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

Chapter 223 is likely about a mutant.

Carter frowned: "What do you mean? This doesn't seem to be just simple game content."

Lynn carefully put away the note and the key, and said in a low voice, "I think this might be a clue left by the murderer. The place where the roses bloomed might point to his next move."

After the two left the warehouse, Lynn immediately notified the technical department to examine the note and the key.

However, neither the handwriting on the note nor the marks on the key provided any information that could lead to the killer. This "urban mystery-solving" activity still failed to provide them with a clear breakthrough.

"Did we miss something?" Carter asked in a low voice, his tone full of frustration.

"Perhaps it's time to think about this from a different perspective." Lynn's gaze was deep, and his tone was low. "If the killer really targeted the victims through his activities, then his motives go beyond just killing; he's trying to send us some kind of message. We need to find out the logic behind that message."

"The question is, where should we begin?" Carter pressed.

Lynn pondered for a moment, then said firmly, "Start with the meaning of the rose. Every action of the murderer..."

Everything seems to revolve around it. We must figure out what the rose really symbolizes.

Back in their office, Lynn and Carter immediately began to delve into the symbolism of the "rose." They assembled a small team of analysts and listed all possible cultural, historical, and psychological interpretations.

Love and beauty: traditional symbols, but irrelevant to the case.

Sacrifice and death: common religious symbols in the Middle Ages.

Mystery and secrets: Roses are often used as a symbol of hidden messages.

Ritual and worship: In some clandestine organizations, roses represent a certain ritual or power.

Lynn stared at the whiteboard and pointed to the last item: "We know that the killer's behavior was ritualistic."

If this is some kind of ritual, then the roses may be more than just decoration; they could be a central motif.

"The question is, is this a personal ritual or a group activity?" Carter rubbed his temples. "This will determine the direction of our investigation."

Lynn circled the words on the whiteboard: "We need to consider the most complex scenario. What if this isn't an isolated case, but part of a larger plan?"

At that moment, a technician knocked and entered, handing Lynn a report: "Detective, we've conducted a detailed analysis of the note found in the warehouse. Although the handwriting doesn't match the database, the paper's origin is rather strange—it's handmade and only sold at an antique bookstore on Manhattan's Upper East Side."

Lynn immediately seized on this clue: "Address?"

The technician handed over a note: "Carner Bookstore, East 79th Street".

Lynn looked at Carter: "Let's go to the bookstore."

Carnegie Bookstore is an old-fashioned shop hidden on a street corner in Manhattan. Stepping inside, you are greeted by the lingering smell of old paper and ink. Heavy bookshelves almost take up the entire space, and sunlight filters through the windows, casting dappled shadows, making you feel as if you have traveled back to another era.

An elderly shop owner wearing gold-rimmed glasses was organizing account books behind the counter. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and said in a friendly tone, "Welcome! What would you like to order?"

Lynn flashed his badge: "I'm FBI Detective Lynn, and this is my colleague Carter. We're investigating a case and have found some leads that might be related to your store."

The old shop owner adjusted his glasses, his expression somewhat bewildered: "A case? Related to me?"

"We found a note, and the paper used was sold by you," Lynn cut to the chase. "Could you tell us if anyone has been buying large quantities of this paper recently?"

The old shopkeeper frowned, pondered for a moment, and then nodded: "This paper is a specialty of our shop, and indeed, very few people buy it. However, a few months ago, a woman bought two whole dozen at once."

"A woman?" Carter pressed. "Do you remember her physical features?"

The old shop owner stroked his chin: "I don't remember clearly, but she looked a bit unusual. Tall, elegantly dressed, and I think she also had—blood-red eyes."

"Red eyes?" Lynn's heart tightened, and her tone became more serious. "Are you sure?"

"I thought it was some kind of special contact lens." The old shop owner shrugged. "She gave off a strange vibe, but she was very polite, spoke in a low voice, and had a very refined air."

"Did she leave her name or contact information?" Carter continued.

The old shop owner shook his head: "No, she paid in cash. However, I remember she asked about a certain book."

"What book?" Lynn asked immediately.

The old shopkeeper rummaged through the books for a while, then pulled out a yellowed register: "Let me see—ah, found it. It's a book about esoteric symbols and rituals, called 'Rose and Thorn: The Secrets of Shadow Ritual.' She asked about it, but I didn't have it in stock at the time."

Lynn noted down the book's title, his gaze growing even colder: "What's the content of this book?"

"It's about an ancient ritual involving a mystical worship of roses as a symbol." The old shopkeeper's tone turned somber. "It's said that participants establish a connection with 'unknown forces' through the ritual, thereby receiving some kind of 'blessing' or 'salvation'."

Lynn and Carter exchanged a serious look, vaguely sensing that the details of the case were gradually becoming clearer.

Back in his office, Lynn immediately began tracking the book's whereabouts. He contacted networks of antique book collectors and quickly discovered that while "The Rose and the Thorns" was indeed a rare book, a private library in Manhattan might possess a complete copy.

At the same time, he shared this information with the technical department, ordering them to investigate all recent activities related to the cult.

"Rose, ritual, cult," Lynn murmured to herself. "The killer isn't just a cold-blooded murderer; she might be part of a larger organization, and these victims—might be objects of some kind of 'sacrifice'."

Cardinal nodded and added, "If that's the case, then other participants could also become targets. We need to find the core of this organization as soon as possible and prevent more people from being killed."

Lynn took a deep breath, staring at the keywords on the whiteboard. He knew that the next step would be a life-or-death struggle, and the secret of the rose might be the only key to unlocking everything.

Kate left her apartment, clutching her newly compiled interview notes and materials, intending to continue working at a quiet café. She had been delving into the details of the serial killer case, trying to piece together the truth in her own way. However, as she walked down the street, her keen intuition alerted her to an unsettling atmosphere.

She vaguely sensed someone watching her from behind, and her pace quickened involuntarily. As she rounded a corner...

She glanced quickly at the shop window and noticed a man in a dark coat following behind with his head down. He maintained a subtle distance, neither too close nor too far, yet he exuded an oppressive aura.

Kate's heart raced, and a multitude of possibilities flashed through her mind. She remained calm, casually taking out her phone and switching to camera mode to take a selfie and observe the situation behind her. The man continued to follow, his steps steady, his gaze sinister.

"Someone is following me." That was the only thought in Kate's mind.

Instead of going straight home, she quickly turned into a busy commercial street. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the person was still there. Kate quickly considered her options; she needed a safe place where she could discreetly observe the other person's intentions.

She found a fast food restaurant, quickly went inside, and chose a seat by the window, deliberately placing her phone on the table. Through the window, she could clearly see her follower stop across the street. He didn't go into the restaurant; instead, he leaned against a newsstand, pretending to read a newspaper, but his eyes kept glancing into the restaurant.

Kate's heart tightened; she knew she couldn't delay any longer and immediately took out her phone to dial Lynn's number.

The phone was answered after two rings. Lynn's voice was low and calm: "Kate? What happened?"

"Lynn, someone's following me." Kate lowered her voice, trying to sound calm, but there was still a hint of nervousness in her tone. "A man, wearing a dark coat. He's been following me since I left home, and he's watching me from across the street now."

Lynn paused noticeably on the other end of the phone, then her tone became more serious: "Where are you now? Don't hang up, tell me your exact location."

Kate quickly gave the name of the fast food restaurant and its location on the block, and continued, "He didn't approach me, but I didn't dare leave rashly."

Lynn's voice carried a calm, commanding tone: "Very good. Stay in the store and don't show anything unusual. I'll be there immediately, and I'll send nearby officers to provide backup."

Kate nodded, then, realizing Lynn couldn't see her, whispered, "Okay, I'll wait for you."

After hanging up the phone, Kate placed it on the table, pretending to be writing something, while glancing at the street across the street. The man was still leaning there, occasionally pretending to read a newspaper, but his eyes would occasionally sweep towards her location.

"Who is this person? Why is he targeting me?" Countless questions flashed through Kate's mind. She guessed it might be related to her reporting, but she couldn't be sure of the other person's identity at all.

About ten minutes later, Lynn appeared outside the fast food restaurant's glass window. He was dressed in plain clothes, but his eyes were sharp, and he went straight to Kate's table as soon as he entered.

"Are you alright?" Lynn asked in a low voice, glancing quickly out the window.

Kate nodded and lowered her voice: "He's still across the street. The man leaning against the newsstand."

Lynn glanced at it quickly, a cold glint in his eyes. He sat down, took out his phone, and pretended to make a casual call, but was actually calling for backup. At the same time, his voice remained low: "Very good. Follow my instructions. Don't look at him, and don't show anything unusual. I need to confirm if he's alone."

Kate nodded and continued to pretend to look through her notes. She could sense Lynn's nervousness, but his presence also gave her a sense of security.

A few minutes later, an unmarked police car pulled up on the side of the street, and two plainclothes officers got out and quietly approached their target. Lynn whispered to Kate, "Stay here, I'll go see who he is."

Kate nodded nervously, watching Lynn stand up and casually walk out of the fast food restaurant. His steps were slow and unhurried, but his eyes remained fixed on the suspicious man. At the same time, the two plainclothes officers surrounded them from different directions.

The man seemed to sense something, suddenly looked up, glanced around, and quickly turned to leave. His movements were swift and decisive, clearly indicating he had received some kind of training. Lynn immediately raised her voice, "Don't let him get away!"

The officers immediately gave chase, startling pedestrians on the street who stopped in their tracks. Kate saw through the window that the man was moving very fast, but Lynn and the officers worked together seamlessly, eventually tackling him to the ground at the entrance of an alley.

A few minutes later, Lynn returned to the store with a grim expression and said to Kate, "We caught him. He had no identification and refused to answer any questions, but judging from his equipment, he's not an ordinary person."

Kate's heart sank: "Did he come to see me, or is it about the case?"

Lynn sat down closer to Kate, his voice growing even lower: "We don't know yet, but you need to be careful. Don't go out alone for the next few days. I'll arrange for people to protect you until we figure out his identity and intentions."

Kate bit her lip, her heart pounding with fear, but she forced herself to remain calm: "Lynn, I can protect myself, but you must tell me the truth."

Lynn nodded, his eyes resolute: "I will find the answer. And whoever they are, they won't be able to hurt you."

As Lynn and Kate were about to leave the fast food restaurant, his phone rang. It was an undercover police officer who had been giving chase. All they could hear on the other end of the line was rapid breathing and faint moans.

"Detective, that man—" The plainclothes officer's voice was filled with shock and pain, "He's not an ordinary person. When Jack and I cornered him, he suddenly turned around, reached out his hand, and I—I felt like I was violently thrown away by an invisible force and slammed into the wall. Jack—Jack is injured."

Lynn's face immediately darkened, and his tone was low: "An invisible force? Describe it in detail."

'

"It was like—a shockwave suddenly burst out of the air." The officer's voice trembled slightly. "We didn't even touch him. He just casually swung his hand, and we were thrown three meters away. That guy was fast; he disappeared in the blink of an eye."

After hanging up the phone, Lynn's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. He turned to Kate, his voice low but firm: "Now it's confirmed, the person following you is very likely a mutant."

Kate paused for a moment, then her eyes widened: "Mutants? You mean—related to the serial killer case?"

"It's not certain yet, but this ability is clearly not something an ordinary person could possess." Lynn frowned. "If he's a mutant, his ability to track you is definitely not simple."