Selling Devil Fruits in the Marvel Universe

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Home of the Devil Fruits

"Lee, I've confirmed it," the latest message began.

"It's exactly as you suspected. Norton Schwarzenegger is a member of the Hand."

"Seven years ago, he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. On his deathbed, the Hand found him and brought him back to life through their methods."

"Since his resurrection, Norton Schwarzenegger has operated in the shadows, adopting the persona of a 'man who doesn't exist' to carry out covert missions for the Hand."

"For the past seven years, he has been working under Madam Gao's command." 

Rosh scrolled through the messages Fisk had sent to Shaun Lee's account, nodding in quiet acknowledgment. His earlier deductions had proven correct. The Hand's influence was indeed behind the events, and Madam Gao's demise had been a necessary step.

Still, Rosh couldn't afford to overlook the broader implications. The Hand was ruled by five "fingers," each directing its shadowy empire. So far, Rosh had succeeded in eliminating three of them. But that left two fingers still intact.

'If three are already gone, why let the other two survive?' he mused, weighing his next move. As the thought crossed his mind, a new message from Fisk interrupted his contemplation.

"Lee, you've heard of the Hand and its leadership structure. You know they are ruled by five leaders, the Five Fingers." 

"Madam Gao, Murakami, and Bakuto are three of those fingers. These three are already gone, thanks to the shopkeeper." 

"But The Hand still has two remaining, Alexandra and Sowande."

"I'll take care of them myself." 

"I know someone like you could handle it without breaking a sweat, but think of this as a gesture from me as the host of this city to its newcomer. Consider it a small gift." 

"A gift? What a load of bullshit!" Rosh snorted, a smirk playing on his lips. Fisk's so-called "gift" reeked of manipulation. The man was a smooth storyteller as a seasoned bard, constantly spinning words to suit his agenda.

Rosh knew better. Fisk was already locked in a deadly feud with the Hand, so Fisk's proposition to "take care" of Alexandra and Sowande wasn't some benevolent gesture. It was merely him trying to clean up a mess he had a hand in creating.

'Did Fisk really think Shaun Lee was gullible enough to believe this?' Rosh thought, shaking his head in disbelief.

Without missing a beat, he composed his reply. "Fisk, I think you've misunderstood the situation," he wrote. "Justice has already been served. Madam Gao masterminded this chaos and paid the ultimate price for it. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. Let's leave the past where it belongs."

He added a final, mocking touch: "Rest in peace, Madam Gao. Amen."

On the other side of the conversation, Fisk read the message and let out a wry chuckle. Masquerading as Shaun Lee, Rosh had seen through his thinly veiled ploy without difficulty. As expected, the excuse didn't fool him for a second.

"Wait for my good news," Fisk replied cryptically before logging off, leaving Rosh to interpret his intentions.

Rosh leaned back in his chair, staring at the screen as he mulled over Fisk's words. His fingers drummed against the armrest, his mind racing.

'If Fisk is so eager to deal with Alexandra and Sowande himself, then why not let him?' Rosh reasoned. It wasn't as though he owed Fisk anything, and if Fisk wanted to shoulder the burden of eliminating the remaining "fingers," it might save him the trouble.

The mastermind behind the chaos, Madam Gao, was already dead. As for the remaining two "fingers" of the Hand, they were of little significance to Rosh. Their defeat wouldn't change much in the grand scheme of things. Instead, Rosh found himself intrigued by a different question: just how much impact could Devil Fruits have in this world? 

Could Wilson Fisk—the underground emperor of New York—empowered by a Devil Fruit, really bring down a centuries-old organization that was already teetering on the brink of collapse? 

The thought was compelling, and Rosh couldn't help but wonder about the outcome. 

As his mind lingered on these musings, a sudden chime from the shop's entrance bell pulled him out of his thoughts. He looked up, his gaze sharpening as he took in the sight of a tall, poised blonde woman walking into the shop. Dressed in a sleek, tailored business suit, her presence commanded attention. The rhythmic click of her high heels against the floor only added to the air of confidence she exuded. 

Rosh's eyes narrowed slightly as recognition dawned. This wasn't an ordinary customer. 

Her face was unmistakable—one that graced television screens, newspaper headlines, and countless online articles. She was none other than Pepper Potts, the renowned personal assistant to Tony Stark. Some might have called her Stark's right-hand woman, but "babysitter" was often a more fitting title for her role in managing the eccentric genius. 

One day, Rosh knew, this sharp and capable woman would ascend to the position of CEO of Stark Industries and, eventually, become Tony Stark's wife. What she was doing here, in his modest shop on a quiet commercial street, was beyond him. He certainly hadn't anticipated a figure of her stature walking through his doors. 

Still, Rosh quickly pushed aside his surprise and refocused his thoughts, preparing himself for whatever might follow.

"Welcome to my humble store!" Rosh greeted her with a polite smile, carefully masking his surprise at her unexpected arrival.

"Hello, shopkeeper," Pepper responded warmly, her demeanor professional yet approachable. "I was curious and wanted to see for myself what these 'Devil Fruits' are all about.'" 

"Feel free to take a look," Rosh said, gesturing toward the display case that housed the vibrant, otherworldly fruits. "These are the Devil Fruits."

Pepper didn't need much encouragement. Her gaze was immediately drawn to the display, her eyes scanning the strange, vividly colored fruits with their swirling, intricate patterns and bizarre shapes.

"Wow," she murmured, leaning closer for a better view. "I have to admit, these fruits look… otherworldly. They certainly live up to the name 'Devil Fruits.' They're almost intimidating in their appearance."

"That's because you don't truly understand what they are yet," Rosh replied cryptically, his tone calm but laced with an air of mystery. "Believe me, once you do, you'll realize they are among the most extraordinary things this world has to offer."

"Is that so?" Pepper raised an eyebrow, intrigued but still a touch skeptical. She studied Rosh's expression, searching for any sign of exaggeration or deceit. But his calm conviction only fueled her curiosity further.

'What exactly made these strange fruits so extraordinary?' she wondered.

After a moment of deliberation, she straightened and met his gaze with newfound resolve. "All right," she said decisively. "I'll take one. Let's see what makes these fruits so extraordinary."

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Next Chapter: The Perfect Fruit for Pepper Potts 

Next Next Chapter: If I Eat This, I'll Be the Ultimate Workaholic

Next Next Next Chapter: Pepper Potts in Shock

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