T'Challa, hearing that he could place an order, tentatively suggested a quantity: "How about one hundred doses?"
Hearing the number, Pakura appraised the Black Panther in front of her and remarked, "It seems you have even more Vibranium than I thought."
At this, both T'Challa and Okoye felt a surge of tension. They silently wondered if they had revealed too much Vibranium and if the Hidden Sand might double-cross them. Was he being too hasty?
As T'Challa's unease grew, Pakura continued, "A hundred doses are doable, but some preparation is needed since we don't have that much on hand."
"Let's do this. Give me your contact information, and we'll notify you once we're ready for the trade."
"However, I must warn you, a hundred doses are not a small amount. The physical enhancement serums come with a significant cost. If you back out, we'll find you wherever you are."
Although Pakura's last words were spoken gently, T'Challa felt a chilling murderous intent, causing him to break out in a cold sweat inside his Black Panther suit.
T'Challa quickly responded, "We won't back out. We need these serums and definitely want to complete the transaction."
"Good."
T'Challa took a notepad from the service counter, wrote down his contact information, and handed it to Pakura.
During their conversation, Okoye had efficiently packed all the physical enhancement serums into the custom-made box T'Challa had brought.
"The serums are all packed."
Pakura then took the Vibranium from the floor, weighed it to ensure the amount was correct, and said, "The transaction is complete."
T'Challa accepted the box from Okoye and said, "Since the trade is done, we'll take our leave."
With a smile, Pakura replied, "See you next time."
As T'Challa and Okoye left the Hidden Sand Puppet Shop, Pakura quickly formed hand seals and performed a summoning technique.
"Boom~"
A puff of smoke cleared, revealing Parker standing before Pakura.
Parker, looking at the Hidden Sand ninja, asked, "What's the matter?"
Parker didn't have much fondness for the Hidden Sand, but as one of Charles's summoning beasts, he wouldn't refuse to assist them since they were also serving Charles.
Pakura pointed at the Vibranium on the floor and the box of physical enhancement serums, asking, "Can you track the scent of the two who just left the shop?"
Parker rolled his eyes and said angrily, "You're underestimating me."
Parker sniffed around the shop floor, then the Vibranium, and the briefcase. He then said, "I have their scent. Do you want me to follow them?"
Pakura looked at Parker and replied, "Remember their scent. I need to report to Lord Charles first before deciding whether to track them."
Parker warned, "If we don't track them now, the scent will fade with time."
Pakura shook her head. "No, they will come back. I just want you to remember their scent for now."
With that assurance, Parker didn't say much more. "If there's nothing else, I'll head back. It's not good for others to see me here."
Parker then unsummoned himself and returned to Inuzuka Mountain in the summoning realm.
Watching Parker disappear, Pakura gazed at the Vibranium, preparing to report to Lord Charles. She even intended to seize all of the Black Panther's Vibranium if given the go-ahead.
Coming from a war-torn background, Pakura was far from merciful. She fully understood the value of Vibranium.
Such a precious resource shouldn't be in the hands of a weak individual.
Business transactions?
In Pakura's eyes, it was akin to a child flaunting gold in a market—if she didn't take it, she'd be failing herself.
Had it not been for Lord Charles's principle of honoring transactions, and his restraint from robbing S.H.I.E.L.D., Pakura would have acted first and reported later, robbing the Vibranium outright.
…
Meanwhile-
Just exiting the Hidden Sand Puppet Shop, T'Challa breathed a sigh of relief. He feared they might have been detained inside the shop.
Despite his Vibranium suit, he felt uneasy; it wasn't invincible. Even if he could withstand an attack and escape, what about Okoye and the others? They'd still be at risk.
"Okoye, tell everyone to get in the car and leave immediately."
"Yes, sir."
T'Challa took the box and sat in the back seat of the Maybach. The Royal Guard members quickly boarded their vehicles, forming a protective formation around T'Challa's car, and drove away.
Watching the convoy, Raina, who had been monitoring the situation, picked up her radio.
"The target has departed, heading towards the Brooklyn Bridge. Prepare for tracking."
"Roger that."
Several Cadillac SUVs followed the Maybach convoy from a distance. On the other side of the bridge, more vehicles were ready to join the pursuit.
Meanwhile, Barton and Natasha, flying the Quinjet, received an update from the ground team.
"Sky 3, be advised, the target has left the Hidden Sand Puppet Shop. We will transmit their route. Please intercept as soon as possible."
Natasha looked at the navigation display showing the target's route and asked, "Barton, how long until we reach the target?"
Barton checked their position and replied, "We'll be there in three minutes."
Natasha nodded, while Chen Haoran and Brock Rumlow, in the cabin, finished donning their combat gear, ready for action.
At this moment, T'Challa's convoy was already halfway across the bridge and was soon to leave the area.
Although they hadn't noticed the following vehicles, but SHIELD's ground setup hadn't escaped the notice of the nine stealth fighters in the sky.
One of the royal guard members piloting a stealth fighter used the aircraft's equipment to contact Okoye.
"Captain, there are three suspicious Cadillac SUVs following you, and three more identical SUVs are stationed at the end of the bridge."
"I suspect they're targeting Prince T'Challa."
Inside the Maybach, T'Challa and Okoye, upon hearing this report, immediately realized it was SHIELD again.
SHIELD agents typically used Cadillac SUVs, which were instantly identified by the fighters in the sky.
T'Challa instructed, "Once we exit the bridge, head straight for the base at full speed. The courtyard there is suitable for a fighter jet landing. If they follow us, take them out directly."
Okoye nodded, then ordered the airborne fighters to eliminate any enemies if they followed to the base.
Soon, the convoy exited the Brooklyn Bridge, and to T'Challa's surprise, SHIELD agents began intercepting them as soon as they did.
Two cars immediately blocked the road, and several heavily armed agents got out, ready to force T'Challa's convoy to stop.
The situation ahead was quickly reported to T'Challa. Seeing this, T'Challa ordered, "Drive through them. Don't stop for anything."
Following orders, the royal guard members not only didn't slow down but stepped on the gas, accelerating towards the blockade.
One SHIELD agent, holding a loudspeaker, shouted at the approaching convoy, "This is SHIELD! Vehicles ahead, stop and submit to inspection!"
But Dora, a royal guard member driving the lead Maybach, smirked, gripped the steering wheel, and drove straight ahead.
The SHIELD agent, seeing the vehicle not slowing down, immediately dove to the side and shouted, "They're breaking through! Stop them!"
"Boom!"
Dora rammed the Maybach into the two Cadillac SUVs blocking the road, pushing them aside and clearing a path for the convoy.
The five Wakandan vehicles, though not made of Vibranium, were fully armored with bulletproof glass. The collision only scratched the paint and didn't damage the bumper.
However, as the vehicles hadn't yet traveled far, the sound of gunfire erupted.
"Ratatatat!"
Twelve armed SHIELD agents instantly opened fire on the vehicles.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
But the bullets were futile. They only made metallic clinks and rebounded when hitting the armored vehicles and bulletproof glass.
"Damn, it's a high-level bulletproof car."
Dora glanced at the agents shooting in the rearview mirror and said disdainfully, "So primitive, still using such outdated weapons."
"Shoot the tires!"
"Sir, their tires are bulletproof too."
The Maybachs sped past the SHIELD agents. But as the third Maybach tried to break through, two agents tossed grenades under T'Challa's car.
"Boom! Boom!"
The grenades exploded precisely as the car passed over them, shaking it violently off course, causing it to crash into a nearby Cadillac.
Okoye struggled to regain control of the steering wheel but still collided with the other car, pushing it across the road.
In the next moment, the overturned Cadillac rolled across the ground. Okoye seized the opportunity, braked hard, swerved, and continued driving forward.
The leading three Maybachs quickly moved away, followed by the remaining two.
The three trailing SUVs didn't attack but kept tailing the convoy, ensuring they didn't lose sight of them.
In the last Maybach, a guard member said, "Open the sunroof, keep the car steady, I'll deal with the pursuers."
With the sunroof open, a guard member stood up, holding a spear. Extending half his body out, he aimed at the trailing Cadillac and activated the spear.
"Boom!"
A laser beam shot out from the spear, hitting the leading Cadillac SUV, instantly blowing its front end and turning it into a fireball.
The SHIELD agents in the remaining two vehicles, seeing the weapon, lost their initial cocky attitude and became tense.
"What is that, an alien weapon?"
But the guard didn't stop after destroying one car. Two more laser beams fired.
"Fwoosh! Fwoosh!"
"Boom! Boom!"
The remaining two SUVs exploded like the first, turned into fireballs.
The ground agents witnessing this scene were stunned. The enemy's technology seemed advanced, resembling the alien tech from the New York battle, though the weapon designs were different.
One agent picked up his radio and reported, "The target is armed with what appears to be alien laser weapons and has destroyed three of our vehicles and tracking personnel."
"Repeating, the target is armed with alien laser weapons and has destroyed three tracking vehicles."
"Their vehicles are high-level bulletproof. Street personnel ahead, prepare roadblocks."
At this moment, Barton piloted the Quinjet to intercept T'Challa's convoy. Inside, Natasha and others heard the ground agents' reports and frowned.
Natasha said, "Use the heavy machine gun to blow up their cars."
"The armor on their bulletproof vehicles can't withstand the aircraft's heavy machine gun."
Barton nodded. A heavy machine gun extended from the jet's belly, and Natasha began aiming.
Unbeknownst to Natasha and her team, the Wakandan fighters had already targeted them.
As the gun barrel extended, a laser weapon on a stealth fighter fired.
"Fwoosh!"
"Boom!"
At the last second, Barton's combat instincts kicked in, and he slightly veered the jet. The laser meant for the cockpit hit a turbine engine, causing an explosion.
With one turbine engine gone, the jet lost control and plummeted towards the ground, alarms blaring and red lights flashing on the control panel.
Having experienced a crash before, Barton tried to stabilize the aircraft for a smoother descent. But the jet spiraled downwards.
"Boom!"
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