News from the Hospital

"Twenty thousand??"

"That's not much less than scrapping a piece of equipment in the lab..."

Luca, who had been excited about Baymax's combat prowess, heard this and his mouth twitched.

No matter how rich your family was, you couldn't spend money like that.

But the truth was, the testing had already gone far enough.

Although Baymax wasn't yet equipped with its carbon-fiber armor, apart from its movements being slightly distorted by its inflated shape, this didn't have much effect on its actual fighting ability.

After all, Baymax's mechanical power was formidable, and its carbon-fiber composite frame also offered decent protection.

What's more, its hands and feet had been built with balance in mind, as well as the need to carry heavy loads while working as a medical caregiver, so their strength and output were far beyond what was necessary.

Baymax was already an excellent combat robot, with a highly deceptive appearance.

"Still, a lot of wires and important equipment are exposed on the frame. Relying on external armor for protection would be safer. I wonder if all those armor components will be done printing by the time I get back tonight."

"It's a shame that even though I've installed the motion modules for using firearms, Baymax's hands are too big. I'll have to have some custom guns made for it."

In fact, Luca was already wondering whether he should use Baymax as a prototype and develop a batch of dedicated combat bodyguard robots.

After all, although Baymax was certainly better suited to medical care,

the medical equipment field was also full of pitfalls, and his company had no connections in that area. If they got involved rashly, they might well suffer for it.

"Mm, I'll have to wait until I've gained full control of the company before I do any of that."

Just as Luca was thinking this, the company's bulletproof vehicles pulled up outside the villa.

"Young master, when would you like to set off?"

"Let's go now!"

New York, Brooklyn District, Wellhaven Hospital.

Although this hospital didn't have the long history of Presbyterian Hospital or excel across as many medical fields,

when it came to neurology and neurosurgery, it was absolutely among the best in all of America.

Otherwise, Luca wouldn't have gone out of his way to transfer his mother to this hospital.

In a VIP room, Shamira was discussing Gina's condition over the past two days with her attending physician.

Luca simply stood to one side, quietly watching his mother.

Although Gina was already in her forties, her exquisite features made her look more than ten years younger than her actual age.

Especially now, lying unconscious, she had none of the forceful presence she usually displayed as a powerful businesswoman. Instead, she seemed all the more serene and fragile.

Anyone who didn't know her true circumstances would find it hard to imagine that this was a formidable female warrior who had once fought on the chaotic battlefields of Sokovia. It would be even harder to believe that she had managed to take down three Chitauri Soldiers in a row before falling unconscious.

"So you went this far for a cuckoo like me. I suppose if you knew the truth, you'd regret it too, wouldn't you?"

As Luca watched Gina quietly, lost in thought, Shamira's voice suddenly rose. Luca's attention was drawn over to her.

"So, Dr. West, are you saying there's a chance my wife could recover?"

Shamira stared at the doctor, visibly excited. She wanted to grab his arm and press him for an answer, but she was afraid the gesture would be too abrupt, so she could only clench and unclench her fist in midair.

Gina's attending physician noticed Shamira's reaction, then glanced discreetly at Luca, who was also watching him. Only then did he explain, somewhat awkwardly,

"Uh... there's a chance. Several families with patients suffering from similar severe conditions had previously chosen to discontinue treatment. After discussing it with the families, the hospital is preparing to assemble an expert team to carry out experimental treatment on these patients."

"If the treatment is ultimately successful, Mrs. Orange may be able to receive effective treatment as well."

Luca's mouth twitched.

This so-called "experimental treatment by an expert team" sounded impressive, but the key word was "experimental."

Arranging something like this was even more complicated and cumbersome than getting a patient to sign the paperwork for organ donation.

It was practically no different from conducting human trials. Under normal circumstances, no hospital would take such a huge risk and do anything like it.

"Dr. West, do you know what the chances are that this experimental treatment will succeed?"

Shamira was the one who asked. Although Luca had told her last night that Gina might be cured, the hospital clearly still held more authority in her eyes.

However, Dr. West seemed even more uncomfortable answering her.

"Well, well... They've only just started putting the expert team together, so no one can say what the chances are yet. But Dr. Strange and several other leading figures in neuromedicine will be invited to join the team, so you can be sure they're capable."

At that, Luca's brows knitted together.

When his mother, Gina, had first been diagnosed, he had also asked around and tried to invite Stephen Strange. But in the end, he hadn't even managed to meet the man before getting turned down flat.

What had made him change his mind and decide to wade into this mess now?

Luca called it a "mess" because, from what Dr. West had said, this so-called expert team didn't even have a treatment plan yet, let alone a formal lineup.

In these circumstances, the odds of finding an effective treatment in a short time were extremely low. And with "experimental treatment" carrying such a bad reputation, who had enough influence to persuade that arrogant man to get involved?

After all, before becoming Doctor Strange, Stephen Strange had hardly been a good person.

To protect his own surgical success rate and reputation in the medical world, he generally wouldn't touch any operation he didn't believe he could perform successfully.

Of course, given Strange's skill, any operation he considered unlikely to succeed might as well have been a death sentence.

"So..."

"May I ask who proposed putting this expert team together?"

Luca stared intently at Dr. West, waiting for his answer.

Under the doubtful gaze of the boy before him, Dr. West's eyes shifted uneasily, but then he regained his composure.

"I don't know. But even if I did, I couldn't tell you."

Luca kept watching him for a moment longer, then simply nodded, his expression calm.

"Thank you for letting us know, Dr. West."

"Now, I'd like to spend some time alone with my mother."

As he spoke, Luca gestured for Shamira to see the doctor out. Then he turned away without another glance at him and brought out the medical case containing Baymax.