Wednesday 2 January 1998.
Zaboru now stood in the bustling Narita Airport in Tokyo, preparing for his flight to London. The trip wasn't just for sightseeing—it was an important business journey to visit Flocks and meet with Risa Miller, where they would evaluate several potential office locations for the new ZAGE branch in the UK. There were many strategic topics to cover regarding the expansion into London, and Zaboru intended to lay the foundation for what could become ZAGE's major European headquarters. His mind was already filled with plans and goals, but before the flight, he was focused on something even more important—saying goodbye to his family.
Ayumi wrapped her arms tightly around him, her expression mixed with concern and affection. "Make sure to eat properly and don't overdo it, okay, Zabo?" she said softly.
Zaboru smiled warmly, nodding as he gently patted her head. "I'll be fine. Don't worry."
Keiko, his mother, stepped forward next. "Be careful, Zaboru," she said, her tone calm but filled with motherly love.
Sanika, his younger sister, grinned and waved enthusiastically. "Nii-san, don't forget the souvenirs!"
Zaboru chuckled, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Alright, alright. No worries, Mom. And I won't forget, Sani-chan."
Then came his father, Zanichi, who gave a deep, familiar chuckle. "Be careful, Boss. Don't worry about anything here—I'll take care of ZAGE Tokyo while you're gone, like always."
Zaboru grinned, touched by his father's unwavering support. "Thanks, Dad. I know I can count on you."
Finally, he leaned down and kissed his infant son Zenshin gently on the forehead. The baby giggled in response, completely unaware of the farewell but filling Zaboru's heart with warmth. With a final wave to his family, Zaboru turned toward the departure gate, ready to chase the next chapter of ZAGE's journey—carrying both ambition and love with him across the skies.
It was a long flight, as usual. Even with the comfort and speed of a private jet, the journey from Tokyo to London still took nearly 13 hours. The hum of the engines filled the cabin as Zaboru settled into his seat, adjusting the headrest and stretching slightly. Most people would spend a flight like this catching up on sleep, reading, or watching movies—but Zaboru wasn't most people.
Instead, he closed his eyes and activated one of his most useful powers—his Emulator Mind. Within moments, time itself seemed to slow in his perception. In this personal mental space, he could summon a fully immersive virtual workstation, complete with simulated monitors, drawing tablets, whiteboards, and code editors. Everything functioned exactly as it would in the real world, except much faster. Here, inside his mind, he could focus without distraction, without fatigue, and without needing to lift a finger.
While his physical body rested, Zaboru's mind was deep at work. He began laying out the framework for ZAGE's next flagship title, conceptualizing mechanics, character abilities, and narrative arcs. He sketched new designs and experimented with gameplay systems that had been brewing in his thoughts for months. Even if nothing was physically produced yet, all of the design data would be fully recalled and implemented once he returned to his studio.
The Emulator Mind was a game-changer—quite literally. It allowed him to transform idle hours into productive creative time. What would have been a tedious and empty 13-hour flight became an opportunity to push ZAGE further, one thought at a time. By the time the jet began its descent into London, Zaboru had made more progress than most teams could achieve in a full workweek. It was one of the many reasons ZAGE continued to stay ahead of the curve—and Zaboru himself remained unstoppable.
After the long 13-hour flight, Zaboru finally arrived at London Heathrow Airport. Despite the fatigue from travel, he moved with purpose, quickly arranging a private ride to his London residence. Once home, he allowed himself a brief moment to unwind—just enough time to freshen up, change clothes, and gather his thoughts. He knew he couldn't afford to waste any time, especially with key business meetings ahead. After a short rest, he headed straight to the Flocks headquarters in the heart of London, where an important face awaited him.
It wasn't long before he arrived at the Flocks office building. As he entered the lobby, he was greeted by the ever-energetic Risa Miller. "Yo, Boss! Long time no see," she said with a wide grin, extending her hand for a firm shake.
Zaboru chuckled and returned the gesture. "Yeah, long time no see, Risa. You're looking well."
Risa nodded, clearly excited, and motioned for him to follow her. She led him through the sleek corridors of the Flocks HQ and into a modern meeting room. Once they were seated, she got straight to business, pulling out folders and charts, ready to bring Zaboru up to speed on the latest developments.
"First of all, Boss," Risa began, placing a chart on the table, "people here in England are starting to get really restless. They're craving a good football game. There's serious buzz going around—Sonaya has already started marketing their new football game, 'SFG,' and it's turning into a hot topic. Even though its release isn't until next month, people are already lining up to pre-order it. The hype is real, and stores are receiving tons of inquiries."
Zaboru leaned back in his chair and chuckled, nodding calmly. "That's interesting to hear, Risa. But don't worry—we're still making steady progress on our own football title, Winning Eleven 98. I know the competition is heating up, but I'm not about to rush production. Quality always comes first. If we cut corners, we risk damaging the trust our players have in us."
He continued, his tone reassuring, "It will definitely be released this year, and when it does, I want it to exceed expectations. Our fans deserve something truly polished—something that will last for years, not just ride a trend."
Risa smiled and nodded in approval. "Understood, Boss. That's the ZAGE standard I know. I'll keep monitoring the local market and SFG's reception as it launches. But I have a good feeling. When Winning Eleven 98 drops, it's going to shake the entire football game scene and hurt Sonaya more than they can imagine." She grinned.
"Oh, and yeah, Boss," Risa said, leaning in slightly with a more serious tone, "while I was scouting for office locations for the ZAGE London branch, I also did some additional digging using my network. Turns out, there's something really promising happening here beneath the surface. A large number of university students across London—especially from top institutions like Imperial, UCL, and King's College—are not only interested in video games, but they're also seriously passionate about working in the industry. There's this massive wave of young, talented people who dream of becoming game developers and designers But the industry here in London, or even across Europe, hasn't really caught up. There aren't many established game studios, so there's a clear talent pool—but very few places for them to go."
She paused, eyes gleaming. "That's where we come in. If we open up work opportunities in London and position ZAGE as the leading game studio in Europe, we might just hit a gold mine. We're talking about bright, driven students with fresh ideas and loads of potential. They're hungry to prove themselves, and with our training and support, we could turn them into top-tier developers. It's more than just filling roles—it's about creating a thriving, self-sustaining development hub right here."
Zaboru nodded slowly, clearly impressed. "I see… That's great insight, Risa. If we can combine their raw talent with ZAGE's creative process, we could build something truly powerful. Alright, let's go take a look at the office spaces you've found."
Risa smiled and stood up, her energy as focused as ever. "You got it, Boss." She grabbed her keys, and both of them made their way down to the parking lot. A few minutes later, they were cruising through the heart of London in her car, heading toward the buildings she had selected for evaluation. The city outside buzzed with life, but inside the car, the conversation stayed locked on strategy, expansion, and the future of ZAGE in Europe.
After about 40 minutes of navigating through London's busy streets, they finally arrived at the prospective office site. The building immediately stood out. It was impressive from the outside—standing tall with 26 full floors and a broad, solid footprint that made it feel grand and well-anchored. What made it even more charming was the small public park that sat in front of it. With trimmed hedges, benches under neatly pruned trees, and a stone fountain at the center, the area added a peaceful ambiance to the corporate energy of the structure. It was the kind of spot where employees could take a break, relax, or brainstorm under open skies.
Zaboru stepped out and gave the building a long, thoughtful look. He slowly circled the front, taking in the architecture, the location, and the general vibe. "This is a grand building. What was it used for before?" he asked.
Risa, walking beside him, let out a light laugh. "Funny you ask. This place used to be the headquarters of a private banking company. They had a solid run here for decades, but mismanagement and the recent financial shakeups led them to bankruptcy. Now they're desperate to sell the building. The infrastructure's still solid though—the elevators, air conditioning, toilets, and other core systems are all in perfect working condition. It's just the furniture that's missing. We'd be starting fresh inside, but the bones of the place are strong."
Zaboru nodded in understanding. "Sounds promising. Can we look inside?"
Risa's grin widened. "Absolutely. The current owner is someone I know personally. And the moment he found out that Zaboru Renkonan might be opening ZAGE's London branch here, he got ridiculously excited. Turns out, he's a massive fan of yours. You showing up in person will probably make his year."
Zaboru chuckled. "Well, thats good too hear and lets look inside."
They made their way toward the entrance, ready to step inside and assess the building's true potential.
Zaboru took his time exploring the rooms, floors, and overall facilities of the building. At first glance, the office space was impressive—clean, well-structured, and full of potential. However, compared to the iconic ZAGE Campus in the U.S. and the futuristic ZAGE Tower in Japan, it lacked a distinct identity. It didn't yet carry the unique atmosphere or creative energy that Zaboru had come to associate with his brand. Still, that didn't bother him. If anything, it excited him. He saw this blank slate as a chance to shape the London office from the ground up—tailored precisely to ZAGE's evolving needs and culture.
Every ZAGE office had to meet certain standards and requirements—collaboration zones, quiet areas for deep focus, gaming lounges, and even dedicated testing labs. This space had the bones to support all of that. With the right design, layout, and vision, Zaboru knew he could turn this place into something remarkable. After carefully examining the different sections of the building, evaluating how each area could be adapted for various functions, and mentally noting key changes he'd implement, he finally nodded to himself, satisfied with what he saw.
"These offices are quite good," Zaboru said with a smile, his eyes still scanning the ceiling panels and layout as he slowly turned in place. "The structure is solid, and with some design tweaks, I think we can really make it our own."
"Glad to hear that, Boss," Risa said with a satisfied nod. "And just a reminder—you already gave me full control over the negotiation side of things, so I'll handle all the details from here on."
Zaboru nodded, silently acknowledging her role while continuing to take in the space.
"But," Risa added, her tone shifting slightly, "I might need a small assist from you to smooth things out. Nothing too complex—I just want you to come with me to meet the building's owner. Like I mentioned earlier, he's a massive fan of yours. Having you there will leave a strong impression, and I think it'll give us the leverage we need to close the deal on favorable terms."
Zaboru chuckled lightly and gave a firm nod. "Sure thing. If it helps us secure this place and get things moving faster, I'm in. Let's not waste time."
"Perfect," Risa said with a grin. She immediately pulled out her phone and made a quick call, stepping slightly aside as she coordinated the meeting. Her tone was upbeat, casual, and confident—the kind of voice that got things done without friction.
Within minutes, the arrangements were made. She turned to Zaboru. "Alright, he's at his usual café nearby. We've got about a 15-minute drive. He's excited—you showing up is going to make his whole week."
Zaboru raised an eyebrow. "Let's make sure it also makes our expansion easier."
They left the building and stepped into the car, heading straight toward the café where the next important conversation awaited.
To be continue
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