Persuasion

"Never mind whether I’m a bad student. Since you used ‘too,’ that means you are one as well. What gives you the right to look down on me?"

Just then, a voice suddenly sounded beside Frank. Frank sharply turned his head and saw a translucent, blood-red Wang Bert floating in the air with a book in hand. He jumped in fright and asked in astonishment, "Bert, what’s going on with you?"

"This is called soul projection, an advanced spell!"

Wang Bert replied casually. This spell was in the soul cultivation scroll Master Ancient One had given him, and he had learned it long ago! Frank asked in confusion, "Why are you projecting your soul for no reason? Don’t tell me you’re peeping on the maids while they bathe?"

"Do I need to peep? Those maids would love for me to watch."

Wang Bert scoffed. "This state lets me sense space better. From now on, please call me Bert Wang, Peerless Magical Genius!"

Frank looked deeply suspicious. "Really?"

Wang Bert waved a hand. "Of course it’s real, bad student. Hurry up and leave. Don’t disturb this top student while he reads. The future of the magical world depends on me!"

Frank gave Wang Bert the middle finger and turned to leave. Wang Bert shook his head and continued floating in the air as he read.

Wang Bert had not been lying earlier. Although the book was incredibly obscure and difficult to understand, he had not fallen asleep. He knew when to indulge himself and when to work hard! Without enough strength, how could he keep enjoying himself? I have so much money. If one day I’m killed by an enemy because I’m not strong enough, what a waste!

Wang Bert thought to himself, From now on, I’ll leave my body every night and study hard. My current strength is still far from enough!

In the tribe Wakanda used as a disguise, King T’Chaka extended a hand toward Wang Bert. "Blood God, hello. I am T’Chaka, King of Wakanda!"

"Your Majesty!"

Wang Bert shook T’Chaka’s hand and smiled. "You certainly trust me."

"You are a Super Hero. I trust you. This is my son, T’Challa. He admires you greatly!"

T’Chaka introduced T’Challa, who stood beside him. T’Challa said admiringly, "Blood God, you were so cool when you saved Manhattan!"

Wang Bert smiled. "If I said I thought so too, would you think I’m too narcissistic?"

Everyone could not help laughing. Wang Bert looked T’Challa over and said, "You have potential. If you are willing, I can take you as my disciple and help you become a Super Hero!"

T’Challa’s eyes lit up, and he was greatly tempted. T’Chaka hurriedly said, "Blood God, you really know how to joke. If I remember correctly, you aren’t even older than T’Challa, are you?"

Wang Bert casually made up an excuse. "I’m a vampire. I’m immortal. I’m actually over a hundred years old!"

T’Challa believed him. "No wonder you’re so powerful!"

T’Chaka looked utterly disdainful. Over a hundred, my ass. Did you think I didn’t know you were only in your twenties?

Besides, what old man over a hundred changes girlfriends every day? You have probably dated nearly every actress in Hollywood, haven’t you? T’Chaka said, "Blood God, let’s discuss the serious matter."

"Fine!"

Wang Bert said, "Your Majesty, you don’t mind if we first send someone to visit the prisoners, do you?"

T’Chaka smiled. "Not at all. Don’t worry, they are doing well!"

Wang Bert nodded and instructed the colonel beside him, "Colonel Talbot, go see the people from the Fifth Fleet. Tell them they will be able to go home soon!"

"Yes, Mr. Wang!"

Colonel Talbot nodded and left with the Wakandans. Then Wang Bert and the father and son entered a thatched hut and began negotiations—yes, this tribe really did live in thatched huts! "Blood God, we Wakandans do not want war!"

T’Chaka said, "As long as America promises not to attack Wakanda again, everything can return to normal, and I will return the prisoners to you! I can also guarantee that we will not mention this conflict internationally. We can pretend it never happened!"

"I believe in your sincerity, and I believe you have no ambitions."

Wang Bert smiled first, then brought up another matter. "Your Majesty, do you know? Loki’s invasion was only the beginning. Behind him stands an even more terrifying existence called Thanos!"

"Thanos? The one who kills half of all people?"

T’Chaka frowned. He said, "Blood God, if Thanos invades, Wakanda is willing to fight by your side!"

"That is not enough. Wakanda may be powerful, but it is no match for Thanos."

Wang Bert said, "To strengthen Earth’s power, I hope Wakanda can open up for exchanges and sell Vibranium!"

T’Chaka immediately shook his head. "No. Vibranium is our national treasure. We do not have much of it, and we cannot sell it!"

"Your Majesty, that is rather meaningless!"

Wang Bert looked disdainful. They had tens of thousands of tons of Vibranium, yet he claimed they did not have much? That was tens of thousands of tons—tens of millions of kilograms!

"Vibranium is a nonrenewable resource. It will eventually run out, so we truly do not have much."

T’Chaka’s expression did not change as he said, "Blood God, say no more. Wakanda will never sell Vibranium, no matter what. As for opening up for exchanges, that is equally impossible!"

Seeing that the atmosphere had become somewhat tense, T’Challa hurriedly said, "Blood God, Wakanda exists because of Vibranium. Vibranium is our lifeblood!"

"We will talk again tomorrow. Your Majesty, I hope you will reconsider my proposal!"

Wang Bert stood and prepared to leave. T’Chaka and T’Challa personally escorted him out. At that moment, Wang Bert’s voice suddenly sounded in T’Challa’s ear. "Eight tonight. I’ll wait for you by the sea."

T’Challa froze. He looked at T’Chaka and realized that his father had heard nothing, making him even more amazed by the Blood God’s abilities!

This move was called Voice Transmission. As a veteran martial arts novel enthusiast, Wang Bert had developed it himself. The principle was simple: use qi to create a passage directly to the other person’s ear, then send the voice through it! Over the past year or so, Wang Bert had never slacked off in his qi cultivation, because he truly loved martial arts!

At eight that night, T’Challa appeared by the shore. Looking at Wang Bert, who sat on a rock reading, he asked in confusion, "Blood God, why did you ask me to come? I cannot oppose my father’s decision."

Wang Bert closed his book and gestured for T’Challa to come over. Then he asked, "So, in your heart, you actually agree that Wakanda should sell Vibranium, right?"

T’Challa smiled bitterly. "I think Wakanda should open up. The times are different now. But neither my father nor the elders agree!"

"Your thoughts are rather like those of your Uncle N’Jobu!"

Wang Bert said.

"Uncle N’Jobu?"

T’Challa was astonished. "Blood God, you know him? He died when I was very young!"

Wang Bert looked at T’Challa and asked, "What if I told you he died at your father’s hands?"

T’Challa shouted in shock, "That’s impossible!"

"Sit down and let me tell you a story!"

Wang Bert smiled and said, "Back then, N’Jobu saw the miserable circumstances of Black people in America and believed Wakanda should help them. But your father disagreed, so he joined forces with Ulysses Klaue and stole a batch of Vibranium from Wakanda!"

"Ulysses Klaue?"

T’Challa was stunned. He knew Ulysses had stolen Vibranium, but he had never imagined that a member of the royal family had been involved!

Thinking of something, T’Challa frowned and asked, "Is that why my father killed Uncle N’Jobu?"

Wang Bert took out a document from beside him and said, "This is N’Jobu’s death certificate. There were panther claw marks on his body!"

T’Challa went through the documents, then looked up and asked, "Blood God, why are you telling me this?"

"Look at this document as well. It is about your cousin!"

Wang Bert handed Erik Stevens’s file—Killmonger’s file—to T’Challa. T’Challa froze and hurriedly accepted it. At first, he was somewhat happy to learn he had another relative, but the more he read, the more deeply he frowned. "A homicidal maniac?"

"Yes."

Wang Bert said, "His heart is full of hatred—hatred for your father and hatred for white people. That hatred turned him into a homicidal maniac!"

T’Challa asked with some dissatisfaction, "Why didn’t my father bring him back back then?"

"You will have to ask him that!"

Wang Bert continued, "Erik has always wanted revenge. After America and Wakanda came into conflict, he realized he had an opportunity and went to cooperate with the American military, but I intercepted him beforehand!"

T’Challa frowned. "What do you mean?"

"If these negotiations fail, I will release him and let him challenge for the throne according to Wakandan tradition, in N’Jobu’s name!"

Wang Bert said, "To be honest, I do not want to do this unless it is the final resort. The hatred in Erik’s heart is too deep. Once he inherits Wakanda, Wakanda will inevitably wage war against the outside world!"

T’Challa questioned loudly, "If you do not want to, then why are you doing this?"

"For Vibranium!"

Wang Bert said, "I do not want to say too many grand-sounding words, but without Vibranium, we cannot stop Thanos and his army!"

T’Challa asked, "Is there no other way?"

"Of course there is!"

Wang Bert looked at T’Challa and said, "You become the Black Panther!"

T’Challa was stunned at first, then greatly alarmed. "Me? Blood God, do you want me to launch a coup and overthrow my father?"

"Yes. You become king and open Wakanda. Afterward, I will hand Erik over to you, and you can decide how to deal with him yourself!"

Wang Bert said.

"I can’t do that!"

T’Challa repeatedly shook his head. He had never even considered defying his father!

"Either you do it, or Erik does it. You decide!"

Wang Bert said, "Believe me, neither you nor your father is Erik’s match. He is a true homicidal maniac!"

T’Challa hesitated for a moment, then said to Wang Bert with a determined expression, "Blood God, I will not betray my father. Let Erik come. I will not lose to him!"

After saying that, T’Challa returned all the documents to Wang Bert and turned to leave resolutely. "A whole family of stubborn fools!"

Wang Bert shook his head. He had already given T’Chaka and T’Challa their chance. Since neither of them wanted it, he could only play the villain this once!

He had done all he could! Without wasting any time, Wang Bert transformed into a streak of blood-red light and plunged into the sea. A submarine was waiting for him there.

After bringing Wang Bert aboard, James respectfully saluted him. "Blood God!"

Wang Bert asked, "No need to stand on ceremony. Is Erik still behaving himself?"

James said, "He has been very quiet the entire time, completely unlike his usual personality!"

"That is what makes him frightening. He knows his value and is waiting for us to approach him for a deal!"

Wang Bert said, "If hatred had not clouded his mind, he could be considered a true formidable figure!"

James reminded him, "Blood God, a person like that cannot be allowed to go free!"

"Don’t worry, I have a way to deal with him!"

Wang Bert smiled as he walked toward Erik’s location. "Take the submarine farther away, so Wakanda does not detect us!"

James nodded. "Yes, Blood God!"

Inside the cabin, Killmonger Erik looked at Wang Bert as he entered and said in surprise, "I guessed many possibilities—the military, S.H.I.E.L.D., even Hydra—but I never imagined that the one who wanted to make a deal with me would be you, Blood God!"

"I never intended to make a deal with you. I never did from the beginning!"

Wang Bert shook his head and said, "Because you cannot be controlled!"

"Putting on an act!"

Erik sneered to himself. He could not be bothered with nonsense and got straight to the point. "Blood God, your goal is Vibranium, right? Help me take Wakanda, and I will give you half the Vibranium!"

Wang Bert asked with amusement, "Do you know how much Vibranium Wakanda has?"

"I don’t, but it must be a lot!"

Erik said.

"Tens of thousands of tons—tens of millions of kilograms!"

Wang Bert said.

"That much?"

Erik was greatly shocked. Wang Bert nodded. "That much. Unfortunately, Wakanda’s king is too stingy. He has so much Vibranium, yet he will not even give a few hundred kilograms to the Super Heroes to protect Earth. So, I can only come looking for you!"

Erik said excitedly, "Blood God, my previous promise still stands!"

"Truly the bearing of a formidable figure. Precisely because of that, I cannot keep you alive!"

Wang Bert said, "Erik, you have ability and intelligence. If you gain control of Wakanda, war will inevitably break out across the world. I do not like war. I only want to enjoy myself."

Erik shouted, "That is not war. It is revenge, it is resistance! White people have oppressed us Black people for so many years. I would lead them in resisting and make white people pay the price. What is wrong with that?"

"If your hatred were not so strong, I would definitely help you take control of Wakanda!"

Wang Bert shook his head. "But now, I can only use another method!"

Erik finally realized something was wrong. He shouted, "Blood God, what are you trying to do?"

"Become you!"

Without further nonsense, Wang Bert directly extended his hand. His fingers transformed into blood and flew into Erik’s body. Erik was instantly controlled, standing there foolishly! Then Wang Bert opened his mouth and gave a gentle inhale. Erik’s blood and soul were all drawn into his mouth, but Erik’s body did not shrivel because Wang Bert’s blood was helping maintain its vitality! As for absorbing souls, Wang Bert had always possessed that ability—when he drank blood, he also absorbed the other person’s soul! All those souls floated within the Blood River, waiting for the day they could die in Wang Bert’s place! Wang Bert had not known this before. It was only after learning Kamar-Taj’s Soul Secret Technique that he understood his own abilities.

After that, Wang Bert further developed the Blood God’s abilities and combined them with the Soul Secret Technique to create a new ability. Now, he was preparing to use that new ability on Killmonger!