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

Chapter 201 Big News

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

“I have solid evidence,” Lynn said, his tone unwavering in his resolve. “Kronos Labs is at the heart of this conspiracy. Let’s make our move.”

Not long after.

Rain lashed against the abandoned metal walls of the Kronos Laboratory, the pitter-patter echoing jarringly in the empty building. Lynn stood in the center of the abandoned laboratory, hands in his coat pockets, coldly surveying the scene before him. Broken instruments and torn documents lay scattered on the lab benches, drag marks remained on the floor, and the refrigerator by the wall was open, completely empty.

"It's so clean it's despair-inducing." Hans stood to the side, frowning as he kicked aside a test tube rack on the floor. The test tubes shattered with a crisp sound. "These bastards moved faster than ghosts. Someone must have tipped them off beforehand."

"They couldn't have gone too far." Lynn walked to an empty refrigerator and ran his finger lightly along the edge of the door. His gaze swept over the water stains on it, traces of condensate that had just melted, proving that the equipment had been running just a few hours ago.

"But we don't have time to search every single room." Hans pulled a piece of chewing gum from his pocket and popped it into his mouth. "The Holy Blood Alliance is always like this, hiding things while breaking the clues into pieces like a jigsaw puzzle. By the time we piece them together, they've already moved on to a different location."

Lynn didn't reply, but instead crouched down, his gaze falling on a faint patch of blood on the floor. He put on his gloves, gently touched the bloodstain with his fingertips, and his brow furrowed even more deeply. "It's fresh."

"Blood?" Hans crouched down and peered inside. "This place was cleaned so thoroughly, yet there's still blood left?"

Lynn stood up, his gaze sharpening. "This means their evacuation wasn't perfect. Someone was injured, or—"

"Or they might be carrying some kind of 'experimental subject'," Hans said, his tone slightly cold.

Lynn nodded, scanning the surroundings of the laboratory. They could sense that, although the place seemed abandoned, there was still an unsettling atmosphere in the air, as if a secret operation had just ended.

Just then, a clear voice came through Lynn's walkie-talkie. "Agent Lynn, this is the exterior team. We've found some strange marks outside the building, possibly tire tracks."

Lynn picked up the walkie-talkie and calmly said, "Continue the investigation, record all the details, and don't overlook any possible direction."

"clear."

He hung up the walkie-talkie, glanced at Hans, and said, "We can't waste any more time here. Clean up the scene and take away all usable traces and documents."

Hans shrugged. "Okay, but I bet this is another dead end."

However, just as they were preparing to leave, Lynn's phone vibrated. He picked it up and glanced at the screen; it was a message from Rosa.

Back to the lab immediately, I've made an important discovery.

Lynn stared at the information, his expression shifting slightly. He didn't say anything more, but instead said to Hans, "Let's go, we need to go back."

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

In the early hours of the morning, the FBI headquarters labs were still brightly lit. Rosa stood at the main control panel, her face grave, the screen behind her filled with complex genetic data and chemical analysis results. Seeing Lynn and Hans enter,

She looked up and waved to them.

"Why did you call us back in such a hurry? What happened?" Lynn asked, his tone calm but with a hint of pressure.

Rosa didn't answer, but instead handed him a small, transparent test tube. The tube contained a pale blue liquid that fluoresced slightly under the light.

"This is the last component extracted from Kevin's blood sample," she said. "It's a very special synthetic substance that combines the properties of a drug and a gene delivery medium. Simply put, it can not only temporarily enhance the receptor's strength, but also forcibly alter the receptor's cellular structure—just like a virus."

"A virus?" Hans raised an eyebrow, taking a step closer. "You mean, they're using this to modify ordinary people?"

“Yes,” Rosa nodded. “And what’s even more frightening is that this substance itself is unstable; it requires specific genes to function. Kevin’s genes are able to react with it because mutant gene fragments have been injected into his blood.”

Lynn's gaze was icy as he asked in a low voice, "Where did those gene fragments come from?"

Rosa pressed a button, and a complex analysis report immediately popped up on the screen. "I tracked the characteristics of these gene fragments, and they are similar to the ability genes in several known mutant files, especially a gene related to enhanced strength and rapid self-healing. These characteristics—match a mutant codenamed 'Scarlet Butcher' with a match rate as high as 85%."

"The Scarlet Butcher?" Hans paused, taken aback. "That guy who caused such chaos in Los Angeles? Isn't he dead?"

“Yes,” Rosa nodded. “According to official records, he is dead. But his genes have apparently been preserved and are now being used in these experiments.”

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

“Very low,” Rosa replied. “That means even if someone successfully injects it, they will only gain the ability for a short time, followed by serious side effects, or even genetic collapse—Kevin’s loss of control is a typical example.”

"But what if they improve it?" Lynn pressed on.

Rosa was silent for a moment, then said, "If they find a better vehicle, or further optimize the genetic adaptation mechanism, this could completely change the course of a war. An ordinary person could possess mutant powers in a short period of time, and—possibly without any side effects."

"That's their goal," Lynn said in a low voice, his tone as cold as steel.

Hans leaned against the control panel, rubbing his temples. "So they're not just building weapons, they're trying to redefine the limits of 'humanity.' A bunch of lunatics."

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

Rosa shook her head. "I've exhausted all the data and clues I could find, but the Holy Blood Alliance's actions were too clean, leaving almost no direct trace. However—" she paused, "this genetic sample contains a special chemical marker that's related to some of the patented products from the Kronos Labs in the past. I need more time to dig deeper; perhaps we can find their next location."

"Time," Lynn gritted his teeth, "they're accelerating with every step, and we don't have much time left."

He turned to Hans and said, "Contact the field operations department and have them intensify their investigations of Kronos Labs and related Blood Alliance locations. Also, keep a close eye on what's happening in the West Side of Manhattan."

Hans nodded. "I understand. But I still don't think those bastards will let us find them easily."

"They won't," Lynn's voice was low and cold, "but they will make mistakes. And what we need to do is..."

It's about seizing on that mistake.

Under the lights, Rosa's fingers flew across the keyboard, while the data on the screen continued to scroll.

Lynn stood to the side, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, already prepared for the worst.

A cool, damp chill hung in the air over the streets of Brooklyn that morning, the scent of last night's rain still lingering. Lynn sat on the terrace of a quiet café, a cup of black coffee in his hand, his gaze fixed on the front page of the newspaper. Though his expression was calm, his mind was still pondering the various clues surrounding the Holy Blood Alliance and the Kronos Laboratory.

The café was small, with only a few small round tables on the terrace, and occasional pedestrian crossings on the street. Lynn liked the place; it was quiet and undisturbed, allowing him a moment to catch his breath before starting his busy workday.

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

Lynn looked up to see a blonde beauty standing beside his desk, a polite yet confident smile on her lips. She wore a fitted trench coat with a thin belt around her waist, giving her an elegant yet capable look. Her long blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her blue eyes held a mischievous gleam.

"Sorry to bother you, but I wanted to ask—."

She pointed to the street not far away, her smile tinged with helplessness. "My car broke down, and I happen to have something urgent to attend to today. If it's convenient, could you give me a ride?"

Lynn narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the unexpected stranger. She seemed harmless, even somewhat friendly, but his years of experience told him not to easily trust appearances. Especially in the current tense situation, any sudden surprise could conceal a deeper intention.

"Is your car broken?" he asked in a low voice, his tone devoid of emotion.

"Yes, I had a flat tire." The woman nodded, a hint of embarrassment on her face. "I've already called a mechanic, but it'll probably take a while. I just saw you sitting here and thought you might be going that way, so I thought I'd do you a favor."

Lynn put down his coffee cup and glanced at the end of the street, where a car was indeed parked, its door open, as if someone was checking the tires. He looked down at his watch; he still had plenty of time. Although he felt something was amiss, he didn't immediately refuse.

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

"Let's go to downtown Brooklyn, it's not far from here." The blonde woman smiled and extended her hand to him. "I'm Kate, Kate Miller. It's nice to meet you."

Lynn didn't shake hands, but simply nodded. "Lynn."

Kate's hand paused in mid-air for a moment, then she withdrew it without a word. She didn't seem bothered by Lynn's coldness, maintaining her smile. "Thank you, Lynn. This is really too much trouble for you."

Lynn did not respond. Instead, she stood up, picked up her coat and coffee cup, and walked toward the parking lot.

Kate followed behind him, her steps light and quick, a slight smile always on her face.

Lynn's car was an unassuming black SUV, plain on the outside but modified inside with some extra safety features. He opened the door and got into the driver's seat, waiting for Kate to get in.

Kate clearly noticed the car's interior features, her gaze lingering on the dashboard for a second longer, but she didn't ask any questions. Instead, she gently closed the door and fastened her seatbelt.

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

Lynn started the car, his eyes fixed intently on the road ahead. "You're lucky."

Kate chuckled softly. "Indeed."

As the car drove onto the street, Lynn didn't speak, while Kate seemed to dislike silence. She placed her hands on her knees, turned her head to look at him, and said, "You don't look like someone who's lived in Brooklyn for very long."

"Is that so?" Lynn's tone was flat, but her eyes remained fixed on the road.

“Yes,” Kate nodded, “your car is so clean, like it’s ready to go on some important mission at any moment. And—” Her gaze swept across his chest, as if searching for something, “your attitude is very—focused. It feels like someone who’s always planning their next move.”

Lynn tilted her head slightly and glanced at her, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips. "You're quite observant."

"Professional habit." Kate shrugged, giving a relaxed smile. "I'm a journalist, or more precisely, an investigative journalist."

"A reporter?" Lynn asked casually, but inwardly he became even more wary of the woman.

"Yes, it's a bit old-fashioned, but I enjoy digging up hidden truths. Everyone loves to hear stories, and I love finding those stories that no one dares to tell." Kate lifted her chin, a hint of confidence in her eyes.

"So what story did you investigate?" Lynn asked casually, his tone still calm, but his eyes were constantly scanning the rearview mirror and the surroundings with vigilance.

"Lots of interesting things," Kate said, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense before smiling. "But lately, the focus has been on some underground organizations. Have you heard of an organization near Brooklyn called the Holy Blood Alliance?"

Lynn's fingers stiffened slightly, but he concealed it well, his tone completely calm. "No."

"Really?" Kate raised an eyebrow at him. "They're not some ordinary criminal organization. I've heard they operate very covertly, but control a portion of the black market's resources, and even—some strange experiments. Are you sure you haven't heard of them?"

Lynn didn't answer, but instead increased the car's speed slightly. He didn't like being stared at, and he disliked even more the way this woman suddenly brought up the Holy Blood Alliance.

"Maybe it's just a rumor," Kate chuckled, seemingly sensing Lynn's wariness, and quickly changed the subject. "Actually, I don't dislike the atmosphere in Brooklyn. Quiet, yet full of stories. There are plenty of good people like you."

Lynn gave her a cold look. "I'm not a good person."

"Oh? Then what are you?" Kate raised an eyebrow, her tone slightly teasing.

Lynn didn't answer, but slowly pulled the car over to the side of a street in downtown Brooklyn. He looked at Kate, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable air, "You've arrived."

Kate paused for a moment, then smiled. "Okay, thank you, Lynn." She unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the car door, glanced back at him, and said, "Maybe we'll meet again."

Lynn didn't reply, but just watched her get out of the car, then started the car again and slowly drove away.

Kate pushed open the glass door of the newspaper office, and the familiar hustle and bustle immediately rushed towards her. Printers churned out sheets of paper incessantly, keyboards clattered incessantly, and telephones rang almost non-stop. The air in the newsroom seemed perpetually tense, as if constantly prepared for a major event to erupt.

She carried her trench coat to her workstation, squeezing past two assistant reporters who were carrying files along the way.

She also avoided the intern with coffee smeared on his hands. Everything seemed chaotic, but Kate was used to it all. Her steps were light, yet carried a hint of urgency.

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

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

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

Kate took a deep breath and followed him inside without stopping. She went into the editor-in-chief's office, hung her trench coat on the back of the chair, and then sat down opposite Frank.

"You seem a bit rushed." Frank looked up, his gaze shifting from the documents in his hand to Kate's face. "This isn't like you, Kate. The last time I saw you this agitated was because of that casino case."

Kate smiled gently and spread her notebook on the table. "Frank, I think we might have some big news."

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

Kate tapped her fingers lightly on her notebook, a glint of excitement in her eyes. "I 'bumped into' someone this morning. He's not simple."

"Be specific, Kate, I don't have time for riddles." Frank's tone remained relaxed, but his eyes held a hint of anticipation.

“Lynn,” Kate said, her smile deepening. “A top FBI agent, his name is on the list for almost every major investigation. He’s not just any agent; he’s one of those people who always gets access to top-secret information.”

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

“I’ve investigated.” Kate smiled. “After running into him on the street, I used some ‘old methods.’ Although his background is clean, he’s closely connected to the Holy Blood Alliance’s investigation. Moreover, his methods are interesting—discreet, efficient, and never easily revealing information. He’s clearly a difficult person to deal with, but precisely because of that, he must also know the most important secret.”