American comic: Checking in, Gwen in black stockings rolls her eyes.

"Victor?"

Susan's voice carried a hint of detachment.

Viktor von Dum, a classmate of his at Reed University, was also a brilliant scientist.

But his ambition and obsession are equally well-known.

Victor was also one of the participants in the space mission that led to their mutation.

However, the effects of cosmic rays on him seemed to be different from those on others.

At least on the surface, he did not show any obvious physical changes.

"Susan, darling."

Von Doom's voice is deep and magnetic.

He bowed slightly, but his gaze lingered on Susan without any attempt to conceal it.

"I heard you're back, and... you had some little 'surprises' along the way. As an old classmate, I came to see you and see if there's anything I can do to help."

His tone sounded concerned, but Susan sensed an undisguised inquiry and...

A certain unsettling possessiveness.

.....

248: Doctor Doom is coming!

"We're fine, Victor, thank you for your concern."

Susan responded politely, but her body instinctively blocked the doorway, indicating that she did not intend to let him in.

"Reed is very busy right now and probably won't have time to entertain you."

Von Doom's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes turned colder.

“Oh? Really? I heard you’re doing a very… interesting study. About genes, about mutations. You know, I’ve always been interested in that field. Perhaps some of my insights might give Reed some inspiration?”

He tried to glean something from Susan's expression, but Susan simply looked at him calmly.

“I think that’s unnecessary, Victor. We have enough manpower and resources. If you have nothing else, I’m afraid I must take my leave.”

"is it?"

Von Doom's gaze went over Susan's shoulder, as if trying to get a better look at the scene inside the laboratory.

"I heard that Tony Stark of Stark Industries is here too? It seems you've found powerful outsiders. However, Susan, some things are simply beyond the comprehension of outsiders; only those of us who have experienced them firsthand can truly understand..."

“Victor,”

Susan interrupted him, her tone firm.

"We know exactly what we're doing. We appreciate your kindness. Goodbye."

After saying that, Susan closed the door without hesitation, shutting out Von Doom and his unsettling gaze.

Outside the door, the smile on Von Doom's face slowly disappeared, replaced by a gloomy expression.

He straightened his tie, took a deep breath, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

“Susan…Reed…and that Stark…”

He muttered to himself, a cold smile curving his lips.

"You will understand that only I, Viktor von Doom, can truly master this power and lead the future!"

He turned and strode away, his figure quickly disappearing at the end of the street.

Vondum returned to the top floor of his “Destruction Fort Industrial” building, located on the other side of the city.

This place is less of an office and more of a fortress that blends cutting-edge technology with mysticism.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows is a bustling cityscape at night.

0 ······Requesting flowers··· ·······

The interior is filled with unsettling symbols and cold, metallic objects.

"Owner."

A figure completely shrouded in black tactical clothing knelt on one knee, his voice hoarse and devoid of emotion.

He exuded a strange smell that was a mixture of blood and decay.

0 ..... ...

Vondum walked to the enormous throne and sat down, his fingers lightly tapping the armrests:

"How did things go?"

"As you commanded, the 'Night Shadow' squad has assembled. They are your most loyal blades. Having undergone the 'baptism of darkness,' their strength, speed, and perception far surpass those of ordinary people, and they will absolutely obey your orders."

"That's what the man in black reported."

"very good."

A dark light gleamed in Von Doom's eyes, and his voice carried a chilling undertone.

“Reed Richards and his gang of ‘monsters,’ along with that meddlesome Tony Stark, are researching a technology that can alter genes. This technology must be in my hands.”

....superior.

249: Timeline Correction!

"What the master means is..."

“Infiltrate the Baxter Building and obtain their research data at all costs, especially all the data on gene mutation and reversal technology.”

Von Doom's voice was icy and chilling.

"Remember, I want more than just their technology; I want to know how they acquired that power. That space accident, the cosmic rays… Hmph, that wasn't just an accident, '083,' it was a gift from the universe! And that gift rightfully belongs to someone even greater!"

He stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the city below, his eyes filled with a frenzied ambition:

"They think they are heroes? Miracles? No, they are just experiments, stepping stones to a new era! And I, Viktor von Doom, will become the god of this new era!"

"As you command, Master!"

The man in black obeyed the order, his figure disappearing into the shadows like a ghost.

.

Meanwhile, inside the laboratory of the Baxter Building.

Scientific research is still in full swing.

Tony Stark's addition undoubtedly injected a powerful boost into the entire project.

His thinking is unconventional and unrestrained by traditional frameworks, often leading him to propose solutions from unexpected angles.

Reed Richards, with his profound theoretical foundation and rigorous logic, verified and refined Tony's leaps of ideas one by one.

"...Therefore, if we introduce a controllable decay particle as a beacon to guide nanorobots to precisely target mutated gene fragments, and at the same time use a micro repulsive field generator to construct a temporary barrier at the cellular level to prevent byproducts generated during reverse transcription from causing secondary contamination to normal cells..."

Tony spoke fluently as he rapidly sketched complex structural diagrams on the virtual screen.

Reed watched intently, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming with excitement:

"A brilliant idea! A repulsive field barrier! This could greatly reduce rejection and cytotoxicity! But how can the energy source and stability of this miniature repulsive field generator be guaranteed?"

"That's my specialty, buddy."

Tony snapped his fingers triumphantly.

"The latest improved version of the miniature ark reactor has a stable and continuous energy output, which is sufficient to support the entire reverse gene compilation process. Moreover, I have designed a feedback system based on quantum algorithms that can adjust the intensity and range of the repulsive field in real time to ensure that everything goes smoothly."

Lin Feng listened quietly from the side, occasionally adding:

"The form and frequency of energy also need to be precisely controlled. The mutated gene itself is in an unstable high-energy state. Guiding it back is like putting a rein on a runaway horse. If the force is too strong, it will tear it apart; if the force is too weak, it cannot be controlled. A gentle yet resilient guiding force is needed."

"That's right!"

Reed slapped his thigh.

"Mr. Lin is right in point 3.7! Our previous model focused too much on 'correction' and neglected 'guidance.' It's like trying to control floods; dredging is worse than blocking!"

Through the concerted efforts of the three, the theoretical prototype of reverse gene technology was derived at an astonishing speed.

And it showed promising results in the simulation experiment.

This made everyone very happy.

.....

250: Doctor Doom's Scheme!

Although there is still a long way to go before it can be truly applied to humans, requiring a large amount of experimental data and clinical validation, the dawn is already in sight.

To celebrate the milestone achievement and to allow everyone who has been under pressure to relax a bit.

Tony Stark proposed hosting a small cocktail party on the top floor of his Stark Industries building.

On a deeper level, it's also an opportunity to subtly convey a message to the public and the media:

The Fantastic Four are not monsters.

They are heroes with extraordinary abilities, worthy of trust and respect.

As night falls, the Stark Industries building is brightly lit.

Inside the top-floor banquet hall, elegantly dressed women mingled, and glasses clinked in a lively atmosphere.

New York City's celebrities, scientific elites, and media reporters gathered together.

The appearance of the Fantastic Four was undoubtedly the focus of the entire event.

Reed was dressed in a well-fitting suit. Although he was still a little unaccustomed to this occasion, he looked much more relaxed.

Johnny, on the other hand, was like a fish out of water, excitedly weaving through the crowd.

He occasionally made his signature flame gesture towards the camera.

Of course, it was just for show; they didn't actually light the fire.

Ben Grimm, the stone giant, is still striking in appearance.

But thanks to Tony Stark's deliberate arrangements and the manipulation of public opinion, people's gaze was filled with more curiosity and awe than fear.

Susan wore a light blue evening gown that perfectly accentuated her elegant demeanor.

She held a glass of champagne and sat with Lin Feng in a relatively quiet corner.

"These past few days have been so tiring."

Susan gently swirled her wine glass, gazing at the amber liquid within.

"My brain is working at high speed every day, it feels like I'm taking a never-ending exam."

Lin Feng looked at her with a smile:

"But the results are encouraging, aren't they? Seeing Reed and Tony so excited makes me happy for you too."

"yes,"

A genuine smile spread across Susan's face.

"Thanks to you, Lin Feng. If it weren't for you, we might still be stuck in the same place. And, there's also Tony... you always manage to surprise us."

"I just did what I had to do."

Lin Feng's gaze softened.

"As for you, Susan, you should also relax a bit. Once this is all over, let's find some time to go out and clear our heads, how about that?"

Susan's eyes lit up:

"Really? That's great! I want to go to the beach, listen to the sound of the waves, and just relax and daydream without thinking about anything."

"No problem," Lin Feng promised.

The two smiled at each other, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.