The Fish That Got Away (Please Hit Me with Recommendations, Monthly Tickets, Blades, Rants, and Comments!)

After repeating the words to herself three times, the little girl confidently headed upstairs, already imagining the blissful moment of holding an ice cream cone.

Next, naturally, it was time to step into the game. Kevin's expression turned serious as he began assigning tasks.

"Jill, contact Barry, the surviving member of the S.T.A.R.S. team. We need him as our assault specialist. Claire will stay behind at the gun shop and wait to provide support. As for Leon..."

The rookie cop, overflowing with justice, raised his hand. His nervous expression carried a burning eagerness. "I want to help too!"

Kevin gave him an encouraging look and patted Leon's shoulder. "Don't worry. There's definitely a place for you on this rescue team!"

With an assassin's sharp instincts, a tank's tenacious vitality, and ADC-level explosive damage the moment he picked up a gun, someone who could fight and take hits was practically the perfect choice for drawing monsters and pulling aggro!

After the Acre Mountains incident, Leon had been suspended right after joining the force, so he currently had little sense of belonging toward the RPD.

As a hot-blooded young man full of dreams, he had no idea that his new, scheming boss was about to sell him out completely.

"And you?" Before leaving, Jill looked at someone following behind them and frowned.

Kevin smiled faintly. "When facing criminal forces, of course you ask the government for help."

After everyone split up, the boy casually walked into an empty corner and began delivering a theatrical monologue to the wall.

"Ancient rhythms are made exquisite by memory; even our fleeting first meeting made me feel that all this beauty now belongs to you!"

"So, noble and elegant Miss Ada Wong, may I say that I missed you?"

"So? Interested in a date?"

After reciting the beautiful verse, Kevin confidently turned around, only to find himself facing an empty alleyway, his face darkening.

Did I really overthink it? Kevin muttered softly, eventually shaking his head.

With his guess proven wrong, he could only turn and leave to proceed with the next step of his plan.

However, the instant Kevin glanced back, a stunning face was reflected in his pupils.

A tall Asian woman leaned against the wall, slowly retracting her Rope Gun. Her long red lace dress fell straight to the ground, making her appear even more alluring and mature.

"Why does Shakespeare's sonnet sound so disgusting coming out of your mouth?"

The female agent's tone was light and teasing, but her actions were far from friendly. A sharp military knife brushed lightly against Kevin's cheek.

"Because any words used to describe how much I miss you would seem deliberate and insincere?"

After the storms of the past two days, Kevin had already developed a skin thick enough to withstand anything. Seeing Ada Wong appear, he smiled and shamelessly flattered her.

After all, nice words were free.

Ada Wong smiled faintly, like ice melting beneath snow. She casually sheathed her Combat Dagger, then crossed her arms and repeatedly examined Kevin with scrutinizing eyes.

"Still, there's something I'd like you to explain. How did you know I would be nearby?"

Kevin lightly brushed imaginary dust from his collar, the smile on his lips turning somewhat strange.

"Of course, by putting myself in your shoes. Last night, you finally managed to make such a reliable ally as me. Naturally, you would leave behind some proof that we spent a wonderful time together."

"Like a bug, a GPS tracker, or perhaps you've been watching me every step of the way?"

In other words: neither of them was innocent. If they caught a big fish, they certainly would not release it unconditionally.

That was indeed the case. Although she had not planted a listening device or anything similar on Kevin, she knew this rookie colleague's movements like the back of her hand.

"You're very clever, but also rather annoying..."

Ada was slightly surprised. This kid looked like a greenhorn fresh out of training, yet he had plenty of tricks hidden inside.

Still, in their line of work, honesty was often a derogatory term. It meant you would not live long.

Getting back to business, Kevin thought for a moment before telling Ada about his current plan to recruit people and head to the outskirts of Raccoon City to rescue the Matt siblings.

The female agent found Kevin's fanciful plan amusing, disdain flashing in her eyes.

"Two homeless S.T.A.R.S. dogs, a rookie cop who has been on the job for less than three days, led by such an amateur colleague, and you want to fight an elite Umbrella Squad?"

Kevin shrugged and nodded helplessly. No matter how perfect the plan was, the disparity in manpower was an undeniable fact.

"What makes you so sure I'd stupidly act as prey and join this boring hunt?"

Ada put the Rope Gun back into its holster, smiling as she shook her head and prepared to leave.

Kevin spread his hands, looking regretful and sentimental. "Then there's nothing I can do. If I'm unfortunately captured, remember to avenge me, FBI Senior Agent Miss Ada Wong."

"After all, you've already discovered a flaw in The Hive's network defense system, you have other informants inside the Umbrella Corporation, and you're determined to get the T-Virus!"

Ada froze mid-step. Of course, she understood what he was implying.

If she refused to cooperate, he would directly sell her half-true identity to the Umbrella Corporation and use her as a target to share the heat.

"Didn't your Mother ever tell you... never make a pretty girl angry?!"

"Bang!" The female agent wore a half-smile, her voice soft yet piercing. At the same time, she stomped, twisted her waist, and whipped a lightning-fast kick viciously into Kevin's upper body.

But the prepared boy raised his crossed arms, bent backward, and retreated, deflecting the terrifying force.

The numbness and trembling in his arms constantly told Kevin that, in terms of hand-to-hand combat, the female agent before him was absolutely beyond his ability to contend with.

Just as Kevin retreated, Ada lunged forward, her ten-centimeter heel viciously kicking toward his head.

Kevin's sharp instincts made him squat instinctively and tilt his head aside. A clear footprint was left in the wall he had been leaning against.

This woman is serious! Kevin broke out in a cold sweat.

However, his body's instinct for self-preservation made him advance instead of retreat. He drove his shoulder into Ada's long, powerful leg and charged forward like a wild bull, slamming her against the opposite wall.

Under the violent impact, Ada's long legs displayed unbelievable flexibility as they were forced into an exaggerated split.

"Dressing so lightly, be careful not to expose yourself!"

Kevin crossed his hands and pinned Ada's taut leg against the wall. At the instant her skirt fluttered violently, his eyes instinctively glanced away, though his mouth continued to mock her.

So he's a virgin? Interesting... Ada noticed his instinctive reaction, and the corners of her lips curved into a teasing smile.

"Want to see?" A seductive whisper by his ear nearly made Kevin choke.

"Cough, cough. If that's a request, I can suffer a little loss." Since they had already fallen out, Kevin decided to at least enjoy himself verbally.

"If I see it, I can consider helping. Otherwise, keep our secret safe."

"But you only get one chance. Open your eyes and watch carefully..."

The smile on Ada's face grew increasingly intense. The moment the boy turned his head eagerly, she pressed both hands against the wall.

Her left leg, which had been supporting her on the ground, lifted straight up. Together with her right leg, it formed a closing scissor hold that swiftly locked around Kevin's head, using leverage to fling him away.

Kevin climbed up from the ground, covered in dust. From that earlier angle, he truly had not seen the endless scenery beneath the female agent's skirt.

"Looks like you still need a lot more practice, Little Rookie!"

The calm female agent elegantly smoothed down her skirt. Her lightly waving hand seemed to be offering a farewell before departure.

"Black? Lace? Chanel? Very tasteful!" A teasing voice came from behind her.

The female agent abruptly turned around. Seeing the guy sitting on the ground, picking up his phone and carefully studying the photo on its screen, her expression stiffened.

This world was disorderly and chaotic, and history's timeline had also become badly misaligned.

Although Raccoon City retained the style of America in the 1990s, its electronic products included relatively advanced mobile phones.

So this thing could take timed photos.

When Kevin turned on the timer, chose the angle, and then tossed his phone onto the ground, if he got lucky, he could capture some different scenery.

Ada Wong, got it.

The Fish That Got Away

In the remote outskirts of Raccoon City, at a drifter camp, household trash, burnt wood, and empty cans were scattered everywhere.

At that moment, Matt, who had sent the distress signal, was hiding with his younger sister Lisa inside an unfinished building covered in graffiti.

"Don't worry, he'll come!" To calm Lisa down, his tone was firm, though he did not hold much hope in his heart.

After all, that Senior Agent could barely clean up his own mess. Showing himself now would be nothing but suicide.

Besides, the message Matt had sent earlier did not actually contain a request for help. It was only a warning. He hoped more that someone would help him contact headquarters.

The blonde girl in a researcher's white lab coat looked exhausted, her face pale as she stared ahead with uncertainty and fear.

She had taken a rough look outside. In the shadowy woods, there was definitely an Umbrella Squad lying in ambush from every direction, completely sealing off the unfinished building's entrances and exits.

Meanwhile, on a gently sloping hill with a clear view, Black Ghost, wearing an octopus-faced respirator and possessing a slightly plump build, quietly watched the lifeless hunting ground, waiting for the true prey to appear.

His name was Hank, and he belonged to Umbrella Security Service, or U.S.S. for short.

This was a secret force under the Umbrella Corporation. Its mission was to secure and protect Umbrella Corporation assets, or destroy evidence unfavorable to the Umbrella Corporation.

Even within Umbrella, only a small number of people knew this secret unit existed. Its members were experts who obeyed and carried out orders completely and efficiently, with no emotions between them.

This operation was meant to capture a Hive employee who had defected. She possessed evidence harmful to the company, and if necessary, she was authorized to be shot on sight.

But just as the Alpha team led by Hank had already cornered their prey, a message suddenly arrived from above, ordering them to surround but not attack for the time being.

Use these two little fish caught in the net as bait to lure in a bigger catch? A Raccoon City University student? Dr. Charles's family tutor?

Hank flipped through the holographic photos transmitted to his electronic tablet and the information on the latest prey, his movements clearly slowing.

That pretty face and dull résumé really did not match his identity as a BSAA Senior Agent.

Still, he was more curious about one thing. Although they had confirmed that a distress signal had been sent, would this guy really come?

"Damn, there are so many mosquitoes here. Boss, isn't it time yet? If we keep waiting like this, you might as well give me a knife and let me charge in!"

"Yeah, cutting their throats would be as easy as slicing butter!"

"I bet you two bastards will throw out your backs halfway through because of those Russian chicks at the nightclub last night!"

The noisy cursing and endless mockery in the earpieces made Hank frown slightly. This bunch of impatient idiots!

Most U.S.S. members were international mercenaries and discharged soldiers with criminal records. Though their combat skills were excellent, they were generally unruly troublemakers.

However, considering the consequences of prolonging the encirclement, Hank ultimately proposed a compromise.

"In half an hour, prepare to close the net!"

The Alpha team members in the earpieces immediately cheered, each talking about their recovery plans after the job and whose turn it would be to dig the graves.

A relaxed atmosphere spread among them. To them, this encirclement was as easy as a vacation.

"Attention! A Black SUV is approaching from the direction of Black Gate Bridge, five hundred meters away!"

Hank had remained vigilant, leaning behind a tree and carefully observing the main road. When he spotted a rapidly approaching vehicle through his binoculars, he immediately warned the team through the earpiece.

When it was around one hundred meters away, the SUV slowed down and its window gradually rolled down. The pretty mixed-race face in the passenger seat made Hank's lips rise slightly.

"Target confirmed! Prepare for combat!" Good, the prey...

"...took the bait..." At the same time, Kevin, sitting in the passenger seat, had patterns interweaving in his eyes as his lips curved upward.

"Sniper position, twelve o'clock, three hundred and forty-seven meters away, second-floor balcony!"

"Two assault personnel. One is in the woods at six o'clock, one hundred and twenty-five meters away. The other is behind that section of wall at two o'clock!"

"There's also a big fish on the gentle slope at seven o'clock, two hundred and eighty-one meters away!"

On the second floor of the unfinished building, the sniper wearing a black octopus-faced respirator made one final check of the wind speed and direction, then locked his scope's crosshairs onto the SUV's tires.

His index finger flexed around the trigger as he made his final preparations before taking the shot.

That's it, drive steadily, sweetheart. Then sit up straight and don't move around. The sniper remained focused, muttering to himself internally as his breathing gradually slowed.

"Three... two... one..." As the countdown ended, a dull impact echoed across the second-floor balcony.

"Surprisingly easy..." Ada, the female agent who had slipped in at some point, caught the falling sniper and gently laid him aside, surprise flickering in her eyes.

But how had that Little Rookie known everyone's hiding places? Curiosity surfaced in Ada's eyes.

"Bang!" A gunshot rang out from deep within the woods. Claire, whose position had been exposed, decisively killed the hidden assault trooper.

At the same time, the female cop immediately raised her MP5 submachine gun and sprayed the wall ahead with bullets.

Meanwhile, Hank, directing the overall operation from the distant slope, also came under sudden attack.

The rugged, powerful middle-aged man with short hair held a .44 Magnum. Wearing a red tactical chest rig with a leather holster, he moved swiftly and nimbly. Caught off guard, Hank was forced back step by step.

Just as four Alpha team members came under attack, Leon, driving the SUV, steadily parked at the entrance of the unfinished building. When he looked to the side, concern appeared on his face.