If they were to heed Deputy Director Liu's suggestion and develop the game for the Taiwanese market, the inevitable fervor stirred up by the pro-independence media would not only squander their initial capital but also inflict severe reputational damage upon Mercury Technology.
How, then, would the city leadership perceive them?
Would Sega maintain its trust in them?
The words Secretary Chen had spoken in the hallway that afternoon echoed in Fu Zan's ears:
"As a company expands, it requires not merely a technological moat, but a political one as well."
Secretary Chen had grasped this truth long ago.
Mercury Technology now commanded a formidable reputation, generated significant foreign currency, and operated as a Sino-foreign joint venture.
Without a robust political foundation, they would be dangerously susceptible to losing their way, easily reduced to a mere pawn when navigating such a labyrinthine external environment and the volatility of unforeseen events.
Fu Zan drew a deep breath of the cool night air, allowing his mind to settle into a state of absolute clarity.
Observing his silence, Lin Yaonan gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Business is business, Fu. As technologists, we ought to steer clear of murky waters whenever possible. For your next project, focusing on Nezha, Sun Wukong, or an original wuxia narrative would be far more prudent than dabbling in such sensitive territory."
"I appreciate the counsel," Fu Zan replied with genuine sincerity. "Had you not spoken up, we might well have plunged headlong into a disaster."
"I, too, would hate to see the fruits of your hard labor reduced to a mere political bargaining chip," Lin Yaonan remarked with a faint smile. "Come, let us return inside and share a few more drinks with the others. After all, today is a milestone for your entire team."
Lin Yaonan pushed open the door to the private room and stepped inside.
Fu Zan lingered in the hallway for a moment longer, lost in thought.
It occurred to him that Deputy Director Liu's suggestion the previous day may have been less of an invitation than a calculated test—and a warning.
He felt a profound sense of inadequacy regarding his own intuition in this matter, realizing it did not even measure up to that of Lin Yaonan.
He withdrew the notebook he kept on his person and, by the dim light of the corridor, scribbled two lines.
First, postpone the Mazu-themed project and re-evaluate the subject for his next endeavor.
Second, convene a meeting with Lao Zhang, Xiao Lin, and the other core members first thing tomorrow morning.
The application for Party membership must be submitted to the Cangshan District Committee before the week is out.
The establishment of a Party branch was a matter that could not brook a moment's delay.
Having finished, Fu Zan tucked the notebook back into his pocket, straightened his collar, pushed open the door, and strode back into the boisterous celebration.
Inside the private room, Lao Zhang approached him, brandishing a glass filled to the brim with Sedrin beer. "Old Fu, where did you vanish to? I haven't seen you in ages—you'll have to pay a penalty drink for that!"
"I was just discussing business with Director Lin," Fu Zan said, accepting the glass. "Come on, everyone, let's settle down."
The private room fell into a hush, and a dozen pairs of eyes turned toward him.
"This toast is to acknowledge everyone's hard work over the past six months," Fu Zan continued, raising his glass. "The Legend of Yang Jian is a success, and Mercury Technology has weathered the storm. The road ahead remains long, and further challenges await. We must not only strive to create exceptional games but also lead our team with vision. Tomorrow morning at nine, I would like the core staff to meet in the conference room for a brief session; there is an important announcement to make. Now, cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Glasses clinked, and beer foam spilled onto the table.
Fu Zan tilted his head and downed the drink in one gulp, the sharp, refreshing liquid sliding down his throat.
He understood, more clearly than ever, that the path ahead for Mercury Technology would demand not only the most elegant code but also the sharpest instincts and the firmest foundation.
And it all begins with the meeting tomorrow morning.
Nine o'clock the next morning.
Mercury Technology conference room.
Those who had overindulged the previous night bore dark circles beneath their eyes, clutching cups of freshly brewed Monkey King jasmine tea in a desperate bid to stave off the lingering effects of the alcohol.
Old Zhang let out a yawn; having traded his borrowed dress shoes for plastic slippers, he sat slumped deep within his folding chair.
Fu Zan pushed the door open, his black leather notebook in hand.
Without preamble, he tossed the notebook onto the table.
"Everyone is here. Let's begin the meeting."
The group shook off their lethargy and sat at attention.
Following the success of "The Legend of Yang Jian," Fu Zan's standing within the team had reached its zenith.
He pulled out the chair at the head of the table, seated himself, and surveyed the room.
"Yesterday afternoon, Director Liu proposed a new project centered on Mazu. I had the opportunity to discuss it with Director Lin at the celebration banquet last night."
Old Zhang's eyes brightened, and he slapped his thigh in enthusiasm. "Old Fu, Mazu is a magnificent subject! Between the naval engagements, the magical duels, and the Four Dragon Kings, our art team already has a wealth of material on Minnan architecture that we could put to immediate use. Besides, who in the coastal regions isn't familiar with Mazu? If we market this in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, the sales will undoubtedly eclipse those of Yang Jian."
"We cannot pursue it," Fu Zan interrupted.
Old Zhang looked stunned. "What do you mean? Is the technical challenge too daunting?"
"This isn't a technical issue," Fu Zan said, tapping the table for emphasis. "It's a political risk."
He proceeded to recount, word for word, the logic Lin Yaonan had laid out the previous night.
From the intricacies of the Taiwan market and the likelihood of pro-independence media seizing the opportunity to incite controversy, to the danger of the game being branded as a tool for united front propaganda and subsequently pulled from shelves—he laid the entire situation bare.
The atmosphere in the conference room shifted palpably.
Old Zhang, who moments before had been preoccupied with the logistics of rendering water surface effects, silently reached for his tea mug and took a long, thoughtful gulp.
"Can those media outlets really go that far?" a programmer whispered.
"They make their living this way; they don't need a reason to bite," Fu Zan remarked. "We are in the gaming business, and our primary mission is to earn foreign currency. There is no reason to jeopardize the entire company—and Sega's distribution channels along with it—for the sake of a single theme. The Mazu project is shelved indefinitely."
No one offered an objection.
Having weathered lean times, everyone present understood the difference between what was important and what was urgent.
With millions in foreign currency having just hit the accounts, no one was eager to risk their livelihood by stepping on a landmine.
"Let us set the theme issue aside for now and move to the second matter." Fu Zan opened his notebook. "Yesterday afternoon, Secretary Chen from the Electronics Industry Bureau gave me a private heads-up. The city intends to support us as a model enterprise, offering both policy incentives and land. However, there is a prerequisite."
Everyone pricked up their ears.
"We must establish a Party branch."
Old Zhang nearly spat out his tea, hastily grabbing a tissue to wipe his mouth. "Old Fu, you aren't joking, are you? There are only a dozen of us, huddled over computers writing code all day, and you want to establish a Party branch?"
"Secretary Chen's words were precise: as a company matures, it must cultivate not only a technological moat but a political one as well." Fu Zuan scanned the room. "Given our foreign-invested status and our millions in foreign exchange turnover, we can only expect increased scrutiny. Establishing an organization will keep a great deal of trouble at bay; it is a matter of protocol, and it serves as a protective umbrella."
The core team members exchanged glances.
Most of them had backgrounds in state-owned enterprises or academia, and they grasped the implications immediately.
"I agree." Kobayashi, from the finance department, was the first to raise his hand. "With this plaque, we can hold our heads high when dealing with the banks or reporting to the authorities. Those accustomed to demanding bribes or obstructing our progress will have to think twice."
"I agree, but we don't have a single Party member among us," Old Zhang remarked, scratching his head. "I actually submitted an application back when I was at the factory, but then the business folded, and the matter simply fizzled out."
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