Chapter 275: T'Chaka (2)

Josh had no reason to personally oversee this mission, and because of Carter's personal connection to the matter, he didn't send her.

Instead, he assigned two of his most trusted subordinates—Ophelia and Vito.

Ophelia was in charge, with Vito as her second-in-command.

"Madam, all units are in position," a Jedi Knight reported to Ophelia.

"Any movement in the city?" Ophelia asked as she gazed at the mist-covered settlement.

Having studied Wakanda extensively, she was extremely cautious about this operation. That's why they landed five kilometers away—to avoid alerting the Wakandans inside.

Even though, according to Carter, most of the town's ten thousand residents were ordinary civilians.

"No sign of activity. They don't seem to have noticed our arrival," the Jedi Knight replied with precision.

"Very well. Order all units to proceed as planned." Ophelia nodded and gave the order to attack.

As soon as her order was given, the military robots immediately sprang into action, advancing toward the city to encircle it.

Having recently endured a devastating crisis, the Wakandans were on high alert. They had set up numerous traps and hidden guards around the city.

Normally, if someone triggered a trap, the guards would rush to investigate.

However, while these traps were effective against humans, they were almost useless against robots. The military robots, equipped with advanced scanning and analysis capabilities, detected most of the traps instantly, marked them, and avoided them with ease.

Even the few cleverly concealed traps that went unnoticed posed no real threat to the robots. Instead, Ophelia, monitoring from the rear, ordered them to simulate the sounds of injured animals to lure the guards into revealing themselves.

When the guards realized something was wrong and tried to sound the alarm, they discovered to their horror that their vibranium equipment had been rendered useless.

These robots were equipped with a device similar to the sonic mining technology once invented by Wakanda's genius princess, Shuri. With a single silent pulse, the vibranium in the guards' weapons and armor was completely neutralized.

A moment later, shiny blades effortlessly sliced through their throats.

This sonic device was, of course, the work of Yuri.

While vibranium was undeniably powerful, those who truly understood its properties also knew its weaknesses.

In Josh's view, vibranium's greatest strength wasn't on Earth—it was in space.

The reason was simple; space is a vacuum where sound waves cannot travel.

In such an environment, vibranium's full potential could be unleashed, only breaking down when it absorbed energy beyond its limit. This made it the ideal material for advanced starships.

Using it for terrestrial weapons and armor was, in a sense, a waste.

However, as long as the outside world remained largely unaware of vibranium's full capabilities, its practicality remained high.

After losing several guards, the Wakandans in the city finally realized that something was wrong.

But it was too late.

The military robots had already infiltrated the city and begun to subdue the population.

Of course, "subduing" did not mean killing.

Josh wasn't a good man, but he kept his word.

Since he had promised Carter not to kill the Wakandans, he wouldn't—though he would still have to relocate them afterward.

Just like in Manaus, the robots' primary weapon was non-lethal Taser guns.

But while Josh had agreed not to kill them and to "properly relocate" them, he had never specified where that relocation would be.

Not on Earth.

Not even necessarily in this universe.

So…

"Brother, what's happening?"

Inside a mansion in the center of the city, Nanali, who had been fast asleep, was startled awake by the commotion outside.

She hurriedly told a maid to calm the crying child before rushing to check the situation—only to bump into T'Pani, who had also been awakened and was already armed, ready to head out.

"It's bad. I think we've been exposed. But I don't know who these people are yet!" T'Pani's face was grim. "Pack your things, keep an eye on T'Chaka, and be ready to leave at any moment!"

"What? We have to leave? Has it really come to that?" Nanali's already worried expression turned to sheer panic.

The memories of Wakanda's fall two years ago were still vivid in her mind. How long had they enjoyed this fragile peace?

"We have no choice. Once they find us, they won't let us go. T'Chaka is Wakanda's only hope—we can't take that risk!" T'Pani sighed as he looked at his frightened sister.

If there had been another way, he would have taken it. He, too, wanted nothing more than to live in peace.

"Who says you can't?"

Just as T'Pani was about to arrange for his sister and T'Chaka's escape, an unfamiliar voice echoed from the outer wall of the mansion.

T'Pani looked up and saw figures standing atop the surrounding walls—masked and clad in strange uniforms.

The guards immediately tensed, surrounding T'Pani and Nanali in a protective formation.

The intruders were none other than Vito and twenty-four elite Jedi Knights.

Capture the leader first.

When Carter had informed Josh about Nanali and her child—along with T'Pani's deep concern for them—he immediately suspected something.

This woman had to be one of Azzuri's consorts. And this child... was most likely Azzuri's posthumous heir.

Even if they weren't, the woman was clearly someone of great importance to T'Pani, the leader of Wakanda's remaining forces.

Either way, taking control of them would be a strategic advantage.

That's why Josh had sent Vito to assist Ophelia in a decapitation strike—otherwise, Ophelia alone would have been enough to command this mission.

"Who are you people?" T'Pani demanded. Their matching attire and hidden faces made it clear—they were no official force from any known nation.

"You may call us Ouroboros. Surrender, T'Pani. Hand over all the vibranium, and I guarantee your lives will be spared," Vito said again, trying once more to persuade them.

Not out of kindness—Josh's orders were to avoid killing if possible.

If T'Pani surrendered willingly, that would be ideal.

But Vito doubted that would happen.

"Hmph! Cowardly rats hiding behind masks—if you think you can make us surrender with just a few words, you're dreaming!" T'Pani scoffed, raising his weapon, ready to give the order to attack.

"Tsk. If you won't think of yourself, at least think of the child."

At that moment, Vito chuckled, stepping aside to reveal a new figure.

A Jedi Knight emerged from behind him—holding a small, unconscious child in his arms.

"T'Chaka!" Nanali gasped, her voice filled with terror. She instinctively lunged forward, desperate to reclaim her son.

Unknown to them, as they spoke, the intruder had already slipped into Nanali's bedroom, silently knocked out the maid standing guard and abducted the child.

"T'Chaka?"

Josh, who was monitoring the operation remotely, couldn't help but laugh when he heard the name.

"Well, well. Looks like we hit the jackpot."