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.

the way back, Leopold was

a blockade sooner, I bet we could've stopped them. What are the higher-ups thinking? If they're worried about civilian safety,

his ranting any longer, snapped.

was bad enough

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

have at least set up a perimeter,

the ranks already?" Leopold blurted out, his

her temples. Now, even divine intervention

back, responded

into a cold sweat, Leopold realized what he

Vivienne!" He yelled

the bomb model, and said calmly, "Mr. Wolf, perhaps it's time for you to climb higher." Unexpected complications within the Vanguard Agency had thwarted

cause of her mother's death remained a

called her mother, prompting

a mole within the Vanguard Agency,

But now...

that neither prison nor the grave would be their ultimate sanctuary. Percival's brows arched subtly, understanding her intent. "Yes, I agree. You've

turned, his face a portrait of dread.

sly smile playing on her lips, while Percival's normally

witnessing their expressions,

rather be slapped by Vivienne or kicked by Percival than subjected to

as if the Grim Reaper was grinning at

I'll do whatever you ask-climb mountains, swim oceans, even streak across Mount Everest!" Percival's fingertips tapped rhythmically on the leather seat.

of sending him to such extremes." Leopold gulped,

deduce a bomb's workings from a model,

Vivienne's silence was an answer in

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