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

Kate decided to pass this information on to Lynn. She called him and said urgently, "Lynn, I've just discovered something very important. There are larger forces behind Dawn, exploiting this violence for political and financial gain."

Lin En on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment, and his tone became low and calm: "Kate, are you sure this information is reliable?"

"Yes, I have documents and records to prove it," Kate replied. "Cohen Industries is the key. They funded Dawn in order to promote certain policies and legislation and profit from it."

Lynn's voice was a little more nervous. "Send me this information, and I'll have the technical team verify it. But Kate, you have to understand, this is beyond the scope of a normal investigation. These people will do everything they can to protect themselves. If you continue to go deeper, it will be very dangerous."

Kate chuckled, her tone stubborn, "The danger is always there, but I can't stop. If we don't expose this, they will continue to use violence to manipulate everyone."

"Okay, but from now on, don't act alone." Lin En's tone was firm. "I will arrange for people to protect you while investigating these clues. If what you found is true, this storm is more complicated than we thought."

After hanging up the phone, Kate looked out the window. Manhattan was brightly lit at night, but she felt an invisible oppression hanging over the entire city. She understood that this was not just a matter of exposing "Dawn", but a confrontation with a huge network that controlled society.

Lynn quickly handed the documents Kate provided to the technical team for analysis and convened a team discussion. Through further investigation, they discovered that Korn Industries was indeed connected to several politicians, and that these politicians' public statements and legislative proposals were the core forces promoting strict control of mutants.

"These people are using Dawn to create violence to prove that mutants are a threat," Carter said angrily as he flipped through the documents. "They don't care how many people are hurt by this violence. Their goal is to create panic."

"The problem is, we need more solid evidence," Lin En said coldly. "We can't just rely on these documents to move against them. If we want to shake these forces, we need to find their direct connection with the Dawn organization."

Lynn decided to step up the action and send more people to protect Kate.

Lin En brought a mid-level member of the Dawn organization back to the interrogation room of the FBI's Manhattan branch. He was a thin man in his thirties, with a distinctly stubborn expression on his face. His hands were cuffed to the table, but his eyes showed no trace of fear, instead revealing a defiant indifference.

"It's useless for you to arrest me," he said coldly, his tone full of provocation. "Even if I arrest you, there will be thousands and thousands of others who will stand up. You can't stop this."

Lynn sat across the table, leaning forward slightly, his eyes sharp. "Really? Then why didn't you tell me their plan? If you really could win, why did you keep silent?"

The man was silent for a moment, then sneered: "You people will never understand. Our actions are to change this corrupt society. You are just tools of power."

Lin En wasn't enraged. He simply spoke in a deep, powerful voice, "I understand your anger and the injustices you've suffered. But using violence to harm innocent people isn't changing society; it's destroying it. What did Dawn promise you? Do you really think they're protecting you?"

The man's expression changed, but he quickly returned to his indifference: "I won't say anything."

Lin En took a deep breath, turned to the monitoring room, and signaled the technician to start playing a video clip. It was the material they had seized during the previous raid, reconstructing a secret meeting of the Dawn organization's leadership. In the video, the senior leaders chatted and joked about how to use mid-level members to sow chaos, while making it clear: "We need their sacrifice to achieve our goals, but they don't need to know the truth."

The scene on the screen suddenly made the man's expression tense. He clenched his fists involuntarily, and for the first time, his eyes wavered.

Lin En caught onto his reaction and spoke even more harshly, "They're using you. They don't care about you, your beliefs, or whether you and your companions will survive. They just need you to be cannon fodder so they can achieve their goals. You think this is justice? This is betrayal."

The man's breathing quickened, his eyes flashing with anger and pain. He whispered, "You know nothing. Even so, we have no choice. This society has pushed us into a corner."

"Then tell me their plan." Lin En looked him straight in the eyes, his voice calm but powerful. "Tell me what they want to do next. If you want to protect your companions and let more people survive, then help us stop this massacre."

The man's Adam's apple moved up and down, clearly in a fierce internal struggle. After a few seconds, he finally spoke, his voice so low it was barely audible. "They... they're planning a large-scale operation, targeting Manhattan. It's going to happen in a few days."

Lin En's expression darkened. "What's the specific goal?"

"They want to attack several key facilities simultaneously—Manhattan's financial center, energy stations, and subway hubs," the man said with difficulty. "They believe that only by plunging the entire city into chaos can they force the government to respond."

Lynn nodded, his heart tightening. This operation was unprecedented in scale. If successfully implemented, the entire Manhattan would be paralyzed, and innocent civilians would bear the brunt.

"Who is directing these operations?" Lin En continued to ask, "Where are the senior leaders of Dawn?"

The man shook his head. "I don't know who exactly, but I do know they've already sent some core members to carry out the plan. They have a temporary command post, probably in a warehouse somewhere in the dock area."

Lin En stood up and walked out of the interrogation room. He ordered the team outside, "Immediately lock down any suspicious locations in the dock area and mobilize all resources to search. At the same time, strengthen security at the financial center and energy station. We don't have time."

Carter stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Inspector, do you think what he said is true?"

"His reaction is genuine," Lin En said firmly. "But even if it's not entirely true, we can't take the risk. Dawn's actions have gone beyond a single incident. This is an attack on an entire city."

The entire branch immediately entered a state of high alert, and the team began to intensively formulate an action plan.

Kate's article, published on the front page of the Manhattan Times, depicts the real plight of the mutant community with sharp pen strokes. The article delves into the poverty, discrimination, and chronic lack of social resources faced by these communities. She interviews several mutant residents, depicting their struggles and their desire for equality, and bluntly criticizes the indifference and inaction of some government policies.

The article, with its striking title: "The Forgotten Group: The True Voice of the Mutant Community," sparked a public outcry. Supporters praised Kate's courage, believing she had uncovered a problem long ignored by the public. Opponents, however, accused her of attempting to whitewash a "dangerous group," and some even threatened to boycott the Manhattan Times.

Kate sat in her editorial office, her phone buzzing with notifications, messages of support and comments of hostility. She sighed, a mixture of emotions welling up within her. She knew the article was her responsibility, but she also understood the controversy it would spark.

Just then, her assistant knocked on the door and nervously handed her an unsigned letter. The envelope was thin, but when Kate opened it, she saw only a piece of paper inside. The handwriting was sloppy and rough: "Stop what you are doing, or we will make you regret it."

Kate's hand trembled slightly as she held the letter. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. This wasn't the first time she had received a threat, but this time, she vaguely felt that there seemed to be a greater danger behind it.

She called Lin En, her tone showing a hint of nervousness: "Lin En, I think we need to talk. I just received a threatening letter, and it might be related to Dawn."

Lynn's voice was low and serious on the other end of the phone: "Kate, I warned you that they would not sit idly by about your article. Where are you now?"

“I’m in the newsroom,” Kate replied. “I’m fine, but I think these people might be really picking on me.”

"Stay there and don't move. I'll be there soon." Lynn hung up the phone, quickly packed up his equipment, and drove to the editorial office of the Manhattan Times.

Less than twenty minutes later, Lynn appeared in Kate's office. He carefully examined the letter and envelope, his expression growing even more grim. "The handwriting appears disguised, but it likely comes from a peripheral member of Dawn. They already see you as a threat."

Kate raised the corner of her mouth in a sneer. "Threat? Because I tried to let the public know the truth? It seems they are even less courageous than I thought."

Lynn looked at her, a hint of concern in his tone: "Kate, this is not just a matter of courage. These people are extreme and dangerous. Their goal is not only to intimidate, but to shut you up. If you continue to pursue them, they are likely to take more direct action."

Kate raised her head, her eyes determined. "Lynn, I won't stop. This report has been released, and I can't let their threats control me."

Lin En took a deep breath, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "I know you won't. But from now on, I will arrange round-the-clock protection for you. You can no longer act alone."

"Round-the-clock protection?" Kate raised an eyebrow, a hint of teasing in her tone, "Are you planning to guard me personally?"

"If necessary, I will." Lynn's tone was serious, and there was no trace of joking in his eyes.

Kate was momentarily speechless, her expression softening slightly. "Thank you, Lynn. I know this makes you busier, but I really appreciate your willingness to protect me."

Lin En nodded and stood up. "This is my responsibility. Also, any clues or threats that may be involved in the future must be told to me immediately. Don't bear it yourself."

Kate watched Lin En leave, and a trace of warmth emerged in her heart. Although the situation became more dangerous, she still felt that having Lin En by her side was a rare sense of security.

Under the cover of night, downtown Manhattan suddenly descended into chaos. The usually bustling square was now filled with screams and shouts. Several mutants, each with their own unique abilities, were wreaking havoc on the streets: one could flip cars with telekinesis, another could unleash lightning-like energy, and yet another could unleash blazing flames from his hands. Nearby streetlights shattered, sending shards of glass flying everywhere. Stores along the street were blown open by the shockwave, and alarms wailed.

Arriving at the scene, police attempted to maintain order using a megaphone, but the mutants clearly refused to obey. Their fury was palpable, with one man using telekinesis overturning a police car, while the flaming mutant used a fireball to repel approaching law enforcement officers. Police attempted to control the situation with non-lethal force, but rubber bullets and stun guns proved ineffective against these mutants, only making their counterattacks more aggressive.

Lin En was leading his team in analyzing the Dawn organization's latest movements when he received the emergency report. He immediately dropped the documents in his hands and quickly walked to the tactical command center, simultaneously commanding the agents on the communication line, "All personnel, rush to the scene immediately. This incident is definitely not accidental. This is likely a test. Dawn is observing our reaction."

Carter followed closely behind, flipping through the newly received report while following Linn. "Inspector, none of these rioters are recorded as core members of Dawn, but they seem to be very well organized. Even more strange is that the scope of their destruction is very limited, as if they were deliberately keeping it to the central square."

Lin En's expression grew more serious. "This isn't an ordinary, out-of-control riot. Their actions are purposeful, like a carefully choreographed performance. 'Dawn' may be using these mutants as pawns to test our police's reaction time and tactical capabilities."

When Lynn arrived at the scene, the riot had escalated. Several police cars were destroyed, civilians were fleeing, and the mutant rioters seemed even more aggressive. A police officer, attempting to evacuate an injured colleague, was struck by lightning and fell to the ground, convulsing. Lynn immediately ordered the emergency services to approach, and his team quickly took over command.

He used a megaphone to shout at the rioters: "Stop what you are doing! We have mobilized reinforcements. If you continue, you will be arrested or face worse consequences!"

The mutants turned to look at Lynn, their eyes filled with mockery and anger. One of the rioters who had unleashed fire raised his hand, and a blazing flame swept towards Lynn. Lynn quickly dodged to the side while directing his team to activate specialized firefighting equipment. A stream of chemical foam sprayed out, extinguishing the flames.

"They're testing us," Lynn whispered to Carter. "They have no intention of launching a full-scale attack. They're just causing chaos and distracting us."

Carter nodded, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "But why? Where will the real action be? This doesn't seem like the ultimate goal." (End of chapter)