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

Lynn also felt a sense of unease. He looked around, a bad feeling creeping into his heart. He whispered, "We've been lured."

Suddenly, the roar of engines came from behind the distant sand dunes. Several black SUVs sped out from behind the dunes, their headlights illuminating a clearing in the desert. Lynn and Mark quickly took cover behind a nearby dune, trying to avoid being spotted.

“It seems they’ve already located our hideout,” Lynn said in a low voice. “The FBI’s get-in plan may have been infiltrated.”

Mark frowned. "What should we do?"

"Continue the evacuation," Lynn said in a deep voice. "Even if we can't contact the FBI helicopter, we should at least try to find other hiding places."

Just as the two were about to turn and run away, several cars suddenly stopped, and several armed men dressed in black jumped out of the cars and quickly surrounded their hiding place.

"How long do you think you can hide?" a man's voice came from the darkness, carrying an undeniable threat.

Lynn and Mark quickly dodged, but they knew that the enemy already knew their whereabouts perfectly well.

Just then, Lynn heard a deep helicopter sound.

The roar of the helicopter echoed through the night sky, gradually becoming clearer and heavier. Lynn and Mark stood on the helipad, watching the approaching aircraft in the distance. The skyscrapers and vast cityscape before them resembled a dazzling sea of ​​stars, but all of this no longer seemed so familiar to them. Having escaped the desert's pursuit, they had finally returned to Manhattan, but the city's prosperity and hustle and bustle seemed unable to alleviate their inner weariness and anxiety.

The helicopter's landing was not smooth; the powerful wind pressure kicked up dust from the ground, causing Lynn and Mark's clothes to flutter wildly. The helicopter's rotors drew arcs in the air until it finally came to a stop, the loud roar gradually fading away, and the air became quiet.

Lynn watched as several FBI agents disembarked from the helicopter, exuding a strong sense of pressure. The agents walked with firm steps and serious expressions, clearly having received intelligence and prepared in advance. Lynn and Mark exchanged a glance and tacitly followed the agents towards the arrival area.

“You’re finally back,” an agent said curtly, turning to walk toward a black SUV. “We have a lot to discuss with you.”

Lynn nodded, took a deep breath, and knew that this long chase, investigation, and manhunt wouldn't end with their return to Manhattan. They were still involved, still unable to stop in this complex situation.

They left the helipad and drove through the streets of Manhattan. The skyscrapers along the road reflected the night sky, and the colorful neon lights illuminated the streets; the city's pace remained fast and bustling. Although they were already accustomed to this vibrancy, Lynn and Mark both understood that every step from now on would be more complex.

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the FBI headquarters. After the two men got out, agents led them into the building, through layers of security checks, and finally to an underground conference room. The room was dimly lit, and a tense atmosphere permeated the air. Two large tables were neatly arranged, piled high with documents, files, and electronic devices; clearly, the FBI leadership had prepared for their arrival.

“Please have a seat.” John Smith, the head of the FBI, a middle-aged man, was dressed in a neat suit, but his eyes revealed an unsettling seriousness. “Your situation is far more complicated than we anticipated.”

Lynn and Mark exchanged a glance and sat down silently. Lynn looked directly at John and asked in a deep voice, "We've caught a glimpse of Charlie, but there seems to be a bigger conspiracy behind him. His experiments aren't just about developing drugs; they involve international political and military power struggles."

John sighed softly and opened a document on the table. “We’ve analyzed your report and the evidence we’ve gathered. According to intelligence, Charlie’s ‘X-12’ agent is indeed more than just ordinary drug development. It has been used in military experiments by some countries, and there are indications that this technology has been leaked and could pose a threat to international security.”

"What should we do?" Mark asked anxiously. "Where did Charlie go? How can we stop this?"

John's gaze grew more serious, and he tapped his fingers on the table a few times. "We're intensifying our investigation and coordinating with international intelligence. But Charlie seems to have vanished; there's been no trace of him whatsoever. According to the latest intelligence, he may be seeking a new base to continue his experiments."

Lynn frowned. "Then how do we know where he is? He has completely disappeared, and we can't track him down through normal channels."

“Actually, we’ve already pinpointed one of his possible whereabouts through some indirect evidence.” John’s tone became more serious. “Charlie has close ties with some multinational arms companies, and one of them, called ‘Black Hawk International,’ has recently seen a large flow of funds. We suspect that Charlie may have restarted his experiments with their help.”

Mark's eyes lit up. "'Black Hawk International'? That's one of the world's largest arms companies. Their cash flow is enormous, and their clients are spread across multiple countries, including some little-known locations."

“That’s right.” John nodded. “We’ve already found Charlie’s name in Black Hawk International’s database, albeit vaguely, but it’s enough to prove that he had some connection with the company. Next, we need your intelligence to pinpoint his exact location.”

Lynn and Mark exchanged a glance, their sense of urgency growing stronger. Every second they were getting closer to Charlie's experiment, and this confrontation was no longer a simple scientific battle, but a contest concerning global security.

“We’re ready to move on,” Lynn said firmly. “Since Black Hawk International might be the lead, we must find their inside information to track down Charlie.”

“Okay.” John nodded. “I will send more agents to assist you. Your mission is to infiltrate Black Hawk International and gather all information that may be related to Charlie. This may be your only chance to stop his last experiment.”

“Understood,” Mark replied, his tone resolute. “We cannot allow this disaster to continue to spread.”

Over the next few days, Lynn and Mark devoted all their energy to the investigation. The FBI provided them with files from Black Hawk International; the dense documents and figures revealed that this arms company had deep connections with multiple military organizations worldwide, as well as some unknown terrorist groups. Through meticulous analysis of these documents, Lynn and Mark finally found a key point: Black Hawk International had established a secret experimental base on a remote island, which might be where Charlie had resumed his experiments. At the same time, they also discovered that this base was not merely a weapons manufacturing plant, but also a facility used for testing the limits of the human body.

“We have to act immediately.” Lynn stood up, holding the documents. “The experiments Charlie is conducting on the island are not just further development of the ‘X-12’ drug; they may involve even more extreme genetic modification technology. If we don’t stop him soon, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

“I agree.” Mark packed his gear. “If these drugs fall into the hands of more military powers, the world will descend into endless war and chaos.”

John followed closely behind, his face grim. “I’ve arranged air support. You will be flying directly to your destination on an FBI plane. But remember, this operation is extremely dangerous. If we are exposed, we may face an even greater enemy.”

Lynn nodded, then turned to Mark and said, "Get ready, we must go all out this time."

The next day.

"Ready, Mark?" Lynn gripped the armrests of his airplane seat tightly, his gaze fixed on the deep blue sea below through the window. His short, slightly grayish-brown hair appeared steady and powerful in the dim cabin lights, complementing his black tactical uniform.

Mark looked up, a slightly nervous smile on his face. "Yes, sir. Although this is my first time carrying out a covert mission of this scale, I am fully prepared."

“Listen,” Lynn’s voice was deep and firm, carrying the confidence of years of combat experience, “our intelligence indicates that Black Hawk International is conducting more than just conventional weapons development on Tonali Island. They are carrying out illegal genetic experiments in their secret research facility on the island, potentially involving biological weapons. Our mission is to infiltrate, gather evidence, and then safely withdraw. Don’t try to be a hero, understand?”

Mark nodded, his brown eyes gleaming with determination. "Understood, Inspector. I won't let you down."

The aircraft's communication system suddenly hissed, and the captain's voice came through: "Detective Hall, we are about to enter target area airspace. According to the weather report, a storm is approaching. Our window of opportunity may be shorter than expected."

Lynn pressed the intercom button: "Understood, Lyman. Maintain current altitude, prepare for deployment."

He stood up, his broad shoulders appearing even more muscular beneath his uniform, and gestured for Mark to follow. They walked towards the equipment area at the rear of the plane and began donning their diving gear. Lynn skillfully checked every connector and cylinder, his rough fingers deftly adjusting the various devices, while Mark, though slightly clumsy, earnestly imitated his movements.

“We’ll be using these miniature thrusters,” Lynn said, pointing to two devices that looked like small torpedoes, his voice coolly professional. “They’ll help us get close to the island quickly, but with very little noise, so they won’t be detected by the island’s sonar system. Remember, there are regular patrol boats around Tonali Island; we must avoid them.”

Mark put on his night-vision goggles and adjusted the communication device on his helmet. "Intelligence indicates there are approximately fifty armed guards on the island, mainly concentrated at the northern dock and the main building complex in the east. The research facility should be located in an underground area slightly south of the island's center."

“Correct,” Lynn agreed, his voice slightly hoarse from years of fieldwork. “We’ll land at the southwest corner, where the cliffs and dense vegetation provide excellent cover. Then we’ll proceed inland along the canyon, avoiding the main patrol routes.”

The plane began its descent, and red lights flashed inside the cabin, signaling that they were ready. Lynn and Mark completed their final equipment checks and stood on the parachute platform at the rear of the cabin.

“There’s one last thing,” Lynn said gravely, looking at Mark. An old scar ran from his right eyebrow to his cheekbone across his sharply defined face, a scar that spoke of past dangerous missions. “Whatever happens, keep communications open. If we get separated, immediately activate the backup plan and head to the evacuation point on the East Coast. Do not attempt to complete the mission alone.”

Mark nodded in understanding; his breathing was a little rapid, but his eyes remained firm.

The cabin door slowly opened, and a cold sea breeze carrying salty, damp air rushed in. Below was a vast expanse of dark sea, with the silhouette of Tonali Island faintly visible in the distance, a few lights flickering in the darkness like a warning signal.

"Ready, three, two, one, jump!" Lynn gave the order, and the two of them leaped into the night sky at the same time.

The feeling of freefall lasted only a few seconds before they quickly deployed their specially designed hang gliders and silently glided towards the distant sea. The sea breeze whistled past their ears as Lynn maintained perfect balance, glancing occasionally at Mark beside him to make sure he kept up.

As they approached the surface, the hang glider retracted automatically, and the two entered the water smoothly, barely making a splash. The icy water immediately enveloped them, but their specially designed insulated wetsuits provided sufficient protection. Lynn gestured, and the two activated the miniature propulsion systems on their backpacks, beginning their dive towards the island.

Under the night vision equipment, the underwater world appeared as an eerie green spectacle. Various fish and marine life curiously watched the two uninvited guests before quickly swimming away. Lynn maintained a steady pace, occasionally checking the navigation device on his wrist to ensure they were heading in the right direction.

About twenty minutes later, they approached the southwest coast of Tonalí. Lynn raised his hand to signal them to slow down, then pointed to a black object underwater ahead. It was a concealed monitoring device, possibly part of sonar or motion sensors. They carefully circled it and continued forward.

As the seabed began to rise, indicating they were approaching the island's coastline, Lynn gestured again for them to surface for observation. The two cautiously peered out, revealing only their eyes and the tops of their heads, scanning the shore ahead.

As the intelligence indicated, the southwest corner was indeed a steep cliff with a narrow stretch of beach below. More importantly, there were no obvious guards or surveillance equipment. Lynn nodded, and the two dived back into the water, swimming quickly towards the beach.

When they finally set foot on land, it was already past 2 a.m. Lynn quickly removed his diving gear, revealing a black tactical suit underneath; his well-built physique and muscular lines showed the results of years of rigorous training. Mark imitated him, while cautiously observing their surroundings. They concealed their diving equipment under a rock, ensuring it wouldn't be easily discovered. (End of Chapter)