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 toss of a rock always

appearance? News to her.

message center, swiped her

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

beat–up Volkswagen was about as low–profile

Palmer by the car as soon

face all lit up with a

surprised, Noella approached and quipped, “What, you moonlighting

meeting Noella’s skeptical gaze. Those eyes of his were

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

poor that folks either got tangled in scams or

survive the cutthroat underworld of

if I give

a ride’s a ride, and it would be a nice gesture to

you, in

did not know how to

gifts after they

a little box with the intel.

all that cash on this? How

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

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Chapter 14

honcho of Abyssal Organization. He could make a

for me? What if I don’t

all good. A gift’s worth is in the joy it brings. If it

much cash just to cheer her up?

hands holding the box heat

splurge like this on

“You’re the first. I never gave gifts to

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

does my gift

Noella was dumbstruck.

kind of

wasn’t she this speechless when she got presents from

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

straight shooters, always fearing they

Noella stifled the oddly exhilarating flutter

“Yeah, happy.”

feeling her face heat

hot in here!

pondered for a moment before opening her message

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