Apocalypse Trade Monopoly
Chapter 35: : A Demonstration

Chapter 35: : A Demonstration

Lucas Bai wasn’t just a man with connections.

He was a walking, breathing risk.

"So you can make anything better," she said slowly. "Weapons, tech—your own body."

Lucas smirked. "If I have the right input, yes."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "And what’s stopping you from turning yourself into something unstoppable?"

Lucas chuckled, low and amused.

"Limits, Beauty. Everyone has them."

He twirled the trade token between his fingers, golden eyes flickering with something unreadable.

"If something doesn’t exist in my possession, I can’t enhance it. I can’t ’create’—only refine."

Ava’s stomach tightened. "And if something breaks?"

Lucas exhaled, tilting his head.

"Then it’s gone forever."

Ava’s grip tightened on the table. "So if you push something too far—"

Lucas grinned. "It shatters. Permanently."

Ava exhaled sharply. High reward, high risk.

Lucas leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "It’s why I don’t waste it on just anything. Every enhancement, every upgrade—"

His golden eyes locked onto hers.

"It has to be worth it."

Ava stilled.

Because suddenly—she understood.

Lucas Bai didn’t just see potential.

He decided what was worth keeping.

And what was worth breaking.

"So, tell me, Bai." She leaned forward, voice steady. "What have you upgraded so far?"

Lucas smirked. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"

Ava didn’t blink. Didn’t take the bait. "You said it yourself—you don’t waste it on just anything. So what was worth it?"

Lucas exhaled, twirling the trade token between his fingers.

Then—he tapped his own chest.

"Me."

Ava’s stomach tightened. "Your body?"

Lucas grinned. "Of course. You think I’d leave myself as a standard model?"

Ava exhaled sharply. "How far did you push it?"

Lucas chuckled, rolling his shoulders. "Enhanced reflexes, durability, endurance. All useful things."

Ava studied him. "And the cost?"

Lucas’s smirk didn’t fade. "My limit."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Meaning?"

Lucas’s golden eyes gleamed. "I can’t upgrade myself again. Not without breaking something permanently."

Ava stilled.

Lucas leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Every enhancement is a choice, Beauty. And once you push something to its limit—"

His smirk sharpened.

"That’s it. No going back."

Ava clenched her jaw. "And you were willing to gamble that?"

Lucas tilted his head, watching her carefully.

"Of course. I only bet on things that are worth it."

Ava’s breath caught.

Because the way he said it—the way he looked at her when he did—she wasn’t sure if he was just talking about himself anymore.

Lucas grinned, slow and deliberate.

"You want proof, Beauty?"

Ava didn’t answer. Didn’t need to.

Lucas already knew she wanted to see it.

Without breaking eye contact, he unclasped the watch from his wrist and set it on the table between them.

Ava’s eyes flickered down.

[Tactical Watch – Model: X-09]

[Status: Functional]

[Power Source: Depleted]

[Market Value: Moderate]

Lucas tapped his fingers against the surface of the watch, almost absentmindedly.

Then—his system flickered to life.

[Monopoly Appraisal System: Enhancement Mode Active]

[Potential Upgrade Detected]

[Required Input: 2x Power Cells]

Ava’s pulse kicked up.

Lucas reached into his jacket, pulled out two small power cells, and placed them beside the watch.

Then—he simply touched it.

The air shifted.

The watch vibrated beneath his fingertips, energy crackling through the circuits, absorbing the new power source.

[Enhancing...]

[Compatibility Rate: 92%]

[Processing Upgrade...]

Ava watched, unblinking.

The screen flickered—then glowed brighter.

New text scrolled across the interface.

[Tactical Watch – Model: X-09+]

[Power Source: Enhanced – 3x Battery Life]

[Interface: Improved Response Time]

[Additional Feature Unlocked: Heat Signature Detection]

[Market Value: High]

Ava exhaled slowly.

Lucas leaned back, smirking.

"And just like that, it’s better."

Ava picked up the watch, turning it over in her hands. The metal was sleeker, stronger. The screen responded instantly to her touch.

It wasn’t just powered again.

It was more.

Ava looked back at Lucas. "And you just... decided it was worth upgrading?"

Lucas shrugged. "I had the resources. The risk was low. So, why not?"

Ava’s mind raced.

It was one thing to hear about his system.

It was another to see it in action.

Lucas grinned, watching her reaction.

He could see it—the way her fingers tightened slightly around the watch, the way her eyes flickered with calculation.

She understood now.

But understanding wasn’t the same as control.

Lucas leaned back, tapping the table once.

"See the difference now, Beauty? Between your system and mine?"

Ava tilted her head. "Enlighten me."

Lucas chuckled. "Yours builds. Mine refines."

Ava narrowed her eyes.

Lucas flicked the trade token between his fingers, casual, smooth.

"Your Blueprint System takes raw materials and turns them into something entirely new. You create. Innovate." His golden eyes gleamed. "But mine? Mine decides what’s worth keeping. What’s worth improving."

Ava exhaled slowly. "And what’s worth throwing away."

Lucas grinned. "Exactly. That’s the part people don’t get. It’s not just about making things better. It’s about knowing when to let something—" He snapped his fingers. "—break."

Ava’s stomach tightened.

Because it wasn’t just an explanation of their systems.

It was how Lucas Bai saw the world.

Lucas leaned back, fingers tapping against the table, golden eyes sharp.

"Now that we’ve covered what I can do, let’s talk about something more interesting."

Ava tilted her head. "Like what?"

Lucas smirked. "Like the person watching us."

Ava’s stomach tightened. "You have a theory?"

Lucas chuckled, spinning the trade token between his fingers."Of course. I always have theories. The real question is which one is correct."

Ava stayed silent, waiting.

Lucas didn’t make her wait long.

"First theory?" He held up a finger. "It’s military. Someone outside of Zhao’s immediate circle. A high-ranking officer playing their own game."

Ava frowned. "Wouldn’t Zhao already know if that were the case?"

Lucas nodded. "He would. Which is why I don’t think it’s military."

Ava’s pulse kicked up. "Then who?"

Lucas lifted a second finger.

"Second theory—it’s someone from another bunker."

Ava’s jaw tightened. "You think another bunker is watching us?"

Lucas smirked. "Beauty, we already know other bunkers are operating more efficiently. And if I were them? I’d be keeping an eye on trade hubs. I’d be looking for weaknesses."

Ava exhaled. "And if that’s true, then they aren’t just watching. They’re waiting."

Lucas nodded. "Exactly."

Then—he held up a third finger.

Ava stilled.

Lucas’s golden eyes gleamed.

"Third theory?" His smirk deepened. "It’s someone like us. A system holder playing a long game."

Ava’s breath caught.

Lucas twirled the trade token once more, voice smooth.

"And that, Beauty, is the theory I like the least."

Lucas spun the trade token one last time before letting it clatter onto the table.

Then—he leaned forward, golden eyes gleaming.

"Worst case? Option four?"

Ava stilled.

Lucas didn’t smirk this time.

"It’s not military. It’s not another bunker. It’s not a system holder playing their own game."

His voice dropped, smooth and deliberate.

"It’s something worse."

Ava’s stomach tightened. "Define worse."

Lucas tilted his head.

"Someone we don’t know. Someone completely off the radar. No records, no network, no connections." His golden eyes darkened slightly. "Someone who’s been here the whole time, watching, waiting—and we never even noticed."

Ava’s pulse kicked up.

That was the worst case.

Because every other option? It could be countered. Prepared for.

But this?

"An unknown variable." Ava’s voice was quiet, controlled.

Lucas nodded. "And if that’s the case? Then we’re already behind."

A heavy silence settled between them.

Then—Lucas sighed dramatically, stretching his arms over the back of the couch.

"But that’s a problem for tomorrow."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "You’re just going to drop that on me and call it a night?"

Lucas chuckled. "Yes. Because unlike you, I don’t function on paranoia alone."

Ava scoffed. "I don’t function on paranoia."

Lucas smirked. "You do, and I respect it. But right now? You need sleep."

Ava exhaled, rubbing a hand over her face. She hated that he was right.

Lucas grinned. "Tomorrow, you have a lot of work, Beauty. And I need you sharp."

Ava stood, rolling her shoulders. "Fine. But if I get killed in my sleep, I’m haunting you."

Lucas laughed, low and amused. "I’d expect nothing less."

Ava muttered something under her breath as she turned toward her room.

Lucas watched her go, golden eyes thoughtful.

Because tomorrow?

Tomorrow, the real work began.