—Wow, quite a story…
—If that's the case, I think we should also lend you a hand, right, Suneo?
—Yes, yes! We'll all go together to that museum to look for your bell.
Doraemon looked at them skeptically.
—I get the feeling you two just want to go see the museum.
—No way, no way! —they replied in unison, too fast to sound convincing.
—And you, kid —Gian added, giving his own arm a resounding slap—, as long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you!
Noah watched him without reacting. He didn't need protection. But he said nothing.
He finally understood the situation after hearing the story told by Nobita.
Doraemon's bell had been stolen by someone named DX the Phantom Thief. According to a clue obtained with one of his gadgets, the object was located in the Gadget Museum.
—Doraemon?
Nobita turned upon noticing a strange noise.
Doraemon was hopping around the empty lot, meowing nonsense and rubbing against a pipe like a stray cat. His movements were clumsy and nothing like those of a sophisticated robot.
—Hey, Dorami… he's been acting really weird for a while. He seems like a cat.
—It's because he's turning into one.
—Huh?
—That happens when robot cats don't wear their bell. That's why he needs it.
Dorami frowned, confused.
—It wouldn't cost him anything to put on another one to avoid it… but he only wants his own. Why is he so attached to it?
—That bell… —Nobita murmured—. It must have some story we don't know.
Doraemon stopped, embarrassed. He rubbed his head and, trying to regain composure, took out the ticket Dorami had given him and signed it with his name.
Instantly, the paper disintegrated into countless golden chains of zeros and ones. The binary numbers floated in the air, reorganizing themselves until they formed a solid structure.
Before them appeared a strange vehicle, similar to a futuristic golf cart, with smooth lines and a shiny metallic surface.
—The visitor pickup vehicle is about to depart —announced a feminine robotic voice from inside.
Everyone except Dorami climbed in quickly.
—See you later! And don't forget the melon buns! —she shouted from below.
The vehicle began to rise with a soft hum.
A second later, it took off.
—Entering hyperspace.
The vehicle announced it in a mechanical voice before launching toward a luminous fold that opened before them. The world compressed into a white tunnel. An instant later, they emerged on the other side.
Before their eyes stretched a 22nd-century city: impossible skyscrapers, suspended walkways in the air, vehicles floating on invisible currents. Everything gleamed with an almost surreal cleanliness and neatness.
Noah silently observed this technological marvel.
The vehicle didn't descend into the city. It left it behind and advanced toward a small, isolated island. Above it, suspended in the air, floated a colossal building.
—What lies above the island is the Gadget Museum —informed the feminine voice—. On the island live artisans and inventors from all countries. They have access to materials and machines impossible to find elsewhere. This way they can dedicate all their time to researching and building their creations.
The vehicle descended gently in front of the entrance.
When they touched ground, the structure began to decompose into chains of golden data. Zeros and ones intertwined in the air before condensing again into the form of a simple ticket.
Noah followed the process with excitement.
—Reversible matter-data conversion. Such technology…
A sharp thud interrupted his analysis.
A man had just fallen face-first in front of the entrance.
Gian and Nobita burst into laughter at his pathetic state.
—Don't laugh! Who are you people?
The man stood up with the help of a red-haired boy accompanying him. He advanced indignantly… until he saw the ticket in Doraemon's hands.
His expression changed instantly.
He adjusted the monocle on his right eye and rubbed his hands together with a professional smile.
—So you are visitors. My sincerest apologies for the… unfortunate spectacle. My name is Figgs. I am the director. Welcome to the Gadget Museum.
—Director, you see… —said Doraemon—. We've come because something was stolen from us.
—Oh, really? And what object is it?
—My bell. I used the Sherlock Holmes Set to identify the culprit… and the name DX the Phantom Thief appeared.
—DX the Phantom Thief?
Both Figgs and the red-haired boy tensed up.
Doraemon stepped forward.
—Yes! Do you know him?
—Do I know him? —the director repeated, irritated—. A few days ago he robbed this very place.
—He took the Maximizing Flashlight from the Light Room! —interjected the red-haired boy, unable to contain himself—. It was incredible! You should have seen how he dodged the police officers. One after another, at an incredible speed. That man is a true master of—
He stopped upon noticing the director's stern look.
He scratched his head awkwardly.
—… of crime, of course. A despicable criminal.
—Why did he take that Maximizing Flashlight? —Noah asked, with a curious tone.
—That's what we don't know. They're investigating it.
—A flashlight… and a bell… what do they have in common? —Noah murmured, more to himself than to the others.
—Um… —Nobita took a magnifying glass from his trench coat pocket—. The Deduction Magnifying Glass showed us that the bell is in the museum.
—Hmm… —The director brought a hand to his chin—. The security system should have registered any anomaly… Very well. I'll check it personally. And since you're here, enjoy the museum while you look for the bell. It's a good opportunity.
He turned to the young red-haired boy.
—Kurt, guide the visitors through the facilities.
—Yes!
The boy straightened up and put on his vest that identified him as a museum worker.
—I'm Kurt Hartman and I work here as a guide. Follow me, please.
He turned around and went through the entrance.
As soon as they crossed the main door, the space opened into an immense hall. A glass dome covered the ceiling, letting light shine onto polished surfaces and elevated walkways.
In the center stood a monumental rectangular structure, framed in pink.
—Woah!
—This place is gigantic!
Kurt smiled proudly.
—This is the entrance hall. And what you see in the center is the very first invention… the most memorable one. The first first-generation Anywhere Door.
Noah looked up at the colossal frame.
The proportions were different from the portable version. More robust and primitive in design.
He felt the immediate urge to analyze its internal architecture, to break down and reassemble each of its parts.
But he restrained himself. After all, he wasn't there to study technology.
—Hey, Kurt, whose statue is that?
Shizuka pointed to an imposing figure by the wall. It depicted an older man with a serene expression. One of his hands extended forward, and on his palm floated a metallic dodecahedron that seemed to burn from within, as if fire were trapped inside its geometric structure.
—Ah —Kurt replied—. That's the scientist who built the first Anywhere Door and the great driving force behind all subsequent inventions: Professor Hartman.
—Huh? —Nobita blinked—. Didn't you say your last name was also Hartman?
Kurt puffed out his chest with pride.
—Because Professor Hartman is my grandfather.
He clapped once, and immediately, small robotic insects, similar to metallic ladybugs, descended flying from above and landed on each person's clothing.
—What is this? —Shizuka murmured.
—Meow. Meow.
Doraemon changed his attitude again. His pupils sharpened, and he lunged after one of the insects, trying to catch it with his mouth.
—That's not for eating!
Kurt and Nobita ran toward him, but Noah had already reacted.
From the ground, thick wooden roots sprouted, coiling around Doraemon's rounded body, immobilizing him firmly but without harming him.
—Meow! Meow! Meo—… huh?
Doraemon blinked, as if waking from a trance.
The roots disintegrated into splinters that vanished upon touching the ground.
The robot cat sighed, embarrassed.
—Thanks, Noah…
—Wow! —exclaimed Suneo—. Is that some new gadget?
—No, no —said Gian—. That looked more like a superpower. Like those heroes who control plants.
Noah interrupted them before they could keep speculating.
—Could you tell us what these robots that have stuck to our clothes are, Kurt?
The guide regained his composure.
—They're transmitters. The museum is enormous. On opening day, many people got lost inside, so now we use these devices to monitor your location for safety.
—Beep! Beep!
A deep beep resonated from the enormous Anywhere Door in the center, interrupting his explanation.
—The door is going to open. Come on, follow me.
White vapor was expelled from both sides as the structure began to separate.
On the other side stretched a gigantic space, full of visitors. Humans and robots walked among illuminated exhibits.