The Million-Dollar Heart

On the other side of town, nestled within a leafy suburb, Vivienne received a call from Rivenwood.

It was Griffin on the line.

"Vivienne, I've made another delivery of 'Morning Glory' to the Vanguard Agency just a few days ago. They've been dispatched already, but they went straight to HQ this time without going through Micah." Vivienne nodded in understanding. "How's the detector coming along?"

Griffin seemed to breathe a little easier. "The prototype's there, but we haven't been able to test it fully. After all, I've only managed to create a new type of bomb based on the model we have. We need to find the ones already planted by GTO to ensure it can actually detect them."

They had only found a model of the new bomb in Eastlake Bay. Though Griffin could replicate it, there was no certainty that it was identical to the ones GTO had developed.

Only an on-site test would prove that.

What they could test at the base was far from conclusive.

"Mmm," Vivienne murmured. "Having a prototype is better than nothing. Ideally, it should be a universal detector that can pick up your latest 'Morning Glory' creation."

"Don't worry, Vivienne, I've got this," Griffin reassured her, "The specifics of the 'Morning Glory' are already programmed into the detector model, and those tests have been successful."

Hearing Griffin's confidence, Vivienne felt a measure of relief. "Any other business at the base?"

Griffin picked up on her subtext, replying, "Nothing more. I've booked a flight, and we'll land in Sea City in three days."

"We?" Vivienne's interest was piqued.

Charlotte was busy with her studies and special training; she had no time to travel.

Griffin was not known for having many friends.

Yet, she was talking about coming to Sea City with "we"!

A bit embarrassed, Griffin's voice lowered on the other end. "It's that Husky. He wouldn't take no for an answer, claiming it was his boss' order to ensure the safety of the special agents. Spouted a whole list of reasons."

Vivienne chuckled, teasingly offering, "If you don't like him, you can always request someone else."

I... Vivienne, you're teasing

voice shifting shyly, Vivienne decided not to push further. "Alright, I'll

"And Anna."

handed the phone to Anna, who sighed heavily and said, "Ms. Vivienne, I

you in three days." Vivienne smiled, ending the call with a

her, "Leopold's

check in with you? Griffin said he insisted on

"Not exactly, but I'm on a

at him. "Got a

his head. "Just a hunch. Thomas is short on people. I thought

at the kid, Leopold, getting initiative," Vivienne

set up shop in Sea City and gathered

the Boyds have put in a request with Frostfire Intelligence Agency, looking for the Specter Healer for bone-setting and a back

Percival

hand, Vivienne's eyes glinted

her hand, and now you want to stitch it

pressed his lips. "Vivienne, as I recall, you're

"Of course I'm

[Five hundred billion for the bone-setting, eight hundred billion for the back injury.]

was indeed, above all,

message, Vivienne smiled at Percival and scrolled through her

speaking on behalf of Wendy. They invited her, as the head of the Boyd family, to join Percival at a yacht party scheduled in three days. The invitation included

The host was Patrick.

Vivienne's expression turned contemplative.

had just lost her hand and already wanted

was old and bold,

phone, Vivienne looked at Percival and asked, "Mr. Wolf, do you think you'll

you keep looking at me

Percival's shirt collar, murmuring provocatively, "Then why not use

a palpable tension, like waves crashing against the rocks, an endless cycle of ebb and flow