"Regarding online payments, Simon, I'm not optimistic that Ygritte's online payment tool will achieve significant scale in the short term. In my opinion, ordinary people's ability to accept new things isn't as strong as we imagine, and there isn't enough diverse online content available for consumption. Moreover, to ensure the security of online payments, the initial activation and payment processes for Ygritte's online payment tool will certainly be very cumbersome, which will limit the development of online payments".
"So?"
"The market potential of online games should be no less than that of console games and PC games, but we must find more convenient and faster online payment channels".
Inside the office, Simon asked Nancy, "You must already have an idea?"
Nancy nodded and said, "Any user who accesses the internet must regularly pay telecom fees. And most people, to save time and effort, often overpay a bit. If we could use operator accounts to directly consume on the internet, the problem we just discussed would be solved".
"Actually, Nancy, someone at Ygritte also suggested something similar. However, have you considered that in North America alone, the number of internet service providers already exceeds five, and if we include traditional telecom operators, the number will increase further. We might be able to handle one or two companies like America Online or Bell Atlantic, but trying to connect with all other telecom operator accounts would likely require more resources than directly promoting an online payment tool".
"Operators can take a percentage of payments, and there's a lot of profit involved. Let's bring in a few companies first to try it out. Other telecom operators will see the profits and naturally join this unified payment network gradually".
"Perhaps, but your idea also has another serious drawback. Even if users typically overcharge their operator accounts, it won't be by much, which will significantly limit the scale of online payments. And operator commissions", Simon recalled his experience of having half the fee deducted when he recharged using his mobile account in his memory, and couldn't help but shake his head again, saying, "It's fine for small payments, but the larger the amount, the more sensitive users become to transaction fees, which can easily drive consumers towards other free payment tools. Therefore, even if a successful operator payment network is built, it is destined not to last".
Nancy pondered for a moment and had to agree with Simon: "In that case, we can only think of other methods".
Simon's thoughts did not stop.
Nancy's judgment on online payment tools was not wrong.
The promotion of online payment tools is indeed not an overnight matter; the development of the payment system alone will probably take a year. In the early stages, to ensure security and other factors, the activation and payment processes will indeed be more cumbersome. Coupled with the scarcity of consumable content on internet platforms, all of these will hinder users' enthusiasm for activating online payment tools.
Therefore, some kind of transition might be needed in between.
Some kind of guiding tool that can stimulate users to make online payments, so that once Y-Pay is launched, people will feel less rejection towards it.
As his thoughts reached this point, Simon quickly had a flash of inspiration.
In his previous life, he had, of course, gone to internet cafes and played games. When "Legend", "Journey", and "World of Warcraft" were popular, tools like PayPal were far from widespread. At that time, if you wanted to spend money on games, you could only buy point cards.
Point cards!
Simon couldn't help but snap his fingers.
Prepaid phone cards were already very popular in this era, and online consumption with point cards would likely be easily accepted by users.
Ygritte could completely issue an online payment point card tool. Users would purchase point cards through offline retail channels for online consumption, and it wouldn't need to be limited to online game consumption; it could also be used to purchase software or pay internet fees, and so on.
At the same time, payment point cards could also serve as a 'spark' to cultivate users' online consumption habits.
Once users become accustomed to online payments, with some appropriate marketing strategies for Ygritte's Y-Pay tool, temporary point card users can naturally be converted to official users with linked credit cards.
After reorganizing his thoughts, Simon explained his ideas to Nancy while opening his email, quickly typing down his thoughts and sending them directly to several Ygritte executives.
Today is the day of the Academy Awards ceremony.
At five in the afternoon, Simon still left work on time, but instead of rushing to the Shrine Auditorium, where the awards ceremony was held, he went to his villa in Trousdale Estates, Beverly Hills.
Sophia Fessy had been staying there with her children for the past two days, making it convenient to arrange the upcoming Gucci brand party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The little ones had returned to the East Coast yesterday, but the woman was still staying there.
Inside the villa bedroom.
After a passionate and exhilarating session, the sky outside had long since darkened.
The sound of the awards ceremony in progress emanated from the television in the bedroom.
On the large bed, both were covered by a thin blanket, but the woman beneath it was completely enveloped by the man, revealing only two fair, jade-like arms and a delicate, charming face that appeared exceptionally rosy even in the dim light.
The man's body was heavy, but Sophia showed no intention of letting him leave.
In fact, she rather enjoyed this suffocating heaviness.
Resting her chin on her arm, she watched idly as 'Dances with Wolves' won another award on the TV, and casually chatted with him about various recent events.
Daniel is actually smarter than little Gemma, and he learned Spanish very quickly.
Simon's mansion in Paris was almost broken into, but the thieves were scared away by the alarm.
Gucci bought the abandoned factory on the outskirts of Milan where they held a fashion show, intending to renovate it into a brand exhibition centre.
Her father unexpectedly caught a very large sea fish, and the family ate it for a whole week, they probably would not want to eat seafood again for a year… The woman chattered on, and Simon listened patiently, occasionally adding a few words of agreement.
On the television.
Unbeknownst to them, it was already time for the Best Actress award.
Susan Sarandon, who replaced Kathy Bates in 'Misery', successfully defeated Meryl Streep and several other contenders, becoming this year's Oscar Best Actress, another win for a film produced by Daenerys Entertainment.
The woman beneath him waited for Susan Sarandon to finish her acceptance speech, then said, "Simon, I heard you established a 'Vase Fund'?"
"Yes, do you want one too?"
"I don't need one, but the girls who manage your properties in Europe should also enjoy this benefit, right?"
Simon hadn't been to Europe much since his honeymoon last year, and after a moment's thought, he said, "First, compile a list of information for the Vase Fund team at Cersei Capital".
Sophia thought for a moment, then shook her head herself: "In Europe, the girls I chose for you are just genuine maids. They don't have entrepreneurial potential".
"Then change the group", Simon said with a smile, "Pick from the top universities in Europe, pay them according to North American standards, and give them a share of the Vase Fund. I think we can definitely pick out the best ones".
"What exactly are you doing this for?"
"It's actually an investment; I wouldn't do a losing business. But, incidentally, it can cultivate a large number of top-tier 'vases' with billions in assets".
"Hmm, you sound so evil".
Simon smiled, and seeing that the television had already started introducing the Best Director nominations, he lowered his head and kissed the woman's turned face, saying, "Do you want to take a bath?"
Sophia knew what Simon meant and shook her head, "No rush, all the work that needed to be done is finished. Angela is keeping an eye on things at the Hilton Hotel, we just need to show our faces there briefly before the party ends".
Simon actually wasn't too keen on attending parties either, and nodded.
Sophia quickly remembered something else: "The detective team you asked me to find in Europe, I've contacted several investigation and consulting firms and can poach some people. But what do we do next?"
"Each team should be kept under 10 people, forming separate detective agencies. Their salaries will be paid from Westeros Company's overseas account. On the surface, they will still operate as traditional detective agencies, accepting investigation work on their own. Once given an order, our work will be the highest priority".
"What do you plan for them to do?"
"For example, investigate whether you're seeing other men behind my back".
"…"
"Feeling guilty?"
Sophia rolled her eyes at the man, but then couldn't help but ask, "If, if I did that, what would you do?"
"Nothing."
"Hmm?"
"As long as you don't conspire with some man to harm me, it's nothing. I'll just consider it one less 'vase'".
"…"
"What, you want me to tie you and that man in a sack and throw you into international waters?"
"Hmm".
At least he wasn't completely indifferent to her.
Simon's finger traced along the woman's arm, saying, "I only care about those who care about me. For those who don't care about me, I naturally don't care either".
Sophia turned her face and rubbed it against the man's hand, murmuring softly, "Simon, I care about you very much."
"Oh, prove it to me?"
"…"
"See, your lie has been exposed, hasn't it?"
"Simon, you're a real bastard".
"Judging by that tone, it seems you really do care a little after all".
"Bastard".
"Go on, more gnashing of teeth… Ah, don't actually bite".
She lightly bit the man's arm, pretending to start a cold war.
On the TV screen, the 61st Academy Awards ceremony also officially ended.
She still couldn't help but speak first: "Actually, if you want to build a private intelligence network, there have been many opportunities in the past two years".
"Hmm?"
Simon made a questioning sound.
A few days ago, while discussing the security of online payment tools with his housekeeper, Alice Ferguson, Simon had the idea of organizing some private investigation teams to deal with potential attacks and theft issues that online payment tools might encounter.
The plan has recently begun to be implemented.
In North America, Janette personally took on this work, which she found very interesting.
In Europe, although Ygritte had not yet expanded there, Simon had also asked Sophia to start scouting for teams in advance.
When the time is right, this team will also expand to several other states.
On the big bed, Sophia continued: "After the continuous turmoil in Eastern Europe in recent years, many countries' intelligence agencies will be disbanded. The two major blocs have been confronting each other for nearly half a century, and those people are absolutely top-notch intelligence experts. For example, East Germany's Stasi disbanded in March last year, and tens of thousands of people directly lost their jobs. Although these people are spies, they are ultimately just ordinary people who need to support their families. If they can receive generous remuneration, I think they should be very happy to accept the jobs we offer".
The Stasi was actually East Germany's Ministry for State Security.
Later generations mostly only knew about the KGB, Mossad, MI6, or CIA. In fact, the Stasi was no less capable than these intelligence agencies; it was just that the former continued to exist, while the Stasi was directly disbanded after the reunification of East and West Germany.
Simon pondered for a moment, then said, "These people should be hard to find, right? Even if their organizations disband, their identities shouldn't be casually exposed".
"As long as we're willing to spend money, we can definitely find them. What's more, we're not trying to replicate an entire intelligence agency; we're just poaching a few people".
"In that case, try to contact some people. It's best to find those with families, as they will have ties. I have no intention of building a criminal network; it's purely for self-preservation, so I don't need a bunch of potential backstabbing villains".
"I understand".
"Also, for now, try not to reveal Westeros Company's identity as the employer. Even if they can guess, don't make it explicit, and don't leave any direct evidence that could point to us".
"I'll be careful".
"Alright, I'll have James set up another overseas account soon. The money that needs to be spent must be spent. As long as these people truly have real skills, they will receive sufficiently good treatment, including helping their families immigrate".
"Hmm".
Simon continued to add: "Once these people are found, still maintain the small group model of under 10 people. Also, don't establish all of them as detective agencies; having too many would be too conspicuous. You can establish other types of shell companies; trading companies, design companies, or even publishing companies will do. I will also provide some opportunities in the future to directly hide some groups as affiliated departments under enterprises within the Westeros system".
Sophia nodded again, then thought for a moment and asked, "Should we give it a name?"
Simon chuckled, "Actually, no name is better. Stasi, Mossad, KGB, as soon as you say them, people know what they do. Without a name, even if it's noticed, people probably won't know where to start".
Sophia, however, didn't give up, saying, "There has to be a codename, right?"
Simon recalled the film from his memory called 'Mr. Nobody' and uttered a word: "Nobody".
"Hmm?"
Simon smiled, "Nobody, that's the codename".
"It's far too unremarkable".
"Well, that's the effect we want".
"Alright then".
The two continued to casually chat about some ideas for the 'Nobody' organization: how to select talent, how to build the network, how to test new recruits, and even began to consider the training and selection of backup personnel.
They were like two masterminds plotting to overthrow the world.
In reality, it was mostly just an impulse.
Therefore, even Simon himself never imagined how terrifying the strength and scale of a completely private intelligence organization, whose very name was somewhat vague, would become many years later.