The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)



Watching the rosary beads scattered all over the floor, Elara quickly bent down to pick them up.

But she found that they were all cracked, not a single bead was left intact!

Wren remarked, "It's truly the work of a master. The thing Horatio left for you must have been meant to protect you from disaster!"

Horatio is truly miraculous!

Holding the rosary beads, Elara asked, "Wren, can these be fixed?"

"No way, they're shattered too badly."

Wren shook his head. "The sniper must have been lying in wait for a while. Miss Elara, you should hurry home!"

"Alright."

Back at Serene Haven, Elara was still feeling unsettled.

The Schnabel family learned about the incident from Wren and thought she was just shaken up.

Sienna touched Elara's forehead, "Why are you so cold? Did it scare you? Mom will have someone make you some calming soup."

Lavinia asked urgently, "Are you hurt? Thank goodness someone was with you, otherwise, I can't even imagine!"

Elara shook her head.

"I'm fine, we all wore bulletproof vests, so no harm done. It's just... Horatio's rosary beads are broken."

Noella glanced at the rosary beads in Elara's hand, already too shattered to retain any shape, rendering the idea of repairing them meaningless. "When the monk gave them to you, they were probably meant to protect you from harm. It's good that you're safe."

Elara's eyelashes fluttered, her heart torn between expectation and disappointment.

"So... why hasn't he replied to my messages lately?"

"The monk doesn't carry a cell phone when he's out wandering. This time, Ivan happened to be with him, and they went to Ever River."

Just a few days ago, Elara received a photo from Ivan of the two by the Ever River.

"Don't worry about him. The monk has his ways. If he's in danger, he'll contact me. No big deal."

Horatio had his ways of reaching out to Noella, once even sending a bird that chirped incessantly, insisting on taking Noella to rescue someone immediately!

"I see..."

Elara felt somewhat hollow inside!

It wasn't that there was no way to contact her, but rather a lack of desire to do so.

But then again, why would Horatio need to contact her? It seemed pointless!

With that thought, Elara wasn't sure what she was expecting anymore.

"I'm fine! It must be because my recent research findings are too significant, attracting envy. Let's eat, I'm starving!"

Hearing her say she was hungry, the family quickly started dinner.

Elara's research findings had been coveted for more than a day or two, with numerous foreign powers wanting to kidnap her. This time was probably no different.

Meanwhile, at the Ever River.

Sacred waters flowed gently, the entire river glowing with golden light.

Horatio and Ivan walked along its edge when Horatio suddenly said, "My rosary beads are broken."

"They're broken because they were used!"

"That's true."

Ivan, excited like a wild marmoset, skipped a stone across the water, creating a beautiful series of ripples.

"Monk, are you upset about your rosary beads, or are you missing someone?"

Horatio's expression remained calm, revealing no hint of his thoughts.

"I don't know."

He had done all he could, yet he still couldn't fathom his own feelings.

"Perhaps my meditation is still lacking. I shall retreat to the mountains for deeper practice. Farewell for now."

Ivan followed, "Don't leave, I'll go too. The boss asked me to protect you. If you're off feeding monkeys in the mountains, I'll just be left washing my feet in some third-rate bathhouse."

Looking at the peaceful, yet turbid waters of the Ever River, Horatio found tranquility in his heart.

"Some things are best left as they are."

Ivan looked at Horatio, puzzled, "I don't get it. So, you're giving up on liking the boss's sister?"

Horatio had never hidden his feelings, living openly and honorably. Ivan had seen through him, and he admitted it!

"Love is also a form of practice. There's much more I need to do. The same goes for Elara."

Ivan felt an unexplainable surge of power from Horatio, his aura of enlightenment almost too bright to conceal. Horatio had already set off towards the mountains...

...

At Serene Haven, in the Phoenix Tower of the Schnabel Manor.

After dinner, Beckett looked at a message just sent by his secretary.

"Dillon?"

Elara frowned, "What's wrong, Beckett?"

"The person who attacked you was Dillon! But something doesn't feel right."

Noella said, "Dillon doesn't seem like he would know how to snipe. We didn't notice any signs that he could handle a gun when we met him."

Anyone skilled with guns would have calluses on their hands, which are hard to fake.

During a previous encounter on a cruise ship, Palmer had tested Dillon, who seemed nothing more than a pampered playboy.

Handling a simple handgun might be doable, but accurately sniping with a rifle was utterly out of the question!

"Right, if it wasn't Dillon, then he's being set up!"

Noella pondered seriously.

"The sniper must be important. They're looking for an opportunity for him to strike again, so they're framing Dillon."

Connor's execution was a certainty.

The Patel family was in chaos, with Pearl barely able to open her eyes in bed!

Those seeking to flee with valuables in the confusion were countless.

Elara frowned, "Dillon even sent me

a message! Claiming he wasn't the

one who attacked me, that he,

had

his reasons! What is this, a soap opera?"

While speaking, Elara forwarded the suspicious message to the police.

A message from an unknown number popped up on her phone.

[【This is Horatio, the monk. The rosary beads are broken, the disaster averted, peace is yours.)

Looking down at the message on her phone, the ripples in Elara's heart gradually calmed.

With a soft smile, the tension in Elara seemed to dissolve in an instant.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

She and Horatio, they were kindred spirits!

---

In the backroom of Azure.

Dropping the measuring tape, Esme snorted, "That old coot 7-Slayer, probably had it all planned out to let Connor take the fall."

"Connor's just the name he goes by now, used to be called Lone Wolf."

Noella frowned, "Then why get into scamming?"

"Kid, scams bring in quick cash! The stuff Connor's been up to could get him life in prison several times over, probably raking in more dough than the Schnabel family, so tell me, why wouldn't he?"

When wealth becomes just a number, it corrupts the soul!

"If they're saying the most crucial machine's not there, it's likely been moved. 7-Slayer wouldn't give up that treasure."

"The Mirage Grass was cultivated by

7-Slayer and his crew from the start,

the underground miracle drug

Nourishment Pill was just an experiment, overdose, and you're dead."

Noella was aware of all these dark dealings!

"What does 7-Slayer even need all that money for?"

"Who would say no to more money?"

Esme chuckled, picking up a piece of fabric, sizing Noella up with it.

"Stunning! But...tsk tsk, young people should exercise some restraint."

Catching Esme's suggestive gaze, Noella grabbed a mirror to inspect her neck, finding some tell-tale love bites not hidden by her hair...

Blushing, she quickly draped a scarf around her neck, and without looking back, she dashed off!

"I've got to go!"

Esme's cheerful laughter echoed behind her.