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That's right.
Obadiah Stane hadn't come on a whim. He came prepared and then some.
Three thousand kilograms of gold.
That was the price he was willing to pay, and he had already ensured every detail was accounted for. Before stepping through the shop's doors, Obadiah had sent people ahead to gather intelligence, confirming the rough value of Devil Fruits and estimating what kind of payment would guarantee success.
This wasn't a gamble; it was a carefully calculated investment.
And honestly? Rosh appreciated customers like this. No hesitation. No bargaining games. No drawn-out discussions. Just clean, decisive action and enough capital to settle everything immediately.
At Obadiah's signal, William stepped forward and directed several men to unload the payment. In moments, 1,500 kilograms of gold were stacked neatly in front of the counter, gleaming under the shop's lights.
"You're very considerate, sir," Rosh said, nodding with genuine approval. With a casual wave of his hand, the piles of gold vanished instantly from sight and were swept straight into his system space.
The sight made Obadiah's eyelids twitch violently. His sense of awe toward Rosh deepened yet again.
'As expected,' he thought grimly. 'The man who sells Devil Fruits is anything but ordinary.'
Rosh, meanwhile, paid no attention to Obadiah's silent awe. With the transaction complete, he calmly retrieved the Munch-Munch Fruit and placed it in Obadiah's hands.
"Thank you… truly, thank you, Shopkeeper!" Obadiah said fervently, accepting it with both hands. His eyes shone with something dangerously close to reverence, like a believer finally receiving divine grace.
The fruit itself was strange-looking, twisted, and unnatural in shape, but to Obadiah, it was beautiful. More dazzling than gold. More valuable than any weapon Stark Industries had ever produced.
*Huff!*
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. Then, without hesitation, he bit down hard. The taste was vile, bitter beyond description, but Obadiah didn't flinch.
A brief pause followed.
*Gulp!*
He swallowed.
"So," Obadiah asked quickly, lifting his head to look at Rosh, excitement burning in his gaze, "When does the Devil Fruit take effect?"
He didn't take a second bite. The catalog had been very clear that one bite was enough.
"It's already taken effect," Rosh replied with a smile. "You can try feeling it for yourself."
"Already?"
A spark of excitement flashed across Obadiah's face. He closed his eyes and turned his attention inward, and almost immediately, he felt it, a clear, unmistakable shift deep within his body.
Power.
Not just any power, but a force that felt limitless, hungry, as if it could consume the world itself.
Yet this sense of "devouring" wasn't what Obadiah had originally imagined. While the ability was activated through his mouth, through the act of biting, chewing, and swallowing, it had very little to do with normal eating. Whatever he consumed never traveled through his throat or digestive system.
Instead, the moment an object was "eaten," it was absorbed directly by the strange, supernatural ability granted by the Munch-Munch Fruit.
As for the exact mechanics behind it…
Obadiah couldn't begin to explain them. This wasn't technology. It wasn't biology. It wasn't even science. It was something far beyond all of that, something closer to magic.
"Marvelous…" he murmured.
Then, unable to contain himself, he laughed softly. "Absolutely marvelous!"
The more he focused on the sensation, the more certain he became. The power was real. Tangible. And it responded to his will.
Eager to test it properly, Obadiah glanced around the shop. After a brief pause, he reached up and removed the expensive watch from his wrist, a luxury piece worth a small fortune, and without hesitation, shoved it straight into his mouth.
The Munch-Munch Fruit responded instantly.
*Gulp!*
The watch vanished completely, as though it had never existed. Heart pounding, Obadiah concentrated again, guiding the power he now felt so clearly. Slowly, carefully, he willed the consumed object to manifest.
A moment later, metal surfaced on his skin. In the center of his palm, a miniature watch face emerged, complete with tiny rotating hands and perfectly formed dial markings.
"Incredible!" Obadiah exclaimed, staring at his hand in disbelief.
"This is… this is absolutely incredible!" His eyes gleamed with unrestrained excitement, the possibilities already racing through his mind.
And this was just a watch.
'What if it were a gun?' The thought sent a thrill through him. For a split second, his gaze flicked toward William and the firearm at his side. The temptation was almost overwhelming.
But after a moment's consideration and remembering where he was, Obadiah forced himself to rein in his curiosity.
For now.
After all, this power had only just awakened.
What Obadiah didn't realize was that Rosh was actually hoping he'd go a step further and try eating a weapon.
Honestly, Rosh found the idea fascinating.
If Obadiah truly went all in, swallowing firearms, heavy artillery, maybe even parts of an aircraft, then what would happen? Given enough material, wouldn't he be able to reshape himself into a full combat form whenever he wanted?
Much like Tony Stark.
Of course, the result wouldn't be "armor" in the traditional sense. Obadiah wouldn't be wearing a machine.
He would be the machine.
A living, breathing construct of steel, weapons, and firepower.
As for Tony Stark, even with the Arms-Arms Fruit allowing him to manifest weapons and armor at will, there was no guarantee his creations would always be metal. His power relied on imagination and design, not raw material.
By comparison, Obadiah Stane, who could literally consume steel and turn it into his own body, might actually be more deserving of the title Iron Man.
The thought made Rosh's interest deepen. The ripple effects of these Devil Fruits were already spiraling far beyond what most people could imagine, and watching how this world adapted to them was becoming more entertaining by the minute.
'Things are getting interesting. Very fucking interesting.' Rosh smiled inwardly.
"By the way, Shopkeeper," Obadiah spoke up suddenly, breaking the moment. "There aren't any special requirements to join your group chat, are there?"
"As long as someone is a Devil Fruit user, they're eligible, correct?"
It was clear what he was asking. Obadiah wasn't waiting to be invited; he wanted in.
Under normal circumstances, someone of Obadiah Stane's stature wouldn't bother joining a group chat at all. Having the Shopkeeper's direct contact would've been more than sufficient, just as it had been for Tony Stark.
But now that he understood the true nature of the Munch-Munch Fruit and its ability to devour not just objects, but potentially other Devil Fruit users and steal their powers...
There was no way he could ignore such an opportunity.
To Obadiah, every Devil Fruit user in that group represented potential value. Potential food.
"Of course," Rosh replied lightly.
He showed no concern over Obadiah's intentions. Whatever schemes Stane might be harboring were his own problem. If he wanted to join, Rosh saw no reason to stop him.
With a simple action, Obadiah Stane was added to the group.
His arrival immediately stirred a reaction. After all, Obadiah was a well-known figure even among the elite. Messages popped up almost instantly.
Pepper Potts even greeted him warmly.
Unaware, of course, that the man she was chatting with was the very mastermind behind Tony Stark's kidnapping.
Naturally, Obadiah had no interest in casual conversation. After exchanging a few brief, polite greetings, he quietly muted the chat and withdrew.
"Well then, Shopkeeper," he said smoothly, adjusting his coat. "I won't take up any more of your time. Goodbye."
"Goodbye," Rosh replied calmly.
With that, Obadiah Stane turned and walked out of the Home of the Devil Fruits, his footsteps steady, his mind already racing with dangerous possibilities.
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Next Chapter: Without Tony Stark, It Just Won't Work
Next Next Chapter: The Bald Man Is Stunned
Next Next Next Chapter: The Avengers Initiative Goes Live
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