Chapter Text
The sensation of petals brushing the tips of his fingers was comforting, but the more he let them fall behind him, the more the feeling faded, soon too faint to soothe the growing anxiety inside him.
This wasn’t Gen’s first infiltration mission. In fact, it was a well-practiced exercise; after all, his story with the Kingdom of Science had started with one just like this.
Even back then, it seemed so long ago now, during their stopover on Treasure Island, he had been truly determined to join Ibara’s harem. If only his disguise had been convincing enough to give him the chance… and to keep Ginro from going in his place.
Anyway, Gen was an experienced spy, and missions like this didn’t scare him one bit.
Yet today was different. He couldn’t shake the apprehension and the dread that threatened to swallow him whole at any moment.
And… Who could blame him?
The man he was tracking was far more dangerous than anyone they had faced before. His skills and arsenal were leagues beyond anything known in this stone world: sophisticated firearms, flawless mastery of combat and camouflage, a battle hardened veteran, he even had a damn airplane !
The slight increase in his sweat and heartbeat was probably justified… He tried to calm himself as best he could, keeping his expression neutral. He had to look as harmless as possible, maybe even a little simple-minded, totally unaware of the danger lurking ahead.
It was his only chance against this hostile predator, his only way not to get shot on the spot. His only way out, and the only solution he had found to protect Chrome and Kohaku-Chan, who were following further behind.
Earlier in the day, when they said someone should go on a manhunt, he carefully played the part of the reluctant participant: grand gestures, exaggerated sighs, and that vaguely defeated look he reserved for moments when he wanted to seem detached. A well-rehearsed performance.
In truth, Gen would never have turned down such a mission.
A lot was riding on him and on this meeting. He was the famed mentalist, one of Senku’s right-hand men. And until now, he had never failed !…
Well… except for that damn poker game on the Perseus.
His ego took a hit that night, leaving a bitterness that wouldn’t fade, mocking him almost constantly. It was only one single loss, damn it, but he had lost once. He was sure he’d win alongside Ryuusui and had genuinely hoped for a calmer cruise than the chaotic one they actually experienced.
Aside from the discomfort of the voyage… there was that little voice in his head that kept whispering: maybe Senku was starting to doubt his skills. Maybe he was thinking of replacing him or no longer calling on him.
Thanks to recent events, Gen had a new chance to prove he was trustworthy. And make no mistake, he wasn’t going to let it slip away without giving his all.
He intended to prove once and for all that he remained the best mentalist and manipulator in the Kingdom of Science. That others could count on him and that he was unbeatable.
Breathe, smile, improvise. I can do this.
After those few words of encouragement, Gen noticed he was entering an area where the vegetation thinned and the footprints he had been following began to fade.
This is it, he thought. If I were a dangerous psychopath, this would be the perfect spot to set a trap..
The enemy was close, and the unsettling feeling of being watched only confirmed the suspicion.
Harmless, I must look even more harmless than Suika-Chan, the mentalist repeated to himself.
Fine. It was finally time to put on the act and take the stage.
He pulled a small white flag from one of his many pockets and began waving it in the air as a sign of surrender, raising his voice a notch higher than usual, still trying to bait his enemy:
“Hellooo… is anyone here ?” His English accent echoed through the jungle. He silently congratulated himself for having at least paid some attention in his high school English classes. Honestly, it had saved his skin more than once during his career as a mentalist. And who knew ? Today, it might just keep him from getting a bullet in the head.
He suppressed a laugh. Who would have thought he’d end up in the United States under these circumstances, talking to himself in English in a jungle ?
But he wasn’t ‘alone’ for long, and by the end, the laughter had completely died away.
Near him, a bush rustled, and in a split second, a machine gun barrel was pointed at him, knocking the air out of his lungs.
Okay, maybe his English hadn’t saved him that much after all.
“YIIIKEEEE !” Gen threw his hands up in surrender, frantically waving his little white flag of peace. Much of his reaction was exaggerated to reinforce that ‘harmless’ look in the eyes of his enemy. Still, the pounding of his heart at the sight of the gun was very real.
The armor of his attacker opened, revealing the blond man beneath. A large petrification scar ran across his face, accentuating his already long lashes, while a cigarette hung from his lips.
Gen jumped in, continuing in English with a frightened look, trying desperately to communicate with his American captor. The latter didn’t respond, too busy frisking the mentalist for weapons or anything else that could be used in defense.
The cigarette smoke polluted his personal space, adding to his growing irritation. He hated being touched, searched, or whatever the synonym for what he was experiencing right now was, especially by a total stranger.
“I swear I’m not carrying any weapons !” Gen accompanied his words with a surrender posture, hoping to stop the intrusive search… and especially to get rid of that unbearable smell invading his lungs. Tobacco wasn’t on the list of things he missed from the old world.
Finally, the American stepped back, taking a drag from his cigarette and taking a good look at the strange character in front of him. Then he finally spoke: “No weapons, indeed, but you’re hiding quite a few things up those sleeves… Who exactly are you ?” A mocking smile tugged at the corners of the cigarette.
Gen knew when to seize an opportunity. He pulled flowers from his sleeves and showed off some magician’s flair, a simple but well-known trick that easily entertained any audience.
A tension, barely noticeable to an untrained eye, slipped from the blond’s shoulders. That made the magician smile inwardly. He had achieved his first goal, easing some of his opponent’s suspicion.
He suspected it was only the beginning, but a win was a win !
His acting hadn’t faltered an inch, and he was also pleased by that. It was important to keep his skills sharp !
A few more words were exchanged, the stranger kept the conversation going, talking about a story of the first to strike and samurais, subjects outside Gen’s expertise. Then he finally said something that truly caught the mentalist’s interest:
“But now, I have a lot of questions.” He started to move away, and Gen took that as a sign to follow, which he did. The blond continued:
“And you have some too, don’t you ?” Oh, if you only knew… thought Gen. “So, what do you think about meeting our leader ?” The enemy stopped at the edge of a large cliff overlooking a vast landscape.
As Gen moved to stand beside him, a breath caught in his chest. His eyes widened as the wind whipped his hair.
Impossible…
Before him stood the very reason they had come to America. A topic that had regularly sparked debate during the forty days of navigation needed to reach this place. Something they doubted they would find, yet hoped for. And now, right in front of him, it was real.
The Yellow Corn… just as Senku predicted.
There were fields as far as the eye could see, but not only that. Herds of cattle, tractors, airstrips, and a castle built with… well… quite an unusual taste. It was a whole world filled with scientific technology, almost like the world Gen had known long ago.
A wave of dread seized him.
He already knew the enemy wasn’t a mere amateur like Chrome had been before, someone who had been passionate about the early days of true science. To build a flying plane and weapons that could fire, the enemy had to be a scientist as smart as Senku. But seeing it with his own eyes was another matter.
It was… terrifying.
Senku would probably find all this amusing and exciting. But Gen felt nothing but fear and doubt in the face of the vast engineering right before him.
Would he be able to fool someone as smart as Senku ?…
Gen did his best to bury his doubts under a false layer of confidence.
It will be fine, I’ll do as usual: lie, smile, and I’ll get through this.
It wouldn’t be an easy task, but he was capable of it. Besides, it was too late to turn back now.
Just as Gen was about to speak and continue his mission, a sudden dizziness hit him, as if he were losing his footing.
What the-
He felt himself fall.
Literally.
His brain barely had time to grasp what was happening.
In a fraction of a second, a kick had struck him in the back, destabilizing him as he stood near the cliff, completely absorbed by the view ahead.
In the past, he had gone through many nightmares about falling into an endless void.
Many humans had experienced that sensation so vividly that they woke up in the middle of the night, sweating, but comforted by a cozy mattress and warm blankets. But none of those bad dreams compared to reality.
He was paralyzed, but his heart raced, and so did his mind.
In the flurry and the short time before hitting the ground, his brain analyzed the situation, not searching for a solution, he knew it was over. But wondering what he had done wrong to end up here.
What had driven this completely crazy American to push him off this damn cliff ? He hadn’t seen any warning signs. The man had even seemed relaxed in the mentalist’s presence, offering to take him to see his leader. And he had seemed sincere; Gen hadn’t detected any lies in his words or face.
None of it made any sense.
And he had exhausted the little time left before crashing to the ground.
A thicket waited below, and he offered a small prayer to any deity willing to listen. He really hoped those few branches would be enough to save him from certain and probably painful death.
He closed his eyes, a childish reflex, yet sincere, a simple hope that if he could no longer see the danger, perhaps it would vanish.
As the branches brushed his skin and tore his clothes, one last thought played through his mind.
A certain scientist with red eyes and wild hair. A radiant smile lighting up his features.
Ah…
Sorry Senku-Chan, in the end, I wasn’t strong enough. Don’t forget me... and neither should the others.
Gen could not know how ironic that plea would prove to be at that very moment.
He lost consciousness as his body hit the ground, plunging into a silence deeper than the fall itself.