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.

jewelry game, a riddle wrapped in a mystery, whose casual toss of a rock

public appearance? News

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

a hitman after General Marcel again tomorrow, the price

was about as low–profile as it gets, clearly

by the car as soon as she stepped out.

face

approached and quipped, “What, you moonlighting as an Uber

gaze.

info she had just dug up

that folks either got tangled in scams

the cutthroat

if I give you

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

got a welcome gift for you, in case you fancy

did not know how

gifts after they had already met a few times?

box with the

cash on this? How many Ubers

for an Uber driver was new. Palmer felt a mixed bag of emotions, hinting, “I’ve got

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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 one job

me? What if

it makes you happy, that’s

much cash just to cheer her up?

hands holding the box

always splurge like

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

quickly

does my gift make you

Noella was dumbstruck.

kind of

when she got presents from the Schnabel

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

straight shooters, always fearing they might not

the oddly exhilarating

“Yeah, happy.”

and Noella, feeling her face

it’s getting hot in

moment before opening her

same person who had dealings with Vincent, a merchant

did he get mixed up