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

Chapter 182 Protecting Stacy's Family

Lynn took the watch and examined it closely. It was an ordinary watch, but a line of small letters was engraved on the dial, as if it were some kind of special mark. A thought struck him, and he immediately remembered something: "This is—the logo of the Carlos Merchant Guild!"

Upon hearing this, his subordinate's expression changed: "The Carlos Merchant Guild? Could it be—they did it?"

Lynn didn't answer, but he already knew the answer in his heart. He stood up, his gaze sweeping over every corner of the warehouse, trying to find more clues about the Carlos Merchant Guild. However, the place seemed to have been thoroughly cleaned up; apart from the assassin's body, nothing was left behind.

"Officer Lynn, what should we do next?" The subordinate looked at Lynn, his eyes filled with confusion and unease.

Lynn took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down: "We can't give up like this. Since the Carlos Chamber of Commerce dared to do this, they must have their reasons. We need to continue our investigation and find out the truth behind them."

The night was as dark as ink, and the city's hustle and bustle gradually subsided under the cover of darkness, leaving only the occasional roar of a car and the faint lights in the distance. Lynn stood by the window of the police station, his gaze piercing through the layers of rain, a deep, indescribable anxiety churning within him. He had just received an anonymous call; the voice on the other end was low and urgent, claiming that Stacy's family was facing unprecedented danger. Stacy, the adoptive father who had given him warmth and love during his childhood, was now the deepest worry in his heart.

"We can't just sit idly by." Lynn turned around and looked firmly at his busy subordinates. "Jack, you take some men and keep an eye on Stacy's house immediately. Report any suspicious activity to me right away."

Jack looked up, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Boss, isn't Stacy's house always been safe?"

Why all of a sudden—

Lynn interrupted him, her tone resolute and unwavering: "Don't ask why, my gut feeling tells me this isn't simple. We must ensure their safety, no matter what."

Seeing this, Jack didn't ask any more questions and immediately nodded in agreement: "Yes, boss. I'll arrange for people to go there right away."

As Jack hurried away, Lynn's anxiety did not lessen in the slightest. He knew that the reason Stacy's family was in danger was likely related to the case he was currently investigating. That major case involving gangsters, smuggling, and drug trafficking had already brought him to the brink of death multiple times, and Stacy's family could very well have become pawns in their revenge.

As night deepened, the rain intensified. Lynn sat in his office, his eyes fixed on the map on his desk.

He silently planned out possible contingency plans. Suddenly, the phone on the table rang, breaking the silence of the night. Lynn grabbed the phone abruptly: "Speak."

Jack's urgent voice came through the phone: "Boss, something's wrong! Suspicious people have appeared near Stacy's house, and they're approaching!"

Lynn's heart tightened, and she immediately stood up: "Don't make any rash moves. Protect yourselves. I'm coming right away!"

After hanging up the phone, Lynn quickly put on his coat, grabbed the pistol and spare magazine from the table, and strode out of the police station. In the rainy night, his figure was like a flash of lightning, disappearing swiftly into the darkness.

When Lynn arrived at Stacy's house, he saw Jack and several of his men hiding in the bushes nearby, nervously observing their surroundings. Lynn approached them and whispered, "How's the situation?"

Jack pointed to a black sedan not far away: "That car just stopped in front of Stacy's house, and a few people got out. They don't look like nice guys."

Lynn followed Jack's finger and saw that the group of people were wearing black trench coats, hats, and masks, clearly trying to conceal their identities. His heart sank; he immediately realized that these people were likely after Stacy's family.

"We can't just sit here and wait to die," Lynn said in a low voice. "Jack, you take two men and go around from behind. I'll draw their attention from the front. Remember, make sure Stacy and her family are safe."

Jack nodded in agreement and quietly moved to the back with his two men. Lynn took a deep breath, composed himself, and strode towards Stacy's house.

As he approached the door, the men in black suddenly turned around, their eyes fixed on him sharply. Lynn remained unfazed, walking straight up to them and flashing his badge: "I'm a police officer. What are you doing here?"

The leader of the men in black sneered, "Police? We're waiting for a friend, what's it to you?"

Lynn sneered inwardly; these people were clearly lying. He feigned ignorance: "Waiting for friends? Your friends would come here so late?"

The leader's eyes narrowed, as if he realized something, and he suddenly waved for his men to act. Lynn, already prepared, quickly retreated, drawing his pistol and pointing it at them: "Don't move! Or I'll shoot!"

However, these men in black were clearly not to be trifled with; they quickly drew their weapons and confronted Lynn. Just then, Jack and his men suddenly appeared from behind, launching a fierce attack on the men in black. A fierce gunfight erupted in the rainy night.

Lynn dodged bullets while looking for an opportunity to fire at the men in black. He knew he had to eliminate these enemies quickly, or Stacy's family would be in even greater danger. However, these men in black were well-trained and agile, and taking them down in a short time would not be easy.

Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, Lynn suddenly had an idea. He deliberately created an opening, making the leader think he had a chance to attack. The leader fell for it and lunged forward. Lynn seized the opportunity, grabbed his arm, and forcefully threw him to the ground. At the same time, he quickly pointed his gun at the leader's head: "Don't move! Or I'll kill you!"

The leader, intimidated by Lynn's imposing presence, immediately froze. Seeing this, the other men in black also stopped what they were doing. Lynn seized the opportunity to shout, "Drop your weapons! Or I'll shoot!"

Under Lynn's intimidation, the men in black finally surrendered. They laid down their weapons and obediently squatted on the ground.

The night was as dark as ink, but the FBI building was brightly lit, a stark contrast to the darkness outside. Lynn stood before the glass window of the interrogation room, his gaze coldly fixed on the men in black being interrogated inside. These men in black...

Each of them had once been a ghost on the dark web, carrying out secret missions unknown to anyone, until last night, when they were all captured by Lynn and his team.

"Boss, these guys are really stubborn, they won't say anything." Jack walked out of the interrogation room, looking somewhat dejected.

Lynn frowned, a sense of helplessness welling up inside him. He knew all too well that these men in black were just the tip of the iceberg; the real mastermind was still lurking in the shadows, at large. Their only clue was the mission these men in black had received from the dark web.

"Do they really not know the employer's identity?" Lynn asked in a deep voice.

Jack nodded. "Yes, boss. They all say they're just following instructions from the dark web."

I've never seen the employer before, and I don't know who the employer is.

Lynn took a deep breath and turned his gaze to the men in black in the interrogation room. They all had their heads bowed, silent, seemingly indifferent to their impending fate. Lynn knew that although these men were despicable, they were merely pawns manipulated by the mastermind behind the scenes.

"Re-examine the case and see if we can find a breakthrough," Lynn instructed.

However, as time went on, the interrogation yielded disappointing results. The man in black steadfastly maintained his silence, refusing to divulge any information about the employer no matter how he was questioned. Lynn and his team found themselves in an unprecedented predicament.

"Boss, what should we do?" Jack looked at Lynn, his eyes flashing with anxiety.

Lynn was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "We can't give up like this. The dark web is mysterious, but it's not invincible. We need to trace it back to its source and find the people who posted these missions."

Lynn's words were firm, as if he were encouraging himself and his team. However, he knew in his heart that...

The complexity and secrecy of the dark web made this task virtually impossible. But even so, he couldn't give up.

In the days that followed, Lynn and his team launched an in-depth investigation. They tracked the Black Organization's online activities, analyzed their transaction records, and even attempted to infiltrate the dark web to find clues about their employers. However, every effort seemed to sink without a trace, yielding no results.

"Boss, are we going the wrong way?" Jack looked at Lynn, his eyes filled with confusion.

Lynn shook his head, his gaze resolute: "No, we haven't gone to the wrong place. The dark web may be elusive, but as long as we persevere, we'll eventually find a clue."

Just then, an unexpected discovery gave Lynn and his team hope. They found a frequently appearing account in the Men in Black's transaction records, an account that seemed to be linked to multiple missions.

"Boss, look at this account." Jack pointed to the account information on the screen, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Lynn examined it carefully, then slammed his hand on the table: "This is it! If we track this account, we might find clues about the employer!"

The team immediately sprang into action, conducting comprehensive monitoring and analysis of the account. After a period of effort, they finally uncovered the true identity behind the account—a mysterious figure hidden deep within the dark web, known as "Shadow."

"Shadow?" Lynn looked at the information on the screen, a strong premonition rising in his heart. "This person..."

This is very likely the employer we're looking for.

However, when they tried to track "Shadow" further, they discovered that he seemed to have vanished into thin air.

They vanished without a trace. Lynn and his team were once again in trouble.

"Boss, what should we do?" Jack looked at Lynn, his eyes filled with helplessness.

Lynn took a deep breath and then slowly said, "We can't give up like this. Shadow may be cunning, but he'll eventually slip up. We need to continue monitoring the dark web and wait for his reappearance."

As time went by, Lynn and his team devoted almost all their energy to tracking the Shadow.

They worked day and night, analyzing data, investigating clues, and even infiltrating the dark web multiple times to go undercover.

However, the shadows seemed to know of their existence and refused to show themselves.

"Boss, are we being too stubborn?" Jack looked at Lynn, his eyes showing weariness. "Maybe we should change direction."

Lynn shook his head, his gaze resolute: "No, we can't give up. Shadow is our only clue."

Only by finding him can we uncover the truth.

Just when Lynn and his team were almost completely exhausted, an unexpected message arrived. Someone had posted a new quest on the dark web, and the quest poster was none other than Shadow!

"Boss, look!" Jack pointed to the mission information on the screen, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Lynn stared at the screen, a strong premonition rising within him. He knew this was their only chance, and they had to seize it.

The team sprang into action, following the instructions in the mission message to a secluded warehouse. The warehouse was empty, except for a table and a computer. Lynn and his team quickly surrounded the warehouse, preparing to await the appearance of Shadow.

Time ticked by, but there was still no movement from inside the warehouse. Lynn and his team began to grow anxious.

They didn't know if the shadow would actually appear. However, just then, the warehouse lights suddenly came on, and a figure in a black trench coat slowly walked out.

"Shadow!" Lynn shouted, quickly drawing his pistol and pointing it at him.

Shadow, however, did not seem surprised. He smiled at Lynn and said, "Officer Lynn, we finally meet."

Lynn gripped his pistol tightly, his gaze cold and stern: "Who exactly are you? Why are you issuing those missions?"

Shadow smiled and then slowly said, "I'm just a middleman, responsible for connecting the employer and the mission executor. As for who the employer is, I don't know."

Lynn frowned: "You're lying! You must know the employer's identity!"

Shadow shook his head. "Officer Lynn, you're wrong. Everyone on the dark web is anonymous, and I'm no exception. I only know the details and requirements of the mission; as for who the employer is, I really don't know."

Lynn looked at the shadow, a strong sense of helplessness welling up inside him. He knew that what the shadow said might be true.

On the dark web, everyone is just a code name and a mask; their true identity is always hidden behind the scenes.

"Then why did you issue those missions?" Lynn asked again.

Shadow paused for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Because someone is willing to pay, and I'm just a tool to make money. On the dark web, there are no morals or justice, only interests and money."

Lynn felt a surge of intense anger as he listened to Shadow's words. He knew that although Shadow was merely a pawn in the hands of the mastermind, his existence had fueled the spread of evil. He had to eliminate this pawn to seek justice for the innocent victims.

"Shadow, you have committed an unforgivable crime." Lynn's voice was low and firm. "You must pay the price for your actions."

Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger. A gunshot rang out, and Shadow fell to the ground. However, Lynn felt no relief. He knew that although Shadow had been eliminated, the mastermind was still lurking in the shadows, waiting for the next opportunity.

a few days later.

Sunlight filtered through sparse clouds, dappling the hospital corridor. Lynn stood at the door of the ward, holding a bouquet of flowers, a relaxed smile on his face. He had just emerged from a stressful mission, but the weariness in his heart vanished instantly upon seeing the news that his friend Hans was about to be discharged.

"Hans, you're finally getting discharged!" Lynn pushed open the door to the ward, strode in, and placed the flowers on the bedside table.

Hans sat on the bed, his face pale, but his eyes gleaming with an indomitable light. He saw Lynn and a smile played on his lips: "Lynn, you're here. Yes, finally we can leave this hellhole."

Lynn pulled up a chair and sat down, looking at Hans with concern: "How's your recovery going? What did the doctor say?"

Hans shrugged, feigning nonchalance, and said, "It's alright, just a little weak. The doctor said that as long as the follow-up rehabilitation goes well, I'll recover quickly."

Lynn nodded, but he knew in his heart that Hans's injuries were far more serious than he had described. During that mission...

Hans risked his life to protect him, and was seriously injured as a result. Lynn will always remember this kindness.

"Hans, I have a suggestion," Lynn suddenly said. "After you're discharged from the hospital, let's go to the fighting arena together. You need to recover your strength, and I'd like to practice my skills. What do you say?"

Hans was taken aback, then a glint of excitement flashed in his eyes: "A fighting arena? Great idea! I've been wanting to spar with you for a long time."

Lynn smiled; he knew Hans had always been passionate about fighting, and this suggestion suited him perfectly. The two exchanged a smile, as if they had returned to those days of fighting side by side, their blood boiling with excitement.

That afternoon, Lynn drove Hans to a fighting arena on the outskirts of the city. Although the arena wasn't large, it was well-equipped and had a vibrant atmosphere. Upon entering, one could immediately feel the intense masculine energy.

"This is a good spot." Hans looked around, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Lynn, let's warm up first."

Lynn nodded, and the two began jogging and stretching in the arena to prepare for the upcoming training. After warming up, they changed into professional combat gear and stood in the center of the fighting ring.

"Hans, are you ready?" Lynn looked at Hans with a hint of provocation in his eyes.

Hans grinned: "Of course, come on, let me see if your skills have declined."

Before the words were even finished, the two launched their attacks simultaneously, engaging in fierce offense and defense. Lynn's punches were powerful and forceful, while Hans excelled in leg techniques, which were agile and varied. They exchanged blows in the fighting arena, locked in a fierce and evenly matched battle.

"Lynn, your fists are still as hard as ever," Hans said with a smile as he dodged a heavy punch from Lynn.

Lynn smiled slightly: "You're not bad either, your legwork is getting more and more impressive."

The two chatted as they sparred, as if they had returned to those carefree training days. However, as the training progressed, Lynn gradually noticed that Hans's stamina seemed to be waning. His movements became sluggish, and his breathing became rapid.