Chapter 212

8. All key clues must be disclosed to the reader.

9. The detective's assistant's intelligence should be slightly lower than the average reader's.

10. Introducing twins or body doubles in the ending is forbidden unless there was foreshadowing earlier.

Although there are works in modern society that don't follow these commandments but are highly successful, those are few and far between.

And such works are often not recognized by the traditional mystery circle as "orthodox mystery."

Gao Qiaochun himself is a veteran mystery fan.

Even after becoming an editor, he still believes deep down that following these basic rules is what makes a qualified mystery novel.

And most high school student submitters don't even know these "Ten Commandments" exist.

Therefore, every time he sees a high school student submission, he gets a headache.

He only hopes... that this Natsume-kun before him can be different.

Carrying this anxiety and faint expectation, Gao Qiaochun turned to the first page of the manuscript.

Immediately after, his gaze was firmly captured.

He flipped through page after page, his speed unconsciously increasing, his eyes becoming more and more focused, even faintly revealing a look of excitement.

However, he had only read a small part of the beginning.

A harsh cell phone ringtone rudely interrupted his thoughts.

Gao Qiaochun, who was usually weak-willed and always submissive, was so engrossed in reading that he rarely showed a hint of displeasure after being interrupted.

But when he saw the caller ID was "Team Leader Miyagi," that hint of displeasure was instantly replaced by panic.

He hurriedly showed an apologetic expression to Natsume Chikage.

"Sorry, please wait a moment, I need to take this call."

"Please go ahead."

Gao Qiaochun walked quickly to a corner of the meeting room and answered the phone in a low voice.

As he listened, his expression became complex—his superior informed him that there was an urgent field assignment that required him to leave immediately.

He looked back at the thick manuscript on the table and estimated the time.

With so much content, he couldn't finish it in three or four hours.

And having only read the beginning, he was already very certain—this novel by Natsume Chikage was absolutely extraordinary!

Even though his reading was interrupted, he was filled with a strong desire to know the subsequent plot.

If it weren't for this sudden field assignment, he would definitely sit here and finish it in one go!

At this moment, he was incredibly glad that he hadn't actually "given" Natsume Chikage to Uda Ayaka just now.

Otherwise, he would have missed out on such an author with amazing potential.

Thinking of this, he took a deep breath and made a decision.

"Natsume-kun, please wait another minute for me."

After saying this, he almost jogged back to his workstation, grabbed his old, worn-out briefcase that he had used for years, and quickly returned, preparing to put "The Devotion of Suspect X" inside so he could take it home to read.

Natsume Chikage's gaze inadvertently fell on that briefcase.

The next moment, he was slightly taken aback.

【Wimpy Briefcase】

【Quality: White】

【Effect: After equipping, Wimpy Aura +100%!】

【Description: Endure for a moment and the sea is calm, take a step back and the sky is vast!】

Natsume Chikage's expression was strange; it was the first time he had seen equipment that increased "Wimpy Aura"...

This looked like a negative effect no matter how you looked at it.

But it wasn't a big problem.

Anyway, his goal was to collect special equipment to gain attribute points.

As long as he didn't actively equip it, the negative effect wouldn't affect him.

As for how to obtain this equipment... he instantly had an idea.

After the novel was published and he earned royalties, he would find a suitable excuse to give the editor a new briefcase as a thank-you gift, and then make the exchange.

Gao Qiaochun solemnly handed his business card to Natsume Chikage with both hands.

"Natsume-kun, your novel has already shown a very high standard just from the beginning, and I imagine the ending won't be bad either. Based on this alone, I can already approve your manuscript!"

"However, your manuscript is very long, and it will take quite some time to review it carefully."

"Plus, I have an urgent assignment and must go on a business trip immediately..."

His tone became unusually serious, even carrying a firmness that didn't match his usual cowardly image.

"I promise you, after I return from my business trip, I will stay up all night to finish reading your masterpiece!"

"After that, I will contact you immediately to discuss subsequent publication matters!"

"Your contact information should be in the appointment system. This is my business card, which has my direct phone number and email. Please be sure to keep an eye out when I contact you!"

Natsume Chikage accepted the business card and nodded.

"Alright, I understand."

He knew that although his novel wasn't super long, it was still nearly 150,000 words.

Mystery novels require careful reading, and it would indeed be difficult to finish in a short time.

Since the editor had already given a positive intention to approve the manuscript, there was no need for him to keep waiting here, he could just wait for subsequent contact.

Gao Qiaochun seemed very excited.

"Then it's settled! I'll take you down now."

Natsume Chikage did not refuse and followed Gao Qiaochun toward the elevator.

Behind them, the more senior editor, Yoshida Tomohito, heard the scene just now.

He gave a disdainful cold snort.

Who in the editorial department didn't know that Gao Qiaochun had poor judgment and was at the bottom of the performance rankings?

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been a regular editor for so many years.

Gao Qiaochun had said things like "can approve the manuscript" to many authors before.

And the result?

Wasn't it often rejected and vetoed by the team leader?

As for that Natsume Chikage, he looked good, but he was just a high school student.

In the publishing house, high school student submissions were recognized as one of the groups with the lowest approval rates.

Yoshida Tomohito could almost foresee tomorrow's scene: Team Leader Miyagi and Uda rejecting this manuscript, and Gao Qiaochun becoming a laughingstock among colleagues again.

Thinking of this, his mood couldn't help but become a bit more pleasant.