Chapter 46: Case by Case
"Junhyuk? I've been so busy lately making those expansion cartridges we promised. If we want to send money back to our hometown, we've got to work. Any job prospects?"
"That's why I called you, Chandra. I have a favor to ask."
"A favor? Chandra can do anything if it's a favor from Kang Junhyuk. Are you planning something fun again?"
"Just hear me out first, and let me know if it's possible."
"Sure, spill it."
And a moment later, after Chandra had heard my explanation, he replied with an enthusiastic voice.
"That's possible! Chandra can do it."
"Really? That's a relief."
"But, Kang Junhyuk, there's a problem. The method you mentioned isn't suitable for mass production. It's too challenging to match Mintendo's order quantity in Chandra's small workshop."
Well, it's not surprising. It's not the kind of workload you can handle with a small team in a cramped, poorly ventilated room.
It's a bit earlier than I had originally planned, but it's not a bad time to start implementing the plan. I quickly took out a notepad and hung the phone over my shoulder while holding a pen.
"Chandra, can you list the equipment and machinery you need for the job?"
"Huh? Why the sudden interest?"
"Oh, I'm thinking about buying a factory."
"What!?"
By 1987, Japan's economic situation had already reached the end of its bubble economy, which had grown as large as it could. The turning point had been the Plaza Accord, signed in 1985 under the pretext of stabilizing the US dollar.
The Japanese government, which had maintained a fixed exchange rate system for the yen, accepted the absurd demand from the United States, saying that "stabilizing the dollar will revitalize the world economy." In just one year, they achieved a fantastic result: the value of the yen halved compared to the dollar.
Japan, which had risen as a new export manufacturing country carrying the weight of the Korean War, had become the world's second-largest economic power in the 1960s and 1970s, thanks to the support of various allied nations. However, with the Plaza Accord, the yen's monetary value fell compared to the dollar, leading to the "yen bubble" phenomenon, and from last year, overseas export companies began to collapse one after another.
In order to recover from the sudden economic slump, the Japanese government once again increased the interest rate from 5%, which had been maintained until then, to 2.5%, and poured money into companies.
However, the capital poured into companies flowed into real estate for stable investments, causing a sudden surge in housing demand and an unprecedented rise in property prices.
Due to the influx of the working class taking out loans at low-interest rates, the Plaza Accord, which had been signed just two years ago, caused a massive real estate price bubble. Apartments that were worth 100 million won jumped to 300 million won. It was a critical effect that was like a critical hit.
As the banks, which had been lending money freely, began to feel a sense of crisis with the increasing loan amounts, they started to refuse credit loans between companies. As a result, companies that had borrowed money freely were struggling to find a way to repay their debts, and as a consequence, in recent times, one by one, manufacturing factories were closing their doors.
I managed to acquire a manufacturing plant in the Chiba region of Tokyo that was on the brink of bankruptcy, using a similar approach to Triangle Soft.
In reality, this place was one of the subcontractors responsible for assisting in Mintendo cartridge production. Kamauji, the CEO, was also one of the business owners eagerly waiting for the company to completely collapse.
"What!! They acquired the Laitech's plant?! Who did it?!"
"Well, I don't know all the details, but the Laitech's CEO mentioned that he's no longer the CEO."
"This is outrageous! I was planning to buy it when it completely went out of business!"
"Well, I think it's better to acquire it when it reaches a reasonable price instead of waiting too long."
"Argh!"
Kamauji, seemingly genuinely angered, threw his paperweight onto his desk and started causing a scene. Gunpei was busy trying to calm down Kamauji.
This... this situation turned fierce when all I wanted to do was meet Gunpei to discuss Psyche Battle. Of course, it's all because of the mess I've caused...
"This won't do... I need to acquire it even if it means taking a loss. Before the rest of the factories are sold off."
"Um, sir, about that..."
Gunpei's troubled expression started to pale Kamauji's face.
"Se... Surely..."
"Yes, our other factories are in the same situation."
"Oh... darn it! Who is it!? Find out who that damn person is immediately!"
"Alright."
"Whew... whew..."
Kamauji tried to cool his boiling anger by gulping down water but was still fuming. I'd better come back later. I gave a slight nod and left his office.
A while later, when Gunpei visited the development department for the new console, he looked utterly exhausted.
I handed him a glass of cold water and asked, feigning ignorance, "Why is Kamauji so angry?"
"Who wouldn't be? He missed out on a big opportunity by trying to save a few bucks on struggling companies."
"Opportunity?"
"Due to the success of the Family Game cartridge, our Mintendo factory alone couldn't keep up with the demand. So we outsourced production to several factories. But as the economy got tougher, more and more of these factories started closing their doors."
"Ah... Kamauji was waiting for those factories to go out of business."
"That way, he could buy them for a low price. But something strange happened."
"Strange?"
"Someone bought a company on the verge of collapse. Moreover, they bought the debts that the owners were holding, which made them really mad. It seems like the buyer has an enormous fortune. The problem is, they bought the factories and left the management in the hands of the original owners."
"Who did they sell to?"
"Even if we ask who, the owners are keeping their mouths shut as if they had made some promise. It's... quite a big deal."
"That's a pretty serious issue..."
Well, I'm too busy to manage all of that.
In fact, even the owners of the factory hadn't met me. Everything was handled by Nakamura, the lawyer from the law firm that had taken over Triangle Soft the last time.
Nakamura advised against investing too much money in a factory that was on the verge of collapse. Still, since it was clear that even with new employees, the management wouldn't be proper, I decided to purchase the existing workforce and the owner as well.
As a result, a total of 300 million yen was drained in about a month, but it didn't matter. Because 100 million of it would be recouped soon. Wondering how it would come back? Like this.
"But, Kang, you said you had something to discuss about Psyche Battle, right?"
"Ah, that's because I want to ask Gunpei about it."
"Ah~ the game that closed the presentation with a bang. It looks like a truly impressive game at first glance. But our development team says it's impossible to run on the Family console right now. Is that true?"
"Well, about half of that is true."
"I thought as much. If I knew it was you, Kang, I never thought you'd rush into something. So, what does 'about half' mean?"
"We need a special chip to enhance the performance of the Family."
"A special chip? Where are you going to put it?"
"Of course, we're putting it in the cartridge. We're planning to add a device in the cartridge that will distribute the Family's processing power."
"Hmm~ theoretically, it's possible. But it's never been attempted before."
"It's alright. I already know an agency that can manufacture this special chip."
"Really? Where is it?"
"Laitech, they said. They have an employee there named Chendra who's managed to create a special chip that can upgrade cartridge performance!"
"Laitech!?"
"Isn't that something you're already aware of, Gunpei? They're one of our Mintendo subcontractors."
"Laitech is one of the companies Kamauji was planning to acquire. If we had moved a bit faster, we could have gotten that technology too..."
In the end, Mintendo had to pay 100 million yen to Laitech for mass production of the special chips that could upgrade cartridge performance.
Gunpei spent several sleepless nights trying to replicate Laitech's special chip manufacturing technology, but the efforts failed due to the superior skills of the Indian workers.
Kamauji initially opposed the release of Psyche Battle, which couldn't be produced with standard cartridges, but with the game already reported on the Famitsu network, and user expectations running high, canceling development at this stage was no longer an option.
"Kang, are you really confident that this will be a hit? The cost has gone up too high because of your request for the special chip. At this rate, we'll need to sell at least a million copies to break even."
"Mr. Kamauji..."
"Yes? What is it?"
"When have I ever disappointed you?"
"Well, you have a point... The atmosphere was great at the presentation, and Shige has been working really hard lately, inspired by you. I expect it to be a hit, but..."
"If you're worried, I'll ease that concern."
"Hmm? How?"
"I'll use only 10% of the marketing budget of Super Marriage 3."
"Cutting the marketing budget? Psyche Battle is a new title, so if we don't promote it well, it might not sell much. Are you sure it will be okay?"
"That should be more than enough."
"This guy is planning something again... I can't help but have high expectations."
"You can expect. Just prepare the money without worries."
And also, inquire about additional production of special chips with Laitech. I smiled inwardly and left the meeting room.
"Kang Junhyuk..."
As I heard someone calling my name, I raised my head, and Shige was approaching from the opposite end of the corridor.
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