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,

he had met only once, possibly

expression, Vivienne knew

touch of exasperation, "Mr. Wolf, I told you

tenderly rubbed her head, showing empathy, "You've

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

clenched his jaw, "That's quite enough,

she swiftly launched a silver needle

legs vanished, and with a thud,

glinted with a cold edge, adding a chilling beauty to her already enchanting face. Mr. B gripped his gun tighter but knew better than

whether it was Vivienne, Percival, or even Leopold, Mr. B stood no chance of

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

of the question. He needed to wait for

subtle smirk, "Mr. B, you didn't actually think

paused, suddenly realizing his

and understood that he had

with a message from Thomas: [Subject is secure, no poison detected,

his phone, "Leopold, take

at all times since capturing Scott. "Mr. B," Leopold taunted, " My Vivienne has a knack for phrenology. No matter how you

It all made sense.

flawless disguise, yet Vivienne had seen right through

the Emerald Monastery, a disciple of the renowned Finnian,

Vivienne did not practice phrenology, nor had she ever offered such services. So how

forcing a smile, "You've played along with my charade for quite some time. It seems we must refine our art of

are, you can't

her master's. Finnian

twenty-five, she was forbidden from reading fortunes, lest

her master's warning and refrained from

the ability to read bone structure, a skill unrelated

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