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

Yes, the power gap between mutants and ordinary humans is a real social problem. Yes, some mutants have indeed committed horrific crimes. Yes, there may be no perfect solution to this problem.

But none of these can justify murdering innocent people.

Lynn took out his phone and dialed the FBI headquarters' emergency hotline.

"This is Detective Hall. I need to contact the counterterrorism department immediately. I have crucial intelligence regarding a nationwide terrorist organization."

"Please wait a moment, Inspector. We are transferring you."

As Lynn waited to be transferred, he mentally reorganized the case's clues. Blackwood's organization didn't just operate in New York; they had a nationwide network. There were "Healers" in Philadelphia, "Mind Readers" in Boston, and possibly many more victims they didn't know about.

“Counterterrorism department, this is Director Johnson,” a serious voice came through.

"Chief Johnson, this is Detective Lynn Hall from the FBI's Manhattan field office. I'm investigating a terrorist organization that may have connections across multiple states."

Please explain the situation in detail.

Lynn began to describe in detail the investigation process of the Merlin case, Wilson's confession, Morrison's arrest, and Blackwood's involvement. He carefully stated the facts, avoiding any personal emotional bias.

“This certainly sounds like a serious situation,” Johnson said. “But how much concrete evidence do you have?”

“We have Wilson’s confession, Morrison’s partial cooperation, and some circumstantial evidence,” Lynn admitted. “The direct evidence isn’t sufficient, but intelligence suggests this organization may also be operating in other cities.”

“I understand. I will contact the other divisions immediately to investigate the cases you mentioned,” Johnson said. “But Inspector Hall, I must remind you that Richard Blackwood is a very influential man. If we are to take action against him, we need absolutely solid evidence.”

“I understand, sir,” Lynn said. “I will continue to gather evidence.”

“Be careful, Inspector. If your suspicions are correct, these men have proven they are willing to use lethal methods.”

After hanging up the phone, Lynn started walking towards the exit of the manor. He needed to get out of there; he needed to come up with a new strategy. Blackwood had given him a 24-hour warning, but Lynn had no intention of giving up.

While waiting for a taxi, Lynn's phone rang. It was Elisa calling.

“Detective Lynn, are you alright? I’ve been worried about you.” Her voice was full of concern.

“I’m fine, Alyssa,” Lynn said, “but the situation is more complicated than we thought.”

"What happened? What did you find?"

"There are many things. I'm on my way back to the city now, we'll discuss them in detail tomorrow."

“You sound very tired,” Elisa observed. “Was that banquet...unpleasant?”

Lynn considered how to answer the question. "Yes, it's painful. But it's also very enlightening."

"What's the meaning?"

“Alyssa, I have a question for you,” Lynn said. “Do you think there’s a solution to the problem of the relationship between mutants and ordinary people?”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. "This is a very complicated issue," Alyssa finally said, "but I believe understanding and communication are always possible. Why do you ask that?"

“Because I met some people tonight who made me rethink this issue,” Lynn said. “But no matter how complex the issue, violence and hatred are not the answer.”

“You’re right,” Elisa agreed. “Merlin’s death proves that. Violence only breeds more violence.”

“Yes,” Lynn said firmly, “that’s why we must continue to pursue justice, even in the face of difficulties and threats.”

The taxi arrived, and Lynn continued her phone call after getting in.

“Alyssa, I might need your help tomorrow. Not to go to a dangerous place, but to help me analyze some information.”

"Of course, I'm always ready to help you."

"Thank you. Please get some rest now; tomorrow will be a very busy day."

“You need to rest too. It sounds like you’ve had a lot going on tonight.”

After hanging up the phone, Lynn leaned back in the taxi seat, watching the night view rushing past the window.

“Driver, please speed up,” Lynn said. “I need to get back to the city as soon as possible.”

“No problem, sir,” the driver replied. “To the FBI building?”

"No, let's go to my apartment first. But I have a lot of work to do early tomorrow morning."

Lynn returned to his apartment at one in the morning. After changing out of his expensive evening suit into comfortable casual clothes, he didn't go to bed immediately. Instead, he brewed a strong coffee in the kitchen, then sat down at his desk and opened his laptop.

Blackwood gave him a 24-hour warning, but Lynn knew that they couldn't shake such a wealthy and politically influential figure with just the Merlin Chan case. He needed more evidence, he needed to present a bigger picture.

Lynn logged into the FBI's internal database and began searching for all cases involving mutant victims from the past five years. It would be a long and arduous process, but he had no other choice.

The first thing that catches the eye is a shocking statistic: in the past five years, a total of 137 mutants have died in various "accidents" across the country, and another 83 mutants have mysteriously disappeared. This number far exceeds the normal accidental death rate.

Lynn began reviewing the cases one by one, looking for possible patterns. The first case was from three years ago in Philadelphia: a woman named Maria Sanchez, who possessed healing abilities, died in a home fire. The official investigation concluded that it was an accidental fire caused by an electrical malfunction.

But as Lynn examined the details more closely, she discovered something suspicious. The fire occurred at 3 a.m., precisely when Maria was home alone. Her husband and children had gone to her grandmother's house that night. The fire started in Maria's bedroom, but an inspection of the electrical appliances showed no obvious signs of malfunction.

Even more strangely, neighbors reported seeing suspicious individuals loitering in the vicinity before the fire. However, the police investigation report did not delve into these leads.

Lynn jotted down key information about the case in her notebook and moved on to the next one. The Boston case involved a man named Michael Chen, who possessed mind-reading abilities. He was murdered during a "random" robbery. But Lynn noticed that the time and place of the robbery were strange—it happened on a busy street during the day, and the robber seemed only interested in killing Michael, without taking his wallet or other valuables.

Case after case, a pattern began to emerge. Most of the victims possessed "beneficial" abilities—healing, telepathy, emotional regulation, and so on. Their deaths all appeared to be accidents or random crimes, but upon closer analysis, unusual coincidences emerged in each one.

Lynn's eyes began to tire, but he forced himself to continue. By four in the morning, he had reviewed more than sixty cases. At least thirty-five of them showed suspicious patterns.

Just as he was about to continue, the phone rang. The caller ID showed Elisa's number.

"Elisa? What happened so late?" Lynn asked worriedly.

“Detective Lynn, I feel very uneasy,” Elisa’s voice was filled with fear. “I have a strong feeling that some danger is approaching.”

Where are you now?

“I’m in my apartment, but I feel like someone is watching me,” Alyssa’s voice trembled. “My abilities tell me there are hostile people around.”

Lynn immediately became alert. "Don't go out, lock the doors and windows. I'll send someone to protect you right away."

He immediately dialed the FBI's duty phone, requesting that a team of agents be dispatched to protect Alyssa. He then continued to speak with Alyssa until the agents arrived at her apartment.

“Detective, what exactly happened to you tonight?” Elisa asked. “I can sense the complex emotions you're experiencing, a mixture of anger and determination.”

Lynn briefly described to her the events at the banquet, including conversations with the victims' families and the final confrontation with Blackwood.

"So he really admitted to being involved in these murders?" Elisa asked in shock.

“He didn’t admit it directly, but his attitude says it all,” Lynn said. “And I’m currently investigating other suspicious cases, which are far more serious than we initially thought.”

"What did you find?"

“Over the past five years, more than one hundred mutants across the country have died in various ‘accidents,’” Lynn said wearily. “I suspect that most of them are connected to Blackwood’s organization.”

“My God, this is a massacre.” Elisa’s voice was filled with fear and anger.

“Yes, and it’s very likely still going on,” Lynn said. “That’s why they’re monitoring you now. You may have been added to their target list.”

Lynn felt slightly relieved after the agents arrived. But he knew this was only a temporary measure. To truly resolve the issue, he needed to find enough evidence to prosecute Blackwood and his entire organization.

At daybreak, Lynn arrived at the FBI field office and immediately convened a special team meeting. Besides himself, the team included Alyssa, Johnson, the head of the counterterrorism division, and several experienced investigators.

"Gentlemen, we are facing what may be the biggest case of domestic terrorism in recent decades," Lynn began, introducing the situation. "Preliminary investigations indicate a series of organized murders targeting mutants across the country over the past five years."

He projected the data he had compiled the previous night onto the screen. “These cases are spread across twelve states, and the victims are all mutants with ‘beneficial’ abilities. Each case, viewed individually, seems like an accident or random crime, but when analyzed together, they reveal clear organized characteristics.”

Johnson examined the data carefully. "This is indeed a remarkable finding. But how do we prove the connection between these cases?"

“This is the challenge we face,” Lynn acknowledged. “Most cases are closed, and evidence may have been destroyed or lost. Furthermore, each case occurs in a different jurisdiction, making coordinated investigations very difficult.”

“I have a suggestion,” Elisa said via video. “We can start with the common characteristics of the victims. You said they all possess ‘beneficial’ abilities, which could be a criterion for selecting targets.”

“Good idea.” Lynn nodded. “We need to analyze the victims’ detailed files and find what they have in common.”

Investigator Maria Rodriguez raised her hand to speak. “I can contact police departments across the country and request a reinvestigation of these cases. But that requires a high level of authority.”

“I’ll handle the authority issues,” Supervisor Johnson said, “but Inspector Hall, we need more concrete evidence to support this theory. At this point, it’s all speculation.”

“I understand,” Lynn said. “I suggest we split into several groups and conduct investigations along multiple lines simultaneously. The first group will review closed cases, looking for overlooked clues. The second group will investigate Blackwood’s financial records, looking for evidence of fund flows. The third group will protect potential next targets.”

“Regarding protection targets,” Johnson said, “how do we determine who might be the next victim?”

Elisa continued, "Based on previous patterns, they primarily target mutants who openly use their abilities to help others—healers, psychologists, search and rescue personnel, and so on."

“We need a list of potential targets,” Lynn said, “and then provide them with protection or at least a warning.”

The meeting lasted three hours and culminated in a detailed investigation plan. But when Lynn returned to his office, he realized the real challenge was just beginning.

First, he contacted the Philadelphia Police Department to request a reinvestigation of Maria Sanchez's case.

“I am FBI Detective Hall, and I need to know the details of the Maria Sanchez fire three years ago.”

“That case is closed,” Philadelphia Detective Tom Bradley replied. “The official conclusion is an accidental fire.”

“I understand, but we now have reason to believe this may be related to a larger case,” Lynn explained. “Do you still have any evidence from that time?”

"Let me check. No, I'm sorry, the evidence was destroyed a year ago. According to regulations, physical evidence in accidental death cases is only retained for two years."

This was what Lynn was worried about. "What about the case files?"

"The file is still there, but it's very simple. There's no need for further investigation, as it was clearly an accident."

"Could you fax me the file? I'd like to take a closer look."

"Of course, but I must warn you, there's nothing special inside."

Similar conversations were repeated countless times over the next few days. Lynn contacted twelve different law enforcement agencies, trying to obtain detailed information on various cases. The results were frustrating: most of the physical evidence had been destroyed, and many investigations were superficial, as they appeared to be simple accidents or random crimes.

Worse still, some case files have been "lost". (End of Chapter)