The Tyrant Billionaire

"What does that have to do with Dewey?" Mayer asked, confused.

"Everything. The New York Prosecutor's Office filed a lawsuit against Hardy's Grand Hotel at Dewey's behest. If Dewey takes office, how do you think the federal court will rule?" Hardy asked.

Presidents have considerable influence over court decisions, it would be naive to think otherwise.

"Do you think President Johnson has a chance of being re-elected?" Mayer asked.

"He didn't have a good chance before, but now it's looking increasingly likely. This documentary will be one of the pieces that shifts the scales," Hardy replied.

Mayer thought for a moment before saying, "Hardy, if the opportunity arises, could you introduce me to the president?"

Hardy smiled. "Of course, no problem."

Across the nation, 1,024 cinemas were set to simultaneously release the documentary titled "Black Gold 1948."

The Global Times described it as "a documentary that faithfully reflects the entire political donation incident involving Dewey."

The release of the documentary sparked widespread debate. People are naturally curious about political scandals, and this incident was still a hot topic. Newspapers had covered it, but their reports were often vague. Audiences were eager to learn the real story.

On the day of the premiere, theaters were packed.

The film began with the "HD" logo animation, followed by a low rumble of music and the title "Black Gold 1948." A series of photographs flashed across the screen: Dewey playing golf with an Asian man, his face beaming with confidence as he laughed and chatted.

Subtitles appeared below.

"Thomas Dewey, Governor of New York, candidate for the 34th presidential election in 1948, a front runner."

Then, a photo of a Chinese man appeared, identified as the president of China seeking assistance.

The scene shifted, and Arnold appeared on screen. Speaking directly to the camera, he said, "I'm Arnold, a reporter for the Global Times. I accidentally discovered Dewey's meeting with a man named Song Yong and secretly took some photos."

"Although I couldn't hear their conversation, I was able to read some of their lip movements, leading me to uncover a shocking secret."

"The Chinese man was seeking Dewey's support for their country should Dewey come to power. Dewey expressed his willingness to help reverse an unfavorable military situation, ensuring the other party's leader could remain president smoothly!"

"I later discovered that the day after their meeting, a $5 million transfer from São Paulo, Brazil, was made into Dewey's secret campaign account. It wasn't hard to deduce that this was a political donation."

"Federal law prohibits candidates from accepting political donations from foreign governments or individuals. Dewey, a former prosecutor, would certainly know this rule, which surprised me greatly."

"I'm now debating whether to report this to the newspaper or continue investigating. I've always dreamed of making a hard hitting documentary, and I believe this is an excellent opportunity."

What followed was a series of Arnold's actions.

Experience tales at empire

He set up his camera and recording equipment, then began making threatening phone calls to Dewey. Their conversations revealed that Dewey had accepted the political donation and was willing to pay hush money to cover it up.

This was yet another poor decision.

Seeing this, many viewers felt a deep sense of disappointment in Dewey.

If such a person were to become president, it would be a tragedy for the country. Many who initially supported Dewey decided then and there to abandon him completely.

After the first extortion attempt, Arnold moved into a house next door. The very next day, a group broke into Arnold's original home to conduct a secret search.

On screen, Arnold's face was filled with worry.

"I think I've put myself in a very dangerous situation, and now I'm having some regrets. If they catch me and force me to hand over the photos, they might kill me to cover this up. What should I do? Should I continue?"

Ultimately, Arnold decided to press on.

But he got smarter. For the second extortion attempt, he called Dewey from a phone booth, the entire process resembling a spy operation.

Arnold then traveled to Los Angeles, believing he would be safer on the West Coast, away from New York.

Then came the third extortion attempt.

Next was the scene of the ransom handover. While collecting the money, Arnold said to the camera, "Once I get this million dollar ransom, I'll reveal everything to the newspaper. I won't keep the money because it never belonged to me."

"By then, I'll have enough material to make a powerful documentary."

But after Arnold collected the money, a street chase ensued. Arnold's camera was on the entire time, capturing the tense, chaotic pursuit.

The final scene.

After a car crash, Arnold turned the camera on himself. Blood covered his face and body. "I don't regret doing this. I just hope the world sees what I've captured and that my dream of making a documentary is fulfilled."

"And also, to reveal the true face of a man who might become the president of the United States. Can such a person lead the country to prosperity?"

The documentary ended with Arnold's poignant question.

The entire film was tightly paced, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as they followed Arnold's journey.

After watching, many people were left with a heavy feeling.

Indeed, If Dewey were to become president, could such a person lead America to prosperity?

The next day, the Dewey incident, which had been slowly fading from public attention, once again dominated the front pages of major newspapers.

The Los Angeles Times: "'Black Gold 1948,' the most authentic documentary, more thrilling than any movie, a must see."

The Global Times: "'Brave' Arnold, unveiling Dewey's 'law enforcer' mask."

The Chicago Tribune: "The Man Who Destroyed Dewey—The Brave Arnold."

The Las Vegas Daily: Previously, people had only a vague impression of the incident from newspaper reports. Now, through the documentary, they got a complete view of the events and understood the real situation.

Dewey was once again disgraced.

At the same time, a previously unknown figure named Song Yong became famous in America for his role in ruining Dewey, often referred to as "the pig team-mate."