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There was something worth pointing out...
The $3 million reservation payment Bruce Banner had placed for the Door-Door Fruit? It had already been quietly wired into Rosh's accounts. Anonymous. Clean. Smooth. No red tape. The guy clearly had his financial ducks in a row, unlike the Punisher's "scrape and hustle" approach.
Then again, this was Bruce Banner.
The man didn't just have brains; he had credentials. He has eight PhDs, a resume thicker than a dictionary, and a string of high-impact research papers and patented tech under his belt. He wasn't just a genius; he was a walking intellectual goldmine. It didn't matter if he was hiding halfway across the globe, dodging military drones, or laying low in a jungle somewhere; when it came to raising money, Bruce could pull in seven figures without even leaving the lab.
A textbook example of "knowledge is power" only in this case, knowledge was also wildly profitable.
And now, with Bruce Banner reserving the Door-Door Fruit and Frank Castle locking down the Clear-Clear Fruit, Rosh had officially scored two heavy-hitting clients. Both were dangerous in their own right. Both were ticking time bombs of potential. And if either of them actually went through with eating their Devil Fruits?
Yeah... the Marvel Universe would never be the same again.
Just imagining it sent a chill of excitement down Rosh's spine.
He leaned back in his seat behind the counter, mentally playing out scenarios; Banner with the power to teleport between spaces like a walking dimensional gate… Castle turning invisible while hunting his targets with military precision...
*Cling! Clang!*
The shop bell jingled. The door swung open with a gentle creak.
Rosh instantly snapped out of his daydreams, posture straightening like a switch had been flipped. Reflexes sharpened, smile queued up.
"A customer," he muttered, brushing off the edge of his sleeve. "Let's see who fate dragged in today." When he looked up and saw who it was, one of his eyebrows quirked slightly in surprise.
Trish Walker.
'Well, that was unexpected.'
"Looks like a wild celebrity has entered the chat," Rosh muttered to himself, amused.
Sure, Trish wasn't Hollywood famous, but her radio show Trish Talk had a rock-solid fanbase, especially in the city. Her name carried weight. Her voice reached thousands. Even if Rosh hadn't personally tuned in, he'd heard enough secondhand praise to know she wasn't just some Z-list wannabe.
And more importantly, Trish had a history.
So, now that Jessica had come to the shop and experienced the power of Devil Fruits firsthand, it was only natural that Tracy would follow in her footsteps.
It was a dream that had always burned in her, one fueled by idealism, a little envy, and a whole lot of stubborn ambition. She wanted to matter. She wanted to fight for something greater. She wanted to walk down the same path Jessica once tried to run from.
So, after Jessica had visited the shop and gotten a taste of what Devil Fruits could offer?
It was only a matter of time before Trish showed up.
Rosh's lips tugged into a small, knowing smile. 'Yeah… this one was in the bag.'
"Welcome to the shop," he said casually, offering a polite smile as the door shut behind her with a soft chime.
"Thank you, sir!" Trish responded cheerfully, though her eyes were already scanning him. She didn't mean to be rude, just curious. Truth be told, he wasn't at all what she was expecting.
Jessica had told her all about this place. Some low-key shop where you could eat a strange fruit and, boom, gain actual superpowers. It sounded ridiculous at first… until Jessica vouched for it. And when Jessica Jones vouched for something, you listened.
Trish had pictured someone... different. Maybe a gruff old guy with scars and cryptic tattoos or some hooded, shadowy figure who spoke in riddles and didn't make eye contact. Y'know, the whole "mysterious fruit dealer" vibe.
But the guy behind the counter? He looked surprisingly normal. Laid-back, clean-cut, friendly even. Like the kind of person you'd ask for directions at a farmers' market, not someone who handed out supernatural powers like they were candy.
"Hi there," she said, putting on her best friendly voice. "You remember Jessica, right? Jessica Jones, the one with a tough attitude, a leather jacket, and kind of gives off 'punches first, talks later' energy. I'm her friend. Trish Walker."
She smiled brightly and held out a hand. "I also host a radio show called The Trish Talk. Not sure if it's on your radar, but maybe you've heard it?"
Rosh didn't miss a beat. He shook her hand with a warm grin. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Walker. Actually, I recognized you the moment you walked in."
"I've caught a few episodes of The Trish Talk," he added, "Really good energy. You've got a natural talent for connecting with people."
Total bullshit. He'd never listened to her show in his life; radio just wasn't his thing, but he had the whole smooth charm act down to a science.
Trish lit up like a Christmas tree. "Oh my god, thank you! That really means a lot."
'Flattery. Always effective.' Rosh knew exactly how to grease the wheels.
"So," he continued, leaning casually against the counter, "Jessica sent you, which means you've probably already heard the basics about Devil Fruits?"
"Yes!" Trish nodded eagerly, trying to keep her voice from going full fangirl. "They're, like, these insane fruits that give people powers as soon as they eat them, right? It sounds totally nuts but also super cool."
"You've got the gist of it," Rosh nodded. "They're rare, powerful, and, yeah, real. Since you already know the story, I'll spare you the sales pitch."
He ducked behind the counter for a second, then came back up holding a slightly worn but neatly kept catalog. He slid it across to her. "All the fruits we have in stock are listed here. Take your time and see if anything catches your eye."
"Thank you so much!" Beaming, Tracy took the catalog with both hands. She drew a deep breath and began flipping through it, eyes scanning every fruit with growing awe. Fruit after fantastical fruit appeared before her eyes, each with its own strange and thrilling power.
"Wow…"
"This is… unbelievable."
Trish couldn't stop the words from slipping out as she flipped through the catalog, completely drawn in. Page after page revealed strange, powerful fruits with abilities straight out of a comic book. And the more she saw, the more her excitement built.
She turned another page. Then another. Her fingers barely kept up with her curiosity.
But one big question hovered over her like a cloud: 'Which one should I choose?'
It wasn't as simple as just picking the coolest name or the flashiest ability. This was real. She was about to make a decision that could change her life forever.
Naturally, she wanted something powerful, something that would let her stand toe-to-toe with real threats. Something like Jessica's raw strength, the kind of power that could crush a brick wall or toss a thug across a room like a ragdoll.
But she also wanted something a little more... dramatic. Something unique. Something that screamed ''hero'' the moment you saw her in action.
The options were incredible, but nothing really clicked. Not yet. Every fruit had its charm, but she didn't want charm. She wanted the one that made her heart say, "That's mine."
And then she found it.
Her eyes landed on a section labeled Zoan-Type Fruits.
She stopped flipping.
And just like that, something shifted.
Her eyes lit up, and her whole posture changed. She leaned forward, brows furrowed in interest, scanning every detail like it might disappear.
"Shopkeeper," she said suddenly, lifting her gaze to Rosh, her voice laced with curiosity and a tinge of urgency. "The catalog says Zoan Fruits let you shift between human, hybrid, and full-beast forms, right?"
"And… your mind stays intact no matter which form you're in?" she added, eyes narrowing. She knew the answer, but she needed to hear it from him. Something this big couldn't be left to assumptions.
"You're absolutely right, Trish," Rosh replied smoothly, calm and reassuring as ever. "With Zoan Fruits, you keep full control of your mind in all forms—human, hybrid, or beast. No mental side effects, no weird transformations that leave you snarling at the moon."
He gave her a small, confident smile. "And just to be clear, all the fruits in this shop are safe. No harmful side effects. I personally make sure of that."
Trish let out a slow breath, her shoulders relaxing, and a grin crept onto her face. That little knot of tension that had been sitting in her chest all this time? Gone.
Now, the excitement could take over completely.
'This is real. This is happening.' She was actually going to get superpowers.
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Next Chapter: Marvel's New Heroine
Next Next Chapter: Hydra's Plan
Next Next Next Chapter: Making an Iron Man Suit
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