Chapter 133: Asano Aiko's Plan

Chiyoda Ward, Garden Restaurant.

At 7: 0 PM, Akiwara Yuto waited for Asano Aiko at the entrance, walked into the restaurant with her, and was seated by a waiter at a four-person table by the window in the non-smoking section.

After sitting down, the two each ordered a pork cutlet rice bowl and spaghetti, then began to talk.

Akiwara Yuto coughed lightly, then took the envelope for the Mystery Literature Newcomer Award out of his pocket and placed it in front of Asano Aiko. "Asano, this is what I wanted to tell you."

"Hm?" Asano Aiko was a bit puzzled.

Curious, she picked up the envelope, saw the line "Mystery Writers Association" on it, and immediately opened the envelope, took out the invitation, and began to read it carefully.

"... our work 'Negligent Homicide' has successfully been shortlisted..."

Upon reading this line, her beautiful eyes widened involuntarily.

"Akiwara, congratulations!" Asano Aiko said happily; she had not expected that Akiwara Yuto would be shortlisted for the Mystery Literature Newcomer Award.

As a nationwide literary award in Japan, this prize far exceeded the Mantan Society Literary Award in both status and influence.

Although it carried the name of a newcomer award, in reality, the scope of writers it evaluated included all those who had debuted within the last 15 years, and in terms of prestige, it could be considered second to none.

Akiwara Yuto shook his head. "It's only a shortlist for now; the specific winners haven't been announced yet, and I'm not necessarily going to win."

"No, I believe that with your talent, you will certainly succeed," Asano Aiko said to Akiwara Yuto with a serious attitude.

To her, failing to let Akiwara Yuto win the Gold Prize of the Mantan Society Literary Award was already a humiliation too painful to look back on.

During that period, she felt she was very incompetent and didn't even know what attitude to use when facing Akiwara Yuto.

In fact, she knew in her heart that Akiwara Yuto would not blame her...

But regardless, this was a knot in her heart.

Hearing Asano Aiko's "approval," Akiwara Yuto could only nod to indicate he would do his best.

But whether he could actually win, he really had no confidence in his heart; besides not choosing the right work to submit at the beginning, he was also worried about other factors.

After thinking for a moment, Akiwara Yuto raised his doubt: "Asano, will Mantan Society interfere with the selection of the Mystery Literature Newcomer Award?"

This could not be guarded against enough; after all, if Mantan Society could blacklist him without any rumors leaking out, then it was not impossible for them to use their influence to prevent him from winning the award.

Hearing this question, Asano Aiko also began to ponder. After a long while, she replied: "Akiwara, do you understand the Mystery Writers Association?"

Akiwara Yuto thought for a moment and answered: "It seems to be an association formed by a group of senior mystery writers. The mystery writer we met at Tokyo Women's University before seems to be one of its members."

In his past life, the Japanese Mystery Writers Association was founded by Edogawa Ranpo, known as the "Father of Japanese Detective Fiction," but he really didn't know much about the Mystery Writers Association of this world.

Asano Aiko nodded and then asked in return: "Akiwara, let me give you an example. If you were a judge, and a very influential publishing house asked you to commit fraud, would you agree?"

Akiwara Yuto was silent for a while, then gave an answer: "No."

In his past life, as a graduate student in the literature department, he had participated in many essay competitions, and because of that, he detested any result that might involve fraud from the bottom of his heart.

Asano Aiko was not surprised by this answer and said: "Then why do you think the judges of the Mystery Writers Association would be likely to accept the influence of Mantan Society?"

Hearing these words, Akiwara Yuto understood Asano Aiko's intention to comfort him, so he smiled and said: "I understand, Asano, don't worry."

Seeing Akiwara Yuto cheered up, Asano Aiko also revealed a smile.

In fact, she had just used a sophistical method so that Akiwara Yuto would not have to worry too much about this aspect.

After all, people are different from one another; the choice Akiwara Yuto would make is not necessarily the choice of the judges of the Mystery Writers Association.

As for what Mantan Society would do and whether they had the ability to do it, Asano Aiko herself had no confidence in her heart.

After all, looking at the hierarchy, she wasn't even a mid-level cadre.

At this time, a waitress with fluffy hair served the dishes they had ordered. The two said "thank you," and began to eat while continuing their conversation.

Akiwara Yuto suddenly remembered the phone call Asano Aiko had made today, so he asked: "Asano, you said you had something to tell me today; what aspect was that regarding?"

Asano Aiko put down her chopsticks, wiped the corners of her mouth with a tissue, then took a black-and-white document out of her bag and placed it on the table next to the tableware. "It's this. I think it might be of some help to you."

Akiwara Yuto also put down his chopsticks, took the document, and began to read it. After seeing the line "Mantan Society Public Relations Bureau Work Report" on the document, he couldn't help but widen his eyes.

"Asano, where did you get this?"

Asano Aiko smiled and did not answer this question.

As a functional department of Mantan Society, the Proofreading Department, in addition to the most basic work of helping writers proofread manuscripts, was sometimes assigned extra work, such as helping administrative and other departments check documents to avoid simple errors in the content.

After discovering the rumors about Akiwara Yuto earlier, she had been active within the Proofreading Department, even taking on more irrelevant work to make it easier to access more information.

And this report was something she had only come into contact with after volunteering to take on work for a newcomer.

Akiwara Yuto picked up the document and read it carefully several times, discovering that it recorded a series of recent work matters of the Public Relations Bureau, including the promotion of new books, publicity for writer events, the maintenance of Mantan Society's image, and other items.

In the "other items" column, a line was recorded: "Due to the requirements of the Editorial Bureau, a cold-treatment policy has recently been implemented for individual writers through relevant cooperative media..."

Akiwara Yuto lowered his head and began to ponder.

Based on his previous meal with Kawada Keiji, he had already learned about Mantan Society's "blacklisting" of him. He guessed the people involved were "Kihara Daigo" and "Takei Kohei," as no one else had a motive besides those two.

This document further proved it was these two people.

While Akiwara Yuto was deep in thought, Asano Aiko patted the back of his hand that was holding the document. After he looked up, she said, "Akiwara, I have a plan. Would you consider listening to it?"

She paused, then continued: "If you can win the Newcomer Award, I plan to..."

Then, she explained her idea.

After listening to Asano Aiko's plan in its entirety, Akiwara Yuto could not help but be astonished.

If this plan of Asano's could proceed smoothly, he could even strike back at Mantan Society.

However, for Asano personally, would there be legal risks?

And how should the source of the document be explained? After all, this was non-public content.

Seeming to know Akiwara Yuto's doubts, Asano Aiko smiled slightly and replied: "I made a copy of this document myself. No one will know. Even if I expose it, I will only do so by way of an anonymous letter."

"As for me personally, I will submit my resignation at that time."

After saying this, she added in a relaxed tone: "You wouldn't refuse to take me in, would you?"

After learning of her choice, Akiwara Yuto smiled and answered: "How could I? But don't blame me for being a black-hearted boss then..."

Although he didn't seem to care on the surface, he still prepared to find a lawyer to ask for advice, so as to make relevant preparations and avoid any mistakes.

"Then don't blame me for jumping ship again."

Although Asano Aiko had a smile on her face, there was still a bit of worry in her heart.

The plan she proposed was entirely based on Akiwara Yuto winning a well-known award.

If there were no such award, the effect would undoubtedly be much worse; after all, only by winning a well-known award could he attract the eyes of more of the public and the media, and break Mantan Society's blacklist.

In short, hopefully the Mystery Writers Association will fully recognize Akiwara Yuto's talent!