Episode 55 — The Dilemma of Prisoners and Knights

"...Phew. So, where’s Bartos now?"

I was sinking deep into my Throne of Sloth, brushing potato chip crumbs off my fingers as I questioned Gustav, who was standing before me with his shoulders slumped in defeat.

"...My deepest apologies, Mr. Zect. Because he ruined the covert investigation with such 'reckless solo action'... I’ve thrown him into the dungeon along with the prisoners to let him cool his head for a bit."

"...Along with the prisoners!?"

I accidentally spat out the cola I was drinking.

(What kind of sloppy processing is that? It’s like throwing a buggy executable into the same directory as virus samples.)

"Yes. However, we have a problem... The prisoners won't say a word. All we can hear from the dungeon are Bartos’s screams and pleas: 'Master Zecccct! I am so sorrrryyy!'"

I put my head in my hands.

Bartos, even from behind bars, you’re still broadcasting noise? You’re a walking system failure.

"Gustav. You can't put them all in the same cell. That just strengthens the enemy's resolve. And... why on earth would you throw Bartos in there with them?"

"...Is that bad? It’s very efficient for monitoring purposes."

"It's a problem far beyond efficiency. Humans are bold when they’re in a group, but they become extremely vulnerable to 'logical traps' once they’re isolated. Gustav, let me teach you a classic bit of logical thinking from my home world. ...We call this the 'Prisoner's Dilemma.'"

I munched on a chip and began explaining the concept to a bewildered Gustav.

"Listen. Imagine there are two suspects, A and B. You isolate them in separate rooms and offer them individual plea deals. The conditions are as follows."

I sketched out a simple table for him.

"1: If both remain silent, there’s insufficient evidence, and they both get a light sentence (2 years).

2: If only one confesses and sells out their partner, the one who confessed is 'released (0 years),' and the one who stayed silent gets '10 years.'

3: If both confess, they both get '5 years' because they betrayed each other."

"...I see. An interesting set of rules."

"The key here is that A and B 'cannot be certain how the other will act.' Think about it from A’s perspective. If B stays silent, A can get released (0 years) by confessing. If B betrays A and confesses, A gets 10 years by staying silent, but only 5 years by confessing. ...In other words, in either scenario, 'confessing (betraying)' is the rational choice for A as an individual."

Gustav’s eyes widened as if he’d been struck by a bolt of lightning.

"And B will think the exact same way. Which means the result is..."

"Exactly. Because both pursued their own self-interest, they both confess and get hit with '5 years.' Even though the best outcome for the whole (the Pareto optimal) would be for both to stay silent and get '2 years,' individual rational judgment prevents that. In game theory, the strategy where both confess is called the 'Nash Equilibrium.' ...We’re going to apply this logic to the interrogation."

I gave the stunned Gustav the "Interrogation Protocol" instructions.

"First, isolate everyone completely. Make sure they can't even hear each other’s voices. ...Keep Bartos in the furthest room. Then, whisper to each prisoner one by one: 'Your comrade has already started talking. If you're the only one staying quiet, you'll just be the one they pin everything on. If you talk now, you’re the only one getting a pardon.'"

"...To collapse their unity from within simply by confronting them with individual rationality... truly terrifying."

"Meow. (...Characteristically nasty. I'm glad I was born a cat.)"

Tama, curled up on my lap, narrowed her eyes.

I'm sure she was thinking something like,“My owner is so intellectual and cool, it gives me chills.”

***

A few days later.

Gustav returned from the knights' station with the look of success clearly etched on his face.

"...They broke. All three of them are now fighting over who gets to spill information first while cursing each other out. ...Mr. Zect, it seems they are low-level members of an organization called the 'Black Lodge.'"

"The Black Lodge...? What kind of total edge-lord name is that?"

Apparently, there was a dark organization pulling Volg’s strings in the Old Town, trying to destroy Felsen’s development... or rather, the "unknown system" I had brought to this city.

"Gustav. It looks like this bug isn't confined to just the Old Town. We need to block unauthorized access from the outside... no, we might need to cut it off at the source. Gustav, keep the interrogations going."

A massive foreign virus threatening my shut-in life.

It’s a pain, but to protect my sleep, it looks like I have no choice but to initiate a "Security Update."

"...I think I'll open another bag of chips. As for Bartos... you can leave him in the dungeon for a bit longer. Beat some basic logic into him while he's there."

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