Chapter 253

"I might be a bit blunt, but with your intelligence, Teacher Natsume, you must be able to understand the truth."

Natsume Chikage fell into deep thought.

In fact, his initial psychological expectation was 30%.

Although he was full of confidence in "The Devotion of Suspect X," he also soberly realized that he was ultimately a new author without any market sales record.

Being able to get 30% of the industry's top newcomer contract is already a very ideal result.

Go higher?

It's not that he hasn't thought about it, but he also knows the hope is slim.

Without past bestselling achievements as hard currency, demanding too high a split is no different from a castle in the air.

It seems 30% is the end.

He was about to open his mouth to agree.

Creak—

The glass door of the conference room was pushed open again.

"Two group leaders, the editor-in-chief has arrived."

Apprentice Editor Xin Yuan Xiangzhi stood by the door, and behind him, an old man with gray hair, about fifty or sixty years old, holding a cane, walked in slowly.

The old man's eyes were bright, his steps were steady, and his whole body exuded an aura of majesty that had been in a high position for a long time.

Huang Mu Jie and Gongcheng Heyu saw this old man and immediately bounced up from their chairs like springs, bowing respectfully to greet him:

"Editor-in-Chief Beiyuan, good morning!" The two said in unison.

Beiyuan Cangjie didn't respond immediately, just tapped the ground lightly with his cane, his gaze sweeping across the two group leaders like a hawk, his expression carrying obvious displeasure.

Although he didn't say a word, the invisible pressure had already made the two group leaders' foreheads ooze fine cold sweat.

Beiyuan Cangjie snorted coldly, then turned his gaze to Natsume Chikage at the other end of the conference table.

At the moment of seeing the boy, the editor-in-chief, who had seen countless people, couldn't help but be slightly startled.

The boy's handsome appearance and calm temperament were indeed rare.

"You are Natsume-kun?" Beiyuan Cangjie spoke, his voice low and powerful.

"It is me."

"I am the editor-in-chief of Midnight Publishing House, Beiyuan Cangjie."

Beiyuan Cangjie took the initiative to reach out.

"Hello, Editor-in-Chief Beiyuan." Natsume Chikage got up and shook hands with him neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Beiyuan Cangjie let go, without any pleasantries, and cut straight to the point:

"I have already been roughly briefed by Xin Yuan-kun on the matter you were arguing about just now."

He turned to Natsume Chikage, his tone solemn:

"First of all, I express my deep apologies for the unprofessional behavior of our publishing house's editors, which has brought you such an unpleasant experience, Natsume-kun."

Immediately after, his gaze swept sharply toward the two group leaders:

"Group Leader Gongcheng, Group Leader Huang Mu, what are you still stunned for? Apologize to Natsume-kun immediately!"

The two didn't dare to have the slightest hesitation, immediately turned to Natsume Chikage, and bowed at a standard ninety degrees:

"Teacher Natsume, I am very sorry!" X2

As old oilers who have been immersed in the workplace for many years, bowing and apologizing is already a common occurrence for them.

Japan's "apology culture" is deeply ingrained in the bone marrow, even if the other party is just a high school student, under the pressure of the editor-in-chief and the rules of the workplace, they don't feel much "shame," more of annoyance at their loss of composure and fear of the editor-in-chief.

Natsume Chikage waved his hand:

"The two don't need to be like this, please get up."

Beiyuan Cangjie then nodded slightly to Natsume Chikage:

"Natsume-kun, sorry to trouble you to wait here for a moment. I need to understand the specific situation with these few first."

"Okay, please go ahead." Natsume Chikage nodded.

Beiyuan Cangjie tapped his cane on the floor not too lightly or heavily, and said in a deep voice:

"Group Leader Gongcheng, Group Leader Huang Mu, and Editor Xin Yuan, you three, come out with me first."

Not long after, Beiyuan Cangjie returned with the three, followed by Gao Qiaochun and Yu Tian Caihua holding the manuscript of "The Devotion of Suspect X."

Beiyuan Cangjie sat down opposite Natsume Chikage and looked at the boy in front of him carefully again, his curiosity even greater.

These two group leaders under his command.

One is shrewd and pragmatic, good at digging into the commercial value of authors.

One has sharp eyes, specializing in the content of the work itself.

Being able to make these two lose their composure and fight to such an extent is enough to show Natsume Chikage's extraordinary value.

What surprised him even more was that this boy could take the initiative in the entanglement with the two old editors, almost forcing out the highest 30% split within the group leader's authority.

And looking at this posture, Natsume Chikage doesn't seem satisfied yet?

Such strong confidence in his own work?

Interesting.

"Natsume-kun."

Beiyuan Cangjie spoke, his tone a bit softer than just now.

"If your time permits, can we discuss the split issue again after I personally finish reading your 'The Devotion of Suspect X'?"

Natsume Chikage thought for a moment and agreed:

"Of course."

Beiyuan Cangjie got an affirmative answer, looked up at the editors who were still standing restrained, his expression returned to the usual coldness:

"Editor Yu Tian, take Natsume-kun to the lounge and let him rest quietly for a while."

"As for the others, go do what you should do."

"Before I finish talking to Natsume-kun, no one is allowed to come and disturb him."

The editors heard this and didn't dare to say more, so they had to exit in order.

It's just that who Natsume Chikage will eventually fall to is still an unknown.

Yu Tian Caihua was assigned to entertain, just because she has a good image and is a woman, which is relatively more suitable.

Yu Tian Caihua put on a sweet professional smile again:

"Natsume-kun, please follow me."

"Okay, sorry to trouble you."

Natsume Chikage got up and followed.

Three hours later.

Natsume Chikage, who was writing on his phone quietly in the lounge, was invited back to the conference room by Yu Tian Caihua.

The main members of the two editorial groups were all gathered here now, and the atmosphere was subtle and quiet.

Editor-in-Chief Beiyuan Cangjie had finished reading "The Devotion of Suspect X."

When closing the last page of the manuscript, the shock received by this senior publisher in his heart could not be calmed for a long time.

This is not just "excellent," this is a work of genius!

Judging by his decades of industry experience, this novel is fully qualified to rank among the top in the history of Japanese mystery novels!

He finally understood completely why the two group leaders who were usually steady would be so out of composure.

This is not "performance"?

This is clearly a heavy bomb that is enough to establish the status of an editorial department for the next few years!

It is a super blockbuster that every editor dreams of and cannot ask for!

Whoever gets it is the future hero!

Coupled with Natsume Chikage's image, age, and talent, it is simply impeccable.

With a little operation, I'm afraid he can easily create a god!

So he must keep him at Midnight Publishing House!

Natsume Chikage had just sat down, and Beiyuan Cangjie raised his eyes, his gaze full of undisguised appreciation and admiration.

"I have finished reading your 'The Devotion of Suspect X'."

"I must say, this is an extremely outstanding work, and its degree of completion is astonishing."

"Under normal circumstances, even for the most amazing new author, the highest condition we can give is a 30% royalty split within the group leader's authority."

With a turn of the conversation, Beiyuan Cangjie's tone became more solemn: