At that moment, the system notification rang in Qin Xiao's ears.
A faint smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"Frank, keep Tony safe. Also… keep an eye on Obadiah."
"I understand. But do you really not need me to take him out?" Frank's voice carried killing intent.
After what he had acquired in that weapons base, he was itching for a fight.
Someone like Obadiah? He could eliminate him effortlessly.
"Only act if he threatens Tony or Pepper.
Within Stark Industries, we still need justification for what we do."
Qin Xiao smiled meaningfully.
Frank immediately understood.
"With justification… he can be killed."
"Exactly. If he doesn't die, it might even be difficult for Tony to hand over that 5% of shares.
Money isn't everything—but if there's a chance to get it, I won't pass it up."
Qin Xiao had his own plans.
This period was the perfect time to acquire Stark Industries shares.
Once Tony completed the energy transition, the company's future would be incredibly bright.
At the moment, Tony hadn't shown it yet—
but through this upheaval, he would consolidate power completely.
If the board could still force Tony to "step aside" now,
then in the future, Stark Industries would essentially become his personal empire.
Qin Xiao intended to make his move before that happened.
After saying his piece, he parted ways with Frank and drove off from Stark Tower.
Inside the car, he opened the system interface.
[Devil Fruit Trading System]
Self-consumption: Develop fruit abilities independently (limited quantity)
2. Others consume: Extract abilities from others (unlimited quantity)
[Consumed Fruits and Users]
Swamp-Swamp Fruit: Punisher — Frank CastleBomb-Bomb Fruit: Kingpin — Wilson FiskRevive-Revive Fruit: Iron Man — Tony Stark
[Extracted Abilities]
Swamp-Swamp Fruit, Punisher's Weapon MasteryBomb-Bomb FruitRevive-Revive Fruit
[Fruit Ability Amplification: 0%]
Tony Stark's name now appeared clearly under the Revive-Revive Fruit.
"Looks like even Tony, before fully transforming, couldn't escape the 'true香定律'—once you try it, you're hooked.
I just gave him the fruit, and he already ate it.
Good.
Now I possess the power of three Devil Fruits.
In this dangerous Marvel world, I finally have some foundation for self-preservation."
The Swamp-Swamp Fruit allowed him to negate most physical damage.
Though its offensive potential wasn't obvious yet.
Frank's approach wasn't the most refined—
but in this world, it was the fastest way to demonstrate power.
There was a simple truth:
There's nothing overwhelming firepower can't solve.
And if there is—
then you simply don't have enough firepower.
By expanding the swamp space, more and heavier weapons could be stored.
Firepower is justice.
That was also one of the reasons Qin Xiao had sent Frank to rescue Tony—
because that base was filled with weapons.
As for the Bomb-Bomb Fruit, it opened up endless offensive possibilities.
Kingpin's mind was far sharper than Mr. 5's.
Under his development, the fruit's power would only grow stronger.
Eventually, Qin Xiao himself would become a walking bomb.
And more importantly—
he could use it far more creatively.
For example—
turning part of his swamp body into projectiles,
then detonating them mid-air.
That would be truly unpredictable.
And finally, the Revive-Revive Fruit gave him something invaluable—
a second chance at life.
It had been a year since he arrived in this world.
Only now did he finally feel a bit less on edge.
"I used to worry that the Ancient One would come for me.
But it seems… she doesn't care about my existence.
Still—
it's time I go meet her myself.
The mystical side of this world… is what I need to explore next."
With that, Qin Xiao turned the steering wheel.
The car headed straight toward 177A Bleecker Street.
He was going to meet—
the Ancient One.
Meanwhile, at Stark Tower—
Not long after Qin Xiao left, another visitor arrived.
Obadiah.
"Tony, look at the mess you've made!
I had to spend a great deal of effort just to suppress the backlash from your decision.
Tomorrow, you're holding another press conference—
and you're going to say it was all a joke."
He looked at Tony helplessly,
like an elder scolding a stubborn junior.
There was no sign that he was actually the mastermind behind everything.
Tony glanced at him.
This man—
a close friend of his father, someone who helped build Stark Industries—
why did he want him dead?
"Obie… my decision won't change."
Tony rejected him outright.
His tone was cold.
The disgust in his heart was no longer concealed.
Obadiah's eyelid twitched slightly.
"Does Tony… know something?"