It's not June yet, but the heat is gradually rising.
In the morning, Takumi felt a suffocating heat as he got out of the car and frowned.
"Tanaka, go back first and pick me up at noon."
He turned to the driver and told him, who nodded and left in a black car. Takumi shielded his eyes from the sun with his hands and walked towards the Hinotori Building.
"Good morning, Mirai-sensei!"
The security guard saw him and opened the door for him.
"Thank you."
Takumi thanked him, and the guard bowed his head as if flattered. He entered the building. Several women playing with their mobile phones at the reception also saw him, and quickly put down their phones and greeted him: "Good morning, Mirai-sensei."
Takumi smiled and continued walking towards the elevator.
"I was so scared, why did Mirai-sensei come today?"
"I don't know, he hasn't appeared in a long time. Wouldn't he get angry if we played with our cell phones?"
"He shouldn't..."
Hearing the faint murmurs behind him, Takumi entered the elevator and breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a long time since he had been to Hinotori Publishing. This time he came because Alice informed him he had a meeting.
What kind of meeting was it?
Takumi felt curious, but upon entering the office, he found it empty. This huge office is now occupied by two people. Alice bought her own office equipment in front of Takumi. There were many documents on the table, but Takumi's was empty, only with office supplies. He
approached the desk; the chair and desk were spotless. It could be said that Alice usually helps him clean diligently.
"Where has she gone?"
He took a manga from the bookshelf and read it for ten minutes. Takumi didn't wait for Alice to return and didn't reply to the message.
He got up and went out to look for her. First he went to the video game production department. The artists and designers were working on Pokémon production. Prototypes of some 3D elves had been created. After seeing the computer demonstration simulation, Takumi thought it was very well done.
"Good, keep it up. I'll come back to check the progress from time to time... By the way, do you know where Alice is?"
Takumi asked the employees.
"Miss Alice?"
Several artists looked at each other. They didn't see Alice that day.
"I remember there's a recruitment interview today!" A game designer was the first to think of it and said with a smile: "Miyuki went to the interview, I think Miss Alice should be there too."
"Interview?" Takumi frowned slightly: "What interview?"
"Interview for new employees..." The designer explained: "The company has expanded its staff lately, and I heard that it seems they are going to create a new department. I don't know if it's true."
Create a new department?
Takumi was stunned, though he understood a little. Alice asked him to come, probably for this matter.
After leaving the video game production department, he went to the Weekly Shōnen editorial department. Speaking of new departments, it would undoubtedly be the expansion of the manga department. Each Hinotori Publishing magazine has a department. The arrival of "Mirai Manga" will naturally lead to the creation of a new magazine department.
But if so, why did Alice and Miyuki go to the interview? With so many doubts, Takumi thought that asking the editor directly would give him a quicker answer. But upon reaching the Weekly Shōnen editorial department, he found that Kurosawa was not there either.
"Mirai-sensei. Have some tea." Sun-san served Takumi a glass of water and explained: "The editor-in-chief has an interview. He might have to wait half an hour before he returns." Indeed,
it was another interview.
But Takumi didn't care. He took a sip of tea and asked:
"Is the company going to create a manga department for Mirai Manga?"
He thought the editor should know the answer.
"This... I don't know." However, unexpectedly, Sun-san shook his head: "The editor-in-chief didn't explain it to me, but it should be related to Mirai Manga magazine. Look at this...".
He took out a piece of paper and handed it to Takumi, saying: "This is the editor-in-chief's draft. It contains some questions he plans to use in the interview."
There are two handwritten questions on the paper.
What do you think is the highlight of One Piece? How is it different from Mirai-sensei's previous works? If you were an editor, how would you guide your mangaka to learn from it?
What are your prospects and suggestions for Mirai Manga's future development?
Judging by the questions, Takumi was almost certain that Hinotori Publishing's expansion purpose was to establish a department for Mirai Manga.
However, to be honest, Takumi didn't object, but he considered it unnecessary to do so at this time. He was the only one in Mirai Manga, and it would be a waste to create a department to cooperate with him.
"I'll leave first." After drinking the water, Takumi left the Weekly Shōnen editorial department. He didn't have the patience to wait for Kurosawa for half an hour, so he decided to meet directly with Genji.
In the president's office, Genji invited him to sit down as soon as he entered.
"Waste... I didn't say I wanted to create an editorial department for Mirai Manga." Genji prepared tea, listened to Takumi's question, and smiled: "You misunderstood. Mirai Manga will not create a new editorial department for now, and that's not why I asked you to come today."
"But the new department is real...".
He placed a teacup in front of Takumi and then said: "Your Mirai Manga has made the company discover a problem. We cannot be sure which department Mirai Manga should belong to. No matter who it is given to, others will complain."
After the launch of "Mirai Manga" manga, it caused a sensation throughout the market. However, this new magazine was Mirai-sensei's exclusive decision and did not belong to any department.
Furthermore, "One Piece" was also a manga drawn by him alone and had no affiliation. Genji initially wanted to hand them over to the Weekly Shōnen editorial department, but he met with immediate opposition from them.
The Weekly Shōnen editorial department is stronger than the Weekly Shōjo Manga's. The female editors believe that Hinotori Publishing cannot favor male readers. To balance the departmental gap, they want to take "Mirai Manga" into their own hands.
Of course, the Weekly Shōnen editorial department is also determined not to give in. For this popular magazine, no one wants to give up.
Genji had been distressed for several days, and there was no need to create another editorial department for the time being. After several days of deliberation, Genji decided to create a new department.
"We are going to create a Mirai-sensei Division, a department focused on you that will unify all your works and businesses." Genji smiled and said: "This division can concentrate scattered resources, which is very beneficial for your advertising."
His idea is to open the company's distribution channels. Departments always compete with each other. The most important thing for Hinotori Publishing now is Takumi, and his value should not be hijacked by departmental interests.
If a division is established above the department, Mirai-sensei's resources can be unified. For example, manga advertisements can be inserted at the end of anime and game advertisements in manga. In the future, manga can be adapted into anime, including connections with Sakura Books. As long as it is related to Mirai-sensei, a single group can handle it.
"..."
After listening to Genji's words, Takumi's heart was filled with emotion, and he couldn't help but feel disturbed. Genji said it very simply, but this matter is a momentous change for Hinotori Publishing.
To achieve resource integration, this Mirai-sensei Division will not be a simple department, but a high-level management organization, which means that Hinotori Publishing completes a transformation and forms a new strategic structure with Takumi as its core.
And, in short, what is a division? The Mirai-sensei Division is definitely not a division in the conventional sense.
"The candidates have not yet been determined, but Alice and Kurosawa will join them." Genji slowly said: "The recruitment of new employees now is not for the business department, but mainly to supplement various departments. It is possible that some people from other departments will be transferred to your business department in the future. We must do a good job of talent selection in advance."
Takumi nodded slightly. Now he understood everything.
"Business department" is just a nice word. The true meaning is Genji's decentralization. He is transferring power to Takumi, Kurosawa, and Alice. If the company's management joins Mirai-sensei's business department, anyone who is not foolish will see that this is a powerful new organization. Takumi has become the center of Hinotori Publishing.
"Now... is it too early?"
Takumi asked with some unease. Half a year had not yet passed, and Genji took the initiative to hand over power. It was unexpected.
"It's not too early. After One Piece's launch, I felt I had to do it."
Genji looked at Takumi with a smile. After One Piece's sale, the victory or defeat between Hinotori Publishing and Kanto Manga Company was practically decided. He thought it would be good for the company to transfer power to Takumi as soon as possible.
Furthermore, this boy understood his thoughts, which made Genji very happy: "If you want your business unit to take shape, it will take several months of selection and debugging. Now it's just the preparation phase...".
In fact, after Takumi's team was formed, the agreement between Genji and him would expire, and the timing was most opportune.
"Takumi..." Genji took a sip of tea and slowly said: "In the future, I will handle the company's daily affairs, and Hinotori Publishing's direction... you will be the helmsman."
"Yes..."
Takumi nodded severely, very grateful.
Genji will remain Hinotori Publishing's president for a long time, but in a few months, his true role will be Takumi's logistics manager.
Takumi is a very rational person. He knows that the company's operation is very complex. Genji's daily management is equivalent to reducing his problems and eliminating unnecessary worries, allowing him to give his all to move forward.
"President, I will remember your kindness... As long as I'm at Hinotori Publishing, the Genji family will be the biggest beneficiary, besides me!"
"For every drop of kindness, a spring of gratitude," Takumi thought; he must create more value to repay Genji's trust.
His words stunned him. The old man's expression trembled slightly and then he smiled: "Wow, it's the first time you've been so direct."
With Takumi's words, Genji was satisfied.
- - - - - - - -
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