The Killer Queen ( Noella Briony ) novel Chapter 203

Master Hector was one to act on impulse. He grabbed Yasbel, who was in the midst of savoring a slice of cake, on his way out from the Schnabel family estate.

Beckett removed his glasses, his voice bubbling with excitement, "Our family's business in the gemstone market is set with today's stone-gambling event. I've got my eye on a few prospects."

Stirling was puzzled, "You've got enough money, so why bother with the gemstone market? It's peanuts compared to your oil business!"

"What do you know? From now on, Mom, Noella, and Elara's jewelry needs are all sorted!" Beckett wasn't just eyeing the gemstone quarry to make a quick buck. He was after a direct pipeline of premium gemstones for the Schnabel clan.

If the Schnabels had their own gemstone quarry and cornered a slice of the gemstone trade, Sienna and the two girls would never want for jewelry again.

Beckett's life's pleasure was making money, but more so, he enjoyed spending what he earned.

Noella retreated to her room, where Master Hector's gift awaited her.

The box, carved from gemstone, appeared seamless with no apparent way to pry it open.

The Polaris Star had their unique way of opening such boxes, requiring not just a fixed mortise and tenon joint but also a combination of password and fingerprint. A single mistake would mean the box remained shut.

With a "click," the box yielded to Noella's touch, revealing an old photograph inside.

Three young people were captured in that faded photo: Harriet Lambert, Xavier, and a man Noella did not recognize. Noella’s eyes pupils dilated on seeing that.

A note was also tucked inside the box: [Noella, I know you're looking into your grandmother's past. This is for you. Also, the osmanthus carving you made hides two USB drives—find Xavier. From Hector.]

Her osmanthus carving?

Indeed, the carving had two compartments for USB drives, a precaution Noella took in case one failed or got damaged. But she hadn’t told her grandmother about the second slot!

Noella stood up and approached the collection shelf in her room to retrieve the osmanthus carving. Marcel had not taken this piece; it was left for Noella.

After all, in the old man's eyes, Noella, who had accompanied Harriet through it all, deserved her grandmother's keepsakes more than he did.

Gently twisting the base of the carving, Noella found the second USB compartment, which should have also contained another piece of osmanthus branch but was now eerily empty.

When had her grandmother discovered the extra USB in the carving?

Noella dialed Xavier for a video call.

Xavier, flashing his pearly whites, answered Noella’s call with gusto, "Hey, kiddo! Westwood Mercenary Corps is all screwed! Mission accomplished!"

For Xavier, a man of considerable sway within Lockhart Prison, eliminating a second-string mercenary group that survived on smuggling arms at the border was a mere flex of muscle.

Noella waved the photo in front of Xavier.

"Who is this?" she asked.

"How do you have that picture?"

Xavier's demeanor shifted to grave seriousness in an instant, removing his sunglasses to better scrutinize the photo in Noella's hand.

"Just tell me who he is."

Without hesitation, Xavier denied, "Don't know him!"

"Almost holding hands in the photo, and you say you don't know him?"