Chapter 113: Competing for Talent and Information

While Ma Jun was conducting steady, methodical research on the Alice clone, the real Alice was, quite unfortunately yet fortunately, captured once again by the Umbrella Corporation for experimentation.

Alice had originally been one of their own, but following the Hive incident, they seized her and injected her with the T-virus without explanation. Alice must have offended them somehow. It is undeniable that in the biohazard realm, Alice was a unique biological entity. From beginning to end, she was the only one who perfectly integrated the T-virus without mutating into a monster. Every time she was subjected to research, significant results were achieved in just over twenty days.

This time was no exception. Near the outskirts of Raccoon City, there was an Umbrella research base where Alice, undergoing experimentation for the second time, developed superpowers—specifically, a form of telekinesis. However, although Umbrella had successfully developed a practical bio-weapon, Alice remained completely beyond their control. Furthermore, the devastation caused by the T-virus far exceeded Umbrella’s expectations.

Undoubtedly, the nuclear missile dropped on Raccoon City failed to eradicate the T-virus or contain its spread. Within a few short weeks, the virus ravaged the United States, and the entire world fell into panic. The threat of the virus went beyond turning humans into zombies; it caused rivers to dry up and oases to wither into deserts. In other words, the water and food sources upon which humanity relied were slowly disappearing. It was an absolute apocalypse.

Deep within an underground desert base, Ma Jun lay idly in a chair, smoking a cigarette and watching a boring film on screen. Suddenly, the image vanished, replaced by Qian Muoduo.

"Boss, according to our surveillance of Umbrella’s research facility on the outskirts of Raccoon City, the superpowered Alice is about to awaken!"

"Excellent!" Ma Jun sat up and crushed his cigarette. "Prepare the personnel and equipment. This time, we will launch a forced assault to seize all research data. Also, we must reach Alice before anyone else does."

According to the original plot, the superpowered Alice would be rescued by her former companions—the special forces operatives, including Jill and Carlos, with whom she had suffered through the Raccoon City ordeal—with the tacit approval of the Umbrella Corporation. Umbrella had the capability to intercept Alice, but they seemed intent on observing her combat effectiveness. Ma Jun had been waiting for this very moment for weeks.

"Later today, Old Three and Old Four will accompany you, Boss, to lead one thousand biochemical warriors," Qian Muoduo said. "It is a pity that if we had a little more time, we could have fielded warriors fused with the T-virus."

"It doesn't matter. For the people we are facing this time, regular biochemical warriors are more than enough," Ma Jun replied.

"The detailed itinerary has been sent to your phone. I won't disturb you further, Boss. I wish you success!" Qian Muoduo said with a smile before closing the connection.

Under the cover of night, accompanied by the wailing of zombies rampaging across the land, Ma Jun and his team departed for Raccoon City aboard transport planes and helicopters. Satellite and ground radar systems had already been jammed. Consequently, the Umbrella Corporation remained completely oblivious, and the paralyzed government agencies were equally incapable of detection.

The vanguard cleared a large landing zone, and as Ma Jun’s transport arrived, the warriors assembled in an orderly fashion. One thousand biochemical warriors, fully armed with high-caliber weaponry and various equipment, were prepared—enough to storm the White House with ease. Once the aircraft were secured, military trucks appeared. The warriors boarded, and Ma Jun sat in an armored vehicle in the center of the formation as they advanced.

This Umbrella base resembled an industrial park with a wide main street. Both ends were blocked, and guards were stationed around the clock. Because of the prior electronic jamming, the convoy was not spotted by human eyes until it reached the perimeter of the base.

At the guard post, a special forces operative frowned. "Hey, look. Who are they? Are they personnel sent by the company?"

"No!" another operative stood up quickly, grabbed the radio to report to his superior, and then seized his weapon. "Hurry, stop them first! The company didn't send anyone!"

"Stop! Submit to inspection!" As the convoy reached the gate, the operative shouted, gripping his rifle nervously.

He was met with a hail of gunfire. A squad from the lead truck disembarked in an orderly fashion, cleared the immediate area, and opened the gate, allowing the convoy to proceed.

"Under attack?" The base commander was roused from his sleep, shouting in astonishment. "Immediately organize a counterattack and call for reinforcements! Do you know who they are? What is their firepower?"

His assistant frowned. "Identity unknown, but their firepower is abnormally ferocious."

Ma Jun’s convoy moved slowly while laying down suppressive fire to clear the path. Every so often, a squad would disembark to search the buildings on either side. Within the base, the Umbrella combat personnel numbered no more than five hundred. Ma Jun’s biochemical warriors, however, possessed individual combat capabilities far exceeding those of ordinary men, to say nothing of their coordinated thousand-man formation.

The strike teams swept through the base, rapidly neutralizing combatants and securing all researchers. Ma Jun sat in his armored vehicle, smoking leisurely.

"Report, target located!" a warrior’s voice suddenly crackled over the radio.

Ma Jun quickly requested the specific location. He changed his appearance, checked his casual attire, nodded, and put on a pair of glasses before stepping out of the vehicle and walking quickly toward the building ahead.

He soon reached a laboratory, which appeared somewhat chaotic. However, the biochemical warriors had already gained control of the situation. Several researchers were huddled in a corner in terror, while a woman stood there, looking bewildered, wrapped only in a bathrobe.

As Ma Jun and his team entered, the woman looked over in pleasant surprise. "Jack!"

"Alice!" Ma Jun, now wearing the face of Jack, smiled brightly, rushed over, and hugged her. "Thank God you're safe! This is wonderful!"

"You're alive, Jack!" Alice’s voice was choked with emotion as she held him tightly. A moment later, she planted a kiss on his cheek. "How did you survive?"

"Someone saved me—them!" Jack’s face reddened as he diverted the topic, gesturing toward his men. "They seem to be an organization dedicated to opposing the Umbrella Corporation. After I was rescued, I kept asking them for news about you. I only just learned you were here, so they decided to rescue you."

Alice looked at the men, deep in thought. "The Hive... it was you guys at the Hive!"

Qian Boduo smiled. "Ms. Alice, it is a pleasure to see you again! It is not safe here; Umbrella may send reinforcements at any moment. Please, come with us now!"

"Let’s go, Alice," Ma Jun said full of expectation.

Alice nodded. Without refusal, she took Jack’s arm and followed the main force as they withdrew.

Half an hour later, the entire base had been thoroughly looted by the biochemical warriors, and new research data was obtained with ease. Following Ma Jun’s prior instructions, Qian and his men eliminated all personnel at the base and even demolished the buildings. With the mission complete, the team boarded their aircraft and departed.