The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne mulled it over for a second, then said, “Well, it's not exactly like that. My mentor was the kind who'd perk up at the sight of a dollar bill, and now, I’m all about the cash, too. So, | need you to ink a new deal, Vance.

You know my Mr. Wolf's unemployed at the moment, and I've got a household to run.” With that, she whipped out a fresh contract and laid it before Vance, the figures in it a whopping fifty percent higher than the previous one.

Without a moment's hesitation, Vance scribbled his signature on the dotted line.

Money was no object when it cto this lifesaving contract.

After closing the contract, Vance’s expression regained its composure. “So, is this the reason Jasper calledover today?” Jasper shook his head. “Of course not. This is a matter my granddaughter brought to you. As for me, I've got another issue to discuss.” Vance straightened up. “What’s on your mind?” “The ancient warrior lineage.” Vance’s eyes flickered with disbelief.

Jasper himself hailed from the ancient warrior lineage, and the Perez family held a lofty position within the Vanguard Agency. It was surprising he would broach the topic with Vance, knowing full well that Vance had always wanted to kick the ancient warrior lineage out of the Agency.

“Surprised, huh?” Jasper chuckled. “I know you've got a bone to pick with the ancient warrior lineage, feeling that us old-timers are flexing our family muscles, stifling your special squad's operations, and botching many a mission.” Vance frowned, his gaze drifting over to Percival and VO oc 13 Great, those two were at it again, playing house.

One sipping coffee, the other pouring - living the life of Riley.

Vance had to drag his attention back. “Jasper, just lay your cards on the table.” At that moment, Percival handed Vance a freshly brewed cup of coffee. “Vance, Jasper here wants a slice of our partnership pie. What do you say?” Vance pressed his lips. “Jasper, the deal with Mr. Percy is to boot the ancient warrior lineage out of the Vanguard Agency. What exactly is the ‘pie’ you're wanting a piece of?” Jasper stood and strolled over to his desk, speaking slowly. “I get why you want to push them out. Over time, their influence has grown massive, almost monopolizing power, to the point where even the Perez and Martinez families sometimes have to step back.” He continued, knowing Vance’s motives were not merely vengeful. “You want to restore peace to the Agency.” Vance watched Jasper quietly, unsure where he was headed with this.

“But, after what happened with Noah, did anything strike you as off?” “What could be off? GTO managed to hide a mole in the Vanguard Agency for nearly sixty years, that...” Vance stopped short, suddenly grasping Jasper’s point.

Indeed, how did Noah manage to stay under the radar in the Agency for six decades without anyone catching on? Like those ten children back in the day - he added two more, and nobody noticed? What about the others on that mission? Could they not tell the difference between ten or twelve kids? No one in the Vanguard Agency was a fool. Without inside help, even with GTO cutting off its own tentacles to let Noah gain merit, his stay would not have been so smooth.

So smooth that even Yorick never suspected his partner of anything! And then there was Noah, pushing for the ancient warrior lineage to seize power all these years without any of their kin by his side. Why the obsession? It dawned on Vance.

The ancient warrior lineages must have been pulling strings behind the scenes! If Noah was GTO’s mole, could it mean that someone within the lineage had tight ties with GTO? The thought was chilling, and Vance could not help but break out in a cold sweat.

Vivienne poured Vance another cup of coffee. “My mentor faked his own death because he was being hunted, and those hunters were from the ancient warrior lineages. There's likely a significant connection there.” Vance’s voice lowered. “You're right. When | first tried to locate the Emerald Monastery, | sensed someone was after me, too. We never identified who, but they were highly skilled.” Vance had suspected for years that Ulysses had not perished when his family was wiped out but had gone into hiding.

So, Vance had been investigating discreetly, using his position within the Vanguard Agency to his advantage.

Vance could never have predicted that when he finally tracked down the location of the Emerald Monastery, he would discover that someone was after Finnian’s life. Knowing he was no match for these mysterious assailants with his current abilities, he had no choice but to lay low.

To his dismay, by the the returned, Finnian had succumbed to illness, leaving behind nothing but a grave.

And from then on, no word cfrom Finnian again.

Reflecting on the past, Vance now understood that the demise of the Sheldon family was inextricably linked to the ancient warrior lineage.

Even he had sensed that Ulysses was not truly dead; surely those of the ancient lineage were even more aware.

The pursuers had to be from the ancient warrior lineage! And if they were all from the ancient warrior lineage, then the mysterious people aiding Noah might well be the sgroup of people who hunted Finnian.

“What do you wantto do?” Vance asked.

Percival spoke again, “Vance, your wish to have the ancient warrior lineage leave the Vanguard Agency is clearly unrealistic. The Agency's ranks are thoroughly intertwined with the lineage. The Martinez family’s arsenal and the Perez family’s wealth - are just the basics. If we truly ousted the lineage, the entire Vanguard Agency would be affected.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

Instead, why not collaborate with Jasper to weed out the cancer within the Vanguard Agency, which is the ancient lineage? | will replenish any lost assets due to these malignancies. This way, the Agency won't lose its fighting edge and can return to its original tranquility.” Vance pursed his lips, carefully weighing Percival’s words.

Indeed, just as Percival had said, the ancient warrior lineage was now a pillar within the Vanguard Agency, intertwined by blood and impossible to separate.

Moreover, with just himself and Percival, there was no chance of infiltrating the inner circles of the lineage.

But with the help of the Perez family, there might be a glimmer of hope.

If they could excise the cancer, perhaps the Vanguard Agency would no longer be under the lineage’s thumb.

After all, the Agency's greatest enemy was still the elusive F-Poison! “Alright, I'm in,” Vance stood resolutely. “Jasper, Mr. Percy, | have but one goal—to turn the Vanguard Agency into a true protector of the people!” Percival rose to his feet, his coffee steaming in hand.

Jasper joined them, lifting his cup.

The three men clinked their cups in the air, a pact sealed over a coffee that stood in for whiskey.

Vivienne watched this unfold, a slight smile gracing her lips.