RBCT Chapter 147 Release Frenzy
Chapter 147 Release Frenzy
Chapter 147 Release Frenzy
2 a.m., Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
Maijo Kyosuke, supporting the blushing Eri Miri, strolled through the streets of Ginza.
Although it was 2 a.m., the streets were still quite crowded due to Ginza's bustling atmosphere.
This made Maijo Kyosuke and Eri Meili appear less out of place walking down the street.
"Ms. Maishiro! Did you know?"
"You're a genius!!!"
"Look! Not everyone can get such high praise from Mr. Gonda!"
Jiang Liumei was probably really happy and drank a bit too much.
He pulled out a notebook from his bag and read aloud: "Language is a weapon, a psychological warfare tool that can be sharpened to a point and pierce the heart of the opponent with a thousand holes. Maijo Kyosuke has truly turned words into weapons, making them a sharp knife to stab the opponent!"
"When a murder occurs, whether you are the perpetrator, the victim, or a bystander, your actions or inactions have already drawn you into the event—the cruel truth is right before your eyes. Can you see through this shocking conspiracy?"
Jiang Liu Meili finished reading Gonda Manji's comments on "The Third Time Limit," carefully put away her notes, then grabbed Maishiro Kyosuke's arm and said happily, "Mr. Maishiro—do you know what Mr. Gonda's comments mean?"
"This means—Mr. Gonda really admires you!"
"If Mr. Gonda didn't truly admire you, he wouldn't have written two reviews for the same author! Especially since both were short mystery stories!"
Jiang Liu Meili seemed afraid that Mai Shiro Jingjie would abandon her, so she tightened her grip on Mai Shiro Jingjie's arm even more.
The force was so strong that Maijo Kyosuke felt that his arm would definitely have bruises from Eri's scratches: "Tokiko, who killed six people in a row for revenge, Suzue, who is twisted yet willing to do anything for love, and the strange mystery that can't be solved without the victims."
"Ryoko, who transformed into the Ubume due to schizophrenia, had to kill the mother of a death row inmate in advance to prevent her son from killing his father. And this time, in order to avoid being caught by the police, she shifted all the blame to an alibi."
"These kinds of stories and tricks that other writers struggle to come up with even after exhausting their efforts were actually conceived by Ms. Mai Cheng within a month—and then she wrote them all down!"
"This is truly beyond my imagination—it makes me feel that meeting Teacher Maishiro in this lifetime is an incredibly fortunate thing!"
"Long live Teacher Mai! Teacher Mai is the best!"
"Reclaiming the glory of classic mystery! The new classic mystery will surely leave an indelible mark on the history of detective fiction!"
Jiang Liumei raised one arm, making a shouting gesture, and then began to ramble incoherently: "And also &；*%￥#@——————"
, 7
Jiang Liumei's words became increasingly incoherent, making it harder and harder for anyone to understand what she was saying.
However, Maijo Kyosuke did not stop Jiang Liu Meili from speaking. Instead, he led her on a stroll through the streets like a couple on a date, listening quietly.
Because Maijo Kyosuke could tell that Eri was very happy today, the kind of happy that she had so much to say and so many emotions to express!
Although Maijo Kyosuke couldn't understand a word that Eri was saying while drunk.
But Maishiro Kyosuke could see from Eri's captivating almond-shaped eyes that her happiness was not just her own; it also included her happiness and joy for Maishiro Kyosuke!
The two of them walked along the streets of Ginza, in the absence of wind and snow, all the way through Chuo Ward—and kept walking—and kept walking—
Jiang Liumei said she was tired, and under the influence of alcohol, she passed out in Maishiro Kyosuke's arms.
With a smile, Maijo Kyosuke carried her back to the "Longevity Bath" —
1980, April 1.
Thanks to the vigorous promotion by President Noma and Yasunori Mikoshiba, and the overnight work of Kodansha's design department.
The new edition of "Summer of the Ubume" was printed in a flash, with a total of 200,000 copies!
Although the initial release of 200,000 copies is not particularly large for the extremely popular Kyosuke Maijo, who has just finished signing autographs for the "Collector's Edition" of "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders".
However, this is the first time since 1973 that Kodansha has had such a large initial release!
The last time it achieved such a high initial print run was for Gen Komine's "Archimedes Kills with a Borrowed Knife" at the 19th Edogawa Rampo Prize.
For the past seven years, this work has been hailed by the industry as "the most successful work in the Edogawa Ranpo Award"!
After all, this work indirectly inspired many Japanese mystery writers over the past seven years.
However, "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders" took less than a week to snatch the seven-year record held by Gen Komine's "Archimedes Kills with a Borrowed Knife".
It has become the new "most successful work in the Edogawa Ranpo Award"!
Therefore, as the author of "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders," which is considered the most successful work of the Edogawa Ranpo Award and also the best-selling "orthodox mystery novel" in 1980, Kyosuke Maijo is a highly regarded writer.
Naturally, they deserve the unique privilege of being among the first 200,000 copies sold!
Therefore, Kodansha, in collaboration with its own manga department, invited the famous yokai manga artist, known as "Yokai Doctor" Shigeru Mizuki, to personally draw the cover for "Ubume no Natsu".
They have come into the public eye!
Kyosuke Maijo's latest masterpiece, "The Summer of the Ubume," dubbed a "yokai mystery," has been placed in the most prominent position in all bookstores across Japan and is now on sale!
With the release of "Summer of the Ubume", all of Maijo Kyosuke's fans flocked to bookstores to snap up copies of "Summer of the Ubume"!
After all, whether it's "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders" or "Top Hat" magazine which publishes short mystery stories by Kyosuke Maijo, anything related to Kyosuke Maijo has a strong appeal to the entire readership!
Because in this era when the internet was not yet widespread, the public's entertainment activities were limited to watching movies and singing karaoke.
Detective novels are an important topic of conversation for ordinary people during their leisure time.
If you haven't read any of the hottest books lately, you might find yourself excluded from the social circles around you. Even worse, you might get spoiled by people who have already read them!
Therefore, being able to get your hands on popular works to read as soon as possible is a fashionable trend for people in this era!
Isama Uguis stood on the street opposite the bookstore, wearing a pink cotton coat that was completely out of character and smoking a thin cigarette that also didn't match the pink coat.
This unlucky, aloof actress failed her audition again today.
Do you think your temperament is suitable for playing this kind of gentle role?
Don't you think you look very out of place in pink?
"I'm really sorry, there isn't a suitable role for you in the script at the moment."
"We will call you if a suitable role becomes available next time."
Izama Uguisuke has heard the director and screenwriter's words so many times they're practically calloused.
Even Isama Uguisuke has begun to believe that it's all her fault.
It's because I don't have the conventionally attractive appearance that I've been rejected in auditions so many times.
But—is that really the case?
Should one feel remorse and blame oneself simply because one does not conform to the public's aesthetic standards?
Isama Uguisue was often tormented by this kind of trouble and couldn't sleep. She would toss and turn in bed.
You'll see the "Collector's Edition" of "The Tokyo Zodiac Murder Mystery" on the bookshelf, personally signed by Kyosuke Maijo.
If you can't sleep, just read a book.
From then on, Izama Uguisuke spent many nights reading Maijo Kyosuke's "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders".
Although Isama Uguisuke is not a fan of mystery novels.
However, because she loved the book "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders" so much, Isama Uguisuke often frequented libraries and researched a lot about Maijo Kyosuke and the background of the creation of "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders".
The news she received seemed to rekindle Isama Uguisuke's dream of becoming an actress.
Because the background of "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders" overlaps with my own acting career in some aspects.
While the current popular works in the Japanese mystery market are all "social mystery," Kyosuke Maijo went against the grain and wrote the amazing "orthodox mystery masterpiece," The Tokyo Zodiac Murders!
According to information found by Isama Ui in an unknown newspaper, after Maijo Kyosuke created "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders," he was rejected by several editors of Kobunsha.
But he was not discouraged. He was eventually appreciated by Hideomi Uyama, the deputy editor of the third publishing department of Kodansha's Bungeikan, and won the Edogawa Ranpo Ryu-soo Prize, becoming a renowned mystery novelist at that time!
When Isama Uguisuke discovered the background of Maijo Kyosuke's creations, it was as if she saw herself reflected in Maijo Kyosuke.
Because everything is so similar!
Wasn't I also influenced by Mayumi to continue my acting career?
I might not be as lucky as Jingjie Maishiro, who quickly found a "deputy editor" who appreciated me.
But—my own acting skills—my own appearance—
One day you'll meet someone who understands you, or a role that suits you!
Isama Uguis exhaled a puff of smoke and stubbed out her cigarette on the smoking tray of the trash can.
He suppressed his fatigue and displeasure and walked towards the bookstore across the street.
This time, I didn't buy Maijo Kyosuke's book because I really wanted to read "The Summer of the Ubume".
In reality, in Isama Uguisuke's heart...
To some extent, Maijo Kyosuke was his spiritual pillar and sustenance.
Supporting Kyosuke Maijo is supporting yourself.
Seeing Maijo Kyosuke succeed made Isama Uguis feel as if she herself had succeeded, and she was very satisfied!
The battle inside the bookstore was fierce!
As soon as Isama Uguis entered the bookstore, she had the illusion that she had entered the morning rush hour Shinkansen!
Upon entering the bookstore, Isama Uguisuke's feet unknowingly left the ground.
Before my feet had moved an inch, my body had already passed through the bookstore entrance, the cashier, and arrived in the bookstore lobby.
Just as Isama Uguis was feeling tightness in her chest and shortness of breath, pondering how to escape this predicament.
Isama Uguisuke has arrived at the bookstore selling "Summer of the Ubume" with the other readers!
The cover and giant poster drawn by Shigeru Mizuki, the author of "Dr. Yokai," along with a few lines of commentary, caught the eye of Uguis Isama!
"Heart and mind, love and hate, the entanglement of fate, the tragedy of the family."
"The Summer of the Ubume is an immortal monument in the modern mystery genre! The Summer of the Ubume is the future of mystery novels!"
"Works that are difficult for others to imitate or reach are just a hobby for Mr. Maijo Kyosuke."
These few lines of commentary are not particularly eye-catching for general readers who have not yet read "Summer of the Ubume" or are unfamiliar with its plot.
However, the two names written under the comments highlight the value of those comments!
"Highly recommended" by Seishi Yokomizo, the "Grandmaster of Authentic Mystery," and Takao Tsuchiya, the "Giant of Authentic Mystery"!
The official history of Henggou? Takao Tsuchiya?
Even someone like Isama Uguisuke, who doesn't know much about mystery novels, knows the status of these two in the history of Japanese mystery!
Even if someone doesn't know Takao Tsuchiya or Seishi Yokomizo, they must have heard of Kindaichi Kosuke, one of Japan's three great detectives!
Although Isama Uguisuma was already struggling to breathe from the crowd.
Fortunately, the result was good!
Without wasting any effort, I followed the crowd and arrived at the sales area for "Summer of the Ubume"!
The "Summer of the Ubume," which had been stacked up to the same height as Isama Warbler, shrank to her waist in an instant at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.
Isama Uguisuke realized that if she didn't act now, she might miss out on the first-release edition of "The Summer of the Ubume".
Now!
Thinking of all this, Isama Uguisuke used all her strength to reach out to "Summer of the Ubume"!
Thanks to Isama Uguisuke's height of 1.7 meters and her long arms, she successfully snagged a copy of "The Summer of the Ubume" amidst the crowd.
Isama Warbler held "Summer of the Ubume" to her chest and then desperately squeezed towards the cashier!
"Hiss~ Hiss~"
With her already paid copy of "The Summer of the Ubume," Isama Uguis finally managed to squeeze out of the bookstore after a great deal of effort.
After putting "Summer of the Ubume" into her bag, Isama Warbler took a few heavy breaths to calm herself down from the fight over the book.
Isama Uguiss hailed a taxi and got in.
The driver was a middle-aged woman in her fifties.
As soon as Isama Uguisui got on the bus, the driver started chatting with her: "Young lady, are you here to snatch Maijo-sensei's 'Summer of the Ubume'?"
Isama Uguisuke looked at the driver with a puzzled expression, took "Summer of the Ubume" out of her bag, and asked, "Auntie? How did you know I just bought 'Summer of the Ubume'?"
"Are you also a fan of Ms. Maishiro?"
The female driver, holding the steering wheel, smiled without a hint of surprise: "We drive taxis all day long, we don't have time to read detective novels, we usually listen to the radio."
"However, we taxi drivers all have our own intelligence networks."
"Although I don't read many mystery novels, I am aware of all the major and minor events happening in the market right now."
"Mr. Maishiro! He's currently the most talked-about new author in the Japanese mystery novel market, with a huge following, which will surely attract countless mystery novel enthusiasts."
"So, as drivers, we've already figured out the pattern."
"As soon as Mr. Wu Cheng releases a new book, or a new issue of Top Hat magazine is published, we will go to various bookstores immediately."
"Because as long as you're near a bookstore, you can quickly reach readers eager to buy new books!"
"And today is the day that Ms. Maishiro releases 'Summer of the Ubume'."
"Judging from the wrinkles in your clothes and your slightly messy hair, I can almost immediately tell that you just went to buy Mr. Wucheng's 'Summer of the Ubume'!"
"After all, today is the launch day; the bookstore must be packed, right?"
Upon hearing the driver's analysis, Isama Uguisun smoothed her slightly disheveled hair and a relieved smile appeared on her face.
Because Isama Uguisuke could tell from the driver's tone that Maijo Kyosuke was incredibly popular among the Japanese people at that moment!
It becomes even clearer that Maijo Kyosuke's status has far surpassed that of an ordinary new mystery writer, and he is gradually moving towards becoming a bestselling author!
Isama Uguisuke is able to see Maijo Kyosuke, whom she loves and on whom she has placed her emotions, grow step by step, and Isama Uguisuke feels as sweet as if she has eaten honey!
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