April 3rd, 2017.
By early morning, the lower floors of the Tokyo Dome Hotel are already crowded with cameras, and reporters packed shoulder to shoulder. The purse bid has become a story of its own, and everyone wants a face to attach to it.
An hour later, black sedans and oversized SUVs begin pulling up in sequence, their doors opening to release promoters in tailored suits, flanked by lawyers and assistants.
Some move quickly through the hotel entrance without acknowledging the noise. Others don't bother looking in the journalists' direction at all.
"Khun Prasert, are you entering the bid today?"
"Will your promotion push for Bangkok if you secure the rights?"
"Is this event built around Ryoma Takeda?"
Most of the questions go unanswered as the entourage keeps moving.
Only one group slows. Their young lead promoter, Victor Pongchai, steps forward with practiced ease, stopping just long enough for the cameras to find him.
