Chapter 141: Mr. Fantastic-Hufflepuff in the Marvel Universe(The Desolate River Beyond the Threshold)

As they arrived at the Baxter Building, Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman hurried out before the two could even step inside.

"Ben, my god, you're finally back! Ben, you have to believe me, I never meant to neglect what you were going through. Susan and I were just…"

Seeing the Thing, Mr. Fantastic was so flustered that he didn't even notice Sean Gu accompanying him, and he rushed to explain himself.

Seeing Mr. Fantastic’s agitated state, coupled with the hope of recovery that Sean Gu represented, the awkwardness in the Thing’s heart vanished, replaced by a touch of guilt. Before Mr. Fantastic could finish, he interrupted, saying with a guilty expression, "Reed, no need to say more. I know. I’ve been in a bad mood lately and misunderstood you and Susan. I was wrong. I’m sorry."

"No, no, no, it was me. I didn't consider your feelings. You suffered so many changes, and I didn't notice a thing. It was my fault."

"No, no, no, it was me. I was too narrow-minded. You and Susan have been so busy, and yet I still misunderstood you. It was my fault."

"No, no, no, it was me…"

The two grown men stood at the entrance of the building, apologizing to one another incessantly. The display was so cloying that it left both the Invisible Woman and Sean Gu speechless.

Fortunately, the Invisible Woman noticed that there was an outsider with the Thing and hurriedly interrupted the two.

"Alright, alright. As long as the misunderstanding is cleared up, that's what matters. You’re all family; why keep apologizing? It only makes things feel distant. Ben, who is this young man?"

Seeing the Invisible Woman glance at him, Sean Gu smiled slightly and extended his right hand.

"Hello, Ms. Storm. I am Sean Gu. It is a pleasure to meet you. I came here today to ask Mr. Richards to help me craft a couple of small gadgets. Please forgive the intrusion."

"Hello, Mr. Gu," the Invisible Woman said, shaking his hand while giving the Thing a curious look.

Over the years, many people had sought out Mr. Fantastic to build things, but most were turned away by the Thing. She wondered how this young Asian man had managed to catch his eye.

Fortunately, the Thing explained the reason himself. Hearing Sean Gu’s words, the two men looked over, and the Thing pointed at him.

"Reed, Sean says he has a way to make me return to normal."

Hearing this, the two had a sudden realization. As family, they naturally knew how much the Thing longed to turn back. If that was the reason, it was no wonder he hadn’t immediately rejected Sean Gu.

However, could such a young man really possess such power?

Before they could voice their doubts, the Thing quickly relayed the information he had gathered about Sean Gu. The two were startled, and they couldn't help but look at Sean Gu with newfound intensity. Wizards, magic, superhero teams, S.H.I.E.L.D.—any one of these points was enough to warrant their serious attention.

Though still slightly skeptical, the Fantastic Four had excellent relations with the military, and they knew that if this information were false, they would have caught wind of it. Glancing at Sean Gu with a mix of suspicion and intrigue, they invited them into the building to head toward the roof.

During the trip, the Invisible Woman stepped away to make a phone call. Everyone knew exactly what it was for, but Sean Gu feigned ignorance.

A minor incident occurred along the way: after his transformation, the Thing’s body had become as heavy as stone, and the standard elevator couldn’t support his weight. Just as they were about to take the stairs, Sean Gu stopped them.

"I did say I was a wizard who could use magic," Sean Gu said with a chuckle. "How could I let you climb all those stairs? It’s hundreds of meters up; how long would that take? Watch this."

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

Without even pulling out his dragon heartstring wand, Sean Gu cast a casual Levitation Charm. The faint spell lifted the Thing’s feet slightly off the ground, allowing him to walk through the air.

Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman’s eyes widened. Although they had heard from the Thing that Sean Gu was a wizard who could do magic and had repaired a wine bottle, modern technology was diverse, and various stage tricks were endless. They had worried that perhaps Sean Gu was just using some form of advanced black technology to comfort the Thing.

But now, with a single spoken incantation, Sean Gu had made the Thing float. This was not something that could be dismissed as simple black technology.

Regardless of whether it was real or not, Mr. Fantastic’s eyes were now shining with excitement as he stared at Sean Gu as if he were a rare, priceless treasure.

The Invisible Woman knew that Mr. Fantastic’s research obsession had flared up. As the smartest man in the Marvel Universe, once he encountered something that piqued his interest, he wouldn't stop until he had turned it inside out.

"What is the principle behind this? Is it electromagnetic reaction? Or pressure differential? Or perhaps..."

Mr. Fantastic was beside himself with excitement, firing off a barrage of physics questions while circling the Thing, prodding and poking him from every angle. It was a good thing he was a rubber man whose body could stretch indefinitely; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to maneuver around the Thing in the confined space of the elevator.

"This is magic. It is a path distinct from science," Sean Gu said. "I don't know the principles myself. If it were Mr. Richards, perhaps he might be able to analyze something, but as for me, I cannot explain it."

"However, as it happens, the gadgets I need Mr. Richards to make for me are related to the magical side of things. If Mr. Richards can build them, perhaps he will be able to understand more."

"Excellent..."

Mr. Fantastic’s eyes lit up, and he was about to agree.

Just then, the Invisible Woman returned, having received confirmation from the military regarding Sean Gu’s identity. Seeing Mr. Fantastic about to accept, she interjected, "Let’s not rush into this. Let’s first discuss how Mr. Gu plans to turn Ben back. Is it through magic? Will there be any side effects? Could there be any adverse consequences?"

"Also, is this method only for Ben? Can Reed, myself, or my brother Johnny use it? We don't understand magic—could Mr. Gu explain it to us?"

Hearing this, Sean Gu knew she was questioning his capabilities and wanted proof before fully committing. He smiled and said, "In truth, it isn't exactly 'magic'—it is simply helping Mr. Grimm master his own abilities."

"Science and magic are two different paths, but they lead to the same destination: they are both ways to deconstruct the world."

"From a scientific perspective, high-concentration cosmic rays triggered cellular evolution in you, causing a mutation."

"From a magical perspective, your bodies underwent elementalization due to the influence of magical elements. Rubber, invisibility, flame, and petrification—these are all characteristics of elemental life."