Chapter 671
Resisting Karen!
The leader was a man nearly 1.9 meters tall, with short, neat hair, a strong facial structure, and a black armband wrapped around his left arm with a silver lightning bolt symbol. He strode up to Lynn, extended his hand, and said with a touch of professional politeness, "Detective Lynn, I am Cole, the captain of the vanguard team."
Lynn shook hands with him, feeling the steady, powerful pressure of the other's palm, without the overly flamboyant violence often associated with mutants: "Captain Cole, thank you for your hard work. Let me briefly explain the situation—we have obtained the backup coordinates for the Cullen core outpost, located in a secluded valley in northern Honduras, but the specific deployment and internal structure are still unclear. In addition, we have captured Verus, as well as five mutants involved in the smuggling of contraband. We need to wait for the interrogation results before formulating a raid plan."
Cole's gaze swept over Lynn's team members behind him, then landed on the slip of paper in Lynn's hand. He nodded slightly. "I've noted down the coordinates. However, our reinforcements have a special advantage—all team members have undergone mutant sensory enhancement training and can sense the approximate location of their kind through energy fluctuations. I suggest we use this ability to investigate mutant settlements in northern Honduras and screen out reliable resistance forces. After all, most ordinary mutants are coerced by Karen, and they might be able to become our allies."
A glint of light flashed in Lynn's eyes. He had only focused on obtaining information about the stronghold through interrogating Verus, but he had overlooked this point—Karen had recruited a large number of mutants in Honduras, among whom there must be a group who were unwilling to be controlled and yearned for resistance. Winning over these people would not only reduce casualties during a raid but also provide more accurate intelligence on the stronghold, making it far more efficient than a simple assault.
“This idea is feasible.” Lynn immediately approved it. “Captain Cole, how large is the area of mutant settlements that your team can sense?”
“Energy fluctuations within a 300-kilometer radius of Tegucigalpa can be detected, though the intensity varies.” Cole raised his hand to bring up the holographic map on the vehicle terminal, swiping his finger across it. “Currently, we have detected three areas with relatively strong fluctuations. One is on the edge of the northern valley, suspected to be an outpost outside the core stronghold of Karen. The other two are in the abandoned mining area in the west and the fishing village by the sea in the south. The energy fluctuations in these two areas are relatively mild, without any obvious aggression, and are most likely gathering places for ordinary mutants.”
Lynn leaned closer to the map, his gaze landing on the location of the abandoned western mining area: "Let's go here first. The terrain in the abandoned mining area is complex, making it easy to hide, and if there really is a resistance force, it will be easier to carry out follow-up communication. Notify Officer Rodriguez to arrange for officers to stay at the police station to guard Verus and the subdued mutants. We will take reinforcements and some team members to the northern mining area to complete the initial investigation as soon as possible."
“Roger that.” Jason immediately contacted Rodriguez, whose calm response came through the earpiece: “Don’t worry, I’ll keep a close eye on things at the police station. Report any developments immediately. Good luck.”
Half an hour later, the convoy left Tegucigalpa city and headed towards the abandoned mining area in the west. The road became increasingly bumpy, and the buildings on both sides gradually changed from residential houses to abandoned factories. The rusty steel supports gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and occasionally a few stray dogs could be seen running by with their tails between their legs. The whole area exuded a desolate and deathly atmosphere.
“According to energy sensing, the mutants' gathering place inside the mining area is in the No. 3 mine area, which is still five kilometers away from us.” Cole sat in the passenger seat, staring at the green dots jumping on the terminal. “There are about twenty-seven dots, the fluctuation intensity is moderate, there is no sign of continuous increase, and they are not aggressive for the time being.”
Lynn leaned against the car window, gazing at the mining area outside. This place had once been an important mining base in Honduras, but it was abandoned ten years ago due to resource depletion. Now, only crisscrossing mine shafts, collapsed factories, and rubble remained. It wasn't surprising that Karen's influence had infiltrated this area—abandoned places were often gathering places for all sorts of people, and also convenient for hiding.
The convoy slowly entered the mine entrance when Cole suddenly raised his hand to signal for the car to stop. He pressed his earpiece and whispered, "The energy fluctuations have suddenly intensified. There's an anomaly 500 meters ahead. Everyone prepare for battle and remain concealed."
The team members immediately gripped their rifles tightly, and Lynn also raised his hand to the pistol at his waist, his eyes scanning the mining road ahead warily. The factory buildings on both sides of the road were already dilapidated, with large holes in the windows, and piles of discarded machine parts inside. When the wind blew, the sheet metal made a clanging sound, which was particularly jarring in the silent mining area.
The convoy moved slowly forward. On Cole's terminal, green dots were rapidly expanding and then converging. Suddenly, one dot shot towards the convoy. Cole immediately pressed the communicator button: "Attention, a single mutant is approaching, identity unknown."
Lynn signaled his team members to get out of the vehicle and take cover, while he and one of his men slowly crouched behind an armored vehicle, their eyes fixed on the road ahead. A short while later, a small, thin figure emerged from behind a pile of discarded ore.
He was a young man who looked to be no more than twenty years old, wearing a faded gray jacket, his trousers covered in dust, and his messy hair obscuring most of his face. Faint black markings could be seen on his arms, similar to those of the mutants they had encountered before, but his eyes held no ferocity, only fear and wariness. He gripped a sharp stone tightly in his hand, moving step by step toward the convoy, stopping to observe for a moment after each step.
"Put down your weapons, we mean no harm." Lynn slowly stood up, raised his hands to his chest to indicate that he was not aggressive, and tried to keep his tone gentle. "We are here to find someone, not to fight."
The young man was clearly taken aback. His hand holding the stone trembled slightly, and his eyes darted back and forth between Lynn and his teammates. His lips moved, but no sound came out.
Cole slowly walked over. He understood mutants' senses better than Lynn. He spoke gently to the young man, "We can sense that you are different from those mutants controlled by Karen. Your energy fluctuations are calm and untainted by evil. We are here to help you. Karen's people will no longer bully you."
The young man's body stiffened slightly, a flicker of disbelief crossing his eyes, quickly replaced by fear. He suddenly turned to run away, but was stopped by one of Cole's mutant teammates—the teammate simply reached out and pressed down on the young man's shoulder, without applying any force, yet he couldn't break free.
"Don't touch him!" Lynn immediately stopped the team member, then turned to the young man and said, "Don't worry, we won't hurt you. If you're willing to take us to your settlement, we can provide you with protection and help you break free from Karen's control."
The young man stopped struggling, slowly turned his head, and looked at Lynn with a complicated expression. After about half a minute of silence, he slowly spoke, his voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing against wood: "You...can you really help us? The people of Karen...won't let our families go..." "We can," Lynn said firmly. "Karen's core stronghold is in the northern valley, and this time we're going to take it down. As long as you're willing to resist, we'll take you with us and completely destroy Karen's power, so that you and your families can live a peaceful life."
The young man's gaze wavered slightly. He looked down at the black markings on his arm, then looked up towards the depths of the mine. That was where they had lived for nearly a year, their refuge from Karen's pursuit. His family was still there, and most of his companions were ordinary mutants like him—some born mutants, others ordinary people abandoned after Karen's experiments failed. They lived in constant fear, terrified of being discovered by Karen's people, captured for further experiments, or forced to work for Karen.
“I…I am called Amu.” The young man finally relented and put down the stone in his hand. “I can take you there, but you must promise not to harm my companions or the people of Karen—they are only being forced, and many of them do not want to follow Karen in doing evil.”
Lynn nodded: "I promise you. We will only attack those who attack us first. As for the rest, as long as they lay down their weapons and stop resisting, we will not harm them."
Amu breathed a sigh of relief, turned and walked deeper into the mine, his steps much lighter than before. Lynn gestured for Cole and the team to follow, and the group followed Amu, slowly entering the depths of the abandoned mine.
The further they went into the mining area, the fewer abandoned buildings there were. Instead, there were simple shacks made of sheet metal and wooden planks. Faded clothes were hanging outside the shacks. Occasionally, a few children could be seen squatting and playing at the door of the shacks. When they saw Lynn and the others, they immediately hid inside the shacks, only showing their curious and wary eyes.
In the open space between the shacks, several men were sitting on stones chatting. They all had black markings on their arms. When they saw Amu bringing strangers over, they immediately stood up and stared at Lynn and the others warily. Some of them secretly reached for the weapons at their waists.
"Don't be nervous, they're friends." Amu immediately stepped forward, blocking the crowd, and shouted to them, "They're here to help us. They're going to take down Karen's stronghold so we don't have to hide anymore!"
A commotion erupted in the crowd. Someone shouted excitedly, "Really? Karen's people are finally going to fall?" Others remained skeptical: "Is this some kind of joke? The police came before, but they were utterly defeated by Karen's mutants and even kidnapped two of our companions!"
“I am Cole, the captain of the U.S. Federal Emergency Tactics Team,” Cole stepped forward, showing his badge to the crowd. “We have brought twelve professionally trained mutant team members with ample weaponry and equipment. We are absolutely capable of confronting Karen’s forces. You can rest assured that our target is Karen and his core subordinates, not you coerced mutants.”
The crowd gradually quieted down, and a tall man with a scar on his face slowly stepped out. The lines on his arms were deeper than others, and his eyes were steady; he seemed to be the leader of the group. He stared at Cole for a few seconds, then looked at Lynn, and slowly spoke: "My name is Old Black, and I'm the leader here. Why should I trust you?"
Lynn stepped forward, took out the piece of paper with the coordinates written on it, and waved it at Old Black: "These are the backup coordinates for Karen's core base. We already have a general idea of its location. Moreover, we have captured Varus. He is an important subordinate of Karen, responsible for transporting contraband and mutant experimental materials. As long as we can win you over and coordinate from the inside, the success rate of the raid on the core base will increase by more than 80%."
Old Black's eyes narrowed sharply as he stared at the coordinates on the note, his body trembling slightly. They had heard of these coordinates before, but had never dared to approach them, because it was Karen's core territory, guarded by countless powerful mutants. If they could truly join forces with Lynn and the others to wipe out Karen's stronghold in one fell swoop, they could finally escape a year of living in fear.
"How many of us are there?" Old Hei asked, his tone tinged with anticipation.
"Including you, there are forty-seven in total," Amu added from the side. "We have twenty-seven here, and there are about twenty more in the fishing village on the southern coast. They are all ordinary mutants, without combat ability, but familiar with the terrain."
Lynn pondered for a moment: "First, gather your people together. I'll give you some basic tactical training, teaching you how to evade the Karen patrols and how to coordinate with our operation. I'll send two team members to contact the people in the southern fishing village and try to get them to join us. Once everything is ready, we'll launch a surprise attack on Karen's core stronghold according to the coordinates."
Old Hei nodded immediately and shouted to the people around him, "Everyone, assemble immediately! Call everyone out of the shack, there's something important to announce!"
Soon, the people from the shantytown gradually gathered in the open space, totaling twenty-seven men, women, and children. Most of them had their heads down, their eyes filled with exhaustion and fear, and when they saw Lynn and the others, their eyes held a hint of uncertainty.
Lynn looked at the crowd before him and spoke slowly, his voice carrying clearly throughout the open space: "I know you have suffered a lot, coerced by Karen, living in fear every day. But from today onwards, you no longer need to be afraid. We will lead you to overthrow Karen's rule, destroy his experimental base, and allow you and your families to walk openly in the sunlight, without having to hide anymore."
A murmur rippled through the crowd; some eyes gleamed with hope, while others remained hesitant. Old Black stepped forward and shouted, "I believe in Inspector Lynn, and I believe in Captain Cole! From today onward, we'll fight alongside them against Karen!" (End of Chapter)