—By the way, Director —Doraemon asked, pointing at the small floating sun—, what is this machine?
—This machine —Figgs replied, walking toward the sun— is a prototype solar generator. It allows us to recreate the life of the sun in miniature.
The director narrowed his eyes slightly, observing carefully the golden glow emanating from the invention.
—The prototype was developed jointly by Professor Hartman, creator of the first Anywhere Door, and his collaborator, Professor Deppler. During construction, Deppler made a fatal and irreparable mistake that caused the artificial sun to begin spiraling out of control. Luckily, Hartman devised a device that temporarily contained the sphere's transformation into a red giant star and stopped the danger provisionally.
Figgs paused, his eyes shining with seriousness.
—However, Deppler was held responsible for the incident, so his inventor's license was revoked, and he was expelled from the island. Following the accident, Hartman discovered by chance a metal with unique properties generated during the failure. After researching it, he developed a special alloy that allowed the creation of a definitive containment system, permanently blocking the solar generator. That alloy began to be used in almost all gadgets worldwide, and Hartman received worldwide recognition, more than well-deserved.
—And what became of Professor Deppler after being expelled from the island? —Noah asked, curious.
—I don't know —Figgs admitted—. Who knows what he might be doing now.
The director smiled slightly and turned toward the nearby door.
—Well, allow me to accompany you out of this place.
He opened the door and led the group to another room of the museum, leaving behind the small floating sun that continued to shine faintly.
—Idiot! Where had you disappeared to? You left the visitors alone! —Director Figgs scolded Kurt with a frown.
—I'm sorry… I was in the bathroom longer than I should have been —Kurt replied, rubbing the back of his neck in shame.
—Tsk! I take my eyes off you for a moment, and you abandon your duties —Figgs continued, sighing in frustration.
At that instant, a small ventilation duct suddenly burst open and expelled Suneo and Gian, who fell spectacularly into the room, staggering and groaning.
—Ugh… we're finally out —Suneo said, holding his stomach and stumbling slightly.
—Suneo? Gian? —Doraemon asked, alarmed—. What happened to you to make you shrink like that?
The two boys were now about the size of a human fist.
—Can someone explain what's going on here?
Director Figgs stopped scolding Kurt and approached.
—I see… you went into the Gulliver's Tunnel, didn't you? Unfortunately, it's been taken in for maintenance, and it will be a while before it's returned to the museum —he said, sighing—. And furthermore, since the Maximizing Flashlight was stolen, we can't use it to return you to your original size either.
—Let me use mine! —Doraemon interjected, reaching into his pocket. But as soon as he did, the robot turtle bit his hand from the inside.
—Owww! Ow, ow, ow! Oof, oof! I can't! As long as I have this damn turtle inside, I can't use my pocket —Doraemon complained, hopping on the balls of his feet.
—Huh? Where did you find that thing? —Gian asked, frowning.
—First you lose your bell, and now you can't use your pocket… you're useless —Suneo mocked from his diminutive size.
—Haaay… —Doraemon sighed, resigned.
—Cheer up, Doraemon —Nobita patted him on the back with a smile.
—Thanks, Nobita… now I understand what it feels like to be as useless as you. Until now, I didn't get it —Doraemon replied in a frustrated tone.
—Uh… and how am I supposed to take that? —Nobita asked, confused and slightly offended.
Suddenly, a pleasant melody resonated through the house.
—Well, it's dinnertime already —announced Director Figgs, interrupting the group.
—Huh? But I still haven't found my bell —Doraemon complained, crossing his arms.
—Ah, now that you mention it, I checked the security system logs —Figgs said with a serious expression.
—Really? And…? —Doraemon brightened for an instant, but his hope faded at the director's response.
—I found nothing. In any case, it's closing time. You can come back tomorrow —he concluded, checking his watch.
—That's a shame… all the hotels are full for today. Hey, Kurt, be a good lad and put them up at your house, will you? —Figgs turned his attention to the young man.
—Uh… but I… —Kurt hesitated.
—Hm… did you say something? —Figgs asked with a raised eyebrow.
—No! Nothing! Ha ha, hahaha —Kurt hurried to deny, blushing slightly.
For the rest of the night, the group stayed at Kurt's house. There they met his peculiar pet: a small pink slime named Poppo, capable of absorbing the inside of any object.
During dinner, Poppo demonstrated his ability. From his eyes came a beam of light that enveloped a pineapple on the table; an instant later, the fruit deflated like a balloon without air.
Noah picked up the pineapple peel and looked at the little slime with interest.
Poppo wasn't a replicable result, but an accident born while Kurt was working on a gadget.
—If this little one wanted to, he could kill anyone simply by absorbing their internal organs or their brain, leaving the body completely empty —Noah reflected in a low voice.
As a weapon, Poppo was deadly. But fortunately, this was a peaceful world, and such a scenario would never occur.
The next day, the group arrived at the museum only to find the door closed. Hanging on it was a sign with large letters that said: Closed.
—Why could the museum have closed? —Doraemon asked, confused.
—I don't know —Kurt replied—. Let's go ask the director.
—Huh? A notice? —Doraemon interjected.
—Exactly —Figgs nodded—. It arrived this morning.
The director placed a letter on his desk with the letters DX written on it, and pressed it lightly with a finger. From the letter emerged a holographic projection: a masked man, dressed in a black hat and trench coat.
—Today at noon, I will take some of the most valuable inventions from the museum. DX, the Phantom Thief.
The hologram vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
—This is his announcement —Figgs said gravely.
—Just like when he stole the Maximizing Flashlight.
At that moment, a man burst into the office.
—Inspector Mustang!
—Hello, Director.
—What do you mean, "just like"? —Doraemon asked.
—Last week, a similar notice arrived, and he carried out the theft exactly as he had announced. We couldn't prevent it.
—Hm… but in my case, with the bell, there was no notice —Doraemon commented.
—Wait a moment! —Nobita exclaimed, remembering something as he rummaged through his pockets.
He pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and carefully unfolded it. It was a letter identical to the one the director had shown.
—I'm coming for Doraemon's bell in five minutes. DX, the Phantom Thief.
A projection similar to the previous one appeared over the letter, proclaiming its target before completely vanishing.
—Great! This proves that it was DX who stole my bell. Everything fits —Doraemon said, excited.
—In that case, if we catch DX, you'll be able to get your bell back! —Nobita interjected enthusiastically.
—Yes! Please, Mr. Detective, let us collaborate on this investigation to recover my bell —Doraemon added hopefully.
—That's right! I, Nobita Holmes, promise to catch DX. My deduction magnifying glass will let us know his next target!
Nobita took the magnifying glass from his trench coat pocket, and everyone gathered to look. On the surface of the glass, the image of a specific place was reflected.
—There it is! It says he'll go to the "Everything" room.
—How strange —Kurt commented, looking at his own magnifying glass—. On my deduction magnifying glass, the "Nature" room appears.
—Ugh… it's possible our magnifying glass is broken.
—Yeah, like all of Doraemon's gadgets —Nobita joked.
—Hey, don't push it! —Doraemon protested with irritation.
Inspector Mustang interrupted everyone with a firm voice:
—Alright, we'll reinforce surveillance in those two rooms and place police officers in all the others.
With that, the inspector withdrew to oversee security. Half an hour later, Doraemon's group, along with Kurt and Director Figgs, headed to the "Everything" room to help.
Noah observed the air cannon Doraemon had handed him and manipulated it curiously, turning it over and testing its functions while the others ran off to carry out their tasks. The director paced nervously around him, circling incessantly.
—Ugh… I'll go take a look at the "Nature" room —the director murmured.
—Um… excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom for a moment. I'll be right back —Kurt also said upon seeing his watch vibrate, indicating something urgent.
Noah frowned as he watched them walk away. He didn't know the plot in advance, and until this moment he had simply gone with the flow, observing the drama unfold. Both Kurt and Director Figgs seemed somewhat suspicious to him, and now he couldn't help but wonder what they were really plotting.