The Million-Dollar Heart

Vance was clearly growing impatient, the topic at hand obviously not to his liking.

"The big boss of the organization, Noah, is who you guys refer to as Rover," he said. Percival's tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt.

Vance had thought Percival was certain, so he admitted, "Yes, Noah is Rover. Back in the day, I was the commander, but when the plan changed at the last minute, I had to go through the boss." Percival chuckled lightly. "Figures."

It was then that Vance realized he had been played. He sighed, "Percival, you can suspect me or Micah all you want, but with Noah, there's no need."

"Because he's your mentor?" Percival raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady on Vance.

Vance nodded, "Yes, Noah was our mentor. He brought us together and led us to where we are now. He's the most accomplished commander Vanguard Agency has ever had and your mentor's idol. I can vouch for him, Percival. Noah's clean. He didn't take part in that operation!"

"But he signed off on it, Vance. I can't believe you've never doubted him," Percival's tone turned colder.

Silence fell over Vance, and for a long while, he found no words.

Indeed, after the mission's failure, not just Karen but also Micah and Vance themselves had harbored deep suspicions within Vanguard Agency.

Compared to Karen and Micah's emotional ties and utter trust, Vance was a bit more ruthless. He had even doubted Noah, the very mentor who had brought him into the fold.

Vance had investigated, sure, but Noah was Noah, without a single discrepancy.

Eventually, Vance shifted his suspicions to Micah.

That was why, later on, the rift between Micah and Vance only deepened.

These suspicions were put on hold when Vance went undercover.

Vance shared all the details of his past investigation into Noah with Percival, saying, "I did doubt him, but my mentor is innocent. You're wasting your time, Percival."

silent, his eyes holding

left

he just watched Percival go before answering a call

worry, everything's fine," Vance said with a smile, seemingly at peace after hearing his mentor's

on the other end of the line made Vance press his lips together and nod. "Yeah, I told him. Yes, cooperation is based on honesty; otherwise, how can we get their help?" After hanging up, Vance's smile faded, and he stood up

the coffee shop, tapped into all his connections to dig deeper into Noah's

and with Percival's own savvy, he still

enough to

to be rehired by Vanguard Agency

Yorick multiple times,

bond was as strong as

were Karen, Micah,

well-connected, decorated, a teacher of

mind as

one who could match Noah was

never held a high office like a director or deputy director, his title could not

brows, admiring the resume, especially the major cases handled by

from death, it made doubting such a seasoned leader seem

down the documents, Percival looked at Vivienne before pulling her

or lost in

gaze not fixed on any point, as if stretching out to

into a slight smile, his chin resting on

F-Poison