Writing Web Novels In America-Chapter 55 Ambitions Can Be Bigger

"What do you mean?" Wang Jian asked, "Is EA going to directly publish the ’Arcane Throne’ comics?"

"They’ll subsidize every comic sold," Dorsey panted, "These costs will be calculated as part of the game’s promotional expenses."

"How much specifically?" Wang Jian inquired.

"I’m not sure about that," Rossi scratched his head.

Subsidize it into the selling price?

After pondering for a moment, Wang Jian picked up the phone and called Tom again.

"Try to reserve a table at the Plaza Restaurant."

"We’ll host a dinner for EA’s negotiation representatives tonight and see if we can extract some valuable information."

"The Plaza Restaurant?" Tom replied, "We’ll have to book it under your name; among us, you’re the only one who’s a well-known social figure."

Well-known social figure?

Wang Jian was first taken aback and then burst into laughter.

After hanging up the phone.

He saw Dorsey looking at him expectantly.

After hemming and hawing, Dorsey asked, "Can I come along tonight? I’ve never been to the Plaza Restaurant before."

"Of course," Wang Jian answered with a shrug.

Once Dorsey left the office, Wang Jian stood up and stared blankly at the Empire State Building in the distance.

To be honest, after becoming a best-selling author, I wasn’t as strapped as when I first arrived, and I had somewhat lost a sense of purpose.

But after what happened at noon, Wang Jian’s fighting spirit was reignited.

"Ambition can actually be a bit bigger," he muttered to himself.

...

As evening fell, the Plaza Restaurant.

Wang Jian and Dorsey arrived early.

This place was not unworthy of its reputation, having been the filming location for many movies and the site of the signing of the Plaza Accord.

The customers coming and going were all dressed to the nines, and Wang Jian even spotted someone in a tuxedo...

While he suppressed the desire to ridicule inwardly, he fended off Jack Dorsey, who kept rubbing up against him.

The programmer was now so nervous and excited that he could hardly contain himself.

Fifteen minutes later, Tom finally arrived late with EA’s negotiation representative.

After introductions and pleasantries,

they were led by a waiter to the reserved table.

The negotiator was a middle-aged Indian man, speaking English with a heavy curry accent.

Wang Jian struggled to listen and could only understand that the man was complimenting him.

Praising his youth and promising talent, rich imagination, and so on.

He responded with a smile, while signaling Tom with his eyes to start prying for information.

But just as Tom was about to speak, a cool-haired white man stood up on stage and began to address the room.

"Today is a special day," he flicked his hair dramatically and continued, "The Plaza Restaurant will be changing hands."

"As no one could have predicted that I would become its owner, today, I will sell it unexpectedly to you all."

"That’s my style, just like how someday, I might become the Great Commander."

The crowd laughed, and the man on stage joined in, "Regardless, the Plaza Restaurant will continue to accompany everyone in the days to come."

Wang Jian looked at the man on the stage, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

So, he turned to Tom and asked, "Who is that guy?"

"A restless billionaire," Tom replied disdainfully, "He’s been in a reality show, played a bit part in movies, and even won a Golden Raspberry Award."

"No one likes him. He’s just a guy who’ll do anything for attention, with no limits."

Unexpectedly, Dorsey interjected, "I actually quite like the guy."

Always seeking attention, huh?

Wang Jian thought for a moment.

Perhaps that was why he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity?

Immediately, he shook his head.

Forget it; it’s more important to get down to business.

After pouring two bottles of well-known Red wine down this Indian man’s throat, Tom began to fish for information.

"I wonder what EA thinks about the game licensing for ’Arcane Throne’?"

"We value ’Arcane Throne’ very highly."

"Some major shareholders even suggested to the Chairman that the book is not only suitable to be adapted into a game."

"What’s more important is that its novel setting and explosive popularity could potentially make the game version of ’Arcane Throne’ a classic for generations."

"By that time, the first, second, third editions... classic, reprinted, collector’s editions could all sell for a decent price."

"Then why are you being so stingy with the game licensing fee?"

Tom poured the Indian another glass of Red wine.

"Because the hottest game on the market right now is ’Diablo,’ they got in first and caused a sensation."

"We’re not sure if ’Arcane Throne’ can beat them."

"But I heard EA is interested in buying the comic rights to ’Arcane Throne’?" Wang Jian asked.

"That is to test the popularity of ’Arcane Throne’ among comic fans."

"After all, market research shows that the main buyers of ’Diablo’ are mostly comic fans."

"And, compared to developing a quality game, comics are just pennies. The publicity department releases so many books related to the game stories every year."

"But in the end, how many of them are turned into games?"

"So, you’re only going to ask for comic rights after securing the game license?" Wang Jian pressed.

Who knew, the Indian smiled cryptically at Wang Jian, then he began to shift the topic.

He talked at length about the glass ceiling for people of color in big companies and how it’s impossible for them to move up any further, and so on.

Wang Jian was first taken aback, then he began to smile knowingly.

He took out his checkbook and wrote a figure for ten thousand US dollars.

Then, he instructed Dorsey, "There’s an Indian Casino near the Juilliard School, in the Upper West Side."

"Go there, exchange this for chips worth a hundred US dollars each, then bring them back."

Dorsey looked at Wang Jian, a bit puzzled, and asked, "Casino, chips?"

"Don’t ask so many questions; just go."

"Okay." Dorsey scratched his head, took the check and walked out.

"By the way, did you know there’s a casino behind the Juilliard School?" Wang Jian asked, "There are a lot of gamblers there; those Indians have made quite a bit of money from it."

"Oh? Behind the Juilliard School?" The Indian asked, "In the Upper West Side?"

"That’s right, it’s easy to find," Wang Jian said.

Then, the topic was dropped, and they started talking about music and art.

It wasn’t until half an hour later that Dorsey returned to the restaurant, holding a square box.

"It’s getting late; let’s call it a night," Wang Jian said.

"Okay, okay." The Indian handed over a napkin, saying, "Wang, you have some food residue at the corner of your mouth."

"Oh, thanks for the napkin." After saying that, he took the napkin and walked out of the restaurant.

A moment later, the Indian came out, holding the square box.

Wang Jian sat in Tom’s car, unfolded the napkin to take a look.

Then, he instructed, "The negotiations with EA, put them on hold for now."

"We’ll reopen negotiations after the second volume of ’Arcane Throne’ is completely finished."

"By then, we’ll sell 50% of the comic rights and an exclusive game license for ten years."

"Our asking price is," Wang Jian took another glance at the napkin, and said, "900 thousand US dollars."

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