Chapter 2, Observation

It is unclear whether Matthew and the others have noticed this. Wang Zongchao glanced at Matthew Edison, but it seemed that he had not looked this way at all.

Two individuals fell to the back of the line, while the captain of the mercenaries ahead was conversing with one of the three non-mercenary youths. This youth was accompanied by a stunning beauty dressed in a long, fiery red gown, tall and graceful in stature. She possessed delicate and refined features that are rare among Caucasian women, with silver-gray eyes that revealed a hint of melancholy. What caught Wang Zongchao's attention even more was her outstanding physical prowess displayed in every movement, which could be said to be on par with those of the mercenaries.

Since Resident Evil is a film, it is certainly not an art film or something of that nature; it should be the kind of movie characterized by spectacular action and personal heroism. In this context, the physical fitness of the protagonist becomes very important. Although the mercenaries possess good physical attributes and some abilities, the likelihood of the protagonist emerging from within a team is not very high. As for the other two non-mercenary men, their performances appear rather ordinary. Although the mercenaries possess good physical attributes and some abilities, the likelihood of the protagonist emerging from within a team is not very high. As for the other two non-mercenary men, their performances appear rather ordinary

Due to the fact that it was not immediately after the slaughter and the uncertainty of the situation, Wang Zongchao had already restrained his essence, spirit, and energy

He is called Ryan, and it was he who stole the virus in the original film, leading to the virus leak. At this moment, Zhan Lan whispered to Wang Zongchao, who nodded in response, signaling her to refrain from speaking further for the time being, as he did not want the mercenaries to become suspicious due to their constant whispering.

Upon hearing this, Wang Zongchao felt a sense of understanding in his heart. Falsifying an identity that aligns with his own characteristics to enter the film was clearly part of the 'Main God' arrangement. Such an identity, combined with a plausible reason for amnesia, could indeed prevent them from raising the mercenaries' suspicions due to their lack of understanding of the situation, which would lead to the play being unable to proceed right from the start.

It is not necessary to conduct any intense physical tests; one can determine a person's physical fitness merely by observing their appearance and usual behavior. This is a skill that Wang Zongchao possesses, and as a result, he has essentially identified who the main character of the film is

Zheng Zha and the others looked at the scene before them with somewhat strange expressions, carrying a sense of distraction, likely due to their discomfort from witnessing the events of the movie unfolding right in front of them

Matthew, somewhat exasperated, turned around and shouted: "Take the stairs, we must reach the ground floor within ten minutes, everyone follow!"

Matthew Edison nodded and said: "You are not married; this is merely a facade, a symbol of your protection of the hive. This gate leads to the 'hive'; you are the gate security personnel registered with the company, which is why we brought you along"

A member of the mercenary team said to Matthew Addison: "Sir, we are going to take the stairs."

Just as the chubby boy was about to speak, a cold voice interrupted him: "I advise you not to waste your breath. Remembering the name of a person who is about to die holds no significance at all"

Wang Zongchao could not help but glance at them. From their self-introductions, he discovered a commonality among some participants in this unknown venture—disappointment and regret towards reality. And if the introduction of the scar-faced youth was not false, this game, although fraught with danger, also held infinite possibilities to compensate for their regrets

Matthew nodded towards the crowd, then looked at Zheng Zha and the others, unable to suppress a sigh. It seemed he was quite dissatisfied with the quality of these individuals. Shaking his head, he turned around and led the mercenaries towards the main gate

Generally speaking, in order to minimize potential dangers, a group of qualified mercenaries will not bring along suspicious individuals of unknown origin while carrying out their missions. Even if they must bring someone, those individuals will not be allowed to move freely. The young man in the blue shirt, who is handcuffed, clearly belongs to the category of individuals whose identities are unrecorded and unknown.

Their performance can be described as extremely poor. On the battlefield, there is no room for carelessness; even the slightest neglect of a hostile glance or a glint from a scope can lead to death. However, ordinary people find it difficult to concentrate under the threat of death, which is precisely why they are more likely to perish on the battlefield. In fact, physical fitness is of secondary importance.

After completing a task-oriented and venting-style introduction, the scar-faced youth no longer paid attention to them, instead focusing on inspecting and adjusting his own weapons and equipment. Wang Zongchao sensed that this person held a significant prejudice against them, as the way he looked at them was more akin to disdain, or, to put it harshly, as if he were looking at a group of dead people. Therefore, he wisely decided not to pursue any further questions.

The explanation was brief, but generally speaking, if one follows her advice, it can absolutely ensure safety. Wang Zongchao nodded slightly and expressed his gratitude. He felt a deep sense of appreciation for the other party, as they truly had his safety in mind.

Wang Zongchao shook his head and said, "I have practiced some staff techniques, so I believe this thing can still be of some use."

It seems that everyone will have to rely on each other from now on. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Zhan Lan, with 'Zhan' from Zhan Tianyou and 'Lan' meaning mountain wind. I am a writer. Before coming here, I had been complaining about my lack of desire and inspiration for writing, but unexpectedly, I have arrived in this world of infinite inspiration. Haha, I suppose this is a form of retribution. The girl with glasses also noticed this, and thus began to engage with ordinary people in the same situation as herself. My profession is a writer. Before coming here, I had been complaining about my lack of desire and inspiration for writing, but unexpectedly, I have arrived in this world of infinite inspiration. Haha, I suppose this is a form of retribution. The girl with glasses also noticed this, and thus began to engage with ordinary people in the same situation as herself.

Zheng Zha and the others were immediately taken aback. They had always believed that they were individuals existing outside of reality. In other words, horror films were just that—horror films, and the characters within the plots could never intersect with their lives. They only needed to avoid those terrifying monsters. Who would have thought that the female protagonist of Resident Evil would actually point at them and speak.

Although he was listening to Zhan Lan's narration, he did not miss the conversation of the group of mercenaries ahead. Whether in novels or television, any narrative with a plot should briefly mention the overarching background of the story at the beginning

Do not concern yourself with so many things, just follow me shortly. Pay attention to what everyone is doing. Do not interrupt randomly, and do not touch things carelessly.

Does this mean that every move we make has been monitored since we entered the hive?" Wang Zongchao thought

Since there were no signs that the other party had practiced, it meant that they were just an ordinary white-collar worker treating punches, kicks, knives, and swords as a form of exercise. The scar-faced youth frowned and walked away.

However, the few people around did not realize this at all

A mercenary was fiddling with a computer, which displayed the current topographic map. Wang Zongchao was not very close, making it difficult to see clearly. He did not press the issue, as that group of mercenaries clearly did not trust them very much. One could tell from their formation that the other side was intentionally or unintentionally wary of the few of them.

A qualified warrior must possess keen observation skills and the ability to maintain prolonged concentration. The scenarios depicted in films and novels, where a fighter facing death reflects on their past life, will never occur for a competent warrior; the moment you begin to lose focus and reminisce, you have already sentenced yourself to death

Li Xiaoyi, a senior high school student, had complained about many things before coming here, but it is actually quite good here. As long as one does not die, one can become a superhero. Moreover, it is said that if one can return, the enhanced abilities seem to be retained. I can no longer endure being bullied at school. If I can go back, I will definitely kill those bastards!" The frail student spoke with increasing bitterness.

Matthew's attitude towards him was completely different from his attitude towards another young man, and Wang Zongchao believed that this was closely related to the fact that Alice herself was a beauty

Then what about them? Alice suddenly pointed at Zheng Zha and the others

As the remaining individuals had not yet had the opportunity to introduce themselves, the carriage gradually slowed down until it came to a stop. A dozen foreign mercenaries, armed with guns, cautiously stepped outside. In addition, one mercenary was escorting a young man dressed in a blue shirt and wearing handcuffs. Following them were two young individuals, one male and one female, who, although not handcuffed, did not appear to be mercenaries either

Wang Zongchao was the last to exit the carriage. As he stepped out, he held in his hand a steel pipe, about the thickness of a child's arm and over one meter long. This was the only weapon he could barely find in the carriage. Although he had never seen a movie, he had a general understanding of what zombies were. Due to the presence of a virus, it was advisable to avoid contact with them as much as possible during combat

Upon hearing this, Alice's clear and beautiful gray-silver eyes, like a tranquil pool, flashed with a moment of confusion. She touched a wedding ring on her finger and murmured, "Then what is this?"

The scar-faced youth was the first to stride out, and after glancing at Zheng Zha and the others, Zhan Lan followed suit. Watching the black man named Matthew walk away, Zheng Zha and the rest also followed.

"Why have I lost my memory? I can't recall anything from my past now," a man dressed in a black jacket asked the mercenary captain. He found himself in a situation similar to that of the female protagonist, Alice, possessing a company security identification, yet he had lost his memory. Wang Zongchao was also aware that his physical condition was no inferior to that of a mercenary. It seems that the average quality of security personnel in this giant monopoly group is exceptionally high, thus indicating the considerable strength of this group.

Wang Zongchao nodded slightly, as he had already sensed a tremendous crisis ahead that was beyond his control. In light of this, it would be prudent to gather some insider information.

"This might very well be a flaw." Upon seeing this situation, Wang Zongchao frowned. Although they had a reason for amnesia due to the toxic gas, as employees who had previously worked in the hive according to the arrangements of the main deity, they should have been accustomed to these things. Yet now, someone was displaying an expression akin to that of Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden in front of an ordinary decorative facility.

The scar-faced youth glanced back at him and disdainfully said, "I advise you to give up this ridiculous stick; apart from a gun, it is best not to hold onto something that has limited utility and hinders your ability to run."

Indeed, his speculation was soon confirmed; Jian Lan's soft narration revealed to him that this was indeed the protagonist of the Biohazard film series—Alice

The scar-faced young man who introduced the plot to Wang Zongchao and the others nodded, showing no signs of tension, and naturally walked inside without saying much. It was at this moment that everyone learned his name was Zhang Jie. Although he was not one of the mercenaries, his skills as a security guard were evidently recognized by them.

The person continued, saying: "Loss of memory? How long will this state last?"

At this moment, Zhan Lan leaned closer to him and whispered, "Have you really never seen this movie?"

The black captain Matthew replied: "The hive has its own defense system, controlled by the central computer, the Flame Queen. When the hive is deemed to be under attack, the central computer releases a type of neurotoxin that can induce a coma for approximately four hours. Upon awakening, a series of side effects may occur, one of which is the loss of memory in the human body."

The elevator's cable has already snapped, and the elevator has fallen to the bottom floor, making it impossible to consider using the elevator to go down

Looking at his appearance, Wang Zongchao knew that there would be no danger inside. Sure enough, Zhang Jie quickly turned on all the lights inside. The room became bright, and the view from the window revealed the unique scenery between the concrete buildings of the city. It reflected the distinctive humanized work environment found in Western countries

However, Wang Zongchao's observation and attention are not comparable to those of ordinary elite soldiers. He even noticed, with the periphery of his vision, that several discreet cameras in the corner of the platform were quietly adjusting their angles, conducting comprehensive surveillance on them, a fact that even that group of highly skilled mercenaries could not detect

Regarding their observant nature, Wang Zongchao could only shake his head helplessly. He simultaneously noticed that everyone's expressions were distinctly different. For instance, the middle-aged woman appeared to be lost in thought, unaware of her surroundings. The white-collar worker seemed to be reminiscing about something, gazing thoughtfully at the group of mercenaries. The two students exhibited clear signs of excitement, likely fantasizing about becoming superheroes. As for the middle-aged man, he appeared to have been numbed by the hardships of life; even in the current situation, his brow was marked by deep fatigue and resignation. The two students exhibited clear signs of excitement, likely fantasizing about becoming superheroes. As for the middle-aged man, he appeared to have been numbed by the hardships of life; even in the current situation, his brow was marked by deep fatigue and resignation.

At this moment, Matthew replied to Alice: "The individual named Zhang Jie, who is of Asian descent, is the security guard here. The one named Wang Zongchao is the combat instructor for the security personnel. There are also several workers or administrative staff among them, all of whom possess work permits, and the company has their registration information... However, when we discovered them on the train, they had also lost their memories due to the gas, and we could not extract any information from them. Nevertheless, we still need to take you with us, as the company requires us to ascertain the truth behind the Flame Empress's loss of control and to retrieve the mainboard of the Flame Empress, while also ensuring the confidentiality of the incident... Now, we can only take you along with us. If you can recall anything, please let us know quickly, and once we are outside, we will directly hand you over to the company."

The young man in handcuffs, who was not a mercenary, interrupted his thoughts and said: "This device is meant to improve the underground working environment. No one wants to see dull, lifeless steel walls all day long. If they could see the sunlight, they would probably think they were living on the surface."

It depends on individual constitution, it could be one hour, one day, or even one week, " Matthew Addison replied

The only striking figure is the woman in the red dress, who not only possesses outstanding beauty but also has physical qualities that far exceed those of ordinary people. Moreover, many of the questions she asks are crucial, as if she is revealing background information to the audience. Therefore, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this woman in the red dress is undoubtedly the protagonist

As he expected, the other party mentioned the company Umbrella and provided some information about the laboratory

At that moment, a voice came from the large door above the platform, as the long-haired mercenary reported: "Commander, the door has been opened, and we can enter now"

The middle-aged man chuckled and said: "Mu Gang, Mu as in the character for 'Mu', and Gang as in the character for 'Gang'. Sigh, I can't compare to you cultured people; it's just that name. My profession is a long-distance freight driver. Before coming here, I indeed complained about my spouse being too stingy and my son being unambitious. In short, I seemed very disappointed with reality. While playing games online with friends, I clicked that confirmation, and then I ended up here."

"What a luxury!" Zheng Zha followed the crowd to the window, where he saw the bright sunshine and the blue sky outside. Moreover, the scenery was displayed in three dimensions, changing angles with different perspectives. He couldn't help but exclaim, "It is truly pleasant to work in such an environment"

Moreover, Wang Zongchao's gaze does not reveal the sharpness and killing intent of a martial artist or a professional soldier; instead, it is slightly lazy and half-closed, as if he is somewhat unable to wake up.

My name is Zheng Zha, with the surname Zheng from Zheng Chenggong and the character Zha from Nezha. I work as a company supervisor. Before coming here, I indeed complained that the real world was too boring, as if people were decaying day by day in a mundane manner, so I wanted to seek some stimulation... However, the stimulation here is indeed a bit too intense.

The chubby boy was taken aback, his face immediately turning bright red, yet he did not dare to express his dissatisfaction to the scar-faced young man who was speaking. Not long ago, he had suffered a setback.

The door slowly opened, revealing nothing but darkness inside. Matthew said to his subordinate: "J.D." A mercenary nearby nodded and put on his night vision goggles to look inside.

Everyone followed into the room, and a female mercenary kept her eyes on the detector, finally saying after a long pause: "The poison gas has dissipated, it is safe here now"

Although he was confident in subduing the scar-faced youth and interrogating him, it was not a wise choice to offend a seasoned individual in an uncertain situation

At this moment, the mercenaries were troubled in front of the elevator, which was clearly out of power. After much effort, a few of them managed to open the elevator doors, only to be met with complete darkness inside. One of the mercenaries threw a flashbang inside, and it took a full ten seconds before a deep, muffled echo resonated from the elevator shaft below.

Outside the carriage is a station platform, where a crowd is walking upwards along the platform. Soon, at the junction of the station platform and the laboratory entrance, a closed steel gate stands before them. On the gate, there is a set of special symbols indicating the company of the laboratory and the dangers present here

Matthew fell silent for a moment, then turned and said: "Zhang Jie."

Upon hearing this, the scar-faced young man could not help but look at Wang Zongchao again in surprise. He noticed that Wang appeared to be a well-maintained white-collar worker in his twenties, without exaggerated muscles, not appearing frail, and certainly not having a beer belly, but rather exuding a sense of health and vitality