American comic book: I, with my abundant martial virtue, love to do good to others.

Chapter 179 Investigating the Carlos Chamber of Commerce!

Lynn gently put down the paper in his hand, his eyes scanning the room: "We need to find more clues about this chamber of commerce. Polo couldn't have left just this one transfer record; he must have something else."

The two resumed their meticulous search. They searched through Polo's wardrobe, drawers, and even under his bed, but apart from everyday items and some unimportant documents, they seemed to find nothing of value.

"Strange, could it be that Polo really only left behind this little clue?" Hans said somewhat unwillingly.

Lynn didn't answer; his gaze suddenly fell on Polo's computer. He strode over, turned on the computer, and began to check Polo's browsing history and folders.

"I've got it!" Lynn exclaimed excitedly. "There's an unread email in Polo's inbox from the Carlos Merchant Guild."

Upon hearing this, Hans immediately leaned closer. The two stared at the screen together; the email was brief and cryptic: "Mr. Polo, we are very satisfied with the last transaction. We look forward to our next collaboration. Please see the attachment for details."

Lynn quickly clicked on the attachment, but what popped up was an encrypted file that required a password. He tried several common passwords, but none of them worked.

"It seems this file is password protected by Polo." Hans frowned. "We'll have to find a way to crack it."

Lynn pondered for a moment, then suddenly his eyes lit up: "Does Polo have any particular hobbies or habits? Perhaps we can find clues to crack the code from there."

Hans recalled for a moment and said, "I remember Polo once mentioned that he really liked football, especially his favorite team, Lazio. He also said that the founding date of Lazio was his lucky number."

Lynn immediately typed in the Blue Eagles' founding date on the keyboard, and sure enough, the file opened successfully. Inside was a detailed transaction record, documenting multiple large transactions between Polo and the Carlos Merchant Guild, along with the items and purposes of the trades.

"My God, Polo really has such deep ties with the Carlos Chamber of Commerce!" Hans exclaimed. "And judging from these transaction records, they seem to be collaborating on some kind of illegal experiment."

Lynn's eyes hardened: "We must hand this information over to the police as soon as possible. At the same time, we must continue our investigation to see what exactly the Carlos Chamber of Commerce is up to."

The two made a copy of the file on the computer and then carefully left Polo's room. They knew the investigation would be even more difficult and dangerous, but they also believed that as long as they upheld justice and courage, they would be able to uncover the truth and save the innocent children.

Manhattan, a bustling metropolis where prosperity and noise coexist, is adorned with dazzling neon lights at night, making the entire city seem like a dream. However, behind this glamorous facade lies a hidden secret and darkness.

Lynn and Hans weaved through the bustling crowd, their only target being the manager of the Manhattan branch of the Carlos Chamber of Commerce, a key figure who might be intricately connected to Polo's death.

The two arrived in front of a towering skyscraper, the very building housing the Manhattan branch of the Carlos Chamber of Commerce. They took a deep breath, exchanged a glance, and then resolutely walked inside.

After some twists and turns, they finally met the legendary manager—a middle-aged man who was fat, had greasy slicked-back hair, and whose eyes revealed cunning and arrogance.

"So you're Lynn and Hans?" The manager squinted, looking them up and down, his tone full of disdain.

"That's right, that's us." Lynn met the manager's gaze without flinching. "We want to ask you some questions about Polo."

Upon hearing this, a fleeting hint of panic crossed the manager's face, but he quickly regained his composure: "Polo? Hmph, that man is already dead. Why are you still bringing him up?"

"Dead?" Hans's eyes widened in anger as he stepped forward. "Why did he die? Is it related to your Carlos Trading Company?"

The manager sneered, leaning forward slightly as if awaiting the other party's reaction: "Hmph, you two little brats, I advise you to stay out of this mess. Polo's affairs are none of your business."

Lynn and Hans exchanged a glance, both seeing the determination in each other's eyes. They knew that the manager was hiding something, and they had to uncover that secret.

"Now that we've gotten involved, we can't give up easily." Lynn's voice was calm but firm. "Polo was our friend, and we must find out the truth about his death."

The manager's face suddenly darkened. He stood up, walked over to the two men, and said in a low, threatening tone, "Let me give you a piece of advice: sometimes it's better not to know than to know. Polo is a prime example; he knew far too much he shouldn't have."

That's why he ended up like this. If you don't want to follow in his footsteps, you'd better stop now and stop investigating.

Upon hearing this, Hans flew into a rage. He grabbed the manager by the collar and lifted him up: "You bastard! Your Carlos Merchant Guild is implicated in Polo's death! We're here today to get to the bottom of this!"

The manager was intimidated by Hans's imposing manner, his face turning deathly pale. However, he quickly regained his composure and said in a chilling tone, "Hmph, do you think you can scare me like this? Let me tell you, the Carlos Chamber of Commerce is not someone you can afford to offend. If you don't stop now, I guarantee you'll regret it!"

Seeing this, Lynn quickly pulled Hans back, signaling him to calm down. He knew that a head-on confrontation wasn't the solution. What they needed was wisdom and strategy.

"Manager, you've misunderstood." Lynn released Hans and said calmly, "We're not here to cause trouble. We just want to know the cause of Polo's death. He was our friend, and we have the right to know the truth. Besides, I believe that the Carlos Chamber of Commerce, as an influential organization, wouldn't want its reputation to be damaged by some unnecessary misunderstanding."

Upon hearing this, the manager hesitated for a moment. He knew Lynn's words made sense. The Carlos Chamber of Commerce certainly didn't want its reputation to be affected by trivial matters. Moreover, he could tell that these two people weren't so easily dismissed.

"Alright." The manager sighed and sat back down in his chair. "I can tell you some things about Polo, but you must promise not to investigate any further."

Lynn and Hans exchanged a smile; they knew the manager was starting to soften his stance. Now it was their turn to show their skills.

"We can guarantee that," Lynn nodded, "as long as you tell the truth, we won't make things difficult for you anymore."

The manager hesitated for a moment, then began to recount the story of Polo. He admitted that Polo had indeed collaborated with the Carlos Chamber of Commerce.

He didn't know the specifics. He only knew that Polo seemed to possess some secrets that the Carlos Merchant Guild didn't want others to know, and these secrets were the root cause of his death.

"So, what exactly are these secrets?" Hans asked impatiently.

The manager shook his head: "I don't know. I'm just a branch manager; there are many things I don't know. But I can tell you that these secrets are related to the higher-ups of the Carlos Chamber of Commerce, and may even involve some higher-level forces."

Upon hearing this, Lynn and Hans both felt a sense of foreboding. They knew that the secret was likely far more complex than they had imagined. Moreover, they realized that they might have been drawn into a massive vortex.

"So, what should we do now?" Hans looked at Lynn, his eyes filled with confusion.

Lynn took a deep breath and said with a firm gaze, "No matter how many difficulties and dangers lie ahead, we must find out the cause of Polo's death. He was not only our friend, but also an innocent victim. We cannot let him die in vain."

Hans nodded, his eyes rekindling with fighting spirit: "That's right! We must seek justice for Polo! At the same time, we must expose the crimes of the Carlos Merchant Guild! Let them know that justice and fairness still exist in this world!"

The two exchanged a smile, then resolutely turned and left the manager's office.

As night fell, the lights of Manhattan adorned the night sky like stars, shrouding the city that never sleeps in a veil of mystery. Lynn dragged his weary body back to his small suburban cabin. The day's journey had left him feeling more exhausted than ever before; the cause of Poirot's death weighed heavily on his heart, a burden he found difficult to shake off.

Pushing open the door, a chill swept over him, causing Lynn to shiver. He turned on the light, its dim, warm glow failing to dispel the gloom in his heart. He slowly walked to the bedroom, intending to wash up and get a good night's rest before continuing his investigation the next day.

However, as he lay in bed, preparing to drift off to sleep, a faint smell of gas quietly entered his nostrils. He was startled and instantly sat up in bed, his eyes filled with vigilance.

"Gas smell? Where is it coming from?" Lynn muttered to himself, his heart racing, a sense of foreboding washing over him. He quickly got out of bed and followed the smell to the kitchen. The kitchen window was ajar, the night breeze gently ruffling the curtains, seemingly whispering some untold secret. Lynn walked to the window, about to check the situation, when suddenly, a lighter flew in through the window and landed steadily on the kitchen counter.

"Who?!" Lynn exclaimed in surprise. Realizing the situation was dire, he quickly turned to run away. However, just as he turned, he saw a note next to the lighter, with crooked handwriting that read: "Want to know Polo's secret? Come and chase me!"

Lynn's heart skipped a beat. He knew this wasn't just a prank. Someone had deliberately lured him here, and it seemed to be related to Polo's death. Without time to think, he turned and rushed towards the door, ready to escape this dangerous place.

However, just as he was about to touch the doorknob, the gas stove in the kitchen suddenly exploded with a loud "bang." The enormous impact threw Lynn into the air; he felt a buzzing in his ears and his vision went completely black. Driven by instinct, he desperately crawled towards the door, trying to escape the inferno.

However, the flames raged like a demon, quickly spreading throughout the kitchen. Lynn's clothes caught fire, and he felt a sharp pain coursing through his body. He gritted his teeth, mustered his last strength, and lunged forward, finally leaping out the door and rolling onto the lawn in front of it.

"Cough cough—" Lynn coughed violently. His face and hands were covered with wounds, but he didn't care about them. He just gasped for breath, grateful that he had survived.

He lay on the ground, staring at the burning house, his heart filled with anger and confusion. Who was it? Who wanted him dead?

Could it be someone from the Carlos Chamber of Commerce? Would they really resort to such extreme measures to cover up the truth?

Lynn struggled to his feet, his eyes scanning his surroundings, trying to find the person who had thrown the lighter. But all was silent, save for the crackling of the flame, as if mocking his incompetence.

"Who are you? Why are you doing this?" Lynn roared, his voice echoing in the night sky, but he received no response.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He knew this wasn't the time for anger and frustration; he had to call the police as soon as possible and find the mastermind. He pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling as he dialed the police.

"Hello, is this the police? There's been an explosion here—...yes, a gas explosion...the address is—..." Lynn managed to say his address before hanging up. He leaned against the wall, waiting for rescue.

Soon after, fire trucks and police cars arrived with sirens blazing. Firefighters quickly began extinguishing the fire, while police began investigating the cause of the accident. Lynn was taken to the hospital for treatment; his injuries were not serious, but the emotional trauma was difficult to heal.

Manhattan at night, neon lights shimmer, cars stream by, and the city's hustle and bustle reaches its peak. However, in the heart of this city, a storm is quietly brewing.

Inside FBI headquarters, the lights were on, but the atmosphere was unusually tense. An agent rushed into the conference room, his face showing barely concealed tension: "Sir, something's happened. Someone sabotaged our operation; one of our agents is injured."

The atmosphere in the conference room froze instantly upon hearing this. The FBI executives exchanged glances, a flicker of shock and unease in their eyes. They knew this was not merely a simple attack, but a challenge to the authority of the FBI.

"Who did this?" asked the middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table in a deep voice. He was the FBI's deputy director, named Harvey. Although his voice was calm, the authority it carried sent chills down one's spine.

"It's not clear yet, but," the agent hesitated for a moment before continuing, "but based on the clues left at the scene, it seems to be related to the Carlos Chamber of Commerce."

"The Carlos Chamber of Commerce?" Harvey frowned slightly; the name was familiar to him. The Carlos Chamber of Commerce was a massive transnational criminal organization involved in various illegal activities such as smuggling, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Its influence spanned the globe, and even the FBI had its hands full of headaches dealing with it.

Just then, a young voice suddenly rang out: "I have some information about the Carlos Merchant Guild."

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young detective stand up; it was Lynn. His eyes were firm, as if he possessed a hidden determination.

"Lynn, are you sure you want to get involved in this mess?" Harvey looked at Lynn, his tone full of complexity. "The Carlos Chamber of Commerce is no ordinary criminal organization; they have powerful forces and resources behind them."

Lynn nodded, her tone firm: "I know, but I believe that as long as we dare to face it, nothing is impossible."

Harvey was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Alright, since you're so determined, then tell me your intelligence."

Lynn took a deep breath and began to recount his entanglement with the Carlos Merchant Guild. From Polo's mysterious death to their various connections with the Carlos Merchant Guild, and then to that terrifying explosion, every detail was chilling.

"So, you understand now, right?" Lynn said, looking at everyone present. "The Carlos Chamber of Commerce is not just a criminal organization; they are a malignant tumor threatening national security. If we don't take action, they will only become more rampant."

A silence fell over the meeting room as everyone pondered Lynn's words. They knew Lynn was right; the Carlos Chamber of Commerce was indeed a formidable threat. However, the difficulty of investigating such a massive organization was self-evident.

"But Lynn," Harvey finally broke the silence, "the Carlos Chamber of Commerce is too large, and our resources are limited. Investigating them is like looking for a needle in a haystack."

Upon hearing this, a resolute glint flashed in Lynn's eyes: "I know it's difficult, but we can't give up because of this. If we don't even dare to try, how can we talk about protecting the safety of the country and its people?"

Harvey looked at Lynn, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. He knew this young man possessed extraordinary courage and determination. However, as the FBI's deputy director, he had to consider things more comprehensively.

"Lynn, you're right," Harvey said slowly, "but we can't act blindly. We need a meticulous plan, more intelligence, and more resources. And we must ensure the success rate of the operation; otherwise, the consequences of failure will be unimaginable."

Lynn nodded; he understood Harvey's concerns. However, he already had a preliminary plan in mind.

"Sir, I have an idea," Lynn said. "We can start our investigation from within the Carlos Chamber of Commerce. I believe that if we can find their weakness, we will be able to bring them down."

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Harvey's eyes: "Continue."

Lynn began to elaborate on his plan. He proposed infiltrating the Carlos Chamber of Commerce to gather intelligence and information, and then gradually dismantling their power. Although the plan was extremely risky, it was currently the only feasible method.

After hearing Lynn's plan, the atmosphere in the conference room fell silent again. Everyone was considering the feasibility and risks of the plan. Finally, Harvey slowly spoke: "Lynn, your plan is bold and creative. However, I must remind you that this is an extremely dangerous mission. Are you prepared?"

Lynn looked at Harvey, his eyes shining with determination: "I'm ready, sir. For the safety of the country and the people, I'm willing to take this risk."