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

The three carefully avoided potential surveillance areas, choosing a more rugged but concealed route. The journey became more difficult, but at least the risk of being discovered was reduced. About half an hour later, they reached the top of a small hill, from which they could overlook a small clearing below, in the center of which stood an old wooden building—an abandoned forestry station.

Lynn Hall used his night-vision binoculars again to observe carefully. The building did look dilapidated, but there were signs of recent activity: the snow in front of the door had been cleared, the windows were dusty but intact, and most importantly, there was a snowmobile parked behind the house.

“There’s someone there,” Lynn Hall whispered, “but I don’t see any obvious guards or traps.”

"So what do we do now?" Jennifer asked. "Just go up and knock on the door?"

Lynn Hall shook his head. “Too risky. Wolverine’s senses are said to be exceptionally sharp; he might already know we’re here. We need a way to make contact that shows we’re not hostile.”

Just as they were considering their next move, a slight rustling sound came from the forest, like the snapping of a dry branch. The three immediately went on alert, their hands on their weapons, but they didn't draw them immediately—if it really was Wolverine, drawing their weapons rashly might be seen as hostile.

"Who's there?" Lynn Hall asked calmly, his voice not loud but clear enough.

silence.

Then, from the darkness ten meters to their right, a deep, hoarse male voice came: "It's not common to see federal agents in a place like this."

The voice carried a clear wariness and a hint of mockery. Lynn Hall slowly turned towards the direction of the voice, struggling to make out the speaker's figure in the darkness.

“How did you know we were federal agents?” Lynn Hall asked, remaining calm.

A short laugh: "Your scent. Government agents always have that peculiar smell—a mixture of gun oil, cologne, and bureaucracy."

As he spoke, a short, stocky figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the trees and entered the small, moonlit clearing. He was less than five feet seven inches tall, but strong and robust, dressed in worn jeans, a plaid shirt, and a leather jacket. He had a distinctive hairstyle, with the sides standing up like wolf ears, a thick beard covering half his face, and sharp eyes that gleamed with a wild light in the moonlight.

Wolverine.

Lynn Hall took a deep breath, showing no surprise at the unexpected meeting: "Mr. Howlett, I am Detective Lynn Hall from the FBI Manhattan Division. This is my partner, Jennifer Morrison, and Matthew Coleman."

Wolverine narrowed his eyes, warily observing the three men: "The FBI has come all this way to this remote place; they certainly didn't come just to admire the scenery. Tell me, what do you want?"

“We need to talk to you about a common enemy—the Black Crows,” Lynn Hall cut to the chase. “They recently stole an antique wine known as ‘Dragon’s Tears,’ believed to contain a substance that can enhance mutant abilities.”

Wolverine's expression remained unchanged, but Lynn Hall noticed his shoulders tense slightly: "Continue."

"We have reason to believe that Project Black Crow's combination of this substance with some kind of Weapon X technology may involve experimentation on kidnapped mutants. We are also aware of recent reports of mutant disappearances in this area, and you seem quite interested in some old Weapon X facility."

When "Weapon X" was mentioned, Wolverine's posture noticeably became more wary. His fingers were slightly bent, and although he didn't reveal his claws, the threat was palpable.

"How did you find me?" he asked in a low voice, his tone tinged with danger.

“Clues pieced together,” Lynn Hall answered truthfully, “the bar fight, gas station surveillance footage, local reports, plus research into the history of the old forestry station. If this really was once an outpost for Weapon X, it would naturally attract your attention.”

Wolverine stared at Lynn Hall for a few seconds, seemingly assessing his honesty, then relaxed slightly: "So you think Black Crow is restarting Weapon X and needs my help. Why? The FBI and Homeland Security should have enough resources to deal with a criminal organization."

“Because this isn’t just ordinary criminal activity,” Lynn Hall explained. “It involves the manipulation and experimentation of mutant abilities, a field you understand better than anyone else. And, if our information is correct, you’re already investigating leads that might be related. Instead of acting independently, it’s better to pool information and resources.”

Wolverine was silent for a moment, then pointed towards the forester's station: "Follow me. But I warn you, any sudden action will make me very unhappy. And you don't want to see me unhappy."

He turned and started walking toward the forestry station, the three of them following cautiously at a distance. Lynnhall gave Jennifer and Coleman a look, signaling them to remain vigilant but not to do anything that might be misinterpreted as hostile.

The forester's station appeared larger than it did from a distance, consisting of a main building and several smaller outbuildings. Upon closer inspection, Lynnhall noticed that the wooden exterior concealed a metal structure, and the windows were smaller and more robust than those of a typical forester's station. It certainly resembled a military facility disguised as a forester's station.

Wolverine pushed open the door to the main building and gestured for them to enter. The interior was surprisingly neat and organized. A simple battle map was spread out on the central table, and several photos and notes were pasted on the surrounding walls. A young woman—presumably Roger—sat in front of a laptop in the corner. She immediately stood up when she saw the strangers enter, her gloved hands slightly tense.

“It’s alright, Mary,” Wolverine gestured to her. “The federal agents are clearly very interested in our investigation.”

Roger relaxed a little, but remained vigilant. She was about twenty-five years old, with a noticeable strand of white hair in her long black hair, wearing simple jeans and a turtleneck sweater, and leather gloves on her hands.

“You have indeed found an old weapon X facility,” Lynn Hall said, looking around and noticing some military markings and numbers on the walls.

“Not only that,” Wolverine said, walking toward the map on the table, “this is the factory, but the truly important facilities are underground. Based on my memory and recent investigations, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath this area lies a vast underground complex, once used for some of Weapon X’s most secret experiments.”

He pointed to several marked points on the map: “The mutant disappearances have been concentrated in these locations over the past few months. At first glance, it seems random, but if you understand the layout of the underground facility, you'll find that these points are all near old ventilation shafts and emergency exits.”

Lynn Hall and Jennifer exchanged a meaningful glance. This perfectly matched their speculation.

“Do you think the Black Ravens are restarting this facility?” Lynn Hall asked.

Wolverine nodded: "It's not just about rebooting, it's about improving it. According to intelligence from one of the mutants we rescued, they're not just interested in conventional control and enhancement, but also in the possibility of ability transfer and fusion."

“That’s why they need different types of mutants,” Jennifer said thoughtfully. “Each ability is part of the puzzle.” “Exactly,” Roger began, his voice carrying a southern accent. “They seem to be particularly interested in mutants with energy manipulation, matter conversion, and telepathy.”

“And Dragon's Blood Tears might be the catalyst,” Lynn Hall speculated, “capable of temporarily and greatly enhancing these abilities, making fusion or transfer possible.”

Wolverine's eyes flashed with a dangerous light: "This kind of experimentation has already caused the deaths of several mutants. By the time we tracked them down here, it was too late to rescue three of them." His voice was low and furious. "There won't be any more sacrifices."

Lynn Hall could sense the determination and pain in Wolverine's voice. For him, this was more than just a case; it was the resurfacing of past shadows.

“We have Dragon's Blood Tears,” Lynn Hall said. “The FBI has it safely stored away. But that hasn't stopped the Black Crows; they've started using imitations, which are less effective but still dangerous.”

“Then we need to destroy the entire operation,” Wolverine said bluntly. “Not just seize the samples, but completely eradicate the entire facility and all research data.”

Lynn Hall hesitated: "As a law enforcement officer, my job is to arrest criminals and gather evidence, not to engage in unrestrained acts of destruction."

Wolverine chuckled coldly: "That's why governments never really solve these kinds of problems. You're too caught up in rules and procedures, while some threats require a more direct approach."

The tension in the air suddenly increased. Roger looked at the two men with concern, seemingly sensing that a conflict was about to break out.

Lynn Hall took a deep breath, trying to de-escalate the situation: "I understand your position, Mr. Howlett, which is entirely understandable given your experience. But we must find a way to stop the Black Crows without turning it into indiscriminate destruction."

“Then prove your stance,” Wolverine suddenly said, his voice challenging, “prove you’re not just another bureaucrat who talks a good game but isn’t willing to actually do anything.”

“How can you prove it?” Lynn Hall asked warily.

Wolverine smiled slightly, but there was no warmth in that smile, only a savage challenge: "Simple. Fight me. Let me see just how capable you, a federal agent, really are."

The room fell silent. Jennifer and Coleman exchanged surprised glances, while Roger seemed both worried and helpless, as if he had anticipated Wolverine's actions.

“You must be joking,” Jennifer couldn’t help but say. “This isn’t a dueling club; we’re here to discuss a partnership.”

“That’s precisely why,” Wolverine said, without taking his gaze off Lynn Hall, “I need to know what kind of person I’m going to work with. Is he the kind of person who just hides behind offices and rules, or is he someone who truly understands what fighting means?”

Lynn Hall pondered for a moment. He understood Wolverine's logic—in certain circles, especially among someone like Wolverine who had experienced countless betrayals and experiments, trust was built through actions, not words.

“Alright,” Lynnhall finally agreed, “but on one condition—this is just a friendly spar, not a fight to the death.”

Wolverine nodded. "Of course. I just want to see what you're capable of, not send you to the hospital." He paused, then added, "At least not the intensive care unit."

Jennifer looked like she wanted to protest, but Lynn Hall gently shook his head at her, indicating it was alright. Wolverine had already headed for the door, gesturing for them to follow.

“There’s a small open space outside, enough for us to move around in,” he said. “We don’t want to tear this place down, right?”

The five men left the forestry station and came to a small clearing nearby, illuminated by the moonlight. The snow had been cleared, revealing the hard earth beneath, and the tall pine trees around them cast long shadows in the moonlight.

“The rules are simple,” Wolverine said, tossing his leather jacket aside to reveal his muscular arms. “You attack me with all your might, and I’ll assess your abilities. No fatal blows, but otherwise, everything is fair.”

Lynn Hall nodded, then took off his coat, leaving him in only a close-fitting black long-sleeved thermal shirt. He handed his sidearm to Jennifer, then stretched his limbs and took a deep breath to prepare for battle.

Coleman looked very worried: "Sir, are you sure this is a good idea? He is..."

“I know who he is,” Lynn Hall said calmly, “but sometimes, building trust requires unconventional methods.”

He walked to the center of the arena, where Wolverine was already waiting, his feet firmly planted on the ground, relaxed yet alert, like a wild beast ready to hunt.

“We can begin anytime, federal agent,” Wolverine said, a defiant smile playing on his lips. “Let’s see what the FBI’s recruitment standards are like now.”

Lynn Hall didn't act immediately. He knew that directly confronting Wolverine in a power struggle would be suicidal; he needed to rely on skill and strategy. He began slowly circling Wolverine, assessing his opponent's posture and potential weaknesses.

Wolverine seemed amused by this cautious approach: "What, afraid to make the first move?"

But Lynn Hall was not provoked.

Suddenly, Lynn Hall accelerated forward, seemingly about to attack head-on, but at the last moment, he changed direction and flashed to Wolverine's side, attempting a precise leg kick.

Wolverine's reaction speed was astonishing; he turned and blocked almost instantly. However, Lynn Hall's attack was not aimed at the area he was supposed to defend, but instead suddenly changed trajectory and kicked Wolverine's back knee.

The blow partially landed, causing Wolverine to lose his balance slightly, but he quickly recovered and turned to counter with a punch. Lynn Hall had anticipated this, dodging the attack while grabbing Wolverine's arm and using his own strength to try and throw him to the ground.

Surprisingly, the maneuver was partially successful—Wolverine was indeed swayed, though he quickly regained his balance, but Lynn Hall's skill clearly surprised him slightly. (End of Chapter)