Storm

Daisy didn't expect to encounter a fellow human in such a remote place, and a notable one at that, at least in Kenya.

"Miss Ororo Munroe?" Daisy called out to the black woman. Ororo had joined the X-Men and was known as Storm, with records even within S.H.I.E.L.D.

However, Daisy didn't expect Ororo to be out here in the wilderness, bullying lions for fun. The male lion seemed to think that Daisy had its back and roared aggressively, with the lioness joining in, and the playful little lion, who had been inside the cave, also came out to join the commotion.

Storm paid no attention to the lions. She was somewhat surprised to hear her name from a "stranger" like this.

"Who are you?" She looked cautious.

Daisy gestured with her hand to show she was unarmed. "I spoke with Professor Charles Xavier on the phone. I'm with the government." Though it was just a phone call, and even with the Kunlun Elder's ring, she didn't really want to meet the Professor.

Hearing that Daisy was a government agent, Storm's wariness lessened slightly, though these days, the government wasn't exactly trustworthy. And claiming to have spoken with Professor Xavier on the phone wasn't particularly convincing either.

There were many people who claimed to have spoken with Professor Xavier on the phone, from delivery people to insurance salesmen. Could any of them catch her lightning if she decided to strike? Storm was skeptical.

She remained cautious, but her hostility decreased. She wasn't exactly hostile in the first place. Daisy was just a bystander, and Storm had thought that Daisy had been attacked by the lion, hence her intervention with lightning. Now, it seemed that Daisy and the lions had a friendly relationship, which was a clear misunderstanding on her part.

Storm nodded and flew away on her own.

Daisy pondered to herself. Storm's appearance added a variable to her plan.

The Munroe family in Kenya was akin to a witch clan, with a lineage of magical traditions spanning millennia. Storm wasn't just a mutant; she was also a sorceress. Each generation of the family possessed the power to control the weather, and in her generation, the fusion of her magical heritage and mutant abilities had elevated her even further.

As a descendant of a millennium-old family, it wasn't unusual for her to occasionally show up in Kenya, help refugees, and show off. Daisy understood that perspective.

By saving the male lion from the lightning strike, any animosity was erased. Under Daisy's deliberate efforts, the lion family had already begun playing with her within half an hour.

This time, she didn't need to force the situation. Daisy took out her phone and snapped a photo with the lion family. Even if Fitz didn't like it, she could enjoy it herself.

The male lion was a bit resistant to the phone, but after her explanation, it awkwardly left its image on the photo.

After a night of heavy rain, Daisy woke up to a clear sky in the morning. She needed to continue her journey.

She bid farewell to the lion family. While Wakanda wouldn't harm animals, it was the territory of the Panther God, and these lions would grow more uncomfortable the deeper they ventured in.

Warm goodbyes were exchanged with the lion family. While the two larger lions were fine, Daisy was particularly fond of the small lion. Its fluffy appearance and seemingly naive demeanour charmed her. She thought about taking it back with her to keep as a pet, but she knew she had business to attend to. The lion-napping mission would have to wait for her return journey.

After savoring a meal made from a slain wild goat, Daisy bid her farewell and continued her journey northward alone.

"Where are you headed? The northern regions are filled with wild beasts." As she walked less than a mile, Daisy spotted Storm sitting on a roadside rock, waiting for her.

Originally, Daisy had intended to chase into Wakanda under the pretense of catching a thief. However, after unexpectedly encountering Storm yesterday, she had changed a small part of her plan.

Storm and Black Panther T'Challa had been childhood friends, even lovers for eight years. She was destined to become the queen of Wakanda, but due to the superhero Civil War, they had an acrimonious split, eventually divorcing.

Storm definitely knew the entrance path to Wakanda. By taking her along, Daisy could gain visibility within Wakanda's higher circles, making many things easier to accomplish.

However, she couldn't immediately execute her plan; some necessary deception was still required.

"A tracking mission," she replied succinctly, using her skills as a movie company owner to act convincingly.

It turned out that Storm indeed knew about Wakanda. She found Daisy's route suspicious, as she was waiting on the road so early in the morning. If possible, she wanted to persuade Daisy to turn back.

If it were just an ordinary Kenyan, she would have likely said, "You're not welcome here, go home!"

However, Daisy's position was more complicated. She had to consider political implications. After consulting with Professor Xavier, it was confirmed that Daisy was affiliated with S.H.I.E.L.D., which made Storm even more wary.q

"I... I don't mean to interfere with your mission, but you should know that the local tribes have many customs. If you go too far, it might lead to disputes..." She stumbled over her words, choosing her phrasing carefully.

Without hesitation, Daisy displayed her S.H.I.E.L.D. credentials to show her.

"I respect Professor Xavier's efforts over the years to bridge the gap between mutants and ordinary people, but this cannot hinder my mission. Please step aside."

"No, no, I didn't mean anything else. I was just curious..." Seeing Daisy's Level 7 agent credentials, Storm didn't know what to say. She had some ominous suspicions. Dispatching such a high-ranking agent, could it be that S.H.I.E.L.D. or even the U.S. government had learned of Wakanda's existence and started preliminary reconnaissance?

"I have some connections in this area. If you need help, I can gather information for you." Storm positioned herself in a relatively vulnerable position.

Daisy didn't want to create too much commotion. She felt the timing was right and revealed her mission objective.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. has discovered a secretive organisation by conducting investigations. About ten days ago, a team entered Kenya and headed north. My mission is to track them and determine if their objectives pose a threat to global security."

Hearing this explanation, Storm felt considerably relieved. As long as it didn't involve nation-to-nation conflict, she believed she could participate.

She immediately offered her assistance, and Daisy pretended to hesitate before reluctantly agreeing.

Storm was overjoyed. She wanted to guide Daisy's route off track but feared that her involvement might interfere with significant national matters. She could only obediently follow Daisy.

Daisy shared information with her, a mix of truth and fabrication.

"This organization somehow obtained information suggesting there's an immensely powerful weapon on the African continent." Daisy chuckled self-mockingly at this point, her tone laden with disdain for Africa.

Storm grew anxious. She was well aware that there were indeed potentially world-threatening weapons on the African continent. However, as an "outsider," she didn't know how to explain this matter. She hadn't informed Professor Xavier about Wakanda, so she had no one to consult with.