ตอน 25: Chapter 25: You Don’t Know Much Yet
William looked at the persistent journalist and silently applauded her.
Today was a live broadcast, and even beautiful women had to learn to grab the spotlight if they wanted to become famous. Diana's smile stretched widely as several cameras turned towards her.
"Yes, why is that? The simplest explanation can be seen in the stock market of the year 2000. The middle class now has plenty of money, and a thriving market means people have more to spend on entertainment," William paused for a few seconds and then continued, "Many young people seek individuality and uniqueness. They want to stand out and look cool. That's why London youths wear hats and T-shirts with zombie prints because they think it's cool. When they find something cool, it becomes a trend."
"This explains why, in just half a month, JY (Just Your) Fashion sold 430,000 pieces of hats and T-shirts with zombie prints. And that's only in the few counties around London. Imagine the potential across all of Europe and the USA. I now believe Blockbuster could recoup their £135 million investment in a year just from merchandise sales alone. They made a great deal," William said.
The crowd of journalists looked incredulously at William and Roger Moore from Blockbuster.
Roger Moore's eyes nearly disappeared with his wide grin. He was thrilled. William Devonshire, despite his high asking price, was going all out to advertise the game. Moore thought to himself, "If William's predictions hold true, Blockbuster has indeed struck gold. My position might even improve next year."
"Perhaps I should maintain close ties with William Devonshire? Regardless of whether his claims are fully accurate, his analysis will undoubtedly boost merchandise sales once it spreads. This guy is truly talented. I need to keep this promising young man close," Moore mused.
William, noticing Moore's joyful expression, said, "To give Blockbuster even more confidence and to encourage them to pay me sooner, I'll offer a free suggestion."
The audience erupted in laughter, with Moore laughing the loudest, finding William increasingly agreeable.
"With the rise of the internet, I believe the game can be relaunched as an online version once the initial hype dies down. You could design it for four-player online co-op," William began.
Before he could continue, Moore quickly interrupted, "William, Blockbuster can hire you as our game designer, or if you're too busy, as a consultant. We can discuss future game plans privately. Blockbuster values your insights and will compensate you fairly."
Moore acted as if protecting a trade secret, not wanting competitors to hear William's innovative ideas.
Realizing his misstep, William nodded in agreement.
However, the journalists were far from satisfied, protesting Blockbuster's intervention. They didn't care about potential implications for the game's longevity.
Many hot-tempered journalists shouted at Moore, but Moore sat unfazed, watching William anxiously.
William, amused by Moore's nervousness, shook his head, signaling he wouldn't discuss the topic further.
Seeing no response from the stage, the journalists gradually quieted down.
William apologized, "Sorry, that was my mistake. Discussing future plans and profits should be done in private to protect the buyer's interests. I apologize for my mistake."
Ignoring further protests, William continued, "Now, I think no one will question Blockbuster's decision to spend £135 million on the game. Do you have any other questions?"
A reporter from the London Times stood up, "William, I'm Robert from the London Times. Why have you never had a girlfriend? Does this mean your criteria for choosing a partner are unusual? Thank you."
Damn, I knew someone would ask this, William thought. He responded directly, "I like beautiful women, without a doubt. It's just that the ones I liked didn't like me back. But after today, I doubt many girls in England would look down on me." He shrugged with a smug expression, infuriating the male journalists.
Everyone understood his implication: money changes everything. Some privately cursed him for being a mixed-race upstart.
Another journalist with an agenda asked, "William, do you have any hobbies? We've heard you don't have any special skills. Is it true that mixed-race people don't enjoy sports?"
The audience was shocked by the blatant racism. This journalist was bound to receive numerous complaints from the Asian community.
The reporters watched William, eager to see his reaction.
William glared at the journalist. This jerk was clearly racist. After a moment, he said, "I didn't have many friends growing up. At school, no one played with me. I played alone, treating math problems as games, reading as a hobby, and the library as my playground. Society's indifference didn't break me; it made me. That's why I'm here today, able to earn millions. It's not that Asians dislike sports; we just focus on more meaningful activities.
Who says I don't have hobbies? During my free time, I play Texas Hold'em by myself, swim, practice archery, and do free combat and Wing Chun. I can lift 100 kilograms with one hand."
William could actually lift 200 kilograms but didn't want to exaggerate. Lifting 100 kilograms was believable, but 200 would make him seem superhuman.
"You might not know this, but I'm quite talented in archery. My math skills allow me to calculate the arrow's trajectory in my mind. I can hit the bullseye with my eyes closed after seeing the target. My sports scores were perfect in my entrance exams because I scored 60 out of 60 in archery."
"Incredible! How is that possible?" The audience was skeptical. Hitting the bullseye from 70 meters with closed eyes was something even Olympic champions couldn't do.
Seeing the disbelief, William suggested, "Perhaps we can arrange a demonstration after the press conference. What do you think?"
"Absolutely!" "That would be great!" voices of agreement echoed around the room.
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