Bucky had developed a deep love for the suit. With the suit, he could go places he couldnât before, like ant hills or mouse holes. These novel experiences filled him with anticipation and joy, bringing unexpected excitement to his otherwise dull life.
Thus, when Bucky thanked Leo, it wasnât just for providing him with a piece of powerful equipment, but also for giving him a source of happiness.
In response to Buckyâs gratitude, Leo smiled slightly, âIâm not giving this suit to you for free, Bucky. The upcoming mission in Wakanda isnât only exhausting, but also potentially life-threatening. So, donât complain about it being too tough when the time comes.â
âOf course not. Iâve never had an easy mission before, so Iâm used to it.â Bucky replied confidently, patting his chest.
However, he quickly changed the conversation and asked Leo with a hint of confusion, âBut Leo, what are our goals in Wakanda? We should discuss and make a plan first to prevent any mishap later on.â
âThe primary goal of our trip to Wakanda is to acquire more Vibranium.â
âDidnât we get plenty of it from Ulysses two weeks ago? Isnât that enough for you?â
âFar from enough.â Leo replied firmly, âEven ten times more wouldnât be enough.â
Unsure of why Leo needed so much Vibranium, Bucky just simply nodded in agreement and continued testing his suit.
According to Leoâs plan, the more Vibranium, the better. The overall level of technology in Wakanda was decades ahead of the current civilian technology. Even Stark Industriesâ black technology was far behind Wakanda in this era.
By having the Mechanic System, Leo was able to quickly learn various black technologies. Thus, he believed that if he didnât make a trip to Wakanda and obtain all the high-tech equipment available, he would be failing his duty as a transmigrator and system carrier.
Besides, Wakanda also had the miraculous heart-shaped herb that could endow the taker with superhuman strength and wisdom, and of course, Leo wanted to try one. With his Super Soldier Physique (Inferior), how much stronger would he become after taking the herb?
Regardless, he couldnât reveal these plans to Bucky just yet. According to his statements, he had only heard bits and pieces about Wakanda from the deceased NâJobu.
Following this logic, there was no way NâJobu would reveal the secret of the heart-shaped herb to Leo, a mutually beneficial ally. So he couldnât talk about the heart-shaped herb yet, and could only slowly guide Bucky and act surprised when they eventually discovered it inside Wakanda.
Since there was a whole patch of heart-shaped hearts growing in the caves of Wakanda. When the time came, it was nice for Bucky to have a taste as well. Furthermore, if the herbs could be taken out of Wakanda, Leo planned to bring them back to give one to Natasha, one to Peter, and one to MattâŠ
In particular Daredevil. If had had the physique enhancement from the heart-shaped herb, he would truly be a superhero.
Leo wasnât the kind of person to take everything for himself. So anyone who was willing to stick with him through thick and thin would have a piece of his cake, and they would never go hungry.
Lost in thought, Leoâs mind wandered off but he quickly brought himself back to focus on the lab.
Meanwhile, Bucky was still testing his suit, and Leo couldnât wait any longer. He turned to Bucky, who was as tall as his thigh and said, âBucky, even though you adapted to the suit very quickly, I need you to be skillful in using it and demonstrate strong fighting power. So how much time do you need?â
After brief consideration, Bucky gave a confident reply, âTwo days should be more than enough.â
âAlright then, weâll set off to Wakanda in two days!â
âŠâŠ
Two days later, Eastern Africa.
Leo, who was the size of a palm, was holding onto Bucky, who was the size of a finger, with one hand, suspended in the air at a height of nearly a thousand meters.
Beneath them was a thin translucent layer of clouds, and ahead of them stood a mountain range towing above the clouds while below them were hills of various heights.
The wind was fierce, so Bucky held onto Leoâs thumb tightly, carefully looking down, âAre you sure we are at the right place? Thereâs no kingdom down here, only a bunch of forests and wild animals.â
âIf Wakanda is that easy to find, then their Vibranium and technology would have been exposed long ago,â explained Leo with a smile. âThereâs a protective shield covering Wakanda that has a cloaking mechanism, hiding the entire kingdom from view. Itâs invisible from high altitude.â
Nodding in amazement, Bucky couldnât even begin to picture what kind of invisible technology could accomplish such a feat even with his imagination.
Leo pointed to the right and continued, âBucky, can you see that mountain rising out of the clouds on the west? Does it look like a bull to you?â
Bucky scanned it for a while and replied, âIt does look a bit like one.â
âThat should be the Bullâs Horn Mountain,â Leo nodded. âBased on Ulyssesâ map, Wakanda is located in a valley on the eastern side of the mountain, with a river running through the middle.â
âSo, does that mean Wakanda is right below us?â Belatedly, Bucky craned his neck to look down, but he still saw nothing.
âExactly, right under our feet, but hidden.â Reaching into his Storage Belt, Leo produced a large rock, bigger than himself, which he had picked up from a mountain peak on the way here.
âNow, letâs see where the border of Wakanda is!â As soon as he finished speaking, Leo tossed the rock as big as a human head.
âHey, thatâs littering. Itâs illegalâŠâ Bucky complained, but his eyes followed the rock as it fell, not wanting to miss anything.
Ignoring Buckyâs complaints, Leo focused on looking down below.
As the rock fell, gravity accelerated it and it gained speed, plummeting straight down. After falling for about two or three hundred meters, a faint blue light burst into the air. Both of them widened their eyes and looked toward the source of the light.
Underneath the falling rock was a shimmering blue shield that suddenly appeared. The surface of the shield was made up of hexagonal cells, like a honeycomb, forming a spherical arc shape.
Concurrently, the large rock that was previously traveling at a high speed and seemingly capable of killing someone was deflected at an angle and flew out, landing in the dense primitive forest.
It was only because both of them had undergone the Super Soldier Serumâs enhancements and had remarkable eyesight that they could see numerous details.
Bucky turned his head and looked at Leo with his jaw dropped, clearly shocked, âIs that the shield that made Wakanda invisible? Thatâs too tough! Can we get in?â
âIâve used the âkeyâ Nâjobu gave to Ulysses to replicate a shield decoder. Maybe it can crack Wakandaâs shield.â As Leo answered, he carried Bucky down, searching for a suitable location to test his shield decoder.
However, just as they had descended to the spot where the rock had landed and was preparing to fly diagonally toward the ground along the curvature of the shield, a monstrous object suddenly charged out from below them!