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?"

He flashed a forced smile. "Perhaps the Vanguard Agency does have

am?" Vivienne leaned back on

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

"Karen's daughter," Vance said.

her mother's name, a fierce glint flashed in Vivienne's eyes, and the casual indifference vanished, replaced by an

were not, I believe, acquainted," Vivienne said calmly, her tone laced with an enigmatic

she knew, when her mother was with the Vanguard Agency, her only real

not one to seek out friendships, so the

stories, Vivienne had never heard of anyone

mother's favorite protégé, Percival, was someone Vivienne had barely met in her childhood, barely

name, wanted

Wishful thinking, indeed.

forward. "I was not exactly close with

a hint of sincerity, piquing Vivienne's

joined the agency. She was stubborn, and so was I. We'd often butt heads, especially during a live exercise not long after she joined. Lark, Ashen Pigeon, and

to be extracted unharmed. 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,

her mother telling her this

Ashen Pigeon was Micah.

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

oneself was crucial, between one's safety and the hostage's, the hostage must

not fully understanding, Vivienne had confidently told her mother, "I'd make sure never to get hurt if I were rescuing someone. I'd have the

and hot-headed. I didn't see the point in Lark's actions. I thought that if you can't guarantee your own life, how can you protect the people or

that I finally understood. Your mother's actions were

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