[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-literary-master-of-tokyo":3,"chapter-literary-master-of-tokyo-literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-135":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Literary Master of Tokyo",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2354984,4607,"Chapter 135: Manslaughter","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-135",135,"\u003Cp>Chiyoda Ward, Garden Restaurant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At 7:00 PM, Akiwara Yuto waited for Asano Aiko at the entrance, walked into the shop with her, and was seated by a waiter at a four-person table by the window in the non-smoking section.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sitting down, the two each ordered a pork cutlet rice and pasta, then began to converse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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, the thing I wanted to tell you is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm?\" Asano Aiko was a bit puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling curious, she picked up the envelope and saw the line \"Mystery Writers Association\" on it; immediately after, she opened the envelope, took out the invitation, and began to read it carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Your work 'Manslaughter' has successfully been shortlisted...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon reading this line, her beautiful eyes widened involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Akiwara, congratulations!\" Asano Aiko said happily; she had not expected that Akiwara Yuto would actually be shortlisted for the Mystery Literature Newcomer Award.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a nationwide literature award in Japan, this prize far exceeded the Mantan Agency Literature Award in both status and influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it carried the name of a newcomer award, in fact, the range of writers it evaluated included all writers who had debuted within 15 years, and in terms of prestige, it could already be considered second to none.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I believe that with your talent, you will definitely succeed,\" Asano Aiko said to Akiwara Yuto with a serious attitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For her, failing to let Akiwara Yuto win the Gold Award of the Mantan Agency Literature Award was already a disgrace that was unbearable to look back upon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During that period, she felt she was very incompetent and did not even know what attitude to use when facing Akiwara Yuto.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, she knew in her heart that Akiwara Yuto would not blame her...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter what, this was a knot in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Asano Aiko's \"approval,\" Akiwara Yuto could only nod to indicate he would do his best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But whether he could actually win, he was truly unsure in his heart; besides not choosing the right work to submit at the beginning, he was also worried about other factors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a moment, Akiwara Yuto raised a doubt: \"Asano, will Mantan Agency interfere with the selection of the Mystery Literature Newcomer Award?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This point could not be ignored; after all, since Mantan Agency could blacklist him without any rumors leaking out, it was not impossible for them to use some influence to prevent him from winning the award.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this question, Asano Aiko also began to ponder; after a long while, she replied: \"Akiwara, do you understand the Mystery Writers Association?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto thought for a moment and answered: \"It seems to be an association formed by a group of veteran mystery writers; the mystery writer we met at Tokyo Women's University before seems to be one of its members.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his past life, the Mystery Writers Association of Japan 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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto was silent for a moment, then gave an answer: \"I would not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his past life, as a graduate student in the literature department, he had participated in many essay contests, and because of that, he felt a heartfelt detestation for any result that might involve fraud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asano Aiko was not surprised by this answer and said: \"Then why do you think the judges of the Mystery Writers Association might accept the influence of Mantan Agency?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, Akiwara Yuto understood Asano Aiko's intention to comfort him, so he smiled and said: \"I understand, Asano, don't worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Akiwara Yuto cheered up, Asano Aiko also revealed a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, she had only used a sophistical method to keep Akiwara Yuto from worrying too much about this aspect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for what Mantan Agency would do and whether they had the ability to do it, Asano Aiko herself had no idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, looking at the hierarchy, she couldn't even be considered a mid-level cadre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, a waitress with fluffy hair brought the dishes they had ordered; the two said \"thank you,\" and began to eat while continuing their conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto suddenly remembered the call Asano Aiko made today and asked: \"Asano, you said you had something to tell me today; what aspect does it refer to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto also put down his chopsticks, took the document, and began to read it; upon seeing the line \"Mantan Agency Public Relations Bureau Work Report\" on the document, he couldn't help but widen his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Asano, where did you get this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asano Aiko smiled and did not answer this question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a functional department of Mantan Agency, the Review 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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After discovering the rumors about Akiwara Yuto earlier, she had been active within the Review Department and even took on more unrelated work to facilitate access to more information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this report was something she only came into contact with after proactively taking over work for a newcomer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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 activities, the maintenance of Mantan Agency's image, and other items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the \"other items\" column, a line was recorded: \"Due to the requirements of the Editorial Bureau, a cold-treatment has been applied to individual writers through relevant cooperative media recently...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto lowered his head and began to ponder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on his meal with Kawada Keiji before, he had already learned about Mantan Agency's \"blacklisting\" of him; the candidates he suspected were \"Kihara Daigo\" and \"Takei Kohei,\" as no one else had a motive besides those two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This document further proved it was these two people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Akiwara Yuto was deep in thought, Asano Aiko patted the back of his hand that was holding the document, and after he looked up, she said, \"Akiwara, I have a plan; could you consider listening to it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused, then continued: \"If you can win the Newcomer Award, I plan to...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, she explained her idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening to Asano Aiko's plan in its entirety, Akiwara Yuto couldn't help but be astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this plan of Asano's could proceed smoothly, he could even strike back at Mantan Agency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, for Asano personally, would there be legal risks?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And how should the source of the document be explained? After all, this was non-public content.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeming to know Akiwara Yuto's doubts, Asano Aiko smiled slightly and replied: \"I made a copy of this document; no one will know, and even if I let it be exposed, I will only use the method of an anonymous letter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for me personally, I will submit my resignation then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, she added in a relaxed tone: \"You wouldn't refuse to take me in, would you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon learning of her choice, Akiwara Yuto smiled and answered: \"How could I, but don't blame me for being a black-hearted boss then...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he didn't seem to care on the surface, he still prepared to find a lawyer to ask again, so as to make relevant preparations and avoid any mistakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then don't blame me for jumping ship again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Asano Aiko had a smile on her face, she still had a little worry in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plan she proposed was entirely based on Akiwara Yuto winning a well-known award.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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 people and media, and break Mantan Agency's blacklist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, I hope the Mystery Writers Association can fully recognize Akiwara Yuto's talent!\u003C\u002Fp>",1486,"2026-06-21T03:58:01.347Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","d4ed23ef2d56134513b44f83c4f65ef353909339e4b1458aeb242a1f5d4cc7d1","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-136","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-134",334,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fliterary-master-of-tokyo-cover.jpg"]