Apocalypse Trade Monopoly
Chapter 62: : Playing the Room

Chapter 62: : Playing the Room

Ava walked through the heavy doors of the Level One lounge like she belonged there.

The space was dimly lit but sleek—polished floors, low murmuring conversations, and traders dressed in luxury that didn’t exist in the lower levels. No sweat-stained uniforms or patchwork scavenger gear. This was wealth. Controlled. Intentional.

Ava kept her pace steady, shoulders back, chin up. Lucas drilled it into her before she left. Act like you own the place. Like you’re the one people should be approaching. Confidence sells power.

And if she was selling fuel cells? She was selling power—literally.

She spotted Anton first.

The older trader sat at a private booth, sipping something dark and expensive, dressed in a sharp slate-gray suit that probably cost more than a Level Three trader made in a year. His gaze flicked up the second she entered, assessing her with amusement.

"Ava Zhang," Anton drawled, setting his glass down. "Lucas really sent you in alone?"

Ava arched a brow, slipping into the seat across from him. "Disappointed?"

Anton chuckled. "Not at all. Just surprised. You don’t exactly look like one of Bai’s usual business partners."

Ava smirked. "And what do I look like?"

Anton studied her, then grinned. "Like someone about to make a very interesting deal."

Ava leaned back, casual. "Then let’s not waste time."

Anton tilted his head. "Straight to business. I like it." He tapped the table, and a slim data pad slid toward her. "300 fuel cells. Your price?"

Ava picked up the pad, scanning the transaction sheet. Lucas had prepped her well. She didn’t hesitate.

"Standard market price would put this at 1,200 tokens," Ava said smoothly. "But we both know you’re not buying fuel for personal use." She glanced up, holding his gaze. "You’re reselling."

Anton’s grin widened. "Clever girl."

Ava tapped the screen, adjusting the price. "900 tokens."

Anton raised a brow. "That’s generous."

Ava shrugged. "Consider it a discount for information."

Anton chuckled. "Ah. There it is."

Ava didn’t blink. "Lucas said you’d have intel worth my time."

Anton sighed, tapping the table twice. "Done."

The transaction processed instantly. Ava’s system chimed in her head, confirming the credits had transferred.

[TRADE COMPLETE – 300 FUEL CELLS SOLD]

[+900 TOKENS RECEIVED]

Anton sighed, swirling his drink. "Angel’s moving faster than we expected. She’s locking down certain trades, cutting off supply chains to Level Two."

Ava tilted her head. "Why?"

Anton smirked. "Because someone pissed her off."

Ava exhaled sharply. "Let me guess. Lucas?"

Anton laughed. "Obviously."

Ava shook her head. "So what’s her move?"

Anton leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly. "She’s redirecting shipments. The general’s shipments. Keeping them just barely delayed enough to frustrate him—but not enough to start a war."

Ava processed that quickly. "She’s testing how much control she really has."

Anton nodded. "Exactly. And Lucas? He’s a problem she hasn’t figured out how to solve yet."

Ava smirked. "Then I’ll make sure she keeps wondering."

Anton laughed, standing up. "Come on, Zhang. Let’s introduce you to some real traders."

Anton walked her through the lounge, making introductions.

The first trader, Madeline Wu, was a fuel distributor. Ava made an easy 100-fuel trade with her, no questions asked.

The second, Tarek Hassan, dealt in small-scale weapons. Ava offloaded another 200 fuel cells for a set of encrypted radio communicators.

By the time they were done, Ava had 900 tokens in profit and a solid foot in the door with Level One traders.

Anton grinned, walking her toward the bar. "You did good, Zhang. You’ll fit in here just fine."

Ava snorted. "I’m not looking to fit in."

Anton chuckled. "No. You’re looking to win." He gestured toward the bar. "Good luck with your next move."

Moving away from Anton, Ava slid onto a barstool. Resting her arms on the smooth polished surface. The bartender barely glanced at her before setting down a drink—dark amber, slightly smoky. A trader’s drink. Strong, but not reckless.

She smirked. Anton must’ve signaled to keep things smooth.

Fine by her.

Ava lifted the glass, swirling the liquid, but her focus stayed on the room. Traders sat in tight circles, murmuring deals, exchanging coded glances over their drinks. This wasn’t just a bar. It was a marketplace wrapped in dim lighting and expensive alcohol.

And she was here to trade.

Not long, a man settled into the seat beside her, well-dressed but not overdressed. Low-level trader, testing the waters.

"You’re new." His voice was smooth, practiced.

Ava took a sip of her drink. "Passing through."

He tilted his head. "Selling or buying?"

Ava pretended to think. "Depends on the offer."

The trader chuckled. "I like that. Got anything interesting?"

Ava smirked, pulling a small, unassuming battery from her pocket and setting it on the bar.

[SCANNING ITEM...]

[ENERGY CORE – MINI]

[VALUE: 15 TOKENS]

The man raised a brow. "A power cell?"

Ava nodded. "Low charge, but stable. Good for emergency backups."

The trader tapped his fingers against the bar, considering. "I’ll give you ten tokens."

Ava huffed. "Try twenty."

He chuckled. "Fifteen."

Ava tilted her head. "Deal."

The trade went through, credits flashing on her system.

[TRADE COMPLETE – 1 MINI CORE SOLD]

[+15 TOKENS RECEIVED]

Second Trade: Raising the Stakes

Ava didn’t have to wait long before someone else approached. This time, a woman in sleek, dark red attire—someone with real influence.

"You’re the one Anton was introducing around," she said smoothly, taking the seat beside Ava.

Ava smirked. "That depends. Are you buying?"

The woman laughed. "I like you already. What’s your stock?"

Ava glanced around, then leaned in slightly. "Fuel cells. Premium. Got a few left after my last trade."

The woman’s eyes gleamed with interest. "How many?"

Ava pretended to think. "Fifty. No questions asked."

The woman tapped her glass, considering. "100 tokens."

Ava shook her head. "150."

The woman grinned. "125. Final offer."

Ava paused, then nodded. "Done."

Another smooth transaction.

[TRADE COMPLETE – 50 FUEL CELLS SOLD]

[+125 TOKENS RECEIVED]

Ava was halfway through her drink when the next opportunity arrived—a man with sharp eyes, dressed in military-style casual wear.

Not Locke. But close. A lower-rank officer.

"You’re the traveling merchant?" he asked, settling beside her.

Ava smirked. "That’s what they say."

The man leaned in. "I deal in gear. Got anything off-market?"

Ava pretended to hesitate. Then she pulled a small modified transmitter from her bag and set it down.

[SCANNING ITEM...]

[ENCRYPTED COMM DEVICE – MODIFIED]

[VALUE: 75 TOKENS]

The man studied it. "Where’d you get this?"

Ava smirked. "I don’t answer those kinds of questions."

The man chuckled. "Fair enough. 60 tokens?"

Ava raised a brow. "80."

He sighed but nodded. "Fine."

[TRADE COMPLETE – 1 MODIFIED COMM DEVICE SOLD]

[+80 TOKENS RECEIVED]

Ava leaned back, satisfied. Three deals. Three small wins. Enough to make her seem legitimate.