Wakanda was nestled among the mountains shielded by an optical camouflage-like barrier that concealed it from prying eyes, leading outsiders to mistake its periphery, which was populated by what appeared to be primitive tribal inhabitants in a barren and desolate land, as the true face of the nation...
Birnin Zana was a peculiar city where civilization intertwined with backwardness, modernity juxtaposed with wilderness.
At its center, near the royal residential area, towering skyscrapers and crisscrossing rail tracks evoked the futuristic vibe of a high-tech metropolis. Yet, surrounding this core were low thatched huts and rugged primitive stone structures, creating a striking contrast.
In the royal council chamber, the formidable battle-hardened leader of the Dora Milaje, the royal guard tasked with protecting the king, Okoye, projected a clear image from the Kimoyo beads on her wrist.
These uniquely Wakandan technological marvels that resembled metallic bracelets functioned as multifunctional smart devices akin to mobile phones, equipped with communication and video capabilities...
"This is a Wakandan artifact, which was previously mistaken as a handicraft from another civilization. It appeared yesterday in an underground black market near the border. The seller was none other than Ulysses Klaue... that despicable thief. Our spies inadvertently discovered his trail near Wakanda."
The projection from the Kimoyo beads first displayed a metal object resembling a climbing pick, one of the rare Wakandan artifacts that had made its way outside the country.
Then it shifted to the image of a bearded smuggler; Ulysses Klaue himself, one of Wakanda's most wanted criminals.
Seated at the head of the table was King T'Chaka...
In his prime, he had once donned the vibranium suit as the Black Panther, determined to capture this criminal and bring him to justice to appease the people's fury. However, Klaue's cunning and his tendency to hole up along the western coast of the United States had denied T'Chaka any opportunity to apprehend him.
As king, T'Chaka had to adhere to Wakanda's traditions, minimizing external attention and maintaining secrecy. This inadvertently allowed Ulysses Klaue to evade justice all these years.
"For the past thirty years, we have failed to capture Klaue. This has been the regret of my life, an unresolved grievance for the people who have returned to the embrace of Bast, our Panther goddess."
King T'Chaka glanced at W'Kabi, the head of Wakanda's border tribe and military forces, whose parents had perished in an explosion orchestrated by Ulysses Klaue.
"This is a chance granted by the heavens. As king, it is my duty to arrest this vile thief who has committed grave crimes! As the Black Panther, guardian of our nation, I must bring him back to face the judgment of our people!" The aging king spoke with resounding conviction, his tone impassioned.
However, his once-athletic physique had succumbed to age, his body now slightly bloated and out of shape, raising doubts about whether the elder Black Panther could still match the agility of his youth.
"Father, you are the king of Wakanda. You should not leave so easily. Let me go in your stead. In the name of Bast, the Panther goddess, I will judge this criminal who has committed unspeakable atrocities!" declared the young Prince T'Challa.
His youthful face radiated determination and courage, his sharp gaze already bearing the mark of a leader.
The old king exhaled in relief. He had never truly intended to venture into danger himself. Even in his prime, he had failed multiple times to capture Ulysses Klaue. How could he possibly succeed now in his advanced years, with his body long past its peak due to neglect?
His earlier declaration had merely been a ploy to win favor. W'Kabi, commander of the border forces, had long harbored resentment over his parents' killer evading justice. The tribal elders present also murmured their dissatisfaction, believing Klaue's continued freedom to be a silent humiliation to Wakanda.
T'Chaka knew his time was waning. His energy was not what it once was, and the world's geopolitical landscape was shifting unpredictably.
Beyond Earth, the Nine Realms existed. Among them, Asgard, the most powerful, had extended an olive branch, seeking to establish ties with Earth.
A sweeping tide of change was imminent...
Where did Wakanda stand in all this?
This question tormented the old king, keeping him awake at night. Should Wakanda boldly step beyond its ancient traditions, abandoning its long-held secrecy to engage more openly with the world? Or should it remain hidden in the mountains, an isolated observer detached from global affairs?
T'Chaka had already made his decision. But Wakanda was divided. Its conservative tribal elders would never agree to such a step.
Thus, before anything else, he needed to ensure his heir and his only son, T'Challa, garnered enough prestige to silence all dissenting voices in Wakanda.
Ulysses Klaue was the perfect opportunity delivered straight to their doorstep...
"Bring that irredeemable thief back, T'Challa." The old king gripped his grown son's shoulders, his voice solemn, "When you do, you shall be crowned king."
....
~Border Region~
Night had fallen...
In the grand estate at the heart of the oasis, hundreds of guests from all corners of the land had gathered. The dazzling lights illuminated the surroundings, while wine and dance stoked the festivities to a fever pitch.
This was the border region where Wakanda met Sudan, a lawless gray zone where light did not reach. Here, the dregs of society mingled, where violence and bloodshed were the only constants, and the law held no power.
A seductive Black Pearl stood on the auction stage, while below sat tribal chiefs, warlords, and a sea of spectators, the air thick with clamor and excitement.
One priceless treasure after another was unveiled, each drawing covetous gazes like a magnet. But the most sought-after item was the rare metal displayed in a secure container...
"Such a small thing, and they're already at each other's throats?" John lounged on the sofa in the upper VIP booth, peering through the one-way glass at the frenzied bidding below.
"The amount of vibranium circulating on the market each year is minuscule. A rare metal with such versatile applications naturally gets snapped up by major corporations and research institutions the moment it appears... The price, inflated to thousands of times that of gold, is driven up precisely because of this." Bobby was unfazed.
He had done his research and knew exactly how valuable vibranium was.
If Wakanda truly possessed vast vibranium deposits as Ulysses Klaue claimed, the entire world would go mad with greed.
"Relax, Mr. Klaue. We guarantee your safety." Bobby said softly, glancing at the uneasy smuggler.
Ulysses forced a stiff smile. He had never imagined that their so-called "plan" involved using him as bait to lure the Wakandans, escalating the situation into an international incident to justify foreign intervention.
For instance, if Magneto, Kenya's diplomatic envoy, were inexplicably attacked by Wakanda, coupled with the presence of an exiled royal heir, it would create the perfect casus belli.
This tactic was a hallmark of American foreign policy...
In its mere two centuries of existence, the United States had engaged in hundreds of wars and military conflicts, far surpassing even Russia... a nation infamous for its 'warlike' and 'combative' reputation.
Sometimes, when lacking a pretext for war, the bald eagle would manufacture one.
Take, for example, the infamous 'Texas Incident' of 1835. Mexico's abolition of slavery angered Texan slaveholders, prompting the U.S. to incite rebellion. When Mexico moved to suppress the insurrection, American forces intervened, sparking the Mexican-American War.
This conflict allowed the U.S. to seize nearly 2.3 million square kilometers of Mexican territory, transforming overnight into a transcontinental power spanning the Atlantic and Pacific. Meanwhile, Mexico lost over half its land, its strength permanently crippled, relegating it to second-rate status in the Americas.
Similar incidents included the 'Maine Incident', the 'Gulf of Tonkin Incident', and even the Iraq War, launched under the false pretext of weapons of mass destruction, none of which were ever found, even years after the war's end...
The Russian president once quipped that the alleged WMDs might as well have been a bag of laundry detergent.
"A seven-year bloodbath over laundry detergent"... this became the world's sardonic mockery of America's flimsy justifications for war.
"Perhaps starting today, the entire African continent will be plunged into turmoil." Recalling the young boss's instructions, John couldn't help but mourn silently for Wakanda.
For medals and promotions, for Department of Defense contracts, for diverting domestic tensions... there were countless reasons for various factions to set their sights on this Third World nation...