Yan Si's Future Business Acumen

"So, you want to compile the story into a book and sell it separately?"

"That's right," Yan Si responded earnestly.

Da Qianma Xiqian Dai tightened his grip on the snack bag in his arms, freeing one hand to start counting on his fingers:

"Currently, we have one printing press here, and the daily profit is around 1500 rings."

"If we calculate it as 300,000 characters per book, printing your novel, the material and labor costs alone will be 500 rings per book. We can produce about 100 books a day."

"Meaning, to ensure my factory doesn't lose money, the ex-factory price per book must be at least 520 rings."

"That's not all. Add the profit for the sales channels and the author's share, and the minimum price per book has to be 550 rings."

"But!" He raised his chubby face and looked at Yan Si.

"Considering the risks and opportunity costs the factory bears for you, I need to receive at least 700 rings or more per book as the ex-factory price. The final retail price in bookstores will likely be close to 1000 rings per book."

"This price isn't something just anyone is willing to pay for."

He analyzed it logically, then calmly took out snacks from his arms and continued to eat them with a "crunch, crunch."

Yan Si was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected this seemingly naive little chubby kid to be so knowledgeable about costs and the market. Was he more than just a manager's family member?

"No," Yan Si calmly rejected his pricing strategy.

"The final retail price can be set around 2000 rings. We'll print 10,000 copies for the first batch to enter the market. Once there's a premium on the market and demand exceeds supply, we'll launch the second edition."

"10,000 copies? Are you that confident in your novel? Trying to pull a hoarding and speculation stunt?" Da Qianma Xiqian Dai instantly understood Yan Si's intention.

If it really could be hyped up, the profits would be considerable, but all of this was predicated on Yan Si's book actually selling well.

Yan Si continued in his steady tone:

"It's simple to operate. As long as you help by taking the finished books around the noble circles and doing some publicity to create 'buzz,' this goal is achievable."

"Tsk, you've thought it through quite thoroughly. Starting from the noble circles to create a trend, artificially creating demand... it does sound somewhat feasible." Da Qianma Xiqian Dai nodded.

"However," he changed his tone, "the risk is still very high."

Yan Si looked at him and uttered the classic business maxim: "The greater the risk, the higher the profit."

"Makes sense!" Da Qianma Xiqian Dai strongly agreed.

Just then, footsteps approached.

Yamagata Tetsu, the third seat, walked out of the factory, his usual unreadable iron face betraying no hint of the negotiation's outcome.

Beside him was an elder who appeared to be a steward. They came before Yan Si.

Yamagata Tetsu spoke, "This is the current manager of the printing factory."

The elder first quickly and respectfully glanced at Da Qianma Xiqian Dai, who was eating snacks nearby, then turned to Yan Si with a troubled expression and said, "Sir, setting up a dedicated printing line just for you carries too much risk, and the expected profit is too low, so we're afraid..."

"Print."

A crisp voice interrupted the elder.

Da Qianma Xiqian Dai clapped the snack crumbs off his hands, turned to Yan Si, and said, "You definitely don't have the money to pay the printing fees upfront. How about this: according to your plan, we'll set the price at 2000 rings per book, and I'll take 1600 rings. Any problem?"

Yan Si looked at the little chubby kid, a faint smile appearing on his face, and calmly replied, "Deal."

Leaving the printing factory area and walking back, Yamagata Tetsu, who had been silent, suddenly spoke softly:

"Did you... know the young master of the Da Qianma family, Da Qianma Xiqian Dai, before?"

"Huh?" Yan Si froze for a moment, then carefully compared the chubby kid with the snack bag, crumbs on his mouth, who had just talked business so logically, with the future "God of Commerce" image in his mind...

It was... impossible to reconcile!

Indeed, time was a ruthless knife.

He shook his head and truthfully replied, "No. He approached me first. I thought he was a family member of some manager, and since he seemed quite sharp, I casually chatted with him about my business ideas."

Yamagata Tetsu nodded and didn't ask further.

He came from a minor noble family and had seen Da Qianma Xiqian Dai from afar a few times at gatherings of middle and lower-class nobles.

However, the Da Qianma family, as wealthy merchants controlling the economic lifeline of Seireitei, held a transcendent status that his humble background could never aspire to.

"However," Yamagata Tetsu brought the topic back to business, a rare hint of concern on his iron face.

"Setting the price at 2000 rings per book is indeed a bit too high. And with him directly taking 1600 rings, after deducting the sales channel's share, transportation, and other miscellaneous fees, the profit that will eventually reach you is estimated to be only 10 to 20 rings per book."

He calmly analyzed, "In reality, even if we set a lower price and go for a low-profit, high-volume strategy, you'd earn roughly the same per book. So, logically, setting a lower price and winning with sales volume would be a more stable choice."

Yan Si listened to his analysis, his expression still calm, clearly having considered this already.

"Old Tie, you're right, but our strategy needs adjustment," he explained slowly.

"This volume, 'Shonen', exceeds 300,000 characters, and most readers have already seen the core of the story in the periodicals.

We'll make it exquisite, using high-quality paper and binding, along with a newly written preface poem, to create a 'collector's edition.' Priced at 2000 rings, our target customers are precisely those nobles and wealthy individuals who pursue quality and have a penchant for collecting."

He changed the subject: "But our new book, Meteor Street Murderer, is different. It's only about 100,000 characters. We'll price it around 600 rings."

"Readers will see that it's a standalone volume, but the price is only one-third of Shonen's. Psychologically, they'll feel 'it's so much cheaper'!"

"Even if the per-character price isn't actually low, this perceived 'cheapness' will make them more willing to buy. Shonen will establish the high-end image and price anchor, naturally paving the way for Murderer's bestseller status."

Yamasato suddenly stopped walking. He looked up, his calm, unrippled eyes meeting Genji's. After a full few seconds of silence, he slowly sighed:

"As expected of someone who writes stories... Your grasp of human hearts and schemes is truly impressive."

Following Genji's train of thought, he immediately understood the brilliance of the plan.

Shonen was essentially using its existing fame for "brand upgrade" and "fan harvesting," with its main goal not being volume sales.

Its true purpose was to provide a price reference for subsequent new works, creating a "bargain hunting" mentality in readers through comparison, thereby boosting Murderer's sales.

Those ordinary Soul Reapers and residents of Runlin'an who were unwilling to spend 2,000 rings on a collector's edition would naturally have a much stronger desire to purchase when they saw the new book for "only" 600 rings.

They wouldn't meticulously calculate the price per thousand characters; they would simply intuitively feel "this one is cheap."

"Alright, since things are settled and you've thought through the details, I'll head back to the barracks now."

Yamasato waved his hand and turned towards the Ninth Division barracks. After a few steps, he added:

"The Captain and Lieutenant Captain should be back from their outing tomorrow."

"Thanks, Old Tie!" Genji shouted at his retreating back. "Once I get my first royalty payment, I'll treat you to a big meal and give you a huge red envelope!"

After bidding farewell to Yamasato, Genji didn't return directly to the Ninth Division. Instead, he headed towards the Second Division barracks.

He planned to find Urahara Kisuke.