Tsukasa Higashino received a call from Urashima's editor-in-chief about half an hour ago.

I also know what the other party is looking for me.

It seems that the president of Urashima Publishing House wants to see him.

That's a big shot.

At least one word of 'capitalist' is perfectly fine.

Urashima Publishing House, Iwakaku Publishing House, and Motsuki Bookstore have a semi-monopoly on the publishing rights of primary and secondary school students throughout Japan, and Fuji Publishing House, which is known as the fourth publishing house for comics, is red-eyed.

The profits from printing textbooks are huge, and Urashima Publishing House also has a printing department and an editorial department for history, science, literature, etc.

The amount of money these departments make in a year can be said to be very terrifying.

Therefore, the director of Urashima Publishing House is really a capitalist.

"Higashino-sensei." Hosokawa Koharu, who was standing at the gate of Urashima Publishing House, looked left and right, and just happened to see Tsukasa Higashino walking this way, so he waved his palm.

"Editor Hosokawa, it's been a long time. This is the original. ”

Tsukasa Higashino also saw Hosokawa Koharu and smiled as he walked towards her and handed her the manuscript.

No matter what happened to the president of Urashima, he still had to hand over the manuscript to Hosokawa Koharu - that was the same.

Looking at Tsukasa Higashino's smiling face, without any nervousness at all, Hosokawa Koharu couldn't help but smile, nodded, and then explained to Tsukasa Higashino about the reason why the president of Urashima Publishing House saw him this time.

"President Osawa is supposed to be here for the serialization of "Unnatural Death", and he called me up to talk in advance just now."

"Understandable." Tsukasa Higashino nodded.

This kind of thing can be understood by just thinking about it, and it is impossible for the director of Urashima Publishing House to come to him for a chat.

Hosokawa Koharu and Tsukasa Higashino said as they walked, their voices very low.

From Hosokawa Koharu's narration, Tsukasa Higashino probably understood the thoughts of President Osawa.

The other party obviously wants Higashino Division to continue serializing "Unnatural Death" on "Bad Cold", after all, this is a popular work, and there is no need to end it so simply, this time I called Higashino Division over, mainly to ask him what he meant.

Along the way, many people took the initiative to greet Hosokawa Koharu, and their attitude was very cordial.

This made Tsukasa Higashino couldn't help but laugh: "How do you feel that after the previous transfer, editor Hosokawa's status in the publishing house has improved?" ”

He was just a simple joke, and Hosokawa Koharu understood it.

But there was a complicated expression on her face, and she lowered her head and smiled sideways: "It's just a matter of the past few days... This is also thanks to Higashino-sensei. ”

After she was transferred from Higashino Tsukasa and left, she really ate a lot of cold eyes.

Many people felt that she had no future as a female worker, and that she had offended the deputy minister of the Ministry of Personnel, so no one was willing to greet her as before.

But later, after Otakashiro was urgently transferred to the branch to manage the obscure magazine of Urashima Publishing House, the attitude of these colleagues became enthusiastic again, which was in stark contrast to before.

This is the sophistication of human feelings.

And Hosokawa Koharu can still keep his mood calm and greet them with a smile, which is also sophisticated.

I just don't know how long this relationship will last.

If the conversation between Tsukasa Higashino and President Osawa collapses, it is estimated that the face-changing monsters will change their faces again.

She sighed in her heart, took Tsukasa Higashino to the elevator, and headed for the president's office.

The president's office is on the fourth floor, just upstairs from the editorial office of the publishing house? There was no decoration along the way.

Hosokawa Koharu reached out and knocked on the door? Say hello to the inside and push the door open only after getting permission? Take Tsukasa Higashino into it with you.

And in it? There have been middle-aged men waiting for a long time.

One is the editor-in-chief of Urashima, and the other is more faceless? It should be the president Osawa mentioned by Koharu Hosokawa.

President Osawa, whose real name is Kazukichi Osawa? Is he a shrewd and capable middle-aged man? Although he looks thin, it can be clearly seen that the other party should often be out of the drinking bureau, and his abdomen is slightly fat.

At this time, Osawa Yokichi happened to be drinking tea, and immediately put down the tea after seeing Tsukasa Higashino? He smiled and said hello: "Higashino-sensei? This is the first time we've met, I'm Yoshiyoshi Osawa. ”

He took the initiative to stand up and shake hands with Tsukasa Higashino, looking calm and seemingly very talkative.

"Hello, President Osawa? I'm Tsukasa Higashino. After shaking hands with the other party, Tsukasa Higashino introduced himself? was kindly pulled by the other party to sit down.

"Mr. Higashino is the signboard of our Urashima Publishing House, the author of the pillar? Remember? I met Mr. Higashino at the last time I was at the annual meeting. ”

At that time, Higashino Tsukasa did meet Yokichi Osawa, but that was ten months ago? Tsukasa Higashino thought that the other party had forgotten.

Osawa seemed to understand what Higashino was thinking.

So he explained: "At that time, Mr. Higashino had already come up with two excellent works? And participated in the project of the animated film "Midnight Bell"? Of course I will pay attention to such a genius. ”

"Then I would like to thank President Osawa for his compliment, and I would like to thank Urashima Press for his continued assistance." Higashino replied with a smile.

This sentence made Osawa Kazukichi couldn't help but look at him more.

He was indeed complimenting Tsukasa Higashino just now, but generally speaking, shouldn't this time be dominated by modesty?

Not only did Higashino not look modest, but nodded calmly.

The most important thing is... He couldn't hear any arrogance in the other person's voice, as if it was normal to praise him.

It's true that unlike ordinary manga writers, others are arrogant, but Tsukasa Higashino is introverted.

After thinking for a moment, he continued to smile and continued:

"Mr. Higashino doesn't need to thank me, this is all the treatment you have won by your own ability, whether it is "Midnight Bell", "Winner is Justice" or "Lonely Gourmet" and "Unnatural Death", you have never disappointed."

When Osawa said this, his voice paused slightly.

"I'll just say it here, Urashima Publishing House hopes that you can continue to serialize "Unnatural Death".

Should I say that he is the president of the entire Urashima Publishing House? Osawa Yokichi was very straightforward, probably after figuring out the character of Higashino Division, he directly jumped to the topic and went straight to the topic, without giving Higashino Tsukasa room to think at all.

This feeling of mastering the scene from beginning to end made Hosokawa Koharu, who was watching from the side, feel a burst of shock.

Some people say that 'aura' and 'momentum' are all bluffing, but there is no such thing in reality.

But Hosokawa Koharu really felt the 'aura' from Osawa Yokichi.

Decisive and resolute.

However, what attracted Hosokawa Koharu's attention more was-

Tsukasa Higashino's expression didn't change much, but he said softly and firmly: "I'm sorry, I've already expressed my thoughts about this before, 'Unnatural Death' is definitely going to end, President Osawa." ”

He had already made a decision, no matter what the other party said today, he was planning to finish "Unnatural Death".

This unwavering and unwavering reply made Osawa Heji also sigh a little.

When he was the age of Tsukasa Higashino, he was probably still thinking about how to pursue the beautiful female student in the next class, but Tsukasa Higashino was already able to talk to himself head-on at this age.

This is really impressive.

But admiration is admiration, he still has to try to convince the other party.

Osawa took a sip of tea and moistened his throat, not discouraged by this small failure.

"Higashino-sensei, have you really thought about it?"

He asked softly, with an inquiring tone, and at the same time took out a form: "Here is the internal comic annual sales list of our three major comic publishing houses. ”

"The first place is Urashima Publishing House's "Unnatural Death", which has sold nine volumes so far, with a total annual sales of 19.86 million volumes, and the second place, "Demon Costume Machine God X" by Iwakaku Publishing House, has sold 125 volumes so far, with a total annual sales of 8.2 million volumes, and third place..."

Yokichi Osawa laid out the data word by word.

It was only then that Hosokawa Koharu discovered the horrors of "Unnatural Death".

Just looking at the number of sales of a single book, the second place is not even a fraction of "Unnatural Death"!

Yes!

Not even a fraction is enough!

This is not so much a leaderboard, but a list of "Unnatural Death" that crushes other works.

The kind that doesn't even need to be compared.

If this sales are followed, "Unnatural Death" will bring Tsukasa Higashino 7.9 billion yen this year alone, and even if the tax payment is cut, Tsukasa Higashino will also earn nearly 6 billion yen.

Six billion yen...

For a moment, Hosokawa Koharu's two eyes almost didn't turn into the ¥ symbol like in the anime.

Because that's an exaggeration!

Tsukasa Higashino was able to swim even in it by changing it to banknotes!

Although he knew that Higashino was rich, Hosokawa Koharu didn't specifically calculate... She never thought that Higashino Tsukasa was so rich.

It's no wonder that Urashima Publishing didn't want Tsukasa Higashino to finish "Unnatural Death".

The stakes are too great.

Just as Hosokawa Koharu was thinking like this, Osawa Yokichi on the other side began to speak again.

"Mr. Higashino, although this is a bit bad for me, the president of the publishing house, but with "Unnatural Death", even if you can't draw anything in the future, it is enough for you to live for a life or two. We don't even have to ask for the quality of your paintings. ”

Yes, Urashima Publishing doesn't even require the quality of Unnatural Death, as long as it continues later.

Listening to this condition, the editor-in-chief of Urashima and Hosokawa Koharu on the other side are both hot.

There's a huge temptation to lie ahead, and there's no risk to it... If it were, they would have said yes directly.

Moreover...

"Higashino-sensei, are you so confident in yourself?" Osawa Heji persuaded bitterly: "Are you so sure that "Unnatural Death" is not your highest peak? ”

After the peaks there will be valleys.

I don't know who said it, but it also makes sense.

Because it is difficult for people to break through themselves, not to mention that the sales of "Unnatural Death" are so exaggerated, this year it is almost "Unnatural Death" that single-handedly covers the Japanese manga public trust list.

Is Tsukasa Higashino so confident that his next work will become popular and surpass "Unnatural Death"?

This is too idealistic, and even a bit of a dream.

It's not that Osawa looks down on Tsukasa Higashino's talent, but because the record set by "Unnatural Death" is too exaggerated.

If Tsukasa Higashino's subsequent works are mediocre, he is the only one who will be damaged in the end.

Choosing Unnatural Death is a safe path [nameless fo] without even thinking about superfluous situations.

Choosing to finish is an idealized path full of challenges and thorns.

No matter who it is, no matter which author it is, it should be able to choose the first path.

"Think about it again, Mr. Higashino, "Unnatural Death" may be the most accomplished work of your life."

Yokichi Osawa put an end to the topic while looking at Tsukasa Higashino waiting for his answer.

In this regard, Higashino only nodded slightly, and then said what he wanted to say: "I have confidence in myself, President Osawa." ”

It's still not salty, and I can't hear any arrogant words.

But at this moment, Osawa Hekichi really recognized the person of Tsukasa Higashino.

The level of confidence in this person is simply up to the standard of narcissism! And it's not narcissism in general!

Have faith in yourself...

Can you have confidence in yourself and come up with another work like "Unnatural Death"?

"I'm confident that the next work will surpass 'Unnatural Death'."

Hearing what Higashino Tsukasa said, even Osawa Heji was stunned.

He originally thought that with his ability to persuade others, it would not be difficult to convince Tsukasa Higashino.

But now it seemed that he felt that he was completely wrong.

Osawa Heji couldn't help but shake his head, and then smiled, as if he was talking, and like a little sigh:

"Higashino-sensei, it's the first time I've seen someone like you. You're more of an artist than a cartoonist..."

A lot of artists are weirdos.

In Osawa's view, Tsukasa Higashino's behavior is no different from that of a weirdo.

"I've seen a lot of confident manga writers, but they're all far behind you compared to Higashino-sensei..."

Osawa took a sip of tea and commented without hesitation: "It's not just the gap in painting skills, but that none of them can have an indescribable courage like you." ”

He finally understood why Tsukasa Higashino had broken the record of never ending the publication for the sake of Hosokawa Koharu.

The young man in front of him is this kind of person.

It has nothing to do with money, interests, fame, connections.

It's just that he wanted to do it himself, so he did it.

Tsukasa Higashino just followed his heart.

If you don't like to do something, you will never do it.

Even if it will bring him tens of billions, hundreds of billions of benefits...

What a wonderful person...

Osawa Yokichi finally couldn't help but sigh in his heart.