Apocalypse Trade Monopoly
Chapter 51: : Walking Into the Wolf’s Den

Chapter 51: : Walking Into the Wolf’s Den

The Shifters didn’t wait for Lucas to agree.

The moment he spoke, they turned, expecting him to follow.

Lucas sighed, slipping his hands into his pockets, entirely too relaxed for a man being escorted by predators.

Ava stop beside him.

The lead Shifter grunted. "She’s not invited."

Lucas didn’t break stride. "She stays."

The Shifter stiffened slightly. "Boss said—"

Lucas cut him off, golden eyes gleaming. "I don’t care what your boss said."

Ava held back a smirk.

The Shifters exchanged glances. Their orders had been clear, but Lucas Bai was not a man you dragged anywhere.

Finally, the lead one exhaled sharply. "Fine. But if she slows us down, she stays behind."

Ava snorted. "Not happening."

The group moved swiftly, weaving through Level One’s pristine streets, heading toward a sector Ava hadn’t seen before.

Less polished. Less decorative. A place where the real business happened.

Lucas leaned toward her slightly, voice low. "Don’t react, Beauty, but take note."

Ava didn’t nod, but she was already scanning.

Multiple guards. Not standard security—privately hired muscle.

A narrow entrance. Reinforced walls. A location chosen specifically to keep things quiet.

They reached a set of double doors, guarded by another pair of Shifters.

The lead Shifter stepped aside, motioning for them to enter.

Lucas grinned, entirely too amused. "After you, Beauty."

Ava exhaled. "So generous."

Then, without hesitation, she stepped inside.

The doors shut behind them with a heavy finality.

Ava didn’t flinch.

She kept her posture relaxed, but her senses sharpened instantly.

Because this room wasn’t any conference space.

It was a den.

Dimly lit. Walls reinforced, but not for defense—no, this place was built to contain something.

And sitting at the head of the room, lounging like a king on his throne—

Was the real problem.

A massive Shifter, built like a war machine, his presence thick in the air like static before a storm.

Ava’s Blueprint System pulsed.

[IDENTITY: UNKNOWN]

[PHYSICAL ENHANCEMENTS: EXTREME]

[SHIFT HISTORY: MULTIPLE]

[STABILITY: UNRELIABLE]

Unstable.

Ava exhaled slowly.

Lucas unbotheredstrode forward, hands still in his pockets, smirk firmly in place.

"Well, well. Didn’t think I’d get a personal invite."

The Shifter grinned, teeth sharp. "Didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to show up."

Lucas chuckled, golden eyes gleaming. "And yet, here I am."

Ava felt the tension shift.

The massive Shifter leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, eyes locked onto Lucas like a predator sizing up prey.

"You’ve been busy, Bai," the Shifter drawled. "Causing trouble. Making noise. Stealing attention that doesn’t belong to you."

Ava folded her arms, already tired of this posturing. "Funny. I was just thinking the same about you."

The Shifter’s sharp gaze snapped to her. His nostrils flared slightly, like he was scenting the air.

Lucas laughed. "Careful, Beauty. You might hurt his feelings."

The Shifter chuckled, low and dangerous. "And who’s this? Another pet project?"

Lucas tilted his head. "Something like that."

Ava felt her pulse steady, her Blueprint System already scanning the exits, marking weak points, measuring how many seconds it would take to disable the nearest guard.

Because this room was built for containment.

And the way the Shifter was watching them?

Like he was waiting for a reason.

The Shifter exhaled, leaning back again. "You’ve got guts, Bai. But guts don’t mean much when you don’t have the muscle to back them up."

Lucas’s grin sharpened. "See, that’s where you’re wrong."

Ava felt the shift.

Lucas chuckled, golden eyes gleaming. "You think I don’t have the muscle?"

The Shifter grinned, sharp teeth flashing. "I know you don’t."

Lucas sighed dramatically. "Guess I’ll have to fix that."

Then—without warning—he moved.

Fast.

Ava barely caught it.

One second, Lucas was lounging like he had all the time in the world.

The next.

He was across the room.

A blur. A strike of movement too smooth, too precise.

The Shifter’s eyes widened—just slightly—before Lucas’s hand wrapped around his throat. Not choking.

Just holding.

A statement

Lucas leaned in slightly, voice dropping. "Still think I don’t have the muscle?"

The Shifter’s jaw clenched, nostrils flaring. His arms tensed, ready to retaliate—

But he didn’t move.

Because he felt it.

The weight of Lucas’s grip.

Not Shifter strength. Not brute force.

Something calculated. Engineered. Precise.

Ava’s Blueprint System pulsed hard.

[SCAN COMPLETE]

[PHYSICAL ENHANCEMENT: ACTIVE]

[COMBAT EFFICIENCY: 97%]

[POWER OUTPUT: INCREASING]

Increasing.

Ava’s stomach twisted.

Lucas wasn’t just stronger.

He was still adapting to his upgrade.

The Shifter’s teeth clenched, but his pulse was steady. Controlled. He met Lucas’s gaze head-on. "You want to prove something, Bai?"

Lucas smirked. "I already did."

Then—just as smoothly—he let go.

Stepped back. Completely relaxed.

Like the entire thing had been nothing more than a friendly exchange.

The Shifter exhaled slowly, rubbing his throat.

Lucas tilted his head, still grinning. "Now. You wanted a word?"

Ava didn’t miss the way the room had changed.

The Shifters guarding the doors were standing a little tenser.

The air was thicker. Heavier.

Because they all knew Lucas Bai wasn’t supposed to be a threat.

The Shifter exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders like he was shaking off the tension. But Ava saw it.

The way his posture shifted. The way the guards subtly adjusted, more alert now.

The Shifter grinned, but there was less bite to it now. "You really don’t know when to back down, do you?"

Lucas smirked, slipping his hands back into his pockets. "No fun in that."

The Shifter leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Alright, Bai. You made your point. Now let’s talk business."

Ava exhaled slowly.

Finally.

Lucas tilted his head. "Depends. What are we talking about?"

The Shifter chuckled. "You’ve been stepping into Level One’s trade routes. Getting a little too bold for someone who’s supposed to be an exile."

Lucas grinned. "Bold? I call it smart."

The Shifter’s gaze darkened slightly. "Some people call it reckless."

Lucas sighed, shaking his head like he was truly disappointed.

"See, this is what I don’t get," he murmured, golden eyes gleaming. "You call me reckless, but you’re the ones making mistakes."

The Shifter’s grin didn’t fade, but Ava caught the slight twitch in his jaw.

"Enlighten me," he drawled.

Lucas tilted his head. "You think I’ve been stepping into Level One’s trade routes?"

He stepped closer. Slow. Calculated.

"I don’t step into things."

The room tensed.

Lucas’s smirk sharpened. "I own them."

Ava felt the air shift.

Because that wasn’t just a bold claim.

That was a warning.

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