"What determines the names of the liquors in The Distillery?" Asakawa Kazuki pondered after hanging up the phone. "For research and development, Sherry and Pinot Noir are both wines; for funding, Pisco is also a type of brandy..."
Asakawa Kazuki shook his head, deciding not to dwell on the peculiar naming conventions for liquors.
Delighted to be receiving talent support soon, Boss Asakawa was overjoyed. With a burst of energy, he jumped onto cua3000 and began working – starting, of course, with the anime he himself would be drawing.
Smeargle prepared to step forward, only to be pushed aside by Asakawa Kazuki. "Later – I'll do the storyboards first."
After completing the storyboards for the first five episodes of the first season in one go, Asakawa Kazuki immediately began drawing the key animation – the line art that shows how the characters move. Combining this with the clear character design sheets, he handed them over to Smeargle.
Smeargle analyzed the storyboards and key animation, and after calculations, began the refinement, coloring, and frame addition processes, transforming them into smooth animation sequences.
Asakawa Kazuki reviewed all the scenes again, corrected some of the visuals, and then moved on to editing. Thus, the animation process, incredibly complex for humans, was completed.
"Meloetta, get ready to produce the voiceovers and the opening and ending themes – and make tomorrow's music as well," Asakawa Kazuki began adjusting the audio.
As for the opening credits and staff roll, he filled in his own name for original work, character design, music production, storyboards, and animation direction.
"Asakawa Corporation" was listed as the production company, with a simple drawing of a blue-eyed tanuki as the company logo.
"Alright, now the newcomer just needs to fill in the rest," Asakawa Kazuki hoped the person arriving tomorrow would be efficient.
"The computer module the Organization gave us can be used for the official website's server. It should be able to handle the initial traffic."
Asakawa Kazuki casually created a website, dividing the page into four sections: Music, Anime, Discussion Board, and Merchandise Showcase.
"You'll be in charge of this for now," Asakawa Kazuki turned to Magearna.
Magearna nodded and integrated itself into the webpage.
"There are still three hours until dawn – well, I'm going to sleep. The employee will definitely call if they can't find me anyway," Asakawa Kazuki irresponsibly flopped into bed.
...
Outside Asakawa Corporation
Sugita Shinsuke had already rung the doorbell three times, but the corporation's doors remained firmly shut.
Lord Brandy had not given him a phone number. Helpless, he approached a deliveryman with blond hair and dark skin standing by the entrance of the neighboring Detective Agency and asked, "Excuse me, do you know where the owner of this corporation might be?"
"He hasn't seemed to be here these past couple of days – maybe he went home?"
Amuro Tōru, as a surface-level Black Organization executive and actual Public Security Bureau mole, was certainly aware of what was happening at this place – but naturally, he wouldn't say much to a stranger.
Fortunately, he did provide the address: "Thank you. I have some business with him." Sugita Shinsuke hurried away.
He had initially thought it was a salesperson from some CD company, but it turned out to be someone he knew.
Amuro Tōru didn't dwell on the matter any further – they were close enough, and there would be plenty of opportunities to gather information.
...
4-chome 17, Beika Town
Hearing the doorbell from the main gate, Asakawa Kazuki, who was discussing with Mengji how a concert revenue from an entire auditorium the day before yesterday couldn't even compare to making empty promises to three Black Organization members, sat up in bed. "Good heavens, they're this polite? Coming directly to the door without calling first?"
Sugita Shinsuke looked at the person who opened the door: a young man with blond hair and blue eyes, wearing pajamas.
"...You don't need to worry about me revealing your identity, Mr. Asakawa Kazuki."
A man dressed like a white-collar elite pushed up his glasses. "We've received strict training and would never do something as foolish as accidentally calling out a superior's codename in front of outsiders."
"On the contrary, I underestimated the heroes of this world... Come in, we have a lot to do."
We'll see about that when you meet Conan someday.
"First, I need to renovate Asakawa Corporation – the first floor will be the reception area and merchandise display hall, floors two, three, and four will be the work areas, and the fifth floor will be half mine and half yours – Oh, right, from now on, you're the President, and I'm the Chairman. My half needs a bedroom, the choice for yours is up to you."
Asakawa Kazuki quickly drew a building layout diagram with his nimble fingers.
"This disc contains the latest 5 episodes of the anime. What you need to do now is complete the staff list and then take it to television stations for broadcast. Remember to tell them that after the first season of 25 episodes concludes, we'll be releasing it on our own website, so we're only selling the first-run exclusive broadcasting rights, not subsequent runs – understand?"
Although these two orders were direct and incredibly unconventional, Sugita Shinsuke calmly accepted them, "Yes, Chairman."
This "Yes" was precise and decisive, clearly indicating years of dealing with unreasonable clients, filled with the helplessness and bitterness of a salaryman.
"Hmm... Also, schedule a meeting with Miss Kyono Yoko. I want to discuss a musical collaboration with her – today this afternoon." Asakawa Kazuki, with a sliver of conscience remaining, added, "I'll give you a share of the profits as a bonus – and you'll also receive the shares of the two former Vice Presidents."
Sugita Shinsuke didn't quite believe that an anime made by a single person could be of good quality, but he still agreed, "Yes, Chairman."
...
Sugita Shinsuke was making a phone call on the first floor. Asakawa Kazuki, having shed his disguise, walked down from the second floor. "Mr. Sugita, did you work in the entertainment industry before?"
Sugita Shinsuke hung up the phone and took the disc from Asakawa Kazuki. "I used to work in a TV drama production committee. The Organization helped me clean up the mess when I killed a colleague, and that's how I joined them."
Terrifying, terrifying – life is hard, and killing is a release.
"For company matters, call this mobile number; for Organization matters, use the Organization's dedicated line," Asakawa Kazuki said as he and Sugita Shinsuke exchanged numbers for their respective phones.
"Understood."
...
An Office
"Miss Kyono Yoko, why agree to meet with that unknown Chairman? That kind of small, newly established company, how could they possibly produce any good work?" her manager, Yamagishi, asked incredulously.
"Chairman Asakawa himself is a composition student at Tokyo University of the Arts. His "I Once Thought of Dying" has already been reported by television stations, and many CD companies want to collaborate with him – they just can't find him."
Kyono Yoko replied after hanging up the phone, "Also, Mr. Sugita Shinsuke used to be a famous producer at Tokyo Broadcasting System. He was unfortunately suspected in a murder case, and even after being cleared, he was still dismissed."
"When I first entered the acting industry, Mr. Sugita showed me great kindness. It's only right to discuss collaboration with his new boss now," Kyono Yoko recalled the past.
"...I still have to hire a detective to investigate the stalking incident tonight," Yamagishi grumbled. "He'd better come early."
Asakawa Kazuki deliberately arrived just as the sun was about to set.
"Did Chairman Asakawa stay in Britain for too long and is unaccustomed to Tokyo's fast-paced life?" Yamagishi, impatient from waiting, couldn't help but speak sarcastically.
"Fine red wine needs years of aging to become fragrant, and good works are worth the wait."
Asakawa Kazuki produced a piece of sheet music. "I'm not good at boasting – so please, just look at the score. This is a piece by Mr. Orijin Ryo, a song that can make Miss Kyono Yoko famous nationwide."
PS: Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS): The full name is Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc., established in 1951. It is one of Japan's five major private television networks, owning nationwide broadcast radio and television stations. It maintained the number one viewership rating for 19 consecutive years. TBS channels generally only broadcast anime produced by themselves.