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

Lynn Hall displayed the precision shooting skills honed by his military special forces training, hitting the target with every bullet; Erin used her super speed to move quickly between the lines, providing support and intelligence; Wolverine engaged directly with enemies attempting to break through, maximizing the effectiveness of his claws and melee abilities in confined spaces.

Red Eye's energy beams provided powerful fire support to the front lines, repelling waves of attackers with each shot. Other Brotherhood members and rescued mutants who had regained some of their abilities also joined the defense, forming an almost impenetrable defensive line.

The battle lasted approximately twenty minutes, with casualties on both sides. Lynn Hall suffered a graze to his left arm from a bullet but was still able to fight; Erin appeared exhausted from overusing her speed-enhancing abilities; Wolverine had multiple wounds, but they were all healing rapidly. The Black Crow's attackers suffered even greater losses, with at least eight members incapacitated.

Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, the roar of engines suddenly came from the sky. Everyone looked up and saw a black vertical takeoff and landing aircraft approaching, with the X-Men logo on its fuselage.

"The reinforcements have arrived!" Rogge shouted happily.

The plane hovered above the valley, the cabin door opened, and several figures jumped out, quickly landing on the battlefield. The most striking among them was a tall man in a black leather combat suit and special glasses—Cyclops, one of the leaders of the X-Men; and a woman with long white hair, whose hands radiated lightning-like energy—Storm, another veteran X-Men member.

Cyclops immediately joined the battle, unleashing a powerful energy beam from his special glasses, forcing the Black Crow attackers to retreat quickly. Storm, meanwhile, controlled the weather, summoning a powerful storm and lightning to further disrupt the enemy's formation.

"Retreat! Get on the plane!" Wolverine ordered everyone. "This is our chance!"

Lynn Hall organized an orderly evacuation, starting with the rescued mutants, followed by support personnel. The plane had descended and hovered in the middle of the valley, lowering rope ladders for personnel to board.

Jennifer and Coleman helped the weakened mutant board the plane, while Rogue had already boarded to coordinate the follow-up operations. The Brotherhood members appeared hesitant, unsure whether they should evacuate with the X-Men.

“Go,” Eileen said to them, “now is not the time for division.”

Under sustained cover fire, most of the personnel successfully boarded the plane. Lynn Hall, Erin, and Wolverine were the last to evacuate, holding their ground until everyone was safely on board.

“FBI agents and fraternity members boarded the X-Men’s plane,” Lynn Hall told Erin as the two climbed the rope ladder. “This is definitely the strangest day of my career.”

“Believe me, Federal Agent,” Eileen replied, her voice unusually sincere, “this may only be the beginning.”

The aircraft doors closed, the engines roared, and it quickly took off, leaving the battlefield. Through the window, Lynn Hall could see the remaining Black Ravens standing helplessly at the valley entrance, watching them escape.

Inside the plane, people from three different factions huddled together, the atmosphere tense but no longer hostile. They had just gone through a life-or-death battle together, fighting side by side and protecting each other. This experience could not be completely erased even by the deepest ideological differences.

Cyclops approached Wolverine, giving a brief nod: "How's the situation?"

“Complex,” Wolverine replied, then pointed to Lynn Hall. “This is Detective Lynn Hall, FBI. Without him, this rescue might have failed.”

Cyclops turned to Lynn Hall and extended his hand: "Thank you for your help, Inspector. Scott Summers."

Lynn Hall grasped his hand: "It's been a pleasure working with you. Although the circumstances are unusual."

“In our world, the unusual is the norm,” Cyclops responded, then looked at Eileen, “Ms. Sharp.”

Eileen simply nodded, without shaking hands: "Summers."

Storm approached them, her white hair gleaming in the plane's interior lights. "We'll take everyone back to Xavier's School, providing them with the necessary medical care and protection. Including..." She glanced at the captured Flame, "your prisoners."

“But then,” Cyclops added, “we need to talk. About Raven, the Black Crow organization, and their plans. This is no longer just an isolated incident, but a threat to the entire mutant community.”

Lynn Hall nodded in agreement: "Of course. I also need to report to my superiors. This operation has far exceeded the initial authorization."

The plane continued flying toward Xavier's School, and everyone inside was lost in their own thoughts.

The X-Men's vertical takeoff and landing aircraft—affectionately known as "Blackbird" by the team members—landed smoothly on a wide lawn. The hatch slowly opened, letting the cool morning light stream into the cabin. Lynn Hall stood at the hatch, seeing this legendary place for the first time—Xavier's Academy for Gifted Youngsters, the mutant sanctuary, the X-Men's base.

Before me stood a magnificent Victorian manor, its brick and stone structure exuding a sense of historical weight. Neatly manicured lawns and trees surrounded it, with a lake in the distance. The entire area was protected by high walls and a sophisticated security system, but from the inside, it resembled more of an elite private school than a training ground for superpowered warriors.

“Welcome to the Academy, Inspector Hall,” Storm—Aurora Monroe—stepped to Lynn and gracefully gestured for him to enter. “Please follow me. The medical team is ready to receive the wounded and weakened mutants.”

Lynn Hall nodded, then turned to Jennifer and Coleman, gesturing for them to follow. Three FBI agents followed Storm off the plane, while Wolverine and the other X-Men began assisting the rescued mutants disembarking. Erin Sharp and her Brotherhood members kept their distance, clearly uncomfortable entering X-Men headquarters.

“Your facilities are impressive,” Lynn Hall commented, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. His professional instincts made him notice the security measures hidden in the landscape—surveillance cameras disguised as lampposts, devices that might be motion sensors on the lawn, and security personnel patrolling in the distance.

“This is both a school and a refuge,” Storm explained, her voice gentle yet clearly proud. “For many young mutants, this is the first place where they can truly be themselves, without fear or hiding their abilities.”

They walked along the cobblestone path toward the main building, encountering several students and faculty members who curiously observed the group of unfamiliar guests, especially the three detectives who clearly belonged to law enforcement. Lynn Hall noticed that while some students appeared perfectly normal, others possessed obvious physical abnormalities—blue skin, unusual eyes, and one boy even seemed capable of transforming his body into a metallic state.

“How many students do you have?” Jennifer asked curiously. “Currently, there are about one hundred and fifty, ranging in age from eight to twenty-two,” Storm replied. “They receive a regular education while learning to control and understand their abilities.”

Upon entering the main building, they were first led to what appeared to be a conference room, where Cyclops—Scott Summers—was already waiting, speaking with another mutant Lynn Hall didn't recognize. He was a blue-skinned, burly figure who looked like a humanoid version of some kind of beast.

“Dr. Hank McCoy,” Storm introduced, “our scientist and physician, and also a senior faculty member at the academy.”

The blue beast turned, revealing a friendly smile. Though his appearance might have been intimidating, his eyes gleamed with clear wisdom and gentleness: "Detective Hall, Agent Morrison, Agent Coleman, it's a pleasure to meet you. We rarely have guests from law enforcement, especially not in this situation."

He extended a huge blue paw, which Lynn Hall grasped without hesitation, discovering that despite its rough appearance, McCoy's touch was incredibly warm and human.

“Thank you for your hospitality,” Lynn Hall said. “Given the special nature of the situation, this is an extraordinary collaboration.”

“Yes, that’s true,” Cyclops continued, “We’ve arranged for medical teams to care for the rescued mutants. They’re all in stable condition, but they need time to fully recover. As for the captured Black Raven member—Flame—she’s been placed in a safe area and is being guarded.”

Lynn Hall nodded his thanks. "I need to speak with her as soon as possible; she may have crucial information about Project Raven."

“Of course,” Laser Eye agreed, “but first, perhaps you’d like to rest a bit? The past 24 hours have been quite stressful for everyone. We’ve prepared guest rooms for you.”

Lynn Hall glanced at his watch, considering their situation. Indeed, the team needed rest and recovery, and he also needed to report back to West on the latest developments.

“Thank you for the suggestion, we do need to get things sorted out,” he accepted the arrangement, “but before that, I need to use a secure communication device to contact my superior.”

“No problem,” Dr. McCoy said. “I’ll take you to the communications center. Your colleagues can go to the break room first.”

Lynn Hall nodded to Jennifer and Coleman, who followed Storm away, while he and Dr. McCoy headed in another direction.

The communications center was located in a secure area of ​​the building, and its equipment was far more advanced than Lynn Hall had anticipated. Dr. McCoy set up an encrypted channel and then politely left, giving Lynn Hall some private space.

After contacting West's special advisor, Lynn Hall gave a brief report on recent events—the raid on the Black Raven facility, the rescue of the kidnapped mutants, the brief cooperation with the Brotherhood of Mutants, and the current situation at Xavier's School.

“You’ve done a great job, Inspector Hall,” West’s voice came through the encrypted line, clearly tinged with surprise and admiration. “While this far exceeded our original plan, the results are positive. Especially the capture of Flame, a high-value target on our watch list.”

“We plan to interrogate her as soon as possible,” Lynn Hall said, “to obtain more information about the Ravens and Black Crows organizations.”

“Regarding this,” West’s tone became more formal, “Headquarters has decided to allow you to remain at Xavier’s Academy temporarily to continue this informal collaboration. This is a rare opportunity—the X-Men rarely allow government agencies such close proximity to their core facilities. Use this time to gather as much information as possible, not only about Black Raven, but also about the mutant community itself.”

Lynn Hall was somewhat uneasy about the instruction: "Advisor West, I understand the importance of intelligence gathering, but I must emphasize that the X-Men are currently our allies. Using their goodwill for surveillance doesn't feel quite right."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, then West's voice came through again, this time with a subtle softening: "You're right, Inspector Hall. Let me clarify—we're not asking you to engage in espionage or betray their trust. But understanding mutant abilities, organizational structures, and ways of thinking is crucial to our future work, especially given the rise in mutant-related crime. Consider this a form of cultural exchange, not surveillance."

Lynn Hall accepted the explanation, though a slight reservation remained: "I understand. So, what about the Dragon's Blood Tears? Are they still in the FBI's possession?"

"Yes, it's housed in a top-security facility. Our scientists are analyzing it, but progress is slow. If possible, try to find out what the X-Men think about this substance—they might possess mutant biology knowledge that we lack."

After the call ended, Lynn Hall left the communications center and found Dr. McCoy waiting in the corridor.

"Is everything going well, Inspector?" the blue-clad scientist asked in a friendly manner.

“Yes, thank you,” Lynn Hall replied, then hesitated for a moment before deciding to ask directly, “Dr. McCoy, I have a question for you. As a scientist, what do you know about the substance ‘Dragon’s Blood Tears’?”

McCoy's expression turned serious. "Ah, I have indeed heard of that old red wine. In fact, I'm quite curious how it came to the attention of your investigation."

“This is where the whole case started,” Lynn Hall explained. “The Black Crows stole this antique bottle of red wine, and while we were tracking it, we discovered their mutant experiments.”

Dr. McCoy nodded, his eyes sparkling with scientific curiosity. "If it's convenient, I'd be happy to discuss this with you in more detail. But for now, perhaps you need to rest? You look quite tired, Inspector."

Lynn Hall then realized that he had indeed been without a proper rest for over 36 hours. He accepted McCoy's suggestion and followed him to the guest room area.

A few hours later, after a good rest and a hot shower, Lynn Hall felt refreshed. He changed into clean clothes provided by Xavier's School—a simple black T-shirt and jeans that fit him remarkably well. Stepping out of his room, he found Jennifer and Coleman already waiting in the lounge.

"Are you feeling better, sir?" Jennifer asked, looking much more refreshed.

“Much better,” Lynn Hall replied. “Any news?” (End of Chapter)