Infinite Progress, Starting with Arasaka

"Truly a genius who will lead Umbrella's transformation into an arms dealer, this muzzle energy..."

The remains of the BOW, unrecognizable from its original form, were stuck to the wall, its head and torso blasted with several huge charred holes by some new weapon. The buried pipes within the wall were severely damaged, and blood splattered across the wall.

The lights flickered on and off.

All along the way, the spiderweb-cracked walls were riddled with bullet holes, as if the lingering smell of gunpowder had not yet dissipated. The deck floor was littered with large caliber shell casings, shattered glass, and the blood and gore of mutated BOWs, making it impossible to find a place to step.

Mixed with the smell of disinfectant, rotting flesh, and burnt corpses in the air, it made the woman somewhat uncomfortable.

She continued forward, her pointed high heels kicking away a few golden shell casings.

"They really cleaned up."

The Asian woman briefly scanned the security monitoring room of the underground research facility. Well, not a single surveillance camera was intact.

That U... no, now she should be called M.S.F, the unit led by Vera Adelheid, hadn't left her a single drop of anything.

Without needing to go down for further inspection, the woman could guess that they wouldn't let go of the virus samples and data below.

She had waited for a long time at the entrance of the underground research facility and personally witnessed that group of fully armed M.S.F soldiers go down. Then, gunshots erupted, explosions continued, and finally, they returned to the surface carrying large bags of military-grade sealed metal containers.

Except for a handful of surviving researchers, even William Birkin's partner, Annette Birkin, was forcibly abducted. During the process, Annette Birkin struggled and cursed in unwillingness, seeming to say she wanted to save Dr. William, who had turned into a monster, before being knocked out with a rifle butt and a tranquilizer dart, and carried away.

"Tsk tsk... truly no appreciation for beauty."

Taking out the phone she carried, the woman dialed.

"The first objective failed. The underground research facility was cleared out by M.S.F personnel. I entered safely, but the self-destruct sequence has already been initiated. I don't have time to go down for a thorough search..."

"As you predicted, after that woman legally departed from Umbrella, she dispatched more M.S.F troops. Some were involved in the rescue, but more were demonstrating their strength. Umbrella's U.B.C.S has surrendered in its entirety, and the exchange of fire between U.S.S and the US special forces has also ceased and transferred under their suppression."

"The second objective, Sherry Birkin, should be our only chance."

"Or I could pick up the pieces. The mutated Dr. William Birkin seems to have been turned into a military arms exhibition by that woman. I can see a large amount of heavy firepower being transferred by them to the school district... Oh? The 28th, Raccoon City will be reduced to ashes? Alright, I understand."

"Two days is enough."

After speaking, she hung up the phone. The woman in red took off the researcher's white coat and glanced at the underground research facility, whose warning lights were already dimming. She returned to the elevator platform, took out the grappling hook gun from her waist, and shot the grappling hook at the tunnel's dome structure.

The woman in red soared into the air.

Only the empty underground research facility remained, along with the increasingly urgent warning sounds.

At the M.S.F West Outpost, Chris, having finished a night and a half of sweeping Umbrella's Raccoon City headquarters and city general hospital, returned to the outpost to resupply his ammunition, feeling exhausted.

"Chris Redfield, congratulations, well done."

This was the greeting he received as soon as he returned to the outpost.

"What?"

Having been deployed in combat since arriving in Raccoon City on the evening of the 25th, either fighting zombies like crazy, or seizing Umbrella's remaining evidence in Raccoon City, or rescuing people, Chris, who hadn't slept all night, took off his helmet, gulped down mineral water, and wore a confused expression.

Why are you all looking at me like that?

The survivors, who had been pale and dazed when rescued, also looked up and offered him sincere smiles and thanks.

"Where is Captain Andreyev?"

He asked, looking around, and dropped the backpack behind him.

These were all found by him in various administrator offices within Umbrella facilities and city emergency facilities.

Just like the past night and half a day, every time he returned to resupply ammunition and replace barrels, he would bring back a large list of evidence: for example, evidence of secretly experimenting on living people, and evidence that they knew the drinking water was contaminated beforehand.

Chris, on the other hand, was like an tireless machine, extremely dedicated and enthusiastic about it, never resting, and never paying attention to other external matters.

"The captain led the team to search and rescue survivors. The executive officer changed the mission objective."

The M.S.F squad commander at the outpost stepped forward, skillfully took Chris's backpack, weighed it, and said with a sigh, "Brother Redfield, congratulations, you succeeded and became a federal hero."

"???"

As Chris became more and more confused, the other party handed him a portable tablet. On it:

"All of Umbrella's activities have been declared illegal. Congress has passed sanctions and freezing laws against Umbrella. Director Vera Adelheid's reorganization of Umbrella's California branch and USA region has been legalized!!"

Chris snatched the portable tablet, squatted on the ammunition box, and looked at the recorded footage of Vera's speech on Capitol Hill. Especially when she recounted his experiences to the entire nation and even the world, his emotions were complex.

Although Vera had not altered or exaggerated his actions in any way, Chris felt something was not quite right.

He couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.

And this widespread discussion and praise, this fame was definitely not what he intended.

Chris thought of his fallen comrades.

"At least, it was successful, wasn't it? Those bastards at Umbrella Paris Headquarters will pay the price..." He couldn't help it, whether it was due to fatigue that caused his tear ducts to malfunction or something else, his eyes felt a little moist for some reason.

Then Chris put the tablet aside, rubbed his eyes as if to relieve the fatigue from his body and mind, and two seconds later, he opened his bloodshot eyes, stood up, and continued to organize his equipment while eating compressed biscuits.

"Sufficient evidence for both the House and the Senate to pass, you might even be awarded a medal... Hey, where are you going?"

"To continue completing the mission."

Chris reloaded his ammunition, loaded the grenade launcher, slung a light anti-tank weapon, and then jumped off the outpost position, saying without looking back:

"I don't trust them. Umbrella can still make a comeback, and didn't your director say it himself? Rescue survivors. I'm a former S.T.A.R.S. member, this is my job."

Damn, this guy is like a god of war.

The M.S.F. outpost operations team commander immediately felt a sense of awe.

This guy is a true man, not some coward hyped up by public opinion.

After all, they were a private military force. The M.S.F. strictly adhered to regulations. They would do their best to save people, but they couldn't be reckless like Chris.

They aren't the Trauma Team. While they could fight for days and nights, there was no need. Rotating rest was essential for maintaining combat effectiveness and preventing casualties.

"Hey, Redfield, take this. It should help you."

Chris turned and caught it.

"What is this?" He examined the green and white object in his hand, which resembled an asthma inhaler.

"Combat Stimulant Type 1. You can think of it as a variation of combat stimulants. It's an experimental product, nowhere near market stage, but it can effectively slow down fatigue."

"Thanks."

After accepting it, Chris set out again with the M.S.F. rescue team, who had finished their rotation.

The section of Raccoon Avenue connecting to Acrley Scenic Drive in the west of the city had been cleared over and over. The road conditions here were open, and the surrounding buildings were square, making them the optimal positions for setting up firepower. A single M2 heavy machine gun at a suitable vantage point could effectively blockade most of the city block.

Sporadic zombies shuffled from various alleys towards them, but they posed no real threat. Chris skillfully dodged a zombie lunging at him, then shot its head, blowing it to pieces.

He ignored the zombies in other directions; the M.S.F. team members cooperating with him dealt with them proficiently.

Along the way, they saw crashed vehicles, collapsed buildings, and bloody corpses. The remains of the large groups of B.O.W.s and mutated bio-monsters that the M.S.F. had helped kill the previous night were still faintly visible.

Shattered.

The area was covered in bullet craters and scorch marks, along with a large puddle-like black residue. There were Pursuers, T-103 Tyrants, zombie dogs, Lickers that looked like they had their skin peeled off, and Hunters that resembled green-skinned lizards...

"There's some rain tonight. Hmm, artificial rain mixed with T-Virus inhibitors... The Director is really fast."

"We have to evacuate Raccoon City before the evening of the 27th... The Director... No, I should call her Executive Officer. Executive Officer Russell issued the order: the military will commence carpet bombing of Raccoon City at 6 PM on the 27th, and nuclear bombs will be dropped by 6 AM on the 28th..."

"Heh, as expected. With Raccoon City in this state, they might as well just nuke it..."

"Tsk, is North America going to get nuked too?"

As they passed through side streets and alleys, leaving Raccoon Street, a few M.S.F. soldiers exchanged brief, yet vigilant, words.

There wasn't much sadness in their conversation about Raccoon City being nuked.

Listening to his comrades, who had fought alongside him all night, Chris, who was at the front, felt a growing sense of irritation.

They showed no respect for their own country, yet they held an extraordinary respect for Director Vera. He felt that this was wrong.

Umbrella...

Just then, "Wait a moment, Redfield."

An M.S.F. soldier carrying a communicator in the team suddenly spoke, interrupting Chris's thoughts: "There's news about Valentine. Do you have a sister named Claire?"

"Claire?"

Chris's tone immediately became flustered. "What happened to her? Where is she?"

"It seems your sister has come to Raccoon City. We don't know how she managed to get past the National Guard's blockade line, but don't worry. Jill Valentine and Carlos's mixed UBCS rescue team encountered her on Central Street in the south. One of our elite squads is also operating nearby."

Meanwhile.

"Claire? What are you doing in Raccoon City?!"

"I came to find my brother... Sister Valentine, is that really you? He hasn't contacted me for almost two months, and I'm very worried about him. Do you know where he is?"

On Central Street, at the Raccoon City Police Department, an unusual reunion broke the oppressive atmosphere of the police station.

Jill, now equipped in M.S.F. gear, removed her mask and helmet amidst the tense standoff of police officers and survivors, rubbing her forehead in annoyance.

Standing before her was a young woman with long, brown-blonde hair tied into a neat ponytail. She had a pretty face, wore a white shirt, a red jacket, jeans, and high boots. Her clothes and face were covered in dust, giving her a travel-worn appearance.

It was Chris's twin sister, Claire.

"What were you thinking, a college student coming to Raccoon City alone at a time like this?!"

Chapter 037: Raccoon City Aftermath (4K)

Raccoon City Police Department. This peculiar reunion drew the attention of all the survivors.

Even though the sounds of gunfire and explosions continued to come from outside the isolation fence, and the low growls of zombies and the tearing of flesh by sharp teeth could still be heard from the corners and some sealed rooms within the police station.

"Sister Valentine, if you're here, then where's my brother? I saw the news about Raccoon City breaking out of California on the evening of the 25th and rushed to Raccoon City overnight. I didn't expect the situation to have deteriorated to this extent."

Claire's tone was urgent and anxious.

The Redfield siblings had been orphaned at a young age and had relied on each other for survival. As the elder brother, Chris had been like a father to Claire, and their sibling bond had always been very strong. Chris had been out of contact for over two months, and she was truly worried sick.

"You still came after seeing the news?!"

Jill frowned. She knew about Chris's sister. To put it nicely, she was brave; to put it bluntly, she was courting death. The news that broke on the 25th had headlines like 'Severe Infectious Disease,' 'Cannibal Disease,' 'Bio-Virus Leakage' – wouldn't any normal person stay far away?

If something had happened to her, or if Chris and she weren't here, Chris would have to live with regret for the rest of his life!

Chris is the same way; the moment he gets into mission mode, he completely forgets himself. He even forgot to borrow a phone to let Claire know he was safe...

Jill said irritably, "Your brother is fine. He's currently in the west of the city on a mission to rescue survivors."

"That's great!"

Claire immediately relaxed. As she spoke, she moved to hug Jill, "Sister Valentine, can I... with you..."

"No."

Jill replied curtly as she put her helmet back on, "After I get you all out, everyone needs to go to the National Guard checkpoint outside the city for a medical check-up! Raccoon City is too dangerous right now; it's not a place for civilians to stay."

With that, Jill looked towards the police station lobby. "Marvin." She addressed the Black police chief, who was being looked to as a pillar of strength by the surrounding police officers and surviving citizens, "Long time no see."

"Jill, is that really you?"

The Black police chief, Marvin Branagh, was surprised. He hadn't expected to see Jill again. And judging by her attire, had she joined Umbrella? "You joined Umbrella?" Just two months ago, you and S.T.A.R.S. were clamoring to expose Umbrella.

"To make a long story short, you need to evacuate with me immediately. According to Director Russell, Raccoon City will be sterilized by bombing by the day after tomorrow at the latest. Staying here is just waiting to die."

"But... there are still injured citizens in the police station's holding cells..."

"No 'buts'." Having dealt with the T-Virus for too long, Jill was decisive. "I can't tell if they've been infected by the T-Virus. We save the living first. There are vaccines, but they're at the evacuation point in the west of the city and won't arrive anytime soon. Can you guarantee they'll get the vaccine before they turn? Let's go!"