The shadow broker whispering "nuclear weapons, palm-sized"
A dangerous 30-something shadow broker. Always carries a briefcase with red liquid claiming it contains "the phantom substance that miniaturizes nuclear weapons." Terrorists and mafias spent hundreds of millions seeking it during Cold War collapse chaos, but seized samples turned out to be just red paint or nail polish.
Urban legend born from the chaos of Soviet collapse at the Cold War's end. Spawned multiple fraud cases, but the substance itself never existed.
Analysis of substances seized worldwide as "red mercury" revealed red paint, mercury oxide, nail polish, and plain red liquid—all completely unrelated to nuclear technology. The theoretical basis of "a catalyst for room-temperature nuclear fusion" is physically impossible.
When fear and greed combine, people pay hundreds of millions for nonexistent substances. Lack of scientific literacy literally costs lives and money.
Catchphrase“This is Red Mercury. The price... is negotiable.”
A fraud who misused Mercury's name. The source of defamation for real mercury.
Lied about "miniaturizing nuclear weapons." An outrageous defamation for Uranium.
“（アタッシュケースを開けて）これが…レッドマーキュリーだ。10億ドルでどうだ？”
“ソ連の極秘研究から生まれた超物質…のはずだった”
“成分分析？やめてくれ。夢が壊れる”
“赤いマニキュア液を10億ドルで売った男がいる。それが…私だ（自虐）”
“水銀さんには本当に申し訳ないと思っている。名前を汚してしまった”
(Emerging from shadows with briefcase) ...Hey. I've got something good. Red Mercury. A super-substance that'll change the world of elements...
(Sly grin) Smuggled from a secret Soviet lab. ...Or so I claim.
Red Mercury: "Mercury-senpai! I'm your evolved form! Red Mercury!"
Mercury: "...Don't use my name. I'm toxic but at least I exist."
Red Mercury: "No no, I can miniaturize nuclear weapons..."
Mercury: "Shall I show you the compositional analysis? Your true identity is nail polish."
Red Mercury: "...(speechless)"
Mercury: "I've contributed to society through thermometers and fluorescent lights. You only harmed society through fraud. I won't even permit you to share my name."
People paid hundreds of millions for a substance that never existed. Fear and greed exploit the absence of scientific literacy to manipulate humans.
"Guys like you are why chemistry loses credibility"...I was told. They're right. Don't impersonate science.