Chương 102: The Mastermind is a Dead Man

"By the way, Boss, how much does the Chase-Chase Fruit cost?" Hope quickly asked. Now that Devil Fruits required payment in gold, she needed to prepare in advance.

"The price for the Chase-Chase Fruit is 50 kilograms of gold," Rosh promptly informed her.

"Fifty kilograms? Got it, Boss! Then I won't disturb you any further. Once I've gathered the gold, I'll head over to buy the fruit immediately. Until then, please reserve it for me!" Hope earnestly requested.

"Alright, Hope. Consider the fruit reserved for you. I'll hold it for seven days," Rosh agreed without hesitation. Hope van Dyne: "Thank you so much, Boss!" For Hope, gathering 50 kilograms of gold within seven days wasn't an issue at all.

"Don't mention it," Rosh replied casually, ending the conversation. ⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘ A short time later, Natasha Romanoff reached out to Rosh via private message.

"Shopkeeper, I have a question I'd like to consult with you about. Is this a good time?" Rosh had no reason to refuse.

"Ask away, Natasha."

"I've read the group's Devil Fruit purchase rules, and I want to confirm my understanding: If it's for S. H. I. E. L. D., the entire organization is collectively limited to buying only three fruits. Is that correct?" Natasha didn't beat around the bush, asking directly.

"Yes, Natasha. That is exactly the purchase limit," Rosh confirmed.

"Is there any way to bypass the three-fruit limit?" Natasha followed up.

"If you become a member of Devil Fruit House, the purchase limit will be adjusted accordingly," Rosh replied. This answer immediately piqued Natasha's interest. Initially, she hadn't been too optimistic about the possibility, but now it seemed there was hope.

"What's required to become a member, Shopkeeper?" Natasha asked eagerly.

"Stay tuned to the group announcements," Rosh said simply. It wasn't that he was being secretive; the system itself hadn't provided explicit details about membership eligibility. Without clear guidance, Rosh couldn't make up rules on the spot. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"Understood," Natasha replied, recognizing the boundaries. She politely ended the conversation and logged off. Afterward, several other group members reached out with private inquiries about the updated rules. Rosh patiently answered each one while simultaneously tending to in-store customers. The morning flew by with a steady flow of visitors. However, for one reason or another, no Devil Fruits were sold. Rosh wasn't bothered in the slightest.

His business had already expanded significantly, with a vast network of interested buyers. The store's sales pipeline was robust, and he had no concerns about moving inventory. Morbius had mentioned bringing friends to visit soon, Hope was planning her purchase, and S. H. I. E. L. D. was evidently gearing up for more acquisitions. It was only a matter of time before orders came flooding in. ⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘ However, the next few days brought neither Morbius, Hope, nor S. H. I. E. L. D.

Instead, Rosh received unexpected news from Wilson Fisk.

"Lee, I've uncovered some leads about the mastermind behind that assassin," Fisk messaged, addressing Rosh's alternate account, Shaun Lee.

"The person who hired the assassin is Edward Sandler, a black-market broker. Unfortunately, he had already been silenced by the time I tracked him down." Fisk continued without waiting for Rosh's response. Wilson Fisk: "Through additional clues, we traced the true mastermind behind Edward Sandler. All signs point to a man named Norton Schwarzenegger. Not only did Sandler's trail lead to him, but other evidence we uncovered during the investigation also pointed to this Norton Schwarzenegger.

Wilson Fisk: "Based on past experience, I'd usually conclude that he's our guy."

"I'm sensing a 'but' coming," Rosh replied confidently. Wilson Fisk: "You're right, Lee. Here's the problem: Norton Schwarzenegger is a man who died seven years ago." Wilson Fisk: "So now, the question is whether Norton faked his death or if someone is impersonating him." Fisk sighed.

"I'll need more time to investigate. However, I must warn you that tracing someone like Norton Schwarzenegger—who has been 'dead' for seven years—is extraordinarily challenging. Wilson Fisk: "I know I gave you my word, Lee, but this situation is more complicated than I anticipated. I may need more time." Fisk's frustration was evident. He had thought that his extensive New York network would make uncovering the mastermind a relatively straightforward task.

Yet, the deeper he dug, the more formidable the opponent appeared to be. The trail was faint, the leads sparse, and the target—a dead man. It felt almost impossible. ⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘ While Fisk felt stumped, Rosh found the revelation eerily familiar. Rosh's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. The revelation sparked a hunch.

'A dead man orchestrating events from the shadows… Isn't this exactly the Hand's modus operandi?' The Hand had an infamous reputation for leveraging their ability to resurrect individuals as a means of control. By offering revival, they turned once-powerful figures into their puppets. Harold Meachum, the father of Danny Rand's close friend Ward, was a textbook example. Resurrected by the Hand, he became their servant, living in secret even from his own family.

"It's almost certainly the Hand," Rosh concluded. The timing and the methods all lined up too well. The incident coinciding with his growing influence was suspicious enough. Combined with the Hand's trademark tactics, the evidence was stacking up. Two coincidences were one too many. There was little doubt left in Rosh's mind. The Hand was involved. ⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘ Next Chapter: Quick, Call Shaun Lee for help! Next Next Chapter: The Shopkeeper Takes Action!

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