At Culver University in Virginia, Mu came to attend a symposium on his latest research paper.
"Mr. Mu, your paper was absolutely brilliant!"
"The integration of modern and traditional medicine—every single argument was flawless."
"Especially your discussion on Eastern Chinese medicine. Before this, I had no idea how incredible it truly was!"
"Mr. Mu, won't you reconsider? If you join my company, you can name your own position and salary!"
Surrounded by people, Mu maintained his gentle smile. Many well-known medical corporations had extended job offers to him.
Mu was a medical doctor—and currently the most outstanding one in the world. Every paper he published had made a tremendous contribution to global medicine. Without him, the world's medical development would probably regress by at least thirty years.
This wasn't the first time he had been invited to join prestigious institutions, but Mu had always declined. He published his papers occasionally only to contribute to the medical field and to help ordinary people. Wealth, power, and status held no interest for him.
It was the same this time. Although some representatives felt disappointed, none were surprised—they were used to it. Many had even investigated Mu privately, trying to find out what he liked in order to win him over. Yet they found nothing, except that he now worked as a principal at an elementary school.
"Everyone, if there's nothing else, I'll be taking my leave now. I look forward to our next exchange."
"Of course, Mr. Mu."
"We're eagerly awaiting your next paper."
"Please make sure to invite me again next time, Mr. Mu."
…
Mu responded to each person politely, never showing impatience. He understood that while many of them were businessmen chasing profit, just as many were genuinely passionate about medical research.
After the crowd dispersed, Mu picked up his heavy briefcase to leave.
"Sigh, I wonder how Howard's research is coming along," he murmured, glancing at the case.
Of course, this wasn't an ordinary briefcase—it was a Cloth box. But he couldn't just walk around carrying it openly. Now that Sanctuary was semi-public, doing so would be no different from announcing to the world that he was a Saint.
He didn't need to hide it deliberately, but it would invite all sorts of unnecessary trouble. Saints working in the outside world had become very creative with disguising their Cloths—each one with their own clever method.
"Time to get back. Lady Athena should be finishing elementary school soon—I still need to arrange her transfer to middle school…"
Just as the thought crossed his mind, Mu frowned and looked off into the distance. A strange roar echoed through the air.
He hesitated only briefly before opening the case. The golden Cloth fastened itself onto his body—and he vanished from sight.
…
Two sharp, massive metal fragments sliced an armored military vehicle clean in half. Blonsky tossed his gun aside and approached Hulk, taunting him.
"That's all you've got?" he sneered, his voice full of defiance and contempt.
He had once been one of the finest soldiers alive, but age had forced him to retreat from the front lines. He couldn't accept it—why did fate have to treat him this way?
Now, the power he craved stood right before him. Yet instead of embracing it, the fool possessing it only sought to flee or destroy it. That infuriated Blonsky. If this power were his, how glorious it would be!
Hulk glared down at him, anger swelling. That mocking look made his blood boil. He lifted his leg, ready to crush this arrogant man who dared to provoke him.
But before he could strike, a burst of golden light flashed between them. One hand gently pushed Blonsky aside; the other effortlessly stopped Hulk's kick.
"Young people these days—don't they value their lives anymore?"
"Oh my god! It's a Saint!"
"The golden ram horns… that must be him! The one who appeared at the press conference!"
The soldiers surrounding General Ross cried out in excitement, lowering their weapons in awe.
Blonsky, who had been pulled aside by a soft, warm force, stared blankly at the golden figure. For a brief instant, his obsession with Hulk's power faded—replaced by a new fixation on the Saint before him.
Ross, however, scowled darkly. With a Saint involved, his plan to capture the Hulk was as good as ruined.
"Maybe… I should have him taken down too," Ross muttered under his breath, grabbing his radio to contact the approaching helicopters.
"ROAR!!!"
Hulk bellowed at Mu, furious that his attack had been blocked. Rage consumed him—he wanted to lash out, to destroy the one who looked down on him.
But no matter how hard he hit, no matter how sharp the debris he hurled, nothing could touch Mu. With a casual flick of his wrist, every attack was nullified.
"It seems you need to cool down a little," Mu said calmly.
From beneath his feet, a wave of golden light spread outward, transforming the surroundings into a breathtaking starry sky. Those who saw it stood entranced by its beauty.
"Experience the splendor of stardust… my master's technique—Stardust Revolution!"
The tranquil stars suddenly turned violent. Countless fragments of light spiraled like lasers, striking Hulk's body and encircling him in a raging vortex.
"BRUCE!" Betty screamed in agony, watching helplessly.
With a resounding thud, the vortex vanished, and Hulk collapsed, motionless. His body began to shrink back into human form.
"Don't worry, young lady—he's still alive," Mu said softly.
From the beginning, he had never intended to kill Hulk or Bruce Banner. This was the first time he had encountered such a unique cosmos—two entirely different ones within the same body. One belonged to a calm scholar, the other to a raging warrior. The coexistence of such opposing forces intrigued him deeply.
Both cosmoses radiated bravery and righteousness. The scholar's was composed and pure, while the warrior's was primal and innocent—like a newborn child, powerful yet directionless, angry because he didn't understand why the world kept trying to destroy him.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Betty demanded, clutching Bruce protectively.
"What an interesting cosmos you two share," Mu replied. "Let's leave this place first. But before that…"
He looked up. The roar of approaching aircraft filled the air—machine guns and rockets aimed straight at them.
"Fir—"
"How ugly," Mu interrupted.
Before General Ross could finish his command, the pilot of the nearest helicopter suddenly appeared above him—then crashed to the ground. Mu extended a hand toward the remaining helicopters, freezing them midair.
He clenched his fist. The aircraft twisted and crumpled like paper, compacting into a perfect metal sphere that dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.
"Gulp…"
Someone swallowed loudly. The surrounding soldiers threw down their weapons at once, not daring to make eye contact with Mu. None of them wanted to end up like that iron ball.
Mu swept his gaze across the area. A faint blue light shimmered around him—and he, Betty, and Bruce vanished.
"No!!" Ross roared, powerless to pursue them. He could only shout in fury, not knowing whether he was angrier about his daughter being taken or his failure to capture Banner.
…
A flash of light later, the three reappeared inside a modest house.
Mu's golden Cloth automatically detached and reassembled into its ram-shaped form, stored once more inside the case. Dressed in his usual suit and tie, Mu's gentle, scholarly air returned—none of the divine majesty from before remained.
At last seeing his face clearly, Betty gasped.
"It's you—Professor Mu!"
"Yes," he replied calmly.
Mu wasn't surprised that she recognized him. Most Saints held doctoral degrees and had published groundbreaking research in their fields. In the world of science, they had long occupied half the stage. Even though not every Saint enjoyed public attention, anyone dedicated to academia knew their names.
Mu, being one of the most renowned, was especially unforgettable—even across different disciplines.
"You… how… what…" Betty stammered, utterly confused. The elegant professor she knew wielding such divine power—it was almost too much to process.
"'Professor' is just my side job," Mu said gently. "My real identity is Mu, the Gold Saint of Aries."
"Aries… Saint… from Sanctuary!? And a Gold Saint!? Oh my god—give me a moment…"
Her brain practically overheated. Dizzy, she slumped into a nearby chair.
Mu smiled quietly, placing Bruce gently on the sofa and pouring Betty a glass of water.
"Thank you…"
"You're welcome."
"Bruce… is he…"
"He's only unconscious. A bit of rest and he'll be fine."
"I see… thank you for saving him."
"It was nothing," Mu replied. "Just lending a hand."
He then placed some spare clothes nearby and let the two rest. Still, the existence of two cosmoses within one person fascinated him. He wanted to study it—not out of malice, but out of pure curiosity.
Still, it was best to report this incident first. Acting without orders always brought trouble, even if harmless.
"Mu speaking. I have something to report."
"What is it?" came the calm, familiar voice.
"My lady, here's the situation…"
After hearing him out, the voice answered softly,
"I understand. Do as you see fit."
"Yes, Lady Athena."