Misdirection, No, This is a Feasible Solution!

Chapter 26: Deception… No, This is a Feasible Solution!

"Suggestions?"

Shang Tao's fingers, which had been gently rubbing his temples, paused. He looked somewhat confusedly at the girl before him, who was excessively beautiful and didn't look like an editor at all.

"Mhm."

Tang Yao rotated her chair to face him, organized her thoughts, and then said, "Regarding the manga awards, because of the controversy surrounding Girl, Boy, and Sword, angry readers have now affected the upcoming manga awards, right? They've even started boycotting completely unrelated manga awards out of spite. This is giving you a headache, and you're unsure of the impact this will have on the upcoming manga awards and, most importantly, the website, correct?"

"Right."

Shang Tao lowered his hand from his temple and said helplessly, "Don't you think it's dangerous? The readers are acting as if the entire magazine is guilty… If we heavily promote the manga awards and the website now, won't the readers just ignore it? After all, the comment sections of our promotional posts are filled with curses. In this situation, everyone is worried about something unexpected happening."

"Indeed."

Tang Yao nodded in agreement. "It's possible these readers will deliberately downvote the works in the manga awards when the website launches… Even if it's not that extreme, if things continue like this, launching the website will be meaningless. The manga awards are meant to drive traffic to the website, right? Right now, there's scolding everywhere about the manga awards, so it's probably going to be difficult to attract traffic."

After all, Girl, Boy, and Sword is a pillar work of our magazine. This sudden decision to go for a 'shit-eating' ending is probably already spreading among the readers.

And promoting the manga awards and the website at this juncture is equivalent to providing more entertainment for the readers who are here to watch the drama. Those who originally wanted to submit their work will hesitate, and readers will subconsciously feel that our magazine is unreliable, thus thinking that the other works in the manga awards…"

Tang Yao didn't finish her sentence.

But Shang Tao understood. His breath hitched.

Tang Yao's words instantly enlightened him, as he had been clinging to a sliver of hope.

The bystander sees the game, while the player is lost in it.

The current situation was indeed irreversible. Forcing the website's launch would be too risky… Teacher Ou's outrageous move has probably spread among the reader community. Nothing could be done now; all hope was lost. The website's launch absolutely had to be postponed.

At this moment.

Shang Tao's anxious heart finally died.

However.

Shang Tao cast a somewhat resentful glance at Tang Yao, who had tilted her head up… He felt it was extremely awkward to hear news of a 'death sentence' from an editor in the content department.

Because the content department was the cause of all this… What sin had he committed? He hadn't done anything wrong. Their pillar Manga Artist had suddenly gone mad, leading to this situation, and now the editor of that mad Manga Artist had to deliver the death sentence.

"..."

Thinking of this, Shang Tao felt a tightness in his chest.

However, despite feeling awkward, he knew that if it weren't for Ding Yilong, the situation wouldn't have been this dire… In the end, the girl in front of him was also a victim.

So, he quickly put away his extraneous thoughts and politely said, "I understand. Thank you for your reminder. I should be going now…"

Since he couldn't change it.

He had to go back and consider what to do next.

Just.

As he turned around.

"Wait, Director Shang, I'm not finished yet…"

Tang Yao said helplessly. This world had too much emphasis on martial virtue, and the state of war had lasted too long. She had said so much, and he still hadn't grasped it.

"Hm?"

Shang Tao turned back, looking utterly bewildered, with an expression that said, 'What else do you have to say?'

Tang Yao sighed inwardly and had to change her approach, reorganizing her words to explain to the director in front of her. "Director Shang, have you ever heard the saying, 'Black fame is also fame'?"

"'Black fame is also fame'…?"

"Mhm. Because of this controversy, the manga awards and the website have indeed been affected by spite, but this also means that as long as you seize the opportunity to heavily promote them, those readers whose anger has nowhere to go will also focus all their attention on the manga awards and the upcoming website."

Tang Yao raised her fair and tender finger and began to earnestly deceive… no, began to explain. "Think about it. Although our magazine's sales don't rank in the top three, it's still a major publication. And our magazine's pillar manga… do you think its popularity among manga readers is high?"

Shang Tao instinctively replied, "Of course, it's high. Even manga readers who don't usually subscribe to our magazine probably know about Girl, Boy, and Sword…"

"Exactly."

Tang Yao skillfully guided him, "So, does this mean that even readers who don't follow this manga know about this incident? After all, it's the pillar manga of a major publication that has a problem. Many readers who like manga will join the discussion out of curiosity, won't they?"

"Right…"

"So, haven't manga reader circles been discussing related topics these past few days? And if you promote the manga awards and the website at this time, won't the readers who were initially upset by the manga's plot twist share it with their fellow readers? For example, saying something like, 'The pillar manga of our own magazine is like shit, and they're heavily promoting manga awards and a website? What idiots. Who knows if the works on that website are also shit-filled garbage meant to feed readers.'

After all, heavily promoting the manga awards at this juncture is indeed hateful."

Tang Yao lowered her finger and continued, "Then, other readers who don't follow Girl, Boy, and Sword at all, upon hearing this, and combined with the overwhelming promotion, won't they also become interested and take a look at the website? They're just here for the entertainment anyway."

"..."

Shang Tao hadn't reacted earlier.

But Tang Yao had explained it to this extent; if he still didn't understand, he'd be an idiot.

His eyes slowly widened, and he murmured, "Are you saying we should use this incident to drive traffic to the website in reverse… No, no, no, that's not possible. Teacher Ou's reputation, uh, that's not important, but the website's reputation will be terrible! It's useless even if it attracts readers!"

"This is where the commissioned works from the master authors come into play."

Seeing that he was tempted, Tang Yao immediately offered the next step. "For the manga awards, haven't we commissioned many successful manga artists to submit works and build momentum? Most of those works are excellent. You could consider using social media accounts, various channels, and so on, to release them in advance!"

Shang Tao was stunned into silence: "Release... early?"

"Yes."

Tang Yao nodded and said earnestly, "The readers actually have no opinion on the manga awards. Rather, it makes it more convenient for them to view excellent manga, which does them no harm. Online publication of manga is the general trend and will soon become one of the most important ways for readers to view manga.

The reason the problem I just mentioned exists is mainly because of Ou Congquan's work. The website and the manga awards are just being scapegoated... At this point, all that's needed is to make it clear to the readers that the manga awards are the manga awards, and Ou Congquan is Ou Congquan; the two are not the same. Releasing some excellent works that will be published on the website in advance will allow readers to understand this fact, and all problems will be solved.

Of course, to achieve this goal, the works released in advance cannot be subpar. Even if they are works by a master author, they must be carefully selected. We need those that are topical, have strong impact, and are drawn the best..."

"..."

Shang Tao's expression changed, and surprise slowly appeared in his eyes.

That's right!

How could he not have thought of this! They could completely do this!

The readers weren't targeting his website in the first place, nor were they targeting the manga awards. He just needed to make the readers realize this!

And releasing some excellent works in advance was an excellent choice! It would allow readers to instantly understand that Ou Congquan and the manga awards were completely different things.

This storm! It might not only avoid harming the website and the manga awards! It could even build momentum for the website!

He could completely use Teacher Ou's outburst to build momentum for his website!

"Editor Tang, this might actually work!"

The more Shang Tao thought about it, the more reliable it seemed, and his expression became more and more excited. "You are truly a lucky star for our website..."

But as he spoke.

He suddenly stopped, thinking of something, and his expression stiffened.

Tang Yao noticed the change in his expression: "What's wrong?"

Shang Tao was silent for a moment before saying: "... The method you just mentioned requires promoting the manga awards heavily, right?"

Tang Yao nodded: "Mm."

Shang Tao hesitated and said: "Then if things really develop as you predicted, won't 'Girl, Boy, and Sword' be put on the spot? Promoting the manga awards heavily is fine, but what about Teacher Ou's next update..."

Although he didn't finish.

Tang Yao knew what he meant and nodded.

It was inevitable. The better the works in the manga awards, the more it would highlight how bad Ou Congquan's plot development was this issue.

"Then that probably won't work."

Shang Tao gave a wry smile, thought of the Vice President's face, and shook his head. "The magazine... content is everything. That's the most important serialized work in the company. We can't do this; the Vice President won't agree."

In the end.

The online manga reading website was just an experiment.

It was fine to bet on the future.

But to sacrifice one of the company's biggest authors for that future.

No matter how he thought about it, Zhao Fang Sheng would never agree.

"..."

Tang Yao was stunned when she heard this, then lowered her head slightly and fell silent.

She seemed to be struggling and hesitating. After a while, she looked up, slightly furrowed her delicate and small nose, and said as if making a decision, "Then let me make what I wrote, AORI, a reality. This issue's plot development isn't madness; it's just taking a detour to pave the way for the explosive developments that are coming."

Shang Tao was stunned: "You mean..."

"Mm, I will do my best to change Ou Congquan's mind."

Tang Yao stood up and said seriously, "I will take responsibility as the editor."

Seeing Tang Yao's expression and hearing her righteous words, Shang Tao's expression straightened, and he felt a surge of respect.

As expected, he hadn't misjudged her.

Compared to Ding Yilong... the editor before him was too reliable! She was thinking so much for the company! For the upcoming website! Even if she had to endure all sorts of grievances, she would fight for it!

At this moment.

Shang Tao wished he could run up to Ding Yilong, point at his nose, and yell, "Look at yourself! Then look at her!"

"However..."

Just as Shang Tao started thinking about random things.

Tang Yao looked at the new media director in front of her, narrowed her eyes slightly, and suddenly added, "I have a request... This has nothing to do with Ding Yilong. It's only because of Director Shang's request, and it's for the manga awards."

"... I understand."

Shang Tao came back to his senses, glanced back in Ding Yilong's direction, and said with some disgust, "Don't worry, I will report this matter truthfully, including his actions... This is a request from the new media department. The editor-in-chief of the content department played no role in this; he only knows how to shirk responsibility."

"And also..."

Tang Yao nodded, then her expression became serious and very solemn. "Among the manga works to be released in advance this time, I hope I can recommend two works. I have read both of these works, and they are excellent and highly topical! As an editor, I truly cannot bear to see them buried. I will give you the original manuscripts to look at. If everything goes smoothly, can these two works be included in the advance release? I guarantee readers will not be disappointed!"

The map of Yan Country is finally at its end.

The map is spread, the dagger revealed.

"No problem, I trust your professionalism."

Upon hearing this, Shang Tao's respect deepened, and he immediately agreed.

He even felt like running back to Ding Yilong and pointing at his nose, yelling, "Look at yourself! Then look at others!"

In this situation, he's still considering the Manga Artists under him! And you?

"Then I'll thank you on behalf of the Manga Artists first."

"No problem, what genres are those two manga?"

Tang Yao inwardly cheered YES, but her expression remained unchanged: "Horror and... Fantasy."

"Horror and Fantasy."

Shang Tao was a bit surprised but nodded, "As long as the quality is up to par, there will be absolutely no problem."

At this very moment.

This Director Shang hadn't yet realized that Tang Yao had only asked for two works to be included in the early release lineup... she hadn't mentioned participating in the manga award where the copyright belonged to the magazine.

Nor had she mentioned that one of them was a serialized work.

It could only be said.

Beautiful women are all deceitful.

Although Tang Yao deep down considered herself a tough guy... she was beautiful.