The chilling aura from deep within the rock walls hadn't yet faded from their skin when Ye Mo and Emma Frost stood before the checkpoint on the outskirts of Wakanda's capital.
The oppressive sense of isolation I felt in the underground base was now completely replaced by a grand and meticulously ordered feeling. The air was no longer filled with the pungent smell of sulfur and earth; instead, there was a faint scent, similar to ozone mixed with high-end fragrance. This scent was not pungent, but it carried a kind of majesty that made people subconsciously want to submit.
"Straighten your back," Ye Mo said in a low voice, his previous nonchalance replaced by a cold composure.
He reached up and straightened his well-tailored dark suit. It was a top-tier custom-made suit he'd acquired during a previous mission; the special fabric was not only bulletproof but also capable of interfering with thermal imaging scans to some extent. Silver-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, his eyes behind the lenses becoming deep and aloof, a perfectly measured arrogance playing at the corners of his mouth. In this moment, the transmigrator who only wanted a peaceful life vanished, replaced by a diplomatic envoy from a distant land, exuding a certain aloofness and discernment.
Emma Frost stood half a step to his side, her black tactical bodysuit replaced by a deep blue evening gown. The skirt draped beautifully, swaying gently with her movements. She had toned down the brilliance of her Diamond Form, her skin returning to its original fair and delicate state, but her eyes still exuded a noble and aloof aura. She didn't speak, but simply adjusted her breathing slightly, minimizing the fluctuations in her vital signs, as if she had become a refined work of art.
Before them stood a towering metal gate, its surface shimmering with a pale blue light. The guards were not ordinary soldiers, but the Wakanda Guard, clad in Obsidian- colored armor. Their weapons were strangely designed, with Vibranium fragments embedded in the muzzles, radiating chilling energy fluctuations.
"Halt." A guard stepped forward, his tone calm but authoritative. "Show your identification."
Ye Mo didn't move. His gaze swept over the scanner on the guard's waist. It was a system combining biometrics and electronic monitoring; any slight anomaly would trigger an alarm. Conventional stealth or brute force breakthroughs were meaningless here, practically suicidal.
Emma Frost took a step forward.
Her movements were graceful and composed, her face bearing an impeccable smile. Just as the guard raised the scanner to conduct iris and genetic sequencing tests, Emma Frost's eyes momentarily vacant.
This wasn't mind reading, but a more advanced form of mental interference. She transformed her own existence information into a disguised "normal visitor" data packet through Telepathy. This data was encoded using energy frequencies that Ye Mo had previously deduced using Vibranium Sense, perfectly matching the identification threshold of the local security system.
The scanner's red light swept across Emma Frost's face, pausing for a second.
The green light turns on.
The gate opened slowly, emitting a slight mechanical clicking sound.
"Welcome, esteemed guest." The guard stepped aside to make way, his tone still calm, but the wariness in his eyes had noticeably lessened.
Ye Mo and Emma Frost walked in side by side.
The moment the two crossed the threshold, the gate behind them closed again, completely shutting out the noise from the outside world. Before them lay a wide main road, flanked by buildings tens of meters tall. These buildings were not traditional brick and stone structures, but rather interwoven with a black metal and luminous blue crystals. Sunlight shone on them, refracting a dazzling and mesmerizing brilliance, breathtakingly beautiful.
The streets were bustling with people dressed in distinctive costumes, some carrying traditional musical instruments, others holding high-tech equipment. In the distance, melodious music drifted over, mingling with the cheerful conversations of people. Everything looked harmonious and beautiful, like a Utopia.
But Ye Mo knew that beneath this facade of peace and prosperity lay a tightly woven surveillance network.
He outwardly pretended to be a tourist looking around, casually scanning the surrounding scenery, but in reality, he subtly activated his " Thermal Vision."
This is one of the ability combinations he figured out through numerous battles. When the field of vision shifts, the originally colorful world instantly transforms into a pattern of gray, white, and crimson.
The massive Vibranium buildings emitted a stable, low-temperature blue light, like silent icebergs. The bustling crowds on the streets were like clusters of warm, orange halos, moving slowly and orderly.
Ye Mo's gaze swept quickly across the surroundings without lingering for a moment.
He noticed that many seemingly ordinary decorative sculptures or street lamp bases contained abnormally high-heat circulation pipes inside. These pipes, like blood vessels, connected to every corner of the city. At the ends of those pipes were numerous tiny heat sources that were almost at the same temperature as the ambient environment.
These heat sources are accompanied by extremely subtle air disturbances. These are traces of cloaking Force Field or optical camouflage at work.
Ye Mo counted silently in his mind.
One place, two places, three places...
Every heat source is a potential sentry post. They are not fixed, but mobile patrol units that can appear at any time. Some are hidden in the ventilation ducts behind high-rise buildings, some lurk behind the nobles' entourages, and some are even disguised as roadside trash cans or billboards.
The sheer number of them is despair-inducing.
"How is it?" Emma Frost noticed the seriousness in Ye Mo's eyes. She took a half step closer without making a sound and asked in a voice that only the two of them could hear.
Ye Mo did not answer. He simply shook his head slightly, his fingers silently gesturing a number inside his sleeve.
This number represents the number of potential threat nodes he identified. Even a rough estimate far exceeds their expectations. The defense system here is ten times more robust than we imagined.
Emma Frost's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. Her mental senses cautiously extended, sensing the emotions of those around her. Although the people's faces were filled with pride and joy, in certain areas, a sense of oppressive tension permeated the air—the pressure from the high-ranking guards and the psychological burden brought by the omnipresent surveillance.
"The defense system here isn't just technology; it's an instinct integrated into daily life," Ye Mo murmured to himself. "Any unauthorized movement will immediately trigger a chain reaction."
He stopped and pretended to admire a roadside shop selling traditional masks. The shop window displayed various exquisitely carved masks, each one lifelike, as if telling an ancient story.
Ye Mo used thermal imaging to observe the shop's perspective structure. He discovered that a complex network of underground passages connected beneath the shop. These passages appeared to lead to various important nodes in the city, forming the underlying architecture of the entire city's defense system.
"Stop looking," Emma Frost whispered, "Staring at it for too long will attract attention."
Ye Mo withdrew his gaze, regaining his normal vision. He straightened his collar and glanced at his reflection in the shop window. At this moment, he was no longer the cunning transmigrator, but a ghost truly lurking within the belly of a giant beast.
Based on his previous observations of the city's layout, Ye Mo deduced that the coronation ceremony would be held in the Royal Square in the city center. That would be the most crowded place and also the area with relatively relaxed surveillance—because accommodating a large number of guests would inevitably cause congestion with large-scale scanning, so the security strategy would lean towards crowd control rather than in-depth screening.
"Let's go," Ye Mo said, his tone as casual as if discussing lunch, "Let's join in the fun."
The two met up, adjusted their breathing, and completely concealed their presence. They blended into a group of foreign delegations who were heading towards the square. The group was dressed elegantly and behaved impeccably; they were clearly envoys or dignitaries from various countries.
Ye Mo's eyes became deep and calm, a faint smile playing on his lips. He walked forward with steady steps, following the crowd.
The surrounding architecture grew increasingly magnificent, and the shimmering light of Vibranium shone dazzlingly in the sunlight. The trees lining the streets were neatly trimmed, their leaves displaying an unnatural green sheen. Occasionally, aircraft would streak overhead, leaving faint contrails before disappearing into the blue sky.
Ye Mo's Thermal Vision remained in low-power operation, closely monitoring changes in the surrounding heat sources. Whenever the density of a heat source increased, he would subconsciously adjust his pace to avoid potential eye contact.
Emma Frost followed closely behind, her demeanor elegant and natural, as if it were truly just a routine diplomatic visit. Her telepathic abilities were in listening mode, constantly monitoring the emotional fluctuations of those around her so she could react in advance to any unexpected situations.
The crowd gradually converged towards the center, and the music in the air became clearer and clearer. It was a powerful rhythm with strong drumbeats, accompanied by the sound of chorus, full of strength and a sense of ritual.
Ye Mo looked up and, through the gaps between the layers of buildings, saw the Royal Square in the distance. A huge viewing platform had been erected on the square, and golden flags fluttered in the wind.
That's where the goal lies.
What secrets lie hidden beneath this perfect facade?
Ye Mo clenched his fist, his knuckles turning slightly white. He showed no excitement or nervousness, but silently calculated the distance and planned his next move.
He knew that the real challenge was just beginning.
As the crowd surged forward, they moved step by step away from the outer perimeter of the cordon and headed towards the heart of Wakanda. The sunlight shone on them, warm and bright, but Ye Mo's heart was filled with coldness.
He glanced at Emma Frost beside him. Emma Frost was tilting her head slightly, listening to an elderly diplomat recount the history of Wakanda. She wore a polite smile, but her eyes were sharp as knives, scanning everything around her.
The two didn't need to say a word; their tacit understanding was already ingrained in their very bones.
Ahead, the gates of the Royal Square slowly opened, revealing a magnificent scene inside. Thousands upon thousands of people had gathered there, awaiting the arrival of the new king.
Ye Mo took a deep breath and stepped inside.