3 days.
That many days have passed since the recent CEO Takeover Game.
It's night, Greg watching the TV, deep in thoughts. Then the news comes up.
Newsreader: The worst happened, as most would say. Everyone thought it's surely not happening with him, but it seems like Todor, the perfectionist, is gone... It happened to him just like a lot of other winners of the Big Win Chance Game... They kept disappearing, the last time anyone saw him was the finals of the show. We have also asked Oli about it, but he said he doesn't know anything either. The police also stated clearly they won't start an investigation over it.
Turn TV off
Greg (Just as every other time. What is it really about...)
The next day, Adam comes over.
Greg opens the door.
Greg: Hey, come in.
In the living room they are talking, Greg drinking some green tea.
Adam: So, uhm... Have you heard the news?
Greg: Yes. of course I did.
Adam: It's weird. It's like they would be afraid to make it a case. I mean the police.
Greg: No. I think it's more like they are being controlled.
Adam: C-Controlled? What do you mean? By who?
Greg: By the show itself, obviously. All that suspiciousness and evidence against it, yet nothing?
Adam: What you imply is that they hold way more power than we have thought?
Greg: Why would the reason be that Oli cannot say a damn thing about what happened in the takeover game? Also, Don't you find it weird that only the 1st place gets prize money? Even though that prize is really high.
Adam: I have thought of that before, usually, the bigger the prize money, the more people get some out of it, like at prizes so much, usually even 5 or more people gain.
Greg: Yet they don't. Why is that?
Adam: You think the reason is important?
Greg: It might be. Remember how Oli got the prize money even though he placed only 2nd?
Adam: Yeah... I do. Does it have something to do with it?
Greg: The player placed third does not get money, or anyone after it, because the prize would need to be shifted, depending on who gets the grand prize.
Adam: Hmm, well yes. If the one who gets the money is the first place then the money that is for the second place should be given to the second player, but if the one who gets the 10 million, then the one who would need to get the money for the 2nd place would be the player who placed 3rd. It would need to be shifted!
Greg leans back on the sofa.
Greg: Correct!
Adam: But if they have such power that you said, and both the 1st and 2nd player have to keep secrets, then couldn't they just lie about it? Like, they could give the 3rd money for the 3rd player, even if the money for the 2nd player could not get theirs, because they get the grand prize!
Greg: Good counter argument, but I think not. I would even say this proves my point even more.
Adam: How?
Greg: They try to hide their identity! Don't you think they would want to hide that they have much more power than just a regular TV show should have? They would get so much more attention if one finds out that the 2nd place got a full grand prize, yet the 3rd only the money that a 3rd would get normally.
Adam: Still no!
Greg: Huh? What now?
Adam: Even with the current system, if someone gets to know the second place got the 10 million, wouldn't it generate the same outcomes?
Greg: It would do something, but it's much less unwanted attention than it would be. They could easily argue that he got that money somewhere else, or the winning player actually gave all of their winnings to them.
Adam: Would anyone even believe in them? It's laughable!
Greg: It might be not if the one who says is the show itself, but what if the one who says it is the one who got second place themselves?
Adam: ... You say they would say that? Even though it's not true?
Greg: Absolutely! You saw Oli? He couldn't even say a single thing even to us. Do you think he would not need to lie about something like this then?
Adam: That... Actually makes sense. Why won't the police do anything then?
Greg: They reason with the cliché bullshit they use everytime. No direct evidence.
Adam: So... You don't know the actual reason?
Greg: I'm not totally sure what I would say. I'm not sure why they don't actually do it, but for some reason they even say they don't even try.
Adam: Wait, actually, I have heard that the show itself donates to police departments a lot! Might that be the reason?
Greg: Good theory, but I have my own as well. What if they own the police? Then the donation would just mean they put their own money from one pocket to another, and still keep up a false reason that people would mostly believe.
Adam: You really think that? That is what you meant when you said they have greater influence?
Greg: Well, I cannot be sure. How could I? It's just a theory.
Adam: I have one more question...
Greg: Yeah? Tell me.
Adam: What do you want to do with this information now?
Greg: Hmm?
Adam: I mean, the season is already over. We cannot join the next one, because we were just participating in the latest one, and even if we could, the next one is going to be hold after 4 years only.
Greg falls into silence for a few seconds.
Greg: I don"t know. We could be unable to do anything.
Adam: So we only make theories here?
Greg: I hope not... Especially because of what we were talking about last time... About what Todor said to me back then...