Three months after a successful debut with the product ‘Sariel,’ Evan has relocated from the South Korean headquarters to the company’s Japan office, marking a significant career milestone. His new assignment begins in a 33rd-floor apartment in Minato Ward, Tokyo, offering a panoramic view of the city’s meticulously organized streets and steel-and-glass buildings. This new vantage point, a stark contrast to his previous view of concrete walls at the Pyeongtaek base, symbolizes a profound shift in his professional and personal life.
The transfer confirmation email, received two weeks prior, detailed his promotion to APAC Strategy Director. This advancement represents a moment of recognition after a decade of steady, albeit not meteoric, progress since his discharge from the Iraq conflict. The drive that fueled late nights writing proposals in Pyeongtaek was largely motivated by a desire to overcome the ‘curse of the third year’ with the creation of Sariel. Now, the Tokyo skyline replaces the familiar confines of his former workspace.
His partner, Irina, also joined him in Tokyo, having readily agreed to the move. “Evan, look over there. You can actually see Mount Fuji,” she exclaimed, waking up and joining him in the living room. Her decision to accompany him was based on his assurance, “I’m making enough money. Just keep up with me.” With her experience as a seasoned caregiver, Irina could easily find part-time work in any city, and she quickly adapted to Tokyo life. Their shared history, spanning London, Poland, and Pyeongtaek, provided a stable foundation for their relationship in their new environment.
“See? I told you. You were going to have a big year professionally,” Irina said, scrolling through a fortune-telling app at the breakfast table. “You got promoted and even moved to Japan. My app was spot on.” She turned the phone towards Evan, her eyes twinkling with amusement. The app displayed a reading: ‘Transit: Venus is passing through the 7th house of your partner. This is a period of deepening connection. Love will soar, and reliance on each other will become structural, not a weakness.’
“Did you hear that? Reliance is structural, not a weakness. The app knows us better than we know ourselves,” she read aloud, her cheerful expression faltering as she viewed the next card. The app warned: ‘Caution: Mars entering Scorpio.’ Another card flashed: ‘Action: Mars in the 10th house of the career, directly above the career’s zenith, halts coldly. A shadow accompanies the throne of achievement. Accidents arrive from familiar paths at unexpected angles.’
“Evan… it says an unexpected accident could happen?” Evan unconsciously fiddled with his left thumbnail. “My life is determined by algorithms, not the position of stars.” “There are things algorithms can’t predict,” Irina’s tone shifted from playful to serious. “Unexpected accidents can happen anytime, even without a ‘zenith.’ What’s more frightening is you stopping again, just like before, when I’m not around.” Evan responded wearily, adjusting his tie, but he recognized a subtle anxiety in Irina’s directness. She added with a wry smile, “Evan, there’s no harm in being careful.” “I will be careful.” “I’ll hold you to that,” Irina retorted with a playful jab. Leaving Irina’s teasing behind, Evan headed to his first day at work.
A New Office in the Heart of Tokyo
His destination was a prominent building in Toranomon, not far from his apartment. This district is known for its concentration of affluent residents, large corporations, and global businesses. Duel Japan occupied an entire floor in one of the area’s tallest buildings, offering an atmosphere distinctly different from the military-base-like offices in Pyeongtaek.
Mark, the American deputy general manager of the Japan office, greeted Evan with an enthusiastic clap on the shoulder. “Evan Yoon? You’re the famous APAC Strategy Director!” His energy was palpable, a characteristic American vibrancy. “This is the break room, over there is the analysis team. Let me know if you have any questions.” As Evan walked through the office, Japanese employees kept their eyes fixed on their monitors, seemingly oblivious to Mark’s boisterous introduction.
Mark, who had long abandoned any pretense of managing the office’s atmosphere, was unaware of the subtle tension. Evan perceived it as a barrier. Unlike the Sariel interface displayed on the monitors of his Korean colleagues, the screens of the Japanese staff were filled with Excel sheets and technical diagrams detailing compatibility with Japanese local software vendors. Despite the company’s name, ‘Matrix Organization,’ suggesting a diverse, international workforce, the Japanese employees remained within their own close-knit circles. They seemed to view Evan not as a technical expert, but as an overseer sent from headquarters.
“Alright, that concludes the office tour. The General Manager is waiting for you over there,” Mark announced, directing Evan towards the office of Tanaka Kenji, the General Manager of Duel Japan. Tanaka’s office boasted a view of the Tokyo Tower.
Geopolitical Undercurrents in the Tech Industry
Tanaka gestured for Evan to sit on the sofa. “Evan-san, to be frank, the Japanese government is in a difficult position,” he began, his fluent English deviating from the typical Japanese executive stereotype. “While I personally acknowledge Sariel’s success, there’s a significant issue with national pride being wounded. There’s considerable resistance to following South Korea’s lead in adopting a system they introduced later.”
“You mean after Sariel’s initial release?” Evan inquired.
“Exactly. The Japanese media’s narrative shifted dramatically. While the Ministry of Defense repeatedly stated ‘under review,’ South Korea publicly released the coordinates. It was a major blow to the government’s face,” Tanaka explained, taking a sip of his Pepsi. “Internally, they’re using the argument of ‘Korean-style optimization’ to oppose it, questioning whether an algorithm designed for the Korean peninsula can handle the complexities of the Pacific coastlines and the noise generated by thousands of islands.”
“Technically, that’s manageable. Past oceanic environment simulations have already…” Evan started.
“It’s not strictly a technical issue,” Tanaka interrupted. “Ultimately, it’s a domestic political problem.” He offered a wry smile. “The government wants Sariel to be Japan’s digital lighthouse in Yonaguni and Okinawa, yet they fear China’s retaliation. Having witnessed South Korea’s situation, they’re demanding ‘controlled trade.'”
‘Controlled trade’ is a term typically used when a country demands equivalent value in arms in exchange for weapons sales, or requires local investment. However, Japan’s situation was more complex. “I hear the Japanese government is requesting partnerships with Shirakawa and Jung-go,” Tanaka’s voice lowered. “Shirakawa isn’t just a company; it’s the final destination for many retired defense officials, often called Amakudari. These giants, who once bolstered national pride during World War II with their offensive and defensive capabilities, are now relegated to local companies due to Article 9 of the peace constitution. They aim to re-enter the global market through deregulation, but due to internal inefficiencies and bloated structures, they’re a burden the government can neither discard nor ignore.”
“That sounds similar to South Korea’s Taesan Defense, but different,” Evan observed.
Tanaka nodded. “Shirakawa still possesses superior technical capabilities, but at some point, they lost the momentum and will for expansion. They’ve survived solely on political connections. Perhaps the Japanese government intends to use Sariel as an oxygen mask for Shirakawa?”
“I will investigate the situation,” Evan assured him.
A Global Strategy Unfolds
Returning to his desk, Evan found a sample of the new ‘Sariel’ smart glasses, marked for field testing, delivered from West Coast Labs. As he began to unbox them, his iPhone buzzed with a video call request from Jeff, his former colleague and now Global Strategy Team Managing Director at Duel headquarters. They had both been promoted together after Sariel’s successful launch in Korea.
“Evan, long time no see. Enjoying the Tokyo scenery?” Jeff asked.
“Yes. What is the reason for your call?” Evan replied.
“Things are about to get incredibly busy,” Jeff stated, his tone a notch higher than when he was in Korea, reflecting his increased responsibilities. “The company didn’t send you to Tokyo just to enjoy sushi. Headquarters wants you to bring all of Asia under Sariel’s umbrella.”
“We need to sort out the complicated situation with the Japanese government first…” Evan began.
“Japan will eventually comply. Don’t waste too much energy on it,” Jeff cut him off. “We need you to manage the booth at an upcoming exhibition in Manila.”
“Manila?”
“What, don’t want to go to a developing country?” Jeff quipped.
“No. I’ll prepare,” Evan confirmed.
“This trip’s core focus isn’t Japan, but a sales strategy for the Philippines, keeping the entire Asia-Pacific region in mind. It’s management’s directive,” Jeff emphasized, adjusting his glasses. The video conference concluded after an hour of various discussions.
Evan closed his notebook and left his office. Beyond Tokyo’s clear sky, the tropical heat was beginning to rise from the south.
