Change the System… Change the Rules…
What did this mean? Was this just a lofty dream?
As they walked together down the passage, Darken continued to present the scene.
"Currently. The "Current System" is made up of various… currents of accumulated beliefs, many - though not all - of which view life as a zero-sum-game."
"From the Zero-Sum viewpoint, it makes sense to consider how to best optimize for certain results, given limited time and resources."
"People would consider their own interests the first priority, and anyone or anything opposing those priorities and interests would be naturally viewed as competitors, or opponents, in the game."
Itvasme nodded. "Yes. As far as the Dark Rizzards are concerned, this is just the Reality. Time and resources are limited, and if you don't do the best you can to secure your own interests, then who would do it for you???"
Darken nodded.
"…Well I can't make any promises or guarantees - nothing is guaranteed after all, until it actually happens."
"…But what if I told you that the Game, the Structure… could be… Changed? What if the rules were to Change? Do you think that then, your Strategy would also… adapt?"
Fortunately, with her 169.67 IQ, Itvasme was able to easily follow along with what Darken was saying.
"Well, it depends on the changes... but regardless, I believe that the Dark Rizzards do aim, and would aim, for the… most optimal outcomes… "
"All right. Well it's easy to point out the flaws in society and the current system. But what can we do to make things better?"
At this, as they entered the Secret Base entrance, Darken pointed to a drawing board set-up, with the stereotypical red strings tying and connecting photographs, newspaper clippings, scrawled notes and the like, all to give off the impression and veneer of something extremely complex and the 'workings of genius'.
It all looked impressive, but then Itvasme looked a little more closely at a scrawled note...
"Remember to hang out the clothes. Also buy groceries…"
Uh…
Her attention was then drawn to the centre of the drawing board, where the main thing that stood out was the big bold letters in the middle of the drawing board area:
"OPERATION - UNITY OF THOUGHT"
She didn't know what to think. At first glance, this whole setup seemed ludicrous, like out of a fever-dream or perhaps, an exceptionally creative, original, earnest, and… hopeful webnovel… 🫢
But then again.
She had noted that the 'grocery shopping list' had included, amongst other things… bacon, sausages, eggs, mushrooms, lemon curd, blueberries, strawberries, honey, and lemon… 👀✨