In an empty room stood an ordinary small metal bed with white sheets, a console in the distance, and a large pane of transparent glass opposite the bed. Beyond the glass lay the bustling metropolis of Wakanda, though mountains and jungles were still visible in the distance.
It seemed the room was hidden deep within ancient mountains and old forests, yet positioned so high that the lively city could be seen clearly.
When Blaine opened his eyes again, the sight before him snapped him fully awake. The professional instincts of a Bounty Hunter made it impossible for him to remain lying down in an unfamiliar environment.
"You're awake."
"Don't worry, just a slight concussion."
"It's really something—wandering around and still managing to find such a hidden place."
"As expected of a famous Bounty Hunter."
Just as Blaine sat up, another voice came from behind him. He turned his head quickly. Fortunately, it was Black Panther—T'Challa.
T'Challa was not wearing his Black Panther suit. Instead, he wore the black ceremonial robes of the King of Wakanda. Standing there with a serious expression, his dark features carried an undeniable air of authority.
"Uh, well… this…"
"Just a coincidence, really."
"I was just checking to see if there were any savages left in the primeval forest behind here."
"In case a Sabretooth or two survived."
"That wouldn't be too good for Wakanda, haha."
'Well, no need to thank me. I'm just naturally kind.'
In this matter, Blaine knew he was in the wrong, and he felt a bit guilty, so he could only muddle through with nonsense. Of course, the last line was spoken only in his heart. If T'Challa had heard them, he would have kicked Blaine out on the spot. Trying to steal something, getting caught, and still acting shameless—no one could tolerate that.
"There are no savages behind us, and there are no savages in Wakanda," T'Challa said calmly.
"Besides, Sabretooth is a snowfield animal and has long been extinct."
Seeing the usually smooth-talking Bounty Hunter hesitate like this amused T'Challa. If Blaine wanted Vibranium, he could have just said so instead of putting on this performance.
In fact, after Blaine left his surveillance range, T'Challa quickly deduced his purpose. There were countless excuses for coming to Wakanda, but only one true reason—Vibranium. So T'Challa had people waiting at the Vibranium Mountains.
Sure enough, when they arrived, they found the Bounty Hunter lying unconscious on the ground.
Thinking back on it, Blaine did not know whether to laugh or cry. If it hadn't been a last resort, who would willingly pass out in a place like that—especially after hearing an unknown voice?
"Well, by the way, that voice…"
"It seems there's no amnesia this time…"
Blaine suddenly sat upright, as if he had realized something important. What had just happened was still a blur, just like his own past.
He needed to go back.
"Ahem."
"You know why I came here."
"That's right. I just want to go in and take a look."
"I'll only see how Vibranium is mined."
"I can swear on my reputation as a Bounty Hunter."
"I'll go in, take a look, and come right back out."
Now that he had been exposed, Blaine coughed awkwardly. Since the last layer of pretense had already been torn away, he decided to shamelessly press on.
"You want Vibranium," T'Challa said flatly.
"I can give it to you."
Blaine had expected T'Challa to dance around the issue, but the king's blunt reply left him momentarily speechless. This was what it meant to face a king—playing tricks here was like showing off a blade in front of Guan Yu, nothing but courting humiliation.
"Then let me just say it."
"I want a ton. Can you give it to me?"
In order to get another chance to enter that mountain, Blaine directly named a suffocating figure.
A ton of metal might not sound like much, but what he wanted was Vibranium—also known as sound-absorbing steel, one of the hardest materials in the Marvel Universe.
Vibranium's special molecular structure made it nearly indestructible. Its molecules were relatively static, preventing the conduction of heat and kinetic energy. Because of this, it could absorb heat, energy, and kinetic force. Though second only to adamantium in raw hardness, it ranked first in defense due to its unparalleled energy-absorbing properties.
And on Earth, it was exceedingly rare. The previous king of Wakanda—T'Challa's father—had sold only a small amount of Vibranium, yet it was enough to send countless citizens abroad for education and transform Wakanda into a technological superpower. That alone spoke volumes about its value.
On the outside black market, the price of Vibranium had reached astronomical levels—tens of thousands per gram. And even then, it was something with a price but no supply.
Now imagine what a ton of Vibranium meant. One ton equaled one million grams—an amount so absurd it was practically unimaginable.
To Blaine, that amount of money was nothing more than a fraction of his total assets. And he believed Wakanda could afford it as well.
But money was not the issue.
What Blaine wanted was Vibranium itself.
More than ten thousand years ago, a meteorite from the depths of space had crashed into Africa—into what would become Wakanda. That meteorite gave birth to the first Black Panther, who then united the surrounding tribes and founded the nation of Wakanda as it existed today.
After more than ten thousand years, how much of that meteorite could possibly remain after supporting Wakanda's entire civilization? From this alone, it was clear that Wakanda's Vibranium reserves could not be limitless.
By Blaine's rough estimation, handing over a ton of Vibranium could delay Wakanda's development by at least fifty years. Of course, this was only his own speculation, with no solid data to back it up.
Even so, reality proved him right.
The moment Blaine named a ton, T'Challa hesitated.
A ton of Vibranium—forget T'Challa agreeing to it. Even the Elders' Council of Wakanda would never approve.
To them, this was no different from carving flesh off their own bones.
*************************************
You can get access to early chapters on patr*on
If you like my work and you want to support me then you can become my patron on patre*n.
My patr*on account is Lord_Immortal_0170