Chapter 129: Two Plans!

Tokyo, Adachi Ward, *Adachi Shimbun* Editorial Room.

"Chief Nishizawa, what is wrong with this article? Why can't it be published?!"

Sakaguchi Keito held the manuscript and asked his superior with a dissatisfied face.

His behavior was already a bit overstepping; after all, the Japanese workplace emphasizes hierarchy.

But Sakaguchi Keito couldn't care about that at this moment.

After interviewing Akiwara Yuto the day before yesterday, he went back to the library and consulted a large amount of relevant information to add to the manuscript, in order to prove the rationality of Akiwara Yuto's conversation.

In the process, he also held some selfish motives, increasing the weight of Akiwara Yuto's remarks about "Burakumin."

After writing the entire manuscript, he repeatedly deleted and edited it many times, and only then did he manage to get half a page, which was about 4,600 characters.

But he didn't expect that after submitting it to the chief today, it was rejected immediately.

This filled his heart with unwillingness and even anger—is it that hard to help his own ethnic group speak out?

The chief reporter sighed and didn't blame his subordinate; he could understand his current mood to a certain extent.

After all, as a reporter, after finding out that the manuscript you spent 3 or 4 days on didn't pass the review, anyone would be annoyed to the point of anger.

"Sakaguchi, your manuscript being rejected has nothing to do with the content of your manuscript."

Hearing this explanation, Sakaguchi Keito calmed down and asked: "Then what is the reason?"

"The problem lies with your interviewee."

"Akiwara-sensei?"

"That's right," the chief reporter nodded. "I just communicated with the editor-in-chief. Mantanshe has greeted all the newspapers in Tokyo, asking us to try our best not to report on Akiwara Yuto and his published work *The Devotion of Suspect X*."

"Mantanshe? Why would they do that?"

Sakaguchi Keito was a bit puzzled. According to the reports he had collected before, although Akiwara Yuto debuted with Mantanshe's *New Novel*, he had long since parted ways with them.

What reason did Mantanshe have to suppress him?

The chief reporter shook his head. It could be factional strife, or it could be other reasons. In any case, only the parties involved knew.

Sakaguchi Keito lowered his head and fell into silence.

Factional strife? Unlikely, right? After all, Akiwara-sensei is not an employee of Mantanshe, just a collaborating writer.

If they do this, aren't they afraid of chilling other writers?

Other reasons?

For example, because they found out Akiwara-sensei is Burakumin, that's why they did it. Although the possibility is not high, it's not impossible, right?

Thinking of this, Sakaguchi Keito gritted his teeth for a moment. He was a dignified graduate of the University of Tokyo, but because of his Ainu and Burakumin identity, he didn't pass the review of major newspapers and could only come to *Adachi Shimbun*, this bottom-tier newspaper.

And if Akiwara Yuto was suppressed by Mantanshe for the same reason, then he must help him.

No, even if it wasn't, he had to help this writer who spoke out for the Ainu.

If this continues, the voice of the Ainu in Japanese society will only get smaller and smaller!

After making this decision, Sakaguchi Keito turned around, bowed respectfully to the chief reporter, and said in a very sincere tone: "Chief Nishizawa, I really want to publish this article. Is there any way?"

His request seemed a bit unreasonable, but he knew that no matter how strict the rules were, there was actually some room for operation.

Besides, there was very little business interaction between Mantanshe and *Adachi Shimbun*, so they didn't have to follow the other party's opinions completely.

The chief reporter looked at his subordinate helplessly, feeling a headache for a moment.

In his view, if the article couldn't be published, it couldn't be published; at worst, they could just change to another topic.

But he didn't expect Sakaguchi Keito to be so fixated on it.

However, he could partially understand the other party's thoughts.

To be honest, he didn't know whether to admire or feel helpless about this kind of thinking.

Although mainstream Japanese society looks down on Ainu and Burakumin, in fact, many companies find it difficult to distinguish them and can only rely on the Burakumin gathering place manuals circulating in the market to judge.

This means that as long as you move to a place further away and tell some lies, many companies find it difficult to distinguish, and in fact, many people do exactly that.

But his subordinate was very stubborn. He was clearly a graduate of the University of Tokyo with a good hand of cards, but he applied for jobs without moving, and as a result, he was repeatedly rejected and could only come to *Adachi Shimbun*, this small newspaper.

But now that the other party was entrusting him like this, should he accept? The chief reporter fell into confusion.

He thought for a long time, weighed the pros and cons, and finally decided to help.

After all, Sakaguchi Keito is a graduate of the University of Tokyo; even if he is Burakumin, he will climb up sooner or later.

He sighed and replied: "Sakaguchi, I have a suggestion you can consider."

Sakaguchi Keito straightened up and responded seriously: "Yes."

"Mantanshe's requirement is not to report on Akiwara Yuto and *The Devotion of Suspect X*, but as far as I know, the manuscript of *The Death of a Mystery Novelist* has not been publicly released, so we can play a word game."

Sakaguchi Keito was thoughtful after hearing this. He thought for a while and said: "Your opinion is to describe *The Death of a Mystery Novelist* and the social opposition revealed in it without disclosing the author's name?"

"That's right," the chief reporter replied, "but in that case, I can't give you half a page; I can only compress it to a quarter. Besides, you must be prepared to take responsibility if Mantanshe pursues it. But don't worry, at most it will just be a verbal reprimand."

"I understand," Sakaguchi Keito replied. He didn't care about verbal reprimands at all.

After all, Mantanshe is only a business partner, so the newspaper only needs to go through the motions.

Just as Sakaguchi Keito was about to thank the chief, the chief reporter said again: "Besides this plan, I have another suggestion. Consider it."

"Hmm?"

"For a newspaper, the most important thing is profit. If your report can make the editor-in-chief feel that the profit is greater than Mantanshe's business, then it can naturally be published."

Sakaguchi Keito fell into confusion upon hearing this suggestion.

Profit greater than Mantanshe? Unlikely, right?

The chief reporter saw Sakaguchi Keito's confusion and explained: "What the newspaper cares about most is the sales of the newspaper. So if your report can attract more attention from the public and help the newspaper sell well, then I will take the initiative to explain it to the editor-in-chief regarding publication."

Sakaguchi Keito understood the chief's meaning: the news needs to be more explosive. "Chief Nishizawa, what should I do?"

The chief reporter didn't answer but asked: "Does that Akiwara-sensei have any titles or awards now?"

Sakaguchi Keito replied: "The other party is called a 'thriller genius' by some book reviewers, but in terms of awards, he has only won the Silver Award of the Mantanshe Literature Award once."

"No, that's not enough." The chief reporter shook his head. "The public doesn't believe in the so-called genius mentioned by book reviewers; after all, there are many book reviewers who take money to do things. If the other party can have a national-level heavyweight award, then the public will acknowledge his name as a genius."

He paused and added: "Do you know about the Mystery Writers Association Award and the Mystery Literature Newcomer Award that will be announced soon?"

Sakaguchi Keito replied: "It seems the initial screening has just ended, and the winning results will be announced next month."

"That's right. If that Akiwara-sensei can win one of these two awards, we will have a lot of room for operation."

The chief reporter continued with a smile, "By that time, you can write an article titled 'Akiwara Yuto: A Genius Writer Suppressed by Mantanshe,' and I can give you a full page of 9,000 characters to play with."

"But the premise is that Akiwara-sensei participated in this selection and won, right?"

Although Sakaguchi Keito was a bit tempted, he still showed a bitter smile after thinking carefully.

These two awards organized by the Mystery Writers Association include newcomer writers and veteran writers across the country. Wanting to break through and win an award among them is undoubtedly full of difficulties.

However, maybe, just maybe, it's possible? ===== CHAPTER 130 =====