Alice Saw Through the Truth

Xiao Miao opened his mouth, racking his brain for an excuse, only to hear Alice continue, "I saw your fight on the road—releasing Flame Tornado, controlling the earth. It was amazing, like a wizard from a novel. But there's no magic in this world. Your abilities are the product of science!"

Xiao Miao: "..."

"Aren't you wondering why you can control flames, air, and dirt? Why you could sense the monsters hiding in the church?"

Because of character cards and having watched the movie in my previous life!

Xiao Miao grumbled inwardly, but outwardly he put on a blank, clueless expression, as though he desperately needed the truth. "Why?"

Alice slowly exhaled, her tone grave. "Because you're one of Umbrella Corporation's test subjects... The T-virus allowed you to break past human limits and do things you never would have dared imagine before."

Xiao Miao sucked in a sharp breath. "So that's how it is... Wait, you said 'one of them.' Does that mean...?"

Alice nodded. "That's right. I'm also an Umbrella Corporation test subject. I know it's hard to believe, but that's the truth. If I'm not mistaken, you probably don't know how you came to Raccoon City, do you?"

Xiao Miao nodded. He truly did not know how he had gotten here. The panel's teleportation left no trace. Many powerful people had researched it, but until Xiao Miao became a Walker of the Myriad Worlds, no one had ever figured it out.

Alice continued, "After waking up somewhere in Raccoon City, everything you knew about your identity came from the documents on you or around you. Occasionally, old scenes flashed through your mind. Familiar people contacted you, but you didn't recognize them. Right?"

Xiao Miao continued nodding. That was exactly how the identity arranged by the panel worked. Honestly, he already regretted spending those seventy Fate Points.

"You see? That's Umbrella Corporation's usual trick." Alice wore an expression of absolute certainty, as if she had seen through everything. "In their eyes, you're just a weapon, an experimental product. You need to be tested in real combat, so when the viral crisis broke out in Raccoon City, they dropped you here for testing... just like me!"

Xiao Miao had nothing to say. If he had met Alice from the start, he definitely would not have spent money buying an identity. Alice's imagination alone would have been enough.

Seeing that her words had already touched Xiao Miao's soul, Alice decided the time was ripe. Smiling, she extended her hand to him. "So join me. Let's expose Umbrella Corporation's conspiracy and destroy their evil base!"

Xiao Miao looked worried. "Umbrella Corporation is the largest and most influential corporation in the world. The two of us opposing them would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. It's too dangerous!"

Alice shook her head. "It's too late. You killed their bioweapon, Nemesis. They won't let you go. Fighting back is our only way to survive."

Sorry, once I complete the mission, I'll return directly to the city. Umbrella Corporation won't be able to find me.

Xiao Miao had waited until now, but the mission still had not triggered. He could not help showing a regretful expression. "Sorry, Alice, but I still prefer a peaceful life. Like finding somewhere to hide and marrying a few wives..."

[Ding!]

[Optional investigation mission triggered: Destroy Umbrella Corporation's secret biochemical laboratory with Alice. Mission reward: 1000 Fate Points. Failure penalty: During your stay in this world, you will be hunted by Umbrella Corporation with their full force.]

Xiao Miao: "..."

Could the mission have triggered any slower?

Fortunately, he had been a mature adult in his previous life. After struggling in the workplace for two and a half years, he had developed a smooth, silver tongue.

"...But then again, how could I bear to stand by and watch you fight a behemoth like Umbrella Corporation alone, Alice? Besides, as a vanguard of justice, fighting evil is my responsibility, Xiao Miao!"

The Fate Dice immediately conveyed information. His affinity had changed.

[Story Character: Alice]

[Current Bond: Level 3 (Close Friend)]

[Draw Cost: 80 Fate Points]

Xiao Miao suddenly felt inspired and wanted to try a draw, so he immediately acted. The dice spun, and a flash of purple light appeared.

[Skill Card: Blood Queen's Enslavement Magic (Become My Dog!)]

Xiao Miao immediately used the skill card. In an instant, a massive amount of information flooded into his mind. Amid the haze, the light and shadows before him shifted, and Xiao Miao seemed to see a woman identical to Alice, dressed in luxurious robes, stepping on him and teasing his face with her toes.

The illusory scene vanished in the blink of an eye. The principles of Enslavement Magic were completely imprinted in Xiao Miao's mind. At the same time, his panel changed:

[Name: Xiao Miao]

[Physical Strength: 5]

[Soul Strength: 8]

[Energy Strength: 1]

[Fate Points: 395]

[Skills: ... Flexible Fingers lv5, S.T.A.R.S. Gun-Fu lv3, Blood Queen's Enslavement Magic lv1...]

[Talent (Unique): Fate Dice]

[Talent: Magic Sense (White)]

After consecutively gaining the Magic Sense talent and Enslavement Magic, Xiao Miao's Energy Strength attribute had finally risen to 1.

He could feel a faint trace of magic power being born within his body. It was like a gentle breeze that could vanish at any moment, but it undeniably existed!

There really was something to drawing cards whenever the mood struck. This was a technique Xiao Miao had summed up from playing gacha games in his previous life: do not force draws deliberately. When living normally, if inspiration suddenly struck, draw immediately—more often than not, you would get what you wanted.

Drawing cards and learning skills sounded time-consuming, but only a brief instant had passed. Alice was deeply moved by Xiao Miao's words and extended her hand toward him.

"Pleasure working with you, comrade!" Their hands clasped. Then Alice asked, "Can you still use your abilities?"

"To be honest, it's difficult!" Xiao Miao shook his head. "The situation was special at the time. I only wanted to protect Jill, and somehow I used those... spells."

"It's fine. Combat can awaken your body's instincts. There happen to be three perfect sparring partners in the church. Come on, let's go in!"

Alice got out of the car as she spoke. Xiao Miao was naturally not afraid of Lickers, but he was worried about Jill. Before getting out, he looked at her. "Why don't you stay in the car?"

Jill rolled her eyes beautifully. "I'm a cop. Protecting civilians is my duty."

The three of them got out one after another, then all turned to look at the female reporter still in the car.

The reporter trembled and asked in panic, "D-Do I have to go too?"

Jill nodded. "Yes!"

"It might be dangerous staying in the car." Xiao Miao glanced at the zombies wandering across the open ground in the distance. "Of course, if you can handle them, staying in the car is fine. I can give you a pistol."

The reporter shook her head like a rattle and decisively got out of the car to follow them.

Churches—whether in comics or movies—were places where accidents frequently happened. Countless lives fell or were born there, and countless legendary stories emerged as well, such as the unspeakable story between a priest and a little boy, Valkyrie, Bible Black, and so on.

The examples might not have been quite appropriate, but that was the idea. As Xiao Miao's group entered the church, the three monsters lurking on the ceiling watched them like tigers eyeing prey. A fierce battle was about to begin.