I Just Want A Single Ending!

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The conclusion she reached was simple enough.

The key lay in that sense of gratitude.

Humans are emotional creatures, after all.

Just as she'd thought earlier, the longer it took her to realize the discrepancy in pay, the deeper her gratitude toward him would grow, making her more likely to work hard to repay him.

Especially since she needed money so badly now, his actions felt like a lifeline.

What's more, Kamigawa Saku had shown her the utmost respect, offering her an immediate fifty percent ad share.

So, when their contract was up, wouldn't she be grateful and likely sign again?

The answer was yes.

Not only was Kamigawa providing her with top-tier pay, but she also had every reason to feel grateful toward him. They'd know each other well by then, and she'd be familiar with her role.

Without any mistreatment to speak of, what reason would she have not to sign?

Following this logic, he'd effectively secured her loyalty, preventing her from leaving.

And if she renewed the contract again after that? Would she stay on even longer?

Yes, she likely would.

By the end of a second contract, after years of working together, they'd no doubt be good friends.

Even if she no longer needed the money by then, she'd have no reason to leave.

After all, the job was easy and allowed her plenty of time for her own pursuits—why end things with him over that?

In other words, unless something unexpected happened, they'd maintain this relationship indefinitely.

So thinking of it as a lifelong arrangement wouldn't be too far off.

If this was his plan, it was a bit terrifying.

"'A lifetime' might be an exaggeration," Kamigawa Saku said, casually correcting her wording. "I'm just hoping to extend our partnership for as long as possible."

"So that's your aim," Sakiko replied, beginning to understand.

"Glad you finally see it." Kamigawa looked pleased with himself.

"But I still have a question: is it really worth going to all this trouble for me?" Sakiko asked. "Outside of that one chance meeting at the company, this is only the third time we've spoken."

If she'd already shown exceptional skill, his treatment might make sense.

But the problem was, at that point, she'd known almost nothing about this field.

Yet he'd approached her, a down-on-her-luck young woman, fully convinced she'd succeed, wanting to secure a long-term work relationship with her.

Was he really that confident in his judgment and in her?

"Didn't I tell you from the very start?" Kamigawa replied, unfazed. "You have value."

"Eh?"

Sakiko blinked, looking up at him, only to meet his calm, steady gaze.

"To you, fifty percent of ad revenue seems like a lot, but for me, it's just a preliminary investment."

"Let's break it down—what happens if my videos flop?"

"First, your revenue share is based on ads. If a video flops, there won't be any ad revenue, so even if I gave you one hundred percent, it wouldn't matter. All you'd get is the base salary."

"And that salary doesn't mean much to me."

"But to you, that base pay is enough to make it worthwhile."

"This is clear from today's conversation. You only questioned the ad revenue and never mentioned the salary."

"So, if a meager salary is enough to secure your loyalty, is it really a loss?"

"Second, a flop doesn't mean the review itself isn't professional—it just means my pivot into this type of content didn't work out. My existing audience base won't be affected much."

"With a little investment in PR, I could leave the impression of a high-quality, well-reviewed video that didn't quite hit the mark."

"Finally, if the video flops, I might not renew your contract."

"You could quit, and I could let you go, right?"

"Altogether, even if a video fails, my loss is minimal."

"But what if the video succeeds? What then?"

"It would prove that you're a hidden talent—a treasure waiting to be uncovered. It would also prove that my investment in you was worth it."

"Giving you fifty percent right away would be seen as me recognizing your potential from the very beginning."

"And since I've already told you I want this partnership to last, if you're that talented, then the longer we work together, the greater my profits."

"In that case, the initial fifty percent investment would be nothing. I'd already have recouped that tenfold."

"So, are you satisfied with this answer?"

After finishing his lengthy explanation, Kamigawa took a sip of his coffee.

"…So, that's my value?" Sakiko sighed deeply.

She had to admit, he made a lot of sense.

For the first time, she genuinely believed that his motive was profit.

From start to finish, he'd thought everything through, calculating her every move.

"Why else would I give you fifty percent of the ad revenue?" Kamigawa's smile remained as calm as ever.

"You're not worried about telling me all this?" Sakiko asked, unexpectedly concerned on his behalf.

"If I hadn't told you, wouldn't you have quit by now? All my plans would be pointless then."

Kamigawa set his cup down with a chuckle.

"Besides, you wanted to know the truth. I'm just giving you the answer you asked for."

"Sorry."

Strangely, Sakiko felt a bit guilty toward him.

Was this the price of forcing someone to reveal their true intentions?

"No problem. Now I just have one question: knowing that I'm essentially scheming, are you still willing to work for me?"

Kamigawa finally asked the most important question.

This was the moment of truth.

"More than happy to."

Sakiko answered without hesitation.

Kamigawa pressed further. "And the revenue share?"

"Fifty percent—everything exactly as before."

Sakiko retrieved her resignation letter and the money, placing them back in her bag.

"This time, fifty percent doesn't feel too high?" Kamigawa teased.

"I'm worth it."

Sakiko's response was as poised as a true lady of status, stating it as fact.

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Greetings, esteemed Readers,

Your steadfast support throughout this journey has been as constant as the tides and as enduring as stone. In the spirit of gratitude, I am pleased to announce the release of bonus chapters, a reflection of your unwavering dedication and enthusiasm.

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[patreon.com/WiseTL].

Even the humblest contribution becomes part of an enduring legacy, a cornerstone for tales yet to unfold.

With utmost sincerity,

— Zhongli