Chapter 65: Ada Wong
Zoe continued, “However, this symbiotic flower is extremely rare and cannot be cultivated artificially. The institute has only these few left.”
Li Changsheng sighed. “That’s rather unfortunate.”
“But these are enough to make the vaccine.”
Li Changsheng was taken aback. “Just this little is enough?”
Zoe replied, “It’s sufficient for experimental use.”
Hearing this, Li Changsheng’s eyes immediately lit up. He looked at Zoe with a sharp gaze.
If his understanding of this world was correct, all sorts of mutant undead and other monsters would appear in the future. While he could survive on his own, one person’s strength would never be enough to accomplish anything meaningful. But with a vaccine, everything would be different. He believed that, by then, many would willingly join Civilization City.
“Ah! Are you planning to eat me? How scary! Vaccines aren’t made so easily. It requires a massive amount of data and experiments.” Zoe was startled, shrinking behind Choi Ji-yoon.
Li Changsheng laughed awkwardly. “Why are you scared? I don’t eat people. By the way, Researcher Zoe, do you have anywhere to go now?” As he spoke, his gaze landed on Choi Ji-yoon.
He had already taken a liking to this researcher, and as it happened, the Disease Control Center and Civilization City had several floors of research equipment that were simply going to waste.
Is it really all right to poach talent right in front of me?
Choi Ji-yoon complained inwardly, but Zoe’s situation hadn’t received approval from higher-ups. She had acted on her own, and with Han Jae-yong interfering, she couldn’t think of a suitable way to settle Zoe’s situation for now.
“Do you have a good camp?”
Li Changsheng smiled and nodded. “Of course. My camp is well-supplied, well-manned, with limitless prospects. Most importantly, it’s very safe.”
Choi Ji-yoon considered for a moment, hesitated briefly, then patted Zoe’s shoulder. “Zoe, your identity is special. Go with him for now and lay low. Once I deal with the traitor, I’ll come fetch you.”
Now that she’d been branded a traitor by the Freemasons, she could only reach out to the United Fleet personnel.
Zoe let out a small cry. “Can I not go?”
Choi Ji-yoon shook her head. “Unless you can survive here in the institute.”
Zoe glanced around, thought for a moment, then shook her head. “Forget it. This place is much scarier.”
She was right. Since Lauter lost control, the entire institute had become a living hell, bloodstains everywhere.
“It’s settled, then.”
After discussing, Choi Ji-yoon used the institute’s computer to successfully contact the members of her squad.
Li Changsheng did the same.
Several hours later, a military helicopter landed on the institute’s rooftop.
Two strikingly beautiful women stepped off the aircraft.
One had short golden hair, a military cap, a full green uniform with a short skirt, black stockings, and high heels. Her name was Jessica.
The other carried an AWP sniper rifle, wore a dark cropped jacket over a revealing bronze-gold inner top, a miniskirt, fishnet stockings, and high heels. She was called Natasha.
Both women’s styles were much like Choi Ji-yoon’s, though they seemed out of place in this post-apocalyptic world.
While Li Changsheng couldn’t help but marvel, he also enjoyed the view.
“Wait for my message!” After exchanging glances with Li Changsheng, Choi Ji-yoon waved, left a few communicators and a parting message, then boarded the helicopter without looking back.
As always, she was cool and decisive.
Watching her leave, Li Changsheng and Zoe were the only ones left in the vast institute.
Li Changsheng smiled at the somewhat evasive Zoe. “Come, return to the base with me. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
...
At the same time.
In the presidential suite atop a grand hotel, a woman stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, elegantly savoring red wine from a goblet.
The view here was expansive, allowing her to oversee the entirety of Raccoon City, still bearing the scars of a nuclear cleansing.
This woman wore her jet-black hair in a sharp bob, her graceful features carrying an air of mystery. Dressed in a red leather jacket, her eyes were sharp yet held a touch of allure.
Suddenly, her communicator chimed.
Her slender, fair fingers opened the cover. After glancing at the caller ID, she pondered briefly, then answered.
A man’s face appeared on the device.
He had short brown hair, deep blue eyes, wore a black suit and sunglasses. His features were dignified and cold.
“Ada, did you receive the files? You know why I’m contacting you.” His voice was steady and indifferent.
“Yes, Wesker, I know,” Ada replied calmly, then shifted the tone. “But this mission seems rather dangerous...”
Wesker raised an eyebrow. “You understand danger better than most, don’t you?”
Ada’s gaze sharpened. “I am well aware. Investigating and recovering bioweapons is no trivial matter. Besides, the world you people have created is extremely perilous... Why choose me?”
Wesker leaned forward, looking down at the screen. “I need your expertise. And besides, you have your own motives, don’t you?”
Ada smiled slightly. “My motives? Perhaps you have your own agenda as well, isn’t that right?”
Wesker’s eyes flickered. “Perhaps. But we both act for profit.”
Ada’s expression remained cool. “Then prepare me a proper ship. In today’s world, an ark is essential. And make sure it’s clean.”
Wesker smiled faintly. “No problem. I’ll send you more detailed footage.”
Ada received the file and opened it. It was video footage of Li Changsheng’s battle with the monster Lauter. The video, however, only showed Lauter massacring the bodyguards and the brief segment where he and Li Changsheng exchanged gunfire, severing the tentacles. The rest was static.
Ada frowned at the image of the monstrous Lauter. “You’re interested in such an ugly monster? How am I supposed to bring it back for you?”
Wesker shook his head. “Ada, the target isn’t the monster, but the black-haired, black-eyed man—just like you.”
“Oh?” Ada’s interest was piqued, her eyes locking onto Li Changsheng in the video. “What’s so special about him?”
Wesker sent another photo, showing Lauter’s remains—nothing but a skeleton after his self-destruction.
Had Li Changsheng seen the image, he would have instantly realized it was secretly taken by one of Park Puseong’s men.
“This is the result of the battle. The monster was killed, and we’ve lost all contact with our informant since.” Wesker’s face grew stern. “I suspect this man is the latest human-type bioweapon from the Pioneer Corporation. It seems Dr. Rex is ahead of us.”
Ada sipped her wine, her lips even more alluring. “In that case, my fee just went up.”
Wesker smiled. “No problem. Begin your mission now—time waits for no one.”
The video call ended, and the virtual projection on the screen vanished.
Silence returned to the room.
Only Ada still stared intently at Li Changsheng’s image on the communicator.
“What exactly makes you so special?”