Living in the bubble economy of Tokyo, I became a literary giant through lotteries.

The moment I walked out of Nintendo's office after signing the contract.

The permanent entry for "Commercial Contracts" is now unlocked.

With a thought, Guan Gufeng unfolded the panel before his eyes.

Current equipment slots: 1 (expandable)

【Equipped Items: None】

Current number of draws: 0 (refreshed weekly)

[Permanent entry (Fountain Pen): Increases writing inspiration and boosts handwriting speed to 1500 words per hour]

[Permanent Ability (Mahjong): Gain professional-level drawing skills, enabling you to draw comics and illustrations with an additional 50% increase in skill and efficiency]

[Permanent entry (Contract): Gain elite-level business skills, easily spotting traps in various contracts and finding solutions]

"Phew." Guan Gufeng let out a long breath. "That's settled."

He recalled the lottery he had attended a few days prior.

The system transported him to an empty office with a blank standard contract on the desk. The system message read:

[Equipable item detected: Commercial Contract]

[Entry Effect Preview: Gain elite-level business skills, easily spot traps in various contracts, and find solutions]

[Preview of permanent condition for this entry: Discover the trap in the business contract and complete the signing without equipping this item]

After drawing the item, he was prepared to let it gather dust permanently, as it still required his own effort.

It's still a long way from when he writes a new book and signs a new contract, and there aren't any traps in Shinchosha's contract.

That afternoon, Kurokawa Akuta called him out and told him about Nintendo.

Based on the style of the "strongest legal department in the Eastern Hemisphere," he has been cramming on a lot of knowledge points these past few days.

"You only realize how little you know when you need it," Guan Gufeng sighed. "Fortunately, I haven't used it much."

The tram swayed and rocked; he was on his way home to write his novel.

……

Early morning, in the conference room of the New Tide Society.

Yuto Akiyama, a young editor who had recently been promoted to a full-time position, was smiling broadly as he looked at the literary veteran opposite him.

The other person was in his early fifties, with messy hair and a slight smell of alcohol from a hangover.

"Sakamoto-sensei," Yuto Akiyama said cautiously, "I've read your 'Rust and Prayer,' which was nominated for the 1978 Akutagawa Prize. It's wonderful."

"The reason I invited you here today is to ask you to write a few words of recommendation for this new book."

This is a common practice before the publication of a promising new book: asking well-known authors to write recommendations.

Sakamoto Tetsu ignored his words and instead kept flipping through the book in his hands, his movements showing slight impatience.

Yuto Akiyama's smile froze for ten minutes, and just as his lips were about to twitch, Tetsuya Sakamoto finally closed the book.

"It seems Sakamoto-sensei was drawn in by the book's content," Akiyama Yuto quickly interjected, trying to smooth things over. "Then we..."

"Snapped!"

Sakamoto Toru slammed the book on the table.

"Attractive?" he said arrogantly. "Does something like this even deserve my recommendation?"

"Fantasy novels? They're just stuff for kids who haven't even read The Tale of Genji."

"True literature should explore the darkness of human nature, not fabricate adventures in virtual worlds."

Yuto Akiyama tried his best to maintain a smile and quickly reassured her.

"Mr. Sakamoto, we certainly know your contributions to literature. After all, this is an award-winning novel, and it's just a recommendation on the cover... You can take a look at the conditions offered by the publishing house."

It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it, because mentioning "winning an award" actually provoked Toru Sakamoto.

"What?" Sakamoto Toru's voice rose. "Are you saying I've never won an award?"

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant..."

Yuto Akiyama was sweating profusely with anxiety. This was the first time he had been in charge of this kind of work on his own, and he hadn't expected to encounter such a difficult and unreasonable writer.

Just then, the conference room door was pushed open.

Kurokawa Akuta walked in, followed by several editors. He had heard arguing in the corridor and came to see what was going on.

With years of work experience and the pleading look in Akiyama Yuto's eyes, he instantly understood what had happened.

He patted Yuto Akiyama on the shoulder to reassure him, then turned to Toru Sakamoto in a calm tone.

"Since Sakamoto-sensei is unwilling to write a recommendation, then so be it. I look forward to our next collaboration."

Please make yourself at home.

After speaking, he turned to leave.

Yuto Akiyama was stunned, and Tetsu Sakamoto was also stunned.

He may indeed look down on this novel, but he's holding out for a better price! He should at least try to negotiate!

He was already a has-been writer many years ago, and the Akutagawa Prize nomination back then didn't bring much sales to his works.

He barely makes a living by writing book reviews for some tabloids. It's a rare opportunity for him to be invited by Shincho-sha. How can he just let him go like this?

"Hey!" Sakamoto Toru's voice was filled with annoyance. "Is this how Shinchosha treats veteran authors now? Don't forget, back then, you were the ones begging me to publish my book, 'The Dried-Up River,' here!"

Kurokawa Akuta rubbed his temples, stopped, and turned around.

He didn't want the situation to become too tense, but now he had no choice but to speak out.

"Mr. Sakamoto, you haven't written a new work in four years."

"Your previous work, 'Shadow of Yesterday,' only sold three thousand copies in four years, and the rest are still gathering dust in the publisher's warehouse."

"Please focus on your literary creation; only then can our collaboration continue."

Sakamoto Tetsu's face flushed red. Even if he was stupid, he could understand the implication behind those words.

For a writer who can no longer produce works, the last bit of value they have is their pen name.

When you have some value, publishers will beg you, calling you "teacher" at every turn.

When they have no value, they are just stray dogs on the roadside.

"Fine...fine...Shincho-sha, you just wait!"

After uttering those harsh words, Toru Sakamoto stormed out the door.

Yuto Akiyama wiped the sweat from his brow and said worriedly, "Editor Kurokawa... is it really okay to not have a recommendation? This is different from the rules... should I contact other authors?"

"No need," Kurokawa Akuta waved his hand. "You did a great job."

He paused.

"I forgot to tell you, this new book failed in Weekly Shonen Jump. The usual recommendation is useless now. It was my mistake not to tell you beforehand."

Yuto Akiyama paused for a moment, then let out a long sigh of relief.

"Let's go." Kurokawa Akuta patted him on the shoulder. "We still have other work to do."

……

end of February.

As the Yomiuri Shimbun officially published the winners of the "First Fantasy Novel Award," and various gossip spread through tabloids...

Throughout the day, the entire rest time in Tokyo was spent discussing this book.

Morning, Tokyo Bank, break room.

A few office workers made coffee during their break and casually picked up the newspaper on the table.

"Hey, Inoue, the grand prize announcement you've been waiting for has finally come out."

"Let me see." Inoue took the newspaper and read aloud, "Grand Prize winner... Guan Gu Shenqi? A newcomer? Or from some literary family?"

"I don't know." Another person chimed in, "I do know someone named Guan Gu, but he comes from a family of chefs. Their grilled cod is delicious."

All you think about is food.

"Anyone want to lunch with me? That cod there is really delicious."

"Stop getting off-topic, look here: 'Passed unanimously after three meetings.' The final review was held three times? Was the controversy really that big?"

The group of people looked at each other in bewilderment.

Who exactly is this new author named Guan Gu Shenqi?

Noon, in a classroom at a middle school.

Several boys sat together, sharing their lunchboxes. One of them held a gossip magazine, turned to a certain page, and stared wide-eyed.

"Hey, look at this new author, is he really that amazing? He's already collaborating with Nintendo before even publishing his work?"

"Is your information reliable?"

"It's hard to say... but this should be true. The next issue of Weekly Shonen Jump will have a novel cover drawn by this author himself in the color page."

"Really?" Another boy almost dropped the hamburger patty from his mouth.

"Aren't only top-ranked and popular comic artists eligible for color pages in the volume? Won't this take away from their resources?"

"It says this is a special edition, so there's an extra color page."

"Then I'll buy it and take a look."

"Don't you not read novels?"

"I'll buy comics."

Evening, Shinjuku, an izakaya (Japanese pub).

In a corner, several talented but unappreciated young writers sat together.

They were wearing tattered shirts, and on the table in front of them was only a pitiful skewer of yakitori and a glass of beer.

"Damn it." One of them chewed on a bamboo skewer, indignant. "How come he's so lucky? Big prizes, promotional resources, collaboration with Nintendo... he gets everything."

"Exactly." Another person took a swig of beer. "Once his book is released, we'll definitely nitpick and then report him."

"Yes, report it."

"Let everyone know how much of this prize is rigged."

Whether the words were good or bad, no one realized it.

Every word they said was increasing the buzz surrounding the new writer named "Guan Gu Shenqi".