“Watch out!” Eddie suddenly pulled Jill to the side.
A zombie dog burst out of the bushes without warning.
Beside them, the “Wolf Mother” bodyguard, Lupo, raised her gun and fired—one shot, a clean headshot.
The zombie dog’s corpse was already rotted to a level of disgusting beyond words, and its skull popped like a rotten fruit.
“What the hell is that thing…?” Jill’s legs went a little weak when she saw the ferocious-looking zombie dog.
If she hadn’t been so well-trained, she might’ve collapsed on the spot.
Fear was unavoidable when faced with something unknown and grotesque.
“No idea.
Maybe some kind of weird creature.” Eddie frowned.
“It reeks—looks like it’s been dead for a while.
This place is dangerous.
Let’s head back for now.
We can tour the area another day.”
From the very beginning he’d had his arm around Jill, and she didn’t seem to have noticed.
Jill coughed lightly.
“You’re right.
This place is dangerous.
I’m really worried about your safety.
And… thanks, just now.”
“No need.” Eddie laughed loudly.
“I mean, we’re boyfriend and girlfriend—helping each other is only natural, right?”
“T-That… isn’t that a bit fast?” Jill frowned.
She had that odd feeling of being shoved onto the stage and forced to perform.
“Not at all—this is normal.
We’re taking it step by step.
Some people meet today and get married tomorrow.” Eddie glanced at the layered mountain ridges, still frowning.
“I’ll take you home first.
If you go out on missions later, remember to tell me.
Things seem… unstable lately.
I’m worried about you.”
“Thank you.” Jill didn’t know what else to say.
She needed to calm down.
She was supposed to be investigating the bizarre murders in the Arklay Mountains—so how did it feel like she’d ended up dragging herself into something else entirely?
With Lupo accompanying them, Eddie escorted Jill back to her apartment in Raccoon City.
He didn’t choose to go upstairs for coffee—unrealistic.
Jill wasn’t that kind of woman, not someone casual.
“Want to find a café and sit down for a cup of coffee?” Eddie asked his bodyguard, Lupo.
“I’m only responsible for your safety,” Lupo replied expressionlessly.
They went to a café.
Eddie ordered two coffees and sat on the second floor, looking down at the bustling commercial street.
The place still pulsed with business vitality—every day, stacks of golden bills flowed in.
“I think we need to talk,” Eddie said seriously.
“You saw what happened today.
That was a bioweapon incident.
And in the future, we’re going to face a lot—a lot—of monsters like that.”
“I know.” Lupo nodded.
“In the documents, I saw the core training section—specialized drills for handling special weapons.
Maybe it’s meant for dealing with those monsters.
I don’t care about that.
You pay me, I do the job.” Her expression remained calm and cold; every movement of this mature woman carried an intelligent, composed beauty.
“Believe me.
I’ll give you the best treatment.” Eddie smiled.
“I’ve played dumb for over twenty years.
Now that I finally have a chance, I won’t miss it.
And because I’ve tasted the coldness of people and the cruelty of the world, I know how precious loyalty is.” His eyes narrowed slightly.
“When you were sentenced and thrown in prison, I’m sure plenty of relatives pretended they didn’t even know you, right?”
Eddie’s words struck a faint chord in Lupo.
Maybe their experiences were shockingly similar.
“Just say what you’re planning,” Lupo said, her expression shifting a fraction.
“I need you to take control of Delta Team—to truly make it ours.” Eddie’s tone hardened.
“That Bodrovski is Umbrella’s spy.
He’s there to monitor me.
I need you loyal to me.
I can’t make certain moves myself, but you can act in my place—lead the entire team for me.
Whatever you need, I’ll provide.
I need your absolute loyalty.”
“I hate betrayal.” Lupo frowned.
“I know.
So do I.” Eddie lifted his coffee and took a sip.
“I promise I’ll never discard you.
And you can rebuild a new family.”
“You?” Lupo suddenly laughed—softly, warmly.
It was unexpectedly dazzling, a mature charm that lingered in the air.
“You still need a lot more training.”
“Don’t look down on me!” Eddie bristled.
Being doubted like that—how could he allow it?!
“If you don’t believe me, try me!”
Three hours later, Eddie walked out of a motel with Lupo—whose steps were unsteady—heading toward Umbrella’s underground laboratory beneath Raccoon City.
The fastest way to make someone truly your person… was exactly like this.
Lupo was actually quite satisfied.
This man could be trusted.
And she would find a way to integrate this unit—Delta Team, the so-called “Delta” Delta Team—maybe even rename it the Wolf Pack.
Descending beneath Umbrella’s pharmaceutical building, the route was lined with fully armed guards.
But when they reached another corridor, the armed personnel had been withdrawn.
Rumor said it was because William didn’t allow them in—he didn’t want anyone disturbing his research.
Perhaps because he had his eyes on the future potential of the G-serum, Spencer had silently pulled the guards back.
Perhaps he was waiting for the right moment—the moment to seize the G-serum.
The G-serum was clearly not perfected yet, and getting a half-finished product—or a defective one—was something Spencer, obsessed with immortality, would never accept.
A middle-aged woman approached.
She had blond hair, blue eyes, wore a pure white researcher’s coat, and stood on eight-centimeter high heels.
“You are Eddie Cai?
I’m Annette Birkin—Dr.
Birkin’s wife.”
Her hair was a flowing, gilt-gold length, tied into a single ponytail that made her look crisp and capable.
A work badge with Umbrella’s seal was clipped to her collar.
“Hello.
I’m Eddie Cai.” Eddie smiled as he greeted her, and he couldn’t help feeling his eyes brighten.
This woman wasn’t so beautiful it shook the heavens, but she carried an elegant, cool gentleness—very easy on the eyes, the kind you didn’t get sick of looking at.
Not like an internet celebrity face that became irritating the more you stared.
“Chief William is busy right now.” Annette nodded.
“I can take you for a tour of the lab.
There are many defensive mechanisms here—don’t wander around.
When Chief William has time, he’ll come find you.”
She turned and led the way ahead, her heels tapping the floor with a crisp, rhythmic sound.
William’s lab felt oddly empty.
Certain areas didn’t grant access at all—likely reserved for human experimentation.
William wasn’t a good man to begin with.
Anyone who could be an Umbrella researcher… nine out of ten had done human experiments.
“I’ve heard Dr.
Birkin has a very deep understanding of the T-serum,” Eddie said, starting to lay on the flattery.
“Within the company—and even in the French branch—there are stories about Dr.
Birkin.
I wonder if I might be allowed to ‘pay my respects’ to the Doctor’s notes?”
Flattery, no matter how you wrap it, rarely fails.
Besides, William was going to “dog-die” in a few months anyway—no need to be too precious about it.
Annette seemed pleased.
“You’re pretty smart.
My husband is naturally very smart.
Wait here—I’ll show you his old T-serum research notes.
But you can’t take them away!”
And here was the problem: Annette didn’t catch it at all.
“Pay my respects” is something you do for the dead, not the living.
In other words, Eddie had basically cursed her husband to die—right to her face.
And she didn’t even notice!
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.