CHapter 177


    Lyra red at Palmer with a mix of disbelief and indignation. “Who is she? Do you really have


    a fiancée already?”


    Palmer looked up, meeting Lyra’s incredulous eyes. “And you are?”


    Lyra’s jaw dropped. He had forgotten her? This couldn’t be happening!


    “Look, if thisdy is strong–arming you, just give me the word, and I’ll help you to..”


    Palmer immediately raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, his face a picture of desperate


    pleading. “Noe, I swear I don’t know her!”


    Noe gave a nonchnt nod. “Am I strong–arming you?”


    “Only in my dreams. When would my fiancée like to strong–arm me? And with what?”


    A blush crept onto Noe’s cheeks as she stared at Palmer, confused. “Have you lost your mind? If


    she’s here for you, you deal with it.”


    “I’ll need my fiancée here to watch.”


    Grabbing Noe’s hand, Palmer looked up at Lyra. “Are you with Westwood Mercenary Corps?”


    Only the mercenaries from Westwood were known to sport camo gear in this area, and judging by


    this woman’s attire and the dagger at her waist, she was likely one of them.


    Lyra nodded vigorously, hoping against hope that Palmer would remember her. “Yes, I’m Lyra from


    Westwood Mercenary Corps. I saved you once, remember?”


    Mentioning that supposed act of heroism only made Palmer’s expression all the more enigmatic.


    For a brief moment long ago, he had indeed thought it was Lyra who had saved him. But after


    seeing her handle a gun, he realized she was nothing but a glory–thief. The true savior had a grace


    with firearms that was simply unforgettable.


    Palmer drew his own sidearm from his waist, clicked off the safety, and handed it to Noe.


    “What’s this for?” she asked, puzzled.


    “There’s a bird in that tree I’d like. Care to shoot it down for me?”


    His gaze was fixed on a tree behind Lyra, where several of Xavier’s prized Emerald Birds, with their


    lustrous green feathers perfect for courtly attire in days long gone, perched among the leaves. A


    hairpin made of those feathers would look stunning in his girl’s hair.


    He was tired of seeing Noe wear the trinket from other men; he wanted her adorned with gifts


    solely from him.


    Noe nced at Palmer, then raised the gun, aiming past Lyra. Before Lyra could even grasp


    19:23


    what was happening, the shot rang out, and the bird plummeted to the ground.


    Xavier felt like his heart was bleeding money. “That bird cost me a fortune! Palmer, you and I are


    done!”


    Lyra screamed. “She shot at me!”


    Did this woman not fear retribution within the confines of Lockhart Prison?


    Palmer looked at Lyra with Icy eyes. “The person who saved me had far superior aim than you.”


    That very shot had ended a drug lord’s reign and snatched him from death’s grip. Not even the


    entire Westwood Mercenary Corps could boast a marksman of that caliber.


    “You’ve lied to me, and I don’t care. I never trusted you. But if you disrespect my fiancée, I will get


    rid of the entire Westwood Mercenary Corps.”


    It dawned on Lyra that Palmer had known all along she wasn’t his savior.


    How did he find out? And this woman, how was she such an excellent shot? Why hadn’t she heard


    of a woman with such skill in Lockhart Prison?


    Lyra brushed her hair behind her ear and turned to Xavier. “People can just shoot guns on your turf,


    Xavier? Seems like they don’t take you seriously.”


    Xavier met Noe’s scrutinizing gaze and itched to kick Lyra. “So what if she doesn’t take me


    seriously? Even if she pushes me into a ditch, I’d be thrilled!”


    If this fool had ruined his efforts to impress Noe, Xavier would have no choice but to deal with


    Lyra and her entire mercenary crew.


    Noe looked a bit nauseated by Xavier’s groveling. “I have no interest in kicking you into a


    ditch.”


    Lyra couldn’t believe her eyes. Everyone knew about Xavier’s temper, but this was the first time


    she’d seen him so amiable towards a woman.


    Could it be…


    A lightbulb went off in Lyra’s head, and she regarded Noe with a calcting look.


    “Xavier, if she’s your rtive, you better teach her the rules of surviving in Lockhart Prison, so she


    doesn’t end up getting beaten without knowing why.”


    In fact, if it weren’t for Palmer holding Noe for so long, Lyra would have suspected that


    Noe was Xavier’s mistress.


    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    Seeing Palmer’s tenderness towards Noe, Lyra’s heart soured like a lemon, wishing she could


    rece her.


    Noe turned to Xavier, her knuckles cracking, her face stoic. “Her mouth is worse than a sewer.


    I’m getting annoyed. Can I hit her?”


    214


    19:23


    Xavier instantly transformed into an epitome of obsequiousness. “Absolutely, you can hit


    her. Here, you can even hit me if you want!”


    Palmer almost couldn’t contain hisughter at Xavier’s antics.


    Noe nodded and, without hesitation, walked towards Lyra, her hand swinging out in a forceful


    p.


    Lyra sneered, thinking she had provoked Noe into making the first move. With her mercenary


    training, how could she be bested by this slip of a woman?


    But Noe’s pnded squarely on Lyra’s cheek, leaving her no chance to retaliate.


    “You!”


    Lyra knew she couldn’t underestimate her opponent any longer. Clutching her face, she braced for


    Noe’s onught, but the moment their fists and kicks collided, she realized she was no match for


    the woman before her!


    Noe’s punches and sweeping kicks hit Lyra with precision, each blow targeting a vulnerable spot.


    In no time, Lyra was on the ground, cradling her head and shrieking.


    “Stop! Please, stop!”


    Noe dusted off her hands, looking down at Lyra with a hint of disappointment. “That was


    anticlimactic. Can’t take a hit, huh? And here I thought with all that tough talk, you’d be a bit more


    resilient. To think you’re with the Westwood Mercenary Corps. Seems they’ve gone soft after being


    around for so long.”


    Xavier chimed in at once. “Noe’s right on the money. Our next move is to wipe Westwood


    Mercenary Corps off the map!”


    Lyra looked at Xavier in terror, then at Palmer, who was gently massaging Noe’s hands. “No…


    please, Vocalist, save me! I’ll do anything for you!”


    Palmer turned to Noe and said softly, “It’s your call, Noe. I’m with you all the way.”


    Noe’s gaze on Lyra held a chilling smile, like a death bringer returning from hell itself. “How about


    this, you die, and I’ll spare the Westwood Mercenary Corps. Deal?”


    Was this woman asking her to die? A devil in disguise!


    Seeing the reluctance in Lyra’s eyes, Noe sighed. “Out here on the frontier, one life more or less


    doesn’t make a difference. Since you’re so nobly willing to save your entire crew, why don’t you


    sacrifice yourself?”/


    Lyra bit back, “You’re heartless. You think a woman like you can win Vocalist’s affection?”


    Palmer looked at Lyra with icy detachment. “Noe will always be my one and only! You’re foolish,


    unattractive, and a poor fighter. Best you disappear before you upset my fiancée any further.”


    Only then did Lyra remember her face was swollen from Noe’s blows! Gritting her teeth,


    10.23


    she turned and walked away, showing no signs of any intention to save her crew,


    As Lyra limped away, a figure hung from the ck tower spoke up. “Excuse me, I‘ hanging here!


    Have you all forgotten about me?”