’Alright, I’ve decided. Let’s make a generation 1.5 Magic Vision device.’

Zog gave Elsa his instructions. "We’re changing the sales plan. Here’s what we’ll do..."

—————————

「In an ordinary residence in Twin Tower City.」

"I want a color Magic Vision Device!" a little boy wailed, rolling on the floor like a spinning top. "John from my class—his family bought one!"

The color Magic Vision Device was definitely the hottest new thing right now. With wall-to-wall advertising, it was hard not to know about it.

"What do you need a color Magic Vision Device for? Isn’t the one we have now good enough for you?" his mother, who was in the middle of cooking, snapped.

"You’re just a little kid, what’s there to be so competitive about? John’s family is in business. Can our family even compare?"

In reality, children were the most competitive of all. Besides grades, they would compare everything: the stationery they used, the toys they played with, and even their shoes when they were all in the same uniform.

They often felt pride or inferiority because of these comparisons, and many people developed their insecurities during this phase of life.

The state of not caring that one’s food and clothing were not as good as others’ was truly beyond the reach of most people.

"Dinner’s ready," the mother urged.

When the mother said it was time to eat, it proved that while she was angry, it wasn’t by much.

"We already have a Magic Vision Device in the house and you’re still not satisfied. Do you think your father’s job is easy? Our neighbors nearby don’t even have a black-and-white one," the mother continued to lecture.

The father said nothing, playing the role of the one in the family responsible for intimidating the child.

The boy wiped his tears, climbed up from the floor, and said pitifully, "But you promised you’d grant me one wish if I got first place on my test."

The mother deeply regretted it. She should have set a price limit on the wish. She had originally thought the child would be satisfied with a few packs of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards.

She didn’t want to go back on her word, either. A parent’s unfulfilled promise would affect the child’s upbringing, but the family truly couldn’t afford it.

"Next year. We’ll buy you one next year. We only bought this Magic Vision Device a year ago; we have to use it for at least one more year," she said, trying to make amends.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

The father went to open the door. Outside was a stranger carrying a large box on his back, with the Zog Group logo on his clothes.

It was a single red character: a box with a line down the middle.

"Hello, interested in a color Magic Vision Device?"

"No, thank you." Realizing it was a salesman, the father refused him outright.

"Well, you see, we’re running a promotion right now where we offer an upgrade service for older Magic Vision Devices. You can get a color picture just by updating the screen and the picture tube. It’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss."

"We don’t need an upgrade, either," the father continued to refuse.

"Won’t you hear a little more about it? During the promotion, you can enjoy a free upgrade."

"Free!" The boy leaped three feet in the air.

’How is that possible?’

"The replacement screen and picture tube are free for one year. If you pay off the full amount within that time, there’s no interest at all. For interest beyond that time limit, you can refer to this calculation table. And the upgrade price is only one-fifth the cost of a whole new Magic Vision Device."

The salesman’s voice was full of temptation.

Buying on credit—Zog’s new sales strategy.

The father looked back at his teary-eyed son. He had just said they would get a color one in a year, and upgrading now to pay it off in a year didn’t sound all that different.

"Alright," he said after a moment of thought.

"Yay! I love you, Dad!" The boy started spinning in circles again, a happy top this time.

The replacement work was completed quickly.

At 7 p.m., the prime time for Magic Vision viewing, the neighborhood kids all brought their little stools over to this house to watch, just as they always did.

The instant the clock’s hands ticked past 7:00, the Zog Art Film Studio opening sequence appeared.

"Wow!"

The room full of viewers gasped in amazement.

They saw the gray, hazy screen suddenly burst into a riot of color.