Due to the chaotic overlap of galactic time zones, Julian didn't receive the finalized opening-day box office report until the third morning. The numbers were staggering, yet confusing.
Xianzhou Alliance: 40 Billion CreditsIPC Territories: 26 Billion CreditsIndependent Systems: 9 Billion CreditsTotal: 75 Billion Credits
"Cai Xing, put this in perspective for me," Julian said, rubbing his temples. "Is this a hit or a flop? My old references don't work in a universe with trillions of people."
"It's... respectable, Boss," Cai Xing replied, her eyes scanning the projections. "At this rate, we'll clear 130 billion, maybe 150 billion. But after the theaters take their 50% cut, taxes are stripped, and distribution fees are paid, our net is about 15%. That's roughly 15 to 19 billion Credits in our pocket."
Julian blinked. "We spent 500 million on production and we're clearing 15 billion? Movies are a gold mine."
"Don't let the numbers fool you, Boss," Cai Xing warned. "80% of films in the galaxy lose every cent. Pokémon only succeeded because you already had two billion players waiting. Without the fans, we wouldn't have lasted three days on the screens."
Julian nodded. The "Goose that lays golden eggs" was still breathing. "And the merchandise? The kids want their plushies."
"The Artisanship Commission has finished the factory lines. We're producing samples now. Also, a dozen mega-corporations have reached out for licensing rights. How do you want to handle the branding?"
"One-time flat fees for the giants who can push the product fast," Julian decided. "Revenue sharing for the smaller, niche boutiques. Once the 'Pikachu' brand is a household name, we switch everyone to a hybrid model. Use them to flood the market before the IPC tries to clone our toys."
The First Master Challenge: Qualifiers
The competition server finally flickered to life. Across the stars, millions of "Gym-level" Trainers logged in simultaneously, their digital signatures lighting up the jade-gate network like a supernova.
Brrr—Brrr—
"Silver Wolf? You should be in a match," Julian said, answering the holographic call.
"Are you playing?" Silver Wolf asked, her avatar blowing a bubble with digital gum.
"And be accused of rigging my own tournament? No thanks. Besides, I'm still not satisfied with the AI. They don't have that 'soul' I'm looking for."
"Tch. Always with the 'soul' talk," she scoffed. "No wonder the Aeon of Elation likes you; you're weirdly obsessed. If you're not playing, I'm out. Crushing amateurs is a waste of my AP."
Julian laughed. "Don't underestimate them. There are some monsters in the brackets. Tell you what—if you make it to the offline finals on the Luofu, I'll play an exhibition match against you. A chance for a rematch. Deal?"
"You said it! Don't cry when I sweep your team." She hung up, likely already hunting for a high-ranked opponent.
Technical Walls
As the qualifiers raged on—burning through hundreds of millions of Credits in server rental fees from the Sky-Faring Commission—Julian returned to his office. He ignored the skyrocketing sales and focused on the Generation 3: Hoenn blueprint.
He wanted more than just land. He wanted the Underwater Exploration System. He wanted players to dive into the sapphire depths using Pokémon abilities, discovering ruins and catching aquatic species in a 360-degree liquid environment.
But he had hit a ceiling.
The "Gen-2" AI was the best money could buy, but it still felt... mechanical. He wanted Pokémon to have emotions, to bond, to grow—to reach the sentience of a high-level Automaton.
"If I push the AI any further, I might catch the attention of Screwllum," Julian muttered. The Genius Society member was the undisputed authority on mechanical life, and Julian wasn't sure if creating "digital souls" would be seen as a breakthrough or an insult.
He looked at the processing power requirements for a 'sentient' Pokémon. The numbers were terrifying. To give every Pokémon in the galaxy a soul wouldn't just take his 15 billion movie profit; it would take the entire trillion-credit treasury.
"Money is easy to make," Julian sighed, staring at the Hoenn blueprints. "But giving a machine a heart... that might be the hardest quest of all."
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