Half a year passed in a flash.
The Fraternity's headquarters relocated to a new base in the New York suburbs. During those six months, they'd spent ten times the projected budget and maintained twenty-four-hour construction schedules. Finally, the base stood complete, built at impossible speed.
When construction finished, the entire Fraternity reacted with shock. No one had expected such rapid completion. Only Smith had anticipated this outcome.
During this period, scouter sales exceeded expectations. Thirteen thousand, two hundred and fifty-three units sold, generating nearly forty billion dollars in revenue for the Fraternity.
Most orders came from military departments, the CIA, FBI, and S.H.I.E.L.D. The remainder were purchased by private institutions and wealthy individuals.
According to order tracking, buyers included security corporations ordering in bulk, plus various entities attempting reverse-engineering: military-industrial contractors, medical groups, and communications giants. All joined the dismantling research industry.
However, they suffered heavy losses due to Bulma's explosive anti-tamper protocols. Despite the setbacks, the technology's value forced them to continue careful deconstruction attempts.
The general public made the most creative use of scouters. Athletes adjusted their training based on every 0.1 fluctuation in power level readings. When values dropped, they investigated causes: exercise methods, diet, lifestyle changes.
After all, the readings measured bioenergy. Increasing values meant improving physical condition. Decreasing values indicated problems requiring attention.
The communication capabilities gained attention after a wealthy adventurer got lost in a desert storm. When all his communication equipment lost signal, he contacted rescuers through the scouter's internal communication system.
After he posted about the incident online, the scouter's global communication capabilities went viral. Numerous wealthy individuals purchased units to handle emergency situations.
Internet celebrities took scouters around testing random people's power levels. They actually discovered several individuals exceeding 8 points, though these people quickly disappeared from public view.
As for Nick Fury's "allies," the Skrulls, they hid even deeper. Even with perfect disguises matching their assumed identities, they dared not appear before anyone wearing a scouter. Discovery would attract unwanted attention and recruitment offers from various factions.
Currently, anyone with power levels above 6 points qualified as scarce talent.
According to intelligence Natasha passed along, S.H.I.E.L.D. reaped substantial rewards using scouters. The dangerous metahuman known as the Purple Man was identified through abnormal power readings and successfully captured, though at significant cost.
The Purple Man's mind control abilities had turned several female agents against S.H.I.E.L.D. initially, but they were eventually recovered and deprogrammed.
Natasha provided no information about where these agents were taken or their current status.
Beyond the Purple Man, Daredevil, Stick, Jessica Jones, and others were discovered through scouter readings and recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D.
Not just S.H.I.E.L.D. benefited. The military and other agencies discovered talent as well. However, S.H.I.E.L.D., using its authority as the organization responsible for superhuman affairs, poached considerable talent from other agencies.
This resulted in intense bureaucratic battles between various organizations and S.H.I.E.L.D., even escalating to the Security Council level.
Additionally, excavation of the dragon bones made effective progress. After encountering the mystical barrier, Smith went underground personally and stored the dragon bones in his system space. They became one of the Fraternity's foundational assets.
Inside the gravity room, Smith finally stood in the facility he'd been anticipating for months. Without it, his strength growth had crawled along painfully slowly. He'd resorted to wearing weights, suppressing his ki, and sparring with Alexei just to improve his combat effectiveness.
After six months, his power level reached 220 points. Not even close to the elderly Demon King Piccolo's level.
Alexei, serving as his primary sparring partner, had increased his power level to 50 points. He'd lost all his fat, developing muscle mass rivaling Captain America's physique, transforming into a genuinely handsome man.
Bulma operated the control panel. "The supergravity field is fully assembled. Current maximum is 10 times Earth gravity, minimum is 1.5 times."
Hearing the maximum was only 10 times, Smith frowned slightly. Though 10 times sounded substantial, a Saiyan would adapt completely within weeks.
John Wick spoke up. "Boss, can I use the gravity room for training?"
During the past six months, not just John but many Fraternity members had improved their power levels to approach human limits. John's power level stuck at 7.9, refusing to increase further.
Looking at everyone's expectant gazes, Smith smiled. "Anyone can use it, but only when the room is available and according to your ability. Start at 1.5 times Earth gravity initially."
His expression grew more serious. "If your body can't handle it, exit immediately or have the staff shut down the gravity field."
Everyone smiled hearing Smith's permission to use the gravity room.
As the Fraternity's leader, Smith had told senior and core members that only after breaking through human limits would he consider teaching them to use ki. Having witnessed ki's power, everyone envied and admired it, hoping to learn someday.
Smith stepped into the gravity field, currently set at 1.5 times Earth gravity.
He moved his hands and feet, feeling virtually no change. "Bulma, increase the gravity."
"Two times gravity activated."
Smith continued. "Keep going. Start at 5 times gravity."
Hearing he wanted to jump to 5 times immediately, Bulma didn't hesitate. She understood Smith's capabilities. She directly activated 5 times gravity.
With the activation, Smith finally felt slight pressure, though mostly just discomfort from the sudden increase. Planet Vegeta, where Saiyans lived, had ten times Earth's gravity naturally.
Within seconds, Smith adapted to the five times gravity.
"Bulma, double the gravity every 10 seconds. Take it directly to 10 times."
Smith knew from Goku's template that at 8,000 power level, Goku had started adapting at 20 times gravity, continuing to 100 times, nearly killing himself in the process.
Using 10 times gravity to simulate Planet Vegeta's weight shouldn't crush him.
Bulma began doubling gravity every 10 seconds. Under everyone's surprised gazes, Smith began exercising.
As gravity increased to 10 times, Smith finally felt real pressure and difficulty moving.