Chapter 1297: Mindset

Wakanda, in a small marketplace beneath the central town of the capital city. Lin Rui put away his communicator and turned to look at the bustling crowd in the center of the narrow street. Shuri and her few guards were waiting there.

“Let’s head back; things have been mostly resolved,” Lin Rui said, giving Bucky, who had been waiting on the side, a reassuring smile.

Although Lin Rui had been in contact with Captain America from SHIELD and Tony Stark, Iron Man, he didn’t intentionally hide the content of their communication from Bucky. After all, Lin Rui had revealed his true identity to Bucky, and they had been through a lot together. With all they had experienced, they could be considered friends.

“Yeah, it’s good that things are sorted out,” Bucky replied without probing into the details. He followed Lin Rui over to where Shuri and her group were waiting.

Similarly, Bucky didn’t pay much attention to what Lin Rui had messaged Rogers and Tony. However, he happened to catch a glimpse of their conversation.

Even though it was only a couple of sentences, Bucky was convinced that the mysterious youngster in front of him had a good relationship with his former best friend, Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America. Based on their past cooperation, Bucky knew he needed to adapt to his new role in Wakanda.

Having thought it through, Bucky assigned himself a new role: a special forces member responsible for protecting SHIELD’s diplomatic envoy, Jackson Lin. Of course, Bucky was well aware that Lin Rui didn’t actually need his protection if they encountered danger.

“So, did you contact Captain America about this?” Shuri asked with a smile as Lin Rui and Bucky returned to the center of the street.

“Yes, you sent a royal guard directly, which surprised SHIELD a bit,” Lin Rui replied with a smile, not denying anything.

“Since my brother has chosen to cooperate with you, it’s only natural that we show some sincerity. Besides, dealing with N’Jadaka’s situation should be Wakanda’s responsibility, and we appreciate the information you provided.”

“It’s what I should do. SHIELD’s duty is to maintain Earth’s security. I’m just wondering if you’ve thoroughly investigated N’Jadaka and the forces behind him on your end.”

“We’ve gathered quite a few clues. We can’t reveal everything right now, but it’s true that there’s an armed force backing N’Jadaka. Judging from their resources alone, they’re not a small force. However, they seem to be a group of untrained irregulars, relying solely on Wakanda’s advanced weaponry.”

Listening to Shuri’s response, Lin Rui silently nodded. This situation aligned with what Rogers’ leadership had told him. Despite the two armed groups easily infiltrating SHIELD’s headquarters and being formidable in battle, they weren’t highly trained combatants.

“Strictly speaking, they can’t even be considered warriors. It seems like they have no knowledge of Wakanda’s existence, perhaps a group of individuals recruited by N’Jadaka due to various circumstances,” Lin Rui added, aligning his thoughts with Shuri’s and indicating that these forces might not be a significant threat.

“If that’s the case, then there’s no need to worry too much,” Lin Rui judged. “Even if these armed forces are powerful, they can’t compare to the genuine Wakanda combined with SHIELD’s current capabilities. Now, as SHIELD’s diplomatic envoy to Wakanda, and considering our cooperation, things are looking up.”

Whether Wakanda would officially reveal itself to the world or remain in the shadows while maintaining secret contact with SHIELD and Lin Rui’s team was a discussion for another time. After all, with the power they currently possessed, they could handle internal threats on Earth, and more.

“Shall we continue exploring, or should we head back? The tribal elders’ meeting might still be in progress, and they aren’t known for their speed in decision-making,” Shuri suggested with a chuckle.

Lin Rui, Bucky, and the others agreed, and they continued to explore the heart of Wakanda’s capital city.

Meanwhile, in the highest council chamber of Wakanda, King T’Challa sat at the center, his gaze stern as he surveyed the tribal elders seated on either side of him.

After informing the elders of the current situation and expressing his desire to form an alliance with SHIELD to change Wakanda’s centuries-old isolationist stance, the tribal elders fell silent for a few moments before erupting into a heated debate. RÃＮ𝐎𝐛Ès̩

From their words, King T’Challa sensed that many of them had a hardened mindset due to Wakanda’s long history of isolation and advancement far beyond Earth’s technological capabilities.

“While SHIELD now knows of our existence, we don’t necessarily need to form an alliance with them or reveal ourselves,” one elder argued. “Maintaining the current status quo is in the best interest of Wakanda’s development. Isn’t this the choice our ancestors made hundreds of years ago?”

“Exactly,” another elder chimed in. “Although Earth’s civilization has advanced considerably since our ancestors’ time, and I’ve heard rumors of Earth possessing technology rivaling our own, I don’t believe their fundamental nature has changed much. Technological progress doesn’t necessarily mean their ambitions have waned.”

“Wakanda’s ability to develop peacefully over the years, creating a brilliant nation with just a few tribes, is closely linked to the decision our ancestors made to distance themselves from the rest of Earth. Now that Wakanda has developed so well, why return to Earth at this time?”

“Could it be that our new king has some new ideas? Perhaps a small Wakanda no longer satisfies your royal ambitions?”

The tribal elders didn’t mince their words, openly questioning T’Challa’s motives. Some even speculated that he wanted to conquer the entire Earth by proposing this alliance.

King T’Challa remained composed, listening to their arguments. He knew that changing Wakanda’s stance would not be easy and would require the support of the tribal elders, who held considerable influence over Wakanda’s direction.

…

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