Dragon Ball: I Became Cell in a Doomed Future

Chapter 9: The Genius Scientist, Bulma

Levos gave Bulma a brief explanation about the Hyperbolic Time Chamber in the Lookout.

"Does such a magical place really exist?"

In this timeline, Bulma had heard of the Lookout, but she had never been there herself.

"It does. Inside the chamber, spending a whole year only costs a day in the outside world."

"That will give us the time we need to study android technology and modify our bodies."

Even if Levos was a natural-born fighter, with the physical limits of a regular Earthling, training for ten years wouldn't make him a match for Dabura.

But becoming an android would boost his power to a level far beyond what normal training could ever achieve.

Besides, androids like 17 and 18 had normal human physiology. They could marry, have children, live long, and remain youthful for centuries.

As long as they removed the bombs and the mind-control programs that Dr. Gero had installed, this path was practically the next step in human evolution.

The technological route in the Dragon Ball world was downright overpowered.

"According to what you said, that chamber can only be entered twice in a lifetime, with a total time limit of 48 hours. We'll need to prepare everything carefully before we go in."

"Exactly!"

"I've already got all the equipment and materials we need. Back when Trunks destroyed Dr. Gero's secret lab, he salvaged every useful piece of machinery."

Things were turning out to be a lot simpler than Levos expected. Trunks really was the most dependable Saiyan.

Honestly, after Goku and Piccolo, Trunks was the next person Levos most wanted to bring back.

"We'll also need a dedicated lab space, preferably one with a gravity chamber. The environment inside the Time Chamber is scorching hot during the day, freezing cold at night, and gravity is ten times that of Earth."

Levos wasn't too worried about the environmental issues inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

He suspected that by the time of the Majin Buu saga, Bulma had already modified the chamber, like when the limit of two people at a time was suddenly removed.

After all, when Goten and Trunks were training in there, Piccolo managed to bring Majin Buu inside.

Bulma having the ability to modify the chamber wasn't just a random guess.

Back during the Cell saga, Vegeta entered the chamber twice and trained for a total of two years.

But by the time of the Future Trunks saga, Vegeta once again trained in the chamber for an extended period.

In the Dragon Ball Super anime, it was explicitly mentioned that Bulma helped repair the Hyperbolic Time Chamber after Majin Buu had damaged it, and she made improvements in the process.

For someone like her, tweaking the internal environment of the chamber wasn't impossible.

This woman really was the most versatile genius in the Dragon Ball world.

That's why Levos had believed from the very beginning that Bulma could master android technology.

It was the very foundation of his entire plan.

"Levos, you seem to know an awful lot about what's in my house." Bulma shot him a suspicious glance.

"Ahem… that's impossible! Doctor, time is critical. Let's pack up and head out right away!" Levos quickly changed the subject.

Bulma didn't seem interested in prying further. "The gravity chamber hasn't been used in years. I almost forgot we even had one."

It was the same chamber Dr. Brief had specially built for Vegeta.

Both of them were gone now.

Levos suddenly regretted bringing it up.

But then he thought, after spending just a few hours with this version of Bulma, he could tell she was tough and open-minded, not the overly sentimental type.

She was careful, thorough, and reliable.

A teammate like this was worth trusting.

"Is there anything I can help with?" Levos offered.

"No need. Just wait here, I'll get everything packed in no time."

While he waited, Levos grew bored.

He booted up Bulma's computer again.

The Red Ribbon Army still weighed on his mind.

Even in this post-apocalyptic world, did they still dream of global domination?

Levos opened the survivor forum and revisited the post with the double-R logo.

More replies had appeared.

Most of them were people asking to trade.

But the poster was very cautious and hadn't revealed any personal details.

All they said was that sellers should wait, the buyer would come to them.

After a long look, Levos still couldn't find any useful clues.

Hopefully, he was just overthinking it.

He closed the post.

Logically, in this timeline, Cell had seized the time machine and left, all within about a year.

He hadn't left much of a mark.

The Red Ribbon Army probably didn't understand how terrifying Cell truly was.

Maybe they never even intended to remake that monster.

But still, their secretive behavior raised too many questions.

What exactly were they up to?

Levos rubbed his temples in frustration.

He remembered the events from the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero movie.

In that story, the Red Ribbon Army's new base was hidden in two connected impact craters, a location that could probably be found using satellite imagery.

Such a unique geological formation should be rare, which meant their base could be identified fairly quickly.

"What are you looking for on the digital map?"

At some point, Bulma had appeared behind him, curiously peering over his shoulder.

Perched on her shoulder was a jet-black cat, like a living lump of coal.

"Ah? Oh, nothing!" Levos didn't want to burden Bulma with concerns about the Red Ribbon Army just yet.

Without solid evidence, telling her would only cause unnecessary worry.

He glanced at the ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts and sighed internally.

Bulma was already under immense pressure. Adding more would probably just make her smoke even more.

And if she developed lung problems at a critical moment, they'd all be doomed.

"I never used to smoke… not until my friends started leaving, one by one…"

Levos understood. Life wasn't easy. Everyone needed their little escapes.

"Doctor, are we ready to go?"

"Yes, all packed!"

"This black cat…?"

"She's our family pet. I couldn't bear to leave her behind."

As they stepped outside Capsule Corporation, Levos rubbed his eyes. "Huh? Are there fewer buildings now?"

Bulma waved a capsule case in her hand.

Ah, that explained it. Levos instantly understood.

"How do we get to the Lookout?" Bulma asked as she climbed into the pilot seat of the aircraft.

"It's above Korin Tower."

…

The aircraft cruised smoothly through the sky.

Levos borrowed Bulma's computer and continued his quiet search for the Red Ribbon Army's hideout.

Unfortunately, he still came up empty.

Stretching lazily, he tried to sound casual. "Doctor, do you know of any places with connected craters or lakes?"

"Connected craters? I don't usually pay attention to that sort of thing. But from a probability standpoint, such natural formations should be extremely rare…"

Bulma immediately honed in on the key point.

According to crater impact theory, the odds of two meteorites hitting the same spot were astronomically low.

Meteorites were no exception.

And over time, the environment would gradually change old craters would eventually erode or be buried.

That's just how the world works.

"Do you want me to help you look?" Bulma tilted her head, curious.

"I'd appreciate it!"

Levos couldn't afford to let the Red Ribbon Army's schemes run unchecked.

He would have to rely on Bulma's expertise for this one.