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

Finally, the report turned to Dr. Banner: "Dr. Bruce Banner, once seen as the dangerous 'Hulk,' is now regarded by many as a hero who exposed Black Hawk's plot. Dr. Banner has recently appeared in several public settings, demonstrating his newfound control over the Hulk form, sparking widespread discussion about the role of superpowered individuals in society."

Dr. Morgan turned off the television and smiled at everyone in the room. "I want to say that our efforts have yielded better results than expected. Not only has Black Hawk been destroyed, but public attitudes towards mutants are also changing positively."

Director Henderson nodded. “Yes, this is a significant turning point. But we still have a lot of work to do. Although the main Black Hawk structure has been dismantled, some of their assets and members are still at large. Furthermore, other similar organizations may still exist.”

Dr. Banner, looking more relaxed and healthier than he had a few weeks ago, smiled and said, “At least now we know these threats can be defeated, as long as we stand together.” He looked at Lynn, “None of this would have been possible without your decision to help me instead of hunting me down.”

Lynn shook his head. “None of this would have been possible without the contributions of each and every one of us. Gwen and Ethan’s technical expertise, Erin and Marcus’s special abilities, Dr. Morgan’s scientific knowledge, Chief Henderson’s courage, and you, Dr. Banner, who was willing to confront your greatest fears and forge a new relationship with the Hulk. It was a true team effort.”

Gwen added with a smile, "And Victor, who provided crucial inside information about Black Hawk. By the way, his recovery is progressing well. Dr. Morgan's team believes he may soon be completely free of Black Hawk's control programming."

Ethan asked curiously, "So, what happens next? We each go back to our own lives?"

Lynn and Chief Henderson exchanged a meaningful glance, then Henderson cleared his throat. "Actually, we have a proposal. The Black Hawk case shows we need a dedicated team to handle situations involving mutants and individuals with superpowers, whether it's protecting them from harm or stopping potential threats if necessary."

Dr. Morgan nodded. “A joint team of regular law enforcement officers and individuals with special abilities can bridge the gap between these two worlds.”

Lynn continued, “We’re forming a group called ‘Guardians.’ It will be a joint FBI and Project X project aimed at creating a safer, more inclusive environment while addressing threats like Black Hawk Down.” He looked around. “We hope each of you will consider joining.”

Dr. Banner looked somewhat surprised. "Even me? Considering my...unstable history?"

Director Henderson smiled. “Especially you, Dr. Banner. Your scientific knowledge and your newfound understanding of your own abilities make you a valuable member of the team. And,” he added, a hint of humor in his voice, “in certain situations, having a ‘green friend’ can be extremely useful.”

The room was filled with laughter, and the atmosphere became relaxed and hopeful.

“So,” he turned to everyone in the room, a genuine smile on his face, “would you like to join us?”

Gwen answered without hesitation, "I'll join. Technical support is always at the heart of any team."

Ethan nodded. "Count me in. It's much more interesting than writing news reports."

Banner took a deep breath, then slowly nodded. "I'm joining too. It's time to stop running away and start fighting for something bigger."

The following morning, the Manhattan branch office building was bathed in warm sunlight. After the storm of the Black Hawk Down incident, the world seemed to have finally calmed down, at least temporarily. Lynn Hall sat in his office, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility. Outside, the hustle and bustle of New York City continued, but in this enclosed space, only the sound of keyboards clicking and the occasional rustling of documents turning could be heard.

The desk was piled high with files—the closing work on the Black Hawk case, proposals for the newly established "Guardians" program, and daily case reports. Despite the heavy workload, Lynn felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

He glanced at his watch: 9:37 AM. He'd been working for almost two hours, but it felt like he'd just begun. His experiences over the past few months had changed his perception of time—when you're dealing with world-changing events every day, ordinary office work seems incredibly easy.

Just as he was delving into a report on the mental health needs of mutants, a rapid knocking on the door interrupted his thoughts.

“Come in,” Lynn said without looking up, still focused on the documents.

The door burst open, and Mark Rodriguez—his young and talented assistant—almost rushed into the office, breathing heavily and looking tense.

“Commander Hall!” Mark shouted, his voice tinged with urgency. “Emergency! Headquarters requests an immediate meeting!”

Lynn looked up, his brow furrowed slightly. For the past few months, "emergency situations" had become the norm in his life, but things had calmed down considerably since Black Hawk was destroyed.

"What kind of emergency?" he asked, already standing up and beginning to organize the documents on his desk.

Mark shook his head. "I don't know the details, sir. I only received instructions to take you to the secure conference room in Sector B immediately. They said it concerns national security, top secret."

Lynn quickly assessed the situation. Sector B was the branch's most secure area, typically used only for the most sensitive national security matters. This was not a good sign.

"Were any other people mentioned? Dr. Banner? Dr. Morgan?"

“No specifics were given, sir. It only said you needed to go immediately.” Mark’s expression was serious and tense. “I’m authorized to accompany you the entire time.”

Lynn nodded, picked up his coat and badge, and said, "Lead the way."

The two quickly left the office and walked down the busy corridor. Lynn noticed that most of his colleagues seemed normal, with no signs of an emergency. This was strange—if there were a serious national security threat, the entire branch should be on high alert.

They entered the elevator, and Mark swiped his security card, pressing the button for underground section B. The elevator began to descend, and Lynn used this time to observe Mark closely. The young man did seem nervous, but something was off. His nervousness didn't stem from fear or danger, but rather a different emotion—more like anticipation?

“Mark,” Lynn asked calmly, “what kind of emergency is it?”

Mark avoided his gaze. "I...I was instructed not to reveal details, sir. We'll find out when we get there."

Lynn's intuition triggered an alarm. Throughout his career, he had learned to trust that instinct. While he didn't believe Mark harbored any ill will towards him, something was clearly amiss. He instinctively placed his hand on the holster at his waist, ready for any eventuality.

The elevator reached floor B, and the doors slowly opened. The corridor lights were dimmer than usual, with only the emergency lights on, casting a dim blue glow. The entire area was eerily quiet, devoid of the usual security personnel and staff.

"Why is this place completely deserted?" Lynn asked, his voice tinged with wariness.

Mark simply replied, “They’re probably all in the conference room. This way, sir.” They walked around a few corners and arrived at a conference room at the far end. The door was black and unmarked, with a combination lock and a biometric scanner next to it.

“Please enter your security code and undergo a retinal scan, sir,” Mark said, stepping aside.

Lynn hesitated. Everything was unusual, but if there was a real emergency, delay could have serious consequences. He decided to follow instructions, but remain highly vigilant.

He entered his advanced security code and then looked at the scanner. A red light swept across his eyes, and then the door lock clicked slightly.

“Please come in, sir,” Mark said. “They are waiting for you.”

Lynn took a deep breath and pushed open the door. It was pitch black inside; he couldn't see anything. His hand immediately returned to its holster, his muscles tense, ready to deal with any potential threat.

"What's going on, Mark?" he asked in a low voice, sensing the young man following him into the room.

Just then, the lights in the room suddenly turned on, and a cheer erupted:

"Surprise! Happy birthday, Lynn!"

Lynn squinted at the sudden light and sound, his hand still on his holster. When his vision adjusted, the sight before him completely stunned him.

The meeting room had been completely transformed—the walls were covered with colorful balloons and banners, and the large table was laden with food, drinks, and a huge cake. Even more surprisingly, the room was packed with people: colleagues from the entire Manhattan branch, Gwen and Ethan, Director Henderson, and even Dr. Banner, Erin, and Marcus were there.

"What?!" Lynn said in a low voice, completely shocked by the sight before him.

Gwen stepped forward and gave him a warm hug. "Happy birthday, bro! Don't tell me you forgot your own birthday again?"

Lynn blinked, his mind racing. Today was April 24th, his birthday. In the chaos of the past few months, he had completely forgotten about it.

“I did forget,” he admitted, feeling both confused and touched.

Director Henderson walked over and patted him on the shoulder. "Hall, you're the only agent I've ever met who can hunt down superhuman criminals and expose government corruption, yet forget his own birthday."

A burst of good-natured laughter filled the room. Lynn felt a surge of warmth, a feeling he had rarely experienced in his career.

"So, there's no national security crisis?" He turned to Mark, his face showing a mixture of reproach and admiration.

Mark grinned. "I'm afraid the only problem is that you might ruin the birthday cake, sir."

Another burst of laughter followed. Lynn shook his head, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.

“You bunch of liars,” he said, feigning seriousness, “using the name of national security to deceive people is a serious crime.”

“Then arrest us, Inspector,” Gwen said playfully, “but after you’ve finished your cake.”

Lynn finally couldn't help but laugh, and his tense body relaxed. He looked around at the people who had fought alongside him over the past few months, his heart filled with gratitude.

Dr. Banner stepped forward and handed him a drink. "I think this is what you need." He paused. "By the way, Mark's 'secret mission' was flawless. You should look at your expression just now."

Lynn took the drink, raised an eyebrow at Mark, and said, "I bet you had a lot of fun, right?"

Mark shrugged, but a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Just doing my job, sir. 'Ensuring Detective Hall is completely unaware of the surprise' is the most challenging task I've ever been given."

Chief Henderson raised his glass, gesturing for silence. "I propose a toast to Inspector Lynn Hall. Over the past year, and especially in recent months, he has demonstrated courage, wisdom, and determination that go beyond his duties. The successful resolution of the Black Hawk Down incident owes much to his leadership and perseverance."

Everyone raised their glasses, and the sound of "Cheers!" echoed in the room. Lynn felt a little embarrassed, but also deeply moved.

“Thank you everyone,” he said sincerely, “but this is not my achievement alone. Everyone here contributed their efforts. We are a team, facing challenges together and celebrating victories together.”

His gaze swept across the room, settling on Gwen, Banner, Eileen, and the others. "To be honest, this might have been my best birthday ever, even though I almost pulled out a gun because of it."

Laughter filled the room once more. For the next few hours, they enjoyed food, cake, and drinks, sharing stories and laughter. It was a rare moment where they could temporarily forget their duties and dangers, simply spending time together as friends and colleagues.

As Lynn cut the cake, he noticed it was an elaborate creation, featuring a miniature Hulk and a tiny figure holding an FBI badge, high-fiving each other in celebration. This detail made him chuckle.

"Whose idea was this?" he asked, pointing to the decorations on the cake.

Banner raised his hand, a rare mischievous grin on his face. "Guilty. I think that sums up our partnership quite well."

Lynn nodded. "Indeed, Doctor. From being hunted to becoming a comrade-in-arms, it's been an incredible journey."

As the party continued, Lynn found himself among everyone in the observation room. He saw Gwen and Ethan whispering to each other in a corner, the two seeming closer than ever. Erin and Marcus shared their experiences in Project X with some FBI agents, breaking down the barriers between mutants and ordinary people. Dr. Banner, the once lonely and misunderstood scientist, was now discussing scientific theories with several colleagues, appearing completely integrated into the group. (End of Chapter)