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The forensic expert took the ring, examined it carefully with a magnifying glass, and then looked up and said, "It's engraved with 'BW,' which should be the initials of the Blackwood family. Besides that, there are some tiny, almost invisible symbols, which may be their family crest."

Lynn pondered for a moment, then picked up the pocket watch again, pressed the switch on the side, and the watch clicked open, revealing the hands and a hidden compartment. He pulled out a folded piece of paper from the compartment, unfolded it, and found a set of coordinates on it.

"Coordinates?" Kate leaned closer for a look, a glint of excitement in her eyes. "Lynn, this could be the location where the Blackwood family buried their assets or other secrets!"

Lynn frowned as he looked at the note, then handed it to Mark: "Check the exact location of these coordinates and see if it's within the forest area."

Mark nodded and quickly took the note to the computer to check. A few minutes later, he turned back and said, "Detective, these coordinates point to a clearing deep in the forest, less than a kilometer from the hunter's lodge. According to satellite images, there are no buildings there; it should be an abandoned area."

Lynn nodded, his gaze growing even colder: "It seems this matter is far more than just a simple inheritance or rumor. Someone knows of its existence and is extremely interested in it."

Kate exclaimed excitedly, "So, next we'll go investigate that vacant lot, right? Maybe we'll find even more important clues!"

Lynn glanced at her, his tone still carrying a warning: "Kate, you can't go alone this time. If you want to go, you must come with us and follow orders."

Kate raised her hands in a gesture of surrender: "Okay, I promise. This time I promise I'll follow you obediently."

Lynn sighed softly, but nodded nonetheless. He knew Kate's persistence and understood that her curiosity had been thoroughly ignited. Now, all he could do was ensure she wouldn't cause any new trouble during the investigation.

Lynn turned to the other investigators: “Prepare a small team; we’ll head deep into the forest early tomorrow morning. Remember to bring the necessary equipment, especially metal detectors and mapping tools. I have a feeling this is far from over.” Several investigators nodded and left, leaving only Lynn, Kate, and Mark in the room.

Kate leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, and smiled slightly: "Lynn, you have to admit, this story I dug up has a lot of potential, right?"

Lynn glanced at her and couldn't help but smile. "It certainly has potential, but hopefully it won't become a headache for all of us."

Kate raised her chin, her eyes sparkling with excitement: "Don't worry, with you here, we can handle any trouble, no matter how big." Lynn shook her head, turned and left, but a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.

The following morning, Lynn led his investigation team to the forest entrance early, and Kate and Mark arrived on time as well. Kate was dressed casually, carrying a small camera bag, and looked both excited and nervous, while Mark was fully equipped, holding a portable metal detector.

"Ready?" Lynn glanced at the two of them, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We won't stay long today, but we must complete the initial reconnaissance before sunset. Kate, you must stay with the team at all times and are not allowed to act on your own."

Kate rolled her eyes, but still nodded in agreement: "Understood, 'Detective Inspector.' I promise I won't run away this time."

The group began their ascent deeper into the forest, following the coordinates on the map. The surrounding trees grew taller and denser, blocking the sunlight, and the forest air became damp and chilly. Lynn walked at the head of the group, frequently glancing down at the map and GPS device in his hands.

"We're almost there," Mark said, turning to the others. The metal detector suddenly emitted a faint buzzing sound. "The metal activity in this area is noticeably stronger than before; there might be something buried underground."

Lynn waved his hand, signaling the group to stop. He looked around and noticed strange marks scattered on the ground—soil that looked like it had been turned over, and several patches of grass that had been trampled down.

"Someone's been here before," Lynn said in a low voice, his eyes alert. "But I don't know how long ago. Be careful, everyone, and keep going."

The team eventually reached the coordinates, a seemingly ordinary open space overgrown with weeds and low shrubs. However, as Mark slowly moved the metal detector across the ground, the buzzing grew louder and louder.

"There's something here." Mark pointed to a relatively flat area on the ground, signaling everyone to stop. "It's buried deep; it shouldn't be ordinary waste."

Lynn nodded and turned to the investigator: "Start digging, but be careful not to damage anything inside."

Several investigators quickly took out their tools and carefully began digging. Kate stood by, camera in hand, documenting the entire process, her eyes fixed on the progress of the excavation. Her intuition told her that what was buried here must be related to the secrets of the Blackwood family.

Shortly after, the shovel struck something hard, making a crisp sound. The investigator stopped and gently brushed aside the surrounding soil with his hand, revealing an iron box. The box was rusty, but judging from its size and shape, it was clearly not an ordinary container.

"This is what we're looking for," Lynn said in a low voice, crouching down to carefully examine the lock on the box. "Thankfully, the lock wasn't broken."

Kate couldn't resist taking a step closer, asking excitedly, "What's inside? More documents? Jewelry? Or some other secret?"

Lynn glanced at her but didn't answer. Instead, he gestured for an investigator to carefully pry open the box with tools. The moment the lid was opened, everyone held their breath.

The box contained several thick ledgers, a stack of old newspapers, and a small box full of photos. Even more striking was an exquisitely carved pistol, placed directly above the ledgers, appearing particularly out of place.

Mark said in a low voice, "These ledgers look like financial records, but why are they kept with a gun?"

Lynn opened one of the ledgers, his brow furrowing. "These are the Blackwood family's private accounts, recording some of their large transactions from their early years. But there are several unusual fund flows, involving huge sums of money, with no clear source or destination."

Kate picked up the stack of newspapers, quickly flipped through them, and a look of shock flashed in her eyes: "These newspapers are all related to an old case—a large-scale financial fraud case that occurred very close to the time of the Blackwood family's bankruptcy."

Lynn's expression grew even more serious, and he slowly said, "If these accounts are related to that financial fraud case, then it means that there may be a bigger conspiracy behind the Blackwood family's bankruptcy."

Mark gently touched the pistol and whispered, "Perhaps this gun is someone's last 'negotiation tool' in this conspiracy."

Lynn nodded, carefully placed the pistol back into the case, and closed the lid. "Take it back to the police station. These things need further analysis. Kate, this discovery is indeed important, but you can't interfere with what happens next. What's involved here might be more complicated than you think."

Kate nodded reluctantly, "Okay, I won't interfere. But Lynn, you have to promise me you'll let me know as soon as there's any progress."

Lynn looked at her and sighed softly, "Alright, try your best." He knew that Kate's persistence would not easily give up, but he had to do everything he could to ensure her safety while uncovering this long-buried secret.

On the way back to the police station, the car was silent. Kate sat in the back seat, occasionally glancing down at the photos on her camera, her eyes filled with curiosity and excitement. Lynn sat in the passenger seat, clutching the ledger, his brow furrowed, seemingly already contemplating his next move.

"Lynn," Kate finally couldn't help but speak up, "who do you think the funds flowing through these ledgers point to? The Blackwood family was once very powerful; the person who brought them down must be someone extraordinary."

Lynn closed the ledger and glanced at her sideways: "Kate, we've only seen some fragments so far; it's too early to draw conclusions. The flow of funds in the ledger needs expert analysis, especially those unusually large transfers. If there really is something wrong behind it, we also need time to verify the authenticity of these records."

Kate raised an eyebrow: "That sounds like you're trying to put an end to my curiosity. But you know I don't give up easily, especially when it comes to such an exciting story."

Lynn chuckled softly, but his tone quickly turned serious: "I understand your curiosity, Kate, but this time the scope might be wider than we anticipated. Financial fraud, missing family wealth, hidden guns... all these things put together mean there are likely unsolved connections behind it all."

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Kate shrugged. "So, you need me to stay away from this trouble, right?"

Lynn nodded, his tone softening slightly: "At least for now. This isn't just simple reporting material; it concerns a major crime from decades ago that might have been covered up. If you get involved too early, you could expose our operation, or you could put yourself in danger."

Kate leaned back in her chair and sighed. "Okay, I'll do as you say, but you have to remember, I'm not the kind of person who'll stand idly by forever."

After the convoy arrived at the police station, the ledgers, guns, and other items were quickly taken to the evidence room. Lynn immediately assembled a team of experts specializing in financial investigations to begin analyzing the ledgers. At the same time, he contacted the archives department to retrieve records related to the Blackwood family's bankruptcy and financial fraud case from that year, hoping to find more clues.

A few hours later, the expert team delivered their preliminary analysis results. Lynn stood in the conference room, listening to an analyst's report: "Detective, these ledgers are indeed problematic. Several fund flows are very similar to those in that financial fraud case from years ago, and the final destination of these funds appears to be an offshore bank account."

Lynn frowned and asked, "Can you find out the specific information about the offshore account?"

The analyst shook his head: "It's unclear at the moment; these records are too old and have been disguised in multiple ways. But what is certain is that these funds are directly related to the Blackwood family's bankruptcy, and could even be considered one of the main reasons for their downfall."

Lynn pondered for a moment, then asked, "What about the gun? Are there any clues?"

Another forensic expert replied, "It was an early 20th-century handgun with the Blackwood family insignia. Judging from the marks inside the barrel, it had been used, but due to its age, the exact circumstances are impossible to determine."

Lynn nodded: "This means that someone not only absconded with the Blackwood family's wealth, but may also have forced them to submit through threats of force or other means."

Mark asked from the side, "Lynn, could this be related to those people we just arrested? Their backers might know the truth, which is why they hired people to dig up this evidence."

Lynn's gaze turned cold: "Very likely, but they're stubborn and haven't revealed any valuable information yet. However, the existence of offshore accounts suggests this isn't just a local issue. We need to broaden our investigation."

Kate stood outside the meeting room, watching the discussion inside through the glass window, her expression complex. She knew Lynn hadn't involved her in this part to protect her, but her professional instincts told her that there was a shocking truth hidden behind this.

After the meeting, Lynn walked out of the room and saw Kate still waiting for him. He stopped and said softly, "Kate, I know you want to ask more, but now is not the time. This matter is bigger and more complicated than it seems."

Kate crossed her arms and smiled slightly: "I don't intend for you to tell me all the details; I just want you to be careful. Lynn, these kinds of cases can easily touch on people and things you shouldn't."

Lynn nodded, her voice low but firm: "I'll be careful. But you also promise me you won't interfere for now. When there's something suitable to disclose, I'll tell you first."

Kate sighed and finally nodded. "Okay, I promise. But if you need any help, don't forget about me, the reporter."

Lynn smiled slightly: "Of course I won't forget." Then he turned and left, continuing to immerse himself in this unfathomable investigation.

As night fell, Lynn's office remained brightly lit. His desk was piled high with copies of ledgers, old case files, and police analysis reports, while the whiteboard was covered with connecting lines between clues and points of doubt. He stared at the whiteboard, his pen tapping incessantly on the surface, his mind replaying the ins and outs of the case.

Mark knocked on the door, then walked in, holding a new report. "Detective, we've found something. Although the suspects are being stubborn, there are several text messages on their phones that mention a name—Vincent Relton. He seems to be their employer." (End of Chapter)