[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-literary-master-of-tokyo":3,"chapter-literary-master-of-tokyo-literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-77":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},2354926,4607,"Chapter 77: Questioning and Transfer Orders","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-77",77,"\u003Cp>Man-dan-sha Headquarters, 14th floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asano Aiko walked hurriedly through the hallway, preparing to return to the editorial department; she had too many questions she wanted to clear up!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the awards ceremony just now, after learning that Akiwara Yuto had not won the Gold Award, her first reaction was surprise, followed immediately by disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why, as a member of the editorial department, had she not only received no word, but also heard no rumors whatsoever?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately tried to find Editor-in-Chief Kikuchi to ask him to clarify everything, but to her surprise, she looked all around and did not see him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, from her colleagues, she learned that Editor-in-Chief Kikuchi had business today and was at the editorial department, so she hurriedly drove back to the editorial department, not even sparing a thought for Akiwara Yuto.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking into the editorial department, Asano Aiko saw the chandelier in the editor-in-chief's office was on. She walked to the door, knocked gently, and soon heard a male voice say, \"Please come in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pushed the door open and saw Kikuchi Tai sitting behind his desk, smoking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kikuchi Tai stubbed out the cigarette in his hand in the ashtray and asked, \"Asano, it's so late, is something the matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asano Aiko took a deep breath to calm her emotions, then bowed and asked, \"Editor-in-Chief Kikuchi, regarding Akiwara-sensei's award, could you tell me the reason for it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Kikuchi Tai did not answer, Asano Aiko could no longer worry about hierarchy and said urgently, \"Our 'New Novel' is selling as well as it is today because Akiwara-sensei is the greatest contributor; you should know this better than anyone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, why? Please explain it to me, otherwise I really have no way to face Akiwara-sensei's trust again,\" her voice was a bit choked, but she continued, \"I beg you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a subordinate, saying this was already crossing the line, but if she couldn't figure out the truth, she really didn't know how to face Akiwara.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her view, she had betrayed his trust!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Asano Aiko's questioning, Kikuchi Tai fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his view, he was the biggest victim of this awards incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this maneuver, he had lost the trust of the writer who could create the most value for \"New Novel,\" and the other party might not publish in \"New Novel\" in the future. At the same time, even his own subordinate was now questioning him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, because of Takei Kohei's threats, he had no choice but to follow these arrangements; otherwise, he would face the destruction of his family and imprisonment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, he raised his head, glanced at Asano Aiko who was waiting for his reply, and avoided the topic: \"Asano, today's matter is quite complicated and not convenient to disclose. Please help me apologize to Akiwara-sensei.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what is the reason for the apology?\" Asano Aiko did not get the reply she wanted and continued to press.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Asano Aiko's persistence, Kikuchi Tai became a bit impatient and said bluntly, \"Mind your position, Editor Asano.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this reprimand, Asano Aiko realized she had overstepped and could only bow in apology. While bending over, she bit her lip, revealing an expression of unwillingness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kikuchi Tai sighed and then said to her, \"There is something I was originally going to announce to you next week, so shall I tell you now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asano Aiko straightened up and listened in confusion as Kikuchi Tai continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Editor Asano, according to the requirements of the personnel department, since the proofreading department is short-handed, please report there before next Monday.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So please pack up your things and take them over. Also, the work on Akiwara-sensei's side will be arranged for someone else to handle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Asano Aiko was in disbelief for a moment. She suspected Editor-in-Chief Kikuchi was joking with her, but given the current situation, it was not the time for jokes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at Kikuchi Tai carefully and found the expression on his face was very serious, proving the authenticity of this notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was silent for a while before asking, \"Editor-in-Chief Kikuchi, can you tell me the reason?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kikuchi Tai did not answer this question. He stood up, walked around Asano Aiko, and headed out. When he reached the door, he stopped, \"If there's nothing else, go home early.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused and continued, \"Thank you for your hard work during this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, he left without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, Kikuchi Tai's own mood was also very complicated. All along, he had been using Asano Aiko as a tool; for instance, he hadn't valued her work before, but after discovering she had utility, he had tried to win her over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he also knew she trusted him. So, when he heard her question him like that, he couldn't help but feel a trace of guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, this trace of guilt soon disappeared without a trace; after all, compared to his own interests, nothing else mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What's more, Asano Aiko would be in the proofreading department from now on, so the chances of them even meeting would likely be pitifully small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the footsteps gradually faded away, Asano Aiko knew Kikuchi Tai had left the editorial department. She lowered her head, holding back her emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she could no longer serve as Akiwara Yuto's editor, she had to understand the real reason for what happened at today's awards ceremony before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, who should she ask?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the editor-in-chief's office, she returned to her desk outside, took out a cardboard box, and began to pack, separating her work items from her personal belongings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking that she was about to leave this office, a mix of emotions welled up in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While she was packing, a series of \"clack, clack, clack\" footsteps sounded, quickly traveling from afar to the editorial department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asano Aiko looked up and saw it was Takei Kohei, the deputy editor-in-chief of \"Tokyo Literature.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn't help but be confused. Wasn't he just at the awards ceremony at the hotel? Why was he appearing at the \"New Novel\" editorial department now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, what was he doing at the \"New Novel\" editorial department so late?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Takei Kohei walked into the editorial department and looked around, finding that the lights in the editor-in-chief's office were off, and only the light at Asano Aiko's desk was still on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Takei Kohei frowned, walked over, and asked, \"Editor Asano, where is Editor-in-Chief Kikuchi now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The incident at the awards ceremony tonight had caused quite a stir, and since it happened in full view of everyone, a scapegoat was needed to take responsibility so that the head of the department could have an explanation for his superiors and the outside world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, this scapegoat could not be of too low a status and had to be someone associated with the awarding of the prize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He naturally thought of Kikuchi Tai; after all, he was both the editor-in-chief of \"New Novel\" and the person responsible for recommending the Gold Award nominees, so his status was just right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't worried about the other party not complying; after all, he had the photos in his own hands, and if the other party didn't want to go to prison, he would have to obediently follow his instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for whether he was breaking the promise he had made to the other party earlier, he didn't care about that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asano Aiko did not know Takei Kohei's intentions and could only answer formally: \"Editor-in-Chief Kikuchi just left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Takei Kohei frowned; it seemed he would have to go to his house. He looked up and saw Asano Aiko's red-rimmed eyes, guessing that Kikuchi Tai had already conveyed the transfer order to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, since Asano Aiko was here, it was the perfect time to implement his next plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, he revealed a \"politician-style\" smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Editor Asano, do you have time now? I would like to have a brief chat with you about Akiwara-sensei...\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1328,"2026-06-21T03:58:01.347Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","866df0bed959c742133cddd64e6344b2c654819ad9acbb61c5dff7b7df923716","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-78","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-76",334,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fliterary-master-of-tokyo-cover.jpg"]