Chapter 71: Glands and Surgery

Early June 1999.

An arms factory was completed in the suburbs of Raccoon City.

Because this factory received the greatest material, manpower and financial investment, the arms factory originally built in Eastern Europe could only rank second.

At the same time, the establishment of the factory signified that Umbrella's focus had shifted entirely toward Raccoon City.

Due to Sui Bian's future plans for Umbrella, Raccoon City entered a second explosive expansion and development surge.

Heads of the various divisions of Umbrella's public‑facing enterprises also began to follow Sui Bian's lead, gradually relocating their R&D bases, production centers, official flagship stores, and so on to Raccoon City.

Especially Umbrella's digital industry.

The White Queen simplified and encrypted the hive's military technology into civilian tech, and with Chairman Sui Bian's "little" suggestion, the digital products underwent a major late‑20th‑century overhaul.

On August 1, Umbrella held a press conference in Raccoon City.

At the conference, Umbrella unveiled several concept devices—including smartphones, tablet computers, handheld game consoles, and home gaming consoles—and planned to release them sequentially before Christmas at the end of the year.

Even though the late‑20th‑century internet was not very developed, Umbrella's press conference still caused a huge stir on major forums.

For Sui Bian, however, these concepts meant that phones and tablets incorporated smart systems, fingerprint, and facial‑recognition unlocking.

The handheld console borrowed the old Nintendo Switch, while the home consoles were Sony's PlayStation and Microsoft's Xbox series.

Umbrella's technology is far stronger than that of Sui Bian's previous life, yet the apparent public level in this world still remains at the late‑20th‑century standard.

Thus after the press conference, Umbrella not only created a massive wave online but also swept through the entire stock market.

Although the publicly earned money differed greatly from Umbrella's covert earnings, it was better than nothing.

Moreover.

From February to August, the Special Task Force led by Pulaise, Soap, Ghost, and Xiaoqiang was successfully formed, now totaling 36 members.

Soon after the arms factory was completed, it immediately began producing individual soldier equipment, and the Olympus Spear, now expanded to 360 personnel, took charge of garrison duties.

The newly formed Special Task Force received a sufficient number of NE-1-ACM Mechanical exoskeletons, as well as derivative firearms such as the M41A and MA5B.

Of course, as Umbrella's elite unit, the USS has the authority to decide, based on mission conditions, whether to replace the NE-1-ACM.

The Charon Task Force specifically received NE-1 Mechanical exoskeletons and also obtained operational funds from the company, making it freer than other units.

The Living Dead Task Force consists of beings distinct from normal humans; for them, the NE-1 Mechanical exoskeleton is of little practical use.

However, to reduce the chance of being instantly dismembered by large‑caliber weapons, the Living Dead Task Force also equips NE-1s.

Finally, the Olympus Spear, now expanded to three companies, mass‑equipped standard‑model NE-1s and even more than ten NE-1H (Rogue Warrior Armor).

During this period the world remained relatively peaceful, with no Nix-class (Level 2) or higher anomalies—only Threat‑Free (Level 1) ones.

For example, a tabby cat capable of conversing in human language, anomaly code AP-007.

Or a slime creature resembling green jelly, vegetarian, gentle‑tempered, fond of humans, anomaly code AP-012.

The Abnormal Phenomena Containment Center, converted from Lockford Island, has seen its 'residents' gradually increase, no longer as desolate as before.

To secure a steady supply of troops, Sui Bian ordered the White Queen to build a 'New Barracks' on an island 200 nautical miles west of Lockford Island.

The island's area is about half that of Lockford Island, suitable for an airport and a port, and it lies only 500 nautical miles from Umbrella's Kenya base in Africa.

Sui Bian named the island Minos, with completion slated for the summer of 2000.

By then, he will be able to select suitable orphans for training, teaching them from childhood to be loyal to the company and to humanity.

Of course, Sui Bian, fully aware that forced brainwashing, denying entertainment, and teaching mutual killing—tropes from movies or games that ultimately cause children to rebel—will never treat the children that way.

On the contrary, he will reinforce education of 'family', 'mutual aid', and 'brotherly affection', and will provide the children with ample leisure time.

In short, Minos Island is not a prison for the orphans; it is a big family where they can receive warmth and care.

Sui Bian believes that when a military group has a clear, positively‑oriented belief, its combat effectiveness, willpower, and cohesion will surge.

Finally, BoKen's biological research team, with the assistance of the genius Alekxia, achieved a significant improvement in the stability of the G virus.

August 17, 10:00.

Sui Bian's 21st unconscious clone was injected with a repeatedly refined version of the G virus.

August 24, 17:15.

Clone 21 ultimately could not maintain a human form and collapsed into a 'tumor‑like' mass.

19:45.

After the research team obtained sufficient samples and data, they destroyed Clone 21.

Although the experiment with Clone 21 ended in failure, it was the first clone since the emergence of the G virus that could maintain a human form for an extended period.

The clone's muscle and bone density surged, and its height grew to a staggering 4.7 meters.

Most excitingly, due to the G virus's infection properties, the research team discovered glands containing genetic material inside Clone 21.

——————————

…

August 26, 1999.

Raccoon City.

11:00.

An isolation operating room on the third level of the hive.

Inside.

A D‑rank individual, shirtless and wearing orange prison pants, with limbs, neck and waist bound by straps, lies flat on the operating table.

Three technicians dressed in white one‑piece hazmat suits are methodically preparing for the surgery.

In each of the four corners of the room stand four armed security personnel in gray one‑piece hazmat suits, each equipped with a two‑barrel MA5B and two flame‑throwers.

"Let me out! I really didn't touch those kids! I truly didn't! What are you doing! Uh… you… please… let me go…"

The previously agitated D‑rank individual's resistance lessened as the anesthetic took effect.

Anesthetic takes effect.

Immediately thereafter, three technicians began the surgery in an orderly manner.

They opened the abdominal cavity of the Class D personnel, then a technician opened the refrigerated box on the tool table and took out a fist-sized black tissue.

The technicians then transplanted this black tissue into the abdomen of the Class D personnel.

(End of chapter)