Chapter 123: The First Encounter with Blizzard

Huang He actually had little interest in chatting with these future esports legends, even though they were his idols in another life.

However, now that he had reached his current position, his perspective had shifted.

Legends? Are they wealthier than I am?

Ahem, that sounds a bit blunt, but that was the evolution of Huang He’s mindset.

Huang He left Leng Zhimeng there to chat and, accompanied by his interpreter, followed the directions to find Blizzard's room. He knocked politely, and a series of English responses came from within.

"Chairman, they say they aren't accepting any media interviews, especially not regarding Warcraft III!" the interpreter whispered.

"Tell them I’m not here for an interview; I’m here to secure the distribution rights for Warcraft III in mainland China!" Huang He replied.

"Yes!" The interpreter conveyed the message. Moments later, the door opened, revealing a foreigner with a slightly red nose. He looked at Huang He with curiosity and asked, "Chinese, do you really want to distribute Warcraft III?"

"Absolutely!" Huang He nodded.

"Interesting!" The foreigner laughed and ushered Huang He inside before introducing himself.

Huang He was in luck; the man was actually Allen Adham, the president of Blizzard.

Ordinarily, as the president, Adham wouldn't attend a small event like the WCG—at most, he would send a department head. However, Adham was not only a CEO but also an avid esports fan who loved his own games. He hadn't come for work; he was simply there to enjoy the thrill of the competition.

And so, he crossed paths with Huang He.

This had one major advantage: it bypassed the layers of corporate bureaucracy, allowing Huang He to negotiate directly with the person in charge.

"You say you want to distribute our Warcraft III!" Adham said, rubbing his red nose. "But we haven’t released any information on the game yet. You couldn't possibly have any intelligence on it, so what makes you think it’s a title worth distributing?"

Huang He didn't brag about how great Warcraft III would be or its historical significance in gaming. Instead, he said, "To be honest, I don't know anything about Warcraft III, and I have no data to confirm my confidence in this specific game."

"Then why do you want to distribute it?" Adham asked, even more puzzled.

"Because I have confidence in Blizzard!" Huang He declared. "I’ve played every game your company has released, and I find every single one of them fascinating. It seems that 'fun' and 'depth' are part of Blizzard’s genetic code. Therefore, I believe that anything your company produces is bound to be a masterpiece in the market!"

*(At least, before you release the mobile version of Diablo...)* Huang He added to himself.

"Oh, my friend, I know you’re flattering me, and I’m starting to feel embarrassed!" Adham claimed he knew it was flattery, but he was clearly enjoying it.

In truth, whether a person is good or bad, everyone enjoys a bit of flattery. If someone doesn't, they probably aren't a normal person, and it’s best to keep your distance.

"However, Mr. Huang, while your flattery is pleasant, you might not know that we have a long-standing partnership with Aomei Electronics in your country. Our products are handled by them, and we share a deep friendship. I personally don't wish to see that friendship broken," Adham said.

"I know of Aomei Electronics," Huang He said calmly. "They are currently the top single-player game distributor in the country, but the company is in total disarray internally. I hear they want to enter the online gaming market, yet they have zero experience in it. Moreover, their cash flow is highly unstable; I’m afraid they aren't the best choice."

"Mr. Huang, speaking ill of others behind their backs is not a good habit," Adham said, looking displeased. "At the very least, our collaboration with Aomei has always been very pleasant!"

"Then may I ask, how much revenue did Aomei Electronics generate for you in China after distributing Warcraft II?" Huang He suddenly asked.

"Mr. Huang, that is not a question you should be asking; it is our company's trade secret!" Adham was even more annoyed and was ready to show his guest the door.

"As far as I know, in 2001, Aomei distributed 19 different games, including masterpieces like Diablo II and Half-Life: Counter-Strike. Yet, their total annual revenue was only 30 million RMB. I imagine the portion attributable to your products was less than 10 million RMB, and what finally reached your company was probably less than 3 million RMB—barely 400,000 USD!"

"..." Adham’s expression darkened further, as the actual amount received was less than 200,000 USD. That was precisely why he never took the Chinese market seriously; in his mind, it was impossible to make money there.

"But I am different. I can add a zero to that number!" Huang He made a zero sign with his fingers.

*Add a zero!*

Adham was moved instantly. His earlier irritation vanished, and he replied, "Mr. Huang, I don't like being deceived!"

"I don't like being deceived either, so I never deceive others," Huang He nodded with a smile. "2 million means 2 million USD."

"But as far as I know, it is impossible for the Chinese market to sell 2 million USD worth of games!" Adham shook his head. "Even if Aomei didn't sell our products seriously, there shouldn't be a tenfold difference. After all, our prices are simply too expensive for Chinese players."

"You don't need to worry about that!" Huang He waved his hand. "The 2 million I’m talking about is a buyout. I’ll pay you 2 million USD right now to buy out the distribution rights for the game in China. You just have to nod, and your company will receive 2 million USD immediately!"

Faced with such a temptation, Adham couldn't refuse. He didn't hesitate to cast aside his "deep friendship" with Aomei Electronics. "As long as your company can pay the 2 million USD, you can have the distribution rights for Warcraft III in mainland China."

"However, Mr. Adham, I actually have one small request," Huang He smiled.

"What request?"

"As you know, current Chinese law does not allow foreign Battle.net servers to operate, so your company's service cannot enter the market. But for a competitive online game, the lack of a Battle.net connection would severely diminish the gameplay experience. I propose that our company develops a local Battle.net server to replace the functions of your own!"

"Of course, this is only a temporary measure for the Chinese version of Warcraft III. If future laws allow it, your official servers can enter the market. It is merely an expedient solution," Huang He said sincerely.