Friday 23 September 1997 ZAGE Tower Japan – Morning.

Zaboru sat inside one of the meeting rooms in the ZAGE Tower, accompanied by senior executives from ZAGE Japan. The atmosphere was serious, as they were about to hold an important meeting focused on the company's upcoming expansion plans. Among the main topics were the formation of new departments, the establishment of new development teams, and the potential opening of a ZAGE office in Korea.

Zaboru promptly began the meeting. "Good morning, everyone. As you can see, I've just returned from ZAGE USA, which is why we're starting a bit later than usual. Today's agenda focuses on another important expansion for ZAGE." Everyone nodded in acknowledgment, ready to dive in.

"As you can see, the new department responsible for managing intellectual property rights and acquiring licenses for the usage of our characters is already well underway. Recruitment efforts are progressing steadily, and we are close to finalizing the full organizational structure. This department has been a recurring topic in our recent meetings, so I won't rehash what's already been said. That said, I want to underscore how pivotal this initiative is to our long-term vision.

This department won't just handle character rights—it will also be positioned as a strategic center for fostering global partnerships. From exploring cross-promotional opportunities to facilitating licensing deals for everything from merchandise to media adaptations, this team will enable ZAGE to protect and monetize our creative assets more effectively than ever before.

Additionally, by centralizing IP management, we'll be able to respond more quickly and cohesively to external requests and protect our brand identity across international markets. This agility will be essential as we continue to expand globally. For now, all core milestones are being met on schedule, and we'll continue tracking their development closely to ensure the team launches with the capability to make an immediate impact." Zaboru then continued.

"Next, one of the major expansion plans for next year involves the establishment of a dedicated ZAGE office in Korea. Many of you are likely aware that we already have a distribution subsidiary operating there under the name Red Falcon. Roughly two years ago, I tasked Red Falcon with scouting locations and preparing the groundwork for a full-fledged ZAGE presence in Korea. Thanks to their efforts, I'm happy to report that the office space is nearly ready.

If everything proceeds as planned, we'll officially launch our Korean branch next year. However, our colleagues at Red Falcon will require significant support from our departments here in Japan to ensure a successful transition. This includes assistance in multiple areas such as recruiting the right talent that aligns with our creative and corporate values, establishing efficient office operations, ensuring legal and local compliance with Korean business regulations, and fostering cultural integration to bridge the differences in workplace expectations and communication styles. It won't be enough to simply set up an office—we must build a foundation that allows that team to thrive as part of ZAGE's larger mission. I expect full collaboration and seamless coordination across teams, departments, and leadership levels to make this expansion as smooth, scalable, and effective as possible.

In addition to the Korean branch, we're also actively evaluating our options for further global expansion. On the horizon, we have two key areas in our sights: China and Europe. China presents an exciting opportunity given its massive and rapidly evolving gaming market, which mirrors many of the trends we've observed in Korea. It offers an ideal testing ground for multiplayer experiences. Meanwhile, in Europe, we are narrowing our focus to two countries—England and Italy. Both offer unique advantages: England provides access to a broad Western audience and international publishing networks, while Italy could serve as a creative hub with strong cultural design influences. We're currently analyzing both to determine which will provide the best strategic fit for our upcoming projects, talent recruitment, and long-term regional influence.

So, with that overview, let's open the floor: does anyone have any questions or input about the Korea expansion specifically?"

Shinsuke Yamaguchi, head of ZAGE's marketing team, raised his hand. Zaboru nodded and said, "Yes, Shinsuke-san?"

"It's just out of curiosity, boss, but why Korea in particular? I mean, for the next expansion, wouldn't European countries make more sense? Korea is so close to Japan that we could just manage it remotely," Shinsuke asked.

Zaboru nodded thoughtfully. "That's a good question, Shinsuke-san. While it's true that Korea is geographically close to Japan, the market is very different. For instance, our ZEPS home console is doing well over there, but it still can't compete with the massive popularity of PC bangs—those internet gaming cafés—where Red Falcon, our Korean subsidiary, has already made strong inroads. Korean gamers, unlike most Japanese players, have a strong preference for online multiplayer experiences, ones they can enjoy socially with their friends in real time."

He paused and smiled. "China shows a similar trend, which is why I've developed a plan: our new team in Korea will focus entirely on building titles designed for that kind of audience—fast-paced, online, community-driven games. I already have a solid concept for it."

Zaboru's eyes gleamed with a mix of nostalgia and determination. In his previous life, Korean online games had left a deep, lasting impression on him. He had spent countless hours immersed in these worlds—not just playing, but studying them. He admired the creativity of their mechanics, the fluidity of their combat systems, the brilliance in their character designs, and above all, the clear passion their developers poured into every pixel.

These weren't just games—they were digital experiences with identity and soul. Titles like Ragnarok Online, RAN Online, Dragon Nest, GunZ: The Duel, GunBound, GetAmped, Wolf Team, Freestyle Basketball, Dungeon Fighter Online, Lineage, Cabal, and countless others weren't simply entertainment; they were cultural milestones in the early era of internet-based multiplayer gaming.

He remembered staying up late grinding dungeons with strangers who became friends, customizing characters endlessly, and joining competitive guilds that fostered tight-knit online communities. Korean games, in particular, had a special spark—an audacity in gameplay innovation and visual flair that made them stand out. They pushed boundaries when others played safe. They weren't afraid to be flashy, stylish, or wildly experimental.

Zaboru didn't want ZAGE to miss the chance to contribute to and learn from that vibrant legacy. More than just following market trends, he wanted ZAGE to become a meaningful player in that space. If they could absorb the essence of what made those Korean titles special and blend it with ZAGE's strengths, they could build something truly groundbreaking—not just in Korea, but globally.

But those games are not needed just to create, they need to be maintained because they are online based. That's why Zaboru wants to create a dedicated team for this and Korea seems a perfect place.

"So," he continued, "by establishing a studio that understands and caters to this regional flavor, we can innovate and resonate directly with Korean players while still learning lessons we can carry into other markets."

Shinsuke nodded and smiled. "I see. So you already have a clear plan in motion—that's reassuring." Whenever Zaboru had a well-structured vision, Shinsuke knew things were in capable hands. He leaned back, visibly more relaxed, confident that this expansion would follow the same successful path as previous ZAGE initiatives.

Then Zanchi, Zaboru's father and senior advisor to the board, raised a question. "So, Boss, regarding this Korean office—will it operate at the same level as the ZAGE Tower here in Japan or the ZAGE Campus in the U.S.? Or will it be something completely different in terms of structure and function?"

Zaboru nodded respectfully. "That's a great question, Dad. The Korean office will indeed be structured differently compared to our main headquarters in Japan and the ZAGE Campus in the U.S. While both of those serve as central hubs with broad leadership responsibilities and autonomous operations, the Korean office will serve a more focused purpose tailored to that region's gaming culture and market trends.

Primarily, the Korean office will consist of one large core development team—this team will be at the heart of our innovation efforts for online multiplayer titles. Their mission will be to create content specifically suited for Korean gamers, drawing on the region's strong appetite for social, fast-paced gaming experiences. In addition to the main dev team, we'll also have a supporting infrastructure in place: departments for Legal, Finance, Office Admin, and even Market Research will be part of the office.

However, unlike our Japan and U.S. headquarters, this branch won't operate with complete independence. Instead, it will function as a tightly integrated extension of ZAGE Japan. That means near-daily communication, synchronized planning cycles, and shared development resources. The goal isn't to duplicate our efforts, but to diversify and adapt while maintaining a consistent corporate vision. The synergy between our home office and the Korean team will be crucial in achieving that."

Zanichi nodded with a small smile. "I see. That sounds like a good approach—just as I was imagining it would be."

A few more questions followed, and Zaboru answered each one with clarity and foresight. The meeting continued smoothly, and the atmosphere shifted from planning mode to execution readiness. Everyone felt energized.

As the session wrapped up, Zaboru outlined his immediate plans. Next week, he will begin overseeing new project outlines for Team IZAN and Team Niwa. Both teams had just wrapped up significant milestones—Team Niwa with their work on Sonic Adventure, and Team IZAN with Persona 1. Since both teams had poured their energy into those projects, Zaboru had decided to give them a brief rest before diving into the next development cycle.

That night, after returning home, Zaboru received a rare phone call. The caller ID displayed a name he hadn't seen in a while—Toki Bakurou, the owner of the legendary Bakudan Arcade. Intrigued, Zaboru picked up the phone without hesitation.

"Hello?"

To be continued.

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