Chapter 41

“Wesker.” Dr. Asford’s pupils shrank sharply—he had always dreaded this moment, and now it had come.

Hearing Dr. Asford’s voice, Ye Nan showed no fear or nervousness at being caught—he regarded him with a curious smile and said, “Wesker, one of the founders of Umbrella Corporation, and the favored disciple of James Marcus.”

A cold voice emerged from Wesker’s lips; he gazed at Ye Nan as if he were a flea that could be crushed at any moment, then removed his glove to reveal copper-toned fingers.

He pointed at Ye Nan, then at Dr. Asford, and finally at Michelle: “Michelle, investigator of the Lianbangdiaocha Bureau; Edgar Suike’s nephew—your patron is him, so you feel invincible?”

Wesker’s expression was one of inquiry, yet his tone was absolute.

“No,” Ye Nan shook his head, wearing an expression of amused condescension. “You think waving a feather as if it were an imperial edict makes you clever? You vastly underestimate me, Mr. Wesker—or perhaps you’re still as arrogant as ever. No wonder your master disliked you.”

In his past life, the Resident Evil films had always been among his favorites; Wesker—the cold, arrogant, ambitious man—had been one of his focal points. When Ye Nan learned of Umbrella Corporation, he deliberately gathered information about it, and Wesker became his primary focus.

Wesker was a disciple of Marcus, director of one of Umbrella’s research institutes, like William Birkin. But when he realized he was inferior to Birkin in research, he abandoned it outright and became an intelligence operative.

He knew many of Umbrella’s secrets, yet sought to betray the company—this alone proved he was a man unwilling to submit to others, eager to rise above them. In truth, he himself was one of Umbrella’s bio-weapons.

To Ye Nan, Wesker was brave but foolish. When he thought of Wesker, the first person that came to mind was Lü Bu: equally formidable in combat, equally betrayed his adoptive father, their personalities strikingly similar.

Wesker’s expression darkened. Indeed, anyone would look displeased hearing such words. Though arrogant, he never showed it outwardly—his arrogance ran deep in his bones.

Ignoring Wesker’s expression, Ye Nan continued: “I never believed a mere Lianbangdiaocha Bureau could make Umbrella, a multinational corporation, bow down. So if I had no confidence, I wouldn’t have acted.”

“Oh?” Wesker studied Ye Nan with amusement, asking casually, eyes flickering with mockery. He had already labeled Ye Nan a spoiled brat.

If earlier he had thought Ye Nan cunning and strategic, meeting him now had shattered that impression. A man who craved glory, who boasted to his enemies—such a man could never accomplish anything great.

“My patron is William Douglas,” Ye Nan declared haughtily, utterly unlike his usual self.

His purpose was to deceive Wesker. In the Resident Evil films, Wesker appeared rarely but wielded immense power—a man of supreme pride. Ye Nan needed to appear weak, to make Wesker look down on him, so he would turn his attention elsewhere. Otherwise, with such a major boss watching him, Ye Nan would never sleep soundly.

At the name William Douglas, Wesker immediately stiffened. In high society, who didn’t know William Douglas? That name meant supreme power, an untouchable force. Even the perpetually cold Wesker could not hide his shock.

Seeing Wesker’s reaction, Ye Nan immediately put on an arrogant air: “Mr. William Douglas is also a director of Umbrella Corporation. I’m taking what belongs to him—dare you stop me?”

Wesker frowned slightly, disliking Ye Nan’s brashness. Yet he had to admit: with William Douglas’s name behind him, Ye Nan had grounds for arrogance. But…

Wesker snapped his fingers. One of his men immediately understood and handed him a phone, then grinned cruelly: “If you’re lying, you’ll learn what hell means.”

Wesker spoke, then dialed a number. On his cold face, a faint smile appeared—obsequious, calculating.

“Hmm? Who is it?” William Douglas’s weary voice came from the other end.

“Uncle William, it’s me—Wesker. You held me when I was a child.” Wesker’s tone was fawning, shocking his own men who had never seen him act this way.

Even Spencer, one of Umbrella’s founders and Wesker’s adoptive father, had never received such treatment from him.

“Oh, you’re Spencer’s son Wesker? I remember you—I did hold you as a child. But what do you want?” William Douglas seemed to recall him, yet showed no real interest. To him, Spencer was merely a tool—he had never truly cared, let alone his adopted son.

Wesker paid no mind to William Douglas’s indifference, as if he stood right before him, his face still dripping with flattery: “Uncle William, there’s a man named Ye Nan who’s come to Umbrella to poach personnel—and he’s using your name to steal our secrets…”

“Let him take it,” William Douglas cut him off before he finished. “What secrets? Even if he took the whole of Umbrella, so what? If he wants it, let him have it.”

Wesker heard this. So did Ye Nan. Ye Nan’s face lit up with delight—his heart, however, turned icy.

This was what they called “praise to kill.” Ye Nan had long been testing William Douglas’s attitude, probing his tolerance. But now, after this test, he realized: William Douglas’s tolerance for him was boundless. Whatever he demanded, William Douglas would give. And William Douglas’s goal? The Blood Orchid. Eternal life.