On the Same day Thursday 2 January 1999 in ZUSUGA offices Japan.
While Zaboru was deeply engaged in negotiations with Massimo Moratti to acquire 51% of Inter Milan, another major negotiation was quietly unfolding elsewhere in the market. This time, the focus wasn't football—but technology and gaming. Apple had made its move, formally approaching ZUSUGA with the intention of collaborating on future game consoles and software development. It was a development that, if successful, could reshape the balance of power in the gaming industry at least that's what Apple thinks.
At this very moment, Steve Jobs smiled as he took one last look around the room. "Pretty impressive offices," he said calmly. "I should say, Mr. Zagashira, this place reflects real ambition."
Zanki chuckled politely, keeping his composure. "Thank you, Mr. Jobs. Anyway, let's cut the chase, shall we? You mentioned you had a proposal for us."
Steve Jobs leaned back in his chair, clearly comfortable now. "At Apple, we're currently in the process of creating a video game console," he began, his voice calm but filled with intent. "We've been watching the industry very closely—the growth, the rising influence, the staggering revenue potential. The numbers are undeniable. Gaming is no longer just entertainment; it's a cultural and technological frontier. And Apple doesn't want to just observe from the sidelines—we want to lead."
He adjusted his glasses, his voice sharpening with conviction. "Our goal isn't just to participate. We aim to dominate. We want to crush our competitors in terms of hardware specifications. That means pushing the limits—performance, design, integration. And yes," he paused with a knowing smile, "that includes ZAGE. We fully intend to challenge them head-on in the near future."
Jobs continued, his tone now shifting into strategic precision. "But let's be real—raw power isn't everything. It never is. Even the most powerful console is worthless if it lacks compelling content. People don't buy specs; they buy experiences. It's the games that define a console's legacy. It's the software that gives it soul. And that's why I'm here. I want Apple to collaborate with ZUSUGA. We want your teams—your creative minds, your proven developers—to create games for our upcoming console."
He smiled again, leaning forward slightly now, visibly energized. "Our vision for this console goes beyond just gaming. We want it to resemble ZAGE's current ZEPS 3, yes, but we also want it to be more. It should play CDs and DVDs, serve as a true multimedia hub, and function like a modern PC. We envision a machine where users can run productivity tools, creative software, educational programs—even light office applications. It's not just a console. It's the convergence of entertainment and utility, play, and productivity. That's the dream we're building toward."
Zanki smirked internally while keeping his face a calm, unreadable mask. 'A fool who understands nothing,' he thought, suppressing a sigh. Out loud, he asked in a neutral tone, "Mr. Jobs, do you believe graphics are the most important element in a video game?"
Steve Jobs nodded confidently, without missing a beat. "Obviously," he said with a slight shrug. "Video games, at their core, are just games—and games need to look great to attract players. That's always been my view. People gravitate toward what looks good first. Gameplay? That comes second. It's important, but visual appeal sets the first impression." He leaned forward, gesturing with subtle enthusiasm. "We've seen this play out already. Take ZAGE's Final Fantasy 7—Game of the Year, right? What made people fall in love with it initially? The graphics. The cinematic presentation. That's what pulled them in."
Steve gave a knowing grin. "Sure, some people argue that this year's GOTY might've been a bit rigged—who knows? But that's beside the point. The real reason it won was because it looked amazing. That's what players remember."
Zanki gave a slow nod, feigning agreement to boost Jobs' ego, even as his internal thoughts burned with disbelief. 'Such a shallow perspective. He thinks he understands games, but he only sees the surface. He doesn't know how deep the medium truly goes—and he doesn't even try to learn.' Years ago, Zanki himself might've agreed with Jobs. Back then, he didn't fully grasp how layered and multidimensional game development really was. But that had changed. Now, Zanki understood that games were not just about visuals or tech specs—they were about design, systems, emotion, and player experience. Graphics were a tool, not the essence.
Zanki pretended to nod again, deliberately feeding into Steve Jobs' ego, allowing the man to feel validated in his perspective. His voice took on an agreeable tone, light and calculated. "Make sense when you think about it. I really agree with your vision, Mr. Jobs—that graphics are indeed one of the most important elements in video games. Presentation matters. It's the first thing that catches the player's eye and shapes their expectations. You're absolutely right: in a crowded market, the games that look the best often win the first battle—getting noticed."
He folded his arms loosely and leaned back just slightly, showing casual approval before continuing, "Honestly, that's a fascinating concept you've introduced—a video game console that doubles as a fully functional personal computer? That's not just a good idea, Mr. Jobs. That's bold. That's revolutionary." Zanki's eyes lit up with just the right hint of excitement. "We at ZUSUGA respect that kind of thinking. We know what it takes to break molds. In fact, we're doing the same thing on the handheld front."
He gestured briefly, tapping the table with a fingertip. "Our Handheld Reborn 16 has not only captured the market—it's dominating it. Players are constantly praising the game library and hardware flexibility. We've poured our best talents into its ecosystem, and it's paying off." His voice grew more serious. "So for Apple to approach us with this level of trust? To ask us to help build the software foundation for your upcoming console? It's not just an offer—it's an honor, and a major vote of confidence."
Zanki then smiled calmly and activated his Bloodline Power—an ability known as "Voice Persuasion." It was a rare and dangerous gift, capable of subtly influencing and bending the target's thoughts, especially when the person wasn't wary of him. The true strength of this power lay in its deceptive subtlety—it didn't dominate the target's mind outright but worked like a whisper in the back of their consciousness. The more confident and relaxed the subject felt, the more susceptible they became. That was why Zanki had spent so much time carefully boosting Steve Jobs' ego—making him feel respected, admired, and intellectually superior. It was all preparation.
The ability was even more potent against targets who relied more on instinct or arrogance than cautious intellect. And while Steve Jobs was undoubtedly sharp, Zanki sensed just enough pride and ambition in him to give the ability room to work—if used carefully.
With a calm voice laced with the persuasive pulse of his ability, Zanki leaned forward slightly and spoke with deliberate confidence. "So, Mr. Jobs, let's talk about a new kind of deal," he said smoothly. "Here's what I'm proposing: ZUSUGA will take full responsibility for developing exclusive games for Apple's upcoming console. In return, we'll receive 80% of the total game sales revenue. Apple would retain the remaining 20%. And beyond that, we at ZUSUGA would also earn 20% of total console unit sales as part of the long-term partnership."
He paused for just a second—not too long, just enough for the offer to feel reasonable, inevitable even. "What do you think?" he added, letting the suggestion rest naturally in the room, wrapped in the warmth and charm of his manipulated tone.
Steve Jobs thought carefully. Deep down, he truly believed the proposed deal was heavily skewed in ZUSUGA's favor—it was, by any business metric, a bad deal for Apple. And yet, somewhere in his mind, a strange whisper insisted it wasn't all that bad. It was like a gentle push, nudging him toward acceptance, trying to convince him it might be fair after all. Still, his sharp entrepreneurial instincts refused to be silenced. He couldn't accept such terms without a fight. He straightened up and said, "35% total game shares for Apple, and 10% console shares for ZUSUGA. That's the best I can do. No higher."
Zanki was genuinely surprised. His power wasn't working as strongly as he expected. It was still affecting Jobs—but not enough to completely override his judgment. This clearly showed that Steve Jobs possessed a sharp and resilient mind, far more guarded than the average executive. Unlike Zaboru, who had once completely Block the Voice Persuasion , Steve Jobs was still capable holding his own, negotiating back. Still, the effect wasn't a failure. It was partial—and even that was enough to tip the conversation in Zanki's favor. He grinned, adjusting his posture to match the victorious mood.
"Deal," Zanki said confidently. "We will work together."
He extended his hand, and Steve Jobs shook it with a firm grip. The room settled into a quiet calm, the energy of the negotiation replaced by mutual respect. The detailed contract would be drafted in the coming days, but the verbal agreement was now set in stone.
The two continued talking afterward, now more casually, shifting into deeper discussions about their shared visions for the future of entertainment, disruptive software ecosystems, and how they could redefine the relationship between hardware and user experience. They even exchanged anecdotes from their respective industries—Zanki talking about the creative chaos within ZUSUGA's most talented dev teams, and Jobs describing the relentless pursuit of elegance and minimalism at Apple. There was mutual fascination, despite their vastly different personalities.
Then, after half an hour or so of brainstorming and bonding, Zanki casually asked with a smile, "So... what would the name of Apple's console be?"
Steve Jobs, without hesitation, smiled proudly and said, "Apple Pippin."
Zanki froze for a microsecond, his expression still smiling on the outside as he gave a polite nod, but internally, his thoughts exploded in disbelief. 'What kind of dogshit name is that? Pippin? Seriously? That sounds more like a suspicious ice cream truck or a knockoff fruit juice brand than a revolutionary console. It's the kind of name you'd expect from a failed toy line in the 80s, not a next-gen gaming machine. I've heard bad names before, but this... this takes the cake. And lights it on fire.' He resisted the urge to react, forcing his smile to hold and his eyes to stay neutral.
He inhaled slowly and silently. 'Alright. I'll need to tread carefully with this one. Can't just blurt out a better name—that would raise red flags. But I can take my time, plant ideas, and gradually steer him toward something more marketable. Something that actually inspires confidence instead of... confusion. The last thing this partnership needs is the entire gaming world laughing at the console name before it even launches.'
Zanki sighed internally, already drawing up mental blueprints of how he might introduce alternative branding suggestions at key meetings or during testing phases. He was focused now. 'I'll steer this toward a better name if it's the last thing I do in this partnership. Even if I have to whisper it into every boardroom conversation until it sticks.'
To be continue
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