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

Lynn's gaze darkened, and he quickly searched his memory for the name. He opened an old file, turned to a page, and pointed to the contents, saying, "Vincent Relton, I know that name. He's a financial broker who handles money flows for criminals, and he's particularly good at concealing the source of funds. This guy has been gone for several years; it seems he's reappeared."

Mark nodded and handed over the report: "There's something even more interesting. We discovered Vincent's name appears in the Blackwood bankruptcy files; he was one of the advisors responsible for liquidating the family assets."

Lynn's eyes sharpened. He slammed the report on the table, his voice low and menacing: "This shows that he not only participated in the purge back then, but also very likely directly orchestrated the collapse of the Blackwood family. Now that he's back, what does he want?"

Mark shrugged. "Either he wants to cover up what happened back then, or he wants to reuse those leftover resources. This guy has always been driven by profit."

Lynn pondered for a moment, then stood up: "Whatever he's up to, we have to find him. Send people to keep an eye on his possible hiding places, and notify all relevant departments. This man has become a key target."

Meanwhile, Kate sat in her apartment, turned on her computer, and imported the photos she had taken that day. One image after another flashed by—the ledgers, the pistol, and Lynn's focused expression at the scene—all were captured in her photograph. Her finger hovered over a large image of a ledger, and her gaze turned serious.

"Fund flows, offshore accounts, family bankruptcy..." she murmured to herself, "What's hidden behind all this?"

Kate's professional instincts prevented her from letting these questions go. She opened some old news archives, searching for information related to the Blackwood family. There was little coverage of the financial fraud case from that time; most of it mentioned the family's sudden bankruptcy, but almost nothing about the flow of funds or the inside story.

She stared at the screen, her brow furrowed: "Why was such a big case handled so carelessly? There must be someone suppressing it behind the scenes."

Kate's intuition told her that Lynn knew more, but hadn't told her yet. She couldn't resist picking up her phone and dialing Lynn's number.

After the call connected, Lynn's deep voice came through: "Kate, I'm very busy right now. What's up?"

“Lynn, I just want to know, just how complicated is the Blackwood affair?” Kate asked bluntly. “You know this isn’t just a regular bankruptcy, right?”

Lynn was silent for a moment, then sighed: "Kate, I can't tell you much, but you're right, this isn't just an ordinary bankruptcy. A lot of things were covered up back then, and what we're digging up now is just the tip of the iceberg."

Kate gripped her phone tightly, her tone insistent: "Then why won't you let me participate? I can help, Lynn. You know I'm capable of finding more clues."

"Because you're not a police officer, Kate," Lynn said with a hint of helplessness. "This matter goes beyond the scope of news reporting. It involves the interests of many people, and getting involved will only put you in danger."

Kate fell silent. She understood Lynn's concerns, but she still couldn't let go of the story.

"Okay, I'll wait for your news." She finally gave in, but she was still filled with resentment.

After hanging up the phone, Lynn looked at the documents on the table and took a deep breath. He knew Kate's persistence and understood that she wouldn't give up easily. But now he had to concentrate fully on finding Vincent Relton and uncovering the truth behind the case.

Lynn and Mark continued their investigation into Vincent, gradually uncovering some clues. Through financial transactions and several well-hidden files, they located several possible hiding places for Vincent. However, just as they were preparing to take further action, an unfamiliar number called Lynn's cell phone.

"Good evening, Inspector Lynn." The voice on the other end of the phone was deep and cold, carrying an unsettling calmness. "It seems you've been quite interested in some old news lately."

Lynn paused for a moment, then regained her composure: "Who are you?"

"Who I am is not important. What's important is that you're touching things you shouldn't be touching." The other person's voice carried a hint of threat. "There's a reason why some truths are buried, Inspector. If you continue digging, you'll only put more people in danger, including yourself."

Lynn gripped her phone tightly, her tone stern: "Is that so? You think a few threats will make me back down?"

The other person was silent for a moment, then chuckled softly: "I know you're a stubborn person, so this is the last time I'll warn you. If you insist on investigating, then you need to be prepared to bear the consequences."

After hanging up the phone, Lynn stared at the screen, his brow furrowed. He knew this wasn't just ordinary intimidation; someone was warning him, and the power behind it was clearly not to be underestimated.

Mark pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing Lynn's expression, he asked, "What happened?"

Lynn put down her phone and briefly recounted the conversation to Mark. After listening, Mark's expression darkened: "It seems we've infringed on someone's interests. For Vincent to come out of retirement and even send someone to threaten us, the situation is more complex than we imagined."

Lynn nodded, his gaze hardening. "That's precisely why we can't stop. The deeper these people hide, the more afraid they are of the truth being revealed. We must continue."

Mark gave a wry smile: "Couldn't you have been a little more careful? This isn't an ordinary case."

"I've always been careful," Lynn said calmly, but with a hint of stubbornness in her eyes. "But some things can't be taken for granted. This time, their threats only make me more certain that we're on the right track."

Over the next few days, Lynn and Mark intensified their surveillance of Vincent while also increasing their own security measures. They located an abandoned warehouse, which they suspected was Vincent's temporary base. Lynn decided to lead the team there himself.

That evening, Lynn and Mark led a team to the warehouse perimeter. Lynn raised his hand, signaling for silence, and then led the way into the warehouse. Inside, all was quiet, but a tense atmosphere permeated the air.

"Someone's been here," Mark said in a low voice, pointing to the fresh shoe prints on the ground.

Lynn nodded and followed the footprints. A short while later, they found a pile of documents and a laptop that was still powered on in a secluded corner.

"Looks like we've interrupted something important," Mark said in a low voice, beginning to examine the documents and the contents of his computer.

Lynn looked around, his mind on alert. He knew the other side might have deliberately left these things as bait, but the clues were too valuable to ignore, and he had to take the risk.

The file open on the computer was an encrypted financial record involving multiple offshore accounts and cross-border transactions. Lynn glanced at it and said coldly, "These records are enough to expose a huge criminal network."

"Detective!" Mark suddenly whispered, "Here's another list with several names on it, all of whom were associated with the Blackwood family back then."

Lynn took the list, his gaze lingering on several familiar names. His mind raced through the findings of the past few days; these people were likely key figures in the Blackwood family's downfall.

Just as they were about to venture deeper, hurried footsteps sounded outside the warehouse. Lynn immediately signaled his team to go on defense, whispering, "They're coming, be careful!"

A group of heavily armed, masked men stormed into the warehouse, guns pointed directly at Lynn and his group. Lynn and Mark quickly provided cover for their team to counterattack, and the standoff instantly transformed the silent warehouse into a battlefield.

In the chaos, Lynn managed to slip the list and computer into a waterproof bag and hand it to Mark: "Take this with you; it's the most important evidence!"

"And what about you?" Mark asked, still uneasy, as he retorted.

"I'll draw their attention," Lynn said firmly. "Hurry! Don't let these things fall into their hands."

Mark gritted his teeth, finally nodded, and withdrew through the back door with the evidence. Lynn, on the other hand, continued to fight off the enemy, gradually breaking free of the encirclement with his agility and disappearing into the night.

Back at a safe location, Lynn and Mark reunited. Lynn wiped the sweat from his brow, looked at the waterproof bag in Mark's hand, and let out a sigh of relief: "These things are enough to expose their disguise."

Mark nodded, a hint of relief in his voice: "Detective, they did want to stop us, but now, they should be afraid."

The latest novel is first published here!

When Lynn returned to the FBI field headquarters, it was already late at night, but there was no sign of fatigue in his eyes. He went straight to the command room, quickly dialing several phone numbers as he went. The lights in the field headquarters quickly came on, and the agents who had been notified rushed to the scene. In an instant, the entire field headquarters was enveloped in a tense but orderly atmosphere.

"Gentlemen," Lynn said, standing in the center of the command room, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority, "tonight's attack was no accident. It was a precise operation targeting our investigation. Their objective is clear: to prevent us from uncovering this conspiracy."

Mark, standing to the side, added, "The evidence we have is damning enough, but they're clearly organized and planned. They won't give up easily."

Lynn nodded, his gaze sweeping over the agents present. "Now is the time for our counterattack. I need an elite team, especially with mutant agents involved. Their abilities will be key to this operation."

A senior detective asked, "Chief, what is the specific target?"

Lynn projected the clues he had just retrieved from the warehouse onto the screen, pointing to a marked location and saying, "Through that computer, we've tracked down a possible stronghold. This is their assembly point, and our best chance to completely destroy their network."

A mutant agent from the branch stepped forward. He was an electromagnetic force controller named Brian, who usually handled high-risk missions. Brian said with a firm gaze, "Chief, I request to join the operation."

Lynn looked at him, nodded, and said, "Very good. We need your abilities to disrupt their communications and weapons systems. Are there any other agents willing to volunteer?"

Several mutant and regular agents raised their hands simultaneously. Lynn's face showed a hint of satisfaction: "Very good. The operation is scheduled for one hour from now. Everyone, prepare your equipment. I don't want to see any mishaps."

In a operations room at the branch headquarters, Lynn and his team quickly devised an action plan. He projected a floor plan of the base onto the table and marked key areas with a laser pointer: "They may have deployed a defense system, but we won't give them a chance to retaliate. Brian, you're in charge of disabling their communications network and jamming their electronic equipment. Mark, lead a team to storm in through the front door and draw their attention. I'll lead another team to flank from the side; the objective is to capture the commander and take control of the scene first."

A young mutant agent asked in a low voice, "Sir, the enemy might outnumber us. Do we need additional support?"

Lynn shook his head: "Numbers are not a problem. Our advantage lies in precise deployment and the capabilities of each individual. Remember, our goal is not a direct confrontation, but to quickly destroy their operational capabilities."

With the plan finalized, everyone quickly began preparations. Lynn changed into his tactical gear, a pistol and communication equipment tucked into his waistband. He stood beside the convoy, giving everyone's equipment and task assignments a final check. Once everything was confirmed, he waved his hand: "Let's go."

The convoy drove into the night, its destination clear.

When they arrived at the target location, Lynn signaled everyone to get out of the car and began to silently approach the stronghold. Brian stopped about fifty meters from the stronghold, slightly raising his hands; a faint crackling sound of electricity could be heard in the air. He whispered, "We've jammed their equipment; communications and surveillance should be disabled."

Lynn nodded in acknowledgment, then directed his team to disperse and infiltrate. At the main entrance, Mark's squad quickly broke through the defenses and engaged in a brief firefight with the enemy guards. Meanwhile, Lynn and his flanking team had already quietly entered the stronghold.

The guards inside the building were clearly affected by electromagnetic interference, their reactions were sluggish, and their weapons' accuracy was greatly reduced. Lynn led his team forward quickly and soon located a heavily guarded room.

With a wave of his hand, two agents burst through the door, subduing the enemies inside before they could even react. Sitting in the center of the room was a man—Vincent Relton, the very person Lynn had been searching for.

Vincent looked up, a cold smile in his eyes: "You really are persistent, Inspector."

Lynn stepped forward and said coldly, "Vincent, your game is over. All the clues point to you. Now it's up to you to see how much you're willing to cooperate."

Vincent chuckled. "You think catching me will solve the problem? You don't even know what you've gotten yourself into."

Lynn remained unmoved, her tone firm: "Then you might as well tell me, let me know what I've gotten myself into trouble with."

With a wave of his hand, the agents behind him quickly handcuffed Vincent and led him out of the room. (End of Chapter)