Chapter 401: Legends Known

Solomon ultimately decided against bringing Stark to Wakanda. Instead, he left a small piece of vibranium—obtained from T'Challa—with the genius inventor and tucked the small black kitten into his pocket. Guided by Wakanda's planetary defense system, Solomon opened a portal that took him directly to the high-tech hidden city of Wakanda.

His sudden appearance immediately drew the attention of the Wakandan guards and local residents, as the portal had opened in the middle of a bustling marketplace. When vibranium spear-wielding soldiers surrounded him, Solomon made no hostile moves. Instead, he calmly opened his palm to reveal the small black kitten curled up in his hand.

The kitten, seemingly startled by the commotion, forgot to retract its little pink tongue.

"I have a negotiation with your royal family," Solomon said confidently to the surrounding guards. "This is my token of legitimacy."

He was asserting his position and power, demonstrating his value to establish equal footing in the impending discussions.

"My friend! You neglected to mention that you possessed such impressive technology."

In Wakanda's capital, Birnin Zana, T'Challa greeted Solomon enthusiastically after spotting him surrounded by guards. He pulled Solomon into a warm embrace.

"I must say, you nearly gave Derek Kanata, commander of the Hatut Zeraze, a heart attack," T'Challa laughed. "Your sudden appearance made him scramble like a cat in a thunderstorm, scouring the border for breaches. He believes your presence in the marketplace means there's a hole in Wakanda's defenses."

Still smiling, T'Challa continued, "I'll admit, it was amusing to watch him panic. The Hatut Zeraze are loyal to a fault, but their overzealousness can sometimes be... tiresome. Come, my friend. Let me introduce you to Wakanda's king, my father, T'Chaka. He is a great king, and he is thrilled by your visit."

Solomon couldn't help but smirk at T'Challa's naivety. "With all due respect, my prince, that wasn't advanced technology—it was magic," Solomon corrected. "I expected Wakanda to grasp this concept easily, considering your nation has a god among its people. Haven't you been granted any mystical knowledge by Bastet?"

"This is a land of science, Solomon. Wakanda doesn't have magic," T'Challa replied with a tone of pride, as if he were ready to launch into a prepared presentation.

"Wakanda is the most technologically advanced place on Earth. All citizens receive free eleven-year compulsory education, after which they can choose whether to attend Wakandan universities. Every citizen has the freedom to choose their path in life. Due to our long-standing national policies, Wakandans are forbidden from receiving external education," T'Challa explained. "I am an exception. My father's insistence on sending me abroad to study was controversial, but one of his reasons was to find you."

"Despite the nation's strong religious undertones, high technology permeates every aspect of Wakandan life. See this?" T'Challa raised his arm to show Solomon a string of deep black beads on his wrist. "This is Kimoyo. Every Wakandan citizen receives one at birth. Each bead has different functions. The first bead installed is the Prime bead, which monitors individual health. Others provide holographic displays, communication capabilities, and more."

"Stark Industries' interactive holographic tech is cumbersome by comparison," Solomon observed. "I assume this is thanks to Wakanda's vibranium-enhanced technology?"

"Indeed," T'Challa affirmed. "Vibranium was once used as a currency here, but we replaced it with digital currency to prevent this valuable resource from leaving the nation."

As they walked through the corridors of Wakanda's royal palace, T'Challa continued his tour. The palace's décor was a seamless blend of traditional African aesthetics with geometric patterns reminiscent of ancient Egyptian motifs, juxtaposed with sleek, minimalist high-tech design. From the floor-to-ceiling windows, Solomon could see the bustling marketplace below, flanked by two towering obsidian-black panther statues guarding the palace entrance. The soldiers marching past the statues appeared minuscule in comparison.

"Vibranium is not our only resource. Wakanda has coal, uranium, diamonds, and even an independent aerospace manufacturing industry. Perhaps now you understand why Wakanda embraces isolationism. It's not just about protecting vibranium—we simply don't need to engage with the outside world," T'Challa concluded, pride evident in his voice.

"We need to engage with the world, son. The world is changing rapidly, and Wakanda risks falling into ignorance if we remain isolated," a white-haired elder interjected.

Stopping T'Challa in his tracks, the elder—wearing glasses and exuding wisdom—placed a hand on his son's shoulder and turned to Solomon with a warm smile. "Welcome, Solomon. I apologize for failing to find you when you were born."

"There's no need to apologize, sir," Solomon said with a slight bow toward King T'Chaka. "My teacher and foster mother provided me with an excellent upbringing, and I've since become a sorcerer. I have no complaints—in fact, I am deeply content."

"That's good to hear. If you don't mind, T'Challa will take you to see Wakanda's research facilities. Tonight, we will host a banquet in your honor," T'Chaka said, patting his son's arm before adding, "Take our guest around, and I'll see you both at dinner."

"I will, Father." T'Challa kissed his father's cheek before grabbing Solomon's arm. "Come with me," he said excitedly. "I want you to meet someone—my sister, Shuri. She's Wakanda's smartest mind and most brilliant scientist. I'm sure she'll be fascinated by your magic. Don't be shy—I want to get her out of the lab for once."

"I'm impressed you're not reacting to magic with the usual disbelief I've come to expect from outsiders," Solomon quipped with a smile.

Vibranium was the main reason Solomon had come to Wakanda.

Through the Legend Lore spell, he had learned crucial details: Wakanda's Mount Bashenga still contained roughly 10,000 tons of vibranium. This incredible resource powered Wakanda's technological advancements, which were incompatible with other nations' current scientific methods.

From King T'Chaka's comments, Solomon could tell the monarch was leaning toward opening Wakanda to the world. However, with global demand for vibranium, even 10,000 tons would prove insufficient. While Shuri was experimenting with synthetic vibranium, the costs of production far exceeded the metal's value.

Solomon was grateful for the intelligence T'Challa had unknowingly provided.

Conveniently, Solomon knew the location of additional vibranium reserves outside Wakanda. He planned to use this information as a bargaining chip in his negotiations, aiming to secure Wakanda's industrial and technological support for his own plans.

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