At Atlus Studio, Kobayashi Tetsu clapped his hands.
"Move it, everyone! Let's get this done! Before the New Year's break, I'm assigning you all one final task: come up with an offline puzzle-solving format, starting now!"
Kobayashi roughly sketched a map of Japan on the whiteboard.
It wasn't perfect, but close enough.
"The goal is simple: Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Okinawa—five regions will simultaneously launch puzzle-solving challenges, each leaving clues behind! The winners of the first puzzle will have their information mailed to Atlas, triggering the second round of challenges!"
"We'll select at least six winners for the first puzzle and award them each an MS Game Console!"
"As for the rest of you, after the New Year's break, you'll join Endo-kun in developing this arcade game: Demon Tower!"
That's right, Kobayashi had directly renamed the new game Demon Tower.
Tower of Druaga? Too hard to remember! Demon Tower is much catchier!
Kobayashi felt a long-dormant excitement stirring within him.
This feeling of spending big to achieve something grand—it was pure bliss!
"Endo-kun, come into my office for a moment."
Kobayashi Tetsu beckoned Masanobu Endo into his office, casually remarking, "There's no need to be so nervous, Endo. I have my reasons for doing this. Not only will it boost our influence and indirectly drive sales of our other games, but it will also achieve the promotional impact I'm aiming for in one fell swoop. Most importantly, Endo, I have absolute confidence in you and your work! I believe you're destined for success!"
Endo's mouth went dry at these simple, direct words. His heart pounded so fiercely he felt it might burst from his chest.
Kobayashi wasn't just talking—he had actually invested nearly two hundred million yen in this campaign!
Endo nearly dropped to his knees in gratitude.
"President Kobayashi, I'm ready to give my all to meet this expectation. My only fear is that I might not be good enough and fail to live up to it!"
"Don't worry," Kobayashi said, spreading his hands. "Just get it done!"
He dared to take such a bold move because he knew one crucial thing:
Tower of Druaga had succeeded.
And not just succeeded—it had achieved a level of success beyond anyone's wildest dreams. It had not only revolutionized Japanese RPGs but had also drawn countless young Japanese players to arcades, where they repeatedly fed coins into the machines.
Three million game tokens? Three million game tokens were nothing!
Kobayashi Tetsu desperately wanted to shout at Masanobu Endo, "Just do it! If you need money, I'll back you up!"
Masanobu Endo had calmed down from his earlier excitement and asked Kobayashi Tetsu, "President, are there any key points I should keep in mind during game development?"
"No key points at all," Kobayashi Tetsu replied with a dismissive wave. "Develop it however you want—you're the producer! Just strike the right balance between tower climbing and puzzle-solving, making sure it's challenging but not frustrating for players. That's all that matters!"
He continued, "I'm giving you absolute freedom and autonomy. Do whatever you want, and don't worry about failure. Two hundred million yen is nothing—Atlas can afford it. Even if you fail, it doesn't matter. The important thing is that the experience of making this arcade game will be invaluable for our next project. That's when we'll achieve the success we deserve!"
Masanobu Endo was speechless, bowing deeply in response.
He couldn't fathom where Kobayashi Tetsu's confidence came from.
But this feeling of being trusted and fully supported filled Masanobu Endo with a quiet determination.
Demon Tower had to be perfect! If it wasn't, he'd commit seppuku!
"Tetsu-kun," Koyakawa said nervously, looking at Kobayashi Tetsu. "Can I participate in this puzzle game too?"
"Sure, you can participate," Kobayashi Tetsu said, shrugging. "But I won't give you any clues, and you can't ask me for any. You'll have to solve the puzzles using your own wits and hands!"
Koyakawa tilted her head to look up at Kobayashi Tetsu.
"I won't ask! I can do it myself!"
Kobayashi Tetsu silently gave her a thumbs-up. "Then good luck. Japan is divided into six regions for the competition: Hokkaido, Kanto, Kansai, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Okinawa."
He paused briefly before adding, "While I can't give you the answers, I can offer some help."
Koyakawa nodded eagerly.
What could the answer be?
"You could try Okinawa," Kobayashi Tetsu suggested. "It has fewer participants, so you might find clues there sooner."
Koyakawa: ————
Tetsu-kun, you're really being controlled!
Kobayashi Tetsu chuckled and quickly changed the subject.
"Good luck! Maybe you can even rank in the top spots across all six regions. Just remember, the puzzles are incredibly complex, requiring a chain of solutions. Only by solving them correctly can you claim the reward at Atlas! If you don't want the MS Game Console, we can arrange for a different prize."
Kobayashi Tetsu continued, "Within reason, you can ask me for anything. Anything at all."
Koyakawa's head snapped up.
Anything?
Kobayashi Tetsu nodded.
Anything!
"This offer expires soon," Kobayashi emphasized, highlighting the gravity of the situation. "You're essentially competing against a hundred million Japanese citizens!"
Koyakawa muttered under her breath, "As if a hundred million people would confess their love to you."
Kobayashi let out a soft "Huh?" and was about to ask her what she'd said when Koyakawa turned and dashed out of the office in a flash.
Time waits for no one! Even if she doubted a hundred million Japanese people could possibly be interested in Kobayashi Tetsu, she still needed to hurry!
Kobayashi chuckled softly, shook his head, and didn't bother chasing after her.
In truth, Kobayashi didn't believe Koyakawa stood a chance of winning in any of the six regional competitions. Solving even one or two puzzles would be a remarkable feat.
This was an offline, multi-stage puzzle hunt personally crafted by Atlas!
The first puzzle was a classic Sudoku. The problem was broadcast directly on TV GG. After solving the Sudoku, players would obtain different spellings depending on their region. For example, in the Kanto Region, the spelling was "Shimayose Game Store." Only then could players proceed to the Shimayose Game Store to receive the next puzzle and clues, continuing the hunt.
By solving a series of puzzles, players would ultimately arrive at the answer to Kobayashi Tetsu's question. They would then proceed to Atlas to claim their Phase One rewards.
The first person to reach Atlas in each region would be crowned champion and awarded an MS.
By April, both phases of the offline puzzle-solving would be complete. Masanobu Endo's arcade game would also be nearing completion, allowing for a seamless launch.
The initial investment of two hundred million yen would be quickly recouped. By integrating the game with real-world interactions to complete Phase Three of the program, players could achieve victory in the game.
As for the indirect boost in brand awareness and sales during this period, Kobayashi Tetsu didn't even bother to track it. That was just bonus value—a mere tens of millions of yen in extra monthly profit. Who cared about such trivial sums?
He sat in his office, silhouetted against the light streaming through the doorway, his hands clasped beneath his chin, striking a pose that exuded the aura of a mastermind pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
Now, Kobayashi Tetsu was simply waiting for someone to break through the ranks and reach him.
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