Wakanda is an agricultural nation located in Northeast Africa, known for its isolation and poverty.
At least, that's how it appears on the surface.
In reality, Wakanda is a highly developed, extremely wealthy military power with an incredibly high level of technology.
The reason they maintain this facade of poverty and backwardness is rooted in a rare resource buried within their borders—Vibranium, one of the primary materials used in Captain America's shield.
This mysterious extraterrestrial metal is the foundation of all Wakandan technology.
Long ago, the ancestors of Wakanda discovered Vibranium and used it to achieve leading technological advancements.
Though it's hard to imagine how a group of people who hadn't even mastered alchemy at the time, or even understood the concept of science, managed to climb the tech tree using Vibranium, they did it.
To prevent this cornerstone from attracting endless external greed—especially fearing the growth of some terrible mold that might kidnap their king for a speedrun—Wakanda chose to disguise itself.
Using Vibranium technology, they built an energy barrier covering the entire country, disguising advanced cities as primitive villages. At international conferences, they would cry poverty to the five big brothers every day, making the whole World believe they were just a backward, marginal little country.
In fact, Wakanda succeeded.
No one would ever guess that an inconspicuous, backward little country on the map of Africa would be a top-tier global technological power.
It sounds even more ridiculous than other country beating the United States and making them call them 'Daddy'.
Darian had learned about Wakanda's secrets from Peter B. Out of a strong interest in Vibranium, he had long ago utilized HYDRA's intelligence network to launch an investigation into Wakanda.
And HYDRA's intelligence capabilities were indeed beyond reproach; even with an isolated country like Wakanda far away in Africa, they still found ways to infiltrate.
"What news?"
Darian's interest was piqued upon hearing this.
Wanda opened a file and read the contents: "According to reports, Wakanda is secretly hunting a black-market arms dealer named Ulysses Klaue worldwide. Years ago, this man led an elite armed squad into Wakanda, causing many casualties and stealing a batch of Vibranium before escaping."
"The latest intelligence shows that Ulysses now seems to be selling this batch of Vibranium through underground channels, which has drawn high attention from the Wakandans, who have launched a pursuit operation against him."
"However, we have already gotten a lead on Klaue's whereabouts first."
"So fast?" Darian's brow twitched slightly.
Wanda explained: "Strucker happens to know him; they've done a few deals in the past. It's currently confirmed that Klaue is hiding in an abandoned shipyard on the West African coast."
"What a coincidence."
Darian's eyes lit up. "Have Strucker contact this Klaue immediately. We must find him before the Wakandans do."
"Okay."
Besides this news, the HYDRA spies had collected quite a bit of other useful intelligence.
Wakanda is similar to Sokovia in that it practices a monarchy, but the throne is not simply hereditary; it is determined through an ancient traditional duel.
Each tribe can nominate a member of the royal family to challenge the heir to the throne to a duel. The winner becomes the new King of Wakanda.
Yes, in a technologically advanced, civilized nation, the transfer of supreme power still relies on the most primitive trial by combat.
Not only that, the weapons used by Wakandan soldiers are all technologically advanced... spears!
And their way of fighting often tends toward close-quarters combat.
It sounds as ridiculous as sharpening a top-tier microchip and tying it to a stick to use as a spear against enemies.
The successive Kings of Wakanda are no ordinary people either.
They are the Black Panther, the Guardian of the nation. They consume the Heart-Shaped Herb, which has mutated due to Vibranium radiation, gaining physical strength, speed, and senses far beyond normal humans. Combined with the assistance of Vibranium technology, they possess formidable combat power.
"The Heart-Shaped Herb, another good thing."
Seeing this intelligence, Darian instantly became energized.
This item is destined for me!
He thought for a moment and instructed: "Continue monitoring Wakanda's movements, focusing on gathering intelligence on the King and the royal family members of each tribe."
"Okay."
The African coast, abandoned shipyard.
Klaue had just hung up the phone, his face filled with irrepressible excitement.
He turned to the Black man in the room with dreadlocks and sharp eyes: "Erik Killmonger, get ready. That group will be here soon."
"You mean the group that wants to buy all the Vibranium?"
The man called Erik Killmonger looked up, his tone betraying no emotion.
"Exactly!"
Klaue rubbed his hands together, lowering his voice but unable to hide his pride: "They are willing to pay billions to buy these treasures of mine. Damn, if I'd known back then, I should have found a way to empty the entire vein. I'd be the richest man in the World!"
Hearing this, a strange look flashed in Erik Killmonger's eyes.
He then asked: "Someone is actually willing to pay billions for all the Vibranium? Are you sure that buyer is reliable?"
Klaue smiled confidently: "Guaranteed. This is a big client; I've done several large deals with them before. Besides, this is my turf. If anyone dares to have bad intentions, I'll have them thrown into the sea. And plus, I have you here!"
Clearly, he had full confidence in the man before him.
Erik Killmonger was a retired soldier from the American Special Forces with extremely formidable skills. Give him a gun, and he could take on dozens of militants alone without a problem. It was precisely because of this ability that Klaue had gone to great lengths to pull him into his criminal gang.
Seeing Klaue's attitude, a hint of disdain crossed Erik Killmonger's mind.
If it weren't to achieve a certain goal, why would he stay with someone as money-obsessed as Klaue?
Clang!
Just then, a loud explosion suddenly erupted from the east side of the factory!
Immediately after, dense gunfire and short-lived screams broke out almost simultaneously!
"What's going on?!"
Klaue's face changed drastically. He grabbed a submachine gun from the table and rushed out.
Looking down from the second-floor platform, a dozen soldiers wearing high-tech armor had already stormed the factory. The weapons in their hands were clearly not ordinary firearms; before Klaue's men could even raise their guns, they were blasted into a mess of pixels by blue energy beams.
"Could it be the Wakandans?"
Seeing this tech-heavy equipment, Klaue's heart tightened, but then he felt a wave of confusion.
Weren't Wakandans just primitives who only used spears? When did they evolve into using firearms?
At this moment, the battle below was completely one-sided.
Before the opponent's overwhelming firepower, Klaue's men had no power to resist. In less than a minute, more than half were dead or wounded. The survivors were scared witless, dropping their weapons and kneeling with their hands up in surrender.
"Shit! Run!"
Klaue was, after all, an old fox who had dealt with Wakanda for years. Seeing the situation was bad, he didn't say a word, grabbed the briefcase beside him, turned, and sprinted toward the backup passage deep within the building.
However, just as he rushed into the narrow corridor leading to the back of the dock, a figure suddenly blocked the end of the passage.
This person was different from the heavy soldiers below. He wasn't wearing heavy armor, only a light black combat suit, and he didn't carry any over-the-top weapons.
"Out of the way!"
Klaue's eyes turned fierce. Without the slightest hesitation, he raised his submachine gun and pulled the trigger on the figure in front of him!
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The bullets hit a few inches in front of the person, actually exploding into ripples of pale blue energy.
A translucent energy barrier enveloped the person's entire body, easily blocking all the bullets.
Klaue was dumbfounded.
Even though he had infiltrated the technologically advanced Wakanda and had even been hunted by its army, he had never seen a scene so full of sci-fi flair.
By comparison, Wakanda was almost too simple, having chased him for hundreds of kilometers with spears.
The next moment, the person stepped forward through the still-ongoing hail of bullets. His speed was astonishing, and in the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Klaue.
A hand suddenly clamped onto Klaue's wrist holding the gun and twisted it backward with force!
Crack!
"Aaaagh!"
Klaue let out a shrill scream, the submachine gun fell from his hand, and he collapsed to the ground, curled up in pain.
Following closely behind, Erik Killmonger quickly braked, his body instantly entering a state of high alert as he looked at the opponent warily.
"Who are you!?"
The opponent didn't answer. His cold gaze fell on Erik Killmonger, making him feel a heavy pressure.
Judging by the skills shown just now, this person was definitely a top-tier expert, stronger than himself, not to mention that high-tech gear.
The gunfire in the factory below had long since ceased, falling into a dead silence. Clearly, the battle on the other side was over.
He had to break out immediately, or he would be surrounded sooner or later.
Erik Killmonger's eyes sharpened, and he made a decision in an instant.
He suddenly drew a tactical knife from his waist, kicked off the ground, and rushed toward the opponent, the knife slashing fiercely toward the side of the person's neck!
However, the opponent simply tilted his body slightly and dodged the attack.
Immediately after, Erik Killmonger felt a shock in his wrist as an irresistible force struck. The knife flew out of his hand and landed in the distance.
"What..."
Erik Killmonger's eyes were filled with shock. He hadn't even seen how the opponent had moved before a spasmodic pain radiated from his abdomen, causing all his strength to dissipate instantly.
Then he took a precise hit to the back of his knee. He let out a muffled groan and fell to one knee. He tried to resist, but one arm was already pinned behind his back, and he was pressed firmly to the ground.
In just a few seconds, the fight was over.
As a top American special forces soldier, Erik Killmonger was experiencing for the first time what it meant to be crushed. The two sides were simply not on the same level.
Erik Killmonger felt his pride had taken a severe blow.
He hung his head and said resignedly, "With skills like that, you must be the leader of this team. I lost to you; I accept it. Do with me as you wish."
The person remained silent, simply picking up the briefcase from the floor. He dragged Erik Killmonger with one hand and the screaming Klaue with the other, pulling them like sacks toward the main factory building.
The main hall was a mess, with signs of battle everywhere. Klaue's men lay scattered in pools of blood.
In the center of the hall, dozens of black-clad soldiers stood in silent formation, flanking two figures in front.
The leader was draped in a spotless, voluminous white robe, his face covered by a mask with eerie patterns, radiating a powerful aura.
To his rear left stood a cold man wearing a half-face mask, his left arm gleaming with a metallic light.
As for the man Erik Killmonger had thought was the strongest, he stepped forward quickly, dropped them in front of the white-robed man, then respectfully handed over the briefcase with both hands. He then retreated without a word and stood in line with several other soldiers wearing the exact same standard combat suits.
Erik Killmonger: "..."
The realization hit him—the person who had just taken him out in seconds was actually just a common soldier.
Now Erik Killmonger felt even more discouraged; he couldn't even beat a common soldier.
Darian took the briefcase, opened it to check, and after confirming it was filled to the brim with Vibranium, he satisfactorily tucked it into his game inventory.
Then, his gaze behind the mask slowly lowered, falling upon Erik Killmonger.
[NPC: Erik Killmonger (N'Jadaka)]
[Codename: Killmonger]
[Favorability: -20]
[Evaluation: Exiled Prince of Wakanda, cousin of the Black Panther, nemesis of trypophobes. His father was killed by the Black Panther's father, and he himself will be killed by the Black Panther.]
This guy is the Prince of Wakanda?
Darian was a bit surprised.
He looked Killmonger up and down, and a bold idea suddenly formed in his mind.
"N'Jadaka."
As soon as Darian spoke, he called out Killmonger's birth name.
"How do you know that name!?"
Killmonger's body instantly froze, and he looked at Darian in disbelief.
This was his original name, a Wakandan name known only to himself and his father. Where could this person have possibly learned it?
Darian didn't explain, simply chuckling. "I know more than just that. I also know that you were supposed to be the Prince of Wakanda."
"Who exactly are you people!?"
Killmonger's pupils shrank. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his fur stood on end.
With the secret buried deep in his heart for years suddenly exposed, no matter how resilient his will was, he couldn't remain calm.
Darian said calmly, "Who we are, you might find out later. But for now, I need you to do something for me."
"Don't even think about it!"
Killmonger snorted, a flash of undisguised disgust on his face. "Don't think that just because you caught me, you can make me your slave or make me work for you. Kill me if you're going to; I have nothing to say!"
Due to his past experiences, he hated being a slave most of all. Being a workhorse wasn't an option either!
He simply wasn't the type to work for others.
Darian raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Even if I want to help you take the throne of Wakanda, that's still a no?"
"...But then again, the current Wakanda is indeed corrupt. Sitting on World-leading technology yet remaining isolationist, hiding themselves as a primitive tribe, afraid to take on their rightful responsibilities."
Killmonger's expression suddenly changed, filled with grief and indignation, and his gaze gradually became firm.
"As a descendant of the Wakandan royal bloodline, it is my responsibility to correct the mistakes of this nation and lead it toward the true power and glory it deserves. You don't need to say more; I'm definitely helping with this!"