The Million-Dollar Heart

Just two steps out the door, and Percival's deep voice halted him. "Come back."

Thomas froze mid-stride, protesting, "Percival, if we don't chase her down now, it'll be too late. We can't let Samantha get away again." Percival helped Vivienne to her feet, casting a dismissive glance at Thomas. "We're withdrawing!"

"But..."

Before Thomas could finish, Percival shot him a look that silenced him immediately.

Thomas couldn't understand why! With so many of them against one, couldn't they snatch Samantha from that person's grasp?

Leopold was just as baffled, but he could sense the strength in their adversary. Maybe Percival's reluctance to pursue was because their lives were more valuable than capturing one Samantha. The Nine Mystics Society didn't take orders from Percival.

Draven, looking toward Vivienne, inquired, "Young Master, shall we withdraw?"

Vivienne pulled two life-saving pills from her pocket, handing one to Percival and swallowing the other herself.

After ingesting her pill, she instructed Draven, "Everyone withdraw. Starting today, the Nine Mystics Society is on lockdown. No one leaves. Prepare our defenses."

Her words left Thomas and Leopold in a fog.

Samantha had escaped, and rather than chasing her down, they were ordered to prepare the Nine Mystics Society for defense.

What did this mean?

Draven, long accustomed to Vivienne's commands, understood her immediately, and with a grave expression, he confirmed, "Understood, Young Master. I'll initiate Level 2 Defense immediately." Thomas and Leopold were utterly confused.

Level 2 Defense? What was that? Was there a fight brewing?

The apprentices from Emerald Mountain didn't question it; they trusted that Vivienne had her reasons.

Draven led the Nine Mystics Society members away without another word.

passed on the order for the Nightfall Assembly to retreat

Mountain apprentices

Vivienne, Percival, Thomas, and

its magic on Vivienne, rapidly healing her. This was the new and improved version she had recently developed, with the help of research from ST-1, far more

turned to Percival with a smirk. "Mr. Wolf, we've failed

took her hand, his stern face showing no sign of anger over Samantha's escape, and he smiled. "Indeed, we have. Let's head

around has made me

and

Leopold exchanged looks before reluctantly

glanced back with a soft sigh, "Such a beautiful house,

she casually tossed the miniature bomb she'd acquired from Samantha and shouted,

her move, grabbed

were a step behind but still dashed away

"Boom!"

erupted behind them, reducing the top-level

Huxley found refuge within the

still had uses for Vivienne, who, after medicating her, allowed her to reside with

also ended up at the Ellington

aware of Mara's past deeds and would have refused them entry, but with just a word

who had passed out upon arrival and was still

medicated me, and from now on, I'll listen to whatever she says and turn over a new leaf." Tears and snot smeared everywhere, and Cecilia

stupid or

was killed by F-Poison, and the Boyd family is no more. Everything I did was for Huxley. Please forgive me." Cecilia, looking down at Mara, thought that if she had acted like this earlier, without causing trouble for Vivienne or indulging in crooked schemes, she

for Mara, orphaned so young, but now she somewhat

for Vivienne and drop those crooked schemes,"

insisting on housing Mara and her brother, Cecilia wouldn't even bear to