Infinite Progress, Starting with Arasaka

Vera recalled the benefits she had given him, the charity fundraising dinner organized by his wife, where she bought a painting that was ridiculously expensive and which she couldn't appreciate for its artistic value, donating two million dollars.

"You can know a person's face but not their heart. Spencer, that Englishman, fancies himself a nobleman, but I never expected him to commit such an evil deed."

A tall, thin middle-aged man with graying hair joined the conversation at the opportune moment. Vera shook his hand gently.

The leader of the opposition in the House of Representatives.

The construction company his son joined, and the Umbrella California branch that Vera had previously controlled, had a large volume of orders with the newly established Militech.

"Gentlemen, this is a unity not seen since 1941. God bless America. When disaster strikes, our common patriotic stance perfectly proves the superiority of our system."

The Speaker, with his white hair but robust and strong physique, and a ruddy, healthy complexion, stepped down from the podium. After shaking hands with his old rivals in Congress, he looked towards Vera.

Vera returned his smile.

She and the Speaker had a bit of a connection.

He had been a VIP user of Umbrella California's rehabilitation and convalescence services. After the Raccoon City incident, she hadn't just sought out Derek C. Simmons.

This highly respected elder statesman, a lawyer by profession and a graduate of UC Berkeley Law School, was an alumnus from several terms before Vera's. After building a connection, Vera promised him a leisurely post-retirement position: legal consultant for Militech's legal department.

Under the introduction of these old timers, Vera shook hands with each nearby congressman and dignitary, thanking them with a polite smile.

This word was likely the one she had said the most today.

Listening to their words of encouragement and sympathy, Vera inwardly scoffed.

What unity? If the Raccoon City incident hadn't been so massive, they would absolutely still be engaged in partisan infighting.

The 9/11 attacks hadn't happened yet. At this time, North America, the land of the chosen, had never been attacked. Suddenly, a biohazard incident that killed over a hundred thousand people, destroying an entire city, was something no politician could bear the responsibility for.

Even the President would be impeached and possibly forced to step down.

She had to be the one to step in.

Bringing benefits while also taking the blame...

No, this was Umbrella's doing in the first place.

The White House and Washington were aware of the shady dealings Umbrella had been involved in for years.

They hadn't intervened for several reasons: partly because they had needs and Umbrella had the technology, and they weren't clean themselves; partly because Umbrella's lobbyist groups and political donations had built a formidable protective shield.

As you know, after Raccoon City was destroyed by a nuclear bomb in the original timeline, due to a lack of concrete evidence and perhaps some unspoken concerns, Umbrella, despite being heavily suspected, managed to survive in the stock market from 1998 until 2005.

If Wesker hadn't submitted the documents regarding Umbrella Corporation's private research into biological viruses and weapons to the International Court, they might have held on for a few more years.

Now, with Vera's defection, countless individuals who knew about the Raccoon City branch were rescued by the U.S.F., and a large amount of evidence that would have been destroyed in the Raccoon City nuclear blast was made public. This made the politicians in Washington jubilant.

The blame had to fall entirely on Umbrella. With the evidence in hand, they could condemn them to death!

Otherwise, wouldn't they appear incompetent?

Under the temporary united front, the congressmen presented a facade of harmony.

As if there were no pressure or conflict.

And the newly appointed Militech CEO, the whip, the opposition leader, and the Speaker, who had inherited all of Umbrella's business during its transformation, were photographed together. Journalists, with their keen sense of observation, naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity.

As the four of them walked out of the Capitol Building through the main entrance, the numerous reporters waiting at the entrance swarmed towards them like a tide. Flashes from cameras flickered incessantly, and a cacophony of questions filled the air, making it impossible to hear anything clearly.

"Was the Raccoon City incident really caused by a viral leak?"

"William Birkin turned into a deformed monster. Ms. Russell, are the photos and videos you released real? Can you guarantee it?"

"Why did you rename the reorganized U.S.A. Umbrella as Militech? Ms. Russell, can we boldly speculate about your relationship with the Pentagon?"

"Ms. Russell, is this move intended to signal your future operational and business direction to the outside world? Will Militech, reorganized from the Umbrella California branch, abandon its old pharmaceutical business and become a 'pure' defense contractor?"

"Ms. Russell, by so eagerly reaching an agreement to sever ties with the Pentagon, the White House, and Congress, do you have other connections to the Raccoon City incident? Or is Congress specifically using this opportunity to force you to cut ties with Umbrella Paris Headquarters in order to dismantle Umbrella?"

Secret Service agents and on-duty police officers forcefully held back the surging reporters.

Vera didn't want to steal the spotlight.

At a time like this, the stage should be ceded to these old politicians; they would handle everything.

After the benefits were distributed, the existence of Militech would bring them profits, unlike the past with Spencer and the British. They would never allow anyone to conflate Raccoon City with the nascent Militech.

Regarding the specific equity arrangements for Vera's leadership of 'Militech' in its separation from the illegal enterprise Umbrella, they also acted rationally and with restraint.

"To be discussed later..."

Vera was a genius; that was common knowledge.

And geniuses who surpassed their era were never afraid of sharing profits because they could create new profit growth points.

This was something they understood clearly. The valuable entity wasn't Militech, but Vera.

No one would compete with Vera for the dominant position in Militech. The chairman and CEO positions, the largest shareholder with absolute equity, could only be hers.

After all, they themselves were powerful politicians and dignitaries who needed money through legitimate channels.

Clearly, the business in Washington was more important, and there was no need to fall out with Vera. In 1998, no one would consider a company board seat more important than a position in Washington.

Playing along with the old timers in Congress, amidst the flashing lights, Vera felt her facial expression was about to become unnatural. Finally, a waiter from the White House and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marines rescued her from the ordeal.

"The President and Mr. Simmons are waiting for you in the White House Situation Room, Ms. Russell."

With an apologetic look at the general from the White House, Vera apologized to the senators, then, supported by the Secret Service and private bodyguards, entered the special car, sharing it with the lieutenant colonel.

"How can I help?"

"Early on the 26th, the National Guard rendezvoused with your consultant's U.S.F at the evacuation point west of the city. However, the Delta team and Echo team entering Raccoon City from the southeast appear to have been attacked by the U.S.S..." He paused, "William Birkin... according to reports, they seem to have encountered a severely mutated Dr. Birkin."

Vera raised an eyebrow slightly.

She wasn't surprised by this news at all. Entering from Raccoon Street, the western side of the city was relatively open with blocky streets. As for the southeast, there was the police station, city hall, a power substation, and a narrow, complex underground. Especially with the school located there, Birkin, needing to lay eggs, would surely seek out his daughter...

"Mr. Simmons wants you to try and persuade that U.S.S team to surrender, and at the same time, immediately order the U.S.F to enter and capture or kill Dr. William Birkin... and try to assess the last possibility of saving Raccoon City."

Capturing a G-creature, Vera's lips twitched a few times. She shook her head and chuckled; they really knew how to dream.

"Alright, do you have a satellite phone?"

Chapter 034: William, Damn It! Vera, ?!

Just as Vera was heading to the White House, the news that her bill promoting the "Sanction and Freeze of All Umbrella Activities and Forced Reorganization" in Congress had passed the House of Representatives was made public by the media.

With a slight delay, the footage of Vera speaking to reporters under the Statue of Liberty on Capitol Hill, surrounded by senators and dignitaries, was also broadcast live around the world.

In Denver, Colorado, a secret safe house hidden within a high-end apartment building in the city, the news of the Federal House of Representatives passing sanctions against Umbrella flashed with a changing blue light in the dim room.

A tall man wearing a navy blue shirt, a shoulder holster, sunglasses, and a slicked-back golden hairstyle leaned back in his seat, quietly watching the screen.

Amidst a crowd of balding old men and women with bob haircuts, the beautiful young figure was so conspicuous.

She wore a dark, high-end uniform with crimson patterns that exuded a strong sense of technology. Her face was delicate, neat, and seemed like that of a decorative vase. Her wavy, light-gold hair cascaded down to her shoulders.

And her impressive indigo eyes.

"...Spencer, you've trapped yourself. How could someone like Vera Adelheid allow you to control and bleed her dry."

Albert Wesker let out a cold laugh.

Although he wasn't sure how much Vera knew about Umbrella's private research into viral and biological weapons, since she had never actively engaged in virology or made any subtle moves, that was a fact. However, her arrogant, dismissive attitude was undeniable.

In their few brief, non-face-to-face encounters, observing from the sidelines, Wesker could even feel that he and that woman were, in a way, kindred spirits.

Wesker admitted that in the past, he had even felt envy, jealousy, and inferiority regarding the woman's achievements and her meteoric rise to high office.

"William... you lost in the end."

Squeak.

Wesker looked at the news report showing a pixelated, distorted monster, with bolded letters stating, 'William Birkin, Chief Researcher of Umbrella Virology, Originator of the Raccoon City Incident.' He clenched his fist, veins bulging on his forehead for a fleeting moment.

At Umbrella, William Birkin was one of his few friends.

When he faked his death and voluntarily injected himself with an experimental Progenitor Virus variant, it was William who helped him formulate and administer it.

Wesker knew that over the years, William had been driven almost to madness by the pressure brought by Vera.

He was also vaguely aware of William's personal ambitions, the pressure and disdain from his colleagues, his increasingly slim prospects within the company, and consequently, William's contact with high-ranking US military officials and his potential preparation to defect from the company.

And the result was obvious: William had still lost miserably.

The other party hadn't even acknowledged him.

Spencer had made the move.

Looking at the news again, Vera had likely been colluding with Washington and the Pentagon for a long time.

Even if William had succeeded, Wesker didn't think his friend stood a chance against Vera.

B.O.W.s and biological weapons, the military certainly had a demand, but compared to the clear future prospects Vera brought in cybernetics, intelligent control drone technology, electronic information industries, and new military products that were gradually being realized and generating profits, William's technical shortcomings and limitations were too obvious.

Now that William had indirectly caused the world's first major biological leak incident, the military had immediately cut off contact with him and, in coordination with Vera's statements in Congress, shifted all blame onto William.

Pentagon: "William Birkin? Never heard of him! We're afraid Ms. Vera might misunderstand."

Soon, Wesker even saw news of William Birkin's alma mater removing him from the hall of fame and revoking his graduation qualifications. Many private hospitals also announced the termination of their cooperation agreements with William personally...

"William, rest in peace. I will never make the same mistake..."

Although the footage was pixelated, Wesker clearly knew that his friend, that once grotesquely swollen human body, had already died when he was infected with the G-Virus.

Beep beep...

A text message alert stopped Wesker's final mourning for his friend. He picked up his phone; the caller ID read: Ada Wong.

He answered.

Wesker asked, "Did you get the item?"

"No progress yet."

A slightly hoarse, mature female voice came from the speaker.

"You didn't tell me your internal struggles at Umbrella would be this intense. Vera Adelheid's U.S.F, the U.T.S from the Paris Headquarters, the U.B.C.S who are unaware and still saving people, the U.S.S sent by Spencer, the Raccoon City Police from the RPD, and the military special forces – it's a free-for-all. The B.O.W.s deployed in the city and the bio-experiment subjects that escaped from the lab far exceed your estimated valuation... It's too chaotic, I haven't had a chance to enter the underground research facility at all."

"William Birkin has turned into a monster and is roaming the school district, seemingly looking for his daughter. He encountered and engaged in intense firefights with the military special forces. Hordes of zombies are converging on the city. I also can't reach the second target for now."

"..."

After quietly listening to the other party's account, Wesker finally said in a deep voice, "That's your problem to solve. It's precisely because of the risk that I chose you. The reward is doubled, don't disappoint me."

"I'll try my best. I'm attempting to infiltrate the Raccoon City police force. They're rounding up survivors, and I think I'll have a chance to access the second target."

"Then you'd better hurry, Ada. Vera Adelheid is in Washington. Once she's sure the item is secured and the survivors and army are withdrawn, and the military deems Raccoon City unsalvageable, a complete sterilization will await Raccoon City."

The call ended.

"Before Vera Adelheid can mobilize more troops... No, there's no time. I can't reveal myself yet..."

Wesker put down his phone and quietly stared at the computer screen. On it was the surveillance system of Raccoon City's underground research facility, accessed through a backdoor left by William.

Raccoon City.

Southeast of the city, Raccoon Junior High School.

"Roar—!" The faint sound of gruesome chewing and the immense, inhuman cries of pain echoed continuously.

Tap, tap...

Beside abandoned, crashed vehicles, light footsteps sounded on the edge of the road, followed by muffled groans of pain and low curses.

"Fuck, fuck! Umbrella USS bastards!"

"Alright, quiet down. We lost this round. Their equipment... damn it, when did our USA Special Forces' equipment fall behind..."

"You too, stop whining. Fleer is dead. If we attract that monster William Birkin, we'll all die."

A group of US special forces personnel in urban camouflage and combat vests stumbled into a cleared-out room, pulling the curtains shut. They ate compressed biscuits to replenish their energy while bandaging their wounds and organizing their remaining ammunition.

With both dead and wounded, the squad's atmosphere was heavy.