With an ininimitable expression of reserve characteristic of a serious person, Lindbyer/Waldcher pushed open the wooden door with the nameplate "Castle Publishing Group/General Manager's Office". Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

"Oh, oh, look, the spirited and serious Mr. Lindbyer has arrived on time." In a spacious office of nearly 100 square meters, a gray-haired gentleman pushed his glasses, gestured to the leather chair opposite his desk, and then lowered his head and said, "Dear Mr. Linde Baier, you must sit down first." You know, the old guy can't handle a few lines of paperwork that go around and around. ”

"As you wish, Mr. Grace/Akehays." Even if no one was paying attention, Lindbyer nodded his head slightly in the most impeccable manner, and after a slight pause, he walked to the leather chair in his office with a well-honed step.

The blinds were ajar, and Lindebyer's face was streaked with inconspicuous light and shadow by the faint morning sun. He sat in a leather chair looking straight ahead, an old-school desk with no monitor. That said, there's nothing stopping Lindbyer from setting her sights on Grace.

This old man, who has been in charge of the business direction of the Castle Publishing Group for more than ten years, naturally cannot be as dull as he claims. He quickly picked up the cap of the pen on the table and slipped it over the black pen in his hand. Then, Grace picked up the thin pages of the papers he had just corrected, lifted them off the table, and after a quick examination, placed them on top of the pile of papers on his left-hand side, and on his right-hand side, there was a thick stack of papers that were finger high.

After doing this, Grace looked up and said, "Mr. Lindbyer, I'm sorry to keep you waiting. But forgive me for having to continue wasting some of your time. ”

Lindebyer moved his face, added the most appropriate listening expression to the reserved tone, and said, "Say it, Mr. Grace/Ackhays." ”

"Don't you know why I'm looking for you?"

"I don't know." Even with the ominous smell from these words, Lindebyer's expression did not change in the slightest. Because this was what he expected.

"Alright then, let's guess first." With his eyes half-closed, Grace inserted his hand into the gray hair on his forehead and said in a thoughtful gesture, "I guess the secretary told you to come to see me as soon as you arrived at the office in the morning, right?" ”

"Yes, she said you told me to come to see you, Mr. Grace/Ackhays."

"That's right, I did inform the cute little girl." Grace waved his hand to show that the young secretary had made a good impression on him, and then he added, "Because I've done things related to it, it's easy for me to guess things right." What about you? Everything has a cause and effect, so why don't you just guess like me? ”

"I'm sorry, I can't guess. Mr. Grace/Ackhays. Lindbyer still maintained his original expression, but his mood was not as calm as it appeared, because he actually understood the hidden meaning of Grace's words, and could actually guess that the problem was himself.

"Mr. Lindbyer, there is an old fellow who would like to tell you that curiosity and a sense of humor are very precious treasures that should never be discarded." Grace said in a suggestive tone, and he put down the pen he had been playing with, indicating that the topic was over. Then, he sat up straight and said in an almost serious tone: "Well, since you don't want to guess, then I'm sure you won't refuse to answer some of my questions." ”

"I'll be happy to answer any questions you have, Mr. Grace/Ackhays." Lindebyer didn't move, keeping a reserved expression on his face, consuming too much of his mind.

"Ten days ago, did you personally review and approve the submission of an author with the pseudonym 'Archon' at one time?"

It's true, says Lindebyer: "Yes. ”

"The manuscript fee refers to the first-line short story science fiction authors, and is set at three stars per word?"

There is no denying this, and Lindbyer has never been one to deny the facts. He replied, "Yes." ”

Although he had been mentally prepared for a long time, the simple word "yes", Lindbyer felt that it was so big today that it was difficult to pass through that narrow exit in his throat. He looked at Grace's face and didn't see anything, but he himself felt a little hot on his face.

Grace nodded, pulled out a copy of the thin document on his left, and said, "Mr. Lindbyer, I'm sure you'll remember that today is the day of preliminary sales statistics and a summary of readers' feedback. ”

"Yes, I remember. Mr. Grace/Ackhays. Taking advantage of the gap between Grace looking down and touching the handkerchief to wipe the lenses, Lindebyer also reached out to wipe his forehead, hiding the cold sweat from the winter in the palm of his hand.

Grace put her glasses back on, gently lifted the document that Lindebyer felt was quite heavy, and said, "Mr. Lindebyer, there is something very interesting in the summary of readers' feedback. Will you allow me to read it aloud and share it with you? ”

Lindbyer finally found a glimmer of merit for the document. It stood between him and Grace, keeping them out of each other's faces.

"I'd love to. Read it, Mr. Grace. Yes, you can read it. ”

As he said this, Lindebyer's left hand was gripping the tie that made him uncomfortable no matter how much he fiddled with, and he wanted to loosen it somewhat, but in the end he simply ripped it off and stuffed it into his coat pocket.

As soon as Lindebyer had finished this, Grace poked her head out from the side of the document and asked in an inquiring tone: "Mr. Lindebar, because of the power of tradition, we have to add a lot of nonsense to the beginning of the documents such as 'summary', 'report', and 'explanation', which increase office costs. Now it's just the two of us, would you allow me to omit the words that wasted printing ink? Or more simply, would you allow me to read directly the few sentences that we are all most interested in? ”

"Read it, you read it." Lindbyer said he could barely hear his own voice.

"'The most disgusting article in this issue' option, 'Skyrim's cage' accounts for 94% of the overall proportion." Grace straightened up and pronounced the sentence in a cold, businesslike tone.

94%！ My God! Linde Baier clenched his fists, his fingers still prickly from his daily nails.

This is not the end.

Grace then changed his tone, in a very strange mixture of surprise and admiration---- Lindebyer dismissed the result of their mixture as sarcasm---- saying: "As one of twenty-seven articles, as a 3.7 per cent of the whole, it received the worst rating of 94 per cent." Dear Editor-in-Chief, it seems that many readers do not seem to like our 'Archon' very much. ”

God, I really didn't do anything wrong!

This sentence turned into a final blow, and Lindebair, whose face was pale and had long been unbearable, suddenly fell heavily on the back of his chair. He knew that he was going to suffer a bad result, but he didn't expect it to be so bad.

"In addition......"

May God forgive the hard-hearted Grace.

Is this "the author who is most disgusted in this issue" or "what I want to say to the magazine the most"? Lindebyer thought, burying his face in his hot hands, as if his brain could no longer bear such a heavy burden of thought.

He didn't regret what he had done, but he couldn't leave the position he had insisted on and loved for more than ten years with dignity, and this sad mood washed over his tired heart for a while.

"Besides......" continued the hard-hearted Grace happily, "the 'favorite article of this issue' option, 'Skyrim's cage' accounts for 97% of the overall percentage. ”

"Mr. Grace/Akhays...... I ......" Linde Baier's eyes widened, swallowing back "I will submit my resignation before I leave work."

"Mr. Lindbyer, you have done an excellent job." Grace slapped the file on the desk, then shook her head and said, "It's not just brilliant, it's supposed to be brilliant." Thanks to your efforts, we have at least 50% of our loyal readers who are strongly supportive of the magazine's style. That's a remarkable number. ”

yes, that's a remarkable number. 50% loyal to the dark fantasy style of readers, more faithful than I could have imagined. Lindebyer couldn't help but laugh, not knowing whether to rejoice or hate his hard work.

After the worries in his mind disappeared, Linde Baier returned to his usual flexible thinking.

It occurred to him that Grace didn't just like the 50% number, but that in the heart of the old fox in the industry, he must also like the other 94% and 97% numbers at the same time.

Because it means controversy, hot spots, hype, public gaze, and an increase in the number of publications.

"Mr. Lindbyer, are you listening to me?"

Lindebyer's mind was mixed with many thoughts, and he didn't hear Grace's explanation of preliminary sales statistics very clearly, but looking at Grace's expression, it was impossible to say anything bad.

"Yes, I'm listening, Mr. Grace/Ackhays." Lindebyer gathered his attention and listened carefully to the instructions given by the board of directors through the old man, or simply by the old man himself.

Their conversation came to an end when the sunlight in the blinds became a little harsh.

Finally, Grace handed the two documents to Lindebyer and said, "Dear Mr. Editor-in-Chief, take them back and celebrate with your subordinates." He looked at Lindebyer's face and added, "But don't get too excited, remember to be curious and humorous, they can be effective in soothing emotions." ”

Half-dead old man with a damn sense of humor!

In the bathroom, Lindbyer wiped the water from his face and shoved the tissue and two damn papers into the trash.

It can be seen that Mr. Editor-in-Chief has not completely regained his composure, and on the way back to his office, his serious steps that have been tempered a little stumbling slightly.

Lindebyer didn't bother with that, as soon as he rushed into the office, he immediately pressed the button to pop up the display, and then quickly manipulated the mouse to enter the new submission list, and clicked on a submission from three days ago, from across the ocean.

Theme Title: "Skyrim's Cage II" by Archon.

Hardly paused, Lindebyer clicked on the contact email address of Mr. "Archon" on the page, and the office immediately resounded with the sound of crackling keyboard taps.

"Thank you very much, Mr. 'Consul'. Your manuscript is novel in creativity and unique in style, and this magazine has decided to choose it. And we are willing to increase the remuneration to five stars per word, I believe you will be happy to give the right of revision to our magazine. ”

After pointing the mouse at the send button, Lindebyer hesitated for a long time, and finally let go of the mouse and got back on the keyboard.

"P.S. If the content of the next submission can be innovative in other areas other than torture and punishment, this magazine will be very welcome."

He checked the contents of the email, then let out a long breath and pressed the "send" button hopefully.

Serious Lindebyer, old-fashioned Lindebyer, poor Lindebyer.

He thought that what he had suffered was an unbearable pain for his soul.

Lindebyer far underestimated his own endurance.

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Group ID: 59053257, I'm sorry I forgot to set up the verification method for joining the group yesterday, but now it's adjusted.

Another: This chapter is 4000 words, I didn't divide it into two days, I finally have the legendary character.