Chapter 48: Chapter 44: Persuasion
POWER STONES ARE REQUESTED.
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Chapter 44: Persuasion
Although their publishing house had long been dominated by pulp magazines, Jack Leibovitz, as a seasoned publisher, had a fair understanding of the dynamics within the major newspapers of New York City.
Two or three months ago, the "Messenger" was merely an obscure local tabloid. However, everything changed with the serialization of the "Superman" comics. Jack was well aware of the recent developments.
Over the past few days, renowned publishing houses in New York City had flocked to the offices of the "Messenger" in a bid to acquire the re-copyright of the "Superman" comics.
Colin shrugged and addressed Jack, saying, "If there were no other "Messenger" in New York City."
Jack, seated behind his desk, hadn't responded yet, but Harry, who was beside him, couldn't contain his excitement and interjected, "Wait, the "Messenger" wants to collaborate with us?!"
Upon hearing Colin's response, Jack's initial shock subsided, and he replied with a smile, "My goodness, Jack, did you hear that? Or am I simply dreaming? 'Superman,' the very same 'Superman' that major publishers failed to secure the re-copyright for, has somehow landed in our hands. It feels surreal!"
"You're not dreaming," reassured Colin.
Underneath the desk, Jack's fingers, gripping the handle of his pen, trembled slightly. He took a deep breath, attempting to suppress his inner turmoil while silently hoping that Colin Luper, who claimed to be the "Messenger's" boss, was indeed genuine and not some kind of fraud.
After Harry's excitement had settled in the office, Jack Leibovitz finally spoke. He looked at Colin, the person standing before him, and said, "I apologize, Mr. Colin Luper, for my colleague's impolite behavior. This unexpected turn of events has taken us by surprise. It is truly hard to fathom that you would be willing to serialize such a popular work as 'Superman' in our publisher's magazine..."
Jack's words seemed to convey astonishment and gratitude on the surface. However, upon closer inspection, one would detect his underlying skepticism about the situation at hand. As he had mentioned, given the immense popularity of "Superman," there were numerous publishing houses that would be more suitable for such a venture than theirs.
Having discerned the implications behind Jack's words, Harry's initial elation turned into reluctant acceptance.
"Indeed, Mr. Jack is right."
Observing the reactions of the two individuals within the office, Colin acknowledged their response by nodding, signifying his comprehension of Jack's concerns.
He proceeded to elucidate, "Allow me to clarify my intentions. This visit is not merely about entrusting you with the printing of the 'Superman' comics; it serves as an opportunity to establish a cooperative alliance."
If Colin's aim was solely to publish the comics in magazines, he could have chosen from numerous publishing houses in New York City, many of which boasted superior resources and facilities.
"Cooperation?" Jack and Harry recollected the initial statement made by Colin upon their arrival, prompted by his reminder.
They exchanged glances, placed their firearms in its place, and rose from their seats. Jack observed the composed and collected demeanor of Colin and inquired further, "Mr. Colin Luper, could you elaborate on the nature of this cooperation you mentioned?"
With a quick glance at the towering pile of magazines accumulated in the corner, resembling a small mountain, Colin chose not to directly answer Jack's question.
"As far as I know, the current situation of your publishing house is not very good."
"Sir, it is no secret," he replied calmly.
Jack could only respond with a wry smile, "We are merely one of the unfortunate publishing houses."
Colin, however, remained skeptical, convinced that their misfortune stemmed not solely from chance but perhaps from their choice to publish crude magazines. At best, they could be considered opportunists affected by policy changes.
Naturally, Colin's purpose for visiting the publishing house did not revolve around criticizing their predicament.
Thus, after expressing his viewpoint, he swiftly shifted the focus and unveiled the purpose of his visit, stating, "Nevertheless, regardless of past events, my intention in coming here is to establish a collaboration between our publishing house and yours. We aim to jointly launch new magazines, with myself leading the endeavor."
Indeed, this constitutes Colin's primary objective.
Since they are all serial comic magazines, why should he delegate their serialization to others? Why not take the initiative himself?
"You're the leader?!" Colin's words left Jack and Harry finally comprehending the purpose of his visit. It wasn't solely about the magazine but the publishing authority they possessed.
"No, that's impossible..." Harry immediately dismissed the idea without a second thought.
"We established the publishing house with great effort. We can't simply hand it over," he added, displaying his strong disapproval.
In contrast, Jack remained noticeably calmer, his head bowed in deep contemplation. He silently pondered the situation at hand.
After Harry had finished venting his emotions, Colin calmly spoke up with a slight smile. "However, it's clear to all of us that, given the current circumstances, your publishing house will inevitably face closure without my involvement. Do you prefer witnessing its bankruptcy rather than giving it a chance to revive?"
Colin's words struck a nerve, especially when he highlighted the potential consequences for their families in the event of bankruptcy.
"So, what exactly do you propose we do?" Jack finally spoke up after a moment of silence.
Colin knew that his objectives had essentially been achieved upon hearing Jack's question.
With a faint smile curling at the corners of his mouth, Colin responded, "As I mentioned before, this is a collaboration. I hope to become a stakeholder in your publishing house and release works that resonate with readers, rather than producing the crude magazines that teeter on the edge of criminality as before. This is beneficial for both of us..."
"From now on, you won't have to worry about legal troubles or fines resulting from the publication of those crude magazines. You can continue your work peacefully. I appreciate the publishing industry."
Harry, after listening to Colin's words in silence, couldn't help but interject, "I'm curious, which works do you believe readers will appreciate?"
"In this regard, Mr. Harry, I believe you know better than I do. Take 'Superman,' for instance—I presume you're quite familiar with it."
Upon hearing the name mentioned by Colin, Jack fell silent for a few seconds, then extended his right hand.
"Welcome to our publishing office, Mr. Colin Luper. Here's to a fruitful collaboration," Jack said, offering his handshake.
Colin looked down at Jack's outstretched hand and responded with a smile, firmly grasping it. "A prosperous collaboration indeed."
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