A Package from Los Angeles

After hanging up with Director Hoshino, Nakayama Takuya rubbed his temples and was about to get up and stretch when there was a gentle knock on the office door. "Manager Nakayama, there's an international package for you from the United States." His assistant walked in carrying a cardboard box covered with colorful customs declarations and postmarks.

Los Angeles, United States?

Takuya took the package, his gaze falling on the sender's name, where he saw a familiar name— Michael Clayton.

The lines at the corners of his mouth softened unconsciously.

The image of that afternoon I met Spielberg at Universal Pictures flashed through my mind— the California sunshine, and the frozen expression on the great director's face when he told that dinosaur story.

It seems the promise has been kept.

He deftly sliced the tape with a paper cutter, and the distinctive scent of new book ink wafted out.

Inside the package lay a book with a striking cover design: a massive Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton fossil against a pure black background, with the words "JURASSICPARK" printed above.

Takuya casually flipped through the pages; the spine was brand new, with the words "Second Edition" printed on it.

It's only been out for a short time, and it's already been reprinted.

It's safe to say that Jurassic Park truly deserves its reputation as the film that ignited a global dinosaur craze.

He turned to the title page, where a line of elegant English handwriting caught his eye— Michael Crichton's own signature.

"To Mr. Nakayama Takuya: Thank you for seeing the park in my mind. I look forward to you rebuilding its glory on another continent." — Michael Clayton Takuya couldn't help but chuckle as he read these words.

This bestselling author is quite eloquent.

He closed the book and gently placed it on his desk.

In the afternoon, the Tokyo sun slanted through the blinds, casting dappled patterns of light on Takuya's desk.

He picked up the phone and dialed the number for Sega North America headquarters.

The trans- Pacific Ocean line was connected after a brief busy signal, and Tom Kalinske's signature booming voice came from the other end of the line.

"Takuya! My friend! What's wrong?"

"I received a package from Los Angeles today," Takuya, leaning back in his chair and lightly tapping the brand-new copy of * Jurassic Park * on the table. "It's a gift from Mr. Clayton. So, Tom, it seems * Jurassic Park * is selling quite well in United States?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Kalinske's even louder, almost booming voice that seemed to shatter the receiver.

"Not bad? My God! Takuya, this is not just not bad! This is a storm sweeping across America! This is clearly a Tyrannosaurus Rex that has emerged from prehistoric times, rampaging through the North America book market!"

Kalinske's voice was brimming with barely suppressed excitement. "Number one on the New York Times bestseller list! All the bookstores are frantically restocking! I went to the supermarket yesterday and saw someone with two copies in their shopping cart! I asked him why, and he said one was for collecting, and the other for wearing out from constant use! I swear to God, I've never seen a book sell like this in my entire life!"

Takuya listened quietly, his smile growing wider.

Kalinske took a breath on the other end, his tone suddenly shifting to one of annoyance and self-deprecation. "Honestly, Takuya, I have to apologize. That day, leaving Spielberg's office, although I was happy with the deal, I was actually quite nervous. Paying such a large licensing fee for a novel that hasn't even been published yet... I thought to myself, 'Young man, have you been blinded by the Hollywood sun?'"

He paused, his voice filled with belated awe.

"Now I understand, it wasn't you who lost your mind, it was me who was too narrow-minded! Our Legal Department department had a meeting yesterday specifically to review this contract, and those lawyers who usually only nitpick over the wording looked at you like you were God! They said that if we only started negotiating this authorization now, the price would have to be increased by at least another zero, and we'd still have to consider Clayton and Spielberg's opinions!"

"We used the money we would have spent on a Chevrolet to pre-order a Cadillac!" Kalinske summed it up with a brilliant analogy.

"I just have confidence in this imaginative and novel dinosaur story," Takuya casually dismissed this enormous achievement.

"Come on," Kalinske chuckled, "Your confidence is worth more than gold on Wall Street."

"That doesn't count until it's in your pocket," Takuya changed the subject, getting to the point. "Tom, the novel's popularity is just the first wave; we need to push it even higher. I already have a plan: the first Jurassic Park game will be released in arcades."

"Arcade?" Kalinske paused for a moment, then realized what he meant, slapping his thigh excitedly. A crisp "smack" came from the phone. "That's it! Arcade! Before the movie even comes out, let's use arcade games to whet everyone's appetite! Let them experience the charm of dinosaurs in the most direct way! This is brilliant!"

"While players are queuing to buy tickets at the movie theater, they can also experience what it's like to be chased by a Tyrannosaurus Rex in the arcade next door," Takuya said with a hint of amusement. "That's called 'warming up'."

"No, that's robbery!" Kalinske corrected excitedly. "I can almost hear the sound of American teenagers shoving their pocket money into the machines! Takuya, don't worry, once your game is developed, I guarantee I'll put it in every arcade in United States!"

"Then I'll leave it to you." Takuya hung up the phone.

After hanging up the phone, Takuya paused briefly on the keys before dialing the company's internal line to connect to the arcade division.

"Director Takahashi."

A deep, middle-aged male voice came from the other end of the phone. "Special Secretary Nakayama, what's up?"

"I need a development team," Takuya said bluntly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Takahashi paused for a moment on the other end, seemingly surprised by his direct tone. "What project?"

"I just acquired the game adaptation rights to a bestselling United States science fiction novel," Takuya said, his fingertip lightly tapping the sturdy cover of Jurassic Park. "Steven Spielberg will personally oversee the film adaptation."

Spielberg?!

Takahashi's voice rose noticeably by an octave, and the background noise seemed to fall silent.

This name carries immense weight in the entertainment industry; everyone knows it.

"I need an elite team, skilled in making side-scrolling platformers, with hardcore action and grand scale," Takuya continued, as if describing a finished game.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, as if they were quickly processing the information.

"What's the subject matter?" Takahashi's voice became serious.

Takuya stared at the imposing Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton on the cover and slowly uttered two words.

"Dinosaurs. They're the subject of United States currently bestselling science fiction novel, * Jurassic Park *."

There was another brief silence, but this time, Takuya could almost feel the change in the other person's breathing through the phone line.

Spielberg, plus the bestselling dinosaur novel.

Even a fool knows what this combination means.

"Interesting." Takahashi's voice held a hint of excitement. "Let me check on the progress of each group."

I heard a muffled thud as he placed the microphone on the table, followed by the crisp, rapid tapping of the keyboard, one after another, as dense as rain.

A full minute passed before Takahashi picked up the phone again.

"How's the development team for <Golden Axe>?" he suggested. "Those guys are used to playing muscle-bound men slaying monsters; asking them to make dinosaurs would probably make them scream with excitement."

This suggestion was exactly what Takuya wanted to hear.

"They're working on <Golden Axe 2>, which is in its final stages. Right now, they're mainly fixing bugs," Takahashi continued. "At the earliest, they won't be able to fully dedicate themselves to it until mid-February."

"Okay," Takuya immediately decided, "They're the ones."

"Okay, I'll let their team leader know so he can be mentally prepared."

"No need," Takuya interrupted him, "Just have them come directly to my office."

Takahashi paused for a moment, then understood what Takuya meant. He was going to lead the team and set the tone himself.

"Understood."

After hanging up the phone, the office returned to silence.

Takuya's gaze returned to the book <Jurassic Park> on the table.

Arcade?

No, that was just an appetizer.