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,

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

to stomach his ranting any longer, snapped. "Husky,

was bad enough without his

If nothing

was not unwarranted-they could have at least set up a perimeter, avoiding

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

a cold sweat, Leopold realized what he had

me, Vivienne!" He

if she 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 climb higher." Unexpected complications within the

cause of her mother's

mother, prompting her

of a mole within the

But now...

the traitor learned that neither prison nor the grave would

face a portrait of dread.

playing on her lips, while Percival's normally

witnessing their expressions,

Vivienne or kicked

as if the Grim Reaper was grinning at

do whatever you ask-climb mountains, swim oceans, even streak across

ever. "I wouldn't dream of sending him to such extremes." Leopold

bomb's workings from

an answer

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