Kate felt a surge of pride watching her team snap into action. Sael had laid out the vision, and they were already building the framework. This was why she'd brought them all here.
She turned her attention to Saiko, who was still calmly examining the holographic blueprints of the derelict mall. "Saiko," Kate said, her voice firm and direct.
"This is your show…. The acquisition, the negotiations, the mountain of paperwork to make this irradiated husk ours. You're lead on this. The goal is to make this property the official headquarters of Meteor Studio. The land around it is just as important—future-proofing for expansion, maybe even our own housing down the line."
Saiko didn't look up immediately, her finger tracing a line on the virtual schematic.
"The structural integrity seems sound, surprisingly. The main issues are environmental and cosmetic." Finally, she met Kate's gaze, her eyes sharp and calculating.
"The owners have been paying property taxes on a liability for a decade. They will be highly motivated. Their desperation is our advantage…. I can get this done. I'll have a revised acquisition estimate by end of day, significantly lower than the initial projection."
"Excellent," Kate said, a smile touching her lips.
"It's all yours." The trust was implicit. Saiko would get it done, and she'd get it for a steal.
Sael leaned back in his chair, the picture of relaxed authority.
"Next order of business… Physical product, I want control over it. I'm talking game merchandise—high-end statues, apparel, collectibles. I'm talking Millie's albums on vinyl and holodisc... I don't want to be outsourcing this to some third-party who'll screw up the quality."
Amanda didn't wait to be called on. She saw an opportunity and pounced.
"Building new factories from the ground up is a time and capital-intensive nightmare," she stated, her voice cutting through the room.
"Permits, construction, hiring and training a workforce from zero. I have a better solution."
All eyes turned to her.
"The manufacturing sector is littered with independent factories on the verge of collapse. Skilled workers, excellent equipment, solid facilities—all being wasted because they're tied to dying industries or bad management." She leaned forward, her passion evident.
"We identify the best of these failing shops—a printing press here, a textile manufacturer there, a precision machining plant—and we acquire them. We absorb their skilled workforce, their equipment, their facilities. We turn their losses into our gains. We get a fully operational, vertically integrated manufacturing arm overnight, and we save a few hundred jobs in the process. It's smarter, faster, and more cost-effective."
Sael was silent for a moment; his masked gaze fixed on Amanda. Then, he gave a slow, approving nod. "That's a hell of an idea…. Can you make it happen?"
"Absolutely," Amanda said without a hint of hesitation.
"I already have a preliminary list of targets. With a budget of fifty million for the initial acquisition wave, I can have our first manufacturing wing operational within sixty days."
"Done," Sael said, the decision made in an instant.
"You've got your budget. Make it happen." The sheer speed of his trust was breathtaking. He saw a good idea, empowered a capable person, and moved on.
The meeting was moving with a crisp, efficient rhythm. The first two major initiatives had been delegated in minutes. Then, Sabine cleared her throat softly.
"If I may, Sael," she began, her French accent precise.
"I have a question regarding Meteor Creative's launch strategy." She tapped her tablet, pulling up the dossier.
"The properties are... breathtaking. Iron Man, Batman,Naruto. The quality is undeniable…. But launching them solely under the new Meteor Creative current imprint will presents a challenge."
Sael tilted his head. "Oh? What kind of challenge? The work speaks for itself... it is good, right?"
"Bien sûr, it does," Sabine agreed.
"But the industry is... particular…. It is a world of old relationships, established distribution networks, and entrenched brand loyalty…. To enter it as a complete unknown, even with masterpieces, is to fight an uphill battle against preconceived notions and closed doors."
She let that hang for a second before offering her solution.
"My suggestion is that we do not launch them under the Meteor Creative name…. Not at first. Instead, we quietly acquire a struggling but respected comic house or publishing imprint. One with a history, a name that still carries weight with distributors and the older generation of readers. We use their name, their established channels, to release our titles. We let the work itself be the revolution, while the old name provides the credibility to get it onto shelves and into the hands of critics. We can absorb their talent, their legacy, and use it as a Trojan horse."
Sael didn't respond immediately. He leaned back, steepling his fingers. The room was silent, waiting for his verdict. He was no longer just approving a plan presented to him; he was considering a fundamental shift in strategy for his most prized possessions.
"So," he said, his modulated voice thoughtful.
"You're saying we shouldn't lead with the Meteor brand for the comics…. We should hide our best work behind some... failing old brand's name? Why would we do that when we can just bulldoze the competition with quality?"