The Grocer

* Manga
* Anime

**The Grocer** (雑貨殿 *Zakka-den*) is a troublemaker under Comps-3's jurisdiction who sells and barters all manner of goods to prospective clients. Although he has been arrested by Tsubaki Iwanome and is currently serving time in prison, he has continued to conduct business from his cell per a deal made with the government.

## Appearance

The Grocer has short black hair and a long diagonal scar slashed across his blind left eye. He has three moles on his face: one mole above and below his left eye and one below his mouth. He wears a face mask, a *happi*, a simple hooded white tunic, and black trousers. His *happi* and hood are accented with blue stripes; his tunic's cords are light blue. Twin band tattoos encircle both of his wrists and ankles. A stylized character "商" is on the back of his *happi*.

## Personality

The Grocer's disposition is somewhat stolid, though he is more expressive than the word suggests. He can be brazenly upfront about his opinions when setting prices that sound unreasonable at first listen. However, he adheres to a policy of pricing his wares according to his customers' financial standing or what they can afford at the time of the transaction—*or* according to what he predicts they can afford. Despite being driven by money and profit, The Grocer does care for the well-being of those clients who impress him and is willing to provide service on the house for their safety. It's believed this dutiful tendency is inherited from his predecessor.

## Chronology

### Background

The origins of the title "The Grocer" can be traced from the oldest records of the Shinjuku police station to "that merchant family" that dates back a hundred years.

The current holder of the title of The Grocer is believed to be the fifth generation of that merchant clan. In the past The Grocer's predecessor had dealings with Tena Sorimura who would soon become his best client in years to come.

The Grocer initially operated in Akihabara and was the right-hand man of Katashiro. At some point, his activities caused him to be labeled as a Troublemaker, and he was regarded as a threat to society. The Grocer was eventually caught by the Materials Compiling Group No.3 and was imprisoned. Despite his imprisonment, The Grocer made a deal with the authorities in allowing him to operate his shop within the business to both the criminal held captive there and the law enforcement seeking his consultation, all for a reasonable fee.

### Comeback Performance

After Tena Sorimura escapes police custody, he returns to Tokyo Penitentiary in the guise of a security guard in front of The Grocer's cell on information of a particular mark. There he says he will buy any information The Grocer has on the strange mark that he received after teaming with Fire-breathing Bug, babbling trivia about his playing cards and paper cuts in proffered exchange, but The Grocer rejects both as worthless. Still, the Grocer is willing to disclose that the mark is a simplified version of a more complex symbol and that one of its lines represents a sword. For any more information The Grocer informs Sorimura that he would require more compensation, though the magician is willing to pay for any price. Though the merchant warns his fellow Troublemaker that such his business sets prices based on what his customers can afford and what one can afford is not limited to the contents of one's wallet

The price that The Grocer demands is 3 trillion yen, an amount that even stuns Sorimura in the absurdity, as he already bought the service for hijacking the radio waves for three minutes from the merchant for 30 million yen. The Grocer clarifies that the price for the information is calculated based on Sorimura's net worth in a lifetime, which is 6 trillion yen. The amount of 3 trillion in effect is worth half of the magician's life. Had it been anyone other than Sorimura, The Grocer admits he would have sold the information for quite less, 10 yen, since none would understand the true value of the symbol. However for Sorimura, The Grocer declares him to be different and confirms that the symbol will definitely change his destiny, though warns him it is a double-edge blade as it could benefit or destroy him. Thus the price is a friendly warning to his fellow Troublemaker.

Upon hearing about the risks, Sorimura agrees to put the deal on the information for the symbol on hold and decides to find out more about it through his methods. Sorimura then resumes his transaction with The Grocer to arrange dirigibles to fly over Tokyo in a week. The Grocer hearing this guesses what the magician is planning, which Sorimura sees. Since Sorimura is one of his best customers, The Grocer gives him some free advice which is to take care of himself joking stating that recovering Sorimura's life would be beyond his ability.

Before Sorimura leaves, The Grocer curious on how he distracted the guards for so long inquires what he did. He then learns that the magician opened the cell door to the younger Gator Sister's room for distraction purposes on his way to The Grocer's cell. The news of the escape of the younger Gato Sister cause The Grocer to comment that was very cruel of Sorimura, though the other Troublemaker defends himself stating that the woman is the "nice one" and that no deaths will occur, save for a bunch of property damage, which he promises to bill the repair costs through a generous donation.

### Central Office Conspiracy

The Grocer while browsing on the Internet via a laptop, noticed that several stores in Shinjuku had experience a small-scale buyout of raw gemstones by an unknown individual. The information caused the merchant to wonder what the gemstones were for.

In a flashback at Jirotarou Takanosu's office, Tena Sorimura hears a ringer going off from somewhere in Jirotarou's chair. He retrieves a tiny brick of a phone from a secret compartment in the chair's armrest, claiming his 'hunch' was correct—though this only convinces Jirotarou that Sorimura had no plan—and answers the call. On the other end, the Grocer's voice filters through to ask if he has mishandled the delivery.

Jirotarou invites the Grocer to relay his information even with Sorimura listening, so Grocer reports that all of Jirotarou's requests have come in: a completed trace of the Metropolitan Police Department [MPD]'s internal phone records has produced two pieces of relevant information. The first is that Tsubaki Iwanome appears to be in contact with one Inspector Miyabi Hosorogi, a name both Jirotarou and Sorimura recognize and thus takes them aback. The Grocer says he will deliver the call log to Jirotarou at a later date. The second piece of information is that Habaki has received a number of incoming calls from a middleman in Shibuya, news that Jirotarou *was* expecting to hear.

*To be added*.

## Abilities

The Grocer abilities lies not in martial strength nor intellectual prowess, but mainly in his nature as a merchant using his business acumen, connections and negotiating abilities. The fact that he can still operate his business even while imprisoned in his cell is a testament to his power and influence. The Grocer is said to be able to barter anything from mass produced and limited edition items, stolen goods, lost articles, and relics, Even human lives to the destiny of a nation are not beyond The Grocer's bartering transactions. However the only thing that can't be bartered with the Grocer is one's own soul.

## Trivia

* The Grocer is first mentioned in Chapter 6, thirteen chapters before his first speaking line and eighteen chapters before his visual debut.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *Dead Mount Death Play* (Manga): Volume 3, Chapter 25.
2. ↑ Shinta Fujimoto's Twitter https://twitter.com/shint424/status/1276818210285748224
3. ↑ *Dead Mount Death Play* (Manga): Volume 3, Chapter 24.
4. ↑ *Dead Mount Death Play* (Manga): Volume 4, Chapter 26.
5. ↑ *Dead Mount Death Play* (Manga): Volume 5, Chapter 42.
6. ↑ *Dead Mount Death Play* (Manga): Volume 6, Chapter 50.