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

“Advisor West will now take over the case,” Hamilton continued. “Given tonight’s events, this is no longer just a case of artifact theft, but a major case involving national security.”

Lynn Hall wanted to protest, but West spoke first: "Detective Hall, rest assured, I'm not here to exclude you. On the contrary, I need your expertise and the established investigative foundation. But the scope of this case has exceeded the local branch's authority."

Her tone was calm and professional, but Lynnhall could sense the underlying authority. This was not a request, but an announcement.

“I understand,” he replied briefly. “I will hand over all the information and findings to you.”

West gave an appreciative smile. “Thank you for your cooperation. I have read your preliminary report, but I would like to hear your own account of today’s events, particularly the discovery of the Dragon’s Blood Tears and tonight’s attack.”

Lynn Hall nodded and began to give a brief overview of the case's development. West's expression became particularly alert when he mentioned Erin Sharp.

"Blonde hair, cat eyes, super speed?" she asked, her tone suddenly becoming tense.

“Yes,” Lynn Hall confirmed, “you know her?”

West and Hamilton exchanged a meaningful glance. “Not just know her,” she said seriously, “Eileen Sharp is one of our highest priority targets. She’s not a member of any mutant protection organization, but a high-ranking member of the Brotherhood of Mutants, a radical mutant supremacist organization.”

Lynn Hall felt a chill. The Brotherhood of Mutants had been involved in numerous violent clashes with authorities over the past few years and was considered one of the most dangerous mutant extremist groups.

“She approached you not to help,” West continued, “but to obtain information about the Dragonblood Tears. In fact, I suspect the Black Raven and the Brotherhood are both pursuing the same thing, just for different purposes.”

“So now we’re in a three-way battle,” Lynn Hall mused. “The FBI, the Black Crow, and the Brotherhood of Mutants.”

“Exactly,” West confirmed gravely, “and the situation is more dangerous than you imagine. According to our intelligence, Raven, the leader of the Black Ravens, is planning a massive operation that could threaten the peaceful coexistence of the entire mutant community and ordinary humans. Dragon's Blood Tears is a key part of his plan.”

“From now on,” West said, “we need to cooperate fully and share all information. You two will continue to be involved in the investigation, but under my direction. Our primary task is to ensure the safety of the Dragon's Tears, preventing it from falling into the hands of any dangerous organization, while simultaneously tracking down Raven and his plans.”

Lynn Hall glanced at Jennifer, then nodded in agreement. Although he didn't like the case being taken over, he recognized that the Department of Homeland Security's resources and expertise were necessary in this situation.

“We will fully cooperate,” he said, “but on one condition—I want a complete understanding of the investigation’s progress and findings. If I’m to be involved in this case, I need to know the whole picture.”

West considered for a moment, then nodded. "A fair request. As long as confidentiality is maintained, I will share information to the fullest extent possible."

Hamilton seemed pleased with the arrangement. "Very good. Hall, Morrison, you've had a long day. Go back and rest; we'll have a detailed briefing at headquarters tomorrow morning."

The next day.

The morning sunlight streamed into the briefing room of the FBI's Manhattan branch, adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise serious space. A dozen agents had already gathered in the conference room, discussing the events of the previous night in hushed tones. Lynn Hall stood in a corner, a cup of strong coffee in his hand, trying to use the caffeine to shake off the fatigue from more than thirty hours of sleeplessness.

Katherine West—a special counsel from the Department of Homeland Security—was setting up her presentation at the front of the conference room. Her movements were efficient and precise, reflecting her military-trained background. Jennifer Morrison sat at the conference table, quickly reviewing the latest reports on last night's attacks.

"Gentlemen, please be seated," Supervisor Hamilton announced loudly as he entered the conference room. "We are pressed for time; the situation is urgent."

Everyone quickly took their positions. Lynn Hall chose a seat near the exit, a habit he had developed over the years—always ensuring he could react quickly.

“First,” Hamilton began, “let me formally introduce Special Advisor Catherine West. From this moment forward, she will lead this joint special operations team, responsible for the investigations into the Dragon's Blood Tears case and the Black Raven organization.”

West nodded to everyone, then took over the conversation: "Thank you, Director Hamilton. Ladies and gentlemen, before we begin, I want to make one thing clear—this is not a denial or takeover of the FBI's work, but rather because the nature of the case has gone beyond the scope of local law enforcement."

She pressed the remote control, and the large screen on the wall lit up, displaying a series of images: the stolen Dragon's Blood Tears wine, the Black Crow organization's logo, photos of the scene of last night's attack, and a blurry photo of a man, presumably the Black Crow leader "Raven".

“Based on the information Detective Hall obtained from the suspect last night, and our intelligence analysis, we believe the Black Crow organization is planning an unprecedented large-scale operation.” West’s voice was calm and serious. “They don’t just intend to use Dragon’s Blood Tears to enhance their members’ abilities; they want to use it as a kind of ‘key’ to combine different types of mutant abilities to open some kind of ‘door.’”

A murmur rippled through the meeting room. Lynn Hall remained silent, his eyes fixed on the photo of "Raven" on the screen, trying to glean more information from the blurry image.

“We don’t yet know the specific meaning of this ‘door,’” West continued, “but based on historical records and intelligence analysis, we have reason to believe that it may involve the release or control of some powerful mutant ability, sufficient to threaten national security.”

She switched to the next slide, which featured a picture of Erin Sharp—the blonde woman who had helped Lynn Hall the previous night. “Furthermore, the involvement of the Brotherhood of Mutants complicates matters further. Erin Sharp, codenamed ‘Lightning Cat,’ is one of the Brotherhood’s senior members, possessing superhuman speed and enhanced senses. Her presence indicates that the Brotherhood also has a strong interest in Dragon's Blood Tears.”

Lynn Hall couldn't help but interject, "She saved my life last night. If she just wanted information about the Dragon's Blood Tears, she could have had the Black Ravens kill me first, and then dealt with them."

West looked at him calmly: “The Brotherhood has its own agenda, Inspector Hall. They may see you as a useful pawn for now, or their conflict with the Black Crow may be deeper than we think. In any case, don’t be fooled by superficial goodwill.”

Lynn Hall did not refute the claims, but he still harbored doubts about last night's events. Erin Sharp's behavior did not entirely fit the image of a radical terrorist.

“Now,” West continued, “we face multiple threats: the Black Raven are actively searching for Dragon's Blood Tears and certain types of mutants; the Brotherhood appears to be pursuing the same targets; furthermore, we cannot rule out the possibility of a Black Raven mole within the FBI, considering how accurately they tracked Detective Hall.” This statement dropped a bombshell in the conference room, and the agents began exchanging uneasy glances.

Supervisor Hamilton cleared his throat: "Therefore, from now on, all information related to the case will be subject to strict hierarchical management. Only personnel directly involved in the special operations team will have access to complete information."

West nodded, then presented the plan of action: “We will split into three groups: the first group will be responsible for protecting the Dragon's Tear and ensuring its safety; the second group will track down Black Raven and Raven; and the third group will monitor the movements of the Brotherhood of Mutants, especially Irene Sharp.”

Lynn Hall raised his hand in acknowledgment.

“Detective Hall?” West gestured for him to speak.

“I have a suggestion,” Lynn Hall said, his voice slightly hoarse from exhaustion, but his eyes resolute. “We need reinforcements, especially against capable mutants. Our conventional weapons and tactics are ineffective against mutants like Flame or that energy manipulator.”

West raised an eyebrow: "Do you have any specific suggestions?"

Lynn Hall took a deep breath. "Yes. I suggest seeking help from mutants, especially those who have proven their willingness to cooperate with law enforcement. Specifically, I'd like to contact Wolverine."

The conference room fell silent. Wolverine, whose real name is James Howlett, is one of the most famous mutants and a member of the X-Men, known for his immortal vitality, bone claws, and incredible fighting abilities. Although his relationship with official agencies is complex, he has indeed demonstrated his determination to protect the peaceful coexistence of humans and mutants during several major crises.

West pondered for a moment: "Wolverine is an interesting option. He certainly has the ability to deal with Black Crow, but he's unlikely to cooperate easily with federal agencies."

“I know it’s difficult,” Lynn Hall admitted, “but given the scale of the threat, I think it’s worth the effort. And if Raven is indeed looking for a specific type of mutant, Wolverine is likely already on his target list.”

Supervisor Hamilton frowned. “Hall, I understand your point, but this goes beyond standard procedure. We can’t simply invite a mutant who’s basically a vigilante—no offense intended—to participate in a federal investigation.”

“It wasn’t an invitation for him to join the investigation,” Lynn Hall clarified, “but rather a warning about the potential danger and a request for his insights. Wolverine knows far more about the mutant world than any of us. If anyone knows what Raven’s ‘Door’ is, or why he needs a particular type of mutant ability, it’s very likely him.”

West and Hamilton exchanged a glance, seemingly communicating silently.

“This isn’t entirely unprecedented,” West said slowly. “The Department of Homeland Security has indeed cooperated with the X-Men in exceptional circumstances in the past.”

She thought for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, Inspector Hall, you can explore this direction. But make it clear—this is not a formal invitation or request for cooperation, but rather an unofficial contact to gather information and potential assistance.”

“Understood,” Lynn Hall nodded.

“There’s just one problem,” Jennifer interjected, “how do we find Wolverine? As far as I know, he’s not the kind of person who leaves a business card.”

This question elicited a burst of laughter, easing the tension in the meeting room.

Lynn Hall smiled slightly. “That’s true. But we have some possible leads. There have been reports of him appearing in upstate New York over the past few months. Also, while the exact location of the X-Men is classified, we know their school—a safe haven for mutant teenagers—is located in Westchester County.”

“I can provide some additional information,” West said. “According to the latest intelligence, Wolverine is indeed not at Xavier’s School. He appears to be on some kind of personal mission, last confirmed as a small town near the Adirondack Mountains.”

Lynn Hall nodded. "That's where we start. I need a few agents to help track him down."

“Morrison will be working with you on this part,” Supervisor Hamilton decided. “Two additional agents will be assigned to you. But remember, this is just one of many directions of operation; don’t invest too many resources.”

“Understood, sir,” Lynn Hall replied.

The meeting continued, discussing other strategic and tactical details. An hour later, the special operations team officially began its work, with each subgroup carrying out its respective tasks.

After the meeting, Lynn Hall and Jennifer returned to their office and began planning their strategy to find Wolverine.

"Do you really think Wolverine will help us?" Jennifer asked as she searched for a map of the Adirondack region on her computer.

Lynn Hall leaned back against the table, rubbing his tired eyes. "To be honest, I'm not sure. He's not the kind of person who easily trusts official agencies, which is completely understandable given his background. But if he realizes the scale of the threat, especially the potential danger to the mutant community, I believe he'll be willing to at least listen to us finish."

"Have you seen him before?" Jennifer asked curiously.

Lynn Hall shook his head: "I haven't had direct contact with him. I saw him from a distance five years ago during that mutant rights demonstration. He was protecting a group of young mutant students from attacks by radical anti-mutant groups."

He paused, recalling that day: "He was very intimidating. Even through the crowd, you could feel the wildness and power emanating from him. But what impressed me most was that, despite his full capacity to cause mass casualties, he chose to minimize the conflict."

“You sound like you respect him a lot,” Jennifer observed. (End of Chapter)