Original subtitles

With my superior eyesight,

I've now seen Medusa's true face.

You were right, Senku.

It's not some kind of fantasy power or curse without rules.

The petrification weapon, Medusa...

is science.

It's up to you now, Amaryllis.

You have to get back to everyone else.

They need to know the secrets we uncovered!

In a battle of science, there's no way in hell we can lose.

All that's left now is to sit tight, and have faith in Senku and his science.

Yeah.

I'm sure we'll be just fine.

Yuzuriha!

Taiju-kun!

A handshake is the polite way to greet a close friend, naturally!

You're as bad as a middle-schooler pulling the ol' hover hand.

I think this is a piece of Chrome?

Just look at her go.

I guess those handicraft skills and super memory really come in handy for solving these jigsaw puzzles.

Oh, man! That's what it feels like to be petrified, huh?

It was so damn cool!

Kaseki-chan said the same thing.

They say birds of a feather flock together, right?

Chrome and I are both craftsmen, so it makes sense.

Anyhow, I hope you're ready, because there's plenty of crafting to go around.

Yikes!

Looks like the drone-making team is off to the races.

Which means, soon enough, it'll be time to wage our 3D battle.

In that case,

it's about time we resurrect our expert in 3D spaces! Am I wrong?!

Got it.

Then I suppose what we need most right now is intel on the enemy.

Of course those are the first words to come out of our sonar man's mouth.

We've got that covered. Kohaku's group already infiltrated—

Wait.

Someone's coming.

They're swimming underwater.

Amaryllis-chan!

Listen, everyone!

Kohaku-chan and...

Kohaku-chan and Ginro were...

So you're saying Soyuz might be related to the master?

That's assuming Ginro's hunch was correct, of course.

Yeah, there's no point speculating about that now.

What I really wanna know is what their internal affairs are like and what's in their arsenal.

Using every little piece of intel we've got, we'll reveal the path to victory in this game of wits.

You can count on me!

Let's do this, guys!

All right. First things first, we should organize our intel.

Man, this feels like it's the Kingdom of Science's grand reunion.

They're so cool!

It's just like Kohaku said, back home.

The five sharpest minds in the Kingdom: our wise commanders!

The Kingdom of Science's top brass are finally back together!

Brilliant work, Amaryllis.

The spy team's efforts are about to pay off,

'cuz now we know the biggest secret of them all.

That petrification weapon you always see Kirisame clinging onto?

It's the only one they've got.

Ah, that adds up. Some top-grade intel, indeed.

You said it.

It makes perfect sense, when you think about Ibara's actions.

Well, we can't be sure quite yet, but it's certainly a good working theory.

Wait, wait, wait! How do we know that, exactly?

Everyone's just nodding along, agreeing like it's obvious!

I don't get it one damn bit!

Were you really able to figure that out from what little I told you?

Well, if Senku says so, it's gotta be true!

Taiju's just learned to accept these things with a smile.

That won't do! We need everyone on the same page!

This sort of thing is like a puzzle, cobbled together piece-by-piece using small insights.

You saw how Soyuz and Yuzuriha worked together to assemble the stone statues faster, right?

Sometimes you just need another perspective, like Chrome's!

His completely random flashes of inspiration just might come in handy!

You ain't gotta say it like that, asshole.

Fine! I'll give it my best shot!

First off, it's clear the master doesn't have a weapon of his own.

Well, yeah, he's just a statue, after all.

But how do we know Ibara doesn't have one?

Yes, Ibara is quite cautious. He'd want one for himself, right?

You hit the nail on the head.

Ibara-chan is the type to keep plenty of insurance, metaphorically speaking.

If a second petrification weapon existed, you can be sure he'd keep it on his person.

And in a crisis, such as, say, an intruder being spotted, surely he would use it right away, right?

That's true...

You figured that out from such a small clue?

Meaning, there's only one weapon!

That was pretty complicated, but the conclusion is rock-solid!

On top of that, the user of the weapon risks being petrified,

so cautious old Ibara-sama has Kirisame do his dirty work instead.

Wh-What a rotten old bastard!

There's one more thing I'd like to confirm with you, Amaryllis.

When Kirisame used the weapon,

you said it activated above Kohaku-chan and Ginro.

Is that right?

Yeah, that's right.

Wait... You mean that Kirisame purposely avoided catching the master in the weapon's blast?

Yep, that's definitely a key piece to the puzzle.

Kirisame doesn't know the master is a statue!

Well done, working that one out.

I'm impressed.

Moz!

Even I didn't hear him coming!

Taiju-kun!

You sure know how to take a hit.

But stalling won't save you now.

Unless you've got some other plan, perhaps?

No, stalling is perfect.

I just need time to think.

Taiju bought a few seconds, so I need to rack my brain now!

As someone who desires the strength of others, I can tell.

Even with all of us combined, we don't stand a chance against him.

This is beyond dire.

Unless we think of something quick, it's check and mate.

Maybe at least one of us can escape alive...

I'm sorry, everyone...

He must have followed me here.

I've been foraging and adventuring since I was little,

so I know painfully well how tough it is to go around searching for stuff at night.

Why go to the trouble of tailing Amaryllis, rather than just killing her outright?

Moz must've realized...

that Amaryllis and the others were spies.

Yeah, that much is clear, Captain Obvious.

Why bring it up now?

When Kohaku-chan revealed herself, naturally Moz would realize her friends were also—

Wait! That means...

He must have known Ginro was an intruder at that point, too!

That's some pretty important information to keep hidden from Ibara.

He let him walk off with an intruder, alone.

Surely Moz knew how risky that was...

Meaning, Moz didn't care if Ibara died!

He might've even been planning to kill Ibara himself!

Slowly but surely, the puzzle pieces of this game of wits are slotting together.

The full picture of the Kingdom of Petrification is coming into focus.

This is the perfect chance for someone to bring it all crumbling down...

But who, I wonder?

Oh, right. Me.

Heya, there...

Just one moment of your time, please. That's all I'm asking for, Moz-chan.

I've got an offer you simply can't refuse.

Whaddya say about teaming up...

with our Kingdom of Science?

Wouldn't that be exhilarating?

How do you like our sorcerous bird?

We can make it fly about wherever we desire!

With one fell swoop, we could snag Kirisame-chan's weapon straight out of the air!

"Wherever we want" is certainly a stretch.

Our little motorized bamboo-copter is still super unstable.

You needn't sweat the details, Senku-chan.

Making a weak card out to be our Ace of Spades

is my opening gambit in this game of wits.

If this turns into an all-out brawl with Moz, he'll slaughter every last one of us.

But just think about the potential!

If we play our cards right, we can bring the strongest card in the enemy's deck to our side!

We're betting everything on your smooth talking.

C'mon! You can do this, Gen!

If you choose to ally yourself with us, Moz-chan,

you could end up ruling this entire island, harem included!

Whoa! When did Gen sneak over there?!

Well? How about it?

Gen the Mentalist's manipulation techniques!

This is a rather well-known move!

Rather than facing one another, people feel a stronger sense of solidarity when facing the same direction.

When trying to win someone over, always choose a seat at the counter rather than a table!

So by making Moz glance up at the drone,

Gen gave himself an opening to close the distance between them.

Not too shabby, mentalist.

I mean, you're just so strong, Moz-chan.

Even if Ibara-chan and all his minions combined their might,

you'd still be twice as strong as them, right?

No, you're still underestimating him!

The gap's a bit bigger than you think.

Gen the Mentalist's manipulation techniques:

number two!

Offer a comment or claim that's just slightly off the mark.

Your partner will feel compelled to correct you!

If they were unwilling to join the conversation before, you've certainly got them talking now.

In reality, Moz's strength is probably worlds apart from anyone else.

I desire it!

Oh? If you really are that strong, then surely you'd have no trouble bringing down Ibara-chan, right?

Why do I feel like he's seen straight through my every move?

Slaughter all of you, or kill Ibara instead...

Quite the predicament, isn't it?

Well, since I could kill you at any time, I suppose there's no harm in explaining.

As I'm sure you can guess, the one who petrified the master...

was Ibara.

He played his role well, and I applaud his efforts,

but it's high time that old codger kicks the bucket.

Besides, I'm sure the girls will be simply ecstatic when they hear I'm taking over the harem.

Then why not off the ol' geezer and be done with it?

Oh, I would've done it long ago, if not for that weapon.

You see, Kirisame-chan's holding on to it, and she's no slouch in a fight.

Of course, I could beat her in a fair bout,

but I simply have no way to defend against that weapon of hers, so she's got the upper hand.

Which is to say,

if you were to attack Minister Ibara,

you'd be attacked by Kirisame, who doesn't know the truth about the master.

On the other hand, if you revealed the truth to everyone, you'd lose access to your beloved harem.

Sounds like a good old-fashioned Mexican standoff.

Seems that Ibara is quite crafty, after all.

He's not just some old fool.

Y-You're starting to lose me here.

Lemme put it in simpler terms, so that even an oaf could understand.

The petrification weapon is an obstacle to your rise, Moz.

Meanwhile, we'd like that weapon for ourselves.

Seems to me our interests are ten billion percent aligned.

Yes, indeed!

What we want most of all is that weapon!

A good deal should be fair and equal, don't you think?

And in the end, all you really want is to control the island and the harem, right?

We're happy to use our sorcery to lend a hand, on one small condition.

You've gotta give us the weapon! I simply demand it!

That part is absolutely non-negotiable! Am I clear, Moz-chan?

So pushy!

That's not gonna work.

It'll just make Moz dig in his heels more, right?

Fair and equal, huh?

How's this for "fair and equal"?

I'm stronger than you, so you'll do everything I ask.

You'll put your sorcery to work for me.

And you'll give me the petrification weapon.

That's not fair at all!

Let's be reasonable here, Moz-chan! I'm sure we can work something out!

What'd he expect?!

I'll be keeping an eye on your little hideout from a distance.

Do as I say, or I'll come back and butcher you all. Am I clear?

Gen the Mentalist's manipulation techniques:

number three!

In psychology, this is called "reactance".

When someone feels like you're trying to coerce them into doing something,

they'll reactively try to regain a sense of control by asserting they'll do the opposite!

I see!

This was all part of Gen's plan!

Just think about it! He completely changed the framing!

Yeah, you're right.

Originally, the topic up for debate was whether Moz should kill us or not.

Through the power of reactance, Gen was able to shift the goalposts entirely,

and convinced an unwitting Moz to team up with us!

The key to winning a game of wits isn't to make your opponent feel defeated.

On the contrary, it's to convince them they got the best of you, instead.

It's as simple as that.

This is the same earring Kohaku-chan was wearing, is it not?

Kingdom of Sorcery HQ phoning in! Do you copy?

Is he truly gone?

Yeah, he's gone.

Great job, mentalist!

Ah, thank you, thank you.

It seems to me we just acquired the mightiest force on the island!

Am I wrong?!

There's no doubt that he plans to massacre all of us once this is over, though.

We'll just have to cross that bridge when we get there!

Yes, but right now... Let's just get some rest, okay?

Do you copy, Moz-sensei?

Head to the place I told you about before.

You'll find a nice little something waiting there for you.

A present to mark the start of our partnership, forged using the power of sorcery.

You see, our Kingdom of Science is sorely lacking in numbers.

If they were to attack us head-on, they'd crush us in an instant.

And that's where you come in, Moz-sensei. You'll convince 'em we're not to be messed with.

And once they think they've got no other choice, they'll be forced to bring out the weapon!

Hm, I've got just the thing.

I'll attack under the cover of night, disguised as an intruder!

Don't kill 'em!

Yeah! That's it! Get 'em!

We need 'em alive to spread the word about how strong we are!

Those two tend to get a bit too riled up about these kinds of things.

All done.

Oh, right. They can't hear me.

Sorcery can be quite the bother.