"Of course," Xiu clarified, already turning back to tinker with a complex gear assembly on the printing press, "that seven percent figure for Trainers represents overall sales data across Ōto Books' entire catalogue. For specific titles, especially basic reference materials like the 'Kanto Pokémon Illustrated Guide' we're starting with, the demographics shift slightly. You still need to analyze book by book."
He didn't stop working, but continued explaining the nuances of his plan to Xiaoyuan, who listened intently, absorbing the information.
"Established Trainers, the ones with resources, League registrations, maybe even sponsorships… yes, they have high spending power. A few hundred Poké Dollars for a book is nothing to them. But, they're also more likely to value official and legitimate sources. They might be wary of buying potentially counterfeit goods, even at a lower price. So, targeting them first is inefficient, potentially risky even."
He paused, wiping grease from his hands onto a rag. "Contrast that with the families on the list I had you compile." He gestured towards her notepad. "These are middle-income households, maybe lower-middle. They have children just entering or currently enrolled in Pokémon-focused schools – technical academies, preliminary breeder courses, maybe even aiming for university programs eventually. Their need for these core textbooks, these Illustrated Guides, is high, often mandatory for coursework. But their budgets?" He looked pointedly at Xiaoyuan. "Strained."
She picked up the thread instantly, her eyes widening slightly with understanding. "So… families with aspiring Trainers or students, but without the deep pockets to easily afford official bookstore prices… they'd be much more receptive to a cheaper alternative!"
"Exactly," Xiu nodded, a hint of a 'professor to student' smile touching his lips. "People from wealthy backgrounds won't care about saving a few hundred Poké Dollars, so they're likely to buy official versions. But for these families, saving that much on a single required textbook? That's significant. They are our initial target demographic."
He leaned back against the machine. "There's another factor too," He added, his tone turning serious again. "Safety. By avoiding established, powerful Trainers initially, we reduce our risk profile. Annoy some big-shot Trainer with connections, and they might investigate us, cause trouble we can't handle right now. But these ordinary families? Even if they suspect the books aren't official, they're less likely to report it. Why would they? They benefit from the lower price."
Xiaoyuan frowned, a flicker of ethical concern crossing her face. "But… if the books aren't genuine… will they be good enough? Could they harm the students' learning?"
Xiu chuckled, shaking his head. "You're thinking too much, Xiaoyuan. 'Not genuine' only refers to the printing and distribution channel. The content," He tapped a downloaded file displayed on a portable tablet he'd been referencing, acquired through his earlier 'visit' to Ōto's database, "is identical. Page for page, word for word, illustration for illustration. We're providing the exact same knowledge, just without the official publisher's stamp and inflated price tag."
He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Think of it this way," He said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Without us, many of these families might struggle to afford these essential books. Their children might fall behind, maybe even have to drop out of their programs. We're not just pirates; we're democratizing knowledge. We're leveling the playing field, ensuring these kids get the same educational foundation as children from wealthier backgrounds. We're practically performing a public service!"
"It… it seems so," Xiaoyuan murmured, swayed by Xiu's devilish enticement— the ethical dilemma dissolving under the weight of pragmatic justification.
"It is so," Xiu affirmed confidently. "And don't think for a second those official bookstores are paragons of virtue." He scoffed. "Price fixing, suppressing smaller publishers, spreading misinformation to promote certain products, bribing educational institutions for exclusive textbook contracts, maintaining monopolies… the 'official' channels are rife with their own dirty tricks. We're just… playing a different game." His cynicism was palpable.
His words, revealing a glimpse into the potential corruption beneath the surface of legitimate business, seemed to stun Xiaoyuan into silence again. She looked thoughtful, processing this new, darker perspective.
Xiu, however, was already moving on. The philosophical justifications were secondary to the practicalities. "Alright," He said, clapping his hands together, shifting back into operational mode. "The last piece of the puzzle is sales. How do we get the books into the hands of our target audience without attracting too much attention?"
He outlined his initial sales strategy. "We'll start with a small print run of the most popular, widely required titles – the Kanto Illustrated Guide, maybe 'Basic Pokémon Care'. We approach the families on your list directly. Offer them individually, or perhaps bundle them as a 'required reading set' at a further discount."
With the plan solidified, he assigned Xiaoyuan the task of preparing the initial print files while he returned his focus to the machinery, needing to ensure the press was truly ready for their first production run. Xiaoyuan, accepting her role without question now, began skillfully navigating the design software on Xiu's tablet, her earlier hesitancy replaced by focused determination.
— — —
A few days later.
"Just follow my lead, and try to look professional," Xiu instructed quietly as they approached the front door of a modest house in one of the suburban neighborhoods Xiaoyuan had researched.
Xiu wore a slightly-too-large, second-hand formal suit he'd acquired cheaply, the ill-fitting jacket doing its best to make his teenage frame look vaguely adult, or at least older, more official. Xiaoyuan, carrying a simple folder and a nondescript backpack, stood beside him, trying to emulate his serious demeanor, playing the role of his assistant.
Xiu knocked firmly on the door. After a moment, it opened, revealing a middle-aged housewife, wiping her hands on an apron, looking curiously at the two strangers on her doorstep.
"Good afternoon, Madam," Xiu began, flashing a practiced, standard-issue smile intended to convey harmless professionalism. "We're conducting a brief survey on behalf of Ōto Bookstore regarding educational materials. Would you have a few moments to answer some questions?"
The woman looked immediately skeptical, clearly uninterested, already starting to close the door. "Sorry, I'm busy-"
"Of course!" Xiu interjected smoothly, subtly placing a hand on the doorframe to prevent it from closing fully, his voice gaining a persuasive edge. "We understand your time is valuable. This survey will only take two or three minutes, and as a thank you for your participation, we have a small gift for you." He kept his tone light, non-threatening, emphasizing the reward. He felt the pressure against his hand lessen slightly. He retracted it casually, nodding towards Xiaoyuan.
Xiaoyuan, understanding her cue, stepped forward quickly, holding out a simple, professionally printed questionnaire sheet attached to a clipboard.
"Ōto Bookstore is exploring options for offering certified second-hand textbooks and reference materials at reduced prices," Xiu continued his fabricated pitch while the woman reluctantly took the clipboard. "We're gauging interest among families with students…" He kept talking, providing a plausible cover story, though he suspected the woman wasn't really listening.
She scanned the simple multiple-choice questions quickly, ticked a few boxes seemingly at random, and handed the clipboard back.
"Thank you very much for your time, Madam," Xiu said brightly, taking the clipboard. He then reached into the backpack Xiaoyuan carried and produced the 'small gift' – a small, neatly packaged set of 'Pokémon for Toddlers'.
The woman's eyes lit up slightly at the sight of the gift. It wasn't much, but it was free, and clearly of decent quality. She took the books, her earlier reluctance replaced by a polite, dismissive smile. "Thank you," She murmured, clearly ready for them to leave.
"Just one last thing, Madam," Xiu added casually, as if the thought had just occurred to him. "While we're here… I wonder, do you happen to have any of Ōto Bookstore's official Pokémon guides currently in your home? Perhaps the Kanto Illustrated Guide?"