The Royal Palace of Wakanda.
T'Chaka stared intently at the screen in front of him, his robes soaked with cold sweat.
On the screen, three Helicarrier hovered above the clouds, with countless unmanned combat aircraft swooping below them. Further away, fleets from multiple countries were adjusting their course on the sea, while military satellites, seemingly without restraint, pointed all their detection equipment at the Wakanda border.
Several even more dazzling high-energy reactions were visible in the sky.
When exactly did they find us?
T'Chaka's voice was low, but he couldn't hide the doubt in it.
Wakanda remained hidden for centuries.
They disguised themselves as a poor and backward agricultural nation, closed their borders, blocked satellites, and even deliberately gave up contact with the outside world. In order not to expose the Vibranium within their borders and their advanced technology, Wakanda has always been cautious to an almost harsh degree.
But now, the outside world has not only found them, but has even pinpointed their exact location on the border.
Judging from their demeanor, they don't seem to be here to negotiate at all.
It's more like they're planning to dismantle the door first, then go inside to see what's hidden there.
"Your Majesty, I am reviewing the records of the border conflicts."
The technicians sat at the control panel, their fingers moving so fast they almost blurred. A deluge of data flashed by: communications and movement patterns of external forces, and every response from Wakanda's border defense system—all were being retrieved.
Soon, an unfamiliar communication record was highlighted separately.
The technician's expression changed instantly.
"Found it."
"What?"
"The initial conflict was not initiated by the joint forces."
He pulled up an audio clip, and a strange man's voice came through it.
Tell the people outside that Wakanda does not accept any form of armed entry.
This statement is short and has a very strong tone.
T'Chaka had never heard of that voice before.
He looked at the tribal chief beside him.
The other person also looked completely bewildered.
"They're not from the border troops." The leader shook his head. "I've never given such an order; we didn't even know anyone was coming."
Technicians quickly retrieved the source of the signal.
The signal originated from an abandoned border post and used an internal encrypted channel. The transmitting device self-destructed after the communication ended, and nearby surveillance footage was completely wiped clean.
T'Chaka's pupils contracted slightly.
This is not a misunderstanding.
Someone is deliberately provoking the outside world.
Moreover, the other party was very familiar with Wakanda's communication system, knew how to forge internal identities, and knew how to evade detection.
"Someone is using us."
T'Chaka finally realized what was happening.
Someone deliberately pushed Wakanda in front of the coalition forces to see just how powerful this newly integrated global force really was.
Wakanda is a whetstone.
The fleet outside was being led by the nose.
As for the guys hiding in the shadows, they can just stand by and watch the show.
"Immediately connect to public communication channels."
T'Chaka stood up, his voice urgent. "Tell them this is a conspiracy. Wakanda hasn't attacked anyone. Demand they stop approaching."
The technicians quickly took action.
Seconds later, Wakanda's signal was connected to the Joint Forces' public channel.
"This is the Kingdom of Wakanda. We have not declared war on you. The previous border communications were forged by a third party attempting to sow discord between the two sides. Please immediately cease your military advance."
The sound traveled to all the ships.
The Combined Fleet did not respond.
T'Chaka's expression grew increasingly grim.
He repeated it again, and even uploaded evidence of the forged communications directly.
The channel still only emitted brief static.
A few seconds later, a lazy voice finally came out.
"What does it have to do with us if someone on your side is causing trouble?"
Tony's voice sounded very casual, as if he were attending a boring online meeting.
"Sir, please allow me to explain," T'Chaka, suppressing his anger. " Wakanda harbors no hostility; we are willing to open our borders and investigate the mastermind behind this conspiracy."
"Open the borders?"
Tony chuckled softly.
"Now you know there's a border? You just disarmed our troops and turned our drones into your own remote-controlled toys."
"That wasn't our order!"
"I know."
Tony answered readily.
T'Chaka was slightly taken aback.
Since you know this, why don't you stop the attack?
The next moment, Tony gave the answer.
"So now we're even more curious."
Ahead of the Helicarrier, silver-red armor hovered high in the sky. Tony raised his hand, his gaze from behind his visor falling on the seemingly ordinary land below.
"A region marked as agricultural on the map hides an energy shield capable of taking over military satellites, and a group of people who can disarm a regular army with ease."
"I've never seen this kind of turtle shell before."
Tony paused for a moment, his voice now tinged with excitement.
"Now that we've discovered it, even without a reason, we have to pry it open and see for ourselves."
T'Chaka turned pale.
This is an act of aggression!
Don't put it so harshly.
Tony looked up at the thunderclouds in the distance.
"We're just here to pick up the missing people and also to observe your agricultural technology."
"You brought your fleet and fighter jets on a visit?"
"A grander display shows good manners."
T'Chaka was speechless for a moment.
He finally understood that these people didn't care about the conspiracy at all.
They have seen the secret of Wakanda and have decided to open that door.
Regardless of who initially provoked them, Wakanda became their target.
All troops halt!
T'Chaka commanded through the communicator, "Activate the highest level of border defense! All energy nodes at full capacity!"
Deep within the royal palace, a vast Vibranium energy network began to operate.
A transparent shield rose from the ground, covering the border, the city, and the palace. The shield's surface glowed with a pale blue light, completely blocking any external detection signals.
The joint forces' radar instantly lost its target.
Tony looked down at the data on his armor, a slow smile spreading across his face.
"As expected, there's a second level."
"What are you going to do?" Steve's voice came through the communicator.
Tony glanced down.
Knock first.
"Don't do anything reckless."
"Don't worry, I'm a civilized person."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a thick bolt of lightning struck down from the clouds.
Tony quickly dodged to the side, the lightning grazing his armor and illuminating the entire sky.
The transport plane's cabin door opened.
Thor stood at the edge, his red cloak billowing in the gale. He looked down at the transparent shield that had just appeared below, a smile of excitement on his face.
"Warriors of Midgard, let me show them what a real knocking on the door is!"
" Thor, wait a minute," Steve said quickly.
"No need to wait!"
Thor raised Mjolnir high.
A massive, raging bolt of lightning, as thick as a water bucket, converged wildly on the hammer, its dazzling flashes causing all the surrounding fighter jets to automatically evade it.
Tony watched this scene and remained silent for two seconds.
"When I said knock, I didn't mean you should tear down the door frame."
Thor could no longer hear.
He leaped out of the transport plane with the Batman Who Laughs, leaving a long trail of light in his wake, and like a falling meteorite, he crashed straight into the transparent shield below.
Inside the palace, alarms suddenly sounded.
T'Chaka looked up at the screen.
Thor had broken through the clouds, Mjolnir in his hand, carrying a world-destroying power, was less than a hundred meters away from the shield.
"Increase energy output!"
"Under adjustment!"
The surface of the shield rippled violently.
The next second, Mjolnir crashed down.