Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: A Glimmer of Hope

In the evening, the dining room of the Nakayama family mansion glowed with warm light.The crystal chandelier cast a soft radiance over the elegant tableware.Typically, at this hour, Takuya was the liveliest at the table, his wit and laughter infusing the serious family atmosphere with levity.But tonight was different.He sat quietly in his seat, mechanically picking at his food, responding to family conversations with minimal engagement, his mind clearly elsewhere.His chopsticks moved slowly, his gaze occasionally drifting into the distance.Hayao Nakayama set down his sake cup, his eyes lingering on his son for a few seconds.As a seasoned businessman, he keenly sensed Takuya's unusual demeanor.But he didn't inquire immediately, instead continuing to sip his sake and exchange casual family talk with his wife and eldest son's family.Takuya's silence cast a subtle tension over the table.After dinner, Hayao Nakayama retired to his study alone.About ten minutes later, soft footsteps echoed in the hallway, and Aunt Keiko arrived quietly to summon Takuya at Hayao's request."Father, you called for me?"Takuya pushed open the study door. The room was bathed in soft light, and Hayao stood by the window at a tea table, meticulously handling a refined set of Yixing clay teaware. His movements were unhurried, each gesture—lifting the teapot, pouring water—executed with calm elegance."Sit," Hayao said without turning, his voice even. "Have some tea with me."The air carried the scent of sandalwood, now mingled with the moist warmth of steaming water. The tea simmered quietly in the small Yixing teapot, emitting a faint, continuous gurgling, like a soft whisper. Hayao's technique was masterful—rinsing cups, warming the pot, placing the tea leaves, brewing—each step precise, as if measured with a ruler.He poured the first infusion over a tea pet, then refilled the pot. Moments later, he lifted the teapot, evenly distributing the amber tea into two white porcelain cups. A delicate, lingering aroma, tinged with the subtle smokiness of roasted tea, seemed to come alive, wafting through the study and dispelling the last traces of Takuya's restlessness.Hayao slid one cup toward Takuya, his gaze finally settling on his son with a subtle scrutiny. "Since you took on this new project, you've been full of momentum, always brimming with confidence." He paused, as if savoring the tea in his cup, reflecting carefully. "Tonight, though, it's the first time I've seen you with a furrowed brow, silent at the table."He lifted his cup, gently blowing on the tea, his eyes calm and unwavering. "Have you hit a tough problem?"Takuya took the warm cup, the tea's heat seeping through the delicate porcelain, grounding him with a comforting warmth. He was silent for a few seconds, feeling the strength in his father's steady gaze, and chose not to conceal or sugarcoat the truth. He laid out the full story of Sunrise's rejection of their licensing request and Bandai's likely interference behind the scenes."Bandai's obstruction is deeper and more severe than we initially estimated," Takuya said, his voice tinged with gloom. "They seem determined to monopolize all of Sunrise's popular IPs. The barriers built by capital and long-term partnerships are incredibly hard to break through directly."Hayao listened quietly, his slender fingers occasionally brushing the smooth surface of the Yixing teapot, taking slow sips of tea, his face betraying no emotional shift. When Takuya finished, Hayao didn't immediately offer advice or commentary, instead falling into a brief silence.The only sound in the study was the soft sipping of tea."Takuya," Hayao finally spoke."Do you think, in the business world, relationships between companies are limited to pure competition or cooperation?"The question, like a pebble dropped into a still lake, caught Takuya off guard. He instinctively rubbed the rim of his teacup, the smooth texture helping to focus his scattered thoughts."There's… probably more to it than that," Takuya replied tentatively after a moment's thought. He knew his father's questions were never casual.Hayao nodded slowly, his deep eyes seeming to reflect the night outside, or perhaps the unseen currents of the business world. "In Japan, especially among long-established, massive enterprises, there exists a far more complex and hidden network of relationships."He lifted his teacup, gazing at the clear tea within, and uttered two words deliberately:"Zaibatsu."He emphasized the word, its weight ringing in Takuya's mind like a resonant bell."Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Fuyo, Daiichi Kangyo, Sanwa…" Hayao's pace was measured, but each name carried the weight of immense power. "These zaibatsu, through cross-shareholding, mutual executive appointments, marriages, joint investments, R&D collaborations, and long-standing exclusive gatherings, form an intricate, interdependent web where one's prosperity or downfall affects all."Takuya's breathing quickened, his posture stiffening slightly. His father's words were like a key unlocking a door he had previously overlooked or deliberately downplayed. He had always approached problems from the perspective of market competition, product quality, and negotiation tactics, neglecting the broader structural forces at play."Many times, what appears to be independent corporate decisions are, in reality, deeply influenced by the zaibatsu they're tied to—or, more precisely, the core will of those zaibatsu," Hayao continued, his fingers rhythmically tapping the desk, the soft clicks punctuating his words. "What we see as business competition is, on some level, merely an extension of the power struggles between zaibatsu."A flash of insight, like lightning, streaked through Takuya's mind! His father's incisive analysis brought to the forefront a critical identity he had subconsciously sidelined: he, Takuya Nakayama, was not only a Nakayama but also the grandson of the Mitsui family! His mother, Miyuki Nakayama, was a member of a Mitsui zaibatsu branch family."Father, do you mean…" Takuya's voice trembled with disbelief, his eyes gradually lighting up as if a lighthouse had emerged through the fog.Hayao didn't answer directly, instead fixing his son with a meaningful look, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curling his lips. "Some problems, if you only seek solutions on the surface, lead to dead ends with half the results for twice the effort." He raised his teacup, gesturing for Takuya to drink. "Sometimes, you need to approach from a higher level or an unexpected angle, and you may find a glimmer of hope."Takuya's mind raced like floodwaters unleashed. He thought of his mother's family and their intricate connections within the Mitsui zaibatsu, the seemingly casual business tidbits and networks mentioned at commercial gatherings and family events.If he merely relied on his grandfather or a Mitsui elder to pressure Sunrise or Bandai's affiliates, any resulting cooperation would be unstable and could sow deeper problems. Such an approach was too narrow and not a long-term strategy.But what if… what if he could skillfully leverage the vast, complex web of the zaibatsu to find a new cooperation model that benefited all parties, even former rivals? That would be an entirely different game!"Bandai, Sunrise… even Sega itself—these companies' shareholders, to varying degrees, have ties to zaibatsu or their affiliates," Takuya said, his voice growing clearer with realization. "If we can map out these deep capital connections and interests, we might find the key to breaking the stalemate!"Hayao's face finally broke into a gratified smile. "You understand. This is no longer a simple licensing negotiation but a more complex game testing wisdom and finesse." He cautioned, "But remember, our ultimate goal isn't to crush opponents but to find a solution that all parties can accept and benefit from. Only mutual gain ensures longevity."Takuya rose slowly, pacing the study, his steps silent on the soft Persian rug."I need to immediately have someone dig deeper into Bandai and Sunrise—their major shareholders, board members, and the zaibatsu ties behind them.""At the same time, through Mother's family network, I need to discreetly explore whether the Mitsui zaibatsu has channels or influential figures who could facilitate potential cooperation with these companies or their affiliates.""Most crucially, based on this information, we need to design a new, compelling cooperation plan—one that no stakeholder can easily refuse!"Hayao nodded with approval. "Good. Your thinking is clear, your direction sound." He added a reminder, "But be prepared—this level of maneuvering requires immense patience, precise intelligence, and exceptional skill. Every step must be calculated, as a single misstep could unravel everything."Takuya sat back at the tea table, picking up the now-cool teacup and drinking the tea in one gulp.The warm liquid slid down his throat, its lingering sweetness washing away his confusion and frustration."I understand, Father," he said, his eyes resolute and bright with newfound determination. "This copyright battle is about to take an unexpected turn. I'll head to the marketing department to see what preliminary data they've gathered on Bandai and Sunrise."