258 Tora-Suzuki discussions
Itori Tanaka felt a bit helpless hearing those words from Shinro Suzuki, "He's right..." Itori couldn't help but think that if Tora-Suzuki didn't agree, it could only await its own doom.
With the limited video game library of TSX Fusion, it was bound to be a commercial failure. In contrast, the video game library of KS1 was expected to grow in a few weeks or months, destined for commercial success.
The situation presented such a stark contrast, and Itori knew that if Tora-Suzuki didn't agree with the proposal and terms of KiShin, he needed to convince them.
If there were issues with the terms and a potential trap clause in KiShin, Itori hoped to discuss it with Shinro Suzuki for a better outcome.
However, if there were no problems in the clauses, Itori knew that Tora-Suzuki had to agree to stay in the video game industry.
To be honest, Itori knew his father, the chairman of Tora Corporation, didn't have much interest in video games, unlike most board members who saw profits despite some losses. Itori was genuinely interested in the industry, even proposing a game project based on his ideas, with the hope of seeing its finished product.
The reason the Tora video game sector business persisted was that Tora still garnered a modest profit from it. Simultaneously, the surge in TSX Fusion sales in the Japanese market reshaped the perspective of Tora Corporation's board members regarding their video game sector business.
After the meeting with Shinro Suzuki, Itori initiated a conference meeting for the Tora-Suzuki alliance. Shiko, accompanied by Suzuki executives, directed their attention to Itori Tanaka, seated at the head.
"As you all know, the video game production for our TSX Fusion has been notably slower compared to our competitor KiShin's KS1," Itori Tanaka addressed the attendees.
"We've been aware, and this has been troubling us for a few days now. The sales of our TSX Fusion stabilized, but based on the estimated sales of KS1, it seems our TSX Fusion sales have been declining," Nikko Tabata, CEO of Suzuki Electronics, added.
"So, the purpose of this meeting is to discuss how to accelerate video game production for our TSX Fusion?" Seki, current CEO of Suzuki ™ Entertainment, a video game production company, inquired.
"That is correct," Itori nodded with a serious expression.
"But I don't think it's possible. Even if we hired numerous game developers and expanded our team, it still wouldn't considerably accelerate the video game production for the TSX Fusion," Seki stated solemnly. He continued, "Unlike the development of 16-bit video games, where we could produce games quickly with team size and experience, and with a big budget, the 32-bit video games are much more complicated. Even with a considerably experienced team size, it can only slightly quicken progress, but the video game production will still take considerably longer."
The Tora and Suzuki executives agreed, shifting their attention to Itori Tanaka for his response.
Since Itori Tanaka initiated the conference, he must have a plan to expedite the process of video game production for the TSX Fusion.
Itori nodded in understanding and said, "You are absolutely correct." He paused, motioning to his secretary holding files. The secretary nodded and handed Itori the files.
Itori took the files from his secretary, and as everyone looked on curiously, he said, "These files contain documents outlining the solution to expedite the video game production for our TSX Fusion."
Upon hearing this, they were somewhat surprised.
'He actually prepared documents for the solution to video game production for the TSX Fusion? Is it a genuine solution?' Shiko thought with a hint of surprise, a sentiment shared by the other executives.
Subsequently, Itori Tanaka distributed the documents to each person, prompting immediate scrutiny.
Seki, possessing some experience in video game production, examined the document and, as he read on, displayed clear astonishment.
Similar reactions echoed throughout the room.
"What is the meaning of this, Mr. Tanaka!?" Shiko exclaimed, tossing the documents back onto the table. He continued, "This is KiShin's proposal!"
Seki also directed a gaze at Itori Tanaka, saying, "Are you suggesting we turn to KiShin?" Initially considering Itori Tanaka a smart individual, he hadn't anticipated involvement with KiShin.
"This isn't very wise, Mr. Tanaka... KiShin is our competitor, and the purpose of the Tora and Suzuki alliance was to defeat them. Now..." Nikko Tabata looked at Itori Tanaka with a solemn expression.
"Don't worry, everyone. This is for the best, and I also have lawyers examining the terms and conditions provided by KiShin; they found no trap clause in it," Itori began to explain, but he was interrupted by someone from Suzuki.
"It's not about the terms and conditions! It's about having to seek KiShin for help!?"
Itori Tanaka and the Tora executives remained silent as the Suzuki executives pointed their fingers at Itori Tanaka.
"Resorting to KiShin's help? Don't you have any pride in you!?"
"Why do we have to lower our heads to the company we vowed to defeat!?"
With clasped hands and a serious expression, Itori Tanaka interjected in the midst of accusations, "We don't have any other choice. If we don't agree, then we can only expect the TSX Fusion to be a commercial failure." He paused as he noticed the Suzuki executives becoming considerably silent after he said this, then he continued, "Besides, the one who initiated this proposal was Shinro Suzuki himself."
This surprised the Suzuki executives. "Shinro himself?"
"The youngest son of Chairman Shiro Suzuki..."
"The so-called genius, according to Suzuki board members..."
Hearing the Suzuki executives' opinions of Shinro, Shiko and Seki frowned slightly.
"Why did he propose to help us?" Nikko Tabata asked with a hint of confusion.
Itori Tanaka replied with a faint smile, saying, "I don't know..."
"Maybe he's planning something nasty..." Some Suzuki executives thought so, a sentiment shared by the Tora executives on Itori Tanaka's side.
Hearing more unconventional opinions from the executives about Shinro Suzuki, Itori Tanaka couldn't help but chuckle as he said, "I don't know for sure why he proposed this to us—to help with the video game productions for our TSX Fusion, whether it's for profits or some other reasons, but..." He paused and continued, "In my opinion, I think he is willing to provide help to us, so that KiShin won't feel lonely in the video game industry."
When everyone heard this, they looked at Itori Tanaka strangely.
"Lonely? That is an interesting view..." Seki smiled as he said.
Itori Tanaka looked at Shiko, as Shiko would be the one to decide whether to agree with KiShin's proposal on the Suzuki side.
As Itori Tanaka looked expectantly, Shiko calmed down to think of the situation further before finally saying, "Looks like we don't have much of a choice, huh... alright, I'll agree... We don't have much choice anyway."
Upon hearing that, the Suzuki executives felt a bit reluctant to agree.
"Yeah, we just need to improve our video game sector development so we wouldn't have to resort to KiShin's help," Itori Tanaka smiled as he said.
"During the alliance of Tora and Suzuki, we can strive to improve our technology and video game development together, but after the alliance ends, Tora will return to being our competitor..." Shiko added with a smile.
"You're right..." Itori Tanaka nodded with a faint smile.
With that, the Tora and Suzuki executives saw that their boss had come to an agreement, and this time, they didn't have a choice but to accept KiShin's proposal. After some contemplation, they realized it might not be too bad, considering that their video game productions would benefit from the advanced video game toolkit and VG Engine software.
(To be quite honest, I didn't expect the negative reactions of the readers towards the MC helping his competitor... I thought it is just common sense for the mc to help, but it seems I didn't emphasize the bunch of reasons why the mc need to help his company's competitor's and the need for the competitor's reliance over his company's technology in the chapter... So I guess as an apology for offending my readers, I'll compensate by updating the three chapters, the first chapter will be published in 12:00 am +08:00 GMT, and a minute duration for each chapter update.)
