View source for Corrupted Casting (Takashi Agera)

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2024/01/08
|Location=Obsidian Tower - Board Room
|Synopsis=Within Obsidian Tower, a group of ne'er do wells discuss the qualifications that will determine if individuals may be suitable for their plans, and select those who do.
|Cast of Characters=40
|Tinyplot=The Project
}}
In an otherwise nondescript board room within Obsidian Tower, seated around a large cherry wood table, sit several very... interesting and unique people. The Obsidian corporate logo in the center, normally clearly visible with its purple crystal etching, is hidden along with most of the top of the table, by papers, folders, laptops, portfolios. 

"I don't think entrant 452 is going to work out for this, Sanjou-san." Gabriel Agreste says, the portfolio in his hand flapping about as he speaks to her. "She's got too much... stability in her life. Reviews of her channel talk about her calm, mellow nature. She's not going to take well to the emotional component we need." 

Professor Sabaku leans back in his chair. "Mmm. Yes. We need to find the right mixture of usefulness and potential, mixed with desperation and suitability for Dark Energy." the man says.

"I understand that, Sabaku-Sensei." Yukari Sanjou says, crossing her arms as she leans forward, her dull yellow suit still one of the brightest things in the room. "I only got rid of all of the ones I didn't feel were interested enough in stardom to be able to be controlled. That doesn't mean they meet all of the other qualifications."

"Nobody said this would be easy." adds a young woman in a flowing dress, in pastel colors. "And even when we settle down on them, we'll have to evaluate them for potential." Hosshiwa, of the Phantom Empire, notes as she taps a finger on the paperwork.

"Don't you worry, Hosshiwa-san, I can use my crystal ball to get a feeling for if they're worth our time~dawasa..." an old woman, her pair of eyes barely visible above the desk and below a green hood says... despite the fact that she is standing in her chair. "But I'm not doing it for nine-hundred possibilities, so narrow it down~dawasa. It takes too long to do it that many times, and they don't pay me enough for that~dawasa." Majorina states, grumpily.

"Well, none of this will even matter if the research side doesn't do their jobs." Yukari Sanjou says, turning to face a tall boy with long, silver hair. "How close are you? How much time do we have?" she asks him.

"What do you mean, close." Takashi Agera asks. "It's ready. We're ready. All we need to do in here is make sure we get subjects to come down and Hawk Moth to lend us the Akumas to finish the process. Then, we're ready to set up working prototypes. The data from Testarossa-sensei and Tomoe-sensei helped me accelerate the program far beyond the original timetable, combined with what Sabaku-sensei was able to give me. All that's needed now is the human element."

"Well then, we better get moving. What about... entrant 712?" Gabriel Agrete asks. "She was a rising star until it came out that she was taking money from charity in order to finance her own life, and has been trying to break back in ever since." he said. "Name is... Youko Aota."

"She really just put all of that in her application?" Asks Hosshiwa.

"Of course not. We've done a shallow dive on everyone that we haven't screened out." Yukari Sanjou says. "Just like how you're the Pretty Cure Hunter... Easter Entertainment is the best at what it does, too. Gather information, understand dreams, and make stars. Also a lot of money." she adds.

"Can you overcome that history?" Professor Sabaku asks. "If you found it out I'm sure it'll come up at some point..."

Yukari laughs. "Really, don't underestimate us. We made DARTS a worldwide sensation and those boys couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, or get even one screaming fan on their own. We have most of the industry connected to us or part of us. Don't worry. We can make anyone popular on the net and TV. We'll run some sort of PR campaign and make her do some kind of charity on a livestream or something, no big deal." she waves it off.

"Well, I've penciled her in, then." Takashi says. "And here's... entrant 382. She's been trying to break in as a singer, but she's currently most famous for a livestream of a small scale performance where somebody threw something at her and she got off stage and beat the heck out of him herself." he says with a grin. "Security had to pull her off him, rather than the other way around. Name is... Noriko Motosugi."

"You have her in mind for the red one, don't you?" Yukari asks. Takashi nods, still smirking. She rolls her eyes, and someone else cuts in.

"Isn't that just... a little too obvious?" asks Professor Sabaku.

"This from the guy that ensured his evil ally grew a giant bat wing." Hosshiwa replies.

"I don't think we should overcomplicate things where we don't need to~dawasa. That's how we end up with screw-ups~dawasa. If something like this is obvious that just means it's classic~dawasa." says Majorina, interceding before the two second-in-commands can continue sniping at each other, her eyes twinkling a bit. "Nothing wrong with the classics~dawasa."

"Alright, what say we pick fifteen." Yukari says, standing up to pass out more portfolios. "You can use your magic to check on fifteen, right?" she asks. Majorina nods. "Good. You all keep looking through these. And text me what you want from the Korma, I'll place an order for take-out. Let's get this knocked out this evening so we can keep the project as a whole ahead of schedule."