The white-robed man was pleased with how the two of them were performing.
He leaned his face right up to the center of the screen and spoke, word by word.
“Ten years ago, Doctor James Marcus was assassinated by Umbrella.” “You two had a hand in that, didn’t you?” What followed was a burst of maniacal laughter from the white-robed man.
“Hahaha—” While the two sides were locked in their standoff across the screen, Ivan and the others had already walked into the square opening at the center of the hall.
The opening connected to a passage that led downward.
They had gone only a few steps inside the passage when Ivan and the others spotted several mangled spider corpses on the ground.
The smallest of them was at least the size of a basketball, and the larger ones were roughly the size of a grown adult.
Clearly, these too were products of the t-Virus’s influence.
Scattered beside the shredded bodies were plenty of spent shell casings.
Billy sized it all up and offered his verdict.
“This was probably the Bravo Team’s work.” Hearing that, Ivan thought back to the transfer orders they had found earlier on the train.
They had stated plainly that the Ecliptic Express was the second batch to be investigated, directed and coordinated by two superiors whose names began with “W.” Before that, another squad had already reached the Umbrella Executive Training School ahead of them.
So Billy’s analysis made perfect sense.
Ivan took his newly acquired side job as “photographer” quite seriously.
He pulled out the camera and snapped a few photos of the spider fragments in the passage and the green-blood-stained walls.
Watching Ivan’s meticulous focus, Rebecca let a hint of a smile touch her rosy lips.
With the evidence collected, the three of them pressed on.
The end of the passage held a wooden door.
They opened it and stepped inside.
On a table they found a document.
Billy picked it up to read, and the more he read, the darker his face grew.
He handed the pages to Ivan.
Seeing the anger written all over Billy’s face, Ivan scratched his head, then leaned in alongside Rebecca to read the contents together.
[Royce, M., transferred to research facility.] [Davids, A., transferred to research facility.] [Clarke, A., transferred to research facility.] [Gerry, O., deceased, disposal complete.] [Keith, W., preserved as a specimen.] […] A long string of names followed on the list.
Rebecca’s delicate brows knitted together.
“This is monstrous, Umbrella!” Ivan slipped the document into Rebecca’s bag, then gently took her hand and gave Billy’s shoulder a pat.
When they both looked his way, he pointed to his camera.
“Umbrella’s crimes are all right here.
We’ll get justice for the victims, and give the world the truth.” Ivan’s words struck a chord with both Billy and Rebecca.
Billy did his usual thing, tapping his fist lightly against Ivan’s chest.
“Well said, brother.” After that, the three of them searched the rest of the room.
Rebecca found a green herb in the corner, and her expression brightened with excitement.
She called Ivan and Billy over, then spread her palm open to show them.
“Look, what did I find?” Ivan tossed out the perfect opening line.
“Wow, Rebecca, what’s this?” Rebecca was thoroughly pleased with Ivan’s response.
She drew herself up, her voice lilting.
“This is a special herb that grows in the Arklay Mountains.
Whether for internal injuries or external wounds, it has remarkably powerful healing effects.” Billy thought it over and voiced his take.
“So you’re saying it’s some kind of miracle medicine?” Rebecca nodded.
“Exactly.
Right now there are only a handful of medicines on the market that can match this level of healing.
They say the raw material in Umbrella’s soon-to-launch new product, the ‘First Aid Spray,’ is made from this very herb.” Recalling the knowledge she had picked up in the Raccoon City library, Rebecca went on.
“And that’s not all.
Besides the green herb, the Arklay Mountains also grow a blue herb and a red herb.” “The former neutralizes toxins, and the latter enhances the effects of the green and blue herbs.” Ivan raised his hand.
“Teacher Rebecca, I have a question.” Rebecca fought back a smile.
“Go ahead, student Ivan.” Seeing this fully armed hulk of a man in black, Ivan, using such a childish gesture while cracking jokes— the contrast was too much even for Billy.
He lowered his head and covered his night-vision goggles to keep from laughing out loud.
Ivan chuckled too, then pointed at the herb in Rebecca’s hand.
“Teacher Rebecca, first I’d like to know how to use this herb to get the maximum effect.” “Second, suppose I’m gravely wounded, down to my last breath.
If I take a finished mix of the green and red herbs, can it restore my vitality?” Rebecca reined in her smile, her face turning composed and serious.
“That’s a very insightful question, student Ivan.” At that, she raised a single finger.
“First question: the herb can be taken directly.
That’s the best method for treating both internal and external injuries at once.” “Second, if you’re down to your last breath, the red and green herbs combined can hold a dying person’s life in place.” “And depending on the individual’s physical constitution, the recovery efficiency will vary.” Billy was a little startled to hear this.
He had never imagined that plants so ordinary in appearance could have such potent effects.
This went well beyond a mere miracle cure and straight into the realm of a sacred healing elixir.
Rebecca placed the green herb into Ivan’s hands.
“Student Ivan, this herb is yours now.
Be sure to use it at the critical moment.” Ivan took the herb and answered in a full, hearty voice.
“Yes, Teacher Rebecca.
Mission guaranteed.” At that, the corners of Rebecca’s mouth curved up, and after shaking Ivan’s hand, she turned to Billy.
“Student Billy, is there anything you’d like to say?” Caught up in Ivan and Rebecca’s game, Billy turned his head and let out a cold snort.
“Hmph—I refuse to answer any questions, because it’s break time now.” With that he pressed his lips tight and walked straight out the door.
Ivan and Rebecca exchanged a glance, and in the end they broke into soft laughter together.
With much of the gloom cleared from their hearts, the three moved on.
No sooner had they stepped outside than they noticed a ventilation duct set high on the damp stone wall, its wire mesh torn away.
Ivan glanced at the vent.
“Want to go take a look inside?” Rebecca thought for a moment.
“Ivan, give me a hand.” Ivan, in perfect sync with Rebecca, understood exactly what she meant.
“Sure, I’ll go with you.” Rebecca nodded with a smile.
She had grown used to having Ivan at her side.
With that settled, Ivan reached out and hoisted Rebecca’s petite frame up into the vent.
Then he signaled to Billy that he could give him a lift up too.
Billy shook his head, stepped forward instead, and held out his hand.
“We can’t leave no one out here.” With that, Billy extended his hands, gesturing for Ivan to climb up by stepping on his shoulders.
Ivan patted Billy’s shoulder and didn’t refuse.
It had to be said, as a Marine Corps second lieutenant, Billy had an incredibly solid build.
Even with all of Ivan’s gear weighing him down, the lift was relatively effortless.
Ivan gave Billy a thumbs-up, then turned and climbed into the room.
He saw Rebecca below him, waiting obediently for his arrival.
Ivan didn’t hesitate.
He pulled off a smooth landing maneuver on the spot and slipped inside.