Chapter 93 - 93: A Helping Hand and the Song “For River"

There were two primary reasons why giants like the Big Seven publishers teamed up to host the Ascent of New Gods competition. First, it was a directive from the Ministry of Culture to promote literature. Second, it served as a vital scout for the industry's next big stars. Tokyo and Osaka dominated the field primarily because the top-tier talent was constantly being siphoned off by the corporations in those metropolitan hubs.

Historically, the top six spots of every Ascent of New Gods competition were almost exclusively reserved for contestants from Tokyo and Osaka. It was an uphill battle for anyone else. Not only did those authors possess exceptional skill, but debuting with a Big Seven publisher provided them with a level of fame and visibility that regional competitors simply could not match.

However, in every competition, there were always two or three dark horses who demonstrated potential that transcended regional boundaries. Authors like Airi were a perfect example. Her new novel, Fate of the Rainbow, had already been flagged as a high-priority work by several reviewers during the initial manuscript check.

...