Chapter 192 Hyakki Hayato panics
Qunyingsha Headquarters.
At this moment, the popularity votes are being counted nervously.
Several editors gathered together and whispered.
"In this issue, will Oda Shingo really surpass Mr. Adachi?"
"If he takes first place, he will really win the bet with Minister Hyakki. This is incredible."
"I think even if he wins, he won't really dare to let Minister Hyakki shine his shoes."
"Yes, I think so too. After all, it was a conflict between the web department and the magazine department before, but this time it's a personal grudge. He doesn't want to offend people badly, right?"
"Hyakki Minister, sooner or later you will find your place. If Oda Shingo hangs on to the bet, it will definitely be a career-destroying act!"
As the statistical work progressed, the technician's face became increasingly ugly.
After the first result came out, he called in helpers and several people counted them together.
After dilly-dallying for a long time, they had no choice but to come to the final result.
This time, Hyakki Hayato's office door was not opened, as if he had expected something.
The large display screen on the wall of the office displayed cold data without emotion.
Oda Shingo's "Parasite" ranked first with 9,257 votes; Adachi Adachi's "Notouch" ranked second with 8,399 votes.
Counting past results, Oda Shingo has already won the third place in the quarter!
Even after being absent for a month, he still ranked third in the total points! The total score difference from the second place "Sword of the Goddess" is only 1,400 points, and the total score difference from the first place "notouch" is more than 4,200 points!
"Oh my god, he was absent from the work for a month and still ranked third!"
"It's terrible, now Minister Hyakki has lost his bet!"
The editors looked worriedly at Minister Hyakki's office.
They can't see what's going on inside the room.
But they can imagine that Hyakki Hayato inside must know that if it is quiet outside and no good news can be heard, it must be bad news!
Indeed.
Hyakki Hayato just stayed in the office all morning and refused to come out.
Although he could already deduce from the silence outside that Oda Shingo had won, he still refused to go out to confirm.
It wasn't until the technician put the popularity value into the publication's system to prepare it as the content of the next issue that he had to accept the result with a grim expression.
"Damn it! Oda Shingo, it's you who made me embarrassed!" Hyakki Hayato stared at the computer screen, his teeth almost shattered, "If you dare to settle the bet, I will definitely..."
The bet is shoe shine!
As the head of the magazine who is better than the editor, he has to bow his head to a cartoonist? !
How could Hyakki Hayato, who has been dominating the manga artist for more than ten years, accept it? !
At this moment, his cell phone rang suddenly.
It was Vice President Xiaoshan calling. He was so frightened that he quickly stood up and hunched over and took out his mobile phone to answer the call.
It is a conditioned reflex habit among Japanese working people to stand up and bend down to answer the phone when no one is around.
Even on the streets, it is common to see people on the phone constantly bowing into the air.
Very sad.
"Hi, Mr. Xiaoshan."
[Hyakki-kun, it’s time to call Oda Shingo. ]
“Huh?”
[Didn’t you see the predicted results of the top three? Although the top three has not yet reached the end of the season and has not yet been announced, the score has determined that he is definitely in the top three. You must not have forgotten the bet, right? ]
"Your Excellency Xiaoshan..." [Do you still need me to remind you how to treat Oda Shingo? I don’t want to see our minister shining the shoes of a cartoonist! This is something that affects the reputation of Qunying Society’s main magazine! ]
"This..."
[For the sake of old friends, let me remind you: Oda Shingo is a cartoonist after all, and he still has a long career ahead of him...] Vice President Koyama’s words are meaningful.
"But..." Hyakki Hayato understood. Vice President Koyama was implying that he would benefit Oda Shingo, but he couldn't accept it!
Tossing benefits to a cartoonist and making peace? There is no way! Have I been living in vain for more than ten years?
Vice President Xiaoshan heard his reluctance and turned serious: "If you really need to shine his shoes, then the position of director of this magazine... you can decide it yourself!" ]
After Vice President Xiaoshan said this, he hung up the phone.
Hyakki Hayato's hands were trembling, his body was shaking, and he couldn't put down the phone for a long time.
He realized that his position as minister was no longer guaranteed!
If I really shine shoes for Oda Shingo, I will never be able to return to the position of minister!
He sat in a chair in a daze for a long time before he managed to regain his composure.
From the internal system of Qunyingsha, he used the ministerial authority that had not expired to call up Oda Shingo's phone number. He pressed the number on the dialing screen...
After hesitating for a long time, he gritted his teeth and struck out.
[Moxi Moxi. ] A familiar but extremely annoying voice came from the other side.
"...Oda-kun, I am Hyakki Hayato."
"Oh! Former Head of Hyakki!"
"..." Hyakki Hayato was sweating.
He stood up subconsciously, his figure began to stoop, and his words were as soft as speaking to a lover: "Oda-kun, maybe we... can become friends..."
"Ah? I'm in Hokkaido and the signal is not very good..."
Oda Shingo is playing dumb! Hyakki Hayato could clearly hear that the voice on the other end was clear, and he stamped his feet angrily.
But with decades of professional skills, he endured this tone of voice.
"Oda-kun... Oda-san... Shingo..." Hyakki Hayato's words became more gentle and more affectionate, "Congratulations on the good results of "Parasite Beast". I would like to arrange a two-color manuscript for the next issue. You Are you confident you can finish it?”
"..." Oda Shingo was obviously thinking about it.
"Coloring page! Let's go to the coloring page! Every chapter on page 85 has a coloring page on the cover! How about it?" Hyakuki Hayato gritted his teeth and announced the new bait.
Two-color manuscripts and color pages are special reward mechanisms for extremely popular comics. Because it will significantly increase the printing cost, color pages are more expensive than two-color manuscripts, but they can also significantly increase the popularity of the comic, which is very beneficial to the author.
Back then, Longzhu was a frequent visitor to two-color manuscripts, but the color pages were rare.
"Xingo, this is just the beginning. I believe that based on my trust in your ability, your comics will get better and better!" Hyakki Hayato was just close to clarifying his words, but he was infinitely close to making it clear!
Oda Shingo finally responded: [Ah, I suddenly remembered that we have to make a bet. Since I’m still on vacation in Hokkaido, I definitely have to take a break for now! ]
His voice was very hearty, like a generous man promising something.
"Good! Very good! It's simply great!" Hyakki Hayato almost jumped up!
He pressed the corner of his mouth with the hand that was not on the phone, for fear of making a sound.
After saying a few more words expressing sincerity and looking forward to the future, Hyakki Hayabusa hung up the phone.
After taking a few deep breaths, he raised his head and burst out laughing, not minding that the sound spread throughout the basement of the magazine.
"No matter how awesome you are, you are just a cartoonist! In the face of interests, you will always bow to me!"
My waist is straight again, my belly is chubby again, the former Hyakki Minister is back!
But, he didn’t know that in distant Hokkaido...
After Oda Shingo hung up the phone, he snorted from his nose.
Then, a smile appeared on his lips.
That smile has a hint of cruelty...
(End of chapter)