He finished speaking and, unhurriedly, pulled over a chair and plopped down without ceremony.
Arms crossed, he looked more like a man executing a shrewd business acquisition than someone asking for cooperation. The reception room fell into a brief silence.
Okoye's eyes scanned Tony back and forth.
As a general of the Royal Guard, her duty was to protect the king and everything in Wakanda. In her view, this outsider and the shiny toys he brought were all potential threats. Her hand instinctively rested on the vibranium weapon at her waist.
Shuri, however, was a completely different story.
From the beginning, her curious eyes were locked on the miniature Arc Reactor glowing softly in blue.
Unlike Okoye, she wasn't interested in Tony Stark the man. She only saw science.
She approached the table, picked up the technical documents on clean energy, and her nimble fingers flew over her kimoyo bead terminal.
Line by line, complex data and formulas were absorbed and processed by her mind at an astonishing speed.
Seconds ticked by.
Tony raised an eyebrow, realizing this wasn't going to be simple.
But he didn't rush her. He watched quietly, a confident smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
He knew that for a true genius, no amount of fancy words could be more convincing than cold, hard data.
Finally, after some time, Shuri put the documents down and looked up at Tony, nodding slightly.
The reactor was indeed fascinating, but for Wakanda, it was merely a toy.
That didn't mean she disapproved.
"I have to admit, Mr. Stark," she said slowly, her tone carrying genuine respect, "this little thing you brought is… interesting. Cold fusion? Quite a retro concept. And yet, you actually made it work, and on such a small scale. Impressive."
Tony's eyebrow twitched at "interesting." That damn arrogance of his surged back uncontrollably.
"Oh, come on, Princess," he said, incredulous. "You call an invention that can change the world's energy landscape… and might even be revolutionary… 'interesting'? Seriously, are your adjectives as lacking as that fancy outfit you're wearing?"
"Then, Great Mr. Stark," Shuri shot back without missing a beat. She walked over to the Arc Reactor model and lightly tapped it with her finger.
A faint blue hologram instantly expanded in midair, revealing the intricate internal structure of the reactor.
"Your great invention doesn't seem all that stable," she said, pointing to the core, made of palladium.
"Palladium? Mr. Stark, are you joking? You used a… highly toxic radioactive element as the core of a clean energy device? Are you sure you're building the future and not… well, danger?"
Her question cut straight to the reactor's fatal flaw.
Okoye's gaze instantly froze.
Tony's smile remained same.
He hadn't expected this seemingly teenage girl to expose the reactor's secret within minutes.
Even though it was an older generation reactor. It was a test to see if she's a genius as they claim or not.
"Oh, that?" he shrugged, looking nonchalant. "Just… a minor technical flaw. You know, any great invention has some initial imperfections. But don't worry, I've already found the perfect solution."
Snap.
"JARVIS."
In the next moment, a more complex and perfect reactor model appeared on the hologram, built from entirely new elements.
"Take a look, Princess," he said, pride in his voice.
"A non-toxic, harmless upgrade, with at least twice the energy efficiency of the previous version. How's that for sincerity?"
Shuri's eyes sparkled like an explorer discovering a new continent. She could barely pull herself away from studying the new model inside and out.
"Alright," she said after a while, reluctantly lifting her gaze.
"I admit, you've got skills. But…"
Her tone shifted, a sly smile returning.
"You still haven't answered my first question. Why should Wakanda cooperate with you? We have vibranium, the most stable energy on this planet. We don't lack energy or technology. We lack nothing."
"So, Mr. Future-Creator," she said, looking Tony dead in the eye, word by word.
"What else can you bring us, besides these shiny toys?"
It was an unavoidable question.
Negotiations reached a stalemate.
Tony remained silent.
This young but incredibly wise girl was proving to be a formidable challenge.
He realized his usual unstoppable tactics were useless in this isolated kingdom. He took a deep breath, slowly stood, and shed his previously arrogant tone.
The playful smirk on his face was replaced by seriousness and sincerity.
He looked at Shuri, eyes unwavering.
"You're right, Princess," he said firmly, his voice resonating with conviction.
"You lack nothing. You have the world's most precious resource and the most advanced technology. You're like a sleeping giant, quietly watching the rest of us struggle in the world outside for survival and profit."
"But you've also lost something."
He walked toward the large floor-to-ceiling window.
Outside lay the bustling steel jungle of New York.
"Look out there, Princess," he said, a hint of emotion in his voice.
"The world is changing faster than ever. New technology, new ideas, new threats—they emerge every day."
"You can keep hiding behind your dense jungle, enjoying your isolated peace. But one day, when the storms outside are strong enough to tear down your walls, you'll realize the world has already forgotten you."
Turning back to Shuri, his gaze was sincere.
"What I need isn't just vibranium. I need an ally. An ally to face the future with us."
"My father, Howard Stark, once sought help from your father. He wanted to build a shield to protect his family. Now, his son, Tony Stark, seeks your help."
"But this time, I don't want to build a shield that can only defend passively."
"I want to build a spear that can strike proactively, capable of protecting the entire Earth."
His words struck the room like a hammer.
Yes, Tony now thought like Henry—he would rely on himself to achieve what he wanted.
Shuri listened quietly, her gaze fixed on the man so different from the one in the data sheets.
She nodded slightly and glanced at the ever-silent general beside her.
Okoye's face remained expressionless, but a flicker of emotion appeared in her eyes.
Finally, Shuri slowly nodded.
"I have to admit, Mr. Stark," she said, her smile returning with confidence, "you tell a good story."
"And I… really like this story."
***
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