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

At nine o'clock the next morning, Lynn's flight landed on time at New York's JFK International Airport. After a six-hour flight and jet lag, he felt a little tired, but his spirits were still high. The Hawaiian sunshine and sea breeze were now a memory, replaced by the cool air of a New York autumn morning and the familiar hustle and bustle of the city.

On the way from the airport to Manhattan, Lynn observed the city he had lived and worked in for over a decade through the taxi window. Skyscrapers, crowded streets, hurried pedestrians—everything seemed so familiar, yet different after his trip to Hawaii. Perhaps it was because he had just experienced so many wonderful and special events that he had gained a new perspective on daily life.

"Welcome back to the real world," he said to himself, while taking out his phone to check his work emails.

As expected, his inbox was overflowing with dozens of work emails, mostly routine, but also containing a few urgent cases. As a detective in the Manhattan precinct, his work never stopped because of a short vacation.

Back at the FBI's Manhattan field office in downtown Manhattan, Lynn went straight to his office. His desk was piled high with documents requiring his signature, case reports, and various administrative papers. His partner, Agent James Morrison, was organizing the files.

“Hey, Lynn! Welcome back!” James looked up and greeted him. “How’s Hawaii? You look great.”

“Great experience,” Lynn replied simply, while starting to organize the files on the table. “Is there any emergency that requires my immediate attention?”

“Most of these are routine cases, but there’s one situation you might need to pay attention to,” James handed him a report, “There’s been some new drug trafficking activity in Harlem recently, which may be related to those street gangs you’ve been monitoring.”

Lynn took the report and quickly skimmed through it. Harlem had always been a key area of ​​focus for him, where some young people he had previously "educated" were located. This "education" wasn't about misconduct, but rather Lynn's unique approach to community policing.

As an experienced detective, Lynn knew that simply arresting and prosecuting people couldn't solve the root of the problem. Many young criminals went astray because of their environment and lack of proper guidance. Therefore, he often used a more direct and humane approach to certain cases—talking to these young people face-to-face, giving them a chance to reform, and making them understand the consequences of choosing the wrong path.

“Looks like I need to go to Harlem,” Lynn said, “to find out what’s going on.”

"Do you need me to come with you?" James asked.

“No need, I can go myself,” Lynn replied. “Those kids might be nervous seeing too much FBI. I need to communicate with them in a more relaxed way.”

At 2 p.m., Lynn changed into casual clothes—a simple black jacket and jeans—making him look more like an ordinary community resident than a federal agent. He drove to Harlem, a historic African American neighborhood in northern Manhattan, where his work often involved dealing with problems.

Our first stop was a small park near 125th Street. It was a frequent gathering place for young people, including a 19-year-old named Marcus. Marcus had been arrested by Lynn before for a small drug deal, but Lynn hadn't prosecuted him directly, instead giving him a chance.

“Hey, Marcus,” Lynn said, walking toward the young man who was sitting on a park bench.

Marcus's expression tightened slightly when he saw Lynn, but he quickly relaxed. "Detective Hall, you're back. I heard you went on vacation."

“Yes, I just got back,” Lynn said, sitting down next to him. “How have you been lately? Is work going well?”

Marcus nodded. "I did well at that auto repair shop; the boss said I was very talented."

“That’s good,” Lynn said, “but I’ve heard there’s been some bad activity around here lately. Have you heard anything about it?”

Marcus's expression turned serious. "Yes, there are some newcomers, not from around here. They're selling some new stuff at low prices, trying to attract some young people."

"Were you involved?" Lynn asked directly.

“No,” Marcus shook his head firmly, “I remember what you said. Besides, I have a legitimate job now and don’t want to go back to my old life.”

Lynn nodded in satisfaction. He remembered his conversation with Marcus a few months earlier. Marcus had been arrested for selling a small amount of marijuana, and instead of immediately sending him to jail, Lynn spent three hours talking to him about life choices, family responsibilities, and future plans.

“Do you know who those new people are?” Lynn continued to ask.

“I don’t know their exact identities, but I heard they’re from Brooklyn,” Marcus said. “They’re mainly targeting young people who need money, promising high returns.”

"Has anyone been won over?"

Marcus hesitated for a moment. "Jack might have been persuaded. His family is having some difficulties lately; his mother is sick and needs money."

Xiao Jie was another young man Lynn was "watching". Seventeen years old, he had been arrested for theft, but Lynn learned that he did it to buy food for his family, so she chose to educate him instead of prosecuting him.

"Where is he now?" Lynn asked.

“Probably at the basketball court he frequents,” Marcus replied.

Lynn patted Marcus on the shoulder. "Thanks for the message. Keep up the lifestyle you're in; I'm proud of your transformation."

“Thank you, Inspector Hall,” Marcus said sincerely, “you gave me a second chance.”

Leaving the park, Lynn headed to the basketball court Marcus had mentioned. It was a community basketball court located behind an old apartment building, where local young people often played basketball or chatted.

Sure enough, he saw Xiao Jie. The tall, thin seventeen-year-old boy was sitting alone on the edge of the basketball court, looking rather down.

“Jeremy,” Lynn called out to Jeremy by his real name as she walked over.

When Xiao Jie saw Lynn, a flicker of panic crossed his face, but he quickly regained his composure. "Hello, Inspector Hall."

"Can we sit down and talk?" Lynn pointed to the steps next to Xiao Jie.

“I haven’t done anything illegal,” Xiao Jie said somewhat defensively.

“I know, I just wanted to know how you’ve been,” Lynn said gently. “I heard your mother isn’t well?”

When his mother was mentioned, Xiao Jie's expression turned dejected. "Yes, she needs surgery, but we don't have enough money."

Lynn remembered Xiao Jie's situation. He came from a single-parent family; his mother raised him alone, and their financial situation was very difficult. Xiao Jie's theft was entirely out of a sense of responsibility towards his family; although his methods were wrong, his motives were understandable.

"How much will the surgery cost?" Lynn asked.

“About twenty thousand dollars,” Xiao Jie said. “I work at a fast food restaurant, but that salary isn’t nearly enough.”

"So you're considering other options?" Lynn asked directly.

Xiao Jie was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Someone said they could help me make money quickly, all I have to do is some simple work."

"What kind of job?" "Well, I help deliver some things," Xiao Jie said vaguely.

Lynn understood. This was a typical drug trafficking recruitment tactic: first, find young people with financial difficulties, then promise them high pay to work as "deliverymen."

“Jeremy, look at me,” Lynn said. “Do you really think those people care about your mother’s health?”

Xiao Jie looked up at Lynn, his eyes filled with confusion and struggle.

“They’re just taking advantage of your filial piety and your predicament,” Lynn continued. “Once you’re caught, do you think they’ll pay your legal fees? Will they take care of your mother?”

“But I had no other choice,” Xiao Jie’s voice trembled slightly, “I couldn’t just watch my mother go without treatment because we couldn’t afford it.”

Lynn understood Xiao Jie's predicament. He had seen this situation far too many times in his work; poverty and despair were often breeding grounds for crime.

"Have you thought about applying for medical assistance?" Lynn asked.

“I’ve applied, but the process is complicated, and I don’t know how long it will take,” Xiao Jie replied.

Lynn thought for a moment. "Give me two days. I'll try to find out some legal aid channels for you. But you must promise me you won't make any foolish decisions in these two days."

"Why are you helping me?" Xiao Jie asked疑惑地. "I'm not a good kid; I've stolen things."

“Because I believe everyone deserves a second chance,” Lynn said, “and I see your sense of responsibility towards your family. That quality, when used correctly, will make you a wonderful person.”

Tears welled up in Xiao Jie's eyes. "Really? You'll really help me?"

“I will do everything I can,” Lynn said firmly, “but you must also help yourself stay away from dangerous temptations.”

After saying goodbye to Xiao Jie, Lynn continued patrolling the neighborhood. He needed to learn more about these "newcomers." As an experienced detective, he knew that if this outside drug trafficking activity wasn't stopped in time, it could potentially destabilize the entire community.

The next stop was a small grocery store owned by an elderly man named William Johnson, who had lived in the community for over forty years and knew the area inside and out.

"Good afternoon, Mr. William," Lynn greeted as she entered the store.

“Detective Hall! It’s been a long time,” Mr. William greeted him warmly. “I heard you went on vacation, how was it?”

“That was great, but now that we’re back to work,” Lynn said. “Any new developments in the community lately?”

Mr. William's expression turned serious. "There are indeed some worrying things. There are some strangers around here, and they don't look like good people."

Could you elaborate?

“About a week ago, a few young people started loitering around the area,” Mr. William explained. “They drove expensive cars, wore designer clothes, and were clearly not locals. What’s even stranger is that they were always trying to chat with other young people.”

“Did you see them talking to anyone?” Lynn asked.

“It’s mainly those kids who seem short of money,” Mr. William said. “I’m worried they might be doing something bad.”

"Is there a specific time and place?"

“Usually between three and five in the afternoon, after school,” Mr. William replied, “they often hang out near the park.”

Lynn took notes of this information. As a detective, he needed to gather enough evidence to take action, but at the same time, he also had to protect young people in the community from being drawn into criminal activities.

“If you see them again, could you give me a call?” Lynn left her contact information with Mr. William.

“Of course I will,” Mr. William said. “Our community needs good police officers like you.”

Leaving the grocery store, Lynn continued visiting several other locations, including a community center and a barbershop. Information gathered from various sources all pointed to the same conclusion: an outside drug trafficking gang was attempting to establish a network of operations in Harlem.

At five o'clock in the afternoon, Lynn decided to visit another young man he had once "educated"—Desean Washington. Desean, twenty-one years old, was a former member of a small street gang and had been arrested by Lynn for illegal possession of a weapon. But after learning about Desean's background, Lynn chose a different approach.

DeSean now works at a car wash, a job Lynn helped him find. When Lynn arrived at the car wash, DeSean was diligently washing a car.

“DeShawn,” Lynn said, walking toward him.

DeShawn stopped what he was doing, turned around, and smiled when he saw Lynn. "Detective Hall! You're back! How was work?"

“Good, you look great,” Lynn observed the changes in DeSean. The young man was noticeably more confident and healthier than he had been a few months ago. “How’s work?”

“Great! The boss said I’m very hardworking, and he might give me a raise next month,” DeSean said proudly. “And I’m also learning car repair at night, hoping to open my own repair shop someday.”

“That’s good, I’m proud of you,” Lynn said sincerely, “but I need to ask you a few questions. Has anyone come to see you recently?”

DeSean's expression turned serious. "You mean those outsiders?"

"Yes, have they contacted you?"

“They contacted me, about three days ago,” DeSean nodded. “They said they knew someone I used to 'work with' and wanted me to 're-engage' with them.”

"What was your answer?"

“I told them I’d changed my mind, had a legitimate job, and wasn’t interested,” DeSean said. “But they said I could contact them anytime if I changed my mind.”

"Did they say where I could find them?" Lynn asked.

DeSean thought for a moment, "They mentioned an address, in a building near East 125th Street."

This is an important clue. Lynn knows that area, and if these outsiders have indeed established a base there, he needs to investigate further. (End of Chapter)