Astrid eyed the laboratory entrance before her, the very threshold of a top-secret national research facility she had once infiltrated with Vivienne. A sly grin tugged at the corner of her mouth as she pressed the button on the remote.

A gust of wind swept by, yet nothing ensued.

Disbelief etched across Astrid's features as she jabbed the button several more times, her expression darkening with each futile attempt.

Suddenly, she whipped out a gun, spinning around with a swift motion.

Vivienne, along with Percival and Leopold who was bemused, emerged from behind her.

Astrid showed no signs of panic; instead, a calm detachment washed over her.

"Figures, you're not one to fall for tricks so easily," Astrid declared, wielding the gun in one hand while discarding the useless remote with the other.

A flicker of regret crossed her gaze as she looked at Vivienne, "Had you joined us, our victory would've been assured by now."

Vivienne's eyes sparkled with amusement, her smile broad and radiant. "Your disguise is pathetic, Mr. B."

Mr. B, now unmasked as the impostor, gave a nonchalant shrug, making no move to remove his mask, "When did you catch on?"

Vivienne pondered for a moment, "Around the time I stumbled upon Scott, perhaps?"

Vivienne then let out a derisive chuckle, "You were too naive."

Mr. B's eyebrows rose inquisitively, "Impossible. You'd never interacted with me when you blew Scott's cover!"

A laugh escaped Vivienne, "Once wasn't enough?"

Mr. B's pupils constricted, still puzzled.

Before impersonating Astrid to get close to Vivienne, Mr. B had thoroughly researched his target. With the help of Alfred, the bumbling fool, Mr. B knew every minute detail of Astrid's life - from her catchphrases to her subtlest expressions and mannerisms.

her own mother, hadn't noticed anything

whom he had met only once, possibly

expression, Vivienne knew he still hadn't

glanced at Percival with a touch of exasperation, "Mr. Wolf, I told you they were no

her head, showing empathy, "You've worked

on task, please? This is a mission, not a time for

B clenched his jaw, "That's

knitted together as she swiftly launched a

vanished, and with a thud,

do not interrupt. It displeases me," Vivienne's eyes glinted with a cold edge, adding a chilling beauty to her already enchanting face. Mr. B gripped his gun tighter but knew better than

Percival, or even Leopold, Mr. B stood no chance of a

space, a well-trained individual could easily dodge a bullet. And even if hit by chance, Mr.

out of the question. He needed to wait

hesitation, wore a subtle smirk, "Mr. B, you didn't actually think you'd get the

realizing his fingers

that he had been drugged and was powerless to

phone buzzed with a message from Thomas:

his phone,

Leopold stepped forward and subdued the defenseless Mr. B, handcuffing him with the restraints he had learned to carry at all times since capturing Scott. "Mr. B," Leopold taunted, "

It all made sense.

on his flawless disguise,

of the renowned Finnian, whose greatest

practice phrenology, nor had she ever offered such services. So how did she discern

along with my charade for quite some time. It seems we must refine our art

"No matter how skilled you are, you can't imitate the warmth in Astrid's eyes.

talent for phrenology exceeded even her master's.

age of twenty-five, she was forbidden

her master's warning

the ability to read bone structure, a skill unrelated to mystic arts and solely

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