Raimon walked behind Billy, while Billy followed Anne, who held all her reseoward the pany's presidents and operations director. This could only be an excuse to throw at Raimoax review of fast food and hotel panies, perhaps... also the new payments to suppliers, after all, he did a great job when reended, yes... let him take care of the restaurant simultaneously, the pany's new dining room, which featured an outdoor tent and two food carts, along with microwave service, taking advantage of the avaible green areas. They had almost 9 acres of unused nd.

  -You'll have work at your desk since you don't have much to do, - she said Pointing at Raimon, who fled to his office, only to be met with Rachel's disapproving look, who just crossed her arms and tio talk about childish behavior, fiving Billy because he must have been tired from his work as an actor.

  Raimon lowered his head, but inside, he was amused; it had been a long time since he had enjoyed himself so freely.

  -As for you, we have a meeting with ID software immediately about the pany's expansion. The year has been a boom for video games, and we are relevant, about the steps we must sider. Our new official administratues for the purchase of a game studio or a software pany, - said Anne, opening the door of her office. As a man sitting, wearing a leather jacket, tall, what caught his attention the most was the posure and ess with which he behaved, he was a man to be feared. Unbeknownst to him, there was another on the baly, wearing a tight bat military suit.

  -Who are these? - asked Billy.

  -Your bodyguards, let me introduce you to Mr. Erwin Kyle, retired US sergeant," pointing to the man in the suit, "member of the US Special Forces, served for seventeen years, decorated with two medals for his outstanding valor in bat, has beeed, knows fhting styles, and is an expert in ons," pointing to the , "Dougs Sing." This is our chosen tough guy, again a member of the US Navy, who has been on the front lines in light bat units in reaissance, assault, and sabotage, where's Leo? - asked Anne.

  -Mr. Hatcocok is doing rounds around the perimeter, identifying possible security breaches to solidify the pany's security system, - said Erwin Kyle.

  Billy felt like whistling. These guys looked tough. - I'm Billy Carson, o meet you, - he said.

  They both nodded in a military salute. - We're here to serve you; for now, we'll be entrenched in your security, we'll be your shadows, - respohe US senior sergeant.

  'He'll ask Anne about this ter,' Billy thought, watg how these guys behaved.

  -Well, now that the introdus have been made, let's get into the important stuff. You should know that Richard Boll is the new official administrator. Our pany has an excess of ine, and we've already discussed that it's best to make some purchases of pahat have caused a stir in development. He made reports and pointed out the chosen panies, - said Anne.

  The folder listed twelve panies; iingLucasArts was ly, among the pao Arts. Old Gee kept expanding his pany, albeit shortly in different games that, at first gnce, seemed few, but they were bold and quick pys.

  The highlighted panies are Interpy Eai, Sierra Online, and Midway Games.

  What stood out most about Interpy Eai was the game Baldur's Gate, a failure; the proposal was rejected. However, he knows that the essence is special for this type of video game, a game that would mark as one of the most ps in the world. Well, many lists of panies, all the gaming panies were present, even a new ohat was not highlighted, Blizzard pany.

  -You're right, acquiring a Paralx software pany is one of the best purchases we make if we want to expand our market. Let's acquire the rights and codes of Baldur's Gate. There's Raven Software, which also caught my attention for its alternative approaaking video games. However, the real gem is Blizzard Eai; even though people may not notice, they have very innovative ideas, - said Billy.

  After a 30-minute read on all the US panies, which weren't many but enough to talk about.

  -Why would you buy a pany that reported losses st year? - Anne asked.

  -These guys have fidentiality cuses, - Billy replied.

  -They're on a trial period, - Anne said.

  -They have fidentiality cuses. What I'm about to say is trade secret, worth billions of dolrs, private information, - Billy said.

  -We uand. But we have fidentiality cuses. Our work specializes in proteg big businessmen, public figures, politis, and high-risk entities. We step out if you wish, - said Erwin.

  Jim looked through all the panies aually asked for a favor from James Cameron, who ected him with a special security services pany.

  -Alright, since we're talking about the service they'll provide, real-time strategy, they were retly acquired by Davidson & Associates. This seems like a desperate purchase from a pany that distributes educational games, while Blizzard distributes war games. I believe they're hoping to be bought. We have many war series in ame repertoire, but this one, in particur, help us advan online gaming. They'll likely sell it again, - said Billy.

  -So, you want to buy Blizzard based on your hunch that it will help expand i-ected games? - Anne questioned, still doubtful about making a purchase based on personal indus.

  -I bet my pany that, with the right service, Blizzard will grow unpretedly. Along with the tradition of sharing information, we analyze that ID software could acquire the tricks these panies work on. Send Steve Parks to purchase the pany; there's no one else I trust, and tell Davidson & Associates that rovide tacts at uies, much more profitable than war games, - said Billy.

  -We'll call Richard Boll; he'll give you his ideas on what may or may not be particurly iing to us. He's an expert on video games, - said Anne, dialing a Texas phone number.

  The bodyguards simply stayed in their pces, but now they saw the arrogant style of the boy, not much older than a nephew of Erwin Kyle. That's why he needs prote; a great businessman always has some enemies along the way.

  Richard Boll rompt as always and picked up the phone in an instant. Anne didn't have time to wander about more on the hows and whys. She got straight to the point.

  -Richard, I just spoke with Billy; he agrees to the acquisitions of Paralx Software and Raven Software. However, he mentions that he prefers the purchase of Blizzard Eai over Interpy Eai, - said Anne.

  -Well, these are things I still 't quite grasp. But his reasons... I'll pass them on to you, - said Richard, extending the phoo Billy.

  -Good m, Mr. Carson, - said Richard over the phone.

  -Richard, good day. I hope to go to Texas in a few days to see the state of the pany and discuss the reports. I've been closely monit the pany's progress; I hope everything is in order, - said Billy.

  -Yes, we have a very suitable w enviro. You e whenever you want, - said Richard.

  -I'm gd to hear that. Well, although Interpy has a keen eye fames, the position of video games, in my opinion, is based on two main ideas: that they are fun, catchy, aertaining, and that people are willing to py them. That's why we ask you to expand the teams and create a marketing and sales team. Now, Blizzard offers real-time strategy games, meaning logical units that allow pying these games against a teological unit to be shared with different people worldwide, tactical units. Beyond that, from Doom, we've created an online gaming service. If we duplicate this pattern in ames, in ten years, our efforts will be rewarded, - said Billy.

  -Online gaming, however, how certain are we that online games will be represented as important iure? -Richard Coll asked.

  -A gamble, it's a gamble. A hunch as Anne calls it, but you bet a lot on something I believe to be so. I've already given the order to Steve Parks; he'll hahe iations with Blizzard. You sweet-talk Paralx and Raven Software, - said Billy.

  Richard, taken aback, could only follow suit. He hadn't been in the pany for long, and his proposal had already been heard. He didn't have to fight against the tide; he khat in the ing months or years, he could have a more solid opinion to deliver.

  -Yes, sir, I'll handle all the arras for the iations, - said Richard.

  -Perfect, and have a good day, Richard, - said Billy.

  Anne had been listening to everything and realized that there was n back. The expansion of ID Software nned in such a way that in the hirty days, the expansion would be the decision that would shape the future of the gaming pany.

  The new purchases made were necessary for the pany's future. ID Software had another moal task: to perfectly execute one of the biggest games in history.

  …

  Billy Carson:

  Drawing: 33,009

  Literature: 32,000

  Ag: 34,050

  Points: 000]

  ....

  Resident Evil – 45 points.Before Trilogy – 14 points.Forza Horizon – 30 points.Star Wars – 45 points.Ed, Edd, and Eddy – 15 points.The Boys – 15 points.Silent Hill – 20 points....

  From his portfolio, he pulled out a small ic titled Resident Evil, with all eyes set on its publication.

  -I want you to publish this week. No matter the cost, this ic will only have parts published in a non-specific order. However, the important thing is to make a video game. I'll sit down to create all the models for the few days, I'll take a flight to Texas in two weeks, - said Billy.

  -Before that, you must head to San Diego. They're waiting for you at Microsoft, and we 't dee. They bought the rgest subscription package, 14 million, for 250 teams from Pixar Studio, - said Anne.

  -Wow. -

  ...