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 of

appearance? News to

message center, swiped her card, and got the dirt.

sending a hitman after General Marcel again

beat–up Volkswagen was about as low–profile as it gets, clearly showing its

car as soon as she stepped

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

Noella approached and quipped, “What, you moonlighting as

frozen, his smile stiffening before meeting Noella’s skeptical gaze. Those eyes of his

the info she had just dug up

So poor that folks either got tangled in scams or dabbled

well to survive the cutthroat underworld of the deep

if I give

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

welcome gift for you, in case

did not know how to respond.

gifts after they had already met a

over a little box with

cash on this? How many Ubers do you need to drive to make

was new. Palmer felt a

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Chapter 14

of Abyssal Organization. He could make a killing

me? What if I don’t

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

cash just to

felt her hands holding

like this on girls?”

moment, then said, “You’re the first. I never gave gifts to ladies, except for my

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

fine. So, does my

Noella was dumbstruck.

asks that kind of thing point–blank?

she got presents

of subtlety? Did they have to wear

and knew they were straight shooters, always fearing they might not get another chance to

stifled the oddly exhilarating flutter in her heart.

“Yeah, happy.”

her face heat up, quickly looked away.

getting hot in

moment before opening her message box right in front of

Heartfelt Orphanage are the same person who had