Apocalypse Trade Monopoly
Chapter 48: :The Bigger Threat

Chapter 48: :The Bigger Threat

Ava watched as Derrick scrambled away, practically tripping over himself in his desperation to disappear.

Lucas barely spared him a glance.

His focus was already elsewhere.

Ava exhaled. "Alright, Bai. You got your answer. Now what?"

Lucas smirked. "Now? We let them think that they are winning."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "You want Jissica to keep selling your stock?"

Lucas tilted his head. "Beauty, she’s not selling my stock. She’s moving it for me."

Ava paused.

That meant logistics. Connections. Access.

Lucas hadn’t just been robbed.

He had been played.

Ava’s fingers twitched. "You think Level One is gearing up for something?"

Lucas’s golden eyes flickered.

"I think Level One is about to make their move."

Ava swallowed hard. "And we’re just going to wait?"

Lucas grinned. "Of course not."

Ava folded her arms. "Then what’s the plan?"

Lucas exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. "Simple, Beauty."

His voice dropped, smooth and sharp.

"We let them think they’ve already won."

Ava’s stomach twisted.

Because if Lucas Bai was planning a trap—

Jessica Tang wasn’t the only one walking straight into it.

Lucas turned sharply, heading toward the elevators.

Ava frowned, falling into step beside him. "Where are we going now?"

Lucas grinned. "Up."

Ava’s brows furrowed. "Up where?"

Lucas pressed the call button, golden eyes gleaming. "To update the General."

Ava stopped walking. "You’re taking this straight to Zhao?"

Lucas tilted his head. "Who else?"

Ava exhaled sharply. "Bai, are you out of your damn mind? You just found out Jessica’s working with Level One traders, and your first instinct is to go straight to the man who controls the entire bunker?"

Lucas chuckled. "Beauty, you wound me. It’s almost like you don’t trust me."

Ava crossed her arms. "I don’t."

Lucas’s grin widened. "Good."

Ava gritted her teeth. "I mean it, Bai. What’s your angle?"

Lucas stepped into the elevator as the doors slid open, turning to face her.

"Simple," he murmured, voice smooth. "We let Zhao clean up the mess for us."

Ava hesitated.

Zhao was ruthless. Tactical. The kind of man who wouldn’t hesitate to wipe out an entire group if it threatened his control.

Jessica Tang had made her bed, but dragging Level One’s traders into Zhao’s crosshairs?

That was dangerous.

Lucas arched a brow. "Coming, Beauty? Or are you staying behind?"

Ava’s jaw tightened.

She hated this.

But she hated being left in the dark even more.

Ava stepped inside. "You better know what you’re doing, Bai."

Lucas smirked as the doors slid shut. "Always."

The elevator doors slid open, revealing the polished, sterile halls of Level One’s administrative wing.

Ava stepped out cautiously, her gaze flicking over the guards stationed at every corner.

Luca was completely unbothered.

He walked ahead like he belonged here—like he still owned a piece of this floor.

Ava was about to ask what the hell his plan was when—

"Mr. Bai."

A smooth, measured voice greeted them before they could even reach the General’s office.

Ava turned—and immediately tensed.

The man standing before them was tall, polished, and unnervingly composed.

Dark suit. Wire-frame glasses. An air of quiet control.

And when he smiled, it didn’t reach his eyes.

"Always a pleasure to see you."

Lucas sighed dramatically. "Now there’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one."

The man’s smile didn’t waver. "Still sharp as ever, I see."

Lucas tilted his head. "Still Zhao’s lawyer, I see."

Ava stiffened slightly.

The contract holder.

The one person in this bunker who had an iron grip over Lucas Bai’s deals.

"General Zhao is expecting you," the lawyer said smoothly, adjusting his glasses. "But do be mindful, Mr. Bai. He’s not in the mood for games today."

Lucas grinned. "Then it’s a good thing I’m here for business."

Ava’s jaw tightened as the lawyer gestured toward the General’s door.

The lawyer stepped in front of the door, blocking their way with a polite but firm smile.

"Before you enter," he said smoothly, "Miss Zhang will need to sign an agreement."

Ava’s eyes narrowed. "An agreement for what?"

"Standard protocol," the lawyer replied, already pulling out a sleek digital pad. "No classified information leaves this room. No discussions are repeated elsewhere. And, of course—"

His smile didn’t change.

"No loopholes."

Ava’s Blueprint System flared to life, scanning the contract instantly.

[SCANNING CONTRACT...]

[LEGAL BINDING STATUS: HIGH]

[ESCAPE CLAUSES: NONE]

[CONDITIONS: ABSOLUTE]

[RECOMMENDED ACTION: SIGN WITH LEFT HAND]

Ava’s pulse ticked up.

Her system had never given her such a specific instruction before.

Lucas watched silently, expression unreadable.

The lawyer tilted his head. "Is something wrong, Miss Zhang?"

Ava forced a neutral expression. "No."

She took the stylus—

And signed with her left hand.

The moment the signature was complete, her system pulsed again.

[CONTRACT ACCEPTED]

[MODIFICATION DETECTED... BYPASS ACTIVE]

Ava’s jaw tightened.

Her system had done something.

Something it hadn’t warned her about beforehand.

The lawyer glanced down at the signature, nodding in approval before stepping aside. "You may enter."

Lucas grinned, leaning in slightly toward Ava as they walked past.

"Smart girl," he murmured.

Ava ignored him.

Because whatever had just happened was for later. Right now—they had a General to deal with.

The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing the office of General Zhao.

Ava stepped inside, immediately noting the contrast.

No clutter. No excess. Just clean efficiency.

A reinforced desk, lined with reports and data screens.

A set of weapons displayed behind the chair—not for decoration, but for quick access.

And in the center of it all—Zhao himself.

The man barely looked up from his terminal.

"Bai." His voice was even, sharp. "You’re late."

Lucas grinned, unbothered. "And yet, I’m still your favorite visitor."

Zhao’s eyes flicked up, cold and assessing. "Not even close."

Lucas chuckled, dropping lazily into one of the chairs across from the desk. "Don’t be like that, General. I brought updates."

Zhao’s gaze shifted to Ava and studied her for exactly three seconds before turning back to Lucas. "Talk."

Lucas’s smirk widened.

"Jessica Tang. Level One traders. Stolen goods." He tapped a finger against the desk. "I assume you already heard the whispers?"

Zhao’s jaw didn’t move. "I don’t deal in whispers."

Lucas sighed dramatically. "Then let’s call it what it is—someone on Level One is making a play, and they’re using your bunker to do it."

Zhao’s eyes narrowed.

Ava watched him carefully.

For the first time, she saw a flicker of something behind his usual cold stare.

Not surprise. Or doubt.

Recognition.

Zhao already knew something.

Which meant Lucas Bai wasn’t just here to inform him.

He was here to test him.

Lucas leaned back, stretching like they were discussing the weather.

"Let’s break it down, General." His golden eyes gleamed, but his tone was sharp. "Someone on Level One is making moves. And not small ones."

Zhao didn’t blink. "Elaborate."

Lucas held up a finger. "First, we had a destroyed shipment—firepower. Someone wanted to send a message."

A second finger. "Then, a missing shipment—one that was already delivered, but conveniently disappeared before reaching its final hands."

A third. "And now? I’ve tracked multiple deals from Level Two directly up to Level One."

Zhao’s gaze didn’t waver. "You have proof?"

Lucas grinned, but there was no humor in it. "You know I do."

Ava exhaled slowly.

Lucas Bai didn’t play blind. If he was making a move, it meant he already had the pieces lined up.

Zhao leaned back, fingers tapping against the desk. "And what exactly do you want, Bai?"

Lucas smirked. "Simple. I’ll be taking delivery myself."

Ava stiffened slightly.

Zhao’s expression didn’t change. "Meaning?"

Lucas’s grin sharpened. "Meaning, from this point forward, anything passing through my routes moves under my direct supervision."

Ava inhaled sharply.

That was bold. Too bold.

He wasn’t just challenging whoever was pulling the strings—

He was making himself a target.

Zhao exhaled through his nose, unreadable. "You assume I’d approve this?"

Lucas chuckled. "You assume you have a better option."

The room went quiet.

Ava didn’t move. Didn’t breathe.

Instead of emotional rejection, Zhao studied Lucas, his sharp black eyes taking in every inch of the man across from him.

Ava could practically feel the weight of his calculations.

Lucas Bai had just thrown his cards on the table.

Zhao was deciding how to play his own hand.

Finally—the General exhaled, slow and controlled.

"You assume," he said, voice even, "that I don’t already have a plan in place."

Lucas grinned. "Oh, I know you do."

Zhao’s fingers tapped once against the desk. "Then you also know that I don’t appreciate disruptions."

Lucas tilted his head, amusement flickering in his golden eyes. "And yet, here we are."

Zhao’s jaw ticked. "You taking over deliveries puts a target on your back."

Lucas chuckled. "You say that like I don’t already have one."

Ava glanced between them, pulse steady, waiting.

Zhao leaned forward slightly, hands clasped. "Level One is moving aggressively. That’s not news to me."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Then why haven’t you stopped them?"

Zhao’s gaze flicked to her—assessing, calculating.

"Because," he said smoothly, "some enemies are more useful alive."

Ava’s breath hitched.

Lucas just smirked.

"Ah. So you’re letting them run."

Zhao’s silence was answer enough.

Ava’s mind raced.

The stolen shipments. The underground deals. The way Zhao had let them slide, despite knowing exactly what was happening.

He wasn’t just tracking Level One’s movements.

He was baiting them.

Zhao leaned back, expression unreadable. "If I let you take delivery, Bai, I expect results."

Lucas’s golden eyes gleamed. "Oh, you’ll get them, General."

Ava exhaled sharply.

Because Lucas Bai wasn’t just taking the bait.

He was countering with his own plans.

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