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

decided not to push further. "Alright, I'll pick you guys up in three days. Just the

"And Anna."

Anna, who sighed heavily and said, "Ms. Vivienne,

in three days." Vivienne smiled,

her, "Leopold's

Vivienne rolled her eyes. "Did he check in with you? Griffin said

nose thoughtfully. "Not exactly,

at him. "Got a

is short on

at the kid, Leopold, getting initiative," Vivienne remarked. Then, her phone buzzed

up shop in Sea City and gathered the men of the Nine Mystics Society. Awaiting your

the Boyds have put in a request with Frostfire Intelligence Agency, looking for the Specter Healer for bone-setting and a back injury. They're willing to pay any price.] Vivienne's eyebrow quirked at that.

same message, Percival

hand, Vivienne's eyes glinted

"You just chopped off her hand, and now you

as I

"Of course I'm not! But who hates

[Five hundred billion for the bone-setting, eight hundred billion for

was indeed,

smiled at Percival and scrolled through

the Boyd family, Theodore, speaking on behalf of Wendy. They invited her, as the head of the Boyd family, to join Percival at a yacht party

The host was Patrick.

Vivienne's expression turned contemplative.

had just lost her hand and

old and

off her phone, Vivienne looked at Percival and asked, "Mr. Wolf, do you think you'll be able to use the item Eliza gave you in

at me like that, I might have to use it

slender finger traced a path down Percival's shirt collar, murmuring provocatively, "Then why not

waves crashing against the rocks, an endless cycle of ebb and flow laced with