American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

Chapter 196 This place is definitely not simple

The old man's hands were shaking, his eyes filled with fear and anxiety. "Last night...last night was horrible. Those people suddenly rushed out, slashing people with knives. They were shouting something I couldn't understand, like...like Spanish."

Lin En frowned. He keenly caught the key information in the old man's words: "Spanish? Are you sure?"

The old man nodded. "Yes, I'm sure. I don't understand Spanish, but I can recognize the sound of it."

Lynn's heart sank as he realized this incident might actually be related to Mexicans. But he still refused to believe that Mexicans would commit murder in Manhattan for no reason. He had to find more evidence to uncover the truth of this incident.

Lynn and Hans' car slowly stopped on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan. The street was cordoned off, and red and blue police lights cast a grim, murderous atmosphere. A thick sense of tension hung in the air, making even the winter wind seem even more biting. Lynn stepped out of the car, his windbreaker collar pulled tighter. His deep brown eyes darted around, a stern expression on his face.

"Where's the suspect?" Lin En asked a young detective standing at the cordon as soon as he arrived at the scene. The other party was wearing a police jacket that looked ill-fitting, and the sweat on his face had not yet been dried by the wind.

"We haven't caught him yet, Agent Lynn. He got away too quickly." The young agent looked guilty, his voice trembling with cold and nervousness. "But we're blocking off the nearby streets, so he shouldn't be able to get too far."

"'Should'?" Lynn repeated the word unkindly. He had no patience for such ambiguity. "Has the suspect's description been passed to the command center?"

"Yes. He's a Mexican man, about thirty years old, six feet tall, wearing a black jacket and jeans—"

"That description could fit 50 people on the street," Hans interjected, an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips. A hint of disdain crossed his face. "I bet there are at least three people in the bar next door who fit that description right now."

"That's enough, Hans." Lynn turned and glared at him, then nodded to the young agent, "You continue with your work, and we'll take over."

The detective nodded and scurried off as if pardoned. Lynn glanced around. The scene was heavily cordoned off, but a crowd of onlookers and reporters still gathered outside, their flashbulbs occasionally piercing his eyes. He rubbed his brow and turned his gaze to the crime scene not far away. It was the entrance to a small supermarket. The glass door had been shattered, fragments scattered across the ground, and blood spread from the doorway to the sidewalk.

"Honestly, I still don't understand." Hans finally took the cigarette out of his mouth. "A Mexican guy suddenly ran to Manhattan and killed a few people? This sounds like a random crime, but it's too chaotic. This kind of thing is not usually done by drug dealers."

"Don't jump to conclusions." Lin En walked quickly towards the scene, his leather boots making crisp sounds on the cold, damp ground. He walked into the doorway of the damaged supermarket, his eyes fixed on the deep red bloodstains.

"Has the victim been identified?" Lin En asked a detective who was investigating the scene. The detective was a man in his fifties, wearing glasses and with a tired look on his face.

"Yes, there are two dead and one seriously injured. One of the dead is a supermarket cashier, a Mexican woman, 23 years old; the other is a customer, a white man around 50 years old. The seriously injured person is the owner of this supermarket, and he has been sent to the hospital." The detective answered while flipping through his notes.

Lin En frowned, "Why did he do it? Is there any surveillance?"

"The surveillance footage was destroyed, but we've recovered the fragments, and technicians are trying to recover them. As for the motive, we still don't have a clue." The detective's tone was somewhat helpless. "However, the attack happened so suddenly, and there were few witnesses, so everyone's description is vague."

"What did the witness say?" Hans interrupted, his tone still full of disapproval and ridicule. "Let me guess, it was a 'tall, strong man,' and they didn't see anything, right?"

The detective pushed his glasses up and coughed awkwardly, "That's basically it."

"Damn it," Lin En cursed under his breath. He stood up and looked around the mess inside the supermarket. Shelves had been knocked over, merchandise was scattered all over the floor, broken glass reflected the glaring light, and in the center of the bloodstains on the ground, he noticed something strange.

It was a fragment of patterned cloth, stained with blood. It looked like it had been torn from some uniform or clothing. Lynn squatted down, picked up the cloth with tweezers, and examined it carefully for a moment. The pattern was unique, like some kind of totem—not an ordinary factory product.

"What is this?" Hans came closer, put his hands in his pockets, and leaned over to look.

"It looks like some kind of gang symbol," Lynn muttered, then stood up and carefully placed the cloth into the evidence bag. "Perhaps this case is more complicated than it seems."

"You think it's a gang attack?" Hans raised an eyebrow, his tone skeptical. "But Mexican gangs rarely attack in public, especially in New York. This isn't their territory."

"I don't know, but the pattern of this cloth reminds me of some rumors." Lin En handed the evidence bag to the detective beside him, "Send it to the technical department immediately to find out its source."

"Yes." The detective quickly took the bag and left the scene.

"Rumors?" Hans tilted his head, his face full of doubt. "What rumors?"

"Have you heard of the 'Holy Blood Alliance'?" Lin En said in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

Hans was stunned for a moment. "That legendary underground organization? Are you kidding? They're not just any ordinary gang. They're the kind that only exist in rumors. No one has ever seen them, and no one knows whether they're real or not."

"But their logo is very similar to the totem on this piece of cloth." Lin En's eyes were still fixed on the supermarket entrance, a thoughtful yet slightly alert look. "If it really is them, we're in big trouble."

"Damn it." Hans muttered softly, then took out a piece of gum from his pocket and put it in his mouth. "Then what should we do? Continue chasing this killer, or just call headquarters and ask them to send more people?"

"Let's first find out the whole story," Lin En said decisively. "It's not easy to get support from headquarters, especially when it comes to an underground organization like this. We need more evidence."

"Okay, you're the boss, you have the final say." Hans shrugged and followed Lin En out of the supermarket. Although his face still wore a nonchalant expression, there was a subtle solemnity in his eyes.

As the two men walked outside the cordon, a police officer hurried over, his face pale and breathing rapidly.

"Agent Lynn, we found a body in a nearby alley!" the officer gasped.

"What?" Lin En turned his head suddenly, his eyes as sharp as a knife, "Take us there!"

They quickly made their way through the crowd and arrived at a narrow alley a few blocks away. The alley was dark and damp, and the pungent smell of garbage cans emanated from it. At the end of the alley, a body covered in blood lay.

The body was that of a man, about forty years old, dressed in ordinary street clothes, but a strange symbol was carved into his chest - a winged dagger surrounded by blood-drop-shaped incisions.

"Damn, what the hell is this?" Hans frowned and covered his nose with his hands.

Lin En's face was terribly gloomy. He squatted down and carefully observed the marks on the body. The lines of the symbols were very precise, as if they were hand-carved by specially trained people, which further confirmed his previous suspicions.

"It's a warning," he whispered.

"A warning?" Hans' eyes widened in disbelief. "Who is this directed at?"

"They're coming for us." Lin En stood up, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. "The Holy Blood Alliance is telling us that they already know about our investigation."

Hans opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he only sighed. "This is really getting more and more interesting."

"Interesting?" Lynn glanced at him coldly. "You'll only feel worse from now on."

Lin En's voice was like a cold blade cutting through the air. Hans couldn't help but shrink his neck when he heard it. He knew that Lin En rarely expressed such a tone - it meant that things were more difficult than they imagined.

"Check the surrounding environment to see if there is any surveillance or any traces left behind." Lin En instructed the police officers around him, put on gloves, squatted down and carefully observed the body again.

The corpse's chest bore a horrifying wound, but strangely, it wasn't an ordinary knife wound. The edges were neat, yet there was a strange irregularity to the wound, as if it had been inflicted by some specially designed weapon. Lin En stared down at the "winged dagger" logo, and fragments of memories surfaced in his mind.

"This symbol looks so familiar..." he muttered to himself. Hans stood behind him, looking up and scanning both sides of the alley. It was dark and narrow, so secluded it made his scalp tingle, even the sound of the wind seemed to be blocked out. He sighed, chewing gum between his teeth, and kicked an overturned trash can nearby, trying to hide his inner uneasiness.

"Lynn, do you really think this was done by the Holy Blood Alliance? I still think it's a bit too exaggerated." As he spoke, he looked down at the corpse, with a hint of doubt in his tone.

"These symbols aren't something an ordinary person could create. The Holy Blood Alliance's symbol has always been their hallmark, their way of declaring war." Lin En stood up, removed his gloves, and scanned the alley. "Although there's little news about this organization, every time they appear, it's accompanied by a high-profile killing. And—" He paused, looking up at Hans, "There must be a bigger story behind this case."

"Okay, let's assume what you said is true. Then the question is - why did they kill this man? Who is he?" Hans pointed at the corpse on the ground with his chin, his tone a little more anxious.

"We don't know yet, but we'll find out soon," Lin En said coldly. Then he turned to the police officer beside him and said, "Send the body to the forensic department immediately. Focus on examining the symbols on the chest to see if they can find anything special."

The police officer nodded and quickly arranged for someone to dispose of the body. Lynn turned around and patted Hans on the shoulder.

"Come on, we have other things to do."

"Where are you going?" Hans followed him reluctantly. "Aren't you waiting for the forensic report?"

"Waiting for a report is the stupidest option," Lynn said without looking back, "We have to take the initiative."

His steps were swift and firm, forcing Hans to hurry and keep up. He stared at Lin En's back in a daze, muttering to himself that Lin En seemed even more nervous than usual. The name "Holy Blood Alliance" clearly triggered some memory in him, but he didn't dare ask—at least, not yet.

The two got back into the car, Lynn started the engine silently, and Hans couldn't help but break the deadlock.

"So, where are we going now? Do you have the 'contact information' of the Holy Blood Alliance?"

Lynn glanced at him, the corners of her lips curled up slightly, revealing a cold smile, "I don't need their contact information, but I know someone who might have the answer."

"Who?"

"Carlos Alvarez."

Hans was stunned when he heard this. "That information dealer hiding in Brooklyn? Are you sure he will help us?"

"He won't help us, but he'll ask for money," Lin En said calmly, a hint of hidden determination in his eyes. "Besides, he has an old score with the Holy Blood Alliance. If the Holy Blood Alliance really intervened in this case, he must know something."

Hans shrugged and leaned back in his seat. "I hope he doesn't play any tricks. Otherwise, you know how difficult these guys are to deal with."

Lynn didn't answer, but drove with full concentration. Night gradually fell, and the streets of Manhattan were decorated with lights like a dream, but in the shadows of this city, there were always some unknown dangers lurking in the dark.

They drove all the way to a shabby residential area in Brooklyn. It was completely different from the prosperity of Manhattan. The air was filled with the smell of old mold and tobacco. Lynn parked the car in front of a mottled apartment building. Before he grasped the door handle, he turned his head and looked at Hans.

"Follow me closely and don't talk nonsense."

"When did I talk nonsense?" Hans spread his hands with an innocent expression.

"Every time." Lynn replied coldly and got out of the car.

The two walked through the dim corridor and arrived at a dilapidated door on the third floor. Lin En knocked on the door three times without hesitation.

There was silence behind the door for a few seconds, then a voice with a thick Mexican accent said, "Who?"

"Carlos, it's me, Lynn." His voice was calm, yet revealed unquestionable majesty.

There was silence behind the door for a moment, followed by the sound of a chain being unfastened. The door opened, and a short, thin man appeared. He looked to be in his forties, his face covered in wrinkles, his eyes alert and cunning.

"Agent Lynn, I didn't expect you to come to see me." Carlos gave a meaningful smile, but his hand did not leave the door.

"I have a question." Lynn didn't wait for him to move aside and pushed the door open.

Carlos obviously didn't expect him to be so direct. His body swayed a little, but he didn't stop him. Instead, he smiled and said, "It seems you are still the same, direct and straightforward."

Lin En ignored his teasing and got straight to the point: "The Holy Blood Alliance recently appeared in Manhattan. What do you know?"

Carlos' smile disappeared instantly, and his face turned gloomy. "Holy Blood Alliance? I don't know what you are talking about."

"Don't play dumb, Carlos." Lynn took a step forward, her gaze like a sharp knife piercing his heart. "You have a feud with them. Everyone in New York knows it. They committed a crime in Manhattan. If you don't want to get into more trouble, tell me everything you know."

Carlos stared at Lynn, his eyes filled with hesitation and struggle. He finally sighed and leaned against the doorframe. "Okay, I did hear some news, but after I tell you, you have to promise that they won't come to my house."

"Speak," Lynn ordered coldly.

Carlos lowered his voice. "The Holy Blood Alliance has indeed been active recently. They are recruiting, and their target is... a very special shipment. I heard that the shipment is hidden in a secret location in Manhattan."

"What goods?" Lynn's brows frowned even deeper.

"I don't know what it is exactly, but I heard it's some kind of 'holy relic'. They believe it's an important legacy of their organization and must be taken back." Carlos glanced at Linn and added, "You'd better be careful. The people of the Holy Blood Alliance are very crazy, especially their leader... the guy named 'Blood Eagle'."

"Blood Eagle?" Lynn repeated the name in a low voice.

"Yes, he's a ruthless character who kills without blinking an eye. If you run into him..." Carlos paused, his expression complicated, "It's best not to have a head-on confrontation."

Lynn was silent for a few seconds, then turned and walked out the door. "Thank you for the information, Carlos. I hope you won't tell anyone else."

"Of course, I want to live a few more years." Carlos laughed dryly and watched the two leave.

Hans followed Lynn down the stairs and couldn't help but say, "Blood Eagle? He sounds like a lunatic."

"The madman is the most dangerous enemy." Lin En's tone was cold. "Besides, his target is likely related to our case."

"Then what happens next?"

"We have to find that shipment." Lin En stopped, his eyes deep. "We've been dragged into this game."

As night fell, the city was shrouded in dim lights. A cold wind carried a hint of dampness and mildew. Lynn and Hans' car quietly parked in the shadows outside the warehouse. The warehouse itself was dilapidated, with crumbling bricks and rusty iron doors, exuding a sense of desolation and disrepair. But this was only superficial. Lynn's intuition told him that this place was definitely not ordinary.

(End of this chapter)