"That guy is such a crook.
Can't say I'm a fan."
Tony muttered as he watched Ulysses Klaue's speedboat shrink into the distance.
"Smuggling contraband out of Wakanda?
That's basically treason. Hardly counts as a 'good person.'"
Lucas shrugged. Klaue didn't inspire any particular opinion—good or bad.
"Wakanda?
You're telling me vibranium comes from that Wakanda?
The poor African country?"
Tony sounded genuinely shocked.
He knew Wakanda—he had even met its king during a UN meeting.
"That's just their disguise," Lucas said casually.
"They've been hidden from the world for centuries.
They present themselves as an underdeveloped agricultural nation,
but in reality, they're the most technologically advanced country on Earth—
no competition.
Your armor?
To them, it's a decent toy at best."
Lucas gave Tony a simple primer.
"That's impossible!
I've checked Wakanda in satellite photos more than once.
There's nothing—no modern buildings, nothing advanced.
They still live in tents.
Unless…"
Tony stopped mid-sentence.
He had figured it out.
"Unless they have cloaking tech far beyond the rest of the world—
advanced enough to hide an entire nation."
"Exactly.
And their tech has already reached the pinnacle of what Earth can achieve.
Anything you consider 'futuristic'?
They've already built it.
Their medical technology is insane—
cancer is a minor condition to them."
Lucas continued, recalling everything he knew from the films: Wakandan ships, Shuri's bracelets—absolute top-tier tech.
"And Tony… the shrapnel in your chest?
Child's play for them.
They could fix it in minutes—painlessly."
Lucas remembered the Black Panther trailers.
Even without watching the movie, it was clear enough.
"Really?!"
Tony's eyes lit up.
He'd wanted to cure his condition for years, but modern medicine couldn't help.
If Wakanda could?
He'd go in a heartbeat.
"I'm thinking about going there myself.
What do you think?"
Lucas shook his head instantly.
"No chance.
Their borders are completely sealed.
Strangers can't enter.
Diplomatic access only gets you the fake Wakanda—
the poor, backwards facade.
The real Wakanda? Forget it."
He shut down the idea without hesitation.
Wakanda kept itself hidden by choice; forcing entry would only provoke them.
If pushed, even the U.S. or the U.N. wouldn't stand a chance.
"Alright then.
Guess they're destined to be turtles hiding in their shell forever."
Tony shrugged sarcastically.
He honestly didn't mind—
after all, ever since discovering a new element, he no longer had to fear poisoning.
Aside from swapping out the arc reactor occasionally, he was essentially normal.
"The old king is still alive, so there's no chance now.
But once he dies and a new king takes the throne…
we might get in."
Lucas meant T'Challa—the future Black Panther.
Far more open-minded, ultimately willing to share Wakanda's technology with the world.
And eventually, an Avenger.
"Oh?
How so?"
Tony was intrigued.
He had met the old king—elderly, yes, but vigorous.
Honestly, the man looked like he could outlive Tony.
"The old king has an exiled brother.
That brother has a son—someone who holds deep resentment toward Wakanda.
There's a high chance he'll kill the king.
Once T'Challa ascends, that's when our chance comes."
"Wow.
Another dramatic family soap opera.
Can't anyone come up with a new plot?
It's always 'family this, family that.'
I'm sick of it."
Tony scoffed.
He'd seen too many of these stories—exactly the kind of cliché you'd see in prime-time dramas, complete with subscription fees.
With a splash, Tony and Lucas' conversation abruptly ended—
because Gwen had pulled Pepper into the water with her.
Skye and Wanda quickly followed, jumping in with inflatable rings.
Seeing that, Tony lost all interest in Wakanda talk.
He dove straight into the sea and swam toward Pepper with enthusiasm.
"Sunshine!
Bikinis!
Ladies!
I'M COMING!!"
Lucas watched Gwen and the others splashing around.
Screw Wakanda.
Screw the Black Panther.
Nobody was stopping him from enjoying some ocean fun today—
not even God himself.
They played in the water for hours until the sun began to set.
Exhausted, everyone collapsed onto the deck sofas, too tired to move.
All they could feel now was hunger.
Naturally, the job of cooking fell to Lucas—
he was the only one who knew how.
Soon, a delicious dinner spread filled the table—
all ingredients from the FF-world through his system.
Flawless flavor.
"Renting your apartment is the best decision I've made.
Just these meals alone make the rent worth it."
Tony nearly bit his own tongue as he devoured a steak.
The others weren't much better—
each eating like they hadn't seen food in days.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of New York,
black mist swirled violently.
Blackheart emerged slowly.
He had traveled all the way from the desert.
He could feel it—
the Contract of San Venganza was here.
In this city called New York.
Gazing at the distant skyline,
he walked forward without hesitation.
Lucas and the others spent the night on the yacht.
The following morning, they sailed back to New York.
Tony's first order of business after returning home
was arranging transport for the vibranium.
He sent Happy personally with a squad of heavily armed security
and a Stark private jet
to retrieve the shipment as quickly as possible.
The transaction went smoothly—
Klaue delivered exactly the promised amount.
Payment made.
Goods exchanged.
Everyone satisfied.
"Lucas, the vibranium's here.
Send me your measurements and a rough design.
I can start building the gauntlets right away."
Tony said while turning a vibranium ingot in his hand.
"Alright, I'll send the measurements later.
As for the design—just make it practical.
Nothing too flashy."
Lucas lounged in the office, bored again.
Gwen was back at school.
Skye and Wanda were shopping with Natasha.
Leaving Lucas to be a lonely empty-nest uncle
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