Apocalypse Trade Monopoly
Chapter 103: - Sync Leverage

Chapter 103: - Sync Leverage

Lucas flexed his fingers as the new bracer adjusted to his arm, a subtle pulse running along the inner lining as the sync-thread flickered to life. Sleek. Perfect fit.

He looked down at the polished steel—etched faintly, discreetly, with Ava’s schematic signature on the underside—and couldn’t help the quiet satisfaction in his smirk.

"You rebuilt my arm."

"It was outdated. Didn’t take much." Ava said without looking up, already sealing the tools back into her kit. "You can thank me later."

"Oh, I will," Lucas replied, twisting his wrist until the bracer locked into place with a soft, magnetic click. "Classic sync symbolism. Very romantic."

"It’s efficency," Ava muttered.

Lucas turned, just in time to catch Keel watching them rubbing his shoulder, thinking too loudly.

"You know," he said lightly, "people think systems are all raw data—stats, scan ranges, labeled types. But the truth is, every user’s got something they never list."

Keel looked up. "A hidden ability?"

Lucas’s smile was slow. Sharp. "More like a specialty. The real trump card. Buried in instinct. Not even the system indexes it properly—because it’s not technical. It’s personal."

He tapped his temple. Then gestured lazily toward Ava. "My system’s good. My scans are precise. I can win with quick fights. But if you ask me who wins the long painful real fights?"

He didn’t even look at her.

Just shrugged.

"There’s a gap. And it’s in her favor."

Keel went quiet. He was just processing.

At that moment Elias finally moved. Slow. Casual. Too smooth to be anything but practiced.

He reached into his coat and pulled out a single sheet. The contract paper..

He held it out toward Ava with two fingers, the faint shimmer running across its surface like it wanted to be signed.

"Would you like to make a deal?" Elias asked, tone light, but with steel underneath.

Ava didn’t reach for it.

She just turned toward Lucas.

"That’s his job," she said flatly, brushing dust off her sleeve. "I just do what he tells me to do."

Lucas tilted his head with mock-thoughtfulness.

"And she does it beautifully."

Elias arched an eyebrow. "Is that loyalty or liability?"

"It’s leverage asset," Lucas said, stepping forward now, expression shifting—playfulness still in place, but the business edge creeping in around the corners. "If you’re serious about trading, I’ve got terms."

Elias didn’t look surprised. Just curious.

Lucas crossed his arms loosely.

"You’ve lost a totol of three scientists."

That made Elias’s smirk falter. Slightly. "Go on."

"Two of them?" Lucas continued, casual as sin, "I’ve located. They’re in lockdown sectors—one tagged, one free. But the routes are locked unless someone clears them." He paused. "You."

Ava’s head tilted slightly.

Elias didn’t answer.

Lucas pressed. "I need access. Quiet lanes. Clearance from your side. I don’t need backup. I need freedom."

Elias finally moved, slow and deliberate, folding the contract paper and sliding it back into his coat.

"My name still opens doors on this side of the territory. You’ll move without resistance if I greenlight it."

Lucas nodded. "That’s the trade."

"But I can’t support you openly," Elias added, tone cool now. "I’ve already got Zhao’s people watching too many of my lanes. If this turns into a spectacle, I’ll have to burn assets."

"Understood," Lucas said easily. "We’ll run silent. Just need the path."

Elias gestured over his shoulder with two fingers.

"Use her."

Cassi glanced up from where she’d been leaning against the barrel, drink still in hand, eyes half-lidded like she wasn’t listening—but she was always listening.

"Use me?"

"You’ve got mobility. Trust. Bite." Elias looked over at her. "And they need a driver."

Lucas looked at her, one brow raised.

"You in?"

Cassi took a slow sip, then smirked. "Two favors."

Ava sighed. "Seriously?"

"One for driving," Cassi said, counting on her fingers, "and one for the inevitable disaster you two are going to cause before lunch."

Lucas laughed under his breath. "Fair."

Ava gave her a dry stare. "And what if we don’t cause any disasters?"

"Then I’ll owe you a favor," Cassi said brightly, clearly unconcerned.

Lucas reached out and clinked his glass against hers.

"You’ve got yourself a contract. No blood signature required."

Cassi grinned. "Yet."

Ava slung her pack over one shoulder, casting a long look at the fading alley light.

"You really think we’ll make it through three sectors without getting flagged?"

Lucas’s smirk was all teeth.

"If we do, we’re not trying hard enough."

Cassi pushed off the wall and gave a mock salute. "Hummer leaves at dawn. Bring snacks. And if anyone bleeds on the seats, they’re scrubbing it themselves."

Lucas offered Ava his arm, mock-chivalrous meant to annoy someone.

Ava walked straight past it without a glance. It was best to not reward bad behavior. Not that Lucas seem to mind he matching her stride with that lazy confidence he wore like armor.

Behind them, Cassi cracked a knuckle and called out,

"Five a.m., lovebirds. If you’re late, I’m charging extra for mood tax."

"What mood?" Ava muttered.

"Exactly."

Before they could exit the alley, Elias’s voice followed them—cool, composed, but with that slight hum of amusement only people in control ever used.

"Bai."

They turned.

Elias had stepped forward from the shadows, one hand still in his coat pocket, the other holding a data tab. His expression was unreadable, but the offer was real.

"I can give you a room tonight. It’s not much." He paused. "I can’t let you in the main compond near my sister."

Lucas blinked, then barked a quiet laugh.

"You wound me."

"Not as deeply as she would," Elias replied dryly. He held out the data tab between two fingers. "Fourth floor, west wing. Old security suite. Door still locks. Window doesn’t. Don’t make noise."

Ava accepted it wordlessly, her fingers brushing the edge. She gave him a curt nod.

Lucas smirked.

"Is this what generosity looks like now?"

"No," Elias said simply. "This is containment."

Elias just turned away, coat swinging behind him like a curtain closing on a performance.

Lucas leaned in toward Ava as they walked.

"Well. At least we’re not sleeping near the sister."

Ava’s tone was deadpan.

"For your safety."

"Fair."

And the alley lights buzzed behind them—alive with half-truths, bad deals, and a night that wasn’t nearly over.

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