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

thinking? If they're

unable to stomach his ranting any longer,

botched operation was bad enough

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

at least set up a perimeter, avoiding the empty-handed

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

Now, even divine intervention

in the back, responded darkly, "Sure,

into a cold sweat, Leopold realized what he

me, Vivienne!" He

at Percival's arm, the other hand on the bomb model, and said calmly,

cause of her mother's death

called her mother, prompting her to

the possibility of a mole within the

But now...

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

chill. He turned, his face a

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

witnessing their

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

was as if the Grim Reaper was grinning at

sorry, 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 me contact

wouldn't dream of sending him to such extremes." Leopold gulped, "You two

workings from a model, someone trustworthy and an expert in

was an answer in itself,

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