The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne slammed the phone down with a chilling finality that seemed to echo the icy resolve in her eyes.

Three minutes later, the realization hit both Vivienne and Percival simultaneously.

The bomb research facility was nestled right beneath Eastlake Bay Plaza, spreading its clandestine roots beneath half the square.

The scene suggested a hasty escape; the fleeing suspects only had snatched the crucial documents.

The operatives from the Nine Mystics Society had already evacuated, and Leopold, leading the first squad, had scoured the base thoroughly.

"Vivienne, Percival, check this out." Leopold approached, cradling a box in his arms.

Percival flipped the box open to reveal a scale model of a state-of-the-art bomb-obviously left behind in the chaos.

This only confirmed the suspicion that the perpetrators had received an urgent tip-off.

Otherwise, they never would have left something so vital behind.

Vivienne extracted the model, a one-to-one replica. While not as revealing as written documents, to the trained eye, it could divulge the bomb's design.

The bomb's most unnerving feature was its ability to evade detection-compact, portable, and easy to conceal.

Understanding how it slipped past sensors would be key to preemptive defense.

Vivienne tucked the model away. "I'm taking this."

Percival nodded. He had no intention of reporting a mere model to the higher-ups. He still had that much leverage.

Instead, Percival simply called Thomas, instructing him to report the escapees' flight, foregoing a return to headquarters.

way back,

are the higher-ups thinking? If they're worried about civilian safety, just make up an excuse to evacuate. A fire drill,

unable to stomach his ranting any longer, snapped. "Husky, can you shut

was

shut it," Leopold retorted. "How many times now? If nothing works, maybe we

at least set up

you climb the ranks already?" Leopold blurted out, his anger getting the better of him, a clear sign of

her temples. Now, even divine intervention could not save

back, responded darkly, "Sure, any

Leopold realized

Vivienne!" He yelled

Vivienne tugged at Percival's arm, the other hand on the bomb model, and said calmly, "Mr. Wolf, perhaps it's time

true cause of her mother's death

called her mother, prompting her to choose

a mole within the Vanguard Agency, a team her mother had trusted

But now...

betrayal had led to her mother's failed mission, she would ensure the traitor learned that neither prison nor the grave would

chill. He turned, his face a portrait of dread. "I'm

toyed with the bomb model, a sly smile playing on her lips, while Percival's normally

their expressions,

kicked by Percival than subjected to

Grim Reaper

his hands, pleading with the pair, "I'm sorry, Vivienne, Percival. I'll do whatever you ask-climb mountains, swim oceans,

nodded, cradling the bomb model, her smile as bright as ever. "I wouldn't dream of sending him to such extremes." Leopold gulped, "You two aren't thinking of

deduce a bomb's workings from a model, someone trustworthy and

and Vivienne's silence was an answer in itself, their smiles

he stammered, "No way, I can't possibly call