The heavy conference room door silently closed behind him, cutting off the lively discussion and faint anticipation that hadn't fully dissipated inside.
The light in the corridor had a softness peculiar to office buildings, and the air seemed to instantly return to its usual quietness, with only the low hum of the air conditioning system and the occasional sound of keyboard clicks from afar.
Takuya Nakayama's steps were not fast, but steady. He could feel the subtle gazes from behind him, and the emotions contained within those gazes were far more complex than at the start of the meeting.
"Vice Team Leader Nakayama."
A slightly hurried but still restrained voice came from behind. Tanaka, the head of the Overseas Business Department, quickly caught up and stopped beside Takuya. His always meticulous face, as if measured by a ruler, now could not completely hide a hint of inquiry beyond caution, and the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose reflected the corridor lights.
Tanaka bowed slightly, a standard workplace courtesy, but used on such a young, newly appointed "Deputy Group Leader," especially when he was also the president's son, it took on a subtle meaning. His tone was still textbook-precise: "Regarding the copyright matters for the Soviet Union, could you please elaborate on the information you currently have and the suggested channels for contact?"
Takuya stopped, calmly turned sideways, and looked at this influential middle-aged man within the Sega system. He knew that Mr. Tanaka managed Sega's overseas lifeline and was always known for his cautious, even conservative, approach. When the president assigned such an important acquisition project to him during the meeting, he must have had many questions, but his professionalism prevented him from expressing them directly in the meeting.
He pulled out a pre-prepared memo from his folder, on which several key names and terms were clearly written.
"Please see, Department Head Tanaka."
He pointed to the writing on the memo, his voice steady.
"The original author of the game, according to information I 'accidentally' came across, is a young man named Alexey Pajitnov."
"The institution he belongs to is the Computing Center of the Soviet Academy of Sciences."
"But the key is that, according to the Soviet system, intellectual property theoretically belongs to the state, and the specific entity responsible for external technology and software licensing is this organization—the 'Soviet Foreign Trade Committee,' abbreviated as ELORG."
He also specifically noted the original Russian name, "tetris," and the full name of ELORG next to it.
Tanaka's gaze was fixed on the memo, his brows slightly furrowed, clearly rapidly digesting the information.
"So, what is your suggestion?"
"My suggestion is, speed is of the essence."
Takuya's eyes sharpened.
"Through official channels, such as making an appointment through the commercial attaché's office of the Soviet Embassy in Japan, expressing Sega's intention to purchase the exclusive global multi-platform copyright for tetris, and negotiating directly with ELORG."
"According to the unconfirmed information I've obtained," he skillfully used the information asymmetry, "the game's influence is currently mainly confined to a small academic circle in the Soviet Union, and almost no commercial entities have contacted it. This might be our golden time window to secure the complete copyright."
He paused, then added.
"The focus of the negotiation is ELORG. As for the Computing Center and Mr. Pajitnov himself, they do not have actual copyright decision-making power. Our strategy should be primarily appeasement and praise. We can prepare some appropriate gifts to express our respect, especially high-end electronic products that are scarce in the Soviet Union, to prevent them from potentially causing trouble in the future."
Tanaka nodded, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes behind his glasses.
"What about the negotiation strategy?"
"Cut the Gordian knot."
Takuya did not hesitate.
"Avoid getting bogged down in details. Soviets, especially officials responsible for foreign trade, might prefer direct, efficient methods. And as long as we can secure it before other commercial entities join the copyright scramble, a small premium is far more cost-effective than the price that would result from several parties competing. We can send business personnel with a straightforward negotiation style, decisive in decision-making, and…"
He paused slightly, a meaningful curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
"Preferably ones who can hold their liquor."
This suggestion made Tanaka momentarily stunned, then he showed a look of understanding.
"As for gifts, in addition to the usual ones, I personally recommend considering some high-quality, high-alcohol Japanese spirits, such as Suntory Yamazaki or Hakushu single malt whisky, or even Okinawan Awamori aged sake. It might help us close the distance faster."
These words far exceeded the scope of what a recent university graduate might know, sounding more like an old hand well-versed in international business and human relations.
Takuya appropriately reined in his sharpness, adding a sentence.
"Of course, these are just some immature suggestions I've put forward based on limited information. The Overseas Business Department has rich experience in international negotiations and its own information channels, so the final strategy should still be based on your department's professional judgment. I'm just offering a possible direction, with absolutely no intention of an amateur guiding an expert."
These words both showed his capability and expressed respect, adopting a very humble stance.
Tanaka completely shed the last trace of scrutiny, his eyes revealing genuine approval and surprise.
"Vice Team Leader Nakayama has considered everything very thoroughly. This information and these suggestions are very valuable to us. We will immediately begin preparations and come up with a plan as soon as possible."
He solemnly bowed again.
"Thank you for your sharing."
Watching Tanaka's hurried departure, Takuya quietly let out a breath.
The first hurdle was, for now, cleared.
He turned and walked towards the Third Development Department's office.
Pushing open the door, the atmosphere inside was indeed completely different from before.
The pervasive dullness or indifference had disappeared, replaced by an irrepressible stir.
Almost everyone's gaze converged on him, their eyes filled with curiosity, inquiry, anticipation, and even a hint of barely perceptible excitement.
Team Leader Shimizu came forward, his attitude much more respectful than in the morning, with a professional smile on his face.
"Vice Team Leader Nakayama, we all heard the president's instructions just now. Currently, our team is mainly engaged in auxiliary finishing work for other projects, which is expected to be completed within two or three days. Do you have any suggestions?"
He proactively reported the current work content and progress of the team to Takuya, awaiting instructions from the newly appointed "leader." Although he was the team leader, he also had to consider the crown prince's wishes.
"That's perfect."
Takuya nodded, scanning the people in the office.
"Team Leader Shimizu, my suggestion is that after completing the current finishing work, we temporarily stop taking on any new auxiliary tasks."
His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.
"We need to concentrate all our efforts on preparing for the new project."
He looked at Shimizu, his tone gentle but with an undeniable decisiveness.
Shimizu understood, making the final decision. "How about this: we'll hold the first project planning seminar for tetris the day after tomorrow, which is Wednesday afternoon. All team members must attend. We need to unify our thinking and clarify responsibilities as soon as possible."
A low murmur of discussion arose in the office, and the faces of several young programmers clearly showed excitement.
Finally, the Third Development Department would also have its own flagship project!
And it was a project personally approved by the president and personally led by the president's son!
Takuya's gaze swept through the crowd, catching a glimpse of an older-looking employee in the corner, whose eyes seemed to flash with a hint of barely perceptible doubt and reservation.
He understood in his heart that the integration of a new team was never smooth sailing.