Chapter 31: Buying at the Bottom

It was a day in March, several months after the dawn of the new year 2013.

Though the new year had long since passed, Girls Memorial was still sailing smoothly.

For three consecutive months, it held the top spot in combined revenue on both the Japanese Apple Store and Google Store.

As an unprecedented achievement for a Korean mobile game, related posts exploded across online communities.

While casually browsing these communities, as I often did, one post caught my eye.

The content itself was a rather ordinary introduction to a new game.

The title of this new game was Bakery Lady.

It was an SRPG with that distinct indie game cheap-looking pixel art style.

If anything stood out, it was the rare fact that it was a Chinese indie game, and that the concept art visuals weren't half bad.

Even by my standards, which had piqued my interest, this was about the extent of praise I could give. Naturally, the comments' reactions weren't positive.

But through my memories from before the regression, I knew what kind of potential this indie game company's CEO would demonstrate.

About three years from now.

The CEO of this development studio would team up with a publisher founded by his friend, and develop a new game that would shake up the subculture mobile game market.

Of course, there were several crises along the way due to various trial and error and legal disputes with the publisher, but...

I think the CEO's name was... Won-jung?

The name itself was common and hard to remember, but I could recall it thanks to the popular phrase "Won-jung-bi-mo."

As I pondered, recalling memories from before the regression, I finally opened up the proposal template.

It was clear that even without my intervention, this director would succeed just as he had before the regression.

But with various support and advice based on my memories from before, we could minimize trial and error.

I didn't want to miss this opportunity to gain various benefits in return for supporting a game guaranteed to succeed.

*

Once I made up my mind, I saw no need to drag things out. I immediately drafted the proposal and submitted it to Su-yeon.

However, I didn't have high expectations even as I submitted it.

Unlike with Girls Memorial, this proposal didn't include detailed rationale for future predictions.

Thinking about it, it made sense that I couldn't provide objective evidence.

I couldn't exactly write, "I have memories from before the regression, and this indie game developer is an undervalued blue chip, so I propose we invest."

In the end, the proposal was completed and sent directly to Su-yeon without much supporting evidence,

and I was promptly summoned to the CEO's office.

"You're here? Have a seat on the sofa for now."

Su-yeon, the one who had called me, seemed busy with something, typing away at her keyboard while wearing glasses.

"New glasses?"

"These? My eyesight seems to be getting worse lately."

"I see."

After exchanging such meaningless small talk for about five minutes,

Su-yeon, apparently finished with her work, took off her glasses and approached me.

Perhaps because it was spring, she was dressed casually in jeans and a beige knit shirt.

"What would you like to drink? Tea? Coffee? Soda?"

"I'll go with soda."

At that, Su-yeon went to the fridge and brought out a can of coffee and a can of soda.

"Our dear Director, you know why I called you to the CEO's office, right?"

"Ah, yes..."

Su-yeon plopped down on the sofa opposite me and pulled out the proposal I had submitted.

"Ho-jin, you know I trust you, right?"

"Of course."

"So this time too, if this proposal had proper evidence like usual, I was going to approve it as always."

"..."

"But this proposal doesn't feel like your usual style at all. The evidence for future predictions is much weaker compared to Girls Memorial or Ye-na's case."

Su-yeon tilted her head and looked at me.

"Besides the vague talk written in the proposal, I'd like to hear the real reason why you're so fixated on this indie game developer."

I couldn't help but hesitate to answer Su-yeon's question right away.

I wasn't sure where to start or how much to say.

Seeing my reaction, Su-yeon seemed to misunderstand and spoke in a lower voice.

"If this is all there is, I can't help but be disappointed in you, Ho-jin... Is this really everything?"

"No, it's not that... I'm just not sure where to start explaining."

"From beginning to end, just as it is."

"Just as it is... Alright."

Urged by Su-yeon, I finally spilled everything I knew, except for my future memories from before the regression.

Of course, Su-yeon's expression changed to one of bewilderment as she listened.

"So to summarize, you chose this developer because he has wide connections in the Chinese subculture scene and you see potential in the game?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Haa... Ho-jin, you don't happen to have any fortune tellers in your family history or something like that, do you?"

"Of course not."

"Then how can you confidently predict this developer's success based on just those things?"

To Su-yeon's doubt, I shrugged and said:

"It's a hunch."

"A hunch, you say..."

She seemed to be thinking seriously for a moment, but upon hearing my answer about a hunch, her expression softened.

Then, with a look of resignation, Su-yeon smiled and shook her head.

"If that's what Ho-jin's hunch is telling him, I guess there's nothing to be done... Do as you like."

"Really?"

"We've come this far thanks to your hunches, so I'll trust you this time too."

"Th-thank you."

"Just to be sure, the CEO of the game company you want to support isn't an acquaintance or anything like that, right?"

"Not at all."

At that, Su-yeon nodded and stood up.

"Well then, let's leave it at that for today... You can go back down. I'll relay the rest through Yu-mi."

"Understood."

*

Once the proposal was approved, things started moving in earnest.

However, even though the proposal was approved, there were more than a few problems, and the most urgent one was the support plan.

Direct investment was out of the question as the procedure was cumbersome and could be burdensome for Su-yeon, and excluding direct investment, I couldn't think of any other methods, which was the problem.

This issue, which had been giving me a headache for quite some time, was frustratingly solved by a single comment from Yu-mi.

"If it's about supporting an indie game developer, why don't you just use our company's in-house indie game support program?"

"We have an indie game support program?"

"Yes. Didn't you know?"

"This is the first I'm hearing of it."

"It's probably because the support program was implemented not too long ago. You should look into it, Director."

After hearing Yu-mi's words and looking it up, there really was an indie game support program in existence.

From development cost support to sharing live service development know-how and partnership cooperation.

It was the perfect support plan for Won-jung, who had been going through trial and error due to lack of live service know-how.

Once we found the support plan, all that was left was to contact the person in question.

At this point, Jacky team was the very definition of an indie game developer without even an official website, so even though I knew where Won-jung lived from my memories before the regression, there was no way to contact him.

In the end, after asking around here and there, we were able to successfully set up a meeting appointment with the help of Enson Korea's China branch.

On the day of the scheduled meeting.

As Yu-mi and I entered the company's reception room, which was the meeting place, a man with a familiar appearance caught my eye.

Short, neatly trimmed hairstyle and black horn-rimmed glasses.

It was Won-jung, the CEO of Jacky team, exactly as he remained in my memories.

I extended my hand to offer a handshake.

"It's an honor to meet you. I'm Ji Ho-jin, the General Director leading the mobile game development team at Enson GT. And this is..."

"I'm Kang Yu-mi, in charge of business PM in the mobile game development team, just like Director Ho-jin. Nice to meet you."

At that, Won-jung hurriedly stood up and accepted the handshake.

"I'm Won-jung. I'm a huge fan of Girls Memorial, so I'm really grateful for the invitation to meet you today, Director!"

"Not at all, please have a seat."

After the handshake, Yu-mi and I sat down in the chairs placed in the reception room.

Won-jung, who had been standing across from us, also sat down somewhat awkwardly.

"The reason we invited you today, as we mentioned in the email, is because we'd like to offer support to you, Won-jung, and Jacky Team."

At those words, Won-jung nodded and asked with a troubled expression.

"I heard about that. I'm truly grateful for this precious opportunity, but... I'd like to know why our team was chosen."

His attitude clearly showed a lack of confidence.

Considering Won-jung's position, I could understand why he would have such an attitude.

From his current perspective, there was no reason for Enson to support Jacky Team.

Enson wasn't a Chinese company, nor did I have any personal connection with Won-jung.

And it's not like Bakery Lady had achieved results recognized overseas.

It was literally like finding a gold bar on the street, so it was natural for him to be suspicious.

There was only one way to resolve this suspicion.

An honest answer.

"I personally played Bakery Lady, which was released a few weeks ago. It was certainly fun, unlike what you'd expect from an indie game."

"Th-thank you."

"You might find this offensive, but I was really surprised to see an SRPG of this quality come out of China, which is currently called a wasteland for subculture."

At my words, Won-jung smiled faintly and said:

"I won't be offended by such words. It's the truth, after all."

"I'm grateful you said that. Anyway, that's why I looked into some information about you, Won-jung, who made the game, and found that you have deep connections with famous figures in the Chinese subculture scene."

"..."

"In the end, the reason I want to support you, Won-jung, is simple."

Won-jung looked at me with a tense expression.

I continued while looking at him.

"I'm betting on your success based on your abilities and connections, Won-jung."