David Carter reached out to grab the VR, wanting to take it off, but his fingers only touched his own face—there was nothing there except a pair of eyes.

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

　　The next second, his vision returned, and an endless ocean and blue sky filled his sight.

　　David Carter was stunned.

　　It wasn’t just him—everyone was stunned at that moment.

　　The luxurious suite on the Heart of the Ocean had vanished, replaced by a shabby wooden boat. This boat couldn’t even handle a one-meter-high wave, let alone cross the Atlantic—it would capsize in an instant.

　　“W-why do I look like this!?” someone suddenly cried out, “This isn’t my original body!”

　　“Who… are you all?”

　　“Damn it, report your names! I’m Joe James!”

　　“Ethan Clark.”

　　“I’m David Carter.”

　　Everyone reported their names in turn. Only after confirming they were all game participants did their expressions relax a little.

　　“Shit, what the hell is this? Hey, host, are you still there?” James looked around nervously and asked.

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

　　“Blyat, blyat, blyat, what kind of technology is this? It’s just like the real thing!” The Russian spat out several curses in a row, as if only that could express his shock. He bent down, reached over the gunwale, and dipped his hand into the water. “Damn! The temperature, the sensation… everything I feel is no different from reality!”

　　Then Mark Smith scooped up a handful of water and took a sip.

　　“Pah—so salty! This water even has taste!”

　　In fact, he didn’t need to say it—everyone else could feel it too. The slight burning of sunlight on their skin, the faint salty fishy smell in the sea breeze, the rough pain of the wooden deck beneath them—no matter how you looked at it, it far exceeded what VR could offer.

　　“How… is this possible?” James asked suspiciously. “Are we really still on the Heart of the Ocean?”

　　“If we moved your bodies without permission, that would be a serious violation. You are all VIP clients, so please rest assured about that. If you wish to exit the game, you can do so at any time.” The host nodded and answered unhurriedly, “As for this technology—due to company policy, I can’t reveal too much, but I can tell you it uses the most cutting-edge neural signal simulation technology, affecting far more than just vision. The Paradise project is its first application, and I hope you all enjoy yourselves.”

　　“I still can’t believe… all of this is virtual.” David Carter muttered. He looked at his reflection in the water. Right now, he was wearing a tattered leather jacket, and though his body was small and thin, it was well-trained—the strength within was not something a lazy person could possess. “And I feel so full of energy. Even if a shark came, I could tear it apart.”

　　“Kid, save the bragging,” Mark Smith teased. “Strength can be boosted by settings, but courage can’t.”

　　“Hahahaha…”

　　“I don’t think he’s necessarily the timid one.” Ethan didn’t join in the laughter. Instead, she reached out and pointed at the American at the bow—her appearance had changed too. She was still female, but her beautiful black hair and delicate features were gone. Now she looked like someone crushed by poverty and hardship, though her tone remained calm and steady.

　　Only then did everyone notice that Joe James’s hands were shaking badly.

　　“Damn it, what are you looking at!?” he cursed through gritted teeth. “I’m just a little excited, that’s all. Shit… anyone got a smoke? I need a puff.”

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

　　“…Thanks.” James shoved the cigarette into his mouth with trembling hands and took a deep drag. “So what now? This game isn’t just for us to sit here and enjoy the view, is it?”

　　“In theory, Paradise doesn’t restrict participants’ actions. You can do whatever you want.” The host smiled. “But since this is your first time entering Paradise, I’ve added a little guidance. Please look at your feet—”

　　David Carter turned his head and shivered.

　　In the shadows beneath the gunwale, there was a pile of a dozen or so rusty weapons—scimitars, short swords, spears, you name it. The blades were all stained with dark, dried blood, clearly not just for show.

　　“How about you all play pirates this time?” The host spread his hands and said with a smile.

　　Thank you for waiting, the new book is here! I hope everyone will support it!

Chapter 2 “Pirates”

　　Ten minutes later, a pale gray coastline appeared directly ahead of the small boat.

　　“There seems to be a village by the beach.” David Carter gazed into the distance for a while. “Are we really… supposed to kill people?”