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.

mother, hadn't noticed

he had met only once, possibly

Vivienne knew he still

at Percival with a touch of exasperation,

her head, showing empathy, "You've worked

with a note of seriousness, "Can we stay on task, please?

jaw, "That's quite

swiftly launched a

vanished, and with a thud, he knelt

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

Vivienne, Percival, or even Leopold, Mr. B stood no

And even if hit by chance, Mr. B was aware

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

B, you didn't actually think you'd get the chance

suddenly realizing his fingers

face and understood that he

a message from Thomas: [Subject is secure, no

pocketed his phone, "Leopold, take

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

It all made sense.

his flawless disguise, yet

disciple of the renowned Finnian, whose greatest

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

smile, "You've played along with my

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

phrenology exceeded even her master's. Finnian often remarked

she was forbidden from reading fortunes, lest

master's warning and refrained

possessed the ability to read bone structure,

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