Apocalypse Trade Monopoly
Chapter 42: : Unwelcome Timing

Chapter 42: : Unwelcome Timing

Ava’s fingers were still hovering over the data in her vision when—

A sharp knock echoed through the room.

Her head snapped up.

She wasn’t expecting anyone.

Lucas was gone. William was on his own errands.

That meant whoever was at the door wasn’t here for her.

Ava stood slowly, rolling her shoulders, pushing the system scan to the back of her mind.

Another knock.

Steady. Patient.

Ava exhaled sharply. She had to be careful.

She stepped toward the door, pressing her ear against the cold metal.

Then—a voice.

"Delivery for Bai."

Ava’s jaw tightened.

She had met this courier a few times before—one of the lower-tier traders Lucas used to handle regular supply shipments.

Not a threat.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t become one.

Ava’s fingers twitched, adjusting her stance.

She half-opened the door—just enough to see the figure outside, just enough to reach for a knife if needed.

The delivery guy—a wiry man in his thirties, dark circles under his eyes, hands worn from too much work—lifted a crate.

"Got your weekly drop." His tone was casual. Uninterested.

Routine.

Ava’s gaze flicked to the label.

[Recipient: Lucas Bai]

Ava’s stomach twisted.

Right.

Lucas had warned her about this.

As far as Level Two was concerned—

Ava Zhang didn’t exist here.

Her registry was still buried in Level Three.

She exhaled through her nose and schooled her expression.

"Hold on."

The courier raised a brow as she pulled the door open just enough to reach through.

She grabbed the crate, not giving him a chance to peek inside.

But instead of leaving—he stayed put.

Ava’s grip tightened slightly.

"You always handle Bai’s deliveries?" the man asked, shifting his weight like he had all the time in the world.

Ava kept her face blank. "Sometimes."

The courier snorted. "First time I’ve seen someone else take ’em. Usually, he answers himself—or that butler of his."

Ava shrugged. "He’s busy."

"Yeah, he always is." The man rubbed his jaw, eyes flicking toward the crate. "Must be nice, though."

Ava tilted her head slightly. "What?"

"Living up here." He waved a hand vaguely. "Level Two’s a hell of a jump from the rest of us. No ration lines, better security, actual private spaces..." He scoffed. "Not bad for a guy who got kicked out of Level One."

Ava’s pulse slowed, calculating.

So people knew about Lucas’s exile.

They just didn’t know the details.

Ava hummed noncommittally, hoping he’d get bored.

But he wasn’t done.

"Anyway." He shifted again. "He still doing trades with Level Three, or is he fully locked into the big leagues now?"

Ava’s jaw tensed slightly.

"He does what he wants."

The courier grinned. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

Ava was already over this conversation.

She shifted the crate in her arms, subtly stepping back.

"You done?"

The man chuckled, raising his hands. "Relax, I’m just talking."

Ava didn’t relax.

She just stared him down.

Finally, he sighed.

"Fine, fine. I’ll get out of your hair." He took a step back, nodding toward the crate. "Tell Bai I dropped it off."

Ava arched a brow. "You think he doesn’t already know?"

The courier chuckled, tilting his head. "Guess not." His gaze flicked over her again—a little too curious now. "So... what do you do for him?"

Ava kept her expression neutral. "Housekeeping."

The man blinked. Then—he laughed.

"Housekeeping? Bai’s got a new pretty maid?" He smirked. "You must be real new, then."

Ava said nothing. Just kept her grip firm on the crate.

The man leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "You should know what happened to the last girl."

Ava’s pulse stayed steady, but her fingers twitched slightly. "What girl?"

The courier grinned like he had a secret. "Last one who ran with Bai. Followed him to the black market." He clicked his tongue. "Didn’t end well."

Ava’s jaw tightened. "That so?"

The man shrugged. "People who get too close to him? They don’t usually last."

Ava forced a smirk. "Sounds like a personal problem."

The courier laughed again. "Maybe. Maybe not."

Then—he leaned in just a fraction more.

"Listen," he murmured, voice smooth. "Bai’s got enemies. A lot of ’em. And you?" He flicked his eyes over her. "You’re an unknown."

Ava said nothing. Just waited.

The courier smirked, lowering his voice."I’m just saying... if you ever want a backup plan? People pay real well for the right information."

Ava kept her face blank, but her mind sharpened.

"That so?"

The man grinned. "Not just well, sweetheart. Generous." He lifted a hand, rubbing his thumb against his fingers—the universal sign for money. "Fifty tokens for something small. Routine movement, basic habits. Nothing that’d even get you in trouble."

Ava’s fingers twitched against the crate.

Five hundred was a big number. Enough to set someone up comfortably in Level Three for months. Enough to clear debts, buy real influence.

But the courier wasn’t done.

"And for something useful?" His smirk widened. "A hundred."

Ava narrowed her eyes.

"A hundred tokens? Who the hell is paying that much?"

The courier chuckled, shaking his head. "Bai pissed off the wrong person yesterday."

Ava’s grip on the crate tightened. "Who?"

The man grinned, enjoying this way too much. "Level One’s top trader. Ren Yu."

Ava’s pulse slowed.

Ren Yu.

The name wasn’t just big—it was a problem.

Level One didn’t operate like the rest of the bunker. The traders up there weren’t just survivors; they controlled everything. Food supply, medicine, tech. If you weren’t military, you answered to them.

Lucas had always played dangerous games, but pissing off someone like Ren Yu?

That was different.

The courier leaned in slightly, voice dropping lower.

"He put a bounty on Bai’s head."

Ava’s stomach turned cold.

"How much?"

The courier’s grin widened. "Started at five hundred tokens. Went up to a thousand this morning."

Ava kept her expression neutral, but inside—her mind was racing.

A thousand tokens.

That wasn’t a price.

That was a statement.

The kind that meant Ren Yu wanted him gone. Badly.

The courier watched her, reading her silence.

"Bai must’ve screwed him over real good." He smirked. "You know how Level One works. No one up there throws money around for fun. If Ren Yu’s offering a thousand tokens, that means he isn’t just mad—he’s making sure Bai doesn’t walk away from this."

Ava exhaled slowly.

Lucas Bai always had enemies.

But this?

This was the kind that didn’t leave loose ends.

The courier tilted his head, watching her closely.

"Like I said, sweetheart. Think about it."

Then—he turned and walked off.

Ava stood there, heartbeat steady, thoughts moving fast.

Ren Yu wanted Lucas Bai dead.

And now?

She had a front-row seat to the fallout.