After Alice took Kaito Kid back to the editorial department, Hinotori Publishing held a meeting that night and decided to set the release date of the single volume of Detective Conan for September 11th, a date that was actually scheduled for the day after The Detective Sherlock.
In fact, choosing this date was also a reckless decision. Single volumes are different from magazines. Takumi temporarily modified the original manuscript, and it was already very convenient to be able to publish it on the 11th. Furthermore, due to the addition of two Kaito Kid episodes, the price of the single volume was also increased to 1320 yen.
But when Hinotori Publishing announced the news, media outlets from various places were still outraged.
"Retreating at the last minute, Detective Conan took the initiative to admit defeat."
"The sales duel has become a joke, and Detective Conan is unable to turn the tide."
"The original myth has crumbled, and the manga industry is still in the era of novel adaptation monopoly."
Regardless of newspapers or news, everyone began to sing the bad news about Detective Conan. Everyone knew that a single volume published afterward would be a disadvantage. Detective Conan was initially inferior to The Detective Sherlock. Everyone thought it would be released before the 10th, and only then could it threaten the sales of The Detective Sherlock.
However, Hinotori Publishing set the release date for the 11th, which was a signal to the outside world that it had given up.
"He must be giving up!"
Mach, the author of The Detective Sherlock manga, didn't doubt it. He hugged his new girlfriend in the apartment and laughed: "Look, honey, Hinotori Publishing got scared when they saw me, and they gave up even fighting."
The woman in his arms had a drunken expression.
"Mach-sensei, you're incredible. Several of my sisters said that Mirai-sensei's paintings are better than yours. Now they have nothing to say!"
"That's right!"
Mach almost frowned, very proud: "Do I tell you that Mirai-sensei could be the pseudonym for several people? Others say his paintings are beautiful, who knows if he hired a ghostwriter!"
Weekly Shōnen, published two days ago, caused a sensation. Mach also bought a copy, and the cover almost scared him to death.
The image was too beautiful, but he didn't believe that anyone could draw manga with such beauty. After searching online, he saw that thousands of people said that "Mirai-sensei" was the pseudonym for several people. Mach was convinced. It wasn't uncommon for mangaka to hire ghostwriters. If the author drew so well, 'why didn't he draw normally?'
He only drew three such drawings in a few months. It was obvious that he had paid a painter.
"So he was a ghostwriter. No wonder."
Mach's friends complained: "Those people are too much. They even bullied you, Mach-sensei."
She was a fan of Mach, but she met him last week. She became his girlfriend shortly after. The woman was still immersed in excitement.
"Honey, you don't know how much those unknown and ugly mangaka hate me." Mach lowered his head, kissed her forehead, and lifted her into his arms: "Let's stop talking about those failures, let's do something joyful!"
He carried her to the bedroom.
Time passed and it was the 10th.
A black Audi stopped in the plaza in front of Kyoto Book City, Osaka's largest literary city.
"Look, Hiroshi, there are so many people!"
Mach observed the dense crowd in front of Kyoto Book City and couldn't help but get excited.
Today is the release day of The Detective Sherlock. As a manga that has had a great media impact, Qingyuan Bookstore specially placed it at the entrance, and some pretty girls in fashionable clothes promoted it right there.
"Mach-sensei, it seems that sales are going very well this time."
The assistant knew very well what to say to cheer Mach up at that moment: "After The Detective Sherlock, the company will offer you more popular novels to adapt."
Although The Detective Sherlock is a masterpiece of mystery, it is ultimately a niche category. Only works of youthful passion and fantasy have a larger readership. Tatsuryū Publishing gave The Detective Sherlock to Mach, which was a test in itself.
The idol, Mach, has been popular for ten years, and the novelty has disappeared. Now there are new talents at Tatsuryū Publishing. If The Detective Sherlock's sales are not good, Mach could be gradually replaced by his subordinates.
However, there shouldn't be any need to worry about such a heated scene...
"Haha, Hiroshi, wait a moment, I'm going down to take a look."
Mach put on sunglasses and a hat and triumphantly got out of the car. As soon as he entered the scene, his eyes suddenly lit up. There was a saleswoman with an iconic look...
Mach approached and coughed: "Miss, what are you selling?"
Miyuki was very busy. Suddenly, she heard someone ask. She turned and found it was an invisible man.
"Melancholic otaku?"
She thought that and was happy. 'The best target for sales are otaku.' Miyuki smiled and said: "Don't you know this gentleman? Today The Detective Sherlock is released. The manga's author is Mach-sensei. His manga are the most valuable to collect. You'll suffer if you don't buy them!"
Mach was proud to hear it: 'This saleswoman praised herself so much, is she his fan?'
At the same time, Takumi also went to the nearest bookstore.
The Detective Sherlock was in the most visible place in the bookstore. Many people bought it, and Takumi also picked up a copy.
He sat on a street bench and flipped through the volume. He had already read the translated novel of Sherlock Holmes, so this time he wanted to see the quality of the manga version. After all, novels and manga can evoke different feelings.
After reading it, Takumi had to admit that Mach had very good drawing skills.
The characters he drew were very vivid, beautiful, and realistic. This strength was on par with Takumi's usual level. After all, he was an idol mangaka who had enjoyed popularity for ten years. His drawing skills even surpassed all other original mangaka.
Takumi was very happy that powerful mangaka adapted novels. 'If they were original, perhaps he wouldn't be able to debut successfully.'
Of course, he didn't know that Mach was also an excellent artist at Tatsuryū Publishing. There were no more than forty people in Japan capable of reaching that level, and none of those forty people were capable of creating stories.
Takumi had no natural enemies in the original manga industry.
"Huh?"
Observing it, Takumi suddenly discovered that something was wrong with The Detective Sherlock.
His pictorial style was undoubtedly very good, but it conveyed a very different feeling from the novel, and did not reflect the emotion at all.
"Too much attention was paid to the characters, and the rhythm, setting, and atmosphere were not reflected."
After reading it, Takumi shook his head and closed the manga.
"It seems I won."