Sincerity or Acting

09:12.

A researcher in a white hazmat suit entered the interrogation room, escorted by four members of Alpha.

At the sight of someone entering, the Plague Doctor stopped writing furiously and looked up at the researcher and the others.

Because of the beaked mask, it was impossible to see the Plague Doctor's expression clearly. No one could tell whether he was happy or angry.

Assuming he even had a face.

The four members of Alpha took up positions in the corners of the interrogation room. The MA5Bs were loaded, their muzzles trained on the Plague Doctor.

A sedative containing lavender was also ready. If the Plague Doctor suddenly became aggressive, they could pump it into the interrogation room through the air vents.

As soon as the researcher pulled out a metal chair and sat down, the Plague Doctor spoke first in his resonant voice. "Ah, you've finally arrived. Let's get started with the questions, then. Don't waste my time."

Hearing this, the researcher seated opposite the Plague Doctor asked, "From the way you speak... it sounds like you're used to being questioned. Is that right?"

The Plague Doctor spread his hands and glanced around the room. In a tone that said, "Isn't it obvious?" he replied, "Isn't that clear enough?"

"Then when was the last time you were questioned?"

"Hmm..." At the researcher's question, the Plague Doctor tapped his left fingers rhythmically on the table and pinched his head with his right hand, as though trying hard to remember.

After musing for a while, he stopped fidgeting with his hands and continued. "I can't say exactly when. I only remember that humanity was in dire straits back then...

"Oh, right. The officers interrogating me also said something about the Austro-Hungarian Empire declaring war on Serbia.

"Not long after that, the military camp where I was being held was seized by a group of soldiers in gray uniforms. I took advantage of the chaos to leave."

The Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Serbia.

It was obvious that the period the Plague Doctor was talking about was World War I.

From this answer, everyone learned another fact about the Plague Doctor: he had a very long lifespan, if not an exceptionally long one. After all, World War I had been eighty years ago.

After a brief pause, the researcher asked again, "Then how should I address you?"

"My name... what to call me..." The Plague Doctor once again seemed to be trying to remember. But this time, he quickly shook his head and chuckled.

"Doctor. Just call me Doctor."

"All right, Doctor. I'd like to know why you killed those people, and what you used to—"

"Killed them?!" The Plague Doctor suddenly cut the researcher off, raising his voice in clear displeasure. "Treated them! I treated them! I cured them! They had contracted the Plague!"

"Treated them? But they all turned into mindless Living Corpses." The researcher didn't back down when the Plague Doctor grew angry, and bluntly brought up the tragedy at Apartment 26.

"Ah..." The Plague Doctor let out a sorrowful sigh and leaned back in his chair. He no longer met the researcher's gaze, speaking as though he had suddenly lost heart.

"It was an imperfect treatment. The truth is, I've spent my entire life researching ways to treat the Plague. If giving my life could save humanity, I'd do so without hesitation.

"But things didn't go as planned. The Plague couldn't possibly disappear so easily."

"." (x N)

Watching the Plague Doctor speak as though he were a "pioneer willing to take the first step for humanity," nearly all the researchers—except Sui Bian, Hunk, and the other members of Alpha—thought his acting was quite good.

After the Pseudo-Zombies and the tenants' corpses were transported to the Research Center, the researchers began dissecting them, examining them, and running tests.

The dead had various minor ailments, but none of them had the so-called "Plague."

The only thing they found was a current strain of influenza virus in two of the corpses—in other words, the common cold.

Sui Bian understood the Plague's nature, which was why he didn't doubt that the Plague Doctor's heartfelt words had been genuine. As for Hunk and the members of Alpha...

They were of the mind that they only followed orders and didn't care whether the Plague Doctor truly cared about humanity.

The atmosphere in the interrogation room grew heavy for a moment.

"Plague." In the end, the researcher was the one to break the silence. "What is the Plague? We examined the victims' bodies and found no viruses, bacteria, or fungi of any kind."

"The Plague..." The Plague Doctor explained, still dejected. "It's everywhere. It represents calamity, extinction... Uh... How would you explain it in your terms? Emotions? Thoughts? Feelings...

"In any case, many people have already succumbed, and more will do so in the future, until someone develops a way to cure it perfectly...

"A vaccine, yes, a vaccine. I'm already so close to completing one! So stop wasting time. Come on, take me to my new laboratory and quarters!"

By the end, the Plague Doctor's excitement had steadily mounted. He seemed eager to continue his experiments.

"Sir?" Seeing how enthusiastic the Plague Doctor was, the researcher turned toward the one-way glass, as if waiting for Sui Bian's next orders.

Inside the observation room, Sui Bian lightly pinched his chin with his left hand and watched the energetic Plague Doctor in the interrogation room. After a moment of thought, he ordered Hunk beside him, "Captain, have Alpha escort this strange doctor to the Hive and arrange a comfortable cell for him. Keep him under close surveillance until I return to the Hive."

"Yes." Hunk gave a slight nod. He didn't ask why Sui Bian wouldn't be returning to Raccoon City with them. He simply turned and headed for the observation room exit.

Next, the researcher in the interrogation room relayed part of Sui Bian's orders to the Plague Doctor, assuring him that he would be provided with new quarters. The researcher said nothing at all about a new laboratory.

The Plague Doctor made no further demands after hearing this. Instead, he cooperated fully as he left the interrogation room, ready to be escorted by Alpha and the technical staff to Umbrella's military airport on the outskirts of Paris.

Sui Bian had now gained a firm foothold in power. He no longer needed to "sneak" his way around the world.

So, under arrangements made by the Red Queen and the control center in the Headquarters Building, the convoy transporting the Plague Doctor reached the airport at 10:15. At 10:25, he boarded a company-owned C-17 Globemaster III transport plane bound for Raccoon City, USA.

Meanwhile, Sui Bian had the Red Queen file a report on the Plague Doctor's case. He also instructed the White Queen to select a sufficiently large site at one of Umbrella's bases or facilities, preferably somewhere isolated from the outside world, and have it renovated.

The goal was simple: after gaining control of the Plague Doctor, Umbrella needed an "Anomalous Phenomenon Containment Center."

The Plague Doctor's temperament and lavender's sedative properties made the Hive a suitable place to hold him temporarily. But sooner or later, they were bound to encounter even more dangerous entities.

If they established an Anomalous Phenomenon Containment Center, then even if containment failed, it wouldn't cause mass casualties right away.

Just as the Red and White Queens began to busy themselves, the four UBCS combat platoons originally deployed in Eastern Europe reached the airport on the outskirts of Paris at 10:32, following orders.