Now, Square wouldn't even need to commit their precious Final Fantasy development team. Just assigning a few planners would allow them to reap the profits of a major title for free.
With a deal this guaranteed, there was no need to hesitate.
"As for the music," Takuya Nakayama said, pointing to the bar in the distance, "let Yasunori Mitsuda handle it. He understands the style of Chrono Trigger better than anyone. Maintaining consistency across the series is crucial."
Hironobu Sakaguchi followed Nakayama's gaze.
Yasunori Mitsuda was sitting on a barstool, staring blankly into his teacup.
"Mitsuda is indeed the perfect choice," Sakaguchi nodded. "He's been idle lately. It's about time he had a major project to unleash his talent on."
Sakaguchi picked up a glass of juice from the coffee table and raised it toward Nakayama.
"Executive Director Nakayama, Square accepts this proposal," Sakaguchi declared decisively. "First thing tomorrow morning, I'll arrange for the Planning Department to head to Ōta Ward and coordinate with Rieko Kodama's team."
The two glasses clinked together with a crisp sound.
Takuya Nakayama took a sip of his juice.
As the celebratory banquet's noise gradually faded, the massive gears of Sega Headquarters continued to turn with methodical precision.
The project proposal for Chrono Trigger 2 had just been submitted to Ōta Ward. Rieko Kodama, a female general known for her decisive and swift action, had already assembled a full-strength development team that very afternoon. This core group had worked together seamlessly since the Phantasy Star era, possessing a deep technical foundation and a talent for nuanced character development. They were unquestionably the top-tier RPG development team within Sega's main headquarters.
Furthermore, their experience collaborating on Chrono Trigger for the Mega Drive meant they were already well-acquainted with each other's working styles.
Seated in the Executive Office, Takuya Nakayama signed the budget approval form with a flourish of his pen, then contentedly stepped back to let the experts handle the details. With the game's development under the watchful eye of those who knew best, his mind had long since drifted thousands of kilometers away, carried by the currents to the Indochinese Peninsula.
Thud.
The door to the Executive Office swung open. Director Hoshino strode in and slapped several freshly printed foreign newspapers, still smelling of ink, onto the wide mahogany desk.
Lately, the absolute big shot of Sega's Investment Department had practically treated this place as his second office, making at least one trip here a day.
The reason was simple: the moves of those major international funds were becoming more frequent and increasingly brazen.
Takuya Nakayama raised an eyebrow, picked up the Wall Street Journal from the top of the pile, and then casually glanced at the Far Eastern Economic Review beneath it.
The most prominent and eye-catching spots on the pages were all blatantly pushing the same narrative—Thailand's economic bubble was about to burst, and the Thai baht was bound to plunge!
Even some columnists were vehemently pointing out that the Bank of Thailand's foreign exchange reserves were utterly insufficient to support the current fixed exchange rate.
"The information war has begun," Takuya Nakayama chuckled softly, tossing the newspapers back onto the desk. He tapped the bold headline on the front page. "Those old foxes on Wall Street always pour a little blood into the water to lure the sharks and muddy the waters before they make their move."
Director Hoshino pulled out a chair, sat down, and drew a briefing stamped with a red "TOP SECRET" seal from his briefcase, sliding it across the desk to Takuya Nakayama.
"Managing Director, it's more than just public opinion manipulation. Our informants in Bangkok report that representatives from several mega-hedge funds in the United States have been frequently appearing at exclusive, membership-only clubs in the city over the past two weeks." Director Hoshino's eyes held a chilling sharpness.
Takuya Nakayama flipped open the briefing, skimming the names and photographs at a glance.
"They're meeting with local Thai bankers and zaibatsu executives?" Nakayama looked up, a faint, amused smile playing on his lips.
"Yes." Director Hoshino took a sip of the cold water on the table to soothe his dry throat. "The security is extremely tight. Our people couldn't get wind of the specific terms or incentives being offered. But anyone with a brain can tell—they're definitely up to no good."
Nakayama closed the briefing, interlacing his fingers and resting his chin on them as he fixed Director Hoshino with a deep, penetrating gaze.
"Hoshino-san, do you think if things ever get ugly—if foreign capital launches a full-scale assault—these local financial oligarchs in Bangkok will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their central bank and fight to the bitter end?"
Hearing this question, Director Hoshino scoffed, as if he'd just heard the greatest joke of all time.
He slammed his water glass down on the table, leaning forward with a piercing gaze.
"Managing Director, you're usually a good judge of character. Don't be so naive about capital this time," Hoshino said, holding up two fingers, his tone cold and certain. "What did the domestic Zaibatsu do when the bubble burst in Japan? They shouted about 'overcoming hardship together' while frantically moving their assets out of the country. And what did the local financial giants in London do when the pound plummeted in '92? They turned around and stabbed the Bank of England in the back!"
"The larger the conglomerate, the less likely they are to suffer alongside the government. The moment they sense the defenses are about to collapse, they'll run faster than rabbits!"
Hoshino grew more animated as he spoke, his eyes gleaming with the sharp intensity of a top-tier trader. "They won't just refuse to put up money to save the market—they'll be the first to turn traitor and join the foreign capital in shorting their own currency. They'll devour the wealth of ordinary people and the foreign exchange reserves the nation has painstakingly built up. Kicking someone when they're down—that's the most primal instinct of capital!"
Takuya Nakayama leaned back in his chair, the smile on his lips widening.
He knew all this already. He had simply used the discussion to gauge the Investment Department's current readiness and psychological expectations.
He picked up the Montblanc fountain pen from the desk and lightly circled the names of the local Thai bankers on the briefing document.
"Now that our inside men are in position," he murmured, "it's time for the main act to begin."
Takuya stood and walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the bustling, prosperous streets of Tokyo below. The glass reflected his calm yet sharp-edged face.
"Hoshino-san, remember the tone we set earlier," Takuya said, turning around. His usual easygoing demeanor vanished, replaced by an unquestionable authority. "You must be patient on this first move. We cannot act until Soros and his fellow hedge fund managers strike the first blow and completely tear their masks off in front of the Bank of Thailand."
"Let them charge the front lines. Let them take the brunt of the fire. We at Sega will be the ones waiting in the wings to reap the harvest."
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