This sentence caused the temperature in the bridge to suddenly drop below zero.
Even today, thousands of years later, when Theresa and Princess A Xia heard this, they still felt a bone-piercing chill.
Captain Gao Zunlong was stunned for half a minute. Then, his fury burst out like magma bursting out of the cracked earth.
He pointed at First Mate Quaker's nose and roared, "Quaker, this is betrayal!"
"We once had a belief, but now we have abandoned it. That is betrayal. But we have never actively chosen any belief. We are just a bunch of stray dogs being chased by the Flood. How is this betrayal?"
First Mate Quaker said with a smile.
He threw caution to the wind and did not care about anything.
Taking a deep breath, Captain Gao Zunlong also realized that it was redundant to talk about beliefs and ideals with a person like First Mate Quaker. He said very calmly, "You can't rebuild an advanced civilization on this planet with only the 1% of crew members who are still sober."
"Why do we have to build an advanced civilization? Can we defeat the Flood even if we are more advanced? "
First Mate Quaker said indifferently, "Captain, don't you understand? The degree of advancement of a civilization has nothing to do with the happiness index of the individuals in that civilization.
"Thousands of years ago, our ancestors once owned the entire sea of stars. They were the so-called overlords of the universe. How advanced, developed, powerful, and great they were?
"And then? Were the people of the Primitive Era happier at that time? Didn't they have all kinds of wars? In the end, they were swept away by the Flood!
"Admit it. Happiness comes from comparison, not the level of civilization. In my opinion, we don't need so many redundant technologies at all. We should abandon everything and return to the dreamy life of the Middle Ages. There are kings, nobles, knights, and almighty mages. We are the high and mighty kings, the knights who sing with swords, and the almighty mages. Isn't such a life good?
"If only 1% of us choose such a life that does not require too many technologies and does not consume too much energy, the rich world in front of us can support us for ten thousand years, a hundred thousand years, or even a million years, right?"
"It sounds like you have prepared a theme park for yourself," Captain Gao Zunlong said coldly.
"What's wrong with a theme park?"
First Mate Quake smiled bitterly. "Our ancestors, us, and our children have not known what a theme park is for thousands of years, no, tens of thousands of years. Isn't that sad?"
"The problem with theme parks is that they're fake."
Captain Gao Zunlong said, "When you and all the cowards hid on this planet and played the roles of kings, knights, and sorcerers, the Flood was swallowing the fugitive fleets of the primeval civilization one after another, expanding itself and approaching this place nonstop. Now that you have realized that, can you still continue playing the game?"
"Yes, this is a problem."
First Mate Quake said, "Then, we can erase the memory and burn everything about the Flood in our heads. Also, we can seal all the information about the Flood, the primeval civilization, and this starship.
"In such a case, even though our generation will still see the hideous appearance of the Flood in the deepest part of the nightmare, the next generation and the generation after that will be far away from the fear of the Flood, the wandering, and the boundless, unpredictable goddamn universe around us forever. They will be the happiest generation or even the hundredth generation in the history of the Primeval Civilization. This is the best gift that I can give to my descendants as the last chief mate of Jade Starship."
"Your so-called 'best gift' is to turn yourself and the proud descendants of the primeval civilization into a bunch of cowards hiding in magic dreams?"
Captain Gao Zunlong said, "Then, what will happen when the Flood comes?"
"When the Flood comes, we will die," First Mate Quake said calmly.
First Mate Quaker said calmly, "Everyone has to die, and the world after death is the same. However, there is a huge difference between dying comfortably after enjoying everything and spending another thousand years of darkness in despair, resentment, and torment before dying in the most painful way."
"It seems that you have made up your mind to lead my starship and the crew members into an absurd and hilarious dream." Captain Gao Zunlong's voice was calmer and calmer, but the glittering brilliance around him was more and more dazzling.
"My choice is a dream, but isn't your choice also another dream?"
Chief Mate Quaker turned a blind eye to the flames burning furiously around Captain Gao Zunlong. He sighed and said, "To collect the resources here and continue the unpredictable voyage, hoping that we can run into another ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, or even a million such worlds, so that we can rebuild our magnificent army and fight the Flood to the death. Other than 'daydreaming', I don't know how to comment on your choice."
"Enough!"
Captain Gao Zunlong waved his hand. His voice was as cold as the outer shell of a starship soaked in a vacuum. "Quake, I've had enough of your nonsense that has no fighting spirit, shakes morale, and incites morale. Now, as the captain, I officially revoke your position and arrest you in the name of treason. Come, take this spineless guy down!"
Nobody moved.
All the members of the bridge team were like a bunch of cold and rigid statues as they quietly watched the argument between the captain and the first mate.
"You …"
Captain Gao Zunlong stared at his subordinates who were supposed to be loyal to him in shock.
"Come on. Arrest the traitor!"
Captain Gao Zunlong roared.
Still, nobody responded to his order.
"Don't you understand, my captain? Our 'country' was torn apart by the Flood thousands of years ago. How can a stray dog who doesn't even have a 'country' talk about treason?"
First Mate Quake said, "We have no way back at all. There are only two dreams in front of us. Following me is a beautiful dream, and following you is a nightmare. Everybody knows what to choose!"
"You …"
The flames around Captain Gao Zunlong suddenly constricted and became extremely sharp, like an infuriated hedgehog.
"We are ready to abandon Jade forever."
First Mate Quake said, "Since the origin of the Primeval Civilization on that small blue planet, the proud captains of the warships have always had a glorious tradition. When a warship sinks, even if there is a chance, they will not escape on their own but stay and sink into the deep ocean together with the warship.
"Captain, please."
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