"This portal technology will be revolutionary, Luke. The energy source—those batteries we found—will definitely help. Although I am still just scraping the surface of how to use that energy," Reed, with heavy bags under his eyes, tells me enthusiastically.
"Why don't you also inform him about the expected cost of the whole project," Susan says, crossing her arms.
"Susan, I know it is very costly, but trust me, it will be worth it," Reed insists, looking back at me.
"I don't mind the cost, but what I am worried about is safety," I say in all seriousness, glancing at Susan, Johnny, Ben, and Reed, who are all sitting with me at the circular table in the conference hall. "So I will fund the project, but it can't be done here in the Baxter Tower."
"But all my equipment is here," Reed says with a wry smile.
"I can just imagine how bad it would go—a portal in the middle of New York City!" Johnny says in amusement, his legs crossed on the table.
"Have some faith in Reed, kid," Ben chimes in from the side.
"No, Ben, Johnny and Luke have a point. We will shift the project somewhere else. It is better not to take any chances," Susan says strictly.
"Alright, I will just have to move all the stuff then," Reed says, scratching his head with his stretched hand.
Just as we are discussing this, the door is pushed open, and a girl walks in.
"You fellas must be the 'Fantastic Four.' I am Elsa Bloodstone, and I am here regarding the Moloids that you guys hunted a week ago," a redheaded girl announces in a British accent.
I take in the sight of the busty redhead. She is wearing a crop top, a red gem choker around her neck, and an oversized jacket draped over her shoulders.
"Ma'am, this is the woman I told you about on the phone," Gina says awkwardly from behind her.
"Oh, hello, beautiful. Yes, I am the one who took down most of those scary monsters. You can call me Johnny, or the Amazing Human Torch," Johnny boasts, standing up and gliding over to her with a charming smile, extending his hand.
"Scary? I think they are quite harmless," she retorts nonchalantly, walking inside and ignoring Johnny's handshake. She places a guitar case on the table and sits down, her demeanour cool and collected.
Johnny awkwardly stands there, glancing at Gina, who avoids eye contact with him.
"Gina, thank you. You can go back downstairs," Susan says with a smile. Gina nods, thanks her, and leaves, closing the door behind her.
"Miss Bloodstone, do you have information regarding those Moloids? Is this the urgent matter you wanted to discuss?" Susan inquires curiously as Johnny quietly takes his seat again.
"I have quite a lot of information on Moloids and the Subterraneans, but first, I want to know what you know. What did you find out after the attack?" Elsa asks, her British accent adding a touch of elegance to her words.
"Subterraneans? Where did you come across that term?" Reed asks in surprise, recalling the Mole Man's words.
"That's what they are usually called, at least that's what Father always referred to them as," she replies, narrowing her eyes at Johnny, who can't seem to stop ogling at her breasts.
"Your father?" Susan questions, raising an eyebrow.
"Ulysses Bloodstone," I interject slowly.
"Oh? So you do know about my father?" she asks, looking at me with intrigue.
"I have just heard some wild Legends about him," I say with a small smile.
"Is he supposed to be famous? Is he a businessman?" Johnny asks curiously.
"My father? Ha, no. He is what you might call an Adventurer or a Hunter," she chuckles.
"Hunter? Like an animal hunter?" Ben asks, puzzled.
"No, he is a bloody Monster Hunter, mate. It is more of a family business for us Bloodstones," she smirks.
"Monster hunter? Hahaha! That's hilarious," Johnny laughs aloud clutching his belly. "Ben, you should stay away from her father; he might just mistake you for a monster," he jokes, patting Ben's shoulder with a grin.
"Well, if he was here, I don't think your friend would be sitting here comfortably. But you don't have to worry about me; I am not my father. I only hunt the evil monsters," she says, looking at Ben with a harmless smile.
Johnny's laughter stops at her comment as he looks at her as if she were crazy.
"I am not so easy to 'hunt,' girl," Ben says, showing his rocky hands.
"It wouldn't even be a morning exercise for him," she replies with a shake of her head.
"Sue, I think this girl is just spouting nonsense," Johnny says, looking at his sister, as Ben glares at Elsa.
"If you knew who my father is, you wouldn't think of my words as nonsense, Torch Boy," she retorts, smirking at Johnny.
"You—" Johnny stands up angrily.
"Okay, stop. Sit down, Johnny," Susan says firmly, making Johnny sit down with a pout.
"Miss Bloodstone, so let's believe for a second that your father is who you say he is. How does this connect to the Moloids you talked about?" Susan asks patiently.
"First, tell me, did you find the underground lair where the Subterraneans originate?" Elsa asks, sitting up straight, her demeanour becoming more serious.
"The tunnels through which they burrowed out were very complex, and they seem to stretch a long way down, so we had to stop the search for now," Reed replies.
"Bloody hell, I knew it wouldn't be this easy," she murmurs in disappointment. "What about the Mole Man, who was controlling them?" she asks Reed.
"Harvey Elder, who calls himself the Mole Man, was just a subpar scientist with unfounded and unresearched theories about things like Hollow Earth," Reed says, opening up his profile and showing it to her.
"This Harvey fellow is a bit too lucky to have found Subterranea," she murmurs, reading up on him.
"It looks like you really do know more about this," Susan observes, looking at her.
"Why not share it with the class too?" Johnny adds.
"My father once traveled to a subterranean kingdom where he met a race of people dwelling there, who you call Moloids. They were a harmless and weak race, but he also found that Subterranea was connected to the Monster Isle," Elsa explains, slumping back in her chair.
"Monster Isle?" Ben asks, puzzled.
"An island full of gigantic monsters, bigger than skyscrapers. Father said he had a very satisfying and fun hunt there and only returned once he got bored of it," Elsa says with a helpless shake of her head.
"That sounds like a children's horror story," Ben chuckles. I look at his stony horrid face with a deadpan stare.
"Living organisms taller than skyscrapers? In today's time? How would they even survive in this gravity? This sounds so against the science I know of," Reed murmurs, shaking his head.
"Welcome to the World of Monsters. Here, Science and Logic should take a backseat," Elsa says with a wide smile.
"So if your father has been there, shouldn't he know where it is already? We can go there and catch the Mole Man then," Susan proposes.
"It would work, but my father has been missing for some months. It's nothing to worry about; he does this regularly, so I can't ask him. But I am still very interested in the location," Elsa says with a small smile.
"The whole family seems crazy," Johnny murmurs under his breath.
"Anyway, it was lovely meeting you all. This is my card. Call me if you find anything new about Subterranea, the Monster Isle, or the Mole Man," Elsa says, getting up and taking her guitar case with her. She hands the card to Susan.
"Are you in a hurry? I would love to know more about how your father described the place. It would help us in our search," Susan says, taking her card.
"I would love to, but I have a hunt calling me," Elsa smirks, leaving us all with a wave of her hand.
"Good riddance," Johnny exclaims as she leaves. "She looked a bit too crazy even for me," he comments with a wry smile.
"I don't think she was interested in you, buddy," Ben laughs.
"Shut up, you pile of rocks," Johnny says in irritation.
---
"Miss Bloodstone," I call out to her as I catch up with her in the basement.
"Look, mate, I have to go to Belgrade to smash some bloodsuckers' skulls in," she says, putting her guitar case in the trunk of her red convertible. "So whatever you want to say, say it fast," she adds, looking at me impatiently.
"How about taking me with you?" I ask with a smile.
"You want to come with me to Belgrade? I am not going there for sightseeing, Mr. Billionaire. I am on a hunt, and you will just end up being their chow," she replies with an amused laugh.
"Trust me, I can handle myself," I say with a confident smile, eager to test my new, improved strength.
"It looks like you have a screw loose in your head too. Alright, hop on. If nothing else, you could be a handsome bait for them," she smirks, sitting in the driver's seat.
My smile widens as I take a seat beside her.
"Well, this is going to be an interesting Hunt for sure," Elsa mumbles with a wry smile, looking at my excitement as she pumps the gas, making the car zoom out of the parking lot.