"You still made your move, Obadiah."
Artoria, mid-meal, showed no panic when Saturday flashed the breaking news. Some inner certainty told her Tony was fine—a curious intuition. She spat out the last lamb bone and thought for a moment.
"Saturday, public offer: two hundred million dollars to whoever brings Tony to me."
"Yes, master."
Tony's plight aside, she had a private worry—her body had started a second growth spurt. She'd grown taller, and her chest had become fuller and prouder. Other women might celebrate, but to Artoria it was a nuisance; in close combat those things would swing about—how lewd… no, how inconvenient! Wait, why was she insulting herself?
"master, your friend Miss Hope requests a visit."
"Tidy up and let her in."
Artoria glanced at the cluttered table, ordered the robot helpers to clear it, leaving only a dessert. The old surface sank away; a pristine table rose in its place. Ten seconds later, Saturday opened the door for Hope.
"You're eating that high-calorie stuff again."
"Aren't you afraid of getting fat?"
Hope winced at Artoria guzzling cola and doughnuts. She couldn't bear picturing such a pretty girl ballooning up—cute maybe, but she wouldn't let her best friend die of hypertension. Sneaking a glance at Artoria's already-impressive assets, she 'helpfully' murmured,
"Enough teasing. What's up?"
Artoria easily caught the envious peek and rolled her eyes. Maya's lab had hit a wall, Helen Cho's project had barely started; only Hope, armed with her father's data, was rocketing ahead. Naturally she was first to report results.
"We can harvest Pym Particles today; the experiment can begin."
"I just wanted to ask when you'd like to start."
Artoria blinked—was that all? Why bother her with something Hope could decide herself?
"Anything else?"
"Please tell my father I'm sorry."
Under Artoria's bright gaze, the awkward Miss Hope finally voiced her real goal. After quarrelling with Dad, she regretted it but couldn't swallow her pride—so she needed Artoria to mend fences.
"Regretting your temper?"
Artoria teased, watching Hope's crimson face. Hope pretended not to hear, refusing to leave until Artoria agreed.
"Fine, I'll do it."
"Thanks, Artoria."
Relieved, Hope hugged her, planted a loud kiss on her cheek, and scampered off.
"Such a big child."
While Artoria's affairs ran smoothly, a certain black-hearted spymaster was in a foul—and guilty—mood.
"Nick, you guaranteed my son's safety—now Tony's vanished? What use are your Special Agents?"
Howard raged, spraying Nick with insults. Nick swallowed the blame; Howard had warned him someone might target the kids. Tony's disappearance had jolted Nick from complacency.
Howard regretted entrusting everything to Nick; time to deploy his own hidden assets.
"No body found—Tony's likely alive. They probably need him for something. Find him, now."
"Nick."
"Yes, ma'am."
Lost in thought, Nick answered politely to Maria's call.
"My son is missing; I won't lose my daughter. Understand, Nick?"
"Rest assured, ma'am, I'll arrange it."
Her once-gentle voice now carried icy menace, raising goosebumps even on the hardened spymaster.
"Find Tony—but remember: if Artoria loses so much as a hair, we'll protect our child ourselves. Bear that in mind."
After the call, Nick mopped sweat from his bald scalp. Talking to the President's council had never rattled him this badly—no wonder she'd tamed the famous playboy Howard; she was one formidable woman.
"Special Agent, you have a Level-Ten assignment."
"Yes, sir."
After a short rest, Nick immediately dialed a secure line and issued an order; a cool, mature female voice answered.