Marvel: The Imposter Inventor

Chapter 208 Blessing, Devil Fruit (Second Update)

"How come there's a glowing apple??"

Luca had only planned to stop by and check on Gina before going to bed, but he was unexpectedly drawn to a plate of apples on the coffee table.

Logically speaking, it would be perfectly normal to have some fruit or something in Gina's hospital room.

But the apple at the very top of this plate was emitting a white glow that only core components possess.

'this'

Although he was somewhat puzzled, he couldn't possibly give up the core components that he had acquired for free.

Luca simply pushed open the door, walked to the coffee table, and picked up the 'ordinary' apple.

The next moment, a light blue golden finger panel popped up. However, Luca's expression became even more serious after seeing the information on the panel.

Artificial Devil Fruit - Pink Dragon Fruit

[One Piece World 1/5]

[Creator: Dr. Vegapunk]

[Core Component: The Apple Blessed by Mephisto]

[Crafting Materials: 1 Demon Soul, 1 Rising Dragon Blood]

[Item Description: This is the first artificial Devil Fruit created by Vegapunk after 20 years of research, using Kaido's bloodline factors—the Artificial Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan Type, Pink Dragon Form. Although Vegapunk himself claims it's a failed product, aside from the color, the abilities this fruit grants the user are identical to the original Blue Dragon Fruit. It allows the user to transform into a dragon, breathe dragon breath, and control wind and lightning. Anyone who eats this fruit has the potential to become a top-tier powerhouse.]

[Friendly reminder: The reason Devil Fruit users fear seawater is because the seawater in the One Piece world contains a unique substance called Seastone. Hmm~ You get what I mean?]

My eyes quickly scanned the information on the panel.

This [Pink Dragon Fruit] is indeed a very good item. Luca has always been concerned about his own weak strength, and after synthesizing this artificial Devil Fruit, it can greatly make up for this shortcoming.

According to the final hint from the cheat system, even if I eat a Devil Fruit in this world, I don't need to worry about the weakness of being afraid of seawater.

It seems like everything is a good thing.

However, Luca's expression was still quite unpleasant.

It's not because the crafting materials 'Demon Soul' and 'Dragon Blood' mentioned above are extremely difficult to obtain.

Rather, it's because the core components clearly indicate that this seemingly ordinary apple is actually an apple blessed by Mephisto.

'Damn it! Mephisto? Blessing??'

Seeing these two words together, Luca felt like he'd been struck by lightning.

Who is Mephisto?

The embodiment of Hell in the Marvel universe, the ruler of all hellish demons, an aggregate of various evils, manipulating conspiracies, controlling reality, and imprisoning souls.

In short, he is one of the most evil villains in the Marvel universe.

As it turns out, the apple in front of me had actually been 'blessed' by the other party?

What good things could be 'blessed' by Mephisto?

Why would a lord of hell bestow a 'blessing' upon such an apple for no reason?
Various thoughts flashed through Luca's mind, and the 'Devil Apple' in his hand slipped from his grasp and fell with a 'clang' onto the glass surface of the coffee table.

For the first time, Luca actually felt repulsed and fearful of the 'core component' that was offered to him.

Although he has achieved some minor success in the field of technology, his methods are utterly insignificant compared to a master like Mephisto in the realm of mysticism. Luca doesn't even dare to imagine how blissfully he would be "blessed" after touching the 'Devil Apple'.

'grass! ’

"Big White! Come here!"

With his alertness at its peak, Luca didn't pick up the 'Devil Apple' from the table again. Instead, he prepared to call Big White, the super scanner, to carefully examine the unusual features of the apple, and then have Hakimi, who was monitoring the entire building, confirm where the apple came from.

However, the sound of the apple hitting the table and his shouts woke Gina from her hospital bed.

No, saying she was startled awake wouldn't be accurate. Gina, waking from her sleep, didn't get up. She merely turned her head slightly, glancing at Luca, who had spoken, with her somewhat vacant eyes, before calmly turning back to stare blankly at the ceiling. She was like a puppet, reacting only slightly to the stimulus.

However, it was Gina's empty, lifeless gaze that sent a chill through Luca's body.

A chilling coldness ran down my forehead and along my spine throughout my body.

'A puppet, empty, as if it had lost its soul.'

'Mephisto!!'

In an instant, the original chill turned into a raging fire.

Although Luca was still unclear about what exactly had happened to Gina—whether she had truly lost her soul or was exhibiting some other symptom—he didn't know.
But considering her current state and the 'apple blessed by Mephisto' before her, it's hard for Luca not to connect the two.

Fortunately, at this moment, the Big White that he had just called out had already been activated and turned on. It took small steps to leave the charging box and took the initiative to ask a question.

"Luca, I'm coming." (●—●)

"Is there anything I can do for you? Your adrenaline is rising, your heart is racing, your blood pressure is high, and your cortisol is consistently elevated. I can play some soothing music to help you relax."

Hearing Big White's calm and gentle words, even before the music started, Luca regained his composure from the brink of fear and anger.

Forcibly suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, Luca stiffly gave the order to Big White again.

"Big White, scan all the apples on the table and see if this apple is different from the others."

After saying that, Luca looked up and spoke to the monitor on the ceiling speaker.

"Hakimi!"

"I'm here."

"Pull up all the surveillance footage. I need to know where these apples came from! Who had contact with them before!"

"Understood. Do you need me to hack into the surveillance cameras around the building to see the detailed route for fruit purchases?"

Upon hearing this, Luca gritted his teeth.

"check!"

Soon, this information was compiled, and the results of the scanning and analysis were presented to Luca.

As expected, neither Big White nor Hakimi provided any useful information.

Everything seemed so normal, except that this apple was of exceptional quality, with a glossy, intact skin, moderate sweetness, and a well-proportioned shape, far surpassing its peers in every aspect. There was nothing unusual about it, either in terms of its origin or its internal structure.

Looking at the rosy apple in front of him again, Luca decisively pulled out his [dehydration gun].

"No, we have to go find that old Gu Yi... Master Gu Yi!"

(End of this chapter)