Of course, Gen had been hoping to get an explanation out of Senku. Help get him on better mental footing, after whatever had him retreating into here. The more he could coax him into a slightly more normal routine ... the better he might be able to get out of him what bothered him so in the first place.

"Hmmm," Gen looked thoughtful, smile playing at his lips, and then shrugged cluelessly, "I don't know, Sanku-chan, I'm only a hack mentalist. It's not as if I'd be able to figure out nitric acid would be able to produce those nitrates, hmm?"