Chapter 1 Paradise Game_2

The more one crosses the rules, the more thrilling it undoubtedly becomes.

"Miss..." the burly man frowned again.

"But we are on a cruise, right?" Zhou Zhi reminded, "No matter how amazing the game concept is, it still has to be realized on board. I can't think of any new tricks that could be pulled off in this place."

It couldn't possibly be a real-life battle royale, could it?

"Why don't we take a guess?" James fished out a chip from his pocket, its gold rim denoting a value of two hundred thousand, "Winner takes all, consider it a little prize before the game starts."

A pre-game prize of two hundred thousand dollars, and with four people, that's eight hundred thousand.

Excluding oneself, winning six hundred thousand in one go was no small sum of money.

"No need for that, you all will definitely not be able to guess."

Suddenly, someone interrupted.

Everyone looked towards the voice, only to see a man dressed in a purple vest and pure black trousers entering the room. He wore a red and black colored Sichuan opera mask, completely covering his face, and a nameplate hung on his chest, inscribed with the characters "Chaoyang" (chao-yang) in multiple languages.

Without a doubt, this was the host of the game.

"I've made you all wait, the game is ready and will begin shortly."

"Hold on, hold on, we're starting right here?" Joe James withdrew the chip, "You haven't even explained to us what this game is all about."

"Right," Chekhov agreed, "There should be some sort of introduction to the gameplay, right?"

"Actually, that's not important." The host smiled, "Please look at the table."

Somehow, a pair of VR glasses had appeared in front of each person!

The VR glasses themselves weren't surprising, but what shocked them was the fact that this was a stone table with nothing underneath except supports; it was not possible to hide any secret compartments. And since entering the room, the host had been standing by the door, never once approaching the table. How did these glasses appear in just a few seconds?

"So... the game you're planning wouldn't really just be a game, would it?" The Russian picked up the VR glasses with a look of discontent.

This attitude could already be considered quite polite.

If the spontaneously appearing VR hadn't shocked him, he'd probably have slammed the table and walked out by now.

Playing an electronic game, and claiming it to be an unforgettable experience? It clearly seemed like they were making fools of them! Who were the people on this ship? Who hadn't tasted delicacies from the mountains and the sea, who hadn't visited the peaks and the ocean? The things that money could buy were no big deal for them.

A virtual game? That was just a pastime for the poor!

"Didn't the email say it?" the host continued politely, "Even with all the brainpower one could muster, the game itself is unimaginable, let alone described by impoverished language. The reason I don't introduce it is that it can't be introduced. All you need to do is wear these glasses and experience it firsthand."

The four exchanged looks.

But the host was right about one thing, they were already here, and wearing VR wouldn't take much effort. If it really turned out to be false advertising, they could still reach out to the Caribbean Company for an explanation—then it wouldn't just be about the million-dollar entry fee.

Reputation, especially amongst wealthy elites, is of utmost importance to a company that operates luxury cruises.

"Then let's give it a try," James sighed exaggeratedly, "But you better watch out for the Russian's temper. If he's not satisfied, the tigers of Siberia won't turn down an extra meal."

"Miss, I'll wait for you outside." Seeing this, the burly man also felt relieved, bowed slightly to Mingzi, and then exited the room.

After seeing everyone else don the VR glasses, Zhou Zhi also put them on.

"I'm ready, what now?"

No one answered; the surroundings were as quiet as if frozen in place.

Wait, these are glasses, not earplugs, how could they make the room suddenly go quiet?

Something was off!

Zhou Zhi reached for the VR to take it off, but his fingers touched his own face—apart from his own two eyes, there was nothing else.

Then a piercing white light shot into his pupils, making him scream uncontrollably!

The next second, his vision was restored, and the boundless sea and blue sky filled his sight.

Zhou Zhi was stunned.

It wasn't just him; at that moment, everyone was stunned.

The luxurious suite on the Heart of the Ocean had vanished, replaced by an old wooden ship that wouldn't even survive a one-meter high wave, let alone cross the Atlantic Ocean.

"How, how did I become like this!?" Someone suddenly exclaimed, "This isn't my original body!"

"Who are you...?"

"Damn it, quickly say your names! I'm Joe James!"

"Qianyuan Mingzi."

"I'm Zhou Zhi."

People reported their names in turn, and after confirming that they were all game participants, their expressions eased slightly.

"Damn, what the hell is this? Hey, host, are you still there?" James looked around anxiously and asked.

"Of course." The figure of the man in the mask appeared in the center of the boat—unlike the others, he looked semi-transparent, like a phantom, "Welcome to Paradise."

"Bl@#$%& bl@#$%& bl@#$%&, what kind of technology is this, it's just like the real thing!" The Russian blurted out several swear words, seemingly the only way to express his astonishment. He leaned over the side of the ship, reached his hand into the water, and scooped up a handful, "Damn! The temperature, the touch... everything I feel is no different from reality!"

Chekhov then scooped up a handful of water and sucked it into his mouth.

"Ptui—It's so salty! Even the water tastes real!"

In fact, without him saying it, the others could also feel it. The slight burning sensation of the sunlight on the skin, the faint salty and fishy taste in the sea breeze, and the rough friction of the wooden deck underfoot, from any perspective, it all far exceeded what VR could display.

"How... how was this done?" James wondered, "Are we really still on the Heart of the Ocean?"

"It would be a serious violation to move everyone's body without permission. All of you are VIP clients, so please rest assured on this. If you want to quit the game, you can do it at any time." The host nodded and answered slowly, "As for the technology—due to the policies of the development company, we cannot reveal too much, but I can tell everyone that it involves the most advanced technology in neural signal simulation, which affects more than just vision. The Paradise project is its first application, and I hope everyone enjoys it."

"I still can't believe... that all of this is virtual." Zhou Zhi murmured. He looked at his reflection in the water, where he was now clad in ragged leather clothes. Underneath the clothing, although his frame was slim, it was toughened by experience, filled with strength no idler could possess. "And I feel so powerful now; I could even tear apart a shark."

"Kid, save your bullshitting," Chekhov scoffed, "Strength can be enhanced by settings, but not courage."

"Hahahaha..."

"I don't think he's necessarily a coward." Mingzi did not join the laughter but extended her hand, pointing at the American at the bow—her appearance had also changed to another person, still female, but without the beautiful black hair and delicate features. She now looked like a beetroot crushed by poverty and hardship, yet her tone remained calm and composed.

It was then that everyone noticed Joe James's hands trembling violently.

"Damn it, what's so interesting!?" He cursed through gritted teeth, "I'm just a bit too excited. Shit... got a smoke? I need a puff."

The host raised his hand, and a cigarette appeared in his hand in the blink of an eye.

"...Thanks." James took the cigarette with shaking hands and took a deep drag, "So what comes next? Surely the game isn't about just staying at sea and admiring the view, is it?"

"In theory, Paradise does not restrict the participants' actions, you can do whatever you wish." The host smiled, "However, considering this is everyone's first time in Paradise, I've added a little guidance. Please look at your feet—"

Zhou Zhi turned his head and immediately shuddered.

He saw a pile of rusty weapons in the shadows below the gunwale, with every kind imaginable—cutlasses, short swords, spears—all stained with darkened blood, obviously not for show.

"How about letting everyone play pirates this time?" The host spread his hands and said with a smile.