CHapter 196


    On the fifth floor, Palmer stood with his back to a sawed–off concrete pir, where one false step


    meant a perilous tumble into the abyss below.


    “Vocalist, you’ve got five minutes to make up your mind. Are you in or out?” sneered a member of


    the Westwood Mercenaries, their faces twisted with the anticipation of Imminent victory on seeing


    Palmer’s lonely figure.


    Lyra’s heart pounded as she watched Palmer, trapped by a window on the fifth floor, isted and


    alone.


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    Palmer was the picture of calm. There seemed to be a fresh cut across his handsome face so a


    streak of blood was trailing down his resolute cheek. That had made his gaze even more piercing


    and severe–a gaze that also carried coldness and malice.


    Even now, cornered, he exuded that irresistible air of royalty.


    If only Vocalist would agree to join them, he would be hers tomand.


    “You lot?” Palmer chuckled dismissively while methodically removing his watch and cufflinks and


    treating them like precious treasures as he stowed them away.


    After securing his valuables, he rolled up his sleeves to reveal muscr forearms. His gun might be


    empty, but the thought they could easily capture him was pure fantasy.


    Lyra grew anxious, “Just say yes, Vocalist, and we won’t harm you today! We’ve got the Abyssal


    Organization blocked; they can’t get to you!”


    Palmer nced at them with contempt, sending shivers down the spines of everyone


    present.


    “Now men from Westwood Mercenary Corps are causing a ruckus, and the Shadow Dragon


    Society’s got a death wish too? Or are you saying Yates and Arthur don’t care for their lives


    anymore?”


    The leader, d in a military coat and chomping on a cigar, retorted, “Once you’re dead, Yates and


    the old man will be safe.”


    Palmer shook his head and said with a mournful voice, “I was just nning to clean up the Shadow


    Dragon Society, but now it seems I’ll have to take care of the Gruber family


    too.”


    Despite his loneliness, his icy gaze still made everyone hesitant to underestimate him.”


    “Take him out now!” Those mercenaries yelled.


    Lyra shouted, “Just agree, Vocalist, ande back with us to the border. The Westwood)


    Mercenaries will protect you!”


    Then a cool, indifferent voice echoed from above.


    12:53


    “Who gave you that right? The Westwood Mercenary Corps?”


    In shock, Lyra’s head snapped up, just in time to see Noe leap from the sixth floor,nding


    gracefully and catching steadily by Palmer.


    “Why are you here?” Palmer asked.


    Nonchntly, Noe handed Palmer a gun, “Heard your crew was held up, thought I’d see If you


    needed a hand.”


    ‘If you needed a hand‘, and that was the reason she came herself?


    Palmer knew Noe must have been worried. A surge of untimely joy warmed his heart, prompting


    a smile he couldn’t suppress.


    Lyra, seeing the smile on Palmer’s face–was dumbfounded. His smile was reserved for Noe, and


    that idea made her feel a surge of sour jealousy.


    She red at Noe venomously, “So, you’re here too. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down.


    You really think the two of you can escape from us?”


    Noe’s contemptuous gaze made Lyra seem insignificant, like nothing more than a mayfly.


    “Escape? That word doesn’t exist in my dictionary.”


    Noe pped her hands, and suddenly a thunderous explosion erupted from one of the buildings,


    which copsed in a cloud of dust.


    “Oops, my bad. Hit the wrong button. There are explosives in this building too, seems I armed the


    one next door.”


    “Youid explosives here? Aren’t you afraid of getting caught?”


    Noe shrugged, “Since you guys are bold enough to dig up public roads, what’s stopping me?”


    ma


    Besides, those explosives were leftovers from a bar they’d dismantled, nted by Thorpe. If anyone


    got in trouble with the authorities, it’d fall on Cerulean Whale, not them.


    Suddenly, Noe aimed her sniper rifle at the leader of the Westwood Mercenaries and pulled the


    trigger.


    Without a chance to react, the mercenary leader clutched his chest and fell.


    Noe then pointed the gun at Lyra, “Oops, how clumsy of me. Should’ve aimed for you,


    right?”


    “Have… have you lost your mind? You’ve killed our leader; the corps won’t let you off!”


    Noe chuckled, “Let me think which one was the button for this building’s explosives again.


    Wouldn’t want to hit the wrong one.”


    12:54


    Palmer added from behind her, “Doesn’t matter, we’ll get it right eventually.”


    The head of the Shadow Dragon Society clenched his teeth, “Take them down! Don’t let that


    woman go crazy on us!”


    If Noe really had bombs in this ce, they were all doomed.


    As he finished his sentence, a bullet whizzed by Noe and Palmer and pierced his head.


    Noe watched the fallen leader emotionlessly, “Sorry about that. My people can get a little


    overzealous. I’ll tell them to be more careful next time, maybe take out a few more.”


    Lyra’s eyes grew colder. “You brought the Obelisk Organization with you? Damn it! Move, we can’t


    let them leave alive!”


    p.


    A bullet fell to the floor, followed by the thud of a woman’s body. Noe nced dispassionately at


    Lyra, whoy dying with eyes still open.


    “Should have put a bullet through your head back at Lockhart Prison. What a pity.” She added.


    Palmer chuckled, “No worries, now is just as good.”


    Years ago in Northstone, she had saved his life in the same manner. Now, history repeated itself as


    his girl descended from the heavens to rescue him once more.


    Being protected by her was an unexpectedly pleasant feeling,


    Noe holstered her weapon, turning to Palmer.


    “I could really blow this ce. Aren’t you scared?” she asked.


    “Not in the least,” he replied.


    Wiping the smudge off Noe’s cheek with a tender swipe, Palmer’s eyes were filled with unspoken


    affection.


    “Whatever you want to do, I’m right there with you!” he said.


    “How about we throw in a freefall for kicks?”


    Noe’s lips curled into a wry smile as she sped Palmer’s hand. Just as the goons from the


    Shadow Dragon Society charged in, she suddenly leaped into the air!


    Gunshots and the thunderous roar of an explosion echoed simultaneously as a building was


    reduced to rubble in the blink of an eye!


    Palmer, with one arm wrapped around Noe’s waist and the other gripping the ropedder


    dropped from a helicopter, quickly whisked them both to safety.


    Looking at the scratches marring Palmer’s face and body from the st, Noe bit her lip


    and said, I’m sorry you got hurt.


    She knew their n might lead to Injuries, but she hadn’t anticipated Palmer holding her so


    tightly through the explosion to shield her unscathed from the flying debris.


    In contrast, it made his body a patchwork of wounds that made her heart clench.


    “It’s okay as long as you’re safe. I’m happy to protect you. But before that…” Palmer bent down and


    enveloped Noe in his arms, his lips finding her cool cheek, his voice heavy with exhaustion and


    affection.


    “I need to catch some sleep. As for these cuts… I’ll be counting on you, my fiancée, to patch me up.


    Goodnight.” With those words, he sumbed to unconsciousness.


    Noe quickly reached out to catch Palmer, preventing his body from slumping to the ground.


    She realized he must have been hurt before and had been stubbornly pushing through the pain


    after that.


    Palmer was so tall, and it wasn’t easy for Noe to carry him. Heading to a hospital would certainly


    alert Grandpa Sexton to his injuries.


    “Let’s head to Pris Star,” she decided.