Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 430

"You got it. I'll drop you at the hotel. If you need anything at all, just say the word. As long as you're in Port City, I've got your back."

"Thanks, Drake." Honestly, she much preferred operating solo. It made moving in the shadows significantly easier.

That evening, she met Nina for dinner.

They chatted briefly about the protocol for boarding the ship the next day, and then went their separate ways.

They weren't particularly close, so the conversation naturally ran dry.

Even if Nina hadn't prepped her, Stella wouldn't have been worried. Back when she roamed the underground circuits with Fifth Master, she had seen far crazier spectacles than this.

After returning to her hotel room, she calculated the time difference and figured Julius's plane had likely landed. She shot him a quick text to let him know she was safe.

Julius had indeed just touched down. The moment he turned his phone off airplane mode, her message popped up. He immediately texted back, confirming he had safely reached South Africa.

The next morning.

Drake arrived at the hotel right on schedule, and the two of them headed out to rendezvous with Nina.

Nina had brought someone along as well—a massive, burly guy with a buzz cut. Stella instantly pegged him as a hired bodyguard.

Drake eyed the mountain of muscle, then looked down at his own completely average physique, clearing his throat. "I can protect you too, you know."

Stella smirked. "I'm counting on it."

Drake certainly sounded like a badass mobster, but his physical presence didn't exactly scream 'lethal protector.'

The four of them boarded a private tender, drifting across the water for about an hour before transferring onto a colossal, breathtaking luxury cruise ship.

Elite figures from across the globe would be boarding this very vessel, which would carry them out into international waters.

Once on board, attendants guided the four of them to their respective luxury suites.

There was no schedule for the day. The only objective was to indulge.

In the middle of summer, people might have actually been surfing. But right now it was winter, and the harsh ocean winds were biting cold. No one was crazy enough to do outdoor water sports.

The decks were completely deserted. Everyone had retreated inside to escape the freezing wind and hit the indoor entertainment.

Stella decided the bar was her best move.

Everyone on this ship was an elite player, and with the actual tournament yet to begin, they weren't going to waste their time with casual poker or mahjong.

She deduced that the majority of the heavy hitters would be gathered around the alcohol. So, the bar it was.

Upon boarding, every guest had been handed a velvet-bound directory outlining the ship's layout.

She had skimmed through it while resting in her suite, committing every floor and its amenities to memory.

The bar was on the second floor.