The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The helicopter descended slowly, and Percival leaped from the aircraft, for once not immediately rushing to Vivienne’s side but instead locking eyes with his mentor.

In an instant, the area was swarmed by the special squad agents of the Vanguard Agency.

F-Poison, bound by a robot, was being escorted to the helicopter.

She struggled briefly, her face devoid of emotion. “The family reunion over there. Have you really decided this is the end?”

Percival instinctively shielded Vivienne and Karen behind him, eyes wary as he watched F-Poison.

F-Poison let out a mocking laugh, and the expressions on Karen and Vivienne’s faces changed in unison.

“Get down!”

As their words rang out, explosions erupted around them, igniting a towering inferno!

“Percival! Madam, Captain, are you alright?”

Thomas’s voice bellowed through the flames.

Percival was shielding Vivienne and Karen beneath him, his back already scorched by the fire. “Put out the fire first!”

Thomas quickly organized a firefighting effort. Fortunately, they were on a mountaintop, and the wind was not strong; their prompt response prevented a wildfire.

Leopold arrived with the third squad, first helping the injured to safety before searching the crowd for Vivienne.

“Vivienne! Are you okay? You have to be okay! Otherwise, other disciples will have my head! Vivienne!”

Vivienne was sitting nearby, irritated by Leopold’s wailing.

With a flick of her wrist, she chucked a stone at him. “Shut up already!”

Leopold felt the stone hit his leg, and he scrambled toward the voice, relieved to find Vivienne with just some superficial cuts.

“Vivienne, you scared me to death! Thank goodness you’re fine, or I’d never be able to face the master or our brothers!”

a hug, but Percival

thought, “Dream on

him away in time, or I

the woman before him, and rubbed

pinched his cheek, and scolded, “After all these years, you haven’t changed a bit.

voice broke, and

Captain! My dear, respected, and beautiful Captain! You’re alive! This is

been bullying me over the years! Waah,

to watch

had arrived much later than the others and did not know Karen,

could not stand it anymore and tossed

before Karen, examining her

Anna’s photo with her mother, Daphne, both in Vanguard Agency uniforms, their hair in neat ponytails, the

up at Anna and

right? I’m

her nose, and tears fell as she choked

“Ms. Karen.”

you, you know. If your mother could see how beautiful you’ve grown, she’d be

most trusted lieutenant. They had survived death together and were forced

appear to deliver Anna, caring for her for three days before

heard from each other again, it

saluted Karen. “Rivenwood Vanguard Agency headquarters, special squad third team member

Daphne’s early days in the team and

catch up properly when we get back. Report to your

“Captain, the site has been surveyed. F-Poison is confirmed missing, and the remains

frowned, glancing

Vivienne’s scraped fingers, the result of his haste to

to speak, but Percival was

We’ll be off now. No need to see us out.” Percival helped Vivienne to

this… this piece of trash with us,” He

of reminding Thomas that, from now on, he was the true

Thomas with a conspiratorial twinkle in her eye. “Cause of the explosion, body parts, escape route!”Books Chapters Are