Paradise Game

The Atlantic Ocean, the Heart of the Ocean cruise ship.

Inside a luxury suite on the top deck of the cruise ship, four passengers sat around a long table, sizing each other up.

Only VIP-level guests could book the top-deck rooms, so most of these people were either wealthy or influential. The reason they were gathered here was not for business negotiations, but for a game.

A game touted as being so thrilling that it would be hard to imagine even with the full extent of one's intellect.

"Since we're just sitting here, why don't we introduce ourselves first?" a middle-aged man spoke up in English. "Hey, you all can understand me, right? My name is James, an American. What about you?"

No one replied.

The atmosphere in the room turned somewhat stiff.

"Alright, alright. How about French? No? Chinese? I know a little Russian, too." He cycled through several languages in quick succession.

"Enough, this isn't a talk show," someone finally interrupted his chatter. "We're all here for the fun, so what does it matter if we don't know each other?"

"It's just to make friends," James raised the champagne on the table and gestured toward the other person. "Besides, no one knows what this game is like. If we need teamwork, wouldn't it save time to get to know each other now?"

The man raised an eyebrow, seemingly persuaded. "Anthony Chekhov. You're all welcome to come hunting in Siberia if you have the time." He looked older, nearly fifty, and carried himself with the most prominence. At least nine of his ten fingers were adorned with rings, some set with gemstones, others carved from bone, looking quite striking.

Slightly strange was the fact that while he looked like a Slav and had a Russian-sounding name, he spoke in fluent Chinese.

"If it's just hunting, I prefer South Africa," James shifted his gaze to the only woman among the five. "And this lady, how should I address you?"

"Asahara Naruko," the woman said, then pointed to the burly man behind her. "This is my guardian, so there's no need to introduce him to everyone."

"Bringing a lackey along even when you're out for fun?" Chekhov stroked the rings on his hand, implying something. "I don't want to be watched by irrelevant people while I'm enjoying myself."

"Once the host arrives, he will leave on his own."

"But, Miss—"

"You don't need to say anything more," Naruko interrupted in Japanese.

The burly man had no choice but to shut his mouth.

"My name is Zhou Zhi..." the last young man, seeing everyone's eyes fixed on him, lifted his chin slightly. "I boarded at the Port of Berlin, but my hometown is in—"

"That's enough, no need to be so detailed," James waved his hand, cutting him off. "When I see the host later, I'll have to make a suggestion: it's best to set an age limit. It's better for those who are too young not to get involved, so they don't end up finding the rest of their decades of life dull and flavorless."

This remark immediately drew low chuckles from the others.

Zhou Zhi's face turned gloomy.

"Does Mr. James's comment include me as well?" Asahara Naruko asked calmly. "After all, judging by appearances, my age should be about the same as his."

The two of them were clearly the youngest among the passengers, both looking to be in their early twenties.

"Not at all, restrictions never apply to beautiful ladies. That principle holds true everywhere," James quickly backpedaled.

"I can afford the ticket price," Zhou Zhi emphasized, word for word.

"Yes, yes, we all know that," the American winked. "For instance, we all know who the one actually paying is."

Zhou Zhi stood up abruptly.

"Forget it, the organizers don't care about that. Whose money isn't money?" Chekhov pressed his hand down, changing the subject. "What I'm curious about is how this game is actually played. This isn't my first time on a Caribbean Company cruise, but I've never heard of them promoting a project like this."

This question seemed to echo in everyone's minds.

The Heart of the Ocean was one of the top luxury cruise ships in the world, with every entertainment facility imaginable, from casinos to pleasure houses. However, for them, these indulgent lifestyles—which ordinary people rarely encountered—had been experienced countless times, and now held no novelty. Precisely because of this, when the organizers sent out an invitation for a brand-new game, they clicked the participate button without hesitation, even though the entry fee alone was as high as a million dollars.

According to the invitation email, this activity was unparalleled and incredibly exciting, something even extreme sports couldn't compare to. It would provide the most primal sensory stimulation, and once participated in, it would be unforgettable for a lifetime.

Strangely, apart from that email, there was no other related promotion on the ship, and other passengers seemed to know nothing about it. This was somewhat different from what everyone had expected. If the organizers had truly created such a spectacular event, it shouldn't be so obscure.

"Is it possible... that we are the first batch of participants?" Zhou Zhi sat back down. "There are people from all over the world here. If the project were as exciting as they claimed, the news would probably spread globally by the next day."

"Or there's another possibility," the American said dismissively. "That this activity isn't suitable for widespread promotion."

"Mr. James means..." Naruko looked at him.

"Would an ordinary game really pique your interest?" he countered.

This remark made Anthony Chekhov reveal a meaningful smile.

So-called ordinary games naturally referred to legal ones. If life were viewed as a game, then the law was nothing more than the greatest restrictive rule.

The more one crossed the rules, the higher the level of stimulation, without a doubt.

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

"But we are on a cruise ship," Zhou Zhi reminded them. "No matter how amazing the game concept is, it has to be realized on the ship. I, for one, can't imagine what new tricks they could pull off in this place."

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

"Why don't we take a guess?" James pulled a chip from his pocket; the gold outer ring meant it was valued at two hundred thousand. "Winner takes all, let's treat it as a little wager before the game."

A two-hundred-thousand-dollar wager, eight hundred thousand for the four of them.

Excluding himself, winning six hundred thousand at once was no small sum.

"No need, you all definitely won't guess it."

Suddenly, someone interjected.

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a man wearing a purple vest and pure black trousers walk into the room. He wore a red and black Sichuan Opera Mask on his face, completely concealing his features, and a name tag hung on his chest, with the name Chaoyang written on it in multiple languages.

Without a doubt, the person who had arrived was the Host of the game.

"Sorry to keep you all waiting. This game is ready and can begin immediately."

"Wait, wait, wait. We're starting right here?" Qiao James put away his chips. "You haven't even explained what kind of game this is yet."

"That's right," Chekhov agreed. "There should at least be some kind of introduction to the rules, right?"

"Actually, those things aren't important." The Host smiled. "Please, look at the table."

Before they knew it, a pair of VR Goggles had appeared in front of each person!

The VR Goggles themselves weren't particularly strange, but what shocked them was that this was a stone table. Aside from the legs, there was nothing underneath it; it was impossible to hide any secret compartments. The Host had been standing by the door since he entered and hadn't approached the table at all. In those few short seconds, how exactly had these goggles appeared?

"So... the game you planned, it wouldn't really just be a game, would it?" The Russian picked up the VR Goggles, his expression turning sullen.

This attitude was already quite polite.

If the way the VR Goggles had appeared out of thin air hadn't shocked him, he probably would have slammed the table and walked out long ago.

Asking people like them to play video games? And claiming it would be an unforgettable experience? This was clearly treating them like fools! What kind of backgrounds did the people on this ship have? Who hadn't tasted the finest delicacies or stood on the highest peaks and looked out over the vast oceans? Things that could be bought with money were nothing to them.

Virtual games? Those were just pastimes for the poor!

"Didn't the email say? Even if you exhausted all your mental capacity, you couldn't imagine the game itself, let alone describe it with such impoverished language," the Host remained polite. "The reason I am not introducing it is because it cannot be introduced. All you need to do is put on these goggles and experience it for yourselves."

The four of them looked at each other.

However, the Host was right about one thing: they were already here, and putting on the VR Goggles wouldn't take much effort. If it really was false advertising, they had the channels to seek compensation from the Caribbean Company—and at that point, it wouldn't be a matter that a million-dollar entry fee could resolve.

Reputation, especially among the wealthy and powerful, was a matter of paramount importance to a company that operated luxury cruise ships.

"Let's just try it, then." James sighed dramatically. "But you'd better watch out for the angry Russian. If you can't satisfy him, the tigers in Siberia won't mind an extra meal."

"Young Miss, I will wait for you outside." Seeing this, the large man felt reassured. He bowed slightly to Naruko and walked out of the room.

Seeing that the others had put on their VR Goggles, Zhou Zhi also placed the device over his face.

"I'm ready. What now?"

No one answered. The surroundings were as silent as if they had frozen in place.

Wait, this thing was a pair of goggles, not earmuffs. How could it make the room go suddenly quiet?

Something was wrong!

Zhou Zhi reached up to grab the VR Goggles, wanting to take them off, but his fingers only touched his own face—there was nothing there but his own bare eyes.

Immediately after, a blinding white light pierced his pupils, making him scream!

The next second, his vision returned, and the boundless ocean and blue sky filled his sight.

Zhou Zhi was stunned.

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

The luxury suite on the Heart of the Ocean had vanished, replaced by a dilapidated wooden boat. This boat couldn't even cross the Atlantic; a one-meter-high head-on wave would be enough to flip it completely upside down.

"I, how did I become like this!?" someone suddenly screamed. "This isn't my original body!"

"Who... who are you people?"

"Damn it, state your names! I'm Qiao James!"

"Asahara Naruko."

"I'm Zhou Zhi."

The group reported their names one by one, and only after confirming they were all game participants did their expressions soften slightly.

"Fuck, what the hell is this? Hey, Host, are you still there?" James looked around, asking in a tense tone.

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

"Blyat, blyat, blyat! What kind of technology is this? It's just like the real thing!" The Russian spat out several curses, as if that were the only way to express the shock in his heart. He leaned over the gunwale and reached his hand into the water. "Damn! The temperature, the texture... I can feel everything just like in reality!"

Then, Chekhov scooped up a handful of water and brought it to his mouth.

"Pah—it's salty as hell! This water even has a taste!"

In fact, he didn't need to say it; the others could experience it too. The slight burning sensation of the sun on their skin, the faint salty, fishy scent of the sea breeze, and the rough, abrasive friction of the wooden deck beneath them—from every angle, it far exceeded the range of what VR could display.

"How... how is this done?" James asked skeptically. "Are we really still on the Heart of the Ocean?"

"If our side were to move your bodies without permission, it would undoubtedly be a serious violation. You are all VIP clients, so please rest assured on that point. If you wish to quit the game, you can do so at any time." The Host nodded and answered in a measured tone. "As for this technology—due to the development company's regulations, I cannot disclose too much, but I can tell you that it utilizes the most cutting-edge technology in Neural Signal Simulation. It affects more than just your vision. The Paradise project is its first application, and I hope you all have a good time."

"I still can't believe... that all of this is virtual." Zhou Zhi muttered. He looked at himself in the reflection of the water. He was currently wearing a tattered leather jacket. Although the body beneath the clothes was thin, it was well-tempered; the power hidden within was certainly not something an idler could possess. "And I feel full of strength right now. Even if a shark came, I could tear it apart."

"Kid, save the bragging," Chekhov teased. "Strength can be increased through settings, but guts cannot."

"Hahahaha..."

"I actually don't think he's necessarily a coward." Naruko didn't join in the laughter. Instead, she reached out and pointed at the American at the bow of the boat—her appearance had also changed. She was still a woman, but she no longer had beautiful black hair or delicate features; she now looked like a scrawny girl crushed by poverty and hardship, yet her tone remained as calm and steady as ever.

Only then did everyone notice that Qiao James's hands were shaking violently.

"Damn it, what are you looking at!?" the latter cursed through gritted teeth. "I'm just a little excited, that's all. Damn... do you have a cigarette? I want a smoke."

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

"Thank you." James trembled as he shoved a cigarette into his mouth and took a sharp drag. "So, what comes next? This game isn't just going to let us stay out at sea to enjoy the scenery, is it?"

"Theoretically, Paradise does not restrict the actions of participants; you may do as you please." The Host smiled. "However, considering this is your first time entering Paradise, I have added a slight guide. Please look down at your feet—"

Zhou Zhi turned his head and immediately shivered.

In the shadows beneath the ship's railing lay a pile of over a dozen rusted weapons, ranging from scimitars and daggers to spears. The blades of these sharp tools were stained with blackened blood, clearly not meant for display.

"How about we let everyone play the role of Pirates for a change?" The Host spread his hands and said with a smile.

I've kept you waiting, the new book is here! I hope everyone will give it plenty of support!