The Hive.
Inside Dr. Isaacs' office.
"Dr. Jon," Isaacs leaned forward, his voice tinged with a rare note of genuine surprise. "I must admit, your project has caught me off guard. I didn't expect your research in this area to have advanced so far."
Jon remained composed, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. With the polished ease of a scientist selling his work, he replied,
"This is only an immature direction—still in its infancy. Of course, even at its current stage, the results aren't bad. For example, frontline soldiers—whether injured or in need of enhanced strength to complete their missions—this formula can still prove effective."
Isaacs narrowed his eyes. "And the side effects?"
"Irritability, physical weakness after use, organ damage," Jon answered plainly. "In short—once a subject uses it, their lifespan shortens. It drains a person's potential, and their future."
"Is there a chance to improve it?" Isaacs asked quickly, his eagerness unmasked.
Jon smiled. "That, Dr. Isaacs, is precisely why I sought you out. With sufficient resources and time, I am confident I can bring this project to completion. Perhaps then, we might just achieve a leap for all humanity."
His tone grew almost visionary:
"Every person would be able to surpass the limits of humanity at will—gaining strength, speed… even extending their very lifespan."
Huff… huff…
Isaacs' eyes gleamed with a fire called desire. Longevity—an unvarnished temptation. Strength, perhaps, was not something he pursued for himself. But the promise of extending life? No one could turn away from that.
"Red Queen."
[I am here, Dr. Isaacs.]
Isaacs deliberately called her forth. Even within Umbrella, most employees had no idea of the Red Queen's existence.
"Elevate Dr. Jon's clearance level. Hm… Level 8."
The Red Queen's projection flickered, a flash of surprise crossing her digital face before vanishing. The weight of that command was clear—after all, even most Umbrella shareholders, board members, and senior managers only held Level 7 clearance. Isaacs himself was one of only two individuals in the company with Level 9 authority.
Level 8 was exceedingly rare. By contrast, there were many at Level 7—shareholders, executives, department heads. Some members of management didn't even qualify for Level 7. Even Wesker, Isaacs' most loyal hound, only scraped into Level 7 clearance—and only in the later stages.
[As you wish. Welcome to Umbrella, Dr. Jon.]
"Thank you," Jon replied with a nod.
Isaacs narrowed his eyes. "Dr. Jon, you don't seem at all surprised by the Red Queen. You should know, she represents one of Umbrella's greatest technological breakthroughs—unique in the world."
"When I first sent you that email, I had my suspicions," Jon admitted. "But seeing her in person is still remarkable. Is this… your research, Dr. Isaacs?"
Isaacs gave a dismissive wave, though pride curled his lips. "A trifle, nothing more."
Though he claimed modesty, his expression betrayed satisfaction. And rightfully so. The Red Queen had already transcended conventional AI—if given the means, she could theoretically create her own clone body, transfer her consciousness, and evolve from artificial intelligence into living being.
Cloning, memory transfer, personality rewriting—these were Umbrella's specialties. After the Purge Initiative began, they had produced countless experimental subjects through these technologies.
Dozens of stable clone templates were maintained on standby: Alice, Isaacs, Wesker… all among them.
But for now, such ambitions were not feasible. Human bodies could not yet withstand the totality of an intelligence's data.
"Then allow me to show you," Isaacs said smoothly, "the projects you'll be involved with from now on—and the company's other ventures. Believe me, Dr. Jon, you won't regret it."
"I hope so," Jon answered, gesturing politely.
"This is the T-Virus Project… Observe: the infected, the zombies. Beautiful, aren't they?"
…
"This is our Cloning Project…"
…
"This is the Hibernation Project, soon to begin…"
…
"And this… is Project Eye of Heaven…"
…
To an ordinary person, Umbrella's scale was unimaginable. Merely maintaining its global bases required astronomical expenses. The hidden Antarctic base alone could not be built by money alone—its existence was proof of Umbrella's unfathomable depth.
Had they turned away from bioweapons and focused solely on engineering, Umbrella could have monopolized the construction industry worldwide.
And that wasn't all. Umbrella possessed numerous unpublicized technologies. Take virtual reality: if released to the world, it could create an entirely new industry—and topple countless existing ones.
"So," Jon asked, "when the Purge Initiative is launched, you plan to execute the Hibernation Project in tandem?"
Isaacs nodded. "Correct. The T-Virus is mutable. Once released into the outside world, who knows what forms it might take? It cannot be controlled. God once sent a flood upon humanity—now, it falls to us, the new mankind, to inaugurate a new age of civilization."
His eyes shone with fevered excitement. For Isaacs, this was creation itself.
Jon frowned. "That may not be possible, Doctor. My experiments require my constant attention. At this stage, I cannot leave them."
Isaacs hesitated. Jon's talents and knowledge were a treasure, and his human evolution serum was nearing success. Isaacs could not afford to lose him—not yet, not before he had extracted every ounce of value.
"You must understand, Dr. Jon—once the T-Virus spreads into the air, there will be no safe haven in the world. Not even our Antarctic base. We only need to sleep for a time. When we awaken, the world will be ours."
But Jon shook his head again. Isaacs could only relent for now. After all, the plan had not yet begun.
With Level 8 clearance, Jon now stood above nearly all of Umbrella. He could requisition resources freely, command subordinates at will. Isaacs, of course, ensured some of his loyalists were assigned to Jon's team—he coveted the evolution serum.
But alas, even if Jon personally handed over the process step by step, it would be impossible to replicate. If Isaacs truly obtained the formula, Jon suspected he would end up as nothing more than another test subject on Isaacs' operating table.
…
One month later.
Bzzzt… bzzzt…!
In Isaacs' office, the Red Queen's projection appeared.
[Dr. Isaacs. Dr. Jon requests your presence in the laboratory. Urgent.]
Isaacs looked up. "Urgent? What is it? Did his research fail?"
[No. His experiment has succeeded.]
Isaacs immediately rose. He had kept close watch on Jon's recent work—the serum that could push an ordinary human past their limits. A product of this kind would be epoch-making. It would also be essential for the next stage of their plan.
Deep down, he knew it: this serum marked the dividing line between old humanity and new.
After navigating multiple levels of clearance, Isaacs finally reached the lab—a testament to the high regard in which he held Jon's research.
"Dr. Isaacs," Jon greeted him. "I think you'll appreciate this."
He held a vial of pale green solution. Isaacs took it in both hands, gazing at it as if it were a jewel.
"This… this is your creation? Tell me—how beautiful is it?" His voice trembled with reverence.
"I've named it the Human Enhancement Serum, Model R-1," Jon explained. "It allows an ordinary person to achieve peak human physicality. Short-range sprinting speeds reach ten meters per second. Strength averages three hundred kilograms, with a margin of a hundred depending on the subject. Correspondingly, durability triples."
(Reference: peak human limits.)
"Of course," he added, "some individuals may achieve even more."
"Additionally, it enhances focus, memory, resilience, and more."
Isaacs could hardly contain himself. "Side effects? And—can it extend lifespan?"
Those were the key questions. Yet Isaacs' hunger was clear: the second mattered most.
"Side effects? Greater caloric demand, nothing more—thus far. As for longevity—yes. Approximately five years. The serum acts upon telomeres in human DNA, prolonging cellular division. In effect, it extends the lifespan of the cells, and thus of the individual."
At these words, Isaacs nearly leapt into the air.
"Dr. Jon! You truly are a genius! Those companies that rejected you were fools—garbage! No, I will see to it personally: you must be elevated to Umbrella's management. Nothing less would honor your contribution!"
Jon chuckled. "That won't be a problem, Doctor. The R-1 serum has another advantage—it can be stacked. Administered up to three times. The second dose is only thirty percent as effective as the first, the third twenty percent of the second. Beyond that, the body cannot withstand it."
"Do you have experimental records?" Isaacs' hands trembled as he flipped through the files.
Madness sparked in his eyes. His instincts had been right—Jon was no ordinary man. He was dangerous, brilliant, unstoppable.
This product would forever alter the course of human civilization.
"Hah… hah… Red Queen—designate this project as top-secret. Access restricted. Unauthorized personnel cannot retrieve it."
[Understood.]
That evening, Umbrella's executives received a summons: Dr. Isaacs was convening a shareholder meeting.
Every board member, every high-ranking manager, was ordered to attend. Even Alicia, Umbrella's elusive majority shareholder, was astonished. Though by law the true owner, her illness and Isaacs' machinations had long since stripped her of power.
The last time Isaacs had called such a meeting was to announce the Purge Initiative. For him to summon them again meant something of equal or greater weight.
At the appointed hour, the vast boardroom filled with holographic projections. The executives murmured in surprise. By Isaacs' side sat a young man—Asian in appearance.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Isaacs began, "I believe you can guess why I've called you here. Last time, it was to unveil the Purge Initiative. This time—you will not be disappointed. I propose Dr. Jon be elevated to company management, and granted shares. You will all cede portions of your equity to him."
No one spoke. No one dared.
Though Isaacs was "just" a scientist, his cruelty and ruthlessness were legendary. None would move without knowing the game.
"I know you resent this," Isaacs said coldly. "But trust me—even Alicia herself will not refuse."
The camera turned to Alicia. Though she appeared as a frail old woman, her true age was not so great. It was her disease—ALS, the so-called "frozen muscle" condition—that had withered her.
But at Isaacs' words, even she stirred with interest. What kind of man could earn the praise of this mad doctor?
"Red Queen," Isaacs commanded.
[Dr. Jon joined Umbrella two months ago. Within a single month, he completed the Human Enhancement Serum, designated R-1. It grants ordinary humans the ability to surpass biological limits, achieving extraordinary strength. Test data as follows…]
[Furthermore—it extends human lifespan.]
"What?"
"How is that possible?"
Alicia coughed lightly. Instantly, the room fell silent.
"What of side effects?" she asked, her voice cool.
That was what everyone wanted to know. A product so powerful could not possibly be flawless.
[All test subjects have shown no abnormal side effects.]
The executives' eyes gleamed, like predators scenting prey. Even Alicia's expression shifted.
Isaacs smirked, the smile of a fox who believed the henhouse already his. To him, Jon was firmly in his pocket.