"Boss... I have a question for you. Why are we still working with that devious, treacherous executive from the Umbrella Corporation? I don't understand. Even without the Umbrella Corporation's weapons and intelligence support, we can still avenge Old Ghost and the others!"
In a dim alley, four people advanced slowly in a special formation, guns in hand and expressions wary.
As they walked, one of the men behind Nicholas on his right spoke up. He was of average height and ordinary-looking, but his striking white hair stood out. He was only around thirty years old. This was White Mouse, a maniacal demolition expert!
"The flash of light at the moment of an explosion is like the sun rising over the sea. The sound of an explosion is more beautiful and pleasant to my ears than Beethoven's symphonies. It's all made me hopelessly addicted to it."
That was something he often said.
Nicholas replied, "Without their weapons and intelligence support, we could easily kill those Chinese agents. But if we don't work with the Umbrella Corporation, we won't be able to leave this damned city. Sooner or later, we'll end up as food for the Zombies. I have to take responsibility for you all."
"Being afraid to die is a sign of a coward!" White Mouse scoffed. "Those people from the Umbrella Corporation are a pack of wolves who'd eat you alive. I'd rather die than work with them again!"
Nicholas said, "But I'm your boss! I have the right to decide what you should and shouldn't do. Unless you're leaving Black Snake."
White Mouse stiffened, then lowered his head and fell silent.
The Black woman behind him patted his shoulder and smiled. "White Mouse, the boss is right. He's the boss, so you should just follow orders." A scar lay across her face, and when she smiled, her white teeth showed. It was a terrifying sight.
White Mouse turned and glared at her, then grunted and said nothing.
The Indian youth beside the woman said, "You damn rat, don't use those beady little eyes of yours to stare at my Fox. Watch it, or I'll dig your eyeballs out."
"Mori, if you don't want me to turn you into a human bomb, shut your mouth. Unless you want to see just how spectacular you look when you explode."
Mori shrugged and took Fox's hand. "I'd actually like to see that. But before then, you'd better make sure my Fox doesn't poison you to death." As he spoke, Mori gazed at Fox tenderly.
Fox smiled back at Mori. They seemed to be showing off how well they understood each other.
"All right, you lot," Nicholas said. "There's a time and place for bickering. If you want to stay alive, stay alert. We're on the clock." He raised his head.
A beam of white light shone down from the sky, accompanied by the sound of rotor blades churning the air. The four looked up and could just make out the red-and-white Umbrella Corporation logo emblazoned on the underside of a helicopter.
Two metal cases were dropped from the helicopter, landing not far from Nicholas and the others...
"Come on, guys. Let's see what our old client has prepared for us." Nicholas beckoned and took the lead.
Yin Kuang was back at the same spot where the telephone booth stood.
Looking up at the helicopter in the sky, he said, "They're certainly in a hurry."
A metal case plummeted from above with a sharp whistling sound and slammed into the road not far from Yin Kuang, leaving a dent in the asphalt.
Yin Kuang picked up the receiver nearby and smiled. "Dear sir, I've received your gift. Thank you for your generosity. Of course, I hope you haven't tampered with it. The black dog and I will always be together."
After speaking, he ignored whatever the person on the other end of the line said. He picked up the Labrador lying on the ground and walked over to the metal case, which bore the Umbrella Corporation logo on all four sides.
He placed Guide Dog Mary in front of the case, then went around to the back and slowly opened it.
Yin Kuang had every reason to be cautious. Making a deal with the Umbrella Corporation was like walking a tightrope over an abyss. One misstep, and he'd fall to his death, doomed beyond redemption!
If the Umbrella Corporation had tampered with the case and Yin Kuang handled it carelessly, he might not even know what had killed him.
The case was finally opened all the way. There was no poison gas, no bomb, and no trap.
Yin Kuang breathed a sigh of relief.
Only then did he walk around to the front and examine what was inside the metal case.
There were ten pitch-black custom-made high-explosive grenades, a black rifle shaped like an M4, two rifle magazines, two black USP pistols, four pistol magazines, a Combat Knife, a coil of steel wire, a first-aid kit marked with a red cross, and a set of Umbrella Corporation security uniforms, including a helmet, knee and elbow pads, boots, gloves, a bulletproof vest, night-vision binoculars, and more. There were even two cans of beef and a pack of compressed biscuits.
There was a lot of equipment, and it was all very comprehensive. The person who had prepared it had clearly put some thought into considering everything Yin Kuang might need.
Yin Kuang stared at the things inside the metal case, at a loss for words.
"Ah, there's so much good stuff. I hate to throw it away." Yin Kuang picked up a pistol, but the Headmaster gave him no prompt, nor any detailed information about the weapon.
"So this is what Senior Xiong Ba meant by 'plot items,'" Yin Kuang said with a bitter smile. "In that case, I won't feel bad about throwing them away. I can't put them in my inventory anyway, and I can't take them out of this scenario world."
"Plot items" was a collective term for the various things found in a scenario world, such as weapons, equipment, and special items. Plot items could be used, but they couldn't be taken out of the scenario world. They could only be used within the "scenario." That was why the Headmaster provided no information about them. They also couldn't be put into the "inventory," so they had to be carried around, which was a real nuisance.
Yin Kuang's "inventory" had three slots, which could hold only three items. One held "Mary's Heart Blood," while the other two were empty.
Just as Yin Kuang frowned, a clear ringtone sounded. It came from a cell phone inside the metal case.
Yin Kuang curled his lip and answered it.
"How is it, little Chinese boy? Are you satisfied with the gift? I believe those items will help you easily avenge your dead friends."
"I'm very satisfied. Thank you very much," Yin Kuang replied with a smile.
"Then I'll wait for your good news. I sincerely hope we can complete our deal as soon as possible. After all, danger lurks everywhere in Raccoon City."
"You'll get your wish."
With that, Yin Kuang hung up.
"It's about to begin... I just hope everything goes as I planned..."
Then Yin Kuang bent down and dragged the metal case with all his strength, heading toward the darkness...
On the flickering screen, the Chinese boy bent over, dragging the metal case, until he slowly disappeared into the pitch-black night...
The supervisor of the Umbrella Corporation's Raccoon City branch curled his lips into a smirk. Disdain flashed in his cold eyes as he said, "Track his signal and pinpoint his location... Then send it to that fool Nicholas. Heh. Chinese boy, enjoy the little feast I've prepared for you. Two fish fighting while I, the fisherman, wait to profit. Heh."
Perhaps if the supervisor had known more about Chinese culture, he would have been better off saying, "When the snipe and the clam fight, it's the fisherman who profits."
"Yes, sir," the blonde woman replied.
Then the supervisor beckoned to the burly Black man standing beside the tent flap. He looked like a bear. "Don't we still have a logistics unit?"
"Sir, the logistics unit is the last force we have available," the burly Black man replied, apparently understanding what the supervisor meant. "It's also the camp's last line of defense. Since we're about to carry out the 'Cleaner' plan, we have to keep the camp secure. Besides, only the company's headquarters has the authority to deploy the logistics unit."
The supervisor slowly turned his head. "Sorry, I didn't quite catch that."
"Sir..."
"Follow orders, security guard." The supervisor fixed the burly Black man with a cold stare that seemed to pierce his heart. "You've seen for yourself that although I have no authority to use that force, I can still fire you. And do you really think anyone would come visit our camp at a time like this? As their host, I'd be delighted to give them a warm welcome."
A struggle flashed through the burly Black man's eyes. At last, he snapped his heels together and stood tall. "Yes, sir!"
"Good, security guard." The supervisor forced a smile. "Send out your logistics unit and have them hide somewhere. Then, when the two sides have worn each other down, take them all prisoner. Remember, try to keep them alive. I haven't had a chance to give them a proper welcome yet."
"Yes, sir!"
The Black man barked and left the command center.
"Chinese boy, aren't you eager to get your hands on the T-Virus? Don't worry. I've prepared plenty of T-Virus for you here..."
Before you continue