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

Chapter 201 Big News

On his way out of the lab, he called Hans.

"I have solid evidence," Lynn said, his tone revealing unshakable determination. "Kronos Labs is at the center of this conspiracy. Let's get started."

Shortly after.

Rain pounded against the abandoned metal walls of the Konos Laboratory, the dripping sound echoing through the empty building, making it particularly harsh. Lin En stood in the center of the abandoned lab, his hands tucked into his coat pockets, his eyes coldly scanning the scene before him. Broken instruments and torn documents lay scattered on the lab tables, and the floor bore traces of dragging. The refrigerator against the wall was open, empty.

"It's so clean it's despairing." Hans stood aside, frowning as he kicked a test tube rack on the ground. The test tube fragments made a crisp cracking sound. "These bastards moved it faster than ghosts. Someone must have tipped them off in advance."

"They can't have gotten very far." Lynn walked over to an empty refrigerator and lightly traced the edge of the door with his fingers. His eyes swept over the water stains on it, which were traces of condensation that had just melted, proving that these devices were still running a few hours ago.

"But we don't have time to search every room." Hans took a piece of gum from his pocket and put it in his mouth. "The Holy Blood Alliance is always like this, hiding while breaking up the clues like a puzzle. By the time we put the pieces together, they've already moved on."

Lin En didn't reply. Instead, he squatted down, his eyes falling on a faint bloodstain on the floor. He reached out, put on a glove, and gently touched the bloodstain with his fingertips. His brow furrowed even more tightly. "This is fresh."

"Blood?" Hans also squatted down and looked over. "This place was cleaned so cleanly, yet there's still blood?"

Lin En stood up, his eyes sharp. "It means their evacuation wasn't perfect. Someone was injured, or..."

"Or they are carrying some kind of 'experimental subjects'." Hans finished his unfinished words with a hint of coldness in his tone.

Lynn nodded and glanced around the lab. They could sense that even though the place looked abandoned, there was still something amiss in the air, as if a secret operation had just concluded.

At this moment, a clear voice came from Lin's intercom. "Agent Lin, this is the external team. We found some strange marks outside the building. They may be tire tracks."

Lin En picked up the intercom and said calmly, "Continue to investigate, record all the details, and don't miss any possible direction."

"clear."

He hung up the intercom and glanced at Hans. "We can't waste any more time here. Clean up the scene and take away all usable traces and information."

Hans shrugged. "Okay, but I bet it's another dead end this time."

However, just as they were about to evacuate, Lin En's phone vibrated. He picked up the phone and glanced at the screen. It was a message from Rosa.

Go back to the lab immediately, I have an important discovery.

Lin En stared at the message, his eyes changing slightly. He didn't say much, but said to Hans, "Let's go, we have to go back."

"What new tricks does Rosa have?" Hans asked, but he didn't complain much and immediately followed Lynn out of the laboratory.

In the wee hours of the morning, the lab at FBI headquarters was still brightly lit. Rosa stood at the main console, her face solemn. The screen behind her was filled with complex genetic data graphs and chemical analysis results. Seeing Lynn and Hans enter, she looked up and waved.

"Why did you call us back so urgently? What happened?" Lin En asked, his tone calm but with a hint of oppression.

Rosa didn't answer, but handed him a small transparent test tube containing a light blue liquid that shone slightly fluorescent under the light.

"This is the final component extracted from Kevin's blood sample," she said. "It's a very special synthetic substance that has the properties of both a drug and a gene delivery vehicle. Basically, it not only temporarily enhances the receptor's power, but also forcibly changes the receptor's cellular structure—like a virus."

"Virus?" Hans raised an eyebrow and took a step closer. "Are you saying they're using this thing to transform ordinary people?"

"Yes." Rosa nodded. "What's even more terrifying is that this substance itself is not stable. It requires specific genes to work. Kevin's genes can react with it because mutant gene fragments have been injected into his blood."

Lin En's eyes were cold. He asked in a low voice, "Where did those gene fragments come from?"

Rosa pressed a button, and a complex analysis report popped up on the screen. "I've traced the characteristics of these gene fragments, and they share similarities with several known mutant genes—specifically, genes associated with enhanced strength and rapid self-healing. These characteristics... match a mutant codenamed 'Scarlet Butcher' with an 85% match."

"The Scarlet Butcher?" Hans was stunned. "The guy who once caused chaos in Los Angeles? Isn't he dead?"

"Yes," Rosa nodded. "Officially, at least, he's dead. But his genes have apparently been preserved and are now being used in these experiments."

Lin En took a deep breath and asked calmly, "How stable is this thing?"

"Very low," Rosa replied. "That is, even if someone successfully injects it, they will only gain the ability for a short period of time before experiencing serious side effects or even genetic breakdown. Kevin's loss of control is a typical example."

"But what if they improved it?" Lynn continued to ask.

Rosa was silent for a moment, then said, "If they find a better carrier, or further optimize the genetic adaptation mechanism, this thing could completely change the landscape of a war. An ordinary person could possess the powers of a mutant for a short period of time, and... there might be no side effects."

"That's their goal," Lynn whispered, his tone as cold as steel.

Hans leaned against the console and rubbed his temple. "So they're not only making weapons, they're also trying to redefine the limits of what 'human' can be. What a bunch of lunatics."

"The question is, where are they now?" Lynn turned to look at Rosa. "Can we track them to their laboratory?"

Rosa shook her head. "I've exhausted every trace I could find, but the Holy Blood Alliance's actions were so clean they left almost no direct traces. However—" She paused. "This genetic sample contains a unique chemical marker that's related to some of Kronos Labs' past patented products. I need more time to dig deeper. Perhaps we can find their next location."

"Time." Lin En gritted his teeth. "Every step they take is accelerating. We don't have much time left."

He turned to look at Hans, "Contact the field department and have them intensify their investigations of the Konos Laboratory and related bases of the Holy Blood Alliance. Also, keep a close eye on the West Side of Manhattan."

Hans nodded. "I see. But I still don't think these bastards will make it easy for us to find them."

"They won't," Lynn's voice was low but stern, "but they will make mistakes. And what we have to do is seize that mistake."

Under the bright lights, Rosa's fingers pounded away at the keyboard, while the data on the screen continued to scroll. Lin En stood by, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, already prepared for the worst.

A slight chill and dampness permeated the Brooklyn streets in the early morning, the air still lingering with the scent of last night's rain. Lynn sat on the terrace of a quiet cafe, a cup of black coffee in hand, his gaze fixed on the front page of the newspaper. Though his expression remained calm, he was still pondering the various clues regarding the Holy Blood Alliance and the Kronos Laboratory.

The cafe was small, with only a few small round tables on the terrace. Occasionally, pedestrians passed by on the street. Lin En liked this place; it was quiet and not disturbed by too many people. This allowed him to enjoy a moment of respite before starting a busy day at work.

"Hello, sir." A soft female voice suddenly came from the side, interrupting his thoughts.

Lin En looked up and saw a beautiful blonde standing beside his desk, a polite and confident smile on her lips. She was wearing a fitted trench coat with a thin belt around her waist, looking both elegant and sophisticated. Her long blond hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her blue eyes held a hint of mischief.

"Sorry to bother you, but I have a question..." She pointed to a nearby street, a smile somewhat helpless. "My car broke down, and I have something urgent to do today. If it's convenient, could you give me a ride?" Lin En narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the sudden stranger. She seemed harmless, even friendly, but his years of experience taught him not to trust appearances. Especially in these tense circumstances, any unexpected incident could hide a deeper purpose.

"Is your car broken down?" he asked in a low voice, without much emotion in his tone.

"Yes, I have a flat tire." The beautiful woman nodded, a hint of embarrassment on her face. "I've called a mechanic, but it will probably take a while. I just saw you sitting here and thought you might be on your way and do me a favor."

Lin En put down his coffee cup and glanced at the end of the street. There was indeed a car parked there, with its door open, as if it was checking its tires. He looked down at his watch and saw that there was still plenty of time. Although he felt that something was amiss, he didn't refuse immediately.

"Where are you going?" he asked, his tone still calm.

"Just go to the heart of Brooklyn, not far from here." The blonde smiled and held out her hand to him. "I'm Kate, Kate Miller. Nice to meet you."

Lynn didn't shake hands, just nodded, "Lynn."

Kate's hand paused in the air for a moment, then calmly withdrew it. She didn't seem to mind Lynn's indifference and continued to smile. "Thank you, Lynn. This is really troublesome for you."

Lynn didn't respond. Instead, he stood up, picked up his coat and coffee cup, and headed toward the parking lot. Kate followed him, her steps brisk, a smile on her face.

Lynn opened the door of his car, a discreet black SUV that looked ordinary on the outside but had been modified inside with some extra safety features, and got in the driver's seat, waiting for Kate to get in.

Kate obviously noticed the interior configuration of the car, and her eyes lingered on the dashboard for a second longer, but she did not ask any more questions. Instead, she gently closed the door and fastened her seat belt.

"Thank you, Lynn." She glanced sideways at him, her tone filled with genuine gratitude. "Not everyone would help a stranger on such a busy morning."

Lin En started the car and looked ahead intently, "You're lucky."

Kate chuckled, "Indeed."

As the car drove onto the street, Lynn didn't speak, but Kate didn't seem to enjoy silence. She folded her hands on her knees and looked at him sideways. "You don't look like someone who has lived in Brooklyn for very long."

Lynn's tone was flat, but his eyes were still fixed on the road.

"Yes," Kate nodded. "Your car is so clean, like you're always ready to go on some important mission. And..." Her eyes flicked across his chest, as if searching for something. "Your attitude is very... focused. You seem like someone who's always planning their next move."

Lin En tilted his head slightly to glance at her, the corners of his mouth curling up almost imperceptibly. "You're quite observant."

"It's a professional habit." Kate shrugged and gave a relaxed smile. "I'm a reporter, or to be more precise, an investigative reporter."

"Reporter?" Lin En asked calmly, but in his heart he became more wary of this woman.

"Well, although it's a bit old-fashioned, I like to dig out those hidden truths. Everyone likes to listen to stories, and I like to find those stories that no one dares to tell." Kate raised her chin, her eyes revealing a bit of confidence.

"So what story did you investigate?" Lynn asked casually, his tone still calm, but his eyes were always vigilantly scanning the rearview mirror and the surrounding situation.

"A lot of interesting things." Kate deliberately kept the topic a secret, then said with a smile, "However, the focus recently has been on some underground organizations. I heard there's an organization called the Holy Blood Alliance near Brooklyn. Have you heard of it?"

Lin En's fingers stiffened slightly, but he concealed it well, and said without any ripples in his tone, "No."

"Really?" Kate raised her eyebrows and glanced at him. "They're not just any ordinary criminal organization. I heard their operations are very secretive, but they control some black market resources and even... conduct some strange experiments. Are you sure you haven't heard of them?"

Lin En didn't answer, but instead sped up a bit. He didn't like being stared at, and he didn't like the way this woman suddenly mentioned the Holy Blood Alliance.

"Maybe it's just a rumor." Kate chuckled, and as if she noticed Lynn's defensiveness, she changed the subject. "Actually, I don't dislike the atmosphere in Brooklyn. It's quiet and full of stories. There are many good people like you."

Lin En gave her a cold look and said, "I'm not a good person."

"Oh? Then what are you?" Kate raised her eyebrows, with a hint of teasing in her tone.

Lynn didn't answer, but slowly parked the car on a street in downtown Brooklyn. He looked at Kate and said in a calm tone with a hint of unquestionable meaning, "You're here."

Kate was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "Okay, thank you, Lynn." She unbuckled her seat belt, opened the car door, and looked back at him, "Maybe we'll meet again."

Lin En didn't answer, just watched her get out of the car, then started the car again and drove away slowly.

Kate pushed open the glass door of the newspaper office and was immediately greeted by a familiar bustle. Printers spitted out pages, keyboards pounded, and the phone rang almost incessantly. The atmosphere in the newsroom seemed perpetually tense, as if bracing for a major event.

She walked to her desk, windbreaker in hand, squeezing past two assistant reporters clutching stacks of documents and dodging interns with their hands full of coffee. Everything seemed chaotic, but Kate was used to it. Her steps were brisk, yet tinged with urgency.

"Kate!" a familiar voice called from behind her.

She turned and saw Editor-in-Chief Frank standing in the glass doorway at the end of the office area, waving at her. He was thin and had graying hair, but his eyes were sharp, like a seasoned falcon. His tone wasn't harsh, but it was hard to ignore.

"Come in and talk," Frank said simply, then turned and walked into the office without even closing the door.

Kate took a deep breath and followed him in. She walked into the editor-in-chief's office, hung her windbreaker on the back of the chair, and sat down across from Frank.

"You look a little anxious." Frank raised his head, his eyes moving from the documents in his hand to Kate's face. "This is not like you, Kate. The last time I saw you this impatient was because of the casino case."

Kate chuckled softly and spread out the notebook she was carrying on the table, "Frank, I think we may have big news."

Frank raised an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair with interest. "Oh? Big news? Sounds interesting. Tell me about it."

Kate tapped her fingers on her notebook, her eyes flashing with excitement. "I 'ran into' someone this morning. He's quite something."

"Be more specific, Kate, I don't have time for riddles." Frank's tone was still relaxed, but there was a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

"Lynn," Kate said, her smile deepening. "He's a senior FBI agent. His name appears in almost every major investigation. He's not just any agent, but one of those people who always has access to core secrets."

Frank narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly intrigued by the name. "Senior FBI agent? How do you know who he is?"

"I checked." Kate smiled. "After running into him on the street, I used some 'old-fashioned methods'. Although his background is clean, he is closely connected to the investigation of the Holy Blood Alliance. Moreover, his method of operation is very interesting - low-key, efficient, and never reveals information easily. He is obviously a difficult person to deal with, but because of this, he must know the most important secrets."

(End of this chapter)