After the battle in the small town of Old Bridge ended.
Jane and Daisy never expected that the tall blonde man they had hit was actually Thor, although in that battle, his pink Meow-Meow Hammer made it difficult to feel any awe.
On the contrary, Ron, who was initially thought to be just a rich young master, turned out to be a king with advanced technology, and possessed powerful abilities himself, even being able to contend with gods from myths.
Ron invited the three back to Wakanda.
Jane and Selvig were both scientists, and both were incredibly curious about Wakanda's advanced technology. Moreover, there was a mythical item, the Ancient Winter Coffin, available for research, which was far more tangible than the wormhole phenomenon that might reappear at an unknown time.
Upon arriving in Wakanda, the two, full of novelty and excitement, immediately threw themselves into research, while Daisy, as their assistant, also became incredibly busy.
The Ancient Winter Coffin was not just a weapon, but also a huge energy source. Jotunheim had originally prospered by relying on it, but it was unfortunately taken away by Odin, turning it into a dark, cold, and primitive realm.
"If it's used for power, I wonder if it can strengthen the energy dome's defense."
In Wakanda, on the throne, Ron tapped the armrest, deep in thought.
It wasn't for protecting Wakanda or anything like that, but for gaining a large amount of ability points that could be obtained by establishing a nation in the X-Men Universe.
"Your Majesty, preparations for opening up to the outside World are complete. T'Chaka spoke internationally this morning in an official capacity."
Najia, holding documents, walked in and handed over a holographic display device.
The image projected T'Chaka's excellent speech, which recounted Wakanda's history and ideological shift, concluding with the last sentence:
"Today's Wakanda is no longer the same as before. Under the leadership of His Majesty Ron, it is willing to engage in open exchanges with any country on Earth to build a shared future for humanity."
"Your Majesty, after the declaration was issued, it is temporarily estimated that no one will believe it," she carefully reminded him.
Without concrete evidence, the video data T'Challa displayed at the United Nations General Assembly might not be believed either.
The international community was more likely to report it as an African small country's wild fantasy.
"No hurry, just let the news ferment."
Ron smiled.
Soon after Wakanda issued its declaration, the United States, with inside information from S.H.I.E.L.D., immediately followed suit, expressing its strong willingness to establish friendly and healthy exchanges with Wakanda.
Other major powers followed, and the World instantly realized that this might not be a fantasy from a small African country.
"An African Utopia hidden on Earth all these years?" "A young man whose identity is a mystery, ruling the most technologically advanced country on Earth!" "Will the UN Security Council's five permanent members become six because of this?"
A high-tech African country that had been hidden on Earth for many years, and a mysterious young man who emerged out of nowhere to rule a Black country, with not a single piece of information about him to be found.
"Wakanda? An African country with technology decades ahead of Earth's?"
"Is this World crazy? Or is it a joke played by several major powers on everyone?"
"I want to immigrate to Wakanda. Is there any way? I heard their healthcare is very advanced; you don't have to worry about illness your whole life, and living to over a hundred is common."
"Speaking of which, is a Black country being ruled by a non-Black person as king considered the greatest modern Black slave owner?"
"Wakanda's King Ron, his skin is White, but his hair and eyes are Black. Could it be that the Roman orthodoxy has been restored in Wakanda!"
All sorts of discussions, in less than two days, Wakanda and Ron became the center of global attention.
...
"With such powerful strength, and being the king of the most technologically advanced country on Earth, yet not a single piece of information about you can be found on Earth."
In the S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters Triskelion, Nick Fury frowned, looking at a newspaper reporting Wakanda's open declaration, muttering softly.
"Ron, where exactly did you come from?"
After witnessing Ron's astonishing strength, the first thought that came to mind was to recruit him into the hero team — the Avengers — which was being planned but not yet established.
However, a deeper investigation, an attempt to understand Ron's character and conduct to prepare, revealed that no information about this person could be found on Earth, as if he had appeared out of nowhere.
"Perhaps he is a Kryptonian, who landed in Wakanda with his spaceship? Grew up in Wakanda?"
Knocking on the door, Maria Hill, the Deputy Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., walked in, her expression serious, and joked in a not-so-relaxed tone.
"Many people in the agency on the Helicarrier are saying that.
After all, he has eyes that can shoot lasers, is as strong as Superman, and can stand shoulder to shoulder with gods."
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s duty is to respond to various threats that could endanger Earth, and potential threats are among them.
Ron's mysterious origin, powerful strength, and immense power were like a giant suddenly appearing among people who could crush large numbers of them like ants; even if he did nothing, it would make people uneasy.
"Director, Coulson needs to rest for a while," Hill said, mentioning the injured Coulson, then added, "And those Agents, their gun-holding hands are all crippled; they won't even be able to lift heavy objects anymore."
From this perspective, that person was different from Superman in the comics; once provoked, he showed no mercy, and his actions could be described as ruthless.
"I'll give Coulson a leave," Fury said, rubbing his temples.
He was not a Director who was unsympathetic to his subordinates.
"Didn't he recently start dating a cellist? That works out perfectly."
"It's just that he might miss the moment his idol is awakened."
Recently, S.H.I.E.L.D. had surprisingly discovered a person believed to have died long ago in the Antarctic glaciers, the World's first superhero, Captain America.
"As for those Agents, it's not impossible to cure them. I heard Ron's Wakanda has superb medical technology."
"I'll try to apply for funding from above."
At this point, his eyes flickered slightly.
"Wakanda's technology can regenerate organs. Director, aren't you a little tempted?"
Mentioning Wakanda's medical care, Hill looked at Fury's blind eye, covered by a black eye patch, beneath which several deep scratch scars were vaguely visible, as if caused by some fierce beast or weapon.
"This…"
Mentioning his blind eye, Fury suddenly became serious, his tone unusually heavy and complex.
"This was a fatal mistake, the consequence of me trusting someone wrongly when I was young.
It was as if he was bringing up a deeply regrettable past event, making people unconsciously imagine a grand drama involving friends, trust, betrayal, danger, life and Death, and having to personally kill someone once trusted, among other elements.
"I hope to keep it forever to warn myself."
"And…"
His tone changed, and he sighed with emotion.
"My salary as Director isn't much. The property I bought in New York City two years ago drained my savings. I'm afraid I can't afford that kind of surgery."
"Alright…"
Hill stopped speaking.
"I remember two people in the team you scouted had physical problems. They might have already rushed to that place."
"For example, that playboy with a hole in his chest, and that Dr. who fears the monster inside him."
...
A few days later, Wakanda, foreign guest reception room.
Globally renowned billionaire Iron Man Tony Stark, seemingly amused, stirred his coffee with a spoon, the spoon clinking against the cup wall from time to time.
Pepper Potts, sitting anxiously beside him, impatiently slapped his hand.
"Coffee is for drinking, not for playing with."
"Their coffee here is really not good. I think the person in this country responsible for purchasing and entertaining foreign guests must have embezzled a lot of money."
He put down the spoon, a hint of nonchalance radiating from him, and commented.
"Coffee is a matter of personal taste. I think it's fine. This isn't a company," Pepper said, covering her forehead.
"Can you please lower your voice? If someone hears you and you offend Wakanda, don't even think about getting the hole in your chest healed."
"Potts, it's clearly my business, why do you look more nervous than me?"
Tony seemed utterly unconcerned, scanning the decor of the reception room.
"If you weren't nervous, you wouldn't be looking around like that," she said, knowing Tony's character best, annoyed.
"You already looked around once when you first came in.
Few things can make you look around continuously."
"Except for one thing, something that annoys me but I can't change, I'll uncontrollably look at it."
He held up a finger, emphasizing that he had a slight obsessive-compulsive disorder.
"But isn't this your favorite minimalist tech style?"
Pepper retorted, causing Tony Stark to concede, stopping his speech, a flicker of worry in his eyes.
He had to admit, he was indeed nervous.
The reason for his nervousness was not just whether the hole in his chest could be mended or whether the fragments in his organs could be removed.
It was about whether his life could be saved; his physical problems were already more than just these, some were even more serious.
"Your Majesty."
Outside, the sound of a guard bowing respectfully was heard, and a handsome young man with a unique aura, dressed in a black patterned formal suit, accompanied by a female bodyguard, walked in.
"Greetings, King Ron."
Pepper lowered her head in a bow, then tugged at Tony.
Tony, in a rather showy manner, performed a chest-touching bow: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
The etiquette was more elaborate, but his appearance did not seem very solemn, though it was difficult for him to be solemn.
"My apologies, King Ron."
Pepper looked up nervously, a little afraid that Ron would be displeased by this, but fortunately, Ron showed no reaction.
"It's alright, please sit."
Looking at Iron Man, the extremely famous superhero of the Marvel Universe, Ron's expression was calm, and he gestured for everyone to be seated.
"This first superhero of the new century, as expected, wants to cure the missile fragments and palladium poisoning in his body."
Two days ago, he saw the news online about the Monaco Grand Prix, where Iron Man Tony Stark was attacked by Whiplash, also known as Ivan Vanko. Based on the timeframe, his palladium poisoning was already very severe, and he didn't have long to live.
Even without psychic abilities, it wasn't difficult to guess this.
"King Ron, our visit this time is to inquire about your country's medical technology, specifically whether it can regenerate flesh and blood tissue and remove tiny missile fragments from blood vessels."
As soon as she sat down, before saying much, Pepper eagerly asked.
After asking, she looked at Ron with extreme nervousness, afraid of receiving a bad answer.
"Yes, Miss Potts, this is not a problem for our country's medical care."
Ron gestured with his eyes, and Najia replied on his behalf.
"Really?"
Her eyes burst with intense joy.
"King Ron, I wonder if your country's Doctor can treat Tony. Stark Industries is willing to…"
Pepper immediately reeled off many excellent conditions, willing to cooperate with Wakanda.
Although Stark Industries' weapons division was shut down by Stark, they had always been one of the World's industrial giants, and their new energy industry was rapidly rising thanks to the Arc Reactor.
Tony Stark secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but he wasn't overly joyful about receiving a positive answer to the previous question, because his problems were more than just that.
"Darling, could you let me talk to King Ron alone?"
He took a deep breath, his smile a little guilty, and proposed.
He hadn't told Potts about his impending Death, keeping it from her all this time.
"Talk about what?"
Pepper Potts was a little confused.
Tony Stark actually wanted her to step out for something. For many years, she had been Tony Stark's personal assistant.
Even dealing with Tony Stark's one-night stands in the past was her responsibility.
There were no secrets between them, let alone work matters.
"Alright, I still have a small problem with my body."
Seeing that he couldn't get rid of her, Stark scratched behind his ear, feigning nonchalance.
But his extremely rare stammering tone made Pepper misunderstand.
"Small problem, could it be that you…"
She seemed to have misconstrued something, her eyes wide with shock, scanning him up and down.
Pepper suddenly understood Tony's recent abnormal behavior. Although his life and career were smooth, he seemed to have suffered a huge blow, becoming depressed and alcoholic, acting out in a destructive manner.
And recently, she felt he was subtly distancing himself from her.
"I warned you before, if you keep being so unrestrained, it's only a matter of time!"
She said, huffing.
"Uh… not that."
Tony Stark, who was always at ease in any situation, his face darkened, feeling a rare hint of embarrassment.
"I'll tell you later, Pepper, you leave for a moment."
After he had dismissed Potts.
Tony Stark specifically looked at Ron and Najia, then coughed, emphasizing seriously:
"Although scientific research shows that one in five men have issues, I absolutely do not."
"Palladium poisoning, right?"
Ron said.
Actually, Tony Stark's palladium poisoning was easy to solve. It was a terminal illness for ordinary people, but S.H.I.E.L.D. had an antidote that could counteract it. However, under his influence, it seemed that he came to Wakanda before S.H.I.L.D. could contact him.
"How did you know?"
Tony Stark was a mix of strange and confused.
"Does your country not only have brand new advanced technology, but also ancient wizardry and divination?"
His palladium poisoning was already very severe, and if not treated quickly, he wouldn't have long to live. But how did Ron know? He hadn't told anyone.
"Your Majesty, there's a problem at the border. A green monster has invaded our country and is causing widespread destruction."
Suddenly, Najia received an urgent alert through her earpiece, her face slightly changed, and she quickly reported in a hurried tone, bowing.
"Many of our people have died, and even supersonic energy cannons cannot inflict effective serious injury on him."
"Green monster?"
Ron was a little surprised.
Is it Bruce Banner? He always viewed the Hulk within him as a disease, constantly searching for a way to return to normal. It wasn't strange for him to come to Wakanda, but given his character, how could he harm people? Or did something happen?
This place was a bit far from the border, and his X-ray vision couldn't penetrate such a distance. He slowly stood up, left a remark, and walked out with Najia.
"I will have the Doctors in our country cure you."
"Don't you need any compensation?" Tony Stark called out to him, puzzled.
"I've already taken my compensation."
There was a saying that everyone's life experience is a book. During the process just now, he had briefly perused Tony Stark's book.
Excluding the explicit content and most of the narcissistic experiences and thoughts, it contained the methods for making the Arc Reactor and the Iron Man armor.
...
"Help!"
Wakanda border.
A huge, ugly green monster rampaged through the city, and the concrete and rebar walls and houses were as fragile as crackers to him.
He evaded the pursuit of several Vibranium jets while wantonly destroying everything.
In the sky, Ron saw that figure, and a hint of indifference welled up in his eyes.
"Najia, prepare a Vibranium chain."
"Your Majesty, if I may ask, what for?"
"I'm going to raise a big dog."
"A big dog?"