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

Lynn ran while observing the data screen in his hand. "According to the blueprints, this passage leads directly to the outside of the laboratory, which should allow us to escape. We just need to reach the exit there and then initiate the evacuation procedure."

The two moved quickly through the dark passage, their pace growing increasingly hurried. Lynn kept thinking to himself that if they could escape through this passage, they might be able to continue investigating Charlie's plan, but right now they had to eliminate the threat of E-17 as soon as possible, or everything would be in vain.

Suddenly, a heavy mechanical sound came from the end of the passage, like the starting of some heavy equipment. Immediately afterwards, a bright light illuminated what lay ahead. Lynn's pupils contracted sharply, and he stopped abruptly, alert.

"What's going on?" Mark also noticed the anomaly. "How can there be such strong protection here?"

“We’ve been discovered!” Lynn’s tone became tense. “No, it must be that Charlie’s system has triggered some kind of alarm.”

They had to quickly change direction, avoiding beams of light and numerous obstacles ahead. Lynn's heart raced as he realized this underground passage wasn't a simple escape route, but a hidden, deep-seated experimental facility that might lead them even deeper.

“Mark, stay close to me!” Lynn shouted, quickly turning and walking towards a passage on the side.

As they ran towards the new exit, a piercing alarm blared behind them, instantly activating the entire underground facility. Red lights flashed, and warning lights blared, indicating that the laboratory's security system was fully activated. Despite this, Lynn didn't stop. He knew that if they couldn't find an exit quickly, they would face even greater difficulties.

“This place is getting more and more complicated,” Mark said, panting. “Are we just going to be stuck like this?”

Lynn took a deep breath. "No, we'll find a way. We have to be quick; we can't let these systems trap us."

The two navigated through a maze of passageways and laboratories until, finally, at a corner, they saw a massive iron door at the end of a corridor. A prominent red button marked the door, seemingly the final barrier to the outside world.

"This is it!" Lynn shouted, pointing to the iron gate. "Go press that button!"

Mark ran forward quickly and pressed the red button forcefully. The iron gate slowly opened, revealing the outside world before them. The air rippled, and sunlight streamed in through the desert air. Before them lay what appeared to be desolate ruins, but it was the only exit to the outside world.

"We did it!" Mark practically breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes filled with a look of liberation.

However, Lynn's expression remained grave. He looked into the distance and said in a low voice, "This is just the beginning. Mark Charlie and his plan are far from over."

Just as they were about to step out of the iron gate, a sudden, immense force slammed it open, revealing the out-of-control E-17 standing before them. Its eyes were bloodshot, its muscles bulged, radiating an oppressive aura, as if it were poised to destroy everything at any moment.

“He…is here.” Lynn gripped his weapon tightly, his gaze resolute.

“We have to stop him!” Mark shouted.

E-17's rage had reached its limit, its limbs poised to charge at Lynn and Mark like a drawn bow. However, at this critical moment, Lynn reacted swiftly, operating his device to fire a beam of electricity that struck E-17 directly in the chest.

The electric shock seemed to have an unexpected effect; E-17's body trembled violently and paused for a second. Lynn seized the opportunity, quickly leading Mark through the exit and rushing into the wilderness outside.

"Hurry up!" Lynn shouted as he dragged Mark away and ran quickly into the distance.

Lynn and Mark hurried towards the horizon, their footsteps echoing through the vast wilderness. The sun scorched the earth, the desert heat almost suffocating, but their bodies showed no signs of fatigue. Lynn's heart was still racing, the terrifying scene of the E-17 rampage replaying in his mind, but he didn't stop.

“Lynn, we need to get out of this area right away.” Mark gasped for breath and glanced back. “That lab is fully activated. If the others discover we’ve escaped, it could trigger a massive manhunt.”

“I know,” Lynn replied calmly. “The most important thing now is to figure out the real forces behind Charlie. We must find his next target as soon as possible.”

“But the problem now is that Charlie already knows we know his secret,” Mark said, frowning. “He’ll definitely be extra wary of us and might eliminate all leads.”

Lynn nodded, a sharp glint in his eyes. "He can't possibly erase all the clues. If he did, he would lose his chance to outmaneuver us. We need to continue investigating him."

By this time, they had completely left the laboratory area and entered the open desert. The two walked quickly to an SUV parked some distance away, and Lynn opened the door without hesitation and got in.

"What do we do next?" Mark sat in the passenger seat, looking nervously at Lynn.

Lynn started the engine, and the car quickly drove away from the edge of the desert, heading towards the city. "We're going to Los Angeles," Lynn said. "Charlie may have abandoned the initial experimental plan, but his goal hasn't changed. Our mission is to find out his real purpose."

“Los Angeles?” Mark looked at Lynn in surprise. “Are you sure Charlie is still there?”

“He has likely hidden a new base near Los Angeles,” Lynn said resolutely. “We need to track his last traces; we can’t let him escape again this time.” The wheels chugged over the desert sand, producing a dull thud, but Lynn’s mind remained focused. Facing Charlie, he always felt an invisible pressure. Charlie wasn’t just a simple biological researcher; the power and ambition behind him were the most dangerous aspects. And what Lynn and Mark were facing wasn’t just a scientific project, but a conspiracy capable of changing the entire world order.

“Lynn, do you think Charlie might have other forces supporting him?” Mark broke the silence, looking out the window.

“I suspect he’s no longer just a simple researcher,” Lynn replied. “He has likely collaborated with the militaries of other countries, or even some criminal groups. The X-12 drug is so powerful that it couldn’t have been just a simple research project; there must be a larger strategic purpose behind it.”

Mark paused for a moment, then suddenly said in a low voice, "You mean, the drug Charlie developed might be for some kind of military purpose? Or, even..."

“Yes,” Lynn interrupted him, “its potential far exceeds our imagination. Giving humans superhuman physical abilities and strength might give them an absolute advantage in future wars. Charlie may have already planned to commercialize this drug or supply it to certain international powers. The question now is, who exactly are these powers, and what is Charlie's ultimate goal?”

“It sounds like a global conspiracy.” Mark’s voice was filled with serious vigilance. “If Charlie really has this goal, we have no choice but to stop him, otherwise… the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Lynn said no more, his hands firmly gripping the steering wheel. He knew that this mission had gone beyond any conventional investigation, even venturing into high-risk, transnational territory. Charlie's experiment wasn't just about the experiment itself, but about altering the structure and power balance of society—a force that, if out of control, would be far from negligible.

Several hours later, they finally arrived in Los Angeles. The city was still brightly lit at night, a stark contrast to the desolate desert they had just traversed. Lynn and Mark did not immediately return to FBI headquarters, but instead chose a temporary hotel to rest and conduct the next phase of their investigation.

“Where should we begin?” Mark asked, picking up his notebook and flipping through the documents. “Charlie’s final base will certainly not be an ordinary place. He has likely already hidden himself very well.”

Lynn paused for a moment, then said, “We can start with Charlie’s early activities in Los Angeles. We know he has collaborated with some pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and private investors. Next, we need to locate these partners and investigate their financial flows.”

“How long will this take?” Mark asked.

“Based on the information we have, it will take at least one to two days,” Lynn replied. “But if we can obtain information from within these companies or institutions, the process could be faster.”

The two decided to begin their separate operations the following day. Lynn planned to delve into Charlie's relationships with certain private investors, while Mark was responsible for tracking down pharmaceutical companies that might be working with Charlie. They knew this mission was crucial; the slightest oversight could cause them to lose all contact with Charlie's targets.

The next morning, Lynn began his operation as planned. He arrived at a pharmaceutical company in downtown Los Angeles called "Noah Biotechnology," a well-known name in the industry and with a significant collaborative relationship with Charlie's research. Through an insider, Lynn obtained information about the company's senior management, learning that the company had close financial ties with several international companies.

Upon entering the company, Lynn disguised himself as a reporter, displaying a fake identity and work badge, and spoke with a receptionist. The receptionist gave him a business card for an internal company event, which Lynn politely accepted, and he inquired about some detailed information about the company.

“Our company recently started a new biological research project related to the ‘X-12’ drug,” the receptionist casually revealed during the conversation. Lynn nervously caught the information, a surge of excitement coursing through him. “’X-12’? That’s Charlie’s project!”

“Yes, the research phase of ‘X-12’ is nearing completion, and a new breakthrough is expected soon,” the receptionist continued. “However, the specific partners and funding sources are rather sensitive, and ordinary employees are unaware of them.”

Lynn appeared nonchalant, thanked the receptionist, and quickly left the company. This intelligence undoubtedly brought him a breakthrough. Now, he had to investigate the project more carefully and find out more about Charlie's connection to "Noah Biotechnology."

Meanwhile, Mark was also conducting an in-depth investigation at another pharmaceutical company. After several days of observation and investigation, he discovered that "Noah Bio" had close ties with a company called "Roski Bio." And behind Roski Bio was substantial military funding. Mark's intuition told him that this was no coincidence, and Charlie's experiments had likely received support from a military group.

When the two met again, Lynn told Mark about her findings. Mark also shared what he knew about the financial flows behind "Roski Bio".

“It seems we’re getting closer to the truth,” Lynn said. “Next, we need to track these companies’ cash flows more closely, find out their military background, and uncover Charlie’s true motives.”

Mark nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "We can't wait any longer. The conspiracy behind Charlie is growing bigger and bigger; we must stop him as soon as possible."

Lynn clenched his fist, his gaze resolute. "That's right, Mark. We can't allow this crisis to escalate. Every step from here on out will determine the future of the world."

Lynn and Mark's investigation is progressing rapidly, their pace quickening, and time has become their greatest enemy. As their investigation into "Noah Bio" and "Roski Bio" deepens, they gradually uncover a corner of Charlie's conspiracy, but many more secrets remain hidden in the shadows.

The two arrived at a secret conference room in Los Angeles to discuss their next plan. Lynn looked serious; the documents and files on the table were piled up like a small mountain, and Mark was organizing them.

“There’s more and more of this information,” Lynn said, pushing aside the documents in his hand, “but it’s also becoming more and more confusing. Charlie’s partners are involved in a wider and wider range of fields, including the military, pharmaceuticals, and technology, and he has deep connections with these companies. Now, we have to figure out what kind of network is behind all their financial flows.”

Mark nodded, his brow furrowed. "The flow of these funds is not simply a matter of business cooperation. Charlie's partnerships with these companies may have taken root globally. To trace their connections, we need to examine them from a broader perspective."

Lynn pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "We know that the development of the 'X-12' drug involves a huge flow of funds, but its ultimate goal is not just to enhance human strength. Charlie is likely seeking a weapon that can change the international balance of power. If his cooperation with these companies has already involved the military field, then it proves that this is not simply pharmaceutical research and development."

“That’s right,” Mark said, looking at the data on the screen, “and according to our investigation, the 'X-12' agent has already been tested in the military fields of some countries. This is not just an advancement in technology or pharmaceuticals, but a prototype of some kind of superpowered weapon.” (End of Chapter)