March 29, 1993 – Sunday
Zaboru sat in his new office at the ZAGE USA branch, sipping coffee. Ryan and James were with him, the three sharing a quiet moment before the big day. The table was laden with an assortment of drinks and dishes, a testament to the celebratory mood. Ryan and James were thoroughly enjoying themselves, each holding a glass of their preferred alcohol, exchanging laughs and toasts as they soaked in the significance of the moment.
Zaboru smiled. "I can't believe this office is finally ready. Tomorrow, the ZAGE USA branch officially opens." While inhaling the aroma of the slightly expensive coffee he drink.
Ryan grinned. "Congratulations, Zaboru. This is going to be huge for Emerald Wings and for ZAGE's global reach." Ryan said with a proud smile, raising his glass of champagne in a quiet toast to the future.
James nodded in agreement. "And don't worry, we've got everything lined up for tomorrow. We'll handle the opening procedures." While munching french fries.
"Thanks a lot, James, Ryan," Zaboru said sincerely.
Ryan waved a hand. "No problem. You do own half of Emerald Wings, after all."
Ryan and James had been instrumental in establishing the USA office. They with help of emerald wings staff took charge of the recruitment process, carefully selecting a lean but efficient team. Zaboru wasn't aiming for a massive workforce right away—he prioritized capability and flexibility. More hires would come when needed. James and Ryan are already well known in the business world, especially through their association with Emerald Wings. As a medium-sized private company responsible for delivering ZAGE products to the USA, Emerald Wings has established a broad network of connections. Their extensive reach made it relatively easy to find professionals eager to work with the ZAGE USA Branch, especially given that Emerald Wings is overseeing its operations.
Among the applicants, one name stood out to Zaboru: John Carmack. In this world, he had been born in 1972—a slight shift from the 1970 birth year in Zaboru's previous life. Unlike other creators he encountered who were significantly younger in this timeline, Carmack's age was nearly the same. Landing someone of Carmack's caliber thrilled Zaboru. The rest of the team was also impressively qualified. Zaboru couldn't help but think, "John Carmack is only two years younger? This world really has no consistent rules." He chuckled at the thought. Of course, he knew exactly who John Carmack was—the legendary creator of DOOM in his previous life. If Zaboru hadn't yet developed DOOM in this world, maybe it would be Carmack who ended up creating it here as well.
As for the offices itself Zaboru would oversee operations personally for a week, with James assisting in a leadership capacity. James was already set to act as a senior figure in the branch moving forward—Ryan didn't mind and supported the plan.
Thanks to Emerald Wings' solid reputation and industry connections in the USA, onboarding new employees had gone smoothly. Everything was in place for the grand opening.
The office itself was a sleek, three-story building with a clean, professional interior. Unlike the Japan headquarters, which Zaboru had decorated with colorful artwork of ZAGE characters, the USA branch embraced a more formal, businesslike atmosphere. Each desk was equipped with a PC, and there was a designated meeting room there also a fridges and free food for the employee and Zaboru also had a dedicated gaming room where employees could try out the newest games. Additionally, he set aside a slightly spacious room as his personal workshop—an absolute necessity for him whenever he's in the USA.
True to his values, Zaboru aimed to maintain a strong work-life balance for his U.S. employees, just as he had done in Japan. Having once endured the life of an overworked employee in a toxic company, Zaboru understood the importance of fair treatment, manageable workloads, and humane hours. His experiences fueled his determination to create a positive workplace. Zaboru believed that with a great workspace, productivity would naturally increase. However, he also understood that he couldn't be too lenient; there always needed to be boundaries. After all, at the end of the day, Zaboru was paying the employees, and they were working for him. It couldn't be all relaxation and no responsibility—there had to be a balance between comfort and accountability.
Ryan took a sip of his drink. "So yeah, just chill, Zaboru. Everything's ready for tomorrow."
James nodded. "Relax. It's all set."
Zaboru chuckled. "I am relaxed. I just want you both to know—I'll be splitting time between here and Japan. About a week in each location once the branch is officially open."
James raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't all that flying wear you out? Why not buy a private plane?" He grinned, and Ryan laughed.
Zaboru sighed. "I don't really need one. Even if I could afford it, I'd rather not—at least for now."
Ryan smirked. "So you're not ruling it out in the future?"
Zaboru shrugged. "If I end up swimming in money, then sure. Why not?"
The three shared a laugh and continued chatting.
Ryan grinned. "Oh yeah, Zaboru, you didn't create any new arcades systems this month, huh? Because man, our arcade business is seriously booming! The NEW ZAS arcade is really next level."
James smiled and nodded. "Especially with Street Fighter. There's even a local tournament going on our arcades—it has such an amazing atmosphere. Have you thought about hosting your own Street Fighter tournament?"
Zaboru leaned back in his chair, intrigued by the question. "Of course I have. I'm definitely planning to, but I might host it in Japan first, then bring it to the USA. The Street Fighter scene is really growing here, but it's already massive in Japan."
Ryan leaned in, curious. "So when exactly are we getting a new arcade here in the States? Got any timelines in mind?"
Zaboru sipped his coffee, smiling slightly. "As for that, Ryan, I might release a new arcade either next month or in May. So, stay tuned, alright? I want to make sure the next one is even better than the last."
Ryan nodded, grinning. "Okay, got it. I definitely need that. Can't wait to see what you come up with next."
The 3 then continue their talk overall having fun before the grand opening of ZAGE USA branch tomorrow.
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