Levels

With Chris taking the lead, the rest of STARS no longer hesitated and began signing one after another.

Once the contracts and confidentiality agreements were signed, four Alphas wearing black sunglasses and suits gathered them up.

Two Alphas left the warehouse with the contracts and agreements, while the other two stayed behind the STARS members to keep watch.

"Ahem." Sui Bian broke the silence with a light cough. He glanced around at the assembled STARS members and said gravely,

"Everyone, I understand your confusion. I'll patiently answer your questions.

"First, the joint operation you carried out not long ago gave me a chance to see your combat capabilities. That's why I asked Chief Irons to bring you here."

"Mr. Sui." Chris was the first to raise his hand again. "The agreement mentioned that we were 'forbidden from disclosing anything seen or heard during an operation to family and friends.'

"It also said that 'during operations, we may encounter incomprehensible creatures, objects, phenomena, and spaces'...

"So I want to know what threats we'll be facing. And what exactly is the relationship between those threats and Umbrella? Are they... the B.O.W.s we encountered a few days ago?"

Before they had arrived at the warehouse, Irons had assured the STARS members that Mr. Sui needed them for a more covert operation.

In short, Irons had exaggerated and misled them in many ways.

"Hold on." As he spoke, Sui Bian took out a black presentation remote.

He used it to dim the lights in the warehouse, then switched on the projector and showed everyone a file.

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Project: Leech Queen.

Level: Nyx.

Status: Neutralized.

Description:

The project was originally named James Marcus. On ■/■/19■■, by Raccoon City time, he was infected by a virus while conducting an experiment.

Due to the project's unique nature, he successfully merged with the virus and became the hermaphroditic "Leech Queen."

Although the project retained a certain degree of human intelligence, he harbored extreme hatred toward humanity. He also caused two Umbrella facilities to cease operations and was responsible for a total of 217 deaths.

The project was neutralized at 13:24 on June 5, 1998, Raccoon City time, through a joint effort by the Raccoon Police Department and Umbrella.

Summary:

The project displayed extreme hostility toward humanity and was highly contagious. If left unchecked, he could have caused an unprecedented viral crisis.

However, given that the project's physical capabilities were not particularly remarkable, he was classified as a Nyx-level anomalous phenomenon.

End of file.

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Nyx level?

Leech Queen?

What... were these things?

The STARS members were somewhat bewildered.

They could understand giving Marcus the code name "Leech Queen," but what was this business about levels?

"Mr. Sui." Marini, the oldest and most experienced member of Bravo Team, spoke up. "Based on the file you provided, there's more than one James Marcus in this world, is that right?"

"That's right. You could put it that way." Sui Bian didn't deny it.

"But I have a question." Marini's expression was serious. "Are these anomalous phenomena the products of illegal experiments conducted by Umbrella? And... do you need us to clean up your mess?"

At his words, the STARS members seemed to have pieced together some of the truth. They also looked at Sui Bian with a measure of caution.

"Heh." Sui Bian had expected the question. He merely smiled and used the remote to switch the projector to another file.

The title projected onto the screen read "Anomalous Phenomena."

It explained, broadly, that the world contained many things humanity could not understand. Most were hostile to humanity or the world, and some anomalous phenomena could destroy a town—or even human civilization.

Next,

Sui Bian used the remote to show the STARS members the classification levels for these anomalous phenomena.

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Based on the level of threat posed by an anomalous phenomenon, as well as the difficulty of containing, retrieving, and neutralizing it, anomalous phenomena can generally be divided into four levels.

① Unthreatening level.

Description:

Anomalous phenomena in this category won't cause a major public outcry or attract special attention from society. That doesn't mean they're actually "unthreatening."

On the contrary, mishandling them could still bring human society to the brink of destruction.

For example, an ordinary-looking red button won't harm anyone who approaches it, and it can be easily contained.

However, if someone tries to press it, one thousand people will die at random. Anomalous phenomena of this type are also classified as "Unthreatening."

② Nyx level.

Description:

The behavior, manifestations, and properties of anomalous phenomena in this category exceed the bounds of current scientific understanding, or current technology simply offers only a limited understanding of them.

Furthermore, anomalous phenomena in this category generally possess the ability to think or perceive for themselves. Their behavior is difficult to predict, and without proper control, they can cause disruption or upheaval in the human world.

Compared with Unthreatening-level anomalous phenomena, containing or neutralizing those in this category usually requires a small-scale military force or special measures.

③ Hera level.

Anomalous phenomena in this category are qualitatively different from those in the previous two levels.

Containing them often requires large-scale, complex measures, and humanity lacks the knowledge and technology needed to oppose them.

Note: Being classified at this level does not mean that an anomalous phenomenon is especially dangerous. Rather, it is extremely difficult to control or keep under control. Humanity is entirely unable to predict the behavior or thoughts of individuals in this category.

Alternatively, it may be impossible to neutralize them with current human technology, or neutralizing them could pose a major threat to human society.

④ Exafanistis level.

Exafanistis comes from a Greek word meaning "neutralization," "destruction," or "doomsday."

Just as the word Exafanistis suggests, anomalous phenomena in this category are capable of destroying humanity, or even the Earth.

With humanity's current technology and knowledge, it is utterly impossible to explain anomalous phenomena in this category.

Note:

Under no circumstances may the existence of anomalous phenomena be made public.

It is believed that certain anomalous phenomena can grow stronger by feeding on human emotions such as fear, worship, and blind faith.

End of file.

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"."(x11)

After watching the presentation on anomalous phenomena and their levels, all eleven STARS members fell silent for a while. Their expressions were nothing short of remarkable.

Some looked baffled, while others appeared worried and confused.

Regardless, the file had made the STARS members begin to suspect that anomalous events, phenomena, or creatures might actually exist in this world.