I am a literary giant in Japan

April 30, 1999, 8:25 p.m., Prinsen restaurant, Stockholm, Sweden.

Because he didn't know how to please girls and was worried that Olivia, who had been pampered since childhood, would have a bad experience, Kitagawa asked Chihara Masato, who was in Tokyo, to book a restaurant for him, and also to let Yumeko know in this way.

After receiving instructions from his boss, Masato Chihara immediately gathered his talented subordinates to help him book the Prinsen restaurant.

This restaurant is the second oldest Western restaurant in Sweden, with an average cost of about $700 per person, which is relatively affordable for a high-end Western restaurant.

Masato Chihara chose this restaurant primarily because its largest wall of honor features numerous photos and portraits of historical figures, giving the restaurant a strong artistic atmosphere that diminishes the romantic, intimate vibe often associated with couples.

Kitagawa Hide specifically told him about his relationship with the little girl, subtly hinting that he shouldn't be too ambiguous, lest Yumeko overthink things.

After brainstorming, Masato Chihara chose Prinsen restaurant.

After entering the restaurant with Kitagawa Hide, Olivia's mood improved significantly; she also really enjoyed this kind of artistic and culturally rich dining experience.

The little girl was secretly delighted, feeling that her brother Kitagawa still valued her. At least this restaurant wasn't chosen randomly; it was clear that he had put thought into it!
The two sat down, and while the waiter went to the kitchen to urge the order, Kitagawa Hide inquired about Olivia's recent situation and her life plans after graduation.

Since meeting her, Kitagawa Hide has treated the little girl like a younger sister, just like Kaoru. He would often ask about her future and life, and sometimes he would marvel at her growth and changes, feeling a sense of loss like an old father watching his daughter grow up.

"Me? I plan to go back to the Chanel Group after graduation to take over some small companies. Once I've settled most of the family affairs, I want to build a huge entertainment empire in France!"

Olivia spread her arms wide as if she were embracing something enormous.

"An entertainment empire? Isn't Chanel a luxury goods and cosmetics company?" Kitagawa looked at her with suspicion, thinking that the little one might be up to something again.

Those cosmetics companies that were doing so well before, for some reason, were sold off without warning, which infuriated Olivia's upright father, Gerard Wertheimer, to the point that he almost died from high blood pressure.

Kitagawa Hide didn't understand the little girl's strange thoughts either, but he didn't want her to come to Tokyo crying and saying she was bankrupt one day.

"Oh dear, I've said it so many times, Chanel is Chanel, and I am me~"
I don't want to spend my whole life as a fraudulent bottle or jar!

Of course, Olivia wouldn't tell him that her crazy antics and the creation of a monopolistic entertainment empire in France were all part of her plan to help him take control of the entire Western literary world.

"Alright, I'll support whatever you do, so go for it without worry." Kitagawa Hide poured Olivia a small cocktail. This girl was even more stubborn than him, so there was no need to persuade her.

Olivia is a very good young woman; she's not so badly doomed as to be.

"Hehe, I knew Kitagawa-nii would support me~" Olivia smiled sweetly, took a sip of her cocktail, and her pretty face instantly became incredibly radiant.

Before the food arrived, Kitagawa Hide started talking to the little girl about Alyosha's autobiographical trilogy and the new book he said he would use to criticize the liberal leftists, as he had mentioned in a public lecture.

"What kind of novel is it? This is the first time I've heard Kitagawa-nii say he wants to adapt it into a movie."

Olivia knew that for someone of Kitagawa Hide's level to try and enter the film and television industry would be to lower her own value and would be a losing proposition.

Many world-class writers make money by having relatives or family members start film and television companies, or by writing anonymously and having large companies pay high prices for their work.

The main message is "I want both fame and fortune."

Kitagawa Entertainment, run by Kitagawa Hideaki, is another example. The company's president is Kitagawa Yumeko, and all affairs are handled by her and her senior executives. Kitagawa Hideaki doesn't seem to care about anything on the surface.

The films and television dramas I filmed before were either commissioned by someone (Miracles of the Namiya General Store) or had a specific purpose (Children in the Dark), but they were never made for money.

Now that Kitagawa Hide has publicly announced that he wants to make a movie, whatever the reason, it is a significant blow to his reputation in the literary world.

Knowing this, Kitagawa Hide still had to speak out in public under pressure and under so many spotlights.

This shows his confidence in his new work.

This made Olivia very curious about the specific content of the work.

She knew that her brother Kitagawa would never fight a battle he wasn't confident of winning.

"You really want to know?" Kitagawa Hide looked at the little girl.

Olivia nodded repeatedly, like a chick pecking at rice.

"Then you guarantee it won't get out?" Kitagawa Hide stirred his coffee and asked with a smile.

Olivia continued pecking at the rice like a chick.

"Then I can't tell you either. It's a very important matter, and I have to keep it a secret from everyone, including your sister Mengzi."

Kitagawa Hide laughed heartily, successfully teasing the little girl.

Olivia, who had been full of anticipation, suddenly widened her eyes, feeling both angry and amused. He had stirred up her emotions, but her initial unhappiness was quickly dispelled by his last words.

If even Sister Mengzi can't tell, then it's normal that she won't tell herself.

This kind of behavior is so annoying!

How bad!

"Hmph!" Olivia pouted and glared at Kitagawa Hide, but wisely refrained from asking any more questions about the new book.

Actually, another major reason why Kitagawa Hide is unwilling to reveal the contents of his new book is that this book is a bit special. If the little girl doesn't keep her mouth shut, it might cause the publication of the novel to encounter unprecedented obstacles!
他的新书名叫《7月22日》，改编自一部在2018年柏林电影节上斩获了无数奖项的冷门电影《于特岛7月22日》。

This film is adapted from a horrific terrorist incident that actually occurred on July 22, 2011, on the island of Utøya in Norway.

At 3:7 p.m. on July 22, 2011, a bomb exploded near the government office building in Oslo, the capital of Norway, severely damaging the 17-story government building and causing it to catch fire. A nearby newspaper building was also damaged.

The office of then Norwegian President Jens Stoltenberg was also located in this building, and police confirmed that the prime minister himself was safe.

Authorities immediately closed roads in the city center and launched a search and rescue operation. The explosion killed at least 7 people and seriously injured 10.

An hour later, a man posing as a police officer opened fire on young people attending a summer camp for members of the Democratic Socialist Party on Utoya, a small island near Oslo.

It is said that there were more than 700 young activists of the Democratic Socialist Party on the island at the time, aged between 14 and 18.

Counter-terrorism police immediately rushed to the scene by helicopter and arrested the perpetrator.

Police confirmed that at least nine people died, but eyewitnesses at the scene said there were as many as 30 bodies.

It was later confirmed that a total of 87 people were killed, making it the deadliest massacre in Norwegian history.

The climax of this horrific incident came after the perpetrator was arrested.

The perpetrator readily confessed to his crimes and stated that his reason for the indiscriminate killing was his deep dissatisfaction with the "white leftists" and "holier-than-thou" figures within the domestic democratic socialist party.

Since those two-faced bastards are so determined to defend the rights of the low-powered and to defend some damned people, then let him become the "messenger of justice" who exposes their ugly faces!
The young people murdered by the killer were all children of high-ranking members of this party. Will he be sentenced to death for committing such a heinous crime?
If he is sentenced to death, then the actions of the higher-ups would be contrary to their doctrines.

If he is pardoned or "treated favorably," then the higher-ups will have put their "truth" into practice.

The killer wanted to see if these guys could still defend the murderer without any conscience under these circumstances.
The outcome of the incident was so dramatic that it's hard to believe it was a real event.

If this ending were leaked in advance, or spread ahead of time, the novel would definitely be prevented from being published, and the dramatic tension of the novel would be completely lost due to the spoiler.

So, in the end, Kitagawa Hide teased Olivia a little and didn't tell her the whole story.

Meanwhile, in a high-end restaurant in Stockholm, Pete was bowing his head apologetically, admitting his mistake.

Before him stood his father, White Dumont, whom he often mentioned as the "president-to-be." White highly valued his eldest son, even believing that he had a high probability of inheriting his mantle and becoming a high-ranking politician in the Norwegian government.

But Pete's handling of his relationship with Kitagawa Hide, and his performance in that open class, fell far short of White's expectations.

Hideaki Kitagawa is the strongest contender for next year's Nobel Prize in Literature, and also the world-class writer with the highest level of public discussion and debate.

The Nobel Prize had previously been embroiled in a scandal involving manipulation by the US and Norwegian governments.

In order to break this preconceived notion, they must come up with a Nobel Prize list that meets public expectations.

The Nobel Prize in the new millennium was clearly a good opportunity.

Since Kitagawa Hide is a celebrity who is sure to be courted, then Pete, as the son of an important Norwegian politician, should learn from the little girl in the Wertheimer family and try to get on good terms with Kitagawa Hide.

Instead of falling out with him for some inexplicable reason!

That's right.

In the end, Kitagawa Hide's hidden political leanings were exposed, which was actually a good thing for them.

But so what?
In the vast political arena, some people believe in Jesus, some believe in Buddha, some accept science, and some firmly believe in geocentrism and heliocentrism.

It doesn't matter.

In politics, there are only absolute interests, not absolute friends.

They don't even understand this basic point, and they only care about competing with others. In the end, they make many mistakes and become stepping stones and laughing stock for others.

This is not the behavior expected of the son of a president-elect.

This is certainly not the behavior of a qualified politician.

“Father.” Pete was filled with shame, his heart filled with resentment and jealousy towards Kitagawa Hide.

White glanced at his eldest son again, then asked casually, "What do you think should be done about this?"

Begging for forgiveness and apologizing?

impossible!
Hideto Kitagawa publicly stated that his father lacked the vision to become president.

In this situation where it's a fight to the death, if you still give in and admit defeat, it's no different from suicide.

Pretend nothing happened?

No, no!
It was indeed him who provoked first, but later Kitagawa Hideki completely acted like a scoundrel.

The calmer your reaction, the more it means you're afraid.

At this point, anyone who backs down is a fool.

Then find someone to take care of him, or find some people to smear him?
Or perhaps we could find some literary figures who could directly challenge Hideaki Kitagawa to target him?

Pete cautiously revealed her thoughts to her father.

Unexpectedly, this only earned him more disappointment in his father's eyes.

"You should have already seen Kitagawa Hide's resume, right? Smearing and opposing him."
What has become of the people and organizations that treated him this way before?

White Dumont did not mention specific names, but the Swedish Academy and the Arnault Club almost came to mind.

The Arnaults are likely to spend the rest of their lives in jail.

Those Western high society figures associated with the Arnault Club also suffered heavy losses and became a group that other circles were less willing to associate with.

As for the Swedish Academy.
By re-granting Kitagawa Hide the right to run for office and granting him the nomination from the Japanese side, coupled with this invitation and the conferment of an honorary professorship, isn't their submission obvious enough?
Over the years, countless people have proven one thing.

The only way to deal with Kitagawa Hide is to wait for him to collapse on his own; there is no other way.

All those who tried to defeat Kitagawa Hide by using various underhanded tactics were ultimately defeated by the invincible Kitagawa Hide!

If Pete's methods fail, then White Dimon might as well not run in next year's election.

I, Pete, felt very aggrieved.

We can't exactly make him go and apologize with gifts, can we?

He had barely uttered those harsh words when he had to apologize like a clown.

He can't do it!

"Wait. There's only one best option right now: wait!"

Now, no matter what our identity is, what our purpose is, or what we do, Kitagawa Hide, standing on his moral high ground, can easily handle it and then shift the blame onto us.

White sighed and said coldly to his eldest son,
"We cannot give him any opportunity to continue attacking us."

Although he was the one who said those words first.

But in the eyes of ordinary people, we have driven a world-class writer into a dead end!
Do you know why we must defend our slogan to the death?

Pete looked up, hesitated, and finally decided to say less to avoid making mistakes, so he shook his head.

"We advocate paying attention to vulnerable groups and treating the most disadvantaged people equally, but that doesn't mean we actually want to do that."

We say this because it's just a slogan, representing our stance and inclination.

These people need attention not because people genuinely think they need it, but because they are the ones who most deserve it.

Everyone likes to lend a helping hand to the vulnerable, but this is not out of empathy, but rather out of a sense of superiority.

Helping the weak demonstrates your strength, and that's what you need.

Kitagawa Hideaki is the weaker party in this matter. If you continue to oppress him, won't you become the enemy of our party?

"Then what about us?" Pete seemed to understand but not quite.

"Let's wait and see. If Kitagawa Hide is just talking and doesn't actually write a book or make a movie, then let's pretend it never happened."

We can demonstrate our stance simply by doing nothing.

If he actually writes it, then we will actively praise him, support its publication, and become his partner, just like our slogan says.

We can't deprive someone of their human rights just because they are a murderer, right?
However, you must understand that the reason we treat Kitagawa Hide this way is because he is Kitagawa Hide, not a real murderer.

If he were just an ordinary murderer

"Then let's just shout slogans," Pete said, as if waking from a dream.
White nodded with satisfaction. (End of Chapter)