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"You look exhausted, Lynn," Kate said softly, her eyes filled with concern. "Have you been pulling several all-nighters again?"

"More or less." Lynn lowered his head and took a sip of coffee, his voice somewhat low. "This case is getting more and more complicated, and every step feels like struggling in a quagmire. I don't know when I'll see the light at the end of the tunnel."

Kate stopped and turned to look at him. "You've done so well, Lynn. You know what? Those you rescued, those families who found hope, they all thank you. Even in the darkest times, you were their light."

Lynn paused for a moment, then smiled. "You're always so encouraging. But I still feel like I haven't done enough. Whenever I see Allen's eyes, or look through the files of those missing persons, I feel like my efforts are insignificant."

Kate sighed and said slowly, "Lynn, you're human, not a machine. You've already done far beyond what most people can do. Nobody's asking you to save the world; we just hope you don't break yourself."

Lynn was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "You know what? Sometimes I really feel like I'm carrying too much responsibility. But I can't let go, because letting go means someone will suffer."

Kate gently took his hand, her voice soft yet firm: "You don't have to carry everything alone, Lynn. You still have me, Mark, and your team. We're all here for you."

Lynn looked up and met her eyes. There was no doubt or pressure in those eyes, only a relaxing trust and warmth.

"Thank you, Kate." His voice was low and gentle. "I don't know if I could have made it this far without you."

Kate smiled slightly and joked, "Since you're so grateful to me, then listen to me and learn to rest properly, otherwise I'll report you for overworking."

Lynn couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Okay, consider today a short break. But there's still a lot of work waiting for me."

The two continued their leisurely stroll along the park paths, chatting about topics outside of work. Kate mentioned a recent report she was writing about urban communities, and also talked about some lighthearted things, such as Jamie's new hobby of collecting superhero comics.

"Jamie's recently become obsessed with Spider-Man. He's been gesturing in front of me every day, saying he wants to be a superhero too," Kate laughed. "When I told him his current hero is Uncle Lynn, he actually blushed."

Lynn shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. "He's a good kid, with a strong sense of justice. Maybe one day, he really can become a superhero."

"With your guidance, he can definitely do it," Kate said, her voice tinged with anticipation.

As dusk fell, the streetlights began to illuminate the scene, casting long shadows of the two figures. Lynn suddenly stopped and looked at Kate. "Kate," she said, "sometimes I really feel like I'm sorry for you."

Kate paused for a moment, then asked, "Why do you say that?"

"Because I dragged you into these dangers," Lynn said in a low voice. "You could have been a quiet journalist, living an ordinary life. But because of me, you became a target of the experimental organization, and you could be in danger at any moment."

Kate gently patted his arm, her voice firm: "Lynn, I've never regretted facing these things with you. I'm a journalist, and uncovering the truth is my mission. And you should know that I've never been one to back down."

Lynn looked at her, her eyes filled with complex emotions: "I know. But I'm still worried."

Kate smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "Then protect me in your own way, Inspector. I trust you."

Lynn was silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "I will."

A gentle night breeze blew as the two continued their stroll along the path, talking about topics that weren't particularly special, yet brought them warmth. Their relationship seemed to have subtly changed during this day's walk. Their hearts drew closer, sharing a deeper understanding and reliance.

As Kate reached the park exit, she looked back at the quiet path and said softly, "Thank you, Lynn. Today was a rare moment of relaxation."

Lynn smiled slightly: "I should be thanking you, Kate. You've shown me that no matter how busy I am, I can't forget the meaning of life."

They parted ways at the intersection. Kate waved and walked to her car. Lynn stood there, watching her figure disappear around the corner, feeling a peace and contentment he had never experienced before.

The experimental data Lynn brought back to Manhattan, after further decryption by the technical department, finally revealed some valuable information. One name on the list caught Lynn's attention: Eric Moore, a driver who had participated in transporting experimental supplies.

Lynn immediately searched Eric's address and background through the internal database, discovering that he had worked for a logistics company a few years ago, which was the main contractor for organizing transportation equipment for "Daedalus". Even more interestingly, Eric suddenly resigned a year ago, and his whereabouts have become unstable since then.

“This man might know everything we need,” Lynn said to Mark, placing a short file on the table. “His work experience is highly relevant to these experimental facilities. We must find him.”

“I can follow up on that.” Mark took the file and looked at it carefully. “But will he be willing to cooperate? If he gets too involved, it might be difficult for him to get involved.”

"We can only try," Lynn said. "If he was really involved in the transport, he must know some crucial information."

A few hours later, Lynn and Mark drove to Eric's registered address, a small apartment building on the edge of Manhattan. The hallway was dimly lit, and the air was thick with a musty smell. The two found Eric's door and knocked gently a few times.

A slight noise came from inside the door, followed by a deep male voice: "Who is it?"

"Inspector Lynn from the FBI," Lynn said directly, "we'd like to talk to you about your previous job."

The door remained silent for a moment, then slowly opened. A haggard-looking middle-aged man stood in the doorway, his stubble unshaven and his eyes filled with wariness. His hands trembled slightly, clearly uneasy about Lynn and Mark's arrival.

"What do you want to ask?" Eric asked in a low voice, his tone tinged with resistance.

Lynn walked in, looked around the room, and found it simple but clean. Several boxes of cardboard were piled up in the corner, making it look like they were ready to move at any time.

"You used to work for a logistics company, right?" Lynn got straight to the point. "That company handled a lot of shipping for experimental equipment. We're currently investigating where that equipment went and what it was used for."

Eric's expression changed instantly. His gaze shifted, as if he wanted to deny it, but in the end he didn't say anything.

Lynn continued, "We know you were involved in some of these transport missions. This isn't about accusing you, but rather hoping you'll provide the information we need. Believe me, Eric, if you don't cooperate, these people will find you and make sure you never have another chance to speak."

These words seemed to strike Eric's weak spot. His body trembled slightly, and he slumped onto the sofa, covering his face with his hands.

"I knew this day would come." His voice was low and hoarse. "Those guys... they were too dangerous. I resigned to get away from all of that."

"Then tell us the truth." Lynn's tone softened. "The more you know, the better we can protect you."

Eric paused for a moment, then took a deep breath and slowly said, "I did participate in a few transports. They had me transport equipment and some special cargo, most of the time we didn't know what these things were for. But once, I was assigned to deliver cargo directly to a secret base they called 'Daedalus'."

Lynn and Mark exchanged a glance, and Mark quickly asked, "Where is Daedalus?"

Eric shook his head: "I don't know the exact address. The route they gave us was very complicated. We were told to follow the navigation, and we passed through several transfer stations along the way, with different people taking over at each station."

Lynn patiently pressed on, "So, what are your impressions of the surrounding environment? For example, the terrain, the climate, or any unusual structures near the base?"

Eric frowned, trying to recall: "The base seemed to be in a mountainous area. We drove a long way through the mountains, and there were hardly any people around. After entering the base, I saw some tall walls and a lot of surveillance equipment, and even a helicopter landing pad."

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"Anything else?" Lynn continued, guiding the conversation. "Did you hear them mention any place names, or see any signs?"

Eric pondered for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up: "Once, I overheard a security guard mention 'Black Rock Mountain.' I don't know if that's the name of the base, but we were definitely in the mountains at the time."

"Blackrock Mountain..." Lynn repeated softly, then turned to Mark, "It sounds like a landmark. We can check it on a map."

"There's one more thing," Eric continued, his voice tinged with fear. "They mentioned that 'Daedalus' is just one facility, and the true core of these experimental programs isn't just one location. I don't know where the other bases are, but Daedalus is definitely a key node for them."

Lynn nodded and stood up. "Thank you, Eric. This is very important to us."

Eric looked up, a complex emotion in his eyes: "I don't know if you can succeed, but if you can, help those who were arrested get justice. Many of them... are truly innocent."

"We will," Lynn said firmly.

After leaving the apartment, Lynn and Mark immediately returned to their office and began searching for information about "Black Rock Mountain." Through cross-referencing geographical databases and maps, they eventually discovered an area in the mountains about two hundred miles from Manhattan that locals called "Black Rock Mountain."

"This is an old mining area, with almost no signs of development," Mark said, pointing to the map. "If the experimental organization wants to hide a secret base, this place is perfect."

"Then let's get started." Lynn picked up her coat. "We can't waste any more time."

Although the road ahead was fraught with danger, Lynn knew that every step brought them closer to the truth. Alan's face appeared in his mind, a silent encouragement that would never let him back down.

Lynn and Mark drove out of Manhattan, following the route marked on the map towards Black Rock Mountain. This mountainous region was dozens of miles from the nearest town, and apart from desolate forests and scattered mine shafts, there was hardly any sign of human habitation. The road became increasingly rugged, and the trees were so dense that they almost completely blocked out the sunlight.

"This place is indeed a good spot to hide a base," Mark said, looking out the window. "No ordinary person would come here casually, let alone venture deep into the mountains."

Lynn gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead: "The more secretive they are, the more likely they are hiding something important. We need to be careful; this place must be heavily guarded."

They finally arrived at the "Black Rock Mountain" area marked on the map. The mountain range was steep and treacherous, with the roads strewn with loose rocks and weeds. Lynn parked the car in a secluded clearing, and he and Mark got out to check their equipment.

"Is the drone ready?" Lynn asked.

Mark nodded, took a portable drone out of the box, and connected it to the controller: "Ready. This is the latest model, equipped with a thermal camera and real-time transmission capabilities. It should help us find any heat sources."

After the drone took off, Lynn and Mark observed the surrounding terrain through the controller's screen. The initial view showed only dense forests and occasional cliffs, but as the drone flew over a steep mountainside, they finally spotted some unusual signs.

"Look there," Mark said, pointing to an area on the screen. "The vegetation in that clearing looks like it's been deliberately cleared. And there are some hidden road marks here, like they've been run over by vehicles."

"Zoom in again and see if there are any more clues," Lynn urged.

The drone descended, its camera aimed at the open space. They could clearly see that it was a concealed area hidden by trees, surrounded by camouflage netting, seemingly designed to block direct aerial views. In one corner of the open space, there was a structure resembling a metal door, with cameras and other surveillance equipment vaguely visible.

"This is their entrance," Lynn said in a low voice. "They hid the base in the mountains, and the entrance was very cleverly concealed. If it weren't for the drones, we probably wouldn't have found it at all."

"The problem is, how do we get in?" Mark asked. "The defenses here are obviously very tight. If we approach rashly, we might trigger the alarm."

Lynn frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "We need to find another entrance. Facilities like this usually have emergency exits or ventilation ducts; this might be our only chance to infiltrate." (End of Chapter)