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·Chapter 570: Harvest

Hearing Mei Terumi refer to the body-enhancing serums as low-tier items that she didn't carry with her, Nick Fury sighed.

The serums, something S.H.I.E.L.D. greatly desired, were considered mundane by her. Understanding her status, he accepted it.

After some further discussion, Fury agreed to provide Mei Terumi with a villa to serve as her base. In return, he proposed sending a female agent, Natasha Romanoff, to educate her on this world's knowledge and laws, hoping to foster future cooperation.

Mei Terumi did not refuse the offer for Natasha's assistance, recognizing the need for a better understanding of this world beyond what she had learned in the brief time in the summoning realm.

…

Back at the base-

Charles quickly received 500 energy blocks delivered by Natasha Romanoff from S.H.I.E.L.D. As for the 084 items, S.H.I.E.L.D. needed time to prepare them for Charles to select.

Natasha also provided the mission commission scroll from S.H.I.E.L.D. After completing her tasks, she promptly returned to S.H.I.E.L.D. for her new assignment.

Watching Natasha leave, Charles submitted the mission scroll to the mission assembly hall.

The system promptly responded with an assessment of the mission as S-rank.

"Ding! Obtained 20,000 reputation points, 5,000,000 copper coins, 30 gold coins, and one S/A ninja random fragment."

"Ding! Obtained one fragment of S-ninja Orochimaru!"

Having earned S-rank mission rewards effortlessly, Charles was very pleased. He looked at the 500 energy blocks and proceeded to use them or recharge with a wave of his hand.

"Ding! Successfully recharged, obtained 90,000 gold coins!"

Charles smiled, "It seems my Hidden Mist emergence plan was very successful. I've already earned 90,000 gold coins and five unknown value 084 items. This was a profitable venture."

After absorbing the energy blocks, Charles's consciousness entered the system interface. His focus shifted to the monthly limited ninja, B-rank Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin.

Although Jiraiya's recruitment required 16,800 gold coins, completing the Sannin title would likely yield achievement rewards, saving the 50,000 gold coins required to unlock a battle slot. Considering this, it was a worthwhile investment.

Moreover, Charles only needed Ino Yamanaka and Choji Akimichi to complete the Konoha Twelve, unlocking another achievement.

With a clear plan, Charles wasted no time and accessed the monthly limited ninja recruitment interface. He looked at the three available ninjas:

B-rank: Legendary Sannin - Jiraiya, 16,800 gold coins.

B-rank: Yamato, 16,800 gold coins.

B-rank: Kushina Uzumaki, 16,800 gold coins.

Charles immediately spent 16,800 gold coins to purchase B-rank Jiraiya, the Legendary Sannin.

As the 16,800 gold coins were deducted, a new screen appeared.

The next second, the image of Jiraiya, wearing the Konoha ninja headband, with two red markings under his eyes, appeared.

As the image of Jiraiya in battle armor, matching the attire of previously recruited Tsunade and Orochimaru, appeared, accompanied by the iconic phrase "No one disses on Jiraiya the Gallant and gets away with it!" Charles felt a sense of accomplishment.

"Congratulations on successfully recruiting the new B-rank ninja: Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin."

Charles immediately checked Jiraiya's skills.

Legendary Sannin - Jiraiya: B-rank Ninja

Star Level: Two stars

Basic Attack: Taijutsu Attack - Fire Release: Flame Bullet!

Substitution Jutsu: Wooden Substitution

Skills:

1. Toad Oil Bullet: Converts chakra into oil and spits it out in one go. The target hit will be covered in oil and slowed down. When combined with Fire Release techniques, the target will suffer continuous fire damage.

2. Ninja Art: Hair Needle Senbon: A secret defensive technique where Jiraiya hardens his silver hair, wrapping his body in it to attack nearby enemies. He can also release Needle to attack distant enemies.

3. Combination Ninjutsu - Fire Release: Great Flame Rasengan: A combination technique that releases a Fire Release: Flame Bullet forward, igniting a blazing flame, and then uses the rotating impact of the Rasengan to cause multiple layers of damage to the enemy.

Looking at the B-rank Jiraiya in front of him, Charles felt a sense of completion now that the Sannin trio was fully assembled. Although this Jiraiya was far from his peak strength, he was still a Kage-level powerhouse.

Charles believed that Jiraiya would definitely enjoy this world and would likely become good friends with Tony Stark.

Reflecting on Jiraiya, Charles thought about the powerful alternate versions: the toad-themed Jiraiya, the regular Jiraiya, and the Sage Mode Jiraiya. Combining all three S-rank Jiraiyas and merging their chakra could potentially create an incredibly powerful Jiraiya, possibly nearing Six Paths level strength.

However, upgrading them all to max stars was not an option due to the enormous number of fragments required.

Upon claiming Jiraiya, Charles's chakra increased by 5 units, reaching a total of 211 units.

With the recruitment complete, the system's notification sounded again.

"Ding! Congratulations to Charles Doyle for achieving the new milestone - The Legendary Sannin!"

Reward: One ninja deployment slot!

Seeing the system reward, Charles felt reassured, as it confirmed his expectations.

Charles then turned his attention to the remaining two monthly limited ninjas: Yamato and Kushina Uzumaki.

He was particularly interested in Yamato. Merging the ANBU Yamato with the Jonin Yamato could significantly boost Yamato's strength.

The fusion of two Wood Release bloodlines might enhance Yamato's Wood Release abilities, potentially doubling his chakra reserves.

For a ninja like Yamato, such a substantial increase in chakra in adulthood would greatly boost his overall power.

Having considered his options, Charles decided to spend 16,800 gold coins to purchase Jonin Yamato.

As the 16,800 gold coins were deducted, a new screen popped up.

At this moment, Yamato had taken off his ANBU mask and changed out of his ANBU outfit into a Konoha Jonin uniform. Next to him was a signature phrase: "Captain Yamato reporting!"

Congratulations, you have successfully recruited a new ninja: B-rank Jonin Yamato.

Charles immediately checked Yamato's skill details.

Yamato: B-rank ninja

Star Level: Two-star

Basic Attack: Mokuton Fluid Technique Attack!

Substitution Jutsu: Wood Substitution

Skills:

Mokuton: Giant Wooden Hammer: Creates a wood clone that jumps forward and transforms its arm into a wooden hammer, smashing the ground.

Mokuton: Rankaku no Jutsu: Produces a row of wooden spikes from the ground in front of the enemy.

Mokuton: Four-Pillar Prison Technique: Creates clusters of wooden spikes that push the enemy forward, then performs hand seals to create a giant wooden prison to trap the enemy inside. Finally, Yamato's arm transforms into a giant wooden hammer and smashes everything within the wooden prison. (Take your time to savor the terror of Mokuton!)

Looking at Yamato in front of him, Charles thought: Besides this Yamato, there's also another Yamato with the "Konoha Craftsman" title.

If merging the two Yamatoss doesn't fully unleash the power of Mokuton, then merging three Yamatoss should bring some glory to Mokuton. Hopefully, Captain Yamato won't disappoint me!

After clicking to receive the ninja, Charles's chakra increased by 5 units, reaching a total of 216 units. At the same time, his Wood Release kekkei genkai ability also began to enhance.

Charles could clearly sense the enhancement of his Wood Release kekkei genkai, although it hadn't reached the level of Hashirama Senju's Wood Release, it was closer to that direction.

After purchasing two ninjas without worrying about the deployment slots, Charles's gaze fell on the last person.

This person was none other than Uzumaki Kushina, Naruto Uzumaki's mother. However, Charles looked at his remaining coins, which totaled 58,115. While it was enough to buy a ninja, it wasn't enough to open a deployment slot.

…

On the other side-

For the past two months, Kakashi's team had traveled to many places, but the adventurer who originally discovered the crystal skull had long since died, leaving little useful information behind.

That day, Kakashi brought his team to a remote village in Australia to search for information about the crystal skull.

At this moment, Naruto saw an earthen house ahead with a sign that read "Kiss the Chef."

Naruto excitedly shouted, "Kakashi-sensei, there's a restaurant ahead!"

Sakura Haruno also saw the restaurant, but the earthen structure made her doubt there would be good food. Nonetheless, she turned to Sasuke Uchiha and asked,

"Sasuke-kun, are you hungry? Do you need to eat something?"

Kakashi glanced around the desolate area. With only this one restaurant nearby, he said, "We've been walking for a long time. Nearby there shouldn't be any other restaurants around. Let's replenish ourselves here,"

With Kakashi-sensei's approval, Naruto eagerly ran ahead and started knocking on the wooden door of the restaurant.

As Naruto knocked, an Asian man with a strong build, wearing an apron and covered in flour, opened the door.

The person who appeared was none other than Gilgamesh from the Eternals.

Gilgamesh looked at the young man with a group of three kids and smiled, saying, "We have guests, it seems. What would you like to eat?"

Naruto looked at the burly Gilgamesh and smiled, "Uncle, what good food do you have here? We've been hungry for a long time."

Gilgamesh glanced at Naruto and thought he seemed like a very sunny child. "The wind is strong outside. Come inside first."

He stepped aside, allowing Naruto to enter.

Naruto glanced back at the slowly approaching group and called out, "Kakashi-sensei, Sakura, Sasuke, there is really a restaurant. Come on over."

With that, he went inside.

Once inside, Naruto saw a large dining table and immediately found a seat. Meanwhile, Kakashi led Sasuke and Sakura over. Standing at the entrance, Kakashi addressed the chef, "Sorry to trouble you, but we need to dine here and replenish some food supplies."

Gilgamesh smiled, "It's no trouble. This place is quite remote, and we rarely get visitors."

As everyone settled in, Naruto called out, "Uncle, where's the menu? I can't see one."

"I don't get many customers, so I haven't made a menu," Gilgamesh replied. "But I have a variety of foods like pizza, pie, steak, bread, and also juices and wines."

Kakashi looked at him and said, "If it's convenient, could you bring one of each? We have big appetites."

"No problem at all."

"By the way, can we pay with dollars here?"

"Yes, you can."

Gilgamesh headed to the kitchen to prepare the food.

As Naruto sat, he noticed Sakura constantly staring at Sasuke, which made him unhappy. He then addressed Sasuke, "Sasuke, it's been so long and we haven't found any clues for this mission. Do you have any ideas?"

Sasuke crossed his arms and propped his chin on his hands, thinking for a moment before responding, "Since Lord Charles said the Golden City really exists and isn't just a legend, we should continue following the records."

"When will we ever find it? You were the genius of our class. Can't you use your intelligence so we can finish this mission sooner?"

"I heard there are more ninjas back at the base. Don't you want to go back sooner?"

Sasuke was at a loss for words. He was indeed the top graduate, but Naruto's current strength was nothing to scoff at either.

Sakura chimed in, "Naruto, we only have one crystal skull, no map, no coordinates, just some legends we've gathered. Asking Sasuke to come up with a solution is unfair."

Seeing Sakura side with Sasuke, Naruto huffed, feeling even more frustrated.

Meanwhile, Kakashi looked at his three students and thought, "Future me, why did you take these three as students?"

However, Naruto and the others' conversation was overheard by Gilgamesh in the kitchen. He thought to himself, "The Golden City? Isn't that just an alien spaceship?"

"Why are these kids looking for that? And the ship hasn't left Earth yet. I wonder if it can still be activated."

Pushing those thoughts aside, Gilgamesh focused on cooking.

Soon, one dish after another was prepared and brought to the table.

·Chapter 571: Kakashi's face20 may 2024As dish after dish was placed on the table, Naruto Uzumaki shouted excitedly, "Let's eat!"

Kakashi, still wearing his mask, said to everyone, "Dig in!"

The four of them started enjoying the food, while Gilgamesh sat at a nearby table, watching them eat.

While eating, Naruto kept glancing at Kakashi, still curious about his teacher's face hidden behind the mask.

Sasuke and Sakura noticed Naruto's curiosity and soon, all three of them were staring at Kakashi, whose mask obscured his face.

Not only Naruto, but even Sasuke and Sakura had never seen Kakashi's bare face. Kakashi felt their gazes but didn't seem to mind. Gilgamesh, also intrigued, watched Kakashi, wondering how the masked man would eat.

Kakashi took a piece of beef with his chopsticks, then swiftly used his left hand to pull down his mask, popped the beef into his mouth, and pulled the mask back up, all in a flash.

The speed of his movements left Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura unable to see his face. However, Gilgamesh, with his enhanced perception, saw Kakashi's face clearly and thought, "This guy is pretty handsome."

Kakashi noticed the disappointed looks on their faces and smirked slightly, though his mask hid his expression.

"Sharingan, activate!" Sasuke suddenly activated his Sharingan, focusing intently on Kakashi. He believed that with his Sharingan, he could keep up with Kakashi's speed and see his face.

Sweat formed on Kakashi's forehead as he thought, "This is getting out of hand."

Seeing Sasuke's Sharingan, Naruto had a realization. "Right, I can do this too."

In the next moment, Naruto's pupils turned into fox-like slits, and the Nine-Tails' chakra emanated from his body. Kakashi stiffened at the sight.

Gilgamesh observed the group, noting that none of them were ordinary people. Each, except for the girl, possessed significant power.

The atmosphere became tense. At this moment, Kakashi finally pulled down his mask and started eating normally.

Sakura's mouth dropped open, and she exclaimed, "Wow, Kakashi-sensei is so handsome!"

Sasuke, on the other hand, felt a bit disappointed, thinking, "So he's not buck-toothed."

Naruto's expression mirrored Sasuke's disappointment, internally thinking, "Not sausage lips? That's a letdown."

Kakashi noticed the disappointed looks on Sasuke and Naruto's faces and internally grumbled, "These kids, what's with the disappointed expressions?"

At this moment, the door of the restaurant opened, and Thena, who lived with Gilgamesh, entered.

Thena glanced at Kakashi and the others without much interest and said to Gilgamesh, "It's rare to have guests today."

Gilgamesh smiled and replied, "I am the chef of this restaurant. It's normal to have guests."

Thena laughed and sat next to Gilgamesh, taking a bite out of an apple from the table.

Sasuke, having seen Kakashi's true face, deactivated his Sharingan. Beside him, Naruto also dispelled the Nine-Tails' chakra, returning to his normal state.

The four of them then resumed eating their meal normally, with Sakura occasionally stealing glances at Kakashi and then at Sasuke.

After they finished eating, Kakashi looked over at Gilgamesh and said, "Boss, could you prepare some food that's easy to carry and preserve?"

"Sure, no problem."

As Kakashi spoke, Sasuke glanced at the two people sitting at the nearby table. What he saw made him frown slightly, thinking to himself, "If I'm not mistaken, isn't she the one who was killed by Rock Lee with a single punch?"

He recognized Thena that resembled Fox from the Assassin's Guild, who had been killed during a mission when they tracked Wesley. Fox had appeared and shot at Wesley, but was killed by Rock Lee.

Thena, sensing Sasuke's gaze, looked over and raised an eyebrow. "Kid, what are you staring at?"

Sasuke hesitated for a moment before saying, "You look a lot like someone I once met. Do you have a twin sister?"

Thena stood up and approached Sasuke, smiling. "Kid, if you're trying to flirt, you need to grow up a bit first."

She then glanced at Kakashi and added, "At least be as old as this guy."

With that, Thena turned and left the room.

Sakura, watching this unfold, had a little voice in her head saying, "Could it be that Sasuke-kun likes this kind of mature woman? Is this some kind of Oedipus complex?"

She looked down at herself and thought, "No way, Sasuke-kun wouldn't like such a woman. I must be misunderstanding him."

Kakashi's gaze also shifted to Sasuke and Thena. He knew Sasuke must have noticed something, but he didn't speak up.

Sasuke then snapped out of his thoughts, feeling annoyed. "What nonsense are you talking about, woman?"

But Thena had already left the restaurant, not paying any attention to Sasuke's words.

Soon, Gilgamesh brought out the packed food. "These are all foods that can be stored for a long time and should meet your needs."

"Thank you."

Kakashi took the packed food, paid, and left the restaurant with his team.

After walking some distance from the restaurant, Kakashi looked back at the now distant dot that was the restaurant and asked, "Sasuke, what do you think about that lady?"

---

·Chapter 572: Incredible Future

Sasuke looked at Kakashi and began to speak:

"Two years ago, I was on a mission with Rock Lee. At that time, we were protecting Wesley and had to kill a woman from an opposing faction."

Kakashi pondered for a moment, recalling that Wesley is one of Lord Charles's subordinate.

"That woman looked exactly like the one we encountered today," Sasuke continued. "I suspect she is the same person. In this world, it's impossible for two people to look exactly alike."

"However, I don't know how she could have been resurrected. I checked her body back then and confirmed she was dead."

Hearing Sasuke's words, Sakura breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, "Thank goodness Sasuke-kun doesn't like that type of woman."

Naruto, curious as always, suggested, "Maybe Rock Lee didn't actually kill her. Maybe she was just knocked out."

Sasuke shook his head. "My examination was thorough. She was definitely dead."

Naruto wanted to say more, but Kakashi interjected, "Lord Charles has always emphasized that this world contains different kinds of power. Perhaps someone revived her, or maybe they aren't the same person after all."

"Whatever the truth is, we'll report this situation back. The High Table is better equipped to handle investigations and record-keeping than we are. Once they look into it, we'll know the truth."

Sasuke nodded. As a member of the High Table, he could directly order an investigation into someone's background.

"Alright, let's not dwell on this too much. Our main task is to find the Golden Kingdom. Lord Charles mentioned this mission is tied to your Chunin exams. Completing it will allow you to be promoted to Chunin."

Naruto was the most excited upon hearing about the Chunin promotion. "Great! I'll definitely find this place."

Sakura also smiled with joy, but Sasuke remained indifferent. Having been in this world longer than the others and already surpassing Chunin-level strength, he didn't care much about the promotion. However, considering that Obito was a Chunin, Sasuke felt he couldn't lag behind his clan member.

Kakashi led the members of Team 7 as they resumed their journey to find the Golden Kingdom.

…

Meanwhile, on the other side:

Charles Doyle, after some contemplation, decided not to purchase Kushina Uzumaki immediately. His current funds were insufficient. Besides, with Naruto away, there wasn't an urgent need.

Charles believed that by the end of the month, he would have enough coins to recruit Kushina. If he has enough coins, he could also bring in a young Minato Namikaze, giving Naruto a complete family.

He wondered if the young Minato would feel a bit awkward about suddenly becoming a father, considering that during this period, Kushina was just his girlfriend and not yet pregnant.

With his plan set, Charles spent 50,000 coins to unlock a new battle slot. He then materialized Asuma Sarutobi and one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya.

…

After receiving the message from Charles, Orochimaru, Tsunade, Shikamaru and Anbu Yamato entered the conference room.

Tsunade spotted the two new arrivals. She didn't immediately recognize Asuma Sarutobi, but her eyes quickly landed on Jiraiya.

Seeing Jiraiya, Tsunade broke into a smile and promptly delivered a punch to his chest.

"Jiraiya, you're finally here, brought over by Lord Charles. Now our team of three is complete."

Orochimaru greeted him as well, "Jiraiya, long time no see!"

Jiraiya clutched the spot where Tsunade had hit him, yelling, "Ouch, you violent woman!"

"And it hasn't been that long. You just disappeared from my sight, and not even two seconds later, Lord Charles brought me over too."

Tsunade and Orochimaru quickly noticed Jiraiya's attire and understood the situation.

"That's your perspective. We've been in this world for quite some time now."

In the conference room, Charles spoke up, "Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya is your friend, so I leave him in your hands."

"Orochimaru, make sure to teach Jiraiya about the essential knowledge of this world."

"Yes, Lord Charles."

Tsunade, taking on the role of the big sister, said energetically, "Follow me, Jiraiya."

"Let's have a good reunion first. Later, Orochimaru will catch you up on this world's knowledge."

With that, Tsunade and Orochimaru led Jiraiya out of the conference room.

Meanwhile, Asuma Sarutobi was wide-eyed. He had just seen his father's murderer, Orochimaru, chatting and laughing with Tsunade and Jiraiya.

Although he wasn't entirely sure about his initial suspicions based on their appearances and attire, his mind was struggling to make sense of the situation.

"Shikamaru, this is your teacher, Asuma Sarutobi."

"I'll leave him to you. It's your responsibility to teach him the common knowledge here."

"Yes, Lord Charles."

Asuma's gaze fell on Shikamaru. Recognizing his student, he was relieved and surprised to see him in this world. Now, Shikamaru would be the one to explain things to him, which was fortunate as Asuma had many questions.

As Shikamaru and Asuma left, the conference room was left with only Anbu Yamato.

Yamato looked at Lord Charles, standing quietly without saying a word.

Charles then entered the system space and took down Anbu Yamato from the battle slot.

"Confirm retrieval of Anbu Yamato?"

"Yes!"

With Charles's confirmation, Anbu Yamato in the conference room began to turn transparent and slowly faded away.

Looking at the ninja cards of Anbu Yamato and Jonin Yamato, Charles decided to fuse them.

"Confirm fusion of Anbu Yamato and Jonin Yamato ninja cards?"

"Yes!"

With Charles's actions, the cards fused into a single entity: Yamato (Fused).

After the fusion was complete, Charles opened the ninja details to take a look. He noticed that Yamato's appearance had matured significantly, making him look older and more experienced. Additionally, his ninjutsu skills had increased. Most importantly, Charles found that Yamato's chakra reserves had more than doubled.

This increase was due to combining Jonin Yamato, who had reached his peak, with his Anbu self. The only thing left to confirm was whether Yamato's Wood Release (Mokuton) techniques had also improved.

After reviewing Yamato's ninja card, Charles placed him back in the battle slot.

"Please choose the specific location to deploy Yamato (Fused): previous location within three meters - any position - random deployment!"

"Previous location!"

With Charles's choice, Yamato reappeared in the conference room, but with noticeable changes in his attire and appearance.

The newly materialized Yamato stood motionless, as Charles knew he was absorbing his merged memories. As the combined memories from his future flashed through his mind like a movie, Yamato was astonished by all the events that had transpired.

The Third Hokage's death, Orochimaru's betrayal and killing of his teacher, Tsunade becoming the Fifth Hokage, and Yamato himself leading Team 7—all these events were beyond belief.

Yamato took a moment to sense his new strength, realizing that he was now far stronger than he had ever been, whether as an Anbu or as the Jonin in charge of Team 7.

Kneeling on one knee, Yamato respectfully said, "Thank you, Lord Charles, for this second chance."

"Rise, Yamato."

"Now, go to Training Ground 2. I want to see if your Wood Release abilities have improved."

"Yes, Lord Charles!"

With that, Yamato left the conference room and headed to Training Ground 2, eager to test his enhanced abilities.

---

·Chapter 573: The Frozen Steve Rogers

Training Ground 2-

Yamato lay on the ground, pale and exhausted. The training ground had been thoroughly ravaged, with the earth churned up multiple times and remnants of Wood Release techniques—tree stumps and scattered wood—scattered around.

Charles observed Yamato's collapsed form with a satisfied nod. Yamato's power had indeed increased significantly, now almost reaching the level of a Kage.

With his Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, he could hold his own against typical Kage-level opponents and was particularly formidable against Jinchuriki and tailed beasts, potentially even surpassing them.

"Yamato, how does your current strength compare to the Yamato in your memories?" Charles inquired.

Yamato stood up, took a moment to assess, and then replied, "Compared to the Yamato in my memories, my overall strength has significantly improved."

"The increase in chakra reserves and the enhanced power of my Kekkei Genkai have made my ninjutsu much more potent. I also feel that my Wood Release has untapped potential that, with further training, could lead to even greater strength."

Charles nodded in approval. "It's good that your strength has improved. Continue to train diligently and elevate your abilities further."

Glancing around at the devastated training ground, Charles added, "But before that, I have a task for you: restore Training Ground 2."

Yamato surveyed the area and nodded respectfully. "Yes, Lord Charles."

…

Time flew by.

A week passed quickly. The Long Island incident in New York had become a heated topic online.

Despite efforts by the NYPD and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to disperse the crowd, numerous witnesses had seen the events unfold on the beach. Names like Flame Warrior and Shinobi Immortal were once again dominating media headlines.

S.H.I.E.L.D.-

In the underground research facility housing the Tesseract, Nick Fury held a vial of Felix Felicis, the luck potion acquired through a deal with Charles.

He planned to give this potion to Dr. Erik Selvig, who was researching the Tesseract, to see if the luck it provided could benefit scientific endeavors.

"Dr. Selvig, I have something here that is said to bring good luck when conducting experiments," Fury said as he approached.

Dr. Selvig glanced at Fury and chuckled, "Director, you must be joking."

Fury's expression remained serious. "I am not joking. This is a very special item called Felix Felicis. It can make the person who consumes it very lucky for the next twelve hours. I believe this luck could greatly aid in our research."

Dr. Selvig, seeing Fury's earnestness, pondered for a moment before responding, "An artifact from Asgard?"

Fury considered the comparison before replying, "Not quite, but it's similar."

Hearing this, Dr. Selvig's interest was piqued. If the potion were claimed to be their own creation, he might be skeptical. However, if it was something from Asgard, he was more inclined to believe it.

Dr. Selvig took the crystal vial of Felix Felicis from Nick Fury, examining it curiously. "Any special instructions?"

"Just consume it normally," Fury replied. "After that, immerse yourself in the research on the Tesseract. It should bring you good luck."

Dr. Selvig uncorked the vial, peering at the small amount of liquid inside before downing it in one gulp. "Not bad," he remarked, "it tastes better than I expected."

As the luck potion took effect, Dr. Selvig resumed his work on the Tesseract. Fury watched intently as the scientist's research progressed with remarkable smoothness.

Calculations flowed effortlessly, and soon, Dr. Selvig began scribbling equations on a nearby whiteboard with newfound inspiration.

Suddenly, Dr. Selvig exclaimed, "Iridium! It might stabilize the Tesseract."

"I need to run a few simulations," he added excitedly.

Nick Fury nodded in satisfaction, watching the once-stalled research now moving forward with ease. Charles Doyle's resources were proving invaluable once again.

Fury mused about the potential benefits if Charles's faction could be fully integrated into their organization, but for now, he was content with the current collaboration.

Leaving Dr. Selvig to his work, Fury turned and exited the facility.

…

Meanwhile, in the Arctic-

After weeks of searching, Kabuto had finally found his target. Beneath the icy surface lay a figure clad in the iconic star-spangled uniform. Without his sensory abilities, Kabuto might never have discovered the frozen body of Steve Rogers.

Staring at the ice beneath him, Kabuto's curiosity grew. The man below was in a state resembling hibernation, having survived over sixty years in the ice without perishing. Kabuto was intrigued by America's first super-soldier.

Looking over at the agents still scanning the area with their instruments, Kabuto called out, "Ward, Coulson."

Both agents turned towards him simultaneously. "What's up?" they asked.

Kabuto crouched and pointed at the ice. "Look at what I've found."

Ward and Coulson hurried over. Coulson crouched beside Kabuto, peering into the ice while wiping away the snow with his hand.

"Kabuto, I don't see anything but ice," Coulson said, puzzled.

Ward frowned, also seeing nothing unusual.

Kabuto looked up at them and said, "Beneath the ice is our target."

Coulson's eyes widened. "You mean Captain Steve Rogers is down there?"

Kabuto nodded. "There's a man in a star-spangled uniform. If no one else got frozen here, it must be him."

Coulson immediately signaled the excavation team and turned back to Kabuto. "How deep?"

"Ten meters."

Coulson nodded, and the agents began operating the heavy equipment to start the excavation.

---

·Chapter 574: Hydra's Target

After a period of intense excavation, the team finally uncovered the ice-encased figure of Steve Rogers. The sight of the frozen Captain America left everyone astonished.

The team members couldn't fathom how Kabuto had detected a person hidden beneath ten meters of ice.

Agent Coulson, gazing at the frozen figure of Captain America, couldn't contain his excitement. "Be careful," he instructed. "Handle the captain's body with utmost care."

Kabuto glanced at the partially unearthed Steve Rogers and remarked, "Coulson, the Captain is still alive."

"What?" Coulson's disbelief was evident as he turned to Kabuto.

Ward, standing nearby, frowned slightly at the notion. The idea that Captain America was still alive seemed implausible.

"Kabuto, are you certain this person encased in ice is alive?" Coulson asked.

Kabuto nodded. "Yes, but if they continue chiseling like this, I can't guarantee his survival."

Immediately, Coulson shouted, "Stop, everyone, stop!"

The workers halted their excavation, and Coulson turned to Kabuto for guidance. "What should we do?"

Kabuto pondered for a moment before replying, "From what I can sense, he's in a unique state. The ice has both encased and protected him. We need to extract the entire block of ice with him still inside, keeping him in his frozen state."

Taking Kabuto's advice, Coulson directed the team to proceed with the delicate extraction. Soon, a massive ice block containing Steve Rogers was carefully cut and prepared for transport.

Coulson organized for a Quinjet to retrieve the ice block, ensuring the Captain's preservation during the journey back to headquarters.

Aboard the Quinjet, Coulson turned to Kabuto and said, "You've done an excellent job, Kabuto. I'll make sure the SHIELD recognizes your contribution. Is there anything specific you want as a reward?"

With a bright smile, Kabuto responded, "If possible, I'd like to exchange for a couple of jutsu from the Charles Agency."

Coulson's interest piqued. "Have you mastered the jutsu you obtained last time?"

Kabuto nodded. "Yes, I've fully mastered it."

"Alright, I'll put in a request with the Director," Coulson assured him.

…

S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters-

In his office, Nick Fury received Coulson's update. Learning that Steve Rogers had been located and, according to Kabuto, was potentially still alive brought a smile to Fury's face.

"Alive. Alive is good," Fury mused. A living Steve Rogers held immense value. Not only could they extract and study his blood for the super-soldier serum, but they could also reintegrate him into active duty once he awoke.

Holding a living legend like Steve Rogers could also serve as a significant political asset.

"Things just keep getting better," Fury thought to himself, satisfied with the recent developments.

…

Meanwhile, at a Hydra Base-

Alexander Pierce reviewed a report in his hands. "So, all of Wakanda's vibranium was stolen by Ulysses Klaue thirty years ago?"

"Yes, sir," his subordinate confirmed.

"And what happened to this stolen vibranium?" Pierce inquired further.

"The vibranium stolen by Ulysses Klaue has already been sold over the years, turning it into his wealth," the subordinate reported.

Pierce shook his head. "It's impossible that he stole all of it. Wakanda continues to supply a small amount of vibranium to the Five Great Powers each year. Although they claim this is their last stock, I believe they have more."

"Send a squad of Winter Soldiers to negotiate with King T'Chaka of Wakanda. I'm confident we will achieve some results."

"Yes, sir," the subordinate responded.

Pierce continued, "S.H.I.E.L.D.'s experiment on body enhancement has failed. I have arranged for the experimental data to be retrieved. Our task is to build upon their research."

"After thoroughly understanding their data, we will continue their progress with our own experiments. With our experience, I believe our results will be even more powerful."

"Understood, sir."

Pierce glanced at his subordinate and declared, "Hail Hydra!"

"Hail Hydra!" the subordinate echoed.

…

Meanwhile, at Tony Stark's Beachside Mansion-

Charles had brought Jiraiya to Tony's mansion.

"Tony, let me introduce you to a new partner: Jiraiya, one of the Three Legendary Sannin from Konoha."

"Jiraiya, this is my friend Tony Stark—superhero, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist."

Tony looked at the man before him, with long white hair, a floral shirt, and wooden clogs. He pulled Charles aside and whispered, "One of the Legendary Sannin? Is this guy as strong as Tsunade?"

Charles nodded, and Tony relaxed before stepping forward to shake Jiraiya's hand. "I'm Tony Stark."

Jiraiya shook his hand warmly. "Nice to meet you, I'm Jiraiya."

Charles turned to Tony. "Jiraiya is new here and not familiar with our world. Can you show him around and introduce him to our world?"

Tony nodded. "Where's he from?"

Charles smiled but didn't elaborate. Tony assumed Jiraiya was from a magical world unfamiliar with Earth's modern society.

"Okay, leave it to me! But I have one condition—Jiraiya has to help me test a new armor I've been developing."

"Testing armor? No problem," Jiraiya agreed cheerfully.

Seeing Jiraiya's willingness, Charles said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I won't stay long. Jiraiya is in your hands."

Tony looked at Charles with surprise. "I'm hosting a party tonight. Won't you stay?"

Charles shook his head. "No, I need to visit S.H.I.E.L.D. to handle some issues."

"Alright, I won't delay you then. Next time, you're invited."

Charles waved goodbye to Tony and Jiraiya and left.

As Charles departed, Jiraiya turned to Tony with a grin. "What kind of party is it tonight? Lots of beautiful women?"

Understanding immediately, Tony laughed. "A swimsuit party with all the top models! How does that sound?"

Jiraiya, having learned about models and cover girls during his brief time in this world, grinned widely. "Sounds great! I'm looking forward to it."

Tony laughed heartily. "You're an interesting guy. But I have one condition—you have to cooperate seriously during my new armor test."

"No problem," Jiraiya agreed.

"Alright, it's a deal."

---

·Chapter 575: The Businessman

A week had passed since Tony hosted his pool party, and Jiraiya had become a regular visitor to Tony's mansion, frequenting it even more often than Kankuro.

He was practically living there.

Tony was also delighted to have a free ninja to help him test his new suits of armor.

During this time, Charles selected five 084 objects from S.H.I.E.L.D. However, since their value couldn't be determined before charging, he chose based on instinct.

Ultimately, these five objects yielded only 10,000 gold coins, which disappointed Charles.

Their value paled in comparison to the energy produced by the Tesseract. Despite this, Charles decided not to dwell on it but instead to find another way to benefit from S.H.I.E.L.D.

…

Meanwhile-

A Hydra squad had arrived in Wakanda under the guise of a business collaboration. They were in a seemingly impoverished town, which Wakanda presented as its capital to outsiders.

Fehr, the leader of this Hydra squad, was not a Winter Soldier but the mission's overseer.

The mission was to acquire a significant amount of vibranium. Fehr's plan was to negotiate peacefully first, and if that failed, resort to force.

However, he believed their large orders and financial aid would easily accomplish the mission.

…

In the royal palace of Wakanda, a soldier reported to King T'Chaka.

"King T'Chaka, a businessman has arrived at the border with over a billion dollars' worth of orders. He requests an audience with you."

T'Chaka chuckled, "It is rare for outsiders to seek cooperation with Wakanda. Let's see what they want."

Prince T'Challa spoke up, "Father, could this be a trap?"

T'Chaka smiled at his son, "For such a poor country like ours, it is indeed suspicious that someone comes with such a large order."

T'Challa glanced outside the kingdom, thinking of their supposed poverty. "Father, we should bring the guard."

T'Chaka looked at his son, "T'Challa, you and Okoye will come with me. You must learn to deal with such people in the future."

T'Chaka, his son T'Challa, Okoye, and a group of royal guards boarded a plane to the outskirts of Wakanda.

…

In the reception hall-

Fehr waited until the doors opened. The royal guards, armed with spears, entered and stood like statues. Then, King T'Chaka and T'Challa entered the room.

Fehr observed the guards' strange attire and spears, noting their apparent backwardness.

His eyes then settled on the two men who entered.

Upon seeing them, Fehr recognized the older man as King T'Chaka of Wakanda and the younger man holding a panther head mask as Prince T'Challa.

He found it amusing that the prince had such an attraction for panthers, even bringing a mask to a business meeting.

Fehr stood and greeted them, "Your Majesty, King T'Chaka. Your Highness, Prince T'Challa."

T'Chaka surveyed the four people in the meeting room, finally focusing on Fehr with a smile. "On behalf of Wakanda, I welcome you, Mr. Fehr Wills."

Prince T'Challa also greeted him, "Mr. Fehr Wills, welcome."

T'Chaka then said, "Mr. Wills, I understand you have brought a significant order for our Trade Department?"

"Your Majesty, Wakanda is primarily an agrarian and pastoral nation, growing large quantities of crops and raising cattle and sheep. My company is interested in purchasing your agricultural products and livestock, and we are looking to establish a long-term partnership."

T'Chaka, still smiling, responded, "Mr. Wills, I believe your desire to meet me is not solely about these commercial orders. If it were, your offer would not be so generous, nor would you have requested a personal audience with me."

Fehr's company had offered prices five percent above the market rate, rather than trying to drive prices down. This five percent increase represented a significant profit on such a large order.

Fehr smiled back, "Your Majesty, you are correct. We do have a small request, but we are willing to compensate you for your assistance."

T'Chaka prompted, "Go on, what is this request?"

"I would like to purchase a batch of vibranium at the market price of $20,000 per gram. We don't need a large amount, just $5 million worth."

Fehr was uncertain how much vibranium T'Chaka had left, but his intelligence suggested it wasn't much.

T'Chaka's expression turned apologetic, "I'm sorry, Mr. Wills. Since Ulysses Klaue stole vibranium from Wakanda 25 years ago, we have no surplus stock."

Fehr shook his head, "Your Majesty, I know that you have continued trading vibranium with the five major nations over the years. We only need 25 kilograms. I believe this amount won't strain your resources."

"Our company is willing to support Wakanda with infrastructure development, offer low-interest or even interest-free loans, and engage in long-term trade for agricultural products and livestock over the next five years."

T'Challa, sitting beside his father, was impressed by Fehr's generous offer. Having studied at Oxford University, he has a clear understanding of the value of money and saw the sincerity in Fehr's proposal.

However, T'Chaka remained unmoved, "We no longer have any remaining vibranium. All our vibranium has been pre-ordered by the five major nations, and these transactions will conclude in five years."

Fehr frowned, realizing that Wakanda's vibranium supply was indeed running low, with only five years' worth of transactions left. This complicated matters significantly.

---

·Chapter 576: Really Not Giving Me a Chance?

"Your Majesty," Fehr continued, "since the transactions with the five major nations will only conclude in five years, that means negotiations are still ongoing. This leaves room for discussion, doesn't it?"

"We're willing to pay a higher price than the five major nations. With this money, not only will your royal family benefit, but your people will also enjoy a better quality of life."

"You could reduce the annual output slightly or cancel the last year's transactions with the five major nations. This wouldn't be too difficult for you, would it?"

Fehr suggested his plan, hoping to achieve his goal through simple commercial transactions. However, if the other party refused, he would resort to using force.

King T'Chaka frowned slightly at Fehr's suggestion. It seemed yet another power was eyeing their vibranium.

For the past 25 years, they had meticulously laid out a plan to convince the world that Wakanda's vibranium was exhausted. In five more years, the world would finally believe it.

T'Chaka had no intention of abandoning this long-term plan for a bit of profit. Wakanda didn't lack money or orders, and the offer of basic infrastructure aid was laughable; Wakanda was far more advanced than the outside world.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Wills, but despite your sincerity and tempting offer, I truly have no vibranium left. Additionally, Wakanda cannot afford to offend the five major nations."

"Perhaps the major nations still have unused vibranium; you might consider purchasing from them."

Fehr's smile faded as he realized the king was not only refusing him but also suggesting he negotiate with the major nations. His expression turned serious as he asked, "Your Majesty, are you really not giving me a chance?"

T'Chaka shook his head. "I'm sorry, it seems our paths do not align. Wakanda cannot engage in this cooperation."

Fehr's face showed a hint of disappointment as he said, "Why refuse a good business deal and force me to resort to violence?"

"Seize the king and the prince."

At Fehr's command, the three Winter Soldiers with him immediately sprang into action.

T'Chaka sensed the imminent danger as Fehr gave the order, but he remained calm. His son, T'Challa, had already become the Black Panther and inherited the suit.

T'Chaka, though without the Black Panther suit, had also consumed the Heart-Shaped Herb, granting him significant combat abilities despite his age. Additionally, they were accompanied by a team of elite Royal Guards.

Two Winter Soldiers lunged at T'Chaka and T'Challa, while the third charged at the spear-wielding women.

However, what happened next made Fehr's eyes widen in shock.

Instead of cutting through the Wakandan defenders like butter, the Winter Soldiers found themselves locked in fierce, evenly-matched combat.

Wakandan Prince T'Challa put on the panther-themed helmet, revealing the full might of the Black Panther.

Realizing something was amiss, Fehr quickly pressed the Bluetooth earpiece in his ear and shouted, "Situation changed, requesting backup. Repeat, situation changed, requesting backup!"

T'Challa, now transformed into Black Panther, extended his claws and lunged at the soldier wielding a knife.

The first Winter Soldier slashed rapidly at T'Challa, but instead of flesh, the knife met the resistance of his Black Panther suit, emitting the sound of metal clashing.

His outer suit shredded, revealing the Black Panther armor underneath, which he had worn beneath his disguise.

With a powerful punch, T'Challa struck the Winter Soldier in the chest, sending him crashing into the meeting room table. He swiftly followed up with a leap, re-engaging his foe.

Meanwhile, T'Chaka, lacking the Black Panther suit which he had passed on to his son, still held his own thanks to the Heart-Shaped Grass's strength.

Though older, he matched the Winter Soldier's combat prowess. Without access to firearms due to pre-meeting checks, he skillfully defended himself despite the difficulty.

The Royal Guard, equipped with vibranium weapons, initially held back, making their spears look like as regular weapons.

But facing a tough opponent, Okoye, the head of the Royal Guard, decided to unleash the true power of their vibranium weapons. Her spear emitted a laser beam, striking Winter Soldier in front of her and sending him crashing into the wall.

Seeing Okoye utilize vibranium technology, the other guards followed suit, their spears now firing lasers. The injured Winter Soldiers were quickly riddled with holes, their lives extinguished.

Fehr's eyes widened in shock. "What... what kind of weapons are these?"

This wasn't the impoverished Wakanda he had assumed. The panther-headed warrior dominated his soldiers, and the king held his ground. There were secrets here that needed to be reported to the organization.

Outside Wakanda's city, an armed helicopter took off from the jungle, targeting Fehr and his team's building. A missile was launched.

Inside, T'Challa had just defeated Winter Soldier One and moved to his father's side. The Royal Guard rallied around King T'Chaka, taking over his opponent.

T'Chaka addressed his son, "Capture Fehr. I need to know who's targeting us."

"Yes, father!"

Before T'Challa could act, a missile struck the building.

"Boom!"

In the explosion's aftermath, T'Challa shielded his father from the blast, taking the brunt of the shockwave.

The Royal Guards weren't as fortunate; they were thrown by the explosion. Their vibranium armor protected them from fatal harm, but without full-body coverage, they were still injured.

Of the six guards, two died instantly, and the remaining four were severely hurt.

Cradling his father, T'Challa anxiously called out, "Father, father, are you alright?"

---

·Chapter 577: Capture Him Alive

The conference room had turned into rubble, but thankfully, the missile hadn't completely leveled the building.

As the armed helicopter prepared to fire a second missile, the plane escorting the Wakandan king to the border city took off, swiftly retaliating and shooting the helicopter down.

Inside the room, T'Chaka, stirred by T'Challa's calls, regained consciousness. The explosion had knocked him out but didn't cause serious injury, thanks to T'Challa shielding him.

"T'Challa, I'm fine," T'Chaka reassured. "Capture them. We need a live one."

"Yes, Father!"

T'Challa surveyed the room. Fehr had already fled, and Winter Soldier Two was barely alive, severely injured by the missile blast.

"Okoye!"

"Yes, Prince!"

"Secure him and ensure the king's safety."

"Understood, Prince!"

Okoye, the Royal Guard captain, along with the remaining three guards, approached the Winter Soldier Two and swiftly killed him, deciding one captive was enough. They then regrouped around the king for protection as T'Challa pursued Fehr.

Fehr had managed to escape the building but didn't get far. Just as he reached the street, T'Challa, as Black Panther, tackled him. Fehr tried to fight back, but within a single exchange, T'Challa knocked him unconscious.

…

In the Wakandan science lab, T'Chaka underwent a comprehensive examination.

"Father, your health is fine," Princess Shuri confirmed.

Queen Ramonda embraced T'Chaka tightly. "I'm so relieved you're safe. We were so worried when we heard the news."

"From now on, avoid meeting such outsiders," she implored.

T'Chaka comforted his wife before addressing his son. "Have you gotten anything out of him?"

T'Challa shook his head. "He has been very tight-lipped, refusing to say anything."

"Looks like we'll need some of Shuri's special methods to get him to talk," T'Chaka remarked, still shaken by the earlier attack. Without his son and the Royal Guard, he might have met his end.

"They're highly trained military operatives. The three who attacked us were exceptionally skilled," T'Chaka noted. "Our spies reported that these aren't regular soldiers."

"We were fortunate the meeting was on our turf, preventing them from bringing in firearms. Otherwise, the outcome could have been disastrous."

T'Challa nodded in agreement. "Yes, Father. If they had brought firearms, the situation could have been much more dangerous."

"We'll use Shuri's methods. I want to know what drove them to this madness and why they're so powerful."

"Yes, Father!"

…

T'Challa took the device Shuri had prepared and entered the cell where Fehr was being held. Fehr was bound and severely beaten, evidence of a thorough interrogation.

Seeing T'Challa return, Fehr did not show fear; instead, he smiled.

"Hahaha, who would have thought that a remote backwater place would hide such advanced technology and skills?" Fehr remarked. "We underestimated Wakanda; otherwise, the outcome would have been different."

Hydra's intelligence had not uncovered the true extent of Wakanda's capabilities, believing it to be a primitive African nation.

Fehr and the three Winter Soldiers were expected to handle the mission easily. Even the armed helicopter was meant for extracting T'Challa and his father, not for an assault.

T'Challa ignored Fehr's comments and asked, "Tell me, who are you people and why do you need vibranium? According to our information, no nation should possess soldiers of your caliber."

Fehr looked at T'Challa and replied, "You're delusional. Kill me; I will never betray my organization."

T'Challa picked up a blood-stained chip with tweezers from a nearby tray and said, "Are you waiting for them to locate you and rescue you? We found this chip in your body before you were brought here."

It was a tracking chip implanted in Fehr's body, which the Wakandans had discovered and removed.

Seeing the chip, Fehr smirked. "Kill me; you'll get nothing useful from me."

T'Challa couldn't help but admire Fehr's loyalty to his organization. What kind of power could cultivate such devoted operatives? However, admiration did not equate to leniency, especially not for someone who had nearly killed his father.

T'Challa produced a small spherical device. It was a technological weapon developed by Shuri.

When implanted into the body, it releases neural elements that forces the person to answer questions but also causes brain death within minutes. Unlike traditional truth serums, this was effective even against those trained to resist interrogation.

T'Challa approached Fehr and pressed the device into the wound on his lower back. As the sphere activated, a blue glow spread from the wound, and Fehr's perception of reality shifted. He no longer saw the Wakandan cell but the Hydra base.

His instructor addressed him, "Fehr Wells."

"Present."

"Where are you from? What is your mission? To whom do you pledge allegiance?"

"I am from the United States. Our mission is to dominate the Earth, to eliminate war and oppression."

"Hail Hydra!"

T'Challa was taken aback. Had he just heard "Hail Hydra"? Wasn't Hydra eradicated during World War II? He glanced at the device in his hand, wondering if Shuri's invention had malfunctioned.

---

·Chapter 578: Interrogation

T'Challa spoke again, "Who were the three individuals accompanying you on this mission?"

"They are the most powerful Winter Soldier operatives in the organization, tasked with high-risk missions."

"What are Winter Soldiers?"

"I don't know; they're just called Winter Soldiers."

Hearing Fehr's repeated "I don't know," T'Challa felt a bit frustrated. Nevertheless, he pressed on, trying to extract as much information as possible within the time limit.

"How many of these soldiers are there?"

"I don't know."

Answer after answer of "I don't know" left T'Challa somewhat dismayed.

"Why did you target Vibranium?"

However, this time Fehr didn't say "I don't know." This was something he did know.

"The organization's goal was to trade for Vibranium. If the trade failed, the plan was to seize it at any cost. We intended to capture King T'Chaka and Prince T'Challa to exchange for Vibranium."

"As for the Vibranium, it was meant for trading for a serum that enhances physical abilities."

Hearing the term "physical enhancement serum," T'Challa was puzzled.

"What is a physical enhancement serum?" he asked.

Fehr's face lit up with excitement. "It's a potion that enhances physical abilities. It's said that after taking it, one becomes even stronger than a Winter Soldier."

Fehr then proceeded to divulge everything he knew about how the Sand Puppet Shop in New York traded the physical enhancement serum, including information about ninjas.

In his narration, T'Challa learned for the first time that there are organizations called Sand Puppet Shop and the Charles Agency.

Just as T'Challa was about to ask more questions, Fehr's brain was fried, and he became brain-dead.

Watching Fehr's lifeless body, T'Challa waved his hand, instructing soldiers to remove the corpse.

T'Challa exited the cell and made his way to Shuri's lab.

Seeing her brother approach, Shuri inquired, "Did you get all the information?"

T'Challa nodded, then said, "Shuri, help me look up something."

"Charles Doyle, Charles Agency, Sand Puppet Shop, ninjas, Hydra."

Upon hearing these keywords from her brother, Shuri immediately inputted them into the computer, retrieving all relevant information from the internet.

Information regarding Charles Doyle, Charles Agency, and ninjas appeared most frequently, followed by Hydra. As for the Sand Puppet Shop, there were very little information, only the address and registration details.

"Brother, there's a lot of information. Do you need me to filter it?" Shuri asked.

T'Challa approached the screen, gazing at the abundance of information and video files. "Let me see what information is there first," he said.

T'Challa soon became immersed in the intelligence gathered, and before he knew it, one day had already passed.

…

Meanwhile, in another location-

Within the Hydra base, Alexander Pierce slammed his fist on the table.

"What did you say? We failed? This is impossible."

"An underdeveloped African nation managed to retain three Winter Soldier operatives? Are you kidding me?"

The Winter Soldier operatives in Pierce's possession were acquired from the wealth obtained during the collapse of the Soviet Union. Such soldiers were rare, each one a valuable asset to Hydra.

Normally treasured and kept in cryogenic storage when not on missions, losing three operatives at once meant losing a third of their high-end combat strength.

Dr. Zola's face appeared on the nearby electronic screen, forming a moving image. "Pierce, based on the intelligence we received, our operatives failed during the mission and called for backup. The armed helicopter was shot down after firing only one missile."

"Perhaps Wakanda isn't as simple as we thought."

"And it's an internet desert there. It's hard for me to gather useful intelligence."

Pierce sneered, "Wakanda might not be simple, but does that mean Hydra is?"

"I must obtain Vibranium at all costs!"

In truth, whether they obtained Vibranium or not wasn't crucial in Pierce's eyes. However, Vibranium was crucial for acquiring the physical enhancement serum from the Sand Puppet Shop.

Pierce then looked at the computer screen and asked, "How's the progress on replicating the physical enhancement serum?"

"It's progressing smoothly. The foundational data provided by S.H.I.E.L.D. has been very helpful. We've identified a factor they couldn't confirm, something you would never guess."

Hearing this, Pierce's interest was piqued. "What is it?"

Zola's synthesized voice echoed in Pierce's ears. "Werewolf blood cells."

"What? How is that possible?"

Pierce had ordered a werewolf corpse from the Sand Puppet Shop for research purposes, but he never expected werewolf blood cells to be a primary ingredient in the physical enhancement serum.

Zola's voice continued, "It's said that there's also a batch of werewolves being raised in Charles's base."

After a moment of contemplation, Pierce said, "If we know the main ingredient, does that mean we can replicate it soon?"

"It's not that simple. While we've discovered werewolf blood, there are other components involved."

"If it were that easy, our research on werewolf corpses wouldn't have ended in failure."

"Speed up the research!" Pierce commanded.

However, Zola interjected, "The physical enhancement serum used for research is running low. We'll need at least 1-3 more doses, and that's the best-case scenario. If we don't make a breakthrough, we'll need even more."

Pierce's eyes gleamed with menace. "In that case, we'll have to target Wakanda."

"If necessary, we'll take down Wakanda and support a rebel armed force."

As for the energy cubes in S.H.I.E.L.D., they were currently under tight surveillance by Nick Fury. Even one missing would be noticed, so Pierce couldn't secretly access them.

Zola reminded him, "You need to be prepared. It's not just you collecting Vibranium; your rival is eyeing it as well."

Hearing Zola mention Nick Fury, Pierce frowned slightly. "I understand."

…

Meanwhile-

A Quinjet from S.H.I.E.L.D., carrying Agent Hill and a team of agents, was flying towards Wakanda.

Their objective this time was to communicate with the Wakandan king and secure the Vibranium quotas originally allocated to the United States and the United Kingdom.

Nick Fury had secured the Vibranium quotas of US for the next few years after paying a certain price, while the UK's S.H.I.E.L.D. branch had secured the UK's quota.

The S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters would distribute a portion of the physical enhancement serum to the UK branch based on the Vibranium obtained by them.

----

·Chapter 579: Visit from S.H.I.E.L.D.

Wakanda-

After spending the night studying the data, T'Challa had gained a preliminary understanding of Charles Doyle. Combined with the information obtained from Fehr, he now knew the situation.

Though the appearance of such powerful individuals in America was unbelievable, but the facts were before him, and he had to accept them.

Through his investigation, T'Challa discovered that not only did America have the Ninja Immortal Charles Doyle, but also figures like Iron Man and Flame Warrior.

As for Fehr's identity, he still maintained a skeptical attitude, but he planned to report everything he knew to his father truthfully.

Without delay, T'Challa went straight to his father and disclosed all the information he had.

"Hydra? How is that possible?" T'Chaka asked incredulously. "Weren't they supposed to have been eradicated during World War II?"

T'Challa, however, solemnly replied, "Father, I also find it hard to believe, but the results of the inquiries are as such. Little Sister's technology couldn't possibly have malfunctioned."

"Either someone is pretending to be Hydra, or they truly are Hydra."

Hearing his son's words, T'Chaka pondered for a moment before continuing, "Regardless of whether they are Hydra or not, it doesn't matter to us."

"They won't find us, and even if they do, they won't be our match."

T'Challa looked at his father and asked, "Father, are we just going to continue hiding?"

"If we continue hiding our technology, what about our activities outside?"

With Hydra's character, they wouldn't give up after just one failure.

However, T'Chaka replied, "We don't want to expose ourselves. But do they want to expose themselves?"

"If news of Hydra's resurrection were to be exposed, I believe they would also be troubled."

"T'Challa, what do you think about the physical enhancement serum?"

Upon hearing his father mention the physical enhancement serum, T'Challa thought for a moment before replying, "Father, I'm thinking, if this physical enhancement serum is indeed as powerful as they say, then perhaps we can use it too."

"With the strength of the Panther god, combined with this so-called physical enhancement serum, our power will be enhanced once again."

"Only with great strength can we better protect Wakanda."

Hearing his son's suggestion, T'Chaka nodded.

"Perhaps we can give it a try. If the physical enhancement serum is indeed very powerful, it would be a good supplement for us."

Just then, a guard walked in, bowed to King T'Chaka, and said, "Your Majesty, Agent Hill from the United Nations Security Council's affiliated agency S.H.I.E.L.D. has come to visit."

Upon hearing the organization that the visiting personnel belonged to, King T'Chaka frowned slightly and asked, "Did they state the reason?"

The guard replied, "They said it's to discuss the vibranium issue for the next five years for the United States and the United Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, both T'Chaka and T'Challa furrowed their brows slightly.

"Arrange for them to meet in the banquet hall. We will join them this afternoon."

"Father!" T'Challa exclaimed.

"Inform them accordingly," T'Chaka instructed again.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

T'Challa spoke up, "Father, we were just attacked yesterday because of the vibranium. This time, agents from S.H.I.E.L.D. are here to discuss the vibranium issue, and it's very dangerous."

T'Chaka shook his head and replied, "Attackers are attackers, and S.H.I.E.L.D. is S.H.I.E.L.D. They cannot be equated."

"Moreover, they are coming under the pretext of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the vibranium issue for the next few years. I cannot afford not to go."

Hearing that he couldn't persuade his father, T'Challa said, "Father, if you insist on meeting them, then it must be under the highest security conditions."

"You must wear the Black Panther suit, and besides the Royal Guard, Wakanda must also send a squadron of ships to guard you from above, prepared for any possible emergencies. Besides, I must accompany you to protect you."

Hearing his son's words, T'Chaka didn't refuse but agreed. Although he didn't believe that S.H.I.E.L.D. would attack him, he couldn't be too careful, especially after the recent attack.

…

At the border city of Wakanda-

At this moment, Hill and her team arrived at the capital of Wakanda, waiting for the arrival of the king in the banquet hall.

Hill observed the soldiers guarding outside the banquet hall and the nearby building that had clearly been subjected to artillery fire. She instructed, "Find out what has happened recently in Wakanda and why they're so tense."

It should be noted that for this meeting, all S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were required to disarm and undergo security checks before meeting the king of Wakanda.

When did a team from the New York S.H.I.E.L.D. encounter such hostility in a third-class country? If it weren't for Hill's restrain, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents would have already clashed with the Wakandan forces.

One of the agents spoke up, "Yes, Agent Hill."

He then opened the mini computer on his arm and began to operate it.

Fortunately, this was the "capital" of Wakanda, although it was very backward, there were still networks and cameras in some places.

After some operation, the agent said, "Agent Hill, the conference hall in Wakanda where foreign guests are hosted was attacked by terrorists yesterday."

"It's a sensitive time here now."

Hill thought for a moment and asked, "Do we know why?"

The agent shook his head. "Not clear."

"But attacks like this are common in these African countries. It's normal."

Hill looked outside with a hint of gravity on her face, hoping that this attack wasn't related to the vibranium.

While Hill was contemplating, a squadron of stealth aircraft appeared over the border city of Wakanda. Due to the technology of vibranium, no one could see the hovering aircraft.

At this moment, twelve members of the Royal Guard, holding vibranium spears, pushed open the doors of the banquet hall.

Six of them entered the hall immediately, holding their spears at various corners of the room, while the other six followed closely around King T'Chaka, protecting him in the middle.

Seeing this scene, Hill realized that yesterday's attack might be even more serious than she thought.

Hill greeted, "Your Majesty, Your Highness!"

T'Chaka smiled and replied, "Agent Hill, I apologize for meeting you in this manner."

"But yesterday, I was attacked by a group of terrorists, so for safety reasons..."

Hill nodded understandingly. "Your Majesty, I completely understand your concern."

"I'm here this time to discuss important matters with you."

----

·Chapter 580: The Deal

Hill took out two sets of documents from her briefcase and said, "These are the authorizations from the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States."

"Both countries have authorized S.H.I.E.L.D. to directly extract the Vibranium that they will get for the next five years."

"As for the agreed-upon payment, it will also be provided to you in one lump sum."

Okoye stepped forward, took the documents from Hill, checked them for authenticity, and then handed them to King T'Chaka.

After receiving the documents, T'Chaka glanced at the authorizations and then instructed someone to verify the information on the documents.

After confirming that everything was in order, T'Chaka said, "Agent Hill, since both countries have agreed to entrust the Vibranium to you, then I have no objections."

"Coincidentally, I also plan to deliver all the Vibranium to the respective countries in advance."

Hearing the king's words, Hill curiously asked, "Your Majesty, what is the reason for your decision?"

T'Chaka looked deeply at Hill and then said, "Yesterday, a group of American businessmen came wanting to purchase Vibranium from me. However, I had no surplus materials other than the quotas for the five major countries, so I declined."

"But these thugs immediately attacked me. Fortunately, my royal guard was present to protect me, so they failed to achieve their goal. However, two members of my royal guard were sacrificed."

Hearing the king's words, Hill realized that another group was also eyeing the Vibranium.

She expressed her concern, saying, "Your Majesty, I'm glad you weren't injured. It's fortunate that those warriors sacrificed themselves to protect you. They are heroes."

After exchanging some pleasantries, Hill did not propose sending personnel to assist or investigate further. S.H.I.E.L.D. was also pragmatic; since they knew Wakanda didn't have any surplus Vibranium, they didn't feel the necessity to provide any assistance.

"Your Majesty, when will our transaction take place?" Hill asked.

T'Chaka replied, "Each country's annual quota of Vibranium is 10 kilograms, and the total quota for the two countries over five years is 50 kilograms each. I will arrange for someone to deliver it later, and you can just leave with it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Later, T'Chaka arranged for the Vibranium to be delivered. The 100 kilograms of Vibranium were packed in two boxes, each containing 50 kilograms, worth a staggering 2 billion dollars.

After receiving the Vibranium, Hill and her team immediately left for the airport in three off-road vehicles. Their transport plane was still parked at the airport.

As for T'Chaka, seeing the transaction completed safely, he immediately boarded a plane and returned to the real Wakanda.

As for Hill, it was their luck that there were no Hydra members among their team, and the operation remained undisclosed.

By the time Pierce learned of the news, Hill had successfully returned to the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters in New York and reported that other forces were attempting to seize Wakanda's Vibranium.

…

New York-

S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters-

Another three days passed in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, Nick Fury's desk was adorned with a deep blue square-shaped energy block, precisely the new type of energy block stabilized by Doctor Selvig with the addition of iridium, known as Energy Block Type 2.

The advantage of this energy block was that it solved the problem of internal energy riots and could be used entirely as a power source for weapons.

Looking at the analysis report on the Type 2 energy block in front of him, Nick Fury immediately dialed the phone in the laboratory.

"Immediately commence the weapon manufacturing plan centered around the Type 2 energy block."

"Yes, sir!"

Looking at the Type 2 energy block in front of him, Nick Fury felt that S.H.I.E.L.D. finally had a weapon capable of rivaling Asgard and the Ninja World.

While others might not know the power of the Tesseract, Nick Fury, who had encountered Captain Marvel, believed that weapons manufactured using it would undoubtedly have terrifying destructive power.

At the same time, Nick Fury instructed Doctor Selvig to begin mass production of Type 2 energy blocks using the equipment and to collect iridium from the market.

As SHILED delved into its research on energy weapon development, T'Challa, clad in his Black Panther Vibranium armor, quietly arrived in Brooklyn, New York.

Because he didn't know how much Vibranium was needed for the transaction of the strength-enhancing serum, T'Challa brought along 50 kilograms of Vibranium this time.

Looking at the signboard in front of the Sand Puppet Shop, T'Challa confirmed that he had come to the right place and walked straight in with his suitcase.

"Welcome to the Sand Puppet Shop."

As T'Challa stepped into the puppet shop, the puppet dolls at the entrance immediately greeted him.

Clad in Black Panther Vibranium armor, concealing his entire face, T'Challa was unrecognizable. He scanned the environment inside the shop and saw a young and beautiful girl sitting behind the counter, so he walked over.

The girl, Temari, looked at the person in front of her dressed in a peculiar manner, concealed within a set of leopard-print armor, and asked, "Hello, sir, may I help you with something?"

"I heard that you sell strength-enhancing serum here?"

Hearing the leopard-dressed man's question about the strength-enhancing serum, Temari glanced at him and replied directly, "Yes."

"What's the price?"

"Three hundred million dollars' worth of Vibranium."

Hearing that only fifteen kilograms were needed to purchase one vial of the strength-enhancing serum, T'Challa felt that this price was quite cheap.

He nodded and asked, "Is there any restriction on using the strength-enhancing serum?"

Temari thought for a moment and then replied, "There are no restrictions on usage, but if someone has injected the strength-enhancing serum produced by our Sand Puppet Shop, they cannot inject the serum from Charles Agency again."

"If someone insists on injecting it again, there will be a risk of death."

As for why it wasn't hundred percent fatal, it was because if the person had the same bloodline as Michael, it could be compatible. However, encountering such luck was even rarer than winning the lottery jackpot.

T'Challa was taken aback. He didn't expect that Charles Agency also sold strength-enhancing serum. This was something he hadn't anticipated.

He didn't expect that such a thing wasn't controlled by just one force, but that it was openly sold in the outside world. When did the outside world become so magical?

"So, as long as a person doesn't inject both types of strength-enhancing serum at the same time, there won't be any problems, right?"

"Yes."

T'Challa placed the box he was carrying on the counter and said, "Give me three vials of the strength-enhancing serum."