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

public appearance? News

the message center, swiped

after General Marcel again tomorrow, the price

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

Palmer by the car as soon as she stepped out.

waved her over, his refined and handsome face all

and quipped, “What, you

gaze. Those eyes

had just dug up about the villages near Heartfelt

that folks either got tangled in scams

the cutthroat underworld of the deep web.

I give you

nice gesture to support Palmer’s “side hustle“,

got a welcome gift for you, in case you fancy joining

not know how

give welcome gifts after they had

little box with the intel. “Take a

were in VIP Room No. 9? Why drop all that cash on this? How many Ubers do you need to drive to make that back?”

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

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Chapter 14

of Abyssal Organization. He could

What if

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

cash just to cheer

hands holding

always splurge like this on

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

quickly apologized, “Sorry. Didn’t mean

my gift make you

Noella was dumbstruck.

kind of

got presents from the Schnabel family’s

of subtlety? Did they have to

shooters, always fearing they might not get another chance to speak their

in mind, Noella stifled the oddly exhilarating flutter

“Yeah, happy.”

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

getting hot

pondered for a moment before opening her message

person who had dealings with Vincent, a merchant from Tranquility