Chapter 104: The Thunderous Great Crocodile
The cold iron ladder dug painfully into his palms. Leon used his last bit of strength to pull himself onto the platform, collapsing onto the ground and gasping for air.
Sewage dripped from the tips of his hair, splashing onto the oil-stained floor. He glanced back down at the pitch-black waterway, his heart still pounding frantically.
"What the hell was that thing?" he asked, his voice raspy. Just moments ago, that massive, tooth-filled maw had nearly crushed his head.
Ada had already retracted the ladder and turned to walk ahead. Her brown trench coat cut a sharp arc in the dim light. "Don't say I didn't warn you," she said without looking back.
"You only said the virus turns people into monsters; you never mentioned it turned crocodiles too!" Leon pushed himself up from the ground, rubbing his aching lower back. "That thing was ten meters long! It could bite a truck in half with one snap!"
Ada let out a soft chuckle, a sound so crisp and pleasant that it felt jarringly out of place in the deathly silent underground passage. "True enough. I'm surprised you actually made it out in one piece." She turned her head to look at Leon's disheveled state, a faint, imperceptible smile flickering in her eyes.
Looking at her smile, Leon suddenly felt his fatigue lighten significantly. He scratched his head and quickly caught up to her. "I guess I'm just lucky. Besides, didn't I have you up here covering for me?"
Ada didn't respond, merely quickening her pace. They walked along the narrow passage for about five minutes until an elevator appeared ahead. Ada pressed the button, and the elevator doors opened slowly with a harsh grinding sound.
Stepping into the elevator, Ada leaned against the wall and closed her eyes to rest. Leon looked at her delicate profile and hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "I want to understand—who is the Umbrella Corporation planning to sell those monsters to? Our military?"
Ada opened her eyes, her gaze becoming deep and cold again. "They aren't selling monsters; they're selling the virus that can create them," she said, emphasizing every word. "As long as they have the money, anyone can buy a vial of the T-Virus and turn any city into a hell like Raccoon City."
"Annette Birkin is the one who created the virus." Ada's eyes fixed on the flickering floor numbers of the elevator. "That crocodile just now was dangerous enough, but compared to her, it's nothing. For the sake of the G-Virus, she is willing to sacrifice everything, including her own daughter."
Leon's heart sank. He thought of Kendo sobbing while holding Emma, and Chief Marvin lying in a pool of blood. The tragedies of these people were ultimately caused by Umbrella and these mad scientists.
With a 'ding,' the elevator doors slowly opened to reveal a corridor filled with the heavy scent of disinfectant.
Leon stepped out of the elevator first, gripping his handgun tightly. He cautiously moved through an empty lounge. Just as he reached the corner of the corridor, he saw a woman in a white lab coat with her back to them, typing rapidly on a console's keyboard.
"Who are you?" Leon raised his gun to aim, shouting sternly.
The woman spun around abruptly. Almost at the same time, Ada raised her gun, her muzzle locked onto the woman's forehead.
"Annette Birkin!" Ada's voice was bone-chillingly cold.
"She's the one we're looking for?" Leon asked in a low voice.
"Hand over the G-Virus," Ada said, taking a step forward with an unquestionable tone.
Annette let out a cold laugh, her eyes full of disdain. "Hmph, don't even think about it."
"Don't do anything reckless, Doctor," Ada warned, her finger tightening on the trigger. "Hand over the virus, and I can let you leave here alive."
Annette suddenly turned and ran toward the end of the corridor.
"Don't run!" Leon shouted, about to give chase.
Ada was the first to pursue. At that moment, Annette suddenly turned around, a handgun in her hand, and pulled the trigger at Ada.
"Watch out!"
Without a second thought, Leon lunged forward to shield Ada with his body. A bullet pierced his shoulder, sending a spray of blood into the air. Sharp pain instantly surged through his entire body; he let out a muffled groan and collapsed to the floor.
"Leon!" Ada cried out in surprise, catching him.
Annette took the opportunity to run to an alloy door and swiped her ID card. The heavy alloy door slowly closed. She looked at the two through the glass, her gaze icy. "I will never let you get the G-Virus! No one will!"
With a 'thud,' the alloy door locked completely.
Ada looked at Leon on the floor, her brow furrowing deeply. She knelt down, tore open Leon's police uniform, and checked his wound. The bullet had passed through his shoulder without hitting the bone, but the bleeding was constant.
"Don't worry about me..." Leon groaned in pain, his face as pale as paper. "Go stop her... don't let her get away..."
After saying that, his vision went black, and he fell completely unconscious.
Ada sighed, took a first-aid kit from her bag, and skillfully bandaged Leon's wound. Once finished, she leaned Leon against the corner, took off her black trench coat, and draped it over him.
"What a troublesome rookie," she whispered, her eyes lingering on Leon with a complex expression before she turned and headed toward the ventilation duct next to the alloy door.
Meanwhile, at the entrance to the NEST core area.
Several heavy alloy doors rose slowly in sequence with a dull hydraulic sound. Cold white light spilled out, illuminating the faces of Chloe and Claire.
"For your safety, please do not approach until the hatch is fully open," an emotionless mechanical broadcast echoed through the cavernous hall.
Claire held Sherry tightly, cautiously stepping into the hall. This place was a stark contrast to the ruined world outside; the floors were polished like mirrors, the walls were made of pure white alloy, and the ceiling was filled with recessed lights. The entire space was spotless and terrifyingly quiet.
Just then, the ID wristband on Sherry's wrist emitted a soft 'beep'.
"Identity verified. Welcome to NEST. We hope you enjoy your visit."
Claire was stunned for a moment, then let out a bitter smile. A visit? This was no place worth visiting; it was clearly a hell built upon a mountain of lives.
Chloe looked around, her eyes cold. A few days ago, she had sneaked in here with Jill to get the S01 Inhibitor. It was also here that her body had been torn apart by G1 William, and she had almost been left in this cold place forever.
"This way." Chloe pointed to a nearby lab. "It's safe there for now. Let's get Sherry settled first."
Claire nodded and followed Chloe into the lab. It was an unused observation room containing a hospital bed and some basic medical equipment. She carefully placed Sherry on the bed and tucked her in.
Sherry's face was still pale and her breathing weak, but she looked slightly better than before. She opened her eyes, looked at Claire, and whispered, "Claire, I'm a little cold."
"It's okay, you'll be fine soon." Claire touched her forehead; the temperature was still very high. "We'll get the cure very soon."
She stood up and looked at Chloe. "What should we do next? Annette said her lab isn't far from here, but we have no idea where it actually is."
"Let's scout NEST first." Chloe walked over to a computer and pulled up a map. "There's a layout of the labs here. And..."
She paused, her expression becoming grave. "There are bound to be many mutated creatures here. We must be careful."
Claire nodded. She walked back to the bedside and took Sherry's cold little hand. "Sherry, we have to step out for a bit to find your mom and the medicine to make you better. Can you stay here and be a good girl? We'll be back very soon, I promise."
Sherry looked at her, her eyes filled with both reliance and fear. She nodded and whispered, "You have to come back."
"Don't worry." Claire smiled and tucked the corners of the blanket. "I won't leave you behind."
The two stepped out of the observation room, and the automatic door slid shut quietly.
The corridor was deserted, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing in the vast space. The indicator lights on the walls flickered with a faint red glow, like countless eyes watching them from the darkness.
Chloe walked in the lead, her bladed claws already silently extending from her fingertips. She could feel the heavy scent of blood and the stench of the virus permeating the air. Something was lurking in the shadows, waiting for its prey.
"Stay close to me," she whispered to Claire. "Don't leave my sight."
Claire gripped her revolver tightly and nodded.
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