Apocalypse Trade Monopoly
Chapter 73: : Trading Secrets

Chapter 73: : Trading Secrets

Locke didn’t react. He stood still, composed—but not rigid. He was done posturing. Now, he was negotiating.

Ava folded her arms, watching the shift between them. "You have classified information."

Locke nodded once. "And you have resources I need."

Lucas exhaled, hands in his pockets, stepping closer like a shark scenting blood. "Alright, Captain. Let’s play. What are we talking? Names? Locations? Or something a little more..." He tilted his head. "Explosive?"

Locke’s expression didn’t shift. "You want leverage? I can give it to you. But if I do, I’m done. I need out."

Lucas chuckled. "And you expect me to just hand you an exit?"

Locke met his gaze without hesitation. "I expect a fair trade."

Ava’s system pulsed in the background, running rapid calculations, probabilities shifting as the pieces fell into place.

This wasn’t just Locke betraying Angel.

This was him burning the bridge completely.

Ava exhaled, voice measured. "What’s the price?"

Locke’s jaw tightened. "Safe passage. A new identity. No ties to the military, no ties to Angel. I disappear."

Lucas hummed. "That’s expensive, Captain."

Locke didn’t blink. "So is what I’m offering."

Ava watched as Lucas considered it, watched the way his smirk stayed in place—but something behind it shifted. He wasn’t just amused anymore. He was actually thinking.

Finally, Lucas sighed. "Alright, Captain. I’ll bite. But you’d better hope your secrets are worth it."

Locke exhaled, voice steady. "You both know Shifters rule what’s left of the world."

Ava didn’t move, but her grip on her sleeves tightened. Everyone knew that. When the world collapsed, strength became the new currency. The military structured itself around them, the bunkers were built to cater to them, and Mutants—people like her, people like Lucas—were allowed to exist, but never to thrive.

Lucas tilted his head, unimpressed. "And?"

Locke’s dark gaze didn’t waver. "And you know why that is, right?"

Ava already knew the answer. "Because they’re stronger."

Locke shook his head. "Because they think they are."

That made Lucas pause.

Ava frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Locke’s jaw tightened. "Shifters control the military, the bunkers, and the supply chains. They think they’re the peak of evolution, that Mutants are just the ’defective’ survivors of the Collapse." His voice dropped slightly. "But that’s only because most Shifters don’t know Mutants have systems at all."

Ava’s breath stalled. Lucas’s smirk froze for just a second before he chuckled, shaking his head. "Now that’s a bold claim, Captain."

Locke’s stare was unflinching. "It’s not a claim. It’s the truth."

Ava’s system pinged in the background, as if reacting to the weight of the words spoken. Mutants have systems.

It wasn’t something people questioned—because no one was supposed to know it was even a possibility.

Ava had always assumed her system was an anomaly. That Mutants weren’t meant to have them, or if they did, they weren’t strong enough to matter. But now, Locke was saying it wasn’t an accident.

Lucas let out a low whistle. "And let me guess—only a select few at the top know?"

Locke nodded. "The military. Certain high-ranking Shifters. The ones with real power." His eyes flicked to Ava. "Angel knows."

Ava felt something cold slither down her spine.

Lucas folded his arms, golden eyes sharp. "Alright, Captain. You’ve got my attention. But you still haven’t told me the part that makes this worth your exit package."

Locke exhaled. "You want leverage? I’m giving it to you."

Ava’s system pinged again.

[INCOMING DATA REQUEST.]

She barely had time to react before a small data key was produced from Locke’s sleeve. He held it between two fingers, offering it to Lucas.

Lucas raised a brow. "Oh? A gift?"

Locke didn’t smile. "You need this more than me."

Ava frowned. "What’s on it?"

Locke’s expression was unreadable. "The military’s private research logs. Everything they know about Mutant systems. And more importantly—how they’re trying to upgrade them."

Ava stilled.

Lucas didn’t move. For the first time in a long time, his smirk faded slightly, replaced with something colder.

Locke pressed on. "You’re a smart man, Bai. You survive because you know how to manipulate the pieces on the board."

He extended the data key further. "This? This gives you the rules they’ve been hiding."

Lucas’s fingers finally moved, plucking the key from Locke’s grasp. He turned it over between his fingers, inspecting it—not for show, but for weight.

Then he laughed. Soft. Slow. Dangerous.

"Well, well, Captain. You really do know how to sell."

Locke’s face remained blank. "This information is what they would kill to keep buried. Angel’s been making moves because she thinks she’s ahead."

Ava’s chest tightened.

Experiments.

Lucas exhaled, shaking his head. "Let me guess—these ’upgrades’ they’re testing not meant for Shifters."

Locke’s voice was flat. "No. They’re meant for people like you."

Lucas’s smirk returned, but it was sharper now. "So they finally figured it out."

Ava’s hands curled into fists at her sides.

She wasn’t stupid. She had known from the moment she unlocked her system that something about her was different. Lucas had always known he was playing a different game, that his system wasn’t just some random mutation of survival.

And now, they had confirmation.

The people in power had known, too.

Lucas twirled the data key once before tucking it into his pocket. "And what exactly do you want in return for this very expensive secret, Captain?"

Locke met his gaze. "I already told you. I want out."

Lucas hummed, pretending to consider. "No strings?"

Locke didn’t blink. "No strings. I walk away, you keep the information. I don’t come after you, you don’t come after me."

Ava studied him carefully. This wasn’t just a trade for survival.

Locke wasn’t just leaving the game.

He was making sure he could never be used as a piece again.

Lucas finally let out a slow, easy breath. "Alright, Captain. You’ve got yourself a deal."

Ava felt the weight of those words settle between them.

Lucas Bai never made deals that didn’t benefit him.

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