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

“Understood,” Gwen replied, her voice tinged with nervousness. “Lynn, be careful. I have a bad feeling.”

“I will,” Lynn replied briefly. “Keep your phone on, and let me know immediately if Ethan contacts you again.”

After hanging up the phone, Lynn turned to George, "I have to go see what's going on."

George's expression turned unusually serious, his eyes flashing with the alertness honed by years of police work. "I'm going with you. Don't argue," he raised a hand to stop Lynn from objecting, "I may be retired, but I still remember how to handle dangerous situations. And you might need backup."

Lynn knew arguing with George was futile. The old officer, though retired, was as determined and courageous as ever. "Alright," he finally agreed, "but you must follow my instructions and maintain a safe distance. This may be more dangerous than we realize."

They quickly walked towards the nearest main road and hailed a taxi. In the car, Lynn took out her phone and contacted Mark.

“Wilson,” Mark responded on the other end of the phone, his voice professional and alert.

“Mark, it’s me, Hall.” Lynn’s voice was low and urgent. “I need you to do something. A journalist named Ethan Redlich, a columnist for the Daily Horn, claims to have important information about Black Hawk International. He’s heading to Pier 24 in the Gridge Wharf area. I suspect it might be a trap, or he might be in danger.”

“Understood,” Mark replied immediately, and Lynn could hear the sound of the keyboard clicking. “I’m looking into this reporter’s background and recent activities. Do you need support?”

“It might be necessary, but don’t alarm too many people right now. First, check the location and Ethan’s background to see if there’s anything alarming. If I don’t get a response within half an hour, send a support team to the location immediately.”

“Understood. Proceed with caution, sir. If this involves Black Hawk, it could be more complex than we initially thought.”

After hanging up the phone, Lynn fell into deep thought. How did Ethan obtain information about Black Hawk International? Why choose such a remote location? Most importantly, why wasn't this information mentioned during the meeting, but instead was he suddenly contacted Gwen afterwards? Nothing about this made sense.

The taxi drove through the streets of Brooklyn, gradually leaving the bustling commercial district and entering an industrial area. As they drew closer to their destination, the surrounding buildings became increasingly dilapidated, and the number of pedestrians on the streets dwindled. Finally, the taxi stopped at the entrance to what appeared to be an abandoned industrial area.

“That’s enough for now,” Lynn said to the driver, and got out of the car with George after paying the fare.

Standing at the entrance, they were faced with a desolate scene of rusty warehouses, broken containers, and abandoned cranes. In the distance, the Brooklyn skyline shimmered in the sunlight, a stark contrast to this ruined industrial landscape.

“Pier 24 should be in that direction,” George pointed southeast, his police instincts kicking in as he quickly assessed the surroundings. “It looks like it hasn’t been used in a long time.”

Lynn nodded, pulled his Glock 19 pistol from inside his jacket, and checked the magazine and safety. "From now on, stay alert. We don't know what we'll encounter."

George also pulled out his small handgun—although retired, he still maintained the habits of a law enforcement officer and held a valid weapons license.

The two cautiously traversed the abandoned industrial area, keeping a low profile and using the containers and buildings for cover. The air was thick with the mixed smells of rust and seawater, occasionally broken by the cry of a seagull. The area was almost deserted, save for a few stray cats darting among the debris.

After about ten minutes of walking, they finally saw a dilapidated dock marked with "24". Next to it was a large warehouse, its exterior walls covered with rust and graffiti, and most of the windows were broken. Strangely, however, one side door appeared to be new, creating a stark contrast with the surrounding ruins.

“There,” Lynn pointed to the new door, “it looks like someone’s been using this warehouse recently.”

They approached the warehouse, and Lynn gestured for George to stop at a safe distance. "I'll go in and scout first. If I'm not out in five minutes, contact Mark immediately and tell him your location and situation."

George reluctantly nodded in agreement, but his expression showed he wouldn't leave easily. Lynn knew his adoptive father's character well, knowing he might rush in disregarding orders in a dangerous situation, but there was no time to argue about it now.

Lynn cautiously approached the new door and found it unlocked, which further increased his vigilance. He gripped his pistol, slowly pushed the door open, and entered the dimly lit warehouse.

The warehouse was spacious inside, with several broken skylights in the high ceiling that let in some sunlight, creating dappled patterns on the floor. Most areas were filled with rusty machinery and broken containers, but the central area was an open space with a few simple tables and chairs and some electronic equipment.

Lynn held his breath, listening intently for any possible sound. At first, there was complete silence, but then he caught a faint groan coming from a corner deep within the warehouse. He moved cautiously, navigating around obstacles, towards the source of the sound.

In the back of the warehouse, he found Ethan Redlich. The reporter was tied to a chair, his mouth taped shut, and his face showed obvious bruises, indicating he had been beaten. Upon seeing Lynn, Ethan's eyes widened, and he began to struggle violently, seemingly trying to convey some urgent message.

Lynn quickly looked around to make sure there was no obvious threat, then moved quickly to Ethan's side and carefully peeled off the tape from his mouth.

“A trap,” Ethan said weakly, his voice hoarse. “They forced me to call Gwen.”

Lynn immediately understood the situation, but it was too late. He heard a soft laugh behind him, followed by several footsteps. He turned around, raised his weapon, and saw three men standing in the open area in the center of the warehouse, sunlight streaming through the skylight onto them.

“Detective Lynn Hall,” the man in the middle began, his voice laced with obvious sarcasm, “we’re glad you accepted our ‘invitation.’”

The man was tall and imposing, dressed in a dark suit with a stern expression. He had a prominent scar over his left eye and wore a black glove on his right hand. Two burly bodyguards stood on either side of him; their posture and alert eyes indicated they were professionally trained.

Lynn maintained his aim, his voice calm but threatening, "Who are you? Why have you kidnapped this reporter?"

The man stepped forward, sunlight illuminating his face, revealing a sinister smile. “I’m Victor Cruz, Security Director at Blackhawk International. As for why this poor journalist was kidnapped?” He glanced at Ethan, “Because he got too curious and started investigating things he shouldn’t have. And you, Inspector Hall, your operation on Tonalí has ​​caused us quite a bit of trouble.” Lynn’s heart raced, but his expression and demeanor remained professionally calm. “So this is a trap. You used Ethan to lure me here.”

“Smart,” Cruz nodded approvingly, “but not entirely. It’s not just about catching you, but also about figuring out exactly what you found on Tonalí and whether you’ve passed that information to FBI headquarters.”

Lynn's gaze swept across the three of them, assessing the situation. A direct confrontation might not be the best option, especially with Ethan still tied to a chair, a potential hostage. He needed time, he needed to buy time for Mark and the support team to arrive.

“You already know the answer,” Lynn said calmly. “We have discovered your illegal human experimentation and biological weapons development on Tonalí Island. This information has been submitted to the FBI and international security agencies. Black Hawk International’s days are numbered.”

Cruz's smile widened, but his eyes grew colder. "You think we were unprepared? Tonalí Island is just a small research station; our main facilities and databases are completely isolated from it. Your actions have at best delayed our plans, nothing more."

Just then, a loud crash came from the other side of the warehouse, and a rusty door was flung open. Everyone's attention was drawn to it, including Cruz and his bodyguards. Lynn seized the opportunity, quickly lunging towards cover and firing a shot in Cruz's direction, forcing them to take cover as well.

An unexpected figure emerged from the pushed-open door—George Stacy, armed and with sharp eyes.

“FBI! Drop your weapons!” George shouted, his voice loud and firm, even though he had actually been retired for many years.

This sudden interruption gave Lynn an opportunity. He quickly moved toward Ethan, using a small knife he carried to cut the ropes binding the reporter. "Can we go?" he asked quickly.

Ethan nodded, his face pale, but some strength had returned to his eyes. "I can walk. Be careful of the gloved guy."

Just then, a beam of blue energy shot out from Cruz's position and struck the container next to Lynn. The metal melted instantly, forming a large, smoking hole.

“Mutants,” Ethan whispered, his voice tinged with fear and certainty, “I was captured because I discovered they were using mutant abilities to develop weapons.”

Lynn immediately understood the gravity of the situation. Cruz wasn't just Black Hawk International's security chief; he was also a mutant with energy manipulation abilities. This explained why Black Hawk was so interested in mutant genes and abilities—they weren't just researching them; they were actually utilizing them.

“George! Watch out! He’s a mutant!” Lynn shouted to his adoptive father, while pulling Ethan toward another bunker.

Cruz's laughter echoed through the warehouse. "Now you understand, don't you, FBI agent? You humans always underestimate our capabilities." His hands began to glow blue. "We're not ordinary criminals you can investigate and arrest at will. We represent the next step in evolution."

Lynn ignored his words, focusing on finding a safe route. "I need you to find an exit, and run as soon as you get a chance," he told Ethan. "George will cover you."

Ethan shook his head. "I can't leave you behind. And I have important information to tell you."

Just then, another beam of energy grazed their heads and struck the wall behind them, sending up a cloud of debris and dust. Lynn turned around and saw Cruz walking towards them, his hands flashing with a dangerous blue light, while his two bodyguards moved toward George's position.

“George! Retreat!” Lynn shouted, knowing his adoptive father had no chance against two well-trained armed men and a powerful mutant.

But George did not retreat. Instead, he cleverly used cover to fire on the two bodyguards, forcing them to take cover and buying precious time for Lynn and Ethan.

Lynn quickly assessed the situation and decided he had to distract Cruz. He peeked out from behind cover and fired two shots at Cruz, forcing him to stop and defend himself. Cruz raised his hand, and a blue energy barrier appeared in front of him; the bullets melted the moment they touched it.

“Conventional weapons won’t work on me, Detective,” Cruz scoffed. “You need a more creative approach.”

Lynn looked around, searching for potential advantages. The warehouse was old, the supporting beams in the ceiling were rusty. A plan formed in his mind.

“Ethan,” he whispered, “when I count to three, I need you to run that way,” he pointed toward a side door, “Don’t stop, don’t look back.”

Ethan looked like he wanted to protest, but Lynn's eyes told him this wasn't the time for discussion.

"one two three!"

Ethan immediately rushed in the designated direction, and as Lynn had anticipated, Cruz's attention was drawn to the moving target. Just as Cruz was about to attack Ethan, Lynn aimed at a major support beam above the ceiling and fired, hitting the same spot three times in quick succession.

After years of weathering and corrosion, the supporting beam had become extremely fragile. The impact of the bullet caused it to break, triggering a chain reaction of structural collapse. Large chunks of concrete and metal began to fall from the ceiling, crashing directly onto Cruz's position.

Cruz raised his hands, attempting to use an energy barrier to block the falling debris, but the number and weight of the objects were beyond his control. A particularly large block of concrete broke through his defenses, slamming heavily onto his shoulder and causing him to stagger and fall to the ground.

Lynn seized the opportunity, charging at Cruz and kicking off his glove—a potentially crucial piece of equipment for his control—before Cruz could regain his balance. He then delivered a precise, powerful punch to Cruz's chin, temporarily knocking him unconscious.

At the same time, George successfully cornered the two bodyguards, using his years of police experience and tactical knowledge to gain the upper hand even when outnumbered.

"Stop resisting!" George ordered, aiming his gun at the two men. "Get down immediately and put your hands behind your head!" (End of Chapter)