The Limit of Numbers X Land of Abundance

Kevin certainly knew.

"Large-scale immigration is impossible? Why?"

On the open ground of the Stone Tablet Wasteland stands.

The group around the Bonfire looked at Kevin had just spoken.

They were chatting casually when the topic naturally came up: what personnel they would need to bring when they returned to the base after its completion.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances.

After that, they had to focus most of their attention on developing the Dark Continent.

After all, they have a huge first-mover advantage.

Even Kurapika had to admit that with their current strength, returning to human society would not allow them to experience the life of the elite.

Instead, they were just boring days.

Humans are naturally curious. When people only know about the Dark Continent but don't actually want to explore it, their curiosity is suppressed and remains undeveloped.

Once they actually set foot on the Dark Continent, their safety was somewhat guaranteed, and their curiosity began to surge uncontrollably.

And the Dark Continent, without a doubt, can satisfy all curiosity.

Immortality, flight, and the ability to transcend all desires—it seems that everything can be achieved here.

And the Hunter x Hunter.

They are all creatures driven by boundless curiosity.

Not to mention Kurapika and his friends, they didn't have much attachment to human society.

In this situation, where Kevin already owns the territory.

Naturally, they wanted to establish a Forward Base, or rather, a colony, on the Dark Continent.

For better development, professionals and a basic population are essential.

It must cost at least tens of thousands.

However, Kevin immediately refuted this claim during their casual conversation.

Kevin shook his head and said directly.

"Let alone tens of thousands, the Forward Base will absolutely not allow its population to exceed one thousand."

Upon hearing Kevin utter such a precise number, the others couldn't help but frown and look at him.

There is clearly a reason for doing so.

"Have you never wondered why our ancestors led their people to the center of the lake?"

With current information, it is almost certain that our ancestors were beings with absolute Lord Level strength.

There might even be more than one.

Under these circumstances, in such a vast Dark Continent, one could easily carve out a piece of land and live comfortably.

It's important to understand that the territory of an Overlord can be several times, or even ten times, larger than the area of human society.

This still includes the ocean.

If we only consider pure land, it would be dozens of times more.

As Lord, it wouldn't be difficult for him to claim a territory the size of modern human society in the Dark Continent.

Even under such circumstances, humanity's ancestors still led their people away.

They migrated to the center of the lake, to a place far from danger.

They also built a defense system to keep the Dark Continent at bay.

They retreated into humanity's "Peach Blossom Land".

"You know, the islands in the center of the lake are extremely resource-poor, something we've all experienced firsthand after spending so much time on the Dark Continent, right?"

The group nodded.

Compared to the abundant wealth of the Dark Continent, the resources of human society can truly be described as barren.

Just like a desolate wilderness they sometimes pass through, which the creatures of the present continent all despise.

Think about it.

The Lord Level humans, along with their people, eventually retreated to a resource-scarce region.

This is unreasonable.

Have you discovered any large groups of creatures on the Dark Continent?

After a moment's thought, the group shook their heads.

The only known species in relatively large numbers is the monkey troop.

The strongest member of the monkey troop is a Monkey King.

His strength is only that of Knight.

The entire monkey troop only numbers a few hundred.

"The Dark Continent is teeming with all kinds of creatures, and giant creatures are everywhere. Under such circumstances, you will never see a race with a large population."

According to the theory of natural ecology.

They explored quite a few places.

Logically, there should be a relatively large number of creatures appearing.

Leaving aside powerful giant creatures, even ordinary, or even tiny, creatures must exist in large numbers, right?

However, that didn't happen.

The species are diverse and colorful, but none of them have formed a large population.

"This world, or rather the Dark Continent, is suppressing the emergence of large groups."

"The more powerful a race is, the more likely this situation will occur."

Therefore, it becomes difficult for almost all naturally powerful races to reproduce, or rather, their growth process is prolonged.

A prime example is the Resentful Eater Snake.

Growth is measured in millennia.

However, once they reach adulthood, they directly become powerful Lord Level creatures.

Even in its juvenile stage, it was Knight-level creature.

No effort is required.

All you need to do is live well and eat well.

"Not to mention Lord Level beings, even among Knight Rank creatures, they either emerge as a single individual from a group, or they are simply a few individuals."

This is vividly demonstrated in the Giant Beast Kingdom.

They couldn't be sure exactly how long the Giant Beast Kingdom had existed, but it certainly had been for quite some time.

Logically speaking, a sufficient number of ethnic groups should have already formed within it.

But despite their meticulous exploration of the Giant Beast Kingdom, the largest group they discovered was none other than the pack of wolf-like creatures.

They are divided into three groups, with each group consisting of about ten to twenty people.

This is the only relatively large group in the Giant Beast Kingdom.

The others almost all have no more than ten.

Pairo fell into deep thought.

"Because of the power of these creatures, we've stayed here for so long without really thinking about their population size."

Rukira then joined the discussion, saying, "Powerful creatures need a lot of resources, so it's normal for them to be fewer in number, right?"

Kurapika shook his head upon hearing this.

"No, in the food chain of the Dark Continent, the starting point for standing in the middle and upper levels is the Knight Rank, but we will find that the food needs of the Knight Rank are not actually exaggerated."

"At the top of the food chain are always Lord Level creatures, and these creatures all have their own territories."

To draw an analogy with human society...

Lord Level creatures are equivalent to apex predators in human society.

Lions, tigers, leopards, and the like.

"They don't eat much, but there are plenty of giant beasts on the Dark Continent, so they don't lack sources of nutrition."

Therefore, there should be a sufficiently powerful group emerging.

Even excluding carnivores, herbivores must exist in large groups.

The plants here are also huge and lush.

It's important to know that this place is not lacking in beings with intelligence comparable to that of humans.

Just like humans.

If a powerful individual emerges among humans, they will naturally want to benefit other members of their race.

Mark out the territory to protect and reproduce.

The human population will begin to expand.

This is the instinct for biological reproduction.

Even creatures without intelligence would do the same.

But reality seems to be different.

Seeing everyone's gaze, Kevin said directly, "My information actually comes from the Wearer Ghost. After all, they can communicate, and they have lived through a long enough period of time to have seen all sorts of different races."

"A relatively clear conclusion has been reached: if a group can produce powerful individuals, then the number of that group should not be too large."

"Even with the protection of powerful individuals, their numbers will begin to decline sharply. The specific form is unknown, as they have never witnessed it before; it is only a rule that exists among some intelligent races."

Even a large, vulnerable group can easily see its numbers dwindle due to its vulnerability, but there are always exceptions. These exceptions will also be affected in some way, causing the numbers to remain balanced.

Upon hearing this, the group frowned, deeply pondering Kevin's words.

"It sounds as if there's an invisible hand controlling the world."

"That's a good way to think about it," Kevin nodded in agreement.

"Isn't there a way to avoid it?" Bianluoke suddenly asked.

Pairo, standing nearby, immediately chimed in, "Of course there are! Otherwise, why would there be so many humans? There are billions!"

Compared to the creature populations of the Dark Continent, this is an absolutely staggering number.

The problem is that human potential is not low.

Even without coming to the Dark Continent, highly talented individuals could still emerge from such a barren land as human society.

Many have reached the Knight Rank.

Logically speaking, with such a large human population, it should be absolutely impossible for such a powerful individual to emerge.

That's why humankind's ancestors left the Dark Continent.

"Just as you think, life always finds a way and will do everything it can to avoid such harm."

As he spoke, Kevin held up one finger.

"I don't know about other things, but I do know a way to avoid it."

Actually, it's the Wearer Ghost who know.

"By simulating and transforming life forms, using flesh and blood to completely mimic the habits of plants, one can grow freely like the plants on this land."

These plants are unaffected by this condition.

"Secondly, there are the ways our ancestors avoided it, but to be honest, I don't know how they did it."

Are the islands in the middle of the lake not considered part of this world?

Or is it that such regulatory rules only apply to specific regions?

These are all unsolved mysteries.

"However they did it, humanity's ancestors must have found a way to isolate themselves from the Dark Continent."

That much is certain.

"So you understand now? Humans are capable of producing powerful beings at the Lord Level. We, the individuals who left human society, formed a new group."

"Unless we return to human society and never leave again, these rules will still affect us."

In fact, such ideas are all questionable.

We'll only know the specifics when we meet the Gatekeeper.

We don't know where the danger comes from, nor how such rules are triggered.

Then try to avoid it.

Therefore, Kevin would definitely not allow the Forward Base to have too many people.

"Furthermore, having spent so long in the Dark Continent, you should understand that having many weak people is meaningless; what's needed is precise and meaningful manpower."

In short, Kevin and his group now have enough resources to allow Nen user to rapidly improve their abilities.

Therefore, all we need to do is find someone with suitable Nen ability who also has the desire to come to the Dark Continent.

Kevin has mastered the method of painless Initiation.

At worst, we can just find some experts to Initiation for them.

Such experts are more likely to develop related Nen ability.

"But we can only control ourselves. V5 won't care about so much. They can't possibly make them give up their desire to explore."

"And each of their expeditions involves gatherings of thousands of people."

Kurapika reminded him.

"Therefore, it is also important for us to understand the full picture of this rule and see exactly how it is triggered."

"We'll be able to avoid it then, and if it doesn't affect us, then it doesn't matter, right?"

"After all, the Forward Base is in our hands, and this will be the safest place for us, and also the place where we can reliably obtain hope."

An individual's moral values should not influence a group.

Not to mention the nation.

That's so stupid.

A group's top priority is always the interests of the group; everything else is an alternative that comes after those interests are satisfied.

Therefore, Kevin and his team had already prepared for what they would encounter upon returning this time.

First and foremost, and inevitably, will be the collective pressure from V5.

That's for sure.

But they definitely won't do anything too ugly.

If they determine that they cannot control the situation, they will immediately begin seeking cooperation.

However, there will inevitably be some wrangling and disputes involved.

Just thinking about it gives me a headache.

As for the demonstration of force, this is the most basic condition.

Otherwise, why would V5 negotiate with them?

They chatted and rested like that.

Daylight broke.

After daybreak, Kevin and his team packed up and immediately resumed their exploration.

Considering the geographical area of the Dark Continent, the Stone Tablet Wasteland is incredibly small.

Although there are densely packed stone tablets of various sizes on it, this wasteland is essentially a place that Kevin and his team could cross in just a few hours.

The vegetation around the wasteland suddenly became lush and vibrant.

"It's rare to see such a sight."

Kevin looked around at his surroundings and couldn't help but say something.

While there's no problem with life and vitality on the Dark Continent, a region as vibrant as this is truly rare.

"It might be because of that Beetle. That Beetle has the strength of Lord Level, but this place is not actually its territory. However, judging from the number of those stone tablets, the Beetle often comes to the ground."

"Moreover, the Beetle we sensed at the time had absolutely no idea how to restrain its aura, or rather, it simply didn't have that concept at all."

"He would occasionally display his Lord aura, which naturally kept powerful creatures away from this area."

"So these plants and these small creatures can grow freely here, enjoying a comfortable life untouched by powerful enemies."

Kurapika quickly sorted out his logic and began to explain his thoughts.

Everyone looked at him and couldn't help but nod in approval.

Because this is a very logical statement.

That Beetle certainly didn't know how to restrain itself.

Perhaps it's because their primary habitat is underground, so they don't need to conceal their power.

"Then we are really lucky."

Kevin stopped and stood on the hillside, gazing out at the view, and couldn't help but sigh.

The group also stopped in their tracks.

Ahead.

It's an absolutely stunning view.

The trees are tall and straight, slender, but their branches and leaves are not lush.

At the top hung one enormous fruit after another.

Among the plants and shrubs growing around the bushes, you can also see some distinctive flowers peeking out from among them.

Herbivores of all sizes stroll leisurely through the Dense Forest.

There was no conflict, no fighting.

It's like a scene from a fairy tale.

"It seems your idea was correct."

Kevin turned to look at Kurapika and said with a smile.

Carnivorous creatures have a very strong sense of their territory and danger.

Herbivores inevitably live in the territory of carnivores, so they become accustomed to the presence of the stronger predator.

The powerful figures in this region are merely a deterrent.

This causes carnivorous creatures to stay away from the area.

Herbivorous creatures can live comfortably here.

Even when they saw Kevin and the other humans, they only looked at them curiously and didn't even run away.

The level of vigilance there is completely different from other areas.

"A treasure trove."

That's without a doubt.