Negotiation
After Igarashi and Mo Fan reached a satisfying conclusion with their talk, Igarashi briefly explained the basic concept of a manga, how it is made, how it should be written, and how it is to be perceived by the reader.
Mo Fan had a bit of trouble remembering some of Igarashi's explanations and borrowed a paper and pen to write on.
This is exactly what Igarashi wants. He wants to impart knowledge of manga to Mo Fan's brain so that he could help him more accurately. For example, if he and Sasori do make a mistake, Mo Fan, who had already been given information about a manga, would know what to correct.
After about another hour of teaching Mo Fan, everything has finally been set. Igarashi has a helper and an editor, surely, the quality of his work would improve even by a small amount.
Though, there is one thing that left something dissatisfying in Igarashi's mind. And that is the fact that he and Sasori are manually making the manga.
'System, is there a printer in the system shop, by any chance?' He was in desperate time to mass produce 'Your Name'. He and Sasori have only made around 14 books consisting of more than 170 pages. Of course, it was not the original manga as it was too long, so, to save time, Igarashi just decided to convert the anime to a book. It was already perfect in the movie version, so he found no problem in doing it that way.
Although Igarashi expected the system to not reply like always, he was yet again not met with that outcome.
[It is greatly advised for the host to complete the mission 'Collaboration']
'Collaboration mission? But why—' Igarashi was wondering why the system would advise him to finish that quest, but the realization hit him afterward. 'Oh yeah, it's a publishing bookhouse! Of course they'll have a printer to print those books!'
He still remembers it until from what he learned in his history class that the ancient Chinese discovered how to print on paper using blocks of wood and other materials. Seals, impressions, or stamps made on wood or other materials, were the first form of printing used in China. Starting around 250 BCE, seals were impressed by official documents, personal letters, and works of art.
Since Liyue is based in Ancient China, perhaps somewhere in the past, someone discovered the same way how to do this and invented it. And through countless years, the printing method is improved by many individuals. Though, this is just a speculation Igarashi made. 'Yeah, just a speculation. However, I won't find out if I don't take a look.'
Igarashi stayed calm while thinking this and without him noticing, he had assumed a thinking pose while standing in front of a door.
Mo Fan, who saw this, found it odd why Igarashi would just stand there without moving an inch for a while now. He went to Sasori and whispered. "What's Boss Yunru doing?"
Sasori looked at Igarashi with his same expressionless and bored eyes and just shrugged. "I dunno. Imitating a statue?"
"..."
* * *
It was already 5 pm and the signs of the setting sun is seen in the west. Its golden light mixes with the clouds making it a beautiful sight.
Some of the shops already light up their lanterns to provide light. Some milleliths are walking in each street of Liyue for patrol. And as always, Liyue Harbor is bustling with merchants from all over Teyvat.
On Feiyun Slope where the iconic red sloped staircase is seen. It is a set of stairs that leads to the upper half of Feiyun Slope where many people use to get to the other side of each street.
Igarashi came here with Sasori shortly after bidding farewell to Fan Mo. He closed his shop and brought Sasori with him to Wanwen Bookhouse located in the upper half of Feiyun Slope.
Igarashi climbed the stairs and after reaching Wanwen Bookhouse, he was met with a store that had bookshelves outside and a door behind leading to the real shop. There was also a table where there are plates and cups present. And behind the table, a woman who looked around her early 30's was reading a book.
'This should be it.' Igarashi thought.
When she noticed Igarashi who was looking around, she continued reading her book and spoke to him. "You buying or not?"
Igarashi was joked out of his thinking and cleared his throat. "Is Miss Jifang here?"
The woman closed her book and glared at Igarashi. "That's me. What do you want?"
"I would like to discuss something." He confidently said. He learned from his mistake in his talk with Xingqiu earlier. He decided to not act anymore and try to be the one that is good at the business talk.
Jifang scoffed and opened her book again and replied, "Hah, unless it's you buying anything here, we don't have anything to talk about."
Igarashi turned more serious and kept going. "But the one I will discuss... Will benefit both of us."
Jifang raised one eyebrow and looked at Igarashi again and closed her book once more. "Oh? What could possibly be wanting to talk about if you're this persistent?"
Igarashi breathed in some air and curved up a confident smile. "Then why don't we talk about it?"
In Jifang's mind, unless it was a customer buying a book, she would not pay attention to someone shady like Igarashi who appears out of nowhere that wanted to talk about something. But when he mentioned the word "Benefit" coupled with his persistence, she got interested and decided to ask further.
Jifang also smiled and walked to Wanwen Bookhouse's door and opened it. "I'm interested. However, if it's something trivial, I'll have to kick you out."
Igarashi nodded and went inside with Sasori.
The talk with Jifang lasted for 2 hours. At first, she was really suspicious of Igarashi for his sudden offer of collaboration. But when she found out that the Feiyun Commerce Guild is supporting him through a contract, her suspicion slightly disappeared.
Igarashi then started explaining his want to collaborating with her bookhouse. Igarashi would submit some of his work to Wanwen Bookhouse and the latter would publish it.
Given Wanwen Bookhouse's location, many merchants come by and would often buy some books there. So, Igarashi plans to spread his manga using Wanwen Bookhouse.
The books will be advertised to the merchants, and if anyone buys, 40% of the money would go to Wanwen Bookhouse for each book sold.
Jifang actually found this deal good. When Igarashi showed her his manga, she had to admit, they looked very promising. It was no doubt that some passing merchants would be interested in buying it. She not only could attract more customers with Igarashi's manga, but she could also earn some money from his work.
The same applies to Igarashi. He could spread his manga further if those merchants were to buy his work.
The two of them discussed more of the matter until they settled on the final contract. Both of them made a contract and signed it and officially entered a collaboration.
Igarashi nodded in satisfaction as he checked his system notification of his quest being completed. He bid farewell to Jifang and went back to his shop with Sasori. Though, there is one thing he was dissatisfied with. 'There was no printer there... It was all the way in Qince Village which is near the borders of Modstadt...'
Igarashi merely sighed in disappointment.
However, like a saving grace, the system notification suddenly appeared.
[Conditions have been met]
[Shop has been updated.]
When Igarashi saw this, he was a bit confused and checks this system shop.
•~•~•~•~•
<Mortal Class>
<System Points: 15]
• [Bought]
• Shop expansion [40 Points]
• [Bought]
• {New} Modern Day Printer (No electricity needed) [20 Points]
• Self-replacing fridge [20 Points]
• [Bought]
• Bathroom (Full set) [10 Points]
• Blank white parchment papers ×50 [1 Point]
•~•~•~•~•
"..."
Igarashi was speechless. He didn't know the system needed certain conditions for this kind of thing! 'Though, I am grateful that it is there now... I just need more points to buy it.'
Igarashi sighed as he looked at the night sky filled with stars while walking alongside Sasori and slightly smiled.
And with that, he and Sasori went back to Chihu Rock.
Fully not expecting a certain Geo Archon waiting at his doorstep for 2 hours now without moving, like a stone.