RE - Chapter 300: Finally Awake (Patreon)

One day later.

“This is Tall Oaks News. Early yesterday morning, a massive explosion occurred at Tall Oaks Cathedral on the outskirts of the city due to a leak in an underground gas pipeline. No casualties have been reported so far.

“However, the area surrounding the church suffered extensive damage. Fortunately, the statue of Jesus remained completely unharmed.

“Today, several devout parishioners attempted to visit the church and see the situation for themselves, only to be turned away without explanation. This has stirred public outrage, with residents demanding answers.

“The priest has yet to make an appearance to reassure the public. We will continue monitoring the situation and bring you updates as they develop.”

Watching the news report on his phone, Leon shook his head slightly.

“The truth is always in the hands of a select few.”

“At least he’s not stupid.”

Alan took a bite of his pear and leaned back against the headboard, his voice carrying a hint of spiteful mockery.

As he chewed vigorously, the sweet juice flooded his mouth.

“So you really can’t remember how you ended up unconscious?”

“If you ask me, he got soaked stupid. Forgetting a few things is perfectly normal.”

Alan glanced at the girl beside him, who seemed more than happy to stir up trouble.

“Is that any way to talk to your dad, you brat?”

“You!”

Grace snatched the pear from his hand, sat down beside him, and angrily took a bite.

Alan smiled, tucked his hand back under the covers, and looked at Grace with fatherly satisfaction.

“Well, look at that. I go to sleep for a while and wake up with a daughter. Not bad. Remember to start saving for my retirement.”

“Would it kill you not to take advantage of this?”

“All right, Han.”

At that, both of them stopped arguing.

“Which one of us are you talking to?” they asked in unison.

Leon felt his scalp tingle under their stares. He hadn’t even done anything wrong, so why did he keep feeling like he had somehow offended someone?

“I... I can’t help it. You’re both Han.”

Alan looked at Leon, then turned his gaze to Grace.

“One of us could use a different last name?”

“Sure.”

Then he waited.

And waited.

Grace said nothing else.

Alan could only point at himself.

“...You’re not expecting me to change my last name, are you?”

“Of course not! I’m just... terrible at coming up with names.

And whose fault is that? I inherited it from you!”

“So you admit you inherited it from me?”

Grace was left speechless. She turned her head away and refused to answer.

Alan could only sigh before turning to Leon.

“Got a dictionary around here?”

“...I think it’s back at the safe house. Why?”

“I’ll flip to a random page and pick a new last name for her.”

“You dare?!!”

Seeing Grace bristle with rage, Alan immediately shut his mouth and pretended he hadn’t said anything.

“Forget it. I’ll come up with one myself.

...Leon, do you have Mia’s number?

Ahem. I want to talk to her.”

Leon gave Grace the number and watched her leave the room, leaving the two men alone in the hospital room.

“She’s gone. Want to talk?”

Alan nodded. Leaning against the headboard, he stared at the ceiling and thought for a moment.

“According to you, after I left the nursing home, I drove away. But I have no memory of that part at all.

“So obviously, that section of my memory is gone.”

Leon frowned.

“I didn’t expect their research to have advanced this far.”

“Probably not. I’m more inclined to think it was a side effect.

“If they could freely alter specific memories, then when I opened my eyes and saw you, I probably wouldn’t have been nearly so friendly.

“We might have ended up as enemies.”

As he spoke, Alan turned to Leon, a trace of relief in his eyes.

“Luckily, none of that happened.

“Otherwise, I don’t even want to imagine what you would’ve turned into.”

Leon fell into thought, raising a hand to rub the stubble he still hadn’t shaved.

“...And that white-haired girl.

“Did she inherit all your memories?”

“Not all of them. She said herself that a lot of the cause-and-effect connections in her memories are missing. They’re incomplete.”

Alan nodded.

He had just been wondering whether Grace had inherited the memories of his previous life as well.

But judging by the situation, she hadn’t.

Since there was no way to trace the cause of Alan’s blackout, Leon moved on.

“The virus inside you is the real problem now.”

“Don’t worry. I’m doing fine, aren’t I? I even got a self-healing ability out of it.”

“...Don’t joke about this.”

Hearing the seriousness in Leon’s voice, Alan finally dropped the act.

“When the time comes, don’t hesitate just because it’s me, Leon.”

“I swear... just go back to joking.”

Leon was exhausted.

He stood, took a deep breath as he looked out the window, then braced both hands against the windowsill, his thoughts unreadable.

“Be realistic. Rebecca’s good, but she can’t solve every problem.

“I’m only talking about the worst-case scenario. If we say it now, then if the time ever comes, you won’t have regrets.

“At least while I was still myself, we made that decision together. Right?”

After speaking, Alan quietly watched Leon’s back, a bitter taste lingering in his mouth.

This whole thing was pathetic.

He had somehow gotten infected with a virus out of nowhere.

And he couldn’t even fucking remember who had done it to him.

Leon clenched his fist and “calmly” tapped it against the window frame.

“Our only lead right now is Simmons.

“The church in Tall Oaks is his base. I’m certain there are still unexplored areas underneath it. There might be something down there that can save you.”

“So we’re gambling on it?... All right, Leon, sit down.

“Let’s wait for Rebecca’s test results first. If that doesn’t work, we still have Luis.

“Stop overthinking it. Come sit down. Good boy.”

Leon turned around helplessly and sat back down.

“Treating me like a kid now, huh?”

“Sorry, haha. It’s just... uh... suddenly having a clone daughter has brought out my paternal instincts.”

“I’ll pretend I believe you.

“...What do you think we should do about her? Keep her with us?”

Alan didn’t answer.

He hadn’t decided either.

“By the way, does the President know about everything that happened here?”

“No. And it’s probably best that we don’t meet with him for the time being. Simmons is watching everything. Wherever we go, there’s a good chance his people will be watching too.”

“Peace really doesn’t come easy...

“Simmons may have decided to hold back for the sake of the bigger picture, but we’re still thorns in his side.

“One day, he might stop pretending altogether and dump a virus right on our doorstep, then leave us to fend for ourselves.”

Leon’s expression darkened.

“Heh.”

As the two fell silent, the hospital room door opened again and a white-haired girl walked in.

“Ha! Guess what? I picked a new last name!”

Alan smiled and gave her a look that practically said, Aren’t you impressive?

“You came up with it yourself?”

“O-of course!”

“All right. What is it?”

Leon and Alan both stared at her without blinking.

Grace cleared her throat twice.

“Well, from now on, my name is...”

...

“Just call me Zeno, Mr. Victor.”

Zeno sat with one leg crossed over the other. His words were impeccably polite, but his posture was all casual swagger.

Victor said nothing about it. He glanced at Simmons, whose expression was clearly sour, then quietly took the seat across from Zeno.

Simmons dropped into another chair, the displeasure in his eyes practically overflowing.

Zeno, however, paid him no attention whatsoever and instead looked at Victor.

“I hear Spencer was your teacher?”

“Yes. He was my mentor.”

“Oh, haha. Well, that certainly is...”

“Zeno, what exactly are you trying to do? You came here to poach my people?”

Zeno snorted.

“Poach? He was already seeking support from The Connections, not from you, Simmons.

“Whatever you’re planning can’t exactly be brought out into the open. Leaving someone like him with you would just be a waste.”

Simmons slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, pointing at Zeno.

“Don’t forget who made it possible for you people to operate this smoothly!”

Zeno calmly straightened his collar and rose to his feet.

“That was a fair trade, my friend.

“Wasn’t it because you couldn’t keep the situation under control that you came to us in the first place?”

Simmons was furious, but he had no way to refute him.

It was true.

Controlling the presidential election was becoming increasingly difficult. They would still need the other side’s help with the runoff election.

After remaining silent for a while, Victor finally broke the deadlock.

“What do you want me to do?”

Zeno smiled and sat back down.

“It’s simple. After years of effort, we’ve successfully uncovered Mr. Spencer’s legacy in locations all across the world.

“As for Raccoon City... you know what I’m talking about.

“I found some new things there as well.

“As one of Spencer’s students, I believe you’re capable of helping me study them.”

Victor nodded slightly.

“That does sound tempting.

“But I still have to ask. What makes you so confident that I’ll agree to go?”

Zeno didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he leisurely took a cigar from the box on the table and began preparing it.

Only after lighting it, placing it between his lips, and slowly drawing in and exhaling the smoke did he finally speak.

“Have you ever heard of Project W?”