546. The Hogwarts Express.

Outside of the timeline.

The House of Mystery of the Overseers Headquarters.

In the research hall, Tony Stark and the newly returned Richards couple were making the final adjustments to the dimensional traversal device.

"Alex, that guy... I haven't had a proper rest lately. Just when I finally have some free time, he assigns me such a troublesome task," Tony Stark grumbled, glancing at the readings on the panel while typing away at the keyboard, not bothering to look back at Reed Richards behind him.

"This is a dimensional traversal device. Alex must have requested it for an important purpose. To better ensure the safety of the Wasteland Universe, all this work we're doing is necessary," Reed Richards responded.

Tony Stark couldn't help but roll his eyes. "I'm not like you. You just got back from a vacation with your kids. I've been cooped up in this house for who knows how long. It feels like I've been here for centuries."

"Well, if you're really that bored, maybe you can go visit the Wasteland Universe for a bit," Reed Richards suggested.

"I'm not going there. Can't interact with anyone, can only watch them from afar. What's the point in that?"

Tony Stark waved his hand dismissively, but Reed Richards' suggestion gave him a good idea. After a brief pause, Tony continued.

"Actually, didn't Kara and Pietro have a mission to go to another universe? I think I could try that. I'm sure they wouldn't mind my help."

At these words, both Reed Richards and Susan stopped what they were doing.

They exchanged a glance and, in unison, turned their attention toward Tony Stark.

"Tony, unilaterally intervening in other multiverses is a very dangerous thing. Don't forget, our job is to ensure the safety of the Wasteland and prevent any incursions from those other universe enemies."

"I know, I know. But I'm not the enemy. Besides, that universe is really safe, alright?" Tony Stark crossed his arms. "Don't think I haven't checked. Pietro's been to that universe before."

"I still think it's risky to get involved in such things hastily. If you're really that bored and want to go out, I suggest you join Alex and explore other lost dimensions near the Wasteland Universe," Reed thought for a moment before speaking up.

"Lost dimensions?" Tony Stark was slightly confused.

"Yeah, didn't Alex ask us to build a dimensional traversal device? The purpose of this thing is to traverse through spatial turbulence. I suspect Alex's goal is to retrieve those exiled dimensions," Reed explained.

Susan, who was standing next to them, nodded in agreement and added, "Tony, you're not from this universe, so you might not understand. The Battle of the Past destroyed many things, including the connection between the physical dimension and other dimensions."

"Who says I don't understand? I've watched the replays of that battle enough to know," Tony Stark retorted before pausing, contemplating for a moment. "But as for following Alex across dimensions... I'll pass."

"Why?" Reed asked, intrigued.

"You all know Alex too well. Going on an adventure with him is just too dangerous. I'm still having nightmares about that one. For the sake of my mental health, I think I'll go try my luck with Kara instead," Tony replied, clearly uneasy.

Seemingly recalling a terrible memory, Tony Stark shuddered and let out a long sigh, glancing at Reed and Susan, still feeling unsettled.

God knows how much courage it had taken to work alongside Reed and Susan after that incident.

Though he knew the pair were not the same as the zombie versions from his universe, Tony still found himself instinctively avoiding being alone in a room with them.

If it hadn't been for the heavy nature of this task, and with everyone else in the House of the Overseers occupied with their own work, Tony would have never come here.

Of course, he'd left himself a backup plan. Reed Richards and Susan had no idea that Tony had secretly opened seven hidden passageways in the lab.

"You make a good point," Reed muttered, agreeing after a moment.

Alex's adventures were indeed legendary, and before meeting him, none of the people present had ever imagined that so many complex, insane, and despair-inducing universes existed.

Just like Tony Stark, Reed Richards would never forget the time he was infected and turned into a zombie. That incident involving a cross-universe video scam had left a lasting impression on him.

"So, I guess I'll go check on Kara and see what's going on. I've heard their mission involves cross-universe trade, and I'm sure that as the top leader of Stark Industries, I'm more than qualified for such a trivial task," Tony said confidently, puffing out his chest.

"I think you're just curious about what makes that universe different from ours," Susan said with a smile, shaking her head. She then added, "Alright, enough talk. Let's get back to work. We don't have much time."

"Come on, we're outside of the timeline. How could we possibly run out of time~"

Though Tony Stark said this, his actions were swift. He quickly made his way to the front of the train engine and began checking the energy parameters.

After receiving some intel from Shazam and drawing from a bit of inspiration, everyone ultimately decided to shape the dimensional traversal device like a train.

At first, Tony Stark had wanted to build an aircraft carrier or a fighter jet, but since making such things would take too long and anything too large could face greater resistance in spatial turbulence, that idea was scrapped.

Reed Richards and Susan also rejected the pirate ship design, which left Tony Stark quite frustrated.

Looking at the two-meter-high train engine, Tony Stark carefully reviewed the parameters and couldn't help but speak up.

"If you ask me, this train should have been replaced with a phone booth."

"We've already discussed the design of the device's exterior, Tony," Reed Richards said while focused on his work. "I know rejecting your design must be frustrating, but you have to understand, this is Alex's request."

"Alex just reminded us that Shazam's original device had a train. He didn't say we had to make an actual train. By your logic, the Rock of Eternity and the Portal also exist, should we build a door while we're at it?" Tony rolled his eyes.

"The concept of portals and dimensional traversal devices isn't the same. Strictly speaking, portals are magical, while what we're doing here is using rigorous science to prevent being trapped in alternate spaces when the dimension collapses," Reed explained seriously.

"But I still think this train engine has no imagination," Tony said, stroking his beard.

"But it really is the most suitable design for us."

Reed Richards leaned over to Tony Stark's side, his body still stationed where he was.

"As long as we successfully develop the dimensional traversal engine, we can easily add carriages to it. We can install them when we need them and take them off when we don't. It's a flexible design."

Although Tony Stark knew that Reed Richards was right, he couldn't help but still long for his Galactic Battleship idea.

"Alright, I get it, you're a bit disappointed. How about this: I'll let you name the device. How does that sound?" Reed suddenly suggested.

"Really?" Tony Stark raised an eyebrow.

The right to name a product is sometimes as important as the right to take credit for it, especially for researchers like them. Even though they didn't care much about this device anymore, Tony was still interested in naming it.

Reed didn't mind either way.

"Sure, as long as you don't come up with some ridiculous name."

"Then I'll call it the Hogwarts Express. How about that?" Without hesitation, Tony Stark provided his answer.

"Huh, that's a strange name. Does it have any special meaning?" Reed paused for a moment before seriously commenting.

"Are you kidding me? You don't know this name?" Tony Stark was utterly shocked.

"Sorry, he's just a bookworm," Susan shook her head and then explained to her husband. "The Hogwarts Express is the wizard train from Harry Potter. Remember, you watched that movie with me, didn't you forget?"

"Oh... I think I vaguely remember," Reed opened his mouth. "But why can't I recall it?"

"Maybe it's because you fell asleep in the theater as soon as Harry Potter got his letter," Susan said, giving him a bemused look.

"Uh..."

Reed shrank his neck awkwardly under his wife's gaze and quickly grabbed the circuit board in his hand to change the subject.

"Finally finished! As soon as we install the last space radar, this Dimension jumper Superfast Express can start!"

"It's the Hogwarts Express," Tony Stark facepalmed.

But Reed Richards didn't seem to hear him, stretching his body to quickly reach the front undercarriage of the train engine and began installing the odd device.

Moving through spatial turbulence is a dangerous task for anyone, because while time turbulence only sends people to unknown timelines, spatial turbulence can crush and disassemble people.

To deal with the chocolate-box-sized device in his hands, Reed Richards spent a long time and a lot of effort. While he worked on the device, Tony Stark even went ahead and installed an air conditioning system and a home theater in the train.

Just as Reed Richards was finishing the final installation, the door to the lab suddenly opened.

Alex, looking slightly pale, walked in slowly.

"I hope we're not interrupting your work, but I'd like to know the current progress on the dimensional traversal device?"

.....

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