The third-floor cellblock.
Ever since the Hive had fallen completely into Sui Bian's hands two months ago, the once-empty cell units had gradually filled with residents in orange uniforms.
On the backs of their uniforms—or rather, their prison jumpsuits—were clearly printed identification numbers beginning with D, such as D-0001, and continuing from there.
Most were death-row inmates from Colorado State. The rest were scum whose crimes didn't warrant execution, such as serial rapists and child molesters. They were Umbrella's most useful and valuable employees: D-Class Personnel.
The cellblock also had several private rooms with higher security clearance levels, used to temporarily hold humanoid anomalies classified as Nyx or Security.
The Plague Doctor, whom Alpha had taken control of not long ago, was currently in one of these rooms.
Raccoon City local time: 18:02.
Inside private room 001.
"Hm~ hm~"
The Plague Doctor hummed an unfamiliar tune in his rich, resonant voice. He seemed to be in a rather good mood.
The room was spacious, laid out in a square and measuring around forty square meters. It contained a comfortable single bed, as well as a wooden desk and chair.
It also had a private bathroom with a shower stall. That alone was enough to make the D-Class Personnel green with envy.
D-Class Personnel were allowed to shower together once a week, but...
Soap incidents were common in American prisons. Still, it was hard to say whether the Plague Doctor needed to use the toilet or shower. Otherwise, it would be a bit of a waste.
Besides that, the room could hold more accessories, furniture, and belongings. However, the anomaly would have to behave well before applying to the Hive for the items it wanted.
The Plague Doctor was lying on the bed, flipping through his notes, looking completely at ease.
"Clang—" The metallic noise of the cell door rising interrupted his humming and reading.
As soon as the door lifted, several armed guards in dark gray uniforms, wearing body armor, tactical belts, and black berets, rushed into the cell with P90s in hand.
They aimed their guns at the Plague Doctor, who was slowly sitting up in bed.
"Ah..." The Plague Doctor spread his hands and said in a rather helpless tone, "Do you really need to make such a fuss every time?"
"Of course." As soon as the Plague Doctor finished speaking, Sui Bian answered from outside the cell.
Sui Bian entered the room where the Plague Doctor was being held, accompanied by Hunk in a black suit and three other members of Alpha dressed the same way.
After Hunk and Alpha had locked the Plague Doctor in this cell, they had handed his supervision over to the Hive, so they hadn't brought along individual equipment such as Mechanical Exoskeletons.
Though the armed guards couldn't match the USS, they had Lavender spray and a strict containment system. That was more than enough to keep watch over the Plague Doctor.
Besides, the Plague Doctor was usually quite mild-mannered.
"Oh?" The Plague Doctor, sitting on the edge of the bed, watched Sui Bian enter the cell and uttered a puzzled exclamation. Then he spoke first:
"Sir, you... seem rather unusual. I can't sense the presence of the Plague on you..."
"Does that mean I don't have the Plague?" Sui Bian asked with a chuckle.
"No, sir." The Plague Doctor shook his head slightly and explained, "I mean I can't sense it."
After that, the Plague Doctor glanced around at everyone present and said to Sui Bian, "Sir, these are all admirable soldiers. If they can maintain their current condition, they won't be consumed by the Plague for at least a little while."
"Heh, I'll take that as a compliment." Sui Bian replied with another chuckle, then continued, "Doctor, I'm the leader of these soldiers and this facility. My surname is Sui..."
"Mr. Sui, where is my new laboratory? The vaccine research can't wait."
After learning that Sui Bian was in charge, the Plague Doctor hurriedly interrupted him and bluntly asked for a new laboratory.
"Take it easy, Doctor. I came to resolve this very matter. If this room isn't too cramped for you, why not make it your living quarters and laboratory? What do you think?"
Sui Bian wasn't angered by the Plague Doctor interrupting him. Instead, he made the offer above.
The Plague Doctor considered it for a moment, then nodded. "That's an excellent suggestion, sir. I'll also need experimental subjects for my research."
"No problem." Sui Bian had expected the Plague Doctor to say that, so he agreed without a second thought. Then he clapped his hands and raised his voice:
"Bring in the traitors' bodies and let the doctor see if they're suitable."
At his words, the researchers who had been waiting outside pushed two corpse carts into the cell and stopped them a short distance from the Plague Doctor.
The two bodies on the carts belonged to Nikolai and another UBCS traitor.
"Ah! Thank you, sir!" At the sight of ready-made experimental subjects, the Plague Doctor sprang out of bed and went over to the carts to examine the bodies closely.
As he looked them over, he remarked, "Hmm... These two patients are already in the terminal stages of the disease. They're perfect experimental subjects! I'd like to start experimenting right away! Could I borrow one of your carts? It would make surgery more convenient."
Without waiting for Sui Bian's reply, the Plague Doctor shooed away the researchers standing beside the corpse carts.
Then he took a small black pouch from an inner pocket of his robe, pulled a pair of medical scissors from it, and began cutting open Nikolai's shirt.
Already in the terminal stages? Then the Plague might really be connected to human nature, Sui Bian thought to himself.
After a moment,
Sui Bian said to the Plague Doctor, who was about to begin surgery, "Doctor, I've provided you with excellent experimental subjects. In return, as part of a fair deal, I need your help. What do you say?"
The Plague Doctor had already finished cutting open Nikolai's shirt. Without even looking up, he took a scalpel from the pouch and moved on to the next step, answering casually, "Hmm... sure..."
Seeing this, Sui Bian signaled for them to bring the other experimental subject into the cell.
Before long, two guards escorted a D-Class Personnel into the cell. He wore an orange jumpsuit and a metal mask, his hands cuffed and his ankles shackled.
This D-Class Personnel had been injected with the T-Virus. The researchers had then physically accelerated the infection, and now he—or it—had become a zombie with no memories or consciousness.
"Rrgh...! Rrgh!" The zombified D-Class Personnel growled and tried to bite the guards restraining it, driven by its endless hunger.
Unfortunately, all its efforts were futile. The zombified D-Class Personnel couldn't break free of its restraints.
?
?!
The Plague Doctor noticed the commotion. He had only meant to glance at the D-Class Personnel who had turned into a zombie before returning his attention to the surgery. But when he looked up, the strange doctor was stunned.
"Wonderful! This patient is no longer threatened by the Plague! And with a treatment I've never seen before!"
Before you continue