Detective Conan: Knifeman? I'm a good citizen of Beihua

Chapter 288 Xingyao Entertainment’s Mysterious Team Building Activity

"I hope I can do something to help."

Shirakawa Akane was surprised at Shimizu Hori's realization, but when he thought of Mikata Anko, he felt relieved.

In fact, these girls are stronger than he thought.

They are never cowardly.

"The police investigation has indeed encountered some obstacles," Bai Chuanqiu said frankly. "The 'business' of Xingyao Entertainment and the geisha house was separated too quickly. Even if we check the accounts, it's difficult to link the two together. Moreover, they have long since changed the legal representative to a pre-arranged puppet. Until they find evidence, the police cannot openly target Xingyao Entertainment."

Listening to Shirakawa Akane's words, Shimizu Hori slowly clenched her hands.

"However, it's not impossible."

Shimizu Hori looked at Shirakawa Akane expectantly.

"The geisha house's 'business' is likely just a part of their company's operations. And it's located in Kyoto, far too far from Tokyo." Shirakawa Qiu tapped the table slowly. "You also said that most of Xingyao Entertainment's artists lack human rights. So, can I assume they also have 'business' in Tokyo, but the 'commodity' has changed from geisha to artists?"

The geisha house is one of the disguises they use to cover up their crimes, but what about Xingyao Entertainment itself?

"Kyoto does have many old families, but times have changed, and now Tokyo still has more powerful people," said Shirakawa. "So at this time, cheap geishas are naturally no longer a means for them to win over people. Higher-level celebrities are the commodities they use to attract customers."

"Since the geisha house incident can't defeat them, then we will start directly from Xingyao Entertainment itself and arrest its crimes."

He just didn't believe that Xingyao Entertainment would be a good thing.

"So, does Miss Qingshui have any clues about Xingyao Entertainment's crimes?"

Shimizu Hori fell into deep thought.

Baichuanqiu patiently coaxed: "Any gossip you have ever heard, or any suspicion you have ever had, or anything you have ever felt uncomfortable with..."

“It could be an event, a person, a place…”

Qingshui Heli followed Shirakawa Qiu's thoughts and tried hard to recall. She didn't know how long it took before her eyes suddenly lit up -

“Team building!”

"Team building?" Shirakawa Akane murmured softly, and suddenly remembered that when he was in Kyoto, Ayanokouji Fumimaro had also mentioned team building when he asked Mikata Anko.

At that time, it was said that the director of the geisha house, Masato Iwae, would often take them out for team building and dinners. At that time, Anko Mikata's expression was not very good, and she seemed particularly opposed to this matter.

Now it seems that team building is indeed a corporate tradition of Xingyao Entertainment.

"Yes, if there is anything strange, it's the team building of Xingyao Entertainment!" Shimizu Holi clenched her fists.

"At the time, I was still a trainee. I had no presence in the company, let alone a say. To the company, I was a dispensable, insignificant figure. No one should have cared about me."

There are many small characters like her in the company, who have no value at all. But even so, they have team-building activities at the end of every year.

"This team building was internally called a shortcut to success. It was the dream of many trainees and newcomers at the time and was called the 'alternative year-end assessment.'"

Shimizu Hori slowly said, "It's said that this is a benefit the company has fought for for people like us at the bottom. Those who are chosen to participate in the team building will have the opportunity to meet many famous directors and producers in the entertainment industry. If someone notices you and pulls you into a big production, it's a very good stepping stone opportunity."

Baichuan Qiu raised an eyebrow: "Have you been there?"

Shimizu Holi shook her head. "Not everyone can get this opportunity. It's usually decided by drawing lots. But basically, those who go have different development opportunities after returning."

"For example, Nagai Nako also participated in that team-building activity. Later, when the new girl group was formed, she also successfully became a member."

Shimizu Hori sighed and said, "To be honest, I was quite jealous at the time. If I had won that team building opportunity, I might have been the one to debut that year."

But now it seems that every carefully wrapped gift has a hidden price tag.

If you want to gain something, you must first lose something.

"Didn't you doubt the real purpose behind this team building?" Baichuan Qiu asked with some doubt.

This matter sounds malicious just by sounding... But logically speaking, the entertainment industry is a place where information flows very quickly, how come no related rumors have spread?

He looked at Lin Zhaozhao: "Have you heard of it?"

Lin Zhaozhao shook her head. "I really haven't heard any rumors. However, fans of Star Entertainment artists have mentioned them a few times, praising their company for excellent treatment and often going on team-building trips with their older sisters or brothers. No one in the industry has said there's anything wrong with that."

Shimizu Hori: "So, this is also what I'm a little unsure about. When the team-building mechanism was first introduced, many of us were skeptical about its true purpose. After all, it was about taking people abroad, and no one was sure what this unscrupulous company would do. So before the lottery, we specifically asked people who had participated before, but they all said there was no problem."

"If someone who's doing well says there's no problem, we might suspect they're helping to hide a secret. But even those who aren't doing so well say there's no problem. They're simply trying to broaden their horizons. They're not as shady as we imagine."

"Could it be that someone has something against him and he's afraid to tell the truth?" Toru Amuro, who had been listening quietly on the side, suddenly said.

Shimizu Holi looked at the blonde clerk in front of her and shook her head firmly. "They weren't lying, I'm sure of that. Even Nagai Nako didn't show any abnormalities after returning from the team-building event. Although I don't know her very well, I know her character. She's always been someone who would rather perish than go along with the crowd. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been sent to a geisha house for offending the executives of Xingyao Entertainment."

Bai Chuanqiu pondered: "It's really strange."

Nagai Nako wanted to expose the affairs of the geisha house, which was why she was burned down by Nishizaki Hayabusa. Later, she even exchanged her life for Nishizaki Hayabusa's. If she had encountered a similar thing during the team building, Shirakawa Yui didn't think she would be able to bear it.

Even if Nagai Nako swallowed her anger and sold her body to secure a spot in the group's debut, why would she then refuse the support of the higher-ups and end up being sent to a geisha house? To put it bluntly, if she sold out again, she certainly wouldn't leave Star Glory headquarters.

So it is certain that the team building event did not go as planned as they imagined - at least that is what everyone who went thought.