Apocalypse Trade Monopoly
Chapter 65: : Options & Miscalculations

Chapter 65: : Options & Miscalculations

Lucas tilted his head, amused. "And here I thought you’d wait until it was almost too late before using this link."

Ava exhaled, crossing her arms. "Not my style."

Lucas chuckled, golden eyes glinting. "Oh? And what is your style, Beauty?"

Ava ignored the bait. "I’m in Angel’s territory. Made a trade, got an upgrade—unexpected side effects. Jessica’s been assigned to monitor me."

Lucas’s smirk didn’t fade, but something behind his gaze sharpened. "Define unexpected."

Ava hesitated, a half-second pause before she sighed. "My system evolved."

Lucas’s brows lifted slightly. "Did it now?"

Ava nodded, fingers flexing slightly. "I can see potential now. Not just blueprints—value, upgrades. Like your system."

Lucas leaned back slightly, studying her. "Huh. So we’re getting closer to a full sync."

Ava’s jaw tightened. "That’s what worries me."

Lucas grinned, the sharp edge of amusement cutting through his words. "Don’t be shy, Beauty. It just means we’re compatible."

Ava rolled her eyes. "Save it, Bai. Now—your turn. What’s your status?"

Lucas exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Had a minor inconvenience."

Ava raised a brow. "Define minor."

Lucas smirked. "Lost a shipment. Got it back. Had to ruin a few reputations along the way."

Ava huffed a quiet laugh. "That’s minor?"

Lucas grinned. "Depends on who you ask."

Ava tilted her head. "Anything I should know before I make my next move?"

Lucas’s smirk faded slightly. "Yeah. Keep an eye on Angel. She doesn’t make high-risk investments unless she’s planning something bigger."

Ava exhaled slowly. "Noted."

Lucas’s golden eyes gleamed. "Where exactly are you?"

Ava sighed. "Some overpriced inn, courtesy of Angel. Jessica’s running point on me."

Lucas chuckled. "Predictable. I had a plan ready for that. Want to hear your options?"

Ava rolled her shoulders. "Always."

Lucas tilted his head, smirk widening. "Option one—I extract you tonight. Fast, clean, minimal damage. Downsides? It burns the bridge with Angel."

Ava hummed. "Not ideal."

"Option two," Lucas continued, "you play along, gather intel, and let me pull the strings from a distance."

Ava nodded. "Better. And option three?"

Lucas grinned. "You do something reckless, and I get to say ’I told you so’ when I have to save your ass."

Ava snorted. "Tempting."

Lucas laughed. "So? Which is it, Beauty?"

Ava exhaled, shifting topics. "Before I decide—those chips I handed over?"

Lucas arched a brow. "What about them?"

Ava leaned forward slightly. "I think I made a mistake. The data on them might’ve been more valuable than I thought."

Lucas huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No, you didn’t."

Ava blinked. "Excuse me?"

Lucas smirked. "I checked. The chips? Junk. High encryption, sure, but whatever was inside wasn’t worth the trouble. It would take weeks to crack them open, and even then, it’s likely useless."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Then why was Angel so eager to trade?"

Lucas grinned. "That, Beauty, is the real question."

He leaned back, amusement flickering behind his golden eyes. "For us? Those chips are hot. For Angel and her husband?" He tilted his head. "They’re just a little warm."

Ava crossed her arms. "Explain."

Lucas chuckled. "Simple. We move in the dark, Beauty. Every deal, every stolen shipment, every trade—risk management is half the job. For us, ’hot’ means lethal."

He tapped his fingers against his knee. "Angel? Locke? They’re in a different game. He’s a sixth-generation military brat. The kind who grew up thinking orders and hierarchy were the only way the world worked."

Ava snorted. "Sounds fun."

Lucas grinned. "Oh, incredibly. But it means he’s got connections. And connections change the rules."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "So you’re saying those chips weren’t valuable?"

Lucas shook his head. "I’m saying they weren’t valuable to us. But to a well-connected, well-bred military boy like Locke?"

He smirked. "They might be just enough to make his life interesting—without burning him."

Ava clicked her tongue, exhaling slowly. "And that’s why Angel wanted them."

Lucas’s smirk deepened, but there was calculation behind it. "Angel doesn’t make random trades, Beauty. She plays for long-term gains. Which means, whether or not you realize it, you’ve just moved a piece on her board."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "So what’s my best move?"

Lucas leaned back, tapping his fingers against his knee. "Depends on how much risk you’re willing to take."

He lifted a hand, holding up one finger. "Option one—pull out now. I arrange an exit, get you out clean. Downside? You lose whatever advantage you just gained."

He raised a second finger. "Option two—you dig deeper. Stay in Angel’s pocket, play along, and I feed you intel from my end. You keep your leverage."

A third finger. "Option three—you flip the script. Set up your own trade, force Angel to show her real hand. Risky, but if you pull it off, you gain control of the entire situation."

Ava studied him, weighing each option. "And what would you do?"

Lucas chuckled. "Oh, Beauty, I already made my choice."

She raised a brow. "And?"

Lucas’s smirk didn’t fade. "Since you’re asking, Beauty, let’s go with option two."

Ava crossed her arms. "Stay in Angel’s pocket, let you feed me intel—sounds easy on paper. What’s the catch?"

Lucas leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. "No catch. Just execution. You need to act real—like a trader looking for the next deal, not a spy gathering intel. You slip up, you lose leverage. Worse, you might not get another trade with Angel."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "And you’re sure she’ll bite?"

Lucas chuckled. "Oh, she’s already invested in you. The moment she assigned Jessica as your shadow, she made you a piece on her board. But now, we make her think you’re a piece worth keeping."

Ava exhaled, tapping her fingers against the table. "Fine. What’s my next move?"

Lucas tilted his head. "You go out for a drink."

Ava blinked. "Excuse me?"

Lucas smirked. "There’s a bar called Zero, a few steps from where you’re staying. Not fancy, not high-end, but it’s where freelancers and independent traders pass through. If you’re looking to build a cover, that’s the place to start."

Ava’s gaze sharpened. "And let me guess—your ’friend’ is already waiting there."

Lucas’s grin widened. "Exactly. Ten runs the quieter side of the trade circuit. He deals in information, smaller goods, things that don’t make the Black Market auctions but still hold value. Angel won’t question if you meet with him—she’ll just assume you’re expanding your contacts."

Ava clicked her tongue. "And what’s the real goal?"

Lucas exhaled, eyes gleaming. "Two things. One, you establish your independence. Make it clear you’re not under Angel’s full control. Two, you deliver the package Ten needs—900 standard cells. Routine trade, nothing fancy."

Ava frowned. "And if Jessica follows me?"

Lucas leaned back, lazily stretching his arms. "Then you act real, Beauty. You go in, have a drink, talk business, and leave. No secrets, no slipping away. Just another trader making connections."

Ava exhaled. "You really think she’ll buy it?"

Lucas grinned. "She’ll have no reason not to."