Chapter 272 Kikuto Morizono: I Didn't Say Anything

Chapter 272 Kikuto Morizono: I Didn't Say Anything

"Ah, it's about what you said, contacting Nichimuri TV Station to make our own TV Program," Toshiya Odagiri took the USB Drive and put it in his Pocket. "Yoko Okino recently has a quiz show that starts at noon, 12 PM. We can't compete with that time slot; they've already signed a Contract. Our program could be scheduled to start at 1:30 PM in the afternoon, or from 9 PM to 10:30 PM in the evening. But since you said to avoid overlapping with Yoko Okino's program, I was planning to book the evening slot with them..."

Whoa!

Kikuto Morizono and Toshiya Odagiri simultaneously looked up at Chi Feichei.

Scheduling it at 1:30 PM in the afternoon isn't ideal, but we could leverage Yoko Okino's popularity. Some viewers who watch her program might continue watching ours afterward.

People who watch Television at noon are usually housewives and people like Mori Kogoro who have flexible Work hours. They have Time to watch until around 3 PM in the afternoon.

But Chi Feichei suggesting the evening slot, the meaning is clear—direct competition!

Thinking about it again, Chi Feichei's decision seems to have been mentioned on the day the Company was registered. In other words...

Chi Feichei had been planning to counter them all along?

Conan: "..."

Ran: "..."

Ai: "..."

Kisaki Eri: "..."

Although they didn't understand the specifics, from the point of staggering the Time slots, it seemed Chi Feichei had been planning to show his teeth for a while now.

"Nichimuri TV Station will compare Ratings. If they find our program can compete with, or even surpass, Yoko Okino's program, it will be easier to secure a Prime Time Slot in the future," Chi Feichei said. "Don't be so surprised. We were bound to clash sooner or later. Either they'd use their established position to suppress us, or we'd climb to the top by stepping on them. The 9 PM time slot is good; Students have Time to watch. As long as the program isn't too boring, it won't be worse than theirs. Toshiya, the proposal is on the USB Drive. Please confirm it, find someone to refine the Procedure, and get the first episode made..."

Toshiya Odagiri nodded, feeling a bit bewildered.

So, what was he getting angry about just now?

Counterattack? They also had a big tiger on their side who had already set their sights on Yoko Okino's program...

The other side isn't playing fair? Uh, it seems they aren't exactly playing fair either...

"It's actually a good thing they made the first move. After all, our Company is newly established. If we directly confronted them right away, it would put a lot of pressure on the employees. Since they've made the first move, our subsequent action is a Counterattack. Remember to hold a meeting when you get back, to rally the employees and create a sense of shared purpose," Chi Feichei said, his Tone still even. "For an Established Entertainment Company to bully Newcomers like this is truly shameless. Everyone, work harder and strive to show them we're not pushovers. Something along those lines, to boost morale."

"Uh, okay..." Toshiya Odagiri continued to nod blankly.

"They've underestimated us a bit, thinking we'd follow the usual Company playbook, first choose a conventional Project and spend years climbing the ladder step by step. But that's never been our Intention. Movies, projects with long production cycles and slow returns, even if they win awards, they only accumulate prestige; they're not suitable for a quick start." Chi Feichei continued, "We'll film the TV Program after we've rooted out the Traitor. We'll handle production internally. Keep Nichimuri TV Station in the dark; don't explicitly tell them we've Decided to make a program. Let those Company people continue focusing on the Movie, diverting their energy. A Movie isn't enough to significantly boost Yoko Okino's popularity anyway. Let them waste their time on it."

Kikuto Morizono said helplessly, "Hey, hey, didn't we agree we wouldn't be involved in managing the New Company?"

Looking at it this way, it's clear Chi Feichei had already set the trap. Just as he was about to spring it, the other side conveniently walked right into the most vulnerable spot...

"Toshiya is inexperienced; I need to Help lay the groundwork," Chi Feichei said, looking at Toshiya Odagiri. "If Toshiya finds me too bothersome, I'll step back. After all, you're the President..."

"No," Toshiya Odagiri quickly said, "I think you should still manage it."

"I'll only manage it this once."

Chi Feichei then said to Ran and the others, "About the program, Teacher's Wife, Ran, please also Help keep it Confidential."

Kisaki Eri then snapped out of it, nodded, and said, "I won't say anything."

Chi Feichei telling them in person is a sign of Trust. She's not a gossip, and she understands the seriousness of the Matter, so of course, she won't blab.

"We won't either," Ran turned her Head to Conan and asked, "Right, Conan? You absolutely can't tell anyone!"

"Yeah!" Conan nodded Speechless.

There's no need to specifically tell him; there aren't any Real Children here, okay?

"Actually, Toshiya, you're underestimating our Strength a bit," Kikuto Morizono said, pointing at Chi Feichei and turning to Toshiya Odagiri with a smile. "With such a big draw right here, you can leverage that. Don't go head-to-head with those entertainment Companies. If it's other Companies, they'll give you some face no matter what."

"Honestly, Old Dad has always really liked Yoko Okino..." Ran said, a bit troubled.

Should she try to persuade Old Dad to switch to a different celebrity?

Chi Feichei is on their side, but Mori Kogoro likes Yoko Okino so much. Isn't that kind of like supporting the enemy?

"These are matters for the Company's decision-making level; it has no Relationship with the celebrities themselves," Chi Feichei analyzed. "Once the program starts showing results, the Relationship between the two sides will ease. Their Purpose is to make us back down, not to completely Offend us. If they find they can't Suppress us, there should be a honeymoon period afterward. If our program becomes a hit, we might even invite Yoko Okino to be a guest, achieving a win-win."

"And then, when the next big Benefit is at stake, they'll draw their Knives again for another fight. But overall, on the surface, they'll maintain harmony and friendship," Kikuto Morizono said, smiling at Toshiya Odagiri. "However, Toshiya, you must remain Vigilant!"

"So, this is what 'no eternal enemies, no eternal Friends' means, right?" Toshiya Odagiri felt relieved, completely forgetting what he was angry about earlier, and said with a laugh and a playful curse, "You hypocritical Capitalists!"

"Why are you scolding yourself?" Kikuto Morizono retorted dryly. "Regretting it already?"

Toshiya Odagiri choked. To say he regretted it was impossible, but if he said he didn't regret it, wouldn't that be admitting he was scolding himself earlier?

The others chuckled, and the Atmosphere immediately lightened up.

"Don't try to argue with me," Kikuto Morizono said with a smug grin. "When it comes to planning, I can't compare to Hassashi, but in this area, I'm confident I'm better than him. Even he might not be able to win an argument against me, let alone you..."

Chi Feichei: "After all, it's a mouth that's deceived quite a few Girls."

Kikuto Morizono: "..."

Kisaki Eri saw Kikuto Morizono choke up and burst out laughing. "Found the Opening, a fatal blow! Kikuto is completely speechless. Hassashi, Consider becoming my Disciple. You have real potential!"

"What was I saying before?" Kikuto Morizono put on an innocent face and said calmly, "I didn't say anything."

This time, even Conan burst out laughing, and Ai couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth lift slightly.

"My Face isn't as thick as yours!" Toshiya Odagiri joked.

Kikuto Morizono shrugged it off. "That's why you two are still single."

"Both of you have great potential!" Kisaki Eri said with a smile.

Conan nodded in agreement. Both are experts, every move hits the mark! +1!

After joking around for a while, once everyone had finished laughing, Chi Feichei said to Toshiya Odagiri, "I'll be at the Company for the next two Days."

"Since you're coming, you have to Help share the Work," Toshiya Odagiri said matter-of-factly. "I'm swamped!"

"Then, are you not going on Tomorrow's Travel, Brother Hassashi?" Ran asked.

They came here because they were going to talk to Chi Feichei about the Travel plans. They had thought Chi Feichei would have finished organizing the Case to be adapted in the past couple of Days and would have Time to go with them. Unfortunately, shortly after they agreed, Kisaki Eri called to say she had something to discuss.

"I'm not going." Chi Feichei declined.

That Elementary School Student sure has it easy, going out to play every Day...

He wasn't even sure if it was summer vacation; Time was all messed up.

Ran was a little disappointed and asked Ai, "Then what about Ai? If Brother Hassashi is busy, how about you come with me? I'll take good care of you."

"I'm not going either," Ai replied calmly, "You guys went out to play the day before yesterday, and another Case happened, right?"

"Yeah, two people died..." Ran subconsciously replied, then stopped, and said, embarrassed and annoyed, "No way! This time, we've Decided nothing will happen again. No matter what, we're going to have a proper Travel!"

Chi Feichei: "..."

Ran's gone bad, learning from Teacher Mouri to set random flags. She's probably going to get a slap in the Face...

...

The Next Day, with the determination to 'absolutely have a proper Travel this time,' Ran left with Conan and Mori Kogoro.

As soon as Chi Feichei saw the Death God Elementary School Student leave again, he summoned the other Members of the Junior Detective League...

Commission: Investigate the Company Traitor.

Conan received a Phone Call from the Junior Detective League, explaining he was away on Travel. He was met with a barrage of complaints, and only after promising to provide ideas remotely was he let off the hook. Immediately after, he called Chi Feichei.

"Hey, are you doing this intentionally? Why do you always give Commissions to the Junior Detective League when I'm not around?" the Famous Detective angrily questioned. The previous two times, there wasn't Evidence, but this time, it seemed Chi Feichei had deliberately waited until he left before giving the Junior Detective League the Commission.

"Investigating a Traitor isn't difficult. Just leak some false News and have the Children keep an eye on things," Chi Feichei said calmly. "You just need to direct them remotely, saving you the trouble of running around, and you still get to go on Travel. Isn't that good?"

"It's good and all, but..."

Before Conan could finish, Chi Feichei interrupted him.

"Good enough then. You contact them. I'm not handling this Matter. You guys go discuss the Procedure with Toshiya."

"Beep... Beep..."

The Phone Call was hung up directly.

The rest of Conan's Words choked in his Throat.

It's good and all, but he suspected Chi Feichei was just trying to get rid of him...

Never mind, never mind. Better get to handling the Commission.

Remote participation is still participation. Otherwise, when the Commission Fee from the Junior Detective League comes in, he'll be back to being a freeloader...

(End of Chapter)