"I'm starving! Cortana, when's lunch?!"
A silver-haired girl lazily rolled back and forth on the couch, grabbing a potato chip off the coffee table and expertly tossing it into her mouth.
"I'm craving a cheeseburger!"
"That's an excellent idea, Master,"
Cortana, dressed in a maid uniform, stood next to the couch, watching the girl spin around with a deadpan expression.
"However, it's only been 47 minutes since you finished breakfast. We'll need to wait about two more hours before we even consider lunch."
"Ughhh! I'm starting to regret giving you a physical body, Cortana!"
With a dramatic groan, Kagura flipped onto her stomach and looked up at her AI maid.
"But it's the weekend! The burger place is definitely gonna be packed—let's order now! Immediately! Ten cheeseburgers!"
"Master, Rhodes Island Industries has a fully functional food processing and logistics system. There's no need to order from an external burger joint."
Cortana glanced down at her master, who was now in full pout-mode.
"Also, based on your current energy core output, three cheeseburgers will fully meet your nutritional needs for the entire day."
"Aughh! Don't treat me like I'm on a diet!"
Kagura puffed out her cheeks in protest. "I want ten, okay?! Just let me live my life!"
"Four."
"Ten!"
"Five. Final offer."
"Ten!!"
"Then let's go back to three."
"Fiiine! Five it is! Five burgers! Just get them already!"
"Thank you for your cooperation, Master."
Cortana allowed herself a smug little smile. "By the way, while I lack such sensations myself, I've read that humans possess something called… shame."
"Hmm? What's that supposed to mean?"
Kagura tilted her head in confusion.
"Even if you're at home, perhaps you should be more mindful of your clothing."
Cortana gestured lightly. "Your strap… has fallen off your shoulder."
"Oh, that?"
Kagura gave the spaghetti strap of her tank top a casual tug. "No big deal. There's no one else around, and you're not the type to care, right?"
"Still, that attitude—"
"Stop right there! You're sounding more and more like my mom, Cortana."
Kagura waved her hand dismissively.
"Instead of policing my wardrobe, shouldn't you be double-checking the schedule for this afternoon's meeting with Doctor Strange?"
"Go confirm the details, then get my lunch order ready. I'm counting on you, dear Miss Cortana~!"
"…You do have a point. Very well, as you wish, Master."
Cortana didn't press further.
She turned and walked into the study, opening up a holographic display to begin her work.
"Cortana! I want ten cheeseburgers!"
"Master, we already agreed on five."
"Ugh… fine!"
"Sigh… Honestly, once an AI gets a body, her personality really starts to change…"
Kagura flopped back onto the couch, crossed her legs, and admired her pale, flawless thighs.
"Mmm… Doctor Strange, huh? If I recall, he's been helping Bruce Banner improve Rhine Life's neural surgery tech lately. Pretty diligent guy."
Stephen Strange—the top neurosurgeon in New York, maybe even the world.
Kagura had first seen him during a medical symposium while researching the Extremis Virus.
Back then, the vice chair of the World Security Council was desperately seeking a cure to help his daughter walk again.
Stephen Strange attended the meeting as the leading authority on cutting-edge neural surgery.
Meanwhile, Kagura represented Rhodes Island Industries, proposing a solution using AI-powered prosthetics.
After that brief encounter, Strange went on to join Rhine Life as a special consultant in neurosurgery, offering guidance on their next-generation medical technologies—technologies built upon the foundation of the Extremis Virus.
Although Strange had worked closely with Rhodes Island over the years, Kagura rarely interacted with him directly.
Most communications were handled by Bruce Banner, the head of Rhine Life.
This time, however, Strange had come personally for a meeting about Rhine Life's latest breakthrough: Neural Reshaping Technology.
It was a deeper, more refined application of the Extremis Virus, and the first time Rhodes Island's perfected treatment tech would be deployed for widespread public healthcare.
If successful, the clinical trials could revolutionize treatment for all nerve-related conditions injuries, disabilities and anything caused by neural degeneration could potentially be fully cured.
Millions of patients worldwide who were once told they'd never walk or move again could finally reclaim their lives.
This wasn't just a scientific milestone, it was a leap that could usher humanity into a new age of medicine.
And it might just place Rhine Life at the very top of the global medical field.
———————————————————————
Afternoon – Rhine Life Headquarters, Meeting Room
After blissfully devouring all ten cheeseburgers (yes, Cortana gave in eventually), Kagura strolled into the meeting room dressed in her professional uniform.
That's right. Cortana caved.
'Mhm! I knew it. My lovely maid does love me after all~ Ehehe!'
Inside the meeting room stood a tall man in a sharp suit. Long face, refined presence.
Stephen Strange.
The Marvel Universe's own Sherlock Hol—ahem, no, the future Sorcerer Supreme.
Two years hadn't left a single trace on him. He looked exactly as he had when Kagura first met him.
"Hello, Doctor Strange."
Kagura smiled and took the seat opposite him.
"Nice to see you again. I'm Kagura, CEO of Rhodes Island Industries and a lead executive at Rhine Life."
"Kagura. Long time no see."
Strange smiled back. "Oh, don't be surprised. A woman as accomplished as you is hard to forget."
"To be honest, ever since our meeting two years ago, I haven't been able to get you out of my head."
Flattering words, of course—Kagura knew better than to take them at face value.
Years in the business world had made her immune to such pleasantries.
Stephen Strange was one of the world's top surgeons—confident, arrogant, and notoriously self-important.
There was no way he remembered someone he likely saw as a "limb salesman" or "weapons dealer."
It was just smooth talk. Polite, well-practiced, and distant.
They weren't even on a first-name basis, really.
"Haha, well, I'm flattered," Kagura replied, her smile cool and professional. "So, what's your reason for coming today?"
"I'm here as the chief consultant for Rhine Life's neurosurgical division. I have a critical recommendation."
Strange paused.
"Neural Reshaping Technology must be stopped."
"…Huh?"