Hyperthymesia—those who have it can remember every detail of their lives, from world-changing events to the tiniest thought that ever crossed their mind. They never forget, are endlessly curious, and are thus easily seen as geniuses in a certain sense.

Legend has it that Ryan Bennett is such a genius.

It’s also rumored that he’s gay—and very good-looking.

The moment news broke that he was going to support Sky Dome Team Seven, it caused an uproar.

Everyone knows that Team Seven’s captain, Claire Harris, is rough around the edges and deeply homophobic.

Not only did he become a dark horse on the battlefield within two years thanks to his formidable skills, he also hates it when the higher-ups try to stick a pretty face in his team.

Sure enough, Claire Harris publicly declared, “Useful? My brothers are out there risking their lives—we don’t need some little prodigy who can speed-read quantum fluctuations!”

Later.

The team was driven to the brink during a mission.

That beautiful little prodigy, calm and composed, landed headshot after headshot—his combat prowess was off the charts.

In front of everyone, Claire Harris pleaded with him: “Consultant Bennett, stay.”

And then, he added, “I’ll risk my life for you.”

*

Ryan Bennett has a secret.

He often lies awake at night, plagued by memory overload and nightmares.

The only thing that lets him sleep peacefully—

In this world, it’s only Claire Harris.

[—For you, I will cross the sea of suffering in this world, never looking back. Because you are the shore that saves me.]

Chapter 1

Star Era 1396, December. First snow.

A green train wound its way over mountains and through valleys, like a giant dragon weaving across the vast land.

Snowflakes fluttered outside the window, and the rundown, remote towns gradually came into focus. The carriage’s PA crackled with a not-so-sweet female voice: “Dear passengers, we have arrived at Huadong County. If you need to get off, please gather your belongings, do not push, and disembark in order.”

As the train slowed, the young man in the corner, absorbed in his black-and-white handheld game console, finally looked up.

From the last stop to Huadong County, his Tetris score had climbed from zero to over 400,000. The blocks fell at lightning speed, and his jaw-dropping moves made this familiar casual game seem endless in his hands.

Hearing the arrival announcement, the young man glanced briefly out the window. When he looked down again, the game screen already read “GAME OVER.”

“Ah!” The passenger next to him, who’d been watching, gasped reflexively. “What a shame.”

Despite ending the game at such a high score, the young man showed no sign of regret. He simply turned off the console and slipped it into his backpack.

The neighboring passenger couldn’t help but ask, “Kid, what’s your highest score? With skills like yours, you could probably break a record or something.”

The young man looked ordinary, but his eyes were strikingly clear and dark: “About the same as just now.”

The passenger sighed, “If you hadn’t stopped, I bet you’d have scored even higher!”

Not much of a talker, the young man stood up to get off, replying coolly, “No time.”

He stepped out of his seat, backpack slung over his shoulder, and moved toward the door with the other passengers.

The carriage was filled with people from all over, their chatter a mix of accents and dialects, making for a noisy scene. As he passed the quietest spot on the journey, he noticed a group of uniformed intellectuals who had boarded at the last stop, Huanan County. They were huddled together, quietly discussing blueprints spread out on the table. One middle-aged man, with a full face and furrowed brow, was clearly their leader.

Sensing the young man’s gaze, the leader looked up warily, but the young man had already gotten off the train.

He wore a black cotton jacket and carried an ordinary-looking backpack. His tall figure stood out.

But as soon as he stepped onto the platform, he melted into the crowd, his presence vanishing.

If anyone on the train tried to recall him, they’d find they couldn’t even remember his face.

*

Star Era 1456.

[1456.5.13 14:36:40]

A system projection displayed the time coordinates, and everyone perked up: “He’s back! Get ready to receive!”

Three seconds later, the capsule pod materialized on the teleportation platform, carrying Ryan Bennett in a black cotton jacket from the 1990s.

A robotic arm detected the traveler and immediately offered a nutrient solution. After time travel, the body loses a lot of water and urgently needs various nutrients replenished.

Ryan Bennett pressed the safety button, tossed aside his backpack, and took a few sips of the nutrient solution.

The utterly forgettable simulated face he wore began to dissolve, revealing his real features—pale and striking.

[Congratulations, you have completed a total of 89 B-level missions. Current rating: Two stars.]

Ryan Bennett glanced at the prompt on the transparent panel, then walked out of the capsule pod without a hint of emotion.

He was never one for words. In a cool, clear voice, he began his report: “Prepare the mission log. The 1396 Rockfinch Incident: the target boarded at Huanan County on December 13 that year, passed through Huadong County, train number X168, with four companions—all major leaders in the Rockfinch Incident. This differs significantly from the historical record. Recommend revision.”

The team members recorded everything.

Before Ryan Bennett could even catch his breath, a team member hurried over: “Mr. Bennett, Minister Clark is waiting for you outside again.”