Glancing at M'Baku groveling at his feet, Peter nodded with satisfaction.
"At least you know your place, stray."
"Seeing as I'm in a relatively good mood today, I'll give you a chance. Disappear from my sight right now, and I can pretend that what just happened never occurred."
As he spoke, Peter quietly withdrew his Conqueror's Haki. The heavy, suffocating pressure vanished, replaced instantly by the sound of the crowd gasping for air in unison.
Under the varied gazes of the onlookers, M'Baku rose, looking like someone whose back had been broken. Stripped of his usual bluster, he turned and slinked away toward the mountains in shame.
Today had been a total eye-opener for him. He had truly believed Wakanda was invincible and that he, as its second-strongest warrior, was a peerless titan.
But Peter had delivered a resounding slap to his reality. He finally saw what it meant for there to be "heavens beyond heavens" and what a true powerhouse looked like.
With M'Baku gone, the atmosphere among the remaining Wakandans shifted.
Wakanda, a nation that prized martial prowess above all, respected the strong. Peter's display had more than proven his worth.
As for T'Chaka's family... the citizens noticed they had remained perfectly calm under that terrifying aura.
This led the simple-hearted people to believe their King was still in his prime, possessing the strength to withstand the "Strong" pressure of the outsider.
Only T'Chaka and his family knew the truth—Peter had shielded them. This realization made them feel a surge of gratitude toward their guest.
"Ahem..." After a long silence, T'Chaka cleared his throat. "Sir, I believe we can continue our previous conversation. I guarantee no one will interrupt us again."
Peter narrowed his eyes, pleased. He had to admit, the old King was far smarter. At least he knew how to read the room.
Peter preferred dealing with smart people. He snapped his fingers.
Snap—!Crack!
The ice encasing T'Challa shattered into millions of sparkling crystals. T'Challa, radiating cold mist, fell to Peter's feet, gasping for breath.
The Dora Milaje, led by Okoye, rushed forward immediately to warm the prince, looking warily at Peter.
To Peter's surprise, T'Challa didn't wake up in a rage. He didn't complain to his father. He simply pushed Okoye away weakly and placed his hand over his heart.
"I apologize, I was short-sighted and mistook you for a thief. Please allow me to apologize for my and my men's recklessness."
Normally, a frozen person can't think. But with the Heart-Shaped Herb and the suit's protection, T'Challa's brain had remained active.
He had spent the journey cooling down—literally—and reviewing the events. He realized he was wrong.
If this man wanted to kill him or steal the Vibranium, he wouldn't have brought him back safely. He realized Peter was likely there to help, only to be met with an unprovoked attack.
Seeing T'Challa's sincerity, Peter decided to let it go. He planned to recruit this super-rich heir into his S.H.I.E.L.D. network anyway; there was no sense in offending a major benefactor.
The tension melted away like the ice. Just then, a teenage girl with braids—Shuri—looked between her holographic watch and Peter, letting out a small shriek of excitement.
"Excuse me... are you... Are you Sir Arbiter?"
T'Chaka and T'Challa both froze. They knew that name. Despite their isolationist facade, Wakanda maintained a global spy network (the Hatut Zeraze).
T'Challa's girlfriend, Nakia, was a part of it. They knew all about the new superheroes emerging in New York, and the one they respected most was "The Arbiter."
Peter, seeing his cover was blown, didn't bother hiding it anymore. He nodded to Shuri.
"That's right. I am the Arbiter."
"So the Arbiter has graced Wakanda with his presence! We are honored!"
"Please, let me host a banquet in your honor to welcome you and offer our sincerest apologies."
Soon, a grand feast was held within the palace.
T'Challa, feeling guilty, bonded with Peter over several drinks. The two young men were soon calling each other "brothers." T'Chaka, however, remained steady, subtly probing Peter's intentions.
He wanted to know if Peter was acting on behalf of the American government.
When Peter stated he was simply investigating a "new element" and arrogantly added that "The President doesn't have the clout to send me all the way to this part of Africa," T'Chaka was delighted.
With that kind of arrogance, it had to be the truth!
Once he was sure Peter wasn't an agent of a foreign power, T'Chaka's hospitality doubled. He not only offered Peter a full ton of Vibranium as a gift but began dropping heavy hints about forming a permanent alliance...
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