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

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, just make up an excuse

ranting any

botched operation was bad

many times now? If nothing works,

unwarranted-they could have at least set up a perimeter, avoiding the

why don't you climb the ranks already?" Leopold blurted out, his anger getting the better of him,

temples. Now, even divine intervention could

in the back, responded

Leopold realized

me, Vivienne!" He yelled

had heard his desperate plea, Vivienne tugged at Percival's arm, the other hand on the bomb model, and said calmly, "Mr. Wolf, perhaps it's time for you to

cause of her mother's death remained a

called her mother,

considered the possibility of a mole within the Vanguard Agency, a team her mother

But now...

that neither prison nor

his face

a sly smile playing on her lips, while

witnessing their

or kicked by Percival than

Grim Reaper was grinning at a

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

ever. "I wouldn't dream of sending him to such extremes." Leopold gulped, "You two aren't thinking of her,

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

Vivienne's silence was an answer in

face went pale as he stammered, "No way, I can't possibly call Griffin. It's out