The Trade Tokens

Ava had one rule when it came to Lucas Bai's business dealings—expect the unexpected.

And yet, standing outside the underground trade hub, Bio-Suit folded in her arms, a fully functional military-grade power core locked inside a reinforced case beside her, she felt something worse than unease.

Instinct screamed.

Lucas stood beside her, sharp as ever—black tactical jacket, gloves, and that damn lazy confidence that made people underestimate him. But his golden eyes? They weren't lazy. They were cutting. Assessing. Calculating.

Behind them, William Zhou adjusted his coat. Unlike Lucas, William had the presence of a man who expected trouble.

Broad-shouldered. Silent. Watchful. The kind of man who didn't need a weapon to make people rethink their life choices.

Lucas glanced at Ava, smirking. "Relax, Beauty. You're making that face."

Ava scoffed. "I have exactly one face, Bai."

"Not true," Lucas murmured. "You have a very specific look when you're about to punch someone."

Ava muttered under her breath and checked her Blueprint System.

[LOCATION: BLACK MARKET TRADE HUB – SECTOR 4]

[SECURITY LEVEL: MODERATE]

[KNOWN BUYER: IDENTIFIED – "DAREN LAI"]

[DEAL RISK: 37% – MONITOR FOR CHANGES]

37% risk. Not bad. Not good.

Lucas tapped the case at his feet. "Shall we?"

Ava exhaled and followed him inside.

THE BLACK MARKET

The trade hub was buried beneath an abandoned transit station, a sprawling underground maze of makeshift stalls, shadowed alcoves, and whispered deals.

Smoke hung thick in the air.

Metal. Oil. The tang of gunpowder and secrecy.

Ava had been here before.

This was where things got done.

Outside military control.

Outside the bunker's rules.

Outside the government's reach.

Where people like Lucas Bai thrived.

They wove through the crowd—past vendors selling scavenged tech, pre-collapse medicine, and weapons that still smelled like blood.

Lucas led with his unhurried ease.

Every step deliberate.

Every glance a calculation.

William flanked them.

Silent. Imposing. Deadly.

Ava? She stayed sharp.

Lucas made the deals. She made sure they didn't get screwed.

THE BUYER: DAREN LAI

At the back of the hub, inside a dimly lit booth, Daren Lai waited.

Ava recognized him immediately.

Mid-forties. Built like an old-world boxer.

Sleeves rolled up, revealing cybernetic augments along both forearms.

A man who had spent his life fighting to survive—and winning.

He sat casually, hands folded. But his eyes?

Cold steel.

"Aah," Daren grinned as Lucas approached. "The infamous Bai. You always bring me the most interesting toys."

Lucas smiled, slow and smooth. "And you always have the best offers, Daren."

Daren's gaze flicked past him. Landed on Ava.

"This one new?"

Ava held his stare. Unimpressed.

Lucas chuckled. "A specialist."

Daren arched a brow. "That so?"

Lucas didn't elaborate. Instead, he reached down, flicked open the case, and turned it toward him.

The moment Daren saw the power core, his expression shifted.

All amusement—gone.

His cybernetic fingers twitched.

"That," Daren said, voice suddenly quiet, "is military-grade."

Lucas's smirk never wavered. "And fully functional."

Silence.

Daren leaned back, studying them.

"You two just casually walking around with government tech now?"

Lucas shrugged. "It fell into my hands."

Daren snorted. "Things don't just fall into your hands, Bai. They get stolen, scammed, or bought for a price someone regretted."

Lucas spread his hands. "Details."

Daren exhaled. Rubbed a hand over his jaw. Then—his gaze flicked to Ava.

"You cracked it?"

Ava crossed her arms. "It wasn't locked. Just misplaced."

Daren chuckled. "Misplaced, huh?"

Lucas leaned forward, lazy confidence razor-sharp. "You're stalling, Daren. I don't like wasting time."

Tension coiled.

Daren studied him. Then—sighed.

"You really don't scare easy, do you?"

Lucas's smile sharpened. "I don't scare at all."

Ava felt it—the shift in the air.

This was the moment.

Daren tapped the table once. "I'll give you two crates of supplies, five refined energy cells, and a set of encryption keys."

Lucas didn't blink. "Four crates. Ten cells. And I keep the keys."

Daren laughed. "The hell kind of deal is that?"

Lucas smiled. "The kind where I walk away."

Ava didn't move.

William didn't blink.

For a long moment, Daren just watched him.

Then—finally—he sighed.

"Three crates, seven cells. And you can keep your damn keys."

Lucas leaned back, smirking. "Pleasure doing business, Daren."

The tension broke.

Daren waved a hand, signaling his men to bring over the crates.

Lucas nodded to William, who stepped forward to inspect the goods.

Ava exhaled slowly. Her fingers finally relaxed at her sides.

It went well.

Lucas turned to her, grinning. "See, Beauty? Easy."

Ava muttered, "One of these days, someone's going to shoot you mid-negotiation."

Lucas smirked. "And yet, here I stand."

William cleared his throat. "We should move."

Lucas nodded, shaking Daren's hand before turning to Ava. "Come on, Beauty. Let's get out of here before someone decides we're too interesting."

Ava reached for one of the crates, fingers brushing the cold metal—

A gun cocked.

She froze.

William's hand was already at his hip. Lucas didn't move.

The click came from behind.

Slow. Deliberate.

Daren sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Really?"

Ava turned her head just enough to see—

A man standing in the shadows, pistol raised.

Lean. Scarred. Eyes sharp with hunger.

Not one of Daren's.

A scavenger.

Probably some low-level thug who thought he could score big by pulling a gun on the wrong people.

Ava's mind raced.

Risk factor: 61%.

Position: Too close.

William: Ready.

Lucas: Watching.

Waiting.

The scavenger sneered. "That case. Hand it over."

Daren leaned back, unimpressed. "You got a death wish, kid?"

The man's fingers twitched on the trigger. "I said—"

Lucas moved.

No hesitation. No wasted motion.

One second, he was still.

The next—his hand shot out, gripping the barrel of the gun.

A sharp twist.

Crack.

The gun disassembled in his grip, pieces scattering like dust.

The scavenger barely had time to react.

Lucas grabbed his wrist, yanked him forward—

And buried a knife into his thigh.

A wet gasp.

The man collapsed.

Lucas crouched beside him, voice pleasant. "That was a terrible idea."

The scavenger's breath hitched, hands shaking as blood spread. "I—"

Lucas leaned closer. "Shh." He twisted the blade. Just enough.

The man screamed.

Ava barely blinked.

Daren clicked his tongue. "Messy."

Lucas sighed, yanking the knife free. He wiped the blade on the man's jacket before standing. "Let's go."

Ava picked up the crate.

William? Didn't even spare the guy a glance.

As they walked away, Lucas murmured to Ava. "You were saying?"

Ava exhaled. "One of these days, someone's still going to shoot you mid-negotiation."

Lucas chuckled, golden eyes gleaming. "And yet, here I stand."

She didn't know whether to be impressed—

Or start digging his grave early.