The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 14

The auctioneer was all chuckles as he wielded the tiny gavel.

“Up next, an open piece of Intel: Cerulean Whale’s launching a crackdown on Obelisk Organization and Abyssal Organization, and they’re stirring the pot in Imperial City.

Starting bid: three million dollars.

Sure, the headline was on the house, but if they wanted the nitty–gritty, they got to bid.

Noella couldn’t care less about Cerulean Whale gunning for her crew. Bring it on, who’s eating who was still up in the air.

She had been knee–deep in the gem gambling biz for the past couple of years, letting her hitman outfit grow like wildfire, and without much fuss, it became one of the deep web’s big three.

What piqued her interest was Cerulean Whale’s shenanigans in Imperial City, and if she wasn’t barking up the wrong tree, it likely involved Marcel.

She had to snag this info!

Cerulean Whale attacked Marcel right under her nose, could she even show her face around?

Noella raised her paddle. “Three million and ten grand, name’s Wise Fool.”

The crowd was like, “Say what now?”

Three million and ten grand was chump change, but that moniker made everyone else put their paddles down!

Even the auctioneer was speechless.

They were hoping to rake in tens of millions for this juicy tidbit, but with Wise Fool in the house, who would dare to bid against her?

In VIP Room No. 9, Palmer was taken aback, setting his paddle aside,as well.

Looked like it was her he was up against earlier. Since she was interested in that last piece of intel, his three million wasn’t spent in vain.

With that thought, Palmer leaned back, a sly grin spreading across his face.

He had scoured every nook and cranny of the Radi Building for Noella to no avail. Wise Fool wasn’t one to be easily tracked down.

With Wise Fool throwing her hat in the ring, the room went quiet as a mouse, letting her walk away with the news.

“Congrats to Wise Fool. Sold for three million and ten grand!”

The auctioneer was grinning from ear to ear. “Up next, a little freebie for y’all: Gemstone

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Chapter 14

Gambling King is teaming up with some families for a public gem gamble next month. Don’t

miss out.”

Noella was confused.

riddle wrapped in a mystery, whose casual

appearance? News to her.

over to the message center, swiped her card, and got

is sending a hitman after General Marcel again tomorrow, the price tag: a hundred million

a squeaky–clean yet beat–up Volkswagen was about as low–profile as it gets, clearly showing its

by the car as

face all lit up

quipped, “What, you moonlighting as

stiffening before meeting Noella’s skeptical gaze. Those eyes of

the info she had just dug up about the

got tangled in scams or

survive the cutthroat underworld

give you a lift?”

and it would be a nice gesture to support Palmer’s “side hustle“,

got a welcome gift for you, in case

not know

after they

with

No. 9? Why drop all that cash

for an Uber driver was new. Palmer felt a mixed bag of

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Chapter 14

the head honcho of Abyssal Organization. He could make a killing with just one job on the deep web.

just for me? What if I don’t want to join the Abyssal Organization?”

gift’s worth is in the joy it brings. If it makes you happy, that’s its true value. Everything else

much cash just to cheer her

hands holding the box heat up.

always splurge like this

said, “You’re the first. I never gave gifts to ladies, except for my mom, back when she was around. She

meant to stir up sad memories and quickly apologized, “Sorry. Didn’t mean to bring that up.”

does my gift make you

Noella was dumbstruck.

kind of thing

this speechless when she got

the concept of subtlety? Did they have to wear

straight shooters, always fearing they might not get another chance to speak

mind, Noella stifled the

“Yeah, happy.”

her face

it’s getting hot in here!

moment before opening her message box right in front of Palmer.

Tandy Hospital and the director of Heartfelt Orphanage are the same person who had

he get mixed up in this?