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.

wrapped in a mystery,

public appearance? News to her.

swiped her card, and got

General Marcel again

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

the car as soon as she stepped out.

handsome face all

and quipped, “What, you moonlighting as an

skeptical gaze. Those eyes of

at his ride, recalling the info she had just dug up

got tangled in

survive the cutthroat underworld

give

and it would be a nice gesture to support Palmer’s “side hustle“, Noella hopped in without much

gift for you, in case you fancy joining

did not know how

they had already met a few

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

“You were in VIP Room No. 9? Why drop all that cash on this? How many Ubers do

Palmer felt a mixed bag

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Chapter 14

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

What if I don’t want to join the

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

much cash just to cheer

felt her hands holding

splurge like this on

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

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

So, does my gift make you happy?”

Noella was dumbstruck.

kind of thing point–blank?

she this speechless when she got presents from

didn’t get the concept of subtlety? Did they have to wear all their emotions on

they were straight shooters, always

that in mind, Noella stifled the oddly exhilarating flutter in her heart.

“Yeah, happy.”

deepened, and Noella, feeling her face heat up, quickly looked away.

hot

pondered for a moment before opening her message box right in front of

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

did he get