sovbooks Chapter 166 The Wish to Take the Top Spot on the Annual Ranking
Chapter 166 The Wish to Take the Top Spot on the Annual Ranking
Chapter 166 The Wish to Take the Top Spot on the Annual Ranking
Jiang Liumei casually tore out two pages from the "Monthly Bunshun BEST10" magazine, which contained the overseas sales rankings and the domestic sales rankings, and tucked them into a thick document.
That thick document was purchased by Jiang Liumei from a retired editor-in-chief of the "Investigation Department" of Bungei Shunju Publishing for ten million yen.
It contains a record of all overseas and domestic mystery novel sales charts from 1923, the "Year One of Japanese Mystery," to the end of 1977!
Some of the records are handwritten, while others are data torn from the magazine "Monthly Bunshun BEST10".
This document is almost a "history of Japanese mystery sales" written in terms of the works themselves. Any work that appears in it is bound to be a legendary work of high quality and high sales!
In addition to its monthly sales ranking, "Monthly Bunshun BEST 10," Bungei Shunju also publishes a quarterly ranking, "Quarterly Bunshun BEST 50," and an annual ranking, "Annual Bunshun BEST 100."
"In addition, the value of these two lists is much higher than that of Monthly Bunshun BEST10!"
In particular, the annual Bunshun BEST 100 list is the most powerful mystery novel sales chart!
Jiang Liumei's wish is to see Maijo Kyosuke take the top spot on the annual Bunshun BEST100 list.
Because over the past decade, the ten works that topped the local sales charts of "Annual Bunshun BEST 100" are:
"The Blind Spot in the High-Rise" by Seiichi Morimura, a "master of social mystery" published in 1970.
"The Polluted Sea" was written in 1971 by Kyotaro Nishimura, the "master of travel mystery".
The Peacock Road, written in 1972 by Chen Shunchen, the "master of historical reasoning".
Evaporation, written in 1973 by Shizuko Natsuki, a "master of social mystery".
The Secret of Yamatai was written in 1974 by Akimitsu Takagi, the "master of classic mystery."
The Hospital Hill Murder Case was written in 1975 by Seishi Yokomizo, the "Grandmaster of Authentic Mystery".
"Ghost Train" was written in 1976 by Jiro Akagawa, the "master of humorous mystery".
"King, Cross the River of Wrath" was written in 1977 by Toshiyuki Nishimura, the "King of Hard-Hard Mystery".
"The Uncontrollable Toy" was written in 1978 by "classic mystery magician" Tsumabuka Awasaka.
"The Great Kidnapping" was written in 1979 by Makoto Tendo, the "master of farcical mystery".
In the past decade, the author who has been able to reach No. 1 in the annual Bunshun BEST 10 is at least a powerful author of a particular school of thought!
Even the lowest-ranking of these ten people, "Honkaku Magician" Tsumabuchi Awasaka, is a powerful author who rose to prominence two years ago, winning major awards and selling millions of copies within two years!
Therefore, if you can get the top spot in the annual Bunshun BEST100 list, it is almost equivalent to breaking through the level of "famous writer"!
He has transcended the realm of "bestselling author"!
He has directly stepped into the level of "acclaimed writer"!
It could even be said that winning the "Annual Bunshun BEST 100" is more than a hundred times harder than winning the Edogawa Ranpo Award or the Japan Mystery Writers Association Award!
After all, winning the Edogawa Rampo Award and the Mystery Writers of Japan Award only requires pleasing the judges of those two awards, but if you want to get on the list of "Annual Bunshun BEST100", then the number of readers you need to please may be at least a million!
Even though Jiang Liu Meili believes in her heart that Mai Shiro Kyosuke is "the founding mystery myth"!
"The God of Deduction who ends the old era and ushers in a new one!"
However, given Maijo Kyosuke's current strength, it's a certainty that he'll be included in the 190th annual Bunshun BEST 100 list.
But let alone taking the top spot in the 1980 annual Bunshun BEST 100 list.
Even if they wanted to take the top 10 of the 1980 Bunshun Annual BEST 100, they would have almost no chance of winning!
Because this is only the first month of the new year, the current list of Monthly Bunshun BEST 10, apart from Maijo Kyosuke's "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders", "Summer of the Ubume", and Nakajima Kazutaro's "Detective Manual", consists of seven other books that are all older books from last year or even the year before.
To put it simply, the fact that Maijo Kyosuke was able to take first and second place in the first issue of Monthly Bunshun BEST10 in 1980 speaks volumes about his formidable strength.
But luck is also part of ability. From the beginning of 1980 to February 9th, many mystery writers have published new books.
However, apart from Kazutaro Nakajima and Takashi Atoda, who won the 81st Naoki Prize for his novel "Napoleon's Madness," who published the book "Dream Judgment,"...
The other authors who published books either had no representative works or were not mainstream.
Let alone comparing them to Maijo Kyosuke, who has already been promoted to "famous writer".
Even compared to Kyosuke Maijo during his "new writer" period, these writers are not even remotely superior!
Therefore, Maijo Kyosuke is truly strong and has good luck.
However, as other "grandmasters," "masters," "giants," "powerful writers," "bestselling writers," and "well-known writers" successively published new works.
The pressure and difficulties that Maijo Kyosuke would face in order to take the top spot on the February 1980 Monthly Bunshun BEST10 list would naturally become enormous!
As for this fundamental issue, it mainly comes down to the audience of the work.
Although Kyosuke Maijo achieved million-selling status with only two books, "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders" and "Summer of the Ubume," he successfully entered the level of "well-known author."
However, because Kyosuke Maijo's "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders" has four versions: "New Book Edition", "Paperback Edition", "Collector's Edition", and "Standard Edition".
There are also two versions of "The Summer of the Ubume": a "new book edition" and a "single volume edition".
This means that there is a significant overlap in the customer base of Maijo Kyosuke's million-unit sales.
After all, many mystery novel fans have a penchant for collecting books. Some, like Mitsuki Kenzaki, are quite fanatical and might even buy three copies of each edition to read, collect, and share.
In this situation, based on Jiang Liumei's experience, aside from some extreme cases, Maijo Kyosuke achieved a million sales, but that does not mean he has a million fans.
In reality, Maijo Kyosuke's fan base is estimated to be between 300,000 and 400,000.
Thinking about all this, Jiang Liu Meili couldn't help but worry about Mai Shiro Kyosuke.
Because everyone has been immersed in the virtual popularity and buzz created by Kodansha and Kyosuke Maijo.
But everyone seems to have forgotten one thing, and even made a big deal out of it.
As of February 9th, even though Kyosuke Maijo is a once-in-a-century "God of Deduction," he has only been in the industry for a little over twenty days!
No matter how much publicity or competition there was, no matter how much renowned figures like Seishi Yokomizo, Toru Miyoshi, Shunshin Chen, Takao Tsuchiya, Hiroyuki Itsuki, and Manji Gonda wrote reviews for Kyosuke Maijo, or even if Shigeru Mizuki was invited to design the cover for Kyosuke Maijo's book.
But the market is the market.
Many mystery writers spend their entire lives without ever moving from being "new writers" to "well-known writers" because they don't have enough fans.
In other words.
Even if Maijo Kyosuke were the reincarnation of Edgar Allan Poe, that wouldn't be enough for him to gain over 400,000 loyal fans in just over twenty days!
Therefore—the road ahead is long—
Kyosuke Maijo still has a long way to go before reaching the next level of "bestselling author"!
Jiang Liumei sighed heavily as she thought about all this.
I took a sip of blueberry-flavored Ramune soda and looked up at the clock hanging in the living room.
The hour and minute hands of the clock were pointing to nine o'clock.
Jiang Liu Meili decided to call Mai Cheng Jingjie.
Although Jiang Liu Meili and Mai Shiro Jingjie are very close, the last time she met with Mai Shiro Jingjie was five days ago, on February 3rd.
Because Maijo Kyosuke received the manuscript of "Two Bottles of Seasoning" given to him by Noma Genjiro.
Kyosuke Maijo claims that he drew great inspiration from the story of "Two Bottles of Seasoning" and plans to seclude himself for a few days to create a new short mystery novel.
Although Maijo Kyosuke did not forbid Eri Miri from calling him.
However, in order to allow Kyosuke Maishiro to focus on his creative work and not interrupt his creative process, neither Hikari Uyama nor Misaki Eri made a single phone call to him during these five days.
But today, Jiang Liu Meili couldn't contain herself any longer and had to call Mai Shiro Kyosuke!
Jiang Liu Meili not only wanted to know how the short mystery novel written by Maishiro Kyosuke was progressing.
I also want to know how Maijo Kyosuke is doing lately.
Although—Eri knew very well that "Chōmei no Yu" was a very high-end and luxurious hot spring resort with many delicious foods, and that Maijō Kōsuke would definitely not be shortchanged.
As for security within, Jiang Liumei didn't need to worry about it because of the secret protection provided by Lao Wu and A Jian, who were sent by Cheng Yi.
But—Jiang Liu Meili, who hadn't seen Maishiro Kyosuke for five whole days, was inexplicably eager to hear Maishiro Kyosuke's voice.
This unusual feeling caused Jiang Liumei to lose control of her thoughts and begin to seek a reasonable explanation for her subtle feelings of love.
On the other hand, Jiang Liumei had another worry in her mind: she was really worried that calling Maishiro Kyosuke would interfere with his creative process.
The red figure representing "burning love" and the blue figure representing "calm and restraint" engage in a "debate" in Jiang Liumei's mind!
Both sides presented compelling and irrefutable arguments to refute each other's ideas, leaving Jiang Liumei with a huge headache.
Even so, the two sides were unable to determine a winner for a long time.
Until a tiny figure, resembling Jiang Liubieji shrunk to more than a hundred times, appeared in Jiang Liumei's mind and uttered a profound saying that seemed like a divine revelation to her.
"If you really don't want to have any regrets in this life, then you have to strive for it."
With the emergence of this "profound saying".
In the "Red and Blue Little People Battle", the red little people, representing "Burning Love", won a great victory!
Jiang Liumei patted her slightly flushed face and sat up from the sofa.
He quickly grabbed the landline phone that was placed near the table.
I dialed the phone number for the No. 8 VIP suite at the "Longevity Soup".
Perhaps it was a tacit understanding between Maishiro Kyosuke and Eri Ryumi.
Or perhaps it's just too much of a coincidence.
Before Jiang Liumei could press the last number, the phone suddenly rang!
Jiang Liumei was startled by the sudden ringing of the phone. In a panic, she grabbed the phone and, unusually, stammered, "Um—this is the Jiang Liu family home. Who are you looking for?"
Upon hearing Jiang Liu's beautiful words, the other party remained silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "I am Wu Cheng, and I'm looking for you, Miss Jiang Liu."
"I just called the magazine department of Kodansha. Ms. Kaoru Takahashi, the deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine department, told me that you are off today. I called the number you gave me before, but no one answered."
"So I called your home through Ms. Kaoru Takahashi, hoping to try my luck."
Jiang Liumei didn't expect that Mai Chengjingjie would suddenly call her.
For a moment, I felt a little embarrassed about the internal struggle that had just been going on in my mind.
To calm her racing heart, Jiang Liumei forced herself to speak and asked, "Um—Ms. Wucheng, what can I do for you?"
"Have you finished your new short mystery story? Or have you encountered some kind of creative block?"
"If there are any problems, I can help you guide the story's direction—"
A hearty laugh came from the phone: "Thank you for your concern, Ms. Jiang Liu, but my latest short mystery novel is finished."
"The reason I called Ms. Jiang this time is actually because I have another important matter to ask for her help with."
Jiang Liu Meili pouted, somewhat displeased, upon hearing Mai Shiro Kyosuke's words: "Help? Mai Shiro-sensei, are you treating me like an outsider by saying something like that?"
"What kind of relationship do we have—how dare you say something like 'helping out'—"
Maijo Kyosuke couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong with Eri Miyako today.
But something's definitely not right.
"Ahem—um—Miss Jiang Liu, do you remember on February 3rd, we went to visit Professor Yokomizo Seishi, but Professor Yokomizo Seishi was unable to see us due to health reasons, so we had to give up."
"But Mr. Tsuchiya told us that Mr. Yokomizo is willing to serve as the honorary president of our 'New Orthodox Mystery Club' and is also willing to participate in the next 'New Orthodox Mystery Club' conference."
Upon hearing Maishiro Kyosuke's words, Jiang Liu Meili agreed, saying, "Of course I remember. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't see Yokomizo-sensei back then."
"However, I'm really looking forward to it knowing that Yokomizo-sensei is willing to serve as the honorary president of the 'New Orthodox Mystery Club' and attend the next 'New Orthodox Mystery Club' meeting."
After hearing what Jiang Liu Meili had said, Mai Shiro Kyosuke continued, "Ms. Jiang Liu, I would like you to contact Mr. Yokomizo or Mr. Tsuchiya for me and inquire when Mr. Yokomizo would be available to attend the 'New Orthodox Mystery Club'?"
"And all the other members of the 'New Orthodox Mystery Club'."
"This includes Mr. Otto Penzel, and Mr. Hirayama Yumeaki, whom I met last time at the Tatara Used Bookstore."
"I want everyone to get together and appreciate the short mystery novel I created based on the work 'Two Bottles of Seasoning'."
Upon hearing Maishiro Kyosuke's words, Jiang Liu Meili understood his meaning and immediately accepted the task with a confident pat on her chest: "I thought it would be something incredibly difficult, but it turns out that Teacher Maishiro just wants me to schedule a time for all the members of the 'New Orthodox Mystery Club'."
"Don't worry, leave this to me!"
When Maishiro Kyosuke heard that Jiang Liu Meili was willing to help him, he was very happy. He thanked Jiang Liu Meili, hung up the phone, and went back to bed to recuperate.
But this simple action annoyed Jiang Liumei, who was still holding the microphone on the other end.
Jiang Liu Meili hadn't seen Mai Shiro Jingjie for five whole days, and she had many things on her mind that she wanted to share with him.
But before Jiang Liumei could even open her mouth, she heard the busy tone of the phone after it had been disconnected.
Jiang Liumei looked at the microphone, which was emitting a series of busy tones, with disbelief on her face.
My wildly beating heart seemed to slow down, slowly returning to calm.
Jiang Liu Meili took a deep breath, slammed the receiver down on the phone in annoyance, frowned, and said with a mixture of anger and amusement, "Damn it! Mai Cheng Jingjie! You dare to discard me after I've served my purpose!"
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