Starting as a Manga Editor-Chapter 213: The True Core

"It is indeed unexpected."
Yan Yun nodded: "The core members of their FGO project team have all rejected the headhunters' offers."
"Then increase the offer."
Shen Lun casually tossed aside the documents without concern: "If triple doesn't work, make it five times."
"Understood..."
Yan Yun hesitated briefly before nodding in agreement, then cautiously added: "However, Chairman Shen, the headhunters mentioned something rather noteworthy. I'm unsure of its validity."
Shen Lun paused: "What is it?"
"The headhunters said those core members... well, they're all young people."
Yan Yun carefully chose his words while observing Shen Lun's expression: "Naïve youths who don't know their place. The headhunters tried offering higher salaries and better benefits, but these people... they actually berated the headhunters and hung up."
"In short, they showed no interest whatsoever, with little regard for future development or career prospects."
"The headhunters suggested such strongly resistant individuals aren't worth excessive effort."
"Moreover, their investigations revealed these people actually have very limited relevant industry experience."
"For instance, that FGO lead artist Avalon listed - though she graduated from China's top art academy, her only previous employment was at a small company called Mingyu Technology. And that company's game ultimately failed without making any splash."
"As for Sun Gong, the current FGO project leader - he just graduated and has absolutely no prior industry experience."
"They believe it's unnecessary to waste too much effort on such inexperienced individuals."
"..."
"Oh?"
Shen Lun chuckled with mild derision: "So you're saying... these people merely got lucky, riding the zeitgeist to create FGO?"
"Not exactly."
Seeing Shen Lun's expression, Yan Yun tactfully amended: "It's more that they aren't worth... excessive attention. They're simply too young and haven't demonstrated any irreplaceable qualities."
Hearing this, Shen Lun fell into contemplation.
He certainly didn't believe FGO's success was pure luck.
As someone who had guided Jiuxiao to its current prominence through both fortunate timing and sharp business acumen, he could distinguish between fluke successes and genuinely well-crafted products.
FGO unmistakably belonged to the latter category.
Its quality clearly wasn't something cobbled together haphazardly. Having studied Avalon's development trajectory, he noted they'd been preparing for game development since their manga phase - hardly the mark of mere luck.
Considering their subsequent marketing prowess, sharp insights, and precise understanding of player and reader preferences, their team undoubtedly brimmed with talent.
Thus, he dismissed the headhunters' assessment outright - FGO's success couldn't possibly be mere chance.
Experience?
Shen Lun knew full well that experience sometimes meant absolutely nothing.
Yet...
Yan Yun's words now gave him pause.
Perhaps not pure luck... but there might be some element of fortunate timing?
A group of young people, fueled by passion for anime culture, coincidentally catching the industry wave to achieve sudden fame.
Such cases weren't uncommon.
Every era produced its share of fortunate individuals.
If they were indeed such cases, then perhaps they truly weren't worth much effort...
"Demonstrated no irreplaceable qualities - that's what the headhunters' insider ed?" Shen Lun sought confirmation.
Reputable headhunting firms conducted thorough due diligence when targeting specific talent.
Traditional methods like planting informants remained essential for gathering detailed intelligence about companies and their personnel.
Jiuxiao's headhunters certainly understood this.
"Correct."
Yan Yun nodded confidently: "Though our informant isn't in the content department - they're in an unrelated, more easily penetrated division - they've gathered indirect intelligence about the content team. These individuals truly haven't shown any unique irreplaceability beyond being energetic, passionate about game development, and full of ideas."
"That's their defining characteristic - nothing particularly special otherwise."
He continued after a pause: "Additionally, the informant brought another piece of information, though the headhunters dismissed it as misjudgment... They claimed Avalon's true core is actually their CEO, Tang Yao."
"FGO was essentially her creation. From the initial demo, she served as the project's sole planner while simultaneously acting as lead artist. Her influence permeates every aspect except technical development. Oh, and she single-handedly drew the original manga too."
"She led the current core team in creating FGO."
"..."
Shen Lun laughed outright: "Already cultivating personal worship at this early stage? How very youthful."
This scenario felt all too familiar.
He'd gone through similar phases himself.
Most leaders craved this kind of adulation. Success resulted from complex combinations of era, environment, market conditions, and team support.
Yet many leaders developed delusions of being solely responsible after achieving success, grossly overestimating their personal contributions.
He'd only recognized this truth himself in recent years.
Now, he clearly viewed Tang Yao as such a case.
"Indeed."
Hearing this definitive assessment, Yan Yun also smiled: "I personally find it absurd too... The informant also mentioned they're preparing their company's second game."
"Oh?"
Shen Lun's expression grew serious again.
Yan Yun quickly added: "They've reassigned some FGO (backbone members) to this new project. But surprisingly, it's not another gacha mobile game - it's edly... a card game."
"A card game?"
Shen Lun blinked, then visibly relaxed, asking amusedly: "What kind? Traditional games like poker? Or TCG/LCG-style card games?"
"Rumors suggest the latter."
"Hah..."
Shen Lun completely lost interest, shaking his head: "How presumptuous. That market's so dominated by established brands even we at Jiuxiao avoid it. With entrenched player bases and powerful brand equity, what makes them think some digital game can snatch market share?"
"Tch - fostering personality cults internally, abandoning their hard-won anime gacha niche to stubbornly charge into card games."
"Even diverting FGO's (key staff) for this, with no one daring to oppose. This company won't last long."
"Agreed."
"In that case, have the headhunters stand down."
Shen Lun waved dismissively, his final reservations now completely dispelled after this discussion.
He sneered: "Idealistic, inflexible youngsters aren't worth our time."
"Perhaps they'll collapse without our intervention."
"And this so-called 'true core' being the CEO? Personality cult? I'd love to see how this 'core' leads them to snatch market share in card games."
"Had they stuck with gacha games, I might've worried about ANF as a channel. Now there's no concern whatsoever."
"After they release this second game, have the headhunters and investment department approach them again."
"I'm curious to see if they'll remain so stubborn by then."
"..."