"Everything about you? Everything about you is ensuring you have a say while also keeping your son alive, right? I have no interest in what you've done. Right now, I just want what I need. Do as I say, and the rest will be handled by others." Eddie lifted his chin, showing no respect, only condescension.
Entering the house, a middle-aged, stylishly dressed blonde woman was just bringing out steak. "Darling, you're back, that's wonderful. Warren should be on his way home from work now, you'll see him soon. Welcome, Dr. Eddie, and two beautiful ladies."
Jessica and Lisa wore high-tech gas masks, along with sunglasses designed to collect data. These were all pieces of equipment developed by Suzuki Yoko in collaboration with Emma.
Mass production would require a production line; currently, they could only be crafted by hand.
Jessica was scanning the house, using invisible infrasound to Investigation. The Investigation data would be fed back to her gas mask, then analyzed and displayed on her eyes. It could also be transmitted to a distant supercomputer, where the Red Queen would remotely identify unrecognized objects.
This was professional bodyguard equipment, all to ensure that Eddie wouldn't face any embarrassing incidents while showing off, and to guarantee his personal safety.
After dinner, Eddie felt a bit bored. He didn't pursue delicious food but rather its quantity; if he didn't eat enough, he would get hungry.
Warren's purpose in bringing him here was obvious: to put his weakness into Eddie's hands to gain more resources and help. It was like a hostage situation, which sounded somewhat ridiculous.
That night, Warren and his son left the house, seemingly to attend to a very important matter. Only his wife, Naveli, remained in the house, instructed to take good care of his esteemed guest.
After resting for a night, Warren returned, expressionless, with only a hint of anticipation.
Eddie gave him a phone number—that of Ivan, a mercenary in the Middle East. That tall, burly man was the former Raccoon City biohazard response team leader, and a sworn brother of the true man, former Russian colonel Mikhail.
Having Warren find Ivan would also yield some information about Umbrella selling biochemical weapons, giving him a reason to report back to the Western Federation.
Eddie picked up a contract, slid it across the table, "Hello, madam, Warren needs my help. This is what he owes, and I believe he's already discussed it with you. Sign your name, and you will officially become my employee."
Naveli, her pretty face flushed, nodded. When Warren returned that morning, she was still crying. She had barely slept all night, consumed by sadness. Warren needed help, and she could only offer herself as collateral, otherwise her son would be the one.
Maternal love is always great. Naveli couldn't bear to send her son to his death, so she could only sign this agreement. Speaking of death might be an exaggeration, but a loss of personal freedom was certain.
"I understand, I will sign it, and I hope you will keep your promise." Naveli bit her lip. For her family, she had to pay a huge price. If someone had to sacrifice, she would choose to step forward.
"Of course, I am a legitimate businessman. My team is still in its early stages, and there's still room for growth. If you work hard, you might even receive some excellent benefits," Eddie said with a smile, lighting a cigarette automatically.
After signing the contract, Eddie handed Naveli over to the waiting mercenaries. She would not be sent to the cruise ship but would instead assist Excella, who needed a lot of help.
After completing the task Katherine assigned, Eddie prepared to return to the cruise ship to continue his evolution experiments. Besides perfecting the second stage of evolution, he also needed to develop a vaccine for the Veronica Virus and plan the process to scheme against Alexia.
A pleasant ringtone sounded, and Eddie picked up the phone. This was his private number, which few people should know. "Hello, who is this?"
"Are you Eddie? I'm very interested in you. Hilada Street, Belly Wall Restaurant. Tell the waitress 'Sakura,' and she will take you to me." A cold female voice came through.
"Who are you?" Eddie frowned.
"You'll know when you get here. The man Alex is interested in, I'd like to see what's so different about him." The cold female voice hung up after speaking.
Eddie frowned at the disconnected call and dialed again, "January, help me trace the source of that call."
"I can't trace it. The other party used some kind of shielding tool, or they're calling directly from a satellite phone. If you have time, you could consider building your own satellite; that would be much more convenient. I can help create the most powerful program—no hacker can hack into my satellite." January suggested opportunistically.
"When I make money, I'll definitely fulfill that request, provided someone knows how to build such high-tech," Eddie said, exasperated. He wasn't very proficient in mechanics and electronics, nor did he have time to learn.
"Then go meet that person. Since she knows about Alex, she must be someone from Umbrella. To contact a defector like you, she must have some unspeakable secrets!" January analyzed.
Chapter 322: Christine
Hilada Street, Belly Wall Restaurant. This was a very fashionable restaurant, with private booths for couples on dates. There were also large rooms for multi-person family gatherings, and it had always been very famous in the City of Romance.
Guided by the waitress, Eddie arrived at a room decorated in a style similar to that of an island nation. Food was already served in the room, all exquisite and expensive dishes. Caviar, French foie gras, etc., some of it more show than substance.
"There's something strange here, the food isn't very good." Eddie sat at the table, Jessica and Lisa stood behind him.
Lisa sniffed her delicate nose and said coldly, "The food isn't poisoned."
The so-called toxins were only what they couldn't withstand; ordinary pesticides were merely nutritional drinks for them. It sounded absurd, but in fact, after viral modification, their digestive systems were no longer like humans', and their tolerance differed, thus the upper and lower limits of food also differed.
Clap, clap! A round of applause sounded, and a beautiful woman in an evening gown walked in. Her blonde hair was somewhat subdued, her hands wore white gloves, and an expensive diamond necklace hung around her neck. Her temperament was noble and elegant, indescribably moving, with a mature charm far beyond what a young woman could possess; this was the aura only those in high positions would have.
"You must be Eddie. You look younger than I imagined. These foods, in the eyes of ordinary people, would cost them several years' income for one meal. And you say they're not good?" The beautiful woman curved a cold smile. She seemed approachable but actually kept people at arm's length.
"I only care if I can eat, not if it tastes good. Wasting time on such things, why not use that time for other scientific research? Isn't that more appealing?" Eddie said indifferently.
"Want one?" Eddie ungentlemanly tossed a medicinal cigarette over. This behavior was like that of a hooligan.
The beautiful woman accurately caught the cigarette, sniffed it, then lit it. Her posture while lighting the cigarette suggested she was a woman with a story. "A very good cigarette. You truly surprise me. Can you tell me why you had to escape Umbrella?"
"I don't even know who you are, why should I tell you?" Eddie was not someone who would be swayed by a pretty face. Turning his head, his keen hearing told him that the outside had been secured by a special forces unit. The woman in front of him did things without leaving any room for maneuver.
Seemingly sensing Eddie's confusion, the beautiful woman smiled and said, "Don't worry, that's just a backup plan. Things inevitably develop beyond expectations, and I don't trust you much either. You can call me Christine Verano."
"Shouldn't it be Henry?" Eddie said playfully, his expression very strange. The woman in front of him was actually one of Umbrella's legendary females!
"A marriage in name only isn't worth changing my surname for. This is just a code name, just like your name. You can call it perfume, or you can call it a sports car, the end result is the same." Christine exhaled smoke, the hazy smoke making her appear more mysterious.
"In name only? You've said something quite important. All right, Ms. Christine, what is it you want? To arrest me and report back? To curry favor with that old man Spencer?" Eddie picked up the foie gras, added salad dressing, and devoured it, oops, no, he ate it voraciously.
"Before I answer that question, please answer mine first. Why did you choose to leave Umbrella? Everyone's answers are different." Christine's expression showed some enjoyment; the medicinal cigarette could calm one's mind. Her agitated mood had also smoothed out considerably. This was a good thing.
"Umbrella, this ship, anyone with insight knows it will sink. Don't you see it? Spencer, that old fox, is old, but he's still a fox. No one knows what he's thinking. But being on the opposite side of humanitarianism is definitely not a good thing," Eddie said lightly.
While speaking, Eddie had already finished everything on the table, leaving only two bottles of red wine.
Christine seemed to notice Eddie's gaze. "If you want to drink, pour it yourself. I won't drink, thank you."
"I didn't say I was going to pour it for you. Don't think of me as a gentleman; that stuff doesn't suit me. I'm a decent person." Eddie scoffed.
A gentleman means an elegant man, an English aristocrat. True noblemen are gentlemen, not those who constantly shout 'Brother Wuying, drive!'
"Heh heh, interesting. Umbrella, this ship, even if it's going to sink, it won't happen in a day or two. Sometimes there's no need to run so fast. Alex hasn't left either, so why did you, Rica?" Christine smiled.
"Everyone has their own aspirations. I don't deny liking to work with beautiful women, but it's merely a preference. If our interests differ, there's no need to be together. Alright, we've talked so much, just say what you want directly. Don't waste time; my time is precious." Eddie began to lay his cards on the table.
Christine suddenly stood up, walked to the cherry blossom tree, took off a white glove, and dropped a cherry blossom petal onto the small fountain in the room. With her back to Eddie, she said, "The French Branch doesn't have what you're looking for. This is the City of Romance, full of beautiful women. Although it's been contaminated by some things, those contaminated wastes aren't without their bright spots. Don't keep prying into my territory."
"Big sister, are you mistaken? I've never been to your territory. The person you're looking for isn't me." Eddie waved his hand, looking very innocent.
"Aren't you standing on my territory right now?" Christine sneered.
What she said seemed to be correct; he was indeed on her territory, but why did it sound a bit strange?
"Alright, madam. I don't have time to banter with you. I have no interest in your territory. You hold onto your sinking ship, I need to get on my yacht. Let's not interfere with each other; Umbrella's downfall is inevitable." Eddie also stood up.
He lifted the wine bottle, "The latest date rape drug, mixed in red wine, it can be done without anyone knowing. How interesting. But you've got the wrong person, madam. There are plenty of guys outside who are more suitable." Eddie scoffed.
Christine snorted angrily, "Don't mention those dirty bastards to me. The video of you on Sheena Island is in my hands. You should know what kind of treatment you'll receive once Spencer and Sergei learn your secret, right? Tell me your experimental process, and I can help you keep it a secret."
Chapter 323: Confrontation with Christine