Chapter 718: Boss Supervision: Pages of Success
Chapter 718: Boss Supervision: Pages of Success
Kizuna Hall, PrimCon, Sakura City
10:45 AM, Friday, March 19th
Theo and Aurora made their way through the sea of excited fans and cosplayers toward the Fuji Jump Co. stand, a prominent fixture in the center of the bustling convention hall. The stand itself stood out in its sleek design-minimalist yet eye-catching, with its black-and- white banners proudly displaying the titles of some of the most popular serialized works in the industry. The names Naruto, Hataraku Maou-sama, Sword Art Online, and Tree of Joy were emblazoned across the displays, each attracting throngs of fans eager to get their hands on the latest volumes.
Theo owned 90% of Fuji Jump, having acquired it less than a year ago, while Sayuri, the head director, held the remaining 10%. In less than a year, the publishing house had undergone a transformation, catapulting four titles to massive success. Seeing the company's stand here at PrimCon, Theo couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. The venture had turned into a publishing powerhouse, and today, they were showcasing the fruits of that labor.
"Wow, this place is packed!" Aurora said, her eyes wide as she took in the bustling Fuji Jump stand.
"It's good to see the turnout," Theo replied, glancing at the various promotional displays. He had personally overseen the publishing of these titles, and each of them had become a bestseller, selling millions of copies in both physical and virtual formats. "It means we're doing something right."
As they approached the entrance of the stand, a group of Fuji Jump staff members spotted them. Recognition flashed in their eyes, and within moments, one of them hurried over to greet Theo and Aurora.
"Mr. Haiiro!" A young woman in the iconic black-and-white Fuji Jump uniform beamed as she approached. "It's an honor to see you here!"
(Author's Note: Theo and Aurora's last name will be Gray and/or Haiiro, so if you guys see someone calling Theo and Aurora Haiiro, don't be surprised.)
Theo smiled, giving a polite nod. "Good to be here. You're all doing a fantastic job."
The young woman, clearly excited, motioned to the rest of the staff, who quickly gathered to meet them. Everyone already knew Theo's identity as he often frequented the Fuji Jump Headquarters, so everyone quickly greeted him with enthusiasm.
A ripple of excitement spread through the group as they all greeted Theo with enthusiasm, each expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to come to Sakura City to work in the PrimCon promotions. Aurora watched with a mix of amusement and admiration as Theo handled the attention with his usual calm demeanor, politely shaking hands and offering words of encouragement to the team.
"Thank you all for your hard work," Theo said, his voice steady yet appreciative. "It's great to see such a strong presence here at PrimCon. Keep up the good work."
"Mr. Haiiro, we've set up a special area inside for VIPS," the young woman explained. "Would you and your guest like to take a tour of the stand?"
"Lead the way," Theo replied.
Aurora trailed behind him, glancing around with curious eyes. The Fuji Jump stand was filled with large screens playing promotional trailers for the latest volumes of their manga and light novels. There were stacks of manga volumes neatly arranged, with fans eagerly flipping through pages or waiting in line to make purchases. What immediately caught Aurora's attention was the Naruto display-a massive mural depicting some of the key characters from the early stages of the series. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood against a vibrant backdrop, capturing the spirit of the story in its earliest arc.
"Look at that," Aurora said, pointing to the mural. "It's so cool to see Naruto gaining so much traction."
Theo nodded. Naruto had become one of their top-selling titles, and at the sixth volume, it was quickly gaining a dedicated fanbase. There was something special about seeing the characters and story he had helped nurture reach such a wide audience.
They continued through the stand, stopping at the different sections dedicated to each of Fuji Jump's current works. The Hataraku Maou-sama! section was filled with playful and comedic imagery of the demon king living as a part-time worker, while the Sword Art Online light novel section boasted an impressive display of all volumes, from the beginning of Kirito's journey to the climactic final chapter. Fans stood in line to purchase signed copies and limited- edition sets that featured exclusive artwork.
"I can't believe how far Sword Art Online has come," Aurora remarked as they passed by the light novel section. "It's amazing to see the entire series in one place."
Theo agreed. When he acquired Fuji Jump, the company was about to declare bankruptcy. Releasing Sword Art Online and other works managed to rescue the company. The SAO had already finished serialization by now, but he knew the potential it held.
They eventually reached the Tree of Joy display, a more understated section compared to the others, but no less important.
In some ways, for Theo, this light novel was much more important than the others he released. That's because the others he only copied from his last life. But Tree of Joy was a light novel that was born through his own hands and through his heart.
The stand featured a life-sized cutout of several children who lived at the orphanage where the story happened, standing in front of a blooming cherry blossom tree. The novel had been an emotional and heartfelt one-volume release, yet it had resonated deeply with readers. "The way people connected with this story still surprises me," Aurora said softly. "It's beautiful, but it's only one volume, and yet... it's left such an impact."
When she read this light novel, she couldn't help but remember the time she spent in the orphanage as well. It was no surprise that she cried copiously when she read this book
"It's proof that a story doesn't have to be long to be meaningful," Theo replied with shining eyes. "Sometimes, the right message at the right time is all it takes."
As they moved deeper into the stand, they were led to a more private area reserved for VIPs and media. A plush seating area had been set up for interviews, and several notable journalists were already there, chatting with one another. Theo and Aurora were offered refreshments as they took in the atmosphere.
"Sayuri really outdid herself this time," Aurora remarked, taking a sip of water.
"She's always been good at this sort of thing," Theo said with a nod. "She has an eye for detail and knows how to manage these events perfectly."
Though Sayuri wasn't present at the convention, her influence was everywhere. Her meticulous planning and leadership helped transform Fuji Jump into what it is today. Even before Theo had bought the company, Sayuri had already laid the groundwork for success, and together they had taken it to new heights.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
In another area, they sold all kinds of merchandise related to their works. T-shirts, sweatshirts, keychains, figurines, and many others.
The two of them sat for a while, watching as fans and industry insiders alike interacted with the different sections of the stand. Theo found himself quietly observing the joy and excitement on the faces of the attendees. It was one thing to see sales numbers on a spreadsheet, but it was something entirely different to see firsthand the impact these stories
had on people.
After some time, one of the staff members approached them again. "Mr. Haiiro, we have a special edition of our new weekly magazine we'd like to show you. Would you be interested in
taking a look?"
Theo smiled. "Of course."
They were led to a separate area where a table was set up with various copies of Fuji Jump's brand-new weekly magazine, which had only just been launched. The magazine featured serialized chapters from their current manga and light novels, along with exclusive interviews and bonus content for fans. It was available in both physical and virtual versions, and so far, the reception had been overwhelmingly positive.
Theo picked up one of the physical copies, flipping through the pages. The high-quality paper and vibrant colors stood out, and the content inside was well-organized and engaging. "This is impressive," Theo said, nodding approvingly. "The team did a great job on this."
"We're hoping it becomes a staple for fans," the staff member said enthusiastically. "Both the physical and digital versions have been selling out quickly."
"I can see why," Aurora chimed in. "It's a great way to keep up with all the new chapters."
Theo placed the magazine back on the table, satisfied with what he saw. "Keep up the great work," he said to the staff before turning to Aurora. "Ready to move on?"
"Yeah, let's check out some other stands before the crowd gets too crazy," Aurora replied.
With one last look at the Fuji Jump stand and the dedicated team making it all happen, Theo and Aurora made their way back into the main hall, eager to see what else PrimCon had to
offer.