Wakanda in Chaos

Negotiation meant exchanging views, seeking a solution, and ultimately reaching an agreement.

It was perfectly normal for Azzuri to try to bargain the price down, but Russell did not think there was anything to discuss. Obtaining a piece of land and the right to mine Vibranium veins—that was his bottom line.

"Your Majesty, negotiations must be built on equality between both sides, but clearly, you are not qualified for that." Russell leaned back in his chair, implying that a prisoner should not make too many demands when his life was no longer his own.

"No, you simply do not understand what Vibranium means to Wakanda. Your appetite is too great. If I truly agreed, Wakanda would need a new king." Azzuri shook his head directly. If Russell insisted, this would become a deadlock, benefiting neither side.

Russell nodded and pondered seriously for a moment. "Heh, then capture the next king too."

Azzuri’s heart tightened, though his expression remained calm. "It is useless. Wakanda can exist without a king."

Russell spread his hands. "Then there is nothing left to discuss. Guards, take His Majesty—"

"Wait, what are you doing?"

Azzuri sprang to his feet and leaped more than three meters, landing directly at the entrance of the tent. He clutched his collar and trousers tightly with both hands, his grief-stricken, despairing gaze silently conveying something.

Russell rolled his eyes. "Guards, take His Majesty away. Let him see me again once he has thought it through."

Azzuri was dragged away while struggling. Russell continued enjoying Yelena’s massage. His mind was made up—he would establish his base in Wakanda. Azzuri would have to agree whether he wanted to or not.

Russell did not think his actions made him a villain. He had no intention of interfering with Wakanda’s internal affairs. They would stay out of each other’s way and carry out their own construction. Wakanda might be ceding land, which was a humiliation to the nation and its people, but in the end, Wakanda would be the side that benefited.

Russell possessed a technological tree seventy or eighty years ahead of Earth’s. Letting even a little of it slip out would be enough for the Wakandans to achieve a technological leap and benefit for generations.

As for the national treasure, Vibranium, the Wakandans were far too stubborn. They had not even mined a tenth of it before their nation was destroyed. What was the big deal about sharing some? It was not as if Russell would mine all the Vibranium dry.

"Mm, I probably am not that kind of person…"

Speaking of national destruction, Russell felt that for a nation like Wakanda, possessing immense treasures while occupying such a small territory, rather than secretly developing itself, it would be better off finding someone powerful to lean on.

What was the use of being rich? With so few people, a single flood could wipe them out!

That was also why Russell was so fearless. Wakanda was close to Lake Turkana, and he could summon a flood to drown Wakanda. He had not done so because he was kind-hearted. He was not some supervillain who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Compared to slaughter, he preferred resolving problems peacefully.

"Bring me the map. We are going to Lake Turkana. I want to see where the terrain is lower." Russell waved his hand, and the soldiers immediately packed up the tents, started the trucks, and headed for Lake Turkana.

Meanwhile, in Wakanda’s royal capital.

Boning Zana, surrounded by lush green trees and towering mountains, had lost its usual tranquility. Crowds cheering and arguing could be seen everywhere.

A waterfall plunged from above, roaring like rolling thunder, as though countless wild beasts were locked in furious combat before tumbling down together. It crashed among the massive rocks, sending waves surging at the foot of the mountain and filling the air with mist.

At the break along the waterfall’s edge, where the current rushed violently, the elders of the five major tribes had gathered. Since Azzuri was absent, Nanali was temporarily presiding over the Golden Tribe.

The five tribes occupied separate corners. Behind every elder stood powerfully built tribal warriors, their wolfish, aggressive gazes sweeping back and forth, making the atmosphere unbearably oppressive.

Today was the day to choose a new king. According to Wakandan custom, the king could only come from one of the five major tribes, because only their people possessed royal blood.

Woo, woo, woo—

The horns sounded. Warriors struck their spears against the ground and sang their tribal song of courage amid splashing water.

Five warriors stepped forward under the crowd’s escort. The other four tribes, including the Golden Tribe, had sent young and powerful descendants. Only the White Ape Tribe was different—the one competing for the throne was Elder White Ape.

Everyone was stunned. Elder White Ape was not young anymore, while the youths here were all of his nephews’ generation. If they truly fought… would he not be beaten to death?

"Elder White Ape, you should leave the throne to the younger generation!"

One elder wore an odd expression. Everyone knew Elder White Ape coveted the throne, but he was already quite old. Even if he became king, how many years could he rule?

He might as well give the chance to the young, lest he be beaten to death on the spot and make a fool of himself before the people.

"There is no need for your concern. The next king of Wakanda will definitely be me." Elder White Ape grinned savagely as he painted his face with tribal markings.

The five major tribes each followed different beliefs. The Golden Tribe worshipped the Black Panther God, while the White Ape Tribe revered the White Ape God, which stood opposed to the black panther totem. Elder White Ape knew that no matter how vigorous he remained in his old age, he could not compete with the young. Yet he was unwilling to give up his chance of becoming king. To make himself stronger, he joined forces with the White Ape cult within his tribe, killed a legendary white giant ape, and through an ancient ritual, ate its flesh and drank its blood, gaining the beast’s power.

He now possessed strength, endurance, and reflexes far beyond ordinary humans. This tremendous power was the source of his confidence. This battle for the throne was already in the bag.

The horn calls grew more urgent, and the warriors’ chants became more intense. Finally, the moment the momentum reached its peak, every sound abruptly stopped.

The battle for the throne had officially begun. Whoever remained standing at the end would become Wakanda’s new king.

Roar—

Elder White Ape let out a thunderous roar, displaying lung capacity utterly incompatible with his age.

His legs bent, and his entire body launched high into the air, leaving an explosion of water where he had stood. When he appeared again, he was already before the warrior representing the Golden Tribe.

"Get down!"

He was too fast. The Golden Tribe warrior barely had time to raise his spear in defense before a cannonball-like fist slammed into him. His whole body was sent flying, and he fell from the waterfall break.

"…"

In an instant, everyone was dumbfounded. Aside from the White Ape Tribe, whose members cheered and danced, the people of the other tribes felt their hearts sink.

"How is that possible? That power is absolutely not something Elder White Ape could possess. He must have taken the Heart-shaped herb."

"He broke the rules. During competition for the throne, no one may take the Heart-shaped herb." Seeing that things were going wrong, several elders accused Elder White Ape of violating the rules and demanded that he be disqualified from competing for the throne.

"You idiots, the Heart-shaped herb is not the only thing that can make a person strong. The White Ape God is the mightiest god." Elder White Ape sneered and knocked down the other three tribal warriors one by one.

It was like children testing strength against an adult. The three were defeated swiftly, with no ability to resist at all.

"From today onward, I am Wakanda’s new king!" Elder White Ape laughed loudly, tearing open the light armor over his upper body to reveal his bulging muscles. "My first order as king is that the White Ape cult shall become Wakanda’s sole faith."

"That is impossible!"

Everyone in the Golden Tribe was furious. Nanali immediately spoke out in condemnation. "The Black Panther God is the symbol of Wakanda’s unity. The White Ape God you speak of is merely an Evil God that brings war. It has no right to replace the Black Panther God."

The other three elders were also enraged. The Black Panther God was Wakanda’s main faith, but that did not mean it was the only faith. There were also many who worshipped crocodile, lion, and hyena totems. Elder White Ape’s attempt to wipe them all out immediately provoked fierce backlash.

"Hahaha, I knew you would refuse to submit…" Elder White Ape laughed wildly. "My second order as king is to erase all you rebels. Warriors of the tribe, the time has come to fight for the White Ape God."

As soon as he finished speaking, more than a hundred White Ape Tribe warriors rushed out from all four sides of the break, and a massacre immediately began. The warriors of the other four tribes were outnumbered and could only cover the elders’ retreat. They plunged into the mountain caves behind them and fled desperately back toward their tribes.

Whoosh!

A sharp sound tore through the air as a spear pierced through Elder White Ape’s chest from behind. The waterfall break fell suddenly silent. No one could believe their eyes; the dramatic turn had come too abruptly.

At the edge of the rushing water, the Golden Tribe warrior whom Elder White Ape had thrown off the waterfall cliff had climbed back up. He strode behind Elder White Ape and violently pulled out the spear.

Hot blood splashed across his face. He raised the spear high. "I am Wakanda’s new king!"

"What did you say?"

Elder White Ape had not died from the spear strike. He kicked up a spray of water into the Golden Tribe warrior’s face, then grabbed the spear away with one hand. Rather than immediately stabbing the warrior to death, he clamped both hands around the man’s neck and raised him high into the air.

The Golden Tribe warrior’s pupils contracted sharply. Unable to breathe, he desperately tried to pry apart the hands choking his neck. His strength was immense—so immense that Elder White Ape nearly lost his grip.

"What great strength…" Elder White Ape seemed to realize something, and viciously said, "So that is it. You took the Heart-shaped herb. Damn Golden Tribe, you are the ones who broke the rules."

Having said that, he raised the Golden Tribe warrior high and smashed him violently toward the sharp rocks at the cliff’s edge.

Crack!

The rocks shattered. The warrior immediately coughed up mouthfuls of blood. He staggered as he tried to rise, only for Elder White Ape to knock him down with a punch.

"Anyone who dares defy me… will die!" Elder White Ape seized a spear and repeatedly stabbed it into the warrior’s chest, stopping only after he had completely ceased breathing.

"Is the rhino formation ready?"

Elder White Ape scooped up water to wash the wound on his chest. The intense pain twisted his face into a hideous expression.

"Elder… my king, it is ready." The soldier was intimidated by Elder White Ape’s imposing manner and stammered as he spoke.

"Release the signal. Kill every last rebel and let them know what the majesty of a king truly is!" The ferocity in Elder White Ape’s eyes grew even stronger. He had gained the power of a beast, and its bloodlust as well.