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"This... I can't believe it! I actually made bubbles!"
Pepper Potts stared in disbelief, her eyes wide as she took in the shimmering bubbles floating around her. It felt like she had stepped into a dream—one that defied every rule of science she had ever known. And yet, here she was, doing the impossible.
'This is real.' The words echoed in her mind, cementing the truth she could no longer deny. The Devil Fruits the shopkeeper had described weren't just tall tales or clever marketing tricks. They were real, and they held extraordinary power.
At that moment, Pepper's lingering doubts about the Devil Fruit Shop dissolved entirely. She was a skeptic no more; she had become a true believer.
"Shopkeeper, I owe you an apology," Pepper said earnestly once she managed to steady herself. "I've never witnessed anything so miraculous, and my earlier skepticism was—well, it was rude of me." Her newfound understanding of the fruits' incredible nature had completely shifted her perception of Rosh.
And rightly so.
The man who could sell something as magical as Devil Fruits was clearly no ordinary vendor. Despite his relaxed demeanor, Rosh carried an air of quiet authority, an unspoken grandeur that set him apart.
"No need to apologize. I understand completely," Rosh replied with a dismissive wave, his voice calm and reassuring. Disbelief, after all, was a natural reaction to encountering something so extraordinary.
"I appreciate your understanding, shopkeeper!" Pepper said with a grateful smile before turning to the matter at hand. "I've made up my mind. I'll take the Bubble-Bubble Fruit."
"An excellent choice," Rosh said with a nod, his tone matter-of-fact. "That will be 100 kilograms of gold. Just a reminder—our shop only accepts gold as payment. No exceptions."
"Only gold?" Pepper repeated, momentarily taken aback. The idea seemed inconvenient—after all, who walked around with gold bars for everyday transactions? But then again, this was no ordinary shop. It sold Devil Fruits, items that defied logic and science. A few eccentric rules felt entirely in character for such a place.
"One hundred kilograms of gold… Shopkeeper, could you hold the fruit for a few days? I'll need some time to gather that amount," Pepper asked, her tone serious and determined.
"That can be arranged," Rosh replied with a slight nod. "However, you'll need to pay a one-million-dollar deposit upfront. This deposit will be fully refunded when you return to complete the purchase."
Rosh had a soft spot for loyal customers like the Pym family and was willing to make exceptions for them. Hope, in particular, had been a regular patron, having purchased two Devil Fruits from Rosh's store in the past. So, when Hope requested that he reserve the Chase-Chase Fruit for her, Rosh was happy to oblige. He saw it as a way to provide special treatment to his long-time customers. However, the rules were much stricter for first-time buyers like Pepper. For them, the deposit policy was firm and non-negotiable, ensuring fairness and order in the store's operations.
The requirement for a deposit didn't faze Pepper in the slightest. If anything, it reassured her. It reflected the shopkeeper's professionalism and the immense value of the items he dealt with. Something as extraordinary as a Devil Fruit deserved meticulous precautions.
"Let's do it. I'll pay the deposit," Pepper said without hesitation, pulling out her credit card.
*Beep!*
The transaction was completed swiftly, and Rosh handed her a receipt, officially reserving the Bubble-Bubble Fruit. They exchanged contact information to finalize arrangements, and with that, Pepper left the shop feeling a renewed sense of purpose and optimism.
As Rosh watched her retreating figure, he felt a quiet satisfaction. The transaction was practically sealed now that the deposit had been paid. But beyond this successful sale, his mind was already moving to something more intriguing: Tony Stark.
Given Pepper's close connection to Stark, it was only a matter of time before Iron Man himself showed up at Rosh's doorstep. And when that happened, it promised to be an encounter worth anticipating.
"Come to think of it, the Weapon-Weapon Fruit recently made its way onto the shelves. It's practically custom-designed for Stark," Rosh thought aloud, his lips curling into a thoughtful smile. Whether Tony consumed the fruit himself or found a way to incorporate its unique abilities into his next generation of suits, the potential applications were boundless—and thrilling.
"Speaking of Stark... didn't he recently unveil the Jericho missile? Where exactly are we in the timeline?" His curiosity piqued, Rosh opened his laptop and began scanning the latest news. His eyes lit up as he came across the headlines:
"Playboy Billionaire Snubs Military Award Ceremony; Obadiah Stane Steps In to Save the Day."
"Stark Industries Nearing Final Deal with the Military for Jericho Missiles."
A grin spread across Rosh's face as realization dawned.
This was it—the prologue to Iron Man's legendary origin story.
He could picture the events unfolding. On the cusp of demonstrating the Jericho missile to the military, Tony Stark would soon find himself ambushed by the Ten Rings. What followed—the shrapnel injury, his captivity in a cave, and the creation of the first Iron Man suit—would set Stark on the path to becoming a hero.
"The countdown to Stark's transformation has officially begun," Rosh mused, his voice tinged with anticipation.
With Stark's rise, the age of superheroes in the Marvel Universe would commence. Chaos wouldn't take long to ripple across the world as larger-than-life figures emerged, each bringing their own brand of power and responsibility.
In the past, the thought of such a chaotic era had unsettled Rosh. The unknowns were too vast, and his own abilities were too limited at the time. But now?
After undergoing two rounds of system enhancements and achieving significant growth in his strength and influence, Rosh felt a newfound calmness. The fear that had once lingered in the back of his mind was gone, replaced by quiet confidence—and even a spark of excitement.
"Let the chaos come," Rosh murmured to himself, his gaze steady. "I'm ready for it."
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Next Chapter: The Disappearance of the Yellowjacket Suit!
Next Next Chapter: Spectacular Powers and Astonishing Escapes
Next Next Next Chapter: The Ultimate Trump Card—The Devil Fruit Family Group Chat!
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