"So, that guy said he came to see you for something, and then he just left?"
Chris stared at Rebecca and Sherry. The latter nodded.
"Yes. He said he came to protect us, and then he left."
"All right… that organization is as mysterious as ever."
Chris shook his head. Ever since the Inquisition killed that senator years ago and even blew up the entire TriCell Pharmaceuticals complex, the government had been trying to investigate the whereabouts of that mysterious group—but with absolutely no results. Whether it was that man or the organization he mentioned, there hadn't been even the slightest trace, as if they had never appeared in this world at all.
And now, it had appeared again.
"But anyway, we managed to save the database."
Remembering what had happened earlier, Rebecca still felt a lingering chill. Afterward, they found a USB drive containing research data on the leather-clad woman's body. It was clear that her goal in attacking the facility was to obtain Rebecca's viral research data. Fortunately, Duanmu Huai had killed that woman and prevented the data leak. Although they didn't know exactly who was behind this, at least for now, the other side had failed.
No—perhaps Chris did know who the mastermind was.
"Glenn Arias."
Chris took out his phone and showed a photo of a white-haired man who looked very refined.
"He's an arms dealer. He took over what remained of Umbrella and TriCell's assets and is now selling these viruses to others. I think maybe your vaccine progress was too advanced, which caught his attention. In fact, the woman who died at the scene was one of his subordinates."
Thinking of that, Chris couldn't help recalling the previous operation. The undercover agents he sent had lost contact. When Chris led a team to the site, he found them all dead—and turned into zombies. The entire place had been a trap. Chris himself had almost been killed by that man, if not for backup arriving just in time.
At that time, the man had a woman in a leather suit and a burly brute beside him. Although the leather woman's head had been smashed by Duanmu Huai, from Rebecca and Sherry's description, she was clearly the same woman who had been with Arias back then.
So, Chris didn't dislike Duanmu Huai. On the contrary, he was quite grateful—at least that guy helped him take revenge.
"But… why did this guy named Arias do all this?"
Sherry looked at the photo curiously.
"He's an arms dealer, and someone targeted him. During his wedding, drones attacked the ceremony; his wife and family were all killed. He barely escaped with his life. Maybe because of that, he decided to use this way to take revenge on the world."
"…That's so pitiful…"
As soon as Sherry finished speaking, a cold voice came from behind her.
"Pitiful, my ass."
Following that voice, Duanmu Huai stepped out of the shadows, took a big stride, and sat down heavily on a nearby bed with a snort.
"An arms dealer. A merchant of death. A bastard who plays with chaos and conflict. He got exactly what he deserved. And now he dares to feel wronged? These people sell weapons and fuel wars—countless people have died under their guns. Now a few of his family members die and suddenly it's unfair? What about all those who died because of the weapons he sold—who do they complain to?"
"You—how are you here?!"
Seeing Duanmu Huai appear, everyone was shocked. Huai just shrugged.
"I've been following you guys the whole time. Didn't you notice?"
"I… really didn't…"
Sherry, Rebecca, and Chris were all speechless, staring at the towering man before them. How could someone this big have been following them without being noticed?
"Ugh… Maybe I've been working too long lately and my eyesight's going bad…"
Sherry rubbed her glasses helplessly, while Rebecca and Chris both looked exasperated. Soon, Chris came back to his senses and coughed lightly.
"You're that Inquisition Judicator, right?"
"That's right."
"And you came to see Rebecca and Sherry for something?"
"Yes. Something very important. So I hope you can settle your current problems quickly—time is precious for us."
"Big Uncle, what do you need us to do?"
Hearing Huai's words, Sherry tilted her head curiously, while Huai looked at her and gave a straightforward answer.
"Simple. The same thing you're doing now—stop another bioweapon disaster. As for the details, I'll tell you later. So I hope you can finish your matters here and come with me to the Inquisition."
"This…"
Sherry and Rebecca exchanged glances, while Chris frowned deeply.
"No. I don't allow it. The Inquisition's background is unclear. If you want to cooperate, it has to be through official channels—"
"Your government isn't qualified to speak with the Inquisition."
Huai cut him off coldly.
"This is a direct order from the Inquisition. I am here to invite these two to assist in the research and handling of a bioweapon disaster."
"…And if we refuse?"
Chris stared at Huai, his voice low. Huai just glanced at him indifferently.
"The Inquisition doesn't accept refusal."
For a moment, the atmosphere grew heavy and tense. Chris's hand quietly moved to his gun, while Huai just sat there, coldly staring back. Fortunately, before things got worse, Sherry quickly stood up and stepped between them.
"Uncle Chris! I believe Big Uncle doesn't mean us any harm! He just wants our help with a bioweapon outbreak… If that's the case, then I'm willing to go!"
"Sherry?"
Rebecca looked at her in surprise, but Sherry met her eyes firmly.
"Please, Professor, trust me. Big Uncle saved me from that city before! To protect me and Claire, he fought those monsters alone… I know he wouldn't hurt us!"
"…Come to think of it, you did protect Claire too…"
Hearing this, Chris slowly relaxed his grip on his weapon and lowered his hand.
"That makes two favors I owe you. But… I assume you won't make them do anything dangerous, right?"
"Of course not."
Huai shook his head. Hell no. After finally finding two decent, righteous scientists, he wasn't about to risk them.
He wasn't entirely clear about Rebecca's situation—honestly, he was a bit puzzled. As far as he remembered, Rebecca had been the heroine of Resident Evil 0, a special forces medic. So how had she become a professor now? What happened in between?
But Huai knew Sherry well enough. Sherry would never be tempted by the Plague God's whispers. She'd seen what the T-virus could do firsthand; she'd rather die than repeat her father's mistakes. He could trust her completely.
"I just need to borrow them for a while. Once everything's resolved, I'll send them back safely."
"That's good."
Chris nodded, then paused to think.
"Right now, we need to locate that arms dealer. He's probably planning another large-scale bioterror attack. Even though his assault on Rebecca's lab failed, that doesn't mean he'll stop. We have to find him as fast as possible and destroy his plans completely."
He took out a data chip.
"Fortunately, we recovered information from that leather woman's body. It lists his hideout—a factory in the suburbs. He's producing biotoxin gas there. Now that his plan has been exposed, he might try to flee or trigger it early. We have to act immediately."
As he spoke, Chris turned to Rebecca and Sherry.
"There's probably a massive amount of toxin there. We'll need your help to neutralize it."
"Perfect."
Huai stood up.
"Then what are we waiting for? Time won't wait for us."
At this point, there was nothing more to say. Rebecca and Sherry nodded. Chris also stood up.
"The Anti-Biohazard Task Force is mobilizing. We'll be the first squad in."
He glanced at Huai.
"You're coming with us?"
"Of course."
Huai nodded.
"I'll be right behind you."
After that, the group boarded a helicopter toward their target location.
"This used to be one of Umbrella's underground pharmaceutical factories."
Inside the helicopter, Chris pulled up the digital map and began explaining to the others. As he talked, he scanned around—yet in the spacious transport chopper, there was no sign of Duanmu Huai at all. Ever since they left the safehouse, the big man had disappeared again.
No one knew how someone that huge could hide so completely.
Could it be stealth technology?
Chris grumbled inwardly but quickly turned back to the mission briefing.
"The facility is deep in the mountains. Missiles can't hit it effectively. Our only option is to breach it from inside and destroy it manually. The location is classified, but there will definitely be plenty of B.O.W.s and mutants inside."
He finished speaking and looked at everyone.
"All right—prepare for action!"
WHUP-WHUP-WHUP-WHUP—!!
The helicopter roared and descended onto a clearing between the mountains. Fully armed Anti-Biohazard soldiers rushed out in formation. They had all been injected with Rebecca's vaccine, ensuring that the toxic gas inside wouldn't affect them.
"The second wave will arrive in three hours! We move now! Don't let that bastard escape!"
Chris gave the order sharply, then turned to Rebecca and Sherry.
"You two… doing okay?"
"Don't worry, Uncle Chris. Big Uncle will protect us!"
Sherry grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. Chris could only shake his head with a sigh.
"All right then, we'll split into three teams. My team goes first to scout the interior—you two follow after!"
After giving the order, Chris led two squads of soldiers inside. Sherry exhaled softly and looked around again.
"Big Uncle, are you here?"
"Of course."
As his voice echoed, Duanmu Huai's massive figure stepped out from behind a tiny tree nearby. Rebecca looked at the tree—barely thicker than her arm—then at the mountain of a man who had somehow hidden behind it. Then she took off her glasses and wiped them carefully.
Maybe her nearsightedness had gotten worse again.
"All right."
Huai clenched his fists, eyes locked on the facility entrance ahead.
"Let's move."
(End of Chapter)