Chapter Three: Seven Hunters

【Queen: 1,000,000.】 Elena looked down and sang a Russian lullaby to the infant in her arms. She touched neither phone nor computer, but the Exchange had never required an ordinary device. 【Liquidator: 1,200,000.】 Han Che stood, his black T-shirt tightening across his shoulders. He was not an ordinary passenger. Lu remembered seeing him show identification to the crew during boarding. An onboard security officer was permitted to carry restraints without alarming the public. One point two million—the precise full valuation of Lu’s microbattery patent. It was a warning. They knew exactly how much ammunition he had. Lu canceled the auction. 【Early withdrawal requires a penalty equal to ten percent of the highest bid: 120,000 credits.】 【Confirm?】