Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

Yes, the stun grenades were also produced by Umbrella.

Vera understood the importance of being grounded and building relationships.

Umbrella itself is a high-tech medical and semi-defense company, and this trend has undoubtedly accelerated greatly after he took over as director of the newly established Black Umbrella division.

In recent years, Vera has gone to great lengths, using its own Umbrella Corporation branch in California as the core to expand into emerging industries such as prosthetics, intelligent control, semiconductors, and electronic information, while also making great strides in transforming into the military industry.

Under the leadership of Drake C. Simmons, after obtaining industry certifications recognized by the Pentagon and the Department of Justice, Umbrella USA's California branch prioritized building the framework and securing its position, regardless of whether other large factories and workshops had been built or whether high-tech next-generation weapons from Arasaka and other cyberpunk worlds had been put into production.

Like bullets of various calibers, such as stun grenades, gas grenades, smoke grenades...

It has relatively low technical requirements, but it is indispensable.

Vera leveraged her experience in the cyberpunk world and improved the technical parameters, and with the help of Umbrella's own influence, she quickly entered the California market.

Vera shoved her way into police stations, shooting ranges, shooting competition organizers, rifle associations, and veterans' associations—almost giving them away. She wasn't looking to make money; she figured that with the backing of the drone, smart control technology, semiconductor, and the market for the first generation of prosthetics, her California branch would make the money elsewhere.

First, reserve a spot and open up a path.

The American soldiers discussed animatedly. The sergeant who had quickly mastered operating the drone slowly walked to the general's side and said meaningfully, "Umbrella has ample technological reserves. This consumer-grade drone is more than sufficient as equipment for individual soldier reconnaissance, and..."

"It has enormous potential for future modifications, whether it's for carrying controlled bomb drops or serving as a self-destructing drone..."

The general nodded. Regardless of the original intention behind Umbrella's design and production, this thing, after some modifications, does indeed have a strong tactical effect.

As long as drone technology continues to develop, its future prospects are predictable.

"The feedback from the grassroots level regarding the several batches of reconnaissance drones procured in the last phase has been positive. His Excellency the Chief of Staff attaches great importance to the role of drones as an emerging piece of equipment on the future battlefield."

The general gently extended his hand and gave Vera a light handshake.

"Dr. Russell truly deserves his reputation as a renowned expert in intelligent control technology and ergonomics. In just a few years, his work has already iterated to such an extent."

After a pause, he tentatively asked, "Doctor, military products are different from civilian products. They need to undergo more tests to adapt to the complex environment of the battlefield. Perhaps you could help our military improve this cute little thing a bit more."

If there's civilian use, there's naturally military use as well.

To rise to the rank of general in the USA, this kind of shrewdness is a basic requirement.

Vera showed him so many drone parts; with a little addition and modification, they could be transformed from civilian to military use.

"Furthermore, wouldn't the large-scale sale of such semi-tactical items to the public, falling into the hands of criminals with ulterior motives, affect social stability and public safety?"

Vera smiled gently.

How many of America's products are 100% safe? This is a question that will probably never be resolved, so are we going to ban them?

Vera ultimately deflected the conversation with excuses such as "insufficient assumptions," "We at Umbrella have no such intentions," "Please trust our integrity and bottom line," and "We trust law enforcement agencies."

In short, let's discuss this further.

It means discussing it further, studying it further, deliberating on it further, weighing it further, comparing it further, considering it further, observing it further, looking at it further, thinking about it further, and so on...

OK, that's all over now.

The group continued their tour of the production line, engaging in a lively Q&A session that reignited the positive atmosphere.

"If I remember correctly, the only remaining founding member of your company is British, right?"

Seemingly unintentionally, after touring the production workshop of the large unmanned aerial vehicle, the general listened to the guide continue to introduce the parameters while looking at Vera and suddenly asked a question.

"Chairman Spencer is a British aristocrat."

Vera stopped in her tracks, instantly understanding the implication, but her expression remained unchanged.

“But I grew up in the United States, the Black Umbrella division I’m in charge of is in the United States, the vast majority of my employees are American citizens, and in the future, more Umbrella industrial parks will spring up on land in California, and even on land in other states.”

Seemingly satisfied with the answer, the general simply chuckled, a smile spreading across his slightly chubby face.

“Umbrella, if Dr. Russell were to take the lead, it would certainly go much further.”

Vera's lips curled up slightly. "Thank you for your kind words."

...

The visit is over.

The Pentagon ordered a full range of drone products from Umbrella's California branch.

Consumer-grade, racing-grade, professional-grade, large flight platform, and other series—no wonder the US military is so wealthy; each series starts at three digits or more. And this is just the trial deployment that began when they accepted drones in 1998.

Unlike the trial-style batch purchases made some time ago, this order is for a long-term partnership.

Large-scale orders are placed every year, and the number of orders increases year by year. This is something that needs to be discussed in Congress at the end of the year and is listed separately in the report on military spending and defense budget requests.

All are happy.

Vera escorted the Pentagon delegation out of the industrial park, where they were taken to a hotel partnered with Umbrella. They were treated to good food and drinks. Everyone is human, and there's no need to be so busy. Let them have some fun before returning to Washington.

Snap. Snap.

Back in his office in the industrial park, his fingertips tapped absently on the Pentagon's order contracts and cooperation service qualification certificates on the desk, and the polite smile on his face slowly disappeared.

"Sure enough, the prosthetics industry is too closely related to the semiconductor, intelligent control, and electronic information industries. Umbrella has not only been targeted by the Antitrust Bureau, but even Washington, who has a close relationship with the British, can't sit still."

Umbrella is a leader in the global healthcare industry, and Washington tolerated it.

But now, Vera has created the Umbrella Black Umbrella division.

Its functions cover several emerging industries such as prosthetics, intelligent control, arms, semiconductors, and electronic products, all of which are at the world's leading level. In the past two years, its scale has visibly grown larger and larger, and the officials in Washington have become restless.

If it weren't for the factional divisions within Umbrella, with its four umbrellas and powerful political lobbying and judicial teams, Spencer himself would have been summoned to attend an antitrust hearing even if he were in a wheelchair.

The more successful Vera is, the more Washington will want to break up Umbrella, or at least break up USA Umbrella.

It's only a matter of time.

Drake C. Simmons could only delay, not stop, and besides, he probably welcomed the breakup of Umbrella.

I'll be 'disembarking' this year.

Vera frowned slightly, leaned back in her executive chair, adjusted her posture to make herself comfortable, stretched out her long legs, and opened the Colorado newspaper she had ordered.

In a corner of the newspaper, in inconspicuous text, it read: "A series of murders has occurred in Raccoon City. The RPD (Raccoon City Police Department) announces that it will definitely eradicate this Satanic cult..."

December 21 2025

The severely delayed news was undoubtedly suppressed by Umbrella.

"Almost there." A strange sense of excitement and urgency rose from her chest, and Vera gently rubbed her temples.

The time is ripe to break away from Umbrella.

This isn't Arasaka; that old bastard Oswell E. Spencer is useless now.

Over the years, Vera has done more than enough for Spencer and the Umbrella board.

Cultivation?

Not many. She wasn't a prime product of the 'Wesker Project,' but rather a wild genius who emerged naturally and happened to join Umbrella.

She rewarded them with several times, or even ten times, their investment.

Let alone Western universal values ​​of freedom, even in the East, Vera's current actions of starting her own business and changing jobs are morally beyond reproach.

Moreover, Umbrella itself is not clean. With the T-virus project, the G-virus project, the BOW bioweapon... and the impending biohazard crisis in Raccoon City, she has a million reasons to leave in a huff.

From the moment she entered Umbrella, Vera was preparing to flee.

Whether at Umbrella board meetings or private product launches, she has expressed her opposition to the company's unlimited investment of funds and experimental materials in biological research, making no attempt to hide her critical and disdainful attitude.

She believed the company's strategic direction was wrong, and that the direction she proposed was correct. She accused the company of clinging to outdated ideas and favoring unrealistic and excessive medical treatment.

After several years of performance, those who follow Umbrella know that Vera, the director of the Black Umbrella division, is a genius and a major contributor to Umbrella's transformation and expansion. At the same time, she is also the senior executive within the company who is most dissatisfied with the board's old established strategy.

There were some discontents among the older generation at Umbrella, but Vera was good at making money.

No one has trouble with money.

Well, I guess I'll just have to appease my ancestors.

Meanwhile, many Umbrella insiders, influenced by Vera, thought about it carefully and realized, "Hmm...it seems to make some sense."

How many resources has the company invested in those forbidden areas of biological viruses? In the end, very few of them have been profitable.

If it weren't for the end of the Cold War in 91, and the fortunate acquisition of a host of laid-off military officers from Eastern Europe who were able to stably adapt to the T-virus, the results would probably have been zero.

From this perspective, Vera's description of the future of "mechanical ascension" is undoubtedly more credible.

Immortality is too far-fetched to discuss, but extending lifespan and maintaining health through the replacement of prosthetics and bionic organs is something that can be seen and touched.

A large number of people who originally supported virology switched sides and joined Vera's "Black Umbrella" faction.

What about Spencer?

Keep watching.

Perhaps the young Spencer was cunning and ruthless, but also extremely wise and decisive. Now, however, the old man has become obsessed with the dream of immortality.

Vera knew Spencer's true colors very well.

Don't be fooled by Old Deng's imposing presence on the board, his seemingly all-powerful and global empire, which appears to be a grand scheme with unfathomable conspiracies. In reality, his motivation is quite simple: he's playing such a large game to prolong his own life.

Therefore, he supports Vera's prosthetic body project;

He also supported William Birkin's T and G projects.

He even used the money Vera earned to invest in the huge hole that William Birkin had in his pocket. This was partly due to sunk costs, partly because he was lured in by William Birkin's promises and was trapped by his obsession, and partly due to his senility.

Tap...tap...

Vera tapped her fingers lightly on the table, and after thinking it through, she finally focused her gaze on the red and white umbrella-shaped logo on the corner of the desk.

It's highly likely that she'll remove these Umbrella logos this year.

"The name Umbrella is definitely unusable now that it's become so tainted... Ah, I've got it." A flash of inspiration struck her, and Vera smiled slightly as she took out a notebook and drawing pens from the drawer.

rustle.

MILITECH.