"The threat is an 'assassination attempt'," T'Challa reiterated. "The target appears to be the warrior who falls from the light bridge. The weapon is the golem. That is all my vision could provide for certain."
The Leader looked at T'Challa. "King T'Challa, this is invaluable, but it leaves us with too many unknowns."
"Not entirely," T'Challa said, his voice steadying as he took control of the situation, ready to provide the necessary public facing cover for their true methods. "My ability provides the warning. But Wakandan tradition provides a potential path to clarity."
He had the full attention of the Leader, Sharon, Pietro, and Bucky. The other Tarot Club members watched, knowing what was coming.
"My role as King is not just political," T'Challa explained. "It is a spiritual one. Our traditions speak of methods to interpret such visions. It is a form of divination, a deep focus ritual that, with a symbolic sacrifice, allows one to ask a specific question of the spirits and receive a clear answer."
"A sacrifice?" the Leader asked.
"In this case, a symbolic one," T'Challa said. "A significant expenditure of unique Wakandan resources, dedicated to the ritual. It is costly, and not something we can do often. But for a threat of this magnitude... it is necessary."
"However," he looked around the main table at his fellow council members, "the question must be perfect. The spirits do not suffer fools. The query must be precise, or the sacrifice will be wasted."
"So the core question isn't about the warrior, it's about the weapon," Tony deduced, pacing around the hologram of the Earth. "'Who sends it?' 'What is its purpose?' 'Who is trying to commit an assassination on Earth using a 'golem'?' Too broad. 'What is the nature of the fiery golem?' Too vague."
"Let us focus on the immediate threat," Aryan said, guiding the conversation. "We need to know the 'who' and the 'why' behind the attack. Everything else is secondary."
They spent the next ten minutes refining. Finally, they agreed on a precise question.
Tony read the final version aloud from the main screen: "'What is the purpose and origin of the automated sentinel being deployed to Puente Antiguo, New Mexico, in the immediate future?'"
"That," T'Challa said with a firm nod, "is a question the spirits might deign to answer."
He looked at the other Tarot Club members, a silent vote passing between them in a series of near imperceptible nods.
Unanimous consent.
He straightened his back. "I will need a moment of absolute silence."
T'Challa closed his eyes. To the Leader, Sharon, and the others, it looked as though T'Challa was entering a meditative trance, beginning his ancient ritual. They watched in silence.
But in reality, in the silent space of his own consciousness, T'Challa began to recite the sacred words.
"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era."
"The Mysterious Ruler above the gray fog."
"The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck."
"The True Creator who embodies luck, deception, and fate."
"We pray for your grace."
"We pray for your blessing."
"We pray for the mercy of your gaze."
As he completed the honorific, he felt the familiar connection to the power of Sefirah Castle.
He framed the query they had just formulated: 'What is the purpose and origin of the automated sentinel being deployed to Puente Antiguo, New Mexico, in the immediate future?'
He then authorized the one billion Origin expenditure from the Illuminati's shared fund.
For a moment, he sat in perfect stillness. Then, in his mind and in the minds of Aryan, Tony, Wanda, and Namor… the block of cold text bloomed into existence.
ENTITY: THE DESTROYER.
ORIGIN: ASGARDIAN ROYAL VAULT, FORGED OF UNKNOWN METAL.
PURPOSE: TO NEUTRALIZE/ELIMINATE ANY THREAT TO ASGARD OR INDIVIDUALS DESIGNATED BY THE ACTING RULER OF ASGARD.
CURRENT DEPLOYMENT: AUTHORIZED BY ACTING KING LOKI.
PRIMARY TARGET: THE EXILED PRINCE, THOR ODINSON.
T'Challa's eyes snapped open. The entire process had taken less than three seconds. He looked as if he had just returned from a long journey. He took a deep breath.
"The ritual was a success," he announced to the stunned.
The level of detail he provided next was staggering.
"The intelligence is... specific," T'Challa said. "The threat originates from Asgard. It is an automated weapon, a sentinel called 'The Destroyer.' Its purpose is to eliminate an exiled Asgardian prince named Thor Odinson. The deployment has been authorized by the acting ruler of Asgard, Thor's brother, Loki."
The reaction from the non initiated was one of pure shock.
They had expected a cryptic clue, a vague direction. They had just been given a detailed intelligence briefing that would be the envy of any spy agency on the planet.
"How... how is that possible?" Pietro asked, completely bewildered. "Your 'ritual'... it gave you names and motives?"
Sharon was speechless, her analytical mind struggling to process the jump in logic.
They had gone from a vague vision of a "golem" to a full dossier… names, origins, motive, and a target… in under a minute. The power of the Wakandan king was on a level she had never imagined.
T'Challa simply gave a solemn nod. "The spirits were... clear."
Tony jumped in, moving the meeting forward before the questions could get too deep.
"Okay! So, the spirits have spoken," he said. "The smoke alarm wasn't a campfire. It's a dragon. And it's coming to our house for a family dispute. Let's get to work."