**Chapter 9: Serialization**

**Chapter 9: Serialization**

"Alright, I'll notify the layout team right away..."

"Yes, the Newcomer Grand Prix issue should be on the magazine's title page. The second cover is reserved for Mr. Ye Feng's serialization promotion."

"Make sure the first major interview goes to Master Kuxuan! Don't print it wrong!"

"Old Li, you'll need to add more prints this time!"

...

At the Manjie Cultural Company's editorial office, it was a whirlwind of activity as the magazine prepared for print.

Ito Ayumi, the newest editor, was quite relaxed since she only had one author to manage—Lin Qingshan.

Her desk was filled with Lin Qingshan's "Edge Runners" manuscripts. She had already finished reviewing chapters 1 to 6.

Having completed these chapters, Ito Ayumi was brimming with confidence in both Lin Qingshan and "Edge Runners."

Chapters 1 to 6 covered David meeting Lucy and starting their collaboration. The pacing was slower due to the inserted introductory content, but Lin Qingshan had meticulously recreated the anime's scenes with incredible detail.

For him, it was no trouble at all.

With his master-level artistic skills, his drawing was both precise and efficient. However, as this was her first time handling a new comic artist's serialization, Ito Ayumi was understandably nervous.

"Lin-sensei, I believe in you... We will succeed!" she thought, gazing at the drafts on her desk with determination.

...

Soon, the latest issue of "Comic World Gogo" was printed and distributed across cities in the Republic.

In Lin'an, a regular working-class family was having their weekend routine.

"Son! Go downstairs and grab the newspaper and your magazine!"

"Okay!"

High school student Fan Siwei, sitting at his computer desk, perked up immediately. He quickly ran downstairs, signed for the newspaper and a new comic magazine from the postal worker, and headed back to his room.

Fan Siwei was a loyal reader of "Comic World Gogo," having followed it since middle school through bookstores and local stalls.

In high school, he negotiated with his dad: if he ranked in the top ten of his class each month, he would get a subscription to "Comic World Gogo" weekly.

He worked hard, as entertainment options were limited in this pre-smartphone era. His family had a computer, but as a high school student, even on weekends, he couldn't play on it for long.

Therefore, reading comic magazines was one of his rare sources of entertainment during his breaks.

"'Light Energy Judgement'! 'Light Energy Judgement'! And 'Sorcery King'! Finally, I get to see the latest installments!"

Fan Siwei's favorite series were these two. Every popularity poll, he cast his votes for them, ranking them as his top two choices.

This was similar to most readers of "Comic World Gogo," who subscribed for one or two specific series and read other content only afterwards.

Fan Siwei flipped through the magazine, reading the latest chapters of "Light Energy Judgement" and "Sorcery King" first.

"Next up, they're dealing with the Devil Priest, right?! So exciting!"

"This issue of 'Sorcery King' is so boring. Ah, Zhan hasn't gone to save anyone yet, just reminiscing?!"

After finishing his favorite series, Fan Siwei flipped to the next page of the magazine.

"Eh? Newcomer Grand Prix work? Another new work?"

He had no particular expectations and began reading.

"Cyberpunk 2077: Edge Runners… Such a long name and strange. Cyberpunk? 2077? That's the year, so it's a sci-fi manga set in the future, right?"

He commented on the title, but as he read further, he was amazed.

"This newcomer's manga… The art is so detailed."

Lin Qingshan had meticulously recreated the anime's scenes in "Edge Runners," and his superior drawing skills made the comic's visuals highly refined.

The opening featured the protagonist, David Martinez, in a monologue inside a maglev train.

"In 2077, the city I live in is rated as the worst in America."

"Why? Violent crime is rampant…"

"The highest number of people below the poverty line in America…"

The scenes depicted futuristic high-tech cityscapes, magnetic levitation cars, holographic projections, city-crossing trains, and...

Cyborgs with mechanical body parts.

"This is an undeniable fact, but people still flock here. The city always gives you a glimmer of hope…"

"Whether lies or illusions, they feel so close, almost within reach... driving people recklessly forward!"

It then showed scenes of cyber-psychos going berserk and introductions to body modifications and cyber-psychos.

Finally, David Martinez, having just finished a black-market dream, happily talked to the black-market doctor, "Great job! Doctor! This dream is fantastic!"

"End of the chapter."

Compared to an episode of the anime, the manga's chapter was relatively brief. Due to the need to include previews for "Cyberpunk 2077" and explanations about body modifications and cyber-psychos, the first chapter of "Edge Runners" had to stop there.

Lin Qingshan had only completed the full content of the anime's first episode by the fourth chapter.

However, Fan Siwei was impressed with the manga's first chapter, especially the action scenes featuring cyber-psychos and the Night City police.

"This newcomer's work... Not bad! Future tech, body modifications, cyber-psychos, it's the first time I'm seeing something like this."

Fan Siwei thought, mentally noting "Edge Runners" and then continued reading the magazine's other serializations.

This was also the general reaction of manga fans to the first chapter of "Edge Runners."

After all, as a debut work from a newcomer, it was rare for a manga to make a big splash immediately.

Even for the most renowned manga artists, few had works that became instant hits with their first chapters. Famous manga series typically gained popularity gradually over time, leading to...

Widespread acclaim!

(End of Chapter)