The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

Crushing the cigarette butt underfoot, Thorpe hoisted Noella up, feeling a lingering ache in his legs. Had he not underestimated Noella, thinking of her as just a delicate woman who could barely handle a gun, let alone kill someone, he wouldn't be confined to a wheelchair now. Running a hand over his thigh, Thorpe would never forget the day Palmer and his crew wiped out the Cerulean Whale gang.

It hurt, but Thorpe didn't mind seeing Dog-Head, the self-proclaimed tough guy, share a bit of that pain...

"The Abyssal Organization's Vocalist is also here; you're gonna be busy," he remarked.

Dog-Head scoffed, "Vocalist? That guy? He hasn't taken down Wise Fool, that witch, in years. Probably another mama's boy who freezes up around women. Let them fight amongst themselves. I'll be the one to reap the benefits!"

Thorpe just grunted in response. "Oh, look at you, Mr. Big Shot."

Dog-Head stared at the surveillance screens, his gaze sinister. "If things go south, I'll just blow this ship up. Take everyone down with me. I don't care how many of the Schnabel family are here; in the eyes of the Almighty, they're all equal!"

Thorpe corrected him, "Those Harmonia Country folks don't believe in the Almighty. They're more likely to meet the Grim Reaper."

The level of cultural awareness Dog-Head had was concerning. But since the higher-ups had paired him with Dog-Head, Thorpe had no choice. "Almighty or Grim Reaper, after tonight, Soaring Bird will be the top assassin group on the deep web!" Dog-Head continued with fervor. Wheeling himself away, Thorpe shrugged. "I'm off to the restroom.”

No sooner had he left the room than a gun's muzzle pressed against Thorpe's neck! At the other end, Noella, with a chilling smile, greeted him coldly. "We meet again."

“...How unfortunate." Ivan approached from behind, pushing Thorpe's wheelchair towards the room Polaris Star had prepared.

Back in the room, Thorpe rubbed his face. "Look, I've been saying, don't hit me. I'm just a college student, very fragile, easy to break!"

Noella's mouth twitched. "College student?" She thought Thorpe's legs had healed!

"Yeah, Garrick got me enrolled. I've been hitting the books lately. The assassin life isn't for me. It's a shame my background check won't clear, or else I could've gone for a public..."

Everyone fell into an awkward silence. Was this guy's adaptability a bit too high?

"I was assigned to work with Garrick, but now that he's gone, so am I."

"Your boss wasn't Garrick?" Noella queried.

Thorpe shook his head. "Wise Fool, you've met my brothers. They aren't the type to be bossed around by the likes of Garrick."

Noella agreed, "The three of you have three brains, and you're missing one."

Hollis was the brain of the trio. While Garrick was formidable, he couldn't make them follow him blindly.

"Your boss, 7-Slayer?" she asked.

Thorpe was clearly surprised Noella knew that name. "Yes! The boss gave us a life, allowed us three to survive on the frontier. But now, it seems he's ready to discard us..."

Thorpe looked visibly hurt, as though he held a different kind of affection for their boss. "We were all orphans taken in by the boss. After the experiments failed and we couldn't stay in Polaris Star, we were supposed to die. But the boss took us with him."

"Now, he no longer needs us. After Cerulean Whale, there's Soaring Bird, and probably more organizations to come."

Noella's expression grew complicated, her smile cold. "You think him taking you into Polaris Star, then saving you after the experiments failed, was some grand act of kindness?"

"Without him, you three would have had a much better life!"

Thorpe shook his head. "No, for kids on the frontier, there's no future."

Remembering the day they met 7-Slayer, Thorpe still recalled holding his sick brother, crying in despair, with no one to help them. It was 7-Slayer who appeared, offering food and asking, "What's your dream?"

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Unlike the other kids, Thorpe didn't wish for basic needs; he wanted to see tomorrow's sun with his brothers. "To forever be with my brothers, or at least for them to see tomorrow."

7-Slayer smiled, an aura of authority surrounding him. "Alright, follow me. I'll make you kings of the sea, and the sun will shine for you."

...

Thorpe laughed bitterly. "Even if he was using us, back then, not even those willing to use us were around..."

Being used by 7-Slayer was something they willingly accepted. Thorpe turned to Noella. "Wolves eventually turn on their master. So, we were just 7- Slayer's dogs."

Now that their master no longer needed them, besides Cerulean Whale, he had trained hawks!

Noella knew human nature was complex. "7-Slayer having you follow Dog-Head, what's he planning?"

"The mission's pretty

straightforward. Take you out,

slowly get rid of the Schnabel family,

maybe even the Pollack family if

there's a chance. But the Schnabel

family is the priority... However, the boss said you're last."

7-Slayer wanted Noella to fall into the deepest despair.

Noella's expression remained unchanged, "What's the deal between the Patel family and your boss?"

Thorpe frowned in thought. “Followers, but the Patel family doesn't know much."

7-Slayer wasn't the type to share all his cards with the Patels, but he sure knew how to use them for his own gains!

Dillon was itching to get to know Elara, craving a taste of the Schnabel family's secret recipe for apple pie.

What 7-Slayer truly desired was for the entire Schnabel family to meet their end in front of Noella!

Noella chuckled coldly, "Such ludicrous attempts at training obedience. You've trained them enough, but training me? That's never going to happen!" Thinking he could witness despair on her face, 7-Slayer was living in a fantasy!

"I didn't want to confront him this soon, but Stirling's cowardice is infuriating. The noise tonight might just scare him off for good," she lamented.

Thorpe shivered at Noella's smile! A smile from this woman meant trouble was brewing! And there was Dog-Head, foolishly believing he could take down both the Abyssal and Obelisk Organizations...

Noella raised an eyebrow, "You didn't spill my secret to Dog-Head, did you?"

"Why would I? The boss didn't order it, and Dog-Head never asked!"

Thorpe's righteous stance brought a knowing smile to Noella's face. With a hint of mystery in her eyes, Noella calmly assured, "Don't worry, your brothers are doing quite well in Lockhart Prison these days."

"I'm just here to hunt, won't bother you a bit."

Seeing the self-inflicted wound on Thorpe's leg, Noella could easily guess his intentions! Since he clearly didn't want to be her enemy, Noella had no reason to trouble him further.

Thorpe visibly relaxed! It wasn't that

he had a strong will to live. He was just fully aware of what Noella and Palmer were capable of when teamed up. Together, they were like the legendary Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and he wasn't about to risk his life crossing them!

Realizing Dog-Head thought he was too tough to kill, Thorpe decided it was time to bow out. Muttering to himself, Thorpe conceded, "Boss, I'm stepping down. Once I step back, it's for good."