The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

The sniper rifles trained on Soaring Bird's operatives were swiftly disarmed, forcing them to retreat in haste. "Wise Fool, this is our own mess, best you stay out of it!"

"Oh, I plan to get involved. What are you gonna do about it?"

The icy man's weapon was taken, but beneath his mask, his expression was unexpectedly gentle.

"Wouldn't want to trouble the missus with physical labor, I've got this."

Palmer had a way of saying "missus" that just rolled off the tongue!

The mention stirred excitement among the assassins from the Abyssal Organization and the Obelisk Organization alike.

Annie rubbed her hands together in the corner.

"When the boss and the missus tie the knot, we'll be part of the dowry, and I'll be Ms. Noella's loyal follower!"

Ivan: "...Huh? I thought we were the dowry."

"It's all the same. We're all family now!"

Ivan expertly reloaded, dealing with the assassins trying to cause chaos, tossing them into the sea one by one.

The second round of fireworks was even more splendid, capturing Shiba's attention outside the window!

Dog-Head, despite the pain, carried him out to enjoy the fireworks.

Stirling looked around to find that, aside from Dillon who had fainted from fear, everyone else had slipped out to watch the fireworks! "Shoot, I still need to find Noella!"

With the deck crowded, Stirling couldn't spot Noella at first glance.

Dog-Head, holding Shiba and watching the fireworks, turned to Noella.

"Wise Fool, there's a bomb here..."

"Thorpe informed me. My people are on it."

Dog-Head sighed in relief.

He wasn't surprised Thorpe had sided with Noella.

"I'm curious, why help Stirling? Not satisfied with the pay?"

Noella, watching the fireworks, her face softened with a smile beneath her mask.

"Maybe because he'd choose me, too."

She had heard everything Stirling said.

"Just like you'd choose your son, he'd choose me."

Dog-Head, puzzled, exclaimed, "Ah? Stirling is your son?"

"If you want to die, I won't bother saving you."

The sea was right there, after all, a convenient place for a push!

Noella raised an eyebrow. "Your son's intellect isn't enough to track you without being noticed. Someone's using him to leverage you from the border here."

Dog-Head calmly responded, "Not you?"

"You flatter yourself."

For a moment, Dog-Head thought Noella had taken Shiba to strike a fatal blow when he acted.

Noella's gaze at Dog-Head was almost exasperated.

"Shiba, who brought you here?"

Shiba thought hard, "A man! Someone who often drinks with dad!"

That could only mean someone from within Soaring Bird!

Dog-Head's expression darkened considerably.

Noella found a more comfortable position leaning on Palmer.

"Soaring Bird, I've never taken seriously."

It sounded harsh, but it was the truth.

Dog-Head chuckled in resignation.

"Rest assured, from now on, my life is yours. As long as you don't ask me to take down 7-Slayer myself, I'm at your service."

Noella shook her head.

"No need. You're no match for 7-Slayer; going after him would be like serving your head on a platter. Sending you after 7-Slayer wouldn't even suffice for his drink."

Dog-Head: "..."

Was there a need to hit where it hurts?

Couldn't Wise Fool be a bit more tactful with a newly sworn ally?

"This time... maybe the boss never planned on us returning."

Noella agreed, "Finally, something accurate. Your backup escape boat was hijacked by your own and, oh so accidentally, ventured into a shark's mouth half an hour ago."

Palmer nodded in agreement, "Truly careless."

Dog-Head was astounded!

He knew some within Soaring Bird were already bought by 7-Slayer.

No one was trustworthy in 7-Slayer's eyes!

The escape boat being hijacked was expected, but crashing into a shark's mouth... was that really plausible?

Shiba clapped, "Daddy, a Black man!"

Erek, covered in soot, emerged from the basement, only to have his nationality reassigned by the kid.

"Boss, all seventy-three bombs are disarmed and sent back to 7-Slayer!"

Dog-Head was astonished, "You know where 7-Slayer lives?"

"Sent to his Imperial City residence."

7-Slayer, a retired official on the surface, lived a peaceful life, tending to his garden and dogs.

"This is what happens when you enjoy peace; someone else carries the burden. While 7-Slayer enjoys his tranquil life, you're stuck with the

hardship of raising a tent

Dog-Head was near tears!

So the boss's peace was built on his suffering...

Though he had long accepted this cruel truth, facing it was still a blow.

Erek wiped his face, causing Shiba to exclaim, "Wow, the Black man turned Asian."

Erek: "Ever heard of manners?"

Noella's gaze fell on Dog-Head.

"To be effective, socialization is needed. You can't raise a child well on the border. Consider moving to Imperial City."

Dog-Head nodded.

"I understand. I'll handle Soaring Bird's internal affairs then join you!"

Shiba, hugging Dog-Head's neck, laughed innocently, making flying gestures.

"Daddy, peace! We need peace!"

Erek, with a complex expression, remarked, "Aiming for peace while being an assassin, that's cyber peace for you..."

Dog-Head shrugged nonchalantly, "Well, we've gotta find our own fun in this line of work, don't we?"

The crowd was thick, but Stirling, holding Yasbel's hand, navigated through until they finally spotted Noella on the deck, gazing at the fireworks.

Noella, in a brand new dress, was a far cry from her usual cool, assassin demeanor.

"Noella! You weren't in the hall just now, were you?"

"Stirling, what are you doing here?"NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.

Stirling let out a sigh of relief when he found Noella.

He pulled Noella aside, whispering, "It was scary in there just now! So many assassins! The last time I saw such a big scene was on a movie set. They must've been filming something!"

Noella: "...Filming?"

"Yeah! I knew something was off the moment I walked in. Must've been hidden cameras around. Damn it! I'm going to make a complaint when I get

back!"

Stirling said all this, still worried about scaring his innocent, kind, and adorable sister.

If Noella knew what really went down inside, she would be terrified!

He truly was the most considerate brother in the world!

On the first level of the cruise ship.

Dog-Head gently laid a sleeping child on the bed, letting out a deep sigh.

Thorpe, sitting in a wheelchair, looked at him in surprise, "You're not dead? What are you, a cat?"

How did Wise Fool let this guy slide!

Dog-Head, clearly annoyed, responded, "We might be colleagues from now on, but I can still take you down!"