Nakayama Hayao gently blew on the tea leaves floating in his cup, his tone calm as he threw a bucket of cold water on the idea. "Those local TV stations, like TXN, have always been frugal. They won't release the hawk without seeing the rabbit first. What if they find it too troublesome, or decide the subject matter is too risky and refuse to pay?"
"If they won't pay, so be it! If they won't do it, we'll do it ourselves!" Nakagawa Jun waved his hand dismissively, his gesture radiating the confidence of a media tycoon. "Even if TV Tokyo takes the lead alone, buys out the copyright completely, and handles all the translation and dubbing work... I've had someone run the numbers. The estimated total cost would be at most seventy million yen!"
Nakagawa Jun turned to Takuya Nakayama, his eyes filled with admiration.
"The feedback from the GG Department has given me even more confidence. They took the series outline to a few of their old clients. Those companies that make financial products and run trust funds showed immense interest in this show! They proactively offered to pay a premium for the prime-time slots before and after the series, as long as it airs. These financial institutions are the real big spenders with deep pockets. They're far more generous than those daily-necessity manufacturers that used to sell laundry detergent and soy sauce. When you add it all up, the risk for this investment is extremely low, and the potential return is staggering!"
Nakayama Hayao turned to look at Nakayama Takuya, who sat beside him, as steady as a mountain.
A slight smile played on his lips, his tone teasing, yet his eyes shone with unmistakable pride.
"So, Takuya, you've been feeding you another one of your 'brilliant ideas,' have you?"
Takuya smiled as he lifted the purple clay teapot, steadily refilling the tea for his elders.
"Dad, I just mentioned it in passing, offering a starting point. The actual execution still depends on the professionals at the station. I wouldn't dare claim the credit."
Nakagawa Jun burst into a hearty laugh, pointing at Takuya as he addressed Nakayama Hayao. "Hayao, you're completely wrong. This isn't just some 'brilliant idea.' This is a god of wealth delivering fortune right to our doorstep!"
Nakagawa Jun began counting on his fingers, recalling each success as if listing prized possessions. "Think about the show concepts Takuya pitched to the station. Before and After and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Both of these shows are still our top-rated programs, immovable in their popularity! Not only are their domestic ratings rock-solid, but overseas stations are constantly coming to us to buy the rights at a premium."
Nakagawa Jun paused, his tone turning incredibly solemn, even tinged with a hint of respect.
"And then there was that in-depth report on the gaming industry boom from two years ago. That episode alone elevated TV Tokyo's prestige in the professional financial sector to a whole new level, establishing our authority in the industry."
Nakagawa Jun lifted his teacup and drained it in one gulp.
"After all these moves, the combined direct and indirect benefits brought to TV Tokyo must be hundreds of millions of yen."
"A mere drama costing tens of millions of yen," Nakagawa Jun slammed the empty teacup onto the table with a dull thud, his voice brimming with bravado, "is something I, Nakagawa Jun, can still afford! Even if we lose money, I'll just consider it playing along with Takuya!"
Nakayama Hayao watched Nakagawa Jun's ostentatious display of wealth, then glanced at his own son, who was calmly pouring tea, unfazed by the display. He shook his head with a smile, though he was inwardly delighted.
"Fine. Since you've got a handle on things, I'll be waiting to see TV Tokyo's next move."
Nakagawa Jun pushed the empty teacup aside, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice.
"Now that we're done with station business, I have a personal question I'd like to ask you." His gaze sharpened as he looked at Nakayama Hayao across the table. "There have been a lot of rumors coming out of Kabutocho lately. I've heard Sega is preparing to make a move on Sotsu?"
Sotsu held the rights to Mobile Suit Gundam, the very lifeblood of Bandai.
Countless greedy eyes in the industry were fixed on this prize.
As a media insider, Nakagawa Jun was extremely sensitive to the shifts and currents of the capital market, and he had naturally caught wind of it.
Nakayama Hayao, his hands clasped over his stomach, gave a slight nod after hearing this, then immediately shook his head, his expression calm.
"There is indeed such a plan. If Sega is to expand, Sotsu is an unavoidable piece of the puzzle," Nakayama Hayao said in a level tone. "However, I haven't been involved in the specifics of the acquisition. Hattori is doing the legwork, while Takuya is overseeing the whole operation from the back. If you want to know the details, you'll have to ask Takuya."
He sighed and gestured toward the room, his voice carrying a rare hint of weariness.
"I was hospitalized for a few days recently; my blood pressure just wouldn't go down. Miyuki was by my bedside every day, constantly urging me to get more rest. As for Sega's current mess, I'm too tired to even care about it anymore, let alone manage it."
Nakagawa Jun immediately turned his head, his gaze as tangible as a physical weight as it landed on Takuya Nakayama.
Takuya picked up the purple clay teapot and skillfully refilled the tea for the two elders.
The water poured into the cups with a crisp, pleasant sound.
His facial expression remained completely unchanged, not even a single eyebrow twitching.
"Everything is proceeding smoothly," Takuya said, setting the teapot down and resting his hands on his knees. His tone was as calm as if he were discussing tomorrow's weather. "Several key shareholders have already agreed, and the terms are mostly finalized. An official announcement will be made soon."
With that, Takuya politely fell silent, refusing to utter another word.
Acquiring Sotsu was far more than just a matter of throwing money at the problem.
It involved a complex web of interests and power plays between Bandai, Sunrise, and several veteran toy manufacturers. There was even the internal betrayal of Chuta Mitsui, a classic case of a double agent playing both sides.
The under-the-table deals and equity reshuffling were a tangled web, each step fraught with peril.
These core business secrets were too critical to disclose. Even with his father-in-law sitting right across from him, Takuya wouldn't utter a single word until the dust had settled and victory was absolutely sealed. This was the fundamental discipline of a top-tier operator.
Nakagawa Jun was a man of extraordinary intelligence. Seeing his son-in-law's impenetrable composure, he immediately grasped Takuya's unspoken message.
He didn't press the matter further, smoothly shifting the conversation to Nakayama Hayao.
"How's your health recovering?" Nakagawa Jun asked, sizing up his father-in-law. "When I visited you at the hospital last time, you seemed a shadow of your former self. Where's the President Nakayama who used to tear Nintendo executives a new one at the dinner table?"
"Nothing serious. Just old age. The machinery's starting to wear out," Hayao replied, rolling his shoulder with a faint crackle of bone. "The doctors prescribed a bunch of pills, and Miyuki makes sure I take them on schedule. I'm enjoying the peace and quiet, playing with my grandson at home. It's a lot more pleasant than listening to those directors argue in the boardroom."
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