Nobita's Time Heist

"Boom!"

A deep, authoritative voice swept across the room. Her voice was clear and melodious, like a lark in spring or a clear spring in summer, hard to associate with someone of high rank and power.

"Then, let's begin."

Chapter 87: The Great Adventure's Favorite Picnic!

In the vast desert, the roar of the engine sounded particularly powerful.

"Choosing an off-road vehicle was absolutely the right decision!" Fat Tiger pressed his face against the car window, looking at the dust flying up outside, and couldn't help but exclaim, "It's like a motorboat, much faster than Suneo's motorboat!"

"Come on, my car is just a normal vehicle, how can it be compared to a Transformer?" Suneo curled his fingers and tapped the window twice, making a dull thud unlike that of a normal car window. "Listen! If it were made of glass, it would never make that sound. From the moment it was created, it was no longer an ordinary off-road vehicle. Didn't you notice? If it were a normal car, after being bumped around like this in the desert, sand would have seeped in through the gaps long ago, but we don't have a single grain of sand on us."

"Beep! Beep!"

Mei Jin honked the horn twice, in a loud tone, appearing very proud.

“He reminds me of Buggy…” Shizuka sighed softly. “If he hadn’t offered himself to me that time, I really don’t know how things would have ended up.”

"Looking back now, we were really brave back then." Recalling their first adventure underwater, Xiao Fu couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. "In places where you can't see your hand in front of your face, you can only survive by getting exposed to light once every 24 hours. If you missed it, you would be crushed by the enormous water pressure... If I had the same chance again now, I would never go again."

"You still dare to talk back!" Fatty Tiger glared at him. "It's all because of your wild idea to go see the Bermuda Triangle that we almost died at sea!"

Suneo retorted softly, "It's not entirely my fault, is it? Gian said he wanted to see it too..."

"olsusk——?"

The US dollar emitted a series of questioning glide sounds.

“Bucky? He’s… a friend who used to go on adventures with us.” Nobita, sitting in the driver’s seat, paused for a moment, thinking of Buggy, unsure how to describe him. “Like you, it’s a vehicle, just an underwater exploration vehicle. Although it looks a bit annoying, it’s… a great partner.”

“Wu…” After a moment of silence, Meijin uttered a strange syllable, “oslaba?”

"What is the sea? Oh, right, you've never seen the sea, it's like..."

Da Xiong looked out the car window at the sea of ​​sand, stretching to the horizon, an endless expanse. The sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, painting the sunset with unparalleled splendor. It was as if God had wielded his brush, casually adding a few strokes of crimson and bright orange to this vast canvas called the sky.

"Like this desert, it never seems to end."

"It's getting late, let's call it a day for tonight."

The SUV made a sudden stop to the side, leaving two negligible skid marks on the smooth, shifting sand. One by one, everyone got out of the vehicle, gazing around, but could find nothing that could be called "scenery." Only the endless desert, quietly and gently embracing everything.

Asur stared blankly into the distance. In this day and age, such a genuine expression of shock was a rare sight indeed.

"Never been to the desert before?" Xiaofu excitedly acted as a tour guide, jumping off the car and waving his hand as he introduced, "This is the famous Liwa Desert. The renowned science fiction movie 'Dune' was filmed here. Although it's largely part of Abu Dhabi's tourist area, it has strict boundaries. For example, right now, we've already left the area that 'human intervention' can handle and plunged headlong into the depths of the desert, which has no development value whatsoever."

“I…” Asur opened her eyes wide, as if she wanted to etch this boring scenery into her mind forever, and murmured, “This place is a bit like my hometown.”

“Your hometown must be quite harsh… That’s the truth, I hope I haven’t offended you.” Xiaofu plunged his hand into the sand, clenched his fist, grabbed a handful of sand, and let it slowly flow down his fingertips. “It’s a completely desertified land, no crops can survive there, and it often doesn’t rain for months. Even if animals can survive here, they probably don’t provide much nutritional value.”

"Humans are arguably the most adaptable species in the world. Even in a vast desert where you can't find a single person..."

He shrugged. "You could say it's no different from hell."

……

Unconsciously, he voiced everyone's concerns.

After their usual failed attempt with the "Anywhere Door," they were forced to resort to a relatively primitive method. They helped Asur forge an identity, buy plane tickets, enter Dubai, and drive along the highway into the desert, resolutely heading towards the coordinates found by the Time-Space Management Institute. However, as they drove, the scenery along the way cast an inescapable shadow of gloom over them.

It can't even be described as terrible; two more appropriate words are needed.

Dead silence.

In the vast desert, not a single animal could be seen. No matter how clever Xiaoshan was, he couldn't conjure water from the air.

Faced with the grim reaper called nature, can human wisdom truly save him from death?

"There's no use thinking about it now. The OX fortune teller has given its answer, and I believe... with Xiaoshan's abilities, she won't die so easily."

At crucial moments, the team still needs a backbone to stabilize morale. With Doraemon gone, Nobita takes on that role, pulling out the classic "Gourmet Tablecloth" from his pocket.

Upon seeing it appear, the atmosphere inexplicably relaxed, and the unease that had been weighing on my heart vanished instantly.

Human beings have evolved for thousands of years, and in the underlying culture, "dining table" is basically equivalent to "safety." This has remained unchanged since the ancient times when people ate raw meat and drank blood.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"hiss……"

The finest thick-cut beef, grilled over high heat by charcoal, releases its fat, which drips through the wire mesh onto the glowing embers below, creating a crackling sound that whets the appetite. A fragrant aroma wafts through the air; even without seasoning, the sheer freshness of the meat is enough to make one's mouth water.

The most classic example is Gian, his eyes gleaming as he stares intently at the fragrant grilled meat. If it weren't for his companions nearby, he probably wouldn't care whether it was cooked or not; he'd just grab a piece and stuff it into his mouth. After all, his stomach is exceptionally strong; a man who can make Gian's Stew Pot must have a digestive system that's not something an ordinary person can compete with.

In comparison, Suneo seemed much more at ease.

Actually, given their family's "nothing but French" attitude, if they were to eat, it would be French cuisine. But when it comes to sitting down for a barbecue, he's the kind of person who'll take the initiative to grill the meat for everyone, quickly warming up the atmosphere. He held a pair of tongs in one hand, effortlessly flipping the sizzling, thick slices of meat on the grill, all while talking.

"Black sesame seeds, spices, egg white, and a little bit more..." He casually picked up a small lime cut in half, squeezed out the juice with a little force, and sprinkled it casually over the grilled meat. "Done!"

Before he could finish speaking, Fatty Tiger grabbed his chopsticks, picked up a piece of meat with lightning speed, and stuffed it directly into his mouth. Like Pigsy swallowing a ginseng fruit, he didn't even taste it before it went down his throat. He didn't seem to feel the heat at all; instead, his eyes lit up, and he slapped the table.

"Wow, Suneo! I never knew you had a talent for cooking!" Gian patted him on the shoulder and exclaimed, "You're almost as good as me!"

"Hahaha……"

Xiao Fu chuckled twice, "I'll take that as a compliment."

Chapter 88: Fat Tiger's Special Concert in the Liwa Desert, Abu Dhabi!

Actually, it doesn't need Gian's certification; the sense of smell rarely lies. Just smelling that aroma makes your mouth water, so eating it is absolutely safe.

"Let's have some thick-cut Alaskan salmon, hmm, 800 grams for now. A bottle of Dessot soy sauce, a little wasabi—grilled meat tastes best when paired with cold dishes like this. Also, three servings of Iberian black pork ribs, five servings of Kobe beef, and three servings of Evenki lamb chops. And five bowls of bouillabaisse—we've eaten too much meat, so we can have some fish soup to cleanse our palates."

With someone like Suneo who knows how to enjoy life around, the quality of the trip is significantly enhanced. If Nobita came alone, even with a gourmet tablecloth, he would at most order a bowl of curry rice with a few slices of salmon. Although he could still eat well, it would lack the exhilarating feeling of sampling all the world's delicacies.

After the names of the dishes were announced, the ingredients appeared one by one on the tablecloth. Xiaofu then ordered five bowls of Sapporo ramen as his main course.

No one around meant being far from pollution. The sky above the Liva Desert was exceptionally clear, with the Milky Way hanging low overhead, offering an unobstructed view. There were no annoying horns, no irritating city noise, and no swarms of people crowding like ants during rush hour. All the hustle and bustle, the annoyances, the backstabbing of the city, all faded away at this moment. There were only five young adventurers, a warm campfire, and the enticing aroma of delicious food.

The wonderful dinner under the starry sky has always been the most anticipated part of everyone's childhood adventure.

Time may change many things, but the beauty in people's hearts is not so easily changed.

“lulululu…”

The dollar also came over, wanting to join the event, but then realized it didn't have any organs to eat, let out a slightly aggrieved metallic sound, and silently drove away.

"Nobita... although I've seen your ingenious ideas before, I have to say, this... this..."

Fat Tiger straightened his neck, swallowed the chewy and satisfying pork rib in his mouth, and exclaimed, "This thing is definitely the most amazing thing you've ever created!"

“wu-lu-?”

"He said he's not a 'thing,' he's a real Autobot, and he even has the Autobot symbol." Somehow, only Nobita could understand him. "His name is Meijin, or more accurately, it's a name given to Arthur in memory of all his possessions. I was thinking of some cooler names, like Midnight Bell or something..."

“I think the name ‘Meijin’ is quite good,” Shizuka said with a soft laugh. “It’s catchy and easy to understand.”

"An indispensable part of the world monetary system." Xiaofu took a sip of his drink and chuckled, "Isn't that name impressive enough?"

"Call me that or that, it's all the same! We're partners now!" Looking up at the boundless starry sky, Fat Tiger's spirits lifted. He devoured the grilled meat on his plate and then quickly finished off a few bites of Sapporo ramen. His voice was full of energy. "Listen to me, my dear friends! There's something we used to do all the time, but somehow it seems to have cooled down lately. Does anyone know what it is?!"

"Huh?" Nobita and Shizuka exclaimed in surprise at the same time. Rather than being in sync, it was more like an instinctive reaction developed from years of being tormented by the demonic sound.

Xiaofu reacted even faster, immediately snapping to attention and starting to think of a solution.

"My exclusive concert, a special show in the Liwa Desert, Abu Dhabi—!!!" Getting carried away with his meal, Fat Tiger stood up abruptly, his face beaming with excitement.

In the past, when he held concerts in open spaces, complaints from his neighbors would always reach his house. Fat Tiger's family ran a general store, and their regular customers were all neighbors living nearby. If they complained a few times while he was buying something... his days would be in for a rough few days. It's easy to see that he always held a concert with a do-or-die determination.

Now, under the starry sky, in the desert, there are no obstacles, and there isn't even a single person within a hundred miles.

Those who stayed by my side were still my true friends whom I had known for many years.

Is there a more appropriate occasion?

"You can sing?" Asur, the only one who hadn't experienced the ear-piercing scream, tilted his head, his tone full of curiosity. "Is it a bass?"

"Hehehe... Little girl, if you insist on talking about me, I can handle everything from bass to tenor!" Someone asked him, which inadvertently ignited Fat Tiger's inexplicable confidence in this area. In a sense, he wasn't wrong; anyway, by the end of the song, everyone was screaming, so who cared about the vocal range?

"You've come at the perfect time today. Ever since I started growing taller, my inspiration has been flowing like a mighty river, unstoppable. In just one week, I've composed three new songs that I'm very proud of!"

"Really?" Asur's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"Really..." Nobita's smile couldn't hide his fear.

"Cough! Cough!"

Fat Tiger cleared his throat, held up one finger, and took a deep breath.

"Wait a minute, Gian!" In a flash, Suneo's survival instinct kicked in, and he thought, "Sugi isn't here yet."

“We haven’t rescued Xiaoshan yet, and the team isn’t all together. If we sing now, he won’t be able to hear your beautiful… um…” Xiaofu himself felt that the word was a bit too disgusting, so he casually changed it to, “A voice full of masculinity, wouldn’t that be a shame?”

"Wait for him to come back, then everyone will be here. Wouldn't it be even more exhilarating to sing a song in the desert? It's like eating grapes; the best one is always saved for last... right?"

"...Okay, you have a point. Let's save the happy stuff for later."

Everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Poor little Shinobu," Nobita muttered to himself. "I hope your current situation is better than Gian's singing."

……

"It's getting late. This is a portable hotel." He tossed the golf ball-shaped prop to everyone. "We have to get up early to travel tomorrow, so get some rest."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"call……"

Dekisugi shivered inexplicably.

"What's wrong?" Mira, who was sitting next to him, noticed this detail and asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

“No, I just…” Dekisugi smiled, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Just a moment ago, I felt like something bad was waiting for me.”

"Cheer up! You're the first person after me to be directly awarded the [Seven Rings]." Mira patted his arm, her red hair seemingly ignited by her enthusiasm, transforming into flames. In the candlelight, her profile was even more captivating. "I've never seen anyone with such a balanced stat distribution; it's practically a perfect hexagon!"

"Besides, you're a foreigner!"

……

At the banquet, there was constant drinking and laughter.

This is to celebrate the birth of a new batch of [Elementalists] in the Golden Land. Of course, those who are granted the fourth ring or lower are not eligible to participate in the Ring-Giving Ceremony held in the morning.

Dekisugi rubbed the seven metal rings hanging around his neck. They reflected the candlelight and, though made of metal, were slightly warm. Even through clothing and skin, this power could easily penetrate them.

Foreigners.

A foreigner, upon arrival, immediately outperformed the locals in the theoretical exam. At the same time, he demonstrated an extraordinary affinity for the elements. These days, even writing something like this in a wish-fulfillment novel feels too cliché and unrealistic.

As the light and shadow shifted, Dekisugi vaguely sensed that he had become the target of everyone's criticism.

Chapter 89: The Girl Who Doesn't Like to Take Baths

"Nobita..."

After dinner, in a secluded corner, Suneo quietly called out to Nobita. Similar late-night talks had happened before, but usually with outsiders. In Nobita's memory, Suneo just seemed to have some psychological issues; he always appeared particularly anxious before a major battle, constantly calling for his mother, looking like he was ready to flee at any moment. In reality, however, when the two sides actually started fighting, he never backed down—not even once.

"I remember you had a prop that was used to invent props, didn't you?"

"Hmm..." After a moment's thought, Nobita's mind seemed to be a search catalog for secret gadgets, and he immediately found the entry. "You mean the [Invention Machine]?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The Invention Machine—if this were an encyclopedia of Doraemon's amazing gadgets, this gadget would definitely deserve special mention. It's a secret gadget capable of creating secret gadgets, and the gadgets it produces aren't just children's toys; their quality is very reliable. Nobita used it to create the Mantis Hat, the Flying Walker, and the Everlasting Spring Garden. If you didn't specifically mention its origin, it wouldn't be indistinguishable from the original gadgets in Doraemon's pocket.

The timing of this gadget's appearance is quite interesting. It just so happens that Doraemon and Nobita had a fight, and after Nobita stormed off, Dorami temporarily filled in. To cultivate Nobita's hands-on skills, she gave him this big gadget, which, in a way, temporarily replaced Doraemon's role.

Nobita, the gadget genius, became even more powerful after gaining the ability to DIY secret gadgets, and quickly became incredibly happy with his creations. However, in the end, both Gian and Suneo came to him to customize their own Gundams, and the arms race was escalating out of control. He had no choice but to shout, "Quickly, go and invite Doraemon!"

To apologize to Doraemon, this guy even designed a "Doraemon-themed apology backpack," which is basically a backpack with a mechanical hand that extends from it, presses down on Doraemon's head, and pushes him into slices of onion, making him cry from the fumes. Such a useless yet dedicated creation is probably only comparable to Geng Shuai's (a famous Chinese craftsman).

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After quickly recalling the past, Xiaofu said hesitantly, "Of course, I didn't mean anything by it, I just mean... if you don't mind, could you use it..."

"What kind of gadget do you want to make?" Nobita asked curiously, "Now?"

"I... sigh... Nobita, as you know, I've always been a coward."

Xiao Fu sighed deeply; in fact, he had this problem since he was a child.

Although the five-member group are united during their grand adventure, in their daily lives within the small community of Tsukimi-dai Town, Gian is the undisputed leader, while Suneo mostly acts as his strategist. Suneo usually helps Gian come up with ideas for how to cause trouble for Nobita, but when they encounter difficulties and need to ask Doraemon for help, he always ends up stammering and unable to speak, just like he is now.

However, from Nobita's perspective, she never refused his request for help.