CHapter 206


    Thorpe had known since theirst encounter that Palmer woulde back for him–or rather, for


    Hollis, the man who knew everything.


    Palmer casually tossed aside the blood–stained knife he had used moments before and removed


    his gloves to wipe away the blood that had spattered near his mouth.


    It wasn’t his blood, so its stench still hung in the air.


    Taking a seat. Palmer’s cold and unnerving aura filled the room. His men followed him so close,


    forming an invisible line against Thorpe’s crew.


    With a chilling smile, Palmer locked eyes with Thorpe, “You knew I’de, yet you still sent those


    Westwood Mercenary to their deaths. You’ve got guts ”


    “They were disposable,” Thorpe sneered, his eyes devoid of any genuine regret. “Pity though, even


    with the Westwood Mercenary Corps and the Gruber nbined, they were useless against


    you, Vocalist.”


    Palmer’s words were like frost, “I’m short on time and I’m not here for small talk. Hand over Hollis or


    you’ll die.”


    “What’s the difference? I’m curious about how did you survive the onught of all those men.”


    Palmer’s eyes narrowed as he clicked off the safety on his revolver.


    Thorpe’s men raised their guns in response, aiming at Palmer. But Thorpe waved them off, “Put


    them down. What’s the point of a shootout? You see, Vocalist. I can’t just hand him over. Ask your


    questions here.”


    This was thergest concession Thorpe could make. As the brain of Cerulean Whale, Hollis was


    critical to their operations. He couldn’t just let Palmer take Hollis.


    With a nod, Palmer handed his revolver to Annie and watched as Thorpe pushed Hollis forward with


    a relieved sigh.


    Hollis ignored all those corpses on the ground and greeted Palmer with a smile, “Long time no see,


    Vocalist. Where’s Wise Fool?”


    Palmer wasn’t there for a reunion or pleasantries.


    “Answer me, and you’ll live,” he stated tly.


    “Let’s hear it.”


    “The orders you followed, they came from the former Pris Star’s Merak, right?” Palmer’s


    expression was frosty as he said with a chilly tone, “What does Pris Star have to do with my


    mother’s death?”


    Hollis was stunned for a split second before he said, “I don’t know former Merak’s code name. As


    for your mother’s death, it was due to infighting within the Pock family. I don’t know whether


    Pris Star was involved. I don’t have clearance for so much information. All I can tell you is the


    Chess Master’s reach is beyond your imagination. At least it’s powerful enough to get us out of


    Imperial City and back to the bordends.”


    It’s also the ability to get so many people from Westwood Mercenary Corps to Imperial City with so


    much fanfare to dig up the highway. Palmer scoffed, his gaze chilly as a hawk. And, before anyone


    could react, he took Annie’s revolver and shot Thorpe in the leg, “For crossing me. Cerulean Whale


    has too many members. Just the three brothers will suffice.”


    As soon as Palmer’s words were out of his mouth, the men behind him pulled their triggers at the


    same time. Cerulean Whale’s assassins went down in pieces.


    as when the


    As his people opened fire, Palmer’s voice was cold, “Two members of Abyssal Organization are


    dead. There must be an offering.”


    Thorpe clutched his bleeding leg, his eyes bloodshot with fury.


    Palmer left, his gaze as frigid as a hellish demon.


    9


    Thorpe stared at the dead around him, his teeth gritted. “Does he really think we have no way to


    deal with him?” he murmured.


    Hollis, searching for a first aid kit, responded, “As of now, yes.”


    All that was left of Cerulean Whale were the three brothers, all sick and wounded.


    “But we still have the boss,” Hollis‘ eyes glistened under the guise of his sses.


    When Palmer stepped out of Cerulean Whale territory and exhaled deeply, his expression was still


    ice–cold.


    1


    Annie handed him a phone, “Boss, it’s Ms. Noe. Wanna take it?”


    Palmer’s tone softened as he answered, “Noe, what’s up?”


    “Where are you?”


    “I’m on the border dealing with some trade issues for the Pock Group. Some factories had


    trouble. What’s wrong?”


    10-28


    Noelia frowned slightly The sound of harsh winds on the line didn’t seem like factory noise, it was


    more like an open field. She had called because she remembered the strong scent of blood on


    Palmer from the night before when he stood on her balcony


    “Nothing, Grandpa Sexton is asking when you’ll be back.”


    Since moving in, Sexton had shared meals with the Schnabels every day Sitting down to dinner, he


    always thought of Palmer, that stubborn kid. He couldn’t understand what was so pressing at the


    company to keep him away. Why that workaholic left such a beautiful fiancée alone at home?


    Sexton’s blood boiled whenever he thought of how clueless Palmer could be. His eyes darted


    around, and then he fibbed that his battery was deed, asking Noe to make a call for him.


    Palmer, overhearing Sexton’s boisterous tirade, knew most of it was aimed at him.


    *ill be back soon once this is sorted out.” Palmer said,


    “Okay”


    After hanging up, Palmer’s gaze lingered on the ruins in the distance.


    Annie felt a twinge of concern, “Boss, aren’t you worried Ms. Noe will be upset if she finds out you


    didn’t tell her the truth?”


    “It’s fine. She would have done the same in my shoes. A bit of anger is better than her being in


    danger.” He said.


    Years ago, when Palmer lost his mother, he had sworn never to let such a thing happen again.


    He smiled, “If I’m in trouble and Noe doesn’t care, maybe that’s not so bad.”


    phone


    Annie opened her mouth to speak but then thought better of it. She couldn’t quite grasp her boss’s


    logic. If you liked someone, weren’t you supposed to want them to worry about you? To y the


    sympathy card a little? If Ms. Noe found out, wouldn’t she be incredibly moved?


    Palmer strode toward the ruins, “Come on, let’s check out the abandoned Pris Starb. And dig


    up some dirt on the former Merak; I


    want his full dossier!”


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    He was determined to see what kind of life she had been forced to endure.


    At the Schnabel family dinner table.


    After giving Palmer a piece of his mind, Sextonunched into a tirade against his three children, not


    stopping until he had cycled through his eldest daughter and both sons, finally feeling satisfied.


    Marcel scoffed, “Shut it, Sexton. At least all my kids and grandkids are around me. This is almost


    killing you, huh?”


    “Hey! Marcel, what good would it do you if I kicked the bucket, huh?”


    “It’d let me enjoy a couple more bowls of stew.”


    Sexton rolled his eyes in annoyance, “Eat up and hope you burst! You cantankerous old coot!


    Noe, don’t be too hard on Palmer, the kid’s just a deep thinker! Who can me him… after all, he


    watched his mother leave this world. I can tell, the racal truly fancies you!”


    It was the first time Noe had heard Sexton speak of Palmer’s mother’s past.


    “Back then, Palmer was hiding in a closet when his enemies came knocking, and his mother… in


    front of his very eyes… Ah! I shouldn’t be filling your head with such sorrow, but I just hope you can


    give Palmer a chance!” Sexton’s earnest words left Noe feeling moved.


    She nodded, silently agreeing to consider his plea. Her phone buzzed with an encrypted message.


    [Boss, half an hour ago, Vocalist took down most of the Cerulean Whale crew and injured Thorpe!]


    Noe’s eyebrow arched slightly.


    So he wasn’t off handling business after all?