As they stepped out of the conference hall, the group was surrounded by even more reporters. Cameras fired like machine guns, while people holding microphones kept trying to break through the security line and get Duncan to give an interview.
They had all watched the live broadcast from outside the conference hall and seen Duncan's entire speech after he entered. Naturally, they realized just how big this news was. It would be no exaggeration to say it could directly affect the world order.
If they wanted a promotion and a raise, all they needed was for Duncan to answer a few questions.
But Duncan clearly had no intention of answering the reporters. He simply waved casually and, escorted by his Clone bodyguards, climbed into a menacing-looking military armored vehicle.
The vehicle had been sent over by Umbrella Corporation's New York branch. It was a product they had submitted in a bid for an armored vehicle contract with the National Guard. It was high-performing, but rather expensive, so it hadn't been selected. At present, this was the only one of its kind.
Duncan had flown from Raccoon City across most of America to New York Airport, then driven to the United Nations conference hall.
It wasn't that he hadn't wanted to arrive before the meeting began; the plane could only go so fast. Reaching the conference during the first half of the meeting had already been quite timely.
Duncan pushed through the feverish crowd, climbed into the high-clearance armored vehicle, and left the United Nations compound alongside the other escort vehicles.
The capitalists who had rushed out after him watched the convoy disappear into the distance and gritted their teeth.
Escorted by the armored vehicle and a large force of armed security, Duncan's android made it onto a private plane and left New York.
His departure left many people on edge. Even some lawmakers who supported Umbrella Corporation hesitated.
Duncan's three promises had offended the three largest capital interests in America: politics, the military-industrial complex, and the energy industry.
The promises seemed to apply only to cities established by Umbrella and employees of the company. Yet, no matter how they looked at it, "fairness" seemed like some sort of socialist ideal.
"Safety" had also struck at the interests of the Rifle Association and the military-industrial complex. Its effects would sweep across the country, prompting some residents who were dissatisfied with the status quo to complain about their local communities. It would certainly affect elections, and Wall Street, too.
The politicians could still accept the final energy plan. Lawmakers could win votes by working with Umbrella to offer low-cost electricity. But that would make life difficult for those funded by the energy giants!
Umbrella Corporation's products covered almost every field, but it had never ventured into energy. Now it planned to use superior products to devour the business of the energy giants. How could they agree to that so easily?
The lawmakers formed a small group and discussed the matter as Duncan boarded his plane. In the end, they decided to wait and see whether Umbrella could withstand the attacks of the predators whose interests had been threatened, and whether the company would continue donating to their parties.
Some chose to sit on the fence; others took a more aggressive stance.
In the past, Isaac had been in charge of Umbrella Corporation. His careful cultivation of relationships had led the capitalists to accept the company's presence and make room for such a behemoth.
But after the entire management team was replaced, the newly appointed Duncan didn't even bother to show them respect. That alone would have been bad enough, given that Umbrella was nearing its end and still had some strength left. But he actually wanted to take all the meat from the pot and leave them not even a scrap.
Even if they didn't want to openly confront Umbrella Corporation, they would have a hard time competing in the market against its products, which were overwhelmingly competitive.
That left them with only two options: fight Umbrella Corporation or steal its product manufacturing secrets.
For now, public opinion was firmly behind Umbrella Corporation, so the corporate predators were sticking to relatively mild tactics.
Umbrella Corporation's open positions attracted fierce competition from highly skilled workers. In just one day, Red Queen could barely keep up with the flood of résumés sent to the company's official website.
After returning to Raccoon City, the first thing Duncan did was fulfill his promise.
Raccoon City began a citywide gun ban. Those unwilling to surrender their guns would be expelled from the city. Those who did surrender them would be paid five times their value by Umbrella Corporation.
The Arc Reactor was slated for construction in the industrial district, so there was no rush. The first priority was carrying out the gun ban.
Almost everyone in Raccoon City's administration worked for Umbrella, so the order to ban guns was carried out without question. The Raccoon City Police Department fully cooperated. Every day, police cars drove around with loudspeakers, publicizing the ban and urging residents to hand their firearms over to Umbrella Corporation.
Anyone caught hiding a gun would lose access to Umbrella's free education, free medical care, and free utilities. They would also be driven out of Raccoon City.
Three days after Duncan's return.
At a collection point on a Raccoon City street, Jill joined five squad members who had nothing else to do, along with several volunteers, to help collect firearms.
The city had a population of over a hundred thousand. If every family of five owned one gun and a supply of ammunition, the city would have to collect more than twenty thousand guns. In reality, the total could only be higher!
This was no simple task. The police department had only a few hundred officers, and even sending every one of them out to collect guns wouldn't be enough.
Watching the residents line up beneath the sunshades, chatting and laughing, Jill sped up her registration work. She handed a receipt to the middle-aged man in front of her and smiled, indicating that he could line up next door to collect his money.
Ever since Duncan had miraculously appeared at the hearing, "back from the dead," Raccoon City had undergone earth-shaking changes.
More capital had poured into the city, bringing the residents greater opportunities.
Roads were being rebuilt, and housing was being allocated. Some people at the bottom of society had moved out of cramped rental rooms and into small apartments with at least their own bathrooms. The unemployed had vanished from the streets, and darkness no longer fell over the city at night.
The future looked bright!
Having seen the hope that change brought, the residents smiled more often. Whenever they talked about Umbrella Corporation, they no longer spoke of it as some unattainable rice cooker.
Now, people praised the company's greatness and the many measures Duncan had ordered.
Working-class people had never given much thought to what they would do with a brighter tomorrow. Now they left home smiling every day, eager to see what might change, no longer expecting the worst from the future.
Umbrella's outreach program helped everyone who genuinely needed assistance. Spending money to buy a good reputation wasn't in keeping with capitalism, but it matched the residents' understanding of "goodness."
"I hope things stay this wonderful." After seeing off the last resident to hand in a gun, Jill rose from her chair and stretched both arms overhead, loosening her stiff muscles after sitting for so long.
She was happy to see the peace in Raccoon City, but worried about the challenges that might lie ahead.
Peyton was helping pack things up. At her words, he curled his lip. "He's picking a fight with some very powerful people. No one out there really likes him. He could get killed by a bullet any day!"
He'd been in a gloomy mood for a while after Duncan died. But when Duncan came back a few days ago and launched a series of reforms, Peyton's mood only got worse.
There was no denying that these measures were good, but he still couldn't stand Duncan. The reason was simple...
"Peyton!" Jill glared at him angrily. "If you can't say anything decent, keep your mouth shut. I didn't think you were unreasonable. What's wrong with Raccoon City now?"
Before Jill could say another word, Peyton gave in and loaded the table onto the pickup.
He didn't want to argue with Jill, because he couldn't win...
Before you continue