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

Lynn's heart skipped a beat as he grasped this crucial information. "That document," he whispered to Mark, "must be related to the deal between Scott and Charlie. It may contain more detailed information about the collaboration."

Mark's eyes lit up. "We need to get in as soon as possible and find out what they're talking about."

Lynn nodded and acted quickly. He took out a small camera and quietly fixed it to the wall near the door, making sure it could record the conversation inside. Then, he and Mark quietly went around to the other side of the room, intending to find a suitable opportunity to enter.

Suddenly, the conversation in the room stopped abruptly, and Lynn and Mark's hearts raced almost simultaneously. They held their breath, standing rooted to the spot, waiting anxiously. Then, the door opened abruptly, and a man in a suit walked out, looking directly into their direction.

“They’re here.” Lynn’s voice was low as he quickly gestured for Mark to step back.

Lynn and Mark quietly slipped into a dimly lit storage room, their hearts still pounding from the shock of what had just happened. The air was damp, with only the occasional flicker of light; the room was so quiet they could almost hear their own rapid breathing.

“He knows we’re here,” Mark said in a low voice, a wary glint in his eyes.

Lynn didn't speak, took a deep breath, and turned to look at Mark. Although she appeared calm on the surface, her inner tension remained undiminished. "You're right, but we can't stop. We must continue."

Mark nodded, understanding Lynn's resolve. They knew that this moment could no longer be treated as a routine task. Something far more complex lay hidden here than they had anticipated.

“What do we do next?” Mark continued in a low voice. “We can’t go back to the club. Kane knows we’re tracking him.”

Lynn pondered for a moment, seemingly weighing various options. "We can only retreat for now." Her tone remained firm. "Although Kane knows we might be investigating him, we haven't revealed all our leads yet. He only knows we're looking for him, but he doesn't know we've uncovered traces of his collaboration with Charlie."

“So, we need to adopt a different strategy?” Mark asked.

“Yes.” A determined glint flashed in Lynn’s eyes. “We need more information, not just some conversations at the club. We need to find Kane’s weaknesses, look into his personal life, and understand his past before we can find a breakthrough.”

Mark nodded, clearly accepting Lynn's suggestion. "So what do we do? Where should we start?"

“There must be a group of elites behind Kane. We need to start with his network of contacts.” Lynn’s words revealed her usual calmness and rationality. “Finding the people who have deep connections with him may lead to some breakthroughs.”

Just as they were about to leave, Mark's phone suddenly vibrated. He picked it up, glanced at the message, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. "This is... Jack Kane's private phone number."

"What is it?" Lynn leaned closer, trying to see what was displayed on the screen.

“This information came from an inside source.” Mark handed her the phone. “He said he had Kane’s contact information, which he obtained from a friend. It seems Kane has been appearing frequently somewhere in Los Angeles lately.”

Lynn took the phone and carefully examined the number. She didn't answer immediately, but pondered deeply for a moment. "This is an opportunity," she finally said. "If we can get direct contact with Kane, perhaps we can get more details about Charlie from him."

“But…” Mark hesitated for a moment, “If we contact him, won’t Kane think we’re tracking him? He already knows we’re looking for him, so wouldn’t contacting him directly in this situation expose our intentions?”

“Yes,” Lynn replied, “but we have no choice. Kane is the key figure; he has crucial information about Charlie. If we don’t contact him soon, things could get much more complicated.”

Mark took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay, let's do it this way."

Lynn dialed the number quickly, her heart pounding. After a few rings, the call connected. Jack Kane's deep, clear voice came through: "Who is it?"

Lynn didn't speak immediately, but said in a low voice, "Mr. Kane, I am Lynn, and I am currently in Los Angeles investigating some matters concerning you and Charlie Scott."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then Kane's tone became hesitant. "Your investigation won't be easy to carry out, Lynn. Your target is too obvious."

Lynn's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly regained her composure. "We just want to understand some basic things. If you're willing to cooperate, we believe everything can proceed in the safest way possible."

"Your safety?" Kane's voice carried a hint of sarcasm. "Your investigation has touched the edge of danger, and I don't believe you can guarantee your own safety."

“Mr. Kane, I understand your concerns,” Lynn said steadily. “But I believe that in this game, cooperation is always better than confrontation in ensuring the safety of both sides. We have clues about your cooperation with Charlie, and we can offer you some assistance. You should know that we are not enemies.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. Lynn could even hear some faint background noise, as if Kane was considering whether to believe her.

Finally, Kane spoke: "Alright, Lynn. You did find clues in places I never expected. We can meet and talk, but on the condition that we ensure neither side is threatened."

Lynn nodded. Although the other party seemed to have agreed, she knew Kane would definitely hold back. "Where shall we meet?"

“On the top floor of the Rose Hotel,” Kane said. “Eight o’clock tomorrow night. I don’t want to delay any longer.” The call ended, and Lynn put down her phone and turned to Mark. “Eight o’clock tomorrow night, on the top floor of the Rose Hotel.”

“It seems Kane is ready to negotiate with us,” Mark said. “However, he remains very cautious.”

“That’s right.” Lynn’s eyes showed a hint of wariness. “We have to be careful and not expose ourselves.”

The following evening, Lynn and Mark arrived at the Rose Hotel on time. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, this luxurious five-star hotel frequently hosts important figures from the political and business world. The private banquet hall on the rooftop boasts spectacular panoramic views overlooking the entire city of Los Angeles. The hotel's decor is elegant and exudes an atmosphere of opulence.

"It seems Kane is indeed very confident," Mark said in a low voice, observing his surroundings.

“Yes.” Lynn nodded. “He chose this place, obviously to ensure he was in a favorable position.”

They entered the hotel lobby, where a staff member immediately greeted them and led them to the elevator, which went directly to the top floor. The atmosphere inside the elevator was somewhat tense, and both of them remained highly vigilant.

The doors to the banquet hall on the top floor were wide open, and several people were already waiting inside. Lynn and Mark entered the room, immediately attracting the attention of everyone present. Standing in the center of the room was Jack Kane, dressed in a sharp suit, looking as cold and shrewd as ever.

“You’ve arrived.” Kane’s voice was deep, but carried an undeniable air of authority. “We can begin our discussion.”

Lynn and Mark exchanged a glance, then walked towards Kane's location. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense; everyone knew that tonight's negotiations could determine the future.

“Mr. Kane, thank you for taking the time to meet with us.” Lynn spoke first, trying to make his tone sound calm and friendly. “We are here to learn more about your collaboration with Charlie.”

Kane smiled slightly, his eyes still deep. "You already know a lot," he said calmly, "but that doesn't mean you'll get all the information I'm willing to reveal."

Lynn didn't rush to answer, but calmly looked at him. "We don't want to force you to say anything you don't want to say. But I think you should know that the more you hide, the more complicated the situation may become."

Kane sneered, "Your threats have no effect on me, Lynn. I have seen people more powerful than you."

Lynn smiled slightly. "Then let's start with something more specific. Mr. Kane, your collaboration with Charlie is actually about a more complex international financial flow system, and behind this system are many unknown forces. We hope you can help us unravel these mysteries."

Kane's gaze swept between Lynn and Mark, a cold smile flashing in his eyes, but it vanished without a trace. He leaned against the table, his hands clasped together, seemingly pondering Lynn's words. "What exactly do you want?" His tone was low and cold, his voice carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Lynn didn't respond immediately, but instead glanced around. The room was simply furnished yet luxurious, every item carefully chosen. From the artwork on the walls to the antique tables and chairs in the corners, everything reflected Kane's unique taste and high status. Clearly, this was not an opponent to be easily ignored.

“Mr. Kane, we don’t want to force you to say anything you don’t want to say,” Lynn said calmly. “We just want to know what secrets are hidden behind Charlie’s financial transactions.”

Kane's lips curled into a slight smile, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. "You're just insignificant people, how could you possibly know what kind of deal Charlie and I made?" He slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the dazzling night view of Los Angeles. Night fell, the city lights gradually illuminated, and the air was filled with the aura of money and power.

Lynn and Mark remained unmoved by Kane's provocation. Mark watched Kane's retreating figure and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Kane, the more you know, the more complicated things become. If we don't cooperate, you may lose all control."

Kane stopped and turned around, his eyes sharp as knives. “Your threats have no effect on me,” he said. “I’m used to being threatened. Do you think that just because you have information on Charlie, you can uncover my relationship with him? You’re too naive.”

Lynn smiled slightly, her gaze remaining calm. "We have no intention of threatening you, Mr. Kane. We simply hope to find a peaceful solution." Her voice was low but firm. "If you are willing to cooperate, we will offer you a completely different situation."

A flicker of hesitation crossed Kane's eyes; Lynn's words had clearly shaken him. But he quickly regained his composure and sneered, "Do you think I'd believe you? Do you know what you're doing? You're fighting against someone more capable and more resourceful than you."

Mark spoke with some impatience, "Kane, don't pretend you don't know anything. Your cooperation with Charlie has already been exposed. You think you can evade tracking with these methods? You're just fooling yourself. We've known for a long time that you have not only Charlie behind you, but also a large group of unknown people."

Kane's expression shifted slightly, his hands clenching into fists, clearly feeling the pressure. "What do you know?" he suddenly sneered. "Do you think you understand me?"

Lynn remained calm, her tone unchanged. "We don't know much, but we have enough leads. You know we're not just here for Charlie." She paused, her eyes sharpening. "Kane, the bigger issue is: your financial transactions involve more than just Charlie. It potentially involves global interests. What you don't want to face goes far beyond personal deals."

Kane fell silent, his gaze seemingly avoiding Lynn's question. After a moment, he scoffed, "You just want to extract information from me, don't you?"

Lynn nodded, a resolute glint in his eyes. “If you don’t cooperate, we’ll have to resort to more drastic measures, and you know that once we fully expose your deal, you’ll lose control of the situation.”

Kane narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly considering how to handle the situation. "Do you think you can make me back down by threatening me?" He slowly walked back to the table, picked up his wine glass, and took a small sip, seemingly completely disregarding Lynn and Mark.

Mark was getting impatient, his anger barely concealed. "Kane, don't complicate things. We're not threatening you, we're giving you a chance. If you don't cooperate, we'll have to make you pay the price." (End of Chapter)