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

Lynn felt a wave of dizziness. These numbers were real, but what did they mean?
“This is no coincidence, Detective.” A new voice joined the conversation. Lynn turned and saw John Baker—the old man who had lost his wife. “When some people possess powers that ordinary people don’t, they are more likely to cause harm.”

“But most mutants have never committed a crime,” Lynn argued, “just like most ordinary people.”

“Yes, but when they commit crimes, the consequences are far more severe,” Blackwood said calmly. “An angry ordinary person might punch someone. An angry mutant might burn down an entire building or control someone’s mind to commit suicide.”

"So your solution is to murder innocent mutants?" Lynn asked angrily.

“Murder?” Blackwood looked genuinely surprised. “Detective, I have never murdered any innocent person.”

"Merlin Chan is innocent!"

“Merlin Chan is a time bomb,” Blackwood calmly responded. “Her healing abilities have led people to become dependent on mutants, to see them as indispensable. What will this dependence ultimately lead to? When people need mutants to survive, who will hold the real power?”

“She’s saving lives!” Lynn protested.

“She’s creating dependency,” Susan Morgan said. “My Michael could have been saved by her if he had met her instead of Jackson. But what does that change? Does it change the threat that mutants as a group represent?”

Lynn felt surrounded, not just physically, but also morally and logically. These people weren't fanatical hate criminals; they were genuine victims, their pain was real, and their fear was understandable.

“How many cases have you handled involving mutants helping others, Detective?” Blackwood asked, “besides the one you’re currently investigating?”

Lynn tried to recall, but the answer unsettled him. In his career, he had rarely encountered mutants who proactively helped others. Most of the time, mutants were either trying to hide their identities or were genuinely committing crimes.

“I see you’re thinking,” Blackwood observed the change in Lynn’s expression. “It’s not your fault, Detective. You’re just doing your job—hunting down criminals. But that gives you a distorted perspective, putting you primarily in contact with mutants who abuse their abilities.”

“But that doesn’t mean all mutants are a threat,” Lynn insisted.

“Of course not,” Blackwood agreed, “but that means we need precautions. We need to ensure that mutant abilities aren’t abused.”

"Through murder?"

“Through education, oversight, and, if necessary, isolation,” Blackwood’s tone shifted to that of a business negotiation. “Merlin Chan’s death was unfortunate. But sometimes, to protect more people, we have to make tough choices.”

“You just confessed!” Lynn seized the opportunity. “You confessed to participating in Merlin’s murder!”

Blackwood smiled, but there was no warmth in his smile. “What did I admit, Detective? I said her death was unfortunate. That was a statement of fact, not a confession of crime.”

Lynn realized he had been fooled once again by Blackwood's linguistic skills. The man was too clever, too cunning, knowing how to express his ideas without leaving any legal evidence.

“But in any case,” Blackwood continued, “I hope tonight has helped you understand the complexity of this issue. This isn’t a simple matter of good versus evil, Detective. This is a struggle for the survival of humanity’s future.”

Lynn looked around at the faces of the victims' families. Each of them had lost something most precious, and each had every reason to be afraid and angry. But did that justify Blackwood's actions?
“I need some fresh air,” Lynn said, feeling a tightness in his chest.

“Of course.” Blackwood gestured gracefully toward the garden. “Please make yourself at home. I hope you will give careful consideration to everything you have heard tonight.”

Lynn stood in the garden of Blackwood Manor, the cool night breeze brushing his face, but unable to calm the turmoil in his heart. Moonlight spilled onto the meticulously manicured lawn, and soft music and conversation drifted from the banquet hall in the distance. He needed time to process everything he had just heard, to sort out his thoughts.

He took out his phone, intending to call Alyssa, but his finger hovered over the screen. What should he say? Should he tell her he was beginning to doubt his own stance? Should he say he had discovered some unsettling truths?
No, now is not the time. He needs to think things through first.

Lynn sat down on the stone bench in the garden, reflecting on the evening's events. Blackwood had orchestrated it all—the appearance of the victims' families, the stark statistics, the undeniable facts. This was no coincidence; it was a carefully planned psychological offensive.

But the facts remain the facts. In his fifteen-year career, there were indeed thirty-seven murders involving mutant offenders. This proportion is indeed far higher than the percentage of mutants in the total population. What does this mean?
He recalled the details of those cases. Marcus Reynolds used mind control to coerce his victims into submission before sexually assaulting and murdering them. Bruce Jackson, under the influence of alcohol, lost control and punched an innocent college student to death. The Chicago cryo-powered individual instantly killed three people during an argument. Each case was so brutal, each one a testament to the absolute helplessness of ordinary people facing supernatural forces.

But does this prove that all mutants are a threat? Lynn thought of Alyssa, her kindness, and her unwavering commitment to justice. He thought of Merlin, a healer who used his abilities to save lives. He thought of Professor Xavier, a wise man dedicated to promoting harmonious coexistence between mutants and ordinary people.

"Complex problems never have simple answers, do they?"

Lynn turned and saw Blackwood slowly walking towards him. In the moonlight, the Wall Street tycoon looked more like a philosopher than a criminal.

“I need some fresh air,” Lynn said simply.

“I understand.” Blackwood sat down beside him. “Tonight has been very informative for you.”

They sat in silence for several minutes, gazing at the distant coastline. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks echoed in the night air.

“What do you want me to say?” Lynn finally spoke. “Do you want me to admit you’re right? To admit that mutants are a threat?”

“I want you to face reality,” Blackwood replied calmly. “I don’t need your approval, Inspector. The facts will speak for themselves.”

“So what’s the truth?” Lynn turned to him. “The truth is, you hired a hitman to murder an innocent woman?”

"The fact is, the world faces an unprecedented challenge," Blackwood said calmly. "When a select few possess godlike power, the traditional social order collapses."

"But Merlin was helping people."

“Today it is, but what about tomorrow?” Blackwood countered. “When she realizes her power, when she finds herself able to decide who lives and who dies, will she still remain humble? History tells us that power corrupts everyone.”

Lynn fell silent. This was indeed a difficult question to answer. Absolute power does corrupt, a weakness of human nature. But could that justify murder? “Even if you’re right,” Lynn said, “even if mutants represent some kind of threat, your approach is still wrong. You can’t kill innocent people now just because you fear future threats.”

“So what solution do you propose?” Blackwood turned to him, a challenging glint in his eyes. “Wait? Hope? Pray that mutants will always remain good?”

“Law, regulation, education,” Lynn replied, “just like how we deal with other social problems.”

“Law?” Blackwood laughed. “What law can restrain someone who can control others’ minds? What regulation can restrain someone who can walk through walls? What education can change a superhuman who thinks he’s superior?”

These issues struck a nerve with Lynn. He had to admit that the traditional legal system was indeed struggling to deal with criminals possessing supernatural abilities. They always faced enormous difficulties in apprehending and detaining these criminals.

"So what's your solution?" Lynn demanded. "To exterminate all mutants?"

“Not elimination, but control,” Blackwood corrected. “Isolate the dangerous, restrict the potentially dangerous, and monitor everyone.”

"This sounds like a concentration camp."

“This sounds like survival,” Blackwood’s tone sharpened. “Detective, you’ve seen the suffering of those victims’ families. Would you want more families to go through the same pain?”

Lynn felt trapped in a moral maze. Every turn led to another difficult problem, and every answer introduced a new moral dilemma.

“But what you’re doing isn’t control, it’s murder,” Lynn insisted. “Merlin isn’t threatening anyone; she’s saving lives.”

“She’s creating dependency,” Blackwood repeated his earlier point. “When people start to believe they need mutants to survive, mutants gain ultimate power.”

“That’s insane logic!” Lynn stood up. “You choose to kill kind people because you’re afraid that kindness might become a threat?”

“I choose prevention,” Blackwood stood up as well. “Every civilization in history has collapsed because it failed to address new threats in time.”

Lynn looked at Blackwood, suddenly realizing a crucial question. "Do you really think you can succeed? Do you really think you can control or eliminate all mutants?"

Blackwood's expression changed slightly. "What do you mean?"

“I mean, the practical feasibility of your plan.” Lynn felt he had grasped something important. “Who are you targeting now? Healers like Merlin, telepaths like Elisa. They are all benevolent, peaceful mutants.”

“They are the most dangerous,” Blackwood argued.

“No, they’re the easiest targets.” Lynn’s voice sharpened. “And the truly dangerous mutants? The ones capable of fighting, the ones willing to use violence? Would you dare provoke them?”

Blackwood fell silent, and that silence was more persuasive than any words.

“You wouldn’t dare,” Lynn continued. “You only dare to bully kind, peaceful mutants. Because they won’t fight back, they won’t use violence to protect themselves. Your so-called ‘precautionary measures’ are actually eliminating the least likely threat.”

“You don’t understand the complexity of the situation,” Blackwyde tried to retort, but his voice lacked its previous confidence.

“I understand completely!” Lynn’s anger finally erupted. “You’re afraid of truly powerful mutants, so you choose to persecute the weak. You claim to protect humanity, but in reality, you’re just a coward who only dares to bully innocent people who won’t fight back!”

Blackwood's face darkened. "Watch your words, Inspector."

"Why? Are you threatening me?" Lynn scoffed. "Like you threatened Merlin? Because I won't retaliate with superpowers?"

“This conversation is over.” Blackwood turned to leave.

“Do you know what the most ironic thing is?” Lynn shouted behind him, “your actions are creating the very threat you claim to be preventing. What will the remaining mutants think when good mutants are murdered, when innocents are persecuted? Will they still choose to live peacefully with ordinary people?”

Blackwood stopped walking, but did not turn around.

“You’re creating enemies, not preventing threats,” Lynn continued. “You’re pushing good people to extremes. If mutants ever rise up in rebellion, it will be because people like you have forced them to choose violence.”

Blackwood slowly turned around, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "What do you think you understand, Inspector? You think a few moralizing words can change reality?"

“What I understand is that you are not a protector or a prophet,” Lynn said, looking him straight in the eye. “You are simply a murderer driven by fear.”

The two men stared at each other for a few seconds, the air thick with tension. Finally, Blackwood gave a cold laugh.

"You'll regret saying those words, Inspector."

“My only regret is not seeing your true colors sooner,” Lynn replied.

Blackwood turned and walked toward the manor, leaving Lynn standing alone in the garden. But before leaving, he uttered his last words:

“You have twenty-four hours to leave this case, Detective. This is my final warning.”

“I do not accept threats,” Lynn replied firmly.

Watching Blackwood disappear into the manor lights, Lynn felt a strange sense of relief. The conversation had cleared up his doubts and strengthened his resolve. (End of Chapter)