Karl casually tossed out a dragon bone weighing nearly fifty pounds.
The moment it landed—
A Shadow Ninja emerged silently from the darkness.
It grabbed the dragon bone and disappeared again without a trace.
Why were the Hand and the Guild constantly trying to curry favor with Karl?
The answer was obvious.
Dragon bones.
These ancient relics were priceless to organizations like them.
They wanted the dragon bones, but they also had no intention of clashing directly with Karl.
So the only option left was cooperation.
They would quietly gather intelligence for Karl and pass it to him without being asked.
In exchange, Karl would occasionally reward them with dragon bones.
Based on their previous interactions, Karl was a man who believed in fair exchange.
If someone helped him, he would return the favor.
Because of this, both the Hand and the Guild were more than willing to assist Karl with small matters.
After all—
Helping him meant they might obtain another dragon bone.
As for Karl's earlier claim that he didn't possess many dragon bones—
Almost no one in those underground organizations believed him.
Did they really think they didn't know how many dragon skeletons were buried beneath Manhattan?
Karl simply had no reason to dig them all out.
And since he was already unimaginably wealthy, they couldn't tempt him with money either.
Robbing him was obviously impossible.
So the only path left was gaining his favor.
Meanwhile—
Far beyond Earth.
A streak of golden light cut across the universe.
On Asgard, Odin suddenly raised his head.
He gazed toward the distant cosmos.
At the same time, far away at Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One also looked up at the sky.
Both of them sensed it clearly.
A Celestial-level being was approaching Earth.
However—
Neither of them attempted to interfere.
They both already knew who it was.
Carol Danvers.
Captain Marvel.
After receiving the signal from Nick Fury's pager, Carol had immediately begun traveling back toward Earth.
She followed the signal directly.
Moments later—
She descended straight into Nick Fury's hidden base.
BOOM—!
Her landing shook the entire facility.
Nick Fury instinctively swore.
"Damn—"
But when he realized who had arrived, he immediately changed his tone.
"Carol."
"You're back."
"That's good."
Carol glanced at him.
"Nick."
"What was so important that you had to call me back?"
"You wouldn't activate that pager for something ordinary."
She sat down casually on a nearby stool.
She already knew what Fury had been about to say earlier.
Nick Fury nodded.
"Alright."
"Let me show you something."
He pulled up several video recordings and displayed them on a screen.
"They belong to him."
"He currently possesses the Tesseract."
"And another object that appears similar in importance."
Fury paused before continuing.
"He's extremely dangerous."
"He acts without restraint."
"And right now, there's nothing I can do to stop him."
"Earth cannot afford someone like that running free."
"It's a potential disaster."
Carol glanced briefly at the footage of Karl.
Then she shrugged.
"Alright."
"So you want me to deal with him?"
Her tone was casual.
She had far more important matters occupying her time in space.
She didn't particularly care about Karl's situation.
If Fury had called her back, she would simply handle the problem.
After all, she still needed to find a new homeworld for the Skrulls.
Nick Fury raised a hand.
"Not yet."
"We'll move tomorrow."
"I have a few more arrangements to make first."
Inside, Fury was already thrilled.
With Captain Marvel on Earth, his confidence skyrocketed.
Carol simply nodded.
Meanwhile—
Karl had no idea that Captain Marvel had already returned to Earth.
Nor did he know that Fury planned to move against him the next day.
At that moment, Karl and Tony were still investigating the Hydra attack on May.
Karl wanted to know which Hydra faction had the courage to provoke him.
For safety, Karl had already strengthened everyone's protection.
Almost every person close to him now had hundreds of Shadow Ninjas hidden in their shadows.
If danger appeared, the ninjas would immediately pull them into the Shadow World.
Even George Stacy and Helen Stacy were protected this way.
Nick Fury believed his plan was flawless.
But he didn't realize that someone else had already discovered it.
Wakanda.
After learning that S.H.I.E.L.D. planned to target Karl, T'Challa fell into deep conflict.
Karl had once attacked Wakanda.
Many Wakandan soldiers and guards had died during that incident.
That was something T'Challa could never forget.
Unable to decide, T'Challa went to seek his father's advice.
He visited the quiet residence where his parents now lived.
"Father."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. plans to move against Karl."
"They've already gathered several mutants and street-level heroes."
"They must also have powerful trump cards prepared."
"So I'm wondering…"
T'Challa explained everything he had learned.
Former King T'Chaka listened quietly.
Then he sighed.
"My son."
"You are now the King of Wakanda."
"You must think as a king."
He continued slowly.
"Ask yourself one question."
"Will Wakanda survive the consequences of your decision?"
"If we can endure the retaliation, then act."
"But if we cannot…"
"Then you must think of the millions of Wakandans who depend on you."
T'Challa nodded.
"I understand."
"Thank you, Father."
He left quietly.
T'Chaka watched his son disappear into the night.
He sighed again.
How could he not understand his son?
T'Challa still carried the anger of Wakanda's fallen warriors.
But the enemy they faced was far beyond Wakanda's current ability to confront openly.
Back in the royal palace—
T'Challa sat alone on the throne.
He struggled with his decision deep into the night.
Finally—
He contacted Nick Fury through a secure channel.
T'Challa expressed his willingness to participate in the operation against Karl.
But he asked one question.
Was Fury truly 100% certain of success?
Nick Fury glanced toward Carol Danvers, who was standing nearby.
Then he replied confidently.
"Whoever wants to help deal with Karl is welcome."
T'Challa ended the call.
With Wakanda's technology, S.H.I.E.L.D. had no chance of tracing the communication.
Afterward, T'Challa went to the memorial graves of the Wakandan soldiers killed during Karl's attack.
Standing there, anger surged inside him once again.
Finally—
He made his decision.
He would confront Karl.
But to protect Wakanda, he would go alone.
Soon after—
T'Challa boarded a Wakandan stealth fighter.
The aircraft silently departed Wakanda and headed toward New York.
Nick Fury had already informed him of the time for the operation tomorrow.
And now that Captain Marvel had returned, Fury believed there was no possible way for Karl to escape.