Another world Game Developers in Japan`s 1991

Zaboru leaned back in the plane seat and talked with Ayumi.

"So Ayumi, I might be really busy when we arrive in America, so I can't accompany you at all times. It's okay, right?" 

Ayumi chuckled. "Of course, Zabo, it's okay. Don't worry about me. But you promised me one date, right?" Zaboru chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, I promise that."

Ayumi nodded and pulled out her ZGB, diving into a session of Super Mario Land 2. Zaboru glanced over, smiling at the familiar sight, then decided to pass the time his own way. It was a long flight, after all. With a sketch board and a large sheet of paper on his lap, he began to draw. Despite the cramped conditions and occasional turbulence, his strokes were confident and fluid—skillful, even in midair.

Zaboru was sketching an epic scene: Fatalis unleashing a torrent of fire at the Nameless King, who rode his loyal companion, the Storm Ruler, while channeling his Thunder Miracle in his left hand while holding the Thunder Spear in his right. It took him about two hours to complete, and the result was astonishing. Despite the turbulence and cramped conditions, the speed and quality of his work were nothing short of masterful.

Ayumi, seated beside him, leaned over with a smile. "Who's that, Zabo? And is that an evil dragon?"

Zaboru chuckled. "Yeah, that's an evil dragon. And the guy facing him? He doesn't have a name."

Ayumi raised an eyebrow. "No name? Come on, give me something. What's his story?"

Zaboru smirked and shrugged. "Nope."

Ayumi let out a playful sigh, already expecting that answer. "You're so stingy," she muttered, but her eyes stayed locked on the drawing, admiration clear in her expression.

Even the man seated beside Zaboru—a friendly-looking uncle traveling with his family—couldn't help but admire the artwork. "You're a great artist, young man," he said, clearly unaware of who Zaboru actually was.

Zaboru chuckled politely. "Thanks, mister."

He stayed humble, offering just a nod before deciding to close his eyes for a short rest. The flight was still long, and Ayumi remained quietly absorbed in the drawing he'd just finished.

Friday, 4 April 1994

After landing in Los Angeles, Zaboru and Ayumi made a quick stop at her house to rest and freshen up. While Ayumi stayed behind to settle in, Zaboru headed straight to the ZAGE USA branch. There, Ryan and James from Emerald Wings were already waiting for him. They'd thoughtfully prepared cold drinks and snacks, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for his arrival. 3 of them are meeting in the meeting room.

"Hey James, Ryan. How do you do?"

James chuckled. "We're fine, Zaboru."

Zaboru began munching on the french fries James and Ryan had prepared and asked, "So, how's the U.S. release preparation going? Everything on track?"

James, now the ZAGE USA branch supervisor, nodded. "Everything's running smoothly, Zaboru. Our U.S. manufacturer has already handled the initial batch of 1.2 million ZEPS 2 units and all eight games. But if demand continues to climb beyond that, we may need backup support from Japan."

Zaboru nodded. This was already part of the plan.

"Yes, the Japanese manufacturer will be ready to support the U.S. with additional supply if needed. By the way, what's the final retail price for ZEPS 2 in the U.S.? Are we sticking with what we discussed back then?"

Ryan nodded. "We've already cleared it with Lesley Stewart, the head of ZAGE Finance USA. She approved the pricing—$222 for ZEPS 2 and $45 per cartridge. According to her, those numbers will keep ZAGE USA financially stable."

Zaboru nodded. The U.S. price was a bit higher than Japan's, but it made sense—production costs were steeper, and American consumers were generally more willing to spend, especially during an economic upswing.

"Okay then, that's fine. How about the ads and marketing—any issues there?"

James grinned. "No problems at all, boss. Everything's locked in and ready to go."

Ryan nodded enthusiastically. "The hype for ZEPS 2 is through the roof. We might actually break records with this launch."

Zaboru chuckled. "Let's hope so. I'm really glad the release is on track. Great work as always, James, Ryan. Now—about that good news you mentioned?"

Ryan grinned. "First, some news from my sister—Risa Miller. I remember i already told that She runs a music distribution company in London with established channels across Europe. When I called her, she told me the business is struggling and she's looking for investors. So I pitched the idea of converting the company into a game distribution business, backed by fresh capital from ZAGE. She was intrigued and agreed to have a conversation about it. She'll be flying to the U.S. on Monday, April 7, right after the ZEPS 2 launch. She wants to meet you personally, boss."

Zaboru's eyes lit up. "That's fantastic news. Finally, we can move forward with establishing a proper European branch. We've studied the market long enough—what we've been missing is the right distribution channel. This could be the breakthrough we needed. Great job, Ryan."

Ryan chuckled and nodded.

James added, "I heard from Peter Wayne, ZAGE's head of hardware R&D, that the Tekken arcade is progressing smoothly. If everything stays on track, it should be ready for launch next month." Zaboru nodded. "Nice. More good news. I'll check it out myself after this. Anything else?" Tekken is a complex title, and Zaboru knew he'd need to personally ensure that their first-ever 3D arcade game was functioning smoothly.

James said, "The America branch is also growing really well, thanks to Ichidai Kenzaki in HR. That guy is excellent at his job. Here's the list of new employees at the ZAGE USA branch."

Ichidai Kenzaki recently transferred from the Japanese HR division to the U.S. branch, and so far, he's loving the experience. Working in the U.S. has always been his dream, and his performance has been outstanding.

Zaboru nodded and began flipping through the stack of files James handed him. One name immediately stood out: "Sid Meier." A spark of recognition lit up his face. In his previous life, he knew Sid well—legendary for creating the Sid Meier's Civilization series, a game that changed the landscape of strategy gaming.

Zaboru chuckled to himself. "Now this... this will definitely help the U.S. branch grow strong." Although in this world Sid Meier was born in 1964—ten years later than in Zaboru's previous life—he already has extensive experience in tech-related fields. His presence will undoubtedly elevate the quality of ZAGE USA.

Ryan grinned. "We've also got a lead on a plot of land in Silicon Valley we're considering buying. We should check it out next week."

Zaboru's eyes lit up with excitement. "Hehehe, let's lock that down. That spot could be key for our future."

Silicon Valley, while already pricey, wasn't nearly as outrageous as it had become in the 2020s in his previous life. If the opportunity presented itself, Zaboru hoped to establish a second ZAGE USA office there—positioning the company at the heart of technological innovation.

James added, "One last thing—Bill Gates was looking for you last week. He said he wants to discuss something, but there's no rush. He just asked that you contact him when you have time to set up a meeting."

Zaboru raised an eyebrow, thinking, Bill Gates? What does he want again... sigh. Anyway, can't disrespect him. Let's meet him and contact him ASAP. Zaboru nodded. "Alright, I'll reach out after this and try to set something up for tomorrow if he's available."

James nodded. "Alright, that wraps it up, boss." Ryan grinned. "Not bad, huh? So much good news all at once." Zaboru chuckled and nodded. "Seriously, you two are incredible. I don't know how I'd manage ZAGE USA without you both."

Ryan chuckled. "Come on, boss. You're the reason our wallets are fat! Seriously, me and James even got famous thanks to you, right James?" James laughed. "Absolutely! My son keeps bragging to his friends that his dad's a ZAGE supervisor. Feels good, man. Hahaha."

Zaboru chuckled and decided to spend a little time before overseeing ZAGE USA's work and contacting Bill Gates.

To be continued

Please give me your power stone and if you want to support me and get minimum 10 advance chapter for 3 bucks considering subscribe to my patreon patreon.com/Zaborn_1997 

Also Join my discord if you want https://discord.gg/jB8x6TUByc