"What's wrong, Director Guo?" the assistant director asked anxiously, noticing his tense expression.
"Damn it!" Guo Tao cursed under his breath. "It's a call from the Japan Region Production Team! They're saying their star contestant, that Kawaguchi Tokushi, has snuck into our region! And he's been here for a while already! Hmph! They claim it was a communication error that delayed the notification, but who are they kidding?"
"Kawaguchi Tokushi? The guy who's supposedly from the 'Kawaguchi Style' ninja clan in Japan, masters all sorts of advanced Ninjutsu, and tops the Japan Region leaderboard?" the assistant director exclaimed in disbelief.
"I thought he said he couldn't go all-out in Japan and planned to challenge the USA Region instead? Why's he suddenly showing up in our newly established region?"
"Heh! You actually believed that? He was just putting on airs. Everyone knows the USA Region is hellishly dangerous—one wrong move and you could catch a bullet. There's no way he'd dare go there."
"He's clearly targeting our region because of its rising popularity, thinking our new region is still immature and easy to bully, hoping to pad his record and ride our coattails!" Guo Tao fumed, his voice bristling with anger.
"Let him come," Guo Tao growled. "The China Pursuit Team isn't afraid of him! But his timing—choosing this moment—means he's planning a sneak attack tonight!
"Old Liu and the others have been run ragged all day by Contestant Cifera. They're exhausted. Kawaguchi Tokushi wants to catch the Pursuit Team completely off guard!
"Those bastards! How utterly shameless!"
"But does he really think the China Pursuit Team is a pushover? He'll leave here with nothing!"
After venting his frustration, Guo Tao took a deep breath, his face regaining the stern, professional composure of a Chief Director. He began issuing orders:
"The Japanese Production Team will soon share Kawaguchi Tokushi's signal feed with us.
"Notify all night-shift staff—technical crews, directors, everyone—to prepare for a busy night. We're likely in for a long one."
-
Meanwhile, in Japan...
Inside a luxurious office building, in the Chief Director's office of the Global Manhunt: The Final Heist Japan Region Production Team.
Tsukikyo Mari, a director in her fifties whose heavy makeup couldn't hide the passage of time, dressed in an ostentatious leopard-print suit, was on the phone, her orchid-shaped fingers delicately holding the receiver, her voice saccharine and cloying:
"Moshi moshi~ Chairman Kawaguchi, please rest assured~ Everything has been arranged exactly as you instructed, yō~"
Her tone dripped with affected deference.
"Regarding Young Master Tokushi's arrival in China, we've conveniently delayed notifying the Chinese authorities, yō~ This will ensure we catch them completely off guard, yō~
"Hai! Hai! Please don't worry! Tonight's live broadcast will be absolutely foolproof. Our show's ratings depend entirely on Young Master Tokushi's spectacular performance!
"The nation will be utterly captivated by the brilliance of our elite contestant! We'll show those arrogant contestants exactly what true 'Ninjutsu' means! Victory and glory will be ours!
"Hai! We eagerly anticipate Young Master Tokushi's magnificent performance! Then, that's all for now. Please rest assured, Chairman Kawaguchi!"
As she hung up, Tsukikyo Mari's heavily powdered face broke into a sinister smile—a mixture of fawning servility and gleeful anticipation of the spectacle to come.
Just as she hung up the phone, a knock sounded on her office door.
A young, handsome assistant director in a well-tailored suit cautiously pushed the door open and respectfully reported:
"Director Tsukikyo, the technical department is ready. We can switch Kawaguchi Tokushi's live feed to the China Region channel at any time."
"Hmm, I see," Tsukikyo Mari responded languidly. As the assistant turned to leave, she called him back:
"Nakamura-kun, wait a moment."
Assistant Nakamura stiffened slightly, as if sensing something was amiss, but politely turned back. "Is there anything else I can assist you with, Director?"
Tsukikyo Mari's heavily lined eyes raked over Nakamura's youthful, muscular physique. Licking her brightly rouged lips, she spoke with a teasing tone that brooked no refusal:
"Nakamura-kun, wouldn't you like to know why our Japan Region's ace, Kawaguchi Tokushi, suddenly changed his plans and condescended to join that newly established, weak China Region?"
Nakamura inwardly groaned but nodded obediently. "Yes, Director. If you're willing to share, I'd be honored to hear it."
"Hehe~ Come a little closer, then. Stand behind my chair."
Tsukikyo Mari gestured to the space behind her seat.
"Ah, these old bones of mine. My shoulders ache terribly after sitting for so long. Nakamura-kun, you're young and strong. Give me a massage, and I'll tell you this 'inside scoop'~"
A flicker of barely perceptible resistance and embarrassment crossed Assistant Nakamura's face, but under the intense pressure of the workplace, he dared not refuse.
Stiffly, he walked behind Tsukikyo Mari, steeling himself against the overpowering perfume, and began massaging her leopard-print-clad shoulders, a wave of weary resignation washing over him—the melancholic fate of the working class.
Tsukikyo Mari let out a contented sigh, closing her eyes in blissful enjoyment. She slowly began to speak:
"You know about the 'World Junior Detective Championship' currently being held in our country, right? The person I was just speaking with on the phone was none other than Chairman Kawaguchi Urasuke, the head of the organizing committee and president of the Japan Detective Association.
"And he's also the father of Contestant Kawaguchi Tokushi."
Nakamura's hands continued working, but his curiosity was piqued.
As a detective novel enthusiast, he had naturally been following the "World Junior Detective Championship," though the competition wasn't publicly broadcast live. Reports typically surfaced only after the events concluded.
Had something gone wrong? But what did this have to do with Kawaguchi Tokushi's sudden decision to transfer to the China Region?
Nakamura's curiosity had been thoroughly piqued.
"Young Master Tokushi's sudden decision to 'attack' the China Region wasn't just about... well, riding the coattails of China's sudden surge in popularity. There was a far more critical trigger..."
Tsukikyo Mari's voice grew indignant.
"It was that girl! The self-proclaimed 'Cat's Eye' genius detective from China!
"That impudent girl! She not only humiliated us by easily defeating all the contestants in our own competition—including Chairman Kawaguchi's second son, the rising star detective who carries the hopes of all Japan, Young Master Kawaguchi Ichijo—but she did so in a humiliating manner!
"But what's even more infuriating!" Tsukikyo Mari's voice rose sharply.
"After winning the championship, she showed absolutely no respect or gratitude! She left immediately, refusing to even attend the awards ceremony the next day!
"Such arrogance! This is a grave insult to Japan's competition organizers! A blatant provocation against the entire Japanese detective community! And a profound disrespect to Japan itself!"
Tsukikyo Mari's eyes snapped open, as if she had suffered a grave humiliation.
"So! To uphold the dignity of Japan and teach that arrogant girl a harsh lesson, Chairman Kawaguchi has dispatched his eldest son, the true genius of Japan—Young Master Kawaguchi Tokushi!
"He will personally travel to China and utterly crush her before billions of viewers worldwide! He will humiliate her and her so-called 'Cat's Eye' clan, leaving them utterly disgraced!"
She paused, her tone shifting to a sinister confidence.
"Of course, this is still a show, so we must adhere to the basic rules. We can't go too far~ But even within the rules, we can still teach that girl a 'profound' lesson!
"Young Master Kawaguchi Tokushi is undoubtedly the most outstanding young talent in the Ninjutsu World today! His skills in infiltration, disguise, and Mechanism Arts have long surpassed his teachers!
"Even if the 'Cat's Eye' clan is some ancient lineage of detectives, they won't stand a chance against Young Master Tokushi's surprise attacks!
"Let's just sit back and enjoy the spectacle! Heh heh heh~"
As Tsukikyo Mari cackled triumphantly like a villain, one of the many surveillance screens before her showed a live feed from Kawaguchi Tokushi—
Like a true shadow, he lurked in the shadows of the crowd at a street corner in China, his sharp gaze piercing the night to fix steadily on "Aya" and her companions laughing nearby.
Meanwhile, on Japan's own live broadcast channel, bullet comments surged across the screen at breakneck speed.