The air in the conference room seemed to have frozen.
The financial report, with its astronomical figures, was still seared onto everyone's retinas. It was the triumph of Baymax, a medal marking Paul Labs' place at the pinnacle of medical technology.
And yet, at this very moment, the young man who had orchestrated it all was proposing they go "play games."
In the dead silence, someone finally broke.
"Mr. Paul!"
The speaker was the company's general manager, a veteran executive who had followed Paul's mother, Li Lina, for years, his temples already streaked with gray. He shot to his feet, his voice trembling with emotion.
"I must point out that this decision is... with all due respect, utterly absurd!"
He glanced around at his equally stunned colleagues before fixing his gaze on the composed young man in the chairman's seat.
"We are Paul Labs! We are in the business of changing human health, of extending lives! Our brand is synonymous with rigor, prestige, and trust! And now, you want us to drop all of that to develop... games?"
He practically spat out the word "games."
"This is corporate suicide! What will the outside world think of us? What will the headlines say? 'Medical Giant Neglects Core Business for Electronic Heroin'? Our stock will plummet, and our brand value will be destroyed!"
His words echoed through the cavernous conference room, each one voicing the thoughts of the majority present.
*He must be insane.*
To throw away a golden goose to wade into the messy waters of the gaming industry? Especially in an era dominated by the three titans: Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo?
Wasn't this gambling with the company's entire future?
Faced with the near-accusation, Paul's expression remained impassive. He didn't even lift an eyelid, merely extending a finger to press a button on the control panel before him.
*VMMMM—*
The massive screen at the back of the room instantly switched its display.
If the financial report was a gleaming medal of honor, what now appeared on the screen was a vision of the future so vast it would make any tech professional's scalp tingle and their heart stop.
It was an impossibly complex diagram of an industry ecosystem.
At the very top sat a device shaped like a black motorcycle helmet, an apparatus radiating a sharp, sci-fi aesthetic.
From it, countless thick branches extended downwards, like the root system of a colossal tree, twisting and winding their way into every corner of a vast empire.
"Software Development Platform," "Exclusive Game Matrix," "Next-Gen VR Hardware," "Global Esports Circuit," "IP Spinoff Ecosystem," "Online Virtual Communities"...
Beneath each branch were densely packed technical roadmaps and detailed plans.
From the hardware's neural-impulse chip architecture to the software's "The World Seed" development engine, all the way to content distribution channels and peripheral monetization...
A business loop so complete it was suffocating was laid bare before them all.
This wasn't a product plan.
This was a declaration of war.
A manifesto of conquest, announcing a one-man assault on the entire traditional entertainment industry.
The previously whispering executives had all fallen silent.
They stared, transfixed, at the screen, as shock washed over them like a tsunami, sweeping away all their earlier doubts and confusion.
They were slowly, finally beginning to understand that the "game" their boss spoke of and the "game" they had imagined were not on the same dimensional plane.
"I know what you're thinking."
Paul's voice sounded again, calm, yet carrying an undeniable force.
"You're wondering why a company in medical and health technology would venture into a seemingly unrelated field."
He rose slowly and walked to the front of the screen, his long fingers tapping the image of the black helmet.
"Baymax is a success. It can scan your health, give you a warm hug, and heal your physical wounds. But that is the limit of what it can offer."
His gaze swept across the room, his eyes holding a depth that belied his age.
"The power of technology shouldn't just be about creating stronger armor or more precise scanners."
"It's about whether it can touch humanity's deepest desires. Whether it can build a world for countless lonely souls... a world they are willing to immerse themselves in, to find new life and new dreams."
"Baymax heals the body."
A supremely confident curve formed on Paul's lips.
"What I am about to do... is to give the world a feast for the spirit."
He paused, enunciating each world-shattering word.
"What I'm proposing isn't an ordinary VR game. It is, based on Brain-Computer Interface technology, capable of one hundred percent sensory synchronization... a FullDive Virtual Reality."
"A FullDive Virtual Reality."
*BOOM!*
It was as if a nuclear bomb had been dropped on the conference room.
Brain-Computer Interface?
FullDive?
Isn't that something out of a science fiction novel?!
Everyone stared, dumbfounded, their breath caught in their throats. They looked at the young man standing before the screen as if they were looking at a god who had traveled back from the future.
"Technologically, we've already overcome the core challenge of neural signal conversion and developed a completely secure brainwave identification system. In other words, each player's brainwaves are their unique 'key,' making account theft impossible."
"In terms of the business model, the hardware is just the foot in the door. The real profit lies in the exclusive content ecosystem and the massive virtual social platform we will build. We will open up our 'World Seed' engine, allowing developers worldwide to create content for our platform, from which we will take a cut."
"And our target audience isn't just traditional gamers. Imagine the elderly, with limited mobility, running again in a virtual world. Lovers, separated by distance, embracing for real in a virtual world. We could even... provide the most realistic simulated battlefield training for the military."
Paul's voice wasn't loud, but it struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer, blow by blow.
One grand, clear blueprint after another was revealed, piecing together the prototype of an unprecedented business empire.
The atmosphere in the room had transformed from initial tension and doubt to fervent adoration.
The look in everyone's eyes had changed.
They no longer saw Paul as a young, reckless boss, but as a pioneer on the verge of creating a new era.
"Of course," Paul's tone shifted, a cunning smile playing on his lips, "I know a vision alone doesn't pay the bills."
He snapped his fingers.
The image on the screen changed again, displaying a stock option incentive plan.
"I will personally be taking thirteen percent of my shares in Paul Labs and putting them into a stock option pool for this new project. Starting today, everyone in this room, and all core members who join the project in the future, will receive options based on their contributions. When the project succeeds, you can choose to cash out or become permanent shareholders of the company."
Thirteen percent of the shares!
A collective sharp intake of breath filled the room.
Given Paul Labs' current valuation, what did thirteen percent represent? It was a staggering figure, enough to grant everyone present instant financial freedom, enough to land them on the Forbes list!
"Furthermore, the salaries for all employees on the new project will be increased by thirty percent, and the benefits package will match the highest standards of Stark Industries."
If the stock options were a pie in the sky, then this promise was a direct shot of adrenaline.
Everyone's eyes turned red with excitement, their breathing growing heavy.
They could already see themselves, a Baymax in one hand and a virtual reality headset in the other, ringing the bell at NASDAQ.
"Boss! This product... what's it called?" the Head of Marketing asked, nearly leaping to his feet, his face flushed with excitement.
"The console... will be called the NERvGear," Paul said calmly. "Short for 'Neuro-linker Virtual Reality Gear'."
"And... and our first game?"
"It will be called—" Paul's gaze grew distant, as if watching a world of swords and magic slowly unfurl.
"*Sword Art Online*."
"*Sword Art Online*!"
As soon as the name was spoken, the younger, geekier executives in the room exploded.
"Holy shit! Sword Art Online! The real Sword Art Online?!"
"Oh my god! Am I dreaming? We're going to make SAO?!"
"Boss, you're a legend!!"
The atmosphere was completely ignited, descending into a state of euphoria.
"In the future, if the technology allows," Paul added nonchalantly, watching the ecstatic crowd as he dropped another bombshell, "we could even make a VR version of *Attack on Titan*, letting players experience the thrill of the ODM gear firsthand."
The conference room erupted.
However, amidst the frenzy, only the Director of Technology, a stern, middle-aged man, frowned slightly after a brief moment of excitement.
He pushed up his glasses and asked hesitantly, "Boss, according to your vision, to achieve FullDive, aside from the neural interface, wouldn't we also need a high-power... microwave emitter to synchronize the signals? The safety of that device..."
"Hmm?" Paul's eyes shifted. His smile didn't falter as he casually changed the subject. "That's just one of the backup options. Our primary technical path doesn't rely on it. Alright, that's all for today's meeting. The detailed plans will be sent to your inboxes shortly."
He waved a hand, dismissing them.
The executives began to leave, still buzzing with an excitement they couldn't contain.
Only Paul remained. After everyone had gone, he stood alone in the empty conference room, staring at the black NERvGear helmet on the screen as the smile slowly vanished from his face.
He murmured to himself, his voice so soft only he could hear it.
"The microwave emitter..."
"I hope... I hope we never have to use that thing."