November 16.

  Phillip Knight was in his office reviewing financial statements, and the new Sm Dunk-designed sneakers have geed signifit sales. Michael Jordan himself surprisingly decred the series fantastid agreed to use the ic's sneakers as part of the advertising campaign. The Sm Drunk manga has a solid base of sports enthusiasts and is the top-selling i most states. However, the ghost report is particurly overwhelming iies, causing a disparity in sales that has been gradually narrowing.

  The use of some superstars has led to substantial profits for the pany. Even the distribution of cards has caused a certaiion within the pany. Pyers are surprisingly eager to appear in Billy's designs. Moreover, some teams have approached for a colboration with Nike. Behind the ses, the NBA wants to create its cards for sale.

  This is a total success!

  Peter Ruppert hit the iations for that small ipany perfectly. He's even surprised by the quality of the artwork, from the intricate details to the captivating story. Why hadn't anyone focused ing a good basketball story to the basketball try? He has no idea, but joining forces has been satisfying for the pany.

  -Amanda, a pleasure. Have Ruppert tact me. - said Philip Knight, speaking on the phone in his office. He's very pleased with the pany's growth for this year.

  -Sir, he's currently iiations. Yesterday's meeting was celed due to some issues. He left a hat he'll call as soon as the tract is finalized. - said Amanda.

  -In that case, please apologize for the inveniend let no one call me until after lunch. - said Philip.

  The ercial agreemeween Nike and Lux ics officially closes today, in the same location as before: The Saint Cire, the historic hotel located in downtown San Jose, he San Jose Diridon Station. Billy doesn't e to such elegant pces very often, but he say that the social retionship between the parties is better positioned now than it was two years ago.

  -Thomas, great to see you. - said Peter Rupp. He was apanied by an unfamiliar young man. Previously, he was apanied by Thomas Crke, who joined him i meeting. Life's twists and turns happen quickly, and now Thomas Crke is handling different matters in the pany.

  -Pleasure to see you agaier, and sir... -

  -Liam Wight. - the young man said.

  -Pleasure. -

  -Pleasure, Mr. Rupp, Mr. Wight. - said Billy.

  -Ah, Billy, what a pleasure to see you again. I am happily surprised by your work orading cards. All your efforts have brought tremendous success to the pany. I want to thank you for your outstanding work. - Peter Rupp said, his white teeth almost lighting up the room.

  -Not at all, Mr. Rupp. I'm delighted with the retionship with he ways we've worked together have allowed us to grow as a pany. I should thank you as well. - Billy said.

  Although they only earned 12% from the pany-produced cards, it was enough to achieve success. One million dolrs for the pany from the first months of sales was well received. Moreover, the calcutions for the past two months were still pending, and these are the best sales months. The ercial lise was a remarkable be, providing salvation for the pany's rapid growth at the time. Now, it's an active iream that supports Billy's occasional iments.

  Initially, Nike presehe busio ter Adidas in the basketball market. This market, dominated by Nike, has always been its strong point pared to its sibling pany. Adidas has been peting with them in soccer (football) in Europe, as well as athletics, tennis, and running. Among these, they have a close fight, but it's in basketball where the market favors Nike.

  Any move by Adidas into this market raises arms, and even if it means losing money, in the long term, it's more beneficial not to let them enter. Lux ics, a progressive pany that has innovated in the field of illustration, is drawing a lot of attention. Now, its sales aren't just good; it has bee a social erstone for attrag more teams, pyers, and ers.

  -Perfect. Ma will cover the manufacturing costs. Anne has sent the lists, and the funds have already been approved for another batch of two million cards. She wants to sell them in some European stores. - said Peter Ruppe.

  -That's fantastic, but sir, I think we should go for three million. - said Billy.

  -Isn't that another way to make money? - Peter Rupp pyfully questioned.

  -Not at all, I predict that there will be higher sales in the Uates, and we sell the cards. Lux ics will keep the surplus if sales aren't satisfactory. - said Billy.

  -I agree. For now, there's approval for two million units, but based on how sales progress in the ing months, other order. - said Peter Rupp.

  -Don't worry, I'll expand the cards a bit, to 300 designs. This only be done once. If we go beyond 300 designs, I 't guarantee profit. - said Billy.

  -Expand? -

  -Yes, I want to feature future stars from the past, include some characters from Sm Dunk, and create some imaginary street teams using avaible pyers. To add some fun to the cards, after all, kids are a part of the market. - said Billy.

  -How would you achieve this fun? - Peter Rupp questioned.

  -Different themes. Street basketball is one, along with some others like NBA petitions, top scorers, ahree-point shooters, adding a bit of sce to the cards. - Billy said.

  -Yes, I believe that's a wise decision. - said Peter Rupp.

  -So, the new tract between our panies is based on colboration. How will it be dohis time... - said Billy.

  -This time, we'll run a better joint campaign. I hope our colboration will improve. Before we proceed, I want to know certain necessary ditions for our work. - said Peter Rupp.

  He extended his hand to signal a waiter. Five mier, a bottle of wih three gsses arrived. Billy ordered a cheeseburger and a Coca-Co, stig to the tradition.

  -Well, since we're on the subject. - Thomas said. - Tell us what ditions you've set this time.

  -We want to create a clothing line so that our basketball stars promote the brand, along with other spohletes we have now. How strong are your clothing design skills? We're unsure, which is why we'll bring in specialists to help ie your ito our clothing. One of our top pyers even requested a unique and special design from you. - Peter Rupp said.

  -I have very limited knowledge of clothing design, sir, but I'm skilled at drawing. With some assista's possible to create an inal clothing line. - Billy said fidently, his drawing abilities on the rise.

  -That's why we're asking for your colboration. Your ic is particurly popur among young people aspiring to be basketball pyers. Our sales have increased from 3% to 7% in all our stores. With your ic, we'll gee demand for our clothing brand among teenagers, children, youths, and professionals – those who want to be part of Nike, buy Nike, and live in Nike. - Peter said.

  -It's possible to do. I have a few ideas. As long as I work with the people in charge of clothing design, I make it happen. - Billy said.

  -I like the sound of that. - Peter said, taking small sips from his gss of wine.

  -What's , sir? I've already agreed to participate in the clothing lines. - Billy said.

  -The terms are the same as in the previous tract, except we desire more exclusivity across the clothing line, footwear, sports sultations, and key products. Your ventures into animated programming caught our attention. We didn't expect your pany to have such a rapid boom. So, that would be all for us, a bit of security to prevent direpetition. - Peter said.

  -We fulfill those ditions as well, as long as the advertising lines for Lux ics are improved, we tinue publishing our Sm Dunk i your stores, and we maintain a close retionship with Nike. I also o add that we haven't iated with any panies for a toy li. - Billy said.

  -The toy isn't part of our demand line. However, we'd be happy to run some advertising campaigns with your pany, as long as you're able to assist. - Peter said.

  -I don't have any more demands. Our ics alone are suffit. - Billy said.

  -As for the agreement, based on our data, the lising fee be set at three million dolrs and a 6.5% share of the product profits. Philip mentiohat this is an iive for your pany. For four years. - Peter said.

  -Four million dolrs. - Billy said.

  It was the minimum limit they had iated with Anne and her father. One million per year. The trading cards alone brought in a bit more money, acc to sales estimates. Nike's profits have certainly surged, at least in the basketball field.

  -We take it, but the payments will be staggered, two at the beginning of the activity and two at the end. - Peter said.

  -That's possible if the payments are in reasoervals. - Billy said, calg. He needed five million dolrs to i in Pixar. But that process could wait; for now, the profits were good. It's already beyond the five million they're expeg for the ing year.

  The moves of the wealthy are peculiar. Paying immediately is never in their pybook. stant payment deys now serve to assert their dominant position. With Nike, such issues aren't excessive, but they're still present.

  -Of course, one million per year. We would deliver the first payme month, and the following payments in December of each respective year. - Peter Rupp said.

  -That's fair. I'm avaible to create the clothing li any time, as long as you're willing to e to San Jose. Traveling is different. In the first week of January, I make a provisional trip, or during spring break in March. - Billy said.

  I see. I'll take care of coordinating the schedules with the design team. -- Peter said, noting down the tract details in his botebook, which was about two palms long. He wrote with a deliberate ess. -- We'll hire specialists to hahese designs. We'll set up the meetings as soon as possible. -

  -Well, I have a busy schedule too, sir. Managing my ipany is quite plicated when you also must attend school. - Billy said.

  -A very good young man. My son only pys Ameri football relentlessly and thinks about women and parties. Ah, the joys of youth! - Peter said. - Liam here is a ret hraduate from the Uy of New York. -

  Billy paused to look at him.

  -What does Mr. Liam do? - Billy asked.

  -In my department, heachievehe pany's general sales advisor. His desk is his current occupation. He oversees the state affairs when he deems it ready. - Peter Rupp said.

  -Sounds borious. I just focus on drawing the best I . - Billy said.

  -Ygest asset is your hard work, son. Drawing is earning you four million dolrs. It's not something just anyone do. - Peter said.

  -Yes, sir. - Billy said.

  -Well, young man, we'll clude this meeting for now. It's extended far beyond the avaible time. Have a good day. - Peter said.

  He was about to leave the hotel restaurant. After taking a deep sip from his wine gss.

  -It's good money. With our popurity, I 't wait to see the value that panies will put oable for your drawings. - Thomas Carson said, p himself a gss of wine.

  And so, the seeeting with Nike ended. A four-year agreement, four million dolrs with a 6.5% i on Nike's merdise sales, based on the advertising designs in the id the work of creating the clothing line.

  Billy took another bite of his cheeseburger, thinking about the future of the iations.

  ...

  ..

  .

  I have a question, what is your ranking of Pixar movies? -

  What is the ranking of animated movies that you would do, with those movies?