Resident evil : Rise of a Monster english

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: S.T.A.R.S. Intervention Mode



After a day filled with adventures and discoveries throughout Madrid, I decided it was time to ensure Lisa and Sherry's safety while I handled more serious matters. I assigned Kevin to their escort and hired an interpreter, Anthony, to accompany them for the week.

As the sun began to set, painting the Madrid sky in hues of orange and pink, we all gathered in the lively square in front of our hotel.

"Girls, I want you to have fun," I told them with a smile. "But I've been called to assist the Spanish authorities with hospital projects, so I'll be away for a little while."

Lisa, always perceptive about my commitments, looked at me with understanding. "Is it to help people, like always, Dad?"

"Exactly, sweetheart," I reassured her with a nod.

At that moment, Anthony, who had been listening to our conversation, stepped forward to shake my hand, a glimmer of gratitude in his eyes. "Mr. King, allow me to personally thank you. My grandmother survived her illness thanks to the treatment she received at one of your hospitals here in Spain. You literally saved her life."

I smiled, touched by his words. "I'm truly glad we could help your family, Anthony. That's exactly why we do this work."

Anthony then turned to my daughters, his serious expression shifting into a warm smile. "And I promise, young ladies, that I'll make sure you have an amazing time here. There's so much to see and do!"

Sherry, always eager for new experiences, beamed. "That's so nice, thank you! We can't wait to explore!"

"Take good care of them, Kevin, and thank you, Anthony, for your help," I said as I entrusted them with my most precious treasures.

Kevin, ever the professional but still friendly, reassured me. "Don't worry, Gérald. We're going to have a great time, right girls?"

"Yes!" they replied in unison, their excitement clear.

I leaned down to kiss each of my daughters on the forehead. "Be good while I'm gone," I whispered to them.

"We promise, Dad!" they said, their voices full of cheerful promises.

After leaving my daughters in Kevin and Anthony's capable hands, I headed to the restaurant where I had arranged to meet Brad, Forest, Richard, and, to my surprise, Ada. We had reserved a private room to discuss business discreetly.

As soon as we settled in, Brad got straight to the point.

"Gérald, the negotiations were successful. We've secured the construction of fifteen additional hospitals across the country. Most of the funding will come from public resources and local labor, while our company will cover the rest, mainly the medical equipment," Brad explained, satisfaction evident in his voice.

"In exchange," Brad continued, "we secured permission to establish ourselves on Salazar's estate. As you know, he refused to pay his taxes, and the region is too impoverished to justify a seizure. The local politicians and the Spanish president were more than happy to offer us this land in exchange for our hospital project."

I nodded, impressed by Brad's efficiency. "That's excellent news. It will benefit both the region and our presence here."

Forest and Richard nodded in agreement, visibly pleased with how things had turned out. However, Ada's serious expression caught my attention.

"There's something you need to know, Gérald," Ada said, her voice carrying a weight of gravity. "I dug a little deeper into local affairs and uncovered a rather troubling story. There have been frequent disappearances in the area surrounding Salazar's estate, something the politicians failed to mention. Additionally, there are persistent rumors about a cult operating in the region."

My expression remained unreadable at this revelation. "Disappearances and a cult, you say? That could complicate our plans," I said, though in my mind, it should have been too early for Saddler to have started his schemes.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, deciding it was time to warn Leon, Claire, and Enrico to be extra cautious. Quickly dialing Leon's number, I spoke firmly as soon as he picked up.

"Leon, it's Gérald. Listen, I have new intel. Stay on your guard and don't push forward for now. There seem to be suspicious activities, including a cult and disappearances in Salazar's region. I want you and Claire on high alert, and do not take any unnecessary risks. Confirm receipt of this message?"

After receiving Leon's confirmation, I hung up, relieved but still vigilant.

"Thanks, Ada. Your report might have just saved us from walking into a trap," I said, grateful.

Without delay, we departed, regrouping with Wesker's team as we headed toward the Salazar province. The air was thick with tension as we approached our destination. Upon arrival, I spotted Leon, Claire, and Enrico waiting in front of a convoy of three Jeeps, ready and visibly alert.

I approached them, offering a brief nod before turning to Wesker, knowing that my role in this operation was crucial.

"Okay, Wesker, you know I have a purpose here, so I need to be in the visible part of the plan, maybe even front and center. Now, I'll leave the team assignments to you."

Wesker, his eyes scanning the horizon before settling on me, nodded calmly.

"Understood, Gérald. Enrico, Claire, and Leon—you will continue as tourists. Gérald, there's a chance they might recognize your importance and take you hostage. If that happens, let them. It will give us an easier way to infiltrate their base."

I nodded, fully understanding the risks and the necessity of this tactic. "Got it, Wesker. We'll use every opportunity available to breach their defenses."

Wesker then turned to Brad, Forest, and Richard.

"Brad, stay with Forest and Richard. You'll be in charge of securing evacuation routes and cleaning up the areas after combat—if it comes to that. Make sure we have a clear exit strategy."

Brad nodded, determined. "We've got it covered. We'll make sure everything is set for a quick and clean extraction."

Wesker finally assigned Kenneth, Edward, and himself to their roles.

"Kenneth, Edward, and I will be providing direct cover and reinforcement in case of combat. We'll ensure the operation's security and engage on the front lines if necessary."

Kenneth, always ready for action, responded with a smirk, "As usual, we're ready to let the bullets do the talking."

Wesker then turned to Ada with a respectful nod. "And you, Ada, I'll leave infiltration and sabotage to you if needed. Your ability to move in the shadows will be crucial."

Ada, with her usual sly smile, replied, "Leave it to me. I'll make sure they never see it coming."

We opted for two separate departures, splitting our team from Wesker's for added discretion. Brad, following the plan, stayed behind, timing his arrival two hours after ours to ensure all security measures were in place before his intervention.

Wesker's convoy stopped about thirty minutes from a small rural village, a strategic location chosen to minimize the risk of being spotted too early. Ada quietly slipped out of the vehicle, vanishing into the shadows to begin her infiltration mission, while Wesker's team remained on standby, carefully watching the surroundings.

Claire, Leon, Enrico, and I continued in a Jeep until we reached an old suspension bridge, marking the point where the vehicle could go no further. From there, we continued on foot, maintaining a casual tourist demeanor along a narrow dirt path.

As we walked, Claire glanced around and whispered enthusiastically to maintain our cover, "Look at this place! Perfect for photos, don't you think?" Her voice was just loud enough for any nearby ears to hear, reinforcing our guise as innocent travelers.

Leon played along, pulling out his camera and snapping pictures of the surrounding landscape. "Really, this is the kind of view you don't get in the city. Perfect for my travel blog."

Eventually, we came across a barely standing structure, seemingly abandoned but showing signs of recent activity. I turned to my companions, adopting the tone of an enthusiastic group leader. "I'll check if there are any locals who can give us some sightseeing tips. Stay here and keep an eye on the surroundings. You never know what you might find."

Enrico, nodding, kept his gaze on the path we had taken. "Alright, take your time. We'll enjoy the scenery and stay alert."

I stepped inside the dilapidated building, leaving the door slightly ajar to avoid raising suspicion. The interior smelled of damp wood and stale air. In a dark corner, a rugged-looking man—straight out of an old Spanish countryside painting—stirred something in a large pot that emitted a rather unpleasant odor.

I approached, maintaining a respectful distance. "Hello, excuse me, sir. Do you know if there are any interesting places for tourists around here?" I asked in Spanish, attempting to mask my accent.

The man stared at me for a moment, his weathered face betraying no emotion. "Nothing for you here, outsider," he replied gruffly in Spanish. Then, his eyes suddenly flashed with recognition. His tone shifted, and he continued in perfect English, "Actually, I think you might enjoy our village, Mr. King."

His words, a clear veiled threat, made me immediately shift into a defensive stance.

"Oops, looks like I was a bit too eager for your arrival here. But I don't think you'll be leaving after all—our dear friend Anthony was kind enough to bring your charming daughters to us," he declared, his voice carrying an eerie presence as if someone else was speaking through him.

My heart pounded harder, adrenaline surging through me. Without hesitation, I stepped forward and slammed the man against the wall with controlled force.

"I'll come then, and you better not lay a finger on them," I growled, my voice low and menacing.

"I eagerly await your arrival, Mr. King," the sinister voice responded before the man's eyes returned to their vacant state. He then lunged at me in a mindless attack.

I easily overpowered him, restraining him within the Usine, officially acquiring my first Ganado, but my mind was elsewhere.

"Fuck!" I roared, smashing through a wall of the house with a powerful kick and rushing outside at full speed to regroup with my comrades.

Outside, I was met with a chaotic scene: three bodies lay at the feet of Claire, Leon, and Enrico. My gaze burned with fury and determination.

"Change of plan—we go full brute force and clean everything up," I commanded firmly. Pulling out my phone, I immediately contacted Ada. "Ada, check on my daughters' safety immediately during your mission, and inform Wesker that the infiltration has turned into a rescue and extermination operation. Move fast."

Once I fully realized the urgency of the situation, I gave clear instructions to Leon, Claire, and Enrico. "You three are working separately," I said, my voice firm, the gravity of the moment evident in my expression. "The mastermind behind this region made it clear he wants me, so I'm acting alone. You have a choice: join Wesker or act as scouts and create a diversion for his team."

Leon stepped forward, his eyes reflecting the weight of the mission. "We'll handle the diversion, go save your daughters," he said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

I returned the gesture with a quick, meaningful handshake before turning and sprinting toward the village. As I ran, I released a swarm of leeches and other creatures, designed to move discreetly through the forested terrain, setting the stage for an impending confrontation.

Arriving at the village, my heart pounded—not just from the exertion but from the growing anxiety of finding my daughters. The village seemed eerily calm, too calm, as if every inhabitant was waiting for something... or someone.

A crowd of around fifty people had gathered in the main square, and among them, a face struck me with strange familiarity.

A towering man with an imposing stature and a piercing gaze stepped toward me. "Welcome to our little village, Mr. King," he said in a voice that carried an unsettling calm. "I am Bitores Mendez, and I have been ordered to escort you to your daughters."

A knot of dread tightened in my stomach as I followed Mendez without protest. They searched me, but I had deliberately brought no weapons, though my inventory was fully stocked. My mind raced, analyzing every detail—the environment, the villagers' expressions, and every shadow that could conceal either a threat or an opportunity.

We passed through the entrance of an old building, which concealed a descending underground passage. The dark, suffocating tunnel led us to an ancient cemetery, where tilted tombstones bore silent witness to the passage of time.

Beyond the cemetery stood a sinister church, its gothic architecture looming ominously.

Walking confidently ahead, Bitores Mendez stopped and pointed toward the church. "Enter, and you will be taken to your daughters," he declared in a tone meant to be reassuring, though it only served to heighten the palpable tension.

I followed him, my determination strengthened by the urgency of the situation. "You do realize that taking my loved ones was the worst mistake you could have made," I said calmly, though my voice carried an undertone of cold fury.

As I stepped into the church, the sight before me sent a chill down my spine. Sherry was tied up, surrounded by men dressed in red robes. Without hesitation, I shouted, "Get out of my way!" before charging forward, brutally shoving aside anyone who stood in my path.

I quickly freed Sherry from her restraints. "Sherry, are you okay? Where's Lisa?" I asked, my gaze scanning the room, searching for my other daughter.

Sherry, still trembling but visibly relieved to see me, responded hastily, "Dad, I'm okay… but they took Kevin. They said they needed him for… for something horrible. They said Lisa was being taken to the castle, but I don't know what they meant."

One of the men I had knocked down in my rush lay on the ground, trembling slightly. Suddenly, the eerie voice that had manipulated the villager spoke again.

"Come now, you didn't really think I would let you rescue both your daughters and leave without paying me a visit, did you?" The voice was cold, calculated, as he observed the two men I had just thrown aside, both of whom had been killed upon impact against the stone walls of the church.

"It seems you're hiding a rather interesting secret, Mr. King. But no matter. I look forward to our meeting." His words echoed eerily through the vaulted ceilings before fading into the silence.

I pulled Sherry into a firm embrace for a brief moment before straightening up, my eyes sweeping the area as I assessed the situation. The mission had taken a much darker turn.

"Stay behind me, Sherry. We're going to find Kevin and Lisa. We're not leaving anyone behind," I said, my voice filled with unwavering determination as we prepared to face whatever horrors awaited us near the sinister lake.

(Author's note: Yes, I know this part was predictable, but I will be dividing scenes between the three teams for this arc. So don't be surprised by the next chapters!)

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