"1... 100 million yen!?"
The mention of a 100 million yen bonus made the eyes of everyone in the room, including Rob and Chandra, widen significantly. Rob quickly calculated the current exchange rate and then spoke with an astonished expression.
"Hey, Mr. Kang. Is this some kind of joke? Even if you have a lot of money, that's close to a million dollars!"
Of course, it was an extraordinarily generous offer for a bonus.
But I had reached this decision because I believed they were worth that much.
"Why? Are you scared because it's too much money?"
"If the amount is that huge, you could hire better talent and outsource the production."
"Of course, there are better talents out there if you look. But..."
"But?"
"You are talented individuals with potential. If you were only interested in money, you would have wasted your time idly with the development funds I provided. However, you didn't do that, and in the end, you created the GPU device you wanted to make yourself. It might be a bit big, but... hehe."
"Originally, early computers were room-sized, too."
"I know that. You start with a simple structure, then reduce the size and increase performance based on that."
"Then what do you intend to use the new GPU device for?"
"Let's call it a new graphics accelerator for the upcoming console. Shall we talk about it, just the three of us?"
I called Rob and Chandra aside for a moment.
We reached the comfortable lounge, a well-organized corridor away from the party venue, and sat on plush sofas facing each other.
As soon as Rob sat down, he looked around the lounge and asked me.
"But, is it really okay to wander around this place like a factory?"
Chandra, who was sitting next to Rob, burst into laughter and answered in my place.
"Don't worry. Kang Junhyuk owns this place."
"What?"
I chuckled and picked up three drinks from the vending machine, tossing one to each of them. Latex's vending machines were operating freely, allowing all employees to grab a drink without any worries.
"Mr. Kang, when we met before, didn't you say you were a Mintendo employee?"
"I'm still affiliated with Mintendo."
I opened the lid of a cold drink can and took a sip before answering.
"While being a Mintendo employee, you're also the owner of this factory? What exactly do you do?"
"I am the owner of this factory, but I'm not the one running it. There's a separate manager for the actual operations."
"Kang Junhyuk is right about that. In reality, Kang Junhyuk isn't directly involved in the affairs of Latex."
Rob's expression of disbelief was met with a chuckle from Chandra as he sipped his drink.
"The reason I called you separately is that I'd like to discuss the new console I mentioned earlier in more detail."
"Chandra, I'm already looking forward to it. What kind of innovative device are you planning to create this time?"
Chandra looked at me with curiosity in his eyes, and I smiled back at him as I began to share the exciting news.
"A self-evolving gaming console."
"Huh?"
"Over the next 10 years, I'm going to create the most beloved console in Japan, no, in the whole world."
"What kind of console are you planning to create? A self-evolving gaming console... It's a bit hard to grasp."
Rob, just like Chandra, had a look of intense curiosity on his face.
I enjoyed their reactions and pulled out a proposal from my bag.
"This is the draft of the new console I'm planning."
Chandra and Rob, without waiting for any prompts, reached out to the proposal laid on the table. With a 100 million yen bonus project on the line, their quick reactions were quite natural.
"Wait!"
As Chandra and Rob were about to grab the new proposal, my exclamation made their hands freeze.
"Even though we have a close relationship, the contents of this proposal are confidential. We need to follow the proper procedures."
I secured a signed confidentiality agreement from Rob and Chandra regarding the proposal I had written.
"Anyway, we don't have the capital to make this ourselves, and even if we were to sell it to another company, they probably wouldn't pay a million dollars, right?"
"Still, it's best to be certain with such things. So, can we take a look now?"
With my permission granted, Chandra and Rob swiftly grabbed the proposal and began examining it. As they delved into the document, I relaxed on the couch, savoring their changing expressions.
A while later, after thoroughly reviewing the project proposal, Chandra and Rob looked at me with bewildered expressions.
"Is this really possible?"
"It needs to be. This is the one that will dominate the console market for 10 years after its release."
"Is it more reasonable to expect to accomplish all of this in just one year?"
It would certainly be challenging. In fact, even I, when I first wrote the draft, had my doubts about whether this was truly achievable. I smiled in response to Rob's question.
"I plan to offer a 100 million dollar bonus to the 'team' that succeeds first. After a year, the bonus will decrease by 5% each month. It'll be beneficial for all of us to aim for a prototype within a year, wouldn't you agree?"
"You're quite the optimist. It might have been better not to mention the bonus."
"Still, we need sufficient motivation, don't we?"
Chandra, with a pitiable look in his eyes, spoke to Rob.
"Does this mean the American team is giving up? In that case, we'll take over this project."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Besides, who else could create the GPU model inside it if we're not here?"
"Oh, right? I once tried replicating a Family model. I think I can handle a console. The 100 million yen bonus is almost ours, isn't it?"
Rob and Chandra, bickering like Tom and Jerry, continued to exchange heated words until they returned to the party venue. I followed them, shaking my head with a bitter smile.
A sense of competition isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it seems they still don't quite understand the meaning of my 'team.' Should I leave it as it is while they're staying in Japan?
During their time in Japan, they might come to realize it themselves, or perhaps the fierce competition might lead to the birth of something entirely new and exciting...
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