Great Mangaka

After the press conference, Alice left angrily with Takumi.

Since they didn't have dinner, several people went to a hotel by the sea. During that time, Alice told Tomato and the others the whole story.

"How can they do this? Aren't they taking advantage of Mirai-sensei?" Sakura, annoyed upon hearing this, told Takumi: "Mirai-sensei, you should hold a press conference tomorrow to explain this matter clearly."

"They're not entirely lying, how can I explain it...?"

Takumi shook his head. He hadn't expected Kanto to reveal the agreement. But no one said this matter couldn't be leaked from the beginning. Who would have imagined Kanto would be so unethical?

"It's not clear even if we explain it. The media just follows the flow." Alice said: "What can we explain? Explain our absolute disadvantage in channels? Isn't this admitting defeat? And needless to say, the media knows it too, but they'll never report it that way..."

If there's anyone in the world who fears chaos, it's only the media. The media focuses on topics that can attract headlines. Whatever the reason, they tend to portray Mirai-sensei as a loser.

"This is a really difficult matter." Even Tomato knew it and seemed somewhat worried: "Mirai-sensei is a famous mangaka, and Kanto's is a newcomer who hasn't debuted yet. Those reporters hope he can defeat Mirai-sensei, so this news attracts attention..."

"Even if Mirai-sensei defeated him with two manga, reporters will say it's unfair to beat him with two manga, and that the mangaka beat Mirai-sensei...".

At first, Takumi was at a disadvantage, but after Kanto's press conference... Suddenly, he became the boss in the eyes of others, and the media wanted to see the newcomer defeat him. For example, they relentlessly criticized Mirai-sensei.

As he left, Takumi also heard some reporters talking. Mirai-sensei's sales miracle caused Osaka reporters a lot of suffering. Now, finally, they found an opportunity to redeem themselves.

This time was different from any previous situation. Through exaggeration, Takumi was practically defeated without a fight, and the great mangaka was the biggest winner.

But at that moment, Takumi was not angry.

Kanto used him to promote newcomers, which indirectly showed that Takumi was a threat to Kanto. Furthermore, the media has no say in the outcome of this battle, so Takumi didn't care at all. If the sequel to "The Detective Sherlock" wins, Kanto's channel will open for him...

Once the channel is open, it will be clear who will win and who will lose.

"Don't worry, eat quickly and get back to work early after dinner."

Takumi felt relieved. He and several assistants still had to work on manga that night, and they couldn't let Kanto affect their pace.

———————————————————————————

In the classical buildings with gardens in Saitama City, on the blue stone slabs that had been there for who knows how many years, a group of children ran and played in the night.

The old woman sat in the moonlight, a letter in her hand. She looked at it intently. So she could see clearly, the man behind her used a soft flashlight to illuminate the letter.

The old woman was very old. Her temples were gray, but her sitting posture was still as elegant as a woman's, and her clothes were not stained with dust.

A great peace reigned around her, and this peace even moved the running children. They gradually stopped playing and looked at her one by one.

"Madam..."

Suddenly, a slightly older girl came out and asked: "Is that news about the young master?"

"Huh?" The old woman frowned slightly and looked at her: "How did you find out about this?"

The girl shrank her head:

"My mother told me, she said we have a young master...".

"Madam, do we have to leave here when we grow up?"

"Is this the young master's news?"

The other children imitated her, their innocent eyes sparkling.

"...".

The old woman sighed softly: "Didn't you say not to spread it?"

"I'm sorry, madam, we didn't leak it, we were just careless in the garden...". The man behind her wiped his sweat and said awkwardly: "These children are very obedient, madam, don't worry, they won't say anything."

The man turned his head to look aside, and soon, a woman ran towards them.

"Well, children... don't be disrespectful, don't scare the madam."

She approached, took the children away, and patted some of them on the head angrily. Normally, these children behave very well and never talk nonsense, but today is the exception.

The woman knew the reason for these children, who were born in the garden since they were young. This garden is a large family, and this family is decaying. If the old woman leaves, no one will know where to go...

Some time ago, an old man in the garden suddenly fell ill and was hospitalized. Upon waking, he uttered the words "young master," and everyone was stunned.

Young master, if this person exists... Then, whether they are old people, adults, or children, they don't have to worry about the future. Precisely for this reason, these children ask such abrupt questions.

In the courtyard, the old woman watched the woman take the children away and lowered her head to continue reading the letter in her hand.

This looks more like a detailed report than a letter. It records everything about a child from birth to the present, including the hospital's physical examination form; even many years ago, a woman met a strange man.

The old woman read it very carefully, not missing anything, and put the report down.

"Is anything missing?"

she asked.

"Yes, madam, to avoid accidents, we also found a way to get some of his hair when he was traveling. After identification, he is the young master's biological son."

The man bowed his head and replied in a very confident tone. He knew this matter could not be joked about. After a long investigation, even the possibility of a one-in-ten-thousand lie was ruled out.

"Really?"

This news was a thunderbolt for everyone.

However, the old woman acted very calmly, like her life, so calm no matter what happened. Only the trembling of her hands revealed to the man the agitation she felt in her heart.

"Where is Butler Tanaka?"

"He's still in the hospital. But the critical period has passed,"

the man replied.

"Good thing, I can find my grandson; this time everything depends on his eyes."

After so many years, very few people remember the appearance of the old woman's son. Butler Tanaka's discovery not only saved the old woman, but also saved hundreds of people in this garden from falling apart... Even tens of thousands of people from various parts of Japan who knew about it would thank the butler.

"Boom, boom!"

Rushed footsteps were heard. The man turned and saw a group of men in suits approaching. All had happy expressions on their faces.

"Madam!"

These people approached the old woman and said enthusiastically: "Let's go find the young master now!"

"No."

However, the old woman refused.

"Why, madam?" The men seemed anxious: "We finally found your grandson. Isn't it natural to bring him back?"

The old woman shook her head and smiled slowly. It was a faint smile, but very dazzling, vaguely showing the charm of her youth.

She touched the report in her hand. Her gaze softened.

Perhaps any old woman in the world, after the loss of her husband and son, would suddenly learn of the existence of a grandson. She would rush to greet him ecstatically.

However, this old woman would not. She would adopt a cat, but she would never strut in front of a lion.

"My grandson has become a little lion, and it may not be me he receives."

The child had never received the old woman's guidance, and he had grown to be able to live well and enjoy a wonderful life without his grandmother.

She didn't want to interrupt his life, and perhaps she wasn't qualified to.

"Hinotori Publishing... I heard that Kanto Manga Company also develops manga. Is there any conflict between the two companies?"

the old woman suddenly asked.

"Yes, madam." The man's gaze behind her lit up. This was an opportunity for the old woman to change her mind. He hastened to say: "The young master is at Hinotori Publishing. He will undoubtedly be suppressed by Kanto Manga Company!"

The suppression, of course, is non-existent. But the man thought that if he said that, the old woman would definitely make some changes.

Indeed, the old woman got angry upon hearing it.

"They dare!"

But after saying this, she calmed down again and snorted coldly: "Don't lie to me. My grandson is not naive. Are you referring to him as the prodigious mangaka?"

The man was stunned. He hadn't handed over the report. How would the old woman know?

"Yes, yes, madam."

He was sweating and didn't dare to be cunning.

However, even without suppression, the gap between Hinotori Publishing and Kanto Manga Company was evident. The old woman looked at the report.

"What is the second largest bookstore chain?"

she asked, frowning. After so many years, she was not familiar with the cultural market. Apart from Kanto, which she could vaguely remember, she had no idea about the other companies.

"Sakura Books... seems to be the name, but this bookstore's performance is not good, the management is chaotic, and the current size is not even half of Kanto's."

The man replied:

"It doesn't matter." The old woman nodded: "You buy it...".

Everyone in the courtyard was stunned, and then very surprised.

"Old woman, what do you mean?"

Is it a hint to help the young master? They eagerly awaited the old woman's reply, but she seemed not to want to pay attention. She got up and entered the room.

"If the little lion wants to run, let him run...".

She said this before disappearing.

The men in the courtyard were stunned and laughed until the old woman left.

"The old woman is still so calm."

"It's good to be firm, but if you could be as kind as other mothers, the young master would have stayed."

"I think the old woman might be afraid that the young master won't accept her... Don't look at her like that, but this is her love..."

- - - - - - - - - -

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