After Lara finally nodded seriously and agreed to the bet between herself and Kevin, everyone from Raccoon City watching from afar felt rather conflicted.
"Were we being a little too heartless?"
Seeing the strange atmosphere, Leon asked cautiously.
Everyone looked embarrassed. Watching the show and even setting up a private betting pool did seem rather improper.
So?
Under everyone's expectant gazes, Leon's expression turned solemn as he slammed his entire wallet onto Kevin's side.
"Another five hundred bucks. I'm betting on the captain!"
Damn it! Everyone who had still felt somewhat guilty immediately flipped Leon off.
When had that scheming captain ever suffered a loss? The outcome was already so obvious, so what the hell was the point of adding to the bet?
The atmosphere among the spectators immediately became lively.
Of course, rather than offering empty words of thanks, they would rather keep this gratitude in their hearts. It was an unspoken understanding they had reached.
"Enough nonsense. What exactly are we doing?"
Once the decisive Countess had made up her mind, she coldly urged him on, confident in her own strength.
"At present, BSAA has two possible sparring partners. One is Rain, a former Umbrella mercenary. The other is Jill, a policewoman who once belonged to Alpha Team..."
"My personal recommendation is—Rain. The two of you have met before, and she should give you a satisfying match, Countess..."
Kevin looked respectful and humble. Though he claimed to be recommending Jill and Rain, his gaze lingered on someone for quite a while.
"Didn't you recruit three female members from Raccoon City? What about her?"
Countess Lara asked seriously, her face dark as she pointed at the person beside Kevin.
A satisfying match? I thought you were so noble, but you were just a hypocritical flatterer...
"Well, we believe in harmony. Friendship comes first, competition second. It would be unforgivable if we disappointed you, Countess."
Kevin gently persuaded her, his face full of concern for Lara's interests.
"If you say so, then she must be the strongest woman in BSAA?"
Lara's expression was certain. She had already seen through Kevin's little scheme of manipulating things behind the scenes to please his boss.
The commander merely smiled without answering.
Here it came! Here it came! The good show was starting! The spectators in the distance wore teasing grins.
However, Countess Lara, who had seemed to be led around by the nose all this time, glanced at the excited spectators in the distance and smiled softly with pursed lips.
"Just now, were you trying to guide me into choosing her?"
Faced with this sudden shift, everyone was slightly stunned.
They had been found out? How?
The commander showed no surprise at Lara's reaction and merely answered honestly.
"Yes. So please listen to my sincere advice."
Lara nodded slightly, and the index finger pointing at Alice began moving elsewhere.
This was a disaster... Everyone secretly lamented, already mourning the housing and thirty percent of their salaries that were about to fly away.
"I choose... her!"
When the final answer was revealed, the spectators' widened eyes nearly fell out again.
Because the fingertip that had made a full circle had actually returned to its starting point.
"The strongest woman in BSAA? I happen to like interesting challenges!"
"Since you have so much confidence in her, then let me make you admit defeat wholeheartedly!"
Powerful confidence bloomed from Lara, fully revealing her bold personality!
"As you wish, Boss..."
At that moment, the spectators noticed the commander's lips had curved into an invisible, conspiratorial smirk.
Apparently, he had never been surprised by this outcome.
This was the Tomb Raider he remembered! This was the Countess of the Crawford family!
Confident and arrogant, determined to trample every impossibility beneath her feet!
Therefore, as long as he subtly pointed out that Alice was the strongest fighter, Lara would choose her as her opponent no matter what.
Kevin waved goodbye with a smile and began discussing tonight's nightlife with the spectators gathering around him.
Thirty seconds later, Alice returned from the training room looking calm and unruffled, picked up her knife and fork, and continued enjoying her dessert.
As for the Countess, she would probably be sleeping in the training room tonight.
Well then, good night, Countess...
P.S. 1: Thanks to @{"reader_id":"146868","reader_name":"Huaxu's Ghost"} @{"reader_id":"65458","reader_name":"Bewildered Momo"} @{"reader_id":"3166524","reader_name":"Book Reader 44317652427"} @{"reader_id":"386507","reader_name":"The King's Man"} and all the other readers for your support and tips.
Honestly, everyone, please do not spend too much. Just keep sending the recommendation votes and monthly tickets you have on hand.
P.S. 2: Tricked another classic character into the story. So happy.
Keep Your Fear, Learn Reverence!
My head... hurt so much...
Lara woke from darkness and grogginess. She sat up against the headboard, and only after a long while did her mind finally clear.
Before her was her bedroom, and according to the clock on the wall, it was already two in the morning.
In other words, I had been unconscious for a full seven or eight hours? As the Countess gradually recalled what had happened, her expression darkened.
She had never expected that woman named Alice to be so absurdly strong! A single blow had knocked her unconscious.
Of course, if Kevin had not shown a little conscience and informed the maids to carry the unconscious Countess back to her bedroom to rest...
She truly might have spent the whole night sleeping in the training room...
That sinister pretty boy! Damn him!
The intense sense of defeat made Lara smash her fist against the headboard. In addition to contempt, she now felt even more anger toward the commander.
After sleeping for so long, Lara had no desire to sleep even at two in the morning.
Left with no choice, the Countess threw on a robe, got up, and wandered casually toward the front courtyard.
The reception room was still lit. Driven by curiosity, Lara pushed open the door and walked inside.
A figure she had not expected was sitting on the sofa, drinking black tea and reading a newspaper.
"Why are you here? Did you come to gloat?"
Lara showed complete rejection toward the uninvited guest before her.
"I'm not bored enough for that. Besides, losing to her isn't shameful. Even our entire team combined has never beaten her!"
Kevin set down the newspaper, his expression turning serious as he stood and saluted.
"Countess Lara, BSAA Senior Agent Kevin Li requests permission to report to you privately!"
Unlike his lazy and scheming demeanor during the day, the commander now radiated reliability and seriousness from head to toe.
Though Lara's expression remained unfriendly, she silently nodded in consent. Kevin then calmly recounted Raccoon City's terrifying Biohazard Crisis.
There was no embellishment, no exaggeration, and he even removed unnecessary details.
Lara began with doubt and mockery, but the series of evidence that followed forced her to believe him.
This twenty-year-old college student before her, bearing the nominal title of "BSAA Senior Agent," had successfully saved one hundred thousand lives.
The danger of walking along a blade's edge went without saying. Lara could even smell gunpowder and blood in his calm words.
"Based on the above, I have several proposals."
"First, provide professional training grounds and a permanent base, increase personnel and financial support for BSAA's field operations division, and help it rapidly improve and transform."
"After the Raccoon City Biohazard Crisis, the leakage of T-Virus samples and some research materials has become unavoidable. Bioterrorist attacks involving the T-Virus may very likely emerge in country after country..."
Lara looked thoughtful, understanding Kevin's unspoken implication.
"...The United Nations may very well grant BSAA greater authority, turning it from a nominal organization into a real one. It may even grant BSAA certain extraterritorial law enforcement powers..."
Kevin nodded approvingly. This Countess was an all-around athlete, and she had even achieved something in the obscure and difficult field of archaeology. She was clearly no empty-headed ornament.
"This is an opportunity for the Crawford family to expand. Using BSAA as a platform, deepen cooperation with European countries and turn those relationships into profits..."
Lara was somewhat interested in the profits Kevin mentioned. The Crawford family under her control had only made achievements in real estate and archaeological research, and its overall financial strength was not particularly great.
"Pharmaceuticals!"
"This is my second point. Take this opportunity to raise funds and prepare to carve up all the resources of Umbrella's European branches!"
Kevin's expression remained unchanged. He had long since made his plans and began earnestly explaining his reasoning.
"According to the latest information I received from Mayor Warren, the U.S. military will likely terminate its cooperation with Umbrella Corporation."
"And Umbrella has already invested too much capital into T-Virus research and improvement. If it cannot recover those investments, its future is obvious."
"Furthermore, Umbrella Corporation has branches in Europe. This will inevitably cause stock prices to fall and reshuffle the European pharmaceutical market..."
"We possess the Modified T-Virus data and a large amount of core research data. Even if we cannot swallow the whole cake, we can invite other families involved in pharmaceuticals and share the benefits."
A faintly amused smile gradually appeared on Lara's face.
"This probably isn't your real objective..."
When had this foxlike commander ever possessed something like loyalty to a family?
His efforts to help the Crawford family fight over the pie were probably only meant to conceal a larger scheme.
A trace of surprise appeared in Kevin's eyes. He had expected Lara to notice something strange, but the Countess's intelligence and sharpness exceeded his expectations.
"Fine. The third point is..."
"Provide Dr. Charles with a private core laboratory and assemble a medical team to begin research on the Modified T-Virus."
Lara's gaze sharpened as she looked at Kevin's proposal with suspicion.
"Did I hear that correctly? A BSAA Senior Agent wants to continue developing the T-Virus that nearly destroyed the world?"
"Do you know the consequences of doing this? Once it is exposed, not only you, but the entire Crawford family will be implicated!"
Kevin nodded slightly. He had long expected his patron to object, but he had enough confidence and leverage to convince the Countess.
"First, we will use the development of a T-Virus Vaccine as our stated reason to silence public criticism."
"Second, the T-Virus was originally intended to strengthen the human body. The Modified T-Virus in our possession has already taken an important step in genetic fusion."
"Next, we only need to remove its unstable elements. It may be ready for use in the near future and greatly improve human physical capabilities."
"Besides, the first and second people to perfectly fuse with the T-Virus are both with us."
"I have already consulted Dr. Charles. As long as we do not deliberately pursue evolution into gods in a single step, developing an ordinary genetic enhancement agent is not impossible."
Lara frowned slightly. The T-Virus was simply too dangerous.
Though its development would create certain byproducts that could fill gaps in the medical market and bring the Crawford family astonishing profits, this piece of cake was too hot to handle.
"Unfortunately, that reason is not enough to persuade me."
Kevin sighed softly. "Fine. The third point does indeed come from my own selfish motives."
Facing Lara's refusal, the commander turned his eyes toward the endless night, his voice low and restrained.
"Humanity has existed for nearly a million years, yet only the most recent four thousand years have held any meaning."
"What were we doing for nearly twenty-five thousand years?"
"Hiding in caves, gathered around tiny fires, fearing things we did not understand..."
"Those explanations for how the sun rose, those bird-headed human-bodied monsters, those living stones..."
"We called them 'gods' and 'demons,' begging them for forgiveness and praying for salvation, but it was meaningless."
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