American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

Alan didn't hesitate any longer and walked straight towards the factory gate, his steps incredibly familiar. A heavy bag slung over his shoulder, suggesting he had just completed a mission and didn't seem to have fully exhausted his power and ruthless aura. Lynn continued to follow, maintaining a safe distance to ensure he wouldn't be detected.

The factory gates opened almost silently, and several men dressed in black emerged from the darkness, carrying what appeared to be heavy boxes, seemingly waiting for a special contact. Alan exchanged a few words with them, but judging from their expressions, there seemed to be little emotional connection; they were merely calmly exchanging necessary information. Alan then nodded to them and walked into the factory.

Lynn stared intently at Alan's retreating figure, a growing unease rising within him. "These men look like henchmen of an arms dealer," he quickly analyzed in his mind. "There seems to be some kind of unspoken understanding between Alan and these people; their relationship is far more complex than it appears on the surface."

He dared not be careless and decided to continue following. The factory interior was even darker, the iron floor groaning dully. The surroundings were different from the outside, filled with the smell of machine oil, suggesting a long-abandoned factory that was still functioning to some extent. Alan and the man in black walked quickly, and soon they disappeared through the gate of a warehouse.

Lynn followed without hesitation. He was familiar with this environment, having carried out missions in similar places many times. Although there were no modern facilities and surveillance like in the city, in this kind of dilapidated building, the most dangerous places were often not the high-tech facilities, but the seemingly insignificant details. Lynn's gaze swept over the warehouse interior—the tall shelves were piled with all sorts of items, seemingly disorganized, but he could sense that everything here was filled with an air of secrecy.

"These boxes likely contain weapons," Lynn quickly reasoned in his mind, his heart pounding.

The warehouse was eerily quiet, almost silent. Lynn slowed his breathing and tiptoed deeper into the warehouse. Suddenly, he heard a low murmur of conversation. Lynn moved closer, hiding behind a pile of steel pipes, peering into the other end of the warehouse.

He saw Alan talking to several men in military uniforms. These men looked very professional, with cold, stern eyes; they were clearly not ordinary gangsters. Alan's expression remained calm, and he seemed to be discussing something related to weapons and transportation with them.

“These people…” Lynn quickly analyzed in his mind, “Their equipment and movements are not like those of ordinary criminals, but more like those of the military or special forces.”

There was little negotiation in their conversation; Alan's dialogue with them was extremely brief and direct, seemingly requiring no further exchange. At that moment, Lynn suddenly noticed that as Alan spoke with the soldiers, their gazes frequently drifted to a package in the corner. That package seemed particularly unusual, even resembling some important item.

A thought flashed through Lynn's mind: "Could this package be part of a key deal that Alan is involved in?"

Just as he was pondering, Alan suddenly turned around and walked towards the other side of the warehouse. Lynn quickly began to follow, keeping close behind. At this moment, Alan seemed unaware that he was being followed. Lynn held his breath, his footsteps making almost no sound.

Suddenly, Alan stopped in his tracks. His ears seemed to sense something, and he quickly turned around. Lynn instinctively lay down, hiding behind a broken piece of equipment, afraid of being discovered.

Alan's eyes scanned his surroundings, a wary glint in them. After a moment, he seemed to relax and continued walking forward. Lynn held his breath in his hiding place, his mind filled with doubt. "Has he noticed something? I must be careful."

Soon, Alan reached the depths of the warehouse and stopped in front of a heavy steel door. He pressed a combination on the keypad, and the door slowly opened. Alan went inside. Lynn took the opportunity to quietly follow. Although the door opened and closed very softly, in the quiet environment, Lynn could clearly feel an uneasy atmosphere spreading around them.

Lynn gently pushed the door open and slipped inside silently. The room was much dimmer than the outside, with almost no lighting; the only source of light came from a few dim light bulbs. It resembled a storage room, with various items scattered around, seemingly used for storing weapons.

Alan was standing in a corner of the room, speaking in hushed tones with several men in black tactical uniforms. Judging from their tone and expressions, Lynn guessed they were making some kind of deal.

"Are you sure there's nothing wrong with these goods?" Alan's voice was cold and deep.

“Rest assured, all the weapons are clearly marked on the manifest, and the quantity and type are correct,” a man in military uniform replied, his tone carrying a natural air of authority. “As per the previous agreement, Mr. Alan, your portion has been arranged.”

“Very good,” Alan nodded. “I will implement Scott’s requirements as soon as possible and get it ready for delivery.” He paused briefly, then added, “Let’s not have any more mistakes.”

As Lynn listened to these words, a chill ran down his spine.

"I have to speed things up," Lynn resolved to himself. The next move would be crucial; any misstep could cause Alan and Scott to disappear into the darkness once more.

Lynn moved silently around the room, his heart pounding faster. The conversation between Alan and the soldiers in tactical uniforms grew increasingly anxious; Scott's name appeared frequently in their dialogue, and the man pulling the strings behind the scenes finally became clear in Lynn's mind. Alan was being used as a tool in a larger scheme, while Scott was completely immersed in this complex conspiracy, controlling everything.

Lynn's eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. The storage room was piled with all sorts of items, including labeled wooden crates, weapon parts, and some unidentifiable packages. Clearly, this was a transit point for transactions, and Alan and the soldiers were probably arranging the final handover.

Lynn continued moving deeper into the room, carefully avoiding the soldiers on guard, trying to make as little noise as possible. Just as he approached a corner of the room, Alan's conversation with the officer suddenly quickened, and his tone became more serious.

“Scott’s request has been conveyed to you. Time is running out,” Alan said in a low voice. “You must make sure there are no oversights. After all, this deal involves complex parties and backgrounds, and we can’t afford any mistakes.”

“Understood, Mr. Alan.” One of the officers nodded, his eyes revealing a very serious expression. “All the goods are ready, and according to the plan, the transfer can begin first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Very well,” Alan replied coldly. “We will no longer tolerate any risk. You will have new instructions after tomorrow. Scott wants this task completed as soon as possible.” Lynn’s eyes widened slightly, a chill running down his spine. Tomorrow was clearly a crucial juncture, and Scott’s mission was obviously closely related to this deal. A bold conjecture flashed through Lynn’s mind: if this deal failed, or if Alan’s whereabouts were exposed, then Scott’s entire plan would likely be exposed, causing the collapse of the vast network he had built.

Lynn stepped back slightly, preparing to leave the room, but just as he turned around, a hand suddenly reached for his shoulder. Lynn jolted, his heart almost stopping.

"Who are you?" A deep voice came from behind, followed by Alan's cold gaze.

Lynn's heart raced. With almost no time to think, he whirled around, his eyes meeting Alan's. Alan wasn't alarmed; instead, a cold smile played on his lips, as if he'd anticipated Lynn's arrival. He didn't act rashly, but slowly released the safety on his pistol, staring coldly at Lynn.

“It seems you’ve been following me for a while now,” Alan said coldly. “You really are a fearless fellow.”

Lynn took a deep breath and tried to remain calm: "I'm not here to die, I just want to know the truth."

“The truth?” Alan’s lips curled into a cold smile. “You came here looking for me, looking for Scott, but you have no idea what you’re facing. Do you think you can stop us? Do you think you know the truth about all of this?” Alan’s voice was full of mockery. “You’re just an agent from the outside world; you can’t possibly understand the rules of the game here.”

Lynn's gaze sharpened further: "I know you're Scott's tool, and Scott is hiding a much bigger secret, involving arms dealing and the forces you control. Do you think I don't know that?"

A fleeting, almost imperceptible glint flashed in Alan's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He didn't reply, but instead coldly waved his hand, signaling the soldiers beside him to surround Lynn. Lynn knew the situation was dire. He was completely surrounded, and Alan's cold gaze showed no sign of compromise.

"Do you really think you can stop all of this?" Alan asked again, his eyes icy. "You can't understand. Scott's plan is far larger and more complex than you imagine. All your efforts today are destined to be in vain."

Lynn's eyes narrowed as he suddenly realized he might have stumbled upon a massive secret. Scott's plan was more than just a simple arms deal; it concealed far more than the transfer of supplies. He was perhaps plotting a disruptive operation that could even threaten global security.

"What exactly are you doing, Alan?" Lynn asked through gritted teeth. "What's behind your deal?"

Alan didn't answer immediately, but instead gave a meaningful smile. "You're too persistent, Agent Lynn." He slowly approached Lynn, and said in a low voice with a cold laugh, "If you want to know all the answers, you might as well keep chasing. However, your time is running out. What you can see is only part of what I've prepared for you. As for the greater mysteries, only true players can solve them. You'll find that the gap between you and me is far greater than you imagine."

Lynn's heart sank, realizing that what Alan had said was not unfounded. The enormous web behind it all might have already begun to unfold. And he was merely a small pawn in this game, getting closer and closer to the truth, yet still unable to grasp the overall situation.

“You’ll never know the truth, Lynn,” Alan said dismissively, a hint of easy mockery in his voice. “Scott never intended for you to know.”

Lynn could almost sense the threat in Alan's words. He knew that if he continued to insist, not only would his own life be in danger, but the entire FBI investigation network might also be affected.

However, he did not back down. He knew that the situation behind the scenes was complex and that every step he took might be paving the way for uncovering the truth of this conspiracy.

Suddenly, Alan pointed his pistol at Lynn's chest, and the tension in the air rose again. Lynn didn't move; his eyes remained fixed on Alan, as if in a final standoff. Alan moved the muzzle of his gun slightly, but ultimately didn't fire. Instead, a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

“I know you’re smart,” Alan said softly, “but there are some things you can never change.”

Just then, Lynn suddenly heard a series of rapid footsteps beside him, followed by the collapse of several men in black around him. Lynn was slightly taken aback, then saw Mark lead several agents into the room. They quickly subdued the surrounding soldiers and brought the situation under control.

Alan suddenly turned around, trying to run away, but Lynn pounced on him first, pinning him to the ground. After a fierce struggle, Alan was finally subdued, and Lynn took the pistol from his hand.

"You think you can escape?" Lynn gasped for breath, grabbing Alan's shoulders, his tone firm. "Everything you have is over."

Not long after.

Lynn roughly shoved Alan into the interrogation room, and as he closed the door, he could hear the echoes in the corridor outside gradually fading away. The room was blindingly bright, the air thick with the smell of disinfectant, and the deathly atmosphere was unbearably oppressive. Alan remained calm, his eyes unwavering. He sat in an iron chair, his hands chained, the metal clanging softly against his body. Despite his arrest, Alan didn't appear dejected; instead, he seemed lost in thought.

Lynn stood on the other side of the table, staring at Alan. His heart was still pounding, his thoughts a jumbled mess. Alan's behavior was perplexing, and the presence of Scott, who was manipulating everything behind the scenes, made Lynn feel a growing sense of danger approaching. "Alan," Lynn said coldly, breaking the silence of the room, "you know what crime you've committed, you know how serious the deal you're involved in is, you know the consequences you'll face if you betray Scott." (End of Chapter)