When Claire heard the phrase "reliable partner," her breath hitched, and a burning flame of urgency instantly ignited in her azure eyes.
"Partner?"
Her voice carried a slight tremor.
"Who is it? Who is my brother's partner?"
In the living room, the atmosphere that had just become warm due to the alliance was once again pulled back to a heavy starting point by this question.
Leon also wiped the silly smile from his face, his expression turning serious.
Ada looked at Claire's face, which was filled with anxiety and expectation, and slowly shook her head.
Her voice carried a hint of regret, yet she maintained her professional composure.
"Sorry, dear."
"Regarding the specific identity of this partner, Mr. Trant didn't tell me; it's currently a blank."
"I only know that the other party's counter-reconnaissance skills are very, very strong."
"I can't even be certain of this partner's gender."
This answer left Claire somewhat disappointed.
Noah, however, had guessed a few things.
Ada didn't give them much time to dwell on their disappointment.
From the exquisite, small tactical pouch at her waist, she took out a rolled-up hard blueprint.
Rustle.
The blueprint was slowly unfurled on the low table in front of the fireplace.
It was a high-precision satellite overhead view of Rockfort Island.
Detailed information on various facilities was marked with lines of different colors, and even the internal structures of buildings were clearly outlined with dashed lines.
Military prison, training facilities, airport, port.
And the Ashford Family's private residence, standing at the highest point of the island like a devil's castle.
Everything was visible at a glance.
The value of this intelligence could no longer be measured in money.
Ada's fair, slender finger lightly traced across the blueprint, eventually pointing to a hidden landing spot on the west side of the island.
"In the early hours of December 27th, Wesker's troops will conduct a saturation bombing from here."
"Our operation time is one hour after the bombing ends."
"At that time, the island's defense Systems will be paralyzed, and the internal guard forces will have massive defensive gaps due to the chaos."
Ada's gaze swept over everyone present.
"Our primary objective is to enter this secret Detention Center."
Her finger pointed to the area highlighted in red.
"Chris Redfield might be trapped there."
Claire's breathing became rapid once again.
Her gaze was fixed intently on the red mark on the blueprint.
"Then... Chris... when will he be locked in there?"
She asked the question she cared about most, and also feared most.
If Chris was only captured after Wesker's bombing, wouldn't their operation be in vain?
Ada looked at Claire, and for once, a hint of understanding and softness appeared in her usually cold almond eyes.
"Sorry, dear."
She once again gave this helpless answer.
"I don't know either."
"Regarding Chris's specific movements, I'm currently in a complete fog; he might not have been caught yet."
"The only thing we can do is search in the place where he's most likely to appear."
"And then, seize that fleeting, sole opportunity."
"Don't worry, Trant won't put Chris in a certain-death situation; that wouldn't benefit him at all," Noah said, stroking his chin.
Ada looked at Noah and raised an eyebrow in surprise, while Claire breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Over the next while, the four of them gathered around the blueprint and began to finalize every detail of the operation.
Infiltration routes.
Weapon configurations.
Extraction plans.
And contingency plans for various possible emergencies.
As each detail was settled, a thorough and detailed, practically perfect operation plan gradually took shape.
The atmosphere in the living room also became noticeably more relaxed.
The confusion and unease of facing the unknown had been replaced by a clear and definite common goal.
Ada picked up the cup of coffee that had already gone cold and drained it in one gulp.
Then she stood up, her graceful and tall figure casting a captivatingly beautiful silhouette against the firelight of the fireplace.
"Alright, that's the plan."
"Use the remaining time to prepare yourselves."
She was preparing to leave.
Leon's heart suddenly leaped into his throat.
He wanted her to stay.
This thought, like a wildly growing vine, instantly wrapped around his entire heart.
He wanted to speak, but the words felt stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single syllable.
He could only use his elbow to lightly nudge Noah's waist beside him.
Then, with an urgent gaze that was almost pleading, he desperately gestured to Noah.
His gentle blue eyes were filled with the silent scream of "Brother! Help me! Fast!"
Noah felt the pressure on his waist and looked at Leon's expression—he was so anxious he looked ready to scratch his head and ears—and the corners of Noah's mouth turned up uncontrollably.
He gave an "I get it" look.
Then he cleared his throat and looked at Ada, who was about to turn away.
"Ada."
His voice was gentle and calm.
"Do you have a place to stay tonight?"
"If not, there are many rooms here."
Noah paused and glanced at Leon, who was already nodding frantically beside him.
"Leon can sleep on the living room carpet tonight."
Leon's head nodded like a high-speed sewing machine.
His azure eyes were full of anticipation as he stared at Ada without blinking.
Ada turned around.
She looked at Leon's adorably silly expression, which was written all over with "Pick me! Pick me!"
Her red lips, which always carried a hint of playfulness and detachment, suddenly blossomed into a world-stopping, breathtaking smile.
The smile was bright and moving, with a hint of cunning, little-devil-like charm.
Leon's soul was instantly hooked by this smile and sent flying to the nine heavens.
He felt as light as a feather, so happy he was about to melt.
Just then.
Ada's cool voice, carrying a hint of a lazy smile, slowly rang out.
"Sorry, Leon."
"Not today."
The smile on Leon's face instantly froze.
His heart, which had been floating in the clouds just a moment ago, was kicked ruthlessly back to the cold, hard ground within a tenth of a second.
The color drained from his face, and his whole posture slumped.
However, Claire reacted immediately.
A smile of realization flashed in her beautiful azure eyes.
"Not today?"
She intentionally elongated her tone as she looked at Ada.
"Then you mean...?"
Leon's eyes, which had just dimmed, instantly lit up again with a shink.
He snapped his head up like a drowning large dog grabbing onto a life-saving straw, looking at Ada expectantly.
Ada looked at Leon's colorful shifts in expression, and the smile in her eyes deepened.
She gave Leon a non-committal nod.
"If it's later..."
Her voice trailed off with a long, ambiguous lilt.
"I'll consider it~"
Leon felt like he had been struck again by a bolt of lightning called "happiness."
A massive wave of euphoria completely submerged him.
Just then, Ada took another document contained in a kraft paper envelope from her tactical pouch.
She handed the document to Claire.
"Put this by Sherry's pillow."
"I think this should be the gift she wants most at this stage."
Claire took the envelope in confusion.
She opened the seal and pulled out the few sheets of paper inside.
When she saw the dense legal clauses printed on those pages, and clearly written in the guardian section were her and Noah's names...
And when she saw that the bottom of the document was already stamped with all the legally binding bright red seals...
Her eyes instantly turned red.
A massive, indescribable wave of bitterness and joy surged into her nose.
She tossed the document aside.
Like a startled young deer, she threw herself into Noah's arms.
She wrapped her arms tightly around Noah's neck, burying her face deep into the warm, familiar crook of his neck.
She didn't cry out loud.
She just used all her strength to breathe in the scent of him.
Noah picked up the document from the floor.
When he saw the legal adoption papers for Sherry, which Trant had used his immense influence to process for them...
His usually steady heart couldn't help but throb violently.
He reached out his arms and held the trembling girl in his embrace even tighter.
He pressed his face firmly against Claire's soft, reddish-brown long hair.
Everything—the happiness, the joy, the gratitude—needed no further words.
Ada looked at the warm scene of the pair embracing, and a heartfelt, gentle smile touched the corners of her mouth.
She turned to look at Leon, who was staring at her with a silly, wide grin.
She extended a long, fair index finger.
She lightly tapped her incredibly alluring red lips.
Then she blew it toward Leon.
A silent, charming air kiss.
After finishing this action, she didn't linger; she turned and vanished into the deep night outside with elegant, cat-like strides.
The three people in the living room were now bathed in a warm atmosphere called "happiness."
Early the next morning.
The sun's rays had just filtered through the gaps in the curtains, spilling into the quiet villa.
"Ah—!"
A crisp scream full of surprise, excitement, and disbelief suddenly erupted from Sherry's room on the second floor.
With a bang, Sherry pushed open her door.
She immediately saw Noah and Claire smiling, standing side-by-side at her door, quietly waiting for her.
The morning light plated their figures with a soft and warm golden edge.
Sherry's beautiful blue eyes were instantly filled with crystalline tears.
She didn't say a word.
Like a swallow returning to its nest, she used all her strength to throw herself into Claire's warm, soft embrace.
In her hand, she still tightly clutched the adoption document, a corner of which was already dampened by her tears.
There was still one month left before they would depart for that dangerous and unknown Rockfort Island.
During this month, they would stay by Sherry's side.
To enjoy this hard-won warmth of home.