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Home of the Devil Fruits
Rosh was lazily scrolling through short videos, enjoying a quiet moment, when a notification abruptly popped up on his screen.
"You have a new contact request!"
Curious, he exited the app to check the message attached to the request.
"Shopkeeper, it's me—Door-Door Fruit!"
It didn't take much effort to figure out who the sender was. The peculiar nickname made it obvious. The requester could only be Bruce Banner. Without a second thought, Rosh accepted the request.
As soon as he did, a message came through. "Shopkeeper, this is Bruce Banner!"
Rosh smiled at the confirmation and replied casually, "Dr. Banner, how have you been?"
Bruce's response was candid and to the point. "Considering everything that's happened, I'd say I'm doing quite well."
Rosh understood the weight behind those words. Bruce's life had been intense, to say the least. Ever since the accidental death of his father-in-law, General Ross, Bruce had been granted an unexpected reprieve from the relentless manhunt that had shadowed him for years. Ross's absence had thrown the military into disarray, with various factions locked in bureaucratic infighting over leadership and control. The Hulk's unique value had only complicated matters further, creating a stalemate that significantly eased the pressure on Bruce.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Bruce found himself with something he hadn't had in years—time to breathe.
Using this rare period of peace, Bruce had been quietly working in the shadows. He'd taken the opportunity to secure funds overseas, ensuring he had the resources he needed to stay ahead of whatever challenges might come next. Bruce intended to make the most of this brief lull in chaos.
"By the way, Shopkeeper, I wanted to ask—has the Door-Door Fruit become available yet?" Bruce got straight to the point after a brief exchange of pleasantries.
"Yes, Dr. Banner, it's now available," Rosh confirmed. "However, I should let you know that the shop's payment policy has changed. We no longer accept U.S. dollars. All transactions must now be made in gold."
Bruce's initial excitement faltered. The last time he'd checked, the price for the Door-Door Fruit was an astronomical 80 million dollars. When converted to gold, that equated to over 1,200 kilograms—a staggering amount to gather under any circumstances.
"For the Door-Door Fruit, how much gold are we looking at, exactly?" Bruce asked, needing clarification.
"1,300 kilograms," Rosh replied promptly.
The figure didn't come as a surprise to Bruce; it was about what he had anticipated. Still, knowing the number didn't make the task ahead any less daunting. Collecting over a ton of gold would be a monumental challenge, especially given the complications of his current situation.
"Understood, Shopkeeper," Bruce said after a moment's thought. "I'll start gathering the gold immediately."
Rosh offered a helpful suggestion. "If you're serious about acquiring it, Dr. Banner, I recommend placing a deposit to reserve the fruit. This will ensure no one else buys it while you're securing the funds."
"A deposit?" Bruce asked. "How much would that be?"
"For a reservation like this, $3 million worth of gold will hold the Door-Door Fruit for six months," Rosh explained.
Bruce replied decisively. "Got it, Shopkeeper. I'll take care of it right away."
With their business concluded, Bruce thanked Rosh and logged off, already formulating plans to amass the necessary gold.
Rosh, meanwhile, shrugged and returned to scrolling through the videos online.
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Having spent some time idly scrolling through videos, Rosh's attention was drawn away by the familiar chime of the shop door. Looking up, he saw a man step inside. His sharp eyes and confident posture gave him an air of authority. At the same time, an underlying hint of danger lingered about him—subtle but unmistakable, like a concealed blade ready to strike.
It only took Rosh a moment to identify the visitor.
The man standing before him was Clint Barton, better known to the world as Hawkeye—a veteran S.H.I.E.L.D. operative and one of the founding members of the Avengers.
Clint's arrival wasn't random. After receiving an unexpected call from Agent Coulson, he had abruptly paused his ongoing mission in Chicago to return. Initially, Clint had assumed the matter was urgent, possibly involving a high-stakes operation. Instead, he was stunned to learn his assignment was to purchase a Devil Fruit.
Skeptical at first, Clint had struggled to take the idea seriously. The notion of eating a fruit to gain supernatural powers sounded like something out of a fairy tale. But his doubts were obliterated when Natasha demonstrated the power of the Mimic-Mimic Fruit. Watching her flawlessly transform into a completely different person before his eyes left him speechless. The reality of Devil Fruits was undeniable, and Clint now understood their immense potential.
Fueled by curiosity and conviction, he stepped into the shop, hopeful yet cautious.
"Shopkeeper, I'm Clint Barton," he said politely, introducing himself just as Director Fury had advised. "I work with Natasha Romanoff." Though his tone was respectful, his presence radiated confidence, as if he was always prepared for any situation.
"Welcome, Mr. Barton," Rosh greeted him warmly, his demeanor calm yet attentive.
Clint didn't waste time. "Natasha spoke highly of the Mark-Mark Fruit. She said it's something I should seriously consider. Could you tell me more about it?"
Rosh gestured toward a sleek display case, his voice steady as he replied, "Of course. That is the Mark-Mark Fruit you're looking for."
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Next Chapter: Hawkeye's Dilemma – The Most Frustrating Devil Fruit
Next Next Chapter: The Zoan Fruit That Caught Clint Barton's Eye
Next Next Next Chapter: From Now On, Call Me Falconman!
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