Tingyun was the image of lively curiosity. As a seasoned merchant and traveler, she had a sharper eye for "the next big thing" than almost anyone on the Luofu. Beside her, Yanming—the man responsible for the import and export of cultural artifacts—looked like he was holding his breath.
Strictly speaking, games fell under Yanming's jurisdiction, and he had been under immense pressure from the higher-ups to find a project that could break through the current stagnation. Yukong had mobilized the entire Commission just to help him solve this headache.
As Tingyun entered the room, Julian Reed felt a strange tightening in his chest. He couldn't help but steal a few glances at the Foxian beauty. Is she already being replaced by Phantylia? he wondered. But the Astral Express hadn't arrived, and the Stellaron crisis was still a distant thunder. Even if the Lord Ravager had made her move, the mask hadn't slipped yet.
Julian forced a calm smile and took a sip of tea, lowering his head to hide his wandering thoughts.
"Please, have a look," Yukong said, gesturing to the screens. "Mr. Reed, if you would be so kind as to introduce the project once more."
Julian didn't need a second invitation. This was his shot. He moistened his throat and launched into the pitch, his voice gaining strength as he spoke.
"Hmm..." Tingyun hummed after the presentation, her eyes shimmering as she watched the animation. "From a personal perspective, I'm quite eager to play this. After seeing the bond between the boy and that little yellow mouse... I find myself wanting a Pikachu of my own. If the animation quality were polished further, the impact would be incredible."
Yanming, however, was visibly trembling. Not with fear, but with excitement.
The Alliance had tasked them with finding projects to export Xianzhou culture. Most of the pitches he'd seen were self-indulgent, traditional bores that the Interstellar Peace Corporation (IPC) easily blocked or ignored. But this? This was different.
"Administrator Yukong," Yanming said, his voice cracking slightly. "This is it. This is exactly what we've been looking for. We must secure this project!"
Yukong nodded slowly. If her top two specialists were in agreement, there was no more room for doubt.
"Mr. Reed," Yukong said, turning her sharp gaze to Julian. "What level of investment are you looking for?"
Julian froze. It was happening. His mind raced back to Silver Wolf's estimate. Ten million? He decided to aim higher. In business, you always start with the sky.
"Twenty... twenty million?" he ventured, holding up two fingers.
The three officials shook their heads in unison. Julian's heart plummeted. He was already preparing to lower the price when Yukong spoke.
"Mr. Reed, you aren't aware of the scope of our investment plan. Our goal isn't just a local release; it's a simultaneous launch across the entire galaxy. To compete on that level, twenty million is a drop in the bucket."
She paused, folding her hands. "We will provide an initial budget of one hundred million Credits. If you require more, provided the request is reasonable, we will increase the funding at any time. In exchange, the Commission will take a symbolic twenty percent stake."
Julian stared at her, his jaw nearly hitting the floor.
"Our only condition," Yukong continued, "is that you integrate Xianzhou culture into the world of Pokémon. We will provide a full technical team, advanced rendering hardware, and all the resources needed to upgrade your animation technology to the galactic standard."
"No problem! Where do I sign?"
Julian stood up so fast he almost knocked over his tea. He reached across the table and shook Yukong's hand, his enthusiasm bordering on desperation. Incorporate Xianzhou culture? For a hundred million Credits and an elite tech team, he would have renamed Pikachu 'Cloud-Chaser' if they'd asked.
Yukong didn't take offense. She smiled gracefully and signaled her secretary to bring the documents. Julian signed his name with a flourish, only letting out a long sigh of relief once the digital seal was finalized.
To his surprise, Yukong, Tingyun, and Yanming all let out similar sighs of relief. Julian blinked, utterly bewildered.
"Uh... Madam Yukong? I have to ask. Are you just... desperate to give money away? Surely there are bigger companies you could partner with."
Yukong shared a wry look with Tingyun, who spoke up first.
"The IPC is the root of the problem, Mr. Reed. In the past, we collaborated with them on cultural games, but the moment the projects passed through their hands, they lost their flavor. They turned our culture into a generic IPC product with a Xianzhou skin. They fear our influence might impact their subordinate worlds, so they've been quietly sabotaging our reach."
Tingyun sighed, her tail flicking with annoyance. "The Alliance got tired of the games and cut ties. We decided to fund our own talent. But most local projects are too specialized—too 'Xianzhou' for the rest of the galaxy to understand. Your Pokémon, however... it has a universal soul. It's the perfect vessel for our culture."
Julian nodded, finally understanding. It was the same tactic he'd seen on Earth—cultural stereotyping and gatekeeping to protect a monopoly.
Thank you, IPC, for the assist, he thought.
With the contract signed and Yanming's team at his disposal, the real work began. Julian immediately contacted Silver Wolf to share the news. Even with the Alliance's resources, he insisted she remain the Technical Director. He wanted the best hacker in the galaxy overseeing the engine of the world's soon-to-be greatest game.
Silver Wolf didn't hesitate. For her, the chance to build a legend was better than any paycheck.
The "Retro Relic" was about to become a galactic revolution.