The conversation had taken a turn, and it was clear that light-hearted banter was off the table.

"Vance, let's cut to the chase." Vivienne bit into a strawberry, savoring the burst of sweet, succulent flavor.

Vance sipped his wine, his gaze shifting between Vivienne and Percival.

"Vivienne, what do you know about Percival here?" He asked, nodding subtly towards Percival.

Vivienne tilted her head, eyeing Percival from head to toe. "Inside out," she declared.

Percival nearly choked on his Chardonnay.

What on earth was she talking about?

Were they not here for a formal discussion?

Vance was clearly taken aback, not expecting such a forthright answer from Vivienne.

Nor had Vivienne expected to say it, but seeing Percival's stern and ascetic demeanor, she just could not help herself.

Not everyone could understand the world of someone who cared about looks like she did.

Vance regained his composure and chuckled. "Well then, you must be familiar with his work. I was wondering if you might be interested in joining him professionally?" Percival coughed, glancing at Vance.

Was he suggesting Vivienne join the Vanguard Agency?

Vivienne speared another strawberry with her fork, the juice coating her taste buds in satisfaction.

"Director Vance, are you sure you can afford to hire me?"

a forced smile. "Perhaps the

who I am?" Vivienne leaned back on

Vivienne. "Specter Healer, an identity of great interest to my upper echelons. But I'm only interested in one

"Karen's daughter," Vance said.

eyes, and the casual indifference vanished, replaced by an incomprehensible

you were not, I believe, acquainted," Vivienne

far as she knew, when her mother was with the Vanguard Agency, her only real ally had been

was naturally a loner, not one to seek out friendships, so the term 'friend' applied to

mother's stories, Vivienne had

favorite protégé, Percival, was someone Vivienne had barely met

name, wanted to recruit her into the Vanguard

Wishful thinking, indeed.

"I was not exactly close with Lark. Quite the opposite, we were

of sincerity, piquing Vivienne's interest

I were rivals from the moment she joined the agency. She was stubborn, and so was I. We'd often butt heads, especially during a live exercise not

I was ready to use a tranquilizer gun, but Lark would not have it. She insisted the hostage not be harmed in any way. We argued, but ultimately, Ashen Pigeon sided with her, and I backed down. Lark took a risk, got herself injured, but managed to get the

remembered her mother telling

Ashen Pigeon was Micah.

Karen had said, was to teach Vivienne that no matter what, one should never compromise their

if getting injured wasn't a compromise. Karen replied that while protecting oneself was crucial, between one's safety and the hostage's, the

"I'd make sure never to get hurt if I were rescuing someone. I'd have the enemy hand them over willingly. Now that's the best strategy." Karen had laughed warmly at that, her eyes filled with

point in Lark's actions. I thought that if you can't guarantee your own life, how can you protect the people

that I finally understood. Your mother's actions were what

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