Senku's sharp eyes lingered on the array of projected futuristic gadgets that Gilderoy had conjured up, each a testament to technology far beyond anything the Stone World had yet to achieve. There was a fleeting moment of silence between them, the wind rustling through the trees as the village of Ishigami continued its daily routine in the background.
Senku folded his arms, his face betraying none of the awe the villagers had shown. He was a scientist at heart, and while the gadgets were impressive, they weren't enough to shake his inherent skepticism. "So, you've shown me some cool future tech, but none of this explains why you're here," he said coolly. "What exactly do you want from me?"
Gilderoy smiled, maintaining his air of quiet confidence. He knew Senku was a difficult man to impress—rightfully so. "What I want is simple," Gilderoy replied, his voice calm. "I need someone like you, Senku. Someone who can help me understand and improve the technology I've acquired. But this isn't just about tech. It's about unlocking the true potential of bio-mechanical hybrids—machines that can evolve and adapt."
Senku's eyebrows rose a fraction, his interest piqued despite his reluctance. "Machines that evolve on their own?" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That would be something."
"It is," Gilderoy confirmed, stepping closer. "But the technology is far more advanced than even the gadgets I've shown you today. To master it, I need someone with your mind, your relentless drive for scientific discovery."
Senku remained silent for a moment, his mind clearly whirring with thoughts. "And let me guess—you want me to leave my world behind, abandon the people here, and join you on some interdimensional quest?"
Gilderoy chuckled softly. He had expected this. "Not quite. I'm not asking you to abandon anything. In fact, I'm not asking you to leave your world behind at all."
Senku's gaze sharpened. "What do you mean?"
Gilderoy allowed a moment of dramatic pause, letting the air between them thicken with tension. He could sense Senku's growing curiosity, the challenge of the unknown pulling at the scientist's naturally inquisitive mind.
"You're a man of science, Senku," Gilderoy began, his voice soft yet persuasive. "You know better than anyone that time and space are interlinked. They can be bent, manipulated, shifted. But what if I told you that with my magic—specifically my ability to travel through the Kaleidoscope—I can control not just space, but the timing of our travel as well?"
Senku raised an eyebrow, still skeptical. "Magic, huh? Sounds a lot like pseudoscience to me."
"Magic or science—call it whatever you will," Gilderoy said with a sly smile. "But it works. I can open portals to different realities—different worlds across the multiverse. But here's the key: when I travel between them, I can control the time synchronization between our departure and return."
"Time synchronization?" Senku echoed, his analytical mind latching onto the phrase.
"Exactly." Gilderoy began pacing slowly, knowing he was about to give Senku the hook he needed. "When you leave this world with me, I can ensure that when you return, it's the exact moment you left. For your friends, your village, it will be as if you never left. You could spend years learning, working with me on the most advanced technology in the multiverse, and when you come back, not a single second will have passed here."
Senku's arms tightened over his chest, and for the first time, Gilderoy saw genuine intrigue flash in his eyes. "You're saying you can travel between dimensions while keeping the time between them synchronized. So, you could pull me into another world, spend years working there, and return me to this exact moment in the Stone World?"
"Precisely," Gilderoy said with a smile. "You could return to this very spot, at this very time. It's as if time freezes while we're gone. For all intents and purposes, you'll never have left."
Senku's skeptical expression faltered for a moment as he processed the claim. Gilderoy could practically hear the gears turning in his mind. For someone like Senku, who was driven by the pursuit of knowledge, the idea of infinite time was undeniably tempting. He wouldn't have to sacrifice his mission in this world—he could have both.
But Senku was no fool. He was a scientist, and scientists required evidence. Gilderoy knew that his words alone wouldn't be enough to convince him. He needed to prove his claim.
"Show me," Senku said, his tone hardening. "You talk big, but I need proof. Open one of these portals of yours and show me that you can do what you say."
Gilderoy nodded, already anticipating this. "Of course. But I warn you, Senku—what you're about to see might challenge even your scientific understanding of the universe."
With that, Gilderoy took a step back and raised his hand, focusing on the energy of the Kaleidoscope that thrummed within him. He whispered the incantation under his breath, his fingers drawing a circular pattern in the air. The space in front of him shimmered, and then, with a burst of blue and silver light, a portal began to form—a swirling vortex that pulsed with power.
Senku's eyes widened ever so slightly as the portal stabilized. Gilderoy stood beside the open rift, the edges of the portal crackling with energy. Beyond the portal, the faint outlines of a different world could be seen—a world of towering skyscrapers, gleaming in the distance under a red-hued sky.
"This," Gilderoy said, gesturing to the swirling vortex, "is a gateway to another world. One of countless realities within the multiverse. We could step through now, spend as long as we like there, and when we return through this very portal, we'll arrive at the exact moment we left your world."
Senku approached the portal, his eyes narrowing as he inspected it. He reached out cautiously, but stopped just short of touching the energy field surrounding the rift. "An interdimensional gateway," he muttered. "And you're saying this controls both space and time? How?"
Gilderoy smiled. "The Kaleidoscope connects not just places, but moments. When I open a portal, I can choose to synchronize it with the same time in both realities. That's why we can travel without losing any time here. Think of it as navigating both the fourth dimension and the fifth dimension at once."
Senku remained silent, his expression unreadable. Gilderoy could see the battle going on in his mind—the scientific curiosity warring with the disbelief. But there was no denying what stood in front of him: a portal to another world, proof of the Kaleidoscope's power.
After a long moment, Senku stepped back from the portal, his arms still crossed, but the skepticism in his eyes had softened. "So, you can control space and time through these portals. That's... interesting, to say the least."
Gilderoy nodded, sensing the shift. "It is. And it's what makes this offer possible, Senku. You don't have to leave your friends, your world, or your mission behind. You can work with me, learn what you need to learn, and then return as if you never left.
Senku's silence stretched for several moments, his mind clearly processing the implications. Gilderoy didn't rush him—he knew that a mind like Senku's required time to evaluate all the possibilities. And though Senku had been skeptical at first, Gilderoy could sense the tide turning. The temptation of infinite time, the promise of knowledge without sacrifice—it was a deal few could resist.
Finally, Senku looked up, his sharp eyes locking onto Gilderoy's. "If what you're saying is true... then this could be the most valuable opportunity I've ever had."
Gilderoy smiled. "It is. Think of what you could accomplish with unlimited time to experiment, to build, to create. The Sentinels are just the beginning. With your mind and my resources, we could push science to its absolute limits."
Senku's mouth twitched into a faint smirk. "You've got guts, Lockhart, I'll give you that. And I'll admit, you've got me interested. But I'll need to test this for myself before I agree to anything long-term."
"Of course," Gilderoy said smoothly. "We can start small. A short trip—an hour, maybe. Just to see the possibilities. You'll return here the same moment we leave, as I promised."
Senku considered this for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Alright, let's test this 'Kaleidoscope' of yours. If it works, we'll talk about what comes next."
Gilderoy's smile widened. "I knew you'd see the potential, Senku. Now, let's take a little trip."