CHapter 111


    As Thorpe looked up, the cold, dark muzzle of a sniper rifle stared back at him, poised like a beast


    ready to pounce. Hearing themotion, his men streamed into the hospital room, guns trained on


    Ivan and Nn.


    “What is this all about? I’m working with Lunaris here. Are you trying to double–cross me now?”


    Ivan was unfazed by the threat. “Thorpe, not every job’s worth taking. Some money might look


    easy, but it could cost you your life.”


    Thorpe frowned. He had indeed taken on a few jobs impulsively.


    Cerulean Whale, shaky in its foothold within Harmonia Country, was in dire need of operational


    funds. And so, he had snapped up several jobs in the vicinity.


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    “Are there anyone that you need to protect in one of those jobs?”


    Ivan snarled, “If anything happens to Ms. Schnabel, everyst one of you will pay with your


    lives!”


    Ms. Schnabel?


    It didn’t take long for Thorpe to realize they were talking about Noe Schnabel.


    “Since when did the Schnabels need your organization for protection?”


    Nn deftly pushed Ivan’s gun aside with two fingers. “Mr. Thorpe, if you want to partner with


    Lunaris, we’re willing to extend some courtesy. But if the Schnabels find out you’re here, do you


    think your brother’s safety is guaranteed? You might be fine, Mr. Thorpe, but your brother isn’t in


    any condition to move.”


    Thorpe tensed up instantly!


    If the Schnabels knew he was here, they wouldn’t let him off the hook! He had previously taken a


    contract to kill Marcel Schnabel, and not only had none of his hitmen returned, but the Schnabel


    family had also issued several warnings!


    Beckett Schnabel had even threatened his life!


    He hadn’t realized his target was Ms. Schnabel at the time of epting the job. Now it dawned on


    him that if the Schnabels found out, he might not even be able to leave Harmonia Country.


    “Don’t worry, I won’ty a finger on Ms. Schnabel. Other organizations wouldn’t dare ept them


    either.”


    Sweat was beading on Thorpe’s forehead.


    Ivan tucked away his sniper rifle with a grunt and left the room.


    Nn’s face was all smiles, but his eyes betrayed no mirth. He was known in Pris Star as a


    smiling tiger.


    “Mr. Thorpe, do you think the Schnabels haven’t heard about the jobs you just epted?”


    Thorpe’s pupils dted in fear!


    At another ce, Beckett rose from his chair abruptly, spilling his coffee all over the desk as he


    glimpsed the contract on the deep web.


    Stirling looked at him with surprise. “What’s the matter?”


    Beckett clenched his teeth and mmed his fist on the table. “Damn Thorpe! Does he really think


    the Schnabels have no way to deal with him? He dares to take a contract to kill Noe?


    He’s asking for it!”


    Stirling rose from the couch and strode over to theputer, his gaze deepening with menace.


    “Who posted the job?”


    Beckett pulled up all the data he could find, squinting his eyes. “Someone’s wiped the data clean,


    but we’ll recover it. Once we find this person, they’re going to regret it!”


    *Should we send someone to warn Thorpe? He’s getting bolder, taking our family’s contracts,”


    Stirling suggested.


    Beckett chuckled coldly, his presencemanding, an aura of authority enveloping him. “We


    haven’t settled the score with him for thest incident with Grandpa. Since he’s so bold, let’s y


    his game and show him who runs Imperial City!”


    “I’ll call Noe to make sure she’s safe.”


    Stirling’s call went through quickly.


    “Anything up, Stirling?”


    “Noe, what are you up to?” Stirling’s voice was always gentle with his sister, a stark contrast to


    his reputation as an entertainment industry provocateur.


    Noe nced at Palmer, who was handlingpany finances across from her. “I’ve been helping


    a friend with Palmer. We’ll head home once he’s better. Why?”


    Knowing Noe was with Palmer put Stirling at ease. Though he often found Palmer irritating and


    suspected the young man had designs on his sister, at this moment, her safety was


    paramount.


    “Then, enjoy yourselves. Don’t rush back. Be safe, and if you need money, just call me.”


    “Okay.”


    Noe, aware that the Schnabels must have seen the deep web alert and were calling to caution


    her.


    Stirling hesitated before speaking solemnly. “Noe, no matter what happens, when ites down


    to choosing between you and someone else, I choose you.”


    He was aware of the trouble with Yvonne and the Nourishment Pill deal. If Yvonne’s involvement


    was confirmed, she would have no ce in the Schnabel family anymore.


    Noe felt a pang of surprise. She had wiped the deep web information to avoid burdening the


    family. Had Stirling found out?


    “You may doubt our family. Noe, considering how your previous family have acted like scum. But


    we’re different. Trust me. No matter what others say about you, we’ll always trust what we see with


    our own eyes,” Stirling’s voice was asforting as a warm nket. “We’ll get to the bottom of


    every story, never led astray by idle gossip!”


    Noe finally got it. Stirling was addressing the rumors Yvonne had been spreading. But honestly,


    she couldn’t care less. To her, Yvonne’s antics were nothing more than child’s y. her schemes as


    undercooked as a half–baked pie, and her wit on par with that of a scarecrow in a wheat field.


    To avoid putting the Schnabels in an awkward spot, she’d taken to treating Yvonne’s approaches


    with the same attention she’d give a TVmercial–none at all.


    “I get it.”


    “Noe, to us, you’re the main event!” Stirling continued with the kind of brotherly fervor that could


    light up a room. “Even if one of our own brothers tried to mess with you, I’d be the first to set him


    straight!”


    Noe’s heart swelled with warmth. Was this what being wrapped in family love felt like?


    After the call, Noe exhaled a sigh of relief she didn’t realize she’d been holding.


    A message silently made its way to Palmer’s phone. He nced at it, and a subtle smile yed on


    his lips. “Your brothers just texted me, making me promise to look out for you.”


    “I saw.”


    “While I’m d they trust me, protecting my fiancée is part of the job description,” he said with a


    touch of pride.


    Noe shot him a look. When did he be such a show–off?


    Palmer felt a surge of pleasure. It was the first time he felt the Schnabel family’s trust without a


    shadow of suspicion looming over him.


    He quickly texted back, assuring them all was well.


    Ivan, standing at the door, gave a ceremonial knock before entering the office.


    “Boss, Thorpe’s brother is awake. He’s asking for you.”


    Hollis waking up was part of the n, but to keep Thorpe from getting too savvy about Lunaris‘


    medical prowess, Noe had yed it coy with the timing.


    Thest thing they needed was Thorpe trying to poach talent from the Obelisk Organization. The


    headache that would cause wasn’t worth thinking about.


    Entering the hospital room, Noe watched Thorpe practically bouncing around his brother like a


    hyperactive kangaroo,


    She winced at the sight and discreetly averted her gaze. “He’s going to be fine. I’ve prepared the


    medication he’ll need,” she said, businesslike. “Now, you can tell me where the person I’m looking


    for is, right?”


    The smile evaporated from Thorpe’s face, and after a moment’s hesitation, he managed to utter. “In


    the clink!”