The Million-Dollar Heart

Noah joined the ranks of RST at seventeen, but by nineteen, the organization had splintered into GTO and CK after Jasper's devastating raid.

Assigned by F-Poison to infiltrate the Vanguard Agency as a mole at twenty, Noah figured he would bide his time, draw Vanguard's attention with GTO activities, and then slip back into the shadows of his true allegiance. But what he thought would be a brief chapter turned into nearly six decades-a lifetime invested and now, seemingly, lost.

"Tell me, Noah, in all the years you've been undercover in Vanguard Agency, what's GTO given you for your troubles? I'm genuinely curious. Heck, I haven't even caught a glimpse of the big boss's face. Have you?" Quincy asked with a cocked eyebrow.

Noah's frown was subtle but present. "You talk too much. When's my ride getting here?"

Quincy stepped back, a hint of apology in her voice. "Sorry, Noah, your ship isn't coming."

Noah turned, startled, only to be greeted by the dark mouth of a gun barrel.

"Master, there's no escape now," Vance said solemnly, gun in hand, a trace of sorrow in his eyes.

Instinctively, Noah stepped back, but another gun pressed against the back of his head.

"You know I don't move so fast anymore, Master," a familiar voice stated from behind him.

Noah exhaled heavily. "Let me guess, there's one more?"

As if on cue, Karen stepped out from Noah's side, her gun aimed at the man she once revered like a father.

"It's been a long time, Master."

Noah's gaze met Karen's. Her face, one he had not seen for years, suddenly before him, gave him a moment of stunned pause.

"All these years, and you haven't changed a bit, my little apprentice," he reminisced. "Back then, you and Daphne were the only girls among a sea of rowdy boys. Those were the days..."

cold voice interrupted from behind. "My mother couldn't make it. I'm here

"Anything else you want to ask, Karen? I'll tell you whatever you need to

gun tightened, her

when you killed Daphne with your own hands, did you ever think

pause, Noah

I never truly considered any of you my own. You were merely stepping stones on my path

Micah's eye as he observed Noah's profile. Even after all these years, he had clung to the hope that his master was not a traitor. Noah had carried him from the crossfire when he was wounded on the battlefield. He had been there for every pivotal moment of Micah's life within the Vanguard

sought out Noah, sharing his

a dead end for so

suspected Noah. Everyone else, but not

do almost anything to achieve his goals, even if it meant hurting those around him. Noah had been the first to show him

his doubts about Noah. However, that was soon dismissed

the very

breeze that ruffled their clothes,

meant to her. She respected Yorick, found a kindred spirit in Ulysses, but to Noah, she

her out of that darkness, giving her the strength of a father's support, enabling her to start anew. Now,

fate, Noah sat down,

you lured me here to flush out F-Poison? Sorry to disappoint, but even if you've turned this young

hit the enemy where they

carried a tracking virus. Once you opened it, your phone was compromised. Every device near you

chuckled. "Ah, as expected of my apprentices. And Micah, what role did you play in

They have trackers in them. Thomas is already leading