On the second underground level of the airport base, the air was thick with the pungent smell of disinfectant.
Under the cold interrogation room lights, several captured U.S.S. Dark Horse Squad members had completely broken down. Black Watch's interrogation methods were not simple physical torture; they involved micro-injections of special agents that induced extreme fear and hallucinations in the nervous system.
Under torture that left them unable to live or die, these elite special forces soldiers revealed a name that had never appeared in Black Watch's archives before—Umbrella Corporation.
At this moment, in the Strategic Command Center.
Around a large circular conference table, several generals in dark black senior Commander uniforms sat upright. A holographic projection in the center of the table displayed intelligence files pieced together from the captives' statements. Lin Xuan sat at the head of the table, his fingertips lightly tapping the surface, his expression solemn.
"Gentlemen, based on the in-depth debriefing and interrogation of those captives, a transnational entity named 'Umbrella' has surfaced."
Lin Xuan's voice echoed in the spacious room, deep and magnetic.
"This is not just a pharmaceutical company; its underlying militarization and bioengineering foundation far exceed previous estimations. Now, I need your professional assessments."
A Commander responsible for strategic intelligence was the first to open the copied document in his hand, his tone calm and sharp:
"According to data analysis, the core technologies of this so-called Umbrella Corporation—the T-Virus and G-Virus—are simply negative examples in bioengineering. What they pursue is not 'evolution' but a random accumulation of 'necrosis' and 'mutation.' Look at the data for these so-called 'Tyrants'; they sacrifice intelligence for power, and implant clumsy electronic chips for control."
Another general responsible for tactical assessment took over, pushing the holographic model in front of him:
"From the combat data of the 'Cleaner' squad's engagement with the U.S.S. just now, the enemy combatants' tactical proficiency is at the top level for special forces, but their reaction speed has a clear biological limit. As for the U.B.C.S., they're like a group of security guards put in bulletproof vests and sent to the battlefield, tactically rigid and slow to react. However, they are not chaotic zombies but organized competitors with clear strategic intentions."
"I'm more concerned about their 'motives,'" a female Senior Staff Officer sitting to the side spoke, her language style rigorous and elegant.
"Umbrella's pursuit of the mutated ape Omeros indicates they are trying to recover some 'outflowing asset.' This means that in their laboratories, there might be biological samples at the same level as the virus, or even complementary in some dimensions. Commander, if we can absorb Umbrella's scientific research foundation, perhaps our speed in deciphering the virus will increase exponentially."
Lin Xuan nodded slightly, his gaze profound: "So, what is your conclusion?"
The Strategic Intelligence Commander stood up and bowed slightly:
"The conclusion is clear. Umbrella is a target that must be 'physically eliminated' and 'biologically absorbed.' They are currently only in the preliminary stage of probing our existence. We should leverage the advantage of information asymmetry, track the 'Wolfpack' team's signal, and use it as a springboard to find their lair."
"Very good."
Lin Xuan stood up, the holographic projection reflecting on his stern face.
"Tell the men to ease up, but keep the pressure on. Don't let them notice."
Meanwhile, on the other side.
The murky sewage in the sewers reached above their knees, and the stench of decay filled their nostrils.
"Faster! Faster! Don't stop!"
Ruper's voice was hoarse as she blindly fired backward to suppress the enemy, pushing her teammates beside her. This once invincible U.S.S. Wolfpack Squad was now as dishevelled as stray dogs.
"Damn it! They can't be shaken off! Do these monsters have radar?"
Bellwei cursed breathlessly, the C4 explosives on his back almost depleted. Every time they thought they had escaped the pursuit, those terrifying black figures would emerge from the shadows like ghosts, and a few accurate bursts would force them to change their route.
"Viktor! How's the road ahead?" Ruper shouted.
"There's an abandoned subway maintenance tunnel 300 meters ahead, connecting to the coastal highway exit!" Viktor's figure flickered in and out of optical camouflage; his voice, though calm, could not hide his exhaustion.
And 200 meters behind them, in the shadows.
Several Black Watch Soldiers pursuing them were leisurely trailing their prey. Their movements were fluid, leaping between complex pipes and scaffolding as if strolling through their own backyard.
"Commander's order: Pressure level reduced from S-class to B-class. Allow target to approach the extraction point."
The leading Cleaner looked at the several dishevelled red figures fleeing in the thermal imaging, and said coldly, "Number Two, give them a burst on their left to force them into that maintenance tunnel. Number Three, go block that vent so they don't stray."
"Da da da da da—"
Accurate bullet rain hit the pipe wall to the left of the Wolfpack Squad, splashing a series of sparks.
"Ambush on the left! Go right! Into the tunnel!"
Ruper had no idea this was a deliberately left "escape route" by the enemy. Driven by the instinct for survival, she led her teammates headfirst into that maintenance tunnel.
"Bellwei! Use all the remaining explosives! Collapse the entrance!"
"Heh heh, coming right up! Eat shit, you bastards!"
Bellwei attached the last two C4s to the tunnel's support pillars, pressed the detonator, and then scrambled and rolled into the depths of the tunnel.
"Boom!—!!!"
The violent explosion shook the entire underground space. Tons of concrete blocks and dirt poured down, instantly sealing the tunnel entrance and blocking the suffocating pursuers outside.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Four Eyes leaned against the damp wall, panting heavily, "Did we... lose them?"
"Temporarily."
Ruper wiped the mud from her face, her eyes still vigilant.
"Don't relax, the exit is just ahead. Once we reach the coast, the rendezvous helicopter can take us out of this hell."
When the Wolfpack Squad finally rushed out of the sewer exit and saw the dark sea, everyone felt a sense of unreality.
The sea breeze, mixed with salty and smoky smells, assailed them.
"There! That's our bird!"
Ghost shouted excitedly, pointing at the distant sky.
A helicopter with the Umbrella logo painted on its fuselage was breaking through the clouds, slowly descending onto an open space on the abandoned pier. Its massive rotor blades stirred up a strong wind, scattering the surrounding dust.
The cabin door opened, and several fully armed soldiers stood at the entrance, anxiously waving them over.
"Quick! Get in! We don't have much time!"
"Go! Don't look back!" Ruper took one last look at the silhouette of the dark city, F City, which seemed to open its huge maw, waiting to devour everything. A deep chill surged in her heart. She swore that if she could get back alive, she would never take on such a mission again in her life.
The six members of the Wolfpack Squad supported each other, stumbling and scrambling into the helicopter cabin.
"All aboard! Take off! Take off immediately!"
As the cabin door slowly closed, the helicopter let out a deafening roar, rapidly lifted off the ground, and flew towards the vast sea.
Inside the cabin, Bellwei collapsed onto the floor, laughing as he tore off his gas mask: "Ha! I knew it! I'm too lucky! Those black-clad bastards couldn't keep us!"
"Aren't you also wearing black?"
"Shut up."
Four Eyes, meanwhile, clutched her equipment tightly, a crazy gleam in her eyes: "This data... this data is enough to get me promoted!"
However, they did not know.
Just above them, in the high-altitude clouds.
A dark, sci-fi-styled Black Watch high-altitude reconnaissance drone had already locked onto this "helicopter".
On the command screen at F City Airport Base, a prominent red cursor was steadily moving, alongside a rapidly decrypting data stream.
"Target locked. Signal characteristics confirmed."
"Tracking program initiated. Calculating flight path... Estimated destination: Umbrella Pacific Division."
Lin Xuan watched the red dot moving away on the screen, a cruel yet elegant smile playing on his lips.
"Fly, little birds. Take me to your nest."