The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

The Baker Group had been a towering presence on the border for years, known for their not-to-be-underestimated methods! To Bailey, these folks were just naive heirs and heiresses from old money families, utterly clueless about the real world.

Daring to take on the Baker Group?

Ridiculous!

Did they really think they had as many lives as a cat?

Everyone's got just one life!

Behind Bailey, a burly middle-aged man with a face full of scars strode forward, smirking coldly, "Boss, it's done. They're buried."

"Got it."

Bailey's face remained emotionless.

As if they'd buried nothing more significant than some insignificant minnows.

Jasper gasped, "Buried alive? How could you!"

Millie explained to Noella, "When we arrived, they were dealing with some snitches they'd uncovered, supposed to be sent back as a message, but they buried them instead."

Bailey replied with a detached tone, "If you're looking for justice, you've definitely come to the wrong place."

Disgust flickered in Noella's eyes.

"You'll pay a price for this."

"If there was a price to pay, it would've come already. You're just too naive, haven't seen how brutal the world can be."

Millie looked at her as if she were looking at an idiot.

Leaning close, Millie whispered to Bailey.

"Ms. Baker, do you think Vocalist hasn't seen the world, or is it Jasper you find naive? Oh, definitely not my mentor, right? Calling Wise Fool naïve would be truly foolish!"

Bailey's smile froze on her face!

Why had no one informed her of these people's real identities before she arrived!

Millie pointed at herself.

"Or do you think I'm the fool? Ah, I met Ms. Baker at the Gallagher family's docks last time, seems like the distinguished lady has forgotten me." Bailey's pupils shrank.

"You're... Ms. Gallagher?"

"No, I'm the head of the Gallagher family, the future chairwoman!"

The affairs of the Gallagher family were rather complex, with several of its members having secret dealings with the Baker Group.

"The old chairman stepped down?"

"Stepped down, straight into the grave."

Facing the charming young woman who was smiling sweetly, Bailey instinctively stepped back, feeling a hand wrap around her waist, pulling her closer.

"Where are you off to, Ms. Baker? We're old acquaintances, after all; leaving like this would break my heart."

"Since it's your turf, why don't we play a little game?"

Bailey frowned, "A game?"

"Guess how many in the Baker Group are actually with the Gallagher family, and how many are my people?"

"Are you joking? Aren't Gallagher people your people?"

Millie wagged her index finger with a smirk.

From a distance, several Magees ran over, wiping sweat, "Boss, those Gallagher folks have been taken out! We can't find the culprit!"

"Can't find the culprit? In Baker Group territory? That's a bit absurd, isn't it?"

Bailey slapped Magee across the face.

"If you can't find them, you might as well be dead!"Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

"Yes..."

Millie added fuel to the fire.

"Heh, the mighty Baker Group, can't even find a few people."

"Aren't you worried, sending people in, risking the entire Gallagher force?"

Holding Noella's hand, Millie smiled innocently.

"Then I should thank you."

Facing Noella's cold, murderous eyes, Bailey's breath hitched!

She knew that look, the kind only the most ruthless killers bore!

"I've just learned that the Abyssal Organization and the Obelisk Organization have teamed up."

Noella chuckled, "There's much you don't know."

A massive explosion rocked the eastern corner of the Baker Group compound, followed by a series of blasts from a western factory spreading the smell of gunpowder, heating up the entire area!

Millie wondered, "Who's got the nerve?"

Noella calmly replied, "An enemy, probably."

Jasper agreed, "Right, the Baker Group has plenty of enemies. Looks like someone's come knocking."

Palmer glanced at the smoke-filled defenses, nonchalantly adding,, "Heard you had visitors; must be for them The Baker Group's hospitality is indeed lacking."

Bailey nearly laughed out of irritation!

This was their doing, wasn't it?

Who would believe otherwise!

Noella shrugged, "Any proof?"

The pager buzzed: "Boss, those bombs... they're ours!"

"The ones Dog-Head took out last time, all used here!"

Bailey gripped the pager, veins bulging on her hand!

They'd used the Baker Group's own bombs against them!

Was this something sane people did?

Looking for evidence? Only Baker Group's own bombs as proof!

Bailey's gaze shifted.

"These tricks? The Baker Group won't even blink."

"Don't rush, there's a bigger surprise waiting."

It seemed Connor wasn't planning to show up personally.

Noella sighed, "What a pity."

Palmer joined in with a chuckle, "No worries, we'll just go find him. A visit in person calls for a bit of our own sincerity."

The two of them played off each other perfectly, like a rock-and-roll duo in perfect harmony.

Bailey couldn't help but twitch at the corner of her eyes!

She was baffled.

"What exactly are you folks aiming to do? Visiting the Baker Group with such a grand entrance seems a bit much!"

Noella replied calmly, "Oh, I took a fancy to this place. I want it, so it's going to be mine."

е

Even Bailey, who had seen it all from the shady dealings at the border to the high-stakes world of corporate espionage, had never encountered anyone quite like Noella!

Talk about hard to persuade!

Who speaks so bluntly?

"You, you, you, I, I, I..."

That Noella could reduce Bailey to a stuttering mess was saying something!

Bailey realized then that her usual tactics of tailoring her speech to fit the audience was just a big joke in front of Noella...

What scenario hadn't she encountered before?

Well, she certainly hadn't encountered this!

Trying to maintain her composure, Bailey frowned, "Are you joking?"

Noella blinked.

"Is it a joke? Aren't you the one who had us surrounded?"

Silently, a group of mercenaries had gathered around them!

Noella stretched lazily.

"Tell your boss that if anyone here makes a move, the Patel family will be history by tomorrow."

Bailey forced a smile, "The Patel family isn't that big of a deal."

Connor's descendants, the ones that mattered, had already been sent abroad. Those left in the Patel family were small fry!

To people in their line of work, what did family even mean?

Having felt the sting of betrayal from their own kin, they had long since given up on such useless emotions and connections! "You want the Baker Group? That's a pipe dream! You think the people of the Baker Group will listen to you?"

Noella corrected her, "I said I want the land, not the people."

While Bailey was still puzzling over Noella's intentions, the sky above was suddenly swarmed by over thirty military helicopters!