May 6.

  The cool nights of San Jose are satisfying in trast to the hot days. Billy was sketg the seventh chapter of the One Piece series and tinued narrating. The drawing was doh siderable precision, and the delivery of ten One Piece chapters doesn't seem as impossible as Billy initially thought. The series of Samurai X and Shaman King will be paused to make room for Cowboy Bebop and One Piece.

  -This Devil Fruit thing is quite iing, and that Haki stuff is limitless. So many things could happen on your jourhough you should explore another power, -said Raimon.

  -We pn to use sce, kendo, and physical skills with tradition. Currently, there are already four different forms, but there are still many others that be utilized, - said Billy. He wasn't lying; the story had many elements and power-ups for some exceptional individuals.

  -So, it's a very long story, - said Raimon, somewhat incredulous. Billy's series was already a bit lengthy pared to ics, which usually ran for 10 to 15 volumes. Billy creates sequential stories of 150 chapters and ting, which surprises readers, especially in the Uates, as they are not so aced to linear series in this era.

  -It will be. I'll do at least 1500 chapters, - said Billy.

  -That's ambitious, - said Raimon, who paused. - For Star Wars, do you have simirly ambitious pns? -

  -Yep, ns for many series that will break the mold, Raimon. Our panies are just getting started, and not in a short time. People will begin to uand what Lux Animation is about, - said Billy.

  Raimon fell silent and pinched his budding beard with a hint of infinite curiosity. - Just the beginning - for many, this is already sidered a total success. Beyond that, it's something unattainable and unreasonable. Calling Lux Animation a failure in what it has bee is unthinkable.

  -This is how legends look, - thought Raimon. - The guy is so cool! -

  -I think I'll be happy to see how much this pany will grow, - said Raimon.

  -Warner won't be happy, nor will Dishe corporate war has been like a cold war, fought behind closed curtains, with moves invisible to many. Only the ret stodustry, even my shares, are disguised theft of series, -- Billy fessed. -- But I'm surprised they haven't attacked with all their might. They've closed doors on us, and we're still afloat thanks to lud series fans who keep buying iow, with the profits from the movies, we've been able to gee more iment for our uping projects, but we're on a thin thread. If we have two failures, our recovery will be difficult. -

  -The stocks have grown a lot. I don't believe you; I did the calcutions st week. You have as much money as to make ten movies without earning a single t, sidering each movie costs 50 million, - said Raimon.

  -Well, that money is entirely mine, - said Billy.

  -Like the pany, - replied Raimon.

  -Of course, of course. It's just a personal position of mine, although if necessary, I wouldn't want to use that money for at least a few more years. There's more to it than business, after all, this pany is eai. There are some panies I'd like to sell, but it's better to do it when it's entirely worth it, - said Billy.

  -You with your strange pns, I still don't fully uand, - said Raimon, sitting down to read the Evangelion series, which had not been released yet. He feigned ignorance for the severa chapters he was about to read, starting with Chapter 85, surprised by how the subseques were unfolding.

  -You had several nominations at this year's i, almost 12 ratings for the ics you've beeing, - said Raimon as he turhe page.

  -It's the first time you've received nominations since you started making ics. What's the reason? There are quite a few, - said Billy.

  -, Sm Dunk, Evangelion, and Samurai X have been nominated. You're a pioneer iernative genre. Retly, a young person unched a basketball series in a DC subsidiary, not as good as Sm Dunk. Still, Jim Lee says it's destio open different categories for the new ics that have been spreading in the market, - said Raimon.

  The pause between reading and drawing sted a good while, and the office's atmosphere began to suffocate them. By lunchtime, Raimon had lost track of time due to the intense reading, and Billy had started on Book 6, providing a longer and more detailed expnation of the East Blue, a short saga initially inteo st 150 chapters but shortened due to the editor's advice.

  -It's time for lunch, - said Anne from the door, warning around 2:30, a deadline for Billy's meal. A rge, nutritious lunch, per Anne's strict schedule for Billy's health.

  -Stay, Ahere's something that has bothered me the past few days, - said Billy.

  Anne's back straightened more than it should have, with a hint of surprise. She thought she would be asked about her mistake with Lucasfilm. It's her first mistake as an employee, and for A's a bck mark oherwise impeccable record that she has worked hard to maintain.

  -We need a restaurant for the employees with the new hires and the new pany. We should create an outstanding, rge restaurant that lightens the atmosphere for our workers. I saw some of them eating at their desks, and it's nht to provide them with a healthy enviro, - said Billy.

  Raimon listeteo Billy's request and gave a couple of ideas, but nothing clusive. -We create a food court with a small restaurant and hamburger and pizza carts. You have two franchises; it's not a bad idea to use them, - suggested Raimon.

  -Yes, let it be built in the front of the new building. A food zone, and if possible, iate with whoever owns the nd in front and on the side. I want to buy them, -- said Billy to Anne and Raimon. "By the way, thanks for the meal. --

  -Yes, - said Anne, agreeing. In another stru project, the pany that delivered the building has been very effit, and the 25-year warranty is more than enough for Lux Animation.

  Closing the door behind her.

  -Well, I'm also very hungry, - said Raimon, who got up from his desk to grab a bite and start pnning the new green area project.

  -Don't fet to hahe marketing procedures for The Lion King. I'll have to go to Thaind and Maysia week. I want the 30 million to multiply in the ing months with the plush toys, toys, and bes we requested, - said Billy.

  -I'll do it. Anne, you have the Toy Story statistics, and I nning to give you a meeting about the profits, but you've been busy, - said Raimon, ing up the versation. He had a lot to discuss with Craig; the ending of Evangelion would be plete madness.

  -Thank you, Raimon. e, I'll pick up the profit statistics for this year, - said Billy.

  Raimon grimaced; some of the emas hadn't returhe money, and what seemed like a signifit amount now faced major colle issues due to some delis who didn't want to pay on time.

  ,,,