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.

a riddle wrapped in a mystery, whose casual toss

a public appearance? News

center, swiped her card, and

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

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

Palmer by the car as

waved her over, his refined and handsome face all lit up with a welcoming ease.

Noella approached and quipped, “What, you moonlighting as an Uber

smile stiffening before meeting Noella’s skeptical gaze. Those

the info she had just dug up about the villages near Heartfelt Orphanage.

got tangled in scams or dabbled

well to survive the cutthroat underworld of the deep web.

give

gesture to support Palmer’s “side hustle“, Noella hopped in

a welcome gift for you, in case

did not know how to respond.

after they had

with the

No. 9? Why drop all that cash on this? How many Ubers do you need to drive to make

felt a mixed bag of emotions, hinting, “I’ve got

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Chapter 14

Organization. He could make a

if I don’t want to

is in the joy it brings. If it makes you happy,

cash just to cheer her

hands holding the box heat

always splurge like this on girls?”

first. I never gave gifts to ladies, except for my mom, back when she was around. She

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

So, does my gift make you

Noella was dumbstruck.

asks that kind of

she got presents from the Schnabel family’s fourth son?

didn’t get the concept of subtlety? Did they

chatted with international orphans online and knew they were straight shooters,

the oddly

“Yeah, happy.”

smile deepened, and Noella, feeling her

it’s getting hot in here!

before opening her message box

the director of Heartfelt Orphanage are the same person who had dealings with Vincent, a merchant from Tranquility City, before

did he get mixed up in this?