Courtyard House: I fish in the heavens, a professional bird abuser.

After Payton received the inhibitor, his condition improved even faster than He Yuanchao had expected.

About ten minutes later, he was able to climb down from the back seat by himself. Although he was still a little unsteady on his feet, at least he didn't need anyone's help.

As He Yuanchao was making final pre-battle preparations in the square—dividing the combat-capable survivors into three groups, each equipped with a gun and led by an experienced person—the sound of an engine came from the north side of the square.

It's not one car.

There were several.

He Yuanchao raised his head.

Three dark gray armored personnel carriers slowly drove out of a wide road in the direction of the city hall, forming a triangular formation. The vehicles were painted with matte black camouflage and had no markings, but their rugged, military-grade appearance spoke volumes.

A protective umbrella.

Kane has arrived.

The armored vehicle stopped on the north side of the square, about eighty meters away from He Yuanchao and his group's temporary shelter.

The car door opened.

The soldiers came out first.

One by one, they jumped out of the three armored vehicles—fully armed, dressed in black tactical gear, wearing sealed masks, and carrying standard assault rifles.

He Yuanchao counted them roughly.

Eighteen people.

Including those already in the city hall, Kane's armed forces number at least thirty.

The group moved with perfect precision—after getting out of the vehicles, they immediately spread out in a fan shape, forming a semi-circular defensive line around the three armored vehicles, with their guns pointed towards the center of the square.

They don't seem to be here to negotiate.

It looks more like they've come to hunt.

Kane was the last to get off the bus.

He was still wearing that impeccably tailored dark blue suit—unchanged even in this apocalyptic environment, whether out of mockery or stubbornness, it was hard to tell. His hair was still perfectly styled, and his chin was shaved clean.

He walked to the front of the armored vehicle, facing the group of ragged survivors in the square, with a smile on his face that made people want to punch him.

That kind of smile wasn't friendly.

It's a sense of superiority that "I'm in control of everything."

Then he picked up a megaphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen—"

His voice echoed through the square via loudspeaker, carrying the calm and steady quality of a news anchor.

"I am Major Kane, the security chief for the Raccoon City area for Umbrella Corporation."

"First of all, I want to congratulate everyone who survived this disaster."

No one ignored him.

The survivors in the square looked at the fully armed soldiers with different expressions on their faces—some were trembling, some were gripping their guns tightly, and some were hiding their children behind their backs.

Kane didn't care whether anyone responded. He continued.

"I know you're scared. I also know some of you received a broadcast from an unknown source saying that a nuclear bomb is coming and that you need to gather here."

"I don't deny it—that message was real. The nuclear bomb is indeed on its way."

Someone in the square gasped.

Although He Yuanchao had already mentioned it on the radio, hearing it personally from someone within the protection network had a completely different impact.

"But I'm not here to sentence you to death." Kane's voice softened—in that trained, soothing tone.

"I've come to offer you a way to survive."

"There are three helicopters overhead. Enough to get you all out of here."

"but--"

Kane's gaze pierced through the crowd of survivors, past their tense faces, past their hands gripping guns—

They immediately targeted He Yuanchao, who was standing at the very front of the crowd.

"Before that, I have a small request."

He raised his left hand and pointed to a wide street on the east side of the square.

At the end of that street.

A huge black figure is slowly approaching.

"Thump."

"Thump."

"Thump."

Each step made the ground vibrate slightly.

Nemesis.

It's back.

After being blown up by an RPG, its body was covered in several black scorch marks and cracks, and most of its black leather jacket was burned through, revealing the disgusting grayish-white skin underneath. Two of the Gatling gun barrels in its left hand were bent by the explosion.

But it is still moving.

Still investigating.

Like a tireless, hate-driven killing machine.

"Mr. He." Kane pointed the megaphone at He Yuanchao. "I don't know your real name, and I don't care. I only care about your abilities."

"My proposal is simple—you and Alice, stay here, and defeat that thing."

"If we win, I'll let all of you onto the planes. All three are yours."

"Can't win?"

Kane's smile widened slightly.

"Then your genes are Umbrella's final legacy."