"Mr. Hayashi, this is the contract our publishing house has carefully discussed and decided upon. Please take a look."
A contract document was handed over with both hands.
Hayashi Yoshiki raised his hand to receive it, his clearly defined knuckles gently pressing one side of the contract paper. After a brief glance, he naturally handed it to the woman beside him, who took it.
Eri Kisaki is a capable woman.
With a beautiful face, she took the contract without a word, quietly scrutinizing it.
The opposite publishing house editor, Asamiya Nanae, just smiled and waited quietly—she was very confident in the conditions offered by her publishing house.
And Eri Kisaki, after reading through the entire contract, couldn't help but nod.
The conditions offered by the publishing house were unexpectedly generous, and there were no overbearing clauses. Overall, their sincerity was very evident.
"There's nothing wrong with the contract. I rarely see such clean commercial contracts these days."
Eri Kisaki said with some surprise, looking up at the editor lady opposite her: "Let alone ordinary popular novels, perhaps only quite famous best-selling novelists can get such a contract."
"Firstly, on one hand, our publishing house is quite confident in the potential of Mr. Hayashi's work, and on the other hand, this contract is the result of repeated discussions between the chief editor and the president... They were completely won over by Mr. Hayashi's previous works."
Asamiya Nanae showed a stifled laugh-like expression.
But this was, of course, an unrealistic lie.
Although the internal reason was not yet clear, Hayashi Yoshiki seemed to have no choice but to accept the favor, so he put down his coffee cup and smiled:
"It's my honor."
Asamiya Nanae just felt a little dazzled.
The young man in front of her was simply too beautiful.
Warm, lustrous black hair, a face emanating an incredible sense of delicacy, with a slight smile on that face, and a clear voice, while the aura around him was an incredibly tranquil feeling.
The first time anyone saw him, they would surely form an impression of a calm and gentle young man.
"Cough... So, Mr. Hayashi, are you satisfied with this contract? Or do you have any thoughts you'd like me to convey on your behalf?"
"No, this is fine, I'm already very satisfied."
"Then if there are no problems, this contract...?"
"Please give me a pen."
"Okay."
Asamiya Nanae immediately handed over a fountain pen with both hands.
Under her guidance and Eri Kisaki's gaze, Hayashi Yoshiki signed his name, officially entrusting the agency rights of his new work to the other publishing house.
After completing her task, Editor Asamiya quickly got up and went back to report.
Only Hayashi Yoshiki and Eri Kisaki were left at the booth.
"Congratulations, Yoshiki."
Eri Kisaki turned her face to look over, her mature beauty showing a kind smile, "You got a good contract."
"Yes, but I troubled Auntie Eri to come with me today."
"For such an important matter, I always have to make time to check it to feel at ease."
Eri Kisaki said this, then raised her hand to look at the watch on her wrist. Seeing that it was almost time, she picked up her bag from beside her.
"But I also need to go to the office soon. If you need anything, call me later, Yoshiki."
"Okay, do you need to work late again today?"
"Yes, I need to work overtime. A client's case is going to court soon... but it won't be that late."
"Understood. Then please drive safely."
"Ah, see you later."
Eri Kisaki's figure quickly walked away.
After watching Eri Kisaki get into her Mini Cooper and drive off, Hayashi Yoshiki had no intention of staying in the cafe. He stood on the street for a moment, then raised his hand to hail a taxi.
"Please take me to Beika Second Apartment."
"Understood."
Click.
The car door closed, and the taxi quickly drove towards its destination.
The spring in March was still a bit cool.
Inside the smoothly moving taxi, the car radio was playing the new song of the popular idol, Yoko Okino.
The street view along the way receded leisurely outside the car window.
Middle-aged people hurrying along the commercial streets on both sides or young couples acting intimately, the impatient car horn blaring the moment the green light passed... Everything was so vivid and real.
A real world—
More than a year after transmigrating to this world, Hayashi Yoshiki has now fully adapted to life here.
After all, he couldn't find any trace of this being a fictional world.
The essence of life is nothing but flesh, breath, and pulse... Hayashi Yoshiki knew that if he cut someone's vein, it wouldn't splatter ink, and running to the end in one direction wouldn't make him hit a painting frame. Since everything was so real and vivid, there was no room for doubt.
His original name was Hayashi Yoshiki.
Before suddenly and inexplicably arriving in this world, which he felt both remarkably familiar and strange, he had lived a relatively successful life for over twenty years.
He had, of course, watched "Detective Conan."
But since suddenly appearing here one day, he not only had the relevant household registration identity, but his familiar body and consciousness also gained some memories and interpersonal relationships.
"Customer, are you perhaps in a hurry?"
The calm-driving driver occasionally noticed that the passenger seemed to be constantly checking the time on his watch, so he couldn't help but ask.
"No, I'm not in a hurry," Hayashi Yoshiki said, "But could I trouble you to switch to the news channel?"
"Okay."
The driver complied readily.
The current time was 14:18 PM.
The news channel was broadcasting a replay of earlier news. During this time, Hayashi Yoshiki discreetly paid attention to the time on his watch, until exactly 14:21 and 30 seconds—
"According to the Beika Metropolitan Police Department, suspect Nishikawa Shigehiko suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during police arrest operation at 8:00 PM on March 16th and died en route to the hospital for emergency treatment."
"According to information provided by Inspector Megure, Nishikawa Shigehiko has caused multiple violent crimes to date, including motorcycle snatching, coercing women, loan shark debt collection..."
The female announcer's voice on the news channel was steady and clear, but in Hayashi Yoshiki's ears, it seemed to be fading away... He corresponded each piece of news content with his memory, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Not a single discrepancy."
He silently celebrated.
"A scumbag died, truly satisfying."
The middle-aged driver had probably long passed the time of being cynical, but he still felt great pleasure facing this broadcast.
The latter's face still held a smile, sharing the same feeling:
"Yes."