"What?! Five projects at once?!"
When Lisa Asano returned to the studio and told the project team members about it, everyone was stunned.
They couldn't believe this was something Pokémon could do.
"Did the president agree?" The planning girl, Ozawa, looked at Lisa Asano with some apprehension.
"Yes," Lisa Asano nodded, "I confirmed it with the president yesterday."
She said, "The Pokémon sequel, Light/Dark, is the first project, followed by:
"Pokémon Racing,"
"Pokémon 3D World: Moon's Dark Side,"
"Pokémon 3D World: Sun Myth,"
and "Pokémon Adventure."
The main Pokémon series is a legitimate one that can be continued indefinitely.
Pokémon 3D World has now been spun off into its own dedicated series.
If nothing unexpected happens, Pokémon Adventure should also be able to become an independent game series.
Lisa Asano couldn't say what other independent series there would be in the future.
"I can only say, everyone, let's do our best."
"But, this isn't a matter of 'doing our best'; can we really have enough people to complete such a massive workload?"
Currently, the entire Pokémon studio only has about 10 lead developers, and often, when they want to start a new project, they have to temporarily pull people in.
When there's a shortage of staff, they often apply to borrow colleagues for support.
Many programmers and artists are coordinated and arranged by Akanishi Ken and Sakata Taiji.
How could the entire company, with just over 100 employees, complete such a massive undertaking?
Even if everyone were transferred to the Pokémon department, it would be impossible.
A 3D Pokémon game requires a team of 50 people to develop for at least over a year, let alone five projects simultaneously.
That would require even more people.
When everyone heard about the five projects, their hearts were actually in extreme collapse.
Even Akanishi Ken, sitting in the adjacent programming department, was completely astonished after overhearing it.
"Nani?!" Akanishi Ken stood up in a hurry, then circled around to the Pokémon employees. "Is that true or false? Starting so many projects at once, can we handle it?"
"Where would we get so many people?"
At first, Lisa Asano was quite calm, but when she saw the company's most senior veteran, Akanishi, suddenly raise an objection, she inexplicably became nervous.
"Um... Akanishi-senpai, listen to me. I was going to talk to you about this later..."
She took a deep breath.
"No problem," Lisa Asano smiled. "I've already reported this to the president, and the president said that Pokémon is currently in a period of rapid development and everything is project-oriented.
If we really need that many people, then we should apply to the HR department.
The president said they would cooperate with us to complete the relevant matters of staff recruitment."
Akanishi Ken opened his mouth, unable to say a word for a long time.
His heart was very complicated.
However...
"Since the president has spoken, then let's do it."
As a senior employee of the company, Akanishi Ken was still reasonable.
"So, how many new people do you estimate you'll need to hire?" Akanishi Ken asked tentatively.
Lisa Asano thought for a moment and replied, "If you include planning, art, programming, and music and sound effects... it will probably be over 200 people in total."
Lisa Asano didn't dare to be definitive, carefully observing the expression on Akanishi-senpai's face the whole time.
"Hiss..."
Akanishi Ken gasped.
Over 200 people, which means the company's staff size would suddenly double.
No wonder the president moved some people downstairs to work on the internet; it turns out this was all preparation.
"So many people?" Akanishi Ken exclaimed, "That's a huge project."
"Yes," Lisa Asano nodded. "I hope to complete all the hiring within half a year. Later, I will invite Akanishi-senpai, Sakata-senpai, and Shirakawa-senpai for a detailed discussion meeting."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work." Akanishi Ken nodded slightly.
Should I say it's a good thing or a bad thing?
The good thing is that the company's development speed is much faster than Akanishi Ken imagined.
However, he was vaguely worried that the president was starting too many projects; sometimes rapid development isn't a good thing.
The bad thing, for Akanishi Ken personally, is that for the next period of time, he will have to throw himself into the new hire interview process.
Just thinking about completing such a large workload within the next six months made Akanishi Ken secretly groan.
...
Early in the morning, Ayase Akane took the new recruitment plan to Aoki Haruhi's office,
The purpose was to have the president approve this new recruitment plan.
Because the new recruitment list for the Pokémon studio was simply too long.
Too, too much.
Over 200 people, that's no joke.
Even if it were a joke, this number is a bit too exaggerated.
Based on the basic company's applicant screening rate, to hire 200 people, at least more than 2,000 resumes must be prepared.
The current HR department only has two girls, and one of them also has to work part-time as a secretary, so this is simply an impossible task, okay?
In other words, before recruiting the employees the company needs, the first thing that needs to be supplemented is the HR staff. This might even prompt the president to hire a capable full-time secretary.
Ayase Akane, with a nervous heart, held the prepared document and pushed open the president's door.
"President..."
Eh?!
The next second, Ayase Akane was greatly shaken.
Because as soon as she entered, she saw the president hastily turning off the computer, then turning his back to her, seemingly tidying something up.
Nani?!
Could it be that this is the legendary...
"Um, Ayase-san, can you come back in a minute?"
Aoki Haruhi had his back to her and didn't turn around.
"Oh, okay."
Ayase Akane's face turned red, and she quickly pushed open the door and left.
Before leaving, through the glass door, she seemed to still see the president's shadow frantically pulling tissues from the desk.
What was the president doing?
...
The president doing strange things during work hours, not doing his job?
But for a president with a girlfriend, doing something like that during work hours would be too exaggerated, wouldn't it?
Ayase Akane couldn't believe this was the calm, mature, and steady president she remembered.
However, on second thought, it seemed understandable.
After all, the president is also a man.
Maybe he had a conflict with his girlfriend recently, or they broke up, so he's seeking comfort at the company?
Hmm, hmm. This possibility exists.
Otherwise, there's no way to explain the president's workaholic behavior lately.
Don't you have a life at all? You're constantly calling people for meetings, and you even gave us the arduous task of recruiting over 200 people.
It turns out he broke up.
As soon as Ayase Akane thought of this, she suddenly realized, as if everything made sense.
The pitiful and hateful president actually increased the workload for his employees because of a breakup; he's really not human at all!
"Senpai?"
The other HR, Ayase Akane's only subordinate, Sato Saori, saw her terrifying expression and was truly too worried.
She couldn't help but ask, "Are you okay?"
"Hmm..."
Ayase Akane was about to say she was fine, but the next second her pupils suddenly trembled.
It's over, it's over.
The president wouldn't want to kill me to silence me because I caught him doing that, would he?
Am I going to lose my job?!
It's over, it's over.
Seeing the infinitely shaken and terrifying expression on her senior's face, Sato Saori thought, this time the HR department is in big trouble.
Does the president really think the two of us can complete the recruitment of over 200 people within half a year?!
...
After Ayase Akane left, Aoki Haruhi quickly pulled a few tissues from the desk and wiped away the tears from his eyes.
Oh dear~
If Ayase saw him crying because he was moved by playing a game, she would surely laugh at him.
Even if she didn't mock him to his face, the news that "the president is a crybaby" would probably spread like wildfire, wouldn't it?
Aoki Haruhi reopened the computer screen, and on the screen appeared a game scene—
A young hero-like boy looked up, and a girl in purple robes stood under a tree, holding a baby, waiting for his return.
Yes, this was the latest release—
the legend of sword and fairy.
DOS version.
He hadn't expected that Yao Zhuangxian would actually make this game in the end. The general plot and art style were similar to his previous life, but there were some minor changes in details.
In terms of level design, some puzzle elements were retained, and some small innovations were also added.
There were no changes in the storyline.
In the end, Zhao Ling'er still chose to perish with the Water Demon Beast to save the common people.
Leaving only Li Xiaoyao, who would spend the rest of his life with his newborn daughter.
...
Playing to this point, that familiar sense of sadness inexplicably attacked Aoki Haruhi.
Thinking of Zhao Ling'er's tragic fate, Aoki Haruhi couldn't help but redden his eyes.
And in such a situation, Ayase Akane suddenly burst in, catching him completely off guard.
Aoki Haruhi felt so embarrassed his toes could dig out a three-bedroom apartment.
Why didn't Ayase knock when she came in, or did she knock, but he was too engrossed in the game?
He looked so disheveled; he could only ask Ayase Akane to leave for a while to give himself some time to compose himself.
Otherwise, it would be too unsightly.
Aoki Haruhi took a deep breath, adjusting his emotions, finally emerging from his sadness, then tapped the keyboard twice to exit the game.
"Ah~ I really didn't expect it; it's still the familiar taste, still so moving."
The plot was similar to the legend of sword and fairy in Aoki Haruhi's memory. It might be because Yao Zhuangxian hadn't played their onmyoji.
Without external interference, it really could follow its original path.
Like Gen Urobuchi and Maeda Jun, they might have been too deeply influenced by Aoki Haruhi, so much so that even the puella magi madoka magica and AIR that he was familiar with were not written.
But then.
the legend of sword and fairy was only released in Taiwan, China, in July this year, and the results didn't seem very ideal.
From this perspective, it's still possible that it was influenced by Pokémon's onmyoji.
It's just that the players were affected.
Taiwan, China, is actually quite close to Japan, and many TV shows, movies, entertainment, variety shows, and games are deeply influenced by Japan.
So, it's not surprising that they played Pokémon's onmyoji.
Aoki Haruhi even heard that many "Chinese pirated" onmyoji games were released there.
He turned a blind eye to this.
If sales were poor, Aoki Haruhi would feel a little ashamed, thinking he had let Yao Zhuangxian down.
But if you think about it carefully, although the legend of sword and fairy and his modified onmyoji have similar plot elements, their cultural cores are still different.
One is centered on traditional Chinese wuxia culture, while the other is based on Japanese onmyoji yokai culture.
The two have very obvious differences in art style and the feelings they evoke.
In short, Aoki Haruhi was still happy that he could play such an authentic Legend of Sword and Fairy, personally crafted by Yao Zhuangxian.
Thanks to the legend of sword and fairy, Pokémon exists today.
But if such a good game were to be aborted or Yao Zhuangxian never got his break because he copied Legend of Sword and Fairy to make onmyoji, then Aoki Haruhi would feel too guilty.
At least from the current results, the timeline has its own inherent rules, and the legend of sword and fairy was still born.
He'll see if he has a chance to help him in the future, perhaps by collaborating with Dayu.
...
Ayase Akane sat on the chair, her cheeks burning like fire.
"Senpai, are you sick?"
Sato Saori stood up worriedly and placed the back of her hand on Ayase's forehead.
"Ah! So hot!"
"Senpai, you must have a fever. Why don't you take a leave and go home to rest? I'll handle things here."
"Anyway, our HR department doesn't have much to do..."
"How can we not?!"
Before Sato Saori could finish her sentence, Ayase Akane suddenly stood up and interrupted her.
"We have a lot to do in the future!"
But the most crucial thing wasn't that, Ayase Akane thought—
I might be fired!
Discovering the president's secret and still expecting to leave this company alive?!
Impossible, right?
Heh heh.
Heh heh.
Ayase Akane's mouth twitched, revealing a strange smile.
Her junior was scared by her appearance and took a step back.
Just then, a voice came from the president's office—
"Akane-chan, you can come in now."
Whoosh!
Ayase Akane quickly stood up straight, her body stiff as a board.
"Yes, President!"
It's over, it's over.
The president called me Akane-chan!
He hasn't called me that in years.
Is this his final act of mercy?
"Senpai?"
Sato Saori waved her hand in front of Ayase's face, which finally pulled Ayase Akane out of her infinite fear.
...
Ayase Akane mustered her courage, clutching her folder under her arm, and as soon as she entered the president's office, she quickly bowed deeply.
Her back was at a 90-degree angle.
"I am truly very sorry, President! I didn't mean to see you doing beep beep beep!" (This part is censored due to being inappropriate!)
"Eh?!"
Aoki Haruhi's pupils widened.
"Ayase Akane! It's not what you think!!!"
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