The Killer Queen

Thorpe had known since their last encounter that Palmer would come back for him–or rather, for Hollis, the man who knew everything.

Palmer casually tossed aside the blood–stained knife he had used moments before and removed his gloves to wipe away the blood that had spattered near his mouth.

It wasn’t his blood, so its stench still hung in the air.

Taking a seat. Palmer’s cold and unnerving aura filled the room. His men followed him so close, forming an invisible line against Thorpe’s crew.

With a chilling smile, Palmer locked eyes with Thorpe, “You knew I’d come, yet you still sent those Westwood Mercenary to their deaths. You’ve got guts ”

“They were disposable,” Thorpe sneered, his eyes devoid of any genuine regret. “Pity though, even with the Westwood Mercenary Corps and the Gruber clan combined, they were useless against you, Vocalist.”

Palmer’s words were like frost, “I’m short on time and I’m not here for small talk. Hand over Hollis or you’ll die.”

“What’s the difference? I’m curious about how did you survive the onslaught of all those men.”

Palmer’s eyes narrowed as he clicked off the safety on his revolver.

Thorpe’s men raised their guns in response, aiming at Palmer. But Thorpe waved them off, “Put them down. What’s the point of a shootout? You see, Vocalist. I can’t just hand him over. Ask your questions here.”

This was the largest concession Thorpe could make. As the brain of Cerulean Whale, Hollis was critical to their operations. He couldn’t just let Palmer take Hollis.

With a nod, Palmer handed his revolver to Annie and watched as Thorpe pushed Hollis forward with a relieved sigh.

Hollis ignored all those corpses on the ground and greeted Palmer with a smile, “Long time no see, Vocalist. Where’s Wise Fool?”

Palmer wasn’t there for a reunion or pleasantries.

“Answer me, and you’ll live,” he stated flatly.

“Let’s hear it.”

“The orders you followed, they came from the former Polaris Star’s Merak, right?” Palmer’s expression was frosty as he said with a chilly tone, “What does Polaris Star have to do with my mother’s death?”

Hollis was stunned for a split second before he said, “I don’t know former Merak’s code name. As for your mother’s death, it was due to infighting within the Pollack family. I don’t know whether Polaris Star was involved. I don’t have clearance for so much information. All I can tell you is the Chess Master’s reach is beyond your imagination. At least it’s powerful enough to get us out of Imperial City and back to the borderlands.”

It’s also the ability to get so many people from Westwood Mercenary Corps to Imperial City with so much fanfare to dig up the highway. Palmer scoffed, his gaze chilly as a hawk. And, before anyone could react, he took Annie’s revolver and shot Thorpe in the leg, “For crossing me. Cerulean Whale has too many members. Just the three brothers will suffice.”

As soon as Palmer’s words were out of his mouth, the men behind him pulled their triggers at the same time. Cerulean Whale’s assassins went down in pieces.

as when the

As his people opened fire, Palmer’s voice was cold, “Two members of Abyssal Organization are dead. There must be an offering.”

Thorpe clutched his bleeding leg, his eyes bloodshot with fury.

Palmer left, his gaze as frigid as a hellish demon.

9

Thorpe stared at the dead around him, his teeth gritted. “Does he really think we have no way to deal with him?” he murmured.

Hollis, searching for a first aid kit, responded, “As of now, yes.”

All that was left of Cerulean Whale were the three brothers, all sick and wounded.

“But we still have the boss,” Hollis‘ eyes glistened under the guise of his glasses.

When Palmer stepped out of Cerulean Whale territory and exhaled deeply, his expression was still ice– cold.

1

Annie handed him a phone, “Boss, it’s Ms. Noella. Wanna take it?”

Palmer’s tone softened as he answered, “Noella, what’s up?”

“Where are you?”

“I’m on the border dealing with some trade issues for the Pollack Group. Some factories had trouble. What’s wrong?”

10-28

Noelia frowned slightly The sound of harsh winds on the line didn’t seem like factory noise, it was more like an open field. She had called because she remembered the strong scent of blood on Palmer from the night before when he stood on her balcony

“Nothing, Grandpa Sexton is asking when you’ll be back.”

Since moving in, Sexton had shared meals with the Schnabels every day Sitting down to dinner, he always thought of Palmer, that stubborn kid. He couldn’t understand what was so pressing at the company to keep him away. Why that workaholic left such a beautiful fiancée alone at home?

Sexton’s blood boiled whenever he thought of how clueless Palmer could be. His eyes darted around, and then he fibbed that his battery was deed, asking Noella to make a call for him.

Palmer, overhearing Sexton’s boisterous tirade, knew most of it was aimed at him.

*ill be back soon once this is sorted out.” Palmer said,

“Okay”

After hanging up, Palmer’s gaze lingered on the ruins in the distance.

Annie felt a twinge of concern, “Boss, aren’t you worried Ms. Noella will be upset if she finds out you didn’t tell her the truth?”

“It’s fine. She would have done the same in my shoes. A bit of anger is better than her being in danger.” He said.

Years ago, when Palmer lost his mother, he had sworn never to let such a thing happen again.

He smiled, “If I’m in trouble and Noella doesn’t care, maybe that’s not so bad.”

phone

Annie opened her mouth to speak but then thought better of it. She couldn’t quite grasp her boss’s logic. If you liked someone, weren’t you supposed to want them to worry about you? To play the sympathy card a little? If Ms. Noella found out, wouldn’t she be incredibly moved?

Palmer strode toward the ruins, “Come on, let’s check out the abandoned Polaris Star lab. And dig up some dirt on the former Merak; I

want his full dossier!”

He was determined to see what kind of life she had been forced to endure.

At the Schnabel family dinner table. Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

After giving Palmer a piece of his mind, Sexton launched into a tirade against his three children, not stopping until he had cycled through his eldest daughter and both sons, finally feeling satisfied.

Marcel scoffed, “Shut it, Sexton. At least all my kids and grandkids are around me. This is almost killing you, huh?”

“Hey! Marcel, what good would it do you if I kicked the bucket, huh?”

“It’d let me enjoy a couple more bowls of stew.”

Sexton rolled his eyes in annoyance, “Eat up and hope you burst! You cantankerous old coot! Noella, don’t be too hard on Palmer, the kid’s just a deep thinker! Who can blame him… after all, he watched his mother leave this world. I can tell, the racal truly fancies you!”

It was the first time Noella had heard Sexton speak of Palmer’s mother’s past.

“Back then, Palmer was hiding in a closet when his enemies came knocking, and his mother… in front of his very eyes… Ah! I shouldn’t be filling your head with such sorrow, but I just hope you can give Palmer a chance!” Sexton’s earnest words left Noella feeling moved.

She nodded, silently agreeing to consider his plea. Her phone buzzed with an encrypted message. [Boss, half an hour ago, Vocalist took down most of the Cerulean Whale crew and injured Thorpe!]

Noella’s eyebrow arched slightly.

So he wasn’t off handling business after all?