Knock.
Knock.
Two dull knocks sounded from outside the door.
Then came the voice of an orderly.
“Sir, Headquarters has assigned an A-Class researcher to the base.” Whenever Ethan claimed a system reward, the system would arrange for that reward or support to arrive through a seemingly reasonable method.
Ethan opened the door.
Two orderlies stood outside.
The moment they saw him, both saluted.
“Sir.
The researcher assigned by Headquarters has arrived.
Would you like to meet him?” Ethan nodded.
“Take me to him.” He boarded one of the base’s internal transport vehicles and headed toward the reception center.
There, Ethan saw a blond researcher wearing glasses.
He had the unmistakable appearance of an academic completely absorbed in his work.
William Birkin.
A genius scientist from the world of Resident Evil.
Through his own research, he had developed the terrifying G-virus, which possessed virtually limitless mutation potential.
Unfortunately, he had never been given enough time to truly perfect it, leaving the G-virus as an incomplete product.
William Birkin might look like a harmless, introverted academic, but researchers like him tended to become completely consumed by their work.
When conducting experiments, they often stopped viewing test subjects as people and instead treated them as expendable materials.
Yet there was no denying that such researchers could produce genuine technological breakthroughs.
In an ordinary major nation, someone like William Birkin might spark enormous controversy.
But this was the Foundation.
Here, his talent was something humanity needed.
When survival itself was at stake, distinctions between good and evil, morality and ethics, became far less important than whether the research produced results.
William was currently dressed in a white lab coat and carrying a briefcase.
The moment he saw Ethan, he walked forward and forced an awkward smile.
“You must be Commander Ethan.” “I’m William Birkin, an A-Class researcher assigned here by Foundation Headquarters.” He lifted the case slightly.
“I’ve brought a sample of the T-virus and the research data on the Tyrant.” Ethan warmly shook his hand.
“Welcome, Dr.
Birkin.” “This base has been desperately lacking someone suitable to oversee its research division.” “Your arrival couldn’t have come at a better time.” William adjusted his glasses.
“Do you have any specific assignments for me, Commander?” “Any particular research direction?” “If not, I intend to continue my research on the G-virus—” Ethan interrupted him.
“I’d very much like you to continue that work eventually, but we currently have several research projects that take priority.” “For example, analyzing SCP-939, ‘With Many Voices.'” “I also need a complete research package on the T-virus, particularly regarding its potential applications in human enhancement.” “And research into the T-103 Tyrant, including the possibility of mass production, is also necessary.” He looked directly at William.
“The last two shouldn’t be particularly difficult for you, right, Dr.
Birkin?” William fell silent for a moment.
He clearly wanted to continue his G-virus research.
But after hearing Ethan’s instructions, he ultimately placed obedience to orders first.
Besides, he had never encountered anything like anomalies before.
That alone had already sparked his interest.
William answered readily.
“In that case, I’ll follow your instructions.” “The T-virus and Tyrant projects can be handled relatively quickly.” “However, research on SCP-939 will require more time.” “That’s fine.” Ethan nodded.
“The base already has the necessary scientific personnel assigned.” “You can establish your own project teams whenever you’re ready.” After settling Dr.
Birkin into his new role, Ethan turned his attention toward another useful reward— The Stealth Mech.
He climbed into it and tested it personally.
The Stealth Mech was a compact machine standing roughly 1.5 meters tall.
As its name suggested, it had been designed specifically for infiltration and special operations.
It could move normally on two legs, but it could also switch into a wheeled mobility mode, allowing its operator to ride it almost like a motorcycle.
Its standard armament included tranquilizer weapons.
However, it could also be fitted with rocket launchers, 40mm grenade launchers, mounted Gatling guns, and various other weapons.
It could also assist soldiers in carrying at least 200 kilograms of equipment and supplies.
There was no question that a machine like this would be an extraordinary asset for special operations.
If real-world special forces units were equipped with something comparable, their combat effectiveness would improve enormously.
And this was only the most basic version.
With further improvements—such as integrating artificial intelligence and autonomous control systems—it might eventually be capable of performing limited independent operations without a human pilot.
That would make it even more valuable.
Looking at the machine, Ethan suddenly had an idea.
Tony Stark was still around.
Why not ask Tony to help analyze the Stealth Mech and assist in improving it?
Once they developed a perfected version and put it into mass production, Ethan could use it to equip Foundation combat units.
At present, the only ground combat force Ethan could directly deploy was still the Air Assault Company.
Foundation units had another useful characteristic.
As long as an entire organizational formation wasn’t completely destroyed, the unit could return to base and receive replacements from the system—or rather, from “Headquarters”—until its numbers were restored to full strength.
At the same time, the more veterans a unit accumulated and the greater its combat experience became, the more opportunities it had to advance in classification.
For example, a recruit unit could eventually be promoted into a Mobile Task Force, then continue advancing beyond that.
Because of this, Ethan didn’t immediately begin another containment mission.
Instead, he sent the Air Assault Company to the Mobile Task Force Training Center inside the A-Class Base.
The facility contained virtual training systems capable of placing soldiers inside realistic simulated environments.
After only a week of intensive training, Ethan might finally gain a true Mobile Task Force.
Once that happened, he would be far more confident when taking on E-Class missions.
By then, he could also reorganize and upgrade the unit’s structure while introducing newly developed weapons and equipment.
That would make it much easier to achieve higher mission evaluations.
The enormous rewards Ethan had received from the last operation were closely tied to earning an S-Class evaluation.
If his evaluation had been much lower, then even if the containment operation still succeeded, the rewards would’ve been nowhere near as generous.