The shooting of episode eight is over, and the show releases an edited trailer, whose theme is completely different from any other episode’. This time it is a romance production. No, not action, not action-romance, but a pure literary movie.
Pure! Romance!
“Sob sob sob this is too romantic… Bright is so faithful! He is even sacrificing himself for Piers…”
“Piers→Ginger→Bright→Piers, no wonder triangles are the most stable shape in the world. I’m picturing a million-word long love-hate drama in my head.”
“69ers’ field day!!!!”
“69ers’ field day!!!!”
“69ers’ field day!!!!”
“Too bad I’m illiterate and can only say holy shit.”
“Number 56, it’s your chance to get on Top! It’s the opportunity of your life! Mommy is tearing up in happiness…”
“Fuck him while he’s weak! Don’t let the opportunity go!!”
“But number 199 is a total Top! I cried ’til unconscious in the toilet and just managed to make it out T.T You’ll have wasted all your talent points for the N times a night for two hours each!
“That’s why it’s the opportunity of life. Laugh_cry.jpg”
“You’re no man if you don’t fuck him!”
“Hey hey, aren’t you upper floors getting a bit much?! ( Hands clicking on likes honestly, however) ”
“Hahaha!”
What Piers has shown in the short video seems to be actual love for Bright.
Since Bright has fallen unconscious from being infected by parasites, he has stayed by his side without moving away, and worked together with Harry, using his own power and strength and forced every contestant who wants Bright’s head back.
Including Grizzlybear Andy.
Piers, alone, has defeated Grizzlybear whose physical prowess is top of the contestants, and made everyone know of his capabilities anew.
Since joining the show, he has never become serious. He isn’t weak, but he tends to make people feel he’s the one scheming behind things. The character setting the show arranged for him is also deeply intellectual, a behind-the-scenes manipulator and a leader who can strategise and can toughen his heart. He can always get some underlings to do things for him, and never have to do the dirty work like contacting people or beating someone up.
Since Bright has fallen, he has done what those underlings would do personally. The fans are screaming with zeal “the young master has become serious,” they think the young master’s kindness is unique and it has all become Bright’s.
The part with Bright winning over the brothers Harry and his brother has been cut by the show. Harry has become a background character in this beautiful romantic love story.
This episode has ended on a scene where Bright is carried away on a stretcher and leaves a big cliffhanger for the audience. Afterwards, they will try to stir up an A Injured B Visitation C Heartlessness D Mock fight among fans so that the show gets more hits and also to satisfy the wishes of the audience to see the contestants fight one another. It’s all typical tropes, really.
George ‘the Avid Fan (the anti- part is finally off)” knows that this is far from over.
The staff next door has already gotten off work and many are visiting the medical room to visit the injured contestants, especially the most popular and attractive Bright. Though the competition is cruel, with around 20% of contestants eliminated this episode, the show does value its valuable merchandise and will not be stingy when it comes to maintaining them. The best doctors, the most expensive medicine, the most modern equipment are all being used to treat the surviving contestants. Whether the injuries were light or heavy they’re being cured one after another. They’re now able to run and jump again and can continue making money for the show.
George also wants to go see Bright, that man that is always so reckless, who is having brain surgery right now. Apparently, the parasite capsule has grown too big and they need external surgery to remove it. This seems to be the first such case they have had to operate on and theoretically a pain at this level should have made him gone insane or committed suicide long before this.
Therefore, George is worried that the inexperienced doctors might be too rough and make Big Tiger into Brainless Tiger.
George wants to immediately fly where Bright is, but they still have to work.
That odd Analyst is focused on the screen where the scene of number 199 whispering to number 56 is playing on repeat for God-knows how many times.
The Analyst’s head is lowered, his eyes flashing and blinking, while acting like a person with autistic disorder and avoiding everyone’s gazes. His mouth is murmuring, “3.2 seconds long, 2~3 syllables per second on average, given this speed of utterance, the sentence is between 2 and 4 words long…”
He seems to be completed isolated in his own space, unaware of his surroundings. He is using all his attention to analyse those few frames.
The members of the staff team look at each other in a nonplussed expression. Everyone is both tired and hungry and want to get off work already. George is waiting as he is suppressing his impatient self. He can’t help but try to urge his leader with his eyes. The latter also seems to think that there will be no result whatsoever however much he watches it, so he tries to advise him.
“Sir, number 199 spoke in a low tone and the device didn’t capture it. None of the five cameras present captured the scene of speaking from the front either.”
The Analyst only replied with an ‘Mm’ after a while, without any further reaction. The whole team had to wait for him.
“‘scuse me! ‘scuse me!” George is running madly between the floors and almost crashed into someone else several times, being cursed at and complained about several times.
When he is almost at the medical room, he can see the people leaving and dispersing in small groups, and feels his heart sink. As expected, he is informed the contestants have all left.
The leader of the clothing department greets him, “you’re late. There’s nobody left in the medical room. We only saw number 199 being pushed into the operation room, then the doctors say he left from the other exit. What a pity, we couldn’t even see his front this time.”
Right now, George’s dislike of that Analyst has reached its peak. He is feeling dissatisfied and still enters the medical room for a glance. It is empty as expected without anyone inside.
He is endlessly envious of that woman Ococo. An agent’s work is more free and they can meet with their stars at any time. Some can even sleep with them. Unlike he who works behind the scenes, who can only get a bunch of raw files without any benefits.
The toilet is right next to the medical room and he enters it, looking dejected. He takes a piss, washes his hands and wipes his face. When his head was lowered he was the only one in the toilet, but when he raises his head back up there’s suddenly another person behind him. George is surprised and when he sees that person’s face, his jaws slide open in a stupefied look.
“Brbrbrbr….”
“ight?” The man completes his name for him, his tone deep and calm, a tinge of amusement in his expression.
Oh, my, God… I’m less than a metre away from Big Tiger!
George has betrayed his trusty right hand and has climaxed in his mind.
He thinks it was lucky he had just been to the loo or this would have looked embarrassing.
George is not those kinds of retarded fans who only looks at the face and falls deep into delusions with rose-tinted glasses three metres thick, he is an anti-fan who is based in rationale, using logic as his means and employing analyses as his weapons. At least he used to be an anti-fan. He does not believe at all the excuse of “avoiding avid fans” that the man just gave.
The show is strictly managed. Not just the contestants, but also the staff are all neatly divided into their respective work responsibilities and hierarchies. They will never allow a contestant to wander about in the office area of the staff of the show. When they are treated for injuries they are brought there and taken away by specialised staff so that there is no chaos or holes in security.
George has realised a dangerous truth, that the man is prepared to do something in the show itself!
He can’t help but swallow hard in fear. Many people, especially those belonging to the staff of the show, may be deluded in thinking that the contestants are all beasts chained up under the control of the show, and so while looking scary, they’re nothing much actually and are only papier-mâchés. Yet George knows that this man is very dangerous. He is more dangerous than gangsters, violent beasts and ordinary criminals! He is rational and firm, smart and decisive, and quick in action. If he wants to kill a postfx editor who can’t even win against a chicken, he would have no chance.
At the same time, a strange thing is happening, a sense of excitement is bubbling up inside his body. The excitement of being involved in some sort of secret and finally having something in common with his idol, which is in spite of his mind which is urging him to maintain the status quo and try not to get himself killed is making him avoid and suppress that excitement.
“Don’t be afraid,” Bright chuckles, “I’m wearing my bracelet so I can’t do anything bad. The medical staff also allowed me to avoid the fans here.”
“…” George is thinking, what do I do what do I do I’m even more frightened.
The two stand opposite each other for a while. Bright tries to make himself appear harmless, but he is clearly doing a terrible job of it. The staff member in front of him with his staff tag on seems to be terribly alert at himself. His judgement is correct in that he doesn’t plan to be doing anything good.
The sky is darkening outside and he will have to move quickly.
“George, if you don’t think it’s safe, why not go with me?”
When Bright calls the person’s name, that staff member covers his tag in reflex in a frustrated expression. Then he has a deep breath and seems to have made a heavy decision in his mind, saying, “I’ll follow you. Don’t move about randomly. There’s cameras everywhere. Try not to do anything that you’ll regret.”
“Of course.”
George goes out scouting first, making sure there’s not many people left on the floor, and those that are left are all having a hard time with their overtime and does not notice them, before letting Bright out.
“You’re famous now, and there’s many fans of you among the staff.” George explains.
“Does the show allow you to follow us stars?” Bright asks.
“There’s no explicit permission, nor explicit bans either.”
They chat as they walk along. George is in front, and the whole situation looks as if he is leading the way for the contestant, but Bright has chosen the actual route.
This is not an unfamiliar route for Bright. He has walked here for his treatment before. This is a middle floor that is mostly open public space. He stops by the window looking at the twilight beyond.
The forests in the cold stretch beyond the horizon. An orange brightness is there in the far distance, like a light in darkness, or the candle fire which attracts moths.
“That is the competition grounds over there.” George explains.
The ground in the arena is movable, and surrounds the centre of the show in a ring-shape. These grounds are moved to their destination as required to create different landscapes.
“This has been a big construction project with an astronomical cost. I’ve heard it has been in construction since the first seasons. It reached its current scale only after several years of modification and improvements. While the investments were great, the resources in it can be used repeatedly. Apparently it has managed to earn back its cost by the third season. Besides the operational maintenance per year, it is not a money-spender normally.”
“There’s a light over there, is it a fire?” Bright asks.
“No,” George denies it, “it’s the apes that you’ve met before. They’ve learned to use fire some time ago, and they like to light up torches in the night to make the surroundings brighter. They’re careful with it though, I’ve never heard about there being a fire from the on-site fire department.”
Bright watches for a while before walking here and there. Then he turns to a CCTV, and as if saying to people who are watching him, “let’s go.” It is not long before the man is taken away.
George is confused. He does not understand what has happened. The man seems to know he is under surveillance but does not mind it at all. So what was the purpose of this? Is it purely to take a tour of the show?
After Bright has left, George who has question marks plastered all over his face has been summoned in front of the Director. Due to Bright’s peculiar movements he is mentally prepared for questioning, but of course he is still nervous. Surprisingly, he sees the Analyst outside the meeting room. The man with a strange personality sits at the other end of the meeting room, completely silent.
George answers all the questions Director has. There’s not much information of value, and just as they observed in the CCTV screens, they met by accident and took a random walk in the show and looked here and there.
“You can go now.” As the Director said that, George is as if released from prison and immediately goes outside. As the door closes, he hears the Director call on the other man in the room.
“Statistician…”
So the Analyst is also known as Statistician.
George has this idle thought for a second before throwing the information into the back of his head.
There is only Director and Statistician left in the meeting room.
“Were you able to find anything?” Director asked.
Statistician looks as if he hasn’t heard it. After a long time, he opens his mouth, but his answer is not what was asked. He says another thing, “the apes have not decided on a new ruler yet.”
Director feels odd, but he doesn’t think about it much. They’re just primitive beasts, and there’s not much they can do.
“Then continue the observation on number 199. He will meet the Alpha next episode. This fight between a tiger and a wolf will be eye-catching.”
Statistician seems to have felt something, and looks up at the Director for a moment, before lowering his head again.
The Director does not notice it and murmurs, “they’re both troubles. I actually like Alpha more, but the military has been more and more unruly lately, they need a lesson.”
Statistician’s voice is clear, “probability of Alpha winning… incalculable.”
“Not even you can quantify it?” Director says in surprise, then he chuckles, “this will be interesting to watch.”
Author’s notes:
Previously on TMRW: In Chapter 32 , the Analyst is the agent of the werewolves. They all think the Analyst is just another staff of the show who is bribed by the military. The truth is Analyst is the Inner City aristocrat Statistician, so the werewolves and the military have always been under the surveillance of the Inner City residents.