Chapter 360 Glory_1
Wakanda, a jewel standing alone on the African Continent. Amidst a land still raw with wildness and harshness, this beautiful city embodies the determination of human civilization to reshape nature and create its own habitat.
Geographically, Wakanda is not advantaged. Like all tropical nations, situated in Northeast Africa, Wakanda experiences annual dry heat. The national territory is small, even within the fragmented map of Africa, it could be considered a small nation among small nations.
Both natural conditions and the cultural environment are not impressive. Countries in East Africa, though somewhat shining stars within Africa, are not extraordinary overall. The emerging Wakanda has little interaction with neighboring countries. Whether about technological sophistication or levels of education, they have nothing to converse about with their neighbours, let alone trade.
However, Wakanda's civilization is quite developed to the point where the word "quite" would not be considered an exaggeration. For instance, Wakanda conquered cancer many years ago, and the average lifespan of Wakandans is the highest in the world. From birth, they wear a monitoring bracelet to supervise their health status. Any disease will be treated for free.
Meanwhile, their spy agencies are exceedingly powerful and can wrestle with the CIA; they even once developed a plan to defend against Galactus, the Planet Devourer.
Needless to mention their strength in hardcore technology. They are the only nation on earth that possesses a fully outfitted fleet of spaceships. Although their fleet can't compare with Kree's spaceships, and they still use basic chemical fuels, it still represents a powerful military force within the Solar System.
Furthermore, their civilization coexists with both technology and magic. Apart from the famous heart-shaped herb, they can also obtain animal powers from worshipping the Beast God. Both their royal palace guards and their king's exclusive female guards have superhuman powers.
All of these conditions combined make Wakanda a paradise on the African Continent for outsiders. Even in New York, many people consider it a heaven. Thanks to their powerful intelligence agencies, Wakanda holds a considerable advantage in international public opinion.
Political correctness aside, the majority of Wakandans are highly respected internationally due to their nation's excellent welfare benefits and staggeringly high education levels. Every top-ranking world university has Wakandan students.
Their citizens are of high quality, sociable, dedicated to anti-racial discrimination, and hold a good reputation internationally.
However, this nation, which seems heavenly in the media, is not without worries. Only after experiencing it firsthand can one grasp the dilemma of Wakanda.
Just like all countries with high welfare, their political stability hinges on their welfare system. Once the welfare diminishes, turmoil follows.
What's worse is that, unlike other welfare states in Northern Europe that are intact nations, Wakanda is a tribal alliance. Thus, similar issues would only lead to a worse situation.
"Erik... cough, cough..." T'Challa, leaning against a wall and clutching his chest, blood flowed through his fingers. The room was filled with the smell of blood, his lips started turning blue, and his eyes seemed to lose focus. Apparently, excessive blood loss pushed him to the brink of death.
"T'Challa, you should regret now." Another African man stood in front of him. The light from the window projected on him, turning his shadow into a dark beast ready to devour T'Challa.
Speaking to T'Challa in the Wakanda language, Erik said: "I should have been the Wakanda King! You cheated in our duel, violating the honour code of a Wakandan Warrior!"
T'Challa's face remained calm. He looked at the spear in Erik's hand. The tip of the spear reflected the unique shimmer of Vibranium, but at the same time, there was also some sort of dark energy T'Challa had never seen before.
"Erik, you've failed me by worshipping the Evil God and betraying our Black Panther God... cough, cough..."
"You don't understand at all." Erik gripped the spear tightly and said: "You are trapped in this tiny kingdom, on this damned penniless continent. You really don't know how broad the world is, how powerful some forces are and can serve me..."
"You control such a valuable resource as Vibranium, but only use it for unimportant experiments, and even cooperate with the Americans. Stupid and shortsighted!"
T'Challa tilted his head back, as though to take in more oxygen. The self-healing power from the heart-shaped herb seemed to be suppressed by an unknown force, which made his injuries more severe.
"The foolish one is you, Erik! You think I don't know about your petty moves? Do you dare take the weapon your father left you, behave like a Wakandan Warrior, and swear to me that you have not colluded with the evil forces, or with the Americans?"
"Shut up! What right do you have to demand that from me?! And I'm different from you, I'm committed to a greater cause..."
T'Challa wore a look of sheer contempt. He shut his mouth, seemingly not wanting to speak to Erik anymore. Erik was infuriated by his attitude and raised his spear high.