The board's resolution was like a stone thrown into a stagnant pond — it stirred up a brief ripple on the day of the meeting, and then quickly sank into silence.
---
Asset Management Department
On an expensive leather sofa, Director Hoshino sat with one leg crossed over the other, toying with a solid gold lighter in his hand. His eyes were filled with scorn and irritation.
"The president has really lost his mind this time," he muttered, snapping the lighter shut with a sharp click, his tone openly contemptuous.
"He actually let that son of his — that kid who just graduated a few years ago — talk him into giving up this golden age?"
Across from him, Director Sugiura, who was in charge of real estate investment, held a cup of Blue Mountain coffee. His face, too, was full of unwillingness.
"Exactly. Hoshino-kun, you wouldn't believe it — that building in Ginza I had my eye on? It went up another fifteen percent just this month! That one property earned us more than a year's worth of game console sales!"
"Yeah," Hoshino scoffed, laughing as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.
"Relying on selling game machines and cartridges to make money? That kind of pocket change can't even match the fluctuations in our stock accounts in a single minute!"
The two men exchanged a knowing glance — and in that glance, they shared the same thought.
Outward obedience, inner defiance.
"The president's orders can't be ignored," Hoshino said, a sly grin curling on his lips. "But how we execute them — that's our area of expertise."
He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "We'll just tell them that the market sentiment is fragile right now — large-scale selling could trigger a chain reaction. We need to wait for the 'best timing.'"
Sugiura chuckled knowingly. "Exactly. And as for when that 'best timing' comes, well — only we professionals can determine that. We'll drag it out for half a year, maybe a full year. By then, when the market hits new highs again, the president and the board will realize who was right all along."
They firmly believed that this was nothing more than Hayao Nakayama and his son's momentary shortsightedness. As long as they stalled for time, reality would eventually vindicate their so-called "vision."
And when the company's assets kept appreciating, no one — not even the president — would object to making more money.
---
President's Office
Hayao Nakayama's brows were furrowed tightly, his knuckles tapping rhythmically against the desk.
In front of him was the first progress report submitted by the Asset Management Department.
It was filled with professional jargon, all used to explain why "the timing isn't right yet."
But the essence of the entire report could be summed up in two words — stall and delay.
"These bastards think my words are just air!"
Nakayama's voice trembled with suppressed anger.
Takuya Nakayama, standing beside him, calmly refilled his father's teacup, as if he had expected this outcome all along.
"Father," he said softly, "sometimes it's better to guide the flow than to block it."
"Forcing them too hard will only push them into doing worse behind our backs — they might even engineer deliberate losses during liquidation, just to 'prove' they were right."
Nakayama looked up at his son — this son who always managed to surprise him.
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Give them something they can't refuse," Takuya replied, smiling faintly. "Something that looks even more tempting than what they're clinging to now."
He handed over a brand-new folder.
On the cover, in bold black characters, was the title:
"Next-Generation Console Core Technology — Strategic Reserve Plan for 3D Graphics Development."
Hayao Nakayama flipped it open — and his pupils constricted slightly.
The report was co-signed by the Hardware Development Division and the Arcade Development Division, but its core ideas and foresight were unmistakably Takuya's work.
"3D technology?" he asked.
"Yes, Father," Takuya replied, pointing to a section of the report.
"The era of 2D graphics is coming to an end. Whoever masters mature 3D graphics technology first will define the next decade of the gaming market."
"I've been following a small company in the UK called Argonaut Software. They're developing a rendering chip called the Super FX — it has enormous potential.
Right now, they're in the early stage of R&D and need funding — which makes this the perfect time for us to invest."
He had packaged the plan as a core strategic investment in the company's technological future.
---
An hour later, Takuya Nakayama stood at the door of the Asset Management Department.
After he explained his request to allocate funds for investment in Argonaut Software, Director Hoshino nearly burst out laughing.
Leaning back in his chair, he looked at Takuya with a mocking smile, as though looking at a naive fool.
"Executive Nakayama, did I hear that right? You want us to sell off our golden-egg-laying Ginza properties just to invest in some small British workshop no one's ever heard of?"
Director Sugiura chimed in, fanning the flames.
"Exactly, Executive Nakayama. That math doesn't add up no matter how you look at it.
Compared to our financial investments, the profits from game cartridges aren't even a rounding error."
Their condescending tone was impossible to miss.
Yet, faced with this expected resistance, Takuya didn't show a flicker of anger.
He simply nodded calmly. "I understand."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Hoshino and Sugiura looking at each other — feeling as if they'd just punched a pillow.
---
Back in the president's office, Hayao Nakayama was waiting.
"So," he asked, "they're dead set against it?"
"As expected," Takuya replied, his smile calm but confident.
"Father, since they want to keep circling around the topic of whether to cash out — then we'll simply change the topic."
"We'll talk instead about where to reinvest once we've cashed out."
From his briefcase, he produced two more detailed reports and handed them to his father.
Hayao Nakayama glanced at the covers — and his eyes lit up immediately.
"Feasibility Study on Warren Buffett and the Value Investing Philosophy."
"Analysis of Recent Yen Exchange Rate Trends."
The first report was richly illustrated, clearly showing the steady growth curve of Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway over several decades — that smooth, upward trajectory, barely affected by economic cycles, stood in sharp contrast to the wild, volatile roller coaster of the Japanese stock market.
The section detailing Buffett's long-term holdings in consumer giants like Coca-Cola — and their astonishing compounded returns — left even an industrial veteran like Hayao Nakayama quietly stunned.
The second report analyzed the future trend of the yen, pointing out that depreciation was likely in the coming years.
"Father," Takuya explained, "Hoshino and the others worship speculation — making fast money.
But Buffett shows us a more advanced approach: investment."
"Stable, high-dividend, counter-cyclical — and most importantly, these high-quality American blue-chip stocks have excellent liquidity. Whenever we need cash, they can be sold instantly."
A flash of brilliance crossed Hayao Nakayama's eyes — in that instant, he understood his son's true intention.
This wasn't just an investment proposal.
It was a brilliantly disguised masterstroke — a "conspiracy in plain sight."
After all, all the elaborate maneuvering and plans still led back to one simple core goal:
protect Sega's assets before the storm hit.
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