RE - Chapter 307: Parasites. Want Some? (Patreon)

May 2008, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.

A massive cargo ship cut across the open sea, its bow splitting the waves as spray crashed violently against both sides of the hull.

A helicopter sat on the deck, its rotors still turning slowly from inertia and the ocean wind.

“Well, look who finally showed up.”

“Excella.”

Wesker’s trench coat snapped repeatedly in the wind as he regarded the provocatively dressed woman before him with an indifferent gaze.

“It’s windy out here. Shall we talk inside?”

Excella smiled at Wesker and was about to lead the way when he simply walked past her and entered the ship.

She didn’t seem bothered in the slightest and followed after him.

Wesker’s leather boots struck the floor with crisp, rhythmic clicks, accompanied by the relentless chatter of the woman beside him.

“The latest samples are perfect! You have no idea. After ordinary people swallow them, they can retain a certain degree of intelligence while still obeying my commands! Watching them kill each other is quite entertaining. Want to see it for yourself later?”

Excella’s voice continued beside him until Wesker suddenly stopped and turned to face her.

“I’m here because we’re partners, not to make small talk.”

Excella raised both hands in mock surrender.

“All right, you’re still the same as ever. But aren’t we practically friends? We do share the same goal.”

Wesker couldn’t be bothered to explain. He simply turned away and continued walking.

Eventually, the two reached their destination.

Inside the testing facility, several African civilians had been confined below. From the upper observation level, Wesker could clearly see everything happening through the observation window and the nearby monitors.

“Show me the results.”

“Of course. I told you, you’re going to like this.”

Excella gestured with one hand.

Several guards wearing protective suits immediately descended into the testing area.

Under the terrified gazes of the civilians, the guards ignored their struggles and forcibly shoved parasites into their mouths.

Then the guards withdrew, leaving only the civilians behind.

As the parasites took effect, the civilians convulsed violently. Black veins surfaced beneath their skin, their eyes gradually turned red, and the veins across their bodies bulged grotesquely.

Once everything finally settled, every one of them had transformed into a Majini.

Excella clapped her hands.

“Throw them some guns!”

“Understood.”

The guards opened the door and tossed weapons inside.

A faint smile appeared on Excella’s lips as she casually moved to stand beside Wesker.

Wesker glanced at her but said nothing.

“Now I only need to give them a command once, and they’ll follow it to the death.”

Excella activated the PA system and ordered the Majini below to take the gun, aim it at the others, and fire immediately.

In an instant, all three Majini lunged for the only gun on the floor.

No matter how badly they injured one another, they kept fighting until one finally seized the weapon and opened fire.

Sharp gunshots echoed through the testing chamber, while bullets left small dents in the reinforced glass surrounding the room.

Looking down at the lone Majini still standing, Excella turned proudly toward Wesker.

“Well? Want to try it yourself?”

Wesker gave no answer.

Instead, he turned and headed downstairs.

Excella smiled.

“So much for acting aloof. You couldn’t resist after all. Although I understand. The feeling of having absolute control over others really is intoxicating.”

With that, she turned back toward the observation window, curious to see what Wesker intended to do.

Wesker reached the lower level.

One of the guards immediately understood what he wanted and handed him a parasite.

To everyone’s surprise, the moment Wesker took it, he shoved it straight into the guard’s mouth.

Excella stared in shock as Wesker grabbed the man by the throat with one hand and carried him into the testing chamber.

The surviving Majini immediately raised its gun the moment someone entered.

Wesker hurled the guard aside, vanished from sight for an instant, then drove a kick into the Majini and sent it flying.

The Majini seemed to hang in the air for a fraction of a second before smashing into the observation glass hard enough to crack it.

Wesker turned his attention to the guard writhing on the floor as the parasite transformed him.

He kicked the gun across the floor toward him.

“Attack me. Use everything available to you.”

Now fully transformed into a Majini, the guard obeyed instantly.

He snatched up the gun and pulled the trigger.

Every remaining round in the magazine poured toward Wesker.

Under Excella’s awestruck gaze, Wesker moved like a phantom, effortlessly avoiding every bullet.

Once the magazine ran dry, the guard immediately discarded the gun, drew a knife, and charged.

Wesker dealt with every attack without the slightest difficulty.

Only when the Majini reached for a grenade and prepared to pull the pin did Wesker finally stop holding back.

Crack.

The guard’s neck twisted ninety degrees.

His body slammed violently into the glass.

The impact shook the floor.

It also sent a jolt through Excella.

Wesker calmly adjusted his cuffs, apparently satisfied, then left the testing chamber and returned upstairs.

“My God. You’re practically superhuman.”

Wesker ignored Excella’s starstruck reaction and simply gave his assessment.

“The results are acceptable. You did well.”

“Of course I did. I spent a fortune on this. But compared to our ultimate goal, this is nothing. You know what I want in the end. I want to rule the world with you!”

A trace of amusement flickered in Wesker’s snake-like pupils.

“Hmm.”

“With results this good, don’t you think we deserve a drink?”

Excella was already reaching for the alcohol when Wesker stopped her.

“How is the Uroboros virus progressing?”

Her movements froze.

After a moment, she turned and shook her head.

“We still haven’t found a compatible host, Wesker. Almost every refugee we injected with Uroboros died when their bodies ruptured.”

“Then stop using refugees.”

“...What are you suggesting? That’s too risky, Wesker. We don’t have those kinds of resources! Headquarters has already given us as much funding as they possibly can!”

Wesker clasped his hands behind his back.

“Do not disappoint me, Excella. If you lack resources, find them. You will never rule the world with something as insignificant as the Plaga virus.”

With that, Wesker left the observation room.

At the doorway, he turned slightly and gave her one final remark.

“You underestimate Uroboros.”

Excella watched him disappear, her expression shifting unpredictably.

“Hmph... Easy for him to say. But if even this isn’t enough to impress him... just how powerful is Uroboros?”

For a moment, Excella lost herself in thought.

Then she quickly recovered.

“You. Clean up the testing chamber! And find more test subjects. This time, bring me something besides refugees.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

After Excella left, the guards exchanged complicated looks as they stared down at the mangled corpses below.

“Captain, we...”

“Enough. There’s nowhere for us to run. Go clean it up.”

“...Yes.”

Meanwhile, Excella returned to her office in high spirits.

As she poured herself a drink, she placed a call.

“Oh, is this the Merchant of Death?”

“Damn it, Excella. Stop calling me by that cursed nickname.”

“Hahaha. All right, my dear Irving. How’s business?”

“Heh... Without you interfering, things are going smoothly. Those damn international cops are running around completely clueless. They haven’t come anywhere near me.”

“That’s wonderful news. I have something even better. Interested?”

“From you? I don’t buy empty promises.”

“Relax. This time there’s real money involved, and this product is extremely valuable on the black market. If I weren’t short on funding, I wouldn’t be calling you.”

“...All right. What is it?”

“A parasite. One that can make anyone obey your commands.”