Crossover: Pen name: Dazai Osamu, Omega Kasumigaoka

Unless something unexpected happens, I don't want to change publishers casually.

Of course, he didn't rule out any possibility of definitive statements.

From a business perspective, if Kodansha could offer him better terms...

It's not impossible to hand over the next book to Kodansha!

Naotsugu Oyama said in a sincere tone.

"Our Kodansha company very much hopes to collaborate with writer Kitahara."

"If Kitahara is willing to let Kodansha handle the operation of his next book, I can personally decide on a royalty rate of 15% for sales under 500,000 copies and 23% for sales over 500,000 copies!"

Naotsugu Oyama directly raised the industry standard royalty rate by 3%.

It's important to know that with Kitahara Shinsho's sales figures, every 1% represents tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions, of profit.

Naotsugu Oyama suddenly produced tens of millions in profits.

That's quite a show of sincerity.

However, that wasn't enough for Kitahara Makoto.

He already has plans for his next book.

He has absolute confidence in the sales of his new book.

That's a 'literature' that sold over ten million copies in Japan.

It enjoys a high reputation even internationally.

Both its gold content and its gold content are terrifying.

Every 1% royalty represents hundreds of millions of dollars.

How could a mere 3% discount possibly sway Kitahara Makoto?

He replied dismissively, "Okay, I'll think about it."

Seeing his reaction, Naotsugu Oyama knew that he hadn't been moved.

A hint of difficulty flashed across Naotsugu Oyama's face.

In his opinion, the royalty was already quite generous.

If he were to offer further concessions, even as the editor-in-chief of Kodansha, he would face immense pressure.

But then I looked at Kitahara's youthful face.

He is so young, with unlimited potential for the future, and the value he can create is immeasurable.

Naotsugu Oyama gritted his teeth, "At most 16% for volumes under 500,000, and 24% for volumes over 500,000!"

"This is the highest price I can offer!"

Seeing his expression, Kitahara Shinya knew that this was Ooyama Naotsugu's bottom line.

He dropped his perfunctory expression and spoke seriously.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Editor-in-Chief Oyama, but I certainly cannot give you an answer right now. However, I will seriously consider Kodansha's invitation when I get back."

Kitahara Shinka means that he would include Kodansha in the list of candidates.

But the final result.

We'll have to see what other publishers' terms are.

Then, the best candidates will be selected.

Seeing that he still couldn't 'win over' Kitahara Makoto, Oyama Naotsugu felt somewhat dissatisfied, but he didn't say anything.

Kitahara is not a newcomer.

Instead, he is a dark horse in the literary world, with his debut work "No Longer Human" about to sell over 500,000 copies.

They are not someone he can easily manipulate.

He can only offer inducements; coercion is useless.

Therefore, Naotsugu Oyama did not try to persuade Makoto Kitahara again.

Instead, they talked at length about Kodansha's strength and achievements while eating.

To put it bluntly, they're just flexing their muscles.

Regarding Kodansha's strength.

Kitahara Makoto still approves of it.

One of the top five publishing houses in Japan, and the publisher with the best overseas marketing capabilities.

Otherwise, Kodansha wouldn't be qualified to be included in his list of candidates.

……

"16% for sales under 500,000 copies and 24% for sales over 500,000 copies. As expected of a big company, they really have deep pockets!"

I came out of the restaurant.

Mai Sakurajima, who had been quietly eating like a decoration, said with some emotion.

"fool."

Kitahara Shin patted his senior's head.

"They didn't give it away for free."

"I signed a ten-year contract, and all my books after that have to be published by Kodansha. Although I will receive an annual pension, I will lose my freedom."

Mai Sakurajima said, "Although it's a ten-year contract, he didn't require you to write a book every year."

"A three million annual pension is more than what most people earn working. You can just lie back and coast through these ten years and make a killing!"

"Yeah, once I sign the contract, I can just relax and coast along..."

Kitahara Makoto said in a complicated tone.

"But the key point is that I don't want to give up!"

In my past life, I wanted to lie down and relax.

It's because the upward channel is closed, and there's absolutely no hope of getting out of this predicament.

Even if you work hard your whole life, you'll only ever be a lowly wage earner.

That's why they want to give up and do nothing.

But this life is different.

So many famous works are recorded in my mind.

He only published one book, "No Longer Human".

Where is this?

Now, apart from himself, no one can imagine how terrifying he will become in the future.

This path to heaven has only just begun.

How could he allow himself to be bound so early?!

"Alright, stop thinking about it. Even without the annuity, just keeping 'No Longer Human' is enough to live comfortably for the rest of my life."

"If all else fails, I still have you. You can support me."

"Okay, I'll take care of you. Come on, little brother, give me a smile..."

Mai Sakurajima responded with a smile.

The two chatted and laughed as they walked to the roadside to wait for a taxi.

As a result, we waited for almost half an hour before a car finally arrived.

This made Kitahara Shin realize that it was time to get a driver's license and buy a car.

.......................................

I've tried my best to update four chapters today. Please give me ratings, flowers, and monthly tickets! Brothers, please help!

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Chapter Twenty-Five: Five Hundred Thousand Writers (3 4)

Ever since that day when I came back from having dinner with Naotsugu Oyama.

In the following days, publishing houses began to approach Kitahara Makoto.

There are large and small publishers; the large ones include the other five major publishing houses, while the small ones include some unknown local publishing houses.

The target is his new book.

The highest bid was '30% for books under 500,000 and 40% for books over 500,000'.

However, this is an unknown local publishing house.

Kitahara Shin didn't think much before ruling out the other party.

This is no longer the era where good wine needs no bush.

In modern society, excellent publicity and promotion capabilities can determine the fate of a work.

The reason why the five major publishing houses are the five major publishing houses.

It's not just because they have abundant capital.

Also, because they control a large number of propaganda channels.

It has a complete industrial chain, from distribution, printing, sales, awards...

Like towering trees that block out the sky.

A dense network of roots has taken hold and permeated the entire literary world.

Small publishing houses are simply incomparable to the five major publishing houses.

After excluding small publishers.

Only five major publishing houses remain.

Of the five major publishing houses, Shinchosha has not yet discussed the issue of a 'new book' with Kitahara Makoto.

Other publishers also invited him to entrust them with the distribution of his new book.

However, Kodansha has offered the highest bid so far.

Now he's waiting to see what terms Shincho-sha will ultimately offer him.

If Shinchosha's prices don't satisfy him.

He wouldn't mind having his new book published by Kodansha.

Of course, signing that 'ten-year indenture' was out of the question.

At worst, we can give up some profits to Kodansha, but we can't sign that kind of 'indentured servitude' contract.

……

Before we knew it, it was November.

The reception room of Shinchosha.

Kitahara is here today to sign a new print run contract.

The movie "No Longer Human" has been making headlines recently.

The 250,000 copies printed last time have all been sold out.

Total sales in Japan have officially reached '500,000 copies'!

Five hundred thousand copies.

This number is a significant threshold, even for popular literature.

Only by crossing this threshold can one be included in the ranks of 'bestselling authors'.

Such achievements are beneficial to both the author's reputation and the sales of the work.

One traditional literary work sold over 500,000 copies.