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

Lynn waited, hearing the sound of keyboard typing on the other end of the phone.

“Good news,” Jason said. “There are no urgent cases requiring your special attention for the next three weeks. Routine work can be handled by Sarah and the rest of the team. I approve your leave request, but on one condition.”

"What conditions?"

“Keep your communications open,” Jason said. “If there’s a real emergency that requires you, you must be able to get back to work within 24 hours.”

“No problem,” Lynn agreed.

“Also,” Jason added, “any combat skills or strategies you learn there, compile them into training materials for the FBI’s tactical training.”

“Of course,” Lynn said, “this was part of my plan.”

“Well then, good luck, Lynn,” Jason said. “Don’t let Wolverine beat you too badly.”

Lynn smiled. "I'll try my best."

After hanging up the phone, Lynn turned to Sarah, who had been waiting beside him.

“So you’re really going to do this,” she said, a hint of worry in her voice, “train with Wolverine? That guy who can slice steel into butter?”

“He’ll control his strength,” Lynn said, “and this is a rare opportunity, Sarah. You’ve seen him fight—that speed, that power, that experience. If I can learn even a tiny bit…”

“You’re already very good,” Sarah pointed out. “Your combat rating in the FBI is top-notch.”

“The FBI’s top brass is within the realm of ordinary humans,” Lynn said, “but the threats we face are increasingly extending beyond that. Mutants, augmented humans, and all sorts of beings we don’t fully understand. I need to elevate myself to another level.”

Sarah was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I understand. I'll fly back to New York today to handle the follow-up. Take care, Lynn. Don't get too badly hurt."

“I will be careful,” Lynn assured him.

After watching Sarah leave, Lynn packed some basic equipment and supplies, then began his trek westward—towards where Wolverine lived in seclusion. John had told him that hunters had seen Wolverine in the western mountains, where there was a series of natural caves.

Hiking across the snowfield is arduous. Even with professional equipment, temperatures of minus twenty degrees Celsius and biting winds make every step a challenge. But Lynn enjoys this challenge—it keeps him focused and clear-headed.

Three hours later, Lynn reached the western mountains. The terrain was more rugged here, with rocks protruding from the snow, forming a series of natural barriers and shelters. Lynn began searching for Wolverine's tracks.

He didn't need to search for long. On a south-facing hillside, he saw smoke—very thin smoke, almost invisible, but definitely there. Someone was making a fire there.

Lynn approached cautiously, not wanting to suddenly alert Wolverine. He knew how sharp Logan's senses were.

“Stop hiding, Hall,” Wolverine’s voice came from a cave entrance, “I’ve smelled you for ten minutes.”

Lynn smiled and walked towards the cave. Wolverine was sitting by a small fire, roasting a fish he had just caught. The cave wasn't large, but it was enough to shelter him from the wind and snow, and it had a natural vent to let the smoke out.

“I didn’t expect you to come looking for me,” Wolverine said, without looking up, continuing to process his food. “I thought all you FBI agents had gone back to the civilized world.”

“My partner went back,” Lynn said, sitting down across the fire, “but I stayed.”

"Why?" Wolverine looked up, curiosity flashing in his eyes.

“I want to learn from you,” Lynn said directly, “your combat skills, your survival abilities, your methods of controlling your wild instincts.”

Wolverine paused for a moment, then burst into laughter—a rough, heartfelt laugh. "Are you serious? An FBI agent wants to learn from me?"

“Completely serious,” Lynn said. “I’ve recently realized that my skills have limits. When facing truly superhuman threats, I need more. You, on the other hand, have over a hundred years of combat experience; you’ve seen and experienced battles I can’t even imagine.”

"Do you know my training methods?" Wolverine's smile vanished, his expression turning serious. "I'm not some martial arts master; I won't teach you fancy moves. My method is simple—combat, injury, learning, repetition. And because I have healing factors, I can withstand training intensity that ordinary people can't."

“I understand the risks,” Lynn said. “I don’t expect to reach your level. I just want to learn how to fight more effectively, and how to survive against opponents who are beyond my capabilities.”

Wolverine stared at Lynn for a long time, seemingly assessing his resolve. "Why are you so persistent? You're already an excellent agent. I've seen you fight; your skills, judgment, and courage are top-notch."

“Because ‘good’ isn’t enough,” Lynn said. “I’ve seen too many good people die because they encountered situations that ‘good’ couldn’ handle. I don’t want to be a statistic, and I certainly don’t want my shortcomings to cause harm to those I’m protecting.”

Wolverine nodded, seemingly understanding. "Alright. But I have a few rules."

"Go ahead."

“First, I won’t show any mercy,” Wolverine said. “Of course, I won’t kill you or cripple you permanently, but you will be injured, you will bleed, you will be in pain. If you can’t take it, you can quit at any time.”

"accept."

“Secondly, this isn’t a military training camp. There’s no fixed schedule, no standard curriculum,” Wolverine continued. “I’ll teach you based on the situation. It could be five in the morning, it could be midnight. You have to be ready at any time.”

"no problem."

“Third,” Wolverine’s eyes sharpened, “you must learn to control your fear. I will push you to the limit, forcing you to confront your deepest fears. If you cannot overcome them, this training is meaningless.”

“I’m ready,” Lynn said firmly.

Wolverine stood up. "Well then, let's test your fundamentals first. Right here, let's have a spar."

“Now?” Lynn also stood up.

“The best learning begins with understanding your own true level,” Wolverine said, stepping out of the cave into the open space. “I need to see what you can and can’t do.”

Lynn followed him outside. The snow outside provided a natural training ground—open enough and with a slightly softer surface to cushion the impact of a fall.

“The rules are simple,” Wolverine said, pulling off his leather jacket to reveal a T-shirt—even in the cold. “You attack me, with all your skills and strength. Don’t worry about hurting me; you can’t. I will defend and counterattack, but I won’t use my claws, and I won’t go all out. Got it?”

“Understood,” Lynn said, taking off his heavy coat and stretching. “Let’s begin,” Wolverine said, adopting a relaxed fighting stance. “Don’t be shy.”

Lynn took a deep breath and quickly assessed his opponent. Wolverine's posture looked relaxed, but Lynn knew it was an illusion—like a cheetah ready to pounce, seemingly relaxed but actually poised to strike at any moment.

Lynn decided not to attack rashly, but to test Wolverine's reaction with a tentative strike. He quickly stepped forward and landed a straight punch on Wolverine's face.

Wolverine easily dodged with a tilt of his head, without even moving a step. "Too slow, and too obvious."

Lynn immediately followed up with a blow to the abdomen, but Wolverine easily blocked it with his arm. "Nice strength, but too easy to anticipate."

Lynn changed his strategy, abandoning the standard boxing combinations and instead using a more varied attack—elbow strikes, knee strikes, and side kicks. His movements were fluid and precise, each strike aimed at vital points.

But Wolverine always seems to know in advance where the next attack will come from. His defense looks effortless, and he can occasionally retreat or sidestep with ease.

“Your skills are good,” Wolverine commented. “You’re professionally trained and experienced. But you’re still fighting according to the ‘rules,’ using the moves taught in the gym.”

Lynn knew he was right. While the FBI's combat training was practical, it did have a certain pattern. He needed to break that pattern.

Suddenly, Lynn grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at Wolverine's eyes, while simultaneously launching a low sweeping kick.

“That’s better!” Wolverine praised, though the snow didn’t affect him much, he appreciated the tactical thinking. He dodged Lynn’s sweeping leg and shoved a palm at Lynn’s chest.

Lynn managed to block, but the immense force still pushed him back several steps. Even though Wolverine only used a fraction of his power, it was still far beyond that of an ordinary person.

“Now it’s my turn,” Wolverine said. “Get ready.”

His attack was swift and fierce. Although he wasn't using his full strength, his speed was still astonishing. Lynn found himself completely on the defensive, forced to retreat, block, and dodge.

Wolverine's every strike targeted Lynn's weak points. A punch to the ribs, though controlled in force, still made Lynn gasp in pain. A sweeping kick sent Lynn off balance, crashing to the snow.

“Get up,” Wolverine said. “The fight isn’t over yet.”

Lynn got up, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. But his eyes were even more determined. He realized that if he continued to use conventional methods, he would never win. He needed to play unconventionally.

This time, Lynn charged forward without waiting for Wolverine to attack. But as he got close, he suddenly changed direction, circled around to Wolverine's side, and simultaneously attacked Wolverine's neck with his elbow.

Wolverine reacted quickly, turning to block, but Lynn's attack was a feint. The real attack came from his other hand, which grabbed Wolverine's arm, attempting to use a joint lock to immobilize him.

“Interesting,” Wolverine commented. He could have easily broken free, but he let Lynn try.

Lynn knew this opportunity was fleeting. He used all his strength to try and twist Wolverine's arm behind his back. But Wolverine was too strong, like trying to bend a steel bar.

Wolverine suddenly exerted his strength, easily breaking free of his control, and simultaneously rammed Lynn in the chest with his shoulder. Lynn fell again, this time with even more force.

But just when Wolverine thought Lynn would need time to recover, Lynn rolled on the ground and swept his leg at Wolverine's ankle.

This time, Wolverine couldn't dodge completely; although he wasn't tripped, he was indeed forced to take a step back.

"Excellent!" Wolverine smiled approvingly. "Being able to fight back even when at a disadvantage is very important."

Lynn stood up, breathing heavily, his whole body aching. But he didn't give up. He knew this was a valuable learning opportunity.

“Again,” Lynn said.

The battle continued for the next fifteen minutes. Lynn constantly tried new strategies, new angles, and new ways of attack. He used the terrain, the slipperiness of the snow, and even the reflection of sunlight to distract Wolverine's vision.

Wolverine gradually increased the difficulty, his attacks becoming faster and more unpredictable. But he maintained control throughout, ensuring he didn't actually harm Lynn.

In the end, Lynn was cleanly and decisively thrown to the ground by Wolverine during a confrontation, landing on his back with Wolverine's arm pressing on his throat—though not with real force, of course.

“It’s over,” Wolverine said, releasing his grip and standing up.

Lynn lay on the snow, panting heavily. His whole body ached; he might have another rib split open, and blood was flowing from his lips and nose. But strangely, he felt a sense of satisfaction.

Wolverine reached out and helped Lynn up. "You're much better than I expected."

"Really?" Lynn wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "I feel completely crushed."

“You were indeed crushed,” Wolverine said bluntly, “but that’s because I have superhuman abilities. If I were an ordinary person, you probably would have won.”

“You’re just saying that to make me feel better,” Lynn said half-jokingly.

“I don’t lie to make people feel good,” Wolverine said earnestly. “Your skills are solid, your reactions are quick, and most importantly, you can think under pressure. You’re not the kind of person who just fights according to a set pattern; you can adapt and improvise. That’s rare.”

“But that’s not enough,” Lynn said.

“Yes, not enough,” Wolverine nodded. “You have a few obvious weaknesses. First, while your attacks are accurate, they lack real lethality. You’re used to subduing prisoners, not taking down enemies.”

“Second,” he continued, “you rely too much on technique. Technique is important, but in truly dangerous combat, sometimes you need raw, instinctive reactions. You’re overthinking it.”

“Third,” Wolverine looked Lynn into the eyes, “you’re still afraid of getting hurt. You subconsciously avoid actions that could injure you, even those that might give you an advantage. In a life-or-death battle, this hesitation will kill you.”

Lynn listened attentively and took notes on every detail.

“But,” Wolverine’s tone softened, “you have one most important quality—you don’t give up. I knocked you down five times, and you got up five times. A lot of people would give up after the third time.”

“It’s just stubbornness,” Lynn said.

“No, this is willpower,” Wolverine corrected. “In a real fight, skill and strength eventually run out. What remains is only willpower—the will to keep fighting, the will to protect what you cherish. You have that, Hall.” (End of Chapter)