The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 441

She glanced at Soren's retreating figure, knowing full well her recent tie in combat was just a stroke of luck.

Soren was still nursing an old injury, not yet back in top form.

Percival approached with the detached professionalism of a captain, addressing Anna, “A month from now will be the final assessment. Pass that, and I’ll arrange for you to start interning in the lab while carrying out missions.”

Anna saluted smartly. “Yes, sir. I won’t let you or Vivienne down.”

Vivienne watched her with a hint of amusement. The girl was a quick study.

While Leopold drove Vivienne and Percival back to their estate, Anna was left at the Vanguard Agency’s training camp to hone her skills.

On the way, Leopold queried, “Vivienne, do you think Anna’s got what it takes? The Agency’s training isn’t for the faint of heart.”

Despite Anna’s draw with Soren, he was worried.

“If you made it through, she will too,” Vivienne replied nonchalantly, leaning on Percival’s shoulder.

Percival nodded in agreement, “Right, makes sense.”

Leopold glanced in the rear-view mirror, catching the couple’s affectionate display, and asked belatedly, “Hang on. What do you mean 'if I made it through'? I’m way better than Anna, okay?”

Vivienne lifted her gaze lazily, “She’s nineteen. How old are you?”

Leopold fell silent.

Alright, he asked for it. He should just shut up!

With a snap, he pulled down the visor.

Out of sight, out of mind, right?

...

A month later.

The assessment at Vanguard Agency officially began. The YQ and TCL labs had merged, keeping the YQ lab’s name.

Vivienne arrived at the lab first, taking in the familiar surroundings.

It was set up just like the one her mother, Karen, had established years ago.

Percival had spent the past month meticulously restoring it to its former glory.

Vivienne could almost see her mother working diligently as she approached the familiar workbench.

She walked the path her mother had once walked.

“Ma’am,” Holden emerged from within, followed by a group of lab researchers.

Now the head of YQ lab, Holden had been orienting his team to the lab’s environment and its various functions.

Vivienne nodded in acknowledgment, her eyes catching an unfinished experimental report on the desk.

Holden approached, saying, “We’ve been trying to replicate that 3D biological printer, but we’re hitting a wall.”

During the lab’s month of operation, Holden and his team had been busy with experiments and theories.

Vivienne quickly spotted several errors on the report and said, “These numbers are correct, but you’ve got the direction mixed up. Give it another shot.”

The researchers’ eyes lit up. They had been stuck for a month, but Vivienne had seen the solution at a glance.

Admiration was an understatement.

They were research fanatics, and seeing Vivienne’s expertise, they eagerly surrounded her with reports from their own fields.

After a brief discussion, Vivienne asked, “Who’s handling the potion department?”

The crowd parted, revealing a young man holding a copy of Hippocrates' Corpus. His hair was neatly trimmed, his nails clean, and he wore silver-rimmed glasses with a naive yet profound smile.

“Ma’am, I’m working on the potions,” he said pleasantly.