Cooperation with Wakanda

Deep within Wakanda, surrounded by wild mountains and forests, stood a city of the future forged by technology.

At the very heart of this immortal city stood the royal palace, blending ancient and cross-century technological features. Its floors, mixed with Vibranium Metal, were laid smooth as mirrors, while the majestic palace architecture gleamed with dazzling golden light beneath the sun.

This was where the Black Panther King resided, as well as the weighty place where the royal family discussed matters of state.

For thousands of years, the independently developed nation of Wakanda had rejected outsiders—including foreign tribes, smugglers, and adventurers—doing everything possible to conceal the truth of its advanced technology.

Yet today, two outsiders had finally been acknowledged by all of Wakanda and permitted to enter the sacred royal palace as honored guests!

As countless native residents gathered around the perimeter to watch, the Black Panther King led the way, with Kyle and Howard following behind him along the broad avenue leading to the palace.

Native female guards holding Vibranium spears stood in rows on either side of the avenue, keeping the native residents outside.

"Kyle, you really did it. Look, they’re not nearly as savage and arrogant as before," Howard whispered.

Kyle smiled knowingly. "Forget national laws and regulations. The biggest fist is the only real law. Only extraordinary strength can rise above such things."

Otherwise, how could there have been an exception? They would have long since been judged and punished by the natives according to how outsiders had always been treated.

The residents at the sides continued murmuring among themselves. The way they looked at Kyle no longer carried their usual contempt and disgust toward outsiders, but fear mixed with a trace of heartfelt respect.

Only the strong earned the respect of others. This was even more evident among Wakanda’s natives; otherwise, there would never have been a ritual of challenge for the throne.

Kyle had defeated the Black Panther King in a one-on-one duel. The overwhelming extraordinary strength he had displayed in that battle forced even those natives who remained unconvinced to lower their heads and acknowledge his power.

"These native residents still retain the bad traits of primitive savagery. Only that Prince T’Chaka from earlier seemed like someone living in a civilized age." Howard glanced around at the royal family members and asked in slight surprise, "They’re all still here. Why is the prince gone?"

Kyle said casually, "He probably went to inherit the Black Panther’s power."

"Black Panther power?" Howard looked confused.

"It’s an inherited power only the king here can possess. After consuming a Heart-shaped herb and undergoing a ritual of dreaming to meet one’s ancestors, one gains a Superman Physique comparable to a Super Soldier."

Kyle spoke calmly, looking at the Black Panther King ahead of them with a thoughtful expression.

This old Black Panther King was not as foolish and rigid as he appeared. His duel with Kyle might have been for Prince T’Chaka and for this nation.

The female guards stopped outside the palace gates, while the Black Panther King led Kyle and Howard into the splendid royal conference hall.

"I have matters to discuss with these two outsiders. Members of the royal families from each tribe, please move to the side hall and wait for a moment." The Black Panther King turned back and issued the command with authority. The royal family members exchanged looks, but still nodded obediently and withdrew to the side hall.

The Black Panther King entered the royal hall first and sat upon the throne reserved for the king at its center. He waved them in. "Come in and sit, my two guests from afar."

Kyle did not stand on ceremony. He casually sat in one of the chairs in the hall, and Howard sat beside him.

Hiss—

The Black Panther on the throne extended his clawed nails and removed his beast-like Black Panther helmet, revealing a weathered, dark square face. His hair had turned white with age, and his face was still full of exhaustion, clearly not yet recovered from the fierce battle.

"Kyle Dove, American War Hero, the youngest retired general, a legendary hero known to the outside world as the ‘Symbol of Peace.’"

"Howard Stark, a New Yorker from America, the head of scientific strategy during the war, the founder of Stark Industries, and a top scientist."

The old king spoke with a faint smile, briefly describing Kyle and Howard’s identities and backgrounds before asking solemnly, "You are both outstanding figures from the outside world. Why have you come to this remote, independent country?"

Before Kyle could answer, Howard said earnestly, "Your Majesty, you should understand the attraction advanced technology holds for a scientist. Forgive my recklessness earlier. I disrupted your son’s challenge for the throne."

Howard paused, then asked, "But your country is so advanced and prosperous. Why not reveal it to the outside world? Why do you detest and reject outsiders so much? The outside world sees Wakanda only as an independent, savage, undeveloped agricultural nation."

"It is not that we do not wish to open ourselves to the world. Since ancient times, Wakanda has continually suffered invasions from outsiders because of our Vibranium resources and advanced technology. Their desperate madness over Vibranium has disturbed the peaceful lives we have built here."

The old king shook his head and said helplessly, "We have never intended to use Vibranium or advanced technology to invade and occupy the lands of other nations. Yet some outsiders come with boundless ambition, probing and damaging this nation in an attempt to plunder its resources."

Kyle nodded in deep agreement. Even he felt a little envious of the resources Wakanda possessed.

That was an almost inexhaustible Vibranium mine! Compared to it, resources like gemstones, gold, coal, and oil were simply pathetic!

If he were not about to leave Earth, then according to the Karl family’s future development over the next decade or so, they might even have launched a plan to occupy, rule, and develop Wakanda.

But now…

Wakanda was the second superpower that Kyle had taken a liking to, after Master Gu Yi’s organization.

Like the Karl family, these powers had all escaped Earth’s mundane well and could look beyond its mouth toward the sea and stars.

"Your Majesty." Kyle smiled and bluntly laid out his intentions. "I came here because I want to discuss cooperation with Wakanda."

"Cooperation?" The king paused, then refused in a deep voice, "Wakanda will always maintain its position as an independent nation. We will not have excessive contact with the outside world, much less discuss cooperation."

"Is that really so?" Kyle smiled. "If you had no interest or aspirations toward the outside world, how would you know our information? And why would you have sent Prince T’Chaka abroad to study in America?"

The king fell silent, and Kyle continued, "If I’m not mistaken, Your Majesty, you have been constantly collecting and studying information from the outside world because you are waiting for an opportunity—an opportunity for Wakanda to stand fearlessly upon the world stage."

"Wakanda may reveal its existence to the outside world in the future, but certainly not now," the king said, his gaze deep.

Kyle calmly spread his hands. "That is why I said cooperation—

The prerequisite for cooperation is that we keep each other’s information confidential. The result of cooperation is to explore Scientific Truth and improve both our productive capacities."