Journey to Wakanda

"Although the Karl family is a hidden neutral force, in order to keep its card disciples constantly fighting and honing themselves, the family will secretly establish an underground mercenary organization around the world. It will be publicly available for temporary hire by anyone able to pay items of sufficient value, and only one card disciple will be sent out for each job."

"Money or items legally earned by card disciples through their own strength and effort can be exchanged for Karl family contribution points—Evolution Points. Evolution Points can be used to exchange for the Infinite Formula, all kinds of Black Technology weapons, and more."

"With that, the Karl family will become self-sufficient."

As soon as Kyle finished explaining, Howard nodded thoughtfully, understanding why Kyle had gone to such lengths to define "evolution" and "Evolution Points."

As long as the family had healthy competition and goals to strive for, even without anyone pushing it, it would keep running faster and faster on its own.

"By the way, have you made contact with Wakanda yet?" Kyle suddenly recalled this important matter.

"Uh, Wakanda…" Howard scratched the back of his head awkwardly and answered helplessly, "I specifically sent people there to investigate on-site. We found that the place was remote and the native residents lived at an extremely low standard. We originally wanted to donate supplies in the name of Stark Industries, but unexpectedly, the locals didn’t appreciate it at all. They were even quite resistant."

When Howard heard the report from his subordinates, he had been stunned for quite some time. In the years just after the war, there was actually an impoverished African country that refused donated supplies.

Kyle wore an odd expression as he asked, "What exactly did you donate?"

"Some daily necessities, quilts, clothes, that sort of thing. Those are all things Africa desperately needs. Is there a problem?" Howard asked in confusion.

Kyle fell silent.

It was no different from donating a single coin as charity to a millionaire. No wonder Wakanda had not given Stark Industries so much as a second glance.

"Forget it. Do you have photographs from Wakanda?"

Kyle asked Howard directly. Howard froze for a moment, then found the photographs from the local investigation records and handed them to Kyle.

The black-and-white photographs showed the plains and mountains where Wakanda was located. In the distance, native herders could vaguely be seen, along with all sorts of crude, primitive dwellings.

Kyle memorized the scene in the photographs, drew out Venom to transform it into the hooded leather jacket he usually wore outside, and urged, "Get ready. You and I are making a trip to Wakanda."

"Now? We’re going to Wakanda?" Howard was greatly startled. This really was a trip with no warning at all—just pick up and go.

"I don’t have much time left to stay on Earth, so I should get everything I need to do done as soon as possible." Kyle shrugged, his tone rather helpless.

Time waited for no one! The ample fifty years he had originally had on Earth had now been forcibly shortened to two or three months…

"Then I’ll prepare the plane right away." Howard nodded gravely, taking off the white coat draped over him and revealing the shirt and suit beneath.

"No need." Kyle chuckled. He raised the hand wearing the Sling Ring and made a slight circular motion with his other hand. Sparks spun through the underground isolation room, forming a portal.

"Follow me."

As the circle of sparks took shape, Kyle spoke and quickly stepped into the portal.

"I almost forgot you had this trick." Howard shook his head with a bitter smile. Even after seeing it so many times, he still found it unbelievable.

He hurried after Kyle and entered the portal, disappearing with him from the isolation room on the third underground level.

Africa, Wakanda.

A spinning ring of sparks suddenly appeared in the wilderness. Kyle and Howard emerged from it, stepping out of the portal onto the grassland.

"We really came to Wakanda?" Howard clicked his tongue in amazement. Looking at the scene before him, identical to the one in the photographs, he was certain they had arrived in Wakanda.

Though he had witnessed Kyle’s unreasonable method of travel many times, he was still amazed by it and unable to comprehend its mysteries.

Just moments ago, they had been in the basement of Stark Industries Tower in New York. The next moment, they had arrived on the other side of the world.

"This is way too unscientific." Howard could not help complaining. Kyle waved away the portal behind them and said with a smile, "Wait a moment. I’ll show you the science within science."

Just then, several black dots appeared in the distance across the vast wilderness grassland before them, seemingly drawing steadily closer.

Howard pointed ahead curiously and asked, "What are those?"

Kyle’s vision was extraordinary, allowing him to see several times farther than Howard. After making out what they were, he said slowly, "Local native guards. They’re riding rhinoceroses toward us."

"What?!" Howard was dumbfounded. He hesitated before saying, "I heard that if you enter Wakanda without permission, the local natives will become furious and drive you out by force. Kyle, you can beat them, right?"

"Obviously. But I didn’t bring you here to fight." Kyle replied irritably, lightly waving his left hand with the Sling Ring. The surrounding scene reflected and refracted like a mirror.

"We’re just standing here?" Howard watched helplessly as three dark-skinned natives with lean bare upper bodies rode closer on massive rhinoceroses, their savage aura rampant. Unable to help himself, he hid behind Kyle.

Kyle remained perfectly still and calm. The natives rode their rhinoceroses to within three meters, yet completely ignored the two of them and sped right past.

The muscular native leader pulled on the reins, bringing the rhinoceros beneath him to a halt amid flying dust. He muttered, "Did I see wrong? There were clearly outsiders here just now."

The other two natives sat atop their rhinoceroses and looked around. Their gazes repeatedly landed on the patch of grass where Kyle and Howard stood, only to pass over it without pause and turn elsewhere.

"Why can’t they see us?" Howard stared at the natives less than ten meters away and asked in astonishment, "Kyle, what did you do?"

"We’re currently in the Mirror Dimension. We aren’t in the same dimension as them in reality." Kyle patted Howard on the shoulder and gestured forward. "Come on. We’ll use the Mirror Dimension to go deep into Wakanda and see what lies within."

The Mirror Dimension was originally an advanced spell exclusive to sorcerers, allowing them to avoid external dangers, hide in a concealed space, and observe people and things outside.

As long as one entered the Mirror Dimension beforehand within a certain real-world area, one could move within it, bypass external guards and defenses without obstruction, and reach any real location one wished to explore.

Kyle and Howard walked through the Mirror Dimension corresponding to Wakanda, passing directly through native settlements and mountains across the grasslands.

At last, the two arrived at the deepest part of Wakanda, at an astonishing hidden place.

"My God!" Howard cried out. The dreamlike scene before him left his eyes wide, his body and soul trembling violently.

Kyle looked ahead and shook his head with a sigh. "Now this is the real rich-in-mines series."

Tonight, I spent some time revising the detailed outline. The buildup for the family arc will be wrapping up soon, that’s all.