Someone once said "To many people virtue consists chiefly in repenting faults, not in avoiding them". Not sure who said that, but Lysithea said it was some satire writer, so it has to be important, right?
Anyways, you can call me Connor Trav Yukine. Reincarnation of an Attuned, The Underworld's Strongest Gunman, Leader of the group known as Team Revival. We're a Hero for Hire agency that takes any job, money involved or not, and we're pretty tight with the rest of the Hero Alliance. But…we've been off the grid for a while, no thanks to a certain CEO blabbing to everybody about how I almost destroyed two realities. Which I did, but I'd like to think I made up for that, but of course, the angry mob after me and my team doesn't see it that way. So we were forced to flee.
"No…they chased after us cause you screwed up their internet and web securities."
…Right, thank you Betty. I knew we couldn't hide in any old place. Luckily, I knew just the place that was off the grid enough for us to lay low until the heat died down.
See, a couple years back, I got this job from All Science Go. They wanted me and my crew to inspect a Forbidden world, see if it was worth gathering resources off of. Course, I wasn't expecting the world in question to have been turned to stone entirely. We don't know the exact source of the cause, or who even caused it… but, we do know this strange light emanated from somewhere in South America, resulting in all the world's population being turned to stone.
On a stage, Connor was narrating this to a crowd of people from the Tsukasa Empire.
"Me, my crew, and a couple friends of ours arrived on this world 3700 years later. We had no idea where to start, or if there was even life left on the planet." Connor continued. "But then… we met a certain scientific Genius. His name? Senku Ishigami. And he had a goal as soon as he busted outta his stone prison."
Connor then pointed to Chrome, who was playing the part of Senku.
"What is this? The whole world really has turned to stone! All right…I'm gonna have to sprint through 2 million years of civilizations technological advancements. Using science, I'll rebuild it all from scratch and undo the petrification." Chrome said.
"With the help of his big brain, we were able to find a way to create a miracle fluid that undoes the petrification." Connor continued as Chrome and Taiju recreated the event where he and Senku brought a swallow back to life.
"Aaah! The revival fluid works, we can unpetrify people!" Taiju said with the best acting he could.
"It took lots of hard work, but we managed to take back a lot of what this world lost during its apparent end." Connor said. "And now that we've settled things with the Tsukasa Empire, it's time to tackle the mystery head on."
"Okay, to solve the mystery, we're headed to the other side of the planet, because that's where the petrification beam came from." Chrome said.
"Where what?! The other side of the planet, you say?!" Kinro asked.
"But however will we accomplish that?!" Ginro added.
"We're all gonna work ourselves to the bone, to build a ship!" Chrome declared. "This is exhilarating, now get excited!"
"We're kickin' off the Age of Discovery, and we can't make a ship without all your help." Connor asked. "After everything I've been through, I dunno if I'm the right guy to ask any of you this, but I'm gonna do it anyway…. Who wants to help save the world?!"
The crowd of the Tsukasa empire cheered with invigorated spirits.
"That's the spirit! But in order to fully revive this world you call home, we need a key object that's crucial to solving the mystery. We need one hell of a ship that can get us across the sea." Connor said. "So if anybody's got an idea for how we can sail across the planet, step right up! All ideas are welcome!" he declared as confetti showered.
"Gimme a break… the confetti is 10 billion percent unnecessary." Senku said as he appeared on stage.
"Don't look at me, that was Gen's idea." Connor said.
"We're trying to set the mood here, nothing's too much." Gen added. "I must say though, Connor, that was quite the rousing speech for a man on the run."
"I'm just glad I could do something to get everyone fired up. I've got a stake in bringing back this world too, y'know." Connor said. "We've come this far working together, so I wanna see this to the end."
"Also, he's too afraid to face those people hunting him for ruining the internet." Betty said.
"I didn't realize how many people actually cared about their online lives." Connor said.
"That's pretty much everyone in the universe. Seriously, get a grip." Hilda said. "Still… can't believe you actually found a place like this."
"You've told us all about what you've accomplished here already, but is a ship really something capable of being constructed in this time and age?" Lorenz asked.
"Depends on what ship we go with. We can't use the Sunny or Grand Terry because that would be cheating a little bit. So we gotta go with whatever ship we can build. Or at least, one we all agree on building." Connor said.
"Speaking of the owners of said ships, you think they received that letter you sent them?" Lysithea asked.
"They better have. I had to pay that stupid Delibird postman's extortion price. That money was finally gonna get us an actual ship." Connor said.
"Blame this stupid world for not having invented the postal service yet." Denji said.
"Change takes time Denji, you can't expect results in a day." Connor said. "Although, this ship project would go a lot smoother if they were here. Just need to wait."
"And there's no reason we can't get a head start while we wait." Hilda said. "So who's entering this design contest, besides Senku, obviously?"
Hilda's answer would come when Magma and Yō came onto the stage.
"Magma and Yō?" Kohaku asked.
"I didn't expect them to step up." Ruri added.
"They usually look like total idiots, but today they actually seem kinda smart!" Suika said.
"The people of Ishigami Village are people of the sea. Ships are right in our wheelhouse." Magma thought. "I'll win, take charge, then take the throne!"
"Finally, my chance to strike!" Yō thought. "Once I win this design contest, I'll shoot right to the top!"
"Alright! Let's have our 3 volunteers present their ideas to the audience!" Gen announced.
"Not gonna lie, I dunno why we're even having this competition." Chrome said. "Senku is obviously gonna win, don't you think?"
"Especially when time is of the essence. If urgency is key for this mission, why prolong the inevitable victor?" Maxwell asked.
Lysethia then noticed Yō was relaxing. "And just what do you think you're doing?"
"Kickin' back, you'll wanna see my presentation last. My ship's already finished, and I wouldn't want anyone to follow that up." Yō replied. "Seeing is believing, right? Whoever can build the thing and show it off first is totally gonna win."
"You're an imbecile. Quality is also kind of important. Not to mention one of your opponents happens to be Senku." Lysithea said.
"You worry your pretty little head too much. I doubt these primitives can come up with anything decent." Yō said, shaking his head. "Well, I shouldn't be mean. It's rude to laugh at the underdeveloped."
"Hey, nice design Magma!" Yō heard Rapael compliment, looking up to see the villager's design, which was a very elaborate designed boat, almost reminiscent of a racing yacht, shocking Yō so much his bug eyes broke through the stone covering his left side.
"That's so cool!" Ginro complimented, Kaseki impressed as well.
Magma laughed. "Our village is full of boats. I wasn't about to request some dinky canoe or something."
"Underdeveloped, you said?" Lysithea said flatly, rolling her eyes as Yō tried to look casual as he started walking away.
"I didn't expect this! Now I'm pumped to see Yō's too!" Kaseki said.
"He said he was gonna show us the finished product already. Seemed pretty smug about it, too." Nikki mentioned, catching the former cop red-handed.
"Yeah, hurry up and pitch yours!" Magma taunted.
"Uh… I never said that… or wait, did I?" Yō nervously tried to feign ignorance. "Oh, I must've forgot it at home, so-"
"Found it!" Hilda said, pulling the cover off Yō's boat, revealing a collapsed raft.
"It's a tiny little raft thingy, but it's falling apart!" Suika cheerfully announced.
Yō cried in agony as Lysithea pinched the bridge of her nose. "Idiot." she sighed.
"Guess Magma's in the lead. How about yours, Senku?" Connor asked as the scientist stared at Magma's design. "Uh, you good buddy?"
"These sails, are they burlap?" Senku asked Magma.
"The hell's that?" Magma replied.
"Uh… are they made from plant fiber?" Senku elaborated.
"Huh? I'm not an expert, but yeah, something like that." Magma answered.
At that, Senku chuckled. "This is insanely useful Magma. You're right, you guys really are people of the sea. Experience is worth its weight in gold. And now that I know Burlap sails work in practice and not just theory…" Senku said as he presented his design… an intricately designed galleon. "We can start building my ship."
"Oh my goodness…!" Marianne said.
"That one, please!" Everyone in the stone world present magnanimously decided.
"Argh, how can we compete with that?! Who wouldn't want that ship, the problem is, can we build it?!" Yō asked.
"I gotta agree with Yō on that." Chrome added. "I get the excitement, but how many years are we gonna spend putting it together?"
"What he said! I'll die of old age before it's done, and I wanna see the thing!" Kaseki exclaimed. "We'd need like a hundred people to get it done soon."
"O ye of little faith. You didn't think I gave that speech to go with that stage play for nothing, did ya?" Connor said. "Before he got preserved, Tsukasa did a big recruitment drive by reviving a ton of people for his Empire. And we won 'em over just before the contest."
"We've got the power of Science and Might on our side. So get excited!" Senku declared.
And so, construction on Senku's ship began in earnest. A construction yard was assembled close to the water so that the ship could be assembled.
"So once we build this puppy, we're set right? Getting to the other side of the world will be a cinch with it." Ginro said.
"Yeah, but we'll need one more thing. Without a particular talent, a safe trip will be 10 billion percent impossible for us." Senku said.
In another part of the Tsukasa empire, a certain woman was curled up on the ground in mourning.
"Oh, Tsuka…" a blonde-haired young woman sobbed. She had very attractive looks, wearing a short grey headband that has two cone-shaped protrusions at the ends, and a short paneled burgundy dress with short splits at the top of her thighs. It is both shoulderless and sleeveless, with a ragged top hem. A tan-colored ribbon is wrapped around her upper body, just below her breasts, with no visible knot. She also was completely shoeless.
She seemed like she would be wrapped up in her despair forever until Senku showed up.
"Tsukasa told me about you. Said you were the person to talk to when picking people to revive." Senku said. "Got a job for you, reporter."
"Reporter…" the woman repeated.
Minami Hokutozai used to be a news reporter before society collapsed. She had countless connections and intel, which she wielded like weapons. Someone of her position was perfect in the Stone World for finding and recruiting the best possible individuals for a new civilization.
"Who do you need?" Minami asked as she stood up. "Give me a description and I'll find your man."
"I need myself a captain." Senku smirked. "We're starting the new age of discovery, and we require a captain with godly sailing and navigation skills. The key to reviving all of humanity is someone who can take us across the planet. That's who we need on our team."
With Minami's guidance, she and Senku set out with Taiju, Magma, Kohaku, Nikki, Hilda, Raphael, Connor and Avlora to an island close off the coast of the Empire.
"We're coming for you, Captain!" Taiju announced.
"Hold on, we are making a sailboat aren't we? Are we sure we can find someone from our time who has experience with that kind of ship?" Nikki asked.
"Nikki does have a point. Couldn't we just wait for the Straw Hats to get here?" Hilda inquired.
"What, and have Luffy wreck the ship?" Connor reminded.
"...Good point." Hilda nodded.
"Besides, there's no one on earth who's a literal exper…" Minami began as she thought of someone. "Ryusu….no…nevermind. Anyway, look, we're here!" she said. "Nanami Academy. It was a nautical schooll that included sailing as part of its curriculum. If we revive on of the teachers, they should at least know how to steer your sailboat."
They reached a good spot where a bunch of stone statues could easily be dug out of the ground.
"Time to mine some statues. Dig until you can dig no more, gorilla team!" Senku ordered.
"Leave it to us!" Taiju assured.
"I'm on the job, too! Watch and see how many statues my muscles will dig out!" Raphael said.
"But just to be clear, I am not a Gorilla, got it?" Kohaku clarified.
With Raphael's help, the Power Team unearthed a bunch of statues. They had a good supply the following day, as they were lined up for inspections.
"We got a good number, so let's pick our poison. We don't have a whole lot of that revival fluid left so we need to pick them carefully." Connor said.
"Might as well pick out a Silver Fox then, right? I actually recognize a bunch of these people from a report I did on the school." Minami said.
"Hey, what about this guy?" Hilda asked, Minami immediately shocked at which petrified individual she singled out in particular. A young man with his left hand raised high in the sky, a bright smirk on his stoned face.
"No! Not him! I promise, you don't want that guy!" Minami declared.
"Even though he was the first one that popped into your head?" Connor asked. "He's the one you mentioned before on the boat, right? He's gotta be talented if you thought of him first. So, what's his deal?"
"...Well, Nanami Academy was owned by the Nanami Conglomerate, the king of maritime trade. They were worth 200 trillion yen back in the day, and this is the Conglomerate's heir, Ryuusui Nanami. When he was a kid, he spent his hundreds of millions in allowance on model ships and ships in a bottle."
"Hundreds of millions in allowance?!" Taiju asked in shock.
"In middle school, he got bored of toys and had a real sailboat built for him. He sailed around the world and had all sorts of fun." Minami said.
"He captained a ship in middle school?! That sounds like the perfect guy!" Raphael exclaimed.
"Yeah…so why are you saying we shouldn't revive him?" Hilda asked Minami.
"There's just one problem with him: his personality. The guy's totally self-indulgent. Tsukasa would've hated his rich guts. It's true you won't find anyone here with more experience, but you also won't find anyone with a worse personality." Minami replied.
"Oh man, that's a tough choice to make." Nikki said. "Do we want a normal guy with normal skills, or a troublemaker who's the best of the best?"
"It appears Senku's already made the choice for us." Avlora pointed out, the group turning to see Senku pouring revival fluid onto Ryuusui's petrified form, the stone residents shocked at his impulsive decision.
"You gotta be kidding me, you couldn't wait 5 more minutes?!" Hilda said.
"Whaddya take me for? Of course we're prioritizing skill over personality." Senku said as the stone encasing Ryuusui crumbled away. With a snap of his fingers, he soon busted loose from his prison after hundreds of years.
"Hahahaha! I am back!" Ryuusui laughed. "And once more, everything in the world will be mine!"
"Well, there's no turning back now. We've woken the Water Dragon of the Seven Seas, and there's no way to put him back to sleep." Connor said to himself.
"Indeed. I hope Senku's impulsiveness does not lead to a disaster." Avlora said, as Ryuusui turned his gaze towards the group.
"I take it, you guys are the ones who saved me?" Ryuusui asked. "I'll have to thank you as best I can. I'll have my butler Francois write you a check. Name any amount. It can be up to 10 billion or 20 billion."
"Well, as much as I want a paycheck that big for savin' a bigshot from years trapped as a statue…" Connor began to try and explain.
"No need for an explanation. I can already tell I'm not in any sort of position to make that happen. Both the Nanami Conglomeration and I have lost all our assets and civilization has collapsed. Am I wrong?" Ryuusui asked.
"Nope…spot on." Connor said.
"Hahahaha! Excellent! What a chance! The whole world is up for grabs and nothing is stopping me from taking it all for myself!" Ryuusui called out.
"This guy's completely nuts!" Hilda spouted.
"Before you acquire anything, could you perhaps first acquire yourself some actual garments?" Avlora asked.
"Good call, sorry." Ryuusui said, taking some clothes from Minami. "My, how embarrassing. And in front of five beauties too."
"What 'five beauties'? Are you so out of it, you can't even count straight? Think you mean four!" Magma said, referring to only four out of the five girls present, excluding Nikki, which would prove to be a big mistake, as she kneed him right in the groin.
"It doesn't matter how they look, all women are beautiful in their own way, wouldn't you agree?" Ryuusui said. He was now dressed up in an orange sailors outfit complete with a blue hat.
Back at the Tsukasa Empire, Ryusuui beheld Senku's ship design as it was still being constructed.
"This is impressive. I can't wait to have it!" Ryuusui said.
"I just can't wait to see the darn thing finished!" Kaseki said.
"Whaddya think, Goldilocks? Can you take us across the world?" Senku asked.
"I'm sorry to bring this up, but that's not gonna appen-hay." Gen spoke up. "Our captain is used to fancy yachts and modern day navigation tech. How can he apply his vast experience to this primitive vessel?"
"Before I answer that question…we should protect the ship and take shelter." Ryuusui stated, everyone looking his way. "A sailor's instincts are always right. The temperature's risen quickly, it's fourteen degrees."
"When you're right, you're right. It's fourteen exactly." Senku observed, shocking Gen.
"Humidity is up 90% and winds are coming from the south southwest." Ryuusui continued. "Probably a system from Siberia being driven upwards by the Yangze river Airmass. Capillatus clouds coming in at 60 kph means… some rough weather incoming! A regular May Storm!" he declared, snapping his blue marked fingers.
And he was right on the money, as a big storm hit the shipyard. With Ryuusuis predictions, measures were taken to protect the ship and materials were enforced.
"He knew exactly what was going to happen!" Suika said.
"His talent is extraordinary." Lorenz said. "He correctly predicted the weather pattern as it was coming in on the horizon. I daresay Nami may have some competition."
"We'd be screwed if this storm hit us out on the open sea. The lumber we're working with now is weak, nothing like what we cultivated in our time. Traveling with masts made with these wouldn't be wise." Ryuusui said as he worked with the others to make sure the materials were protected.
"You're right. But I bet you've already accounted for that, haven't you Senku?" Connor asked.
"Not bad, Cowboy. You're right, I've already made adjustments. We're making a motor/sail hybrid." Senku explained.
"We are?" Chrome asked.
"I see. You were testing me weren't you? Wanted to know if I'd leap before looking. You're a cheeky bastard, Senku. Could've used you in the family business." Ryuusui said.
"But what will the ship use as fuel for the motors? Certainly not coal." Lysithea said. "With all that weight, the ship will sink before we even reach our destination. If we want to accomplish the task at hand, we need to find an appropriate fuel source."
"I dunno what you're talking about." Senku poorly feigned. "Sorry, I kinda suck at science, so I'm lost over here."
"Hahaha! Don't play dumb! You do know the answer to her question, don't you? You're smart Senku, you've figured it out." Ryuusui said.
"Heh. Yeah…I did. It's what the Kingdom of Science wants too. We're finally getting some of the good stuff." Senku said. "The ultimate natural resource! We're drilling for oil!"
"...We're what?!" Gen and a few of Team Revival's members exclaimed.
"Where in Japan are we gonna find oil, and how?! This plan is crazy!" Gen continued.
Gen's answer would come when Senku presented a map in the lap.
"Shizuoka?! Eriously-say?!" Gen asked.
"Eriously-say." Senku answered.
"You're going for the Sagara Oil Field." Betty realized.
"That's right. Drilling stopped there once profits dropped, but it's not like the land was sucked dry. We can dig up some of the highest quality oil there. The place is like a treasure trove." Senku said.
"...Japan's certainly got a wide variety of resources, just not a lot of any one." Gen said.
"Alright! I may not understand one bit of this, but you can count on me!" Chrome said.
"That's our resource king. You're up." Senku said.
Once the storm had passed, everything was set for the oil search.
"We're new and improved. Let's go, Expedition Team!" Chrome said, as he was accompanied by Kohaku and her 11.0 vision, Ukyo and his heightened hearing, and Giovanna, with her expertise on geology.
"You're actually going with them?" Medina asked.
"Of course. I wouldn't pass over a chance like this. A land that has gone through change without mankind for 3700 years? What aspiring Geologist wouldn't want to go?" Giovanna asked.
"With you on our team, we'll find that oil for sure." Chrome said. "Back in a flash!" he said as the four of them left to find the Sagara Oil field.
"There's one more thing I should mention." Ryuusui said. "Once we've found oil, I'll take you all where you need to go. But on one condition. I'm putting my life on the line as captain. So…I demand the rights to the oil fields that we discover!"
"Rights to the…are you mad?!" Lysithea exclaimed.
"We're haggling over the costs of your very lives! If you don't like my demands, find another captain." Ryuusui said.
"Sure, we'll play along. Go ahead and rip us off." Senku said. "It's either you or a certain Rubber pirate, and I'd rather go with the option that has actual navigation and sailing knowledge."
"But he might hoard the oil." Ignatz said.
"Not so much might as well. Sorry to say, but if any of you want my oil…you're gonna have to buy it from me." Ryuusui said.
"Buy it? With what? We don't even have currency in this world." Hilda said.
One Hour Later…
Ryuusui could be seen laughing like a mad man as he was printing out lots and lots of paper bills, thus reinventing the concept of currency in the Stone World. Since Ryuusui was the one who recreated the new currency, which came to be known as "Drago", he was currently the richest man in the Stone World.
"Well….that shut me up." Hilda said.
"I hate to say I told you guys so. Look at him, are you sure we're gonna be okay?" Minami asked.
"Well…so he has money, but what good is it going to do him if there's no place to spend it?" Hilda said.
"Uh…Hilda?" Ignatz said pointing to a couple of stalls, selling off cotton candy and ramen as well as manga.
"Right… gotta build our oil funds somehow." Hilda said. "I dunno if this is a good idea. Is having currency here really what we need?"
"Hmm…currency has always existed. In the ancient past, it was anything like shells or nuts. Along the way, it evolved into the paper and digital money we know today." Betty said.
"Currency is as much a product of science as anything else. A way to measure the value of hard work. And since he went and made it, we may as well milk it for all its worth." Senku said.
As production on the ship continued, Ryusui approached Connor with a stack of Drago in hand.
"The people say you and your team are unique by this world's standards, Connor." Ryuusui said. "And I'm told you also know a lot of people whose strengths are to be desired. Tell me, how much would I need to want that strength?"
"Strength isn't something that can be bought, Ryuusui." Connor said. "Besides, I get paid to help people. I'm not up for sale to be owned."
"You made that Drago stuff in the first place because of the oil expedition right?" Leonie asked. "Your invention's not gonna be worth a lot if we don't find what we're looking for, so why throw it around? What value does it have?"
"An excellent question." Ryusuui said, snapping his fingers. "The value of currency has little to do with what's backing it or what's behind it. It's all trust. Take Senku. You and your friends helped him bring science to a world that hasn't seen it for thousands of years. We trust that he can find that oil field, and that very expectation is what turns this paper into real treasure!"
Meanwhile, the expedition team was surveying the land near Ishigami village when Ukyo suddenly caught wind of something on his ears.
"Hear something?" Kohaku asked.
"A waterfall." Ukyo answered, Kohaku going up high for a better look. With her acute vision, she was able to see mist rising in the distance. Heading towards it, all of them were shocked.
"This is bad…" Chrome said.
"There wasn't anything like this on Senku's map… could he have drawn it wrong?" Kohaku said.
"I dunno. I may not be an authority on Geography, but I'm pretty sure this wasn't here 3000 years ago." Ukyo said, as they bore witness to a huge cascading waterfall the size of Niagra Falls.
Taking some time to catch her breath, Giovanna then surveyed the land, and then saw Mt. Fuji out in the distance, quickly piecing together what happened. "I had a sense this would have happened in the span of things…"
"Whaddya mean, Giovanna?" Chrome asked.
"All it takes is one Volcanic Eruption, and the entire landscape around it is immediately changed. Mt. Fuji was dormant before the great petrification, but in the passing of time from then to now, it must have erupted quite a lot." Giovanna said.
Giovanna explained this to Senku over the cellphone as well once they discovered the waterfall.
"Heh… great insight Giovanna, as expected of a Geologist. Mt. Fuji had to have erupted a sizable amount of times in the centuries we've all been asleep. Modern maps are way off now." Senku said.
"We'll need a new map, and we'll have to start working on it right away." Ukyo said.
"Whaddya mean? We can find the place without a stupid map." Chrome said.
"Can we?" Ukyo asked. "Digging for oil haphazardly not knowing where we are is a fool's errand, not to mention dangerous."
"A Map…" Mirai repeated.
"But how will we make one?" Nikki asked.
"Mind if I make a suggestion?" Giovanna asked, getting back on the line. "In my time spent as a Geologist, I've learned that surveying the land while on the ground is tedious. But then once I met the Hero Alliance, I discovered something."
"Oh yeah? What's that?" Senku asked.
"It's much easier to study the earth and all its wondrous facets of nature from high in the sky." Giovanna answered. "It's more fun when you're flying in the air, free as a bird."
And just like that, thanks to Giovanna's enigmatic answer, Senku got an idea as he grinned. "Yeah… It sure is."
With his revelation in mind, Senku gathered up a pile of green plants.
"We need Hemp, and lots of it. Everyone's gonna chip in to gather a stupid amount of it." Senku said.
"But everyone's focusing on building the ship, they're not just gonna drop everything for a secondary project." Hilda noted. "Especially since they keep hoarding that cash."
"Our currency and oil search situations are linked. Besides, now's the time to take advantage of them hoarding all their precious Drago." Senku said laughing evilly.
"How're we gonna do that?" Travis asked.
"Oh you would be amazed how easy it is to crash the money market." Connor said. "Gen, Mind giving a little demonstration?"
"Why I'd be happy to." Gen smiled.
The mentalist then made his way to a cave where Yō and some others were lazing with all their saved up Drago.
"Haven't you guys heard? Your Drago is in grave danger. We just can't seem to find that oil field. It's possible we never will at this rate. The Dragos value is based on Oil sales, so what's it worth without any?" Gen said. "That said… I know a way to ensure it won't happen."
It was at that moment they were quick on their feet to gathered up a lot of hemp.
"This really puts into perspective how our old lives revolved around money…" Nikki said.
"One rumor can bring about a dire financial crash! It's been that way for thousands of years!" Gen laughed.
"You guys….you're pretty ruthless, you know that right?" Ryuusui said.
"Hey, you have it easy with me. I know people who can be more ruthless." Connor said.
In no time at all, a large pile of hemp was gathered, which was just what Senku needed.
"Giovanna's right on the money. It's a hell of a lot easier if we could see from the air. So…for our next little project…we're making hot air balloons." Senku said. "We'll find our treasure, and we'll do it from the sky!"
Needless to say, just like with everything else Senku hasn't introduced to the Stone World yet, the Ishigami Village residents weren't exactly sold on the idea of people flying in the air.
Magma himself was hysteric about it. "Don't make me laugh Senku, not even you can make that happen! There's no way you or any of your outsider friends can fool me into thinking humans can fly-" he said before remembering what Yō said.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna laugh. I don't see this happening either. Flyings gotta be way harder than sailing, and we're not even past that." Yō said.
"Haha! This is getting better by the minute! The sky? I want it!" Ryuusui boasted.
"Actually? When it comes to simple flight methods like a Hot Air Balloon, it's a lot easier than you think." Betty said. "In fact, we'll be able to make one easy as 1-2-3."
"That simple?!" Kaseki asked in disbelief.
"Fly Girls on point. It's super easy to make Hot Air Balloons." Senku supported Betty's claim. "You could pack up a whole flight kit and pack it into the trunk of a car with ease!"
"So, we're using Hemp to make the cloth for the balloon? That won't exactly be a very airtight creation, there's bound to be leaking." Ignatz said.
"Actually, the first ever Hot Air Balloon was made using exactly the same material." Lysithea fact dropped. "But in order for our balloon to reach a good enough altitude for aerial surveillance, it needs to be big enough to hold a lot of hot air. Which means…."
Everyone then looked towards Yuzuriha, who immediately smiled nervously. "We need…a ton of cloth, right?"
"Yep. The Science team will be busy with the basket so…it's all on you, girl!" Connor said happily.
"Sorry Yuzuriha, but right now you're the only one here who knows their way around a needle until Rarity gets here." Betty said. "Are you up for it?"
Admittedly, Yuzuriha was nervous, but knowing the task was important and she had to step up, she immediately gained confidence. "Of course I am!"
Taiju immediately got to work crushing the help for the project at hand, which was easy using his strength combined with a large roll of stone.
"Alight, lemme be the first to ask, what are we even doing?" Denji asked. "I've got no idea how these wimpy little fibers get turned into cloth, how the hell do you even work with this stuff?"
"You stupid guy. You gotta turn the fibers into thread first." Yō said.
"Stupid?!" Denji asked, ready to pounce on Yō full devil style before Raphael restrained him.
"Down boy, he's just projecting." Raphael said. "But he's right, I'm lost on how we're gonna turn the Hemp fiber into thread."
"We'll be using a Spinner." Yuzuriha answered.
"A Spinner?" Piccoletta asked.
Yuzuriha's Easy Handcrafts
"First, we gather a bunch of the plant fibers we pulled off the plant's core. Then, we attach them to the spinner tightly, and through a slot at the top." Yuzuriha said. "After a diligent bit of spinning, it's done!"
The others were soon trying it themselves.
"Wow…this is easy. So how much we need?" Yō asked.
"Hmm…enough to wrap around the Earth…several times!" Yuzuriha said.
"And there's the catch!" a number of them called out.
"This is never gonna end, is it?" Ginro asked.
"Just do it, and it will." Kinro replied.
"At least we're getting somewhere by making thread." Hilda said.
"I guess… the next step is turning the thread into cloth, right?" Marianne asked.
"Yes. You have to wrap it around the threads by hand a whole bunch of times." Yuzuriha said. "It is a bit of a pain."
"Well…let's get Senku to build us a loom then." Lysithea said.
"Good idea! Im sure he and Kaseki won't be too bothered by that." Yuzuriha acknowledged.
Yuzuriha put in the request, and in a matter of minutes, the two of them were able to design a large, complex loom that looked like it came straight out of a design studio. It shocked Yuzuriha so much, she lost her balance.
"Is this not what you were expecting, Yuzuriha?" Kaseki asked.
"It was kinda on short notice. Bet you wanted an electric one." Senku said.
"No, this is perfect! I couldn't be happier!" Yuzuriha assured.
With the Loom constructed, the process of making the hemp cloth went more smoothly. It wasn't long before a lot of completed batches were assembled.
"Lookin' good! At this rate, we'll be up in the air in no time." Connor said.
"Things are a bit behind schedule though. Some of the cloth turned out to be too thin to be used as Balloon material. We may as well turn it into something else and sell it." Hilda said.
"Where would we sell it?" Connor said.
"Heh…Senku Department Store of course." Gen said.
"Department store? The heck are you…" Connor said before thinking about it. It was then a lightbulb went off in his head. "Ah, nice thinkin', Gen."
Senku, Connor and Gen then proposed the idea to a worn out Yuzuriha.
"Are you interested?" Senku asked, the idea giving Yuzuriha all her energy back.
"Of course! I would love to!" Yuzuriha enthusiastically agreed.
Connor and the others didn't know until now, but there was one particular craft that got Yuzuriha really fired up: Fashion Design. As soon as the idea reached her ears, she went at making clothes like a woman possessed.
"She's more intense about making clothes than Rarity…." Ryo said in shock, as he, Kinro and Ginro watched.
"She's nothing like the Yuzuriha we know." Ginro said as Taiju passed by.
"Whaddya mean? She's always like that when she's working on her crafts." Taiju mentioned.
Yuzuriha only needed until nightfall to finish reinventing Fashion in the stone world. And how do you show it off to the masses? With a fashion show of course.
(Cue: Montenevera Gym (2nd Movement) - Pokemon Scarlet & Violet)
Ruri was first out as a model, wearing her designated outfit. "This is so embarrassing…."
"Aiming for an exotic look? Why not add a touch of elegance by topping it off with a scarf!" Gen announced.
Ruri's Total Set Cost: $103,000
Next out was Kinro, awkwardly walking down the runway.
"Kinro?!" Ginro asked in surprise.
"Y'dont swing with the arm you're stepping with!" Magma critiqued.
"Exude confidence with this knitted turtleneck sweater and accessories that show off your fun side, for a man who knows what he wants." Gen continued.
Kinro's total Set cost: $150,300
"Dude, did she make all this with just hemp?! That's unbelievable!" Yō said.
"Try an adorable design with a dash of street fashion for a contemporary look." Gen said as Sukia presented her pink outfit, with her mask off to double the cuteness factor.
Suika's Total Set Cost: $14,400
"Suika looks so cute in that!" Hilda said.
"Do I kinda want that? Yes, I do!" Nikki said.
Last out was surprisingly Kaseki, who was sporting a stunning suit.
"Special occasions demand a suave three piece, but it doesn't mean hiding your inner rocker."
Kaseki's Total Set Cost: $265,000
"So expensive…!" Mirai gawked.
"Try not to fall for me." Kaseki said.
As the next day came, Yuzuriha's designs were already up for sale.
"Gotta admit, Yuzuriha's a damn good fashionista." Connor said. "Costs for her outfits are kinda on the pricey side though, so it'll take awhile for the first line to sell out."
"Might as well give away what we can't sell to the workers." Senku said. "We're makin' bank now that King Midas has opened his bottomless pockets."
"Thank you sir, please come again." Yuzuriha said to Ryuusui, who had purchased a ton of clothes for himself. But he quickly realized what he was doing.
"Giving them a ton of money is only gonna hurt me… isn't it?" he said to himself.
Senku and Gen were laughing like maniacs as they hoarded all of the funds.
"All right…we've got the insane amount of cloth we needed. So now…it's time we got the thing built." Senku said.
"Factoring in the calculations of lift, Air temperature and heat resistance of the cloth, we'd ideally want measurements that lift the balloon up just below the jetstream." Lysithea said, looking to Senku. "And since the Balloon will only carry 3 people at a time, I can estimate you'd like the balloon to be ... .7.8 meters in Diameter?"
"Spot on. That's a big brain you've got." Senku said.
Everyone then worked together to assemble the Hot air balloon, both the Ishigami residents and Yuzuriha showing impressive sewing skills. Within no time flat, the Balloon was completed and ready for its first flight.
"So whos going to be testing this out? It holds 3 people, right? I'll pass myself." Gen said.
"Senku has to go, obviously." Betty said. "I'd like to help, but I'm more accustomed to flying ships and planes than balloons. Hot Air balloons require those who know their way around reading the wind so it doesn't drift off course."
"Hey, maybe Ryuusui could apply his sailing skills to this?" Hilda asked.
"He could, but if we ask him too directly, he'll try to rip us off. We need a way to outsmart him." Avlora said.
"Which is what Gen will be doing." Senku said.
"Right…" Gen said.
A bit later, Gen had everyone gather around for a little game. Whoever would pull one of two joker cards from a deck would go with Senku in the balloon. After a few attempts, including ones from Connor's team to sell it, it was Ryuusui's turn. When he stepped up, Gen deliberately pushed one card out from the deck right in front of him.
"Ah, the ol' "expose" trick. Making the odds in one person's favor so they can win by pure coincidence." Connor thought. "Ryuusui pulls the exposed joker, and he works without spending a dime. Could work, if he falls for it."
"I see through your tricks. If you wanted my help, you could've just asked me. Out of respect for your ruse, Gen, I'll pilot the balloon for a mere 1 Million Drago!" Ryuusui pulled his card…. But what Gen exposed wasn't one of the Jokers, but a 3 of Hearts! Ryuusui was shocked, so was everyone else.
"When people lose what they thought they had, that's when the loss hits hardest. Psychological tests have proven as much. It's often seen in matters of the heart." Gen thought to himself, then slipping one Joker card out of his sleeve while Ryuusui was distracted. "Darn, it seems like I drew a Joker. I can't say I'm proud of it, but a deal's a deal."
Catching on to what Gen was doing, Hilda played along. "You're not happy about it? You do realize you're holding the winning ticket for the first Stone World flight, you know what somebody would do for something like that?"
"I know…. Guess I'm just a little afraid to be at the whims of the wind." Gen said.
"Ahaha! If you're that scared, I wouldn't mind taking your place!" Ryuusui declared in desperation, hook, line and sinker.
"For eel-ray? Although… I did win this ticket with my own two hands, so I'm afraid I can't just give it away." Gen said.
And so, Ryuusui got his hands on the Joker card… In exchange for a hefty pile of Drago.
"We thought we'd be paying him! How did we get what we wanted, and profit from it?!" Taiju asked.
"It's kinda terrifying seeing how good Gen is at manipulating the psyche…." Leonie admitted.
"At this rate, we'll have our oil funds in no time!" Senku chuckled.
Drawings for the last joker card continued, Magma coming up empty as he was next up.
"Why are we leaving the last slot to chance? Is there anyone else interested in flying the balloon that wants to do this?" Medina asked.
"It's better this way so that we can pick out who actually wants to get in the air." Connor said. "But if there's really no one else hhvwho's interested, I guess one of us could take the plunge-"
"Hey, I'm insanely interested! I wanna fly so bad!" a voice breached everyone's ears. It was Chrome, who in a mixed display of determination and stupidity, had blitzed all the way back from Ishigami village at the mention of the Balloon. "I'm drawing, you can't stop me. I'm not gonna pass up a chance to ride that flying machine. I'm gonna draw the winning card through Sheer willpower!"
"Did he seriously run all the way here?" Hilda asked.
"Y'gotta admire the kid's heart. I know my little girl would do the same thing if it was me in the subject." Travis said.
"Ugh…if we don't, he's just gonna make a big show of it." Connor said.
Of course, Chrome, through his determination, actually did manage to draw the remaining joker in the deck.
After a quick check to determine ideal circumstances for flying, it was time for takeoff.
"You guys got your route planned out?" Connor said.
"Yup. We're probably gonna beat you to our destination, but all the same, it's good to have some comparison to distance traveled." Senku said.
"Let's get going then. Meet you three at the finish line." Connor said.
As Team Revival set off, the hot air balloon soon took off into the sky, and it was a sight to see for everyone on the ground. But for Chrome, he had the chance to witness something amazing for the first time in his life: the sun rising in the distance, from high in the air.
"It's still pitch black for everyone down on the ground." Chrome said, as he sank to the floor of the balloon, crying in joy. "It's true…the world's round. I saw it with my own eyes. I want more! I wanna know everything about this world of ours!"
His declarations were cut off by a flock of birds passing by, one of them narrowly avoided by Senku ducking.
"I wouldn't get too pumped. Birds were responsible for a lot of plane crashes." Senku said.
"We'll be fine if we just get out of the way… on second thought, we aren't rising that quickly." Ryuusui noticed. "The way the balloon moves depends on the wind, it's basically a sailboat in the sky. All the more importance for me to master this and reach our maiden voyage to the finish line!"
"That reminds me, where exactly are we meeting Connor and his team?" Chrome asked.
"Ishigami Village." Senku and Ryuusui replied.
"WHAT?! That's a two-day walk, even if you book it!" Chrome said.
"And we're gonna beat them there in merely 2 hours." Senku said.
"We wore ourselves ragged making that trip, and now it'll only take a couple hours? Traveling by air is bad, and so easy too." Chrome said.
"It's a little tougher than it appears. We gotta go west to get to Ishigami Village, and that's tricky. We're dependent on the wind, and in Japan at this altitude it always flows east."
"But we're going west now, so how is that possible?" Chrome asked.
"Low Pressure!" Ryuusui answered with a snap. "Low pressure systems are what produce storms, and they rotate counter clockwise. We're taking advantage of that and hitching a quick ride to the west. With the experience I'm sure to gain from this, we'll be able to go even further. Finding that oil will be easy one that happens. It's dangerous and requires hard work, but a professional adventurer overcomes anything, am I wrong? With me leading the charge, you amateurs are free to relax and enjoy the view."
"Did he seriously just call me an amateur? Me? The Adventure King?" Chrome thought, taking offense to Ryusui's comment. "You might not know this since you are more attuned to the Sea, Ryuusui, but the terrain below has as much effect on the sky as the wind does, especially this close to the ground. We're coasting along the wind right along the river."
"Now that you mention it, we are being drawn along the river somewhat." Senku said. "I wonder…" he said, dropping something with weight as it whipped around. "Well…that's not good."
"No…it's not…we're running into the storm making god of the clouds…" Ryuusui said they flew towards black clouds. "Cumulonimbus!"
The balloon floated straight into the path of the clouds, the air vehicle rocking its occupants back and forth.
"Okay, this is really bad!" Chrome said. "What now?!"
"The balloon will be torn to shreds if it gets into that storm. Chrome, pull that rope! It'll release hot air and drop us fast!" Ryuusui stated.
"No wait!" Senku warned, seeing a hole in the balloon. "It must've been those birds. If you pull it now, the cloth will tear and we'll crash!"
"No wonder we were having trouble ascending before." Ryuusui said.
"This is bad. We're going higher even after we shut off the flame!" Chrome said. "What do we do?"
"Sad to say…we don't have any escape routes left." Ryuusui said.
"Escape… wait…" Chrome said as he got an idea. "No, let's attack head on! The only way through this is if we use our brains and our hearts to break through!"
"Yeah… let's do it. We'll try our luck and shoot up another few thousand meters. It's an insane altitude, but we'll barely avoid suffocating." Senku said.
"That'll work. Not bad, Chrome." Ryuusui said. "Throw in all the fuel we have left!"
"Sad to waste the rest of this, but…" Senku said, tossing in the last of the Revival Fluid. "Behold the power of Liquid Fuels!"
Tossing the revival fluid into the burner, the force from the blast launched the balloon higher. Accompanied by the rest of the coal and with Ryuusui's skills in navigation, the three of them together, pierced through the top of the cumulonimbus.
Ishigami Village…
As Connor and his team were making their way to the village, they could tell that Senku, Chrome and Ryuusui had accomplished their task.
"Heh. they've probably completed their flight by now and are ready to land. They beat us." Connor said. "That means they did it. Senku never ceases to surprise me."
"I have to admit, both this world and it inhabitants are amazing. Despite the environment, they just keep adapting and overcoming so many obstacles, to bring thousands of lost years back." Lysithea said.
"Connor… why do you keep coming back here?" Hilda asked. "You could've just dropped this and left it to Senku after the first go round. I mean, hiding here was the best choice, but…"
"Y'wanna know why I can't get enough of this place? It's easy." Connor said. "We surround ourselves with people who can do amazing things. But this world? It challenges us to adapt and overcome impossible odds with nothing but what's in front of us. And what Senku is able to do for this world, how he can recreate things lost to time with nothing but his mind and everything around him? He's the kinda guy I'd root for any day. You want to see him succeed, to unravel the mysteries of this world. And we're gonna help him do all of it. I'm interested in finding out what exactly turned this whole place to stone too. Because one day? This worlds goin' back into the Color-Verse as an actual civilization, and Senku's gonna be the one to lead it there."
"Wait, so you're saying that….?" Betty asked.
"Yeah. That's my goal." Connor said. "I wanna be the first man that brings a Forbidden World back from the brink of destruction!"
"I wouldn't expect anything less." Avlora said.
"Normally I'd say crap like that's impossible. But after spending time with you and those pals of yours?" Denji asked. "Damn if I'm not totally on board, 100 percent!"
"We can't do it on our own though, you know." Hilda said.
"You're right. But it's a good thing we ain't in this alone." Connor said as he and Team Revival came out of the forest clearing towards the entrance to Ishigami Village, and smirked at the sight of what was waiting for them, smirking under his mask as he crossed his arms. "You're late."
They saw the alliance standing there smirking just like he was.
"So…just tell us what we're building." Jexi said.
Universal Police HQ…
A small meeting was being held by a number of officials.
"So…we've received reports…that someone spotted the Galaxy King, the ship belonging to the Dimensional Heroes, making repeated visits to a world marked forbidden." one officer said.
"The one between Past and Future. Where humanity was wiped out. It was marked Forbidden due to how its people were wiped out. If I remember, we were going to have it destroyed soon, but if people have been visiting it, it changes things." another said.
"We'll have no choice but to send an investigator. Worst case scenario…we'll have to destroy a whole bunch of worlds to reduce the spread of a petrifying virus." a third said.
"May gods have mercy on their souls."