Tokyo Mystery Writers

Chapter 29: A chapter powerful enough to change the history of detective fiction.

Jiang Liumei buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking incessantly.

This was naturally felt by Maijo Kyosuke, who was focused on massaging the affected area of ​​Jiang Liu Meili.

"Did I use too much force?"

Maijo Kyosuke gently tickled the soles of Jiang Liumei's feet, trying to cheer her up.

Because I really didn't want to see Jiang Liu Meili crying.

It's not that Jiang Liumei's crying was ugly.

However, Maishiro Kyosuke believes that Jiang Liu Meili's bright, beautiful, and confident face is too beautiful to be used for crying; it is only suitable for showing a smile.

Jiang Liu Meili was tickled on the sole of her foot by Mai Cheng Jingjie, and naturally withdrew her foot because of the ticklish feeling.

Although I still feel sad for Suzue in the story, this sadness has been diluted quite a bit by Maijo Kyosuke's deliberate interference.

As Jiang Liumei slipped the shoes on her feet, she felt as if her feet were being soaked in Maishiro Kyosuke's gentle caresses, and the pain had quietly vanished.

In addition, the writing style of "A Bellflower" is so strong that it has far exceeded the scope of contemporary genre novels.

Even though Jiang Liumei had been stubborn before, she could only soften under the powerful charm of Maishiro Kyosuke:

"Ms. Mai, you truly live up to your reputation!"

"It's amazing that such a cruel and twisted story can be packaged in such a beautiful way, making people unconsciously empathize with Suzue."

"Although I am not very old, I have met many mystery writers when I was the editor of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine at Hayakawa Shobo."

"However, most of them lack the persuasiveness to convince readers."

Simply put, it means failing to convince readers of the world and characters created in the story.

"Everyone just treats it as a story, something to pass the time."

Jiang Liumei was speaking when she pointed to the tear-soaked manuscript paper, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling with excitement:

"But Teacher Wucheng, you're different from them!"

"You've made me believe that 'Shofukan' truly exists in this world!"

"On the second floor of the 'Shofukan', there lived a poor girl named Suzue who wore a purple dress."

"Her room was filled with piles of dolls, and outside her window were clusters of pure white bellflowers. In that stinking room, she longed day and night for the man's arrival."

"What if that man doesn't come? She'd rather give up her entire future just to see him one more time."

Jiang Liumei wiped away the tears in her eyes, tidied the somewhat messy manuscript paper, and then revealed a bitter smile:

"To be honest, Ms. Maishiro, I used to be quite proud of myself, thinking that I was an absolute genius for being able to become the editor-in-chief of a magazine at the age of eighteen."

"But ever since I met you, I've felt like I've tarnished the title of genius."

"Because Mr. Wu Cheng's novel 'A Bellflower' has completely surpassed most novels; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it literature!"

Maijo Kyosuke greatly admires Eri's taste, because "A Bellflower" represents the highest level of mystery novels in every aspect!

Having gained the tearful approval of two young girls, Eri and Seine, Maijo Kyosuke believed that he would surely make a name for himself quickly by relying on Eri's magazine!

When the time is right, I will present my two strongest short stories, "The Ode to the Flower's Torture" and "The Boat of the Iris," which will surely make me famous and secure me a place in the Japanese mystery genre!

Just as Maijo Kyosuke was pondering his next move, Jiang Liu Meili pulled a notebook out of her bag and began drawing a six-dimensional radar diagram inside.

While drawing with his head down, he spoke to Maijo Kyosuke:

"Ms. Mai, as the editor-in-chief, after reading each work, I draw a radar chart that I call the 'Six Dimensions of Reasoning' in order to give these works a comprehensive score."

"The writing style of 'A Single Bellflower' carries a subtle sadness and a profound sense of desolation. Considering that you wrote this story in one night, in my personal opinion, the writing style deserves a perfect score of 100!"

"The same goes for resonance. Even though it was a very twisted and perverse motive for murder, it made me feel so sorry for the murderer, Ms. Suzue, that I shed tears. Resonance is definitely a perfect score."

Jiang Liu Meili stopped writing on a logic item, then suddenly looked at Mai Shiro Kyosuke in front of her.

A rare look of embarrassment appeared in those almond-shaped eyes:

"Mr. Mai, now it's time for the logic and trickery part."

"Personally, I'm very fair and impartial. I really like your story 'A Bellflower,' but to be honest, the logic and trickery in 'A Bellflower'..."

Seeing Jiang Liu Meili's hesitant expression, Mai Shiro Kyosuke naturally understood what she meant.

However, there is no perfect work in this world, and Maijo Kyosuke is well aware that the logic and tricks in this story are very weak.

"Miss Jiang Liu, please give your evaluation as you see fit. If I can't even accept your evaluation, then I have no face to present my work to the readers."

Seeing that Maishiro Kyosuke was so magnanimous and not angry because of her words, Jiang Liumei felt relieved and her opinion of Maishiro Kyosuke changed considerably.

"Logic and trickery are each 10 points. Of course, this is not because Ms. Maishiro's writing is bad, but because Ms. Maishiro's writing is too good, making people not feel the existence of trickery and reasoning logic in the story at all."

"If any other writer had written this trick and its logic, I can only say they were wasting their paper!"

"But through the writing of Ms. Maishiro Emi, this is a story that will leave an important mark on the history of short mystery fiction!"

After Jiang Liumei finished speaking, she quickly wrote down two 100s for "aftertaste" and "temperament." (Photo)

Then she gave Maishiro Kyosuke a cute smile:

"It goes without saying that Ms. Maishiro has a unique charm. I could feel it from her first mystery novel, The Tokyo Zodiac Murders."

"You're like a magician who can manipulate magic, drawing readers into the world you've created!"

"As for the aftertaste..."

Jiang Liumei looked at the manuscript beside her, her joy overflowing:

"This might be a bit offensive to my seniors."

"But once 'A Single Bellflower' is released, it's possible that works like Ihara Saikaku's 'Yaboya to Shichi-chan' and Osaka Keikichi's 'Funeral Locomotive' will be completely overshadowed by 'A Single Bellflower'!"

"A hundred years, a thousand years, ten thousand years from now, if the same trick is discussed, the first thing that comes to mind is..."

"It won't be 'Eight Hundred Houses and Seventh Sister,' nor will it be 'The Funeral Locomotive,' but rather 'A Bellflower,' written by you, Mr. Maijo Kyosuke!"