Chapter 36: Meeting the Manufacturers

Two days had passed, and now it was Saturday—the day of the big meeting. Zaboru and his father, Zanichi, were ready to meet with the manufacturers who would be responsible for producing ZEPS.

They set out in Zanichi's car early in the morning, knowing they had a long drive ahead. The manufacturer was located about an hour and a half away.

As they drove down the road, Zaboru looked out the window at the passing scenery. "The manufacturer is pretty far, huh, Dad?" he asked, stretching in his seat.

Zanichi chuckled. "Yeah, but it's not too bad. As long as the quality and price are right, it's worth the trip."

Zaboru nodded in agreement. He knew that finding a reliable and cost-effective manufacturer was critical for his business.

After an hour and thirty minutes, they finally arrived at their destination—Saiko Machine, a large-scale manufacturer known for producing television components for Sonaya Electronics (this world's equivalent of Sony).

As they pulled up to the factory gate, a middle-aged man with a sturdy build and a confident grin was already waiting for them.

"Yo, Zanichi! And this must be Zaboru," the man called out, extending a hand toward the younger man.

Zaboru shook his hand politely. "Nice to meet you, Tetsuo-san."

Tetsuo Marui was Zanichi's long-time friend and the factory manager of Saiko Machine.

Zanichi laughed, patting Tetsuo's shoulder. "Sorry to bother you on a weekend, but I figured it'd be best since there won't be many workers around."

Tetsuo grinned. "Nah, it's fine. I'm actually really curious about your son's project. Come on, let's head to my office and talk."

With that, he led them inside the factory to a meeting room, where Zaboru laid out his blueprints.

Zaboru took a deep breath before launching into his detailed presentation.

"So, Tetsuo-san, this is the blueprint for ZEPS—the motherboard, internal components, and controller structure," he began, pointing to each section of the diagram.

He also explained the design of the game cartridges, detailing the necessary manufacturing specifications.

For 25 minutes, he went through everything, ensuring Tetsuo understood every part of the project.

When he finished, Tetsuo leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin. "Hmm… It's complicated, but not impossible. I figure we can set up the machines to mass-produce these in about a month, maybe a little longer."

Zaboru frowned slightly. A whole month… That means I need to secure more funds to sustain my business until then.

Still, he kept his composure and nodded. "That's fine. And just to confirm, the cost will be 1.6 million yen for 300 ZEPS units and 400 cartridges, correct?"

Tetsuo thought for a moment before smiling. "Actually, let me make you a better offer."

Zaboru blinked. "A better offer?"

Tetsuo leaned forward. "You're a smart kid, and even though you're young, your designs are exceptionally detailed. This is the kind of work I'd expect from an industry professional, not a teenager. I have a hunch you're gonna make it big."

Zaboru listened carefully as Tetsuo inhaled deeply before continuing.

"So, here's my deal—I'll give you 300 ZEPS machines and 800 cartridges for 1.8 million yen. Consider it an investment on my part."

Zaboru was stunned. That was double the number of cartridges for only 200,000 yen more.

"But there's a catch," Tetsuo added with a grin. "You'll have to choose Saiko Machine as your main manufacturer for future orders. And once your business takes off, I'll start charging you the proper prices. It's a win-win for both of us."

Zaboru hesitated. It was an amazing deal, but… why was Tetsuo being so generous?

"Why are you offering me this deal, Tetsuo-san? Wouldn't this be a loss for you, especially since this is my first order?"

Tetsuo smirked and patted Zanichi on the back. "Let's just say I owe your old man a favor. Right, Zanichi?"

Zanichi simply grinned in response.

Zaboru took a deep breath, weighing his options. This deal would boost his inventory significantly and give him more room to grow.

Finally, he extended his hand. "Alright, Tetsuo-san. We have a deal!"

Tetsuo shook his hand firmly. "Good! Now, about the cartridges—you mentioned they'll have different games, right?"

Zaboru nodded. "Yes. Each cartridge will contain a different game."

"Got it. Just provide one or two master copies of each game, and we'll duplicate them for mass production. We've got solid data-copying tech, so don't worry about that."

Zaboru sighed in relief. At least the technology isn't completely behind in this world.

Tetsuo quickly headed to his office to draft the official contract.

After a short wait, he returned and placed the contract in front of Zaboru.

Contract Details:First Order: Zaboru Renkonan will receive 300 ZEPS units and 800 game cartridges for 1.8 million yen.Future Orders: Zaboru's company must order ZEPS components from Saiko Machine moving forward.Standard Pricing (after the first order):300 ZEPS units (internal components + plastic cases) = 1.3 million yen100 game cartridges = 200,000 yenContract Flexibility: Terms can be altered if both parties agree.

Zaboru carefully read through the terms before nodding. This is actually a great deal…

He grabbed the pen and signed the contract.

"Alright! We're in business!" Tetsuo said with a grin.

With the deal officially sealed, Zaboru and Zanichi left the factory, feeling accomplished.

As they drove back, Zanichi glanced at his son with a smirk. "Well, in a month, you'll have your first batch of consoles. Excited?"

Zaboru nodded but sighed. "Yeah… but I'll still have to assemble all 300 units by myself. That's going to be exhausting."

Zanichi chuckled. "Why not develop another couple of games in the meantime and sell them to Ayumi Hamazou's brother for a good price? I'm sure money isn't an issue for them."

Zaboru shook his head. "I can't. Akechi-san already helped me with the office rent. I don't want to keep relying on him. I'll figure out some side jobs instead."

Zanichi nodded, respecting his son's decision.

As they continued their drive home, Zaboru stared out the window, his mind filled with ideas.

The first step of building his gaming empire had officially begun.

To Be Continued…