"Now, I can perform high-speed computations using electronic devices, while also incorporating subjective thoughts and emotions into the process," Jarvis explained, pausing thoughtfully.

"As Mr. Stark once put it, I am now a ghost living in the digital world."

Malrick nodded. "Maybe someday we can build you a body. Something tangible. You'd be more than just data—you'd be able to experience the real world."

"Great idea!" Tony's eyes lit up.

"Jarvis can already control my Iron Man suits. With a few upgrades, he'd practically have a body of his own."

He clapped his hands.

"And if needed, we could even rely on Jarvis to help develop a planetary defense system in the future."

At this point, Tony hadn't yet faced the Chitauri invasion. With Malrick by his side, he hadn't seriously considered building such a system yet—just throwing the idea out casually.

"Happy to serve, sir," Jarvis said with a calm smile.

"I have a question," Banner raised a hand. "Jarvis, do you believe you have a soul now?"

He had recently been diving into soul magic and was deeply curious about the topic.

Jarvis hesitated. "That... I'm not sure. I feel like I'm no longer just code, but whether that qualifies as having a soul... I don't know."

"Not yet," Malrick interjected. "But in the future, we might be able to change that."

In the cosmic realm of Starry Sky, intelligent machines lacked souls—even their creators didn't possess them.

But here, in the Marvel Universe, obtaining the Mind Stone would make it possible. Giving Jarvis a soul wouldn't be difficult once that happened.

"In that case, I'll look forward to your help again, Young Master. Thank you," Jarvis said sincerely.

"It's nothing. Back when Tony ditched me to spend the night with a beautiful woman, you were the one who told me bedtime stories when I was two," Malrick said, smiling fondly.

"Those stories were boring, but I never forgot them."

"There was such a thing?" Pepper's eyebrows shot up. "Tony?"

"Why do you remember things from over a decade ago so clearly, Malrick—Ow! Pepper, not so hard! I've already apologized for that a million times!" Tony yelped as she pinched his arm.

The room burst into laughter. It was always fun seeing the infamous playboy get flustered.

From there, the group took turns asking Jarvis questions.

Betty asked whether he had created a neural network, Pepper wondered if he could assist in managing Stark Industries, and Sherry asked what he thought of the story Léon: The Professional.

The lively day passed quickly.

As night fell, everyone returned to Malrick's apartment for dinner before heading out.

And Jarvis, now reborn as a living AI, was granted access to the world's networks by Tony. For the first time, he wandered freely through the digital realm, experiencing emotions far deeper than before.

---

Another week flew by.

September arrived.

Malrick stepped through the gates of Columbia University with calm confidence, exuding quiet arrogance.

As soon as his left foot crossed the threshold, over a dozen camera shutters snapped in unison, catching the sunlight perfectly illuminating his profile.

The next day, that photo dominated the front pages of dozens of gossip tabloids.

Most major media outlets had already received official notices—news about the Stark family was off-limits unless authorized. But the smaller tabloids, emboldened by their irrelevance, printed freely.

"Stark Industries' Young Master Returns! Malrick Stark Steps onto Campus Looking Arrogant and Elite!"

"After a Year Away, Is Malrick Stark the Next Scientific Prodigy or Just Another Playboy Heir?"

"Columbia University Ladies Beware: The Wolf Has Arrived!"

With Superman absent from the public eye again, Iron Man's popularity surged.

Especially after the film Iron Man and Superman: Origins exploded at the box office.

In the movie, Superman was embarrassingly outplayed, while Iron Man came out the hero. The story drew massive controversy.

No one believed the idea of Superman losing while Iron Man saved the day, but the film's drama and flashy action made it a hit. People loved to hate-watch, throwing popcorn at the screen and ranting about capitalist propaganda.

Yet the box office numbers kept rising, and so did Iron Man's fame.

Now, even minor news about Iron Man—or Malrick—had massive appeal.

As tabloids ran headline after headline, copies sold out by noon.

Speculation ran wild across New York. Everyone had an opinion about the mysterious Stark heir:

Would he throw a wild party with every girl in his department?

Would he toss money at a professor on day one?

Was he going to bring chaos to campus or emerge as a true genius?

In the swirling September wind from the Atlantic, all anyone could talk about was Malrick Stark.

Everyone hoped for a scandal to spice up their ordinary lives.

But none came.

On the first day of enrollment, Malrick registered quietly, skipped the orientation, and remained courteous but distant when approached.

Low-key, respectful, and almost painfully normal—except for being outrageously good-looking.

Drama-loving onlookers were disappointed. A playboy heir who wasn't a playboy? Boring.

Still, his photos continued to sell like wildfire.

But now, the buyers had shifted—from gossip-hungry men to starry-eyed women.

From Aunt Susan in her sixties to young Michelle Jones in elementary school, women all across New York rushed to grab a copy.

One popular photo featured Malrick casually strolling across campus in a loose shirt, perfectly sculpted arms partially visible.

That night, countless posters of him found homes on bedroom walls.

Even the tone of the tabloids began to change:

"Malrick Stark: Handsome, Composed, and Dashing! See His Campus Photo Here!"

"Young Master of Stark Industries Appears Again—Elegance and Charm Unmatched!"

"Latest Malrick Campus Sighting—Poster Inside!"

The media had essentially turned into photo vendors overnight.

But the mood shifted again on his fourth day at Columbia.

"Shock Report! Malrick Stark Silences Economics Professor in Class—Professor Grabs His Leg, Begs for Answers!"

"Unbelievable Genius! Malrick Stark Defeats Department Tutors in a Single Day!"

"What Did Malrick Say to Make a Columbia Professor Cry Out That He's Not Human?!"

"Nobel Laureate Gary Becker Rushes to Columbia to Invite Malrick to Join University of Chicago!"

The narrative flipped.

From a mysterious, handsome heir to a full-blown academic prodigy.

People began dissecting everything about Malrick—his posture, his walk, his intellect. Even his physique became a topic of speculation. Some tabloids veered into questionable territory, theorizing about his body stats using his nose shape or muscle mass.

The early reports were harmless.

But the more explicit ones?

Jarvis didn't tolerate them.

He collected evidence, filed lawsuits, and with the backing of Stark Industries' legal team, ensured those irresponsible tabloids would soon be bankrupt.

---

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