Apocalypse Trade Monopoly

Ava didn't run. Not yet.

But the moment Jessica spoke to the military officers, Ava adjusted her grip on her bag of tech and shifted her stance.

Prepared. Calculating. Ready.

Lucas, walking beside her, kept his usual unbothered expression, but his golden eyes were tracking every movement across the trade floor.

William Zhou moved first—casual, smooth, but directly cutting off the fastest route Jessica could take to reach them.

Ava exhaled. "How bad?"

Lucas smiled, sharp and easy. "We'll find out soon, Beauty."

And then—

One of the military officers turned.

Locked eyes with Lucas.

And started walking.

Ava tensed.

Lucas? He smiled.

Not friendly. Not kind.

Just the kind of smile that said: Try me.

The officer stopped a few feet away. Broad-shouldered, stiff posture, standard military gear. His name tag read Lt. Renshaw.

Lucas tilted his head. "Something I can help you with, Lieutenant?"

Renshaw's gaze flicked over him. Then to Ava. "You're trading a lot of high-value goods, Bai. That tends to attract attention."

Lucas sighed, shaking his head. "And here I thought free trade was still allowed."

Renshaw's jaw tightened. "Depends on where the goods came from."

Ava barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. Of course.

Lucas chuckled, reaching into his jacket—slowly, so the soldiers didn't overreact. He pulled out a single token.

Held it up between his fingers.

"Depends," he murmured. "Are we talking about my goods? Or my payment?"

Renshaw's eyes narrowed.

Ava's stomach twisted.

Because this wasn't just about the trades anymore.

Lucas had been pushing the Token System all day.

And now? The military was taking notice.

A beat of silence.

Then Renshaw exhaled. "Come with me."

Lucas didn't blink. "No."

Ava inhaled sharply.

William shifted slightly, boots planting just a bit firmer. Ready.

Renshaw's voice hardened. "That wasn't a request, Bai."

Lucas smiled. Didn't move.

"You see, Lieutenant," he murmured, golden eyes gleaming, "the problem with trying to detain a businessman is business never stops moving."

Ava's fingers twitched.

The air shifted.

The kind of shift Ava had learned to recognize right before violence broke out.

Lucas hadn't moved.

William hadn't moved.

The soldiers hadn't moved.

But everything was tense.

And Jessica?

She was still standing a few stalls away, watching with too much interest.

Ava's grip tightened on the strap of her bag.

Lucas, still looking entirely too relaxed, twirled the token between his fingers.

"You want me to go with you?" he murmured. "Fine."

Ava's stomach twisted. No.

"But," Lucas continued, "I don't do unpaid meetings, Lieutenant. You want my time?"

He flicked the token up, caught it, and smiled.

"You pay for it."

Renshaw's jaw locked.

"You think this is a game, Bai?"

Lucas chuckled. "No, no. I think this is a business transaction. And last I checked—" he gestured vaguely to the trade stalls around them— "this is a marketplace."

Ava felt the exact moment Renshaw's patience snapped.

Because his hand moved.

Straight for his sidearm.

Lucas didn't give him the chance.

Before the Lieutenant's fingers could even touch his holster—

Lucas flicked the token forward.

A small, harmless motion—

Except that it clipped right against Renshaw's wrist.

Just enough for a tiny, involuntary flinch.

And in that half-second hesitation?

William moved.

His body shifted between Lucas and Renshaw in a single smooth motion—not aggressive, but unmistakably a warning.

Ava barely breathed.

Renshaw's hand froze.

Lucas sighed dramatically. "See, this is why I charge for my time, Lieutenant. Uncivilized interruptions."

Renshaw's fingers twitched at his side, but he didn't go for the gun again.

Not yet.

Ava inhaled.

She could feel where this was going.

"You're pushing your luck, Bai," Renshaw muttered.

Lucas smiled. "Always."

A long pause.

Then Renshaw exhaled sharply. "Fine. Keep your damn trades. But don't think for a second this conversation is over."

Lucas's smirk didn't falter. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Renshaw took a slow step back.

But before he turned to leave—

His gaze flicked toward Ava.

Something assessing.

Calculating.

And then—

To Jessica.

Jessica, who hadn't stopped watching.

Waiting.

Ava clenched her jaw.

And just like that—the soldiers left.

But Jessica?

She was still there.

And that was a problem.

Ava moved first.

She didn't hesitate. Didn't wait for Lucas's signal.

Jessica was a tracker. A rat. A problem that needed handling.

Ava stalked toward her, cutting through the crowded market like a blade slicing silk.

Jessica's smirk flickered. She took a half-step back.

Good. Run.

Too late.

Ava grabbed her wrist—tight.

Jessica inhaled sharply, yanking back, but Ava didn't let go.

"Eavesdropping, Tang?" Ava's voice was light. "Or just desperate for attention?"

Jessica's smirk returned, but her eyes were too wide. Too alert.

"Relax, Ava." She laughed, fake as ever. "I was just watching. Didn't know that was illegal."

Ava leaned in. Lowered her voice. "You didn't tell them about me."

Jessica stiffened.

Ava saw it—the microsecond of hesitation.

Lucas was suddenly at her side, golden gaze lazily amused. "Now, Beauty, play nice."

Ava smiled. "I am."

She yanked Jessica closer, enough to whisper against her ear.

"You were going to. That's why you waited."

Jessica's breath hitched.

Ava didn't give her the chance to recover.

She pulled a small, thin blade from her sleeve—nothing deadly, just sharp enough to hurt—and pressed it against Jessica's side.

Jessica's entire body locked.

"Don't." Ava's voice was pure ice. "Think. About. Selling. Me. Out."

Jessica's pulse jumped beneath Ava's grip. "I—I wasn't—"

Ava twisted the blade—just enough.

Jessica squeaked. A small, pathetic sound.

Lucas sighed. "Now, now. No permanent damage, Beauty. We do need her to run back to her masters in one piece."

Ava exhaled sharply—then let go.

Jessica stumbled back, breath ragged.

Her hand hovered over her side, as if expecting blood. There was none.

But the fear?

That stayed.

Jessica's face flushed with humiliation.

She opened her mouth, probably to spit something petty—

Then she saw William.

Standing behind Lucas.

Watching.

Silent.

Jessica swallowed hard.

She turned and ran.

Pushing through the crowd, disappearing into the chaos.

Ava exhaled slowly. She slipped the blade back into her sleeve, looking up at Lucas.

He was grinning. "You are terrifying when you want to be, Beauty."

Ava rolled her shoulders. "She'll talk."

Lucas's smirk didn't fade. "Of course she will."

Ava sighed. "Then what's the plan?"

Lucas tapped his chin. "Simple. We stay ahead of the problem."

Ava clenched her fists.

Because Jessica would talk.

And when she did—

They'd have an even bigger problem waiting.