Chapter 120: Raccoon Inn

The final roar of the NEST shook the entire underground rock layer, causing it to tremble.

Ada was slammed hard against the metal wall of the ventilation duct by the blast's shockwave. The wound on her back tore with a sharp, agonizing pain, and warm blood dripped from the hem of her qipao onto the rusty steel plate.

She let out a muffled groan, bracing herself against the duct wall with one hand to steady her body while the other pressed firmly against her bleeding side. A jagged piece of rebar had sliced a deep, bone-deep gash when she fell earlier.

Smoke and dust poured back in through the vent, making her cough uncontrollably. Through the thick gray haze, she saw a pale purple test tube lying quietly among the rubble on the twisted metal platform below, glowing with an eerie luster under the flickering light of the emergency lamps.

The G-Virus sample.

A faint, barely perceptible smile played at the corner of Ada's mouth. Enduring the intense pain, she flipped and jumped down from the two-meter-high vent, landing precisely next to the test tube.

She bent down to pick up the sample tube and carefully tucked it into a pocket close to her body.

“Seems my luck isn't too bad,” she whispered to herself. She reached up to pull off the silk scarf around her neck and quickly tied a tight tourniquet knot around her waist. The scarf was instantly soaked with blood, turning a dark brown, but it at least stopped the heavy bleeding for the time being.

The structure of the NEST was collapsing at a visible speed. Concrete blocks crashed down from above continuously, making deafeningly loud thuds.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ada turned and crawled into an even narrower maintenance ventilation duct nearby. This duct led directly to Raccoon City's Underground Sewage Network, a backup escape route she had planned in advance.

It was pitch black inside the duct, with only the weak beam of her tactical flashlight swaying back and forth.

The air was thick with the pungent, mixed smell of disinfectant, decay, and viral culture medium. Occasionally, the low growls of zombies and the rustling of Lickers crawling over metal could be heard in the distance.

Ada lightened her footsteps, moving carefully through the intricate network of pipes.

Her injuries were more severe than she had anticipated. Every step pulled at the wound on her back, and cold sweat slid down her forehead, dripping onto the ground and forming small wet spots.

But she didn't panic at all. As a top-tier agent, she was long accustomed to walking the line between life and death.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, a faint light finally appeared ahead. Ada pushed open the heavy manhole cover, flipped out, and landed in a deserted back alley. The cold rain hitting her face cleared her clouded consciousness a bit.

She looked up at the sky; the east was already turning the color of a fish's belly. There was less than an hour left before the missile launch.

The Apple Inn was at the end of this street, an unremarkable three-story building. This was the extraction point she and her contact had agreed upon in advance, where the other party would have a fake identity and transportation ready.

Ada tidied her messy hair, covered the bloodstains on her body, and then walked quickly into the inn.

The front desk was empty, with only an old radio crackling as it played the government's emergency broadcast. Ada frowned, drew her silenced pistol from her waist, and cautiously walked up to the second floor.

The door to Room 203 was slightly ajar, and a heavy scent of blood wafted from the crack.

Ada kicked the door open and aimed her gun into the room.

The room was a mess, with tables and chairs overturned. Her contact was sitting in a chair by the window, his head hanging limply, blood staining his white shirt red. A pistol lay by his hand; he had clearly ended his own life.

The computer screen on the desk was still on, showing a video call interface waiting to be connected.

Ada slowly lowered her gun, walked over to the body, and reached out to close his wide-staring eyes.

At that moment, the computer screen suddenly lit up. A man wearing a black trench coat and sunglasses appeared in the frame.

“Choosing suicide when one loses the will to survive... what a coward.” Wesker's voice carried undisguised mockery. “And you, Ada... you failed as well. Your personal decision to betray us and help Leon will bring unnecessary trouble to the organization.”

Ada curled her lip, walked to the computer, pulled the pale purple G-Virus sample tube from her pocket, and held it up to the camera.

“What I do is my business, Albert.” Her tone was flat, yet carried an unquestionable confidence. “You just need to remember that I can get the job done.”

Wesker looked at the virus sample on the screen and nodded with satisfaction, a cold smile touching his lips. “Trying to get the upper hand verbally isn't good behavior, Ada. However, you indeed haven't disappointed me.”

He paused and continued, “Raccoon City is about to be bombed. At your current location, there is no transportation for you to leave. You still have to rely on me.”

After saying that, he pressed a button.

On the table next to Ada, a white briefcase that had been covered suddenly made a soft 'click' sound, and the lid popped open automatically.

Inside lay a uniquely designed Grapple Gun, its body gleaming with a matte black luster, along with several spare grapple hooks beside it.

“The South Pier,” Wesker's voice came through the speakers. “An Umbrella helicopter is about to leave Raccoon City, tasked with transporting a batch of 'important cargo.' This is your last chance. Good luck.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the video call was unilaterally cut off. The screen instantly went black, leaving only a dead silence.

Ada picked up the Grapple Gun, weighed it in her hand, and a playful smile touched her lips. Wesker was always like this—controlling everything, yet always leaving a way out.

She didn't linger, grabbed the briefcase, and turned to leave the room.

The South Pier was in chaos, with burning containers and abandoned vehicles everywhere. Umbrella Corporation security personnel were hurriedly loading the last batch of supplies onto a helicopter. Ada hid behind a stack of containers, observing the situation.

A heavy transport helicopter was hovering in mid-air, a steel cable hoisting a massive black container as it slowly rose. Inside the helicopter's cabin, Sergei was holding a glass of red wine, chatting pleasantly with a nearby Umbrella executive.

“This data is a priceless treasure, sir.” Sergei swirled his wine glass, the red liquid rippling in the crystal. “This supercomputer stores all the data from every Umbrella research facility in Raccoon City, from the T-Virus to the G-Virus—everything. With it, our research progress in Europe can be advanced by at least five years.”

The executive nodded with satisfaction. “Excellent work, General Sergei. Mr. Spencer will be very pleased.”

Just then, a black figure suddenly leaped from the top of a nearby container. Ada pulled the trigger of the Grapple Gun, and the steel claw whistled through the air, accurately hooking onto the chain on the container. The massive inertial force pulled her whole body into the air, and like a graceful swallow, she landed steadily on top of the container.

Inside the helicopter, Sergei sensed some movement and looked out the window, only seeing a black blur flash past. He frowned but didn't pay it much mind. In his view, it was just a bird, not worth wasting time on.

The helicopter slowly rose and flew toward the south. At the moment it disappeared into the clouds, twelve brilliant points of light appeared in the distant sky, trailing long plumes of fire as they plummeted rapidly toward Raccoon City.

Meanwhile, at the Pentagon in Washington, in the Sterilization Operation Command Center.

On the massive electronic screen, twelve red light points were rapidly approaching the coordinates of Raccoon City. All the command personnel held their breath, staring intently at the screen.

“Missile One has hit the target!”

“Missile Two has hit the target!”

...

“All twelve missiles have hit their targets! Explosive yield is within expectations!”

Commander General Thomas Miller slowly took off his military cap and placed it against his chest. He looked at the massive mushroom cloud slowly rising on the screen, his expression complex.

“The Sterilization Plan... is declared complete.” His voice was low and raspy. “Preliminary statistics show the death toll from this operation... at least one hundred thousand.”

A dead silence fell over the command room. No one spoke; only the beeping of the equipment echoed. General Miller closed his eyes and prayed silently.

May these souls rest in peace.

On the outskirts of Raccoon City, in a dense forest.

The helicopter Carlos was piloting slowly landed in a clearing. The gale whipped up by the rotors made the surrounding leaves rustle loudly.

Jill, holding the still-sleeping Chloe, was the first to jump off the helicopter. She looked up toward Raccoon City; the city's silhouette was faintly visible in the morning mist.

“We have to get rid of the helicopter.” Carlos turned off the engine and jumped out of the cockpit. “The military is definitely searching the whole city for people who escaped from Raccoon City. This helicopter is too conspicuous.”

Jill nodded. “Bury all the gear; only take the necessary documents and weapons. We'll head into the city on foot.”

The two of them nimbly organized the weapons, ammunition, and Umbrella documents from the helicopter, packing them into several waterproof backpacks.

Then they dug a deep pit in the forest, buried the helicopter and the remaining gear, and covered it with leaves and soil to ensure it wouldn't be discovered.

At that moment, Chloe slowly opened her eyes.

Her gaze was still a bit dazed; the effects of the powerful sedative hadn't completely worn off. She looked at Jill's familiar face, froze for a few seconds, and then suddenly lunged into her arms, hugging her tightly.

“Sister Jill...” Her voice carried a sob, and her body was still trembling slightly.

Jill gently patted her back and comforted her softly, “It's okay, Chloe. We're safe. We've already left Raccoon City.”

Chloe looked up, seeing the scars on Jill's face and her tired eyes, and felt a pang of sadness. She reached out, gently touching the wound on Jill's cheek. “Does it hurt?”

Jill shook her head and gave a gentle smile. “It doesn't hurt. Not at all.”

Carlos stood by, watching this scene, and his lips unconsciously curled upward. He patted Chloe's shoulder. “Alright, little girl. We should get going, or the military patrols will be here.”

Chloe nodded, pulled away from Jill's embrace, and put on one of the backpacks.

The three of them tidied their gear and headed toward Raccoon City.

Upon entering the urban area, the atmosphere immediately became tense. Almost no pedestrians were seen on the streets, and most storefronts were closed, with thick wooden boards nailed over the doors and windows.

Every few hundred meters, a military troop transport vehicle could be seen. Fully armed American soldiers held rifles, patrolling the streets and scanning every passing pedestrian with alert eyes.

“Looks like the situation is even worse than we imagined,” Carlos said in a low voice. “The military clearly wants to capture everyone who escaped from Raccoon City.”

Jill nodded, took Chloe's hand, and quickened her pace. “Let's find a place to stay first, then find a way to contact Leon and Claire.”

They arrived at the Raccoon Inn in the city center. When the receptionist saw the three of them, a flicker of suspicion flashed in his eyes.

“One room.” Jill placed the pre-prepared fake IDs on the counter, a natural smile on her face. “This is my husband and daughter. We're here on vacation from out of town; we didn't expect something like this to happen.”

The receptionist checked the IDs, found no issues, and handed her the room card. “Room 204. Note that going out after 10 PM is prohibited. If the military comes to question you, just answer truthfully.”

“Thank you.” Jill took the room card and led Chloe and Carlos up the stairs.

After entering the room, the three of them finally breathed a sigh of relief. They quickly washed up and changed into clean clothes. Then they spread all the Umbrella documents they had brought from Raccoon City onto the table and began to organize them.

“These documents are enough to give Umbrella a real headache.” Carlos flipped through an experimental report on the Tyrant Project, his tone angry. “They're simply a bunch of lunatics.”

Jill nodded. “Once we contact Leon and Claire, we'll give these documents to a reliable media outlet. We must let the whole world know about Umbrella's crimes.”

Just then, Chloe quietly stood up and walked over to Jill.

“Sister Jill,” she said softly, “I want to go out and look for Leon, Claire, and the others.”

Jill froze for a moment, looking at her with concern. “It's too dangerous outside; there are military personnel everywhere.”

“I'll be careful,” Chloe said earnestly. “I won't let them find me, and I'm just a kid; they won't suspect me.”

Jill hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. “Alright. Then you must prioritize your safety; don't go too far. If you encounter any danger, come back immediately.”

“Mm!” Chloe nodded vigorously and ran out of the room.

Walking on the streets of Raccoon City, Chloe turned her Virus Perception to the maximum. She could clearly feel the heartbeat and breathing of everyone around her and could detect the positions of the distant military patrols. She skillfully avoided the patrols, weaving through the streets and alleys.

The atmosphere in Raccoon City was so oppressive it was hard to breathe. The occasional pedestrians were also in a hurry, their eyes filled with fear and unease.

On the roadside TV screens, government announcements were playing on a loop, claiming that a serious radioactive leak had occurred in Raccoon City and that all personnel entering the city must undergo quarantine inspection.

Chloe was stopped and questioned by patrolling soldiers several times, but she managed to bluff her way through with her youthful appearance and innocent gaze. The soldiers all thought she was just a child separated from her parents and let her go after a few simple questions.

She searched for a whole afternoon, walking through almost every street and alley in Raccoon City, but found no news of Leon or Claire.

The sky gradually darkened. Chloe sat on a park bench, watching the sunset slowly descend in the distance, lost in thought.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to her.

Leon and Claire had traveled toward Raccoon City along the highway. All highways leading to Raccoon City had been set up with checkpoints by the military. They must have been recognized by the military at a checkpoint and then detained for quarantine.

Thinking of this, Chloe stood up and brushed the dust off her clothes.

It seemed she could only go back and discuss it with Jill and the others first.

She turned and walked toward the inn. The setting sun cast her shadow very long, projecting it onto the empty street.