Takayuki has never really had any sentimental attachment to Japan, after all, he didn't grow up there.
He's just a time traveler.
So, using this country to help himself grow, he feels no psychological burden whatsoever.
After the bubble burst, Japanese people have been quite wary of the United States. However, they have this strange state of both admiring strength and resisting at the same time.
But whenever there's an opportunity to defeat the US, they'd be quite happy. This is essentially leveraging their psychology.
That's exactly what Takayuki plans to do.
However, it's not as simple as just playing video games well. Both sides are more or less on equal footing, and it all boils down to the skills of the players.
Yet, Takayuki has a relatively mature system from his original world, giving him a significant advantage in the beginning. If, even with that, he can't beat the US in the realm of esports, then there's no point.
The financial representatives Takayuki sought out this time aren't the real big shots, more like the next tier down, akin to local magnates.
They're often eager to increase their influence and wealth but have been directionless lately.
Investment? They're afraid. Everywhere is risky, and the investment environment is extremely unfavorable.
Buying land with hopes of appreciation? That's just wishful thinking. Nowadays, Japanese land is purely a commercial product, no longer an investment.
Maybe you buy land for 100 million yen, but in a couple of years, when you sell the house and land together, it's only worth 70 to 80 million yen, and you'll still need a large amount of cash flow, which isn't profitable.
These people also seek some development and don't want to sit idly by.
So, under the recommendation of Vice Chairman Kubo, they were invited to meet with Takayuki.
They're also curious about what this young newcomer wants to do. The brief suggestions presented earlier weren't convincing enough.
But now, they're starting to get intrigued.
"Initially, you don't need to invest too much money. It's just enough to cover expenses for personnel. Let professional agents and club managers handle it, then recruit a group of internet-addicted teenagers, and things can get started. The rest is to professionalize them through long-term training and let them compete with American groups that aren't fully established. As long as they win, relying on the title of victor from the Japan-US war, they can garner quite a bit of attention. Also, there's no need for you to establish a club on your own. Several of you can pool resources and start one together to save costs."
The representatives looked at each other, their eyes revealing a sense of excitement. Finally, they nodded to each other.
"This does sound quite appealing. Investing this small amount of money doesn't seem like a problem."
They made a simple estimation, and the annual expenses for a team were estimated to be in the range of 100 to 200 million yen.
For these local magnates, this is an acceptable loss. Even if it fails, it's just another minor setback.
But if it succeeds, it could mean multiple returns.
Money, fame, and the possibility of future additional advertising revenue.
Seeing the look in their eyes as they glanced at each other, Takayuki was already confident that this matter could be settled.
So, he doesn't need to worry about the rest. He can directly hire a professional team to manage it, spend their money, and continue to expand the influence of his own game, which is a big win for him.
What he needs now is influence.
Also, he remembers another thing—the influence of Japanese policies.
During the rise of esports, the Japanese government intervened too early, considering it had a certain degree of randomness and gambling nature. So, they decided to define it as gambling in an official capacity and restrict all prize money to a maximum of 100,000 yen per event.
A prize of only 100,000 yen is barely enough for esports players to get by.
The government not only discouraged it but also dealt a heavy blow at the beginning.
That's why Japanese esports have never really taken off. It's not that they lack the genes for it; it's just that there's simply no soil for esports to thrive.
In a Japanese esports competition, the prizes either consist of 100,000 yen or a bunch of food items like rice and oil, which don't increase the value much. It's odd that anyone would want to develop in this field.
Even when a few international esports teams emerged later, they didn't make much progress.
But now, the Japanese government hasn't imposed such restrictions yet. They seem to have temporarily overlooked the emergence of esports.
So, perhaps he can lay the groundwork in advance and use the positive effects brought by esports to prove to the government that it has a significant influence, rather than just being about leisure and randomness. It could slightly boost the cohesion of the people, so when they make policy decisions, they'll also consider this aspect.
Takayuki looked at the people before him. "So, I suppose your agreement represents the consensus on this matter, right?"
The representatives nodded one after another. "Indeed, it seems feasible. We can afford this small investment, but are you sure you don't want to invite us in your father's name? If not, we'll treat this investment with an equal and cautious attitude. If there are any serious losses, you'll be the primary responsible party."
Takayuki replied, "I'm sure. My father is my father, and I am myself. If I were just a bored playboy, then consider this a lesson from you seniors to me. But I'm not. At least I have some confidence. Even if there's a real loss, I can handle it."
With Takayuki's words, their expressions relaxed, showing appreciation toward him.
At the same time, they couldn't help but wonder why there weren't any young people in their own families like Takayuki.
Why are the Takayuki family members so extraordinary for two generations?
Takayuki's father was an excellent investor who not only made money for others but also established and consolidated his own fame and status.
While his child chose his own path, he also developed into another powerful group. The current influence of this group is already considerable, and its future potential is limitless. It's truly admirable.
At this moment, Takayuki snapped his fingers, and the door of the room was immediately pushed open. A group of servants carrying delicious food walked in and placed the food in front of each person's table before quickly retreating.
"Let's toast to our cooperation."