Chapter 449

Gao Feng watched the smile on Gao Yang's face, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease.

This wicked son's vicious schemes were each more terrifying than the last.

Gao Tianlong said, "If we go by this logic, both would likely choose to betray the other, and then both be locked away until they die."

"This scheme is extremely vicious; if used in the Ministry of Justice's interrogations, it might have miraculous effects."

Gao Yang smiled and said, "Grandfather's words make sense, but for ordinary criminals, there is no need for such trouble. Just use the standard torture: leg presses, branding irons, waterboarding, castration, or even just three strikes of the rod, and they will confess everything."

Gao Tianlong: "..."

Gao Feng: "..."

Gao Yang continued, "Analyzing it from a practical standpoint, from an individual perspective, betraying the other party seems to be the optimal choice."

"But looking at it as a whole, if both prisoners keep their mouths shut, the sentence is the shortest; that is the optimal choice."

"Yet from the perspective of human nature, this falls into a psychological game. They will both inevitably think: 'If I don't betray him, but he betrays me, wouldn't I be finished?'"

"Given that human nature is inherently selfish, unless they have an unbreakable bond and extremely high psychological fortitude, they will basically betray each other!"

"This is called the Prisoner's Dilemma!"

Gao Tianlong's expression was complex as he studied Gao Yang and said, "So that is why you deliberately staged the 'Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors' scenario and didn't provide a specific base price—you were utilizing this Prisoner's Dilemma psychology?"

A sharp glint flashed in Gao Yang's eyes, and the golden sunlight shining on his delicate face revealed two completely different temperaments.

"Correct, and I also specifically emphasized that I would only accept one bid."

"Then, for the sake of the White Jade Sugar business, for the sake of doing business with His Majesty, and to seize the early advantage, those three families will definitely drive the franchise fee to the heavens."

"Furthermore, they will exhaust every means, even entertaining the thought of taking a loss, to offer a price that even they find hard to accept."

"The principle behind this is the psychological game of the Prisoner's Dilemma. If all three families' franchise fees were low, or if one family took the initiative to give up and cooperate with the other two, that would be the optimal solution."

"But having the royal brand versus not having it are two completely different concepts, and none of the three families wants to be the one to give up, so this open conspiracy succeeds."

"I don't have to expend any effort; I just wait for the three of them to fight each other, offer sky-high silver, and sit back to reap the rewards."

"And if I'm not mistaken, there will even be some who secretly double back."