Chapter 21: The One with Dr.Stone
The world Gilderoy Lockhart stepped into was unlike any other he had visited before. Gone were the towering skyscrapers and buzzing cities of modern worlds, replaced by a vast, untamed wilderness. The air was crisp, unpolluted by industry, and the sound of nature echoed in every direction. Gilderoy's eyes took in the dense forests, the wild rivers cutting through the landscape, and the distant mountains that loomed in the background. This world, once as advanced as any other, had been reduced to its most primitive state.
The Dr. Stone universe—where civilization had been brought to its knees, and now, only a select few individuals struggled to rebuild it from scratch.
Gilderoy adjusted his cloak, which he had charmed to blend in with the natural surroundings, and set his sights on the village of Ishigami, a small settlement nestled along the banks of a river. It was here that Senku Ishigami, the brilliant young scientist, had recently established his base of operations. According to Gilderoy's research, Senku had already made incredible strides in restoring scientific progress, starting with simple tools and working his way toward more advanced technology.
Gilderoy's mission was clear: recruit Senku. He needed Senku's genius to unlock the full potential of the Sentinels—the advanced bio-mechanical machines he had brought from another world. But first, he had to convince the scientist to work with him. That meant selling a story Senku would believe, and Gilderoy had chosen the perfect one: he would pose as a time traveler from a future civilization, someone who had access to technology beyond anything Senku could imagine.
As Gilderoy approached the village, he allowed a confident smile to curl at the edges of his lips. Time to play the part.
The village of Ishigami was a modest collection of wooden huts and thatched roofs, surrounded by a rudimentary palisade that had clearly been built as protection against wild animals rather than invaders. Smoke curled lazily from a few chimneys, and villagers moved about their daily tasks—gathering food, weaving clothes, and repairing tools. Despite its simplicity, there was an air of progress here, a sense of determination that belied the harshness of their surroundings.
As Gilderoy entered the village, his eyes were drawn to the large waterwheel on the river's edge, its wooden paddles turning slowly with the current. It was a recent invention, no doubt designed by Senku to provide power to the village. The wheel was a symbol of ingenuity, proof that even in this stone world, science could carve a path forward.
The villagers gave Gilderoy curious glances as he walked through the main thoroughfare, his cloak billowing slightly behind him. His arrival had clearly not gone unnoticed, and he could feel the weight of their stares, though none approached him directly. He spotted a young boy running off toward the village center, likely to inform someone of his arrival.
Gilderoy's eyes swept the village, taking in its humble structures and simple tools. This place was nothing compared to the advanced civilizations he had visited in other worlds, but he knew that Senku Ishigami was the key to something much greater.
As Gilderoy neared the village square, a group of figures approached him. Leading them was a young woman with striking blonde hair and piercing blue eyes—Kohaku, the village's most skilled warrior. She moved with the grace of a predator, her hand resting on the hilt of a spear strapped to her back.
Beside her walked a man with wild, spiky hair and a wide grin plastered across his face. This had to be Chrome, the self-proclaimed "sorcerer" of the village and Senku's closest ally in his scientific endeavors.
"Who are you, stranger?" Kohaku asked, her voice calm but laced with suspicion. Her gaze was sharp, as though she could see through any lie.
Gilderoy offered a disarming smile, raising his hands to show he meant no harm. "A traveler from afar," he said smoothly, his tone measured and respectful. "I've come seeking the one they call Senku Ishigami. I believe we have much to discuss."
Chrome stepped forward, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Senku? Why would you want to talk to him?" He looked Gilderoy up and down, noting his strange clothing and the odd gleam in his eyes. "You don't look like you're from around here. Did you bring some kind of new science? Or maybe... magic?"
Gilderoy chuckled, playing along with the village's primitive understanding of the world. "You could say that," he replied. "But it's not magic. It's something far more... advanced."
Kohaku's eyes narrowed. "We'll take you to Senku, but don't try anything funny. If you do, you'll regret it."
Gilderoy gave a small nod. "Lead the way."
Kohaku and Chrome led Gilderoy through the village, past huts and workstations where villagers toiled away at various projects. Gilderoy noted the makeshift laboratory in the center of the village, where Senku's influence was most apparent. Wooden tables were covered in glassware, rudimentary chemicals, and hastily sketched diagrams. The village might have been primitive, but the ambition here was unmistakable.
Finally, they arrived at a large wooden platform where Senku stood, his signature white hair spiked upward, and his lab coat draped over his shoulders like a cape. He was busy examining a makeshift generator that hummed with power, clearly the result of one of his recent experiments.
Senku looked up as they approached, his sharp eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of Gilderoy. "Who's this?" he asked, his voice cool and detached.
"A stranger," Kohaku said. "He claims he's here to see you."
Senku raised an eyebrow, folding his arms across his chest. "That so? And why would someone from the outside world be looking for me?"
Gilderoy stepped forward, offering a confident smile. "Because you're exactly the kind of person I need, Senku."
Senku didn't react immediately. He simply stared at Gilderoy, as if trying to calculate the angles. After a moment, he spoke. "And who are you?"
"My name is Gilderoy Lockhart," Gilderoy said, keeping his tone even and professional. "I am a inter-dimensional traveller and I have some seeking your help."
There was a moment of silence as Senku processed the claim. His expression remained neutral, but there was an undeniable flicker of interest in his eyes.
"Huh?" Senku's voice was calm, almost mocking. "Let me guess. You're a time traveler? Came back in time to stop some kind of disaster?"
Gilderoy chuckled, appreciating the irony in Senku's skepticism. "Something like that. But I didn't come to stop a disaster. I came because I'm looking for someone like you—someone who can help me unlock the potential of the technology I've recently acquired."
Chrome stepped forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Time travel? That's even crazier than the stuff Senku talks about!"
Senku, however, wasn't so easily convinced. "Time travel, huh? You expect me to believe that?"
"I expect you to see the proof," Gilderoy said confidently.
Senku's eyes narrowed as he stared at Gilderoy, clearly unconvinced. "If you're really from the future, you'll have to do a lot better than just words. Show me something."
Gilderoy smiled. This was the moment he had been waiting for. He reached into his cloak, his hand brushing against the magical projection charm he had prepared. With a subtle flick of his wrist, he activated the projection magic, summoning a small metallic device into his hand.
He held it out for Senku to see—a sleek, futuristic-looking gadget that hummed with energy. The device was about the size of a smartphone, but far more advanced, with a holographic display that flickered to life as Gilderoy tapped a button on its surface. The device emitted a soft blue glow, projecting a detailed three-dimensional image of a complex molecular structure into the air.
Chrome gasped in awe, his eyes wide with amazement. "What... what is that?"
Gilderoy smiled. "This is a Tricoder(star trek)—a tool used to analyze the atomic structure of any material. It's just one of the many devices from the future I've brought with me."
Senku stepped closer, his eyes fixed on the projection. He studied it carefully, his mind already racing with calculations. "Holographic projection... that's a little more advanced than anything we've got here," he muttered, his voice tinged with grudging respect. "But it's still not enough. Show me more."
Gilderoy was prepared for this. With another flick of his wrist, he summoned a second device—"Replicator (Star Trek)
A small-scale projection of a device that can create food or items from raw materials. Even a miniaturized version of this could amaze Senku as a sign of advanced resource management.
Lightsaber (Star Wars):
The classic glowing energy blade. Gilderoy could ignite it, showcasing the fusion of science and advanced energy manipulation. It's a symbol of both technology and power."
Chrome's jaw dropped in astonishment.
Senku's gaze sharpened, his analytical mind working overtime. "Now that is something I didn't expect to see."
Gilderoy smiled. "There's more where that came from. I have access to technology far beyond what you've seen here. And I'm willing to share it with you—if you'll help me with my own project."
Senku studied Gilderoy for a long moment, his sharp eyes gleaming with curiosity. Finally, he spoke, his voice low but intrigued. "Alright. You've got my attention, Lockhart. Let's talk."
As the villagers slowly dispersed, returning to their daily tasks, Gilderoy and Senku stood alone near the laboratory, surrounded by the various tools and inventions Senku had created. Gilderoy could see the gears turning in Senku's mind, the scientist's insatiable curiosity already taking over.
"You're a time traveler, huh?" Senku said, his voice calm but laced with skepticism. "I don't believe in time travel. But I can't argue with the technology you've shown me."
Gilderoy smiled. "You don't have to believe in time travel. Just believe in the science."
Senku smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Fair enough. So, what exactly do you want from me? You're clearly not here just to show off your gadgets."
"I need your help, Senku," Gilderoy said, his tone serious. "I have access to technology far more advanced than anything you've seen. I need someone with your scientific mind to help me reverse engineer it."
Senku raised an eyebrow. "And what kind of technology are we talking about?"
Gilderoy's smile widened. "Something more destructive than nukes."
Senku's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Alright, Lockhart. You've piqued my interest. Let's see what you've got."