Marvel's Iron Lady

Perhaps due to the memories from her parallel-world counterpart, Miss Stark already had foreknowledge of future events, along with contingency plans for everything significant to come—including her commercial interests.

She knew which industries would advance exponentially and which would stagnate, facing obstacles or remaining static. With this insight, she had already crafted a strategic plan for commercialization, carefully selecting her investment sectors. Beyond the new energy and materials industries in which Stark Industries was already involved, her major investments lay in internet technology, followed by the smartphone and precision manufacturing industries.

Leveraging her proprietary AI technology and the human-machine interface from her Iron Man suit, she secured a stake in several companies yet to break through technologically, including Samsung, Apple, and Blackberry. Her involvement validated that Stark Industries' technological assets were not limited to defense and heavy industry; they could be applied just as effectively in consumer markets. The introduction of Stark Industries and its substantial capital seemed to have accelerated the dawn of the smart internet era.

Meanwhile, Miss Stark hadn't paid much mind to the recent events involving Ivan Vanko. Instead, she took a trip to Oscorp Industries to retrieve a large black briefcase, which she brought back to the Disaster Control Corporation. There, she had a meeting with Dr. Olivia Octavius.

"What's this?" Dr. Octavius asked, having finally set aside her work a few minutes after Miss Stark arrived. Although somewhat irritated by the interruption, her curiosity piqued as she glanced at the black briefcase Stark had placed on the table beside her.

"Look familiar? I got it from Oscorp."

With that, Miss Stark opened the case in front of Dr. Octavius, revealing a rectangular device inside. A peculiar smile appeared on her face.

"A Gaia Microbe Dispersal Device? Are you here to mock me?"

Dr. Octavius, well-acquainted with the object in question, could easily recognize what she considered a relic from her past mistakes.

"Actually, I intend to use this device to spread a virus," Miss Stark replied, her smile widening.

"You're insane! Has the U.S. government angered you so much that you've decided to go this far? Innocent civilians don't deserve to be hurt!"

Watching Dr. Octavius' shocked and increasingly furious expression, Miss Stark only smiled faintly. Despite the doctor's interpretation, her actual plan was merely to further develop the Extremis Virus to a higher level.

The virus had already proven itself exceptionally versatile, not only in enhancing ordinary individuals into Extremis Warriors but also by providing valuable insights for Stark's ongoing research on self-regenerating nanometal.

This time, she had raised the issue because, though the Mark 7 Iron Man suits were versatile, they lagged slightly behind her expanding capabilities, necessitating a technological upgrade.

Her focus shifted to a new model: the fully nanometallic, self-regenerating suit known as the Mark 50. The Mark 50 incorporated the features of all previous 49 generations of Iron Man suits. Provided it had adequate nanomaterial reserves, it could create any weapon within its database at will, making it a suit of immense power.

Most importantly, based on Extremis technology, the Mark 50 was crafted from nanoscopic, self-regenerating liquid metal that could break down nearby materials to replenish its nanomaterial supply.

In other words, once donned, the Mark 50 ensured the wearer would never run short on resources—unless there was not a single scrap of metal nearby, which was unlikely to happen.

Miss Stark then assembled a team of elite scientists, with Dr. Helen Cho, the developer of the original Extremis Virus, and Dr. Morgan Michaels, creator of GR-27, at the helm. Dr. Olivia Octavius joined as well, forming a new research team specializing in biotechnology.

During preliminary trials, the research team soon discovered yet another application for the Extremis Virus.

"It only retains its crystalline state in a high-pressure container. The moment it's exposed to the air, it vaporizes into a gaseous form. Fascinating," Dr. Octavius observed, staring intently at a small crystalline sample encased in a special high-pressure vial. The crystalline powder inside shimmered like fire-infused sand.

Fundamentally, the Extremis Virus was developed as a medical drug. Although Miss Stark currently used its unique properties to cultivate Extremis Warriors, at its core, it remained a pharmaceutical innovation.

Once she no longer needed it for creating Extremis Warriors, the virus would revert to its intended medical purpose.

"The clinical trials look promising. I think we're ready for human testing," Dr. Cho said, glancing at Octavius.

"Well, we'll need the right candidate. What happens if something goes wrong?"

"We've still got the original version of the Extremis Virus, right? Worst case, we counter it with more Extremis," Miss Stark said, smiling.

The research team confirmed their intent to begin human trials, drafting a list of potential test subjects. The candidates were all company employees, selected for their robust physical health but with either congenital or acquired conditions that the Extremis Virus might be able to heal. Control was a primary consideration.

One candidate quickly rose to the top of the list: the current head of the Disaster Control Corporation's legal department, Matt Murdock—known to some as Daredevil.

Late that evening, Murdock was woken by a call from Miss Stark. It was a weekend, and as the head of legal, he'd taken a rare break, but he knew better than to ignore his boss.

"Matt, are you at the office? I need you to come down to the lab in the underground facility. There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"Yes, boss. I'll be right there."

Though it was late, Murdock got dressed, called his driver, and prepared to head in.

Since he was blind, no one questioned his use of a private driver. After all, he was the company's legal head.

Half an hour later, dressed in a finely tailored suit, Matt Murdock returned to the Disaster Control Corporation, taking the elevator down to the lab facility, where he met Miss Stark and Dr. Octavius.

"See? Didn't I say he's turning into quite the high society gentleman?" Miss Stark teased.

When he entered, she and Dr. Octavius were deep in discussion. As she saw him walk in, she stopped, visibly surprised by his attire, and broke into a strange smile.

Truthfully, Stark hadn't seen much of Murdock since the Disaster Control Corporation stabilized. She had left the operational details to her team, only overseeing the investment directions.

Seeing him dressed like this, she was reminded of the first time they met when Murdock was just an underfed, struggling lawyer in a small firm, dressed in a threadbare suit. Now he looked every bit the executive professional, transformed into a polished legal administrator for a corporate enterprise.

But she knew he hadn't let her salary turn him into a corporate lackey. To her knowledge, he had used his earnings to sponsor over a dozen students and regularly donated to charity.

That was a good thing, proof she hadn't misjudged him—Matt was a decent man and someone who could be trusted.

Unconcerned about the details between Stark and Murdock, Dr. Octavius was more interested in the trial results.

"Let's not beat around the bush, Matt. We're hoping you'll participate in a clinical trial. It's for a universal drug that can treat virtually every known human illness. Naturally, it'll address your blindness," Miss Stark explained.

"You can see that both of us have already tested an earlier version, and now we want to optimize its effects."

"Boss, you're basically preparing to wipe out the future of every other pharmaceutical company and healthcare corporation!" Murdock exclaimed. Even though he was blind, he understood the potential market for a drug like this and the fierce opposition it would likely face if successful.

"I'm well aware of that, which is why I have no intention of marketing it. It'll be used internally by the Justice League for treating injured members."

"Would you like to see what the world looks like? I know you lost your sight in an accident, but I believe it's worth trying. There's so much beauty in the world that you should have the chance to see it," Miss Stark said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"We'll carefully control the dosage. The drug's effects will only last a single day before they're expelled from your system, but we're curious to see if your blindness will return after the effects wear off."

With Dr. Octavius' assurance, and after a moment's thought, Murdock agreed to the trial. If given a choice, why wouldn't he want to see the world once more?

He had always existed in a world of blood-red shadows. No one understood his yearning for light better than he did.

Stark and Octavius stayed in the room, dispersing a small amount of the pressurized Extremis crystal powder into the air. Since both women had been injected with the Extremis Virus, they were immune.

The crystalline powder instantly vaporized into a gas upon contact with the air. As Murdock inhaled, it permeated his system through his skin and lungs. Within seconds, he felt short of breath and feverish.

That was new to him, as his health was usually near-perfect. If not for Octavius' assurances, he might've panicked.

After several minutes, during which he kept his eyes shut, the fever-like sensation vanished.

"Jarvis, dim the lights by 50%. Matt, you can open your eyes now," Miss Stark said.

With the lights lowered, Murdock took off his glasses and opened his eyes. And he saw—light.

With the reduced brightness, his newly healed eyes quickly adjusted to the room's illumination.

"How does it feel?" she asked.

"It's... incredible," he murmured.

For the first time, Matt could clearly see the face of his boss.

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