Chapter 132: Catherine (Patreon)

Years of military service had given Brian a keen nose for shifts in the wind.

He came to the S.T.A.R.S. office in person and asked Ivan to take a walk with him.

Ivan could tell Brian had something to discuss, so he naturally didn't refuse. He set aside his work and followed Brian to the chief's office.

Brian poured Ivan a cup of fine tea, then settled back into his office chair. Given the relationship between them, he spoke frankly.

"Ivan, I know you're a man with a strong sense of justice."

"But what I value most in you is that you never act on impulse."

"Good and evil in this world aren't two sides of one coin, and very few people understand that."

"You're one of them. I'm sure you've noticed the National Guard's odd movements lately."

Ivan nodded.

"Mm… It must be connected to Umbrella."

"Exactly. That's why, at a time like this, I trust you more than anyone to keep a cool head."

Ivan picked up his teacup.

"What the Chief means is that we shouldn't make any rash moves."

Brian drew on his cigar and nodded in agreement.

"Yes. Remember, a little impatience spoils great plans."

"The timing of when you step into a matter is everything."

"Move too early and you become a target. Move too late and you lose the initiative."

Ivan understood all of this. And judging by how things stood, his earlier decision to give Brian a definite answer had been the right one.

Brian's way of looking at problems had, without his noticing, shifted to their side.

Seeing that, Ivan took a sip of tea, set the cup back on the desk, and smiled.

"I understand. The Chief is saying we wait for the situation to develop."

"Plan first, then act. Otherwise we'll end up extremely passive."

Brian gave a pleased little nod.

"Ivan, you're a decent man. I know you can't stand to watch things spin out of control."

"You want to strangle every threat in its cradle."

"That's why you proposed, so early on, that we move against the mother nest."

"Fortunately, you didn't push that plan through."

"It makes me believe you'll be the one still standing, laughing, at the end."

"What goes on inside that place, I know you understand no less than I do."

Brian sipped some water to moisten his throat, then continued.

"But your conscience sometimes drags at your heels."

"It leaves you unsure whether to advance or retreat. So until the moment comes when we need to act, I hope you won't make any move at all…"

"Otherwise, the wolves and tigers out there will never pass up a chance to devour you."

Ivan understood what Brian meant. Boiled down, it was simple.

Let the situation at the mother nest play out. Once responsibility had been pinned squarely on Umbrella or some other power, the strength Raccoon City Police Department had been stockpiling could settle everything in one decisive stroke. That would not only eliminate every lingering danger but also make him the undisputed master of Raccoon City.

And the reason Brian had called Ivan in to say all this was his fear that Ivan's kind heart would flare up and leave them shouldering the blame for Umbrella and the rest for nothing. One misstep, and everything would be lost.

"I'll keep the Chief's warning in mind."

At that, a faint look of delight spread across Brian's plump face. From Ivan's tone, it was clear he had taken the words to heart.

The two talked a while longer. On the way back, Ivan turned Brian's words over carefully.

He understood the reasoning behind them, but what he would actually do still depended on news from Annette.

Over the next few days, the officers who followed Ivan's orders stepped up patrols across every district of Raccoon City.

Ivan's stated reason was that although the antidote had taken effect, for the sake of the property and safety of Raccoon City's residents, they could not afford to let their guard down.

On top of that, to boost morale and drive, Ivan paid duty allowances to the officers out of his own pocket.

The effect was outstanding. The officers' daily patrols were noticeably more diligent and energetic.

Truthfully, even without that, they would have patrolled conscientiously. For one thing, the t-Virus affected every single one of them. Most of their families lived in Raccoon City, and no one could stand aside.

For another, apart from the staff needed to stay behind and keep order in the city, nearly every officer Raccoon City could send to the front line had gone with Ivan, Douglas and the others to the Arklay Mountains for the time-limited operation.

Ivan's example of leading from the front on the battlefield had won the quiet admiration of every officer. Respect earned through real ability and character like that held a place in their hearts like nothing else.

September 24th. According to the original timeline, William had by now been ambushed by the USS Alpha Team and, on the verge of death, injected himself with the G-Virus.

He had begun a frenzied hunt through the mother nest for the members of Alpha Team.

Yet Ivan still had no word from Annette.

He had tried calling the number she'd left, too. Still no answer.

Just then, Marvin walked into the S.T.A.R.S. office.

"Chief, there's an emergency on Chief Brian's end. He asked me to let you know."

It wasn't that Marvin couldn't tell who outranked whom. A veteran of the workplace, he was especially sensitive about titles.

If Chief Brian hadn't earlier announced that Ivan was the Honorary Chief of Police of the Raccoon City Police Department, such a title would never have crossed his mind.

All in all, barring surprises, Ivan would most likely be the next chief of the Raccoon City Police Department.

On Ivan's side, hearing the word "emergency" made his heart skip. He forced down the thoughts swirling in his head and said to Marvin:

"Understood."

Once Marvin had left, Rebecca came over and asked quietly:

"Ivan, could it be…"

"Mm. Odds are something's happened at the mother nest."

To spare Sherry Birkin's feelings, Ivan kept his voice extremely low.

The couple exchanged a look of tacit understanding, and then Ivan addressed the others.

"Everyone, hold your posts. If anything comes up, we'll talk it over when I'm back."

In the familiar chief's office, Ivan found an unexpected guest waiting.

She had golden hair falling over her shoulders and wore an expensive pure white dress with white high heels. Tall and striking, with delicate, eye-catching features, she gave off an air of high society from head to toe.

"Y-you must be Mayor Ivan."

The blonde woman came forward warmly and took Ivan's hand. With the movement, her generous bosom rippled noticeably.

"That's right, I'm Ivan. And you are, miss?"

"I'm Catherine Warren. My father asked me to come find you."

Ivan was a little surprised. Warren's daughter? Good grief, she looked nothing like her game counterpart.

No wonder he'd gotten it wrong.

And it wasn't only Catherine. He'd met Warren himself just once, at the press conference.

So Ivan had always assumed Catherine in this world looked the way she did in the game. He never expected the woman standing before him…

Honestly, by his own taste, she was more than a notch or two better looking.