Chapter 225: Shaken
Dr. Green mused for a moment: "He might be making judgments by observing these people's behavior, speech, and even their social circles. He might believe that these people represent a kind of 'evil' that he cannot accept."
Carter interjected, "Like Peter's gambling debts, could that be a sin in the killer's eyes?"
"Very likely." Dr. Green nodded, "Moreover, the killer likely has a very strong sense of self-identity. He would believe his actions are for a greater justice, even if this justice is completely distorted."
Lynn leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped before his chin, his eyes flickering: "So, we need to start with the victims' life details and look for their common'sins.' Not necessarily sins in the legal sense, but'sins' as defined in the killer's eyes."
Dr. Green smiled and nodded: "Exactly. The killer's psychological clues are hidden in some connection between these victims. Find this clue, and you will find him."
After leaving Dr. Green's office, Lynn stopped, took a deep breath, and looked at Carter: "Notify the technical department to re-examine each victim's background, especially their daily behavior, social circles, and possible secrets. No seemingly irrelevant detail can be overlooked."
Carter nodded: "I understand. This time we will dig deep until we drag him out of the Shadow."
A cold glint flashed in Lynn's eyes: "The killer thinks he is judging others; soon, he will find that he is the one truly being judged."
Night shrouded Manhattan, but the FBI office was brightly lit. Lynn sat at his desk, his eyes fixed on the computer screen, a cup of long-cold coffee beside him. He had been reviewing Mutant files from the Manhattan area for hours, trying to find suspects who fit the "punishing evil and promoting good" behavior pattern.
The files on the screen scrolled by one after another, and Lynn's brow furrowed tighter and tighter. Finally, he stopped on two files, his gaze becoming sharp.
Suspect One: Codename "Judge"
Real Name: Max Sloan
Ability: Telekinesis, capable of manipulating objects and creating high-Impact shockwaves.
Background: Formerly a lawyer, a failed case led to an innocent person being convicted. He was tormented by guilt and later resigned, disappearing from public view. Years later, he reappeared as "Judge," focusing on punishing criminals he believed had escaped legal retribution. His modus operandi was typically precise and cruel, using telekinesis to inflict fatal injuries.
Latest Record: Two years ago, he participated in an "underground trial" in Brooklyn, after which he was never seen again.
Suspect Two: Codename "Thorn"
Real Name: Caroline Perez
Ability: Plant manipulation, capable of rapidly growing and controlling vine-like plants to inflict harm or restrain targets.
Background: Formerly an environmentalist, she strongly opposed pollution and corporate greed. Her family died in a chemical plant leak accident, which made her lose trust in the so-called "system." Afterward, she began to use her abilities to fight "evil people," including polluting corporate executives, corrupt officials, and violent criminals.
Latest Record: Six months ago, she appeared in a case on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, targeting a wealthy businessman suspected of illegally hunting animals, but she successfully escaped.
Lynn stared at the screen, deep in thought. Both individuals exhibited clear "vigilante" traits, consistent with Dr. Green, the psychological Dr.'s analysis. They used violence in the name of "justice," placing themselves above the law and morality.
"Judge and Thorn, one of them could be our killer," Lynnmurmured to himself.
He quickly organized the two individuals' files and began to look for potential connections between them and the victims. He particularly noted that Thorn had appeared on the Upper East Side of Manhattan six months ago, and that area was less than two miles from the nearest murder scene. As for Judge, his ability description also highly matched some traces at the scene, especially those wounds that seemed to be caused by external force.
"Carter," Lynn dialed Carter's phone, his voice weary and cold, "I've found two suspects. One is 'Judge,' and the other is 'Thorn.' They both have a history of punishing evil and promoting good, and their abilities and the killer's modus operandi have some overlap."
Carter's voice came from the other end of the phone; he was clearly still working: "Who do you think is more suspicious?"
"Both are very suspicious." Lynn rubbed his brow, "But we can't rely on guesswork. I need you to bring the technical department people to check the recent movements of these two, especially whether they appeared near the crime scenes."
"Understood, I'll get to it immediately," Carter replied crisply.
After hanging up, Lynn leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and recalled all the clues. Although these two suspects fit certain criteria, there were still unsolved mysteries in the case. Was the killer's act of leaving Red Rose connected to the past of one of these two? Or was it someone else entirely?
Late at night, the office was so quiet that only the ticking of the clock could be heard. Lynn opened Thorn's file again, carefully studying her modus operandi and targets. Her actions were full of protest against social injustice, but would she cross the line and extend her hand to ordinary people not directly related to the system?
Next, he switched to Judge's file. Max's past was filled with regret and anger; he harbored great hostility towards "evil that the law cannot punish." Perhaps this gave him more motivation to target these seemingly ordinary but flawed victims.
Lynn finally came to a conclusion: Judge's behavior pattern matched the victims' backgrounds more closely, while Thorn, although possibly involved in some cases, was more like a marginal participant.
He picked up the phone and called Carter again: "Focus on Judge, find his location. This time, we can't let him run away again."
Carter on the other end of the phone chuckled: "Understood, Detective. This time we'll make him pay."
In the early morning, after the rain cleared, the streets of Manhattan were still damp, and the air was filled with a mixture of earth and exhaust fumes. Lynn sat in his car, holding a file—a detailed itinerary report for Judge, Max Sloan. Carter sat in the passenger seat, looking at a map and saying in a low voice:
"According to the technical department's investigation, Max did appear in Manhattan multiple times in the past six months, but we tracked his bank records, public transportation records, and some surveillance camera records... and found something interesting."
Lynn looked up: "What is it?"
Carter turned the laptop in his hand towards Lynn, which displayed a timeline: "The first two serial murders occurred within two weeks, three months ago. And during that time, Max was not in Manhattan at all. He was in Philadelphia at the time, staying in a cheap hotel, and the bills and surveillance can fully confirm his alibi."
Lynn's brow furrowed even deeper, and he took the laptop to look through the records. Indeed, Max's credit card spending records, hotel check-in records, and multiple public surveillance footage from that period all indicated that he was in Philadelphia. More importantly, the timing did not match—he could not have been at the crime scenes at all.
"This is interesting," Lynn murmured, a hint of helplessness in his voice, "Max's modus operandi matches some characteristics of the killer, but his alibi is impeccable. It seems he is not our killer."
Carter sighed and leaned back in his seat: "So, this lead is a dead end. But he does have 'vigilante' tendencies; what if he has some connection to the killer? For example, he might have communicated in some Mutant community, or perhaps incited someone?"
Lynn nodded: "This possibility cannot be ruled out. Notify the technical department to continue monitoring Max's activities and see if he has contact with other Mutants, especially those with similar tendencies."
Carter opened his phone to make arrangements, while Lynn put the file aside, rubbed his brow, a hint of fatigue in his eyes. They had spent two full days investigating Max, only to have to clear him as a suspect, which doubled his pressure.
"What about Thorn?" Carter asked, "Should her suspicion be put first?"
Lynn pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "Thorn's behavior pattern is more geared towards targeted attacks; her victims are mostly clear'social villains'—bosses of polluting companies, corrupt officials, poachers—whereas our serial murder victims do not have such clear commonalities. She might be a direction for investigation, but I am more inclined to believe that our killer has not yet surfaced."
That afternoon, Lynn brought Carter to the conference room of the Manhattan FBI branch. He gathered all members of the team, re-examined the case, and officially announced Max's exclusion.
"Our main suspect, Max, has been excluded, and Thorn is only an alternative direction. We may have to face a new possibility—the killer might not be a Mutant from known files, and may even be a deeply hidden individual."
The conference room fell silent, and several Agents exchanged glances, clearly realizing that the case was far more complex than imagined.
"Detective," a young technician spoke, "If the killer is a deeply hidden Mutant, how should we pinpoint him? We have already checked all known Mutant files in Manhattan, but there are no clues."
Lynn's gaze was cold: "Then expand the scope. Contact the Federal Mutant Database and retrieve files for the entire New York State. At the same time, we need to re-examine the backgrounds of these victims. I believe the killer's modus operandi is hidden in some commonality among the victims, but this commonality might be very subtle."
Carter added: "The commonality among victims is not just their profession or life trajectory; we also need to investigate their social circles to see if they might have come into contact with a specific Mutant or participated in some unknown activities."
Lynn nodded: "Exactly. Additionally, have Dr. Green, the psychological Dr., join the analysis team to focus on the potential psychological connection between the victims and the killer. The killer believes he is 'punishing evil and promoting good,' so what is his standard for 'evil'? We must find this logic."
In the afternoon, Lynn returned to his office, alone, flipping through files. Although Max had been cleared, the phrase from the file still echoed in his mind: "Evil that the law cannot punish."
"Justice outside the law..." Lynn murmured softly, the Red Rose from the crime scene appearing in his mind, as if it was conveying some message to him.
Suddenly, the phone on his desk rang; it was Carter.
"Lynn, I found something new." Carter's tone was a little tense, "Two of the victims, Peter Reynolds and the college student Alyssa, appeared in the same place a week before the murders—an underground bar in Manhattan. And this bar happens to be a grey area where Mutants and ordinary people intersect."
Lynn raised an eyebrow: "Underground bar? Are you sure?"
"Yes. And this place has been marked multiple times by intelligence agencies as a possible 'Mutant stronghold,' but because there were no direct illegal activities, no action has been taken," Carter replied.
Lynn stood up, his voice firm: "That's our next investigation target. Get the support team ready; we're going to that bar tonight."
Lynn led his team to investigate the second suspect—Caroline Perez, codenamed "Thorn." Her abilities, motives, and past behavioral patterns all overlapped to some extent with the case, which made her a focal point for a time. However, after in-depth investigation, things once again deviated from Lynn's expectations.
Carter placed a detailed report on Lynn's desk, his voice tinged with helplessness: "Thorn's activity records during the time of the murders have also been clarified. When the last three cases occurred, she was not in Manhattanat all."
Lynn opened the report and saw Thorn's activity trajectory detailed within. She was participating in a fierce environmental protest at the time of the murders, with multiple eyewitnesses and video recordings at the scene, and even a public speech she delivered, all matching the time and place.
"This record proves that she cannot be the killer," Carteradded, "Moreover, according to our clues, her recent actions have no intersection with the cases we are investigating."
Lynn frowned, took a deep breath, and said in a low voice: "This means that our second suspect has also been cleared."
The office fell into a brief silence. Lynn leaned back in his chair, rubbed his Sun, a hint of fatigue and doubt flashing in his eyes. He had always believed that the killer was a Mutant acting in the name of "justice," but now, with the two most likely suspects proven innocent, his judgment began to waver.
"Lynn," Carter tentatively began, "Could it be that we were wrong from the start? Although these cases have traces of Mutants, the killer might not be the kind of 'vigilante' we imagined."
"Are you saying these cases might have nothing to do with Mutants at all?" Lynn asked softly, his gaze sharp.
"Not entirely unrelated." Carter shook his head, "But perhaps we've been too focused on finding the 'vigilante' motive and have overlooked other possibilities. For example, the true connection between these victims, or the symbolic meaning of the Red Rose."
Chapter 226 Recognized this person
Lynn pondered for a moment, his tone softening: "You're right. Perhaps we've limited our perspective to the 'punishing evil and promoting good' framework, causing us to overlook deeper things."
Lynn stood up and walked to the whiteboard, re-examining every detail of the case. He circled the keyword "vigilante" with a marker, then wrote a new question beside it: "What are other possible motives for the killer?"
He looked at Carter: "Restart the investigation, and re-examine the connections between the victims from scratch. Rule out the possibility of 'punishing evil and promoting good' as a motive, and see if there are any more hidden commonalities."
Carter nodded: "I'll immediately arrange for the team to re-organize the data. Also, regarding the Mutant group leads, should we temporarily set them aside?"
"No," Lynn shook his head, "The possibility of Mutants cannot be completely ruled out. Some details of these cases are too precise, such as the method of the wounds and the anomalies at the scene; these don't seem like something an ordinary person could do. But we need to broaden our perspective and not get stuck in a single line of logic."
Throughout the afternoon, Lynn and his team worked tirelessly to re-examine the case leads. The victims' backgrounds, behavioral patterns, and social circles were analyzed one by one. Although some clues remained vague, Lynn gradually discovered some subtle commonalities.
"Lynn," Carter suddenly pushed open the door, holding a new investigation report, "We've found a possible connection."
Lynn looked up: "What?"
"Among the victims' social networks, there's a common, hidden connection—they all participated in some kind of private gathering in the past year. These gatherings weren't illegal, but the activities were highly confidential, even requiring non-disclosure agreements to be signed." Carter handed the document to Lynn, "And, the organizers of these gatherings happen to be associated with an underground Mutant group."
Lynn took the document, quickly scanning it, his gaze becoming increasingly deep: "What was the purpose of these gatherings?"
"It's still unclear at the moment. But the records we found show that the host of the gatherings is a person named Elliot Weiss. He's a famous philanthropist in Manhattan, and also a publicly identified Mutant."
"Elliot Weiss…" Lynn repeated the name softly, a hint of alertness in his eyes.
He stood up, picked up his jacket, and said to Carter: "Arrange a support team. We're going to visit Mr. Elliot. Perhaps he can give us some different answers."
As night fell, the streets of Manhattan gradually quieted down, and neon lights cast mottled shadows on the wet streets. Lynn and Carter, with their team, drove towards Elliot Weiss's residence.
Elliot's residence is located in Manhattan's Upper East Side, a beautifully designed brownstone building. He is known as a prominent philanthropist in Manhattan, famous for funding Mutant rights activities and public welfare causes. But he is also a key figure in the Mutantunderground network, something never mentioned publicly.
The car stopped in front of the building, and Lynn looked up at the luxurious yet understated mansion, feeling a quiet sense of caution. He motioned for Carter to have a few Agents guard the perimeter, while he and another Agent walked towards the main door.
They rang the doorbell, and soon, a neatly dressed butler opened the door.
"Whom are you looking for, gentlemen?" The butler's tone was polite but distant.
Lynn took out his ID: "FBI Detective Lynn. We need to speak with Mr. Elliot Weiss."
The butler was clearly startled for a moment but quickly regained his composure: "Please wait, I'll inform him."
A few minutes later, the butler returned and motioned for Lynn and the Agent to enter the living room. Elliot Weisswas sitting on a carved sofa, holding a glass of red wine, with a full-length bookshelf behind him. He looked to be in his early fifties, with graying hair and a stern but dignified face.
"Detective Lynn." Elliot smiled slightly, his tone calm, "Welcome. I hear you're here to investigate. How can I help?"
Lynn looked directly at Elliot, getting straight to the point: "Mr. Weiss, we are investigating a series of serial murders, and the victims have one thing in common—they all attended private gatherings organized by you. We need to understand the purpose of these gatherings and the circumstances of the participants."
Elliot raised an eyebrow, the smile on his face subtly receding: "Oh? These cases are related to my gatherings? That truly surprises me. I am just an ordinary philanthropist, and the original intention of organizing these gatherings was to provide a platform for communication between Mutants and ordinary people."
"A platform for communication?" Lynn's tone was sharp, "We found that these gatherings are highly confidential, even requiring agreements to be signed. If it's just ordinary communication, why be so secretive?"
Elliot put down his wine glass and sighed softly: "Detective, you should know that the situation for Mutants in society is not easy. My gatherings aim to create a safe environment where Mutants can freely discuss their issues without fear of being judged or suppressed by the outside World."
"A safe environment?" Lynn's gaze was sharp, "But all these victims became targets of serial murders after attending the gatherings. Is that truly a coincidence?"
Elliot was silent for a moment, then calmly said: "Detective, I can understand your questions, but I don't believe my gatherings are directly related to these cases. In fact, I don't know all the participants. These gatherings are run by a team, and I haven't participated in every specific activity."
"Who are your team members? I need a list of all participants." Lynn's tone was firm.
Elliot's expression subtly changed, but he remained composed: "I'm sorry, Detective, according to our agreement, I cannot disclose the identities of the participants. This is to protect their privacy."
"Protecting privacy?" Lynn sneered, "When your 'privacy' agreement might be covering up a serial murder case, it's no longer protection, but an obstruction to the investigation."
Elliot's gaze turned slightly cold, and he was about to say something when Lynn interrupted: "Mr. Weiss, if you are truly innocent, you should cooperate with us fully. If you continue to conceal information, we will legally apply for a search warrant and uncover every detail."
Elliot was silent for a moment, finally sighing: "Alright, Detective. I can provide a partial list, but only of those participants who have publicly stated their willingness to assist with the investigation. For the others, I must obtain their consent."
Lynn nodded: "That's a start."
That night, Lynn returned to the bureau with the list. He and his team members immediately began analyzing the backgrounds of these participants, hoping to find clues related to the case. However, most of the people on these lists were ordinary individuals, with no criminal records or unusual behavior.
"This lead doesn't seem to have any direct breakthrough either." Carter leaned back in his chair, his voice tinged with fatigue.
"Not necessarily." Lynn flipped through the list, his gaze fixed on one name, "Look at this person—Lisa Harris. A few months ago, she publicly expressed her dislike for Weiss's gatherings, believing they were too 'biased towards Mutants.' But strangely, she attended another event after that."
"Why would someone who dislikes an event continue to participate?" Carter frowned.
"That's precisely the problem." Lynn put down the document, his voice low, "Perhaps our killer isn't just targeting victims, but is carrying out some kind of self-righteous'selection.' Lisa might know something. We must find her as soon as possible."
Manhattan was still bustling with traffic at night. Kate sat in a secluded cafe, holding a cup of cold coffee. Across the table sat a nervous-looking man in an ordinary jacket, clutching a USB drive tightly.
"Is this the video?" Kate asked in a low voice, her gaze calm but alert.
The man nodded, lowering his voice: "Yes. This video was accidentally captured from a surveillance blind spot, and it took me a lot of effort to get it. It shows a very suspicious person near the crime scene."
"Why not give it to the police?" Kate asked, a hint of distrust in her tone.
The man swallowed, seemingly uneasy: "You know, giving this kind of thing to the police might not end well for me. Besides, I think you, as a reporter, can make this video more valuable."
Kate's gaze was fixed on the man, clearly not entirely believing what he said. But she knew that every clue in a serial murder case was extremely valuable, and she couldn't miss any potential breakthrough.
"How much?" Kate asked directly.
The man hesitated, then held up three fingers: "Three thousand. This is exclusive stuff."
Kate knew the man was overcharging, but she gritted her teeth and agreed: "Deal. But I need to see it first."
The man was clearly uneasy. He reached into his jacket and pulled out an old portable player, inserting the USB drive. A blurry but reasonably clear night video began to play on the screen.
The video showed a secluded alley near the crime scene, with the timestamp indicating the night one of the incidents occurred. In the footage, a figure in a dark coat quickly walked through the alley, their silhouette faintly visible. Although their face was obscured by shadow, their steps were steady and their movements fluid, clearly not an ordinary passerby.
Then, the figure stopped and turned to look in the direction of the camera. At that moment, the video captured a pair of cold, eerie purple pupils.
Kate's breath hitched, and her heart pounded. These purple eyes perfectly matched the Mutant suspect characteristics Lynn had mentioned earlier.
"See?" the man urged, "This video isn't something you can just get anywhere."
Kate calmed herself, took out her wallet, pulled out a wad of cash, and handed it to the man: "Three thousand, take it."
The man quickly took the money, handed the USB drive to Kate, then hurriedly got up and left, disappearing into the night. Kate remained seated, her heart still pounding from the scene she had just witnessed.
After returning home, Kate inserted the USB drive into her laptop and repeatedly watched the video. She used professional video software to zoom in on the frame showing the purple pupils. Although still somewhat blurry, it was enough for her to confirm that this was an extremely unusual phenomenon.
Countless questions flooded her mind: Who was this person? What was his connection to the cases? If he was the killer, why would he expose his features in the video?
Kate hesitated, then finally picked up her phone and dialed Lynn's number.
"Lynn, I have an important lead." Her voice was tinged with urgency, "I just got a video that might have captured a suspicious figure near the crime scene."
Lynn's voice on the other end was low: "A video? What's in it?"
"A figure, his eyes are purple." Kate took a deep breath, "Exactly matching the characteristics you mentioned before."
There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Lynn's voice became even more serious: "Bring the video over. I need to see it immediately."
"Okay, I'll be right there." Kate hung up, quickly packed the USB drive, rushed out of her house, and headed straight to Lynn's office.
Half an hour later, Kate stood in Lynn's office, inserted the USB drive into his computer, and played the video. Lynnand Carter stared intently at the screen. When the image of the purple pupils appeared, Lynn's gaze became cold and focused.
"This is him." Lynn said in a low voice, with a hint of confirmation, "Exactly matching the characteristics described by the officer."
Carter frowned and asked: "But the problem is, why would he appear within the surveillance range? He's always been careful; this is clearly a slip-up."
"Perhaps he didn't know this video existed." Lynnanalyzed calmly, "Or, he deliberately left a clue."
Kate was startled: "Deliberately left? Why?"
Lynn's gaze was sharp: "If he truly believes he's 'punishing evil and promoting good,' perhaps this is some kind of challenge from him—a provocation to us, to the entire society. He wants us to know of his existence, yet be unable to catch him."
"So what do we do next?" Kate asked.
Lynn stood up, his voice firm: "We track the movements of this figure. Since he's exposed himself, it means he's not untouchable. Have the technical department analyze the background environment of this video to find his escape route and possible hiding place."
His gaze swept over Kate, with a hint of warning: "Also, you'd better be careful. The other party has already targeted you. The appearance of this clue might not be simple."
Lynn sat in his office, staring at the video Kate had brought, playing it over and over again. His gaze was focused and sharp, as if trying to peel away the hidden truth from every single frame.
In the footage, the figure with the purple pupils still made him uneasy. "This person is clearly not ordinary. His behavior seems random, yet it has a purpose," Lynnthought to himself.
However, when he zoomed in and carefully observed the background, he suddenly discovered a familiar figure.
In the footage, about 50 meters away from the crime scene, a tall, well-dressed man hurried past. His profile briefly flashed across the lens. Although the quality was blurry, Lynn immediately recognized the person.
"Elon Musk?"
Lynn's brows furrowed instantly, and a storm surged in his heart. Musk is a World-renowned entrepreneur and technology pioneer; his appearance near the crime scene was already bizarre enough. Why would he be in such a secluded place? More importantly, what was the connection between his appearance and the suspicious figure with purple pupils?
Chapter 227 We must seize his weakness
He paused the recording, rewound to that frame, and repeatedly scrutinized it.
Although the image was blurry, the person's outline and build were highly consistent with Musk.
Lynn calmed down and quickly dialed Carter's number: "Carter, come to my office immediately, I've found something."
A few minutes later, Carter pushed the door open and, seeing Lynn's furrowed brow, immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.
"What's going on?" Carter asked.
Lynn paused the footage at the moment the figure appeared, pointing at the screen and saying, "Look here. This is footage from near the crime scene. Who do you think this person is?"
Carter leaned closer to the screen, stared for a few seconds, then her eyes widened: "This can't be, can it? This is... Musk?"
"Exactly." Lynn nodded, "I also find it unbelievable, but his figure appeared near the time of the incident, which is definitely not a coincidence."
Carter frowned: "But how could Musk be involved in these cases? He has no motive, and no reason to be in this part of Manhattan."
"That's the problem." Lynn rubbed his brow, "If he's truly unrelated, then it's a huge coincidence. But if he is involved, then the case becomes much more complicated."
Carter calmed down and analyzed: "Perhaps Musk isn't a direct participant; he might just be passing by. But his appearance could suggest there's more to these cases than we understand."
"There's another possibility." Lynn's voice was low, "This isn't a lone killer, but a team. These people might have clear divisions of labor; some are responsible for execution, some for monitoring, and some even for cover."
Carter's face instantly became more serious: "Are you saying... this is a multi-person collaborative crime?"
Lynn nodded, his tone firm: "If that's the case, then we're facing not just a serial killer, but an organized group. They might have clear goals and plans, and we've only just scratched the surface."
Lynn immediately took action; he contacted the technical department, requesting facial recognition and tracking of all figures appearing in the footage, especially to confirm if that person was indeed Musk.
At the same time, he ordered the intelligence unit to conduct a comprehensive investigation into Musk's recent movements, looking for his reasons for being in Manhattan.
Meanwhile, Lynn also arranged an emergency meeting to inform the team of this discovery.
"If the case is a multi-person collaboration, then we must re-examine all previous clues and assumptions," Lynnsaid at the meeting, his gaze sweeping over each team member, "Every seemingly isolated action could be part of the team's plan. We need to connect these dots from a new perspective."
A Detective raised a question: "Detective, if it's truly a team, what would be their goal? Why choose these victims?"
Lynn said coldly: "That's precisely what we need to figure out. Their goal might be more than just killing; perhaps these victims are key to some larger plan."
Late that night, Lynn returned to his office, staring alone at the footage, repeatedly analyzing all possibilities in his mind.
"The person with purple eyes is the perpetrator, and Musk's figure might be another key. Who else? What is their goal?"
Lynn's fingers tapped lightly on the table, his thoughts racing.
He knew he had touched the core of the case, but to uncover the truth, he needed clearer clues.
Lynn's car was parked in front of a luxury hotel in Manhattan; he and Carter, along with a few Agents, walked towards the lobby.
Elon Musk was sitting on a large sofa, holding a cup of coffee, seemingly already aware of their arrival.
"Detective Lynn." Musk smiled faintly, his tone calm, "It's truly an honor to meet you. How can I help you?"
Lynn looked at him sharply: "Mr. Musk, we have reason to suspect your involvement in a serial murder case. Please come with us to the FBI to assist with the investigation."
Musk raised an eyebrow, his smile unchanged: "A serial murder case? Detective, have you made a mistake? However, since you're so insistent, I'm willing to cooperate."
Lynn said nothing more, signaling the Agents to take Musk to the car.
He himself sat in the passenger seat, keeping a close watch on Musk's expression throughout the journey, but the latter remained calm and confident the entire time.
Upon arriving at the FBI interrogation room, Musk was led into the room and sat at the table.
He took off his jacket, adjusted his cuffs, his expression still the same.
Lynn and Carter sat opposite him, the recording equipment already activated.
"Mr. Musk," Lynn began, his voice low, "We found your figure in the surveillance footage near the crime scene. The time was the night of the incident, and the location was a small alley less than fifty meters from the crime scene. Can you explain why you were there?"
Musk smiled slightly, leaning back in his chair: "Detective, I'd very much like to cooperate with your investigation, but according to my lawyer's advice, I choose to remain silent."
Lynn stared into his eyes, his voice colder: "Remaining silent is your right, but you should also know that your actions are likely to arouse greater suspicion. As a public figure, appearing in such a place is already strange enough."
Musk shrugged: "Detective, I believe you are very familiar with the rights granted to me by the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. I don't need to explain, nor do I need to answer any of your questions."
Carter frowned, interjecting: "Mr. Musk, we are investigating a serial murder case involving five lives. If you haven't done anything wrong, explaining it now would be better for everyone."
Musk looked at Carter, his expression still composed: "Agent Carter, I understand what you're saying, but I also have the right to choose not to speak. You can continue to ask questions, but I have nothing to say."
Lynn's face grew even sterner: "Your actions force us to assume you are covering something up. If you're not involved in the case, why not just say so?"
Musk didn't answer, just smiled faintly, then glanced at his watch, as if calculating the time.
During the two hours of interrogation, Lynn and Carterrepeatedly asked questions, but Musk remained silent, only occasionally offering a polite smile.
His attitude made the entire atmosphere oppressive and anxious.
As the interrogation limit approached, Musk looked at the clock on the wall and finally spoke: "Detective, I deeply respect your work, but I'd like to remind you that my lawyer should be waiting outside the door by now. If you have no other substantial evidence, can we end this?"
Lynn took a deep breath, his gaze stern: "Mr. Musk, this is all for today. But I can guarantee, this is not the end. If you are involved in the case, we will find the evidence, sooner or later."
Musk stood up, adjusted his clothes, and still wore that faint smile on his face: "Agent, I admire your determination. But please remember, I am also a law-abiding citizen. If you need my cooperation, please use a more professional approach."
He walked out of the interrogation room accompanied by a Agent, and shortly after, a lawyer was indeed waiting outside the door to take him away.
After the interrogation, Lynn and Carter returned to the office.
Carter sat in a chair, somewhat frustrated: "This guy is too cunning. He doesn't give us any opening."
"That's precisely the problem." Lynn said coldly, staring at the video file on the table, "He's so calm, not just because he's Musk. He knows very well that we don't have direct evidence to do anything to him. This confidence isn't without reason."
"You mean he might indeed be involved in the case, but he's confident we can't trace it?" Carter asked.
Lynn nodded: "Or, he's just a cover, and the real killer is hiding behind him. We need to start elsewhere, to find the real connection between him and these cases."
"Like the person with purple eyes?" Carter asked.
"Exactly." Lynn's gaze became even colder, "We now have two leads: Musk's actions, and the suspect with purple eyes. They might be working together, or they might be completely different individuals. But either way, we must speed up. Find them before the killer strikes again."
Lynn's office was brightly lit, his eyes fixed on the surveillance footage displayed on the screen.
Musk's every move was closely monitored; whether he was out or in his office, Lynn had people keeping a close watch.
"He's very calm," Carter stood by, a hint of uncertainty in his voice, "No unusual behavior, even more disciplined than most people."
Lynn didn't answer, his eyes still locked on the screen.
His intuition told him that Musk was definitely not innocent, but there was currently no evidence linking him directly to the serial murders.
Just then, Carter's phone suddenly rang.
He answered the call, and after a few seconds, his face instantly turned pale.
"Lynn," Carter hung up the phone, his voice urgent, "Another murder just occurred in an abandoned factory in Brooklyn. The method, the scene setup, including that Red Rose, are all exactly the same as the previous cases."
Lynn's face darkened, and he abruptly stood up: "When did it happen?"
"About an hour ago, the time and location completely rule out Musk's suspicion." Carter frowned, "He was at his home for the entire duration, with surveillance records to prove it."
Lynn clenched his fists, anger almost spewing from his eyes.
He grabbed his coat and strode quickly towards the interrogation room.
Musk was still inside, waiting for his lawyer's arrangements; he was leisurely flipping through a magazine, completely unaffected by the outside world.
Lynn pushed open the door and walked quickly to Musk, his gaze as cold as a knife.
"Detective, you're back?" Musk looked up, still with that polite smile on his face.
However, Lynn said nothing, grabbing Musk by the collar and pulling him up from his chair, his voice cold with fury: "Don't act so innocent! Another murder has occurred, and you—you knew all about these things, but said nothing!"
Musk didn't struggle, just narrowed his eyes, his expression still composed: "Detective, I understand you're angry, but this behavior is useless to the case. And, as you know, I couldn't have been at the crime scene at that time."
Lynn's fingers trembled slightly with anger, an uncontrollable rage surging within him.
He knew Musk was right to some extent—he did have an alibi, and Lynn acting against him now would only complicate the entire case.
"Detective!" Carter's voice came from the doorway, urgent and dissuading, "Calm down! Musk currently has no direct evidence linking him to the case, and going on like this will only put us at a disadvantage."
Lynn took a deep breath, the anger in his eyes gradually subsiding.
He slowly released Musk, saying coldly: "I won't let you go. If I find even the slightest connection between you and this matter, I will make you pay the price."
Musk adjusted his disheveled collar, smiling faintly: "Detective, I greatly respect your determination. But please also remember, I am also a law-abiding citizen. If you need my cooperation, please use a more professional approach."
Lynn said nothing more, just gave him a cold glare, then turned and walked out of the interrogation room.
Back in the office, Lynn slammed his fist on the table, his emotions on the verge of breaking.
Carter followed him, closing the door and saying in a low voice: "Lynn, I know you're angry right now, but Musk does have an alibi. He might know something, but currently we can't directly accuse him."
Lynn sat down, covering his face with his hands, taking a few deep breaths: "I know. He's too cunning. His calmness, his confidence—these all indicate he knows something we don't. But I can't break him."
Carter was silent for a moment, then said: "Perhaps we should think from a different angle. This murder occurred in a completely different location, and the time is also different from previous cases. The killer might be trying to disrupt our rhythm."
Lynn looked up, a calm light rekindling in his eyes: "The killer is playing with us. He knows we're watching Musk, so he chose to act in a way that completely rules out Musk's suspicion."
"Does this mean the killer isn't acting alone?" Cartertentatively asked, "Or, is Musk just one part of them?"
Lynn nodded: "This is the most reasonable explanation so far. We might be facing an organized group, with clear divisions of labor: some are responsible for execution, some for cover, and some for creating confusion. And Musk is very likely the one creating confusion."
"What's next?" Carter asked.
Lynn stood up, his tone grim: "Head to the crime scene immediately. The killer is changing locations and times; every strike he makes reveals more information. This time, we must catch his flaw."
By the time Lynn and Carter drove to the abandoned factory in Brooklyn, it was already completely dark.
The factory was cordoned off, red and blue police lights flashed in the rain, and the air was filled with a damp, bloody smell.
Chapter 228: Three Days Later
The two got out of the car and walked straight through the crowd into the factory. A medical examiner was inspecting the body, while several Agents searched the area for clues.
"What's the situation?" Lynn asked the Agent in charge of the scene in a low voice.
"The victim is a male, around 30 years old, identity yet to be confirmed. His manner of death is identical to the previous cases—carotid artery slit, fatal stab wound, the body arranged in a ritualistic posture," the Agent replied, a hint of weariness in his tone. "And that red rose has appeared on the wall again."
Lynn nodded and moved closer to observe the body. The victim's expression was contorted from the intense pain before death, and dried bloodstains remained on the ground. Lynn crouched down, carefully examining the surroundings of the body.
"Detective, there's something here!" an Agent suddenly shouted from not far away.
Lynn immediately stood up and walked towards the direction of the voice. The Agent was standing beside a pile of discarded items, holding an evidence bag containing a conspicuous yellow wallet.
"What is this?" Lynn asked, taking the evidence bag.
"We found it near the exit of the scene. It looks like something the perpetrator dropped in a hurry," the Agentexplained.
Lynn opened the evidence bag and carefully took out the wallet. It was an ordinary yellow leather wallet, somewhat worn on the surface but not looking old. Inside were a few cards, some cash, and a crumpled receipt.
"This could be the killer's oversight," Carter leaned over and said quietly. "But it could also be a deliberate plant."
Lynn didn't respond. He quickly flipped through the contents of the wallet and found a bank card. The name on the bank card was clearly visible—Daniel Walker.
"Daniel Walker?" Lynn frowned. "Have you looked into this name?"
"Not yet," the Agent shook his head. "But we can check immediately."
Lynn nodded and handed the wallet to Carter: "Have the tech department trace the background of this name immediately. Check all his records, see if there are any connections to other cases."
"Understood," Carter took the wallet and quickly left.
Meanwhile, Lynn continued searching the scene for other clues. He walked up to the red rose pattern, his gaze sharply scanning the wall. The pattern was spray-painted with extreme precision, as if done by a professionally trained hand.
"Detective," the medical examiner approached and said quietly, "there's another anomaly. Although the carotid artery wound on the victim is similar to previous cases, the knife work this time is rougher. The perpetrator might have been in more of a hurry than before, or... it could be a different person."
"A different person?" Lynn repeated softly, quickly sorting through the clues in his mind. "This suggests our earlier hypothesis might be correct—the killer isn't acting alone. They might be part of a group, and the perpetrator this time isn't the same person as in the previous cases."
The medical examiner nodded: "That's a possibility. However, we need further confirmation."
After leaving the scene, Lynn returned to the office. Carterhad already brought back preliminary investigation results on "Daniel Walker."
"Daniel Walker, 38 years old, an ordinary office worker. His address is in Lower Manhattan. According to records, he hasn't shown any obvious abnormal behavior in the past few months," Carter handed over the investigation report, a hint of confusion in his tone. "However, within his social circle, one name caught my attention—Elliot Weiss."
Lynn's gaze turned cold: "Elliot Weiss? The Mutantphilanthropist we investigated before?"
"Exactly," Carter nodded. "According to records, Danielattended several private gatherings organized by Weiss. There seems to be some connection between them, but we don't know the specifics yet."
Lynn picked up the report and took a deep breath: "This further indicates our killer isn't acting alone. There's some connection between them, and these gatherings might be their link."
"What's next?" Carter asked.
Lynn's gaze was stern: "Track Daniel Walker's location. If he's an accomplice, his movements might lead us to other key figures. At the same time, re-examine Elliot Weiss's activities. We might be very close to the truth."
Lynn stared intently at the report, his thoughts racing. He knew the name "Daniel Walker" could be the key to breaking the case. Why would this ordinary office worker appear in the clues at a murder scene? Was his connection to Elliot Weiss the core of the entire incident?
"The tech department is already tracking Daniel Walker's cell phone signal," Carter reported. "His last activity was recorded at a convenience store in Lower Manhattan, after nine PM on the day of the crime. His phone is currently powered off."
"Powered off?" Lynn looked up, his brow furrowed. "That's to avoid being tracked. Daniel might already realize we're investigating him."
"Then how do we find him?" Carter asked.
Lynn thought for a moment, then stood up: "Contact his relatives and friends, see if he mentioned any recent plans or unusual behavior. Also, send people to search his residence and workplace, find all his possible hiding places."
"Understood," Carter nodded and immediately arranged the operation.
Several hours later, Lynn sat in his office, piles of files and surveillance records about Daniel Walker spread before him. The tech department had already analyzed Daniel's activity patterns over the past few months. Although his life appeared calm on the surface, some details had caught Lynn's attention.
"Look here," Lynn pointed to a record, a hint of tension in his voice. "Daniel frequently appeared at an abandoned industrial park over the past three months. He never stayed long, but it was always late at night."
"An abandoned industrial park?" Carter frowned. "That sounds suspicious. What was he doing there?"
Lynn nodded: "Send people to scout it out, see if there's anything unusual. If Daniel is an accomplice, that place is likely one of their hideouts."
Late at night, the FBI reconnaissance team quietly arrived at the abandoned industrial park. It was shrouded in thick darkness, overgrown with weeds, the dilapidated buildings appearing particularly eerie under the moonlight.
"This place looks like a ghost town," a scout whispered.
"Split up and search, stay alert," the Captain ordered.
The scouts moved cautiously within the park, flashlight beams sweeping across crumbling walls and abandoned equipment. Soon, one scout discovered something unusual inside a warehouse.
"Detective, we have a situation here," a hurried voice came over the radio.
Lynn and Carter quickly arrived at the scene. The warehouse was piled with discarded boxes and equipment, but in a corner, a few messy folding chairs and a table stood out. On the table were several maps, some documents marked with times, and a few items that looked like tools.
"The times marked on these documents perfectly match the times of our previous murder cases," Carter flipped through the files, his tone growing heavier. "This is likely their operations command point."
Lynn picked up a map and found several locations circled in red, one of which was the scene of the most recent murder.
"They planned their operations here," Lynn said quietly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Daniel Walker clearly wasn't acting alone. There are others behind him, and their targets are more specific than we imagined."
Meanwhile, the tech department sent word that they had successfully located a possible hideout for Daniel Walker—a cheap hotel in East Manhattan.
Lynn and Carter immediately led a team there. When they stormed into the hotel room, they found it empty, only a computer with its screen still on, seemingly just used.
"He just left," Lynn said coldly, his gaze sweeping every corner of the room. "Check everything, see if there are any clues left behind."
The technician quickly removed the computer's hard drive and began on-site analysis. A few minutes later, they discovered an unsent email mentioning a mysterious name—"Rose Master."
"Rose Master?" Carter frowned. "Is that someone's codename?"
"It's likely the leader of this organization," Lynn said gravely. "Their actions revolve around the red rose, and this 'Rose Master' might be the mastermind behind everything."
Lynn's heart beat faster. He knew they had finally touched the core of the case, but he also understood that the enemy's counterattack could be even more dangerous.
"Trace the source of this email, find the true identity of 'Rose Master' as soon as possible," Lynn ordered, his gaze firm and cold. "This time, we won't let them have another chance to escape."
The tech department immediately began analyzing the source of the unsent email. After several hours of effort, they finally traced it to a complex IP address, extremely well disguised, but ultimately pinpointed to a remote Villalocated in the suburbs of Manhattan.
Lynn and Carter immediately led a team to the scene. The Villa appeared quite ordinary, seemingly a private vacation home, but the surroundings were too quiet, even giving off a sense of unease.
"Prepare to breach," Lynn ordered quietly. The team quickly dispersed around the Villa, completely surrounding it.
The interior of the Villa was unusually quiet, the air tinged with a faint metallic smell. Lynn and Carter led the way inside, weapons at the ready. They scanned each room step by step, finally stopping before a hidden door in the Underground Room.
Carter turned on his flashlight, illuminating the heavy metal door: "This might be their Command Center."
Lynn nodded: "Break it open."
Agents pried the door open with tools, and a rush of cold air flowed out. The sight inside the basement made everyone gasp.
The walls were covered in spray-painted red rose patterns, each one detailed like a work of art. In the center of the room was a large wooden table holding several computers, a few maps, and a series of documents marked with times and locations.
"These maps and documents..." Carter flipped through them, his tone growing heavier. "Every marked location corresponds to our known crime scenes. And there are also some future targets—several landmark buildings in Manhattan."
"Their plan isn't just murder," Lynn said quietly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "They want to create greater panic. This is a long-planned operation."
Just as Lynn was carefully examining the documents, a computer screen suddenly lit up. A bright red rose pattern appeared on the screen, followed by a synthesized voice speaking with an eerie, deep tone:
"Detective Lynn, welcome. You're a bit faster than we expected, but no matter, everything is under our control."
Lynn stared at the screen, his voice calm but forceful: "Who are you? Rose Master?"
"Names are just codenames," the voice chuckled softly. "What matters are our ideals and actions. What you see here is merely the beginning of our plan. Manhattan will witness a true purification."
"Purification?" Lynn sneered. "You kill innocent people and dare call yourselves purifiers?"
"Innocent?" The rose pattern on the screen trembled slightly. "Those so-called victims, each one of them was guilty beyond redemption, just hidden deeply enough. We merely unveiled their disguises, letting the World see the truth."
"Truth?" Lynn lowered his voice. "This isn't justice, it's pathological killing. And I will stop you, bring you all to justice."
The voice on the screen chuckled softly: "Then try, Detective. But time is running out. We've already entered the next phase. Soon, you'll understand our resolve."
As soon as the words ended, the screen suddenly went dark. Simultaneously, a faint buzzing sound came from a corner of the Underground Room.
"Fall back!" Lynn immediately shouted.
Everyone quickly evacuated the Underground Room. Just seconds after running out of the Villa, the entire building suddenly erupted in a violent explosion. Flames shot into the sky, painting the surrounding night red.
A few minutes later, Lynn and Carter stood not far away, watching the burning ruins with grim expressions.
"They're more dangerous and organized than we imagined," Carter said quietly.
"And ruthless," Lynn clenched his fist. "We just touched their core. This explosion shows they won't let us dig out more truth easily."
Carter nodded: "But at least we know their next targets."
Lynn took out the map rescued from the Underground Room, which clearly marked the names and dates of several Manhattan landmarks.
"These places are all their potential targets," Lynn said coldly. "We must stop them before they act, take them down in one fell swoop."
Lynn sat alone in his office late at night, the map spread before him, several target buildings marked. These landmarks were not only symbols of Manhattan but also gathered large numbers of people. If an attack succeeded, the consequences would be unimaginable.
He stared at the dates on the map, repeatedly calculating the time in his mind: "The next operation... is in three days."
The next morning, the FBI conference room was packed. Lynn stood at the front, a whiteboard filled with clues and targets behind him. His gaze swept sternly over every Agent present.
Chapter 229 A New Goal
"According to the intelligence we have," Lynn began, his tone full of pressure, "this organization has entered the next phase. Their target is several key buildings in Manhattan, with the aim of creating greater panic."
Carter added, "We rescued some documents from the abandoned Villa. Although much information was destroyed, it can be confirmed that this operation involves at least three locations: the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan Financial Center, and Grand Central Station."
A murmur arose in the conference room. Each location represented the heart of Manhattan, a symbol of social stability.
"These places have dense crowds; if they succeed, the consequences will be unimaginable," Lynn continued. "But their specific methods of operation are not yet fully clear, and we need to be prepared."
A Agent raised a question, "Agent, will the Rose Masterpersonally participate in the operation?"
Lynn shook his head, "According to current analysis, the Rose Master is more likely to be a behind-the-scenes Commander. His direct involvement is unlikely, but we cannot let our guard down. Everyone must remain vigilant."
After the meeting, Lynn led the technical team to continue tracking the Rose Master's identity. Based on clues from the remaining documents in the Underground Room, they discovered a deeply hidden encrypted server. This server seemed to be the communication hub for the entire organization.
"The encryption is very complex," the technician said, typing on the keyboard. "It will take some time to decrypt, but I can guarantee that we will be able to trace its source."
Lynn stood in the technical room, his gaze fixed on the screen: "Speed it up. Time waits for no one."
A few hours later, the technician finally decrypted some of the encrypted data, pinpointing an unexpected location—a high-end hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
"The signal source of this server is the top-floor suite of this hotel," the technician said excitedly. "But we cannot confirm whether the person sending the signal is still there."
Lynn and Carter exchanged glances and quickly decided: "Lead the team out; we must find out."
Lynn and Carter quickly led a small team to the hotel. The hotel management agreed to cooperate under police pressure, and they obtained the key card for the top-floor suite.
"Prepare for action," Lynn whispered, leading the team silently towards the target.
The door was quietly opened, and Lynn was the first to enter the suite. The room was luxuriously decorated but empty. A laptop was on the table, displaying a bright Red Rose pattern on the screen.
"No one?" Carter asked in a low voice, her brows furrowed.
Lynn did not answer; he quickly walked to the computer and found that an encrypted video was playing on the screen.
In the video, a masked person sat in a dark room, his voice low and cold: "Detective Lynn, I knew you would find this place. Unfortunately, you're a step too late again."
"This guy is provoking us," Carter said through gritted teeth.
The video continued to play: "Our plan has already been activated, and your every step is within our control. Three targets? No, that's just a smokescreen. The real operation is somewhere you wouldn't expect."
Lynn clenched his fist, staring at the masked person on the screen: "He's distracting us."
After the video ended, the computer screen suddenly went blank, apparently triggering a self-destruct program.
"Take it back and see if any data can be recovered," Lynnordered the technician.
Just as Lynn was about to leave, Carter received a call. After she finished, her face changed dramatically.
"Lynn, we just received an urgent message: an explosion occurred outside Grand Central Station."
Lynn suddenly looked up, his eyes burning with rage: "They are acting faster than we imagined."
When Lynn and Carter arrived at Grand Central Station, it was already chaotic. Police officers and medical personnel were rescuing people everywhere, injured individuals were being carried onto stretchers, and the air was filled with a charred smell.
"What's the casualty situation?" Lynn asked a Commander at the scene.
"Currently, three deaths have been confirmed, and over a dozen people are injured," the Commander replied, his voice heavy. "The explosive device was placed in a trash can outside the station; its power was not great, but it caused immense panic."
Lynn scanned the scene and quickly noticed a Red Rosepattern on the ground. This was the perpetrator's symbol, indicating that this explosion was undoubtedly linked to them.
"This is just a warning," Lynn murmured, a cold glint in his eyes. "Their real operation is yet to come."
Carter frowned, "Lynn, if this is just the beginning, what exactly is their target?"
Lynn looked at the burning ruins in the distance, his voice low: "We must find out the Rose Master's true purpose, or Manhattan will fall into an even greater crisis."
Lynn stood before the ruins of Grand Central Station, constantly sifting through clues in his mind. Every explosion, every attack, was sending him a message—this was not just a murder; it was a psychological war, a meticulously planned Terrorist operation.
"Detective," Carter said in a low voice, walking over from a distance, "We just found a clue from the surveillance. Someone left the area where the explosives were placed five minutes before the explosion, but their face was covered, so their identity is unclear."
"Take me to see it," Lynn said in a low voice, following Carter to the command vehicle.
Inside the command vehicle, the technician zoomed in and adjusted the angle of the surveillance footage, finally finding the suspicious figure. He was wearing a gray hoodie, his head down, and his hands in his pockets.
"Look here," the technician said, pointing at the screen and pausing the footage. "He lingered near the trash can for a few seconds, then quickly left."
Lynn stared at the screen, his brows tightly furrowed: "Can you trace his route?"
The technician nodded: "We tried. He left the station and walked north along Sixth Avenue, entering a surveillance blind spot. But shortly after leaving the station, his figure was captured by a taxi's dashcam."
Lynn's eyes lit up: "Trace the taxi's route and find its passenger records."
The technician acted quickly, and in less than ten minutes, he had a result: "The taxi driver confirmed that his passenger got off in an industrial area in Brooklyn."
"Brooklyn again," Carter frowned. "These guys seem to have a special fondness for that place."
"The Brooklyn industrial area might be another one of their strongholds," Lynn said, looking at the marked location on the map, his voice becoming more resolute. "But this time, we cannot be a step too late."
Lynn led a fully armed team to the Brooklyn industrial area. When they arrived, it was already dark, and the industrial area was eerily silent, with dilapidated factories appearing particularly ominous in the night.
"It's very quiet here, too quiet," Carter whispered, raising her weapon, her nerves taut.
"Search separately; don't miss a single corner," Lynnordered, and the team quickly dispersed.
Soon after, a Agent found some suspicious items in a warehouse. Upon entering, they discovered a long table in the center of the warehouse, with several laptops and a stack of documents on it.
"These guys always like to leave something behind," Carter mumbled.
Lynn quickly flipped through the documents and found detailed records of the floor plans and security arrangements of several important buildings in Manhattan.
"These are future targets," Lynn whispered, a chill in his voice. "They haven't stopped yet."
Just then, a laptop suddenly turned on automatically, and the familiar Red Rose pattern reappeared on the screen.
"Detective Lynn," the Rose Master's voice rang out, with a hint of provocation, "Welcome again. I suppose you want to stop our operation again, but unfortunately, you're still too slow."
Lynn leaned closer to the screen and said coldly, "This game is over. You are exposing yourselves more and more; it's only a matter of time."
The Rose Master chuckled softly: "Game? No, Detective, this is not a game; this is faith. This city has been consumed by corruption for too long; it's time for a change. And we are the executors of that change."
"Killing innocent people is change?" Lynn suppressed his anger. "You're nothing but a bunch of cowardly Terrorists."
"Innocent?" The Rose Master's tone turned cold. "No one is innocent. We simply peeled back their disguises and did what the law dared not do."
Just as Lynn was about to retort, the screen suddenly switched, displaying a set of coordinates.
"I'll give you a chance, Detective," the Rose Master said. "If you're fast enough, perhaps you can still stop the next operation. But I must warn you, time is running out."
With that, the screen abruptly went dark.
Lynn quickly noted down the coordinates and immediately ordered the team to head to the target location. These coordinates were located in an abandoned building in downtown Manhattan.
When they arrived, the building was pitch Black, but the air was filled with a strong chemical odor.
"This is the smell of explosives," Carter whispered, her face growing more tense.
Lynn led the team quickly into the building. In an empty room, they found a box filled with explosives, and the timer showed—30 minutes remaining.
"They plan to blow up the entire building," Lynn said calmly. "Technical team, start defusing the bomb immediately."
The technical team immediately went into action, while Lynn and Carter stood guard. Time ticked by, and everyone's nerves were stretched to the limit.
Just as the technical team completed the defusal, Lynn's earpiece crackled with news from another team: "Detective, we found two suspicious individuals nearby; they are rapidly evacuating!"
Lynn immediately led his people in pursuit. They chased through the alleys, finally cornering the two fleeing suspects in a dead end.
"Don't move! Hands up!" Lynn shouted.
The two raised their hands, and one of them turned his head, a strange smile on his face. He whispered, "Detective, you won a round, but the game isn't over yet."
As soon as he finished speaking, he pressed a device in his pocket—and another building in the distance suddenly exploded violently, with Fire soaring into the sky.
Lynn's fists clenched, his gaze as cold as a blade.
Lynn stood at the edge of the fire-lit ruins, his ears filled with the wail of sirens and the screams of the crowd. In the distance, the destroyed building was reduced to charred ruins, thick smoke rising into the night sky. Although the building had been abandoned for a long time and there were no casualties, the impact of the explosion was still shocking.
Carter rushed over, panting as she reported, "Lynn, the technical team has confirmed that the bomb in the other building was much more powerful than the previous one. They clearly used the first explosion to divert our attention."
Lynn's fists clenched, his eyes full of rage: "The Rose Master knew we would track his clues; he's playing with our reaction time."
Carter nodded, her face grim: "However, there's good news. The two people we caught have been taken back to the station for interrogation, and one of them has been identified: he is Daniel Walker."
"Daniel Walker?" Lynn sneered. "Finally got you."
Inside the interrogation room, Daniel Walker sat on a chair, a hint of arrogant smile on his face. Lynn pushed open the door and walked directly to him, placing his hands on the table, his gaze sharp as a knife.
"Daniel Walker, don't try any tricks," Lynn's voice was low and full of pressure. "We already have enough evidence. The abandoned industrial area, the explosion site, and your connection to the Rose Master. Confess honestly; perhaps it will spare you some suffering."
Daniel chuckled and shrugged: "Detective, what do you think I'll say? I'm just an ordinary employee; how could I be involved in these matters?"
"Ordinary employee?" Lynn slapped a stack of documents on the table. "These are records of your attendance at Elliot Weiss's gatherings, and surveillance footage of you appearing at multiple explosion preparation sites. How many people are in your organization? What is the Rose Master's plan?"
Daniel's expression finally changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "Rose Master? Are you referring to our leader? He won't let you find him easily."
"So you admit you're a member of this organization," Lynnpressed on.
Daniel sneered: "So what if I admit it? The Rose Masteralready anticipated that you would catch me. He told me to tell you—every person you catch will trigger a bigger operation."
Lynn's gaze turned cold: "What is his plan?"
Daniel's smile became even more eerie: "Detective, don't worry, you'll know soon enough. And I promise, that scene will be unforgettable."
Just as Lynn was about to continue pressing, Carterpushed the door open and whispered in his ear: "Lynn, we have a new lead."
Lynn nodded, giving Daniel a cold look: "Enjoy your time here; you'll soon wish you had never joined this organization."
Daniel watched Lynn leave, but a disdainful smile still lingered on his face.
Carter handed a document to Lynn: "The technical team has decrypted some of the data recovered from the Villa. They found a hidden message, sent with special encryption, mentioning a new target."
Lynn opened the document and saw a map with a new location marked: the Manhattan Bridge.
"Manhattan Bridge?" Lynn frowned. "This bridge is not only an important transportation hub but also a symbolic landmark. What do they want to do?"
"From the data, the scale of this target might be even larger," Carter said. "Their plan might not just be an explosion but a complete paralysis of the city's entire transportation system."
Chapter 230 Never Surrender
Lynn nodded, quickly issuing instructions: "Immediately notify the city department to block the Manhattan Bridge and conduct a comprehensive search on the bridge. We cannot take any risks."
Detective Lynn and Carter led a special team to the Manhattan Bridge. The bridge was already cordoned off, vehicles and pedestrians had been cleared, and the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.
"Check every inch, from beginning to end, especially the critical structural parts of the bridge," Lynn ordered.
The search lasted for nearly an hour, and finally, a complex bomb device was discovered on the structural platform beneath the bridge. The bomb was meticulously hidden and connected to the bridge's load-bearing steel cables.
"Detective, the bomb here is even more complex than the previous ones," the technician reported. "This is a multi-point detonation device; once activated, the entire bridge will collapse."
"Can it still be defused?" Lynn asked.
"Yes, but it will take time, at least an hour," the technician replied, his voice tinged with tension.
"Speed it up," Lynn said, while having others strengthen the perimeter.
Just as the technical team was working frantically to defuse the bomb, gunshots suddenly rang out from the other end of the bridge. Detective Lynn and Carter quickly rushed to the scene, discovering a group of men in black attempting to break through the blockade.
"Protect the technical team! Stop them!" Lynn shouted.
Gunshots instantly echoed across the bridge, and a fierce firefight erupted between the two sides. Detective Lynnand Carter led the team in a desperate defense, but the men in black attacked with increasing ferocity.
As time passed, the technical team finally completed the defusion of the last bomb fuse.
"Defusion complete!" the technician shouted.
Lynn breathed a sigh of relief, but then noticed that one of the men in black had raised a remote control, attempting to activate a backup device.
"Don't let him press it!" Lynn shouted.
He charged at the man, firing a precise shot that struck the assailant's arm, causing the remote control to fall to the ground.
Seeing the unfavorable situation, the men in black quickly retreated. Detective Lynn did not pursue, but only after confirming the bomb was completely disarmed did he finally relax.
The explosion crisis was averted, but Detective Lynn felt no sense of relief. He knew this was just another probe by the Rose Master, and the real operation was still hidden in the darkness.
"This battle is far from over," Lynn murmured, his gaze fixed on the Manhattan skyline. "They want to destroy this city, and I will never let them succeed."
The atmosphere in the interrogation room was as heavy as ice. Detective Lynn sat at the table, holding a stack of photographs. These photos were of all the targets previously cleared of suspicion in earlier cases but still had suspicious aspects.
Daniel sat opposite him, his hands cuffed to the table, a sneer of disdain on his face. He seemed completely unconcerned by Detective Lynn's actions, even appearing somewhat relaxed.
"Let's play a game, Daniel," Lynn said in a low voice, placing the first photo on the table. "Do you know this person?"
Daniel glanced at it, sneering, "No."
Lynn's expression remained unchanged as he took out a second photo and placed it next to the first: "What about this one?"
Daniel remained disdainful: "Detective, do you think I'm throwing a party? How could I know all your suspects?"
Lynn's gaze remained stern as he placed the third, fourth, and fifth photos one by one on the table. Some of these individuals were primary suspects from before, while others were people they had encountered during their investigation but couldn't fully identify.
"So patient," Daniel said scornfully as he watched more and more photos appear. "Detective, aren't you too idle?"
Lynn ignored his provocation and continued to place the sixth and seventh photos, until the last one. He arranged the photos in a row, tapping the table lightly with his finger, his voice cold: "Each of these people has had some connection to the serial murder case. Do you really not know them?"
Daniel's smile froze for a moment, but quickly regained its composure. He looked up and said in a mocking tone, "Detective, are you entertaining yourself? These people are just a bunch of strangers to me."
Lynn stared into his eyes, then suddenly sneered, his voice low but full of power: "You lied."
Daniel's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly concealed it: "How can you say that?"
Lynn leaned closer, his voice growing colder: "Because your eyes just now betrayed you. When I put down the last photo, your smile disappeared. You're nervous, you're guilty."
Daniel gritted his teeth, still trying to remain calm: "Detective, did a psychologist teach you to do this? Don't waste your time, I still say the same thing—I don't know them."
Lynn didn't stop, continuing: "These people aren't isolated individuals. They are your accomplices, part of what's behind this serial murder case. You are an organization, and you, you're just a pawn within it."
Daniel's face finally changed. His eyes shifted from disdain to gloom, and cold sweat began to appear on his forehead, but his lips still tried to force a smile: "Detective, are you making up stories? I don't recall having so many 'friends'."
"Oh really?" Lynn said coldly, pointing to one of the photos. "What about him? Are you sure you don't know him? We have surveillance records showing you and him had multiple contacts in the abandoned industrial zone."
Daniel fell completely silent.
Lynn pressed on, his voice laced with chill: "Tell me, who is the Rose Master? What is your plan? I already know all these people are involved, and next, I will catch them one by one until I uproot your entire organization."
Daniel's lips trembled slightly, as if weighing whether to speak. His eyes quickly scanned the photos on the table, and finally, he took a deep breath and whispered, "You think catching me can stop everything? Too naive."
"So you admit it?" Lynn's gaze was like a blade.
Daniel did not answer directly, but instead looked up and said in a complex tone, "We are not the bad people you imagine. Everything we do is to awaken this World."
"Killing and creating panic is a way to awaken?" Lynnretorted coldly, "Your justice is trampling on innocent lives."
"Innocent?" Daniel chuckled. "Detective, you don't know the true nature of these people. Their disguise is too perfect, so much so that even the law cannot touch them. We are merely unmasking them."
"What about the Rose Master?" Lynn pressed again. "Who is he? He's your leader, right?"
Daniel's eyes flashed with a hint of hesitation, but he finally shook his head: "Sorry, Detective, even if you catch me, you will never catch him. He is smarter and more powerful than you imagine."
Lynn sneered, his gaze like ice: "Then we'll see. He can hide, but he can never escape the hand of justice."
Daniel stopped speaking, his face returning to a cold expression. But Detective Lynn knew that he had wavered, and the secret of the Rose Master was getting closer to the truth.
Detective Lynn stood in the center of the FBI Manhattanbranch's operations conference room, in front of a large electronic screen displaying the profiles and recent activity trajectories of several suspected Mutants. His finger moved across the screen, pointing one by one to the targets marked as "High Priority Monitoring."
"Among these people, someone must be a core member of the Rose Master," Lynn's voice was stern, his gaze sharp. "They acted very covertly in the previous serial murder cases, but we have gathered enough clues. This time, we won't give them any more chances."
Carter stood beside him, adding: "The technical department has intensified monitoring of these targets. Each person has an action team for round-the-clock tracking and recording, and once any abnormality is detected, we will take action immediately."
"Very good," Lynn nodded. "Remember, our goal is not just capture, but more importantly, to force out the true identity of the Rose Master. Any abnormal behavior could be a breakthrough."
Two days later, the monitoring team reported crucial intelligence.
A Mutant target, codenamed "Shadow Snake," exhibited abnormal behavior. He was a capable individual skilled in stealth and disguise, able to use his Mutant ability to conceal himself in the shadows. Monitoring showed that he left his residence late at night and, unlike his usual routine of going to frequent entertainment venues, carried a package and headed to an abandoned warehouse in Brooklyn.
Upon receiving the news, Detective Lynn immediately summoned Carter and a small team and headed straight to the target location. En route, they continuously monitored Shadow Snake's movements, discovering that after lingering near the warehouse for a while, he entered a secluded residential area.
"He might be preparing for his next move," Cartermurmured, her gaze fixed on the surveillance feed.
Lynn ordered: "Speed up, we must get there before he makes his move."
When Detective Lynn led the team to the location, Shadow Snake was standing in front of a half-open warehouse door, holding a sharp short knife. His eyes were cold, as if he had already sensed something unusual in the surroundings.
"Shadow Snake! Drop your weapon and raise your hands!" Lynn held his gun, his voice authoritative.
Shadow Snake looked back at Agent Lynn, a sneer curling his lips: "Agent Lynn, you're faster than I thought. But what do you think you can stop today?"
"This killing game is over," Lynn said coldly, continuing to press forward. "You've exposed too many flaws. Surrender now, and you might still have a chance to live."
Shadow Snake sneered: "Surrender? Do you really think you can catch us? The Rose's purification is unstoppable."
With that, he suddenly hurled the short knife at AgentLynn, the blade cutting a cold gleam through the air. Lynnnimbly dodged, but Shadow Snake used the opportunity to turn and quickly vanish into the shadows deep within the warehouse.
"He's using his abilities!" Carter warned.
"Stay alert," Lynn murmured, raising his flashlight and cautiously searching forward.
The warehouse was dark and damp, and Shadow Snake's ability made him as elusive as if he had merged with the environment. Suddenly, Lynn felt a cold breeze behind him. He quickly turned and blocked a sneak attack with the butt of his gun.
Shadow Snake's figure emerged from the darkness, another short knife in his hand aimed directly at AgentLynn's chest. The two instantly became entangled, blades and gun butts clashing with jarring sounds.
Shadow Snake's strength and agility far surpassed those of an ordinary person; his movements were as swift as a venomous snake, each attack aimed at a vital point. Although Agent Lynn defended well, he still felt immense pressure.
"Do you think you can win this game?" Shadow Snake sneered as he attacked. "We've infiltrated every corner, Agent Lynn. You've only seen the tip of the iceberg."
Lynn didn't respond, but seized an opportunity during Shadow Snake's attack, delivering a powerful kick to his waist. Shadow Snake staggered backward from the kick but quickly vanished into the shadows again.
"Don't let him escape!" Lynn shouted.
Carter led the team to quickly surround the warehouse exits, while also using thermal imaging devices to scan for Shadow Snake's position. One Agent located him: "In the southeast corner!"
Agent Lynn quickly rushed over and engaged in another fierce struggle with Shadow Snake. This time, Lynn used the clutter within the warehouse to block Shadow Snake's movement routes, while also using the strong beam of his tactical flashlight to pierce through his stealth ability.
Shadow Snake was forced to reveal himself, the sneer on his face replaced by a hint of anxiety. He attempted to attack again with his short knife, but Detective Lynnsubdued him with a grappling move, kicking his weapon aside.
"Game over," Lynn said coldly, snapping handcuffs onto Shadow Snake's wrists.
Just as Detective Lynn was about to leave with Shadow Snake, an urgent call came through his earpiece from the technical team: "Detective, Shadow Snake's communication device just received an encrypted message from the Rose Master."
"What's the content?" Lynn asked.
"'Withdrawal plan initiated. All targets switch to Phase Two operations,'" the technician's voice was urgent. "Detective, they might be executing another plan!"
Lynn's face darkened, his gaze like a knife fixed on Shadow Snake, who was pinned to the ground: "What is the Rose Master's plan? What does Phase Two operation refer to?"
Shadow Snake looked up, sneering as he spat out a mouthful of blood: "You think catching me can stop everything? No, Detective. You've only just begun."
Lynn's heart tightened; he knew this confrontation was far from over.
Meanwhile.
Kate sat at her desk, piled high with documents and old newspapers. Ever since "Red Rose" became the symbol of the serial murder case, she had plunged into historical archives, hoping to find background information related to this symbol. She flipped through old news reports, and suddenly, a headline caught her attention:
"The Roar of the Red Rose—The Rise and Fall of a Persecuted Workers' Organization"
Kate quickly read the article, discovering that the historical background of the Red Rose was full of tragedy and resistance. This organization was once a workers' collective in the early twentieth century, primarily composed of low-income laborers who opposed the exploitation and oppression of capitalists and advocated for workers' rights.
However, as the organization's influence grew, they were seen as a threat by some in power. Multiple members were arrested, disappeared, or even assassinated. Ultimately, the organization was dismantled in a bloody crackdown, and the survivors went into hiding, vanishing into the shadows of history.
"The rose symbolizes sacrifice, resistance, and secrecy, and the Red Rose's emblem was once their symbol, representing a vow never to yield." This was the last sentence of the article.
Kate's heart pounded, her finger tracing the words: "They might not have completely disappeared, but rather continued in some form to the present."
She immediately picked up her phone and dialed Lynn's number.
Detective Lynn was interrogating Shadow Snake. When his phone rang, he glanced at the caller ID and immediately answered.