Especially when that boy is still a perennial extra, with poor acting skills, insufficient ability, virtually no value, and yet still acts willfully.

What they cared about more was whether they would sink with the ship.

"Ogawa-san."

As he walked, Sato arrived at his manager's desk.

The agent was a sophisticated woman. When she saw the boy, her expression didn't change much. She simply used a magazine on the table to cover the corner of the business card that was inadvertently showing.

"How's work?"

"Good."

The boy handed over the tram receipt.

"That's good. We haven't heard from them yet, let's wait and see."

Ogawa found it a bit strange, since Sato had always refused to play dead characters.

In an entertainment industry where crime dramas, detective dramas, and period dramas make up half the market, not wanting to play a dead character is practically the same as wanting to be the lead.

They were naturally dissatisfied.

If it weren't for the recent news that the company was about to go bankrupt and many people had left, this job would never have gone to the other person.

I had thought the boy would at least say a few words of complaint to me.

But now it seems that he has finally broken through his own limitations and is willing to play a dead person?

"OK."

Sato responded and was about to explain his plans when the bulky landline on Ogawa's desk interrupted him.

"Hello, this is Ogawa from Maeda Office."

"Uh...what? Beach-san!?"

As the woman listened to the self-introduction on the other end of the phone, she abruptly stood up from her workstation.

At the same time, he couldn't help but look towards Sato.

Generally speaking, there's no need for someone to personally supervise the coordination process.

Her first thought was whether Sato had offended someone, causing the director to personally call and complain.

Even her gaze towards Sato now carried a hint of doubt.

After all, Sato had previously stated that he didn't want to play a dead person, so it's not impossible for him to act impulsively on set.

Thinking about this, the woman felt quite regretful, wishing she had gone with him.

No! I shouldn't have given Sato this job!

However, the words the supervisor said on the other end of the phone gradually caused a crack to appear on her delicate face.

"Yes..."

"The Shadow Legion?"

As Ogawa heard the voice on the other end of the phone, his gaze toward Sato became increasingly strange.

It wasn't the kind of questioning I was seeing before; it was more like looking at a familiar stranger.

"I'll report this to my superiors... Okay."

"No, it's us who should thank you for your kindness."

After exchanging only a few words, Xiao Chuan hung up the bulky phone.

Looking at the boy who was still sitting upright in front of her, her bright eyes were filled with shock and disbelief, a complex mix of emotions.

Although Sato didn't quite understand it, he could guess that it was a good thing.

"The beach supervisor just called personally to say you performed very well..."

"Because I added a scene for you at the last minute, I felt a little bad about it, so I gave you extra money, 30,000."

Xiaochuan's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but since there were only a few people in the office, it wasn't noisy, and everyone heard it instantly.

The rustling sounds stopped abruptly, replaced by the gazes of everyone looking over, their eyes filled with undisguised surprise.

All the artists here with connections have left, leaving only a handful. They either have no connections or lack ability. Normally, they're lucky if they don't get scolded at work, let alone praised.

And it was a last-minute addition? And it was for Sato, who previously refused to play a dead character? And they even gave him an extra 30,000 yen?

How is that possible?

The young actor only earns five thousand yuan per scene as an extra. This is just a few minutes of screen time, which is a perfectly normal fee.

The result was a six-fold increase? How much more screen time was added?

And what happened to the promise not to play dead characters? Now the director is calling them personally to explain what's going on.

"Also, did he tell you about the Shadow Legion?"

Ignoring the shock of those around him, Ogawa continued to ask.

"Yes."

"..."

Looking at the calm Sato in front of her, if she hadn't always maintained a cool and aloof persona, she would have wanted to grab the boy's yellowed collar and ask him if he had drugged the beach supervisor.

The extra 30,000 yuan wasn't much, but it was something Ogawa couldn't believe, especially since it happened to Sato, who was usually unremarkable and even refused to play dead.

This money represents the care and concern that the seaside supervisor had for the boy.

Although it may not sound like a lot, it at least shows that the beach manager has high hopes for Sato.

The woman stared at the boy for a long time without saying a word.

Even the office was quieter now.

It was as if everyone was waiting for the woman to speak.

"I need to ask the president about the audition."

The woman spoke slowly.

Although adding scenes would normally require discussion with the agency, considering that Sato was just an extra, no agency would likely protest against the director for unilaterally adding scenes for their extra.

However, auditions are different; they are related to the entire company and require serious consideration.

Especially their company, which is on the verge of bankruptcy.

"Yes."

Sato was not surprised to hear this.

Although he didn't show it on his face, he was still touched that the supervisor had given him an extra 30,000.

The actors only receive a commission; if the other party adds 30,000 to their pay, the amount given to the agency will be even more.

Although it might be just a casual matter for a mid-level supervisor at the beach, who could probably spend more than that on a single meal outside, it would be a huge help to the boy.

With money, he can recover his health more quickly.

With money, you can become more powerful.

Of course, although he received the 35,000 yuan, his plan did not change much.

We should still fight for the dead.

Those are all real benefits; you can't let a little money make you squander it.

No one ever thinks they have too much money.

Moreover, acting skills and reputation both require gradual accumulation through work.