The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 700

The Vanguard Agency agents were stunned for a moment, but then all hell broke loose.

"What's the meaning of this? An inspection? What crime have we committed?"

"Who are these guys? Don't they know what Vanguard Agency stands for?"

"Look at their combat gear, never seen anything like it. Can someone tell me what's going on here?"

Vance had never seen Arthur's face up close, but just from his aura alone, he guessed that this had to be the legendary War God of Veridia.

But what Vance couldn't figure out was what the War God was up to with this stunt.

After a brief silence, Vance stepped forward and saluted Arthur. "War God!"

Arthur's eyes swept over him, his voice deep and foreboding. "You're the director of Rivenwood precinct, Vance?"

His speech was deliberate, yet Vance felt an unprecedented sense of oppression.

Unconsciously, Vance's back was drenched with sweat. He suppressed the feeling of being crushed internally and responded, "Yes, that's me."

Arthur was the War God, a title bestowed upon him by the top brass of Veridia. He was beholden to no agency, only taking orders from the supreme leader. In any department within Veridia, the presence of the War God demanded a salute and the address of 'War God.'

"Do you think you've been diligent in your role as the director?" Arthur's voice was calm, yet his aura of authority was undiminished, perhaps even more oppressive than before.

Vance felt the invisible weight nearly suffocating him, but after a short while, he managed to look up and say with all seriousness, "I believe I have been diligent!"

"Diligent?" Arthur snorted, "Out of the thirty non-combat personnel at Vanguard Agency, fifteen have been using their power for personal gain. And you say you're diligent?"

He took a step forward, stopping just a step away from Vance.

His eagle-like gaze stared intently at Vance as if trying to see right through him.

Vance's heart skipped a beat, and he retorted, "How could that be? I may not know about others, but under my watch here in Rivenwood, my team is beyond reproach."

Vance was aware there were problems within Vanguard Agency; his own mentor, Vesper, had been an undercover operative for GTO.

But after Vesper was exposed, Vance had thoroughly vetted everyone at Vanguard Agency from top to bottom. Their backgrounds were clean.

Why would the War God say such a thing?

Arthur gave him a cold look, then turned to stand at the center of Vanguard Agency, his gaze sweeping over everyone like a sovereign overseeing his subjects. "My name is Arthur Linklater. As of today, I'm taking full control of Vanguard Agency headquarters. Every member of the agency, up to the directors of the agency and down to the janitors, will be under investigation. Until everything is cleared up, no one is to leave without authorization."

With that, Arthur looked towards Vance and Micah. "You two will start."

Two operatives immediately surrounded Vance, their faces stern. "Please come with us."

Vance and Micah's expressions turned sour.

Vance looked at Arthur, "What's the meaning of this?"

"Have you gotten too cozy in your position to hear properly?" Arthur replied coolly.

Vance was seething.

This guy's way of speaking was infuriating!

Who else spoke in a way that just got under his skin like that?

Right! Vivienne!

She had the same effect!

She was maddening with her words!

After a long silence from Percival, he finally spoke up, "Vance, Micah, just comply with the investigation."

Vance was about to lash out, but when he heard Percival, he paused.

Arthur, having spent years on the battlefield, rarely returning home, caused such a stir upon his arrival. Likely, this was the will of the higher-ups.

"Not true!" Percival replied calmly and steadily.

"Oh?" Seeing Percival neither grovel nor cower, Arthur's estimation of him rose a notch.

His aura, honed in the company of the dead, could make even Yorick shudder, yet Percival stood unflinching from start to finish.

Arthur's interest in Percival was piqued, and with a raised eyebrow, he inquired, “If you're not the one who poisoned him, you're still tangled up in this mess. Why not spill the beans on who did?”

With a slight curve of his lips, Percival replied, “My wife always tells me that if you want to live long, keep your nose out of other people's business. Sorry, I don't have any insights!”

Arthur's stern face cracked into a smile. “I wouldn't have pegged you for a man who fears his better half.”

Still as respectful as ever, Percival admitted, “Yes, she's strict about those things.”

Arthur didn't pursue the conversation further. Instead, he walked around the Vanguard Agency and then spoke up with a deep voice, “I've looked into you and your lady.”

Percival's eyes narrowed for a moment, but he quickly composed himself, waiting for Arthur to continue.

“Both of you are brilliant. You played a crucial role in the operation to capture GTO's boss, F-Poison, even intentionally letting Samantha slip away to draw out her puppeteer. You've got brains, alright...”

Suddenly, his tone shifted. “But overconfidence is a shortcut to the grave.”

Percival's brows knitted slightly as he looked up at Arthur.

“Do you think by letting Samantha go, to reveal the man behind the curtain, that GTO's research on the elixir of life would just stop?” Arthur pulled up a chair and sat opposite Percival, legs crossed, his face expressionless as he stared at him.

Percival's expression changed abruptly; his initial respect for Arthur was gone, replaced by an aura of danger. “What are you driving at?”

The matter of the elixir of life was something they hadn't yet reported to the authorities.

It was a matter of great importance. He and Vivienne planned to conduct experiments and verify the feasibility of creating the elixir of life before deciding to report it. After all, the implications were enormous. If word got out, countless people would vie for the elixir, even resorting to desperate measures to obtain it.

Aside from Francis, and the shadowy figure behind him, only he and Vivienne were in the know. How had Arthur come by this information?