An Interesting Conversation

Sana and Arga exchanged glances, their eyes filled with unspoken questions. This world, with all its oddities and secrets, seemed to offer only one thing: more questions.

He continued in a calmer tone, though a faint chuckle lingered at the edge of his words. "There's no ocean, so this clearly isn't an island. Besides, in this era of globalization, what don't we know? Even the shapes of the five major continents are already well-mapped. If anything, this might be Antarctica, but Antarctica isn't like this… And as for the reality show?"

The man suddenly leaned forward, staring at Sana with a half-mocking smile. His eyes radiated a mix of curiosity and subtle derision. "Do you think there are people watching us from behind hidden cameras?"

His laughter broke out again, this time deeper. Yet something in his eyes shifted — sharp, almost piercing. He studied Arga and Sana intently, as if trying to read something hidden beneath their expressions.

"I've met many people here," he continued, his tone turning serious, as if his previous words were merely a prelude to something deeper. "And most of them have no idea why they ended up in this place. You see the people here? At first, their reactions were the same as yours. Confused, scared, angry. But after years, they chose to accept their situation and live better lives in this unknown world."

He paused, giving his words room to sink in. His eyes flicked back and forth between Arga and Sana, searching for signs of understanding or even rebellion on their faces. Then, in a lower voice, he continued, "But I've also met a few people like you. They have different stories. Kidnapped, or maybe some other unclear reason, and then somehow, they end up here. And after that..." He shrugged, a gesture that seemed light but carried a profound uncertainty.

Between them, the atmosphere grew silent. Arga and Sana exchanged looks, their faces tense. Their minds wrestled with the man's words, trying to piece together fragments that felt like a never-ending puzzle.

From the other side of the room, another man seated nearby finally spoke up. His voice was deep and commanding, like someone accustomed to giving orders. "I'm a soldier," he said, leaning back in his chair, which creaked softly. "I thought I died on the battlefield. My injuries were severe back then, and I remember the cold slowly enveloping my body. But when I opened my eyes, I was here."

He paused for a moment, allowing bitter memories to resurface. His gaze was sharp, measuring how much Arga and Sana could grasp of his story. "I was one of the first people to get trapped in this world. And people just keep arriving, just like you. This world... it's vast. Cities that have stood since the beginning, no one knows who built them. Aliens, maybe?" He smirked slightly, a thin joke that didn't entirely erase the seriousness of his words.

From his jacket pocket, he pulled out a few coins and rolled them across the table. The sound of metal sliding against wood caught Sana's attention. "Everyone here uses these. They say a great kingdom in this world created them. They claim there's a 'god' there, someone with extraordinary power. I can't say whether they're human or not, but everyone uses the currency they created. It's become the official means of trade here."

The atmosphere turned silent. Arga and Sana stared at the coins with a mix of curiosity and doubt. The man continued, lowering his voice almost to a whisper, "There are rumors saying that we're just part of a reality show." His face was serious, but it wasn't long before a smile tugged at his lips, barely holding back laughter.

Sana rolled her eyes immediately, already guessing the direction of the conversation. "Ah, you're joking again!" she protested, half-annoyed. The man beside her burst out laughing, followed by Arga and a few others. Their laughter echoed throughout the room, drawing the attention of some cafe patrons.

"Sorry, sorry," the man said, raising his hands in an attempt to stifle his laughter. But the grin on his face hadn't completely disappeared. "I was just kidding. Honestly, no one really knows what's going on here. I think everyone in this place is equally clueless. But one thing's certain: life here is quite comfortable, at least for now."

Arga nodded slowly, his mind grappling with various possibilities. "A great kingdom? Could civilization have existed here for a long time?" he muttered to himself, the question echoing in his mind like a voice in an endless cave.

After a moment, he finally mustered the courage to speak up. "Sorry if we overheard your conversation without permission," he said seriously. "But… you mentioned criminals. They extort people and do bad things. Is that true?"

The first man nodded slowly, but his friend was the one who answered. "We don't know many details either," he said in a more relaxed tone, as if trying to ease the tension. "But from what I've heard, they're people like us. Maybe newcomers taking advantage of the situation. They oppress others for personal gain."

He shrugged indifferently, then added with a slightly mocking tone, "But where in the world is free of criminals? This world, or any other world, always has its good and bad sides. Unless, of course, this is heaven."

His chuckle was small but carried a bitter undertone that couldn't be hidden, as if he had swallowed too much of life's bitterness until it became a part of him. Sana and Arga exchanged glances, the silence between them speaking more than words ever could. This world, so strange and foreign, clearly held more secrets than they had ever imagined.

After finishing their meal, one of the men set his glass down with a small clink. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before speaking. "Thanks for the food and drinks," he said suddenly, his tone casual yet firm, instantly drawing Arga and Sana's attention. He stood, his movements so natural yet captivating. "Since you're new here, let me treat you this time."