49: The Shady Store
As Venus and his crew navigated the dark alleys of Sea Salt City, they were confronted with the harsh realities of the corrupt city. Smokers loitered on every corner, and street kids who had turned to crime prowled the shadows. Robbers and murderers lurked, and the sight of dead bodies in the streets was all too common.
Their journey took them to a particularly seedy part of town, where they stumbled upon a small, inconspicuous store with a faded sign. Intrigued by its mysterious aura, they decided to step inside. The dimly lit interior was filled with an assortment of strange and exotic items, but it was the shopkeeper who caught their attention. He was a gaunt, shifty-eyed man who seemed eager to do business.
"Welcome, welcome," the shopkeeper greeted them with a sly grin. "I have something very special for you today. The Shitsuryō Shitsuryō Yubiwa, also known as the Mass Mass Ring. It allows you to increase the mass of anything, like your weapon, for instance. And it's yours for 150,000 L$."
Ami, ever cautious, asked, "How can we trust that this isn't a scam?"
The shopkeeper's grin widened. "This is the only one of its kind in the entire world. You're lucky to get it this cheap because, in the great seaport Black Gong, rings like these sell for prices ranging from 500,000 L$ to 1T L$. I'm on marine lookout and need quick cash to bribe the marines and secure a passage out of here. So, this is your only chance."
Venus glanced at Ami, then back at the shopkeeper. "We'll take it."
He handed over the 150,000 L$, and the shopkeeper quickly wrapped the ring and handed it to Venus. As they left the store, Venus examined the ring, feeling its weight and the power it seemed to hold