Note: 1 extra chapter per 35 power stone.
1 chapter per two or three days.
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Chapter start:
Back at the villa, Jill suddenly opened her eyes.
For a few moments, she stared blankly at the ceiling with sleepy eyes before slowly reaching toward the watch beside the bed.
The moment she saw the time—
Her eyes widened.
"3 P.M?!"
Jill immediately jolted upright in panic.
"Oh no…"
"I seriously slept that long?!"
Without wasting another second, she rushed toward the bathroom while half-awake.
A few minutes later, after quickly taking a shower and changing into fresh clothes prepared by the caretakers, Jill finally walked downstairs.
Her wet hair slightly dripped water onto her shoulders while she lazily rubbed her eyes.
At the same moment—
The front doors of the villa opened.
Leon and Emma had just returned.
Leon calmly removed his gloves while walking inside before his cold eyes landed on Jill.
"Looks like you're finally alive again."
Jill awkwardly scratched the back of her head.
"…Sorry."
"I didn't mean to sleep that much."
Leon calmly walked past her afterward.
"You fought zombies all night."
His voice remained calm and detached.
"Your body crashed."
"It's normal."
For some reason—
Hearing that made Jill feel slightly less embarrassed.
Then Leon looked toward Emma without stopping.
"Prepare lunch."
Emma immediately nodded.
"Understood."
Leon then started walking toward the stairs before Jill suddenly spoke again.
"Did you guys find anything about the outbreak?"
Leon stopped briefly.
But before he could answer, Emma calmly replied,
"We confirmed one thing."
"The outbreak was artificial."
Jill's expression immediately became serious.
"You mean someone released the virus intentionally?"
Emma slowly nodded.
"That's our current conclusion."
Jill frowned afterward.
"Do you know who did it?"
Emma crossed her arms slightly.
"We have a suspect."
Then she calmly continued,
"A man named Alan."
"He disappeared shortly after the outbreak began."
Jill's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So he vanished after releasing the virus…"
Leon finally spoke again while standing near the stairs.
"Either he's hiding…"
His cold eyes slightly narrowed.
"Or someone erased him."
The atmosphere inside the villa suddenly became much heavier after those words.
Jill remained silent for several moments after hearing about the investigation.
Her mind still couldn't escape the memories from last night.
The screams.
The blood.
Those monsters eating people alive.
Her hands unconsciously trembled slightly under the table.
Then, after gathering some courage, she suddenly looked toward Leon and asked quietly,
"Mr. Leon…"
Leon stopped near the stairs and looked back at her calmly.
Jill hesitated briefly before speaking again.
"Do you think those zombie outbreaks will happen again?"
For a brief moment—
Silence filled the villa.
Leon looked at her quietly before replying,
"Who knows."
His voice remained calm and cold as always.
"Right now, we barely understand what we're dealing with."
Then he looked away slightly.
"Let's just hope this was the last time."
For the briefest second—
A faint trace of sadness appeared in his eyes.
But it disappeared almost instantly.
Leon then turned around and calmly walked upstairs toward his room.
Jill silently watched his back disappear upstairs before letting out a small sigh herself.
Soon afterward, she walked toward Emma to help pass the time.
About an hour and a half later—
Lunch was finally prepared.
Leon, Emma, and Jill quietly sat together at the dining table and started eating.
The atmosphere remained unusually calm.
Almost too calm.
After around forty minutes, the three of them finished eating while the caretakers quietly cleaned the table and removed the dishes.
Leon casually took out his phone afterward and started dialing someone.
At the same moment—
BZZZZT!!
The television suddenly switched to an emergency news report.
All three of them looked toward the screen immediately.
A female news reporter appeared on the television with a serious expression.
"Hello, people of America."
"It looks like yesterday's outbreak has taken a horrifying new turn."
The screen behind her suddenly changed.
A horrifying symbol drawn entirely in blood appeared on the wall behind her.
Several human skulls had been placed around it.
Jill's face instantly paled.
The reporter continued,
"As you can see behind me, these appear to be ritualistic markings left behind at the infected areas."
"Authorities now suspect that the outbreak may have been intentionally caused by an unknown cult organization."
The screen changed once again.
This time—
A shaky video started playing.
Several people wearing silver-black robes similar to church clothing could be seen surrounding a man.
One of them suddenly bit the victim directly on the neck.
Within seconds—
The victim's body violently twitched before turning into a zombie while somehow remaining partially conscious.
Jill immediately covered her mouth in horror.
The reporter's nervous voice echoed again,
"These cult members are currently being referred to as 'The Black Mass.'"
"Authorities believe they may be responsible for spreading the infection."
"Citizens are strongly advised to remain indoors while New York remains under military lockdown."
The news suddenly ended afterward.
Silence filled the dining room.
Jill's face remained pale.
Her breathing had become slightly uneven.
Leon quietly looked at her for several moments.
He could tell immediately—
The outbreak had traumatized her deeply.
PTSD.
Without saying much, Leon slowly walked toward her before placing a hand on her shoulder.
"You should rest."
His voice remained calm.
"You're still shaken from last night."
Jill quietly lowered her head.
Leon then added coldly,
"Fear's normal."
"Just don't let it control you."
Jill slowly nodded afterward.
Leon then turned toward Emma.
His expression instantly became colder again.
"Things just got worse."
Emma immediately became serious.
"Contact the President."
"Find the location of that cult as fast as possible."
Then Leon calmly added,
"I'll handle this personally."
Emma nodded immediately.
"Understood."
Leon then started walking upstairs again toward his room.
But suddenly—
"Mr. Leon."
Leon stopped.
He slowly looked back toward Jill.
Jill had stood up from the chair.
Despite the fear in her eyes—
There was determination there too.
"I want to come with you."
Emma immediately looked shocked.
Leon stared at Jill quietly for several moments before replying,
"This isn't a police training exercise."
His cold eyes narrowed slightly.
"If you come with me…"
A dangerous silence followed.
"You might die."
Jill clenched her fists slightly before replying firmly,
"Maybe."
"But I still want to help."
Then she looked directly into Leon's eyes.
"I can't just sit here pretending nothing happened."
"If another outbreak happens…"
Her voice slightly trembled.
"I want to stop it too."
Leon quietly stared at her afterward.
Then he let out a tired sigh.
"…Troublesome woman."
For some reason—
A faint smirk almost appeared on Emma's face.
Almost.
Leon then turned toward Emma.
"Prepare equipment for her."
Emma blinked in surprise.
"Mr. Leon… are you sure?"
Leon calmly replied,
"She was ready to fight zombies with an empty pistol last night."
Then his eyes moved toward Jill.
"She won't stay behind even if I refuse."
Jill stayed silent.
Leon then added calmly,
"And honestly…"
His cold eyes narrowed slightly.
"She fits the requirements."
Emma immediately understood what he meant.
S.T.A.R.S.
Leon slowly turned around afterward while speaking one final time.
"She might become one of its future leaders."
Jill's eyes widened slightly after hearing that.
Even Emma looked genuinely shocked.
Leon, however, simply continued walking upstairs toward his room.
"I just hope she doesn't disappoint me."
After Leon disappeared upstairs, Emma slowly looked back toward Jill.
Then she calmly said,
"Come with me."
"I'll prepare your equipment."
Jill immediately nodded.
Soon afterward, both of them walked deeper into the villa before arriving at a hidden underground facility secretly built beneath the mansion.
Weapons.
Supplies.
Emergency defenses.
A hidden bunker prepared long ago by Leon in case the villa was ever attacked.
About two hours later, Leon finally walked downstairs from his room.
The moment he entered the main hall, he immediately saw Jill and Emma sitting near the table.
Jill was now fully equipped.
A handgun rested at her waist while extra magazines, tactical gear, and combat equipment were secured around her outfit.
Compared to yesterday—
She looked completely different.
More focused.
More prepared.
Meanwhile, Emma was still on a phone call while reviewing several files and reports spread across the table.
The moment both women noticed Leon walking downstairs, they immediately looked toward him.
Emma quickly ended the call before walking toward Leon.
"Master Leon."
Leon calmly looked at her.
Emma continued seriously,
"We found the cult's last known location."
Her expression became slightly colder afterward.
"They were seen near a remote village."
Leon quietly narrowed his eyes.
"What village?"
Emma looked down at the documents briefly.
"The records are incomplete."
"The village itself has existed for centuries, but strangely, very little information about it exists online or in government archives."
Leon remained silent.
Emma continued,
"The most suspicious part is the villagers themselves."
"Outsiders who tried entering the area either disappeared…"
"Or returned terrified."
Jill frowned slightly.
"What do you mean terrified?"
Emma crossed her arms.
"They described the villagers as…"
She paused briefly.
"…inhuman."
"Not exactly zombies."
"But not normal people either."
The atmosphere instantly became heavier.
Emma then added,
"The government suspects they may be infected with a new variant of the virus."
"Or perhaps something entirely different."
Leon quietly listened to everything before calmly replying,
"Prepare the helicopter."
Emma immediately nodded.
Leon then continued while walking toward the stairs leading to the rooftop helipad,
"Inform the military and the President that I'm moving out immediately."
Then his cold eyes briefly moved toward Jill.
"And tell them I'm bringing a future S.T.A.R.S candidate with me."
Jill blinked slightly hearing that.
Leon calmly added while continuing to walk,
"Try not to slow me down."
Jill crossed her arms afterward.
"Wow."
"You really know how to motivate people."
Leon casually replied without looking back,
"Honesty's faster."
Emma almost smiled hearing that.
Almost.
Soon afterward, Leon disappeared upstairs toward the helipad.
Meanwhile, Jill slowly turned toward Emma afterward.
"Miss Emma…"
Emma looked at her calmly.
"What exactly is S.T.A.R.S?"
Emma stayed silent briefly before replying,
"A specialized unit."
"Created specifically for handling outbreaks, bioterrorism, and unknown biological threats."
Jill quietly listened.
Emma then added,
"It still hasn't been fully formed yet."
"But Master Leon personally selected you as one of its first candidates."
Jill looked genuinely surprised.
"…Seriously?"
Emma calmly nodded.
"He sees potential in you."
Jill stayed quiet for several moments afterward before replying firmly,
"I appreciate it…"
Then her eyes narrowed slightly.
"But I'm not the type to depend on someone else."
"Especially not a man."
Emma suddenly let out a faint amused sigh.
"I expected you to say that."
Jill blinked slightly.
Emma calmly continued,
"Don't worry."
"Leon isn't planning to lead S.T.A.R.S directly."
"He'll create it."
"He'll guide it when necessary."
"But the members themselves will lead operations."
Jill slowly processed those words.
Emma then added,
"S.T.A.R.S members will command specialized support teams and BSAA forces during outbreaks."
Jill crossed her arms afterward.
"And those support teams are called…?"
Emma paused briefly while trying to remember.
"Hound Wolf Squad."
Jill slowly repeated the name quietly.
"Hound Wolf Squad…"
Emma nodded calmly afterward.
"They'll act as escorts, backup units, and field support under S.T.A.R.S operations."
Then she looked directly into Jill's eyes.
"And if Leon personally selected you…"
A brief silence followed.
"Then he's expecting great things from you."
Jill looked slightly surprised after hearing Emma's words.
Leon actually trusted her enough to place her inside something that important.
Even she didn't expect that.
Before she could say anything else—
Footsteps echoed from the stairs.
Leon had returned.
Both Jill and Emma immediately looked toward him.
Leon calmly walked toward them before asking directly,
"Emma."
"Anything on Alan?"
Emma immediately shook her head.
"We still haven't found his exact location."
Leon silently narrowed his eyes.
Emma then continued,
"However… we confirmed something important."
Leon stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.
"It looks like Alan originally came from that village."
The atmosphere instantly became heavier.
Jill quietly frowned.
Leon calmly replied,
"So the rats finally crawled back to their hole."
A brief silence followed.
"Then our answers are there."
Without wasting another second, Leon turned around and started walking toward the rooftop helipad.
Jill quickly followed behind him while Emma calmly gathered the remaining files before following as well.
Soon afterward—
All three of them arrived at the rooftop.
The military helicopter was already running.
WHOOOOOOOSH!!
Powerful winds swept across the helipad as the rotors spun violently.
The pilot immediately stood straighter after seeing Leon arrive.
Leon and Jill entered the helicopter first.
Emma remained outside beside the aircraft.
Before the helicopter doors closed, Leon looked toward Emma calmly.
"Don't lower your guard while I'm gone."
Emma nodded immediately.
"Yes, Master Leon."
Leon continued,
"If anything related to the outbreak appears…"
His cold eyes narrowed slightly.
"Inform me first."
Then after a brief pause, he added,
"And tell the media to stop calling me a superhero."
Jill blinked.
Emma looked slightly confused.
Leon calmly sat down inside the helicopter afterward.
"I already have enough problems."
That almost made Jill laugh.
Almost.
Then the helicopter slowly started ascending into the sky.
Emma raised her arm slightly to shield her face from the violent winds created by the spinning rotors.
The aircraft quickly disappeared into the distance, heading toward the mysterious village.
Chapter End.
Just four more power stones for extra chapter.
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