In the evening, the dining room of the Nakayama Family family mansion was brightly lit.
The crystal chandelier cast a warm glow, illuminating the exquisite tableware.
Normally, Takuya was the most lively person at the dinner table at this time, talking and laughing, injecting a relaxed element into the serious family atmosphere.
But tonight was completely different.
He sat quietly in his seat, mechanically picking up food and eating, occasionally responding to his family's words, but clearly distracted.
His chopsticks moved slowly in his hand, and his gaze occasionally drifted into the distance.
Hayao Nakayama put down his wine glass, his gaze lingering on his son's face for a few seconds.
As an old fox in the business world, he keenly perceived Takuya's abnormality.
But he did not inquire on the spot, only continued to drink sake, occasionally exchanging pleasantries with his wife and eldest son's family.
The atmosphere at the dinner table became somewhat subtle due to Takuya's silence.
After dinner, Hayao Nakayama walked alone to his study.
About ten minutes later, soft footsteps sounded in the corridor, and Aunt Keiko quietly came to convey Hayao Nakayama's summons.
"Father, are you looking for me?"
Takuya pushed open the study door. The light in the study was soft, and Hayao Nakayama was standing in front of the tea table by the window, meticulously arranging a set of exquisite purple clay tea ware. His movements were unhurried, and every gesture of lifting the pot and pouring water appeared calm and elegant.
"Sit," Hayao Nakayama did not turn his head, his voice came calmly, "Have a cup of tea with me."
In the air, in addition to sandalwood, there was the dampness of steaming water. The tea water quietly tumbled in the small purple clay pot, emitting a faint and continuous "gurgling" boiling sound, like a whisper. Hayao Nakayama's technique was extremely skilled; washing cups, scalding pots, placing tea, brewing—every step was as precise as if measured.
He slowly poured the first brew of tea water over the tea pet, then refilled the pot. A moment later, he picked up the teapot and evenly poured the amber-colored tea into two white porcelain teacups. A clear, lingering tea aroma, mixed with a faint hint of charcoal roasting, like it was imbued with life, wafted gently through the study, dispelling the last trace of restlessness in Takuya's heart.
Hayao Nakayama pushed one of the cups towards Takuya, his gaze finally falling on his son, with a hint of imperceptible scrutiny: "Since you took charge of the new project, good news has been pouring in, and you've mostly been in high spirits." His voice paused, as if savoring the tea in the cup, reminiscing carefully, "Tonight, however, is the first time I've seen you with a furrowed brow, not speaking during dinner."
He picked up his teacup, gently blew on the tea, his eyes calm and unruffled: "Have you encountered any difficult problems?"
Takuya took the still warm tea cup, the warmth of the tea passing through the delicate cup wall, soothingly reaching his palm, bringing a comforting warmth. He was silent for a few seconds, feeling the strength in his father's calm gaze, and finally chose not to hide or embellish, revealing the entire story of Sunrise's refusal to authorize, and Bandai's possible actions behind the scenes.
"Bandai's obstruction behind the scenes is deeper and more serious than we initially estimated," Takuya's voice carried a hint of gloom. "They seem determined to monopolize all the popular IP resources under Sunrise. This kind of barrier, built by capital and long-term cooperation, is extremely difficult to break through head-on."
Hayao Nakayama listened quietly, his slender fingers occasionally caressing the warm body of the purple clay pot, occasionally taking a sip of the fragrant tea in his cup, his face showing no emotional fluctuations. He did not immediately offer any specific advice or evaluation until Takuya had finished speaking, but instead fell into a brief silence.
For a moment, only the sound of sipping tea remained in the study.
"Takuya."
After a long while, Hayao Nakayama finally spoke.
"Do you think that in the business world, between companies, there are truly only two relationships: pure competition and cooperation?"
This question, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, made Takuya slightly startled. He subconsciously rubbed the teacup in his hand, the smooth feel of the rim helping his chaotic thoughts to focus slightly.
"It… it shouldn't be just that," Takuya mused for a moment, answering tentatively. He knew that every question his father asked was never casual.
Hayao Nakayama slowly nodded, his deep eyes seemingly reflecting the night outside the window, yet also seemingly discerning countless hidden undercurrents in the business world. "In Japan, especially among those long-established, large-scale enterprises, there exists a more complex, more hidden network of relationships."
He picked up his teacup, his gaze falling on the clear tea in the cup, and enunciated two words, one by one:
"Zaibatsu."
He deliberately emphasized these two words, which struck Takuya's heart like a great bell.
"Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Fuyo, Dai-Ichi Kangyo, Sanwa…" Hayao Nakayama's pace was not fast, but each name represented a colossal force. "These zaibatsu, through cross-shareholdings among their subsidiary companies, mutual dispatch and intermarriage of senior management, joint investments and R&D, and long-established club-like gatherings, form an intricate web, a community of interests where all prosper or decline together."
Takuya's breathing unconsciously quickened, and his back straightened slightly. His father's words were like a key, opening a door in his previous understanding that had been overlooked, or rather, deliberately downplayed. He had always thought about problems more from the perspectives of pure market competition, product quality, and negotiation skills, but had overlooked the larger structural forces behind them.
"Many times, what appears on the surface to be two independently operating companies making business decisions, their ultimate direction is often profoundly influenced by the zaibatsu they belong to, or rather, by the core will of the zaibatsu," Hayao Nakayama continued, his fingers rhythmically tapping the table, making light thudding sounds, as if keeping time with his words. "What we see as so-called business competition is, at some levels, merely an extension and a game of power between different zaibatsu."
A flash of insight, like lightning, streaked across Takuya's mind! His father's incisive analysis suddenly made him remember an important identity that he had consciously or unconsciously relegated to the depths of his subconscious—he, Takuya Nakayama, was not only a member of the Nakayama Family family, but also the grandson of the Mitsui family! His mother, Nakayama Miyuki, was a member of a branch family of the Mitsui Zaibatsu.
"Father, do you mean…" Takuya's voice trembled with a hint of disbelief, and an unprecedented light gradually shone in his eyes, as if a lighthouse had appeared in the fog.
Hayao Nakayama did not answer him directly, but merely looked at his son meaningfully, a barely perceptible curve forming on his lips: "Some problems, if you only look for solutions on the surface, often lead to a dead end, with half the effort yielding twice the result." He picked up his teacup, motioning for Takuya to also drink tea, "Sometimes, you need to try to approach it from a higher level, or a completely unexpected angle, and perhaps you will find a way out."
Takuya's mind began to race like a flood unleashed. He thought of his mother's family's intricate connections and influence within the Mitsui Zaibatsu, and of the business information and social networks seemingly inadvertently mentioned during various business gatherings and family interactions.
If he merely tried to "exert pressure" on Sunrise or Bandai's affiliates through his grandfather or a senior member of his mother's family, even if a temporary cooperation could be achieved, it would inevitably be unstable and might even sow deeper hidden dangers. This approach was too small-minded and not a long-term solution.
But what if… what if he could skillfully utilize the vast and complex network of the zaibatsu to find a new cooperation model that could benefit multiple parties, even original competitors? That would be a completely different matter!
"Bandai, Sunrise… and even our own Sega, the shareholders behind them all have the shadow of a zaibatsu, or are inextricably linked to certain zaibatsu," Takuya's voice slowly gained clarity. "If we can sort out these deeper capital Veins and interest connections, perhaps… perhaps we can find the key to breaking the deadlock!"
Hayao Nakayama's face finally showed a relieved and satisfied smile. "You understand. This is no longer a simple commercial licensing negotiation, but has escalated to a more complex level of game that tests wisdom and skill." He cautioned, "But remember, our ultimate goal is not to completely defeat our opponents, but to strive to find a solution that all parties are happy to accept and can benefit from. Win-win is the only way to last."
Takuya slowly stood up and paced back and forth in the study, the Persian rug under his feet soft and silent.
"I need to immediately have someone conduct an in-depth investigation into Bandai and Sunrise, as well as the zaibatsu backgrounds and affiliations of their major shareholders and board members."
"At the same time, I need to use my mother's family network to indirectly understand if there are channels within the Mitsui Zaibatsu that have potential for cooperation with these two companies, or their affiliates, or individuals who can effectively mediate."
"Most importantly, based on this information, we need to design a brand new, sufficiently attractive cooperation proposal—one that all relevant parties cannot easily refuse!"
Hayao Nakayama nodded with satisfaction. "Very good. Clear thinking, clear direction." He reminded again, "But you must be fully prepared psychologically. This level of game requires immense patience, precise intelligence, and superb wisdom. Every step must be carefully considered, like walking on thin ice. One wrong step could lead to a complete loss of all previous efforts."
Takuya sat down again at the tea table, picked up the slightly cooled teacup, and drank the tea in it in one gulp.
The warm tea slid down his throat, carrying a hint of sweet aftertaste, and seemed to carry away all the confusion and frustration in his heart.
"I understand, Father." His eyes were firm and bright, filled with unprecedented fighting spirit. "This copyright battle, it seems, is destined to open up a whole new situation from a place none of us initially expected. Well, I'll go see what basic information the Marketing Department has already gathered about Bandai and Sunrise."