Chapter 169. A Light and Joyful Little Party Game?
"Sakura, have you already decided to jump ship?
My door's always open for you~"
With a playful curl at the corners of his lips, Xander Masato spoke in a teasing tone.
"Sakura, you decided pretty fast."
Bronya was grinning, too.
Right after she finished, even Seele tilted her head, brought her hands together, and beamed.
"That's great.
Sakura-sis can come to us so soon."
With every sentence they said, Sakura's face grew a shade redder.
When Seele's voice fell, Sakura couldn't hold it in anymore and, flustered to the point of discomfort, said, "Why is even you, Seele, also…"
"Sorry, sorry.
It's just that Sakura-sis like this is really fun~"
Sticking out her tongue in a cute way, Seele gently held her brother's hand.
The three of them couldn't stop laughing.
"Alright, we'll stop teasing you.
By the way, shouldn't it be your manager coming over?
How did it end up being you here?"
At that, Bronya—standing by Xander's side—suddenly frowned a little.
"Is your manager inside right now?"
"No, no, no.
If he were here, I wouldn't be the one welcoming you."
Mentioning the manager, Sakura's expression turned a bit awkward.
"That manager isn't used to things on this side.
He got food poisoning this afternoon right after lunch and was sent to the hospital…"
"...That's really unlucky."
"He's okay, right?" Seele asked, a little worried.
"Don't worry.
He's fine, just a bit weak.
He'll probably need to stay in the hospital for a few days," Sakura replied with a reassuring smile.
"That's good."
"So, for this meeting, the counterpart is you, Sakura—the acting number two for now?"
"K-kind of.
After we split up, I got a call from the manager.
I went back to look for you, but you'd already left.
I had the taxi driver speed up so I could get here before you."
Sakura continued, her voice now a little constrained.
"If I'm the one in charge, would that make it seem like we don't value this enough?
Of course, we're not looking down on Gensokyo Studio at all.
The manager said that once he recovers, he'll come in person to apologize!!"
"There's no need for any 'visit to apologize' or anything like that.
And honestly, in our eyes, you're much more important than your manager."
With a laugh, Xander said it, and Sakura's face visibly reddened another shade.
She hurried to open the restaurant door and ushered Xander and the others inside, leaving the waiter—who had been preparing all this time—stunned.
Wait, wasn't this supposed to be his job?
While he stared in a slight daze, a tip was slipped into his pocket.
He immediately bowed repeatedly in thanks.
They took their seats in an elegant private room.
Arms folded and one leg crossed over the other, Xander looked around at the regionally themed décor and spoke casually.
"Since we're all acquainted, let's skip the formalities.
Just say what needs saying.
If I can do it, I will.
If I can't, there's no need to force it."
Thunk.
His crossed leg accidentally tapped Bronya's calf.
Shifting his gaze, he saw the clearly visible shoe print on her stockings and the death glare she was giving him.
Xander hastily put his leg down, then took hold of Seele's little hand and fidgeted with it, acting all well-behaved.
"Ahem."
After a cough to clear her throat, the blush faded a little from Sakura's face.
She spoke earnestly.
"This time, it's actually about the AR glasses side wanting to collaborate with Gensokyo Studio again."
"Isn't Pokémon enough?
If I remember right, Anti-Entropy's AR glasses already have over a 70% market share, don't they?"
Thanks to Anti-Entropy's overwhelming position—otherwise certain regions' antitrust laws might have come knocking.
"Pokémon is of course the most important.
But based on market research, while Pokémon has earned universal love, many users have asked for a game they can play while just sitting there."
Pausing, Sakura continued, "Like Shencheng Tech's SanGuoSha, Landlord, Aeroplane Chess—party and tabletop games like those."
Hearing that, Bronya asked with some confusion, "That shouldn't be hard to do, right?
Anti-Entropy Entertainment has so many designers—can't they handle it?"
"It's not that they can't."
Sakura shook her head.
As an employee of Anti-Entropy Entertainment herself, she spoke with a hint of embarrassment.
"With the gem that is Pokémon set as the precedent, then when you compare the proposals those designers brought out…"
"Some of them just aren't presentable?"
Seeing Sakura's awkward smile, Xander understood what she meant.
It's like Honkai Impact 3rd's Part 2.
If another mobile game studio made it that well, they could brag to the heavens.
But if it's miHoYo making it…
Let's just say—"it is what it is."
Can't be helped.
Player thresholds vary in different spaces.
When Anti-Entropy's AR glasses already have Pokémon, how could they bring out just "ordinary" games with a straight face?
"I see.
So that's why you came to us for a collaboration."
Bronya understood as well.
At this moment, Seele suddenly raised her hand in confusion.
"If this is a collaboration involving Anti-Entropy HQ, I didn't hear anything about it from Mama Cocolia."
All three pairs of eyes turned to Sakura.
She grew flustered at once and spoke up.
"T-this kind of collaboration doesn't feel like it's necessary to trouble that personage, right?
You know most people in our company are pretty scared of her…"
"So the idea is to talk with us first, then report it upward once it's done?"
"Mm…
But we would absolutely never shortchange Gensokyo Studio.
We can provide all the development resources just like with Pokémon, you'll still lead the project, and as for the IP rights, it'll be half-and-half between Gensokyo and Anti-Entropy.
Anti-Entropy only holds dividend rights.
How about it?"
Xander pressed his palm down in a calming gesture to settle Sakura's flustered look, then smiled.
"Still offering such generous terms, huh?
You really do have a lot of faith in me."
"I've never designed this kind of game before, though.
Aren't you afraid I won't be able to make it, or that it won't be good?"
"Eh?"
Sakura froze.
All of a sudden, she felt like what Xander said made some sense.
Maybe it's because Xander's absurd track record makes people choose to trust him first by reflex.
A few years in the industry with zero defeats.
Even the young Welt Yang wasn't this outrageous.
"S-sorry.
I might have gotten a bit ahead of myself."
"It's fine."
Hearing Xander's relaxed voice, Sakura let out a breath.
She had just raised her cup to wet her throat with a sip when Xander's next sentence arrived.
"After all, I actually already have an idea."
"Pfft!!! Cough, cough, cough!!!"
Suddenly choked by the icy water, Sakura hurriedly took the tissues Seele handed her and dabbed her lips.
"A-already?"
Mouth agape in astonishment, Sakura's eyes were full of disbelief.
No one makes games like this.
It hasn't even been five minutes.
Give him any random theme and he already has an idea?
What kind of cheat is that?
"You've got another one?"
"Well, he is my brother~"
Bronya just tossed off a casual quip.
She and Seele were long used to how ridiculous this guy could get.
"What kind of game are you planning this time?"
Hearing Bronya's question, Xander propped his chin on his hand and looked up at the mural on the ceiling.
Gazing at the ferocious white dragon, Xander smiled and said, "Nothing special.
Just a light and joyful little card game."
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