Meanwhile, still on Monday, the situation had already reached the government side. Earlier in the day, representatives had contacted ZAGE regarding the strange wave of workers skipping work, calling in sick, or suddenly requesting emergency leave because of the ZEPS 4 launch. ZAGE's response had been polite enough, but predictable: the company would provide a proper reply within the next few days once launch-day operations had settled. When the information reached Keisuke Adachihara, the current Minister of Sport, Culture, Science and Technology, he could only lean back in his chair and sigh. "Sigh… as expected. He answered exactly like that, didn't he?"
Across from him sat a strict female officer named Yuna, who immediately adjusted her glasses and frowned. "Do we need to remind ZAGE that nobody can simply ignore us, Boss? We can give them a good 'lesson' if necessary." Her tone was so serious that Denzo Gotoh, Keisuke's longtime right-hand man, immediately groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Oh my, Yuna-chan… you really can't talk like that. ZAGE isn't our enemy. There is absolutely nothing good that comes from antagonizing them." Yuna turned toward him with an unimpressed expression. "I'm not saying we should antagonize them for no reason. I'm saying that when representatives from the government request cooperation, a private company should understand the importance of responding properly." Denzo gave her a tired smile. "And they did respond properly. They said they would get back to us after launch-day operations settled. That's not the same as ignoring us." He then glanced toward Keisuke with a knowing smile. "Besides, Boss, weren't you already planning to visit them tonight?"
Keisuke smiled calmly. "Absolutely. We'll go tonight. And knowing Zaboru, I'm almost certain he'll still be inside ZAGE Tower instead of going home." Denzo chuckled. "He'll probably still be working while eating something unhealthy." Keisuke nodded. "Most likely." Yuna exhaled through her nose and folded her arms. She was clearly still unconvinced. "I still don't understand why ZAGE receives so much respect here. They're still only a company. A huge company, yes, but still a company. Sometimes the way people talk about them makes it sound as if they're some national institution."
Denzo's smile became faintly amused. "That's exactly why you'll learn." Yuna raised an eyebrow. "Learn what?" Keisuke answered this time. "That power doesn't always come from government authority. ZAGE employs an enormous number of people, exports Japanese entertainment and technology around the world, supports entire industries, works with universities and manufacturers, and has become one of the country's most recognizable names overseas. If we treat a company like that as though they're simply some troublesome corporation we can threaten whenever we're irritated, we would be creating problems for ourselves for no reason."
Yuna remained quiet, though her expression softened slightly. Keisuke continued, "That doesn't mean ZAGE is above the government. They aren't. If they break the law, they answer for it like anyone else. But there is a difference between enforcing rules and picking unnecessary fights. Zaboru understands that too. For all his jokes, he usually cooperates when something genuinely matters." Denzo chuckled. "He just likes making everyone work a little harder before he does." Keisuke smiled. "Exactly."
Yuna looked between them for several seconds before sighing. "So you're saying I should stop treating him like a problem before I even meet him." Denzo immediately grinned. "Very good, Yuna-chan. Progress already." She gave him a sharp look. "Don't call me that." Denzo simply laughed. Keisuke shook his head in amusement before standing from his chair. "You'll understand eventually. ZAGE is a company, yes. But they're not an ordinary one. And Zaboru Renkonan is definitely not an ordinary businessman."
Time passed, and by around 18:30, Keisuke and Denzo finally arrived at ZAGE Tower. The building was still unusually active despite the late hour, mostly because launch-day operations had kept several departments working well beyond their normal schedules.Yuna did not accompany them this time, mostly because Keisuke had decided the visit should remain informal rather than becoming some intimidating government delegation. Showing up with a group of officers would only make the meeting feel unnecessarily serious, and Keisuke knew Zaboru well enough to understand that he responded much better when people simply talked to him directly.
At the reception floor, Zaboru's secretary, Yumi Ichijou, was quickly informed of their arrival. She immediately contacted Zaboru, who, as Keisuke had predicted, was still completely glued to his workshop on the 51st floor. Zaboru had spent most of the day Even after the initial launch rush had begun stabilizing, he had shown absolutely no intention of going home anytime soon.
Zaboru answered the internal phone and immediately sighed when he heard the names. "What do these two old farts want from me again, Yumi-san? I swear I met them only a couple of days ago…" Yumi covered a small laugh from the other end while Zaboru leaned back from his workstation and stared briefly toward the ceiling. He already had a fairly good guess why they had come, which only made the timing more amusing. "Okay, okay. Let them meet me in the office on the 50th floor. I'll come down in a minute." Then, almost as an afterthought, he looked toward the empty food wrappers beside his workstation and added, "Oh, Yumi-san, I'm also damn hungry. After this, can you help me order takeaway? Chinese or Japanse food maybe? Get something with lots of meat." Yumi chuckled. "Of course, Boss." Zaboru smiled immediately. "You're the best."
Even before he went downstairs, Zaboru already had a very good idea what the government wanted. The launch had become ridiculously chaotic, and although ZAGE obviously was not directly responsible for people choosing to skip work, fake illnesses, or suddenly invent family emergencies, he understood why officials wanted to talk. Too many employees had mysteriously vanished for one day—some apparently for two or even three—and the story had become large enough that the government could not simply pretend nothing happened. News programs had spent half the day joking about suspiciously synchronized stomach problems, companies were openly complaining about attendance, and footage of supposedly "sick" employees standing happily in ZEPS 4 queues had already become entertainment by itself.
Still, Zaboru did not think Keisuke and Denzo would come demanding punishment or trying to blame ZAGE for everything. They knew him too well for that, and more importantly, they understood there was no reasonable way to hold ZAGE responsible because grown adults had voluntarily decided a game console was more important than showing up to work. More likely, they wanted something symbolic. Some kind of "compensation" that could turn the entire ridiculous situation into something positive for Japan, or perhaps an agreement that ZAGE would coordinate future major launches a little more carefully. Zaboru smiled faintly while heading toward the elevator. Knowing Keisuke, it would probably involve culture somehow.
Not long afterward, Keisuke and Denzo entered Zaboru's office carrying a surprisingly large bag between them. The moment Zaboru saw it, whatever remaining interest he had in the political reason behind their visit immediately disappeared. His eyes locked onto the bag instead. "Keisuke-san! Denzo-san! Welcome, welcome! Why did you come here?" he asked cheerfully, though both men could clearly see that his attention had already shifted toward whatever food they had brought. Zaboru even leaned slightly to one side, trying to look past Denzo and inspect the bag more clearly.
Keisuke noticed and laughed. "You haven't changed at all. We come here representing the government after one of the strangest work-attendance days Japan has seen in years, and the first thing you care about is the bag." Zaboru pointed toward it immediately. "Because I can already tell that bag contains something important." Denzo shook his head. "For once, he may be correct." Keisuke placed the bag on the table and pushed it toward him. "Here. Mitsukoshi Bento."
Zaboru's eyes widened immediately. "Holy shit, you brought the good stuff!" Any remaining trace of seriousness disappeared as he pulled the bag toward himself and began opening it almost immediately. Inside were several neatly packed bento boxes, each far better than the random convenience-store food he had been eating during the launch preparations. Zaboru opened the first one and stared at the contents approvingly before gesturing toward both men without even looking away from the food. "Sit, sit. We can talk while I eat. This meeting already has my full support."
Keisuke laughed as he sat down. "Apparently diplomacy really is this simple with you." Zaboru picked up his chopsticks. "Good food solves many international problems." Denzo settled into the chair across from him and replied dryly, "Please do not repeat that sentence in front of the Foreign Ministry." Zaboru grinned. "No promises."
Keisuke and Denzo chuckled. They had both known him long enough that this kind of reaction no longer surprised them. Zaboru opened the first bento fully and immediately started with the tempura while Denzo watched him eat for several seconds. The contrast was almost absurd. One of Japan's most influential businessmen was sitting across from two senior government figures on the evening of his company's largest hardware launch, and instead of appearing tense or defensive, he was happily eating tempura like this was an ordinary dinner meeting.
After another few seconds, Denzo finally sighed exaggeratedly and began. "Zaboru-san, you do realize the ZEPS 4 launch caused us quite a lot of trouble today, right?" Zaboru looked up briefly but continued chewing, so Denzo continued. "Japan is known internationally for discipline and work culture, yet today we have people skipping work, pretending to be sick, inventing family emergencies, and apparently disappearing for two or three days just because your console released on Monday. Some companies had entire departments operating with reduced staff. Several managers are furious. We even have television stations openly joking about a national epidemic of suspicious stomach problems."
Zaboru slowly lowered his chopsticks.
Denzo continued before he could answer. "And then we have supposedly sick workers being caught on television standing in line for ZEPS 4. One man apparently called his company claiming he was bedridden, only for his manager to see him waving at a camera outside an electronics store. Another employee used emergency family leave and then uploaded a photograph of himself carrying two ZEPS 4 boxes in his BBM." Keisuke covered his mouth, clearly trying not to laugh again, while Denzo looked increasingly exhausted just recounting it. "How exactly do you think the rest of the world reacts when they see Japanese workers abandoning their offices for ZEPS 4?"
Zaboru swallowed his tempura, wiped his mouth lightly with a napkin, and looked directly at Denzo with a completely serious expression.
"Doesn't that just mean ZEPS 4 is damn good?"
There was a short silence.
Then Keisuke immediately burst out laughing.
Denzo closed his eyes and exhaled slowly through his nose. "Why did I expect anything else?"
Zaboru grinned, picked up another piece of tempura, and continued eating as if he had just given the most reasonable answer imaginable.
Zaboru grinned and returned to the bento. Keisuke was still laughing when he tried to speak, but before he could even begin, Zaboru casually raised one hand. "Okay, okay. I know what this is. You guys want compensation, right?" Both men paused. Zaboru pointed his chopsticks toward them. "Don't worry. I already got you."
That immediately caught their attention.
Keisuke leaned slightly forward. "Oh?"
Zaboru swallowed another bite before speaking. "Let's say around the end of March, ZAGE releases a new ZEPS 4 game. A proper Japanese historical action game centered around the Sengoku period. Samurai, warlords, major battles, famous figures from Japanese history, all of that." Keisuke's eyebrows rose immediately while Zaboru continued, clearly enjoying their reaction. "Think about how you guys liked what we did with Rurouni Kenshin after all that discussion about Japanese representation and how you complained that we had made something like Fallout before doing more with our own culture. Well, I've already been thinking about that problem."
He placed the empty first bento aside and immediately opened another one. "This game will introduce players around the world to famous Japanese samurai and warlords, but it won't feel like some boring history textbook. We'll make them interesting. Big personalities, dramatic battles, stylish presentation, strong character identity. People should finish playing and actually remember who these people are instead of just memorizing a date."
Keisuke's eyes widened before a grin slowly appeared across his face. "Then that is more than enough." He leaned back and laughed quietly. "Heheheh… I don't believe you. You actually planned this already, didn't you?"
Zaboru shrugged while reaching for another piece of tempura. "Yeah. I know how both of you work, so I figured something like this might come up sooner or later. Besides, we were already developing the game anyway. I just hadn't planned to tell you yet."
Denzo smiled. "Then this makes things much easier. Instead of turning the launch-day absence issue into some pointless conflict between ZAGE and the government, we can simply acknowledge that it happened, coordinate better for future major releases, and then move forward."
"Exactly," Zaboru replied. "Next time I release something on a Monday and half the country suddenly has stomach problems, I'll warn you earlier."
Denzo stared at him.
Keisuke began laughing again.
Zaboru grinned. "Joke. Mostly."
"You better be joking," Denzo replied.
For the next several minutes, the three men continued talking casually. The official government concern was quickly reduced to something far less dramatic: ZAGE would communicate more closely about future releases expected to create exceptionally large crowds, particularly if the date landed on a normal workday. Keisuke had no intention of telling ZAGE when it could or could not launch entertainment products, and Zaboru had no intention of allowing the government to dictate his release schedule. Both sides understood that. The objective was simply to make sure stores, transportation systems, security staff, local governments, and major employers received enough warning if something on the scale of ZEPS 4 happened again.
In return, the upcoming historical game gave Keisuke something positive to talk about. ZAGE was not merely creating chaos with entertainment; it was also exporting Japanese culture globally through one of the most technologically advanced consoles in the world. Keisuke could work with that.
By the time the conversation ended, Zaboru had nearly finished all four bentos Keisuke had brought.
Denzo stared at the stack of empty containers. "You ate four."
Zaboru looked down as if only now realizing it. "Yeah."
"In less than half an hour."
"I was hungry."
Keisuke chuckled. "Somehow I think bringing food was the real reason this meeting went smoothly."
Zaboru immediately pointed at him. "Correct. Government diplomacy is very advanced."
Denzo shook his head. "Please never say that publicly."
Not long afterward, Keisuke and Denzo finally left ZAGE Tower. Once they were inside the government car again, Keisuke leaned comfortably against the seat and chuckled. "He already planned the whole thing." Denzo looked toward him. "Obviously. He knew we would eventually come asking for something." Keisuke nodded with satisfaction. "I like it, though. If this new game really introduces people around the world to Japanese historical figures in an entertaining way, then the entire situation becomes much easier to justify. ZEPS 4 creates trouble for one Monday, and a few months later ZAGE uses the same machine to spread Japanese culture."
Denzo smiled faintly. "I'm more curious about what kind of game it actually is."
Keisuke waved one hand dismissively. "Don't overthink it. ZAGE knows their stuff."
"That confidence is exactly why Yuna doesn't understand us."
"She'll learn."
Denzo sighed. "Eventually."
Meanwhile, back inside ZAGE Tower, Zaboru had returned to the 51st floor and was already hungry again.
Yumi eventually arrived carrying several takeaway bags exactly as he had requested, though she had apparently interpreted "Chinese or Japanese food maybe" very loosely. She placed everything near his workstation one by one: ramen, gyoza, onigiri, takoyaki, a hamburger, and fried chicken.
Zaboru stared at the collection.
Then at Yumi.
Then back at the food.
His face slowly brightened.
"Yumi-san."
"Yes, Boss?"
"You know what?"
Yumi immediately looked suspicious.
"You are the best secretary ever. You want a raise?"
Yumi smiled politely. "No, Boss. Thank you."
Zaboru blinked. "You don't want a raise?"
"No."
"Who refuses money?"
"I do, Boss."
The real reason was simple: if Zaboru impulsively increased her salary again, Sayuri would almost certainly start asking questions about why his secretary kept receiving raises every time she brought him food or solved some minor inconvenience. Yumi had absolutely no desire to explain that the owner of ZAGE apparently considered takeaway delivery a valid reason for salary adjustment.
She bowed slightly. "Then I'll excuse myself."
Zaboru waved while already opening one of the containers. "Okay! Thanks again!"
Once Yumi disappeared from the workshop, Zaboru happily returned to eating while reviewing several different projects scattered across his workspace. Hardware notes sat beside ZEPS 4 launch reports, game-development documents, internal messages, and unfinished planning folders from different teams.
Then his eyes briefly landed on one particular note near the edge of the workstation.
Written clearly across it were the words:
SENGOKU BASARA — ZEPS 4 — MARCH
Zaboru stopped chewing for a moment.
Then he smiled.
Keisuke and Denzo thought he had offered them a cultural compensation plan on the spot.
In reality, the game had already been moving for quite some time.
He looked at the note for another second, then returned to his food with a quiet chuckle.
"Heheheh… they're gonna love this."
To be continued.
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