"Release a Formula One game at the actual Formula One race?!?" Tom Kalinske's voice boomed over the phone, even louder than usual. "Are you trying to replicate the frenzy around Extreme Pursuit's release?"
Through the receiver, Takuya Nakayama could almost picture Tom pacing wildly in his office, spit flying everywhere.
"Yes, but we're short on someone who can handle the logistics," Takuya interjected, steering the conversation toward his purpose. "Yu Suzuki is busy with new projects, and he lacks experience organizing such large-scale live promotions. So, I'd like to borrow someone from your team who worked on the Extreme Pursuit theater collaboration to oversee the operation."
"Borrow someone? Takuya, you're underestimating the allure of this opportunity!" Tom burst into laughter. "I guarantee that as soon as I announce this, the Marketing Department and Development Team will be ready to brawl over the chance to go! They'll shove each other's heads into printers just to get a shot at seeing the Japanese Grand Prix in Japan!"
"Perfect. Saves me having to explain further," Takuya Nakayama said, leaning back in his chair and relaxing completely. "Tell them this isn't just a grandstand ticket."
He paused, then spoke in a calm yet alluring tone: "I'll secure maintenance area work passes. They'll get up close and personal with those priceless race cars, and even have a chance to shake hands with Senna or Berger."
"What did you say?!" The breathing on the other end of the line instantly grew heavy, Tom's voice trembling. "A Pit Pass?! Are you serious?!"
"When have I ever lied to you?"
"This is incredible! If I weren't so busy this month, I'd be there in a heartbeat!" Tom slammed his desk, his voice booming like popcorn popping. "I'll notify them right away. I'll send you the details tomorrow via email."
The office fell silent again after the call ended.
The next morning, Takuya Nakayama arrived at his office and checked his inbox. As expected, there was an unread email from Tom Kalinske.
The email carried Tom's signature flamboyant style, opening with: "Takuya, you nearly sparked a civil war in our Marketing Department!"
Within the email, Tom exaggeratedly described the "spectacle" from the previous afternoon.
When he announced that Japanese Headquarters needed an experienced promotion manager, with the perk being a "pit pass" for the Japanese Grand Prix, the entire office erupted.
While no literal "cage match" took place, the intensity was no less fierce.
Ultimately, to prevent any "accidental" injuries to valuable employees that could disrupt company operations, they resorted to the decision-making method most familiar and respected by game developers: rolling dice.
Not ordinary six-sided dice, but a twenty-sided die, symbolizing fate and opportunity.
"Amidst fervent prayers and venomous curses, Mark Cerny, that lucky bastard, rolled a perfect '20' and secured the sole spot."
Reading this, Takuya Nakayama nodded. Mark Cerny was indeed the best candidate. Back when Extreme Pursuit...
When the film was released in theaters, he had personally gone to the front lines to manage the promotion.
However, the next line in the email made the corner of his mouth curl into a smile.
"But Takuya, my friend, the story doesn't end there."
"Less than half an hour after Mark secured his victory, the Human Resources Department received several vacation requests from the same department."
Yes, it was those guys who lost the dice roll. Their reasons were surprisingly uniform: they had developed a keen interest in mysterious Eastern culture and wished to embark on a "personal field study."
"So, you now have not just an expert, but an entire core promotion team from Extreme Pursuit. They bought their own plane tickets and paid for their own hotels, all to come and "help" you."
The email ended with Tom's flamboyant signature, followed by an unnecessary addendum: "Good luck. Just don't let them tear down the Suzuka Circuit."
Takuya Nakayama set down the fax, leaned back in his chair, and chuckled.
The allure of the Formula One pit pass had clearly exceeded his wildest expectations.
Perfect.
He picked up the phone and dialed Yu Suzuki's extension.
"Mr. Suzuki, it's me."
A flurry of keyboard clicks came over the line, followed by Yu Suzuki's distracted voice: "Takuya? What's up?"
"The distribution issue you were worried about? It's been resolved," Takuya Nakayama said cheerfully. "The team I brought in from North America has it all sorted out."
"When are they arriving?"
"The day after tomorrow," Takuya replied, gazing out the window and imagining the scene when the Americans arrived in Japan. A smile spread across his face. "And it's a whole team."
Two days later at Narita Airport.
Mark Cerny emerged from the customs gate, pulling his suitcase behind him, and immediately spotted Takuya Nakayama waiting for him.
Behind Mark stood several tall figures. Though they wore gaudy vacation shirts and looked exhausted from jet lag, their eyes, sharp and alert, glinted like wolves' eyes in the dark, filled with curiosity and scrutiny as they surveyed this new land.
"Takuya! My friend!" Mark exclaimed, immediately embracing him warmly.
"Welcome to Japan, Mark," Takuya Nakayama said with a smile, patting him on the back. He then turned to the group of elites behind him who were technically on self-funded business trips. "It seems Tom didn't exaggerate. You've really turned this into a team-building activity."
"An F1 pit pass, Takuya!" a blonde, blue-eyed young man pushed forward, rubbing his hands excitedly. "For this, I'd even do a headstand and eat ramen on the streets of Shibuya!"
The group burst into laughter.
Takuya had already booked accommodations at a hotel in Nagoya, where most of the teams were staying, making it convenient for them to "run into" their idols.
The group arrived at the hotel in grand style. After a night of adjusting to the time difference, they sprang out of bed the next day and headed straight for Suzuka Circuit.
At Motopia, the theme park adjacent to the circuit, Sega Japan's booth stood complete, its blue and white logo particularly striking under the sunlight.
However, as the group approached, Kevin, a member of Mark's team, instinctively furrowed his brow.
Kevin was the team's marketing strategist and a die-hard car enthusiast. His family was quite wealthy, and he had more sports cars in his garage than pairs of shoes in his wardrobe.
Working at Sega was purely because of my passion for games.
"Mr. Nakayama," Kevin pointed to the nearby booth, his voice hesitant, "isn't there something... off about our setup?"
Please Support me by becoming my patreon member and get 30+ chapters.
[email protected]/Ajal69
change @ with a
Thank You to Those who joined my Patreon