For some reason, Wakanda had seen T'Challa ascend to the throne earlier than expected. No matter the reasons, the previous Black Panther had passed away prematurely.
The email finished playing, and the lab fell silent.
Tony listened quietly. His face was unusually calm.
He wasn't smug about their compromise, nor angry at the subtle provocation in their words.
He simply stared at the message on the screen, sent from a distant continent in Africa.
"A princess?"
After a long pause, he finally spoke, still sounding arrogant.
"JARVIS, are you sure you read that right? They're sending a princess to negotiate with me? Do they think I, Tony Stark, am just some playboy who only deals with women?"
He had also seen the line about the genius sister. Maybe the woman was a prodigy, but he still found it ridiculous. A princess? To negotiate with him?
"Sir, the email content is accurate," JARVIS replied meticulously.
"Furthermore, based on linguistic analysis, Princess Shuri is likely not the type you're imagining… hmm, the type who only attends court balls. She likely holds dual titles in Wakanda as both a scientist and technological prodigy, and may even be the actual overseer of Wakanda's cutting-edge technology. In a sense, sir, she is Wakanda's Tony Stark."
"Oh? Really?"
Tony raised an eyebrow at that. He had already guessed as much, but JARVIS's confirmation made him feel slightly better. A small smirk of interest appeared on his face.
"A female version of me? Now that's interesting. I'm curious to see just how capable this so-called genius princess really is."
He stretched, the joints of his body crackling loudly after a night of relentless work. His genius brain felt drained from modeling countless nanobot designs.
Walking over to the console, he paused before shutting down the hologram, as if remembering something.
"By the way, JARVIS," he asked.
"About that piece of land Henry promised Dr. Banner and the others… how's it coming along?"
"Sir, the plot in northern New York State was acquired last week," JARVIS promptly replied.
"Initial infrastructure construction has begun according to your blueprint, and the main structure is expected to be completed within two months."
"Good." Tony nodded in satisfaction.
Though he often mocked Henry for impulsively picking up pets, he had never once neglected action when it mattered. This was the awkward tenderness of an older brother.
"All right. Now that we've received an invitation, we can't be disrespectful."
He strode toward the door, issuing more instructions.
"JARVIS, prep the latest Mark armor briefcase suit and polish it up. Also, bring out the Bugatti Veyron from the garage—the global limited edition I haven't driven. If I'm meeting a princess, the presentation can't be shabby."
He paused, voice brimming with confidence.
"Also, compile all non-core tech documents from the previous Arc Reactor iterations. I want that genius princess to know what the real future looks like."
He strode out of the lab. A shower, a change of clothes, and he would present himself at his absolute best for this meeting filled with the unknown and the challenge.
...
Next Day – Manhattan, New York
Wakanda International Outreach Center, a futuristic building.
Top floor, reception room.
A Black girl in a purple royal robe, hair in dreadlocks, looking no older than seventeen or eighteen, sat idly by a large floor-to-ceiling window, swinging her legs.
This was Princess Shuri of Wakanda.
She held a translucent tablet, excitedly scrolling through all publicly available information and gossip about Iron Man, Tony Stark.
"Okay, okay, look at this guy," she said, glancing at a bald, serious-looking female general in a red royal guard uniform beside her.
"His personal life is a mess. He changes girlfriends faster than I change lab coats. And this sense of aesthetics… gold and red? Seriously? What era is this? Looks like a lottery-winning nouveau riche."
"Princess," the general said expressionlessly, "the person you are about to meet is this nouveau riche."
"I know, I know," Shuri waved her hand.
"I'm just doing some necessary background research. Know your opponent to defeat your opponent, right?"
At that moment, the doors slid open silently.
A Wakandan diplomat, impeccably dressed, entered and bowed.
"Your Highness, General Okoye, Mr. Tony Stark has arrived."
"Oh? So punctual," Shuri raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on her lips.
"Let him in. I want to see what this Iron Man is really like."
...
A few minutes later, Tony walked in, wearing a custom suit and sunglasses, flanked by bodyguards. He swaggered to the center of the room, removing his sunglasses, scanning the reception area.
When his eyes landed on the curious girl sitting by the window, he paused.
"Let me guess." He spoke, his voice still dripping with arrogance.
"You must be the genius princess, Miss Shuri. I must say, you're younger than I imagined. Seriously… did Wakanda run out of adults? Sending a girl who isn't even of legal drinking age to talk about the future of the world?"
Shuri didn't get angry. She smiled instead.
Jumping down from the windowsill, she walked up to Tony and mirrored his scanning gaze.
"You're no different, Mr. Stark," she said, her voice brimming with confidence and sharpness beyond her age.
"You look a little… shorter than the magazines make you seem. And that shiny thing on your chest? Looks like a cheap LED. Honestly, Stark Industries' sense of aesthetics… still stuck in the '80s?"
Tony felt his brain get stuck for a moment.
This seemingly harmless little girl had a sharper tongue than him!
He was over 185 cm tall—short? What even counts as tall then?
"Okay." He pursed his lips, trying to reclaim some dignity.
"Looks like we're both more interesting than the other expected."
Shuri's playful smile faded. The atmosphere became serious.
"Shall we get down to business? My time is valuable."
"Of course."
Tony put away his playful expression and walked to the table in the center of the room, placing a silver briefcase on it. With a snap, it opened.
Inside, a softly glowing miniature Arc Reactor model and a thick stack of technical documents were displayed for Shuri and Okoye.
"This is my sincerity," Tony said calmly, confidently.
"A technology capable of changing the world. It allows your nation to have endless clean energy without relying on vibranium."
"And what I need is simple."
He locked eyes with Shuri.
"Vibranium"
"I need you to grant me access to purchase vibranium."
***
69 Stone = 1 bonus
...
Check new fanfic
Naruto: Struggling to Survive in the Anbu, I Became a Super Kage
Synopsis
Once you join the ANBU, it's as deep as the sea—if you don't act, you die fast.
During the Second Great Ninja War, Yagami finds himself transmigrated into the world of Naruto, becoming a disposable ANBU operative of the Hidden Leaf Village. Every day feels like his last.
Following Danzō Shimura, he takes part in killing Yahiko—only to be killed in turn by Nagato.
[Arc of the Moon activated!]
The host gains one resurrection per month. Upon death, revival occurs on the previous full moon night.
Reward: one lottery draw.
1. Universal Pull (Deva Path)
2. Pure Uzumaki Bloodline
3. Sealing Absorption (Preta Path)
What doesn't kill me might not make me stronger…
But what does kill me? Always gives me rewards.
The ANBU may die fast—but maybe that's not such a bad thing.
Keep surviving, keep drawing—Yagami will definitely become a super Kage from the shadows!
If you're interested and wish to support me, you can read advanced chapters:
p-atreon.com/Redestro666