Thought Virus

Hawkins was not actually in a hurry to leave. He enjoyed talking with the two marines.

He had not communicated with any living creature for a hundred billion years. The last time had been when he discovered a living planet in the vast universe. On that planet, he had played the role of a god, guiding intelligent life to forge its own civilization, while also witnessing with his own eyes as that planet, like Earth, marched toward destruction.

"Are you wondering whether I'm worthy of your trust? Then how about this: I can pay first, and then you can figure out a way to let me go."

Seeing the two marines hesitate, Hawkins rose and walked to the cage. He fished Gold Coins from his hair and extended them beyond the bars.

His hair was long, messy, and filthy, yet it had been braided into numerous small plaits. The Gold Coins had been hidden within those braids, a small trump card his former self had left behind.

Though money was not omnipotent, it often had tremendous uses—for example, bribery.

This method had not been invented by Hawkins, but by his father, Huo Blackblade. Huo Blackblade had once been arrested by the guards of Blackwood Island for causing trouble while drunk. He had hidden gold in his hair to bribe the guards, thus escaping a spell behind bars.

The two marines looked at the glittering Gold Coins and swallowed unconsciously. At last, they exchanged glances, nodded faintly as they reached an agreement, and accepted the coins.

"Captain Hawkins, we'll find a chance to let you go, but it can't be now." After pocketing the coins, Tom's tone became considerably gentler as he spoke to Hawkins in a low voice.

The pockmarked marine objected. "No. This is only compensation for him killing my father. Unless you can produce another twenty Gold Coins, we won't help you!"

"What a shame. I have no extra Gold Coins left." Hawkins sighed.

The pockmarked marine sneered. "Then wait to be hanged!"

"Do you know? Life never truly dies, but every choice it makes produces a different outcome. Our meeting was a matter of fate, but unfortunately, fate ends here. You chose wrong." Hawkins looked regretfully at the pockmarked marine, speaking without the slightest haste.

The pockmarked marine scoffed. "Is that your final threat?"

"No. I merely regret that you cannot become my friends. That is all."

Hawkins neither flew into a rage at their going back on their word nor showed any intention of raising his offer to continue the negotiations. After saying that, he turned around and looked toward the hull.

There were no windows in the cell, but tiny gaps existed between the wooden planks.

"A storm is coming."

Hawkins's nose twitched. He muttered to himself, then closed his eyes and simply lay down to sleep.

About two hours later, the pockmarked marine went to relieve himself. Tom turned around and whispered, "Captain Hawkins, you owe me nothing. If there is an opportunity, I'll find a way to let you leave. Please wait patiently."

Tom shook his head. "James won't report us. He took your Gold Coins too, and reporting us won't do him any good."

"Very good. Then I shall await good news!" Hawkins said with a smile.

Tom turned away, revealing a faint sinister smile. He had no intention of letting Hawkins out, but he knew it was necessary to keep Hawkins steady. Otherwise, who knew what Hawkins might do in his despair?

Great men had the wisdom of great men; little men had the cunning of little men.

Unlike the blunt and honest pockmarked marine, Tom often frequented the liquor market. He was far more slick and worldly than the pockmarked marine. Even if he took money without doing the job, he would not reveal it easily. In truth, he had never intended from beginning to end to let Hawkins leave. After all, he had an entire family to support; he could not possibly follow Hawkins into piracy.

"What a world, going from bad to worse..."

Lying in the cell, Hawkins glanced at Tom and sighed inwardly.

Everyone had countless possible fates, yet not every fate allowed one to meet the same people and receive the same outcome.

He was willing to give anyone a chance, but regrettably, not everyone understood how to seize one.

Just then, thunder rumbled. The Vidalya Glory began to sway from side to side, the motion growing increasingly violent.

Tom hurriedly blew out the oil lamps on both sides, lest an accident start a fire.

The hold was plunged into darkness. Tom cast a nervous glance toward Hawkins's cell, wondering why James had not returned yet.

"Are you wondering why James still hasn't come back?"

Suddenly, Hawkins's voice came from the darkness. Though there was no change in his tone, for some reason, Tom began to tremble in terror.

Hawkins closed his eyes and sighed. "Do you know? The human body is actually very primitive. If my consciousness is a computer operating system, then yours is, at best, a calculator. Sorry, you probably don't understand what I'm saying. As for James... naturally, he has gone to fulfill what we agreed upon."

"No, no, no! How could James possibly help you? Don't even think about deceiving me!" Realizing the gravity of the situation, Tom loudly denied it.

Yet his instincts told him that Hawkins was telling the truth.

No!

James absolutely could not be allowed to do something foolish!

He turned to leave, but slammed into a support pillar in the darkness. With a pained expression, he crouched down and covered his nose with both hands.

Many times, people did not know what they needed, nor did they know what they had accepted.

If the human body was a computer, then consciousness was its operating system.

Without a doubt, Hawkins's consciousness was like that of a top-tier hacker, while Tom's and James's consciousnesses were like defenseless home computers.

When Tom and James accepted the Gold Coins, Hawkins had used physical contact to implant Mind Viruses in their bodies.

Had they released him as agreed, then after leaving, he would have removed the Mind Viruses lying dormant within them. Unfortunately, both had gone back on their word and had no intention of honoring the agreement, so he had no choice but to activate the Mind Viruses.

Different people had different resistance to Mind Viruses. Clearly, James's resistance was inferior to Tom's.

In reality, James had not gone to relieve himself. His consciousness had already been occupied by the Thought Virus, and he had completely become Hawkins's puppet. He had successfully stolen the cell key from the boatswain and was now hurrying toward the cells.

Hawkins still lay in the cell, smiling. "Fear, unease, bewilderment—these negative emotions will only bring you closer to death. Mr. Tom, it was a pleasure meeting you. Then... until fate brings us together again!"

The moment he finished speaking, Tom, crouched on the ground, shuddered from head to toe. His mind was completely occupied by the Thought Virus.

Just then, James returned. He quickly stepped forward and opened the cell door. "Captain Hawkins, because the storm has arrived, all the marines have returned to their rooms. There are only a few sailors outside. Now is the best time to escape. Let's go quickly."

"Mhm. And while we're at it, release all my lovely subordinates." Hawkins nodded gently.

He did not believe he had killed anyone, because no consciousness ever truly died. Whether Tom or James, their consciousnesses still existed in parallel universes, and would continue to exist until one day they became consciousness entities like him.

Because there were infinite possibilities, perhaps one day in the future, they would truly have a chance to meet again. But he believed that would be a very long time from now.

James swiftly opened the other cells. The first mate, second mate, and boatswain emerged one after another. A ghostly gleam shone in their eyes, and each of them greeted Hawkins upon seeing him.

"Alright, let's go." Hawkins smiled.

The Vidalya Glory was rocking violently, but it had little effect on pirates who had lived at sea all year round.

Just as James had said, because of the storm, all the marines had returned to their rooms. The passageway was utterly deserted. Hawkins and the others crossed the dark corridor and climbed onto the deck.

Amid the wind and rain, several sailors were desperately hauling ropes. Gale winds drove enormous waves against the hull without end. Because the Black Knife's chains were pulling on it, the entire ship was tilted severely.

"Pirates! The Son of Pirates has escaped!!"

A sharp-eyed sailor spotted Hawkins and the others as they reached the deck. He shouted in terror, but his voice was swiftly swallowed by the wind, rain, thunder, and crashing waves.

Hawkins noticed him and revealed a faint smile amid the storm. He lightly waved to the adorable young sailor, then turned and headed toward the stern.