Shopkeep

Shopkeep is a mysterious and powerful creature that runs several pawn shops. He always somehow seems to know exactly what customers are looking for and offers those things in exchange for meaningless items or money.

## Background

### Origins

Shopkeep is a mysterious creature who runs a pawnshop in town. The MC first runs into it when he was wandering around during his early high school days. He would allow the MC to pawn off random stuff that he "found" (including the items he stole from Deryl's locker). Eventually the MC would even work for Shopkeep during his high school years and form a decent rapport with the strange creature.

Shopkeep is extremely secretive, especially about where he gets all his stuff. He also doesn't tell anyone his name, preferring to be referred to as Shopkeep or some other generic title. As weird as he is though, he's actually exceptionally good at his job. He always seems to know exactly what kind of items as customer is interested in and even prepares a special selection catered to them whenever they visit. Shopkeep also refuses to call anyone by their actual name, referring to everyone either as "Charlie" or obliquely in third-person.

### First Arcs

Shopkeep is first introduced when the MC breaks his laptop and decides to go buy a new one. He visits Shopkeep, who welcomes him (calling him "Charlie") and comments on his massively increased size. Shopkeep promptly pulls out a set of items for the MC including - surprisingly - a laptop, a Professional Camera, a Cracked Face Sculpture, and a bunch of sex toys. When the MC asks about the sex toys, Shopkeep - with a straight face - simply says that the MC has come of age to broaden to his horizons. The MC can keep visiting the shop over the first arcs to buy any of the items.

### Valravn Arc

When the MC needs a phone charger he once again stops by the shop. As he is about to ask whether the Shopkeep had a charger, Shopkeep instead asks whether he would be interested in items related to the new monster phenomena - filled with useful Powers and Memories. When the MC says that he is but wanted a charger, Shopkeep offers both in exchange for a favor. When the MC accepts, Shopkeep asks to cash it in immediately and asks the MC to deliver a package to Charlie Leicht. The MC is surprised that Shopkeep knows about his memory powers but agrees to deliver the package. Shopkeep explicitly asks him to make a deal - deliver the package unopened and get the items in exchange. Opening the package leads to Dead End 23, where the Shopkeep kills the MC for breaking the deal. If the MC keeps the deal, the MC can give him any of the Horn or Eye. If the MC asks for the Mask, Shopkeep just says he can't have it yet. Shopkeep is unable to find him a charger so he gives him a necklace instead; one that looks a lot like the one Deryl Livermore got from his mother.

A few days later when the MC and his friends visited the mall he spots a new pawn shop, also staffed by Shopkeep. When asked whether he needs to split his time, Shopkeep simply says that he is present in both stores at all times. He then watches as Charlie Leicht kicks the MC out for a minute so she can have a private conversation with him.

### Post Battle of Diamonds

After the Battle of Diamonds and the MC is authorized to leave H.E.R.O. H.Q. he visits Shopkeep's shop. Shopkeep tells him that he's had a restock. Shopkeep then lays out an assortment of items. However, unlike the mundane items from before, every single one of his new items seems to give off supernatural energy. When asked why he has so many monster body parts, Shopkeep just says that he's a collector and gathers all sorts of curiosities. Since monsters and superhumans were the new in thing it made good business sense to get into them. When the MC asks how he got them and whether he was a Superhuman or Monster, Shopkeep says he isn't and tells the MC to keep his tentacles to himself, not that he would see anything.

The following items then become available for sale: Monster Pincer ($10,000), Monster Talon ($5,000), Monster Spine ($12,000), Monster Vertebrae ($6000), Monster Energy Drink($2000).

Each time the MC visits Shopkeep he can see him having conversations with random people. He first sees Lochan Deus who Shopkeep says gave him a different name. Deus predicts that Shopkeep knows where and when to deliver whatever Deus has bought. On his next visit, he sees Henrick Bendrix who seems to have bought something to help him. Shopkeep says that it's not guaranteed but should make things easier. When Henrick tries to probe Shopkeep's history, he is immediately stonewalled with Shopkeep saying he doesn't want to be further involved with Superhumans. On the next visit, the MC passes Met Freitas and Rina Mori who had just bought a pair of glasses for herself.

### Twins Arc

The MC visits Shopkeep along with Amber and Liz when they are looking for a gift for their father Nathan's 50th birthday. He immediately divines that they are looking for gifts for their father's 50th and offers beautiful paired silver rings, saying that they were for their father and uncle. On noticing that they are twins he also offers them a pair of earrings. Liz notes that the rings look very similar to ones Nathan and his brother wore but when Amber points out that their uncle was dead, Shopkeep apologizes for his insensitivity and offers to give them both the rings and earrings for just buying one of the rings. When Amber asks how much he asks for a little bit of bottled water from each of them, to be collected at another time. Amber accepts the deal with some trepidation.

## Powers and Abilities

Shopkeep is an immensely powerful entity that is neither monster nor superhuman. He is able to be in multiple places at the same time and has some kind of omniscience, able to divine information about people with little effort. He also seems to be able to make and enforce deals and seems to derive some power or gain from them. Breaking a deal with him seems to cause instant death. Shopkeep also seems to be immune to some superhuman's powers, saying that the MC's tentacles would not get information from him. Lochan Deus on the other hand was able to predict that Shopkeep would know where to deliver something. He has no fear of even extremely dangerous superhumans like Henri and seems to be able to travel to or get resources from the Monster World without trouble.