Wednesday 4 March 1995
While Zaboru was working in the USA, a businessman with a Korean father and Chinese mother also arrived in the country. His plan? To formally request the official distribution rights for ZAGE products in both China and Korea.
His name was Park Woojin, though he was also known by his Chinese name, Zhao Jin. At 36 years old, he owned a distribution company based in Korea. His business specialized in electronics distribution across both Korea and China. The company was called Red Falcon Distribution.
He was now on his way to the ZAGE offices, hoping that Zaboru would be willing to meet with him.
"I hope Zaboru won't kick me out… or at least I get the chance to meet him. Well? I'm a legit businessman, after all, hehe." Red Falcon had once done well, establishing itself as a solid name in the Korean and Chinese electronics markets. But times had changed. More and more TV manufacturers began bypassing distributors entirely, opting to ship their products directly to retailers. This shift in the market drastically undercut Red Falcon's role, slashing its revenue and leaving Woojin scrambling for alternatives.
The decline didn't happen overnight, but the signs had been clear for a while. Revenue dropped quarter after quarter, and it became obvious that relying on legacy contracts was no longer sustainable. That's when Park Woojin began looking for new opportunities. He studied market trends, consumer interests, and technological gaps. It didn't take long before one name kept resurfacing—ZAGE. Their products were fresh, exciting, and already gaining underground popularity in Korea and China.
Park saw ZAGE not just as a product to distribute, but as a potential lifeline for his company. He believed if he could secure distribution rights, Red Falcon might not only recover but thrive in a completely new direction. That's why he set his sights on Zaboru and began chasing this pivotal meeting.
Jin understood that there were already so-called "unofficial" distributors in Korea who were bringing ZAGE products into the market. Even though these imports were slightly more expensive than standard retail, they were still selling quite well among Korean gamers who craved ZAGE's unique style. In China, the situation was even more chaotic—bootleg versions of ZAGE consoles and cheaply made knockoffs of their games were rampant. Yet despite the poor quality of these imitations, they still enjoyed wide popularity, which only highlighted the growing demand for ZAGE's content.
Woojin saw this as an undeniable opportunity. It was clear that there was a large, untapped market in both Korea and China—markets that were already familiar with the ZAGE name, even if unofficially. If he could manage to secure the official rights to distribute ZAGE products, he wouldn't just be making a smart business move; he would be positioning Red Falcon at the forefront of a massive wave of growth. He imagined not just a boost in revenue, but a complete revitalization of his company. The potential for profit was staggering, and Woojin knew that with the right pitch and a little luck, this deal could be the jackpot Red Falcon desperately needed.
Woojin was also aware that ZAGE was quietly searching for partners to expand into the Chinese and Korean markets. They were doing it under the radar, avoiding the attention of large distribution companies in either country. Instead of announcing their plans publicly, ZAGE continued to explore both markets cautiously and independently. Woojin had even heard a rumor that if ZAGE couldn't find the right partners, they might consider setting up their own distribution branches in Korea and China. This made the stakes of his meeting even higher—he knew he had to prove that Red Falcon could be the right fit before ZAGE decided to go solo.
That's why, a couple of months ago, Woojin was fortunate enough to get in contact with one of ZAGE's representatives. To his surprise, the representative was willing to give both Woojin and Red Falcon a chance—an opportunity to at least meet with Zaboru. And that meeting was now finally happening.
When it came to video games, Kang Woojin was absolutely obsessed—especially with PC games. Among them, his favorite by far was Diablo. He loved it with all his heart, pouring countless hours into mastering its mechanics and lore. Because of this deep appreciation, he strongly believed that if ZAGE ever managed to create a title on par with or better than Diablo, success would be inevitable. The cash would flow, the player base would explode, and the market would take notice. He wasn't just a fan of ZAGE—he knew their catalog inside and out and respected their strengths.
Kang Woojin sighed and took a deep breath, steadying his posture as he stood in front of the ZAGE offices in the USA. "Here goes... Wish me luck," he muttered to himself.
He stepped inside, trying to stay calm. The receptionist greeted him and asked him to wait. It wasn't long before Zaboru himself entered the guest room. With a warm smile, Zaboru extended his hand.
"Mr. Park," he greeted
Woojin nodded and responded politely, "Mr. Renkonan."
To Woojin's surprise, Zaboru's smile widened, and he switched effortlessly to perfect Korean. "It's fine if you prefer to speak in Korean or Chinese, Mr. Park."
Woojin's eyes widened in astonishment. He hadn't expected Zaboru Renkonan to speak Korean so well. It caught him completely off guard. But for Zaboru, mastering languages came naturally. Thanks to his Deep Memory Dive ability, he could recall everything he'd ever seen or heard with precision—making language learning almost effortless for him.
Not long after, Zaboru and Park Woojin arrived at the ZAGE offices. Zaboru smiled calmly, while Woojin was clearly nervous. He knew that Zaboru was significantly younger than him, but that didn't matter. The presence Zaboru radiated was undeniable. His aura, subtle yet powerful, couldn't be ignored.
What even Zaboru himself didn't fully realize was that people who got close enough to him would feel a strange yet compelling pressure—one of the side effects of his innate ability known as the "Aura of Influence." It wasn't just charisma. It was something deeper, something that could shift the tone of a room the moment he walked in.
Zaboru then began the conversation in fluent Korean. "So, Mr. Park Woojin—you had a company in Korea called Red Falcon, which focused on electronics distribution rights? And you managed to contact one of ZAGE's representatives in Korea to arrange this meeting with me?"
Park Woojin nodded and said, "Yes, Mr. Renkonan. I believe ZAGE and Red Falcon can work together to officially bring ZAGE into both the Chinese and Korean markets."
Zaboru raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? So you're familiar with the market preferences for ZAGE products in both China and Korea? I'd like to hear more about that—could you elaborate?"
Kang Woojin then explained, "ZAGE products, especially ZAGE PC games, are incredibly popular right now in Korea. Korean gamers love playing on PCs, and titles like Diablo are especially beloved. However, the frustrating part is that we can't officially buy Diablo from within Korea. Most of us have to import it from Japan or rely on unofficial markets. It's a hassle, but the demand is there—and people are still going out of their way to play these games. That shows just how strong the gaming culture is and how much potential there is for official distribution. ZAGE could easily thrive in this environment if players could access your products directly and reliably."
Zaboru nodded. "What about China?"
Woojin responded, "In China, there are even bootleg versions of ZAGE products. They replicate a lot of ZAGE games, but the quality is poor. Still, ZAGE is really popular there—many people recognize the brand. The problem is, a lot of Chinese consumers are currently struggling financially, so they can't afford the genuine ZAGE products. That's why the cheap knockoffs are so widespread—they're the only option many people can access. But the demand is real. If ZAGE enters the Chinese market with the right pricing and strategy, the opportunity is massive."
Zaboru nodded thoughtfully. "I see you've done your research. So, if ZAGE were to expand into Korea and Japan, what steps do you believe we need to take?"
Park Woojin smiled with growing confidence. He leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped in front of him as he began to explain his vision with measured precision and quiet excitement...
To be continue
AN : Lol i'm thinking of how to open a korea-chinese expansion but well i guess this would do. Also i'm sorry that I created a short chapter these days. I'm extremely busy even right now. I went to overtime on Sunday… shit
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