Tokyo, everyone is drawing comics, who still wants to fall in love?.

Chapter 76 Please, Mr. Oda
Hearing Assistant Okita's sincere request, Oda Shingo also became serious.

Oda Shingo had just finished the initial configuration of his computer. He quickly typed some words on the computer with his hands, and operated it a few times behind Assistant Okita's back. Then he looked at him and said, "Tell me, why did you still help him make such a request when I clearly stated that I would do my best to defeat the enemy?"

"I don't know if it's weird to say that, or if it's just a superficial talk." Assistant Okita went to pour another glass of water, then sat down again and frowned. "Before I joined the web department, I didn't do well in the administration department. I was ordered around and scolded every day."

“……”Oda Shingo leaned on the bed without saying a word, with the closed notebook on his body.

"I am one of those marginalized people who are dispensable. Mr. Oda, you know that the paper media is in a recession right now. As long as there is a wave of layoffs, I will become a poor guy holding a cardboard box..."

"..."

"It was Director Mikami who selected me from many people when he established the web department. He even made me his assistant a month later, which saved me from being laid off. So, he really was very kind to me."

Oda Shingo opened his notebook and showed it to Assistant Okita.

Okita was stunned, and saw a line of words on the brand new notebook: [It was Director Mikami who prevented me from being laid off because I was mediocre.]
"Ah, Mr. Oda, I'm telling the truth." Assistant Okita immediately understood what Oda Shingo meant and hurriedly explained.

Oda Shingo had just typed out the words in advance, and they happened to match what Okita's assistant said, which was full of irony.

"I really couldn't be laid off at that time because my wife was seriously ill. Although the surgery was paid for by our savings, the recovery period is very long and it requires various expensive medications." Assistant Okita was afraid that Oda Shingo would not believe him, so he quickly explained the situation in detail.

Oda Shingo swiped his hand across the touchpad of his laptop.

The new page that had just been typed appeared, with a line of words on it: [A family member was seriously ill, and the great philanthropist Minister Sanshang saved him from danger.]
"... Mr. Oda, please stop making fun of me. I know this sounds like a story from a comic book, but Minister Mikami did help me." Assistant Okita, with a gloomy face, pushed his glasses on his nose. "Although he didn't lend me money directly, he promoted me and gave me a raise. With my ability, I really don't deserve to be an assistant."

"Okay, so how did he struggle?"

At this moment, a reminder bell rang.

[Mr. Oda, a lady named Namikaze Yuzuru is coming in.]
"Ah, that's my assistant, let her in, thank you."

Namikaze Youhe walked into the ward carrying a large bag. When he saw someone in the room, he was slightly stunned: "Assistant Okita?"

"Ah, hello." Assistant Okita stood up and bowed. Given his status and age, he didn't need to bow to Namikaze Yukaku, but he was still very humble.

Namikaze Yuzuru quickly switched to honorifics and responded, "Ah, thank you so much for coming to visit Oda-kun."

"Namikaze-kun, did you bring your comic tools?"

"…I brought it." Namikaze Yuzuru began to take out the things in the bag and put them on the bedside table so that Oda Shingo could use them.

The bag was not fully opened and there was still something inside, but it was not appropriate to let Assistant Okita know.

"Thank you for your hard work, Namikaze-kun." Oda Shingo asked Namikaze Yukaku to sit by the window and wait, then turned to Assistant Okita and said, "We were talking about Minister Mikami's struggle just now. If you don't mind, please continue."

"Oh, of course. Seven or eight years ago, although the print media industry was in decline, physical comics were still not much different. But Minister Mikami has long reminded us that the way comics are sold physically cannot meet the needs of the new era."

"Well, Minister Mikami is very far-sighted."

Assistant Okita patted his thigh and said, "But at that time, not to mention the senior management and the main publication department, even the people in the advertising department, the operations department, and even the administrative department were very traditional. Director Mikami proposed many suggestions for coping with the new era, but they were all rejected for various reasons."

"It was not until five years ago that Minister Mikami proposed to create a web department in the same way as Xueziguan. He even voluntarily gave up the opportunity to be the Minister of the Advertising Department and began to plan and establish a brand new web department!"

"I'm joining the game with my whole body, hoping to win half a step over God." Oda Shingo sighed, but there was no change in his expression.

"I can only roughly guess what you mean by the Chinese you spoke. Mr. Oda is really knowledgeable." Assistant Okita further explained, "When the web department was newly established, there were many difficulties."

"..."

"Not only was there a problem with funding, but there was also a lack of office space. The cost of renting a place was also criticized as being too high. As a result, we were unable to successfully build the department for two consecutive years."

"How did Minister Mikami solve it?"

"Director Mikami simply made a bet with the magazine department and the advertising department! He said that if they gave him a budget sufficient for web operating expenses, he would not need to pay for rent and could work in the basement with his team!" Namikaze Yuzuru, who was listening to the noise nearby, couldn't help but widen his eyes.

This is the first time I've heard of a regular department working in a basement. Only a few, such as the administrative or field departments of old companies, would live in the basement of an office building.

"In the basement?" Oda Shingo remembered that he met them on the top floor, but according to the introduction at the entrance of the building, the web department was indeed in the basement.

"If their performance is really better than that of the advertising department and the magazine department, they will be replaced! If they can't compete, the web department will stay in the basement!"

"…Did the other party agree?"

"Yes, after some mediation, the other party agreed to the bet. The management also hopes that the two departments will agree, because this will save a lot of money on renting a venue outside."

"And... the result is self-evident, right?" Oda Nobuo knew the outcome of the bet without even having to think.

The web department was created several years ago, but it is still in the basement. The pioneering achievements of Director Mikami speak for themselves.

Namikaze Youhe also had a look of realization on his face.

"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you." Assistant Okita touched his head embarrassedly: "But this bet is valid forever! I and many old employees of the web department have vowed to fight together with Director Mikami! We have to climb up from the basement level by level!"

"Is your ministry really willing to fight alongside the minister?"

Assistant Okita clenched his fist and said, "I am willing! We are new to the department and may not know the director well. Everyone else is following him wholeheartedly!"

“……”Oda Shingo closed his notebook and tilted his head to think.

If you were Director Mikami, how would you run the web department?

Thinking back to the exploitation he received when the contract was signed, and the way he felt so aggrieved and almost whimpering... it seemed that I could bully Mikami again!
"As I just said, please defeat Takeshi Gouda in the new comic series. At least don't be weaker than them!" Assistant Okita stood up from his chair and followed the traditional Japanese dogeza, begging very seriously, "Please! Mr. Oda!"

"..." Oda Shingo looked at Assistant Okita who was extremely serious, waited for a while, and then said lightly, "I won't promise you anything."

Assistant Okita looked up in surprise: "Teacher Oda..."

Oda Shingo waved his hand: "I'm tired. If you have nothing else to do, you can go back."

Bofeng Youhe was standing beside him, seeming to want to say something but stopping himself.

Why does she feel that Oda-kun gives people a cold feeling today? There is nothing wrong with agreeing to Assistant Okita. It is what she should do.

"Oh, sorry for disturbing Mr. Oda's post-operative rest." Assistant Okita quickly apologized, nodded to Namikaze Yukaku, then packed his bag and left.

At the door, he bowed to Oda Shingo and said, "Teacher Oda, if you need me, just let me know! Please have a good rest and work with us to defeat the enemy! Please."

Oda Nobuo didn't say anything else, just watched this honest man leave.

After Namikaze Yuzuru closed the door and the ward returned to silence, Oda Shingo opened his notebook and started working with a handwriting drawing board.

"Teacher Oda, you... won't agree to assistant Okita? I, I think he asked sincerely." Namikaze Yukaku asked tentatively.

Oda Shingo raised the brush in his hand into the air, his eyes fixed on the drawing board on his stomach, and said calmly:

"I defeat my enemies not because of others, but because of..."

"The one who desires victory the most is myself!"

Please continue reading, thank you!

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(End of this chapter)