Chapter 757: Negotiation Continues

Earlier that same day, following the visit from Seiya and Himura, Zaboru urgently called for a high-level meeting at the ZAGE headquarters in Japan. This wasn’t just a developers’ meeting—leaders from finance, marketing, legal, and all major subsidiaries were summoned. Even the CTO, Zanichi Renkonan, was in attendance.

Zaboru smiled and opened the session. “Good morning, everyone. Apologies for the sudden meeting, but what we’re about to discuss directly impacts the future of our company.”

The tone in the room shifted instantly. The team leaned in, sensing the seriousness in his voice.

“Earlier this morning, I met with Seiya Shimura and Himura Sendou. As some of you may know, Himura is the CEO of Sendou Inc., a rapidly expanding internet service provider that’s been making waves across Japan. They are leading a major government-backed initiative that, if successful, could fundamentally reshape the country’s digital infrastructure—and open huge opportunities for ZAGE in the process.”

There were murmurs around the room as the team tried to guess what the project might be.

“The project,” Zaboru continued, “is called Fiber to the Home—FTTH. Its goal is to deliver high-speed fiber-optic internet access directly to residences across Japan. What makes this initiative so transformative is not just its technical backbone, but the vision behind it—equipping households with infrastructure that can sustain the future of digital communication, content, commerce, and collaboration.

Phase one focuses on major metropolitan hubs, where demand is already high. But the long-term ambition goes far beyond that. The initiative will eventually expand nationwide and, in partnership with strategic allies, push into neighboring countries like China and South Korea. This isn’t just about speed—it’s about laying the digital rails for a new era of regional connectivity.”

“For those unfamiliar,” he added, “fiber-optic cables transmit data using pulses of light, allowing for far greater bandwidth and stability than traditional copper lines. These cables will be installed underground to maximize reliability, protect against environmental disruptions, and ensure scalable access for generations to come.”

He paused, letting the weight of that statement settle in.

“Now, here’s the challenge. Despite government backing, Sendou Inc. lacks sufficient funding to complete the rollout. Seiya has already invested a significant sum, but it’s not enough. That’s why they approached us. And personally, I believe this is an opportunity we cannot ignore.”

Zaboru walked over to the digital whiteboard and began laying out ZAGE’s current position. “From a business standpoint, ZAGE is thriving—in both Japan and the U.S. Our employee satisfaction, finances, sales, and operations are strong. Some might even call this our peak. But I’ll tell you right now—it’s not. It’s just the foundation.”

He looked around the room with intensity. “We’re not at the summit—we’re at base camp. What we’ve built is solid, but there’s so much more we can do. And to do it, we need the right infrastructure underneath everything.”

He smiled, then added, “For years, I’ve had projects I’ve dreamed of launching—digital platforms, integrated cloud services, scalable toolkits for creators—but they remained stuck in our backlog because the world around us wasn’t ready. The internet couldn’t support the scale we envisioned. But now? With this fiber rollout? It changes everything.”

“This project is the missing piece. With faster speeds and broader access, we can finally bring those ideas to life. Not just in theory—but in action. In months, not years.”

He exhaled, his voice firm but measured. “Yes, this investment will cost us. It could very well be the largest single expenditure we’ve ever committed to. But it’s not just a spend—it’s a catalyst. A statement. A deliberate shift in our trajectory. In the long term, the benefits will far outweigh the risk. This isn’t just about keeping up with trends. It’s about setting the pace. About leading the charge into the next generation of digital innovation.”

He paused, letting the words hang in the air. “That’s all from me. If you have questions, ask away.”

Zanichi raised his hand. Zaboru nodded. “Go ahead, Dad.”

Zanichi adjusted his glasses. “This sounds promising. And yes, internet speed is important—especially since many modern businesses rely heavily on it. But isn’t fiber a bit... overkill? I’m probably missing something, but I think many people here are wondering the same: why invest in speeds that are, frankly, beyond what most people need?”

Zaboru smiled. “Excellent question. Let me flip that: is there such a thing as internet that’s ‘too fast’? I don’t think so. The faster it gets, the more we can do. Speed isn’t just about smoother browsing—it’s about unleashing entire ecosystems.”

He stepped forward, pacing slightly as he spoke. “Imagine launching a global digital marketplace capable of processing tens of thousands of simultaneous transactions—no lag, no crashes. Or a next-gen streaming platform offering ultra-high-definition content in real time, accessible even in rural areas. Or think about turning ZAGE’s forums into an interactive content platform—supporting live streams, instant video uploads, , and many things.”

He paused, letting the ideas settle. “And that’s just scratching the surface. With speeds like these, we could enable remote workforces with seamless real-time collaboration. the potential is endless.”

He turned back to the team. “What fiber gives us isn’t just capacity—it’s headroom. Future-proofing. A foundation we can scale on without limit.”

Zanichi nodded slowly, smiling. “I see. So that’s the potential.”

The rest of the room nodded in understanding. Then Sayuri Yamaguchi, ZAGE’s head of finance, raised a hand.

“Boss, I see the benefits. But how much are you thinking of investing?”

Zaboru chuckled. He always appreciated Sayuri’s directness. “For now, I’m considering around 10 billion yen. It could be less, could be more. In return, I expect a healthy stake in the fiber-optic infrastructure project. I know it’s a big number—but this is about long-term growth. We’re not just buying into faster speeds—we’re buying time, space, and leverage for ZAGE’s future.”

Sayuri nodded, though her expression remained serious. “Our finances are healthy, no doubt. But we’ll need to reserve emergency funds moving forward. Markets can shift fast, and we’ll want flexibility. Still, we trust your vision. I believe ZAGE can handle the 10 billion investment—but this should be our last major move for a while, at least until we stabilize post-launch and get a clear return trajectory.”

Zaboru nodded. “Agreed. We’ll monitor everything closely. I want weekly reports from finance and bi-weekly touchpoints with the Sendou project team.”

Heads around the room nodded. Keyboards clacked softly as team members began typing out reminders and follow-up tasks.

The meeting continued with deeper planning then When the meeting finally wrapped up, everyone left with a renewed sense of purpose, their minds already turning to the monumental work ahead.

Next week, Zaboru would reconvene with Himura and Seiya to finalize the details, bringing ZAGE one step closer to reshaping the future of digital infrastructure.

To be continued.