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

Chapter 233 Avoiding More Conflicts

"Do you need any help, sir?" A shop assistant approached with a smile.

"Well," Lynn scratched his head, "I'm meeting a friend's parents tomorrow and I'd like to choose two gifts. One for the lady and the other for a gentleman who enjoys wine."

The shop assistant nodded and gave a professional smile: "If it's a woman, fresh flowers are always a good choice."

We have just arrived roses and lilies, arranged exquisitely. For the men, we have some limited-edition whiskies and wines, all in very elegant packaging.

Lynn walked to the flower section, his eyes scanning the beautiful bouquets, and finally chose a well-matched bunch of lilies and lisianthus. "This looks warm, it should suit me," he thought.

Next, he went to the liquor section. The clerk recommended a bottle of aged Scottish single malt whisky, emphasizing its unique origin and taste. Lynn nodded in satisfaction, paid for and packed the two gifts, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The following afternoon, Lynn arrived at Kate's house on time. It was a small villa in the suburbs, with a well-maintained garden in front and warm light shining from the windows.

Kate opened the door to greet him, wearing a simple blue dress and smiling brightly: "You're surprisingly punctual, Inspector."

Lynn held up the gifts in her hand and smiled, "I was afraid being late would affect my impression. These are gifts for your parents."

Kate accepted the gift and teased, "You're really thoughtful. Don't worry, they'll love it."

She led Lynn into the house. The living room was decorated warmly and simply, with an old sofa and several framed photos hinting at the family's history. Kate's mother peeked out from the kitchen and said with a smile, "This must be Lynn? Kate always talks about you, saying you saved her several times."

"Detective Lynn, welcome to our home." Kate's father stood up from his chair with a friendly smile. He was wearing a simple sweater and looked very amiable.

Lynn stepped forward and politely handed the bouquet to Kate's mother: "Madam, I hope you will like these flowers."

Kate's mother took the flowers, her eyes lighting up: "They're so beautiful, so incredibly beautiful! Thank you!"

Lynn then handed the bottle of whiskey to Kate's father: "This is a small token of my appreciation; I hope you like it."

Kate's father took the bottle, his eyes filled with appreciation: "Scottish single malt? You know your stuff. This is a really nice gift."

Lynn smiled and waved his hand: "I just heard it recommended by someone. My knowledge of wine is actually very limited."

Dinner was held in the dining room, where Kate's mother prepared a sumptuous family meal, including roast chicken, mashed potatoes, various fresh vegetable salads, and a bottle of red wine.

Kate's father raised his glass, smiling, and said, "Detective Lynn, although this is our first meeting, Kate has told me a lot about you. Thank you for protecting her in that dangerous moment; her mother and I will always be grateful."

Lynn raised her glass and smiled slightly: "It's my duty, and Kate is a very brave person. I admire her work."

"She's always been like this, never afraid of taking risks," Kate's mother said with a smile. "But that's also why she always worries us."

"Mom!" Kate said reproachfully, but with a smile on her face.

Watching the family's relaxed interactions, Lynn felt a long-lost sense of ease. He realized...

This ordinary yet warm family life is a rare experience for him after years of busy work.

After dinner, Lynn got up to leave. Kate saw him to the door; a cool night breeze gently blew by, and all was quiet.

"How was your day? Were you nervous?" Kate asked with a smile.

"It was much easier than I expected," Lynn said frankly. "Your parents are very easy to get along with, and I'm glad I could come."

Kate nodded, a gentler look in her eyes. "Thank you for coming. It's really important for them to see you."

Lynn smiled slightly: "Protecting you is not just a job, it's also because of Yi Yi." He paused for a moment, seemingly hesitant.

Kate tilted her head and asked, "Why?"

Lynn gave a meaningful smile: "Because you are someone worth protecting."

Kate paused for a moment, then gave a warm smile: "Thank you, Lynn."

After saying goodbye, Lynn drove away.

The Manhattan morning sun had not yet fully illuminated the streets, but a pungent smell of sulfur permeated a blocked alley. The lights of fire trucks and police cars flashed intermittently, and charred traces of smoldering fire remained at the scene.

Lynn stood before the burned-out building, frowning as he surveyed his surroundings. The entire exterior was blackened by the fire, but strangely, the flames hadn't spread; instead, they seemed confined to a specific area by some unknown force. An unsettling smell of sulfur permeated the air, suggesting this was no ordinary fire.

"Detective, here." An officer walked over and handed Lynn a molten metal badge from an evidence bag.

Lynn took the evidence and examined it carefully. It was a damaged metal badge with a faint flame pattern visible on it; the melted parts made the pattern appear distorted and blurred.

"The smell of sulfur, the specific range of the flames, and this badge," Lynn said in a low voice, his gaze thoughtful. "This doesn't seem like an ordinary arson case; it's more like the mark left by some capable individual."

"You mean mutants?" the agent asked tentatively.

"Most likely." Lynn nodded. "Contact the technical department to analyze the origin of the badge, and conduct a detailed examination of the fire scene to see if there are any other traces of unusual energy."

Meanwhile, Kate was sitting in her office, watching the news reports about the fire on television.

On screen, the presenter is describing the unusual aspects of the fire, while the fire department refuses to comment on the cause.

"This is unusual," Kate muttered to herself. She quickly dialed an informant's number to try and get more information.

A few minutes later, the informant on the other end of the phone whispered, "I heard this fire might be related to a mutant, but the specific details are still unclear. The police have cordoned off the scene."

Kate hung up the phone, a hint of curiosity and nervousness flashing in her eyes. "Mutants? Is this another case targeting mutants?" She decided to contact Lynn immediately.

A few hours later, Lynn's technical team delivered a preliminary report.

"Detective," the technician said, "analysis of this badge shows that its material and design belong to a specific underground factory that is linked to mutants, but was abandoned in a bombing two years ago."

Lynn frowned slightly: "An abandoned factory? Can you find its exact location?"

"It's located in an abandoned industrial area in Lower Manhattan," the technician replied.

Lynn quickly ordered, "Send a team to that factory. If this case is related to mutants, we need to confirm it as soon as possible."

Lynn led his team to the industrial area. The factory's exterior walls were covered in graffiti and cracks, and the doors and windows were boarded up. However, the interior of the factory was unusually clean, and there were even signs that it had been cleaned.

"This place doesn't look abandoned." Carter examined the footprints on the ground. "Someone was here recently."

"Continue the search," Lynn said in a deep voice.

They found some strange equipment and tools in the center of the factory, as well as several burned documents.

Lynn carefully flipped through the documents and found several blueprints that were not completely destroyed. They were marked with flame patterns and a name next to them: "Heart of Flame".

"Heart of Flame?" Carter murmured. "Is that a codename?"

"It's very likely a mutant's code name," Lynn said coldly. "But the markings on these blueprints aren't just about device design; they also seem to indicate research on the application of abilities. This suggests that this person isn't just acting randomly; he's probably testing his abilities."

"And these documents mention multiple locations," Carter said, pointing to a marker on a map. "Other places in Manhattan could also be his targets."

Meanwhile, Kate learned of the abandoned factory through her own clues. She sneaked closer to the factory to observe it from the outside, but unexpectedly bumped into Lynn, who was evacuating.

"Kate?" Lynn frowned at her. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm following the fire reports," Kate said, looking directly at Lynn. "This case is clearly unusual, and I have the right to know the truth."

Lynn sighed. "Kate, this isn't a case you can get involved in. It involves mutants now, and the danger behind this fire is far beyond your imagination."

“Then let me help,” Kate insisted. “You know my resources and intelligence channels can come in handy.”

Lynn hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Okay, but be careful. You're not within the protection zone."

I cannot guarantee your safety.

With Kate's help, Lynn obtains new clues suggesting that "Heart of Flame" may be linked to an extremist mutant organization. This organization aims to wage war on society and force the public to accept their existence by instigating a series of acts of destruction.

Lynn and Kate realize that the arson is just the beginning, and a bigger crisis is approaching, with "Heart of Fire" being just the tip of the iceberg.

"Where will he make his move next?" Kate asked in a low voice.

Lynn looked at the map in his hand and said coldly, "We must find him before his next move, or the whole city will descend into chaos."

The next day.

Kate, holding her press pass, went directly to the FBI Manhattan office. She gave the receptionist a professional smile: "I'm Kate Bennett from the Manhattan Times. I have an urgent interview request. I'm looking for Inspector Lynn."

The receptionist looked up at her, seemingly familiar with the name: "Please wait a moment, I'll contact +..."

A few minutes later, Lynn walked down the corridor, his expression calm, but with a hint of wariness in his eyes. He saw Kate and frowned slightly. "Kate, what brings you here?"

"Lynn, I need your help." Kate's tone was direct. "This arson case involves mutants, and I believe the public has the right to know the truth."

Lynn sighed and gestured for her to follow him to a small conference room. He closed the door, turned around, and said, "Kate, this case involves too much sensitive information. Public reporting will only cause unnecessary panic."

"But you can't deny that the relationship between mutants and ordinary people is already tense enough," Kate argued. "The public needs to know the facts, not be dominated by rumors and fear."

"I understand your position, but the timing isn't right," Lynn said in a low voice. "We don't have enough evidence to determine who's behind this, and making a hasty public announcement would only cause things to spiral out of control."

Kate looked at Lynn, knowing he rarely compromised on matters of principle. She paused for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, but let me know if you need any help."

Lynn nodded and watched her leave, but he had a vague feeling that this was not Kate backing down, but rather that she was preparing to act in her own way.

After leaving the FBI, Kate returned to her office at The Manhattan Times, turned on her computer, and began accessing all the mutant-related materials she had. She focused on the codename "Heart of Flame" and contacted some of her personal informants, hoping to obtain more information.

From an informant familiar with the mutant community, Kate learns an important clue: "Heart of Fire" is a mutant who used to operate in the underground community. His abilities are related to fire control, but he has an extreme personality and may be connected to an extremist organization.

Kate immediately realized this might be related to the case Lynn had mentioned. She tried to dig deeper, but discovered that the informant was also wary of "Heart of Flame" and refused to reveal any more information.

"Kate, this is not your business," the informant warned over the phone. "These people won't care if you're a reporter or not when they start fighting."

Kate gave a cold laugh: "Thank you for your concern, but this isn't the first time I've faced danger."

The next day, Lynn ran into Kate at a coffee shop. Apparently, he had learned through some means that she was investigating the "Heart of Flame".

"Kate, what are you doing?" Lynn put down her coffee cup, her tone displeased.

“I’m pursuing the truth, just like you,” Kate said firmly. “‘Heart of Flame’ isn’t just a code name; it may be involved in a much larger conspiracy, and you know that.”

Lynn stared at her, his tone even colder: "But you have no protective measures in place, nor are you authorized to enter certain areas. Your investigation is not only dangerous, but it could also interfere with our operations."

"Lynn, I respect your work, but journalism is equally important." Kate looked him straight in the eye. "If the public had known the facts sooner, perhaps more conflict could have been avoided."

Lynn was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath: "Kate, I don't want you to become the next Zibai. These people are more dangerous than you think. Stop now."

Kate smiled. "I know you're worried about me, but Lynn, I have my own judgment. I can find my own clues even without you."

Lynn shook his head and ultimately said nothing more. He knew Kate's stubbornness and could only silently resolve to ensure her safety no matter what.