Chapter 62: Preparations Before the Operation

September 22, 1998. The early morning in Raccoon City was shrouded in a layer of gray mist, so thick that even the sunlight could not penetrate the heavy haze.

In the sewer stronghold, the crisp sound of metal clashing echoed repeatedly through the empty room.

Jill was sitting on the ground with a waterproof tarp spread out before her. On it were two complete sets of tactical gear, neatly arranged: black combat uniforms, Kevlar bulletproof vests, quick-draw leg holsters, high-top tactical boots, and tactical belts fully loaded with magazines, flashbangs, smoke grenades, and first-aid kits.

Her movements were precise and steady. Her fingers brushed over each piece of equipment, checking their performance as she pressed bullets into the magazines one by one before placing them into waterproof bags in order.

This was an instinct carved into her bones by years of S.T.A.R.S. operational training. Even when facing a mission with a slim chance of survival, she would never make the slightest mistake in preparation.

Chloe squatted opposite her, holding a tactical knife and slowly sharpening its blade. Her movements were steady and her gaze focused, showing none of the panic she had felt the first time she held a gun.

"This set is yours." Jill pushed a small-sized combat uniform and bulletproof vest toward her, her tone calm. "I've modified it to your size. The bulletproof vest has added ceramic plates; it can stop rifle rounds. Try it on in a bit, and I'll adjust any parts that don't fit."

Chloe put down the knife and picked up the combat uniform. Her fingertips brushed over the fine waterproof coating on the fabric, and her nose felt slightly sour.

In her sixteen years, she had spent the first eight in an isolation pod wearing nothing but numbered hospital gowns. After she escaped, the dress Jill bought for her was the first time she had ever owned her own clothes.

And now, Jill had personally modified this combat uniform for her, as if sewing the courage to fight side-by-side into the very fabric.

"Thank you, Jill." Chloe looked up at her, her eyes filled with sincerity.

Jill smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair. "No need to be so polite with me. I don't know where you got your information, but you said today is the best chance to enter the NEST, and I believe you. Remember, once we're inside, survival is always the top priority. Even if we can't get the data and the S01 Inhibitor, you must come out safely, understand?"

"I understand." Chloe nodded vigorously, but added a sentence in her heart: 'I won't just come out safely; I'll take back everything that belongs to me, and I'll stay alive with you until the day the dust settles on this city.'

She set down the combat uniform and spread a hand-drawn structural diagram of the NEST between them, her fingertip pointing at the entrance to the ventilation duct. "I went down again yesterday. Umbrella has doubled the patrol density around the perimeter of the NEST; there's a team patrolling every fifteen minutes. However, someone will deal with them, so our route won't change much."

"What about William's security?" Jill leaned over to look at the map, her brow furrowing slightly. "It's impossible that he hasn't cultivated his own people over all these years."

"I've already mapped out their deployment." Chloe's fingertip traced the location of the core laboratory on the map, her tone certain. "William has placed 80% of his private guards outside the main entrance of the NEST and the blast doors of the core lab. There are only two fixed sentry posts near the ventilation ducts, and there are blind spots in the surveillance. I can take them out silently."

Seeing the certainty in her eyes, Jill felt much of the weight on her heart lift. Over the past month or so, Chloe's growth had been astonishing, transforming from a girl whose hands shook just holding a gun into a warrior who could calmly devise tactics and scout enemy deployments.

She was gratified, but she couldn't help but feel heartache. If not for Umbrella and this impending disaster, this sixteen-year-old girl should have had the life of an ordinary girl.

Just then, the encrypted walkie-talkie suddenly crackled. It was Marvin's channel, and the signal was even worse than a few days ago, with static almost drowning out his voice.

"Jill? Can you hear me?"

Jill immediately picked up the walkie-talkie and pressed the talk button. "I can hear you, Marvin. Why is the signal so bad?"

Marvin's voice carried heavy exhaustion. "I don't know. It seems like there's a problem with the base stations across the city. Last night, a supermarket in the east end was looted. Dozens of citizens rushed in and beat several cashiers to death. Now there's robbery and rioting everywhere on the streets, and the police department simply can't handle it."

Jill's heart sank. She knew this city was already on the verge of total chaos.

"What about Irons? As Chief, is he just letting things escalate like this?" Jill asked in a low voice.

"Him? He's acting like a hands-off manager now, completely ignoring whether the people in the city live or die." Marvin scoffed, his tone full of anger. "I took some men out yesterday to quell the unrest, but Irons stopped us halfway, saying something about epidemic control and forbidding us from firing our weapons at will."

Jill gripped the walkie-talkie tightly. She had long known Irons was cold-blooded and heartless, but she hadn't expected him to be cruel to this extent. To cover up the truth of the virus leak, he was willing to watch the people of the entire city die.

"And then there's the personnel matter." Marvin paused, his tone helpless. "I mentioned him to you before—that rookie who just graduated from the police academy, Leon Scott Kennedy. The department sent him his recruitment orders long ago, and he was originally scheduled to report for duty on September 29th. This kid is full of passion; he's been calling me every day lately, saying he's seen the news about the serious public security issues in Raccoon City and wants to report early to help maintain order."

"I spent over half an hour talking him out of it, using the police station's lockdown as an excuse to tell him to stay put and absolutely not set out early." Marvin gave a bitter laugh. "I can only stall for now, day by day. This kid just graduated; I can't let him jump into this fire pit."

"You did the right thing." Jill sighed. "At least for now, he's safe outside."

She understood the feeling all too well. It was just like when she joined S.T.A.R.S.—she was also filled with a passion for justice, thinking she could protect this city. But reality had dealt her the heaviest blow.

"Oh, and one more thing." Marvin's voice dropped a few notches. "Some brothers on patrol recently saw an Asian woman investigating Umbrella's pharmaceutical factory. Her movements are very discreet, and she has extremely strong counter-surveillance skills. When asked for her identity, she wouldn't say, only that she's looking for someone. We can't find any information on her; it's like she appeared out of thin air."

Jill's brow furrowed slightly, but she didn't ask more. With the situation already this chaotic, having one more person keeping an eye on Umbrella wasn't a bad thing. Moreover, all her energy now had to be focused on the plan to infiltrate the NEST.

"I understand," Jill said solemnly. "Take care of yourself, Marvin. Irons is a ticking time bomb right now; stay away from him."

"I know what I'm doing." Marvin paused, then joked half-seriously, "Meryl and her mother have already evacuated to a safe place, so I don't have any worries now. Don't worry, Jill; the Deputy Chief and I are holding things down at the station. You guys have left too, right?"

"Yes, we're in a safe place."

After hanging up the walkie-talkie, Jill and Chloe looked at each other. They had something even more dangerous to do.

"Jill," Chloe suddenly spoke, her voice very soft. "If... if something goes wrong with the operation, you go on your own. Don't worry about me."

Jill snapped her head up to look at her, her gaze instantly turning cold. "What nonsense are you talking?"

"I'm serious." Chloe avoided her gaze, her fingertips gripping the edge of the map. "The situation inside the NEST is much more complicated than you imagine. You can't get yourself dragged down because of me. You have more important things to do—you have to expose Umbrella's crimes, avenge your fallen teammates..."

"Chloe." Jill interrupted her, reaching out to squeeze her shoulders and forcing her to look into her eyes, her tone incredibly firm. "To me, nothing is more important than your safety. I said we go in together, and we must come out together. Those aren't just words."

"But..."

"No buts." Jill's gaze softened as she reached out to wipe away a tear that had fallen from the corner of Chloe's eye. "You aren't a burden, Chloe. You are my family, the person I will do everything in my power to protect. So, don't have those thoughts anymore, okay?"

Looking at the sincerity in Jill's eyes, Chloe's nose stung. She nodded vigorously, swallowing back the sob rising in her throat. In two lifetimes, this was the first time someone had viewed her as more important than anything else, the first time someone had told her she was family.