The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 444

Vivienne slammed the phone down with a chilling finality that seemed to echo the icy resolve in her eyes.

Three minutes later, the realization hit both Vivienne and Percival simultaneously.

The bomb research facility was nestled right beneath Eastlake Bay Plaza, spreading its clandestine roots beneath half the square.

The scene suggested a hasty escape; the fleeing suspects only had snatched the crucial documents.

The operatives from the Nine Mystics Society had already evacuated, and Leopold, leading the first squad, had scoured the base thoroughly.

"Vivienne, Percival, check this out." Leopold approached, cradling a box in his arms.

Percival flipped the box open to reveal a scale model of a state-of-the-art bomb—obviously left behind in the chaos.

This only confirmed the suspicion that the perpetrators had received an urgent tip-off.

Otherwise, they never would have left something so vital behind.

Vivienne extracted the model, a one-to-one replica. While not as revealing as written documents, to the trained eye, it could divulge the bomb's design.

The bomb's most unnerving feature was its ability to evade detection—compact, portable, and easy to conceal.

Understanding how it slipped past sensors would be key to preemptive defense.

Vivienne tucked the model away. "I'm taking this."

Percival nodded. He had no intention of reporting a mere model to the higher-ups. He still had that much leverage.

Instead, Percival simply called Thomas, instructing him to report the escapees' flight, foregoing a return to headquarters.

On the way back, Leopold was fuming.

"Damn it, if we had set up a blockade sooner, I bet we could've stopped them. What are the higher-ups thinking? If they're worried about civilian safety, just make up an excuse to evacuate. A fire drill, earthquake drill—anything would've worked. This is infuriating!"

Anna, unable to stomach his ranting any longer, snapped. "Husky, can you shut it?"

The frustration of a botched operation was bad enough without his incessant grumbling.

"I can't shut it," Leopold retorted. "How many times now? If nothing works, maybe we should just surrender, throw in the towel."

His outrage was not unwarranted—they could have at least set up a perimeter, avoiding the empty-handed outcome.

"Percival, why don't you climb the ranks already?" Leopold blurted out, his anger getting the better of him, a clear sign of his exasperation.

Anna massaged her temples. Now, even divine intervention could not save him.

Percival, seated in the back, responded darkly, "Sure, any other commands?"

Breaking into a cold sweat, Leopold realized what he had just implied.

“Help me, Vivienne!” He yelled inwardly.

And as if she had heard his desperate plea, Vivienne tugged at Percival's arm, the other hand on the bomb model, and said calmly, "Mr. Wolf, perhaps it's time for you to climb higher."

Unexpected complications within the Vanguard Agency had thwarted their recent operations.

The true cause of her mother's death remained a mystery.

Who had called her mother, prompting her to choose suicide?

Vivienne had never considered the possibility of a mole within the Vanguard Agency, a team her mother had trusted implicitly.

But now...

If she uncovered that a Vanguard Agency betrayal had led to her mother's failed mission, she would ensure the traitor learned that neither prison nor the grave would be their ultimate sanctuary.