The Art of Auctioning

The inner market wasn't stalls and bartering.

It was negotiations behind locked doors, whispered deals, and controlled auctions.

Everything here was either stolen, salvaged, or illegal.

And Ava's Blueprint System went insane.

[ANALYZING…]

[Shifter Combat Armor – 90% Efficiency]

[Modified Firearms – Partial Damage]

[Encrypted Data Drives – UNKNOWN CONTENT]

Ava's breath hitched.

There was so much tech here.

So much opportunity.

Lucas caught her reaction immediately.

"Overwhelmed?" he murmured.

Ava forced herself to stay calm. "Hardly. Just wondering how much of this stuff is a trap."

Lucas grinned. "All of it."

Ava sighed. "Fantastic."

Lucas nudged her forward. "Come on, Zhang. Time to see how real trades are made."

And just like that?

She was thrown into the deep end.

Ava had seen trading in the bunker before—people haggling over scraps, swapping half-broken tools for moldy food, struggling to survive.

This?

This was something else entirely.

The inner Black Market was where real power changed hands—where warlords, traders, and rogue engineers cut high-stakes deals that could decide who thrived or starved in the weeks to come.

Lucas led her into a low-lit chamber, where five different groups were seated around a central table, each with something valuable to offer.

Ava kept her hood low, letting her system scan the room.

[Analyzing Participants…]

[Identified: Shifter Mercenary Guild]

[Identified: Bunker 12's Trade Representative]

[Identified: Rogue Engineer – Unknown Affiliation]

Lucas moved like he belonged here, which—judging by the way the others nodded in acknowledgment—he did.

Ava stayed close, scanning the items on the table.

Weapons, supplies, a locked security case with no label.

And then, her system flickered.

[UNKNOWN TECH DETECTED]

Ava's breath hitched.

The case wasn't just valuable.

It was something new.

Lucas noticed her reaction, his golden eyes glinting. "Something caught your interest, Zhang?"

Ava exhaled slowly. "Yeah. And I have a feeling it's gonna be expensive."

Lucas smirked. "Good thing I brought my secret weapon, then."

Ava frowned. "Who?"

Lucas grinned. "You."

Ava sighed. Of course.

Lucas turned back to the table, his voice smooth, confident.

"Alright, gentlemen. Let's make a deal."

And just like that?

The real game began.

Ava wasn't sure what was worse—the way the traders sized each other up like predators circling prey, or the fact that Lucas Bai was one of them.

The air in the auction chamber was thick with unspoken threats and hidden motives.

Lucas moved like he was born for this, sliding into his seat with effortless confidence, his golden eyes calculating every move before it happened.

Ava, still hooded, stood behind him like a silent shadow, watching as her Blueprint System flickered.

[SCANNING AUCTION ITEMS…]

[SECURITY CASE – UNKNOWN TECH DETECTED]

[ANALYSIS BLOCKED – HIGH-LEVEL ENCRYPTION]

Ava's pulse quickened.

The locked case wasn't just valuable—it was something her system couldn't immediately break down.

That meant it was rare. Dangerous.

And if Lucas was interested in it?

So was she.

The Bidding War

The auctioneer—a grizzled ex-mercenary with a missing eye—leaned forward.

"Starting bid—three power cells."

One of the Shifter mercenaries scoffed. "Too low."

"Four," another trader countered.

"Six," a man from Bunker 12 added.

Lucas smiled lazily, fingers tapping against the table.

Ava leaned in slightly. "What's in the case?" she whispered.

Lucas didn't look at her, but his smirk widened.

"That," he murmured, "is the fun part."

Ava gritted her teeth. "You don't even know, do you?"

Lucas's golden eyes flickered with amusement. "Doesn't matter. If they want it this bad, I want it more."

Ava sighed. Classic Bai.

The bidding climbed higher—ten power cells, then fifteen.

Ava watched as the others hesitated.

That was a steep price.

But Lucas?

He was still waiting.

And then, when the room grew tense, he finally spoke.

"Twenty."

Ava's head snapped toward him. "Are you insane?"

Lucas smiled. "Probably."

Silence fell over the room.

The traders shifted uncomfortably. That was too high. Too risky.

The auctioneer's one eye gleamed. "Final call?"

No one countered.

"Sold."

Lucas leaned back, smug as hell.

Ava exhaled sharply. "You better pray that case is worth it."

Lucas chuckled, golden eyes flashing. "Oh, Zhang. You worry too much."

Ava scowled. No, he just didn't worry enough.

And somehow, she had the sinking feeling that this deal had just made their lives a lot more complicated.