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.

back, Leopold

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

stomach his ranting any longer, snapped.

operation was

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

not unwarranted-they could have at least set

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

Now, even divine

responded darkly, "Sure,

cold sweat, Leopold realized what he had just

Vivienne!"

the bomb model, and said calmly, "Mr. Wolf, perhaps it's time for you to climb higher." Unexpected

of her mother's

had called her mother, prompting her

a mole within

But now...

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

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

sly smile playing on her

witnessing their expressions,

slapped by Vivienne or kicked by Percival

Grim Reaper was grinning at

Vivienne, Percival. I'll do whatever you ask-climb mountains, swim oceans, even streak across Mount Everest!" Percival's fingertips tapped rhythmically on the leather seat. "There's no need for such dramatics. Just help

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

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

silence was an answer in itself, their smiles

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