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.