Welcome to the Black Market

Ava had seen the bunker's trade system up close.

But the real deals?

The ones that actually mattered?

Those happened underground.

And Lucas Bai was taking her straight into the heart of it.

The so-called Black Market wasn't actually black or a market in the traditional sense.

It was a hidden network beneath the bunker—a neutral zone where traders, scavengers, and mercenaries cut deals between settlements.

Getting in required connections.

Lucas Bai, of course, had plenty.

The two of them approached an unmarked passageway, guarded by two men with modified weapons—a mix of salvaged tech and Shifter-made blades.

One of the guards, a broad-shouldered man eyed them.

"Didn't expect you today, Bai."

Lucas smiled easily, slipping a small metallic token from his pocket. "Change of plans."

The guard took the token, scanned it with a handheld device, then nodded. "She with you?"

Lucas glanced at Ava. "She's mine."

Ava arched a brow. "Property now? Bold move."

Lucas chuckled. "Figure of speech, Zhang. Try not to get kidnapped in there."

The guards stepped aside, and the doors slid open.

Ava followed Lucas inside.

The Black Market was alive in a way the bunker above wasn't.

Dim LEDs flickered overhead, casting deep shadows along the concrete tunnels.

Stalls and makeshift booths lined the walkways. Traders displaying weapons to tech to illicit medical supplies.

Ava's Blueprint System flared to life, scanning everything in sight.

[ANALYZING…]

[Weapon Mods: 67% Salvageable]

[Old World Electronics: 83% Functional]

[Experimental Combat Stimulants – HIGH RISK]

Ava let out a low whistle. "So this is where all the good stuff goes."

Lucas smirked, leading her deeper into the maze of trade posts. "You don't think I get my inventory from the bunker rations, do you?"

Ava scanned the crowd.

Shifters, Normals, even a few Level Two Mutants like herself were bartering, trading, watching.

Deals were made in low voices, agreements sealed with handshakes, smirks, or the occasional knife fight.

No military presence.

No rules.

Just pure business.

Ava exhaled slowly. "Alright, Bai. What's our play?"

Lucas's golden eyes gleamed. "We're here to hunt, Zhang."

Ava frowned. "For what?"

Lucas's smirk widened.

"You'll see."

The second they stepped deeper into the Black Market, Lucas pulled a hoodie over Ava's head and shoved it down low enough to shadow her face.

Ava scowled. "Seriously?"

Lucas adjusted the hood like she was some disobedient child. "Seriously. Keep your face down, Zhang."

Ava crossed her arms. "What, afraid someone's gonna fall in love with me?"

Lucas snorted, amused. "No, I'm afraid someone's gonna recognize you."

Ava frowned. "Why would they—"

Lucas gave her a pointed look.

Oh.

Right.

She wasn't just some scavenger anymore.

Lucas Bai had made sure of that.

She wasn't famous, but people paid attention to who worked for him. And in a place like this? Being noticed could get you killed.

Ava sighed. "Fine. But if anyone asks, I want a cooler alias than 'Zhang.'"

Lucas smirked. "I'll call you Trouble."

Ava rolled her eyes. "You're the worst."

Lucas just laughed and kept walking.

The market stretched for miles, an underground maze of makeshift stalls, stolen goods, and whispered negotiations.

Lucas moved like he owned the place, golden eyes scanning everything, calculating value and opportunity with each step.

Ava followed close, keeping her hood low, letting her Blueprint System scan the area.

[Weapon Caches Located – Partial Functionality]

[Shifter Gear – Custom Modified]

[Medical Stockpile – Heavily Guarded]

Ava absorbed the information quickly, matching it against the flow of trade, who was buying what, and how the power shifted between groups.

Lucas must have noticed, because he glanced at her.

"You're watching the trade flow," he observed.

Ava shrugged. "You watch people. I watch what they want."

Lucas smirked. "Good. Keep doing that."

Ava glanced up. "So what exactly are we hunting?"

Lucas nodded toward a gated-off section at the far end of the market.

"The real game," he murmured.

Ava squinted.

Beyond the gates, traders weren't bartering openly anymore.

This was higher-level trading. Bigger risks. Bigger rewards.

And from the way Lucas was smiling?

He was about to drag her straight into it.

The further they walked, the more Ava realized the Black Market had layers.

The outer sections? Scraps, common goods, small trades.

The deeper you went? The riskier—and more valuable—the deals got.

Lucas led her toward a heavily guarded section, where the real players operated.

The entrance was marked with crude symbols, and the guards? Definitely not friendly.

Ava noticed their gear instantly.

Shifter-made weapons. High-grade mutant armor.

They weren't just protecting a market.

They were controlling who got access to the real economy.

Lucas stopped in front of them, his expression relaxed, completely at ease.

One of the guards, a tall man with jagged scars down his jaw, eyed him. "Bai."

Lucas smiled. "Jin. Got something good for me today?"

Jin grunted, eyeing Ava. "Who's the shadow?"

Ava kept her head down, letting Lucas handle it.

Lucas didn't hesitate. "My assistant. She's with me."

Jin studied her for a long moment, then exhaled. "Your problem." He stepped aside.

Lucas motioned for her to follow.

Ava did—but she didn't miss the way people watched as they passed.

This place wasn't just about trade.

It was about who had power.

And Lucas Bai?

He had a lot of it.