January 6.

  The chapters of Evangelion that pyed out like a ic series began with the story of a desote and lost young man who knows little beyond the questions before him. Weakness, humanity, effort, the end, beginning, ah. The series gradually begins to give hints that there is a darker, colder, more desote reality than initially proposed. Even though there is no cssical musid it is not filled with phrases spoken by a voice, it remains deafening for those who delve into the thoughts of the protagonist.

  -This is simply unbelievable, - said Raimon, reading from the game room sofa. Beside him was Jim Lee, silently taking notes on all the details of the manga. Everything erfe his eyes. The drawings were, as always, masterful, and the story was heart-wreng and .

  -Darn it, Billy, I 't believe he created something like this! - said Raimon.

  The small game room was apanied by a few others, including Todd Me, Paul German, and others. They were all reading the Evangelion series. It all began with an initial idea, a dark and profound cept about the human dition.

  Raimon finished reading, eager to read more, but Billy mentiohat he still had drafts, and his office was the forbidden room. Only two people could enter: Anne and Thomas. Although the service staff could e any time when Billy was w iudio, Raimon referred to it as the "Golden Vault," a prohibited space monitored even with cameras.

  -It's amazing, - said Todd Me, with a few things on his mind. Inspiration strikes his mind every time he reads the Evangelion series. So much depth in so few words. So many things that be said but remain unspoken.

  -I think I'll go bay work, - Paul German said carelessly, realizing he had missed his lunchtime while reading the great boss's ic.

  Raimon started reading the ic again and began reformuting his theories in his head, jotting them down in a little notebook. The way it was written, and the way the story unfolded had iing points. Random versations iory featured butterfly shadows, and sometimes the color tones were deeper and more opaque.

  -Raimon, you have work to do! - Rachel scolded.

  Raimon just waved his hand, ign Rachel's reprimands.

  -You're an impossible person, and you drive me crazy. I'll leave everything on your desk, but don't expeo be very pleased, - Rachel said.

  -Yeah, yeah... do whatever you want, - Raimon replied, pletely focused on reading the story.

  He noted in his agenda that he he opinion of an expert, someoh whom he could share his theories.

  -But first, we have to work, - he thought.

  Ats upon ats. With the franchise's growth, each part pys a crucial role. Raimon is responsible for reviewis, assigs, and, of course, monit as. Rachel reviews that all panies are following and plying with guidelines and streamlined processes. Anne anizes everything, reviews, supervises, directs, and enforces what Billy ands.

  Someone who didn't miss out on a deep versation about Evangelion is Todd Me. Skipping the formalities, he tio Billy's office.

  -Good afternoon, Mr. Me, - Anne greeted.

  -Afternoon. I'll just stop by for a moment. I think I have some things to discuss with Billy, - Todd said.

  Anne nodded and poio Billy's office.

  Billy Carson was w diligently on the series to be published. Creating a series notebook in two days saves time and allows him to tinue his daily animation tasks, such as the Gargoyles series.

  -Todd, I wasn't expeg to see you, - Billy said.

  -Well, I wasn't expeg to drop iher. But I have a question. Why create a series inspired by human psychology? Also, where did the idea e from? It's quite different from all your other works. No timeline ects all your works with a series of such...? - Todd inquired.

  -Pessimistic, - Billy added.

  -That's what it is. A pessimistic view of society, mixed with religious uohere's no particur reason. It's just ahat popped into my head. It's like Philip K. Dick's divine invasiohoughts of a radical repair of the world, trasted with children who don't know what human warmth is, living in misery and despair, - Billy expined.

  -Wow, that's quite clever of you. I have an idea. Would you be ied iing a spin-off of the series? I have a clear idea about the father's life, - Todd proposed.

  -Well, it would be better if I fihe series first. There are at most 30 chapters left. The uping chapters will satisfy the others' curiosity and clude the series. If you still see a story there, you're wele to work with me, - Billy responded.

  -Although I came here to discuss art, I have an idea in mind. I want to create my toy store, especially featuring a figures from my series and great bands, - Todd Me said.

  -Then, I need your tacts in Thaind. I heard that toy stores there are particurly cost-effective for my future is, - Todd Me said.

  -Join my bel. Currently, I distribute toys all over North America, doing business with some specifipanies, but the industry is booming, - Billy expined.

  -Really? - Todd asked.

  -It is. You start a small pany with whatever capital you have avaible, - Billy suggested.

  -630,000 to start with, but I have an ior who might be ied in iing in my toys, - Todd shared.

  It wasn't a lie. With the Spawn series, of which he is a co-creator, he was sidering the teical development of a series of a figures of Image ics creations, of which he's a part, and some others that haven't been fully explored yet.

  -Ara 500,000 wouldn't be a problem. The first exhibitor and distributor is 'Toys and ics.' You start in my store. There's also 'Sunrise ics,' which distributes several ics here, and it's on for these retail pao have toy ses, - Billy said.

  -That eases my mind. I have a tact who will help me lise images of characters. I believe Todd & Billy Toys is officially founded, - Todd said.

  A toy store specializing in a figures. Billy broke the deal not to spend money on expanding other businesses but iing here and there was almost a calling. Not many people e up with ideas like this, despite having a group of panies uheir trol.

  -You know how things wet the details in order, and when you're all set, I'll be there to i in the series. Anne will approve the whole process; you have my green light, - Billy assured.

  ...