The Killer Queen

After dropping off Vincent and the Fullers, Noella’s phone buzzed with an encrypted message that seemed like gibberish at first glance.

Holding her phone, she deftly decoded it, importing the text into a custom app she had developed, and quickly extracted the clear message.

[Boss, we’ve got a situation at the lab in Emerald County. Need you here.]

[Got it.]

To synergize with Elara’s Phoenix Lab, Polaris Star had set up its own facility in Emerald County. Noella pocketed her phone and navigated through the streets with the mental map she had long memorized, arriving at the Polaris Star Lab.

The lab’s exterior was a nondescript suburban house, nothing out of the ordinary. Standing at the entrance, Noella passed through a triple security checkpoint – fingerprint, iris scan, and a password – before she could enter. All content is © N0velDrama.Org.

“What’s the situation?”

“Boss, the data we sent to Phoenix Lab has been intercepted.” The lab’s supervisor, Mizar, handed her a report.

“Phoenix Lab has ultra–tight security. The documents are supposed to be top secret. This shouldn’t have happened.”

Noella scanned the report indicating that data meant for Phoenix Lab had been maliciously hijacked.

Slipping into a lab coat and donning a face mask, she instructed, “Get me some equipment.”

Mizar, buzzing with excitement at the sight of their boss getting hands–on, quickly assembled the necessary tools.

It had been ages since they saw the boss in action! This was going to be good!

Five minutes later, Noella, examining the data, uttered as she stretched her hand, “Pen and paper, please.”

Mizar handed her the requested items, and noting the mud on Noella’s shoes, she asked with a raised eyebrow, “Boss, did you just come from a hike?”

“Yeah, ran into people from the Fuller family. Gave them a piece of my mind.”

Mizar listened to Noella’s cool response, seething, “Those pests are still jumping around! You were too lenient before!”

“No need to dwell on that.

The fall from the giddy heights of potter’s field wouldn’t have killed the Fullers or Vincent and

his wife – just a few broken bones, a little bedrest. It would do them good to lay low for a while.

After all, whether the Lambert family and the Fuller family would still be around once they recovered was anyone’s guess.

“It’s time to leak the Lambert family’s project flaws and Vincent’s tax evasion.”

“On it!”

They had been sitting on that information for too long. Vincent had managed to disgust Noella enough to not let his family off lightly, despite Old Mrs. Lambert.

Mizar scoffed, “When that accident happened on Vincent’s project and people died, he complained about the delay. Heartless.”

“If he’s heartless, there’s no need for us to care. Spread the word as the Phantom Surgeon: any international organization that provides medical aid to Vincent will be an enemy for life.”

“Got it! But what if they seek typical medical care?”

Noella replied blandly. “No worries, I have a plan.”

She tapped out a message to Ulrich and hit send. Ulrich’s response was swift.

[Finally, You remember me, your brother! Don’t worry, I’ve got everything set up. All reputable hospitals nationwide, even globally, will blacklist Vincent. He can try to get medical attention, but it will cost him a fortune, and he still won’t find the right doctor.

When are you coming back? How’s Elara? Miss you!]

are!

Ignoring the flood of messages, Noella selectively answered before pocketing her phone.

With Ulrich on the case, Vincent’s chances of a quick recovery were next to none. By the time he was well, the Lambert family’s fortune would be all but drained dry.

After documenting her findings, Noella drafted a misleading report and hit send. Half a minute later, the system flagged the message as intercepted.

Her slender fingers flew across the keyboard, pinpointing the IP address of the interceptor, and she frowned slightly. “It’s also in Emerald County. Looks like someone from Phoenix Lab. Elara’s got her own dramas to deal with, it seems.”

Mizar shrugged, “Not every lab is drama–free like ours. With Elara being so young and brilliant, there’s plenty of people waiting for her to slip up. Plenty of them haven’t made any major achievement, all biding their time for promotions.”

They were all eagerly hoping to be promoted, when suddenly a young lady dropped into their midst.

Noella had heard that Elara earned her spot at Phoenix Lab, but the Schnabel family had generously funded an entire research base for her. Basically, all the equipment in Phoenix Lab was donated by the Schnabels.

“So, the thing they talk about Elara,” Mizar shrugged, “it gets pretty nasty.”

Especially once they found out Elara was only an adopted daughter of the Schnabel family, the comments turned even uglier.

Clutching the notebook with her data, Noella said, “Let’s go have a look.”

“You bet!”

Nothing beat crashing a party like this!

At Phoenix Lab.

Elara frowned at a few middle–aged lab technicians in front of her.

“Ryker, Zack, what’s the deal? If you don’t want to work here, submit your resignations. I won’t stop you!”

Zack, the apparent leader of the group, sneered at Elara.

“Ms. Schnabel, we’ve all been busting our butts on this data research. As the project lead, we’ve been out there collecting samples, and what exactly have you contributed?”

“Right, if anyone should be packing their bags, it’s you, Ms. Schnabel. Isn’t it high time you. settled down, maybe got hitched? The Schnabel family are one heck of a clan. They wouldn’t stiff you on some wedding gifts just because you’re the adopted daughter, right? Haha!”

Their barbs were as blunt as they were cruel.

Elara clenched her teeth, “What are you implying? Those experiments were my doing! As the technical head and the one with the signing authority, you’re accountable for all the data!”

“Oh, we’re not shirking responsibility. But if you want us to take the fall, sure, we can talk about that. After all, the data is in our hands, not yours. You, the do–nothing little missy, can take a hike from Phoenix Lab!”

They’d finally let the cat out of the bag. Elara could only laugh in fury!

The data they claimed was theirs had been the result of her countless sleepless nights in the lab. Had they stolen her work midway just to push her out of Phoenix Lab?

She knew every nook and cranny here, and although leaving the Schnabel family had been partly her own choice, she truly loved her job!

The other researchers held their breath, caught in the crossfire of a battle of the gods.

Then, a lilting voice cut through the tension from outside the lab, “I remember the head of this lab is a Mr. Pollack. Where might he be?”

Ryker hadn’t expected anyone else to walk in. Phoenix Lab was top–secret, off–limits to most. He turned to scold the intruder, but then he caught sight of the logo emblazoned on Noella’s lab coat, shining like stars against the daylight.

Zack frowned, “Who dares to barge into Phoenix Lab? Security! Take these two away!”

Noella stood calm and composed, her face obscured by a mask and cap, only her bright, clear eyes visible. She tossed Zack the pass.

It read: Distinguished Laboratory Talent, Harmonia Country – authorized for all lab levels!

Everyone was stunned.

Noella sat down comfortably and said, “Can we speak plainly now?”