Tuesday 1 October 1995

Zaboru was now in Tokyo's main office district, where the ZAGE Tower was under construction. He was accompanied by Shinsuke, ZAGE's Head of Marketing, and Zanichi, his father and the company's Chief Technology Officer.

Shinsuke grinned proudly. Ever since Zaboru bought the land in 1992, he had been overseeing the progress of the ZAGE Tower, and so far, everything was moving along smoothly.

Zaboru's eyes lit up as he looked up at the 51-floor skyscraper nearing completion. The exterior was almost fully finished, and he turned to Shinsuke and asked, "So, Shinsuke-san, how far along is the ZAGE Tower now?"

Shinsuke grinned. "Well, it's already 90% done, boss."

Zaboru's eyes widened in surprise. "What? That fast? I thought it wasn't due until early 1997!"

Shinsuke nodded confidently, and Zanichi chimed in, "Well, 1997 is the target for it to be fully operational, right? And typically, it takes four years to build a 50-story skyscraper—Japanese construction team is just that efficient."

Zaboru nodded. "Wow, that's fast! Can I take a look inside, Shin-san?"

Shinsuke smiled. "Sure, let's go, boss."

Zaboru, Shinsuke, and Zanichi stepped inside the building. While the main construction was complete, the electrical systems and other interior details were still in progress. Zanichi let out a whistle. "Whoa, it's really spacious! Are you planning to expand ZAGE into something even bigger, boss? And are you thinking about relocating the Osaka office here?"

Zaboru smiled and nodded. "Well, that depends, Dad. As for expansion, absolutely—I plan to grow ZAGE further. But when it comes to moving the Osaka team, I'd need to collect some data on employee willingness. In the future, we might build another large office in Osaka, or maybe renovate the current one to make it bigger and more capable."

Zanichi nodded. "That's a smart approach. The building layout is fantastic, by the way."

Shinsuke grinned. "Well, our boss is really generous with the budget, so we went with the best possible options. And here we are—this building perfectly aligns with ZAGE's vision, right boss?"

Zaboru chuckled. "Yeah, hahaha."

Zaboru was planning to have his personal office and workshop on the top 51st floor—a lifelong dream of his. He couldn't wait to sit by the towering windows of the skyscraper, working on projects while overlooking the Tokyo skyline..

Zanichi looked out the window and said, "The area's really good. Being in the heart of the commercial district gives us excellent visibility and access to key partners and clients. It's the kind of location that naturally attracts talent and opportunity."

He paused, then added, "Of course, the downside is the heavy traffic and how exposed we are to the public eye. Security and privacy might be ongoing concerns here."

Shinsuke nodded in agreement. "Yeah, true. The accessibility is amazing, but we'll definitely need strong logistics and a solid security plan."

Zaboru laughed, his voice echoing lightly through the unfinished corridor. "Hahaha, yeah! But still, it's really great. It feels alive out there—exactly where ZAGE belongs."

The three of them continued exploring the tower, walking through hallways still echoing with the sound of distant drills and construction crews. They inspected various floors, discussed office layouts, and made a few notes about future improvements. After an hour of walking and planning, the group decided to take a well-earned break.

They headed to a nearby yakiniku restaurant known for its relaxed atmosphere and premium cuts of meat. The warm scent of grilled food welcomed them as they stepped inside, the perfect place to rest and refuel before returning to the whirlwind of work that awaited them.

Inside the yakiniku restaurant, Shinsuke leaned over the table and said to Zaboru, "Anyway, boss, I think the ZAGE Tower can be fully functional by the end of 1996. If you want, we could even begin operations then instead of waiting until early 1997."

Zaboru chewed his meat thoughtfully before replying, "Hmm, we might want to observe things a bit longer first. Is ZAGE Tokyo even ready to relocate yet? There's no need to rush—we should move only when the timing feels right."

Zanichi took a sip of sake and said, "It's true, there's no need to rush. And if I'm not mistaken, I'd guess you're planning to increase ZAGE's manpower for the next-gen consoles, right boss?"

Zaboru nodded while sipping his orange juice. "Well, yes, Dad, you're partially right. That is one of the main reasons. But there are other factors too. It's not just about having more people—it's about having the right teams in place. Developing high-quality games for the next generation of ZAGE consoles is going to demand more resources, not just in terms of staff, but also technology, infrastructure, and time. It's a complex move, and I want to make sure we're ready to do it right."

Zanichi nodded, and Shinsuke asked Zaboru, "Boss, if I'm not mistaken, ZAGE's Z-Offices are also being built in the infamous Silicon Valley in the U.S., right?"

Zaboru nodded and smiled. "That's right. I just got a call from James Yoel of Emerald Wings. He said the offices are designed similarly to the ZAGE Tower. They're already over 90% complete in terms of construction."

The ZAGE Z-Offices in Silicon Valley aren't towering skyscrapers—instead, they consist of a modest 10 floors. However, the buildings span a large area and are designed for future expansion, making them both impressive and highly functional.

Zanichi chuckled. "Well, ZAGE is really growing fast, boss. Do you have any plans to open additional branch offices in other countries?"

Zaboru paused in thought. "Maybe… but not right now. Let's focus on Japan and the U.S. first. Once both are stable and running efficiently, then we can consider opening one or two more branches overseas."

Shinsuke nodded. "Yeah, no need to rush it, boss."

Shinsuke then grinned. "Boss, have you heard the rumor about working at ZAGE?"

Zaboru raised an eyebrow. "What rumor?"

Shinsuke laughed and said, "ZAGE is becoming a really popular place to work. All our current employees keep bragging to their friends and colleagues about how great the work environment is. Now, a lot of people are jealous and want to join us. The thing is, we're not hiring much at the moment, but I think when we do open recruitment again, it's going to explode. People are lining up, boss."

Zanichi chuckled and said, "Well, the work environment at ZAGE is everything a salaryman could ask for—great salary, excellent conditions, hardly any overtime, and a fantastic boss. And let's be honest, the boss himself is the one who always ends up working late. Plus, ZAGE has become really famous for delivering top-tier entertainment. That's why it's become a dream job for so many people these days."

Zaboru chuckled. "Well, you flatter me, Dad... But I guess it's true. Even though our expansion has already begun, I've never wanted to overhire to the point where things get bloated. At ZAGE, we need to maintain quality above all else. Quantity should never exceed what we actually need."

Zanichi and Shinsuke nodded in agreement.

The three men continued enjoying their meal in the cozy, lively atmosphere of the yakiniku restaurant. Laughter and light conversation filled the table as they savored the delicious grilled meats and shared a few jokes. It was a well-earned moment of relaxation after a productive day. Once they were full and refreshed, they left the restaurant and returned to work with renewed energy and focus.

To be continue

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