MMB Chapter 205 The Senator's Shock
Chapter 205 The Senator's Shock
Chapter 205 The Senator's Shock
Since his crushing defeat at the kendo dojo, Kobayakawa has been sullen for the past few days.
Although he had seen the trailer for Kitahara Shin's show, he couldn't be certain about it.
Since then, he has searched all the dojos in the vicinity, trying to find the kendo master wearing a mask, but to no avail. The man has never appeared at the kendo dojo again since he left that day.
In the spacious living room.
Kobayakawa Yasuhiro sat on the sofa, looking at his son's listless appearance, and asked him a question.
"You haven't even touched a bamboo sword lately, what's wrong?"
Kobayakawa sighed and recounted how he had been completely crushed at the dojo that day.
"Father, I've been learning the Hokushin Ittō-ryū style since I was a child, and I've never lost to anyone my age. But the pressure that person put on me was no less than that of those veteran instructors who had truly experienced countless battles. His skills were simply despair-inducing."
After listening, Kobayakawa Yasuhiro picked up his teacup, took a sip, and couldn't help but laugh.
"If it's really as exaggerated as you say, that person couldn't possibly be an unknown nobody."
He put down his teacup, his tone resolute.
"Everyone desires a higher social status. In modern cities, there are no reclusive masters who live a life of quiet contemplation. The fact that he would actively go to a public kendo dojo just shows that he likes to show off and needs to find someone to test his strength."
Xiao Hanchuan listened to Jiao Qin's analysis, feeling somewhat unconvinced. Jiao Qin's words directly pulled the sacred and inviolable image of a master in his mind back to the mundane world.
But he had to admit that his father was right. As a member of Congress who had spent years navigating the political arena, his father had seen too much of human nature and was an absolute veteran in dealing with people.
Kobayakawa Yasuhiro: "So don't worry about it too much. Okay, turn on the TV and watch the latest news with me to catch up on current affairs."
Kobayakawa nodded.
His father had always hoped that he would get into Waseda University to study politics, preparing him for a future seat as a member of parliament and the intricacies of nepotism within the government. Kobayakawa had absolutely no interest in politics; he preferred to pursue kendo. But faced with his authoritative father, he could only obediently pick up the remote control.
The screen flickered and switched to Fuji Television.
The program playing at this moment was not the news, but the latest episode of "Kitahara Shin Can Do Anything".
This once-popular variety show has now switched to airing once every three weeks to a month. Kitahara Shin is now not only an actor, but also the owner of an entertainment company. Running a rapidly expanding company is far from the simple task of counting money; complex business decisions consume a significant amount of his time.
On the screen, the program got down to business.
"Kitahara Shin's next challenge—Kendo! He faces off against the renowned master of Tokyo's practical fighting style, Mondai!"
In the video, Kitahara Shin is wearing a full set of kendo protective gear and holding a bamboo sword. He delivers a strike in an extremely sharp and powerful manner.
Although it wasn't very clear before, now that he could see the full footage, see the exertion of force, and more details, Kobayakawa's eyes widened suddenly, and he stood up from the sofa.
"Father! This is the man!"
He pointed at the television screen, his eyes shining, his voice excited.
"Just as you said! He really is a star!"
Upon hearing this, Kobayakawa Yasuhiro frowned. Looking at Kitahara Shin's face on the screen, rumors about the young man flashed through his mind. A top-tier celebrity with such high national recognition inherently possesses considerable value for collaboration.
Kobayakawa Yasuhiro decided to send someone to investigate the other party's background in detail.
In the following days, Kobayakawa, who had learned the truth, became unusually excited every day, his mind filled with thoughts of how to find Kitahara Shin to become his apprentice.
On the other side...
The results of Kobayakawa Yasuhiro's investigation, which involved using his political connections, were also placed on his desk.
Upon opening the investigation report, the well-informed congressman was utterly shocked.
He initially thought Kitahara Shin was just an ordinary actor who had gotten lucky and made some money. However, the report revealed that the man not only held actual control of multiple companies but also owned several prime properties in the heart of Tokyo.
What alarmed Kobayakawa Yasuhiro even more was that Kitahara's office had recently reached a deep cooperation agreement with a newly established security company. And the core members of this security company were none other than the same group of people under the command of the yakuza organization's leader, Takayama.
Kobayakawa Yasuhiro closed the file and took a deep breath.
Even though he was a high-ranking member of parliament, he had to look at Kitahara Shin with new respect at this moment.
This is no ordinary actor. He is clearly a young tycoon who holds a huge amount of cash, controls the media, and can mobilize underworld forces to protect him.
Kobayakawa Yasuhiro quickly began to calculate in his mind.
Being able to befriend such a person would have immeasurable benefits, whether it's broadening one's channels for future political donations or paving the way for one's son's future entry into society.
Kitahara Shin quickly received word of this.
Ota Shoichi entered the office to report that Congressman Kobayakawa Yasuhiro had expressed his intention to meet privately.
Upon hearing this news, Kitahara Shin found it somewhat strange. A political heavyweight of Kobayakawa's stature, even if he wanted to expand his connections in the entertainment industry, should have sought out established, long-standing agencies. His sudden initiative to approach him, his newly minted boss, was certainly unusual.
He leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.
In truth, he didn't want his company to get too deeply involved with politicians. Political resources are a hornet's nest; pulling one thread can have far-reaching consequences. But in this hierarchical society, having more connections at the top means having more options. Even without deep cooperation, just having a personal exchange would definitely benefit the company's future development.
Kitahara Shin: "Ota, tell them that the time and place are up to them, and I'm available to meet."
After finalizing the meeting, Kitahara Shin turned his attention back to another stack of documents on the table.
This is the latest operating report on the cinemas he bought and the V-Cinema division.
The data is very impressive.
Takashi Miike, the director in charge of V-Cinema, used to have an output rate that was astonishing, like a sow in a production team.
Ever since Team Leader Gao sent his underlings to the film crew as extras and security guards, there has been no more harassment from thugs on set.
With the help of the well-trained actors from Kitahara's agency, Miike was able to film with ease and without encountering any obstacles.
Currently, the B-movies led by Miike, which feature gore, violence, and are geared towards adults, have already begun to show success in the videotape market.
While this type of film is destined to never achieve the massive success of mainstream movies, it has remarkably captured a large niche audience. These films, purely for emotional release, boast extremely high audience loyalty, ensuring a strong future revenue stream.
As the stable income steadily turned into a paper surplus, those underlings who used to make a living on the streets also started to enjoy a fair share of the profits.
With their generous salaries paid on time, these former gangsters found that their lives were now even more stable and comfortable than when they were involved in the shady business.
This made everyone even more grateful to Kitahara Shin.
Now, when these tattooed men chat and drink in izakayas, the mere mention of Kitahara Shin fills their voices with undisguised fervor and respect. Kitahara Shin's ruthless image, previously portrayed in yakuza films, is deeply ingrained in their minds, and now he's genuinely providing them with a respectable livelihood.
In the hearts of these people, Kitahara Shin's prestige was rising sharply, and they respected this young president even more than they respected their former boss.
a few days later.
Kobayakawa Yasuhiro finally arranged a time with Kitahara Shin. He took his son and carried the generous gifts he had prepared, and drove to a highly secluded upscale restaurant in Chiyoda Ward.
Pulling open the shoji door of the Japanese-style room, Kitahara Shin was already sitting inside.
Upon seeing this influential member of parliament, Kitahara Shin remained composed, smiling and nodding in a very friendly manner. In his view, while a member of parliament might not have absolute power, in today's Japanese society, they could certainly provide an extremely solid layer of political security for his entertainment empire. If cultivated properly, this connection would be entirely beneficial.
Then, Kitahara Shin's gaze fell on the young man following behind the senator.
He was slightly taken aback.
Kitahara Shin: "Long time no see."
Upon hearing that familiar voice, Kobayakawa's eyes widened instantly, and his face flushed with excitement.
Kobayakawa: "It really is you!"
Before Kobayakawa Yasuhiro could even exchange pleasantries...
Kobayakawa suddenly knelt heavily on the tatami mat and, without hesitation, performed a perfectly executed dogeza (a traditional Japanese obeisance) for Kitahara Shin in front of his father.
Kobayakawa: "Please, you absolutely must take me on as your apprentice! I really want to improve my kendo skills!"
This scene left the other two people in the room speechless.
Kobayakawa Yasuhiro usually thought his son was quite arrogant, and he never expected him to be so reckless and impulsive today, disregarding even the most basic social etiquette. But then he thought, the fact that his proud son would perform such a grand gesture of respect only further confirmed that the young man's swordsmanship skills were absolutely astonishing.
Kitahara Shin looked at the young man lying on the ground and shook his head helplessly.
Kitahara Shin: "Get up first, we can talk about this slowly."
Kobayakawa then obediently got up and sat down at the low table with his father.
Kobayakawa Yasuhiro pushed the expensive gifts he had brought in front of Kitahara Shin and took the opportunity to explain his purpose, formally requesting that Kitahara Shin give his son some guidance in kendo.
He admitted that his son's passion for kendo was a good thing. However, traditional kendo masters and instructors were generally reluctant to take him on as a personal disciple once they heard he was the son of a member of parliament. They thought it was too much trouble, and if he didn't teach him well or if he got hurt, it would just add a lot of unnecessary complications.
In fact, Kitahara Shin's initial thoughts were exactly the same as those old fogies. He usually had to film and manage his company, so he simply didn't have time to mentor apprentices. But considering the political resources behind the other party and the huge hidden benefits brought by long-term cooperation, he was willing to sit down and meet here.
For the rest of the time, Kitahara Shin and Kobayakawa Yasuhiro chatted over tea.
The two tacitly avoided discussing current political events or weighty business interests, instead engaging in a relaxed conversation about trivial hobbies such as golf and tea. During this casual chat, they probed each other's boundaries, and the distance between them quickly closed.
After three rounds of tea.
Kitahara Shin put down his teacup and gave his formal reply.
Kitahara Shin: "I can take on apprentices. However, I'm very busy, so I have to set the time. When I'm not busy, you can come over, and I'll make time to guide you."
Kobayakawa was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly in agreement.
This seemingly simple private meeting concluded successfully. Kitahara Shinya had successfully established substantial connections with the parliamentary class. This hidden trump card might prove extremely useful at some point in the future.
Kitahara Shin returned to the film set of "Legal High".
The production team is currently filming episodes six, seven, and eight back-to-back. These three episodes respectively address the custody battle of a child prodigy, the inheritance dispute within a long-established soy sauce family, and the divorce case of a well-known writer, serving as important transitional storylines leading up to the finale.
The actor who plays the arch-nemesis lawyer Miki is the veteran actor Teruyuki Kagawa.
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In this timeline, Teruyuki Kagawa perfectly portrays Miki's ruthless and sometimes hilariously comical villainous nature in his quest to defeat Komikado. On screen, the two are constantly at each other's throats, their chemistry is superb.
What puzzled Kitahara was that as soon as the director yelled "Cut," Teruyuki Kagawa would immediately put on a serious face and sit alone in a corner to read the script. Aside from acting, the two didn't communicate at all. Kitahara tried to initiate a conversation twice, but Kagawa only nodded politely, completely unmoved.
This was the first time Kitahara Shin had encountered a setback in interpersonal relationships within this industry. However, he quickly came to terms with it; everyone has a different personality, and it's normal to encounter colleagues who only talk about work and not personal relationships.
A courtroom debate scene has been filmed.
Kitahara Shin sat on a lounge chair, drinking water. Matsu Takako walked over with a script in her hand.
She stood in front of Kitahara Shin, looking somewhat awkward, her fingers unconsciously gripping the edge of the script.
Kitahara Shin: "What's up? Did you need something?"
Matsu Takako took a deep breath. After a period of intense filming, she had witnessed firsthand Kitahara Shin's terrifying dominance on set.
Komekado's character is extremely impatient, with a very high density of lines, spoken at a machine-gun-like pace. Roughly calculated, Kitahara Shin's lines are at least twice as many. Moreover, those lines are filled with highly professional legal jargon, vicious satire, and a large number of inexplicable fallacies and heresies.
Faced with such a hellish script, Kitahara Shin not only has a photographic memory and clear pronunciation, but also maintains extremely high emotional output at a very fast pace, and can even distract himself to guide his opponent's movements.
Seeing this exaggerated and flawless memory, Matsu Takako was completely convinced. Passing the National Judicial Examination was definitely not an impossible task for this monster.
Matsu Takako: "I admit I lost the bet. Give me the key to your house."
Kitahara Shin looked at her with some surprise.
Matsu Takako: "The film crew has a day off tomorrow, and I have some things to take care of at the school in the morning. When I come back in the afternoon, I'll stop by and do a thorough cleaning for you."
Kitahara Shin smiled.
"Don't you need to wait for the results? The exam results haven't come out yet, what's the rush?"
Matsu Takako pursed her lips.
"Whether you pass or not doesn't matter anymore. I'm confident you'll pass."
Kitahara Shin: "Oh? Why do you think that?"
Matsu Takako looked at him and truthfully repeated what she had been thinking. She generously acknowledged Kitahara Shin's terrifying talent on set, praising his memory and delivery of lines.
Kitahara Shin listened and nodded, clearly pleased. Being praised willingly by this future national beauty was indeed a very pleasant thing.
He sized up Matsu Takako in front of him.
She was completely different from the four female confidantes he currently had. Nanako Matsushima was gentle and obedient, and Rie Miyazawa was blindly obedient. But the Takako Matsu in front of him appeared calm and gentle on the outside, but deep down she had an extremely strong competitive spirit.
Even though she now acknowledges Kitahara Shin's prowess, her eyes and expression still reveal a defiant spirit.
She never said it out loud, but Kitahara Shin could sense that she was always thinking about surpassing him in some way.
This trait is exactly the same as that of Mayuzumi Machiko in the drama.
Kitahara Shin: "In that case, I'll go back tomorrow and help you clean. We can also see if we need to buy some more furniture."
Matsu Takako blinked and looked him up and down.
"Do you just want to sit here and watch me work hard and sweat for your house?"
Kitahara Shin stroked his chin and smiled calmly.
"If that's what you're saying, then yes, I'm actually quite looking forward to it."
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