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Chapter 457: The Terrifyingly Vast Vibranium Mine
Wakanda had fallen, though in an unconventional manner.
The entire nation was surrounded by Transformers, watching menacingly.
With tens of thousands of their warriors dead and Shuri's surrender, Wakanda had earned a moment of respite.
"An excellent choice, Shuri. Your wisdom is always satisfying," Tony said placidly.
Just a few seconds earlier, Shuri had chosen to yield. She was willing to pledge allegiance to Tony, serve him, and even leave Earth to journey with him into the unknown cosmos.
Tony wasn't the least bit surprised by her decision; it was the only way to save Wakanda.
A way to save Wakanda by sacrificing only its Vibranium mine.
With that, a person of universe-class intellect was accepted by Tony, becoming one of his subordinates. Although Shuri wasn't well-known—in fact, she was quite obscure—that couldn't hide her brilliance.
One of Earth's top ten intellects held immense value for the planet Cybertron.
Don't underestimate this "top ten." This was a combined ranking of both the Marvel and DC universes. In countless major crises, while powerhouses were certainly important, those with top-tier intellects contributed just as much, at the very least pointing the heroes toward the path of hope.
Even Tony Stark couldn't make it into the top ten.
But Shuri could.
Although Shuri was completely outclassed by Tony Stark in terms of courage, demeanor, vision, bravery, decisiveness, and willingness to sacrifice, her scientific intellect was genuinely world-class.
And Tony only needed her scientific intellect. If it ever got to the point where even the scientists had to fight to the death on the front lines... Cybertron would probably be on the verge of destruction.
Tony would not allow that to happen. Not with the confidence of a quasi-unique god, and not with his knowledge of the many secrets of the Omniverse and the Sphere of the Gods.
"In that case, all of Wakanda's vibranium mines will belong to me from now on. These mineral resources will be the property of Cybertron—my property."
Tony stood up, his expression calm. He looked down at Shuri's still tear-streaked face. Someone else might have warmly pulled her to her feet and carefully wiped her tears away.
The method of winning people over is simple, but very effective.
But Tony simply walked past her, making no extraneous movements.
Because it was useless on someone like Shuri. She was too smart, so smart that she could compute in an instant what would take an ordinary person months, or even years, to figure out.
Such was the terrifying nature of a universe-class intellect.
Earth had survived one crisis after another by relying on a group of fearless individuals and a group of universe-class intellects.
Likewise, a super-intelligent person knows how to read a situation. Shuri would agree. She didn't possess that resolve to fight to the death and the courage to bet everything that only a rare few have.
"I want the Super Serum in your possession—the most advanced formula. I want to resurrect my compatriots." Shuri wiped her own tears away. Looking at the relieved Elders around her, who hadn't dared to utter a single word from beginning to end, a trace of disappointment flickered in her eyes.
"No problem. I'll give you as much as you want. I'll even give you the chemical formula. If you're not satisfied, you can develop your own," Tony said flatly.
"My people need to live in peace..."
"I will arrange for liaisons to allocate a large commercial share to Wakanda. From now on, Wakanda will no longer need to be isolationist, because the vibranium mine you were guarding is gone. If you don't open up, you won't be able to support your population."
"I also want to keep some vibranium..."
"That's impossible."
Tony refused point-blank. "Wakanda won't be keeping a single piece of vibranium. That is my purpose for coming here. Whether it's your weapons, your houses, or the plants that have undergone mutation due to the vibranium mine, they all contain vibranium elements, and I'm taking them all—oh, the clothes you're wearing can generate an energy barrier? They have vibranium material too. Take them off. I'm taking those as well."
Tony issued his commands naturally, demanding that not a single piece of vibranium be left within Wakanda's borders.
A single piece of vibranium could allow him to create a powerful Transformer warrior.
And vibranium's property of absorbing and releasing energy would greatly increase the survival rate of the Transformers on dangerous battlefields. Don't forget, Transformers all have metal bodies.
It was no exaggeration to say that vibranium was far more efficient when used in Transformers than in humans.
A palm-sized piece of vibranium, after being modified in an incubation chamber, could create a powerful regenerative body, enough to last a warrior for a very, very long time.
Even a Type IV chassis like Megatron needed vibranium.
Therefore, Wakanda couldn't hope to keep a single piece of vibranium or anything related to it.
"Even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I won't let a single vibranium element escape." As he spoke, Tony pointed to his own head. "My ability can distinguish every microscopic particle here. Everything related to vibranium is, from this moment on, the property of my planet."
"I'll squeeze blood from a stone if I have to."
Tony spoke with conviction, his tone firm, without a shred of a demigod's pride.
Ignoring the dumbfounded Shuri and the others, Tony flew directly up, smashed through the roof, and landed at the entrance of the nearest mine.
As he did, he beckoned with his hand, collecting some of the stone fragments from the broken roof into his palm and nodding in satisfaction.
Even this piece of rock contained a tiny amount of vibranium elements.
The entirety of Wakanda, to a greater or lesser extent, contained trace elements of vibranium, including the strange surrounding scenery and the plants that had undergone genetic mutation due to the radioactive energy from the vibranium mine.
All of it was his.
Even if it meant stripping the land bare, he wouldn't leave a single blade of grass. This place was the greatest treasure for Cybertron. To Cybertron, nothing was more precious than a vast reserve of rare minerals.
He would probably... dig out all of Wakanda... At worst, he could just dredge up a pile of soil from the seabed to fill the empty chasm left behind.
As a conqueror, he had already shown the greatest mercy. Vibranium was the best possible fortune.
Especially a vibranium mine with such astonishing reserves.
"Now, let me see the extent of this vibranium mine's reserves..."
After relaying the message to Megatron to hold position and regroup, Tony closed his eyes. The Allspark immediately seeped into the ground, sensing the wondrous vibranium.
But in an instant, Tony's eyes shot open, a look of shock on his face.
"These reserves are just too astonishing..."
Closing his eyes again, the Allspark's energy rapidly spread downwards. Everywhere it touched was filled with that purple ore and soil stained purple by it.
And with every passing moment, this purple hue was spreading outwards, slowly transforming more ordinary soil into a substance similar to the vibranium ore.
The vibranium mine itself possessed a certain radioactivity, altering Wakanda's environment and biology.
The raw material for the Heart-Shaped Herb used by the Black Panther royal family was one such strange plant, transformed by the radiation of the vibranium mine, with effects comparable to Captain America's Super Serum.
(end of chapter)
Wakanda had fallen, though in an unconventional manner.
The entire nation was surrounded by Transformers, watching menacingly.
With tens of thousands of their warriors dead and Shuri's surrender, Wakanda had earned a moment of respite.
"An excellent choice, Shuri. Your wisdom is always satisfying," Tony said placidly.
Just a few seconds earlier, Shuri had chosen to yield. She was willing to pledge allegiance to Tony, serve him, and even leave Earth to journey with him into the unknown cosmos.
Tony wasn't the least bit surprised by her decision; it was the only way to save Wakanda.
A way to save Wakanda by sacrificing only its Vibranium mine.
With that, a person of universe-class intellect was accepted by Tony, becoming one of his subordinates. Although Shuri wasn't well-known—in fact, she was quite obscure—that couldn't hide her brilliance.
One of Earth's top ten intellects held immense value for the planet Cybertron.
Don't underestimate this "top ten." This was a combined ranking of both the Marvel and DC universes. In countless major crises, while powerhouses were certainly important, those with top-tier intellects contributed just as much, at the very least pointing the heroes toward the path of hope.
Even Tony Stark couldn't make it into the top ten.
But Shuri could.
Although Shuri was completely outclassed by Tony Stark in terms of courage, demeanor, vision, bravery, decisiveness, and willingness to sacrifice, her scientific intellect was genuinely world-class.
And Tony only needed her scientific intellect. If it ever got to the point where even the scientists had to fight to the death on the front lines... Cybertron would probably be on the verge of destruction.
Tony would not allow that to happen. Not with the confidence of a quasi-unique god, and not with his knowledge of the many secrets of the Omniverse and the Sphere of the Gods.
"In that case, all of Wakanda's vibranium mines will belong to me from now on. These mineral resources will be the property of Cybertron—my property."
Tony stood up, his expression calm. He looked down at Shuri's still tear-streaked face. Someone else might have warmly pulled her to her feet and carefully wiped her tears away.
The method of winning people over is simple, but very effective.
But Tony simply walked past her, making no extraneous movements.
Because it was useless on someone like Shuri. She was too smart, so smart that she could compute in an instant what would take an ordinary person months, or even years, to figure out.
Such was the terrifying nature of a universe-class intellect.
Earth had survived one crisis after another by relying on a group of fearless individuals and a group of universe-class intellects.
Likewise, a super-intelligent person knows how to read a situation. Shuri would agree. She didn't possess that resolve to fight to the death and the courage to bet everything that only a rare few have.
"I want the Super Serum in your possession—the most advanced formula. I want to resurrect my compatriots." Shuri wiped her own tears away. Looking at the relieved Elders around her, who hadn't dared to utter a single word from beginning to end, a trace of disappointment flickered in her eyes.
"No problem. I'll give you as much as you want. I'll even give you the chemical formula. If you're not satisfied, you can develop your own," Tony said flatly.
"My people need to live in peace..."
"I will arrange for liaisons to allocate a large commercial share to Wakanda. From now on, Wakanda will no longer need to be isolationist, because the vibranium mine you were guarding is gone. If you don't open up, you won't be able to support your population."
"I also want to keep some vibranium..."
"That's impossible."
Tony refused point-blank. "Wakanda won't be keeping a single piece of vibranium. That is my purpose for coming here. Whether it's your weapons, your houses, or the plants that have undergone mutation due to the vibranium mine, they all contain vibranium elements, and I'm taking them all—oh, the clothes you're wearing can generate an energy barrier? They have vibranium material too. Take them off. I'm taking those as well."
Tony issued his commands naturally, demanding that not a single piece of vibranium be left within Wakanda's borders.
A single piece of vibranium could allow him to create a powerful Transformer warrior.
And vibranium's property of absorbing and releasing energy would greatly increase the survival rate of the Transformers on dangerous battlefields. Don't forget, Transformers all have metal bodies.
It was no exaggeration to say that vibranium was far more efficient when used in Transformers than in humans.
A palm-sized piece of vibranium, after being modified in an incubation chamber, could create a powerful regenerative body, enough to last a warrior for a very, very long time.
Even a Type IV chassis like Megatron needed vibranium.
Therefore, Wakanda couldn't hope to keep a single piece of vibranium or anything related to it.
"Even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I won't let a single vibranium element escape." As he spoke, Tony pointed to his own head. "My ability can distinguish every microscopic particle here. Everything related to vibranium is, from this moment on, the property of my planet."
"I'll squeeze blood from a stone if I have to."
Tony spoke with conviction, his tone firm, without a shred of a demigod's pride.
Ignoring the dumbfounded Shuri and the others, Tony flew directly up, smashed through the roof, and landed at the entrance of the nearest mine.
As he did, he beckoned with his hand, collecting some of the stone fragments from the broken roof into his palm and nodding in satisfaction.
Even this piece of rock contained a tiny amount of vibranium elements.
The entirety of Wakanda, to a greater or lesser extent, contained trace elements of vibranium, including the strange surrounding scenery and the plants that had undergone genetic mutation due to the radioactive energy from the vibranium mine.
All of it was his.
Even if it meant stripping the land bare, he wouldn't leave a single blade of grass. This place was the greatest treasure for Cybertron. To Cybertron, nothing was more precious than a vast reserve of rare minerals.
He would probably... dig out all of Wakanda... At worst, he could just dredge up a pile of soil from the seabed to fill the empty chasm left behind.
As a conqueror, he had already shown the greatest mercy. Vibranium was the best possible fortune.
Especially a vibranium mine with such astonishing reserves.
"Now, let me see the extent of this vibranium mine's reserves..."
After relaying the message to Megatron to hold position and regroup, Tony closed his eyes. The Allspark immediately seeped into the ground, sensing the wondrous vibranium.
But in an instant, Tony's eyes shot open, a look of shock on his face.
"These reserves are just too astonishing..."
Closing his eyes again, the Allspark's energy rapidly spread downwards. Everywhere it touched was filled with that purple ore and soil stained purple by it.
And with every passing moment, this purple hue was spreading outwards, slowly transforming more ordinary soil into a substance similar to the vibranium ore.
The vibranium mine itself possessed a certain radioactivity, altering Wakanda's environment and biology.
The raw material for the Heart-Shaped Herb used by the Black Panther royal family was one such strange plant, transformed by the radiation of the vibranium mine, with effects comparable to Captain America's Super Serum.
(end of chapter)
