Chapter 140: A Hope for Recovery

Gu Zhongyan smiled, casting a profound look at the Thing. "It’s nothing. I simply wanted to ask if Mr. Grimm would be interested in returning to his original form?"

"What did you say?" The Thing’s body jolted, the force of his reaction causing the booth he was sitting in to groan under the strain.

Unfortunately, the Thing had no mind for such things at that moment. His dark eyes peered through the narrow slits of his rocky face, locked intently on Gu Zhongyan as he urged, "What was it you just said?"

Gu Zhongyan, appearing oblivious to the other man’s desperation, spoke in a slow, measured tone. "Lately, you, Mr. Richards, Ms. Storm, and Mr. Storm have been the center of attention. Who in New York, or even the entire world, hasn’t heard of the Fantastic Four?"

"However, in my opinion, while you have gained fame, you seem to have struggled with the reality of your lives."

"To say nothing of the rest—while Mr. Richards and the others have mutated, they have at least maintained the appearance of normal human beings."

"Mr. Grimm, conversely, while you have become powerful, your appearance is less than well-received, and you face numerous restrictions in your daily life."

"As it happens, I may possess some methods that could restore Mr. Grimm to his former self. I came specifically to pay you a visit to see what your thoughts might be."

Gu Zhongyan’s words struck the Thing’s heart like a heavy hammer.

"Are you telling the truth? Can you really turn me back?" the Thing asked, staring at Gu Zhongyan with undisguised excitement.

The reason for his deep unhappiness was precisely that the other three remained unchanged, while he alone had been transformed into a monster. Because of this, others mocked him, and even his long-time love had left him. In his eyes, this monstrous form was the root of all his problems, and it was for this reason that he was so desperate to change back. He believed that if he could only return to his normal self, everything else would fall into place.

He had originally counted on Mr. Fantastic to find a solution, but the man had yet to produce a plan. He even went out shopping with the Invisible Woman, leading the Thing to believe that Reed didn’t truly care about his plight. After all, of the four, he was the only one permanently affected, so his sensitivity and suspicion were perhaps inevitable. Now, hearing that Gu Zhongyan had a way, he could not help but be stirred. Furthermore, Gu Zhongyan had demonstrated his non-ordinary nature with a display of restoration before they even spoke, which gave the Thing all the more reason to hope.

"Please, I beg you, turn me back. If you can restore me, I will do anything you ask," the Thing said, his voice trembling with emotion.

Seeing the man’s agitation, Gu Zhongyan quickly added, "Mr. Grimm, please don't get too excited. I cannot guarantee that I can restore you completely; I only have a theory. Whether it succeeds or not will depend on the actual circumstances."

Hearing this, the Thing was not calmed; if anything, he became more convinced that Gu Zhongyan was genuine. However, he was not entirely blinded by his emotions. He quickly composed himself and asked, "There is no such thing as a free lunch. I appreciate your willingness to help me, Mr. Gu, but may I ask what you hope to get from me in return?"

Meeting the Thing’s scrutinizing gaze, Gu Zhongyan did not hide his intentions.

"I know that if I said I was doing this solely for you, Mr. Grimm, you wouldn't believe me."

"Let me be blunt. Everyone knows that you and Mr. Richards are childhood friends, and that you are the person he trusts most."

"For many years, those seeking to have Mr. Richards perform a service have come to you for help."

"Coincidentally, I have a few items I would like Mr. Richards to construct for me. If possible, I hope you can do me this favor."

The Thing was not surprised by this request. As Gu Zhongyan had noted, over the years, countless people had come to him to get through to Mr. Fantastic. Gu Zhongyan was not the first. If Mr. Fantastic weren't so preoccupied with his own eccentric inventions and so reluctant to help others, his wealth would likely have surpassed even Iron Man’s by now. While he might not be as rich as Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic’s standing with the military was far higher. In a sense, compared to Mr. Fantastic, even Iron Man was just a novice.

Because of this, once he calmed down, the Thing did not immediately agree to the request despite his desperate need to change. Instead, he asked, "What exactly do you want Reed to build?"

"Nothing complicated. Just two detectors."

"Detectors?" The Thing looked puzzled.

Gu Zhongyan nodded. "Yes, but not ordinary ones. They are specialized detectors designed to track demons and magical grimoires."

"Demons? Do demons actually exist?" The Thing was stunned, unable to stop himself from asking.

Gu Zhongyan laughed. "If magic exists, why not demons? Let alone demons, there are angels, extraterrestrials, and even gods. I saw several not too long ago."

Hearing this, the Thing looked at Gu Zhongyan with renewed interest.

After a moment of hesitation, the Thing said, "Your request is quite unusual. I don’t know if I should agree."

"Tell you what, come with me to the Baxter Building and see what Reed thinks. If he believes he can do it, I will ask him to help you. If he can't, then I’m afraid I cannot help you."

"No problem," Gu Zhongyan agreed.

Seeing how reasonable Gu Zhongyan was, the Thing felt a sense of relief. He hoped deeply that Mr. Fantastic could build the detectors, as Gu Zhongyan was the first person in a long time to offer him any hope of restoration.

As the two headed toward the Baxter Building, the Thing did not forget to subtly probe Gu Zhongyan for information. Gu Zhongyan, eager to build a good relationship with the Fantastic Four, was forthcoming with details, seemingly unaware of the interrogation. He revealed quite a bit, such as his role in forming the Defenders, his trip to Afghanistan to rescue Tony Stark, and his relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D.

In short, he wanted to convey to the Thing and the Fantastic Four that he was an ally of the authorities, much like they were.

As expected, after hearing what Gu Zhongyan had to say, the Thing felt more at ease. He realized that if what Gu Zhongyan said was true, and if the items he wanted weren't dangerous, Mr. Fantastic would likely not refuse. At that point, he could finally let Gu Zhongyan restore him to his original self.