The bar didn’t have a real feast, but it did have plenty of simple canned food—potato chips, canned soybeans, fries, crisps, and the like.
All stuff that looked decent but wasn’t really filling.
Still, having something was better than having nothing.
Only after eating through almost an entire bar’s worth of food stock did Eddie start to feel a little better.
If it weren’t for the fact that Eddie kept swiping his card and paying, the bar owner would’ve started wondering whether this guy had come to pick a fight on purpose.
Jill watched her boyfriend with worry the whole time.
Only when Eddie finally looked satisfied and started drinking beer did she ask, “Eddie, how do you feel?
Are you still hungry?”
Eddie shook his head.
“No—much better.
I invented a rapid-digestion tablet, meant to relieve bloating.
Turns out the effect was too strong and caused excess stomach acid, so I had to eat.
Haha—sorry for making you worry.”
“Seriously… you used yourself to test medicine?” Jill scolded softly.
That was extremely dangerous.
“Don’t worry, Jill.” Kevin raised his glass and teased.
“I think Eddie’s got the kind of life that’s hard to kill.
How many people working at Umbrella are normal anyway?
Hahaha!”
Chris was miserable.
He’d been about to confess to Jill, and then Jill suddenly had a boyfriend—damn it.
And not only that, they were living together.
The second he thought of it, he grabbed his bottle again and glug-glug-glug—bitter alcohol down the throat, pain straight to the heart!
Joseph also took turns clinking and chugging with Chris—one bottle for you, one bottle for me.
He’d taken a hard hit today.
His flirting failed, and so many coworkers saw it.
It was humiliating.
“Tonight’s on me,” Eddie laughed loudly, talking like it was all true.
“I just finished a project today—something that helps with eating.
It’s a health supplement that lots of people could use.
As for what it is exactly, I can’t say.
The company has confidentiality agreements.”
In fact, he had rapidly cracked the T-serum vaccine, then observed the changes when the two fused—while also adding a small amount of Progenitor Virus.
After neutralization, he got a very strange substance—one that could greatly increase strength, while not producing an overly uncontrollable berserk state.
After a series of experiments, Eddie combined that substance with a modified vaccine—after removing a certain component—and produced a brand-new serum.
After testing, he confirmed this new serum was the one that could patch his weakness.
After destroying the experimental animals used for testing, Eddie injected himself with the specially improved serum.
As expected, the hunger came back—so he had come to the bar to eat and drink heavily.
This time his mind was clear; he simply felt the urge to eat.
“Sir, you work at Umbrella?” Reporter Alyssa walked over and asked.
“Are you developing pharmaceuticals?”
“That’s right.” Eddie nodded. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
“Do you need something, beautiful lady?”
“No.” Alyssa lifted her glass.
“I’m just asking.
If you want to do an interview, call me.
Here’s my card.
I can give you a one-on-one interview.
I want the first-hand story.
Please.”
“If I need it, I’ll call you.” Eddie nodded and put the card away.
This woman—so fierce, like she feared nothing under heaven—felt like someone he’d seen somewhere before.
Wait.
Wasn’t she also one of the ordinary people who escaped Raccoon City during the outbreak?
And she seemed connected to a suburban facility called the Arklay Mountains Sanitarium.
Eddie’s eyes flickered.
He seemed to come up with a good idea.
“Man, time flies when you’re having fun.
It’s about time to go.”
Jill didn’t know why her boyfriend suddenly wanted to head back, but she knew he must have something to do.
“Alright.
I’ll go with you.”
“Wait!” Cindy—the pretty bar waitress—jogged over in high heels and handed him a card with her pale hands.
“Sir, you forgot your bank card!”
“Thanks.” Eddie smiled and took it.
The next day was the weekend.
There was no need to work.
Only a small number of people needed to stay at camp on duty; most tactical unit members could go home and rest.
Jill prepared breakfast.
“Dear,” she said, her eyes full of amusement, “I’ve noticed you got stronger.”
“I think so too.” Eddie nodded.
“Wife, I feel like I need to talk to you about some things.” After thinking, he decided to tell Jill part of the truth.
Jill propped her cheeks with her hands and put on an attentive expression.
“Go ahead.
I’m listening.”
That look made Eddie sigh inside.
She used to be so hard to chase.
Now that they were living together, progress was fast—she was practically obedient.
Yet outside, Jill was still the same sharp, capable elite of the unit.
The only thing that changed was how she treated her boyfriend.
“At Umbrella, I’m actually responsible for research into a body-enhancement project,” Eddie said, face serious and voice lowered.
“Umbrella’s Chairman Spencer plotted to kill one of my distant relatives long ago—one of Umbrella’s founders, Marcus.”
Jill’s eyes sharpened.
She grew tense.
She hadn’t expected her boyfriend to have such a story.
Her expression became even more focused.
“I’ve successfully developed an enhancement serum,” Eddie continued. The source of this chapter is g.com.
“I didn’t tell Spencer.
Before, to stay alive, I could only play dumb—act like I had no ambition.
I endured for so long because I wanted revenge.
Now the opportunity is here.
And I can sense Umbrella is preparing some terrifying plan.
I don’t know what it is yet.
I’m worried about you.
I want you to use the enhancement serum.
What do you think?” His tone carried an unmistakable question.
Jill frowned as she listened.
“Actually… we don’t need to go through all that.
Even without serum, it’s fine.”
“Relax.” Eddie tried to persuade her.
“There are no side effects.
If there’s one downside, it’s hunger—you’ll eat more than a normal person.
That’s the only bad part.
Believe me.
A good body is what keeps you alive.”
Jill frowned harder.
She really resisted these things.
At least before the mansion incident, she was extremely resistant to injections—or you could say she didn’t trust them.
“I’d rather not.”
“No.” Eddie’s tone turned firm, leaving no room for refusal.
“I’m your husband.
If I say you will, you will.
The Arklay Mountains are dangerous.
Even well-trained special operators can’t guarantee their safety.
You need to guarantee yours.”
Jill had no choice.
She didn’t want to, but you listened to your boyfriend—especially when you were already talking marriage.
“Alright.
I’ll listen.
Whatever you say, I’ll do.”
“Trust me.
It’ll be fine.” Eddie’s voice dropped suddenly, deep and heavy.
“I don’t want you to get dragged down because of me.”
Jill’s heart jolted.
It sounded like her boyfriend was planning something.
Even though she resisted serum, Jill knew he wasn’t the type to act recklessly.
She forced herself to accept the reality, swallowing the discomfort.
It’s not really mandatory—I’ll eventually upload all the chapters here—but it helps a lot in supporting me and allows me to dedicate more time to it.