"How about publishing online?"
Takumi and Alice discussed countermeasures and came up with an idea: "Publish Detective Conan online for serialization, so readers can read it even if they don't buy the magazine. Doesn't this favor promotion?"
Magazines limit readers, but the internet doesn't have this problem.
Takumi thought it was a good idea, but Alice rejected it without hesitation.
"Impossible, publishing online does more harm than good, and best-selling manga cannot be published online."
She explained to Takumi that no publisher in Japan would publish their works online to reduce their value. Online serialization requires reader loyalty, and it is difficult to achieve for manga that are updated weekly.
In this world, copyright protection is important, cultural entertainment is enriched, and the most popular books are those published online.
Takumi was wrong. The popularity of the internet in his previous life made him think it was natural, but that was a distorted market. With limited life and entertainment, scarce publication and distribution of novels, and different consumption concepts, people will be enthusiastic about online serialization, creating a false illusion of prosperity.
But that prosperity has never existed in other developed countries in the world, so what will happen in this world?
There are many bookstores, manga and novels are diverse, people can buy the books they like at any time, why would they support online novels? In Alice's words: "If you spend money but can't hold it, you can only stare at the screen, what value do those things have?"
This idea represents the vast majority of people, especially manga, which can be collected.
Of course, online serialization also exists. Its development history is longer than before, and its quality is higher, but it won't be very prosperous. Many newcomers start with serialization, and after gaining fame, they are discovered by publishers and then embark on the path of professional novel writing.
Takumi chose the right path. If he had started with novels, he might still be struggling for something. In addition, Kurosawa also rejected the idea of online serialization on the phone. If it's not popular, it will affect the sales of magazines and individual books. In the long run, it will undoubtedly be more harmful than beneficial.
Of course, he also explained that it's not impossible to publish online. Some manga will have special online versions once finished, but that will have to wait until the profits from the physical format are saturated. For popular manga like Detective Conan, as long as the publisher continues to generate revenue, the possibility of publishing online is very low.
This matter disheartened Takumi, who had to find another solution.
On September 2nd, Osaka's N.º 1 High School opened its doors.
Summer had just ended, and the scorching sun had not yet set. The students, in blue and white school uniforms, returned to the teaching building after listening to the speech in the plaza, sweating.
"Pat!"
Takumi said with a pat on the shoulder. He turned and saw Shiori's smiling face, blooming like a flower among many young faces: "Takumi, I finally found you!"
"Long time no see."
Takumi smiled slightly. He saw that two girls were following Shiori and was surprised: "You deserve it. You made friends so quickly?"
"They're my roommates. This is Maki, and this is Yui!" Shiori introduced the two girls to Takumi. Takumi greeted them, but deep down, he didn't care much.
He was ready to leave after getting the book. He didn't see his classmates many times a year, so he didn't need to remember them.
"What about you? Why don't you see your roommate?" Shiori looked at Takumi and said: "You're very lonely!"
"I don't live in the dormitory. There are rental houses here." Takumi smiled. Then he asked: "I'm in tenth grade. Do you seem different from me?"
"Yes."
Shiori was surprised that Takumi didn't live in the dormitory, but she still replied: "I'm in first grade. I don't know why the school wants to separate us."
First grade is a key class, and tenth grade is a regular class. According to common sense, both have good grades and come from the same place, so Takumi should also be in first grade. But don't forget that he is a special student with permission to not attend school. Being assigned to a key class would probably cause controversy.
Takumi understood, so he didn't care much.
He was very happy to see that Shiori made friends so quickly, and by her position and behavior, she remained the center of attention among the three. The other two girls were shyer.
Takumi was no longer worried about his compatriot's situation.
He chatted with Shiori for a while, then picked up the textbooks from the classroom and went home.
On the way, he bought a translated version of the novel "The Detective Sherlock." 'Knowing oneself and the enemy ensures victory in every battle.' Takumi wanted to check the quality of this novel.
He spent the whole afternoon reading it. The plot of "The Detective Sherlock" impressed him. The story narrates the process of a young detective solving a case. A series of cases are full of suspense. The protagonist is perfect. He masters literature, philosophy, medicine, music, fencing... everything!
He solved impossible puzzles again and again, and the wisdom he demonstrated was astonishing.
After reading this novel, even Takumi felt the urge to collect it. If we look at the method of crime and the reasoning process, "The Detective Sherlock" has been invincible.
However, it also has flaws.
One is that it is set in the West and is very old, so young people might not like it. The second is that the protagonist is too perfect. He is like a robot, a computer, and he doesn't like any women, which is the opposite of Detective Conan.
The Detective Sherlock prioritizes deduction and puzzle-solving, and there is practically no description of life or emotions. These are the advantages of Detective Conan.
However, the gap between the two is still wide. How to reduce it?
The online serialization method has been blocked, and advertising and corporate operations cannot intervene. Takumi can only start with the content of Detective Conan. The first thing he thought of was adding a new interesting case to the volume.
But even if the case is interesting, he is not sure it will convince The Detective Sherlock. Perhaps he should start with other aspects, such as relying on the "air mass" in his head.
Takumi hadn't noticed it for a while. When he focused again, he found that the "air mass" had increased a lot.
In fact, he was recovering, and now it was barely enough for one image, but what could a single image do?
Takumi thought of a solution. He wasn't sure that this method would make Detective Conan's volume surpass The Detective Sherlock, but it would undoubtedly increase sales!
He took out his mobile phone and called Alice.
"Has the volume already been sent to the publisher?"
"Not yet, it's coming out next week!" Alice was in the editorial department reviewing the manuscript. She said: "I'm very busy. I'm making the final confirmation for the ninth episode. This episode has to be sent to the publisher tonight."
"Wait, don't send it." Takumi quickly stopped her and said: "I want to redraw the ninth episode. Please ask editor-in-chief Kurosawa to see if he can delay the release of Weekly Shōnen."
"I want to add a new character."