Monday 31 July 1997.
A couple of days after updating the ZAGE Forums, Zaboru found himself at the ZAGE Campus in the USA. The team there was ramping up preparations for the upcoming launch of Microsoft Windows XP, and Zaboru was fully imrsed in helping out. He was specifically collaborating with the ZAGE USA developnt team known as Tempest, who were working on their flagship project—Diablo 2. This ga was slated to be one of the main showcases during the Windows XP event scheduled for August, and Zaboru wanted to ensure everything was running perfectly.
anwhile in Japan, the dia was absolutely ablaze with the shocking revelation that Shonen Jump, one of the most iconic manga magazines in the world, had been officially sold to ZAGE. Even though Shonen Jump had experienced a steady decline in recent years—losing readership and struggling to maintain its relevance—it still carried legendary status in the manga industry. Its influence spanned decades, and the fact that ZAGE, a tech and entertainnt giant, had acquired it was seen as nothing short of revolutionary.
The headlines dominated newspapers, television broadcasts, and radio talk shows. "ZAGE BUYS JUMP: A NEW ERA BEGINS," one tabloid boldly declared. Industry veterans and fans alike were stunned, not just because of the acquisition itself, but because of what it signaled: a bold move that could reshape the entire manga publishing landscape.
What truly elevated the buzz was the announcent that Shonen Jump would now be managed under Hakushensha, a subsidiary of ZAGE known for publishing innovative and boundary-pushing manga under the brand Weekly Shonen Shock. Many industry analysts speculated that this rger could breathe new life into both entities. There was already talk that the move would increase the volu of new manga releases, introduce fresh collaborations between Hakushensha and Jump creators, and even lead to crossover publications.
Fans began theorizing about dream pairings of artists, revivals of classic series, and entirely new IPs born from this fusion of legacy and experintation. "Imagine if Jump's archives got the Shock treatnt," one user posted. "We could see an entire generation of manga reinvented."
It wasn't just a business deal; it was a cultural shockwave. For many, it felt like watching history being rewritten in real ti. And with ZAGE at the helm, expectations were sky-high.
anwhile, at the Hakushensha headquarters, owner Tomizawa Bakurou leaned back in his chair, a wide grin stretching across his face. He vividly rembered the day his boss, Zaboru, called him with the explosive news that ZAGE was acquiring Shonen Jump—and that Hakushensha would be the one managing it. It was surreal.
"Heh... those bastards finally sold their soul, huh?" he muttered with a scoff, shaking his head.
Tomizawa's disdain for Shonen Jump wasn't just business—it was deeply personal. In his early days, he had worked there as a young editor, only to be manipulated, underpaid, and ultimately pushed out by shady senior staff. That betrayal had driven him to leave the industry entirely—until he ca back stronger, founding his own manga publishing company. Now, in a twist of fate so ironic it almost felt scripted, he would be the one overseeing the sa publication that once rejected him.
He sighed deeply, a mix of amusent and disbelief.
"If it were up to , I'd just delete Shonen Jump altogether. But the boss says we're reviving it... so fine. We'll play it his way."
Tomizawa sat up straighter, his mind now racing through possibilities.
"Well, this ans more staff, bigger operations, and a weekly publication on top of our already ongoing Weekly Shonen Shock."
He rubbed his hands together, excited at the challenge. Then an idea hit him.
"Let's just rena everything. Call it 'Weekly Shonen Shock Jump' and 'Monthly Shonen Shock Jump.' That way, people will still recognize the Jump brand, but it'll be clear—it's under Hakushensha's direction now."
He chuckled to himself as he opened his work terminal, already drafting restructuring plans, editorial changes, and talent outreach strategies. There was a mountain of work ahead—but for Tomizawa, it wasn't a burden. It was poetic justice. Finally, the crown jewel of manga publishing—Shonen Jump—was under his leadership. And he was going to reshape it his way.
anwhile, in the ZAGE Forums, user discussions had exploded with excitent and speculation. One popular thread was titled, "Damn, Zaboru bought another company?" and quickly filled with replies. The original post featured a of Zaboru grinning confidently, with bold text across the top that read, "I WILL BUY YOU."
Replies ca pouring in. One user enthusiastically comnted, "This is a good thing—ans Shonen Jump will be rising again!" Another chid in with a theory: "Or will they rge it with Shonen Shock?" To punctuate the chaos, soone posted a of Hikaru Kurata clutching his head in disbelief, captioned with the confused phrase: "I'm Confused??"
The entire forum was alive with energy. Threads were popping up not only about the business move itself but also filled with s, jokes, and fan-made posters celebrating the acquisition. As Zaboru had hoped, real-life reaction images were being used everywhere. One thread even curated a collection of the best reactions within the hour, with users voting on the funniest ones and adding their own spin.
Despite the flood, the tone across the community remained overwhelmingly positive. Fans were thrilled by the idea that Shonen Jump—though in decline for years—might now receive the revival it desperately needed. The rger with Weekly Shonen Shock sparked debates, predictions, and even mock-up covers combining characters from both brands.
And for all the sarcasm and silliness, the underlying sentint was real: people genuinely believed this mont might change manga history. Zaboru, whether he saw it yet or not, had just created another wave.
anwhile, behind closed doors, executives from several of Japan's largest corporations were making phone calls, scheduling urgent etings, and pressuring key political figures. The topic of every conversation? ZAGE. More specifically, the growing concern that ZAGE had beco too powerful, too influential—perhaps even untouchable. These higher-ups feared that ZAGE's dominance, especially following the Shonen Jump acquisition, might start tipping the scales of power in Japan's economy and dia landscape.
Their proposed solution was simple: force ZAGE to go public. By making it a publicly traded company, they hoped to introduce external shareholders and regulation that could curb ZAGE's autonomy. However, when their request reached the governnt, it was swiftly denied.
Officials within the Japanese governnt understood the full scope of ZAGE's value—not just in economic terms, but in cultural and technological innovation. Unlike many large corporations, ZAGE reinvested the majority of its revenue directly into product developnt, research, and the welfare of its employees. Salaries at ZAGE were not only competitive—they were generous, fostering loyalty, morale, and consur spending that circulated back into the economy. For many working- and middle-class families, having a ZAGE employee in the household ant stability, upward mobility, and access to cutting-edge technologies.
Beyond numbers, there was also Zaboru Renkonan himself. The man behind the empire was no typical CEO. To many within the elite business class, he was seen as a poor businessman—not because of failure, but because of how he refused to play the traditional ga. He wasn't manipulative. He wasn't duplicitous. He didn't know how to wear a false smile or tell a convenient lie. Zaboru simply said what he thought and followed through on it. That raw honesty, while frustrating to so, was seen by many in governnt as a breath of fresh air.
And there was another reason for their refusal to act: ZAGE, alongside Sendo Inc., had recently beco the primary investor in a massive national project to expand fiber optic infrastructure across Japan. With the internet poised to redefine society, this initiative was vital to Japan's technological future—and ZAGE's involvent made it viable.
In the end, the requests of these worried executives fell flat. The governnt made its position clear: ZAGE was too important to restrain, and Zaboru Renkonan was exactly the kind of leader they preferred—honest, driven, and focused on progress, not politics.
anwhile, Zaboru was at the ZAGE Campus, personally checking in with his team on the progress of Diablo 2. Though deeply involved in the developnt process, his schedule remained packed—he was also preparing for a major eting with Bill Gates, which would take place in just a few days.
To be continue
Please give your power stone and if you want to support and get minimum 11 advance chapter and additional 1 chapter a week for 3 bucks considering subscribe to my patreon patreon/Zaborn_1997 Current Patreon chap 790
User Comments
0 comments from readers