Indoors.
Peter lay lazily on a reclining chair, completely immersed in a comic book that he had purchased from the system at an extravagant price. He flipped the pages leisurely, a faint smile on his face as he enjoyed his moment of peace.
Suddenly, a sharp cry for help shattered the tranquility of the room.
"Help! Somebody help me!" came a desperate voice from outside the house.
Peter closed the comic book with a snap and raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What's going on out there?"
He stood up and walked toward the door, intending to see what the commotion was about. But before he could even reach the entrance, a short man dashed in through the doorway, panting heavily and looking over his shoulder as if being chased.
Peter looked at the man curiously. He was of Mediterranean descent, wore dark sunglasses, and had a distinctive receding hairline. There was something oddly familiar about him, but Peter couldn't quite place where he had seen him before.
The man who had burst into the room was none other than Cardo—the infamous shipping magnate known for his shady dealings. He had stumbled upon Peter's shop by sheer luck while fleeing from a group of bandits. The moment he saw the mysterious storefront, Cardo instinctively knew that anyone brave enough to run a shop in such a dangerous area had to be someone powerful.
Without hesitation, he ran inside, hoping to seek protection from whoever was within.
"Please! Save me!" Cardo cried out, his sunglasses slightly askew. "I'll give you all my money—everything I have!"
Peter's eyes lit up at the mention of money. With a sly smile, he asked, "Oh? And how much money are we talking about?"
Seeing Peter's reaction, Cardo felt a surge of relief. This confirmed his guess—this man wasn't ordinary. He must be someone with immense power and influence.
"All my assets combined are worth one billion!" Cardo exclaimed breathlessly. "As long as you protect me, it's all yours!"
Hearing the astronomical figure, Peter's smile widened into a full grin. He bent down slightly to meet the shorter man's eyes and asked with exaggerated politeness, "Excuse me, but what exactly do you need?"
Cardo was momentarily stunned. He thought Peter was asking about how to deal with the bandits chasing him. So, without missing a beat, he replied, "Just kill them all. Every last one of them!"
Peter blinked and then chuckled. "Ah, I see. Well, it's like this—my store has everything. If you're looking to increase your strength, we definitely have the right products for that."
Cardo's eyes sparkled with hope. "Really? Boss, are you serious?"
"Of course," Peter said with a nod. "As long as you have the money, I can get you anything you want."
Cardo was overjoyed. "In that case, boss, I want to become physically powerful. Strong enough to take out those thugs chasing me with my bare hands!"
Only now did Peter realize the nature of the threat Cardo was facing. Bandits. That explained the panic and the urgency. Since the man was willing to pay a billion, Peter decided to recommend the most expensive and effective item in his inventory.
"Ah, I see. So you're looking for something that can instantly enhance your physical strength?" Peter asked thoughtfully.
"Yes! That's exactly what I need!" Cardo said eagerly, nearly bouncing on the balls of his feet.
Peter nodded and turned to the shelves behind the counter. He carefully retrieved a sleek, metal test tube. It was silver all over, except for the transparent middle section, which revealed a tube filled with a glowing blue liquid.
Cardo stared at the test tube in fascination. It looked so small and unassuming—could this really be the solution to his problem?
Peter noticed the skepticism in Cardo's eyes and smiled knowingly. "This," he said, raising the test tube, "is the Super Soldier Serum. Once injected, it will greatly enhance your physical capabilities."
Cardo's jaw dropped. He stared at the shimmering liquid in awe, completely taken aback by the revelation. He had expected something powerful, but this exceeded his wildest imagination.
Even if he had been doubtful before, now he was entirely convinced. The serum looked extraordinary, and if Peter said it worked, then it had to be true.
Before handing over the serum, Peter added with a smile, "But of course, payment first. That will be 999,990,000 taels."
Cardo flinched at the price—it was practically his entire fortune. But the thought of being strong enough to defeat his enemies and never run again made the decision easy.
"Deal!" he said, pulling out a bank card and handing it to Peter without hesitation.
(At this point, we don't know if ninja villages even use bank cards, but let's assume they do for now.)
Peter accepted the card and, with a casual swipe through a mysterious-looking device, completed the transaction. He handed the card back to Cardo with a satisfied smile.
Cardo blinked in confusion. "Uh, boss… you're supposed to take that card to a bank. You can't withdraw money like that."
Peter chuckled. "It's fine. The money's already been transferred."
Thanks to the system, Peter had access to technology far beyond this world. With a few taps, he had already absorbed the entire balance from Cardo's account.
Cardo stared at him in stunned silence. The more he saw, the more mysterious this shopkeeper seemed.
With a cheerful expression, Peter handed the test tube to Cardo. "Wait a moment. I'll get the syringe."
He disappeared into the back room, leaving Cardo holding the test tube like it was a precious treasure. The blue liquid shimmered under the light, and his excitement grew with every passing second.
Although he didn't know the exact effects of the serum, the fact that it cost nearly a billion made him believe it had to be effective. This was the moment he had been waiting for.
Peter returned shortly, holding a sterile syringe. He skillfully extracted the blue serum from the test tube and looked at Cardo.
"There is one minor side effect," Peter said calmly as he tapped the syringe. "The serum will gradually nudge your personality toward becoming an upright person."
Cardo didn't even blink. "That's fine. I don't care. Just inject it already!"
Peter nodded and carefully inserted the needle into Cardo's arm. With steady hands, he pushed the plunger, injecting the Super Soldier Serum into his bloodstream.
Almost immediately, Cardo felt a fiery sensation coursing through his veins. A wave of immense power surged through his body. His eyes widened in disbelief as his muscles began to swell.
Peter stepped back, watching the transformation unfold with interest.
"Aaaaaaaagh!" Cardo screamed as he fell to the ground, writhing in agony. His body twisted and convulsed, the sheer pain almost unbearable.
Then—rip!—his clothes tore apart as his muscles bulged and expanded. His limbs grew longer and thicker. Incredibly, Cardo, who had stood just 1.5 meters tall, shot up nearly 40 centimeters in height. His frame became broader and more powerful by the second.
The pain eventually subsided, and Cardo slowly stood up. He was now an imposing 1.9 meters tall, with rippling muscles that looked like they had been chiseled from stone. Power radiated from his new physique.
He flexed his fingers and clenched his fists, marveling at the strength he now possessed. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before—limitless and raw.
A wave of emotion swept through him. "I… I feel amazing," Cardo whispered in awe. "This power… it's unreal!"
Peter crossed his arms and nodded with satisfaction. "That really is the Super Soldier Serum. No wonder Captain America was so strong. Looks like a new captain is about to rise in this world."
"Thank you, boss!" Cardo said sincerely. "If it weren't for you, I'd still be running for my life. You've saved me."
Just then, loud noises erupted outside the house.
"He must be hiding in there! Let's go in and search!"
Peter and Cardo exchanged glances. The bandits had arrived.
But Cardo was no longer afraid. He grinned, cracking his knuckles.
"Let them come," he said. "This time, I'm ready."
Peter smiled and leaned back against the counter, ready to watch the show.
Outside, the sounds of heavy footsteps approached, unaware that the man they were about to face was no longer the weak and desperate Cardo—but a warrior with the strength of a super soldier.