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

“But we’ve at least obtained important information,” Lynn said, trying to remain calm. “We know the time and place of the attack, and Victor’s hiding place. This information should still be valid.”

"Why?" Elisa asked weakly.

“Because if the ‘Black Crow King’ can alter Derek’s memories, then Derek might not remember what he told us,” Lynn analyzed. “They might think we still know nothing.”

Professor Xavier nodded in agreement. “That makes sense. And judging from what just happened, this ‘Black Crow King’ seems more like it's demonstrating its power than trying to completely destroy us.”

“We must act immediately, no matter what.” Lynn stood up. “There’s only a little over a day until the attack; we can’t waste any more time.”

Alyssa struggled to her feet, her face still pale, but the determination in her eyes remained unwavering. "Detective, I want to participate in the rescue operation."

"No, it's too dangerous," Lynn and Professor Xavier objected simultaneously.

“But you need my help,” Alyssa insisted. “Victor and his men are all mutants, and my abilities could be key. And…” she paused, “I want to take responsibility for what just happened. If I were stronger, maybe I could have prevented Derek from being rescued.”

“This isn’t your fault, Alyssa,” Professor Xavier said gently. “That ‘Black Crow King’s’ abilities far exceeded our imagination; even I couldn’t resist him.”

“But I can’t just stand by and do nothing,” Elisa’s tone became resolute. “If the Times Square attack succeeds, thousands will die. I can’t let that happen.”

Lynn looked at the brave young girl, filled with admiration. "Alright, but you must stay in a safe place and provide us with psychological support via communication devices."

“I agree.” Elisa nodded.

Professor Xavier looked at the two of them, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "It seems my idea of ​​letting Alyssa live a normal life may have to be postponed."

“Professor, perhaps this is my normal life,” Elisa said softly. “Using my abilities to help others and protect innocent people. This may be the meaning of my existence.”

Lynn gave Alyssa a deep look, then turned to Professor Xavier. “Professor, regarding what you mentioned earlier, my answer is yes. Whenever Alyssa needs guidance or help integrating into society, I am always willing to offer assistance. But it seems she has already found her own path.”

Night fell again, and the three left the underground interrogation room.

The next day.

The morning sunlight streamed through the airplane window, illuminating Alyssa's face as she quietly watched the Manhattan skyline gradually come into focus. The towering skyscrapers shimmered in the morning light, like countless dazzling jewels embedded in the city's steel jungle. This was the first time she had left Xavier College so far, the first time she had truly stepped into the outside world.

"Nervous?" Lynn, sitting next to her, could tell how she felt. After a three-hour flight, they were finally about to land at JFK Airport.

Elisa nodded slightly, a complex emotion flickering in her unique purple eyes. “A little. In the academy, I was surrounded by people just like me. But here…” She paused, “I can feel the emotional turmoil of millions of people in this city, like a surging ocean.”

Lynn understood her feelings. As a psychic, Elisa had to learn to protect herself from this torrent of emotions, or she would easily be overwhelmed. "You need time to adjust. Did the professor teach you how to block out these sensations?"

“Yes, but it’s relatively easier at the academy.” Elisa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m trying to build up a psychological barrier to filter out unnecessary emotional information.”

As the plane began its descent, an announcement came over the intercom: "Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to land at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The local time is 8:45 a.m., the weather is clear, and the temperature is 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Thank you for choosing to fly with us."

Lynn packed his belongings. They didn't have much luggage—Alyssa had only brought two suitcases containing some of her personal items and clothes from the academy. For someone about to start a completely new life, this seemed pitifully little, but Lynn knew that what truly mattered wasn't material preparation, but mental preparation.

“Detective Lynn.” Elisa suddenly called his name, a form of address she rarely used so formally.

"What's wrong?"

“Thank you for your help.” Her voice was soft, but full of sincerity. “I know this is a burden for you as well.”

“Don’t say that,” Lynn shook his head. “Everyone has the right to choose their own way of life. If you want to experience a normal life, then you should have that opportunity. And…” He paused, “the courage and competence you showed during the interrogation yesterday convinces me that you have the potential to become an excellent law enforcement officer.”

A faint blush rose to Alyssa's cheeks. "Do you really think so?"

“Of course,” Lynn said confidently, “but first, you need to learn how to survive in this complex world. It’s not just about finding a job and a place to live.”

The vibrations from the plane's tires hitting the runway reverberated throughout the cabin, and Elisa gripped the armrests of her seat tightly. Despite her powerful psychic abilities, she was still just a young girl facing this new stage of her life.

The airport arrival hall was bustling with people. Alyssa walked beside Lynn, trying to adjust to the noisy environment and complex emotional fluctuations around her. She could sense the anxiety of the hurried business travelers, the anticipation of the excited tourists, and the various emotions of those waiting to pick up their loved ones.

"How are you feeling?" Lynn asked with concern as she led her toward the exit.

“It’s like standing in the center of a huge emotional vortex,” Elisa answered honestly, “but I’m learning to filter this information. The professor said it takes time and practice.”

They arrived at the taxi stand. Lynn hailed a taxi; the driver was a middle-aged man in his forties who looked somewhat tired.

"Where to?" the driver asked, glancing at the two passengers through the rearview mirror.

“FBI Manhattan office,” Lynn gave the address.

The driver nodded and started the car. The taxi slowly drove out of the airport and merged into the morning rush hour traffic. Through the window, Elisa saw the real side of the city—busy streets, towering buildings, and crowds of people. Everything was in stark contrast to the tranquil environment of the college.

"First time in New York?" The driver noticed Alyssa's curious gaze and struck up a conversation.

“Yes,” Elisa nodded in reply.

“This is the best city in the world, miss,” the driver said with pride. “It can be a little crazy at times, but you’ll never be bored.” Elisa smiled and nodded, but Lynn noticed a slight tension in her expression. In such a dense crowd, her senses were processing far too much information.

"Are you alright?" Lynn asked in a low voice.

“I’m trying to adapt,” Elisa replied softly. “The emotional intensity here is far more complex than I imagined. Everyone has their own story, their own pain and joy.”

Thirty minutes later, the taxi stopped in front of the FBI Manhattan branch building. It was a modern office building, unassuming on the outside, but with very tight security. Lynn paid the fare and led Alyssa towards the building entrance.

“Welcome to my workplace.” Lynn stopped at the entrance. “From today onwards, this will also be your workplace.”

Elisa looked up at the building, her eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation. "Can I really work here?"

“Of course.” Lynn took out his identification and gestured to the security guard at the door. “I’ve already arranged everything with the HR department. You’ll be assigned to the records management department, responsible for document organization and data entry.”

They passed through security and took the elevator to the twelfth floor. The elevator doors opened, revealing a typical government office environment—an open-plan office area, neatly arranged desks, busy employees, and the occasional ringing of telephones.

“Detective Hall!” a voice came from the office area.

Lynn turned around and saw an Asian woman in her thirties walking towards them. She was wearing a well-fitting dark blue suit and glasses, giving off a capable and friendly impression.

“Good morning, Manager Chen,” Lynn introduced her. “This is Alyssa Connor, the new employee we mentioned in our call yesterday.”

Manager Chen smiled and extended her hand. "Hello, Alyssa. I'm Chen Meiling, Head of Human Resources. Welcome to our team."

Alyssa shook hands politely. "Thank you, Manager Chen. It's a pleasure working here."

“Detective Hall has a very high opinion of you,” Chen Meiling said. “Although you lack relevant work experience, your educational background is excellent. I noticed you studied multiple languages ​​and computer skills at Xavier College.”

“Yes, I am more interested in languages ​​and data analysis,” Elisa replied, noting that she had indeed received a comprehensive education at the academy.

“That’s great. Our archives department just happens to need multilingual staff.” Chen Meiling seemed very satisfied. “Come, let me show you around the work environment.”

Lynn nodded to Alyssa. "I'll go to my office to take care of some things. We'll find a place to stay together later."

Elisa followed Chen Meiling to a corner of the office area. There were rows of filing cabinets and computer workstations there. Several employees were busy organizing documents and entering data.

"This is the records management department," Chen Meiling explained. "We are responsible for organizing and maintaining all case-related documents. The work may be a bit tedious, but it's crucial to the entire investigation process."

A young male employee looked up at Elisa with curiosity. He was about twenty-five years old, with a friendly smile and brown hair.

“This is Mark Johnson, our department’s senior clerk,” Chen Meiling introduced. “Mark, this is Alyssa Connor; she will be working with you.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alyssa.” Mark stood up to shake hands. “Finally, a new colleague! I’ve been working alone for months.”

Alyssa smiled in response. When she held Mark's hand, she could sense that he was a kind and honest person, without any malice or hidden intentions. This made her feel at ease.

“Elisa has no prior experience in this area, so you need to teach her the basic procedures,” Chen Meiling told Mark. “Start with simple document sorting.”

“No problem,” Mark said enthusiastically. “Actually, the job isn’t complicated; it mainly requires meticulousness and patience.”

Over the next hour, Mark explained the job to Alyssa in detail. She needed to categorize various case documents by date, case type, and importance, and then enter the data into a computer database. Although the work was indeed somewhat monotonous, Alyssa found herself quickly grasping the essentials.

“You learn very quickly,” Mark said approvingly. “Usually it takes newcomers a few days to get used to these processes.”

“Thank you, I studied something similar in records management at school,” Elisa replied modestly. In fact, her rapid learning ability was partly due to her intuitive understanding—she could sense Mark’s train of thought and key points in his explanations, making it easier for her to comprehend.

Around noon, Lynn arrived at the archives department. "Elisa, how's it going?"

“Great, everyone is very friendly.” Elisa seemed much more relaxed than in the morning. “The job isn’t difficult to understand either.”

"That's good." Lynn glanced at his watch. "Let's go have lunch now, and then we'll go check out our accommodations."

They had lunch at a small restaurant nearby. The restaurant was quiet and not crowded, which made Alyssa feel comfortable. She ordered a simple salad and soup, while Lynn opted for a burger set meal.

"How's it going? First day at the FBI?" Lynn asked while eating his hamburger.

“It’s better than I expected.” Alyssa poked at her salad with her fork. “Mark is a very nice person; he was very patient in teaching me. Manager Chen was also very friendly.”

"So, are you ready for the challenge of finding a place to live?" Lynn joked. "Finding a suitable and affordable place to live in Manhattan might be harder than interrogating a mutant criminal."

Elisa smiled, her first genuine smile of the day. "I trust you will help me find the right place."

After lunch, they began their apartment search. Lynn had contacted several real estate agencies beforehand and selected some apartments near the FBI branch. Their first stop was an older apartment building on Third Avenue.

The real estate agent was an energetic middle-aged woman named Susan Miller. She was wearing a bright red suit and carrying a large bunch of keys.

“This building was built in the 1960s, but it’s very well maintained,” Susan explained as she climbed the stairs. “What you’re seeing is a studio apartment on the fourth floor, about 400 square feet.” (End of Chapter)