The Dark Continent.
This was Jin's explanation for the phenomenon before Kevin: someone brought back from the dead, yet with a soul that seemed different from the original body. A world beyond the world, a place few could imagine, let alone reach—a place that called to people like him, a place he had always dreamed of visiting.
It was a realm of ultimate possibility, filled with things that did not exist in the current human world.
Other explanations had already been ruled out, one by one, as he observed this person's resurrection and considered the circumstances. There was only one conclusion left.
He yearned for the Dark Continent. He yearned for the unknown that awaited there. Naturally, he also wanted to understand the being before him, whose soul likely originated from that same mysterious place.
This world was vast, and it seemed highly probable that there were other worlds, like islands floating in the lake of reality. The human world, in the grand scheme, was merely one of these islands—a tiny, isolated archipelago in a vast lake. Beyond this lake lay the true world. Compared to it, the human world was insignificant, distant, and unreachable.
And beyond the endless waters of humanity stretched a land shrouded in mystery. Its name: the Dark Continent.
Humans had landed there before. Artifacts had drifted across the ocean to the known world. Intelligence from ruins suggested that human ancestors might have even fled from that land to settle here.
Jin wanted to go there himself, though circumstances prevented him for the time being. But this man before him—this resurrected, unknown entity—might one day be part of his preparation for that journey. Even if he was wrong, turning an unknown into a known would still be valuable.
Jin looked at Kevin, a confident smile on his face. "You can tell me whatever you feel you can, even if some lies are mixed in. I won't mind."
Kevin, aware of Jin's "Observation," the so-called mind-reading ability, thought carefully. He silently nodded, clearing his thoughts. Deception wasn't an option. The only choice was what to say.
"All right. This body isn't mine," Kevin began. "In my last memory, I died in a car accident—run over head-on by a truck. I imagine there was no way to survive."
Jin, seated cross-legged in front of him, one hand on his leg and the other propping his chin, extracted the important words. Car accident. Truck. He analyzed the information carefully.
"The moment you spoke, the words and language seemed to awaken this body's memories. As for the other fragments… like a patient with amnesia, they need stimulation to recall them."
"Hmm…" Jin nodded, his expression thoughtful. It sounded logical. Then he asked, "Where did you originally come from?"
"Originally? I… perhaps another world. I'm not sure." Kevin's voice was stiff, cautious.
Jin tilted his head. "I understand. Let's leave it at that. It seems we haven't established enough trust."
He stood up and patted himself down, satisfied that he had obtained the information he most wanted. Even if he later discerned the truth in Kevin's words, it would not matter—many pieces of information could not be judged solely by their accuracy. Reaching a conclusion too early could compromise his subsequent judgment. More information would reveal itself in time.
Jin picked up a thick, special laptop from the nearby table and handed it to Kevin. "You must have questions. Can you use a computer?"
Kevin nodded and took the device.
Jin settled into a nearby chair and pulled a magazine from his backpack, beginning to read. Without looking up, he said, "If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me. Consider it payment."
Kevin did not decline. Right now, he needed to absorb as much as possible about this world.
He opened the laptop. Though heavy and slightly cumbersome, it resembled a satellite computer in construction. The interface was familiar, though the text was unfamiliar. He quickly grasped the controls and began searching for the information he most wanted to know.
First, Kevin examined the map. This world had five continents, and even the boundaries of the known world hadn't been fully explored. Circumnavigation was still a distant dream.
The more he studied, the more differences between this world and his own became apparent. And yet, the era… inexplicably, it matched the period of his former world: 1994. Even the technology was eerily similar.
"Why did you kill me? I mean… the original owner of this body," Kevin asked suddenly.
Jin didn't look up as he replied, "Because you were a poacher. This area used to be a special-species sanctuary that my companions and I set up."
Understanding hit him. The original owner had been a criminal.
Kevin's expression shifted drastically. "Then… am I considered a criminal now? Is this identity a criminal?!"
Jin finally lifted his head, studying Kevin thoughtfully. "No, not at all. Although you were a poacher, you were resourceful and cautious. You rarely did things yourself; you preferred paying others to get the work done. On the surface, your identity was that of a renowned pharmacist."
"Oh… oh." Kevin nodded, relieved. He could not accept inhabiting a criminal's body and potentially being hunted. That would have made an already difficult situation far worse.
"So… where am I right now?" he asked.
"You're in the Gugan Kingdom's nature reserve, the Biscayne Forest Park. We should be near the border. This reserve spans multiple environmental zones, covers an immense area, and crosses several countries."
Gugan Kingdom. He had seen it on his identification documents, and he confirmed it on the computer. It was one of the member countries of the so-called V5.
The V5 corresponded closely to the United Nations in his former world, somewhat like the permanent members of the Security Council. The similarity was uncanny, almost inexplicable.
Even within the nature reserve, Kevin might genuinely be unable to leave on his own. Still, he had great confidence in his abilities.
Just then, Jin pulled something from his pocket—a mobile phone.
Kevin noticed the design matched the era: not a brick phone, but bulky enough to feel perfectly in place for the time. Jin glanced at the screen, then looked at Kevin.
"Your accomplices have found you. Do you want to meet them?"
"What? Accomplices… poachers?" Kevin's mind raced.
Jin nodded. Kevin instinctively wanted to refuse, but Jin's next words stopped him. "Seeing them might help you recall some memories. In any case, it should be useful. And as for your safety… don't underestimate me."
Kevin hesitated for a moment. The other party seemed serious, and he genuinely wanted answers about the unusual battle in his fragmented memories.
"All right. But let me be clear—I'm not exactly skilled in fighting. Scuffles with hooligans, maybe. That's it."
Then he noticed a pistol being tossed toward him.