The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

At the edge of the restaurant, the sound of cutlery clinking against plates was abruptly replaced by a thud as a hitman hit the floor, a steak knife and fork previously resting innocently by a diner's plate now lodged threateningly against the necks of two burly men at the next table.

A chorus of gasps filled the air!

By then, the man responsible was already strolling out of the diner, as casual as if he'd just finished a meal.

Receiving Palmer's message, Noella couldn't help but smirk.

Her phone rang immediately after.

"There are about a dozen hitmen in the diner."

"And another dozen on the first floor."

The information relayed by Polaris Star weighed heavily on Noella.

To think they sent such a force just to take out Stirling? Anyone would think the hitmen's guild was on some kind of team-building exercise!

After formulating a plan, Noella snapped her phone shut.

From Horatio's vantage point, Noella's stormy expression was clear as day, sending shivers down his spine.

A Noella this furious was often a Noella with murder on her mind.

Horatio muttered to himself, "That Soaring Bird really hit the jackpot to piss off Noella like this. Must've been some kind of karmic luck!"

...

On the first deck of the cruise ship, in Stirling's room.

His agent said, "Stirling, we're shooting on the deck next. Here's your outfit."

Glancing at the tuxedo laid out on the bed, Stirling waved it off impatiently.

For some reason, he couldn't shake a feeling of unease, sensing many eyes on him wherever he went that day!

His agent suggested, "Maybe they're all fans of yours, Stirling?"

"I don't recall ever having a fanbase of burly white men in their thirties."

His movies and shows weren't exactly the type to appeal to that demographic!

The agent joked, "You're selling yourself short, Stirling. Online, you're hailed as the epitome of Asian male beauty."

Stirling shot back warily, "Cut it out!"

Was he talking about Asian beauty or some western popularity contest?

Thinking about those gazes, Stirling felt increasingly uncomfortable, his instincts telling him those men were targeting him... This was not good.

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation, and the agent went to answer it.

Yasbel entered, holding a large bottle of champagne, making herself at home without invitation.

"Mr. Schnabel still up for a shoot?" she asked nonchalantly.

"...Shouldn't I be?"

This shoot was for an international top-tier magazine, aiming for the cover of the New Year edition-a high-profile gig.

Yasbel poured herself a glass of champagne and snapped her fingers.

"Don't mind me, carry on with your shoot. I'm just here to watch. My boss sent me."

Knowing Noella sent her, Stirling didn't know whether to feel disappointed or relieved. His gaze lingered on Yasbel, "Why are you on this ship?"

"Followed a girl here, just happened to see you too, so I thought I'd drop by."

Had it not been for following the kidnappers of Dalia, Yasbel wouldn't have stumbled upon Stirling surrounded by no less than thirty top-tier assassins. Stirling, on high alert, asked, "Following a girl? You're not into women, are you...?"

Yasbel, offended, threw her glass of champagne in Stirling's face!

Cursing, she snapped, "Shut up! If you can't speak nicely, don't speak at all! Go do your photoshoot!"

Hastily, Stirling grabbed the tuxedo to get changed.

Yasbel, unbothered, checked the room for any surveillance, pulling out her phone.

"Boss, five bugs and two cameras in Stirling's room."

"Keep him safe until we disembark."

"Big show to kill him, for what?"

Yasbel couldn't see what was so valuable about Stirling.

"It's a warning and test against the Schnabel family."

Seems like the Patel family was unnerved by the Schnabel family's prominence in Imperial City, looking to shake up the social order.

Noella massaged her temples.

"Such fools. If the Schnabel family were so easy to eliminate, they wouldn't be ruling Imperial City."

"Stirling's safety is your responsibility."

"Got it, piece of cake!"

Noella seriously added, "I'm not joking. With so many hitmen aboard, stay close to him."

"Sure thing, just settle my tab later."

Yasbel shrugged and headed to where Stirling was changing, flinging the curtains open without a second thought. "Ah! Are you insane?!"

Stirling, halfway through dressing, was startled by Yasbel's brazen intrusion.

"Oops, my bad."

"Get out! What are you doing here while I'm changing?"

"We're all human, just different parts, right? Want me to show you mine?"

Stirling's face turned beet red with anger.

"Out, now!"

"Such a prude."

Noella, overhearing the commotion through the phone, couldn't help but twitch her mouth in amusement.

Yasbel's antics were typical, and Stirling's reaction was to be expected...

Stirling sounded lively enough, so there was no immediate worry.

After hanging up, Noella focused on the message on her screen.

[At 8 PM, during the masquerade ball and the fireworks, make your move in the chaos. Escape is up to each individual's skill.] Considering the cruise's route, they would be in the middle of the ocean by 8 PM. Planning an escape under those circumstances?

It seemed like the Patel family was ready to go all out, leaving no stone unturned.

The hitmen? They didn't plan on leaving any loose ends either.

...

On the deck, Yasbel yawned as she

ina

watched Stirling filming. Her hand, holding a cocktail fork, aimed in a certain direction just as a heavy splash sounded in the water.

"What was that noise?" Stirling asked, puzzled.

"Just dinner time for the sharks," Yasbel replied nonchalantly.NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.

Stirling peered suspiciously at the sea, indeed only seeing sharks circling below. The Abyssal Organization seemed ready to devour everything in its

path.

The easiest way to dispose of problems at sea? Feed the fish.

After the shoot, the agent hinted, "Stirling, there's a gala tonight, complete with fireworks. Why not invite Yasbel? It could be a chance to clear the air about earlier."

Stirling felt tempted.

Just as he was about to invite Yasbel to the gala, he saw her turn her head, a serious look in her eyes.

"Remember you said, if you landed the Azure endorsement, you'd do one thing for me?"

"What is it? Just tell me."

Yasbel smiled, pointing to a cart

carrying trash down the comet

the

The smell of garbage mixed fermented scent of the ship's alcohol was particularly pungent.

"Jump in there and don't come out until sunrise."

Stirling: "...What?!"