Tokyo Video Game Tycoon.

When Nagao Ame learned that Matsuhashi Minoru was looking for brand licensing from an automotive company, it was already the final stage of Matsuhashi's negotiations.

Clearly, they no longer have much of an advantage in competing with Yusei Electronic Entertainment in the racing game genre.

It's highly likely that you'll spend a lot of money to do a small thing, so you should shift your focus elsewhere.

Then he learned about Matsuhashi Minoru's connections with FIFA.

Meanwhile, YOO's business empire is also expanding into international sports events, with plans to actively develop an online live streaming portal specifically for live sports broadcasts.

In fact, YOO has a better relationship with FIFA than Youxing Electronic Entertainment, since they already had a foundation of cooperation.

Then everything went smoothly from then on.

YOO quickly contacted FIFA and bluntly stated that they also wanted to purchase the exclusive license for the game adaptation of the event.

Longtail Rain generously offered a license of $50 million per year, and also proposed that they could provide the same conveniences that Yuxing Electronic Entertainment offered outside of games.

Even FIFA would be impressed by such a generous person.

In fact, the negotiations between YOO and FIFA are basically coming to an end. FIFA just wants to see if YOO has any chance to raise its price, but they are clearly more inclined to support YOO.

After listening to Matsuhashi Minoru's introduction, Takeyusei remained silent for a moment.

After some time, Zhu Youxing asked, "What are your plans?"

Suppressing his anger, Matsuhashi calmly asked, "I want to know if the football game you're developing absolutely needs the FIFA brand. If it does, I will do everything I can to persuade them."

Zhu Youxing said with a smile, "It's not particularly necessary. FIFA's licensing is icing on the cake in the short term, but in the long run, FIFA's brand will be more valuable."

Before EA's FIFA soccer game became a global phenomenon, there was also Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) developed by Konami in Japan.

In the beginning, Pro Evolution Soccer actually held a clear advantage.

This is mainly because Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) has more gameplay content that is more acceptable to players and is therefore more popular with them.

Konami's own lack of innovation led to no progress in the gameplay of Pro Evolution Soccer. However, its competitor EA persevered during this period, constantly learning from the strengths of Pro Evolution Soccer and incorporating them into its own gameplay. They then optimized their own unique gameplay to a certain extent, which laid the foundation for FIFA's dominance in the football game field.

Ultimately, gameplay is king in video games.

With insufficient gameplay and only one brand, it's not very meaningful.

Matsuhashi Minoru gritted his teeth, preparing to say that he would try his best to achieve it.

But then Takeyusei suddenly interrupted Matsuhashi Minoru, saying, "Please don't misunderstand me. Although the FIFA brand is very attractive in the long run, it's not really necessary right now. We need to give players a basic understanding of football games first, and then let them immerse themselves in reality. However, we can also negotiate a little. We can't just back down when our competitors come and take what we've already got, can we?"

Zhu Youxing's gaze gradually sharpened.

YOO really is a persistent ghost.

This company is incredibly wealthy and has a vast network of connections; any competitor would find it quite perplexing.

They always seem to be able to conquer everything with their vast wealth, leaving you utterly helpless.

I have to say YOO is really too arrogant. Do they really think they can act recklessly just because they have money from capital?

When their growth reaches its limit, they will witness the cruelty of capital.

With Takeyusei's permission, Matsuhashi Minoru nodded and said, "Okay, President. Then leave everything to me. I will definitely not let you down."

Zhu Youxing said, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. You've done a great job. And who says we have no other opportunities if we lose the FIFA brand? Don't forget that there are many other competitions in football besides the World Cup. It's just that the World Cup is more widely known. But what kind of competitions are more popular in Europe?"

Matsuhashi Minoru didn't know much about football in the past, but recently, because of the licensing negotiations, she had brushed up on her knowledge. As soon as Takeyusei asked her a question, she subconsciously replied, "President, are you talking about the Premier League or the Champions League?"

“That’s right. Not winning the World Cup is no big deal. This time, our target is the European market. Even without FIFA, it won’t matter much. Securing independent licensing for the Premier League and the Champions League is more important than FIFA. However, you still need to show that you are determined to win over FIFA, and then secretly negotiate with the organizing committees of the Premier League and the Champions League. What do you think?”

Matsuhashi Minoru's eyes lit up. Takeyusei's words had enlightened her. She had been too fixated on one thing before, but in reality, in European football, regional football events like the Premier League and the Champions League are more popular.

If the goal is merely to conquer Europe, then securing exclusive rights to these regional events is indeed more important.

After Yusei soothed Matsuhashi Minoru's somewhat angry heart, Matsuhashi Minoru finally regained her composure and had already planned what to do next.

Once you have a direction, there's nothing to worry about.

Moreover, Matsuhashi Minoru suddenly remembered something else, something that Takeyusei had mentioned to her intentionally or unintentionally before, which might be key information that could affect the whole situation.

That evening, Minoru Matsuhashi attended a cocktail party hosted by FIFA executives.

Although it is now 2004 and there are still two years until the next World Cup, the organizing committee has already begun preparations.

This reception was for friendly exchanges with some organizations and important figures, paving the way for the upcoming World Cup.

Given Matsuhashi Minoru's status, he was naturally qualified to attend this party.

This time, she changed her usual smart and capable female professional attire and wore a purple dress that combined modern and ancient styles with an oriental charm.

Matsuhashi Minoru is a very beautiful woman, and even though she is now nearly forty, time has not left many marks on her.

Perhaps people's talents are really very different. She is very dedicated and focused on her career, even at the cost of overworking her body, but she has not ruined her health as a result. She is quite an anomaly, comparable to Zhu Youxing's only benefit of transmigrating: boundless energy.

Matsuhashi Minoru attracted a lot of attention the moment he appeared at the party, and many people from Europe were immediately struck by his outfit.

Such women are very rare, especially in Europe.

This time, Matsuhashi Minoru plans to use an advantage that YOO doesn't have at all to create an opportunity for himself.

Chapter 558: There's a way.

558

"Beautiful Ms. Matsushita, I really didn't expect you to come. Your presence has made our party shine even brighter!"

FIFA officials were lavish in their praise, commending Matsuhashi Minoru's beauty and poise.

To this, Matsuhashi Minoru simply responded with a very polite smile.

“Ms. Matsushita, this is Mr. Duncan, an official from our organizing committee. He was very impressed with Youxing Electronic Entertainment before.”

"Thank you."

"Ms. Matsushita..."

Beautiful women will always be the center of attention, no matter the occasion.

However, she wasn't simply using her looks; she was merely using them as a stepping stone. Her next goal at the party was to recruit as many people as possible to become her allies.

Most of the important figures who attended this party were not driven by lust; they were simply attracted by Matsuhashi Minoru's unique Eastern beauty.

However, if Matsuhashi Minoru starts discussing issues of interests, then that's a different story.

Years of experience navigating the business world have made Matsuhashi Minoru like a seasoned hunter, preying on those interested in Yusei Electronics Entertainment itself.

Then she would use phrases like "Youxing Electronic Entertainment will provide ample funding" or "Youxing Electronic Entertainment will have excellent cooperation" to entice people to her side.

In terms of social skills, Minoru Matsuhashi was very adept. In just one night at a party, she won over several members of the FIFA organizing committee, including a high-ranking official.

Minoru Matsuhashi even promised to boost employment and tax revenue in certain European regions.

The US branch is a prime example.

The governors of the states where its US branch is located have all become partners of Yusei Electronic Entertainment, and Minoru Matsuhashi is also a guest of that governor, simply because Yusei Electronic Entertainment brings in hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue to the local area every year, which is terrifying.

Now, Matsuhashi no longer needs to hide anything and directly tells these people that he is preparing to open the European branch headquarters of Yusei Electronic Entertainment in a certain region, but the location has not yet been selected.

These words immediately prompted many officials present to boast and introduce their own cities, hoping to attract such a major taxpayer to their cities.

But in reality, the choice of city had already been decided long ago. It's just that Matsuhashi didn't mind using these words to keep these guys hanging, so that they could bring some convenience to his side.

YOO's people also attended the party.

However, compared to the dazzling brilliance of Minoru Matsuhashi, the people who attended YOO's party this time seemed somewhat insignificant.

They could only watch helplessly as Matsuhashi Minoru gradually gained control of the narrative.

By the end of the party, Matsuhashi Minoru had achieved her basic objective, and she was probably the biggest winner of the party, having successfully recruited many allies to become her partners.

The day after the party, Matsuhashi Minoru went straight to FIFA headquarters.

Having been deeply impressed by the previous night, the members of the organizing committee were noticeably more friendly towards Matsuhashi Minoru today.

In this respect, YOO is indeed no match.

Despite being a company that rose rapidly in a short period of time, YOO is still like a child in its adolescence.

However, Youxing Electronic Entertainment has become a seasoned veteran in the business world.

Sometimes, just by talking, he can save Yusei Electronics Entertainment a lot of extra costs; that's Matsuhashi Minoru's skill.

"Hello, Ms. Matsushita, this should be our seventh meeting, right?"

Inside the office, there were the same few officials that Matsuhashi Minoru knew. This time, they took the initiative to stand up and greet Matsuhashi Minoru. The impression from last night was really deep, especially how Matsuhashi Minoru had managed to build close relationships with so many government officials in just one night. This ability was something that not everyone could do.

This time, they all had to take this seemingly delicate but actually very strong and resilient woman seriously.

Matsuhashi Minoru took out a stack of documents, placed them on the table, and tidied them up. He nodded and said, "That's right, this is our seventh negotiation."

The official immediately asked with great interest, "So, Ms. Song Qiao, has your company made a decision? Are you considering raising the licensing price slightly?"

Upon hearing this, Matsuhashi immediately shook his head and said, "No, I have no plans to raise the licensing price."

The officials were immediately embarrassed.

What's the point of talking if you don't plan to raise licensing prices?

This world is still very realistic. We can't just ignore the opportunity to make more money and side with you, can we?

Just as these people were filled with doubt and confusion, Matsuhashi Minoru quickly spoke up: "Please don't worry, everyone. I have some information I'd like to show you. Also, while we don't plan to raise the licensing price, we are willing to make some concessions in other areas."

Matsuhashi Minoru picked up a pen, then casually pulled out a piece of white paper and wrote a string of numbers on it.

The officials took the new documents handed to them by Matsuhashi Minoru and carefully looked through their contents.

Before long, they showed surprise, followed by disbelief, and looked at Matsuhashi Minoru with suspicion.

Matsuhashi Minoru patiently waited for these people to finish reading the latest information he had provided. Once they had all finished reading, Matsuhashi Minoru pushed the string of numbers he had written down in front of the official opposite him.

"After internal discussions at Youxing Electronic Entertainment, we are now willing to pay the licensing fees, originally planned to be paid over ten years, in one lump sum, totaling three hundred million US dollars. This is no small amount. Even if Youxing Electronic Entertainment has some savings, it is still a very large investment. All you need to do is agree to it."

The officials exchanged glances, and they all saw shock in each other's eyes.

A one-time payment of $300 million? In cash?

This is really quite rare.

It's important to understand that top companies are very careful with their working capital. If too much working capital is used, it could even affect the company's future development.

"Do you... have that much money?"