New Member Miko
The Federal Government has long since abandoned using numerical values to represent IQ scores because the grading system was not clear enough. In this day and age, IQ levels are divided into four categories: D, C, B, A, and S.
Level D is considered an inadequate level of intelligence, which, according to previous numerical values, means below 100.
Level C represents a passing IQ level, which, according to previous numerical values, is between 100 and 150.
Grade B, belonging to the level of geniuses, is between 150 and 300 according to the previous numerical representation.
Level A represents the level of exceptionally high intelligence, which, in traditional numerical terms, would be between 300 and 1000. Those who reach this level are already quite proficient at playing Space-Time Chess.
As for the highest S-Ranked, these are individuals with unparalleled intelligence, scoring over 1000. Given the right guidance, they become terrifyingly powerful. They can excel in any field and achieve extraordinary success.
The Sea Emperor's test results showed that Miko's IQ was at least 700, placing him at an A+ level. This was despite Miko's young age and lack of exposure to advanced algorithms. With further instruction, it wouldn't be difficult for Miko to play against him for over 400 moves. In other words, his current IQ was still largely untapped. Most importantly, the Sea Emperor knew that A-level IQ individuals were highly likely to awaken the "Gambiter" ability, and once awakened, Miko's IQ test results would surge even further.
Once developed and the abilities of Gambiter awakened, Sea Emperor believed that Miko's IQ would easily surpass S-Ranked. He might even become the smartest person in the entire Universe Sea.
Before meeting Miko, Sea Emperor had only ever seen one person with the highest IQ: Reed, Gu Ding's friend. Sea Emperor had secretly tested Reed's IQ, finding it to be around 400, placing him at the A- level. However, after awakening his Gambiter ability, Sea Emperor predicted Reed's IQ was over 800, placing him firmly at the A+ level, and he was still on the rise. Reaching the S-Ranked in the future wasn't impossible.
When Sea Emperor was bored, he often looked for people to play Space-Time Chess in the SkyNet game area. Few could last more than 100 moves; there were fewer than twenty, and those were all A-level prodigies with IQs over 300. Sea Emperor had only encountered two people who could last more than 300 moves like Miko, one of whom was a terrifying S-Ranked intelligence. He even lasted more than 550 moves.
If Miko join the team, Sea Emperor would be confident in training him to become the human with the highest IQ in the Universe Sea.
When it came to asking someone's child to join Interstellar Pirate crew, Gu Ding found it difficult to bring it up.
For over three hours, a large crowd had gathered to watch, many of them astonished to see Gu Ding defeat Miko. Miko had been setting up his chessboard here for many years, not just recently, but for a long time. Yet, no one had ever been able to beat him.
The tall woman who came out of the tavern was also somewhat surprised to see what was happening.
"Big brother, will you still come to play chess with me in the future?" Miko seemed reluctant to let go of Gu Ding, this "master".
"We're leaving the day after tomorrow, how about I spend the next day with you tomorrow?" Gu Ding felt that this child was somewhat like himself. He was a person who chased dreams, and so was Miko, but Miko pursued becoming stronger on the chessboard. But he pursued becoming stronger in strength and having a higher bounty.
"Can I... can I come with you?" Miko suddenly made this strange request.
"Miko ..." The tall woman seemed somewhat reluctant.
"Sister Mi Xue. Is it okay?" Miko's empty eyes looked in Mi Xue's direction. Although her gaze was unfocused, Mi Xue couldn't refuse.
"Miko, let your sister think about it." Mi Xue turned to Gu Ding. "You two come with me."
Gu Ding and his group followed Mi Xue into the tavern's lounge.
"If I'm not mistaken, you must be Interstellar Pirate, right?" Mi Xue, as the owner of this tavern and a former Interstellar Hunter, would naturally not be wrong about Interstellar Pirate.
"That's right, we are Interstellar Pirate." Gu Ding did not deny it.
"Then you don't need to take what Miko said today seriously. I won't let him go with you." After confirming the identities of Gu Ding and his group, Mi Xue didn't ask a second question and gave her answer directly.
"I understand that you don't want Miko come with us. But I want to know what's going on with this child." Gu Ding stared intently at Mi Xue.
Mi Xue hadn't planned to speak, but seeing Gu Ding's gaze, she relented. "Ten years ago, a customer came to my tavern carrying Miko. At the time, he was just an infant. The customer arrived at night, drank a lot, and didn't leave until very late. After he left, we discovered the baby had been left behind when we closed. At first, we thought the man had forgotten about him because he was drunk and would definitely come back for the child the next day. But three days passed, and no one came back to claim him. That's when I discovered that the child was born blind, and that's when I understood why the child had been abandoned."
"Originally, I planned to send him to an orphanage, but when I got to the orphanage, I saw the children being beaten and scolded, and I couldn't bear it, so I decided to raise him myself. When he got a little older, I found that this little guy was very smart. He could learn anything after being taught it only once. Later, one time, to pass the time, I taught him to play chess, and from then on, he was unstoppable. He became proficient in almost all kinds of chess, and he played them very well... However, he often immersed himself in his own world and rarely communicated with outsiders."
Gu Ding drifted. He felt that Miko's experience was similar to his own; he too had been abandoned, but he was luckier, having been raised by his Old Dad. Miko, however, rarely interacted with others due to her intellectual and visual impairments.
After hearing Miko's story, Gu Ding remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, "I want to take Miko away."
"I will not agree to this. I cannot allow Miko to become an Interstellar Pirate," Mi Xue gave a very firm answer.
"Interstellar Pirate is just a profession, and no profession is inherently superior or inferior," Gu Ding shook his head. "You shouldn't bury Miko here just because of your own preferences. He's a dazzling gem, and leaving him here will only cause him to tarnish."
"Exactly, you can't be prejudiced against us Interstellar Pirate just because you used to be Interstellar Hunter. There are good people among us Interstellar Pirate. Besides, there are plenty of scoundrels among you Interstellar Hunter and even within the Federal Government," Liliath said with some dissatisfaction.
"Lily!" Gu Ding thought Liliath's words were a bit harsh and stopped her from continuing.
"I used to have a lot of prejudice against Interstellar Pirate, but I don't anymore." Mi Xue shook her head; she knew that what Liliath said was true.
"The reason I don't want Miko to become Interstellar Pirate because the mortality rate for this profession is the highest in the Universe Sea. Especially for newcomers like you who haven't been in the Universe Sea long. Over 80% of newcomers either die or go to prison. Of the remaining 20%, 15% disband their teams and join larger groups. 3% escape back to their original Universe Country. Making a name for yourself in the Universe Sea isn't as easy as you think. I won't let Miko go and die with you..."
After some discussion, Mi Xue still disagreed.
Although Gu Ding felt regretful, Mi Xue did make a valid point. While his team appeared successful, in reality, a regular member of the top 2 team could completely overwhelm them, let alone the more powerful individuals from the Federal Government.
In the Universe Sea, the Gu Ding Team is ultimately just a small fry.
"I'll Miko. I believe he'll understand." After saying this, Mi Xue stood up, walked around the bar counter, and headed towards the door.
Mi Xue shared the results of her discussions with Gu Ding Team with Miko.
After listening, Miko remained silent for a long time before raising her head again. "Sister Mi Xue, do you remember telling me the story of the Thorn Bird before?"
Mi Xue fell silent.
"The Thorn Bird sings its most beautiful song before it dies. I want to be Thorn Bird too, but right now I'm just a Thorn Bird locked in a cage. I won't die from exhaustion from flying, but I can't sing a beautiful song either. I don't want to be that kind of Thorn Bird. I want to be Thorn Bird that dies pursuing its dreams, even if it's just a fleeting moment of brilliance, I'll be content." Miko's eyes stared blankly ahead. He didn't know which direction Mi Xue was standing in, but that didn't matter. "Even though I can't see anything, I still want to go out into the world, see it for myself, make more friends, and do something truly meaningful..."
Miko finally spoke his mind. He hadn't wanted to say it before because he was afraid of hurting Mi Xue, because he knew Mi Xue truly cared about him. But now, he couldn't stay silent; he had to let Mi Xue know his true feelings.
Gu Ding and the others followed Mi Xue out and overheard Miko's words. Gu Ding's lips curled up; he knew that this young man was also a person with dreams.
"Alright, I promise you." Mi Xue finally compromised. "You can go with them, but you have to promise me one thing."
"What is it?" Miko didn't expect Mi Xue to compromise. If Mi Xue still disagreed in the end, she couldn't go against her wishes and leave, because doing so would hurt Mi Xue.
"You must come back alive!" Mi Xue's eyes welled up with tears.
"I promise!" Miko nodded vigorously.
Mi Xue turned to look at Gu Ding, "You must protect him!"
"We will," Gu Ding nodded in agreement.
"Gu Ding, the nine regular members of Top 1 have also arrived on this planet. If I'm not mistaken, they're here to target us." Sea Emperor's voice suddenly rang out.
~~~
(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (.) to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.. to read.)