Early morning, Red Umbrella Bookstore, Vic Street, City of Atlanta.
"Waiter, do you have 'Furious Heavenly Kings'? Lucky André's. "
"No."
"Sh * t, what kind of rubbish bookstore is this?"
"Hey, boy! Can you give me a copy of 'Furious Heavenly Kings'? "
"I'm sorry, we don't have it here."
"Uh, no wonder it's so quiet here. So we still have to queue. Sh * t, there are already hundreds of people waiting. "
At this time, the owner of Red Umbrella Bookstore, Kadir, was already ashen-faced. His clerk, Lori, could not help but glance at him.
"Boss, the people in front of Windchime Bookstore are already lining up to the end of the alley. They got 200 copies today, but I don't think they can last long — "
"I know, I know!"
Kadir snorted, his gaze wandering. "It's nothing. It's just a popular comic. It's only a turnover of 2,000 gold duns."
"The problem is, our sales have dropped by 30% in the past two days."
Lori lowered her head, using a feather duster to brush the non-existent dust on the bookshelf. "Those customers are impatient. They heard that they can't buy 'Furious Heavenly Kings', so they don't even want to shop in the store."
Kadir's breathing became heavy.
"That's not all, Boss."
This was a young female clerk. "They're also selling bundles. You have to buy other things in their store to buy the comic."
"Sh * t!"
Kadir cursed. "Isn't this against the rules? Can Rising Sun Publishing House accept it? "
The female clerk spread her hands. "I heard they were severely warned by the publisher. It was even on TV last night. Didn't you see it? But they still do what they should do, just not as rampant. They only sell stationery and handicrafts from their bookstore. There are only 300 bookstores in the City of Atlanta that are selling 'Furious Heavenly Kings'. "
"But there are at least 2,000 bookstores in the City of Atlanta, and there are many newsstands —"
Kadir grumbled unhappily, "Can't they sell in other bookstores? I promise to be honest and fair. "
"But Boss, we have an agreement with Ferguson Media Group."
"To hell with the agreement!"
Kadir walked to the counter and picked up the phone. "What is the phone number of the Rising Sun Publishing House? The sales manager was called Daly, wasn't he? "
"It's in the second drawer under the table."
The shop assistant, Lori, was taken aback. "Are you going to Rising Sun Publishing House to stock up now? But the Boss only earns 2,000 gold duns. "
"Bastard, do you think I don't know how to count? In a few days, it won't just be 2000. This comic isn't just a single volume. "
The corner of Kadir's mouth twitched. He had just seen the bottom drawer when he said, "Ferguson's share of profits is quite large, and there's even a sales commission. But the newspapers and magazines they're running now can't reach our stores. "
"Then, Manager, you know what to say, right?"
"What should I say? Of course, I know that this is an either-or situation. "
However, the number was busy several times. When the call went through, it was already past three o 'clock in the afternoon.
"Manager Kadir? Red Umbrella Bookstore, is it? "
There was a hint of alienation in the voice on the other end. "Mr. Manager, our printing plant is also operating at full capacity right now. I'm afraid we can't transfer more supplies to you."
"Damn it! Daly, don't be like that. I know you have the goods over there. Our bookstore will end our cooperation with Ferguson Media Group, okay? "
"I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean."
"What I mean is, we will move all of Ferguson Media's publications to the corner of the bookstore."
"Manager Kadir, we don't agree with this kind of behavior that will hurt our friends."
The sales manager called Daly's tone was obviously a bit more enthusiastic. "But since you're so sincere, I can transfer 30 copies to you. But before that, we'll have a salesperson go to your store to check out the environment. Is that okay? "
"Then what if we no longer sell Ferguson Media's publications?"
Kadir's eyes flashed. "We will also put the Atlanta Daily Laborer and the Georgia Post in the first row."
"And the Atlanta Daily Telegraph."
The voice on the phone was already full of praise. "100 copies will arrive at the store tomorrow at five in the morning. This is already the most I can give you within the scope of my authority. If you want more, you'll have to talk to my boss. How about this, I'll give you some more of André's pictorial. You know? They've been selling well recently, and the girls like them very much. Okay, that's settled. "
"Why does it have to be tomorrow morning? Can't it be in the afternoon? "
Kadir put down the phone, grumbling, and then glanced at his clerk, Lori. "Inform Ferguson Media that they either take their own things back, or we'll send them to the warehouse. Then make an announcement. Tomorrow at nine o 'clock in the morning, the bookstore will have 300 copies of The Furious War Kings and 200 copies of André's pictorial on sale. Lori, do you want to do a tie-in as well? "
"Wow, Manager, you don't hate that lucky André anymore?"
"I still hate him, very much."
Kadir grimaced. "So I've decided to earn back all the money I lost from him."
…
In a meeting room on the 32nd floor of the Ferguson News Building, it was a miserable scene. Everyone in the meeting had cold expressions, and their breaths were heavy.
"Our cable room still can't be repaired? What did Noah Corporation say? Twelve days? The repair fee is 15 million gold duns, right? Let them eat sh * t! Who will watch our TV station in twelve days? Tell them that 15 million gold duns is fine, but they have to shorten it to ten days. Write this requirement into the contract. "
"Adler, negotiate with the TV stations in the City of Atlanta as soon as possible. See if we can borrow their equipment. We can accept any price as long as we can survive these ten days. "
"Richard, how's the negotiation with the Georgia Public Bank going? They rejected it? Why? Ferguson Media's ability to repay the loan is unquestionable! "
"Trash! All trash! Why are my subordinates a bunch of idiots? "
"Tell Rasha that we'll pay him the money we owe, but not now. Ask him if he still wants to work with our TV station. If his show still wants to appear on Ferguson Cable Television, then I'll have to trouble him to shut up. "
Mandivan Ferguson sat in the chairman's seat. He was like a tyrant who had lost control, venting his anger on his subordinates.
Just then, there was a knock on the door of the meeting room. Then, a female employee walked in with a pale face, holding a folder in her hands.
Mandivan Ferguson could not help but look at the person. "Who are you? Sales Department? Don't you know we're in a meeting? "
"Chairman, there's a new situation. I think I have to report it to you."
The female employee was obviously trembling with fear. "Just within an hour and a half of your meeting, another 124 bookstores asked us to take back all the publications they sell on a commission basis."
Mandivan Ferguson's aura instantly became even colder. But this time, he did not scold her. Instead, he frowned. "It's because of 'Furious Battle with the Heavenly King' again. The sales are still very good, right?"
"Yes, Chairman."
This was the sales director who was sitting in the meeting. This person's expression was especially bitter. "According to the information we have, the 90,000 copies that Rising Sun Publishing House placed in the City of Atlanta were sold out at 9: 25 in the morning. Most of the bookstores only open at 9: 00. Now, all the major TV stations and media outlets are talking about 'Furious Battle with the Heavenly King' and André. This is very likely to be a phenomenal comic. No! It's a world-class comic. It has become the most advantageous weapon in the hands of Rising Sun Publishing. "
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