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

Chapter 224 A Simple Personal Symbol?

Kate pursed her lips, her composure finally faltering: "Lynn, does this—does this mean this case is more than just an ordinary serial murder?"

Lynn didn't answer. Instead, he took out his phone and dialed an FBI internal communication number. He calmly said, "This is Detective Lynn. I need access to all mutant files in the Manhattan area. Level A or higher. Grant me access immediately."

After confirming Lynn's identity, the other party immediately granted authorization. Lynn took Kate back to the station and headed straight for the archives.

The archives were dimly lit, the air thick with the smell of worn-out documents. Lynn stood before rows upon rows of densely packed electronic filing cabinets, rapidly operating the terminal. He typed in the keywords: "Manhattan, mutants."

Suspected abilities: Shockwave/Air control.

A series of documents popped up on the screen, each file accompanied by a corresponding photo, code name, and description of abilities. Lynn's eyes quickly scanned each document, trying to find a suspect who matched the information he had just received.

Carter arrived just then, holding the briefing submitted by the officers who had been chasing them: "Lynn, the guy's specific features have been confirmed: male, about 1.85 meters tall, wearing a dark trench coat, with light brown hair. Most notably, he seemed to deliberately hide his face while running away, but someone noticed that his pupils had an eerie purple hue during the chase."

"Purple pupils?" Lynn's eyes searched the screen faster, and he quickly entered "abnormal pupils" as a new filter.

A file popped up on the screen, displaying information about a mutant codenamed "Hurricane".

Name: Unknown Codename: Hurricane Ability: Airflow manipulation, able to create high-pressure shockwaves through the air for attack and defense, and can even instantly increase one's movement speed.

Record: This individual has been identified for multiple thefts and acts of violence, but has never been arrested. His last recorded activity was two years ago, after which he disappeared following an attack on an armored truck. He is believed to possess exceptional counter-surveillance capabilities.

Lynn stared intently at the photo in the file. The man in the photo was wearing a baseball cap, with most of his face hidden in shadow, but his light brown hair and cold demeanor matched the description given by the police officer perfectly.

“Him,” Lynn pointed at the screen, “this mutant—Hurricane. We have reason to believe he has at least some connection to this serial killing case. His abilities are exactly as described by the undercover officers.”

Carter frowned. "But here's the question: why is he following Kate? If he's the serial killer, what's his motive? If he isn't, what's his relationship with the real killer?"

Lynn was silent for a moment, a cold glint in his eyes: "No matter who he is, the fact that he's targeting Kate means her reporting touched on a sensitive issue. We need to find out what Hurricane wants, or who's behind him."

At that moment, Kate, standing behind Lynn and staring at the file on the screen, suddenly asked, "If he's a mutant, could he also be connected to the contents of 'The Rose and the Thorns'?"

Lynn smiled slightly, then nodded: "Possibly. Cult rituals, the rose symbol, serial killings, mutants—these seemingly independent clues may be pointing to the same truth."

Kate bit her lip. "Lynn, I want to help you. I can try to find out more about the hurricane through my connections. Maybe he contacted someone or was somewhere."

Lynn turned around and looked at Kate seriously: "Kate, this is too dangerous. The hurricane has its sights on you, and the only thing you need to do now is protect yourself."

"Protect yourself?" Kate raised an eyebrow, her eyes showing stubbornness. "I'm a journalist, my job is to pursue the truth. If I just hide away, not only will the truth never come to light, but I will also live in fear forever."

Lynn was silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "Okay, but you must promise me that you will tell me everything you do. I will arrange for a team to protect you around the clock, no matter where you go."

Kate nodded. "Deal."

Just as Lynn and Kate were organizing their thoughts, Carter's phone suddenly rang. He answered the phone...

After listening for a few seconds, his expression instantly turned serious: "Lynn, another murder has just occurred downtown—there's a red rose painted on the wall."

Lynn's gaze suddenly darkened: "The killer has made another move."

He grabbed his coat, turned to Carter and Kate: "Come on, let's go to the crime scene. This time..."

The killer will definitely leave more clues.

Lynn's car drove through the streets of Manhattan in the rain, the interior silent. Kate sat in the passenger seat, notebook in hand, glancing up at Lynn every now and then. His gaze remained focused, his face tense, clearly as he mentally rehearsed the case.

When they arrived at the scene, police tape had already been put up, and the alternating blue and red flashing lights of police cars pierced the rain, making the dilapidated neighborhood appear even more gloomy. The crime scene was an abandoned warehouse, surrounded by police officers and onlookers.

"You stay in the car," Lynn told Kate sternly before getting out of the car.

Kate was unwilling to give up, but she knew that Lynn's professional judgment was more important on the spot, so she could only nod and say, "Be careful."

Lynn walked to the police line, showed his identification, and was allowed to pass. Carter was already waiting for him at the scene, looking grim: "This time, the victim is a small business owner named Peter Reynolds. According to the preliminary investigation, he runs a small restaurant, has no obvious enemies, and the incident occurred sometime between midnight and early morning last night."

"Are there roses on the wall?" Lynn asked directly.

Carter nodded: "Yes, the exact same red rose, spray-painted on the wall, still the killer's mark."

Lynn walked past the police officers and into the warehouse. It was dark and damp, filled with the stench of decaying blood. The victim's body was laid out in the center, arms crossed over his chest, as if in the midst of some ritual. Lynn crouched down for a closer look and discovered the clean, sharp stab wound to the carotid artery—almost a single, fatal blow.

"His swordsmanship is still precise, demonstrating extremely high control," Lynn said in a low voice, then stood up and scanned the entire scene. "Have you found any other traces around here?"

Carter handed over a photo: "We found a set of footprints next to the building, small shoe size, seemingly female. But the surveillance footage outside the warehouse shows a man acting suspiciously nearby."

Lynn frowned. "A man? Are there any specific characteristics?"

"He was wearing a dark trench coat and a baseball cap, so we couldn't see his face. We're retrieving clearer surveillance footage, but he could be a witness, or—" Carter paused, "he could be an accomplice of the killer."

Lynn quickly made a decision: "We must find this person. If he's an accomplice, we can trace the killer through him; if he's a witness, he might have important clues."

Just as Lynn was analyzing the situation, a police officer rushed over, panting, and said, "Detective!"

We spotted a suspicious man on the street corner who was trying to leave, but we stopped him.

Lynn immediately followed the police officers to the street corner outside the warehouse, where they saw two officers surrounding a man in a dark trench coat. His hat was pulled low, his face was hidden in shadow, and he looked flustered.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Lynn asked in a deep voice, his gaze sharp.

The man looked up, revealing a thin face. His eyes darted around, and he clutched a small leather bag tightly in his hand. "I—I was just passing by. This place has nothing to do with me!"

"Just passing by?" Lynn sneered. "This place is desolate and remote, and it's raining. You're just passing by in the middle of the night?"

The man became even more nervous and stammered, unable to speak. Lynn signaled to the officers to search his belongings, and they quickly found a stack of bills and a business card belonging to the victim, Peter Reynolds, in his bag.

"You know Peter?" Lynn raised his voice.

The man's face turned deathly pale: "I—I don't know him, I just happened to find these things here!"

"Don't lie." Lynn's tone was icy. "What are these bills and business cards? You'd better tell the truth, or you'll be going to jail."

9

The man's defenses crumbled, cold sweat pouring down his face: "Okay, okay, I'll tell you the truth—Peter owes me money! He lost a lot at my underground casino and then refused to pay me back, so I came to him!"

"An underground casino?" Lynn's brow furrowed even deeper. "So you followed him tonight?"

"Yes, I followed him, but when I got here, he was already dead! God knows how terrified I was when I saw his body!" The man's voice trembled. "I just wanted my money back, I didn't do anything!"

Lynn stared coldly at him, trying to discern the truth in his words. The man's fear seemed genuine, but Lynn still sensed something was amiss: "You said you found these things, where did you find them?"

"Right at the warehouse entrance—I'm not lying!" the man quickly explained.

Lynn pondered for a moment, then finally said to the officer, "Take him back for further questioning. If what he says is true, his presence may have attracted the killer's attention, and we need more information."

Back at the warehouse, Lynn looked at Carter: "This gambler's testimony may be true, but it also means the victim's debt problems might be related to the case. Investigate Peter's finances and see if his debts have led him to dangerous people."

Cardi nodded: "I'll follow up immediately and check the man's background in the underground casino to see if he's lying."

Lynn glanced at the crime scene again, his gaze landing on the red rose pattern. Although the gambler's presence explained some of the questions, the real killer was still lurking in the shadows, observing their every move.

"We're still chasing, but the killer is always one step ahead of us," Lynn muttered to himself, a cold glint in his eyes. "However, he won't be so lucky next time."

Lynn sat in his office chair, the whiteboard in front of him densely covered with notes and clues. His brow was furrowed, his thoughts wandering between the crime scene, the victim's background, and the serial killer's motives.

"The problem still lies in the motive," Lynn murmured, his gaze fixed on the red rose pattern on the whiteboard as if he were talking to himself. "This isn't a simple act of murder; the killer is sending some kind of message, but what is it?"

Carter came in from next door with a cup of coffee and handed it to Lynn: "Lynn, I know you don't like hearing this, but maybe we need to re-examine this case from a psychological perspective. These behaviors are so symbolic; perhaps the killer's inner motives can unlock crucial clues for us."

Lynn pondered for a moment, then nodded: "You're right. Contact the psychological analysis team; I need an expert's opinion."

A few hours later, Lynn and Carter sat in the office of Dr. Emma Green, a psychology expert at the Manhattan precinct. Dr. Green was a woman in her early forties with sharp yet gentle eyes and a convincingly calm voice.

"Detective Lynn, I've reviewed all the case files you submitted, including the killer's modus operandi and the distinctive marks he left behind," Dr. Green began. "This killer didn't simply want to create fear; he had a deeper motive."

"A deeper level?" Lynn frowned. "He murdered five people using extremely cruel methods. Isn't that just simple violence and cruelty?"

"No," Dr. Green shook his head. "His behavior suggests that he sees himself as conducting some kind of 'cleansing' or 'trial.' In other words, he may believe he is punishing evil and promoting good."

"Punish evil and promote good?" Carter looked puzzled. "But none of these victims have any obvious criminal records, and even Peter's debt problems can't be considered a major evil."

"That's from our perspective," Dr. Green sighed. "But from the killer's perspective..."

The situation could be completely different. He might have his own set of moral standards, or some kind of extreme belief system, that views these victims as "stains" that need to be "erased."

Lynn's gaze sharpened: "You mean, the killer might think he's doing the right thing?"

"Yes," Dr. Green nodded. "That's why he chose the rose as his symbol. The rose symbolizes beauty, sacrifice, and purity. In his mind, he may have believed he was 'purifying' these people, or even saving society."

Carter frowned. "Then how is this different from a serial killer?"

"Motive," Dr. Green explained, "Ordinary serial killers are more driven by personal desires or psychosis, but this killer is more like a 'moral guardian,' and may even be driven by some kind of religious or philosophical belief. His killings were not just an outlet for venting, but also carried a sense of ritual and symbolism."

Lynn paused for a moment, then pointed to the red rose pattern on the whiteboard and asked, "Why did he draw a rose? Do you think it's part of his faith, or simply a personal symbol?"

Dr. Green thought for a moment and replied, "Perhaps both. His belief system might have given roses a unique meaning, such as the virtue of sacrifice, or a tool for purification. For him personally, it was also a form of showing off—he wanted people to know about his 'great cause,' even if it came at the cost of fear and death."

Lynn nodded, his brow still furrowed. "If he believes he's punishing evil and promoting good, then we should be able to find the logic behind his selection of victims. How does he determine that these people need to be 'purified'?"