Tuesday 21 April 1999.
Now, Zaboru was already settled inside his temporary residence in London, taking a quiet mont before diving into what would beco one of the most significant weeks for ZAGE's future in Europe. Tomorrow, he will officially begin working with Team OMNI, a newly established core unit designed to lead ZAGE's expansion across the continent. The team was still in its early formation, filled with new hires and promising talent, but also supported by seasoned veterans from ZAGE USA who had flown in specifically to help facilitate a smooth transition.
Zaboru knew better than anyone how crucial this transition period was—not just structurally, but culturally. Teaching ZAGE's unique workflow, developnt philosophy, and creative pipeline wasn't sothing that could be explained on paper alone. It required imrsion, presence, and patience. Thankfully, this was where one of his greatest unseen assets would shine—his Aura of Influence.
Inside any ZAGE office, his presence subtly elevated the atmosphere. Employees felt more driven, more inspired, and their ability to learn and adapt accelerated remarkably. It was a power Zaboru still didn't fully understand, but he had witnessed its effects countless tis. When he was nearby, people simply worked better—not out of fear or pressure, but out of clarity and shared purpose. Concepts beca easier to grasp. Spirits stayed high. Learning curves flattened and he can feel it.
And here, in this brand-new ZAGE Base London, Zaboru intended to let that Aura work its quiet magic again. This mont wasn't just a routine visit—it was the planting of a seed for sothing massive, and Zaboru knew that how they began would shape everything that followed.
Zaboru leaned back into the sofa, letting out a soft sigh as he stared at the ceiling. "Sigh… I already miss Zenshin and Arumi," he muttered with a small chuckle. It was a strange new feeling—one he never quite understood until now. The kind of soft ache that ca from being apart from your children, even for just a short while. Now, he understood why parents often said the house felt too quiet without their little ones around. The warmth, the chaos, the noise—it was addictive, and already he missed it.
As the minutes ticked down, Zaboru stared into his nearly empty coffee cup. The rich aroma lingered in the air, grounding him. After a brief mont of quiet reflection, he took one last sip, savoring the taste, before standing up and grabbing his ssenger bag and briefcase. It was ti to go.
Outside, waiting for him, was his latest beloved ride: a sleek, custom-built golden bicycle he had affectionately nad "Golden Flash." It was the newest addition to his legendary lineup of personal bikes—the youngest sibling of his famous "Silver Wrecker" back in Japan and the rugged "Dark Wanderer" he rode across the streets of the U.S.
Zaboru grinned as he wheeled the Golden Flash out onto the sidewalk. The roads of London might've been different, but the spirit of commuting by bike—feeling the wind, watching the city move—was sothing he deeply enjoyed. The office wasn't far from his London residence, and he liked to keep this ritual alive. It reminded him of his earlier days riding to the ZAGE offices in Tokyo or cruising past ZAGE Offices in USA. It wasn't just about practicality; it was about freedom, connection, and staying grounded in the habits that brought him joy.
With the morning sun rising higher and the crisp London air brushing past his cheeks, Zaboru adjusted his sunglasses, pushed off the curb, and began pedaling toward the future that waited at ZAGE Base London.
anwhile, in front of the sleek glass façade of ZAGE London Headquarters—officially nad ZAGE Base—Risa Miller stood with her arms casually crossed, the morning breeze brushing through her black blazer. She had positioned herself just beside the front entrance, scanning the quiet street as the final minutes ticked toward 9:00 AM. Around her stood a group of recently hired departnt heads—the founding mbers of ZAGE's ambitious new division: Team OMNI.
Risa, still the CEO of Flocks—a company that had transitioned from being ZAGE's official distributor in Europe to becoming a majority-owned ZAGE subsidiary—had played a vital role in ZAGE's expansion across the continent. Her deep understanding of the European market and unwavering loyalty to Zaboru had earned his full trust. Now, in addition to leading Flocks, she had been appointed as the ZAGE London Supervisor, placing her at the center of one of the company's most ambitious new ventures.
She glanced at her watch and smiled slightly. "He'll be here any second now. Just… don't be too surprised, okay?"
Standing nearby, Britney Wilson—the sharp and efficient head of finance, a woman in her early 30s—tilted her head curiously. "Why would we be surprised, Ms. Miller? Is our boss going to show up in so kind of supercar?" she asked, half-joking.
Fred Taylor, the charismatic blonde marketing lead in his late 30s or early 40s, laughed and added, "He's a billionaire, right? Isn't that what billionaires do? Fancy cars, bodyguards, the whole entourage thing."
Their banter was light, casual—exactly the sort of relaxed confidence that ca with high-level professionals expecting to et a young, brilliant tech mogul. Most of them had read articles about Zaboru, seen his face on international business panels, and heard the rumors of his sharp mind and unconventional ways. But still, they all expected one thing: luxury, drama, spectacle.
Risa didn't correct them. She simply grinned, her eyes still watching the street. Because she knew exactly what was about to happen—and it would challenge every expectation they had.
Then, after just two minutes of waiting, the group couldn't believe their eyes. A hush fell over the sidewalk, and all heads turned at once. Approaching the entrance was their boss—Zaboru—wearing a sharp black suit with a crimson red dress shirt beneath, a silver watch glinting on his wrist, and a confident, easygoing smile on his face. In one hand, he carried his sleek briefcase, and in the other, he guided his unmistakable golden bicycle—the legendary "Golden Flash."
Yes, their boss had arrived on a bicycle. Not a limousine. Not a sports car. A bicycle. Their expressions ranged from stunned silence to barely contained laughter. It was completely unexpected, and sohow, entirely fitting.
Zaboru rolled up gracefully to the bike parking rack positioned right in front of ZAGE Base's glass lobby, where a secure bicycle dock had been installed—on his personal request. He smoothly dismounted, locked up the Golden Flash, and adjusted the collar of his blazer as he turned toward the gathering of executives and new hires. With an unbothered smile, he called out, "Oh! I'm not late, am I?"
Risa Miller, still grinning knowingly, glanced at her watch and replied, "No, boss. You still have one minute left before 09:00."
Zaboru gave her a thumbs-up and a playful nod before walking over, exuding a natural confidence that imdiately softened the stunned tension in the group. Risa quickly began introductions, moving down the line of departnt heads—each still trying to recalibrate their ntal image of who they thought their billionaire boss would be.
He shook hands warmly, asked nas, and looked people in the eye with genuine curiosity. For all his aura and reputation, Zaboru wasn't trying to impress with wealth. He wanted to impress with presence.
Many were still digesting the fact that their globally known CEO commuted like a regular person, and yet nothing about him seed ordinary. His charm wasn't about appearances—it was about energy, ease, and clarity. Risa herself had been surprised when she first learned that Zaboru often biked to work—whether in Tokyo, California, or now London. But seeing it in person added a different weight to it. This wasn't a PR stunt. This was Zaboru.
Risa chuckled, her tone light but respectful. "Thank you, boss. So, how about a quick tour today? Maybe spend so ti getting familiar with the layout of ZAGE Base before diving into the deep end tomorrow?"
Zaboru nodded with a grin. "Absolutely. Let's go."
And so, with Risa by his side, Zaboru spent his first full day inside ZAGE Base London getting thoroughly acquainted with every corner of the facility. Rather than rushing into executive etings or formal briefings, he chose to absorb the soul of the place first—studying the architecture, observing the energy of the staff, and sensing the unique pulse of this newly established European command center.
Each hallway they walked through sparked curiosity. From the buzz of conversations in open workspaces to the subtle hum of machines in testing labs, Zaboru quietly took it all in. Risa offered explanations when needed, but mostly let him move at his own thoughtful pace. It wasn't just about orientation—it was about connection. And Zaboru, as always, understood that the essence of a great workplace began with understanding its foundation.
Outside the main entrance stood two fully operational ZAGE-branded facilities: the ZAGE Gym, designed not only for physical training but also team-building wellness programs, and the ZAGE Tavern, Staff enjoyed specialized employee discounts here, making it a favored spot for both casual lunches and impromptu team gatherings. Unlike the Japan or USA bases, however, this new base did not yet feature a dedicated ZAGE Arcade or Official Store—space was currently too limited to accommodate those functions. However, Zaboru had already made notes for future expansion once the surrounding lots beca available.
After the ground floor to the seventh floor, the building served administrative purposes. These levels housed the core operational teams—Admins, Human Resources, Legal, Licensing Managent, and other backbone departnts. One of the more unique additions was the establishnt of a specialized unit known as Team Stats. This group will be tasked with collecting, analyzing, and interpreting athlete data from across Europe, specifically to help ZAGE for stats based gas. Zaboru considered this an important long-term investnt and intended to personally brief his developers on how Team Stats would collaborate across multiple divisions
Above that, from the 8th to the 25th floor, the structure shifted into a hive of creative and technical activity while not all of them are filled now. The majority of space was allocated to Team OMNI developers, divided across departnts like Ga Design, Programming, Art, and QA. There were also state-of-the-art soundproof Musical Recording studios; a full-scale Motion Capture facility with green-screen and rigging capabilities; a dedicated Hardware Research lab where early prototypes for ZAGE Hardware could be tested; and a massive Gaming Showcase Room designed to host internal competitions, or just to relax withing employee. At 20th floor is the heart of it all was a spacious Town Hall—a place designed not just for announcents, but for open dialogues between leadership and staff.
The crown jewel, however, was the 26th floor. Reserved entirely for Zaboru, this space functioned as both his personal office and a high-tech workshop. Sleek, minimalist design t advanced engineering tools—from whiteboards and drafting tables to soldering stations and early dev kits. There was also a small, private lounge and bedroom suite, ensuring he could stay overnight when necessary.
And so, on his first day at ZAGE Base London, Zaboru spent his ti imrsing himself in the new environnt, exploring every corner of the tower with quiet focus and curiosity. He observed the layout, noted the flow of each floor, and greeted staff mbers along the way, letting his Aura of Influence subtly begin its work. There were no etings or grand declarations today—just calm preparation. Tomorrow, he would officially unveil his long-term vision to the entire company, with a particular emphasis on Team OMNI and the newly ford Team Stats, both of which would beco vital pillars in ZAGE's European ambitions.
By late afternoon, Zaboru had fully settled into the 26th floor of the tower—his personal office and workshop. The floor already felt like a second ho, outfitted not only for leadership but for invention, solitude, and late-night ideation. As the sun dipped behind the London skyline, casting golden light through the tall windows, Zaboru sat at his desk and powered on his workstation, ready to begin mapping the first outlines of what was to co for team OMNI.
To be continue
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