Chapter 52: Undercurrents Surging

July 30, 1998. The peak of summer in Raccoon City was shrouded in a lingering haze. A subtle, suffocating pressure permeated the sweltering air. Six days had passed since the devastating explosion at the Arklay Spencer Mansion and research facility. The official press release's flippant mention of a "gas leak accident" had temporarily suppressed the citizens' gossip and panic, but the city's peace had long since become a mere facade.

Hundreds of meters beneath Raccoon City, in the core laboratory of the Nest, the sun never shone. The pungent smell of disinfectant intertwined with the low-frequency hum of operating machinery, filling every corner.

This was William Birkin's absolute domain, where every inch of air exuded coldness, paranoia, and madness. Researchers in white coats hurried about, heads bowed as they moved between various precision instruments. No one dared to look twice at the grim-faced man before the main console, for fear that a single slip-up would trigger the wrath of this paranoid genius.

William stood at the main console, his fingertips carelessly brushing over a document labeled "Top Secret." This was the S.T.A.R.S. operational report regarding the Arklay incident, personally delivered to him half an hour ago by his wife, Annette Birkin.

Annette Birkin was William's most trusted assistant and his sole point of contact with Raccoon City's Police Chief, Irons. Irons had accepted massive bribes from the Umbrella Corporation and had long since become their puppet. Naturally, he would pass every report submitted by S.T.A.R.S.—even unfiled, secret ones—to William through Annette Birkin, word for word.

He scanned it briefly before losing interest, tossing the report aside. In his eyes, the so-called S.T.A.R.S. were nothing more than cannon fodder in Wesker's abandonment plan—a group of low-level police officers struggling at the bottom, incapable of causing any real waves, let alone threatening his G-Virus research.

Throughout the process, he never noticed the few words in the report mentioning a sixteen-year-old nameless girl rescued by S.T.A.R.S. from the Arklay Mountains. He certainly never imagined that this seemingly insignificant girl would become a key piece in the future game.

"Tell Irons I need more test subjects." William turned to look at Annette Birkin, who stood quietly nearby, his tone cold and forceful. "Annette, G-Virus research has entered its most critical stage. Ordinary subjects can no longer meet the requirements. I need more high-quality experimental consumables."

Annette Birkin nodded, her face devoid of any unnecessary emotion, as if human lives were merely data to advance the experiment. "I've already spoken to Irons. He holds authority over both the police department and The Orphanage. As soon as you give the order, he can cooperate at any time."

Without the slightest hesitation, William picked up the encrypted phone on the desk and dialed Irons' private line. As soon as the call connected, Irons' greasy and fawning laughter came from the other end, full of sycophancy. "Dr. Birkin, I was just waiting for your call! Mrs. Birkin already gave me the general overview!"

"Cut the nonsense." William's tone was icy, his eyes radiating an unquestionable authority. "Within three days, I want you to send ten prisoners and five children to the designated location. Do not delay the experimental progress."

"That's easy, quite easy!" Irons laughed with increasing greed. He held the dual roles of Police Chief and Honorary Director of the public orphanage, controlling the life and death of prisoners and orphans alike. To him, this was just a matter of a single word. "However, Doctor, don't forget the benefits Umbrella promised me, and those 'collectibles' you promised before!"

"If the matter is handled properly, you'll get more than what you wanted, not less." William interrupted him coldly, his tone carrying a hint of ruthlessness. "What I want is speed. If you delay my experiment, you know the consequences."

Since Ark Laboratory was abandoned following an accident, its affiliated orphanage had been severed and taken over by the government under the name of the "Bright 21st Century" welfare project. The honorary director of this orphanage was none other than Irons, who had been completely bought off by the Umbrella Corporation. This became his greatest convenience for funneling child test subjects to William.

Hanging up the phone, William leaned back against the cold metal chair, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the desk, his gaze deep and inscrutable. The G-Virus experiments had indeed made breakthrough progress, but with it came increasingly tight pressure from Umbrella Headquarters. He knew that headquarters had long since lost patience with him.

Just then, the red encrypted phone on the main console rang urgently, its piercing sound breaking the dead silence of the laboratory. The exclusive identifier lighting up on the screen caused William's face to darken instantly.

This was the private line of the Umbrella Headquarters' Supreme Executive Committee. Aside from the few high-ranking officials who controlled the company's global lifeblood, no one had the authority to dial this number.

He took a deep breath and pressed the answer button. Several blurred figures immediately appeared on the screen, and a cold, electronically synthesized voice slammed into the laboratory with unquestionable, absolute authority, word by word:

"William Birkin. The Arklay Research Facility has been completely abandoned, and Wesker is confirmed dead. Headquarters has determined that a major bio-security hazard exists in Raccoon City. You are hereby officially ordered to immediately cease all G-Virus related experiments. Within 72 hours, transfer all G-Virus samples, complete experimental data, and all associated test subjects to the headquarters' special Recovery Team."

It has come at last. William sneered inwardly but remained outwardly calm, speaking steadily to buy time. "Gentlemen, the G-Virus experiment has entered its final critical stage of stabilization. Transferring it now would mean that the past ten years of research and development investment would all go to waste."

The leak at Arklay was merely a secondary accident of the T-Virus. I am already working to contain it. Give me a little more time, and I will deliver a fully matured G-Virus. Its military value is incomparable to the current unfinished product."

"William, headquarters does not have the patience to wait for you." The high-ranking official's tone became increasingly severe, carrying a forceful command. "The virus spread has exceeded controllable limits. We must immediately recover all high-risk assets. This is the final order. Do not disobey."

"Final order?" William's tone suddenly became aggressive, a flash of desperate ruthlessness appearing in his eyes as his clenched knuckles turned white. "I developed the G-Virus single-handedly. No one but me can make it realize its true value. If you dare to forcibly terminate the experiment, I will immediately destroy all experimental data and samples. Even if we go down together, I will never let an unfinished product fall into your hands!"

The other end of the communication fell into a dead silence. The high-ranking officials clearly knew that this extreme madman meant what he said, and the G-Virus was Umbrella's most core military weapons project for the next decade. They simply couldn't afford to gamble.

After a standoff lasting a full half-minute, the cold electronic voice spoke again, carrying suppressed fury. "We will give you one month. If there is no clear experimental progress, headquarters will take coercive measures, including but not limited to removing all obstacles."

The call was abruptly disconnected, and the screen went dark. William slowly clenched his fists, his knuckles making a cracking sound, his eyes swirling with anger and calculation.

He knew Umbrella's way of doing things all too well. The so-called extension was merely a stalling tactic; the headquarters' Recovery Team was likely already on its way to Raccoon City. Umbrella was no longer a place for him. These profit-seeking businessmen would only discard him like trash once he lost his utility.

He had to find a way out.

William turned and walked to the security safe in the deepest part of the laboratory. He entered a complex sixteen-digit password, and the heavy metal door popped open. Inside lay a long-sealed encrypted document—the secret contact channel for the U.S. Military.

As early as three years ago, when Umbrella was collaborating with the military on biological weapons projects, he had secretly prepared this back door. Umbrella was untrustworthy, but with a mature G-Virus in hand, he would be an absolute guest of honor to the military. As long as he could deliver the finished product, the military would give him sufficient protection, unlimited research resources, and even a brand-new identity.

AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-lite

He picked up the encrypted satellite phone, his fingertips hovering over the keys for a moment, but finally put it down slowly.

Once he contacted the military, it would mean completely tearing off the mask with Umbrella Corporation; he needed to wait a little longer, wait for the G-Virus to be completely perfected, before making the final decision.

Meanwhile, in a studio apartment in downtown Raccoon City, the afternoon sunlight spilled through the window onto the floor, yet it could not dispel the faint unease and tension in the air.

This was Jill Valentine's rented apartment.

Chloe was sitting quietly on the edge of the bed, her fingertips gently stroking the soft sheets beneath her, a mixture of emotions swirling in her heart.

Having transmigrated to this world for a full eight years, she had been locked in a cold, dark isolation chamber, enduring inhuman experiments and torture day after day.

It wasn't until Jill Valentine rescued her from the hell of Arklay that she felt the warmth of "being alive" for the first time, and experienced the feeling of being protected and cherished by someone.

But this stability was as fragile as a thin layer of ice, ready to shatter at the slightest poke.

She was a transmigrator, and she knew the future of Raccoon City all too well.

William Birkin would completely turn against them due to the pressure from Umbrella Corporation headquarters, the G-Virus would be completely leaked, and two months later, this prosperous city would turn into a living hell where zombies ran rampant and monsters wreaked havoc.

She subconsciously gripped the corner of her clothes, the soft texture of the fabric against her fingertips, but the panic in her heart grew heavier.

The S01 Inhibitor she had secretly hidden was down to the very last dose.

Once it was used up, the virus suppressed within her body could spiral out of control at any moment.

When that time came, would she turn into one of those mindless monsters that only knew how to kill?

Would Jill Valentine discard her without hesitation, just like throwing away trash?

"Don't worry, I'm here."

Jill Valentine's voice came from the desk, gentle yet firm, instantly smoothing away the panic in Chloe's heart.

She had just hung up the call with her lawyer, her fingertips gently stroking the adoption application document in her hand, her gaze unshakeably determined.

From the day she received the warning from Chris Redfield to be wary of Chloe and to be wary of Umbrella Corporation, she had contacted a trusted lawyer and made up her mind to go through the formal adoption process, to legally become Chloe's guardian, and to completely protect this girl who had crawled out of hell.

Just then, the phone on the desk rang harshly.

Jill Valentine picked it up, and then her brows instantly knitted together, a flash of undisguised disgust crossing her eyes.

"Valentine," Irons' greasy and arrogant voice came from the other end of the line, carrying a bureaucratic hardness, "Regarding that underage girl, Chloe, whom you have taken in privately, the department has made a formal decision."

"She has no legal guardian and does not meet the requirements for private custody. Tomorrow morning, you must send her to the Raccoon City Public The Orphanage to be placed by the municipal department. This is an official notice, and you must execute it unconditionally!"

Jill Valentine stood up abruptly, her tone cold and firm, with no room for retreat: "I refuse."

"Chloe is a core victim of the Arklay incident and has suffered severe physical and mental trauma; the environment of The Orphanage is completely unsuitable for her recovery."

"Moreover, I have already entrusted a lawyer to submit an adoption application and am going through the formal legal process. Before the application is rejected, I will be responsible for everything regarding her and will absolutely not hand her over to anyone."

"Jill Valentine! You are openly defying police department orders!"

Irons' tone instantly became fierce and irritable, and he threatened sternly, "Don't forget that you are still on administrative leave. Your police badge and service weapon can be revoked completely at any time!"

"When my adoption application is rejected by the court, then you can come and talk to me about this."

Jill Valentine did not yield an inch, her tone cold and resolute.

Without waiting for Irons to threaten her further, she hung up the phone directly.

She gripped the phone tightly in her hand, her brows furrowed, the sense of crisis in her heart instantly hitting its peak.

Irons had suddenly caused trouble, targeting the defenseless Chloe; behind this must be the orders of Umbrella Corporation.

They had finally set their sights on Chloe, the only living experimental subject and witness to the Arklay incident.

What she did not know was that after William Birkin ordered the acquisition of the experimental subject, Irons, already dissatisfied with Jill Valentine for repeatedly defying him, simply took matters into his own hands and targeted Chloe.

This served two purposes: it satisfied William Birkin's experimental needs, and it would deeply disgust Jill Valentine—killing two birds with one stone.

Jill Valentine turned around and looked at Chloe, who was pale-faced and filled with unease on the bed.

She walked over quickly, sat down beside her, and gently patted her shoulder.

Her tone became incredibly gentle as she tried her best to soothe her emotions: "Don't be afraid. I said, no one can take you away from me. I won't let you return to the clutches of Umbrella Corporation, and I won't let you get hurt ever again."

Chloe looked up, seeing the unwavering firmness in Jill Valentine's eyes.

Her nose tingled, her eyes instantly turned red, and she subconsciously leaned into her embrace, gripping her clothes tightly, her fingertips trembling slightly.

She knew clearly that in order to protect her, Jill Valentine was fighting against the entire police department, which had been infiltrated by Umbrella Corporation, and against the massive Umbrella Corporation itself.

Yet, she could do nothing but hide under Jill Valentine's protection.

This sense of helplessness, this guilt of becoming a burden to someone else, made her feel even worse than the darkness and pain in the isolation chamber.

No, she couldn't remain this weak forever.

She had to do something; she couldn't let Jill Valentine face all the danger alone!

Jill Valentine sat at the desk, looking at the sky gradually darkening outside the window, her fingers tapping lightly on the desktop, her gaze calm and grave.

She knew very well that relying on legal processes could only temporarily stall Irons; it treated the symptoms but not the root cause.

To completely resolve the crisis, to protect Chloe, and to prevent the impending disaster in Raccoon City, she had to expose the crimes of Umbrella Corporation to the public and let all the citizens of Raccoon City know that this city had long been sitting on a volcano.

She dug out a number she had painstakingly obtained through various intermediaries; it was the contact information for Alyssa, an investigative reporter for the Raccoon City Daily.

Alyssa was one of the few reporters in Raccoon City who dared to go head-to-head with Umbrella Corporation.

For years, she had been working under pressure, secretly investigating Umbrella Corporation's grey market dealings and illegal experiments.

She held quite a bit of dirt on Umbrella Corporation and was the only person who could possibly expose the truth.

Taking a deep breath, Jill Valentine pressed the dial button.

The phone rang a few times and was quickly answered.

A calm, capable, and sharp female voice came from the other end: "Hello, this is Alyssa."

"Hello, Reporter Alyssa. This is Jill Valentine from S.T.A.R.S.."

Jill Valentine's tone was steady, carrying an unquestionable firmness, as she said clearly, word by word: "I have the complete truth regarding the explosion in the Arklay Mountains, as well as complete evidence of Umbrella Corporation conducting illegal biological weapons experiments in Raccoon City."

"I want to set a time with you to discuss it in detail in a few days. This matter concerns the lives of all the citizens of Raccoon City."

There was silence on the other end of the line for two seconds, followed immediately by Alyssa's unhesitating response, her tone full of certainty and decisiveness: "Officer Jill Valentine, I know you, and I have been following the suspicious points of the Arklay incident."

"You set the time, and I will arrange the location. I guarantee it will be safe and secret. I will definitely arrive on time."

Hanging up the phone, Jill Valentine slowly put down the receiver and looked at the night sky outside the window, which had turned completely black.

Her gaze was firm but carried a hint of heaviness.

She knew that contacting Alyssa meant completely tearing off the mask with Umbrella Corporation and the corrupt police department.

The road ahead would only be more difficult and dangerous than it was now, and it might even lead to a fatal disaster.

But she had no way out.

For the sake of the innocent S.T.A.R.S. teammates who died tragically, for the sake of the suffering Chloe by her side, and for the sake of the thousands of unsuspecting citizens of Raccoon City, she had to bet everything to unveil the dark veil of Umbrella Corporation and prevent this impending catastrophe.

The night grew deeper, and the false peace of Raccoon City continued.

The entire city was slowly sliding toward the edge of destruction.