The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 176

Chapter 176

Given the power of Devil’s Isle and Ray Hale, finding Zoria was just a matter of time

Honestly, things were moving even slower than Nova had expected.

“Since when did you guys from the action team start helping out those Interpol agents with their missions?” Nova teased, leaning her back against the wall.

She didn’t answer Counselor Flynn directly, just tossed the question right back at him.

Her question caught Lin off guard.

“Those Interpol agents? Flynn thought to himself.

Why does she sound like she knows them personally?‘ Flynn couldn’t help but wonder.

He couldn’t help but think, ‘No wonder Commander Marshall from Sector X18 thinks so highly of her

Maybe before she arrived at Suntry Academy, she’d been secretly shipped off to some international base for some brutal, inhuman underground training.

Thinking about it that way, everything started to make sense.

“This job’s no walk in the park, and we’ve double–checked–the fugitive really did sneak their way into Zoria,” Flynn said, trying to sound patient.

“So now a bunch of different departments are working together, and everyone’s bringing what they’re best at to the table to get it done.”

“I’ll take the job,” Nova said, her eyes flashing with determination.

She made up her mind in a heartbeat.

“Really? That’s awesome!” Flynn exclaimed, his face lighting up.

“With you on board, our chances of nabbing this fugitive just got a whole lot better!”

He was genuinely impressed by Nova’s skills and couldn’t hide his excitement.

“Obviously!” Lillian grinned, jumping in. “Our girl Nova just wrapped up a 5S–level mission. As for the fugitive capture…

“If that fugitive ends up in Nova’s hands, no matter they’re from Devil’s Isle or wherever–she’s catching them for sure!”

She mimed a dramatic arrest as she spoke.

Yellowcat stifled a giggle on Lillian’s mimicry, so was Yvonne.

Why did Nova say yes to going after the fugitive?

Easy.

The most dangerous place is exactly where you’re safest.

Ray Hale? He wouldn’t see it coming in his wildest dreams–Nova actually joining the squad to hunt herself down.

On top of that, there was a smarter play in mind.

By joining the task force after her own head, Nova could monitor Ray Hale and his gang up close–always staying one step ahead and steering clear of trouble.

Seriously, with a setup like this, who wouldn’t jump at the chance?

“So to zero in on the fugitive, we’re kicking off a full–scale sweep all across Zoria,” Flynn laid out, his tone all business.

“But we can’t risk spooking them–if word gets out, they’ll vanish before we even get close. That’s why everything’s completely under the radar; not a soul outside the operation knows.

“Total media blackout–don’t expect to find a single headline or even a rumor about this anywhere.

“And listen, if we lock horns with the fugitive in the field, nobody can promise it won’t turn deadly.

“That’s why, before things get rolling, everyone on the mission gets a week back home–a last chance to see their family before the storm hits.”

Flynn’s instructions still rang clear in Nova’s mind, lingering with every beat of her heart.

That’s how Nova wound up with a whole week–a precious window to go home and see her family, maybe for the last time before jumping headfirst into the chaos.

Back when the toxic healer Aria was tending to Fiona Blake’s injury, her legs had already started to rebuild some muscle.

Now, unbelievably, Fiona could actually stand on her own two feet.

Of course, after over a decade spent confined to a wheelchair, those muscles still needed time to fully come back.

These days, she could manage to stand and even walk for four or five minutes at a stretch–and never missed her daily practice.

When Nova got home, the vibe was lively–like the whole place was humming with family energy.

Smack dab in the middle of the living room sofa was a woman around twenty–seven or twenty–eight–a complete stranger

to Nova.

She had a fur coat slung over her shoulders, looking glamorous and classy.

Up close, her makeup was so flawless and detailed, it looked airbrushed–yet you could see every pore.

She was both gorgeous and impossibly seductive.

“Yoro, you’ve really grown up! So, are you thinking of moving back here for good?” Charles, Nova’s dad, asked with an easy smile.

He’d skipped work today and was sitting close to Fiona, happily chatting away with this stranger.

The atmosphere could not have been more joyous.

“Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Blake,” Yoro said sweetly.

“I plan to stick around Zoria from now on–so our families can meet up whenever we want!”

The elegant woman was called Yoro–full name, Yoro Powell–carried herself with a mature grace that turned heads.

She’d skyrocketed to stardom internationally over the past few years, her name ringing out everywhere from red carpets to gossip headlines.

Some celebs come from families so loaded, they don’t have to play by Hollywood’s usual rules–producers and directors bend for them, not the other way around.

Yoro was textbook privileged–she fit right into that elite crowd.

Her family, the Powells, had been in a tight relationship with the Blake family for over twenty years, even way back before either had climbed to the top of the social ladder.

So even after all these years abroad, the moment Yoro set foot back in Zoria, her very first stop was Blake Manor to visit Charles and Fiona.

“Good, good! Very nice!” Charles said, eyes narrowing with delight.

He praised her warmly, clearly pleased.

Just then, Charles spotted Nova and waved her over. “Hey, Nova–you’re home!

“Come here, let me introduce you–this is Yoro.

“Back when you were just a little munchkin–probably don’t even remember–before you turned five, Yoro was always picking you up and twirling you around!”

Trying to break the ice, Fiona laughed and jumped in.

“Yoro used to spoil you just like a big sister, you know. And ever since she was little, she’s always been a total fashionista.

“Every time she picked you up, you’d make a mess on her–didn’t matter if it was pee or poop–but she never cared, not once. She always treated you like her own little sister.”

Yoro blushed at Fiona’s teasing. “Oh, Mrs. Blake, Nova really is like my little sister.

“Having her back is truly one of the biggest joys in my life.

“It’s just a shame I couldn’t make it back sooner–missed my chance to see Nova as soon as I got home!”

Nova walked over, coolly sizing up Yoro and the friendliness she showed toward the Blake family.

She barely nodded in Yoro’s direction–showing a minimal gesture, her own way of responding without getting close.

“I’ll be upstairs,” Nova said flatly, her tone frosty and detached.

She turned and headed up without another word, leaving the group behind.

Her chill left the other three frozen for a moment, all caught off guard by how distant she was.

“Nova keeps to herself these days after coming home,” Fiona’s voice drifted up from the foyer. “But we’re really grateful you took the time to visit her.”

“No worries at all, I totally understand,” Yoro replied, gentle and sympathetic. “Spending so many years on her own must have been really hard.

“You should really take good care of her, Mr. and Mrs. Blake…”

Yoro had dinner at Blake Manor and left soon after.

For the next seven days, apart from her daily training, life at home was business as usual for Nova–same old routine, nothing new.

When the week was up, Nova showed up at the rendezvous for the mission–and spotted Eric Smith, Mavis Taylor, and Vivian Taylor, all waiting together.

Yellowcat, on the other hand, was a no–show.

“So you’re taking this mission too?” Eric blurted out, clearly excited as soon as he saw her.

“Yeah.” Nova just nodded.

“Since we’re covering a huge area, pretty much every secret ops team in Zoria’s been called in for this one,” Flynn explained, his tone serious.

“Right now, we’re splitting up and sending teams in to scope out different circles. Word is, this fugitive’s as sly as a fox- unpredictable, totally weird, a master of disguise, and all about the money.

“Odds are, she’s either hiding as just another face in the crowd or slipped into some close–knit group.

“Our main focus is on money–making circles.

“Take the corporate circles, for example–we’ve already sent fifty agents to dig for clues there.

“Same goes for the digital scene…

“As for the celebrity circuit, you four–along with the rest of the team–will go undercover and poke around in showbiz.

“Get cozy with some stars, fish for gossip, see if any of them have met someone acting really off–that oddball’s probably our fugitive.”

Flynn droned on, hashing out the whole plan for everyone.

Nova, arms crossed, raised an eyebrow and asked, “So we’re really going scorched–earth on this? Is this a total sweep?”

“Exactly. We’re not letting a single corner slip by,” Flynn answered, resolute.

“There’s currently a reality show running in showbiz called ‘Thriller: Unpopulated Isle“,” Flynn explained.

“Loads of celebrities are taking part, so it’s the perfect hunting ground for you guys to dig for leads or gather intel in the entertainment circle.

“They’re filming on an actual deserted island, so at night, nobody knows what kind of wild beasts you’ll end with.

“You’ll be going in undercover as special VIP guests, there to make sure the stars stay out of danger.

“Feel free to come up with your own cover and disguise yourselves however you see fit.”

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