Resident evil : Rise of a Monster english

After debating the long-term effects of medical advancements, the conversation shifted toward more strategic matters—potential partnerships between King Pharmaceuticals, the government, and the U.S. military.

Derek Simmons crossed his legs, adopting a more relaxed posture, though his gaze remained sharp. He absentmindedly tapped the armrest of his chair while studying me.

"Gérald, given the reach of your research and your resources, I believe we could establish a closer partnership between King Pharmaceuticals and certain government agencies," he proposed seriously. "We have top-tier researchers specializing in advanced biology and virology who could help accelerate some of your projects. Additional human resources, well-supervised, could push your research forward at an unprecedented pace."

I raised an eyebrow, considering the offer carefully.

"Human resources, huh? I assume you'd be sending your best personnel—I'm not interested in mere lab technicians."

Derek smirked slightly.

"Of course. We're talking about the elite—experts in biotechnology, advanced genetics… the kind of profiles that are hard to find elsewhere."

I took a moment to weigh his words. The proposition was tempting, but it came with its own risks. I trusted my system and my ability to maintain control, but allowing the U.S. government to plant its own agents within my laboratories was no small decision.

"Interesting, Derek. But if I open this door for you, I want full control over these researchers. No espionage, no hidden agendas."

"You have my word—they will be purely dedicated to research. No spies. I will personally ensure their integrity."

I knew he was lying. Or at the very least, leaving a gray area in his promise. But once they were within my domain, I could manage them accordingly.

Adam Benford, who had been deep in thought, suddenly spoke, his tone more solemn.

"Gérald, there's another thing to consider. With the scale of your company and your growing influence… you're going to attract a lot of attention. Not just from the press or corporate competitors, but also from foreign governments."

He clasped his hands together on the desk, his gaze growing more intense.

"I propose granting you a special status: that of a diplomat of strategic interest. This status would provide you with near-total immunity when traveling abroad. Under U.S. legislation, any attack or attempt to detain you would be considered a hostile act against the United States."

I stared at him, momentarily surprised by the weight of this offer.

"That's… generous," I said, masking my enthusiasm under a facade of neutrality.

"This isn't generosity, Gérald. It's pragmatism. You hold in your hands medical and technological advances that we cannot afford to lose. I don't want to see you disappear into a Russian or Chinese cell due to some obscure accusation."

Derek nodded in agreement, reinforcing the President's statement."Very few people are granted this kind of status. But in your case, it's a sign of trust—and a way for us to keep you close."

I took a few seconds before responding, considering all the implications."I suppose refusing wouldn't be well received?" I asked with a smirk.

Adam chuckled."Oh, you're free to refuse, of course. But it would be a shame not to take advantage of such protection."

Leaning back in my chair, I crossed my arms."Alright… deal. I'll take your researchers, and I accept your offer of immunity. But know this—I'm a man who keeps his word as long as others keep theirs."

Adam and Derek both smiled."We fully intend to keep our word, Gérald."

"Understood. For now, Adam, you can start sending your soldiers to various hospitals to receive my health cocktail," I said, locking eyes with him. "They can come in civilian clothing to avoid media attention or any unnecessary scrutiny. I'll send out a memo to inform the staff."

Adam nodded, visibly satisfied with the agreement. His shoulders relaxed slightly, and a sincere smile crossed his face."Thank you, Gérald. This is a big step for public health and… for our future collaboration."

I returned his smile before turning to Simmons, whose demeanor remained cold and calculated. He crossed his arms, listening intently without revealing any emotion.

"Derek, you can start by sending a team of five—no more—for now. I need to assess where to place them and ensure there are no personality clashes between your people and mine."

Simmons nodded slightly, his dark eyes studying my every move, as if searching for a weakness."Understood. I'll make sure they're handpicked." His tone was neutral, almost too polite, but I caught a glint of interest in his gaze.

I leaned slightly forward, clasping my hands together on the table, and continued,"I'm currently working on combat dog training. I've had some success—let's just say it's practically a new species." My eyes sharpened. "But I'd like to study them a little longer to avoid any risks."

Adam listened attentively, nodding at every word, though the slight furrow of his brow hinted at some concern.

I then turned fully toward Simmons, gauging his reaction."So, the people you send… can they have backgrounds in biology for now? I need specialists to perfect the process."

Simmons finally allowed himself a faint, almost imperceptible smirk."Consider it done. You'll have the best biologists I have available." His tone suggested he knew full well that these "biologists" would also serve as his eyes and ears.

I let out a quiet chuckle, fully aware of the game we were playing."Perfect. Then I believe we have an agreement."

Adam stood up and extended his hand, still smiling."A solid partnership, Gérald. I'm glad to have you on our side."

I shook his hand firmly, briefly meeting Simmons' gaze. Despite his neutral mask, there was a flicker of curiosity mixed with a hint of caution.

"All for the good of humanity, Adam."

"By the way, regarding the soldiers—you can start sending them in as early as this week," I said with a confident smile. "I'll make a few calls to ensure everything is set up before the weekend."

Adam nodded enthusiastically, clearly pleased with how quickly we had reached an agreement."Perfect, Gérald. I knew this partnership would be productive. I'll make sure the first batch of men is ready to go."

Turning toward Derek, I adopted a more casual tone."By the way, I'll be taking a short vacation in Spain with my daughters next week. So we can postpone the combat dog project until I return." I paused before adding, "That should give you time to gather your specialists and let them get their affairs in order."

Derek slowly nodded, arms crossed, his face as impassive as ever."No problem. That will give me the chance to select the best candidates for this project. I'll ensure they're ready when you return."

As the meeting wrapped up, we left the office and made our way back to the ballroom. Along the way, the conversation naturally drifted toward lighter topics. Adam, noticeably more relaxed after the formal discussions, let out a weary sigh.

"With everything I have to manage, it's almost comical that my daughter Ashley is my biggest source of stress."

I chuckled at his remark."Ah, teenagers. I'm sure she's an angel."

Adam rolled his eyes."An angel who changes her mind every five minutes and thinks her father is the least cool person on the planet." Then, he smiled slightly. "But you know, she's a huge fan of your 'Detective Raccoon' character. You have no idea how many times she's watched those movies."

I raised my eyebrows, amused by the revelation."In that case, why not arrange something? I can stop by your place before heading to Spain and bring my daughters along. I'm sure they'd love to meet Ashley too."

Adam seemed pleasantly surprised by the proposal."That would be fantastic. I think she'd pass out if she saw you show up as Detective Raccoon."

Derek, who had remained silent until now, allowed himself a faint smile, though his tone remained reserved."That would make headlines. The President and Detective Raccoon together… it would set the media on fire."

"Well, it'll sell a few newspapers," I replied with a shrug.

As we arrived back in the ballroom, I spotted Kevin in the distance, entertaining a group of senators with a joke. Their laughter rang out loudly, and one of the senators clapped Kevin on the back in amusement.

"Look at that," I murmured to Derek and Adam, nodding towards Kevin. "Always charming everyone."

"He has a talent for showmanship," Derek admitted with a smirk.

Adam smiled as well."You've built quite a team, Gérald. I can see why everything works so well for you."

"Let's just say I know how to surround myself with the right people," I replied before bidding them farewell."Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to retrieve my bodyguard before he starts proposing economic reforms while cracking jokes with the Senate."

A Strategic Debriefing

After a memorable evening—and after making a generous half-billion-dollar donation to the American Orphans Fund—I gathered Kevin, Chris, and Sophie for a debriefing in our hotel's private lounge. The atmosphere was relaxed, but it was time to get down to business.

I took the lead, summarizing the results of my meeting with the President and Simmons.

"Alright, gentlemen and lady, we've secured a very advantageous deal. Not only will American soldiers be passing through our hospitals to receive our health cocktail, but I've also secured a special status that makes me nearly untouchable abroad."

Chris let out a low whistle, clearly impressed."Not bad, Gérald. You're handling this like a pro."

Kevin nodded and flipped through his notebook."On my end, I intercepted some conversations between senators at the gala. Four of them are planning to stir up trouble regarding your independence in Raccoon City. They were talking about launching a parliamentary investigation to slow down your projects."

He slid a document toward me."I've prepared a few 'proposals' to calm them down. You can approve them, and I'll handle the rest."

I skimmed through the document before shaking my head."No need to waste time on this, Kevin."

I pulled out my phone and quickly typed a message to President Adam Benford, informing him of the situation. A few seconds later, I received a confirmation of receipt.

"The President will handle it directly. Those senators won't be a problem anymore."

Kevin smirked slightly, impressed by how effortlessly I had neutralized the situation."You know, it's almost disappointing how easy this is for you."

Chris burst out laughing."He just sent a text, and BAM—problem solved. It's almost too easy."

Sophie, who had been quietly sipping her drink up until now, looked up at us."That's why he's the boss."

I smiled at her before turning to Chris."And you? Any interesting intel from the field?"

Chris straightened up a bit, looking more serious."I spoke with several consuls during the gala. Some of them are open to the idea of establishing our hospitals and businesses in their countries. I got verbal agreements—nothing formal yet, but it's a good start."

"Perfect. I'll pass everything on to Delphine and Alfred. They'll sort out what's relevant."

Sophie twirled a strand of her hair between her fingers, looking slightly frustrated at not having played a major role."I wasn't really useful during the gala, was I?"

I gave her a reassuring look."You were there to enjoy yourself a bit, not to get involved in business. And besides, your presence alone adds credibility to our group. But I know you didn't just sit around doing nothing."

She smiled slightly before revealing:"The head of Microsoft approached me. He wants to meet with you to discuss a lucrative partnership. I got his contact information and told him your schedule was tight, but that I'd pass along the message."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised."Well done, Sophie. See? You found your place after all."

Chris teased Sophie, laughing."You might not have been on an official mission, but you're the only one who landed a golden business opportunity."

Kevin burst out laughing while Sophie blushed slightly, though she smiled, clearly proud of herself.

"Well, my friends, I think we can call this evening a success."

I raised my glass for a toast."To us and to our future victories!"

They all raised their glasses in unison."To us!"

(Author's note: And that's it for this week! For those who might have forgotten, I'll remind you here: outside of combat, Gérald is basically on easy mode, but I'll do my best to make the RE4 storyline more thrilling.)