CHapter 203


    Master Hector was one to act on impulse. He grabbed Vashel, who was in the midst of savoring a


    slice of cake, on his way out from the Schnabel family estate


    Beckett removed his sses, his voice bubbling with excitement, “Our farity’s business 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 gemston


    market? it’s peanutspared to your oil business”


    hat do you know? From now on, Mom, Noe, and ra’s jewelry needs are all sorted Beckett


    wasn’t just eyeing the gemstone quary to make a quick buck. He was after a direct pipeline of


    premium gemstones for the Schnabel n.


    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.


    Noelia 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 Pris Star had their unique way of opening such boxes, requiring not just a fixed mortise and


    tenon joint but also abination of password and fingerprint. A single mistake would mean the


    box remained shut.


    With a “click” the box yielded to Noe’s touch, revealing an old photograph inside.


    Three young people were captured in that faded photo: Harriet Lambert, Xavier, and a man Noe


    did not recognize. Noe’s eyes pupils dted on seeing that


    A note was also tucked inside the box: [Noe, 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 twopartments for USB drives, a precaution Noe took in case one


    failed or got damaged. But she hadn’t told her grandmother about the second slot!


    Noe 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 Noe.


    After all, in the old man’s eyes, Noe, who had apanied Harriet through it all, deserved her


    grandmother’s keepsakes more than he


    did


    Gently twisting the base of the carving, Noe found the second USBpartment, 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?


    Noelia dialed Xavier for a video call.


    Xavier, shing his pearly whites, answered Noe’s call with gusto, “Hey, kiddo! Westwood


    Mercenary Corps is all screwed! Mission aplished!”


    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.


    Noells 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 sunsses to better


    scrutinize the photo in Noe’s hand.


    “Just tell me who he is”


    Without hesitation, Xavier denied, “Don’t know him!”


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    “Almost holding hands in the photo, and you say you don’t know him?”


    “Don’t talk nonsense! I don’t swing that way, kiddo! This guy… well, he’s from Pris Star. If it


    weren’t for Marcel, this dude might’ve been your grandpa.”


    As far as Xavier was concerned, Ha being Noe’s grandmother was all that mattered. Who the


    grandpa was didn’t really make a difference, especially since Marcel was no saint himself.


    “He’s from Pris Star? Why don’t I know him?”


    Xavier’s smile turned cryptic, “Pris Star isn’t just a duo, my dear! Even if you’ve got a few stars in


    your hands right now, don’t think


    10.27


    there aren’t older stars out there. This guy’s one of the old guards of Pris Star, namely the


    Merak from back in the day. And I have no Idea which side he belongs. But he was already


    leading the pack when your grandma joined up with Polens Stail”


    Noe’s eyes widened instantly. “Chandma was part of Poles Star?”


    Xavier quickly covered his mouth and cursed for seconds. “Ah, that’s ancient History! Gotta go,


    kiddo. I’ve got a pot of braised beef waiting!”


    Noe pressed. Onest question. Where is he now?:


    He left Pris Sts with your grandma. Now he’s probably running some university as a dean. If


    you’re after something to do with your grandma, he’s your man, not Marcel *


    Why haven’t you looked for him?” Noe asked.


    Xavier would surely want whatever Harriet had left behind. Why hadn’t he sought out this man?


    Xavier dered with a straight face. “Hey, I’m still serving time in Lockhart Prison, ain’t I? Can’t just


    leave my cell, I’m a criminal!”


    Noe paused.


    Considering Xavier’s stronghold in Lockhart Prison, she hardly saw any signs of him being


    incarcerated.


    “Just don’t think about sending some to look for him. He is too cunning, and I’m no match


    Xavier shook his head as if fearing Noe might ask something he couldn’t reveal, hurriedly cut off


    the call, and turned his attention back to his prison” braised beel


    Noe collected her thoughts and swiftly set up herpactptop, booting up the internalwork


    of Pris Star, “Investigating Former Pns Stars Merak with the use of a big data facial


    recognition system to match faces and photos.”


    Noe uploaded the picture of the man from the group photo into their chat, and it didn’t take long


    before Mizar sent a message back: [Garrick, a postdoc from Harvardton University, now the dean of


    Imperial University and a professor at the Design Academy. Boss, can you believe this guy’s from


    Pris Star? Howe we never heard about it?]


    But inside Pris Star, no one really made much of a fuss about Garrick’s upation. After all,


    when you’ve got an Oscar–winning actress in your ranks, being a university dean seems pretty


    tame byparison.


    Alioth’s still dreaming about setting up a food truck outside the local elementary school selling hot


    dogs and fries.


    Mizar shoot back a question mark and remarked: [Howe I’ve never heard of the ‘former Merak‘


    before? I checked his resume, and there’s arge gap in his history indeed. His published papers


    have got Pris Star all over them. After matching him with other guys who look like him in the


    pictures, there’s no doubt it’s him! Boss, weren’t you nning on attending Imperial University?]


    The former Merak had certainly piqued the interest of everyone at Pris Star, and they were all


    itching to go see what kind of person he really was


    Noe pondered for a moment, her mind swirling with questions. It seemed she would have to find


    Garrick and have a chat.


    Why would her grandmother, if she was part of Pris Star, end up in a ce like Glen Vige?


    And did she know


    Pris Star as well?


    But deep down, Noe always believed that her grandmother would never harm her.


    With a soft sigh, Noe quickly replied; [Set it up. We’ll enroll when school starts next month!]


    [Yay! We are going to school with our boss!]


    e had been to


    The bunch of Pris Star prodigies, who had never spent a day in a formal ssroom, were


    brimming with excitement about college


    life.


    Noe closed herptop and ced it back on the collection shelf, then turned to look out towards


    the balcony.


    “Are you addicted to window–climbing or what, Palmer?”


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