Chapter 61: Inca Civilization

Mission brief: Search and explore the Amazon Rainforest within Peru, locate and control or mitigate the anomalous phenomena present in the area.

Mission success: Reward the host with one lottery draw and 200 points.

"One lottery draw and 200 points, hmm… the reward's quite generous; looks like this anomalous phenomenon is rather tricky."

After hearing the system's words, standing behind a group of employees and looking at Sui Bian on the large screen above the Command Center, he slightly furrowed his brow and thought to himself.

The anomalous phenomenon is one factor; another is the harsh combat environment of the Amazon Rainforest, which also raises the difficulty of this operation.

The Amazon Rainforest remains shrouded to this day; humanity's exploration of it is still under twenty percent, and it is even called a "human forbidden zone."

He pondered for a moment.

Sui Bian raised his left hand, pressing the earpiece on his left ear, and in a calm voice to Bai Hou said, "Notify the Argentine division and have them dispatch the engineering department to set up a temporary base at the border of Peru and Bolivia.

Matters of negotiating with the governments and militaries of Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina are temporarily entrusted to you, Bai Hou."

"Yes, sir," came Bai Hou's cold response through the earpiece.

After finishing the conversation with Bai Hou, Sui Bian raised his voice to the employees present, "Everyone, hurry up with the tasks in Brazil; we have more important matters to attend to afterward!"

———————

…

January 12, 1999.

The border between Peru and Bolivia.

The southwest of Lake Titicaca.

This area is a relatively dry plain in South America, with stable weather conducive to helicopter and light aircraft takeoffs, landings, and navigation.

Lake Titicaca, covering 8,300 km², lies in this region; its waters nurture nearby wildlife and once sustained the indigenous peoples who lived here.

It is the sacred lake of the indigenous peoples.

On the large islands within the lake are numerous temple ruins from the Inca era.

However, cultural infiltration since the 10th century and colonial invasions by Spain, Portugal, and others after the 14th century caused the Inca civilization to fall into the river of history.

The Inca civilization is regarded as the only major Bronze Age civilization without a written language.

Moreover, the colonizers' deliberate destruction and demolition have left modern knowledge of the Inca civilization extremely scant.

The Umbrella temporary base is situated at the southwest of Lake Titicaca.

The base contains a helicopter helipad, a simple building for Umbrella staff and soldiers to rest, and several large laboratories occupying half of the base.

Local time: 11:02.

At this moment, the laboratory near the helipad.

The laboratory houses twenty special seats, each occupied by a muscular man wearing only black shorts.

In contrast, the technicians surrounding the special seats wear warmer clothing beneath their white coats.

The indoor temperature is low.

Their bodies are riddled with scars, a dazzling array of gunshot wounds, and sutured limbs.

Even though the indoor temperature is low, the short‑short‑clad men feel no cold and remain expressionless as they undergo the technicians' adjustments and inspections.

Sui Bian, dressed in a gray suit, stood a short distance away with arms crossed, watching this group of valuable living‑dead soldiers.

Beside him stood Rebecca, similarly attired to the technicians, holding a tablet and watching the screen.

"Mr. Sui, the team has finished reprogramming the living dead, granting them immediate proficiency and experience for jungle combat, but sir…"

Rebecca concluded her report to Sui Bian, lifted her gaze from the tablet, first glanced at the living dead, then turned to Sui Bian and asked:

"What anomalous phenomenon are we facing this time? Is it a physical entity? The Amazon Jungle has various connections with the ancient Inca civilization; could there be a deity worshipped by the Incas…?"

As a B‑rank employee, Rebecca has clearance to view files on anomalous phenomena; she knows that Europe recently observed an entity similar to a Keterune doe.

This made her wonder whether a god worshipped by the indigenous peoples might exist in this primeval rainforest.

After all, Indigenous culture in North America is quite widespread.

Hearing Rebecca's question, Sui Bian shook his head and said, "Uncertain, but not ruled out."

"Not ruled out?" Rebecca asked, puzzled. "If we truly encounter a so‑called god that is hostile to humanity… what should we do?"

"Control or mitigate, we'll do whatever is necessary," Sui Bian replied flatly, without much emotion.

Sui Bian does not rule out the existence of inexplicable "gods" in this world, but he believes most of them are "false gods."

False gods may possess technologies unknown to humanity, or have undergone some transformation that led to evolution.

For example, in "Alien vs. Predator," ancient humans treated the Predators as gods.

However, such gods can also be killed.

If the living‑dead soldiers before Sui Bian were sent back to antiquity, deploying via helicopter for air‑drop combat, they would surely be chronicled by ancients as "celestial soldiers and generals."

As for evolution, the Sun‑step flower in Africa can explain it.

Those who survive after ingesting the flower gain extended longevity and great power, and will be revered by their tribe as chosen by the gods.

"This… is, sir."

Sui Bian's composure also affected Rebecca, temporarily dispelling her confusion and bewilderment.

Under Rebecca's command, the technicians began methodically calibrating the living dead to ensure each was in optimal condition.

Meanwhile, Sui Bian left the laboratory.

Outside the lab, he first removed his coat, then headed toward the base's Command Center.

The task force stationed at the temporary base includes living dead, Karon, and over a hundred armed security personnel transferred from the Argentine division.

The living dead and Karon in this operation are a trump card; Sui Bian will only dispatch two MTF units into the jungle once the anomalous phenomenon is identified.

Using MTF for reconnaissance would be overkill, like using a sledgehammer to kill a chicken.

Moreover, even a century of manual searching in such a vast rainforest might not locate it; otherwise the Amazon wouldn't harbor so many unsolved mysteries and myths.

Fortunately, according to the system, this anomalous phenomenon lies within the Peruvian rainforest.

So, Sui Bian brought to this temporary base from the mother nest not only the MTF, but also a large number of Zombie Dogs, Hunter Alpha, and T-02 Tracker.

Working with the drones and satellites controlled by the Red Queen, Sui Bian believes that it won't be long before he can lock onto the anomalous phenomenon.

Peru's government is very puzzled by Umbrella's actions, wondering why they would go to such lengths to investigate the tropical rainforest?

Historically, only Spain, Portugal and the like have done the same thing; in the end the expedition teams died or went mad, but the Peru government does not know that Umbrella's dispatched expedition is a B. O. W..

The Peru officials who have taken Umbrella's benefits at most mutter a couple of words in their hearts, dare not speak out openly, and can only do their best to have the military and police cooperate with Umbrella's operation.

(End of chapter)