The Million-Dollar Heart

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.

Cordelia, her own mother,

could Vivienne, whom he had met

Mr. B's expression, Vivienne knew he still hadn't grasped

with a touch of exasperation, "Mr. Wolf, I

showing

task, please? This is a mission,

his jaw, "That's quite

together as she swiftly launched a silver needle from

vanished, and with a thud, he knelt helplessly

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

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

hit by chance, Mr. B was aware that he would be the one to suffer the

was out of the question. He needed to wait for the right

subtle smirk, "Mr. B, you didn't actually think you'd get the chance to pull

B paused, suddenly realizing his

Vivienne's smug face and understood that he had been drugged and

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

his phone, "Leopold,

to act, 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, " My Vivienne has a knack for phrenology. No matter how you change your appearance, you can't fool her

It all made sense.

disguise, yet

hailed from the Emerald Monastery, a disciple of the renowned Finnian, whose greatest skill

phrenology, nor had she ever offered such services. So how did she discern Mr. B's true

"You've played along with my charade for quite some time.

you can't imitate the warmth in Astrid's eyes. The face reflects the

for phrenology exceeded even her master's.

was forbidden from reading fortunes, lest she risk her

had heeded her master's warning and refrained from

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