novelraw Chapter 118 Covering the Writer
Chapter 118 Covering the Writer
Chapter 118 Covering the Writer
Maishiro Kyosuke, along with Eri Ryumi and Uyama Hideomi, arrived at the old room on the second floor.
After opening the door with the key, the first thing that catches the eye is...
It's the safe containing the manuscript of "Mr. Altmore's Hands," perfectly intact and displayed on the bookshelf.
Immediately, a white, brick-like object with buttons on the table caught the eyes of Maishiro Kyosuke, Eri Ryumi, and Uyama Hideomi.
"What's that brick-like thing with buttons?"
"Could it be that other publishing houses planted a bomb in Ms. Mai's room out of jealousy?"
Uyama Hideomi pointed at the thing with a nervous expression and spoke.
Maijo Kyosuke wasn't nervous at all when he saw the thing, because as a transmigrator, he knew perfectly well that it was definitely not a bomb.
Judging from its square shape, the buttons on it, and the retractable antenna...
This thing should be the predecessor of the world's first mobile phone, the "Motorola DynaTAC800OX".
Mobile phone.
Maishiro Kyosuke pried open Eri Miri's hand, which was gripping his arm tightly out of worry.
I walked up to the cell phone, next to which was a letter written in beautiful Chinese.
"Mr. Mai, your problem has been eliminated. I wish us a pleasant collaboration."
"Consider this mobile phone an apology for hurting you last time."
"Don't let its ugly appearance fool you, this thing is a rare item of world-class quality. I went to great lengths to get it from the foreigners."
"A ten-hour charge allows you to make a thirty-minute call anywhere, making it very convenient to contact anyone you want to, or for someone to contact you."
"By the way, you should remember Lao Wu and Xiao Jian from last time. They will remotely protect you within your activity range. I look forward to our next collaboration."
When Maishiro Kyosuke saw the letter, a smile appeared on his face. He tore the letter to shreds with a laugh, and said to Jiang Liu Meili and Uyama Hideomi, "This was sent by Cheng Yi. It's called a mobile phone."
Consider this an apology for what happened this afternoon.
Upon hearing Maishiro Kyosuke's words, Jiang Liu Meili picked up the heavy cell phone and said thoughtfully, "A cell phone? I think I've seen this thing in some European and American magazines."
"But I remember this thing is patented by a certain company, and it's not publicly disclosed or sold, right?"
"Where did Mr. Cheng get this from—?"
Jiang Liumei swallowed back her question halfway through her sentence.
Jiang Liumei recalled Cheng Yi's fierce face and the gun he was holding when she followed Osawa Hiroki into Cheng Yi's office.
That guy can even get his hands on guns, so it's not surprising that he has something like this.
Having confirmed that the manuscript of "Mr. Ultraman's Hands" was still intact, Maijo Kyosuke opened the wall panel near the bedside table.
After handing over the manuscript of "Summer of the Ubume" to Hideomi Uyama.
Maijo Kyosuke went downstairs and found Myojin Kusanagi. Together they went to the third floor of the "Longevity Bath".
The third floor of the "Longevity Soup" has only eight rooms, each of which is independent and far apart.
Myojin Kusashi led Maijo Kyosuke and the other two from the first room to the eighth room.
Ultimately, the eighth room was chosen because it was well-ventilated from north to south, had a large area, and included three guest rooms in addition to the master bedroom, offering views of the scenery below the Changming Hot Spring.
Kyosuke Maijo then decided to stay in the eighth VIP suite.
Since Maishiro Kyosuke didn't have much to begin with, and with the help of Uyama Hideomi and Eri Misaki.
It took less than fifteen minutes for Maijo Kyosuke to complete the move.
The three sat around the tea table, enjoying a moment of peace as they gazed at the beautiful snow scene under the streetlights.
After a long while, Uyama Hideomi finally broke the silence: "Mr. Maishiro, I would like to discuss the publication of 'Summer of the Ubume' with you."
"This is a crucial matter, and I would like to ask for your opinion."
Maishiro Kyosuke took a sip of tea and asked, "What's your opinion?"
After a moment of contemplation, Uyama Hideomi said, "Teacher Maishiro, I have witnessed your abilities and talent."
"From the moment I finished reading 'The Tokyo Zodiac Murders' in the coffee shop, I knew that you would become a shining star in the Japanese mystery world sooner or later."
"But, Ms. Mai, your popularity has come way too fast—"
"Although this is a good thing, it always makes me feel worried —"
"Because at the beginning, I didn't know that you, Mr. Wucheng, were a fast-writing writer."
"So from the very beginning, I tailored the plan to your pace of writing six novels and a dozen short stories a year."
"But our plans have been completely disrupted by your amazing writing speed, Mr. Maishiro!"
Maishiro Kyosuke didn't quite understand what Uyama Hideomi meant, and a puzzled expression appeared on his face: "Mr. Uyama, although we haven't known each other for very long, it was you who discovered me and made me who I am today."
"So—Mr. Yushan, please speak frankly, there's no need to be so formal."
When Uyama Hideomi heard Maishiro Kyosuke say this, he nodded in relief: "Mashiro-sensei, let me briefly tell you my opinion."
"You have both strengths and weaknesses as a fast-paced writer."
"The advantage is that the output is large, which can attract a large number of admirers and increase overall sales."
"However, the large output also has its drawbacks. The large output can lead to a decline in the appeal of the works to readers and their desire to buy them."
"Mr. Mai, let me give you two examples, and you'll understand."
"If you only have 'The Astrological Murder Mystery' and this book, 'Summer of the Ubume,' published right now."
"So, a customer enters the bookstore with the intention of buying three books."
"Then three possibilities will arise."
"The first possibility is that this reader has absolutely no interest in your book, so they didn't buy a single copy."
"The second possibility is that this reader was somewhat interested in your books, so they bought one of 'The Astrological Murders' or 'Summer of the Ubume'."
"The third possibility is that this reader really liked your book, so they bought 'The Astrological Murder Mystery'."
"Buy both 'Summer of the Ubume' and 'The Summer of the Guhuoniao'!"
Uyama Hideomi took a sip of tea and continued explaining to Maishiro Kyosuke: "Maishiro-sensei, if you continue to imagine things along this line of thinking, a very interesting scene will appear."
"If you write ten full-length mystery novels in a year."
"If a reader plans to buy ten books in a year, then eleven possibilities will arise."
"The patterns are: buying none at all, and buying one to ten books."
"What I've described above are the eleven possibilities that would occur if a normal mystery writer wrote ten books a year."
"But Mr. Mai, you should know that, according to our publisher's survey, most readers will only buy a maximum of ten mystery novels a year on average."
"In other words, when you, as an author, write ten books a year and have them on the shelves of bookstores, that's when your profits are maximized!"
"If you write more than ten books because of your fast writing, not only will you fail to maximize your profits, but your own works will also appear and compete with your own!"
Upon hearing Hideomi Uyama's explanation, Maishiro Kyosuke immediately understood what Uyama meant and tentatively asked, "Mr. Uyama, what do you mean?"
"You want me to choose a new pen name? Is that right?"
"If I publish a book under both the pen name Maijo Kyosuke and another pen name."
"It's like I have two identities, which allows me to maximize my benefits twice."
"Not only can it prevent readers' desire to buy from decreasing, but it may also increase the probability that readers will buy my work, since I have two opportunities to maximize my profits?"
Jiang Liumei, who had been silent until now, nodded and said, "Mr. Yushan's consideration is indeed very thoughtful. If Teacher Wucheng can publish some of his works under a pseudonym, it will not only maximize the benefits twice, but also have an even more important advantage."
"That means being able to participate in the award again."
"For example, the Japan Mystery Writers Association Award from Kobunsha was originally stipulated that each writer could only participate once."
"But if you, Mr. Maijo, run as a masked writer..."
Even if their insiders discover through investigation that you are Teacher Wu Cheng, they won't expose you on the spot, and therefore it won't affect your winning the grand prize!
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