The Million-Dollar Heart601-700

Novel Catalog

Chapter_647
Astrid gave a curt nod. “Yes, Alfred has confessed. We detected a virus in his system, which, according
to him, is called ST-0. Apparently, it’s a mandatory injection for all members of their spy ring. This virus
alters their genetic makeup, enabling them to slip through searches undetected.”
noveldrama
No wonder Astrid had never suspected Alfred during their courtship. His genetics had been altered.
ST-0 was obviously a precursor to ST-1. Both involved genetics!
Astrid continued, “Vivienne, looks like we’re back in the game together.”
Vivienne chuckled. “Yeah, teaming up again. Time to bring down this spy network once and for all!”
“And Benjamin…”
“Leave Benjamin to me. I’ll get what I need from him, and then he’ll be all yours by tomorrow morning.
Someone will be in touch.”
Astrid understood. “Alright, I’ll await your update.”
In the Nine Mystics Society’s interrogation room.
Benjamin gradually came to, realizing he was strung up from the ceiling, his feet dangling above a
bubbling cauldron.
He recoiled in shock. “This is torture! I demand human rights!”
Matthew strolled in, smirking at Benjamin’s outcry. “Human rights? For a spy like you?”
Benjamin, no longer hiding his true colors, retorted, “Don’t prisoners of war get decent treatment? You’ll
regret this!”
The next moment, a lash from Matthew’s whip cut across Benjamin’s body without mercy. “You think
this is a place for pleasantries? Don’t you know who I am? Spill it—who put you up to selling those
cameras?”
The sting of the whip nearly sent Benjamin into the afterlife, and he quickly realized he wasn’t dealing
with the usual authorities.
Slick had set him up!
“I’ll talk, I’ll talk.”
He could posture all he wanted with the official agencies, but against this rough justice, silence could
be deadly.
“It’s Dracon Linklater. He had me steal the Brooks family’s cameras to leak bionic tech secrets, all for
profit. He paid me handsomely, and I was going to run with the money, but then you caught me. I’m
telling the truth!”
Matthew, frustrated he couldn’t justify another lash, sat down, deflated.
This Benjamin really had no backbone, spilling the beans after just one whip. Clearly, GTO did not train
their agents well at all. If it were him, he would never betray his organization!
“Got any proof?”
“Absolutely! I recorded every meeting with him on those cameras, got the videos to prove it.”
Sighing, Matthew ordered Benjamin to be cut down.
Benjamin thought he was being set free, thanking Matthew profusely, “Thank you, boss. Does this
mean I can go?”
Matthew nodded. “Sure, someone’s here to pick you up.”
As Astrid and her team entered, she greeted him, “Old-F, if you please.”
Realizing his fate was still in the hands of the intelligence bureau, Benjamin sat down in defeat.
Astrid took Benjamin away for an overnight interrogation. He spilled everything, including his dealings
with Dracon and previous hideouts.
Time was scarce. If GTO discovered Benjamin’s capture, they might flee. Thus, Astrid immediately
mobilized her team and messaged Vivienne.
On the road, Astrid received a call from Vance.
“Top brass has ordered Vanguard Agency to assist in capturing the GTO spy ring,” Vance stated.
“Appreciated.”
Astrid and Vance quickly agreed to cooperate, and the entire Vanguard Agency was on the move. The
mission was so sudden that nobody knew the details, not even Gillian, who voiced her confusion to
Vance as he, Micah, and Thomas were discussing tactics.
“What’s going on here?”
Thomas was the first to retort. “Gillian, this isn’t your concern.”
“But I must report all Vanguard Agency activities to the higher-ups. Captain Thomas, remember that
everything here goes through me!”
Vance slammed the file on the table. “Gillian, are you after my director’s chair too?”
Startled, Gillian clarified, “No, but I have to be on this mission, Vance. You can’t deny that.”
Vance cursed under his breath at the meddling higher-ups. “Fine, you’re in. But any slip-ups and it’s on
you.”
Thomas wanted to object, but a shake of Micah’s head silenced him. Gillian, being from headquarters,
was an unavoidable addition to the mission.
Despite successfully joining the mission, Gillian still had no idea what this mission was about. Thus,
she could only silently follow the others.
Thomas immediately gave the order. “First squad, send scouts to assess the bomb layout. Second
squad, provide cover. We need them alive!”
Soren and Leopold each led their respective teams as they embarked on their mission under the cloak
of darkness.
On the outskirts, Vivienne peered through her binoculars, keeping a vigilant eye on every move in the
area.
The agents of the Nine Mystics Society were all in position, ready to catch any stragglers that might slip
through the net.
She flashed a series of hand signals to her team, instructing them to disperse and begin defusing the
bombs.
Back in the command vehicle, Gillian scrutinized the large screen and demanded, “What exactly are
you all doing out there?” Reаd at
“Shut your trap,” Thomas snapped, pressing his earpiece, “Anna, you’ve got thirty seconds—make it
count!”
“Roger that,” Anna responded.
The stronghold resembled a high-walled Holiday Resort, its exterior fortifications as imposing as the
ancient walls of a bygone era.
The main entrance was grand but locked tight in the dead of night; a small gazebo with a tiny window
stood guard, devoid of any revealing light, leaving it uncertain whether anyone was on watch.
According to Benjamin’s intel, there was a secret passage known only to insiders.
The squad couldn’t risk using any light sources; instead, they relied on touch and intuition to navigate.
Their sole guide was the memory of an infrared-simulated map they had studied before. Using this
recollection, they made their way toward the bomb, ready to execute its silent disarmament.
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