Great Mangaka

"Why don't you have to paint today?"

Aika asked, surprised in the morning.

"I have something to do in the morning; I'll paint in the afternoon."

Takumi finished his milk and wiped his mouth with a tissue: "I'm going out first. I'll call you if I don't get home by noon."

"Oh, okay."

Aika nodded and watched Takumi leave.

Upon leaving the building, Takumi saw a blood-colored black car parked on the side of the road. The blood color is Japan's most important car brand, and even globally. The name comes from the blood-colored horse of ancient China.

The driver, dressed in formal attire, stood by the car and opened the door: "Takumi-sama, please..."

Takumi lowered his head and got into the car. There was another person inside.

"How about this deal?"

The car was very spacious, with two rows of seats. Alice sat to one side and smiled at Takumi.

Takumi sat across from her.

"Luckily, your father is willing to spend money." He said that Hinotori Publishing isn't rich; as far as he knew, many publicly traded companies wouldn't buy this car made with sweat and toil. "Have you always enjoyed this treatment? You really deserve to be a rich woman."

Tsukimoto Genji treated his heir so well, 'how could his daughter be worse?' Takumi discovered he didn't know Alice very well. 'She had such a wonderful father, why did she have to drive herself when going out?'

"I haven't enjoyed such treatment."

But Alice shook her head: "I can't stand being tied down. As a child, my family was poor, and I was used to doing things on my own."

"Except for you..." She paused and said, "Only one person has enjoyed this treatment."

"Taro Tanaka?"

Takumi raised his eyebrows. Tsukimoto Genji hadn't revealed Taro Tanaka's identity, but he asked him to meet him today, so Alice's words inadvertently linked him to him.

"Yes, he was my father's successor."

Alice nodded and looked out the window. The car started smoothly, and the scene on the road quickly appeared behind them: 'Taro Tanaka was my fiancé.'

Takumi, a little confused, asked, "Can you tell me more?"

An heir and a fiancé, Taro Tanaka is so powerful, 'how come he hadn't heard of him before?'

Alice looked away and pondered: "This story is a little long, I'll tell you from the beginning: my father and I are not blood relatives..."

She told Takumi that Tsukimoto Genji was not her biological father. Back then, Alice's mother was pregnant and had nowhere to go. She met Tsukimoto Genji, who was frustrated, and married him.

That was over 20 years ago. Back then, Tsukimoto Genji could be described in one word: an older adulterer. To support his family, he left his precarious job and started his own business.

He was very hardworking. At first, he had nothing and did everything himself. It wasn't until he graduated from elementary school that his father provided enough food for him and his mother. Alice remembered the past and smiled: "Back then, we received help from a man named Jiro Suzuki, Taro Tanaka's father."

Jiro Suzuki was a successful businessman. He saw Tsukimoto Genji's potential and often helped him in various ways. Tsukimoto Genji grew and founded his own company. However, Jiro Suzuki declined due to some accidents. Tsukimoto Genji had no children. To repay his generosity, he considered Taro Tanaka his heir and even betrothed them.

"But your current husband isn't him?"

Takumi asked curiously. He saw that Alice didn't seem to be talking about her family.

"Husband..." Alice was a little stunned, then smiled and nodded: "Of course not. After several years of hard work training him, she suddenly felt that she couldn't trust that person, so she let him go."

"But Hinotori Publishing owns 1% of the shares belonging to him. He is the company's second largest shareholder."

Takumi understood that Taro Tanaka was a shareholder of the company. 'No wonder he knew his identity.'

But this is a little difficult...

"Don't worry, the other shareholders don't know Mirai-sensei's real name." Alice saw Takumi's concern and smiled. "He saw that it was you, but he couldn't be 100% sure. My father is well prepared and will undoubtedly help you solve this problem."

"I hope so."

Takumi nodded, still somewhat skeptical.

The sweat stopped at the door of the Hinotori Building. Alice skillfully looked around to see if there were any journalists, so she attended to Takumi.

"Was he rude when he called you?"

"A little."

"Then you'll be surprised."

Alice smiled and headed to Tsukimoto Genji's office. Unlike usual, there were three more bodyguards dressed in black at the door.

"Alice-san, long time no see."

A middle-aged bodyguard with a scar on his face named Takeshi greeted Alice.

"Long time no see, Takeshi-san." Alice replied, "Is my father working?"

"Tsukimoto-san and the young master have been waiting for a long time." The bodyguard looked coldly at Takumi and then opened the door: "Alice-san, please come in."

"Okay."

Alice stepped forward, and Takumi followed her. As he passed the middle-aged bodyguard, he felt an unusual coldness in his eyes.

"..."

Takumi glanced at him and entered the office under his cold gaze.

There were two people in the office. Tsukimoto Genji was doing what he liked best: preparing tea, and there was a young man about 26 or 27 years old, who must have been Taro Tanaka.

When Takumi first saw him, he was surprised, just as Alice had said. He was a handsome young man with gold-rimmed glasses. His smile was elegant and gentle. He stood silently behind Tsukimoto Genji, radiating the demeanor of a well-educated scholar.

"Is that Taro Tanaka?"

Takumi couldn't believe what he was seeing. 'Could the arrogant voice on the phone have been a misunderstanding?'

"Godfather, Alice is here..."

The young man found them and reminded Tsukimoto Genji. He didn't look at Takumi, but at Alice and smiled slightly: "Alice-san, long time no see."

Taro Tanaka's voice was exactly the same as on the phone, but the tone was very different. He spoke calmly and serenely, which made people feel good.

"This person..." Takumi frowned slightly. 'Taro Tanaka's serene performance was not simple.'

"They're here."

Tsukimoto Genji looked at them and said, "Then, please sit down."

Takumi and Alice sat down, and Taro Tanaka moved away from Tsukimoto Genji and sat next to Alice.

"I heard that Alice-san came to work for the company. Godfather..." He looked at Tsukimoto Genji and smiled: "I've worked hard these past few years, and the prospects for Kira Kira Animation Studio are also very good. When will you let me come back?"

Tsukimoto Genji's expression remained unchanged: "Taro Tanaka, don't worry, I'll introduce this boy to you first."

"No need for introductions, I already know. It's Mirai-sensei, right?" Taro Tanaka looked at Takumi with a cold gaze: "I was wondering why he was here."

"No, it's not Mirai-sensei..."

Tsukimoto Genji shook his head and said calmly: "His name is Takumi, the new successor I chose."

- - - -

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