"What a great show!"
Artoria watched Doctor Doom below, speaking with very seductive words. Although his speech was interesting, Artoria knew his ideas were impossible to achieve. The Silver Surfer was probably already dealt with by Gaea and Galacta, which meant both Reed's and Victor's plans had fallen through. They simply couldn't find the Silver Surfer's whereabouts. How could Artoria not find this amusing? Watching a group of people so eagerly trying to catch someone who was currently on Earth, and knowing the inside story, made her feel like she was watching a play. After leaving, Artoria couldn't help but think this, a smile involuntarily appearing on her face.
"What's wrong, Artoria?"
Susan, still feeling a bit embarrassed, just happened to see the smile on Artoria's face. She was very curious about what made Artoria so happy. Was it because of the information Victor brought? Did that thing interest Artoria greatly? Thinking of this, Susan felt she should take action. If this thing was really that useful, then she would be helping Artoria a great deal.
"Don't you think Reed's dance was very funny? Like a clown."
Of course, Artoria wouldn't tell Susan the truth, but Reed's dance indeed made Artoria feel very peculiar. Although not hilarious, it could be used to shut Susan up. As expected, once Artoria spoke, Susan's embarrassment returned. She didn't expect Artoria to bring back her previous feelings. There was nothing she could do; Reed had caused such a ridiculous scene today, it was too infuriating. Thinking of this, Susan decided never to speak to Reed again.
"This trip has been quite fruitful. Does Doctor Doom have his mother's magical research materials? I should find an opportunity to see if I can dig them out and exchange for them."
Sitting in the car on the way back, Artoria remembered that Victor's mother was a Witch, so there should be many magic books. She could use them for reference; they should be from a different system than the Ancient One's magic. This way, she could properly explore the power of the magic side. Although she possessed powerful magic and had been taught by the Ancient One for a period, the Ancient One had not taught her proper offensive magic. Artoria now wanted some powerful offensive magic, at least the kind of nation-destroying magic that could now pique her interest.
"Doom, can we really never go back to how we were before?"
As Artoria left, Victor only gave Reed a deep look before putting on his hood and leaving again. Watching Victor's departing back, Reed wanted to reach out and stop him, but his hand hung in mid-air, and he couldn't speak the words of retention. Although he said otherwise, he knew that the Victor he once knew was gone. Ever since they returned from space, their relationship had changed, leading to this unimaginable outcome.
"Reed, are you alright?"
After Victor left, Ben looked at Reed, who was still standing there dazed, and walked over worriedly to pat his shoulder. He didn't know how to comfort Reed now. He had heard Reed talk about his relationship with Victor when they drank before, so he understood Reed's current heartache better than Johnny. Ever since Artoria left, Johnny had wandered off like a lost soul, probably returning to his room. Now, only Ben could console the dejected Reed. The heartbreak of a best friend turning on him, trying to kill him, only to be defeated by Reed and his companions, and now reappearing—no one could truly understand Reed's feelings.
"Don't worry! I'm fine."
Ben's comfort brought Reed back to his senses. Yes! They had reached this point, and no one was to blame; it could only be said that the two were fundamentally not partners on the same path. Reed was merely sighing over the current state of his good friend. Reed gently rubbed his eyes, quietly wiping away the tears that were about to fall. Reed took a deep breath, then raised his head and replied to Ben.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Reed. You have us... I'm here."
Looking at Reed, who forced a smile, Ben's rocky forehead furrowed slightly. He had intended to offer words of comfort, but when he mentioned 'us,' Ben glanced around. Johnny was long gone. In the end, he had to swallow 'us' and change it to 'I.' That damned Human Torch, how could he be so insensitive? Thinking this, Ben decided he needed to properly discipline the guy in the next couple of days.
"I'm fine, really. I need to start working, buddy. You should get some rest!"
Not minding Johnny's abrupt departure, Reed gave Ben a grateful look, then slightly bounced his body as if relaxing, and left the Briefing Room. He spoke to Ben as he left, but the more he acted this way, the more Ben worried about him. It seemed Victor's appearance had delivered not a physical blow, but a psychological one to Reed. Reed hadn't even noticed Susan leaving, his attention completely fixed on Victor.
"Galacta, has your old man arrived?"
Returning home, Artoria watched Galacta eating ice cream and watching TV. Her naive, sweet demeanor showed no sense of crisis whatsoever. Artoria felt like she was feeding a pig. Seeing Galacta like this, Artoria couldn't help but show a mischievous smile. Fine! How dare you hide things from me? I'll teach you a good lesson. With this thought, Artoria silently approached Galacta and suddenly blurted out that sentence.
"Pfft~!"
The moment she heard Artoria's words, Galacta's eyes widened instantly, and the ice cream in her mouth sprayed out. This surprised her greatly. How did Artoria know? Did I expose myself, or did Gaea tell Artoria about this? What exactly is going on? In an instant, countless thoughts flooded Galacta's mind, and various conjectures flashed through her head.
"How did you know, Artoria?"
Galacta looked at Artoria, then at the ice cream in her hand. She stuffed all the ice cream into her mouth and swallowed it in one gulp. After thinking for a moment, Galacta voiced her confusion to Artoria, but also admitted that Artoria's statement was correct. Indeed, if Gaea had killed the Silver Surfer, her reclusive father would definitely come to Earth, and Earth would be in danger then. However, Gaea had already promised her not to let Artoria know about this. Galacta didn't think Gaea was someone who broke promises, so she was even more curious about how Artoria knew.
"I guessed."
Seeing Galacta's reaction, Artoria curved her lips into a slight smile. Trying to hide things from me, huh? With so many clues right in front of me, The Thing in Reed's video must be the Silver Surfer. That is to say, Galacta's father, Galan, the Planet Devourer, must have noticed Earth. Artoria didn't know when he would arrive or if the Silver Surfer had been eliminated by Gaea. She only knew that Galacta and Gaea definitely had contact with the Silver Surfer.
"Guessed?"
Galacta stared at Artoria with disbelief. Can you really guess that accurately? Then why don't you guess when my old man will arrive! If she could guess his arrival time, perhaps she could guide him elsewhere. Thinking this, Galacta narrowed her big purple eyes and just stared at Artoria, her face full of skepticism, looking very cute.
"Alright, I was just teasing you."
Gently tapping Galacta's cheek, Artoria smiled and left Galacta, who was pouting after being tricked.
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