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.

the jewelry game, a riddle wrapped in a mystery, whose casual toss of a rock always turned out to be

public appearance? News to

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

is sending a hitman after General Marcel again tomorrow, the

beat–up Volkswagen was about as low–profile as it

car as soon as

refined and handsome face all lit up with

bit surprised, Noella approached and quipped, “What,

skeptical gaze. Those eyes of his were something else, bright

she had just dug

that folks either got tangled in scams or

done well to survive the cutthroat underworld of the deep web.

give

gesture to support Palmer’s “side

welcome gift for you, in

not know

would give welcome gifts after they had already

handed over a little box with the intel. “Take a peek.”

9? Why drop all that cash on this? How many

felt a mixed

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Chapter 14

got it then; the guy was the head honcho of Abyssal Organization. He could make a killing with just

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

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

cash just to cheer her up?

her hands holding the

like this on girls?”

gifts to ladies, except for my mom, back when she was around. She loved her flowers.”

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

So, does my gift make

Noella was dumbstruck.

asks that kind

speechless when she got presents from the

from the slums didn’t get the concept of subtlety? Did they have

with international orphans online and knew they were straight shooters, always fearing they might not get

Noella stifled the

“Yeah, happy.”

feeling her face

it’s getting hot in here!

before opening her message box

same person who had dealings with

he get mixed