Chapter 401: Grand Exchange

Jayden’s brow furrowed in genuine confusion. "Why would I want to leave the planet?" He asked.

"Because right now, the entire continent is searching for the masked vigilante," Big T said smoothly, crossing his massive arms. "Every skilled mercenary to the lowest street thug is looking to collect that half-million credit bounty on his head. I even heard how a group of mercenaries teamed up to ambush the vigilante at the docks a few nights ago... and he managed to slaughter every single one of them. The heat on the ’Hunter’ is at a boiling point."

"How does any of this concern me?" Jayden deflected coldly.

Big T snickered, shaking his head. "Don’t try to play me, kid. I know you’re the vigilante." He said casually, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Jayden lied flawlessly, his expression a mask of stone. "Why would I put on a dumb mask and go around killing people?"

"Because you ain’t just killing random people," Big T laughed. "You are specifically assassinating Black Cobra Pioneers. Just weeks ago, you came to my club looking for the location of Scorched. I gave you that info, and a few days later, Scorched was found dead. But you didn’t stop there, did you? A week later, Duke is killed. Then Tazer. Then Frost. I also heard about last night... the encounter with Silas and the EVA strike team. Now, I wasn’t the one who gave you the intel on Duke and those other pioneers... but I know for sure... you were the one who killed them."

Jayden scoffed, slowly retracting his claws, though he remained completely tense. "I had a beef with Scorched for taking someone I cared about. I settled that beef. But Duke and the other pioneers didn’t do anything to me. Why would I go after them? Besides, what proof do you even have that I’m the vigilante?"

"Drop the act, kid," Big T said, his voice dropping into a respectful register. "I know you’re the Hunter. I’ve seen how you fight. I know how powerful you are. And more importantly? I know how insane you are. Only you would be crazy enough to declare a one-man war against an international syndicate and hunt down their top soldiers."

Jayden opened his mouth to counter, but Big T held up a hand.

"I know why you’re doing it, kid. I get it." He continued. "You knew the Syndicate would inevitably come after you once you killed Scorched. You knew they would track you down and come after your family. So, you’re going after them first. You’re dismantling the snake from the head down." Big T nodded slowly. "I respect that. Family means everything to me, too. And I admire you, kid. Going after the Black Cobra alone is a suicide mission, but you’re doing it anyway." His usual swagger faded, his broad shoulders slumping slightly as a profound, sobering weight settled over his features. "I wish I had that kind of blind courage," he murmured, staring at the floorboards. "Maybe if I did... I would’ve been able to protect my family, too."

Jayden remained silent, sensing the sudden shift in the room’s atmosphere.

Big T looked up, meeting Jayden’s eyes with a look of deep, buried pain. "A long time ago, I had a sister. And I loved her more than anything in this world. After her husband passed away and left her alone to fend for her two kids, I stepped in. I took responsibility. I took care of her children like they were my own flesh and blood, and we were happy. But then... a few years ago... my sister was murdered. Along with her kids."

Big T clenched his massive fist, his knuckles popping. "And I wasn’t there to help. I couldn’t even think of getting vengeance. Because the people who killed her... they aren’t exactly an organization you can wage a war on and win. So, you see... I failed my family. But you? You are doing everything in your power to protect yours. Which is why I want to help you."

The heavy silence lingered for a moment before Big T cleared his throat, pulling his professional mask back into place. "The EVA is currently hunting you, and they are getting desperate, especially after whatever mess you made last night."

"Thanks for the concern, but I can handle the EVA," Jayden said quietly. "I already did once."

Big T chuckled. "Oh, there’s no doubt in my mind that you can. But you still need to hear me out. With the ongoing investigations and the massive bounty, you need to lay low, right? Stay off the streets for a while?"

"Not really," Jayden replied, leaning against his desk. "I might reduce the number of times I go out on patrol, but I’m not going to stop completely."

Big T looked highly amused by Jayden’s brazen confidence. "Okay, that’s good. Because I’m offering you something I’m certain you will need."

"And what’s that?" Jayden scoffed.

"Information on the rest of the Pioneers." Big T said.

Jayden’s eyes widened slightly. For the first time since the conversation began, Big T had managed to grab his attention.

Big T noticed the shift in Jayden’s expression and smiled. "See, Youngblood, I know where you got your previous intel from," he chuckled. "It was Fred, right?"

Jayden was shocked. How did he know it was Fred?

"Who do you think was giving Fred all that information in the first place?" Big T asked softly.

Jayden stared at him, stunned yet again. "...You?"

"Yes," Big T confirmed. "Fred doesn’t have native access to Syndicate operational schedules. I’ve been the one feeding him the intel all these weeks. If I hadn’t been working with him, he wouldn’t have sent you to my club for the intel on Scorched in the first place."

Jayden felt the floor tilt slightly beneath him. He had assumed Fred was pulling the Pioneer profiles from highly classified, internal EVA archives. He completely failed to realize that Fred was actively trading with the city’s top information broker to keep Jayden updated. It all suddenly made sense now. If Fred had info on the pioneers from the start he wouldn’t have sent him to Big T when Cassandra went missing. But still, what kind of massive favors or resources was Fred sacrificing to Big T in exchange for that data?

"It’s why I knew Fred must be secretly working with the vigilante," Big T continued. "Fred must really trust you to go to those lengths for you. What he offered me in exchange for the information I gave him wasn’t something small, kid."

Jayden frowned deeply. If he had known Fred was getting his hands dirty with Big T this whole time, he would have never allowed it. He would have dealt with the broker directly to ensure no one else took the risk for his crusade. Then, a recent memory clicked into place. Just a few days ago, Fred had told him he couldn’t provide Pioneer intel anymore, blaming tightened EVA security protocols. Now, Jayden understood what had really happened.

"Why did you stop giving him the information?" Jayden asked, piecing it together.

"Because I preferred to cut out the middleman and do the deal directly with the vigilante himself," Big T answered smoothly.

Jayden studied the massive man. If Big T truly had the operational data on the remaining Black Cobra Pioneers, it would accelerate his crusade by months.

"Okay," Jayden said, crossing his arms. "What do you want in exchange for the information?"

"Now we’re talking." Big T’s smile widened, showing all his teeth. "I want you to help me retrieve something. A valuable artifact that costs millions of credits."

"I’m not interested in stealing anything," Jayden replied instantly.

"Oh, no, you won’t be stealing it, Youngblood." Big T chuckled. "You’ll be fighting for it."

Jayden raised an eyebrow, clearly lost.

"Have you ever heard of the Grand Exchange?" Big T asked.

Jayden shook his head.

"The Grand Exchange is an exclusive, international auction event that happens once a year," Big T explained, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Different sorts of incredibly rare, unique, and highly powerful items are displayed at the auction. People from all over the five planets travel to attend the event, place a claim, and try to win these artifacts. But unlike your typical auction... you don’t bid with cash. You bid with punches."

Jayden processed the information, a mix of amusement and skepticism washing over him.

"Once an item is displayed," Big T continued, "the bidders will step into a combat ring and m fight to the death for the displayed item. The person standing after several brutal rounds with no other opposing bidders wins. And they get to take the item home. For free."

"So, you just beat each other to a pulp to get an item you want?" Jayden mused. "What sort of auction is that?"

"The cool type," Big T shrugged with a massive grin. "Because of this strange rules, a lot of dangerous people attend the auction. Elite mercenaries, rogue warlords, even aliens. And they’re always very strong." He sighed. "And that’s why I need you."

"What makes you so sure I’m strong enough to win?" Jayden scoffed.

Big T rolled his eyes. "Don’t mess with me, kid. I’ve seen the aftermath of your work. I know you are plenty strong. That is an undeniable fact. How else would a teenager go up against four different Black Cobra Pioneers, not to mention a squad of elite EVA agents, and make it out alive with all of them six feet under?

You’re an absolute menace, Youngblood. And that’s why you’re perfect for this job."

Jayden stared at Big T for a long moment, weighing his options. "If I attend this auction... and I win the artifact for you... you will give me the exact locations of the rest of the Pioneers?"

Big T nodded firmly. "Yes. All you have to do is beat up a few people."

"How do I know you aren’t lying to me?" Jayden raised a brow.

"Come on, kid, have I ever not delivered on what I promised?" Big T said, placing a hand over his heart. "I have the information. And frankly, I could have just given it to you for free, but that would be throwing a massive opportunity away. Giving out intel on the Black Cobra is incredibly risky. If the Syndicate finds out I’m the primary informant for the Hunter, I am a dead man. To ensure the risks are worth it, everyone has to play their part. Even Fred knows this."

Jayden thought about it. The heat in Emerald City was currently suffocating. Jenny had his profile, and the EVA was likely locking down every sector. Vanishing from the board entirely while accelerating his hunt for the Syndicate was the most strategically sound move he could make.

He looked up at Big T. "Where is this auction taking place? Is it in the city, or on another continent?"

Big T laughed heartily. "Nah, kid. The auction ain’t here on Alpha... It’s happening off-world," he grinned, his eyes gleaming. "You’ll be going to the Planet Zeta."