The sales figures for the first day hit the terminal like a physical weight. While the data team had forecasted a massive 700 to 800 million units, the final tally defied logic: 900 million copies sold.
The discrepancy came from the IPC sectors. Julian had underestimated the rebellious streak of the corporate citizenry. Even with the "Arceus Accelerator" acting as a mandatory extra step—a digital hurdle that usually deters casual users—the thirst for Pokémon was insatiable. For every player the IPC tried to shield, two more seemed to "climb the wall" out of pure spite.
But Julian wasn't just thinking about digital space anymore. He needed a physical anchor.
Following Yukong's recommendation, Julian secured an audience with Huifu, the Minister of the Diheng Division. Unlike the Sky-Faring Commission, which dealt with the stars, the Diheng Division held the keys to the Luofu's soil. They managed the census, the land, and the massive civil engineering projects that kept the ship running.
Huifu was a man with a beard so thick it looked like a structural component of the building. He greeted Julian with a warmth usually reserved for long-lost family—or, more accurately, for clients with a trillion-credit balance.
"Mr. Reed! A pleasure, a true pleasure. Please, sit. Someone, bring out the aged tea!"
Huifu knew exactly who Julian was. The Sky-Faring Commission had just received enough commendations from General Jing Yuan to drown in, all thanks to Julian's "cultural export." But more importantly, Huifu knew Julian was liquid. The Diheng Division only saw "hundreds of billions" during decade-long reconstruction projects. Julian was a walking infrastructure boom.
"Minister Huifu," Julian said, skipping the pleasantries. "I need the Diheng Division's expertise. I want to construct holographic battle stations across every residential district of the Luofu. Here are the specifications."
Huifu took the document, his smile faltering slightly at the sight of "gaming equipment." But as he scrolled down to the Quantity section, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Mr. Reed... is this number accurate? You want to build how many?"
"It's correct," Julian said firmly. "We aren't just making a game; we're turning Pokémon into a professional sport. This is the initial rollout. If the demand holds, we'll double it."
"Excellent! Magnificent!" Huifu beamed. "Entrust this to us. We will handle the land permits, the procurement, and the installation. I guarantee 50% completion in every district within fifteen days, and a total rollout in a month. I can even coordinate with the Diheng Divisions on the other five Hexafleet ships. They won't turn down an order of this magnitude."
Julian signed the contract on the spot. He knew the Diheng Division's rates were higher than private contractors, but their "official" status meant no red tape. He was paying for speed.
Returning to the studio, Julian checked the global completion metrics. He was stunned. By the end of the second day, 60% of the player base had already finished the main story. The three Legendary Birds had been found, documented, and captured by thousands.
Only Mewtwo remained an impassable wall, and the secret coordinates for Mew were still a mystery.
"They're speed-running," Julian muttered, scrolling through the forums. "They're so desperate to see the movie that they're treating the journey like a chore."
He couldn't stop them, but he could reward them. The animated feature, Mewtwo Strikes Back, was polished and ready.
"Set the release for one week from today," Julian commanded Cai Xing. "Coordinate with the local theaters on the Luofu. As for the IPC side... we go back to the 'backdoor' method. Leak high-quality snippets to our underground nodes. Once the theatrical run is halfway through, we'll release the full digital version for free in those sectors. If the IPC won't let us sell it, we'll give it away until their firewalls melt."
In Julian's eyes, the movie wasn't a product—it was the ultimate advertisement for the Pokémon Master Challenge.
"Cai Xing, it's time. Release the official rules for the tournament. Let the galaxy know how we're going to find our first Champion."
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