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

"what is the problem?"

"Wilson's lawyers filed a privacy protection application, requesting the court to prevent us from accessing his personal records."

"On what grounds?"

"They claim this is a malicious reinvestigation of a closed case and harassment of the parties involved."

Lynn frowned. "This is very unusual. Why would an ordinary truck driver hire a good enough lawyer to stop an FBI investigation?"

“That’s exactly what we find strange,” the legal staff member said. “This lawyer comes from a very expensive law firm that specializes in corporate crime cases.”

Did they succeed?

"It's a temporary success. The judge has granted a temporary injunction, but we need to provide stronger evidence to continue the investigation."

After hanging up the phone, Lynn felt things had become more complicated. The fact that Wilson could hire an expensive lawyer spoke volumes.

“It seems we need to change our strategy,” Lynn said to Alyssa. “If we can’t investigate Wilson directly, we can approach him from other angles.”

“What angle?”

“The hospital,” Lynn said. “Merlin works at the hospital, and Kingsley met her there. Perhaps we can find more clues there.”

"But will the hospital cooperate with us? Patient privacy is protected by law."

“We don’t need detailed medical records, just the circumstances at the time,” Lynn explained. “And as the FBI, we have certain authority when investigating suspected criminal cases.”

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Lynn and Elisa arrived at St. Mary's Hospital. It was a medium-sized private hospital located in the heart of Brooklyn. The hospital's exterior was modern, but the interior was somewhat dated.

At the front desk, they asked to see the supervisor in charge of the volunteer program. A few minutes later, a middle-aged woman approached them. She was wearing a white doctor's coat and looked professional but also tired.

“I am Dr. Maria Sanchez, the head of the volunteer project,” she introduced herself. “Are you here to learn about Merlin Chen?”

“Yes, we are reopening the investigation into her death.” Lynn showed her identification. “Could you tell us something about her work at the hospital?”

“Merlin was one of the most outstanding volunteers I’ve ever met,” Dr. Sanchez said with genuine remembrance. “She had a special ability to give hope back to even the most desperate patients.”

"Do you know about her mutant identity?" Elisa asked.

Dr. Sanchez hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I know, but we never discuss this publicly. Hospital policy is to not discriminate against anyone, including mutants.”

Does anyone else know?

“Rarely,” Dr. Sanchez said. “Merlin is very cautious, and her abilities are subtle, unlike some obvious mutant abilities. Most people just perceive her as exceptionally loving and compassionate.”

“And what about Robert Kingsley? How did he find out?” Lynn asked.

Dr. Sanchez's expression became complicated. "Kingsley's case is complex."

Could you elaborate?

“Kingsley had advanced lung cancer, and by the time he came to our hospital, there was nothing we could do,” Dr. Sanchez recalled. “We tried chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but the cancer cells were still spreading. All we could offer was pain relief.”

"And then Merlin intervened?"

“Yes. Merlin volunteered to take care of Kingsley, saying she wanted to see if she could help him,” Dr. Sanchez continued. “I initially thought she just wanted to offer emotional support, but it turned out…”

"What was the result?"

“Three weeks later, Kingsley’s cancer cell markers began to decline,” Dr. Sanchez said with astonishment. “Six weeks later, scans showed the tumor had shrunk significantly. Three months later, we could barely detect any cancer cells.”

Elisa was stunned. "This isn't a medical miracle; it's Merlin's power at work."

“We certainly didn’t write that in the medical records,” Dr. Sanchez said. “The official records show it as ‘spontaneous remission,’ which happens occasionally in medicine.”

"How did Kingsley react?" Lynn asked.

Dr. Sanchez's expression turned worried. "At first he was happy and very grateful. But as time went on, he started to act strangely."

"strangeness?"

“He began to question his recovery, saying it felt unnatural and that he had been corrupted by some evil force,” Dr. Sanchez explained. “We arranged for him to receive psychological counseling, but he refused.”

Did he ever threaten Merlin?

“There was no direct threat, but he started avoiding her,” Dr. Sanchez said. “And I heard him say things like Merlin was ‘the devil’s agent’ in front of other patients.”

Elisa was furious. "Merlin saved his life, and he slanders her like this."

“Sometimes fear is stronger than gratitude,” Dr. Sanchez sighed. “Some people can’t accept things they don’t understand, even if those things save them.”

"When was the last time Kingsley came to the hospital?" Lynn asked.

“About a month before Merlin died,” Dr. Sanchez recalled. “He came in for a routine check-up; the cancer was still in remission. But he seemed very uneasy and kept asking questions about Merlin.”

"What kind of question?"

“For example, when did she come to the hospital, which patients was she still helping, did she have any family members, etc.” Dr. Sanchez’s expression became worried. “Looking back now, those questions are very suspicious.”

Lynn and Elisa exchanged a glance. This information confirmed their suspicions—Kingsley was indeed gathering information on Merlin.

"Does the hospital have CCTV footage?" Lynn asked.

“Yes, but it’s only kept for three months,” Dr. Sanchez replied. “The video of Merlin’s death should have already been deleted.”

"Does anyone else still know Merlin's mutant identity?"

“Very few,” Dr. Sanchez said. “And after her death, we decided to stop discussing it. To be honest, the hospital administration was somewhat concerned that if Merlin’s identity became widely known, it might cause controversy.” “Controversy?” Elisa asked, puzzled.

“Some people might question why we didn’t report it to the relevant authorities if we knew Merlin was a mutant,” Dr. Sanchez explained. “While we weren’t legally obligated to do so, it could become a problem in the current political climate.”

Lynn understood the hospital's concerns. During a time of heightened anti-mutant sentiment, any association with mutants could be problematic.

“Besides Kingsley, have any other patients ever doubted Merlin’s abilities?” Lynn asked.

“There are some,” Dr. Sanchez admitted, “but most people choose to believe it’s a medical miracle. People are more willing to believe in God or medicine than in mutant abilities.”

"What happened to those who had doubts?"

“Most have remained silent,” Dr. Sanchez said. “But I’m worried that if someone incites them, they might come forward and accuse Merlin.”

This concern made Lynn realize the seriousness of the problem. If anti-mutant organizations decided to use these patients as witnesses, it could have a huge impact on the entire mutant community.

“Dr. Sanchez, would you be willing to testify for the investigation if needed?” Lynn asked.

“If this can bring justice to Merlin, I’m willing,” Dr. Sanchez said firmly. “She was a kind person and shouldn’t be misunderstood.”

It was already dark when they left the hospital. Lynn and Elisa sat in the car, organizing the information they had gathered that day.

“Now we have a clearer picture,” Lynn said. “Kingsley gathered information from the hospital, Wilson orchestrated the ‘accident,’ and there was someone providing the financial backing.”

“But we still lack conclusive evidence,” Elisa pointed out. “Kingsley is dead, Wilson has legal protection, and the recordings are insufficient for a conviction.”

“We need to find the funders behind this,” Lynn said. “If we can prove this is an organized conspiracy, we can reopen the investigation.”

"So what's our next step?"

“I’ll contact the counterterrorism department tomorrow to see if they’re monitoring the ‘Pure Humanity’ organization,” Lynn said. “If this organization is indeed planning terrorist attacks against mutants, the FBI should get involved.”

Elisa nodded, but her expression remained somber. "I'm wondering how David will react. Knowing his wife was betrayed by someone she saved must be incredibly painful for him."

“We’ll tell him tonight,” Lynn decided. “He has the right to know the truth, and perhaps it will help him find some peace of mind.”

"What's the meaning?"

“At least he’ll know that someone has to take responsibility for Merlin’s death, and that it wasn’t a meaningless accident,” Lynn explained. “Sometimes, knowing the truth is easier to accept than living in doubt.”

As night fell, Lynn and Alyssa arrived at David's apartment building again. This time, their hearts were heavier than the day before, for they brought not only progress on the investigation, but also a cruel truth that could completely alter David's worldview. In the elevator, Alyssa nervously adjusted her mental defenses, preparing herself for the intense emotional turmoil David might experience.

“Are you sure you want to tell him now?” Elisa asked one last time. “Perhaps we should wait until we have more evidence.”

“No, he should know,” Lynn said firmly. “David has the right to know the truth, and delaying will only keep him living in painful speculation. At least now he will know that Merlin’s death was not a meaningless accident.”

The elevator reached the fourth floor, and they headed towards apartment 4B. Lynn knocked on the door and soon heard footsteps inside.

“It’s me, Inspector Lynn,” Lynn said.

The door opened, and David appeared in the doorway. He looked slightly better than yesterday; his hair was neatly combed, and he was wearing a clean set of clothes. But Elisa immediately sensed that familiar sadness still lingered deep within him.

“Detective Hall, Alyssa.” David ushered them in. “You’ve come at the right time; I just made some tea.”

The apartment was tidier than yesterday, with three cups and a pot of hot tea on the coffee table. David had clearly anticipated their arrival and made preparations. This small detail comforted Alyssa—at least David was starting to care about daily life.

“David, please sit down.” Lynn’s tone was gentler than usual. “We have some important findings to share with you regarding the Merlin case.”

David's body tensed instantly, and Elisa could feel the fierce battle between hope and fear within him. He hoped to obtain the truth, but feared that the truth might be even more painful.

"You've found new evidence?" David sat on the edge of the sofa, his hands clenched tightly.

“Yes, and it’s more complicated than we thought.” Lynn began to describe in detail what the investigation had uncovered that day, starting with the files on private investigator Sam Brown, then Wilson’s connections to the anti-mutant organization, and finally the suspicious $50,000.

David listened intently to every detail, his emotional fluctuations growing increasingly intense in Alyssa's perception. When Lynn mentioned Wilson's lawyer's attempt to obstruct the FBI investigation, David's anger reached a new level.

“So my suspicions were correct.” David’s voice held a painful satisfaction. “Merlin was indeed murdered.”

“Yes, we are now almost certain this was not an accident,” Lynn nodded, “but there is an even more important discovery.”

Elisa sensed Lynn's hesitation and knew the most difficult part was about to begin.

"What discovery?" David asked.

Lynn took a deep breath. “We discovered how Wilson obtained Merlin's detailed information. Someone provided him with Merlin's working hours, routes, and even his specific schedule.”

"Who?" David's voice turned shrill. "Is it someone from the hospital?"

“Not entirely.” Lynn hesitated for a moment. “David, what I’m about to tell you might be painful. Please prepare yourself.”

David's face turned pale, and Elisa could feel the fear welling up inside him. "Who is it?"

“Robert Kingsley,” Lynn said softly, “a lung cancer patient Merlin once cured.”

A sudden, deathly silence fell over the room. David's eyes widened, as if he couldn't comprehend what he had just heard. Elisa sensed his emotions shift from shock to immense pain, and then to unbelievable rage.

“No, impossible.” David’s voice trembled. “You must be mistaken. Someone Merlin saved couldn’t possibly be…”

“I’m sorry, but it’s true.” Lynn took out his recording equipment. “We have recordings of his conversations with Wilson.”

As the recording played, the atmosphere in the room became extremely oppressive. Kingsley's voice echoed in the air, each word piercing David's heart like a knife. Elisa sensed David's emotional energy beginning to spiral out of control, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

After the recording ended, David covered his face with his hands, his whole body trembling. "She saved his life. She saved his life," he kept repeating, his voice filled with pain and disbelief. (End of Chapter)