In the end, Sankai Tsuchiya and Takayuki signed a profit-sharing contract. However, Sankai Tsuchiya didn't want the monthly salary of 180,000 yen stipulated in the contract. He already felt satisfied, but Takayuki would still follow the contract terms.
At the same time, they also drafted another authorization contract.
Sankai Tsuchiya would become the sole designated artist for Dragon Quest, and it would be a lifelong commitment, serving Dragon Quest for at least thirty to fifty years.
In addition to designating the artist, Takayuki also authorized the manga magazine to produce future derivative manga and anime works for Dragon Quest. This also demonstrated a cooperative intention, and they would actively promote Dragon Quest, which was also a form of free advertising channel.
Furthermore, whenever Takayuki needed artists like manga artists in the future, the magazine would do its best to help coordinate and connect.
Takayuki and Sankai Tsuchiya agreed that the promotional artwork must be completed one week before the release date, to be used for the official release promotion when the game console was launched.
Finally, the promotional covers for the other several games would also be handled by the magazine, allowing them to contact the artists.
Apart from Dragon Quest, the other games only needed two or three promotional illustrations, which was relatively simple and could be easily handled by manga artists in their spare time, also earning them some extra income. There was no manga artist who would refuse, and Daigo Ikeda was now very willing to act as the middleman for this.
After finalizing everything, Takayuki left.
Daigo Ikeda and Sankai Tsuchiya happily discussed with each other.
"Tsuchiya-sensei, this story outline is really good. You should work hard on it. As for Swordsmen Legend..."
"Stop it. I knew I should have given up on it long ago, but you've been taking care of me all along, and I'm very grateful."
Sankai Tsuchiya deeply bowed to Daigo Ikeda.
Daigo Ikeda hurriedly said, "No, no, Tsuchiya-sensei has always been excellent, it's just sometimes luck isn't on your side."
Sankai Tsuchiya straightened up again, then tightened the design book in his hand.
"I'll go back now and draw the promotional illustrations first, and then start refining the story of Dragon Quest."
"Then, Tsuchiya-sensei, ganbatte."
After Takayuki also left, the editors gathered around.
"Chief editor, Tsuchiya-sensei seems very happy. What did you discuss with them?"
After Takayuki, Sankai Tsuchiya, and Daigo Ikeda met, they went directly into a separate room for detailed discussions, so the editors couldn't know what exactly happened until now, when they were curious and came over to inquire.
Daigo Ikeda smiled mysteriously, "You'll find out later. For now, it has to be kept secret."
In the contract, there were also clauses agreed upon to keep certain things confidential in the early stages, so Daigo Ikeda couldn't say anything now.
To divert the editors' attention, he also remembered another matter. He had to go to that entertainment hall today.
He really wanted to see what that electronic game was all about.
"Let's go, it's just after work, I'll take you to an interesting place."
"Wow, the chief editor is treating us, where are we going for karaoke today?"
These editors quickly ignored the matter of Sankai Tsuchiya.
"There's a good one in Shibuya, let's go there, chief editor! I'll pay for the taxi."
"There's also a newly opened one in Shinjuku..."
The group started discussing enthusiastically, but Daigo Ikeda immediately interrupted them.
"No singing today, I'll take you guys to play electronic games."
"Electronic games? What's that? Is it a place to hit electronic instruments?"
The group looked puzzled.
"You'll find out when we get there."
In fact, Daigo Ikeda also had no idea what it was. They had to go there to find out.
However, when they arrived, Daigo Ikeda realized that he had underestimated what electronic games were.
The electronic games he imagined should be a new form of entertainment that had just emerged, probably not well-known to the public yet, and likely not many people would be interested in playing.
But...
It was now 7 o'clock in the afternoon, the time when most companies finished work.
Normally, most people would either go home for dinner or go for a snack with a few colleagues to socialize.
Places like entertainment halls and karaoke bars were usually their main spots after 10 o'clock.
But now...
Daigo Ikeda almost thought he had come to the wrong place.
"Hey! Line up properly! I'll punch you if you cut in!"
"Please don't cut in line, it's based on the ticket numbers, cutting in line won't help."
"Ouch! You stepped on my foot!"
Not to say it was crowded, but it was packed to the brim.
Outside the entrance, over a dozen gaming machines were set up, each with at least twenty people queuing up behind them.
On the side, a staff member was continuously repeating the demonstration and promotion of the games.
It was already early spring, not too cold, but this situation of putting customers outside to queue for playing was the first time he had ever seen in his life.
However, he quickly understood that it was because the inside of the store was already packed with even more people.
Those were the people craning their necks to watch the gaming machines.
Occasionally, bursts of cheers and boos would erupt.
"Chief editor, is this an entertainment hall? Why is it so bustling?"
"I've been to this store before, but it wasn't like this."
The editors beside Daigo Ikeda were also astonished.
"It's because of the electronic games; these people have gone crazy for them."
At this moment, a cold female voice came from behind them.
They turned around and saw a girl with her face covered standing far away in a place where no one else was around, the most striking being the silver hair peeking out from under her hood.
"Miss, do you know a lot about electronic games?"
The girl replied, "I just arrived this morning, and I've been waiting here all day."
Daigo Ikeda was surprised.
"So crowded? You've been waiting all day without experiencing it?"
The girl looked a little embarrassed. "It's not just because of that; it's because... I don't want to get into the crowd."
Daigo Ikeda didn't understand why, but it slightly relieved him.
Then the girl pointed to a nearby staff member who was continuously handing out tickets. "If you want to experience the electronic games, you can go there and get a ticket. When it's your turn, you can play."
"Thank you."
Daigo Ikeda nodded slightly, then led his editors towards the staff member distributing tickets.
Of course, he wasn't going to get a ticket. Takayuki had told him that they could find the manager of this place, and the manager would directly let them experience the games without waiting in line.
Covered up as Tsukino Aya, feeling a slight fear as she saw more and more people, she sighed.
She really wanted to leave; it was so cold here, and there were so many people.
But she also wanted to play.
Yet, she couldn't get too close to others, or else...
She shivered and ultimately decided to wait a little longer.
Perhaps by midnight, around two or three in the morning, there would be fewer people here, she thought.