PDLP Chapter 54 Conflict
Chapter 54 Conflict
Wait patiently for the meeting room to quiet down.
Yu Zhen sat in the head seat, next to Zhang Fushi. The two whispered to each other for a few moments, and then Yu Zhen turned to signal to Selena Feng.
Selena Feng nodded. Her main task today was to systematically explain to publishers the framework of the third sequel and the subsequent million-word epic novel project.
What other aspects will the work cover...?
The general direction of the storyline, and where it will lead...
To put it bluntly, it's about making the pie in the sky more enticing, so that publishers are even more eager to seek cooperation.
This kind of introduction truly reveals the real skill and puts the writer's creative ability and depth of knowledge to the test.
Of course, to prevent the subsequent plot from being leaked, in case these foreigners turn around and immediately hire a ghostwriter to steal the story's ideas.
It's best to take precautions against theft in the venue first, even if it seems like a risky move.
"Gentlemen, what I am about to introduce to you is that, firstly, no one is allowed to record audio, and secondly, no one is allowed to take notes. If any words or phrases related to future creative ideas are found to be written down, any possibility of cooperation between the two parties will be immediately terminated."
Of course, if you gentlemen have exceptional memories and can memorize the entire framework of the story I am about to tell you, then that's fine too.
Congratulations! You now have the ultimate trump card: priority access to all of Mr. Yu's subsequent works...
A burst of cheerful laughter erupted in the meeting room.
It seems these foreigners haven't realized how sensitive the issue is.
When the staff came forward and rudely took away their paper, pens, and other items, they looked a little helpless and started to complain.
Selena von began to speak eloquently.
The story framework of Yu Zhen's over one million-word sci-fi epic, along with related creative ideas, includes some that would already fall under the category of "folklore" stories in the Western world.
For example, the concept of "zombie", the concept of "biochemical superhuman", and the concept of super-intelligent androids with human emotions and consciousness...
She elaborated on these small creative ideas to highlight how Yu Zhen, a science fiction writer from an ancient Eastern empire, deconstructed these clichéd Western science fiction elements in a fresh way.
And it provides a completely new story structure.
For the average person, such a complex collection of science fiction elements and concepts could easily fall into clichés and become tiresome.
But for Yu Zhen, there are no such issues at all.
In fact, in the past few days, he had Selena von release parts of the English manuscript to several publishers. The beginning of the Resident Evil chapters, that opening scene, is the "Hive" base, hundreds of meters underground, where the "T-virus" infection source was deliberately released into the underground ventilation system, and the entire base was bio-contaminated...
This incredibly captivating and novel opening story had already won them over, making them vow to secure the sequel rights.
After all, there were already successful precedents from the first two installments.
Yu Zhen, the first science fiction writer from a mysterious and ancient Eastern empire to gain international fame, has become an irreplaceable brand in the North American book market in the short term due to his gimmick and appeal.
Moreover, the opening of the Resident Evil story is so captivating.
Moreover, after listening to Selena Feng's eloquent narration, it was revealed that stories like "Resident Evil" actually have at least a million words of content, and at least three to five sequels waiting for them to make money in the market.
Oh my God!!!
What exactly is the structure of this Asian man's brain?!
Why is it that his science fiction story ideas seem inexhaustible?
"My God, if everything Miss Selena said is true, and if you really do have a long-running project of at least a million words, I am willing to sign a contract for all your future series of works on a 50/50 split."
Furthermore, our HarperCollins Publishing Group is willing to prepay a royalty deposit of one million US dollars. If all goes well, I guarantee the company will transfer the funds to your account within three days…”
"Fake Bill, dear Yu, please don't easily believe anything this guy, who's best at pretending to be a shrewd businessman, says."
Your work deserves a more generous and secure royalty distribution plan.
"Work with Wilson Publishing Company. We estimate that your future royalties will be at least $5 million, and we can guarantee that with a contract..."
"Wow! Are you two companies competing in terms of financial resources?"
Are you treating the great Scribner Publishing Company like air?
Dear Yu, compared to mere economic gains, we are willing to pay any cooperation terms offered by any competitor.
In addition, we will fully leverage the brand influence of our century-old establishment to actively work on your behalf and strive to win literary awards such as the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award.
Even recommending your work to the eight major Hollywood studios for adaptation into a Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster would be a piece of cake…
"Beyond the terms offered by Scribner Publishing, HarperCollins, a publishing group with a history of nearly two centuries, will also develop overseas rights for you in other languages. For the next three years, please entrust the development of the world's ten most mainstream languages to our HarperCollins Publishing Group, which has a more comprehensive business scope!"
We guarantee to promote your work to every corner of the world…
Representatives from the four major North American publishing companies rose to speak, revealing their respective trump cards for cooperation.
It's clear that each family is determined to win, yet they still leave room for maneuver in their words.
This is merely their first test of firepower.
Yu Zhen remained calm and composed, not finding the cooperation terms offered by the four companies particularly outrageous.
But Zhang Fushi, sitting to the side, was visibly nervous, his breathing erratic. He couldn't help it; putting everything else aside, there was the anticipated revenue of at least $5 million, the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, and collaborations with the eight major Hollywood studios for film adaptations…
Good heavens!
If all these anticipated positive factors are realized, it will be an outstanding achievement!
As the official leader who orchestrated all of this, tsk tsk tsk.
Doesn't this mean that the position below our buttocks will experience several rocket-like surges in the next three to five years, which is also a matter of great importance?
Faced with such a scene, Old Mark's face changed drastically from pale to flushed, and he became increasingly anxious.
There's nothing we can do about it; he's the weakest of all his competitors, and he's very likely to be the first to be eliminated.
After all, he has been in Shanghai for more than half a month, and his sincerity in all aspects has reached its peak.
Even so, it was just that they had the same meeting and negotiation time as the other four competitors.
Therefore, the most unwilling person in the room was undoubtedly old Mark.
It is anticipated that there will be over a million words of exciting long-form story content in the future. What does this mean?!
As the first North American publisher to introduce works of Eastern culture and discover the potential of this young Eastern science fiction writer, no one could better appreciate the enormous wealth potential involved.
Forget about expecting at least $5 million in royalties.
He estimates that this number could easily double or triple, or even more, not to mention that both countries are actively seeking deeper integration of their cultural spheres and are consciously trying to establish this young Eastern science fiction writer as a representative.
So, what should we do?!
To just admit defeat and give up? I'm not willing, I'm really not willing!!
No, since that's the case, I'll just publicly offer an exorbitant price that the other four companies simply can't match. If I can't do the business, you can forget about taking over it without a fight.
"I'll give you 1%. Continue to cooperate with my company. Of all the profits from your future works, after deducting necessary operating costs, I'll only take 1%. The remaining 9% will all be yours. I swear to God in my mother's name, I'm not kidding!!"
Wow! ~~~
Yu Zhen and the others haven't reacted yet.
The other four publishers immediately erupted in chaos, with a barrage of comments beginning with the letter 'F'.
Clearly, Mark's act of flipping the table truly touched upon everyone's bottom line.