The Versatile Master Artist

After receiving a call from his supervisor, Osborne, who had originally left for the underground parking lot, decided to return to the company immediately.

He wasn’t alone when he arrived at the Internal Affairs Department; he ran into President Hill of the company on the way.

President Hill was the highest-ranking official in the European Region.

He was somewhat of a superior to Osborne, although they managed different areas of business. There was a certain level of competition between them regarding the future leadership of the Scholastic billion-dollar group.

Director Charlie was one of Hill’s trusted protégés.

It was expected that both of them were there for the Internal Affairs Department’s investigation,

When they met, they exchanged only a brief, insincere greeting and, with their respective secretaries and assistants in tow, walked side by side into the Internal Affairs Department’s office area like two distinct army units.

”Detective Cat’s work is great, do you really believe that in your heart?”

As they reached the entrance, they heard Charlie’s sarcastic voice.

”Mr. Charlie, Detective Cat’s draft was approved by your own Art Department. What are you saying now?” Osborne pushed open the door, saying with a smile.

”Bullshit! I didn’t review it.” Charlie’s tone was angry.

”So, Vice Director Shubert doesn’t count as part of the Art Department? Or has the Group’s Art Department become a dictatorship of yours, Charlie? Only you can approve drafts? What kind of rule is that?”

The smile on Osborne’s face disappeared, his tone sharp.

”Alright, alright, Director Charlie is also concerned about better market sales. It’s understandable to care about the quality of the illustrators for major projects, as that’s part of a Director of the Art Department’s job.” President Hill mediated for his subordinate.

”As for artistic quality, Vice President Shubert has already given a professional judgment. As for rules, have you found any violation by Assistant Cole?”

Osborne turned to ask the head of the Internal Affairs Department.

The head picked up the internal phone on the desk and spoke a few words.

From the moment the chubby assistant was brought to the Internal Affairs Department, his work computer had already been confiscated.

The Group’s tech department would check for any downloaded work information, like emails related to The Little Prince project and Detective Cat’s agent.

Currently, apart from the assistant submitting the draft to the Art Department and someone from the Art Department taking the file within seconds apart — which looked like collusion —

nothing else had been found.

”The technicians are still examining more in-depth content; if there are any further findings, we will notify separately.”

The head looked at the still sweat-stained face of the chubby assistant and said, ”For now, it looks okay.”

According to his intuition, the head still felt there was an issue with this matter.

However, if it were someone selling trade secrets to a competitor, the head might have been more diligent. But with this seeming like a high-level office political battle, he wasn’t inclined to delve into it deeply.

”Since that’s the case, the investigation is over. Assistant Cole, Vice Director Shubert, you may leave.” Osborne snapped his fingers decisively.

”Stop, stop, they can’t leave. This isn’t over, who said there’s no problem with the artistic standard!”

Charlie shouted.

To let this matter end just like that — isn’t it a joke.

”I believe Vice Director Shubert made an erroneous judgment due to personal negligence, and his judgment on Detective Cat can’t be considered a correct evaluation.”

”What do you want to do then? The contracts are signed. You can’t re-evaluate the draft, can you?” Osborne frowned.

”If you want a third-party art appraisal, I actually have no objection.” Shubert stared into Charlie’s eyes.

When it came to discussing the level of Detective Cat’s test drawings, he wasn’t at all anxious.

”A third-party appraisal? No... there’s an even better way.” Charlie chewed on a cigar, looking cunning.

He didn’t want to deal with any art evaluation.

There’s no precedent for it, and artistry is inherently subjective. Even if it finds Detective Cat unqualified, so what?

Osborne and Shubert could still have an excuse to discern things themselves.

Charlie hoped to use a more straightforward and convincing approach to nail these annoying people, along with Detective Cat, to the pillar of shame.

He wanted to completely destroy this online illustrator’s reputation.

”Since you think highly of Detective Cat, let her submit a cover draft, and let the originally scheduled Villerein Studio submit a cover draft. Bind them on blank book covers and conduct a simulated market survey, how about that?”

Charlie said confidently, ”For an illustrator, is there any better way to prove artistic level than the market? Customers are the best judges.”

Simulated market survey.

Since the turn of the millennium, this was not a new concept for large commercial groups and had formed a mature model.

A simpler simulated market survey involves distributing questionnaires on the street.

Polls conducted on Twitter, micro-blogs, or small questionnaire tests in social media circles are often of this kind.

And large enterprises are more serious and professional about initial market surveys.

Many large projects would spend a high cost, hiring professional business consulting companies to conduct professional market analysis, employing customers from different age groups, races, and social classes.

Movies have pre-release screenings, AAA video games have alpha, beta, and gamma tests.

Publishing companies also have their market survey methods.

Smaller publishers might at best conduct trial readings or contact some book reviewers to see the response to a manuscript.

Scholastic, as such a commercial empire, had much deeper pockets.

In the same European Headquarters Building on London’s Financial Street where they were now, was a [bookstore].