Knowledge is love

Part 65: Shocking revelations

Before heading off on the voyage, the Kingdom of Science had to make some preparations. Stock on food for the lengthy voyage. Make sure the fuel is in good shape. Make sure they have all the science tools they are going to or possibly need for this voyage. And one of those being the preparation to make the booze.

And to make that it was surprisingly simple. Taking a soggy tray of wheat that is sprouted, they are going to dry it out in the oven. After that, knead it to get rid of the hulls before Kohaku gets to smash the hell out of it with a giant hammer. After being properly smashed, mix it in hot water and flitter and then voilà, you get wheat juice. Toss in some Humulus lupulus and boil the juice. And after all that, just let the mighty yeast in the air do its thing. It'll ferment on its own and become alcohol and the yeast will even carbonate the liquor to really give it that authentic taster people seem to enjoy.

And that was the birth of the alcohol that crew members were enjoying as they played their games. All so happy, chatting and enjoying themselves.

"Nothing like a good beer. Hits the spot," Ryusui said, refreshed as he was the only general drinking.

"Back in ancient Egypt, beer was so valuable they used to pay their pyramid builders with it. It's perfect after a hard day's work," Senku explained.

"You're not wrong," Ryusui said as he went for another sip of his drink. Finishing it. "Ha-Ha! That's good stuff." He then noticed Senku and y/n didn't have a drink. "Wait, hold on, you two not gonna have any?"

"I think I'll pass for now. It's fine," Senku said.

Y/n lightly gaged as the scent of the booze made her nauseous. "I'm okay too. Plus, we're not the only ones."

She pointed out to the other side of the ship to show Chrome, cautiously looking out to the water, keeping an eye out. Ukyo and Gen were doing the same but they were a lot less tense than Chrome. There were a few others not drinking as well such as Kohaku, Akira, Tsukasa, Kinro and Matsukaze.

"After all, we gotta have some sober folk to make sure we don't sink or something. Luckily, some of them like y/n aren't fans of drinking anyway," Senku said.

"I'm not really old enough to be drinking alcohol," Suika pointed out as she approached them.

"Yeah, I guess you are a little young but don't feel too bad. There will be other times to have fun which we can all participate in," y/n reassured.

"Exactly right y/n. Francois," Ryusui called out with a snap of his fingers.

"Yes sir. So I shall make some special non-alcoholic cocktails. It would be a blow to the entire crew's morale if we let those who don't embay feel left out," Francois stated.

"Can you really do all that?!? On this tiny ship ark-bar," Gen asked, in pure disbelief.

"Expect nothing from Francois," Ryusui stated.

Senku chuckled. "Let us know if you need anything."

"Whatever you want. Science team's on it," Chrome stated.

"You're as kind and generous as always. And since you're offering so magnanimously," Francois said with a little smile.

Francois' request was for the science team to make Gum syrup which they made from Wheat. After washing the wheat flour, the gunk that is collected from it is starch. And the secret ingredient is their good friend Sulfurina.

But it scared Gen as he didn't understand why on earth Senku would put something extremely dangerous into a drink. And Senku reassured that it'll boil your teeth if you drink straight up, which is why they are going to boil the heck out of it. Kaseki then understood as it was common for them to use dangerous chemicals as they always had some scientific trick to neutralize it. So they just had to be patient with Senku to do his stuff.