He was silent for a moment, then slowly began to speak, "You are all right; Mountain Rat and Old Man's Head have both performed impeccably. If I were merely a pure creator, I would have chosen them without hesitation."
"But..." he changed his tone, "what we need to consider now is not just feelings but also influence and the future."
He looked at Aliya and Emily, explaining word by word, "Mountain Rat and Old Man's Head are brands on the altar; they serve the elite few at the top of the pyramid who truly understand."
"Collaborating with them would maximize consolidating my position in the 'hardcore circle', but it would be challenging to break out beyond that."
"However, Archaeopteryx is different." Awe and ambition flickered in his eyes, "It has one foot on the altar and the other already stepping into the mass consumer market."
