"Any request?" Eddie suddenly scrutinized Katherine.
Katherine immediately felt a little shy, lowering her head and murmuring, "It can't be too much. I've never had a boyfriend!"
"Alright, you misunderstood. I just think this favor seems quite worthwhile," Eddie shrugged.
Chapter 66: Jill's Good News
Katherine's favor could be saved for later. Eddie had many ways to deal with a reporter. He could kill him directly, or bribe him with money.
However, Eddie didn't plan to use either method. He intended to use the most primitive way: throw this trouble onto someone else.
Arriving at the police station building, in the chief's office, the office was unusually filled with various exotic animal heads, as if made into statues, hanging on the walls, displaying his authority.
"Is something wrong, Eddie?" Brian stood up and gestured for him to sit.
Eddie held a considerably high position in Umbrella, and Brian was well aware of this, not wanting to offend this wealthy patron.
"There's something, about the chief and the mayor. I just got this from someone, it's pretty good stuff, you can listen to it." Eddie tossed over a short recording and lit a cigarette.
Brian picked up the tape doubtfully. After listening, his expression became extremely ferocious. If this material were sent out, he would be brought to court, perhaps even executed! "Where did you get this?"
"Don't be nervous, we're partners. Uncle Sergei also told me this. This was obtained from a reporter named Ben. As for why he got it, you'll have to ask yourselves. Uncle Sergei said if you don't want to live anymore, don't drag us down." Eddie began to bluff, using Sergei's name to gain benefits.
"Yes, yes, I'm sorry, it's all our fault, we didn't think it through. Does General Sergei have any instructions?" Brian said respectfully, standing up with his head bowed, his attitude as humble as possible.
"He wants you to find out who is behind Ben, but it's best not to cause any trouble yet. If something happens to that guy, it might alarm the paparazzi. You'd best handle things properly, extract the secret without killing anyone. This depends on your performance." Eddie, as a subordinate, sat in the chair smoking.
"No problem, leave it to me. Eddie, does the General have any other instructions?" Brian continued to ask respectfully.
"If there are any, I'll inform you. Uncle Sergei is handling something very important. During this time, he instructed me not to let things get out of hand here, otherwise you'll be miserable, and I'll get scolded!" Eddie smiled sinisterly.
Brian sighed with a hint of displeasure. The same situation, he would die, while the other would only be scolded. "I understand, Eddie, I'm counting on you now. You must help me. Just tell me what you want me to do."
"Let's leave it at that for now. I'll contact you if anything comes up." Eddie waved his hand. It was enough to pass the buck. Without any surprises, Ben should be locked up in the detention center. How long he would be held, he didn't know, but the other party wasn't a good person. A mercenary reporter, his death would be in vain.
Two days later, Raccoon City's most influential newspaper, the Daily Raccoon, reported another missing person case. This was another disappearance after half a month of calm, and the location was still the Arklay Mountains.
At the S.T.A.R.S.'s base, everyone had finished their holiday and resumed normal duty. Joseph, the mechanic, exclaimed while holding the newspaper, "No way! We clearly eliminated that monster, how could this happen again?"
Eddie silently sat at his desk, drinking coffee, with Rebecca beside him reading medical books. Since returning from the abandoned sanatorium mission, Rebecca had become very dedicated to medicine and often consulted Eddie.
Dr. Marcus hadn't died; he was merely injured and chased away by Sergei. Since Sergei had said so, it was normal for Marcus to attack travelers again and use the serum to infect animals and spread it.
Eddie knew the reasons behind these events. He chose to remain silent and waited for things to unfold. If this incident was handled well, Annette could 'die' legitimately, thus escaping Umbrella's sight.
On the other hand, it could also deepen the hatred between William and Umbrella. Killing two birds with one stone, why would he stop it?
"I said it before, the Arklay Mountains are still being cleared, and it won't be open to traffic that quickly. Why are these people in such a hurry to go in?" said Brian, the Alpha Team's pilot. He was lucky not to have been infected with the virus, otherwise he wouldn't be alive now.
"The higher-ups will naturally make arrangements for this matter. We shouldn't say too much. Enrico, you're in charge of leading people to scout the outskirts to see if there are any other suspicious traces." Wesker issued another order.
After wandering around the outskirts for a day, Eddie didn't see a single Zombie Dog, which made him very bored. However, occasionally chatting with Rebecca kept him from getting too stifled.
A phone rang; it was Jill's voice. "Darling, Sherry and I have arrived in Europe and settled down. No one has found us, everything is safe, please don't worry."
"Good, that's good. Wait for me for a while, I'll come to you. You must be careful. I'm fine here. During this time, if you're not feeling well, rest more and eat small, frequent meals," Eddie reminded.
Jill, however, let out a silvery laugh. "It's nothing, darling. I can feel the baby growing, and I feel great now, unlike those pregnant women who have difficulty moving. Perhaps this is another benefit."
"That's even better. I'll call you later; I'm still busy now," Eddie apologized.
"It's fine, you go ahead and be busy. Everything is well here." Jill, understanding, hung up the phone. She wasn't being coy; an independent and self-reliant woman wouldn't cling to a man.
While Eddie was still patrolling and chatting with Rebecca and others on the outskirts of the Arklay Mountains, on the distant other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Excella had just held a press conference. The pharmaceutical company she managed launched a drug that could suppress cancerous lesions. Long-term use could prevent death due to cancer.
This was the first drug Eddie gave her, intended to make a name for herself. Only when Excella achieved dazzling results and accomplishments would the Travis Family take her seriously and allocate more resources to her.
When Excella obtained resources from the Travis Family, she could then reciprocate to Eddie. Eddie's plan would then succeed, showcasing his talent while also making Excella increasingly dependent on him as a partner.
In the world, let alone a cure for cancer, there wasn't even a drug to inhibit cancer cells from continuing to divide and prevent further lesions. Under such extensive publicity, people across the entire continent were shocked. Reporters, like wolves smelling excrement, conducted follow-up reports!
Chapter 67: Excella Sinks Deeper
Excella stood proudly in front of the laboratory. This was a special press conference. She had specifically experimented five times before, and the conditions of all five cancer patients had been suppressed! This indicated that they could survive, and to exaggerate, it could even promote her company as having the potential to develop a cure for cancer!
All of this was brought by Eddie. Excella became increasingly curious about Eddie. She knew very well that the man was definitely not a good person, especially during their conversations, his eyes would always sneak glances, as if she didn't know! But this was good too; as long as a man had weaknesses, she wasn't afraid of not being able to deal with him!
"Ladies and gentlemen, you can see before you a severely ill patient transferred from the central hospital, suffering from severe tumor cancer. Our experiment this time is to observe this miraculous potion up close. The time when humanity no longer needs to endure the pain of cancer is getting closer and closer!" Excella, like a proud queen, spoke eloquently due to her good upbringing, without any stage fright.
The reporters were all whispering, clearly not entirely believing that such a drug could truly inhibit the progression of cancer cells. In everyone's perception, cancer was the grim reaper's beckoning, a sign of imminent death.
Inside the medical room, researchers wearing gas masks began to administer the drug to the cancer patient. This research, independently developed by Eddie, contained a trace amount of T-Virus, yet it was different from the ordinary T-Virus of the past.
If taken directly without special treatment, the final result might not be death, but transformation into a zombie, losing consciousness. Or, it could be direct death, followed by becoming a zombie. Both scenarios involved death.
All-round microscopes and imaging equipment were monitoring the cancer patient's condition, and the results would be projected.
Excella also felt her palms sweating, a sign of nervousness. Successful research in private was one thing, but experimenting in public was another; only success was allowed, not failure. Yet, on the surface, she remained calm and composed, always wearing a faint smile.
The reporters also began taking photos and writing articles. Time passed minute by minute. The projected results showed cancer cells being engulfed by white blood cells, and the rate of white blood cell production kept up with the changes. The white blood cells, after engulfing, also persisted for a sufficient amount of time, dying only after eliminating enough cancer cells.
The mutated cancer cells were controlled within a certain range, gradually shrinking to a specific area, and then no longer shrinking. It seemed to have entered a tug-of-war, a struggle between cancer cells and the immune system!
The cancer patient, who had originally lost mobility, suddenly removed the breathing apparatus and began to breathe naturally. At first, he was a little unaccustomed, but then he was actually able to sit up on his own and said into the microphone, "Doctor, can I have something to eat? I feel very hungry, and my strength has returned."
His voice was weak, but to these reporters, it was incredible. Especially the doctors from the central hospital, they were utterly astonished. In their discussions, this patient could only slowly await death, as medication could not cure him. Now they were proven wrong; this patient, who was clearly paralyzed and at death's door, actually sat up on his own!
Naturally, medical staff went in to give the patient food and conduct examinations. Accompanying them were some invited academic experts, all with incredulous expressions.
Repeated examination results were all the same: the progression of the cancer was controlled, confined to a small area, preventing the cancer from further worsening!
"Everyone, do you see? This is my latest research achievement. My company will also further develop to reduce the cost of the medicine, providing affordable and practical drugs to a wide range of patients. At the same time, we will continue our research to provide better medicines to all humanity, aiming to reduce the suffering from diseases!" Excella announced the news like a queen.
"Everyone, now is free photo time. In ten minutes, we will hold a dedicated press conference. You can also interview these patients. I believe my medicine will bring a bright future to humanity!" Excella reminded them, then walked away in her high heels.
The appearance of the anti-cancer drug immediately became a global sensation. Excella fully utilized her resources for publicity. In addition to the anti-cancer drug, she also launched nutritional supplements that reduce the incidence of cancer. These were the lucrative avenues, preventing problems before they arise, which is what the wealthy love to do.
Eyewitness accounts, coupled with the patients' own interviews, despite some reporters trying to grab attention with doubts, were all drowned in a sea of praise.
The order volume for the company managed by Excella rapidly increased. The factory was already experiencing a shortage of supply, and the financial profits earned were so vast that counting them all day long would be impossible.
In her office, Excella lit a lady's cigarette, looking at the bustling scene below the building, a cold smile forming in her heart. She had successively rejected invitations from other rich young masters; those so-called rich people, in her eyes, were all good-for-nothings.
For a woman of Excella's intelligence, what she valued was not existing assets, but those in power. She didn't mind investing in some potential stocks. Her curiosity about Eddie grew stronger, and she felt an urgent impulse to understand that man.
Picking up the phone, Excella waited for the call to connect. "Eddie, my dear partner, the drug you developed is now in such high demand that orders are outstripping supply! We succeeded, thank you. Thanks to you, my father no longer demands that I marry; they've seen my potential to create wealth."