Matsushima snapped the folder shut with a sharp thud. His palms were already slick with cold sweat.
Sega was flexing its muscles—and this was a crushing, overwhelming display of power.
The report made it painfully clear to Sotsu: Sega didn't lack money, nor did they lack top-tier IPs to monetize, and they certainly didn't lack the channels to do so.
Acquiring Sotsu wasn't a necessity for Sega; it was an act of mercy, offering them a ticket to the new era.
"Director Hattori," Matsushima's voice was as dry as sandpaper. "Sega's vision is truly... eye-opening. I've learned a lot today."
"Sotsu's shareholders aren't getting any younger," Director Hattori said, cutting straight to the point. "Why cling to your current business, constantly walking on eggshells and reading the room? It's better to merge directly into Sega Galaxy. Your benefits will remain untouched, but your resources can now operate on Sega's global platform. Sega needs you to manage the Production Committees and deal with the television networks. You will no longer be middlemen who can be discarded at any moment, but part of the house itself."
Matsushima fell silent for a long time, until the shishi-odoshi in the courtyard struck another clear clack.
He lifted the cup of sake, which had already gone cold, and drained it in a single gulp.
"Director Hattori, this document—may I take it back to show the other directors?"
Director Hattori nodded in satisfaction, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Of course. Sega has plenty of patience to wait for your good news."
The purpose of this drinks meeting had been perfectly achieved.
The next morning.
The Executive Office in the Sega Headquarters Building. Sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the mahogany desk in light.
Takuya Nakayama sat in his executive chair, sipping coffee as he listened to Director Hattori's report.
"Matsushima is interested," Director Hattori said, leaning back on the sofa with a relaxed expression. "Daiwa Securities is pressing them hard. Sotsu's core shareholders held an emergency meeting last night and have already reached a preliminary consensus. They're all smart people—they don't want to be left behind by the times."
Takuya Nakayama flipped through the documents in his hand, a cold smirk playing on his lips.
"As expected. The people at Sotsu are shrewd. They know all too well the predicament Bandai is in right now, and they certainly don't want to follow in their footsteps. Throwing themselves at Sega's feet is their only and best way out."
Director Hattori took a sip of tea. "Once Sotsu signs on the dotted line, Bandai's final moat—their control over Gundam's merchandising rights—will be completely drained."
"Let's put Bandai on the back burner for now. Let them stew for a few more days." Takuya Nakayama rose from his seat, walked to the office's whiteboard, and grabbed a marker. "With Sotsu on board, Sega Galaxy's pan-entertainment ecosystem will be fully formed."
He wrote several names on the whiteboard in a sweeping, calligraphic style:
EVADetective ConanRurouni KenshinYu-Gi-Oh!
"Over the past few years, Sega Galaxy has deeply bound itself to these phenomenal IPs through Production Committees, game adaptation licenses, and overseas distribution." Takuya tapped the whiteboard heavily with his marker. "Sega Galaxy's EVA videotapes are still selling out in major video stores. Conan's viewership ratings are climbing steadily, and a theatrical film is already on the agenda. As for Rurouni Kenshin, we'll start preparing the live-action series in a couple of years, once the plot has developed enough."
His pen paused over Yu-Gi-Oh! as he sneered. "Yu-Gi-Oh! just started its serialization in Jump last year, and the tankōbōn sales are already skyrocketing. The potential for a trading card game is immeasurable. I heard that old fox Kazumasa Kozuki, the President of Konami, has been pulling strings to inquire about the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game adaptation rights, hoping to get a foot in the door at Shueisha. Too bad he's too late. Sega has already locked down this goldmine. Kozuki wants to make a comeback with a card game? Not a chance."
Director Hattori nodded in agreement as he looked at the names on the whiteboard.
Each of those names represented a bottomless goldmine.
Leveraging its immense financial strength, absolute dominance in the game console market, and the support of media channels like TV Tokyo, Sega had forcibly torn a massive opening in Japan's anime and manga industry, establishing its own rules.
"Sotsu coming on board will act as the conveyor belt that connects these scattered goldmines," Takuya Nakayama said, turning around with a fervent gaze. "They know how to squeeze every last drop of commercial value out of an anime. Sega provides the resources, and Sotsu provides the talent. From now on, for every high-value IP in Japan, Sega will be at the head table, taking the biggest slice of the pie."
Director Hattori nodded. "Integration takes time. We need to pacify those old bones at Sotsu slowly and ensure a smooth transition."
"I'll have to trouble you to oversee this personally." Takuya Nakayama tossed the marker onto the table. "We can loosen the terms a bit. As long as they're willing to sell, money is no object. The Southeast Asian operation has already begun, and Sega's accounts will soon be flooded with a massive influx of cash."
Director Hattori stood up and straightened his suit.
"I understand. I'll have Daiwa Securities expedite the process. We'll aim to get the letter of intent signed within the month."
"Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Hattori."
The office door closed softly.
Takuya Nakayama walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the bustling streets of Tokyo. A predatory glint shone in his eyes.
Once the crucial piece of the puzzle—Sotsu—fell into place, Sega's pan-entertainment empire would have its Ren and Du meridians fully unblocked. No one would be able to stand in his way.
As for Bandai?
Takuya Nakayama sneered.
With their supply lines cut and surrounded by enemies, he wanted to see how much longer Makoto Yamashina could hold onto his precarious position as president.
The noose was already tightening around Bandai's neck.
Two weeks later, the weather in Tokyo gradually warmed up, and the cherry blossom trees outside the Sega Headquarters Building were already sprouting delicate buds.
In the executive office, Takuya Nakayama was leaning comfortably back in a large leather boss's chair, flipping through the initial proposal for Chrono Trigger 2 that Rieko Kodama had just submitted.
As he read, he couldn't help but nod in agreement. Kodama truly deserved her reputation as Sega's RPG queen. The proposal masterfully handled the concept of parallel worlds, and the plot was brimming with tension. Even from his perspective as a transmigrator, he couldn't find a single flaw.
Just as he was considering whether to allocate a bit more budget for the project's art, two knocks sounded at the door. Director Hattori walked in, holding a fax.
The old man wasn't wearing his usual reading glasses today. His eyes and the corners of his mouth betrayed an irrepressible sense of ease and contentment, and even his gait was lighter than usual.
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