Competitors Counterattack

[Tokyo, Japan]

Inside a building adjacent to a certain airport, a tense atmosphere prevailed.

Shiko had just made a bold request to underworld gangs to interfere with KiShin's operations, but to his surprise, Shitai, the representative of the Yakuza Gang from the Yamauchi clan, didn't agree.

"I apologize, Mr. Suzuki, but we cannot comply with your request," Shitai stated with a solemn expression.

Puzzled, Shiko furrowed his brow and inquired, "Why?"

Shitai surveyed the room before responding, "Our hands are tied, as KiShin is the one company we dare not cross." He paused, adding gravely, "I can't disclose the exact reasons, but my only advice to you, Shiko Suzuki, is to steer clear of KiShin."

Shiko's dissatisfaction was evident, and with a nod from Shitai, he departed on his own.

Frustration gnawed at Shiko, and he couldn't help but grit his teeth.

He called Seki, who answered, and Shiko lamented, "They didn't agree."

Shiko and Seki engaged in a conversation, both perplexed as to why the most formidable gang hesitated to disrupt KiShin's operations.

---

[KiShin's Headquarters]

Meanwhile, Shin found himself in a confrontation with a high-ranking official from the Bureau of the MOF.

Murayama Yoshihiro, the Director-General, was in a meeting with KiShin's Founder and CEO to discuss the recent borrowing of KiShin merchandise by US banks. They were currently deliberating whether KiShin could truly meet the obligations of the debt they had acquired from various major banks in the USA.

"Of course, we can fulfill our debt," Shin reassured with a smile. "The popularity of our Lego products speaks for itself, wouldn't you agree?"

Murayama Yoshihiro nodded in acknowledgment but raised a valid point, saying, "Indeed, but I question the necessity of borrowing from multiple banks simultaneously."

Shin chuckled and explained, "Have you heard of syndicated loans? We require a substantial amount of capital, so we've borrowed from various banks to pool their resources, allowing them to share the associated risk. What's more, negotiating with multiple banks may yield more favorable interest rates compared to borrowing from a single bank."

Murayama Yoshihiro nodded in comprehension and continued, "I grasp the process, but considering that I'm uncertain about your current financial health, it remains dubious whether you can meet such a debt." He paused, speaking with seriousness, "Moreover, we can't be certain that your company's Lego products will maintain their popularity over time."

Shin remained silent as he absorbed the comments. Truth be told, he wasn't sure if Lego would replicate the popularity it had in his previous life. Nevertheless, it didn't concern him greatly; the loan served the betterment of his business, and as long as the funds were managed wisely, he saw no issue in borrowing.

Breaking the silence, Shin inquired, "I assume you, representing the Ministry of Finance, have a broader agenda beyond our ability to repay the debt, correct?"

Murayama Yoshihiro nodded in agreement and explained, "Indeed, we would prefer, if possible, for you to consider borrowing from our country's banks rather than foreign ones."

A smile formed on Shin's face as he responded, "I had a feeling this was the primary motive behind your visit."

Murayama Yoshihiro nodded once more and added, "The Ministry of Finance will actively encourage our domestic banks to offer considerably lower interest rates in comparison to what the US banks are proposing."

Shin found himself a bit surprised and mused, "Really..." In all honesty, he had completely overlooked the possibility of borrowing from Japanese banks for financing, resulting in his choice to engage with US banks.

After some discussion, Shin and Director-General Murayama Yoshihiro reached an agreement.

Shin consented to the proposal, understanding the significance of the Japanese Government's involvement.

---

As November approached, FamiCom and KiShin's video games became incredibly popular among the people of Tokyo, Japan.

On November 1, 1991, Suzuki introduced their Halloween-themed video game titled 'Thriller.' This game bore a striking resemblance to Michael Jackson's 'Thriller.'

The game's storyline followed a girl pursued by zombies who eventually obtained weapons to defend herself. According to the game's manual, the ultimate adversary was 'Michael Johnson,' an exceptionally potent conscious zombie. There were also mini-bosses to confront along the way.

Within a few days of its release, 'Thriller' gained significant attention and became a clear trend.

One of the primary reasons Suzuki's video game gained immense popularity was its striking resemblance to 'Thriller,' the iconic song by Michael Jackson.

It enjoyed a rapid surge in sales, allowing Suzuki to compete with KiShin, at least in terms of the 'Thriller' video game's success.

The fact that even 'Michael Jackson' himself endorsed this video game called 'Thriller' made it abundantly clear that the game drew heavy inspiration from the song 'Thriller.'

In the United States, 'Thriller' was released just a day after its Japanese launch, quickly capturing the attention of many.

Tora Maria's World also began to gain recognition due to its unique gameplay and animations. Although Maria's World was initially overshadowed by the surging popularity of 'Lego,' it gradually earned the recognition it deserved as word spread through the video game player community.

As Tora and Suzuki started to fully harness the capabilities of their 16-bit video game console system, KiShin's competitors began to establish their presence in the market.

Gradually, a significant shift occurred as many players who previously held a negative view of Tora and Suzuki due to their lackluster video game library began to appreciate their newly released titles.

In fact, Tora and Suzuki experienced a steady uptick in sales, while KiShin's sales began to noticeably decelerate.

These were the initial indicators of the 16-bit system's superiority over the 8-bit, even though KiShin's competitors had not yet fully harnessed its full potential.

Undoubtedly, this development had a substantial impact on KiShin's sales in both the United States and Japan.

It was undeniable that KiShin was consistently producing top-tier video games with excellent gameplay. However, Tora and Suzuki were not to be outdone; they were holding their ground firmly. Many individuals in Japan and the United States believed that if KiShin didn't adopt the same 16-bit system as Tora and Suzuki, they would eventually lose the advantages they once held.

As skepticism loomed in Japan regarding KiShin's ability to maintain its market presence, both domestically and in Asia, KiShin responded to Tora and Suzuki's releases by launching their own video games.

This move left many people in Japan disappointed, as they assumed KiShin was succumbing to pressure and lacked the capability to develop their own 16-bit system. Instead, they seemed to be countering Tora and Suzuki's challenge in the realm of superior system performance with their high-quality video games.

The question of whether KiShin could sustain the quality of their video games despite the constant stream of releases remained uncertain.