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

“Of course.” Lynn stood up. “Our questioning is essentially over. Next comes the formal legal proceedings.”

Before leaving the ward, Lynn turned to the two young men. “I want to tell you something. Although you committed a crime, I can see you are good people; you just made the wrong choice in desperation.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Inspector,” Jason said sincerely.

“If you show genuine remorse in court and cooperate fully with all investigations, I will reflect these circumstances truthfully in my report,” Lynn promised. “This may be helpful in your sentencing.”

After leaving the hospital room, Elisa let out a long sigh. "This is truly a tragic case."

“Yes,” Lynn nodded. “Their love was genuine, but they chose the wrong way to resolve it.”

"Will they have a chance to be together in the future?" Elisa asked.

“That’s hard to say,” Lynn answered honestly. “Imprisonment, criminal records, financial burdens—these can all put enormous pressure on their relationship. Many couples break up when faced with such tests.”

“But there are exceptions, aren’t there?” Elisa asked with a glimmer of hope.

“Yes, there are exceptions,” Lynn said with a smile. “If their love is strong enough, perhaps they can overcome this difficulty.”

“Elisa, what are your thoughts on this case?” Lynn asked.

“I feel conflicted,” Elisa answered honestly. “On the one hand, they did break the law and must bear the consequences. On the other hand, their motives were pure—for love and survival.”

“That’s the complexity of legal work,” Lynn said. “We must uphold the authority of the law, but at the same time, we must maintain the warmth of humanity.”

Do you think they will receive a fair trial?

“I believe so,” Lynn nodded. “While the American justice system isn’t perfect, it takes all relevant factors into account, including the motive for the crime, the degree of remorse, and the social impact.”

When they arrived at the FBI field office, Lynn had to complete a lot of paperwork—arrest reports, lists of evidence, interrogation records, and so on. This is an unavoidable, tedious part of law enforcement work, but it is crucial to ensuring that the case is handled fairly.

“You did an excellent job today,” Lynn said to Alyssa. “Without your telepathic abilities, we might never have discovered the truth.”

“I just did what I was supposed to do,” Elisa replied modestly, “but I must admit that this case has given me a deeper understanding of human nature.”

"How to say?"

“Back in college, I always thought the world was black and white—good people and bad people, right and wrong,” Elisa said thoughtfully. “But now I realize that reality is much more complex. Sometimes good people do bad things, and sometimes wrong actions have legitimate motives.”

“That’s why we need people with special abilities like you,” Lynn said. “You can not only perceive surface-level behavior, but also understand deeper motivations. This is crucial for true justice.”

A few hours later.

As Elisa finished her work at the FBI and walked out of the Manhattan branch building, the sun was slowly setting.

Walking down Third Avenue, Elisa enjoyed the relaxation that came after get off work. People came and went, and a multitude of emotions surged within her—the weariness of commuters, the excitement of shoppers, the curiosity of tourists. She had learned to build a psychological barrier so that these surface emotions wouldn't overly disturb her.

As she stood at the intersection of 14th Street, waiting for the light to turn red, a subtle feeling suddenly washed over her. It wasn't the fluctuation of ordinary human emotions, but rather some deeper, more complex energy. Elisa's heart quickened slightly; she was familiar with this feeling from the academy—it was the sensation she felt when encountering someone like herself.

She cautiously glanced around, her eyes searching the crowd. Soon, her gaze settled on a man. He stood about ten feet to her right, also waiting for the red light. Outwardly, he was just an ordinary office worker—dark gray suit, black briefcase, neatly trimmed dark brown hair. If it weren't for that peculiar energy fluctuation, Elisa would never have given him a second look.

The man seemed to sense something and slowly turned his head. The moment their eyes met, Alyssa was certain of her judgment—he was also a mutant. But what shocked her even more was the intense sadness emanating from him, like a dark cloud enveloping his entire being.

The two stared at each other for about three seconds without speaking. A flicker of surprise crossed the man's eyes, followed by a complex expression—a mixture of relief at encountering someone like him and a deep sense of wariness. Elisa could sense that he was struggling to control his emotions and prevent himself from revealing any further information.

The light turned green, and the crowd began to move. The man was the first to look away, quickly walking in another direction. Elisa continued on her way, but her heart was filled with confusion and worry. The intensity of the sorrow made her uneasy, as if the man were enduring immense pain.

On her way home, Alyssa kept thinking about this strange encounter. At Xavier's Academy, she was surrounded by mutants, and everyone openly discussed and used their abilities. But in the outside world, things were clearly very different. The man's reaction suggested that mutants had to hide their identities in ordinary society.

Upon arriving at the apartment building, Elisa encountered her landlady, Mrs. Margaret. The elderly lady was collecting mail by the mailbox downstairs, and upon seeing Elisa return, a kind smile appeared on her face.

“Good evening, darling,” Margaret greeted warmly. “How’s work?”

“Very well, thank you for asking,” Elisa replied, but her mind was clearly elsewhere.

Margaret keenly noticed Elisa's absent-mindedness. "You seem troubled. Is something wrong?"

Alyssa hesitated. She couldn't tell Margaret that she had met another mutant, but she did need someone to talk to. "Just thinking about...identity issues."

“Identity?” Margaret nodded thoughtfully. “That’s certainly an important topic for young people. You know, I had similar struggles when I was young.”

"Really?"

“Of course. I’m the daughter of first-generation Italian immigrants, and as a child I often felt caught between two worlds—at home I was Italian, but outside I had to act like an American.” A glimmer of memory crossed Margaret’s eyes. “It was a lonely feeling, like I didn’t completely belong to either place.”

Elisa was deeply moved by the metaphor. Although Margaret was talking about cultural identity, the feeling of being caught between two worlds was indeed very similar.

“How did you solve this problem?” Elisa asked.

“Time and experience,” Margaret said with a smile. “Ultimately, I realized I didn’t need to choose which one to be. I can be both Italian and American at the same time; both identities are part of me. The key is to be honest with yourself and learn to express yourself appropriately in different situations.” These words greatly inspired Alyssa. Perhaps she didn’t need to choose between being a mutant and a normal person, but rather to learn to use her abilities appropriately in different circumstances.

“Thank you for your advice, Mrs. Margaret,” Elisa said sincerely. “It has been very helpful to me.”

“You’re welcome, dear.” Margaret patted Elisa’s hand. “Remember, whatever confusion you face, never forget that you are a kind person. That’s more important than any label.”

Back in her apartment, Alyssa prepared a simple dinner for herself in the kitchenette. Although Margaret's words made sense, the mutant she'd encountered that day still unsettled her. The intense sadness she felt lingered, and she desperately wanted to know what had happened to him.

The next morning, Alyssa arrived at the FBI headquarters earlier than usual. She wanted to talk to Lynn about her experiences the previous day and learn more about the current situation of mutants in New York. At the institute, she knew very little about the lives of mutants in the outside world.

She arrived at Lynn's office door and knocked gently.

"Please come in," Lynn's voice came from inside.

Elisa pushed open the door and saw Lynn working on a pile of documents. He was wearing a dark blue suit and looked energetic, but there was a hint of fatigue in his eyes—clearly, yesterday's case had put a lot of pressure on him.

“Good morning, Inspector Lynn,” Alyssa said. “Do you have time to talk?”

“Of course.” Lynn put down the documents in her hand. “Sit down. You seem to have something on your mind.”

Alyssa sat down in the chair opposite the desk, hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I'd like to ask you a question. Are there many mutants in New York?"

Lynn looked at her with slight surprise. "That's an interesting question. Why do you suddenly want to know about this?"

“Just curious,” Alyssa said. “At the academy, I was surrounded by mutants. But since coming to New York, it feels like I can’t see them at all.”

Lynn nodded, his expression turning serious. “This is a complicated topic, Alyssa. Yes, there are indeed a considerable number of mutants in New York, far more than you might imagine.”

"Then why can't I see them?"

“Because most mutants are under government oversight,” Lynn explained. “Under the Mutant Registration Act, all identified mutants must register in a federal database and be subject to regular monitoring.”

This information shocked Alyssa. "Regulation? What kind of regulation?"

“This includes identity registration, capability assessments, regular reporting of location and activity, and restrictions on movement in certain circumstances,” Lynn explained. “The aim is to ensure public safety and prevent the misuse of mutant abilities.”

A chill ran down Alyssa's spine. "What about me? Do I also need to be subject to this kind of supervision?"

“Normally yes,” Lynn said, “but you are an exception. Professor Xavier contacted the relevant departments before you came to New York, and based on his guarantee and the nature of the work you will be doing, you have been exempted from the usual regulatory requirements.”

"Does that mean I'm not in that database?"

“No,” Lynn confirmed. “The professor believes that if your mutant identity is publicly documented, it could affect your efforts to adapt to a normal life. He wants you to have the opportunity to live and work like a normal person.”

Elisa remained silent for a moment, processing this information. It turned out that Professor Xavier had arranged everything for her before she left the academy, ensuring she could live freely in the outside world.

“What about the other mutants?” she asked. “Will they be able to live normal lives?”

“It depends on many factors,” Lynn said. “The level of danger of the ability, past record, compliance with regulations, and so on. Some mutants live very normal lives, just needing to report regularly. But others are restricted to specific areas or need to wear monitoring devices.”

“It sounds so depressing,” Elisa said softly.

“It’s a matter of balance,” Lynn explained. “The general public has a fear of mutants and worries about their safety. The government needs to find a balance that protects public safety while respecting the rights of mutants. But this balance isn’t always perfect.”

Alyssa recalled the man she had encountered yesterday and the sadness emanating from him. "Detective Lynn, I met someone yesterday, and I think he might be a mutant."

Lynn immediately became alert. "What exactly is going on?"

Elisa described in detail her encounter at the intersection yesterday, including the peculiar energy she sensed and the intense sadness emanating from the other person.

"Are you sure he's a mutant?" Lynn asked.

“I’m absolutely certain. That feeling is very unique; I’ve experienced it countless times at the academy,” Elisa said. “But what worries me is his emotional state. It’s not ordinary sadness; it’s a profound despair.”

Lynn frowned. "Can you describe what he looks like?"

“Around thirty years old, dark brown hair, medium build, wearing a dark gray suit and carrying a black briefcase. Looks like an ordinary office worker,” Elisa tried to recall the details. “We met him at the intersection of 14th Street and Third Avenue.”

Lynn took out her notebook and wrote down this information. "There are several office buildings near the location you mentioned; there are indeed many white-collar workers working there."

"Can you find his information?" Elisa asked.

“I can give it a try,” Lynn said. “The mutant surveillance database has very detailed records, including photos and daily activity patterns. If he is indeed under surveillance, we should be able to find relevant information.”

Lynn turned on his computer and logged into a seemingly confidential database system. Alyssa saw a complex search interface appear on the screen, with many categories and codes she had never seen before. (End of Chapter)