Moriya held a position second only to the company president, the core of the core.

Uekoe Kagemasa wouldn't jeopardize his relationship with Moriya for Yamamoto's sake.

After all, as a pure businessman, Uekoe clearly understood this wasn't the time for favoritism. For an executive director, he could only adopt a conciliatory approach.

After half an hour of closed-door discussions.

Under Uekoe's persistent insistence, Moriya ultimately couldn't win against overwhelming authority.

Thus!

One week later!

Yuki sat in the tearoom below the company building, staring blankly at the white peach oolong tea before her.

...We're going to develop Silent Hill independently now.

As the lead artist who personally participated in the game's production, Yuki knew that draft proposal from Yamamoto couldn't possibly match Silent Hill's ingenious concept and worldview.

Because once during a dinner outing, Director Gu had vaguely revealed some ideas about the main Silent Hill installment to her and other supervisors.

According to the director, the Silent Hill IP had tremendous untapped potential.

The settings of the Normal World and Otherworld could be interpreted two ways.

The first interpretation was literal - two parallel dimensions.

The second interpretation represented the material world and spiritual world.

The spiritual world depended on the material world's existence, while the comfort and redemption unattainable in the material world would project onto the spiritual world.

These were two parallel yet mutually influencing worldlines.

"And in this main installment, I hope to explore the theme of 'redemption', first establishing Silent Hill's tone before gradually expanding its worldview."

"Where does it come from? Why does it exist? Where is it going? How many people have hidden their deepest secrets here?"

"Of course, this assumes Komera approves my vision and wants to continue this series..."

Yuki remembered Director Gu's words during that dinner vividly.

Though somewhat cryptic, Yuki could sense that under Director Gu's direction, Silent Hill would become one of horror gaming's most iconic IPs through its unique worldview and themes.

They would make history.

And now.

Uekoe Kagemasa and Yamamoto Tsunashiro were erasing this history that should have been created.

They replaced Gu Sheng's brilliant vision with an utterly mediocre proposal, seeking to reap profits from PT's popularity like farmers harvesting crops.

"This is really..."

Yuki forced a bitter smile and shook her head.

"Still hesitating?"

Beside her, Sato took a sip of green tea, exhaling softly.

Indeed.

Yuki wasn't the only one having tea - Sato had joined her too.

And Sato's "still hesitating" naturally referred to the upcoming [Silent Hill Project Development NDA] they were about to sign.

Indeed!

Strike while the iron's hot!

Within just one week after Higashitsu Gaming Festival concluded!

With Uekoe's support, Yamamoto had lightning-fast completed all preparatory work for Silent Hill's main installment development!

Today, he would finalize the team roster, have them sign NDAs, and commence development!

No time to lose!

"I just think everything happened too fast... In just one week, from deciding to ditch Golden Wind to lightning-fast project approval, it feels like a dream,"

Yuki sighed:

"Plus during this time, the company forbade disclosing any information to Golden Wind, making me feel like..."

"A thief,"

"Like someone stealing others' hard work."

Hearing this, Sato chuckled: "Don't just feel it - we are thieves."

Yuki: "......"

"Senior, you're really..." Yuki made a wry expression: "Quite blunt."

"Is there anything wrong?"

Sato didn't mince words:

"Fact is, we're stealing the player hype generated by Silent Hill PT,"

"Except we're not directly stealing fruits, but the sapling Director Gu planted. Legally our actions are above board, but morally we're thieves... sapling thieves."

"But I still don't understand the company's decision,"

Sato's bluntness made Yuki smile helplessly:

"Silent Hill clearly has such enormous potential. Under Director Gu's direction, it could become horror gaming's benchmark. Long-term, making it a series would be more profitable, no?"

Sato nodded.

"Yes, for a gaming company and its president, that's true,"

Then his tone shifted:

"But we're not a gaming company, and our president isn't a gaming company president."

Sato continued:

"He doesn't care about game content or meaning. To him, games are products, developers are assembly line workers. Products never belong to employees but KOMINA, part of company assets,"

"Business allocations, employee transfers,"

"Are completely normal to President Uekoe,"

"Besides..."

Pausing, Sato drank more tea:

"President Uekoe is already 58. Per company policy, he'll retire in two years."

Then Sato looked at Yuki, grinning wryly.

Sato Muneki truly lived up to his nickname "Smart Sato".

Over the years, he'd witnessed how many producers KOMINA had dismissed and how many projects they'd axed, voluntarily or not.

Just considering Silent Hill alone - if Uekoe truly valued game quality, respected producers, and prized development teams,

Would this IP have been shelved so long?

Would Team Silent have been forced to disband?

It might have become a world-class horror IP long ago!

Thus.

While Sato regretted the current situation, he wasn't surprised.

He'd long seen through KOMINA and President Uekoe's nature.

But!

Whether Uekoe's mercenary style or KOMINA's profit-driven culture,

Though Sato understood perfectly, he'd never expressed anything.

He was just a lead designer in the development team, a regular KOMINA employee.

What did project cancellations or producer departures have to do with him?

He was just a salaryman.

Company strategies didn't concern him - just pay him on time.

"Sigh—"

Hearing Sato's words, Yuki exhaled deeply:

"So then, Smart Sato-senpai?"

"We're about to sign NDAs secretly joining Silent Hill's development while Golden Wind remains in the dark, we..."

Here, Yuki stopped.

She clearly understood the company's tactic toward Golden Wind was one word - stall.

Stall Golden Wind without signing cooperation agreements while secretly racing to develop Silent Hill's main installment.

This way!

They could prolong Silent Hill's discussion heat and player anticipation!

While preventing Golden Wind from pulling the rug out by rebranding their prepared Silent Hill proposal!

Yuki was conflicted.

Though her time working with Director Gu had been brief - less than two months -

Gu Sheng's charisma and passion for games were truly admirable.

More importantly!

Golden Wind was Miaomiao's company!

On one side was the game director she admired and a dear friend!

On the other was an international giant, the company she'd worked so hard to join!

You can't have your cake and eat it too - which to choose?

As if reading Yuki's thoughts!

Clearing his throat!

Sato spoke:

"Yuki, as your senior, let me advise you,"

"Neither closed-door meeting unwritten rules nor NDA enforceability are challenges you can take on,"

"If you want to keep working at KOMINA, don't think about having it both ways,"

"Unless..."

Pausing, Sato added:

"Unless you don't want to stay in Neon's gaming circle either."

Sato's words stunned Yuki.

Then!

Suddenly!

A flash of insight struck Yuki as she grasped the key point!

"Either?"

Yuki looked at Sato in surprise.

Sato simply smiled faintly.

Instead of answering directly, he casually said:

"My father passed five years ago, my mother's in Britain, and I'm not marrying. So..."

Sato shrugged, the picture of a carefree bachelor.

Yuki froze for five full seconds!

Then smiled gracefully: "In that case, let's sit a while longer. I have a call to make."

"Go ahead,"

Sato gestured he wasn't in a hurry:

"Though I doubt this call will shock him much."

Yuki raised an eyebrow curiously: "Why?"

Sato smiled:

"He may be young and new, but he's definitely not young and new."

Though cryptic, Yuki understood, frowning skeptically: "You sure?"

Sato raised his teacup: "If I'm wrong, tea's on me today."

Yuki raised her fist.

Sato bumped it lightly with his own.

Beep—beep—beep—

Click.

The call connected.

A sweet, lively girl's voice came through: "Hey Yuki! I was about to call you!"

It was Shen Miaomiao!

Since reconnecting, they often chatted when free.

Thinking Miaomiao wanted to gossip, Yuki gently interrupted:

"Miaomiao, I'm calling about something urgent regarding you and Director Gu."

A pause.

Then Miaomiao suddenly laughed:

"You might not believe this, but I wanted to call you on Director Gu's suggestion."

Then!

A clear, mellow voice came through:

"Long time no see Yuki, I wanted to contact you."

"Uh... um... huh?"

Yuki was dumbfounded:

"H-hello Director... should you... go first?"

"No, you first,"

Gu Sheng chuckled:

"The outcome will be same anyway."

"Ah... ah..."

Yuki blinked, glanced around the empty tearoom, licked her lips and cautiously said:

"The situation's somewhat complex - I'll explain details later. Here's the key point—"

"Komera plans to develop Silent Hill's main installment... alone."

A brief silence.

Then Gu Sheng's voice came through, utterly calm without a ripple, even slightly amused: "That's it?"

Holy shit?!

Yuki was shocked!

Wait what?

This isn't how the script goes?!

Why's Director Gu so calm?!

Shouldn't hearing such news first bring shock and disbelief, then after her explanation, indignation and rage toward KOMINA, maybe even cursing, finally thanking her for the "intel", vowing revenge with "what goes around comes around"?!

Bro you... got the wrong script?

Where's the shock? The anger? The cursing?

Why do you sound completely unfazed?!

Yuki looked at her phone, then at Sato who seemed to have predicted everything:

"S-so Director Gu you..."

......

"I already knew."

Meanwhile.

Huaguo, Binjiang. Golden Wind CEO office.

Gu Sheng's voice rang out.

Indeed!

A week earlier when Higashitsu Gaming Festival concluded, Gu Sheng had sensed trouble.

Because early this month before the festival, after Shen Capital's legal department reviewed it, Golden Wind had already sent the cooperation agreement to Komera.

Initially, Komera responded enthusiastically, saying they'd immediately start approval procedures to expedite signing for early collaboration.

But!

After the expo opened!

Things turned strange.

Originally, both sides planned for Komera to complete contract signing the day after the expo opened and send it to Golden Wind.

Golden Wind would then have three days - by the expo's closing - to finalize cooperation.

This timing would let both announce Silent Hill's main installment development at the expo's conclusion, generating buzz.

However!

For various reasons, Komera delayed signing endlessly.

Today it was national policy, tomorrow legal opinions, the next day marketing detail revisions...

Thus.

Before the expo ended!

Gu Sheng told Little Nezha the Silent Hill collaboration was 90% dead.

Dead?!

Hearing this, Shen Miaomiao was shocked!

Why dead?

Wasn't Silent Hill PT wildly popular with overwhelming player response?

Gu Sheng smiled, explaining precisely because it was too hot, Komera's greed made them want to cut Golden Wind out.

Given this heat, Golden Wind's 30% investment would yield substantial returns.

Sure enough!

Recognizing Komera's scheme.

Gu Sheng sighed inwardly!

A leopard can't change its spots.

His initial premonition was completely accurate!

KONAMI was KOMINA!

KOMINA was KONAMI!

Two bad apples cut from the same mold!

Thankfully he was one step ahead!

He'd prepared a backup plan...

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com