Hope Beyond Despair

by HakendoMit

Summary:

In her search for her missing brother, Chris, Claire Redfield becomes entangled in a web of lies where trust is the most sacred treasure.

Notes:

This work will be based on the Danganronpa Series, you know, talents, killing game, yeah. WUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Don't own any characters here, they belong to CAPCOM. I'm just a lonely mf who likes to wrtie bs.

Chapter 1: Claire Redfield - Ultimate Biker

Claire Redfield had lost track of her brother, Chris, and her concern for him was so great that she didn't hesitate for a moment to go looking for him in Raccoon City, a city located in the mountains known for its constant technological innovations. Consequently, it was rare for her to have a stable long-distance connection when she tried to contact him.

Three months had passed, and Claire couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, almost as if it were a sensation beyond the limits of comprehension, yet it persisted, latent. Having just graduated from university and taking advantage of the start of summer vacation, the redhead embarked on a journey of no return in search of answers.

Little did she know that she was about to find something that would not only explain the strange disappearance of her brother, who one day stopped answering her messages, stopped responding with that characteristic essence that defined him, and at times Claire doubted whether it was a human being on the other side of the screen or, perhaps, an emotionless machine.

As soon as Claire parked at a gas station on the outskirts of the city, she felt a discomfort that soon shattered her entire world and, consequently, plunged her into a deep sleep.

Being unconscious is like being in a dark place, one from which there is no escape.

And then the dreams came, brief flashbacks of her childhood with Chris, her parents' funeral and, consequently, that of her grandparents who had cared for them, of her starting school, buying her first motorcycle... and also obtaining her degree.

Around the world, a plan was implemented in conjunction with governments to promote young talent, regardless of their class or origin. Claire was incredibly lucky to demonstrate a natural talent with motorcycles, from performing dangerous stunts to disassembling and reassembling one without guides or instructions, relying solely on instinct. This earned her a scholarship that covered her university tuition.

Claire awoke from her deep sleep after a hand gently shook her. The first thing she saw upon waking was a woman, a brunette with short hair, dressed in a blue top, a black skirt, and brown boots. The woman had a serious, even worried, expression.

"Are you alright? Can you hear me?"

She asked in a soft tone of voice.

"Uh... Where am I? Who are you?"

Claire rubbed her forehead and eyes, as the light in the hallway made her feel dizzy.

"Oh! So you're the one we're missing. Let me introduce myself... I'm Jill Valentine, and I assume you are too, just like everyone else gathered in the main room... you have a talent, don't you?"

"How do you know? Yes, indeed... I'm Claire, Claire Redfield, the Ultimate Biker. Do you know how we got here?"

Claire was studying the patterns of the purple carpet on which she still lay.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Claire. I'm Jill Valentine, the Ultimate Cop. I can't offer you those kinds of answers right now... but it would be nice if you came with me, okay? Can you walk?"

"To be honest, it took me a while to even get back here. Would it be alright if you stayed for a moment so I can process all this crap?"

"There's no rush, Claire. If you feel unwell, I can call someone; we have a doctor here anyway."

"I'm just tired... funny, isn't it? Tired after literally spending so much time asleep."

Chapter 2: Jill Valentine - Ultimate Cop

"So... Claire. Do you remember anything before you got here?"

Jill asked, intrigued, seeing Claire yawn and still rubbing her forehead, trying to ease the pain.

"Yes, actually... I do. I was coming out of college and went to Raccoon City to try and find him, my brtoher. He didn't answer my calls, and... I assumed something bad was happening."

"It seems your brother always keeps in touch one way or another. It must have been a long time since he cut off communication with you."

"That's right." Claire nodded at Jill's astute observation. "I fainted, and now I'm here. And what about you? Jill Valentine, the Ultimate Cop..."

"Me? Well, I'm Jill. I work for the Raccoon Police Department—that's right, the same R.P.D. as the city you were visiting. I've recently been working on this case... several disappearances around the Arklay Mountains."

Claire looked at the ground, a sign of recognition, for she had heard of this place before.

"Arklay Mountains… yes, I remember my brother telling me there are legends of monsters and creatures, right? That hikers and civilians disappeared, only to be found unrecognizable."

"And that's not the worst of it. We haven't found enough evidence to link it to any known animal in the area; it seems we're facing a new species that's terrorizing our people." Jill adjusted her hair as she gazed at one of the many landscape paintings—oddly enough, mountains—hanging on one of the hallway walls. "And all of this feels very unsettling."

"And do you remember anything else, Jill? Like how you got here, for example?"

Claire looked intrigued.

"I remember very little. I was coming home after a busy day at the office. We had to deal with a group of protesters who gathered around the police station where I work, demanding answers about their missing loved ones. You don't know this, but Raccoon City was going through a rough patch... and I have this strange feeling."

"Like what's happening to us is connected?"

"Bingo. Not everything can be a coincidence, right? After I went to sleep... I woke up here, and it was terrifying. I was the first one to wake up, and everyone seemed too... still, almost dead. Eventually, some of them started waking up, and I was able to have conversations, like this one, with most of them."

"Most, Jill?"

Claire raised an eyebrow.

"Most, Claire. Let's just say some of them have rather... eccentric personalities. Still, I'm glad you're safe, as safe as you can get. Are you feeling better now?"

Redfield nodded slightly, and with Jill's support as she took her hand, she was able to sit up properly.

"Everyone's gathered in the main hall, so... don't worry, we're all in the same boat."

With that, Claire and Jill made their way down the corridor and through a large door.

Claire's heart was pounding too fast.

Chapter 3: Karl Heisenberg - Ultimate Inventor

Claire stepped through the door and found herself facing fourteen other people gathered in what appeared to be a large living room. The atmosphere was heavy, as it was clear no one knew how they had arrived there, and some of them looked annoyed or tired.

"This can't be happening..."

A blonde woman with a ponytail, dressed in a uniform similar to a waitress's, exclaimed anxiously.

"Ugh, I have an important meeting and I can't waste my time here."

Another of those involved, a slender girl with very pale skin, wearing a beautiful violet dress, said wearily,

"Ideally, we'd like to find some information that can help us identify where we are. Like all of you, I have priorities... I have surgery tomorrow and I can't miss it by staying here."

A man in a suit, with brown hair and a deep voice, spoke. It was clear from his briefcase and appearance that he was the doctor Jill had mentioned earlier.

"Is she number sixteen?" A blond man with dark glasses asked, noticing Jill standing next to Claire, who, incidentally, hadn't introduced herself to everyone. "It has to be. The sign said so... when the sixteen chosen ones awaken, it will begin, whatever that means."

"Uh... yeah, that's quite the people we got here, huh?" Claire glanced at Jill, who also noticed the tense atmosphere. "Some... some of them are okay, I guess."

"Why don't you introduce yourself to them? If you'd like, I can go with you, so you don't feel alone."

"Really, Jill? Thanks! You seem to know these people better than I do... it's even useful that we get some information about the matter."

"Detective thinking! I like it. Come on, let's go."

And together they saw a man in the corner of the room smoking, his arms crossed, and with an angry expression. The man's hair was long and a mix of black and white due to the presence of gray strands.

"Where did you get one? I'd kill for a cigarette." Claire started the conversation, trying to be friendly. "And if you have one, I'd be very, very grateful."

"Smoking calms the nerves. Go on, have one. At least it was the only thing those sons of bitches let me keep before they brought me here." And so, the man held out a pack of cigarettes that Claire had never seen before in her life; even the words on the pack were nothing like English. "Karl, Karl Heisenberg. And before you ask, yes, I'm talented. I'm the Ultimate Inventor."

"I'll have one too, Karl. I'll keep it just in case."

Jill took one of the cigarettes and carefully placed it on a purse she was carrying, where Claire saw her credentials and ID.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Karl. I'm Claire Redfield, Ultimate Biker."

And thanks to a candle burning on the wall, Claire lit her cigarette.

"You did the same shit I did, I like it. The pleasure is all mine, Claire. Biker, huh? Know my good side, and if you lend me one of your acquisitions, I'll return it to you with a whole machine of speed and experiences, free of charge. My services are in demand all over Europe."

And of course, Karl's accent, not to mention his full name, suggested that he didn't seem American, at least not one Claire had ever met.

"As an inventor, you surely know there's a certain pride involved in other people touching your work."

And that response ignited a spark in Karl, who was charmed by Claire.

"That's the kind of answer I was looking for! And, indeed, as an inventor, I HATE other people putting their dirty hands on my work. Only the blood, sweat, and grease that drip from my hands has the right to touch it."

"Do you remember anything before you woke up in this place, Karl?"

Jill asked, trying to get something useful out of it.

"Hmm… not much, really. Look, I don't sleep, I work day and night with my machines, and… I've come to find the sound of an engine comforting. Eventually, I fell asleep while I was at my factory. By the time I woke up, I was in this place surrounded by idiots… except for Claire and you."

"Thanks, Karl. If you ask me, this whole situation is a load of crap. I was supposed to be competing in a contest after visiting my brother… but oh well, not everyone gets what they want."

Claire started smoking and, out of respect, turned her head away every time she was about to exhale.

"Because life is a load of crap, Claire. Get that through your head. If you'll excuse me, ladies, there's another dark corner where you can contemplate how exciting suicidal tendencies sound. With your permission."

And with that, Karl walked away, ending the conversation.

"Well, now the picture is bigger. Not just the United States... but there's even a European here."

"Looks like we have a lot to work with, doesn't it, Claire?"

Chapter 4: Ethan Winters - Ultimate Systems Engineer

"Okay, one down, thirteen to go. What about that guy over there? Standing near the restrooms."

Jill pointed to a blond man who seemed nervous, and judging by his speech, he was talking to someone inside the restroom.

"Alright. Let's go."

And so, Claire and Jill approached the man, who could only smile at their arrival.

"Oh. Jill... and number sixteen. Nice to meet you. I'm so sorry I can't be of more help, but right now my wife is... well, you know. I'm waiting for her. Oh! Right, I should introduce myself. Nice to meet you! I'm Ethan Winters, the Ultimate Systems Engineer. There's no device that can match me."

"The pleasure is all mine, Ethan. I'm Claire, Claire Redfield, Ultimate Biker. You say you have your wife...?"

"Yes! Mia... look, I don't remember much, okay? I just know that she and I were coming back from a trip to Louisiana when this happened. Mia started feeling unwell because of her pregnancy, we stopped at a motel, and when we woke up..."

"Pregnancy? You didn't mention that before, Ethan... Is everything alright with Mia?"

"You know, the baby is kicking and... Maybe it would be wise if we could discuss this later? My wife needs me."

"Okay, okay, Ethan! How about we go somewhere else, Claire? That way, when Mia's feeling better, we can talk to both of you more calmly."

Claire nodded at Jill's suggestion.

"We'll see you later, Ethan. And... uh... Congratulations? With the current situation..."

"Thanks for being so thoughtful, Claire! Everyone keeps asking me about this crap, and it seems like Mia's pregnancy is taking a backseat. I'll talk to you when Mia's available! Okay?"

Soon, both women moved aside to take seats on the living room sofas.

Chapter 5: Brad Vickers - Ultimate Pilot

While Claire checked the edges of the sofa and Jill browsed some magazines on the coffee table, which discussed recent technological advances in cell regeneration from clinical trials,

"This shit can't be happening! Damn it..."

A man wearing a yellow vest and military pants was trying to get signa with a cellphone he had, but it was impossible.

"Have you finished checking the perimeter, Brad?"

Jill asked when she saw her colleague had already returned from the upper floors.

"Oh, Jill. Yeah, Wesker and I have finished checking everything, but it's impossible to get out. There are some fucking metal bars blocking the windows, and the doors to other areas won't open. Only this section and a library upstairs are accessible."

"Library? Maybe there's something in the books that could be useful, like those mystery games that were so popular."

Claire's comment was taken into consideration by Brad, who nodded in affirmation.

"Well, that's exactly what Wesker said. He's already checking some misplaced books he found on the shelves. By the way! I'm Brad Vickers, the Ultimate Pilot. I assume that, like all of us, you also have a talent, right?"

"How clever you are, Brad! That's right! I'm Claire Redfield, the Ultimate Biker. Do you remember anything from before you came here?"

"Redfield? You have the same last name as a colleague of mine from work. And to be honest... I don't remember much. I was working late filling out these reports that our jerk of a boss asks us for every day, something like a log to keep everything organized, you know, people and their obsessions..."

"Tell me about it! I had a teacher who had this obsession with seeing titles underlined in specific colors and the page number marked in a specific margin within the page, or else he wasn't considered worthy of proof."

"Irons is exactly the same, Claire! Like I was saying... I fell asleep. I don't know if that coffee I had was too strong or what. What about you?"

Brad seemed quite nervous, so much so that he kept glancing around as if he were being watched.

"I went to Raccoon City to look for my missing brother... and I collapsed as soon as I got off my motorcycle. I got to a gas station and... after that, I don't remember anything."

"Damn! I hope you have luck finding your brother, Claire. Look, Jill and I are police officers. As soon as we get out of here, you can give us all the information you have about your brother so we can find him, okay? We'll open an investigation right away."

"Thanks! I hope he's alright. In the meantime, I'll help Jill look for clues, okay?"

"Thanks to you, Claire! Jill, I'll be going now. I'm going to continue helping Wesker."

Brad left the living room shortly after. 

"Oh, wow. He's not like that, actually... he barely speaks at the station. Maybe he's so desperate it just comes naturally to him?"

Jill commented as she flipped through the same science and technology magazine.

"What do you mean?"

Claire commented, intrigued.

"Brad isn't like that, let's just say... You know what? It's better if he tells you himself."

And so, Jill continued reading, leaving Redfield with a big question.

Chapter 6: Leon - Biker

Claire went up to the second floor where, sure enough, there was a door leading to a library. Claire noticed Brad and the same blond man with dark sunglasses at a table, which she found really strange. Why would you wear an accessory like that indoors?

And, away from her, at another table, a man was drinking alone. Right in front of him, on one of the tables, was a bottle of alcohol and a glass that he refilled every now and then. His expression was calm, almost too still, but there was something in his eyes that puzzled Claire.

"It seems the situation is complicated and the outlook uncertain, isn't it?"

Claire sat down across from the man, who nodded without saying a word, simply contemplating, as Claire said, the scene.

"The outlook has always been uncertain. And before you ask, I'm Leon, Biker."

Redfield smiled and remained surprised by Leon's talent.

"Are you a Biker too? Wow, I've heard of people with shared talents... but I've never actually seen it firsthand."

Leon just sighed, as if with each exhalation the weight of his sins became more apparent.

The blond young man didn't even bother to look at Claire because, of course, he didn't recognize her.

"So..."

"I don't remember much about how I got here. That's all."

Claire grimaced because the man with tired eyes and a vacant expression wasn't even speaking to her, as if he were talking to thin air.

"Um... many here don't. I'm-"

And, for the first time, the man turned around, looked at Claire intently, and raised his palm to signal her to stop.

"Look, I'll be honest with you. Don't tell me your name, I don't care. We'll probably never see each other again after this, okay? Go talk to the others, I bet they'll have more interesting things to say to you."

"At least Karl was more subtle in telling Jill and me to go to hell. Screw you, idiot. Leon probably isn't even your name."

Claire left the man alone and left the library. Their encounter was noticed by Wesker and Brad, who exchanged a glance. The blond man smiled, as he genuinely enjoyed watching other people argue.

Chapter 7: Cindy Lennox - Ultimate Waitress

Annoyed, Claire went back downstairs to the living room where some people had already started chatting amongst themselves, forming small groups. From what she could hear, some of them already knew each other, while others were alone. Claire ran into the blonde girl dressed as a waitress again, who was now alone.

Trying to shake off the unpleasant feeling after her conversation with Leon, she rubbed her eyes, sighed, and smiled, approaching the girl who was sitting on one of the living room sofas.

"Hi! May I?"

Claire caught the girl's attention, and she smiled and nodded.

"Sure! I'll give you some space." The woman moved aside to let Claire sit. "I'm Cindy Lennox! I guess I should mention my talent too, huh? I'm the Ultimate Waitress."

"Nice to meet you, Cindy! I'm Claire Redfield, the Ultimate Biker. Looks like we're having a party, right?"

"This is barely a get-together with friends! You should see the parties and celebrations the Raccoon University students throw at J's Bar. After all, you learn how to carry sixteen beer mugs at once to save time."

And despite her appearance, Claire noticed that Cindy had firm, muscular arms and legs.

"J's Bar? My brother took me there a long time ago. They have the best steak in the entire United States."

"Aww! Thanks, Claire! Believe me, we prepare our products with a lot of love. Oh, God, I'm just trying to keep my spirits up, you know. Karl offered me a cigarette, but I don't smoke, and that guy up there, Roy... God, he must be dealing with his own demons. I feel for him."

"Roy? You mean Leon."

"Leon? No, Roy, the policeman. He just told me his name and asked me to give him some space. Anyway, we're all dealing with this with the tools we have at our disposal."

Cindy reached for one of the fashion magazines and flipped through the pages, looking at different models and brands of lip gloss.

"I just saw a motorcycle magazine here. Look, I don't know a thing about motorcycles, but... if they return it, how about I find it and give it to you?"

"Really, Cindy? Of course, I'd love to have that magazine. Who knows? Maybe I'll even put one together from scratch so I can get out of here."

"Oh, sure. And you can give me a ride to church while you're at it, okay? I have to show up with the choir. I'm the pianist, and I can't just leave them all hanging. They need me. The choirboys and I have been practicing this for weeks, and I can't let this place take away one of the few joys in my life."

"Are you religious, Cindy?"

"Proudly Christian, Claire. When this is all over, how about you visit me at the cathedral and watch me play? I can tell the staff you're my guest."

"Classical music and a place that's been here longer than your age and mine and probably everyone else's combined? Sure, why not? I must go now, Cindy, I need to talk to the others."

"Good luck, Claire! If you need me, I'll be here; my legs are killing me. Funny, isn't it? Someone asleep gets leg pain. I must have been running a lot before I got here."

Chapter 8: Alexia Ashford - Ultimate Sniper

Claire walked through the first-floor hallways, trying to open the locked doors, but to no avail; they were all locked. It was there that she encountered the same woman she had seen complaining earlier in the living room: the slender girl with an unusual beauty, wearing a gorgeous purple dress with exquisite details in the fabric that only a skilled tailor could have created. Redfield immediately suspected the woman belonged to a high socioeconomic class, not only because of her appearance and presence, but also because of the jewelry she wore.

"You! Number Sixteen. Report what you've discovered."

The woman commanded in a demanding voice, her expression suggesting patience was not one of her strong suits.

"I'm Claire, for your information." Redfield crossed her arms and looked her straight in the eye. "And I don't have to share what I know with you if you keep going like that."

"Ugh, you're just like all of them. Americans and their lack of manners?"

"I know enough about manners to tell you to go to hell, princess."

"I have a name, and you'd better address me by it. I don't tolerate people being disrespectful, but condescending. I am Alexia Ashford, heiress to the Ashford Family fortune and soon-to-be Nobel laureate. You're speaking to the Ultimate Sniper, so if you know what's good for you, you'll have me on good terms."

Claire felt a chill; the girl didn't just look dangerous, she WAS dangerous.

She knew something was wrong the moment their eyes met.

"Well, as I said, I'm Claire. I'm the-"

"Are you stupid? I'm not interested in anything about you at all, Number Sixteen. I just want the important information you can offer."

"You know what? I warned you. Go to hell, bitch. Talk to me when you come down from your golden castle in the sky and get your feet back on the ground."

"How dare you? Hey! Come back!"

Claire turned around and pointed at her with her middle finger, using both hands.

And with that, Redfield returned to the living room, leaving Alexia alone.

Chapter 9: Osmund Saddler - Ultimate Priest

Claire stormed back into the living room after her encounter with Alexia, taking a seat on another sofa. It was then that she noticed Cindy talking to a man wearing a long purple robe and carrying a wooden staff. This man seemed like someone from another world—perhaps someone from a religious position? There was no other way to explain the wooden necklaces and jewelry he wore, specially those fancy rings. The man seemed to notice Claire staring at him, so he turned his head, saw her, and smiled.

 

He apparently finished his conversation with Cindy, who nodded and returned to her fashion magazine. The man approached Claire and, maintaining a respectful distance, knelt slightly so that his height wouldn't make her feel uncomfortable.

 

"Excuse me, you were the last to wake up, correct? May I sit beside you and have a moment to talk?"

 

Claire smiled and nodded. No man who was probably over two meters tall, with that expression that seemed to conceal something, and smelling of oak perfume, would ever intimidate her. The man's steps were slow, as if all his clothes weighed him down.

 

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Osmund Saddler, The Ultimate Priest. I hope you don't find my presence... intimidating. Not many here even wish to approach me, though I don't blame them."

 

"Ultimate Priest?"

 

Claire asked, surprised because she didn't believe that certain segments of the population could be considered talents.

 

"Incredible, isn't it? As you can see, I don't serve a single god, but a message. My voice, my conviction, and love for my fellow man led me to have this talent. Let's just say it was a unanimous decision, where representatives from different congregations meet to define the next Ultimate Priest."

 

"Is it something like the election of the Pope, perhaps?"

 

"Indeed. It's not just a title you're born with, but one you must cultivate throughout your life. From the moment of my conception, I was blessed with this title, and on my deathbed, the next seed who will bear it will be chosen."

 

Claire smiled at the mere thought of talents existing where some destinies were already sealed.

 

"And that's what you wanted? I mean... you spent your whole life learning your craft. Wasn't there room for something else? I don't know, maybe wanting to be a baker, having a different kind of... life."

 

"It's exactly the same approach you have with your name. You weren't given a choice, but you learned to live with it, to identify with it, to adopt it as part of your identity and coexist with it. It's not like a piece of clothing you can take off; it's a fundamental part of your being... and well, even if you change it, that doesn't mean that every trace of what you once were ceases to exist."

 

"Wow... I hadn't thought of it that way. It's like... all talents, right? We're born with one, or we discover our talent as we grow up. Given other paths we could take... we simply pursue it not just for survival, but for connection."

 

"Your observation is correct, my lady. Excuse me, but could you tell me your name? I find it disrespectful to address you as Number Sixteen, as Miss Ashford does."

 

"Oh! How disrespectful of me. I'm Claire Redfield, the Ultimate Biker. I'm sorry, Osmund, I'm just a bit... stressed about this. I haven't found my brother, and I'm very worried about him."

 

"Hmm, my intuition tells me he might be closer than you think. In any case, I'll pray for his soul."

 

"Thank you, Osmund. By the way... don't you remember how you got here?"

 

That question lit up Osmund's eyes, and he nodded. With his long, weathered, almost white, overly sharp nails, he scratched his chin.

 

"I have very little memory. I was talking with Mayor Méndez about the recent arrival of some foreigners to our town, back in Spain. After that, I remember drinking some tea and... waking up here. I don't want to think ill of Bitores; I assume he doesn't know about this... after all, I do remember a sound, something like something heavy falling... like a body."

 

"Oh..."

 

"Oh, indeed, Miss Redfield. I only hope that the divine will cover us with its mantle and grant us clarity. If you'll excuse me, there are some books up in the library that caught my attention. This conversation has been... interesting. Seek me out if you'd like to continue."

 

And with that, Osmund withdrew, bowing slightly to Claire and going upstairs to the second floor.

Chapter 10: Alcina Dimitrescu - Ultimate Oenologist

As Claire sat in the living room, a very tall woman, almost as tall as Saddler himself, noticed her and, out of curiosity, approached her. The woman wore an ostentatious white dress and black leather gloves, along with a black hat that contrasted sharply with her pale face, perhaps due to the makeup she was wearing. Claire immediately assumed it was another high-ranking person like Saddler or Alexia, so Redfield looked at her seriously without lowering her head.

"You. You're one of the few people I haven't introduced myself to. My daughters always tell me there are only two appearances that matter in life: the one you have of a person when you meet them and the one you have of that same person when they leave."

"And you're doing a fine job with the first one."

Claire detested people who used elaborate language to describe small things.

"I know, my dear. I'm Alcina Dimitrescu, the Ultimate Oenologist. If you want the finest wine, you know that House Dimitrescu will meet every criterion and top standard."

"Oenologist? Wow, I take it that, like Saddler, your talent is inherited, isn't it?"

Alcina nodded, and a smile graced her red lips.

"What a perceptive young woman you are. That's right, the Dimitrescus are among the few families in the world who possess generational talents that no one else can. It's even more sophisticated than those acquired by people like Saddler... because we don't put ourselves to a vote; it's in our blood."

"My brother loves wine. Perhaps you have some recommendations that might suit him; you'd honestly make his day."

"Oh, dear, wine is more than just a drink to taste; it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Nothing can compare to the first time you take your first glass, not even of the same brand, because the sensations won't be the same. Tasting wine is like creating a memory for posterity."

"Well, Alcina. I hope your taste buds can help us in this situation. By any chance... do you remember what you were doing before coming here?"

Dimitrescu nodded and stared at the ceiling as if she were reliving her memory.

"I was enjoying a dinner with my daughters. The maids must have slipped something into the food because as soon as we tasted the first few bites... well, we got very sleepy. I just want to get out of here to see my girls."

"Are you a mother too, Alcina?"

"That's right. That's why I feel so sorry for Mia Winters, the wife of the man waiting for her in the restroom. I'll talk to her and give her some advice about motherhood; after all, no woman should go through that alone... especially when she's carrying triplets."

"Oh! You have three daughters then? I assume the father did an excellent job of leaving."

"Don't even mention it! He's dead and buried, even though he keeps walking among the living. So... could you tell me your name before I go? I need to meet everyone so I know how to address them properly."

Alcina's demeanor and speech seemed a little more relaxed; even Claire noticed when she stopped looking at her so seriously.

"I'm Claire Redfield, Ultimate Biker. It's nice to meet you, Alcina. I hope your daughters are okay and this was all just a scare."

"I pray every time I think of them that they are!"

The giant woman said goodbye to Claire, and the redhead could see that both she and Saddler began to chat.

"Birds of a feather flock together, huh?"

Chapter 11: Mia Winters - Ultimate Researcher

And speaking of Mia Winters, Claire noticed from afar that the woman had already left the bathroom, which was immediately occupied by Karl, who entered asking permission. Eventually, Ethan carefully led his wife to the sofa area where Claire immediately stood up and offered them her seat.

"Is everything alright, Mia? Do you need any help?"

Claire asked, noticing that Mia was sweating and smiling from exhaustion.

"Thank you so much, sweetheart! But I'm fine, I just need to sit down for a while. Ugh… I told Ethan that the baby is going to be quite the athlete when she grows up. Thanks for the seat, honey."

Mia smiled at Claire for her gesture and soon began doing breathing exercises to calm herself.

"Mia's feeling a little under the weather... but I'd be happy to introduce you to her, Claire. She's my dear wife, and the world knows her as the Ultimate Researcher. Mia and I have a small company, you know, my wife handles the fieldwork, going out to collect specimens, making firsthand observations... and I take care of the data."

"Ethan's right! My computer skills aren't as extensive as his. And well, we're happily married and expecting our daughter."

Mia smiled as Ethan kissed her cheek, but at that precise moment something changed in her, her expression turning serious as if she were remembering something.

"Hmm... it was right after we went to the clinic. Wasn't it, Ethan? In the parking lot... there was something off about it. Ethan and I got in the car, but... the windows started fogging up. There was smoke. Remember, darling?"

"Are you sure you want to talk about this, Mia? The stress..."

"I'm already stressed enough, thank you very much. Everyone has been so kind and told us how they got here, and to be honest... we didn't get anywhere by avoiding reality. So, yes, Claire... and for all of you listening. This is just the beginning of something else, something terrible."

Those words echoed in Claire's ears.

Something terrible.

Something terrible.

Something terrible.

Something terrible.

Chapter 12: Sherry Birkin - Ultimate Virologist

Claire smiled and politely asked for a moment to excuse herself. She decided to be alone and return to the hallway area, because, fortunately for her, Alexia had already rejoined the group, meaning she wouldn't be alone with her. Claire was experiencing an anxiety attack that led her to withdraw to avoid others seeing how bad she was feeling.

It was then, as Claire took a seat on one of the many sofas set up along the hallway, that a voice pulled her from her reverie.

"Are you alright?"

Claire looked up and saw a little girl in her school uniform. This greatly surprised Redfield, who knew that the person behind her kidnapping was also targeting vulnerable people.

"Oh! It's nothing, sweetie. I'm sorry if I scared you. I'm just tired. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Claire smiled at the girl, who smiled back and nodded slightly.

"Well, if you could get me out of here... I have a Spanish exam tomorrow and my mom doesn't want me to get bad grades. She says it could affect my future."

"Well, your mom is a very wise woman. What's your name, sweetie?"

"I'm Sherry Birkin! Um... like all of you, I have a talent, but... uh..." Sherry hugged herself and looked sheepishly at the floor. "My mom tells me not to go around telling people about it."

"Don't worry, sweetheart, if you don't feel comfortable sharing it with me, then I won't force you. Only you get to decide what to tell whom, okay? Don't let any adult pressure you into saying or doing things you don't want to."

Sherry's eyes lit up, and a red blush quickly spread across her cheeks.

"That's what my dad says! To be very careful with strangers. But... uh... I like you, and I think I can trust you with my talent. I... uh... I'm Sherry Birkin, and... I'm the Ultimate Virologist."

Sherry hid her face behind her hand in embarrassment.

"Really, honey? But that's quite a talent! To see the world from another perspective, to prove that things exist that aren't present at first glance... You're so young!"

"That's what everyone says! But the credit really belongs to my mom. By the way... Do you have parents?"

Sherry asked curiously.

"No, Sherry... I don't have parents. They passed away when I was very young, in fact... I would have been your age when they died. You're very lucky to have your parents, so... enjoy them, okay?"

"I promise!"

"By the way, I'm Claire Redfield, I'm a Biker. If anything bad happens, don't hesitate to tell Jill or Brad, okay?"

"And you too! I'm going to join the others. Mia told me not to leave the group. Bye, Claire!"

Claire said goodbye to Sherry, and as she left, Claire's intuition gave even more weight to Mia's words.

Chapter 13: Donna Beneviento - Ultimate Dollmaker

Thinking she would finally have a moment to herself, Claire was startled by a doll dressed as a bride walking down the aisle. The doll soon reached a woman sitting alone at the end of the aisle, covered by a large black veil.

"Hmm?"

Claire, in retrospect, thought that this was the first time she had ever looked in that direction, and it wasn't well lit. The doll jumped from the woman's lap and took small steps toward Claire until it was standing right in front of her.

"Is this for real?"

The motorcyclist tried to touch the doll, to grab it and understand that it wasn't, in fact, a hallucination.

But the doll laughed and took a step back.

"No! Don't touch me." The doll said in a squeaky voice. "Didn't they teach you any manners, you meanie?"

"I'm sorry! It's just... well, you're..."

"I'm a doll! The most beautiful doll you have ever seen in your life! Are you going to talk rudely to me and pull my hair? Try to see what's under my skirt..."

"What? No! I would never do that! Um... Who are you?"

To try and calm the situation, Claire tried to reassure the doll.

"Well, who else, silly girl? I'm Donna Beneviento! The Ultimate Dollmaker. Can't you appreciate my greatness?"

"Really? Wow... And you... are you the doll? Or..."

"You really are silly, kid!"

"Hey! I'm not a kid!"

When Claire stood up, the doll got scared and went back to Donna's lap, who picked her up and covered her with her arms.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Chapter 14: Albert Wesker - Ultimate ???

Before Claire rejoined the group, she saw the door leading to the living room open, and two men entered the hallway behind her.

"Well, then we're facing a big problem, Albert."

The man with the briefcase and formal suit said nervously.

"The records don't match, George. Look, I don't know what this is about, but something clearly wrong is happening. We'll find a way to notify everyone appropriately. Why don't you go see that girl, Cindy? She's looking for you."

"But your condition..."

"My condition can wait. Go on, thanks for your concern."

"Ah... damn it. Okay, we'll meet again in the library to continue our search. Until then."

The doctor left the hallway, and Claire, intrigued, approached the blond man with glasses.

"Um... excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. Do you need any help?"

Claire's presence surprised the man, who simply smiled.

"Oh, the motorcyclist. Are you feeling better? After what happened with Scott, I wouldn't be surprised if you're not in the mood to talk."

"Scott? Ah, you probably mean Leon, Roy, or whatever his fucking name is. I've moved on. That guy... George, said something. Are you okay?"

"Hmm... I guess there's no point in hiding it from myself. You see, I'm Albert Wesker... and I'm a man with no past. I have no memory of what I did or who I was before I got here, and therefore... I don't know what my talent is."

"Shit..."

Claire looked down at the ground, her face contorted in surprise.

"Yeah, shit. There are some people here telling me I'm their boss, Valentine and Vickers. They say they know me, but honestly, I have no fucking clue who they are. They say I'm a cop, something like that. I don't know if they're lying or telling the truth, but I'd rather stay out of it."

"So that's why you were in the library? And... how do you know your name is Albert if you have amnesia?"

"That's easy to answer! I found this in what I assume is my wallet. There aren't any mirrors in this place, but everyone tells me I look like this guy. Is that true?"

The man showed a driver's license that said "Albert Wesker," and indeed, the person in the photo was the same person.

"You're the same one, but considering our situation... maybe it would be wise to be wary. After all... we can't rely entirely on an ID that could be fake."

"That's the most sensible thing I've heard! Thank you for doubting me; I really needed that. Look, I'll keep searching in the library to try and find something, anything, and as for that important thing George and I need to discuss... we'll talk about it once we're all together in the living room, okay?"

Albert said his goodbyes and went back into the living room. 

"Hey wait! I haven't told you my..."

But she was too late. 

"Name..."

Chapter 15: George Hamilton - Ultimate Surgeon

Fearing the worst, and knowing that George would be with Cindy, Claire knew she had to find answers from the most appropriate person regarding "that" thing they would share once they were all together. She recognized Cindy talking to the doctor in the second-floor hallways, in full view of everyone. So she went upstairs and, finding Cindy and the man outside the library, Claire decided to intervene upon seeing them together.

"Cindy! Excuse me for interrupting, but I really need to talk to George. If you could give us a moment, I would really appreciate it."

"Oh? Okay, Claire! See you later, George!"

After Cindy rejoined the group in the living room, George didn't seem too interested in talking to Claire.

"Look, I don't know what the situation is between you and Albert, but he mentioned something that seems important. You said you found some information?"

"Ah, that... look, we'll discuss it once we're all together..."

"Well, you're taking your sweet time. Donna's in the hallways, and it seems someone else is missing. If something bad happens, or if something happens to you and you don't say anything... Do you think we could at least have a meeting so we can all hear this important thing you have to say?"

"I really didn't want to do this until I was sure, but I think it's necessary. Anyway... I suppose this is the moment for me to introduce myself, right? I'm George Hamilton, the Ultimate Surgeon. Are you happy now?"

"How can you hide things in a situation like this? No, I'm not happy."

"That curiosity of yours will get you into trouble, Claire."

"Now you know my name..."

"And not because I care, but because I overheard you introducing yourself... over and over again, to everyone. So, yes, my keen ear led me to learn things I don't care about."

"Look, you idiot, my brother's missing, and Raccoon City somehow dragged me into this mess, so don't think I'm in the mood to put up with this either. And yes, it is my business that a bastard like you can keep things of vital importance to yourself just to keep your ego inflated."

"Watch yourself, Claire. Watch your words."

"Are you going to keep arguing with me, or are you going to come down here and say what really matters?"

"Women."

And with that, George sighed and prepared to draw everyone's attention.

It was time.

Chapter 16: Seven Years

George descended the steps of the grand hall and raised his hands, eventually asking everyone to focus their attention on him. With fifteen people present, and without waiting for the last participant, Hamilton took a deep breath and prepared to say something that would undoubtedly change everything.

"Attention, everyone. Some of you probably know me, and some of you don't, so allow me to introduce myself. I'm George Hamilton, the Ultimate Surgeon, and like many of you, I'm also scared, confused... and above all, terrified. I have a surgery planned for tomorrow... or according to the records I found... for seven years ago."

The hall fell silent, and some people exchanged glances, trying to make sense of his words.

"What did you say?"

Alcina was one of the first to show fear at the implication her mind was forming.

"How is it that it was a surgery seven years ago? Explain yourself, male."

Alexia seemed very upset and demanded answers.

"That's exactly the kind of answer I was expecting. You see, Albert, Brad, and I investigated the library and came across... interesting information. Apparently, there are books with publication dates after 1998. There are articles, notes, books... everything dated after 1998."

George's words were like a bucket of cold water for some.

"What? But... I'm pregnant, George... my husband and I... How can I still be pregnant if, as you say, it's been seven years?"

"Not to mention that many of us still look the same! I mean, last time I checked, I only have gray hairs in my beard and hair; I don't have any on my balls yet."

Karl exclaimed from the back of the living room.

"That aside... why do so many of us still have the clothes we were abducted in, George? They're still the same, and, well... seven years is a long time for clothes to fade."

Cindy began to feel unwell and decided to sit down on one of the sofas, as she felt dizzy.

"Look, it's clearly not a coincidence that we're all here. There's a reason, I don't know what it is, but the picture points to something much bigger than all of us. There are still inexplicable things like Mia's pregnancy, Sherry's age, even the fact that we haven't aged, so... I assume something else happened. Or is that not the case, Albert Wesker?"

All eyes turned to Albert, who now nodded in recognition.

"I've barely spoken to you all, and I'll introduce myself. I'm Albert Wesker... or at least that's what my ID says, which, by the way, I don't know if it's really mine. You see... I've lost my memories, I don't know who I was, what I did, or have any recollection of my life before I came here." We're in a VERY serious situation, and it's only a matter of time before that message becomes a reality."

Albert pointed to a large whiteboard hanging from the ceiling that stated that once all sixteen participants were together, the game would begin.

There was a noise coming from the restrooms; apparently, someone had just left.

And when that person came out...

Claire couldn't believe it.

Chapter 17: Chris Redfield - Ultimate Soldier

"Chris?"

Claire ran to hug her brother, to tell him how much she missed him and how worried she was about his disappearance.

She really hoped her brother would reciprocate, that he would hug her back and tell her that, indeed, he was busy, that he had things to do, important things.

Anything.

Anything at all.

Anything but that.

"Who are you?"

Chris made a face of doubt and even discomfort, gently pushing Claire away.

"No..." Claire smiled nervously and looked at everyone present, searching for an answer, as if they could offer one. "Chris... it's me, Claire... your sister. You're joking, right? You can't do this to me, Chris... please..."

But Chris stood there, firm, smiling, but also out of obligation.

"Um... I'm sorry, miss, but I don't know you. I... I don't have any siblings. My parents died a long time ago, and I was orphaned."

"Chris..."

Claire was on the verge of tears, trembling and desperate.

"But I can introduce myself. Look, things are pretty crazy right now, but how about we start off on the right foot? I'm Chris Redfield, the Ultimate Soldier. Who are you?"

"Yes... that must be it, you must have the same thing as Albert, amnesia. I'm Claire, Claire Redfield, the Ultimate Biker. It's... it's a pleasure to meet you again, Chris."

Claire bit her lip and, with that same heavy feeling in her chest, tried to leave the room, but the door was locked and there was no way to open it.

Then the lights went out, and soon a red light, like backup power in case of emergency, came on in the middle of the table.

And just as there had been darkness, light soon reigned.

No one was prepared for what they saw next.

On one of the sofas, unnoticed by anyone, a raccoon plush toy appeared, painted half black and half white, with a red eye on the black side and an expression that symbolized duality.

The message it conveyed was clear.

---

"Woooh! Welcome, Ultimates! It's me, your beloved host, MonoRaccoon! Welcome, everyone, to the Killing Games!"

---

Silence once again gripped everyone's hearts.

Chapter 18: The Killing Game

"Klling Games?"

Cindy could barely speak; she was so exhausted that she collapsed to her knees on the sofa, losing her balance. Saddler, who was beside her, knelt to embrace her and offer her protection.

"What do you mean? This is another job for the dollmaker, isn't it, Donna?"

Alcina Dimitrescu demanded Donna's presence, but she was standing at the other end of the room, holding her doll dressed as a bride.

"Uh uh uh uh! I'm afraid it's not meeeeeeeee!" The doll spoke for Donna, causing a feeling of unease among most of the participants. "My family is more beautiful and elegant. We would never stoop to taking the form of filthy animals or creatures because we are not."

That last sentence was delivered with such contempt that it seemed as if Donna's bold and mocking personality had changed.

"Fine! How disrespectful to ignore me! You'll make me cry!" exclaimed MonoRaccoon from the sofa. "Oh well! Humans, always so rude and full of themselves. Please, everyone, enter through the door located beneath the steps to the second floor! There you will find answers and the second phase of our game."

Everyone heard a lock click open; it was too loud since, until that moment, no one had dared to speak or make any comment.

With nothing to lose, or rather, with everything already lost, those involved walked toward the door where, indeed, there was a large dining room with a huge table where hot food was already served, its aroma awakening their hunger. Instinctively, they took seats and awaited instructions. Out of sheer inertia, Claire sat next to Chris, who seemed uncomfortable.

"Sorry, it's a habit."

"Uh... sure."

Chris replied without looking at Claire, feigning indifference.

After everyone had taken their seats and settled into the dining room, Monoduck appeared unnoticed, sitting on one of the chairs, as if he had teleported from the sofa to his spot, which only added to the intrigue. Everyone turned to look at him, and with a small hop, he landed on the table and began his speech.

"Welcome, all you Ultimates! As you can see, you are in my humble abode. You were all carefully chosen for something great, something your human minds cannot comprehend yet because, naturally, you are trapped within your own limitations, which will lead you to doom."

"Limitations my ass. Explain yourself, raccoon." Karl bared his teeth in a sneer that revealed utter contempt. "Why have you brought us here?"

"You won't get the answers you want talking to him like that. Maybe if you're a little more assertive..." Cindy commented from across the table, apprehensive about the implications of the phrase "Killing Games." "Although it's true we need answers."

"Why don't we just let MonoRaccoon speak and let him explain our current situation? After all... if we speak before him with our barrage of questions, he might not be able to tell us his true intentions."

Saddler adopted a more pragmatic stance, with his characteristically serene expression.

"Then explain yourself! I demand you make your intentions clear to us."

Alcina wasn't very comfortable with other people taking up her time and leading her into a particularly unpleasant situation.

"You want answers? Perfect! The rules are simple, I'll keep it short and easy. If you want to get out of here... you only have to take the life of one of your classmates."

And that silence, as lifeless as their hopes, reigned once more in the air.

Everyone began to look at each other, trying to find answers, hoping someone could tell them why they were feeling that hard sensation in their chests and suppressing the urge to vomit.

Instinctively, Sherry rose from her seat and went to Claire, driven by her fear, to hug her and cry with her.

"Don't let anything bad happen to me, Claire!"

And somewhere around the table, Ethan and Mia's hands clasped together because they were both terrified. Mia touched her stomach as if that would lessen the pain that was beginning to form there.

Few, like Albert or Leon himself, maintained a serious expression in the face of the situation.

"Now you can open the steel lid covering the plate in front of you! Do it, now."

Claire sighed, and while she put one hand around Sherry and stroked her back, trying to calm her, with the other she lifted the lid and came across something curious, something that left her confused.

An electronic tablet.

Chapter 19: MonoDroid

Upon picking up the tablet, Claire noticed a space where she could place her finger to turn it on, or at least that's what she thought. A screen with a small logo resembling MonoRaccoon appeared, indicating that the device was powered on.

There were only a few applications on the device: photos, gallery, music, participant cards, and a notepad.

Claire had a feeling that, when the murders occurred, they would need to take photos of the evidence and, in the process, make notes for each case, making the tablet an important tool for the game.

But the doubt lingered... Would anyone really be capable of murdering just to escape?

"And... what's this other application?"

Ethan asked, noticing a raccoon icon that said "School Rules and Guidelines."

"Everyone can access it now because it's been enabled! I just hoped someone observant enough would ask about it."

MonoRaccoon seemed overly excited for the game to begin, which was unusual, since when did animals perceive emotions or feel anything like anticipation and excitement?

Claire opened the rules section and carefully read each one.

Chapter 20: General Rules

---

To escape, it is necessary to kill a fellow player. The maximum number of murders a person can commit is two.

---

If a murder is committed after the first murder committed by one of the participants, only the first victim or victims of the first murderer will be considered.

---

Any death caused by an object in a participant's possession will be considered an extension of that participant, and the death will be counted as their own. However, if the participant's object is used by another individual to commit a murder, then the person who came into possession of the object will be considered the murderer, and the murder will be deducted as part of the object's extension from the owner's total.

---

If a participant activates a trap that causes the death of someone else, provided they were not the one who made the trap, the murder will not be counted as part of the death of the person who activated the trap, but it will be counted as part of the death of the person who set it with the intention of taking a life.

---

If the murderer of a victim is killed by another participant, the second murderer will not be counted for the murder and will not be executed.

---

Deaths by suicide will be counted as one case. Therefore, the victim and the murderer will be considered as one.

---

Each participant has a designated room with an en-suite bathroom where the following actions may take place: sleeping, sheltering, eating, allowing a maximum of two or three people to enter, engaging in sexual relations, relieving oneself, showering, and murdering.

---

Sleeping outside the designated room is strictly prohibited. Breaking this rule will result in execution.

---

Sexual assault is strictly prohibited. Manipulating, drugging, or influencing others to commit crimes against the sexual integrity of participants will result in immediate execution for the perpetrators.

---

Bathrooms outside the designated rooms are only available to occupants of the assigned sex. Women are not allowed in men's restrooms, and men are not allowed in women's restrooms.

---

Any attempted homicide committed in the presence of three or more people will result in the immediate execution of the aggressor for disturbing the peace.

---

Attempting to murder another student and failing, resulting in the survival of the initial victim, will be punished with immediate execution.

---

You must scratch MonoRacooon's tummy every time he asks you to. MANDATORY.

---

If a participant other than the murderer obstructs the investigation and destroys, removes, or alters evidence in a case, they will be executed.

---

Inducing another person to commit suicide through manipulation will make the person involved a murderer. Therefore, anyone who leads another person to take their own life will be considered a murderer and will be subject to execution if caught.

---

Attempting to take your own life in front of more than three people will be punished with immediate execution for disturbing the peace.

---

The deliberate and intentional destruction of property will be punished with execution. If this destruction was due to an accident, the people involved will not be executed. If the destruction of the property is due to the preparation of a case by the murderer, then they will not be penalized.

---

The loss of this device is entirely the responsibility of the owner, who, upon losing it, will be denied the following rights:

- To enter their designated room.

- To enter their Recreation Room.

- To access evidence during the Trial.

---

You may replenish your food supplies as often as you like. Go about your business, eat all you want.

---

Any method of murder is permitted as long as it results in the death of the victim.

---

New rules will be added as new areas are unlocked.

---

 

Chapter 21: Special Rules For Special Participants

---

Mia Winters will be considered both a victim and a double killer. Should a participant kill her and then kill a third person, they will be executed immediately.

---

The murder of Sherry Birkin and Mia Winters is permitted.

---

Karl Heisenberg is STRICTLY PROHIBITED from creating or inventing anything. If he does, his inventions will be confiscated, and he will be executed immediately.

---

Ethan Winters is STRICTLY PROHIBITED from manipulating the MonoDroid, and if he does, he will be executed immediately.

---

Sherry Birkin is STRICTLY PROHIBITED from creating or developing viruses or organisms that could endanger the safety of all participants.

---

Donna Beneviento is STRICTLY PROHIBITED from manipulating MonoRaccoon, and any attempt to decipher its operation will be penalized immediately.

---

Claire Redfield is STRICTLY PROHIBITED from creating or developing a vehicle from parts and components found in the Institute and its Recreation Room. Should she do so, she will be executed immediately.

---

Alexia Ashford is STRICTLY PROHIBITED from entering the women's restrooms and any women-only areas. Should she do so, she will be executed immediately.

---

Chris Redfield is STRICTLY PROHIBITED from creating weapons, ammunition, or any other items on his own. Should he do so, he will be executed immediately.

---

George Hamilton is STRICTLY PROHIBITED from attempting to save a life using his medical knowledge. Should he do so, he will be executed immediately.

---

 

Chapter 22: First Area

"Looks like we're in some serious crap."

Jill could only shake her head as she glanced at the rules, finding the plan far too detailed and premeditated. Perhaps their captors already knew them?

"Are we really going to believe this stuff? It could very well be a cruel joke. After all... there's nothing that really implies anything bad will happen, is there? If we stick together..."

George tried to appear reasonable in the face of events, even doubting what he had previously established, since he had never included the word "death" in the current context.

"It's not far-fetched." Osmund Saddler sighed and looked dejectedly at the food in front of him, picking up a knife and fork and beginning to cut a piece of chicken. "Take away a man's freedom and you'll see how he'll do anything to get it back."

"But how can you say that, Father? We're adults, people who know how to get out of this situation. Don't we? We'll find a way out of here, together, because I trust you."

Cindy wanted to project hope in the goodness of others' hearts.

"Well, I wouldn't be so sure." Leon, who hadn't even taken a seat, commented from a corner of the room. "It's only a matter of time before someone turns up dead."

"Perhaps we could assign a specialized group to maintain constant patrols and surveillance? Something like a night patrol. None of us would be in danger."

Jill wanted to be rational.

"And what if one of those members takes advantage of their position to kill someone who trusted them? No, you'll have to excuse me, but this is a bad idea."

Claire showed her complete distrust, crossing her arms.

"So what do you all propose? Going it alone?"

Karl Heisenberg laughed as he watched the others begin to argue.

"Well, that sounds the most logical thing to do. Trust someone else? I can't."

The argument stopped when Mia raised her tablet and ordered everyone to pay attention.

"Excuse me! But the tablets seem to have updated. There's another option... Map."

---

Some curious people complied and saw a new icon appear on the screen. It displayed, as the app indicated, a map of the first area. It included the following locations:

Living Room

Bedrooms

Dining Room

Library

First Floor Public Restrooms

Basement

Storage Room

---

And in that moment of silence, several locks were heard to open.

It was time to investigate.

Chapter 23: Basement

Claire got up from her seat because she wasn't hungry at all. So the first thing she did was open her map and find the basement. The motorcyclist walked through the corridors where she had woken up and finally, one of the many locked doors had been unlocked, so she could turn the handle and open it.

It turned out the door led to a staircase that descended into a dark area, which was gradually illuminated when Claire flipped a switch. She carefully descended the steps, listening to the sound of her boot heels clicking on the tile floor, and found herself in a place that was too clean to be a basement.

There was a lot of sports equipment, along with decorations for most holidays: Christmas, Halloween, even New Year's. Everything was neatly organized and even stored in clear bags, with not a speck of dust or any unpleasant smell in the air.

Claire heard footsteps and saw Brad Vickers coming down the stairs; apparently, he also wanted to investigate the area. As soon as he saw Claire, the Pilot greeted her with a big smile.

"Hey, Claire! I didn't know you came down to the basement too. It looks like that kind of place, huh? I imagined this place would be dirty, dark, and damp... but it seems to be in good condition. Do you smell that?"

There was indeed a very unusual, very strong aroma in the air, coming from the floor.

"Hmm... yeah, it smells strange, like too much bleach. It seems like someone did a thorough cleaning."

Claire crossed her arms and looked around, puzzled, as if she had the feeling that this place wasn't like this, that it seemed too... fake.

"Oh, this reminds me of my years at the academy. Every day we had to clean, and the Sergeant, as punishment, made us use toothbrushes to make sure everything was spotless. Hours and hours in contact with bleach ruined my nails; they became brittle."

"Really, Brad? It seems the Academy was a bit too tough."

"It was quite an experience! It helped shape me and make me the man I am today."

Claire nodded, smiling, and recalled something interesting from Wesker's speech.

"Hmm… I spoke with Albert a while ago. Do you have a professional relationship with him or something?"

"Oh? He must have told you about that. Yes, look… Albert is the Captain of our division, the R.P.D., where Jill, Chris, he, and I work. But… something bad must have happened, because neither Albert nor Chris seem to remember us."

That detail intrigued Claire, who knew that something very bad must have happened to cause amnesia.

"Hmm… but you and Jill remember each other, right?"

"That's right. Look, I don't know what the hell happened… but it seems odd to me that only the two of them have amnesia. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but… I've gotten the impression that one of them might be… you know… lying."

Brad decided to open his yellow vest because he was starting to feel hot.

"This place is hell, it's so hot in here. Get out of here while you still can, it's awful."

Vickers left the basement, leaving Claire with many questions.

Due to the nature of their interaction, Claire's MonoDroid started beeping.

---

"Relationship between Claire Redfield and Brad Vickers increased by 1 point!"

---

Redfield couldn't have been more confused.

Chapter 24: Storage Room

Claire continued checking the map, noticing that the storage room was indeed a room located opposite the basement. Based on its description and its placement on the map, it was a very small room where, naturally, many cleaning supplies and tools would be stored.

Redfield left after going up the stairs to the first floor, turning off the light, and closing the door. Without wasting any time, she approached the door directly in front of her and opened it. Her first impressions of the storage room proved correct; it had a very strong smell of mixed cleaning products, and there were brooms, mops, buckets, and even tools like drills, screwdrivers hanging on the walls, and boxes of screws, tacks, and gears.

"Exploring, Claire?"

Albert Wesker asked, standing in the doorway. His voice and sudden appearance startled Redfield.

"Oh, God! Don't ever do that again!" Claire jumped and took a moment to compose herself, touching her chest and feeling a pang in her stomach. "Albert... yes, I'm investigating, trying to find anything, anything at all. Are you going to help me?"

"Hmm... maybe, maybe not. What have you found so far?"

Albert decided to give Claire some space and spoke to her from the hallway, waiting for her to come out.

"Not much. The basement smells strongly of chlorine and... apparently the storage room has all kinds of cleaning products. I assume this place has no problem supplying us with enough soap, detergent, and anything else that will help keep the floors sparkling."

"At least they're clean. So someone was here recently... well, that's a problem. If there are outsiders who set all this up for us... it means danger, but... I have another theory."

"About what, Albert?"

Claire asked, doubt reflected in her eyes.

"You see... What if someone lied and actually woke up first... or, failing that, never slept at all?"

"What are you saying?"

Claire felt a chill run down her spine.

"What I mean is... What if there's a traitor among us? If you say the chlorine smell is recent, that there was a cleaning... Wouldn't it be far-fetched to imagine that someone could be involved in this in another way?"

Redfield grimaced, clearly disgusted by the idea that someone could be methodically betraying them.

"I don't know... there isn't enough evidence to suggest that... You know what? I think the best thing would be to focus on continuing to look for evidence, tangible things, and build something from what we can observe, not from mere speculation."

Claire's response astonished Albert, who gave her his approval.

"You intrigue me more and more, Claire."

Albert started walking back toward the living room, until something caught the redhead's attention.

"Hey! Wait! How do you know...?"

But Wesker was already crossing the hallway, too far away.

"My name..."

---

"Relationship between Claire Redfield and Albert Wesker increased by 1 point!"

---

 

Chapter 25: Living Room

Claire entered the living room trying to find Albert, who, it seemed, had walked quickly enough to escape unnoticed. Because of this, she couldn't find him again.

"Damn it..."

"Is something wrong, Claire?"

Cindy Lennox was searching under the sofas and even flipping through the stacks of magazines, trying to find something useful.

"A lot of things, Cindy. Honestly... everything's going on. My brother doesn't remember me, we're locked in this dump, and... have you found anything?"

"Not much, Claire. I still think these magazines have something important in them... some are about fashion, others about technological advances, and one is about houses for sale. The information George gave was true... they're all dated after 1998. That scares me."

Cindy gave up and sat down on one of the sofas.

"Knowing I've lost seven years of my life is... terrifying. What did I do in those seven years? What happened in 1998 that no one wants us to know about? What if something bad happened, so bad that we had to undergo some kind of collective amnesia?"

"Do you think Albert and Chris's amnesia might have something to do with it?"

"I talked to Albert... and his case seems pretty serious. It's seven years, Claire, just think about it. What happened to my family? My friends Kevin, Jim, and Will... even my unpleasant boss, Jack. I just want to stay calm and not dwell on this."

"I hope we can find some answers soon, Cindy. I wish you luck with what you're looking for, okay? I'll check the library if you need anything."

"Thank you so much, Claire! And be careful, okay? I know I have no right to say anything, but... there are some people here I don't quite trust."

"Me too! I'll watch my back, thanks."

With that, Claire went up the stairs to the second floor where, halfway to the library, she received another notification.

---

"Relationship between Claire Redfield and Cindy Lennox increased by 1 point!"

---

 

Chapter 26: Library

Claire entered the library and began to examine the books Albert and Brad had previously left on the table, as they were still there, only now arranged. If George's information was true, then she would have to see it for herself to draw her own conclusions.

Some of the books dealt with scientific and quite complex topics: cell regeneration, advanced techniques for particle stimulation, species mutation. One of the books was even titled "The Common Ancestor," which intrigued Claire, who, upon opening it, read about the shared characteristics that all embryos possess during their early stages of development.

Redfield was so engrossed in her reading that the sound of a bottle of alcohol being placed on the table startled her.

"Hey! What the hell are you—?" And when she looked up, she saw it was Leon. "Oh... it's you."

"Motorcyclist. Can I sit down?"

"The seat is empty, and I don't see my name anywhere on the table, Roy."

The tired-eyed man smiled at Claire's boldness and proceeded to sit down opposite her.

"Did you find anything to keep you entertained?"

"Well... what George says seems to be true." Claire showed Leon several book covers, indicating that some had been published during the first half of the 2000s. "They're too elaborate books to be fake; there's everything... children's stories, songs, music... some newspaper clippings mention the deaths of some artists."

"Hmm... interesting. If the time-travel theory is true... that means something bad could have happened during the 2000s that brought us here, don't you think?"

"But what could it be?" Claire was still confused. "Something so bad, so horrible, that there are no records from 2006. Almost everything stops a few months into 2005. But... nothing from 2006."

"Uh... something so bad that publications from that date have ceased to exist... Maybe a cataclysm?"

"Don't talk nonsense! Then why do we all remember being kidnapped? I think we're just confused, that's all. We probably have jumbled memories."

"Memories... huh... I wish I could share Albert and Chris's blessing. Not remembering, not being like that."

Leon took a swig straight from the bottle, as Claire noticed he no longer had his glass.

"Is something wrong? Look, I don't know who you are or what you're up to, but... people will start to get suspicious if you start introducing yourself with a different name every now and then. And... I don't even know what your talent is."

"Don't worry... don't worry about me. After all... I don't think I'll be around long enough for it to be worth knowing my name."

The man stood up, and Claire was about to speak, but she decided to remain silent.

---

And, to her surprise, there was no increase in affinity between the two of them.

---

 

Chapter 27: Dining Room

After reading the books and still having more questions than answers, Redfield went down to the dining room where some people were having dinner. Hunger was gnawing at her, and Claire, despite feeling it wasn't right, perhaps due to stress, decided to take one of the vanilla pastries from a large metal platter and proceeded to eat it.

"Enjoying the little pleasures of life, Miss Redfield?"

Osmund Saddler displayed a contagious calmness upon seeing her eat so peacefully.

"Osmund... uh... yes. I got a little hungry. Haven't you moved from here?"

"I have no reason to. First, I must satisfy my needs, and then I will return to my well-deserved rest. If my body doesn't deceive me, it will probably be nighttime, as I have trained my body to fast for most of the day and send signals when the sun sets."

"Something like a sacrifice?"

Claire sat down in a chair next to him, curious.

"As proof of my existence. Pain and suffering are constants that grant me the capacity to feel. But, listen... I must tell you, these small pleasures, like that delicious vanilla pastry... Have you tried the raspberry jam one? I want to experience it, feel it, live it."

"And what do you think about the memory loss? It's been seven years, Osmund."

"It doesn't bother me. There's no point in succumbing to the delicious temptation of despair, so... I prefer to keep a moderate distance. If others are to be prey to their instincts... I pity them. I... I just want to believe that my town is still alright. They're good people, Don José, Doña María, and the Bella Sisters... If you only knew what a great man Dr. Salvador is."

"You say you're from... Spain, right?"

"That's right. I grew up in Spain and have lived a full life. The diabolical machinations of wicked beings don't disturb me."

"May I stay with you for a moment? So you don't have to eat dinner alone."

"You're more than welcome, Miss Redfield."

And so, they shared dinner together.

---

"Relationship between Claire Redfield and Osmund Saddler increased by 1 point!"

---

 

Chapter 28: Bedrooms

After sharing dinner with Saddler, Redfield stood up, satisfied, and opened her map to find her way to the dormitories. Eating so much had made her sleepy, and it was a good time to find a safe place, like her own room. Claire went through one of the dining room doors—in fact, one of only two that could be opened—and headed down a long hallway with many doors bearing plaques with their owners' photographs and names.

Claire continued walking until she found her own room, and before she could enter, someone stopped her.

"Hey, Claire! Wait..."

To her surprise, it was Chris, her... brother.

"Chris! Do you need something?"

Redfield smiled warmly, even though she knew he didn't remember her, and worse, he didn't really know who she was.

"I saw you and... I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to do it before, but, MonoRaccoon... you know."

"Sure, Chris. What do you want to know?"

The brown-haired man with a serious expression made a face as if he were thinking, and after closing his eyes and sighing, he found the right words.

"You say you're... my sister. Is that right?"

"I am your sister, Chris. That's right. What's more... I can tell you things about your life. For example, I know that your parents died when you were very young, well, our parents... and that you had to enlist in the army. I know you're a great pilot; you always dreamed of flying and breaking through the clouds, and... I also know that you're a good sniper, so much so that you were awarded a trophy and a medal for your excellent marksmanship."

Chris was surprised because he hadn't told Claire any of these things, such specific details.

"Is there anything else you know about me?"

"Mmm… yes, actually, yes. I know you had some very serious problems with an officer in the army, a superior who wanted to force you to do things you didn't want to do. Every day you regret that your Air Force discharge was dishonorable… but that didn't stop you, because Chris Redfield always stayed true to who he was… and what he believed in."

Claire bit her lip and began to cry as she mentioned him.

"I don't know what bad things you went through, Chris… or the awful things they did to you in Raccoon City… but with or without your memory… you'll always be my brother."

Claire wiped her tears and sighed wearily from the stress of not being recognized and completely erased from Chris's history.

"Why don't I remember you, Claire? Everything you say… is true. The Air Force, the tournament… my parents."

"I have a feeling something really bad happened to you, Chris... all of a sudden you stopped answering my calls, your messages became cold, and I even started to doubt it was you replying. I'm scared, Chris... scared you'll forget me, scared that... that finding out what happened to you will drive me crazy."

"Claire... even if I don't know who you are... or if I don't remember you... I think you're a good girl."

"Thanks, Chris. Look, you should go, get some rest, and don't go out at all tonight, okay? Don't open the door to anyone, don't answer anything... I don't want anything bad to happen to you before I have a chance to understand. I want my brother back, and it would be a real tragedy if... if something bad happens to you."

Claire then remembered something important: the jacket she was wearing.

"What's more... Look, Chris! I know you love this band. Remember when you gave it to me? Made In Heaven. You told me it looked great on me and that, even though you were far away, having my lucky charm meant you'd always be with me."

"Oh, yeah... I have all their albums! At home... at home..."

"Maybe you could keep it, Chris? It'll help you remember something. Please, take it, maybe it'll help you remember."

Chris took the jacket and looked with a smile at the design of an angel carrying a small nuclear explosive.

"Thanks, Claire. See you tomorrow, okay?"

"Of course we'll see each other tomorrow. Don't forget."

Claire went back to her room and, after saying goodbye to Chris, she closed the door.

And that message was enough to break her.

---

"Relationship between Claire Redfield and Chris Redfield increased by 1 point!"

---

 

Chapter 29: First Body Discovery

In the middle of the night, those still awake received a message from MonoRaccoon. He said he wanted to see some action, some excitement, some drama. Therefore, he implemented the first murder incentive:

---

"If you manage to end someone's life and win the trial, then you can leave this nightmare with only one person of your choice."

---

For those who read the message, there was an opportunity.

For others, a threat.

And some already knew that the message was directed at very specific people who stood out because of the bonds they had formed, or, failing that, the bonds they had before the game.

Osmund Saddler said it: those who succumb to temptation are capable of anything to regain their freedom.

Only those who have been through hell are capable of returning to it to obtain some absolution.

Something noteworthy about people who kill strangers lies in the simplicity of the act.

There are no bonds.

There are no feelings involved.

There's nothing that can stop them from carrying it out because there's no connection.

It doesn't become evident, obvious even, because it's not part of their circle, their context, their reality.

The truth is only for those who are willing to pursue it.

Most of those present woke up relatively "calm," though some seemed uneasy.

---

"Did you get yesterday's message?"

Cindy brought up the topic by checking the time on her MonoDroid; 8:01 a.m.

"You mean that horrible 'Murder Incentive'? I can imagine a couple of people thrilled with the idea."

Leon commented condescendingly.

"I hope that implication isn't directed at my husband and me."

Mia overheard him and immediately contradicted him.

"Anyway... There are still people missing, aren't there?"

Jill was yawning, too loudly, rubbing her eyes, and suffering from a terrible headache.

"Mr. Heisenberg, Miss Birkin, and the Redfield brothers are missing."

Saddler noticed the empty seats and was able to accurately identify who was absent.

A short while later, Sherry entered, dressed in colorful unicorn pajamas.

"Good morning, everyone!"

Sherry greeted everyone enthusiastically, and many in the room greeted her politely.

"I ran into that stinking specimen, Heisenberg. He had the nerve to show himself to me shirtless... The nerve! He had a towel with him, said the water taps in his bathroom weren't working, and that he would take a shower in the public restrooms."

"What luck, huh? The man who can build everything has a problem with his shower and can't do anything about it because he'd get killed."

Albert found a certain humor in the tragedy.

And finally, coming out of the dormitories, Chris arrived, looking uneasy.

"Good morning everyone... I have a question. Have you seen..."

---

They say no one is prepared for tragedies.

That, precisely, misfortune is a driving force in life that empowers people to fulfill their dreams.

And that life is an illusion.

Everyone saw him enter the dining room, soaked in blood and with an expression that revealed absolute terror.

The only thing he could shout before falling was a single, precise word.

"Bathrooms."

Bathrooms

Bathrooms

Bathrooms

Bathrooms

Bathrooms

Bathrooms

---

The word echoed in Chris's mind, who was thinking about it as he automatically ran from the dining room.

When the others went after him, knowing they would face consequences.

Because, life is about consequences.

Chris had lost his hearing; in fact, he couldn't hear anything because his entire world had gone silent.

But it wasn't a world without sight.

And at that moment...

When he went to the men's restroom and gently opened the door...

His world went black.

She did nothing wrong.

She was just looking for answers.

She... just wanted everything to be okay.

Brad Vickers, who was standing behind him, could only let out a bloodcurdling scream that alerted everyone.

---

DING DONG DING DONG!

"THREE INNOCENTS HAVE FOUND A BODY! AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, THE SCHOOL TRIAL WILL BEGIN!"

---

SURVIVING ULTIMATES

Mia Winters - Ultimate Researcher

Ethan Winters - Ultimate Systems Engineer

Chris Redfield - Ultimate Soldier

Albert Wesker - Ultimate ???

Alcina Dimitrescu - Ultimate Oenologist

Donna Beneviento - Ultimate Dollmaker

Alexia Ashford - Ultimate Sniper

Sherry Birkin - Ultimate Virologist

Cindy Lennox - Ultimate Waitress

Jill Valentine - Ultimate Cop

Karl Heisenberg - Ultimate Inventor

Leon - Ultimate ???

Brad Vickers - Ultimate Pilot

George Hamilton - Ultimate Surgeon

Osmund Saddler - Ultimate Priest

---

DECEASED ULTIMATES

Claire Redfield - Ultimate Biker

Chapter 30: Ride or Die - Investigation - Part I

"No..."

Chris's legs buckled, not caring if his pants got wet from the red-tinted water that soaked the bathroom tiles.

"Claire..."

"Oh God!"

Cindy covered her mouth in terror and fled the scene as quickly as she could, pushing past others involved.

"Claire?" Sherry asked about the motorcyclist before entering the restroom, but thanks to Alcina being nearby, she knelt down and begged her not to go in. "But..."

"No, dear... please don't go in. Let the adults handle it, okay? Come on, let's go."

Sherry and Alcina left the crime scene so that Sherry wouldn't be exposed to the horrific sight.

"So... it's begun." George commented pragmatically, seriously, unfazed. He had seen so many bodies in his life that seeing Claire, dead, didn't seem extraordinary to him. "It's time to use my talents."

"Going into the boys' bathroom is dangerous for us, isn't it? We could get killed..."

Jill exclaimed, not daring to set foot in the bathroom for fear of being murdered.

"Actually, no! Some rules are suspended during the investigation period!"

"Investigation?"

Ethan glanced sideways at MonoRaccoon.

"That's right! Investigation! When someone is murdered, you'll have a two-hour period to uncover evidence that could incriminate the culprit. After all, the School Trial is about exposing the guilty party!"

"Evidence... and I knew I couldn't get enough. So, can we girls go in?"

Jill just wanted to be sure.

"Of course!"

"Perfect. Attention everyone! This is a crime scene, and we need space! Start by splitting into groups and looking for evidence, testimonies, or information that might be useful to the case! We have two hours before the investigation phase concludes!"

Jill hated when things took turns like this.

She received a message from the MonoDroid; apparently, a group had been created through a messaging app called "First Case - Class of 1998."

---

The messages soon started coming in.

Mia: Can anyone tell me what's going on? I'm with Cindy in the living room. Who died? She won't stop crying.

Albert: Claire, the biker, died. She was murdered.

Sherry: Claire? No... she was my friend.

Mia: I'm sorry, honey. Is there anything we can do to help?

---

Jill saw an opportunity to interact.

---

Jill: This is Jill. Please, everyone, start forming groups and investigate your respective available areas. George, Chris, Albert, Brad, and I are in the Men's Restroom. If anyone has any information, please send it to this group.

Sherry: Alcina and Osmund don't even know how to turn on their devices, but I'll speak for them. We're all with Karl in the Dining Room. We'll investigate it together.

Leon: This is Leon. I'll investigate the Basement. In case anyone wants to come.

Mia: Okay. I'll be with Cindy in the Living Room.

George: Please, if you find any evidence, send it to the group. Take pictures of anything you find; that will make it easier for us to communicate.

---

Jill closed her MonoDroid and focused on the scene.

It was time to find those responsible.

Chapter 31: Ride or Die - Investigation - Part II

"Did you find anything on the body, George?"

Jill knelt down to examine the scene more closely.

"Well, I have to start by saying that I'm going to have a lot of trouble determining the time Claire died. She was subjected to the pressure of the cold water; the shower was running... which completely changed her body temperature."

George had taken a photograph and sent it to the group.

---

Truth Bullet: Photograph of the Showers.

It's a photo of George pointing at the showers.

"It's impossible for the Ultimate Surgeon to find an exact time of death because the body was placed under the shower, exposed to the cold water. The length of time Claire was under the water is unknown."

---

George had taken another photograph of Claire's body.

---

Truth Bullet: Photograph A of Claire.

It's a photo of Claire completely soaked.

"Claire Redfield is completely wet. It suggests she was exposed to the cold water for quite some time."

---

"Hmm… Maybe someone knew you were so good at your job that they didn't want any distractions, George?"

"That's the problem, Jill. Although… the rigor mortis in Claire's hand could indicate that she died a few hours ago, but everything would be more efficient if I had my tools."

"And what about her cause of death?"

"That's the interesting part. She has a single wound in the jugular region. Apparently, someone slit her throat, which explains the profuse bleeding. Look…"

George told Jill to notice how Claire's blood had even reached a nearby shower, leaving the floor stained with blood.

---

Truth Bullet: Photograph B of Claire

It's a photo of Claire's blood reaching the nearby shower.

"The photo shows profuse bleeding from the victim. Regardless of whether the water was mixed, there is concentrated blood present on the floor of the second shower."

---

And George took another photo.

---

Truth Bullet: Photograph C of Claire.

It's a photo that shows the knife embedded in Claire's jugular vein.

"The photo shows a knife with a unique engraving embedded in the victim's neck."

---

Each of the photos was uploaded to the group.

"Hmm… Do you think there are signs of a struggle, George? Could Claire have defended herself?"

George preemptively shook his head.

"No… Claire definitely had no way to defend herself. She died instantly. I can't imagine what it must have felt like to drown in a sea of ​​oxygen…"

---

Truth Bullet: George's Testimony

"Claire couldn't have defended herself. She died instantly."

---

Jill glanced sideways at Chris, who was still kneeling on the ground, staring at Claire, or what was left of her. Valentine knelt before Chris and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Chris. I didn't know Claire very well, but... she seemed like a nice girl. We'll work this out together, okay? Do you want to wait outside?"

"No... no... I killed her."

Chris's comment caught the attention of Jill and George, who exchanged a glance.

"What did you say?"

"I killed her, Jill... Claire gave me her jacket, her lucky charm... and I took her luck away. I... I killed... I killed my sister... even though I don't remember her."

"Chris... you had nothing to do with this, okay? If you want... if you want to avenge Claire's death... you have to act. You have to help us. Let George and I handle this, okay? Why don't you take Chris to the library or the dining room, Ethan, Brad?"

"Come on, Chris... let's go."

Ethan helped Redfield to his feet and give him enough strength to walk.

The fact that Chris wasn't crying was indicative of his grieving process.

"Hmm... we have to keep a close eye on him."

George suggested.

"Do you think he's a danger?"

"No, not a danger to us... but to him. Blaming himself like that... I've seen what guilt does to men of heart."

Chapter 32: Ride or Die - Investigation - Part III

Meanwhile, upon receiving the messages in the group chat, Osmund Saddler noticed something unusual when he saw the photograph of the knife George had taken.

"Thank you very much for letting us use your tablet, Miss Birkin. I'm too old to understand technology... hmmm... this photo intrigues me."

Saddler knew he had seen that design somewhere before, so he immediately began searching the table.

"What are you doing, Saddler?"

Alcina asked as she helped Heisenberg wipe the blood off himself.

"Mr. Hamilton sent a photo. I've seen this knife before... Here it is! I knew it. Miss Birkin... Could you take a picture of this knife while I'm holding it and send it to the group? I think I've found where the murder weapon came from."

Sherry complied and carefully took a photograph of the dragon-engraved knife, Saddler's long fingernails peeking out as he held the tip.

---

Truth Bullet: Sherry's Photograph

It's a photo showing Saddler holding a knife in the dining room. Food can be seen in the background on the grand banquet table.

"It's a photograph of Saddler holding a knife that has dragon engravings on it."

---

Upon receiving the photograph, George immediately replied, "It's the same knife. Thank you."

"I'm not that strong, Alcina..."

Heisenberg was trembling as Dimitrescu cleaned him up.

"You are, Heisenberg. So show us everything you've done all these years since we've known each other, okay? Is there anything you can tell us about the scene?"

Heisenberg nodded.

"Yeah... I went to the damn bathrooms because my shower is broken. I heard the water running and... it was all dark. I tripped over Claire trying to find the damn light switch. When I finally found it... I knew something was wrong. My hands felt weird; it wasn't water I was touching."

Alcina listened intently.

It was good evidence.

---

Truth Bullet: Heisenberg's Testimony.

"The shower water in the bathrooms was already running. The bathroom lights were off. I tripped over the body, turned on the lights, and found her."

---

"Anything else you can tell us?"

"Yeah... yeah, there's something else. I screamed... I screamed like a demon. Why didn't anyone come?"

"Hmm? We didn't hear you, Heisenberg... and the bathrooms are really close to the dining room. Where did you scream?"

"In the restrooms, in the restroom hallway. You see, there's a partition; the hallway divides the women's and men's restrooms. I screamed..."

"Well, we didn't hear you. This must be taken into consideration..."

---

Truth Bullet: Heisenberg's Testimony II.

"I screamed, but no one heard me, so I had to leave covered in blood."

---

Alcina had a little idea.

"Saddler, dear Saddler, can you do me a favor?"

"Anything for you, Miss Dimitrescu."

"I want you to do something. I need you to stand outside the public restrooms... I have to tie up some loose ends, okay? And you're of utmost importance. Besides, I can't leave Sherry alone."

"That seems sensible. With your permission."

And so, Alcina would uncover the truth behind the little mystery.

Chapter 33: Ride or Die - Investigation - Part IV

---

Alcina: This is Dimitrescu. I've sent Saddler to stand guard outside the public restrooms. I need backup from those inside. Who are they?

Jill: This is Jill. It's just George and me, Alcina. Do you need anything?

Alcina: Yes, actually, yes, Jill Valentine. I want to make a comment here before the situation can be misinterpreted. I need George to scream as loudly as he can, but the restroom door must be closed.

George: Why do you want me to do that?

Alcina: Just do it, Surgeon. Is anyone near the restrooms or in the living room?

Mia: Yes, it's Cindy and me. We're in the living room. Do you need anything?

Alcina: Perfect. George, you can scream now. 

---

Alcina waited patiently for the messages to arrive.

And she waited.

And she waited.

And finally, she waited.

---

George: Done. I screamed as loud as I could.

Alcina: Hmm… Mia. Did you, Saddler, Cindy, or anyone else hear anything?

Mia: Absolutely nothing, Alcina. What's this all about?

Alcina: Can you tell Saddler to open the public restroom door? Please.

---

More patience.

---

Mia: Done, Alcina. Saddler says hi.

Alcina: What a gentleman. Now… George… do your thing.

George: You want me to scream again?

Alcina: I'm not known for asking twice.

---

And, to her surprise, George's screams could be heard all the way to the dining room.

---

Leon: What the fuck happened? Is everyone okay?

Alexia: Did anyone else die?

Ethan: Is everyone alright? Brad, Chris, and I are in the storage room, but there's nothing there. Who screamed?

Alcina: Hmm… interesting. Thank you all.

---

Alcina had obtained important information.

---

Truth Bullet: Alcina's Experiment.

Alcina discovered that a closed public restroom door can determine whether or not noises from inside are perceived.

Chapter 34: Ride or Die - Investigation - Part V

George: Well, well, thanks to Alcina's experiment, I found this.

---

George sent a photo to the group.

---

Truth Bullet: Photograph of the Public Restroom Hallways

It's a photograph of the public restroom hallways where you can see dried blood that had stained most of the carpet.

---

Brad: God... there were so many of us there that we didn't notice that.

Leon: So Claire was killed outside the men's restroom? If so... how did she get there if she's a woman?

Alcina: I think that leads us to another truth...

---

Truth Bullet: Regulations

People of the opposite sex may not enter restrooms that are not designated for their respective sex. Men may not enter women's restrooms, and women may not enter men's restrooms.

---

Leon: This is Leon. Could the killer be a man?

Mia: I assume this will be an important piece of discussion.

Brad: We've finished investigating the storage room. There's nothing here. Has anyone found anything else?

Leon: Maybe. Look at this crap.

---

Leon sent a photograph showing the basement floor, where there were black bags labeled "Halloween - 1999".

---

Truth Bullet: Empty Bags from 1999

Plastic bags lying on the floor along with clothes scattered everywhere. There are some toy handcuffs.

---

Jill: Have you found anything else, Leon?

Leon: Negative, Jill. I only found the bag with the stupid toy handcuffs. Everything belonged to the Halloween section.

Ethan: Actually... there's a place I think we're overlooking. Has anyone checked Claire's room yet?

Chapter 35: Ride or Die - Investigation - Part VI

Ethan Winters stood outside Claire Redfield's room. He had volunteered to investigate since Alcina and Saddler were busy with Karl and Sherry, and the other participants hadn't communicated in the group chat.

"Well... here we go."

Ethan turned the doorknob of Claire's room, noticing that it was unlocked, which he found unusual.

Once inside, he saw that the room was tidy, except for the bed, which looked like someone had gotten up after sleeping on it, as there was a large gap where someone could easily have rested.

"Hmm... so Claire woke up? In the middle of the night... What woke her?"

That's when Ethan saw Claire's MonoDroid on a small piece of furniture. It was still powered on, and the MonoRaccoon incentive was displayed on the device's screen.

"Hmm... this is important."

Ethan took a picture with his device and sent it to the group.

---

Truth Bullet: Claire's MonoDroid

The MonoDroid was powered on, and it was clear that Claire was aware of MonoRaccoon's motive for the first murder.

---

On the other hand, Ethan also noticed a carefully folded piece of paper placed on the same piece of furniture.

---

Truth Bullet: Threat

Threatening note found on Claire's furniture.

"I have information regarding what happened to Chris in Raccoon City. We'll meet at the public restrooms. Come alone. I'm working with someone else... and if you say anything, we'll kill you."

---

Leon: What the hell? They threatened Claire?

Mia: Ethan... Where did this come from?

Ethan: It's from Claire's room. I managed to get in. Does anyone remember seeing anything strange last night at the public restrooms?

Alcina: I think I saw something. Last night, while I was talking with Saddler in the Dining Room... I thought I saw Albert leaving. Saddler can confirm this. I didn't know where he was going anyway because he was heading in the direction of the Living Room, near those bathrooms.

---

Truth Bullet: Alcina's Testimony

"Saddler and I saw Albert enter the Living Room while we were both in the dining room."

---

Jill: They probably saw him heading to the library; after all, I summoned him.

Wesker: That's right. Jill and I were in the library almost all night.

---

Truth Bullet: Jill's Testimony

"Wesker and I were together all night in the library."

---

Alcina: We saw Albert around 3:00 a.m. But we never saw any sign of Claire...

Ethan: What if we leave it for the Trial that that crappy teddy bear mentioned?

---

And so it was done. MonoRaccoon asked everyone to gather in the Living Room because the investigation period was over.

It was time to face reality.

Chapter 36: Ride or Die - Truth Bullets

Truth Bullets

---

Truth Bullet: Photograph of the Showers.

This is a photo of George pointing at the showers.

"It is impossible for the Ultimate Surgeon to determine an exact time of death because the body was placed under the bathroom shower, exposed to cold water. The length of time Claire was under the water is unknown."

---

Truth Bullet: Photograph A of Claire.

This is a photo of Claire completely soaked.

---

Truth Bullet: Photograph B of Claire.

This is a photo of Claire's blood reaching the nearby shower.

"The photo shows profuse bleeding from the victim. Regardless of whether the water was mixed, there is concentrated blood present on the floor of the second shower."

---

Truth Bullet: Photograph C of Claire.

This is a photo showing the knife embedded in Claire's jugular vein.

"The photo shows a knife with a unique engraving embedded in the victim's neck."

---

Truth Bullet: Sherry's Photograph of Saddler Holding a Knife

It's a photo showing Saddler holding a knife in the dining room. Food can be seen in the background on the grand banquet table.

"It's a photograph of Saddler holding a knife that has dragon engravings on it."

---

Truth Bullet: Photograph of the Public Restroom Hallways

It's a photograph of the public restroom hallways where you can see dried blood that had stained most of the carpet.

---

Truth Bullet: Empty Bags from 1999

Plastic bags lying on the floor along with clothes scattered everywhere. There are some toy handcuffs. Found in the basement. 

---

Truth Bullet: Regulations

People of the opposite sex may not enter restrooms that are not designated for their respective sex. Men may not enter women's restrooms, and women may not enter men's restrooms.

Three Innocent must see the body so the BDA will be aired. 

---

Truth Bullet: Claire's MonoDroid

The MonoDroid was powered on, and it was clear that Claire was aware of MonoRaccoon's motive for the first murder.

---

Truth Bullet: Threat

Threatening note found on Claire's furniture.

"I have information regarding what happened to Chris in Raccoon City. We'll meet at the public restrooms. Come alone. I'm working with someone else... and if you say anything, we'll kill you."

---

Truth Bullet: George's Testimony

"Claire couldn't have defended herself. She died instantly."

---

Truth Bullet: Heisenberg's Testimony.

"The shower water in the bathrooms was already running. The bathroom lights were off. I tripped over the body, turned on the lights, and found her."

---

Truth Bullet: Heisenberg's Testimony II.

"I screamed, but no one heard me, so I had to leave covered in blood."

---

Truth Bullet: Jill's Testimony

"Wesker and I were together all night in the library."

---

Truth Bullet: Alcina's Testimony

"Saddler and I saw Albert enter the Living Room while we were both in the dining room."

---

Truth Bullet: Alcina's Experiment.

Alcina discovered that a closed public restroom door can determine whether or not noises from inside are perceived.

Chapter 37: Ride or Die - Elevator

All the survivors went to the Living Room where MonoRaccoon lay waiting for them. Suddenly, the furniture began to shake, and the chandelier seemed about to detach from the ceiling and fall on someone, judging by how it swayed.

Eventually, a large elevator emerged from the floor and opened its doors before them all.

Instinctively, they entered, fearing they might not return from this nightmare.

Chris remained silent, trying to comprehend the situation. Part of him truly felt bad for what had happened to Claire, but another part was conflicted because, essentially, she was a stranger to him. That didn't change the fact that what had happened was a complete tragedy.

Redfield observed the tired and confused faces of the others, some with fear, others with intrigue, and in a few cases, with indifference.

---

But one thing was certain.

Someone else would die.

Sixteen souls entered.

Claire was the last to wake... and the first to fall asleep.

Fifteen angels had their wings clipped and were forced into the cage.

Would fourteen of them emerge victorious... or would only one rise from the carnage?

No one knew.

And no one wanted to know.

Chapter 38: Ride or Die - Trial - Part I

When the elevator stopped, it finally arrived in a large hall where sixteen podiums were arranged in a circle. Each one had a gold plaque with the occupant's name, and oddly enough, the empty podium where Claire should have been was occupied by a large black and white photo of her with a red motorcycle sticker plastered over her face.

---

"Welcome to our first trial! I'll explain the simple rules. You must deliberate on the identity of the guilty party, and once you've done so, it will be put to a vote.

If the person you voted for turns out to be guilty, then only they will be punished.

But, if you vote for an innocent person, then all of you will be punished except for the guilty party.

Is that clear?"

---

Many people expressed concern about the cruel rule.

"Well, then we only have one shot, so we can't screw this up."

Jill remained resolute.

"But... how are we supposed to begin?"

Mia clutched her belly and looked around with intrigue at everyone present.

"So, we should talk about what we were doing yesterday after we all left the dining room, right?"

Alexia joined the conversation, trying to get somewhere.

"No, that's not possible. Someone can easily lie..." George spoke up and scratched his chin. "We might have to start with the first person who discovered the body. Heisenberg."

All eyes turned to the inventor, who, by then, hadn't had time to change.

"Uh... okay, okay, people, don't look at me like that. If you want me to start, I will. You see... my room has a problem with the shower. I can't shower in my damn bathroom, and fixing it would mean being executed by MonoRaccoon."

Karl scratched his head sheepishly, smiling and showing his yellow teeth.

"And why not borrow someone else's bathroom?"

Brad asked, confused.

"Have you seen me, boy? Nothing beats privacy, besides... I had some shaving tools, I wanted some... uh... space. Anyway, MonoRaccoon told me I could use the showers in the public restrooms if I wanted. That's why I went there early."

"I can confirm that!" Alcina raised her hand in affirmation. "I saw this stinking, disgusting creature walking so revoltingly close to me, with his stupid towel, heading for the exit of the Dining Hall."

"Anyway... it was pitch black when I went in. The restrooms were dark, and I couldn't remember where the damn light switch was. I... tripped, and felt something weird, something really bad."

"How do we know Heisenberg isn't lying?"

Donna, or at least her doll, exclaimed in a mocking tone.

It was time to start a debate.

---

Karl: What? I'm not lying! I'm telling the truth... I got up early, my shower wasn't working, MonoRaccoon told me to use the public restrooms, and I agreed.

Donna: And how do we know that's not an alibi and that you were actually expecting to find Claire's body?

Alcina: I don't think Heisenberg is clumsy enough to commit such a simple murder. He is the Ultimate Inventor, after all.

Leon: But is there really anything that could clear him? Because it's very convenient that he was absent for most of the investigation despite having found the body.

Donna: That's why I'd like to bring up Karl's possible involvement again.

At that moment, George remembered something that could get the Inventor out of a tight spot.

George: No! You're wrong!

---

 Truth Bullet Used: Regulations:

The rule of three innocents

---

"Karl can't be the killer... after all, a criterion was met for the Body Discovery Announcement to be issued in the first place. Can you remember what it is?"

George hoped someone else could back him up.

"I do," Jill said decisively. "When three innocent people see the body... the announcement will air. MonoRaccoon said so. If Karl was the first to see Claire... when we all got to the restrooms, Chris and Brad were already inside. Chris went in first, followed by Brad, and the announcement went off immediately."

"Exactly! I'm not the killer, besides, I liked Claire."

"You can continue with your story, Karl."

Alcina said condescendingly.

"Bitch... whatever. I stumbled upon Claire's body and started screaming like a fucking lunatic for help, but nobody came to me. I mean... I turned on the lights after tripping over something in the dark and... I'm covered in blood. I left after a while when I saw nobody was coming to me."

"Hmm… that seems to make sense. That Heisenberg stayed so long… after all, he was one of the first people I saw early, very early. If Heisenberg was screaming in despair after finding the body… while we were all gathered in the dining room…"

Alcina was clearly disgusted that Heisenberg wasn't the killer. 

Chapter 39: Ride or Die - Trial - Part II

"But then why didn't we hear anything?"

Another debate began following Alexia's comment.

---

Alexia: What Heisenberg is saying is contradictory.

Alexia: How could he scream for so long without us hearing him?

Leon: That's true. We heard George screaming because they announced it on the chat.

Leon: And I was in the Basement and I heard him perfectly.

Ethan: And you weren't the only one who heard them.

Ethan: Chris, Brad, and I were in the Storage Room and we heard George screaming.

Ethan: What Karl is saying doesn't make sense.

That's when Alcina knew how to intervene.

Alcina: You're wrong, child!

---

Truth Bullet Used: Alcina's Experiment.

Alcina discovered that a closed public restroom door can determine whether or not noises from inside are perceived.

---

"Actually, there's an excellent reason why Heisenberg couldn't be heard calling for help. Will you back me up, Saddler?"

"With pleasure, Miss Dimitrescu. You see, Mr. Winters… the reason we couldn't hear Mr. Heisenberg's cries for help… was because the public restroom door was closed."

That left many puzzled, including Ethan.

"Can you explain?"

Leon demanded answers.

"It would be a pleasure. You see… Miss Dimitrescu had a theory that turned out to be correct. Apparently, the material of the public restroom walls is such that it prevents sound from escaping the area. That's why we asked Mr. Hamilton to shout twice, correct?"

"That's correct, Saddler… but… I didn't know that keeping the door open or closed was actually relevant."

George scratched his head in confusion.

"George really did shout twice… very loudly. I was there." Jill confirmed. "Apparently the first scream wasn't heard, which I assume is because the door was closed... but with the second scream... many people started sending messages in the chat. This confirms why we didn't hear Heisenberg."

"So I have to understand this... Heisenberg goes to the restrooms, trips over Claire, finds her, screams, leaves the restrooms, and... we find him in the Dining Hall, right?"

Ethan wanted to have everything arranged chronologically.

"That's how it happened." Heisenberg confirmed. "And now we're back to the beginning..."

"Well, that's progress. You're cleared... which leaves others implicated. Why don't we examine Claire's body? We need her to tell us her story."

George Hamilton thought it would be ideal to start talking about the victim.

A debate began.

---

Mia: Claire Redfield died in the restrooms, there's no doubt about that.

Jill: That's correct.

Albert: And apparently, it was a bloody scene.

Ethan: Too much blood to be from just one person, if you ask me...

Ethan: There was even blood in the hallway and inside the men's restroom.

Leon: Claire seemed like a tough girl.

Leon: I'm sure she put up some resistance.

But Jill had a different perspective.

Jill: I think there's a problem with your statement!

---

Truth Bullet Used: George's Testimony

"Claire couldn't have defended herself. She died instantly."

---

"No... Claire might have seemed tough, but she... she definitely had no way to defend herself."

Jill commented, looking down.

"Claire didn't defend herself? But... that's too much blood. Are you sure she didn't hurt her killer?"

Alexia played with her hair.

"No, unfortunately, there's something that proves Claire's death was instantaneous. Please, everyone look at the group. Photo C."

Everyone listened to Jill and saw a knife embedded in Redfield's neck.

---

Truth Bullet Used: Photograph C of Claire.

This is a photo showing the knife embedded in Claire's jugular vein.

"The photo shows a knife with a unique engraving embedded in the victim's neck."

---

"A wound there... it's almost instant death... she didn't suffer."

Chris spoke for the first time and sighed wearily.

"She didn't suffer, Chris. At least we're sure of that."

Jill tried to reassure him.

Chapter 40: Ride or Die - Trial - Part III

"Now we need to identify how Claire died, right? While we know she died from a fatal neck wound... the question is... where did they get the murder weapon?"

Mia started another discussion.

---

Donna: They took a knife and went STAB STAB STAB!

Leon: The question is... where?

Jill: I think the answer seems too obvious.

Alcina: More than obvious. Isn't that right, Saddler?

Osmund nodded and smiled at Alcina's cooperation.

Saddler: That's correct, my dear Miss Dimitrescu.

---

Truth Bullet Used: Sherry's Photograph of Saddler Holding a Knife

It's a photo showing Saddler holding a knife in the dining room. Food can be seen in the background on the grand banquet table.

"It's a photograph of Saddler holding a knife that has dragon engravings on it."

---

"As you can all see from the group photos, I had seen that knife before... in the dining room. It seems someone who was with us at the meeting took it, kept it for themselves, and used it to murder Miss Redfield."

Saddler pointed out the similarity between the two weapons.

"To bleed to death from that shit... I don't even want to imagine it, feeling something cold and metallic inside me. No, no, no."

Ethan winced.

"And that only confirms the fact. The killer was one of us. We were all in the dining room, we all interacted with the silverware, with the food, at some point."

Saddler spoke with a weary expression.

"But, hey, do we have any proof that Claire actually died in the restrooms and not somewhere else?"

Brad joined the conversation, wanting to contribute.

"What do you mean, Vickers?"

Mia looked at the Pilot with intrigue.

"Yeah... Isn't there a possibility that Claire died somewhere else and was transported to the restrooms?"

Brad started another rift between the participants.

---

Mia: Could Claire have been killed somewhere else? Is that even possible?

Ethan: But... at least we didn't find any evidence in the Storage Room.

Alcina: The killer had to be very clever to carry the body away, if that's the case.

Karl: The son of a bitch must have left a HUGE trail, considering Claire was bleeding out, and that would mean their clothes would be covered in blood.

Jill: I understand Brad's concern... just because Claire turned up in the men's restroom doesn't mean she died there.

George had evidence that corroborated Jill's.

George: I completely agree!

---

"Everyone... take a look at this."

---

Truth Bullet Used: Photograph of the Public Restroom Hallways

It's a photograph of the public restroom hallways where you can see dried blood that had stained most of the carpet.

---

George picked up the photograph of the blood-stained carpet in the hallway of the public restrooms. The carpet was dark, making it difficult to see that there was indeed blood on it.

"That... that carpet is soaked. Because almost all of us were there because of the announcement... we didn't notice. But that blood is dry... So why was Karl covered in blood?"

Brad was really surprised.

Chapter 41: Ride or Die - Trial - Part IV

Leon: What Brad says is a matter we need to discuss.

Leon: If there's completely dried blood on the carpet...

Leon: Why was Karl soaked in blood?

Donna: It's the blood of two different people!

Alcina: Could it be the killer's blood?

Mia: No... we've already established that Claire couldn't defend herself.

Brad: What if the blood there was a mistake by the killer?

Brad: Maybe they didn't mean to kill her there, but they didn't have another chance. They were trying to mislead us!

George nodded at Brad's words and agreed.

George: There might be some logic to what you're saying!

---

Truth Bullet Used: Regulations

People of the opposite sex may not enter restrooms that are not designated for their respective sex. Men may not enter women's restrooms, and women may not enter men's restrooms.

---

"Yes... the blood definitely belongs to Claire. In fact... all the blood belongs to her. Claire was attacked in the hallways of the public restrooms and taken to the men's restroom, presumably already dead."

George was sure it was necessary to talk more about the nature of the place the victim was found. 

"Oh! So that would explain why Claire didn't die as punishment! Right? Because... being a corpse... she wouldn't suffer the consequences of entering a forbidden place."

Mia covered her mouth in surprise.

"Is that true, MonoRaccoon? What would happen to a person if they broke that rule?"

Jill wanted her question answered.

"Simple! They die instantly, executed according to their talent, as if they had committed murder."

"See? Claire was already dead by the time she entered the Men's Restroom... which implies a lot."

Albert commented in a serious tone.

"But why would they have put her in the men's restroom? What's more... do we even know when Claire died?"

Jill's comment sparked a debate.

---

Ethan: Come on, there's dried blood on the carpet... she must have died during the night.

Alcina: Or she could have died shortly before Karl found her.

Albert: Since we don't have a description of her body, we don't know for sure how or when she died.

Mia: That's true... we don't know when she died...

Leon: What if what the wet blood tells us is irrelevant?

George listened attentively to Leon's comment and agreed.

George: That's the most appropriate explanation!!

---

Truth Bullet Used: Photograph of the Showers.

This is a photo of George pointing at the showers.

"It is impossible for the Ultimate Surgeon to determine an exact time of death because the body was placed under the bathroom shower, exposed to cold water. The length of time Claire was under the water is unknown."

---

"We can't estimate an exact time of Claire's death, not only because it hasn't been provided to us... but because the killer did it on purpose."

"Is there anything to support why the time she died isn't relevant?"

Mia winced as her baby kicked.

"Yes, indeed. When we found Claire, the cold water in the shower was running, and therefore affected her body temperature. This made it impossible to determine the exact time of Claire's death."

George looked dejected.

---

Truth Bullet Used: Heisenberg's Testimony.

"The shower water in the bathrooms was already running. The bathroom lights were off. I tripped over the body, turned on the lights, and found her."

---

"That's true. Something I forgot to mention is that... the showers were running, at least where I found Claire." Karl said, apologetic for bringing it up so late. "For a moment I thought someone was showering, which seemed odd... Who showers in the dark?"

Chapter 42: Ride or Die - Trial - Part V

Ethan: Damn... then it could literally have been any one of us who was late for breakfast.

Leon: And if I recall correctly, not all of us were there. Some were late.

Karl: And if we don't have a way of proving when Claire died...

Albert: We might be finished.

George: God... the killer played us well. Because if we don't know when the showers were turned on... we have no way of knowing who to rule out with such a wide timeframe.

And, for the first time in the trial, a voice rang out.

Cindy: Don't lose hope! You're wrong!

---

Cindy Lennox clung to the truth, leaving her fears behind.

"No... no, I do know what time Claire died. It was last night... and I know... because I went to the public restrooms late at night."

Cindy's comment sparked another debate.

---

Cindy: I ​​woke up around 2:00 AM... or at least that's what the MonoDroid said.

Cindy: Like Karl, my bathroom is having problems; I can't flush the toilet, and MonoRaccoon told me I could use the women's restroom.

Cindy: When I went there last night... I heard the shower running.

Leon: And you're only speaking up now?

Mia: Don't be cruel to her, Leon. She literally witnessed the murder without knowing it.

Albert: So that makes it clear, right? If Cindy heard the shower running... this implies... it implies something pretty obvious.

And one singular person agreed with him.

Brad: The rules say so!

---

Truth Bullet Used: Regulations

People of the opposite sex may not enter restrooms that are not designated for their respective sex. Men may not enter women's restrooms, and women may not enter men's restrooms.

---

"If Cindy heard the shower running... that means it was indeed a man who... who killed Claire."

Brad scratched the dandruff from his hair, following Cindy's lead.

"And what else did you do, Cindy? Didn't you see anyone suspicious?"

Leon questioned, looking at her intently.

"No, Leon… and everyone else, I'm sorry. No, I didn't know that at that moment someone… that there was a body in the men's restroom. I just went in, did my business, and left shortly after."

Cindy sighed dejectedly.

"Hmm… if Claire died around the time Cindy said, then it makes sense. I have two pieces of evidence to support that."

George said. 

---

Truth Bullet Used: Photograph B of Claire.

This is a photo of Claire's blood reaching the nearby shower.

"The photo shows profuse bleeding from the victim. Regardless of whether the water was mixed, there is concentrated blood present on the floor of the second shower."

---

"Claire was found being sprayed with cold water from the showers, which caused her blood to separate. Some of the blood, due to the severity of the wound, ended up running into the second space, which corresponds to a second showerhead that wasn't turned on. Some of that blood concentrated, turning completely black.

"Which matches the blood seen on the rug, doesn't it?"

Karl suggested.

"That's right. That blood, concentrated by exposure to oxygen, would indicate that Claire could have died during the night... but something else also catches my attention."

---

Truth Bullet: Photograph A of Claire.

This is a photo of Claire completely soaked.

---

"Claire was completely soaked, wet; her clothes, her hair, everything indicated that she had been there for quite some time. But... it's not just the fact that Claire was wet, but the place where she was found is also very relevant. A man could have killed her."

George's words traveled fast among the participants. 

Chapter 43: Ride or Die - Trial - Part VI

"Hmm… Perhaps it's time you started talking, Albert?"

Alcina immediately turned her attention to Wesker, who laughed at the wine expert's accusation.

"What are you implying, woman?"

---

Truth Bullet Used: Alcina's Testimony

"Saddler and I saw Albert enter the Living Room while we were both in the dining room."

---

"Rather… what are we proposing?" Saddler joined the conversation. "Miss Dimitrescu and I saw you very late last night, Mr. Wesker… around three in the morning. You left the dining room, didn't you? And you could very well have gone to the restrooms to commit the crime."

"That's impossible. It couldn't have been me, because I don't remember seeing them in my entire life during the night."

"I think this will be settled by discussing the facts."

Alcina began the debate.

---

Alcina: Osmund and I were awake during the night when we saw Albert leave the dining room.

Alcina: He could very well have gone to the restrooms to murder Claire.

Alcina: After all, we didn't see Claire go in or out, so by then, she would have already been dead.

Saddler: And we were in the mess hall long enough not to have noticed who was coming and going.

Saddler: And we're certain we saw that blond man with his distinctive sunglasses inside.

Saddler: He left the dining room and came back in later.

Alcina: That's why we firmly believe Albert Wesker may be the killer.

But there was someone who had other evidence.

Jill: You're SO wrong!

---

Jill Valentine was going to defend her Captain even if he didn't remember her.

---

Truth Bullet: Jill's Testimony

"Wesker and I were together all night in the library.

---

"It's IMPOSSIBLE that you could have seen Albert. He and I were up all night in the library. We were looking for books on mind control techniques, relaxation, and trance so we could understand his amnesia and work on it."

Jill commented in an aggressive tone.

"Not to mention that Jill never saw me leave the library. I never left her side because our investigation was important. I'm a man with no past, Alcina, and Jill is the only one who's ever cared and given a damn."

"Well then, one of you is lying! Or you're both in on it. Because we clearly saw Albert leave the dining hall and go back in to head towards the dormitories."

"What? There are two Albert Weskers then?"

Mia was confused.

"Are you telling me that Jill and Wesker could have worked together? In that case... Cindy must have seen Jill at some point, right?"

"But the women's restrooms were empty. All the stalls were open because that full-length mirror covers every single one of them. I was alone. I didn't see Jill in or out of the restrooms."

Cindy completely denied Jill's possible involvement.

"If Albert killed Claire... that means they can both get out, right? Albert is doing the dirty work so Jill can be chosen to be saved."

George said something rash.

"Oh, damn it! Albert isn't the killer, not a chance! We were in the damn library all night! You guys couldn't see Albert because it simply WASN'T him!"

But there was another person who had some evidence.

"Hmm... Remember that threatening note to Claire? Whoever wrote it said they had someone working for them. Maybe Albert wrote it to lure Claire to the restrooms and kill her..."

---

Truth Bullet Used: Threat

Threatening note found on Claire's furniture.

"I have information regarding what happened to Chris in Raccoon City. We'll meet at the public restrooms. Come alone. I'm working with someone else... and if you say anything, we'll kill you."

---

"You've got to be kidding me, Ethan! Now you're going to think Albert and I are the killers?! No way!"

"There's no other way, Jill! What Dimitrescu and Saddler are saying seems solid! And if you two confirmed being dangerously close to the crime scene..."

"Well, they were literally in the damn cafeteria! There's really nothing to prove they're not lying!"

Chapter 44: Ride or Die - Trial - Part VII

"Hmm… Jill is telling the truth."

Leon commented with a smile, bringing some relief to the police.

"Thanks! And in case you didn't know, you bunch of idiots, Wesker and I aren't the only ones working together. Brad is too!"

"That's true!" Vickers came to his colleagues' defense. "Jill and I are looking for information in the library to help Wesker recover his memories. Since I was tired, I asked Jill to relieve me."

"I can vouch for that." Leon nodded. "I saw Brad and Wesker spending a lot of time in the library studying books on the topics Jill mentioned: meditation, subliminal messages… Besides, because of my talent, I know that Albert and Jill aren't lying."

"So… what is your talent, Leon?"

Alcina questioned with disdain.

---

Truth Bullet: Empty Bags from 1999

Plastic bags lying on the floor along with clothes scattered everywhere. There are some toy handcuffs. Found in the basement.

---

"It's none of your business, Alcina, but it's just a matter of considering my evidence. I found a bag with a sticker that said 'Halloween - 1999.' And some toy handcuffs... and it makes me think... along with all the clothes that were lying around in the basement..."

"Could someone have dressed up as Wesker?" Mia interjected. "But why would they do that?"

"It's a matter of perception. Alcina and Saddler... Do you remember how tall Wesker was when you saw him yesterday?"

Leon had taken control of the trial, and he knew that asking the right questions would lead to the right answers.

"He's very tall, clearly. So tall that the dining room door almost touches his head, which is why he has to duck a bit to go in and out."

"Now... put that aside. Let's rule out the men... Chris, Karl, and Brad are innocent; they couldn't have done it. On the other hand... George isn't that tall; he couldn't have met the criterion. I don't meet it either because I can easily fit through the door without having to duck. And honestly... with everything I drank yesterday, I was too drunk to function."

"Let's see... That only leaves Ethan and Osmund..." Jill was taking notes on her little MonoDroid, writing down everything Leon said. "But if what these two idiots are saying is true, that they saw Albert... then that would leave..."

"Hey! NO! My husband couldn't have committed the murder, and neither could I. I couldn't have because I'm pregnant, and he couldn't have for a very important reason."

"I agree with Mia! Her special rule says so! She counts as two. I'd either have to kill her or my baby to get out of here, and while that incentive is very good, I wouldn't do it."

"But... that clears all men. And the only one left..."

Jill was seriously confused.

"Alcina and Saddler... What were you talking about last night?"

Leon inquired.

"Well, it's simple; Saddler told me about his village in Spain, and I told him about my beloved daughters. We both agreed that we wouldn't kill because it's not worth it; any mistake could lead to our deaths, and since then we've sworn to protect each other."

Alcina commented confidently, setting aside the arrogance in her voice.

"And as I promised Miss Redfield... I'm going to enjoy the little pleasures in life; I'm not going to give in to the temptation to kill. I wouldn't kill for Alcina's freedom, if that's what you mean."

"And of course I wouldn't put my life in Saddler's hands; he could betray me. If I see my daughters again, it will be because of my own merit, not because I'm dependent on some man coming along and solving things for me."

Leon was captivated.

"Saddler and Alcina are innocent."

Chapter 45: Ride or Die - Trial - Part VIII

"Innocent? But they could be working together!"

Jill was uneasy.

"The problem is they don't trust each other, Jill. I'd believe an incentive like this would work with specific people like the Winters, who are married. Of course they'd let us die because we're not their family... or the Redfields, Claire would have killed for Chris. But Alcina can't let Saddler kill for her because she's not sure he'd ultimately choose her..."

"Uh... now I see Leon's thinking. It's all about trust... and if one of them knows the other has done... and out of distrust, they might reveal their name and expose the deal..."

Cindy was horrified by Leon's complex thinking.

"And Saddler wouldn't be sure Alcina would choose him, because if there's one thing Alcina hates, it's men. She sees Saddler as a tool, not someone worth dealing with."

Leon knew how to go straight for the jugular, like a killer.

"So... Chris, Brad, Karl, Albert, Osmund, Ethan, and you are... clear. But then what's next?"

"You know what I've found curious all this time?" Leon started to laugh. "That we're an uneven group. Nine men and seven women... doesn't seem very equitable to me, to say the least."

Leon really hoped that this person had some dignity.

Even just a little.

"I'll give you one chance before I start making my case. Just admit it was you and save yourself the embarrassment."

But of course, no one answered to Leon's demands. 

"Ah... they're all the same. Fine, I'll start saying some interesting things and why each one is innocent.

---

Chris is innocent because he discovered the body.

Brad is innocent because he discovered the body.

Karl is innocent because he discovered the body.

Osmund is innocent because he doesn't trust Alcina and would NEVER work for her.

Wesker is innocent because Jill was with him all night.

Ethan is innocent because the incentive would have meant the death of his wife or his baby, and because of what Mia is doing—and I know this for a fact—she is pregnant, so it doesn't apply that she could be faking it.

George couldn't have done it because of his height. 

I'll continue.

I couldn't have committed the crime because I was so drunk yesterday, everyone saw me drinking my precious elixir. Some of you even asked me for a drink. 

Alcina is innocent because she's a woman.

Mia is innocent because she's pregnant.

Donna is innocent because she's a woman and her current involvement was so unnoticed that there's nothing connecting her to the case. 

Cindy is innocent because she's a woman.

Sherry is innocent because she's a woman.

Jill is innocent because she was with Wesker, and because she's a woman.

Claire is dead.

"Tell us... Why did you kill Claire? You disgusting freak."

Chapter 46: Ride or Die - Trial - Part IX

"Who are you referring to, Leon?"

Cindy was worried because the man's expression darkened.

"To be honest, I have no idea if this is a fad, a... hobby, or part of your identity. But... it really explains a lot. Blond, tall, the same build as Wesker... you couldn't have had much trouble trying to be him... because you're used to seeing both worlds, right?"

Leon was clear.

"I strongly accuse you of taking Claire Redfield's life... you, Alexia Ashford."

The room filled with gasps and open mouths, all eyes on the Ultimate Sniper.

"What? Alexia is a man?"

Jill stared in dismay at Alexia, whose expression had completely changed to a harsher one.

"What are you saying, Leon? Alexia is a woman." Cindy tried to defend her. "Just... look at her."

"How can a woman enter the men's restroom?" Mia thought Leon was delusional. "Have you lost your mind?"

"It's simple, people. Alexia is a man dressed as a woman, regardless of whether he has other preferences... it's something MonoRaccoon clearly doesn't care about, and neither do I."

"How dare you address me like that, you commoner? You simple ant." Alexia glared at Leon with a deadly look, as if she were eager to rip his head off. "How dare you?"

"It's not my fault my talent allows me to see things others don't. Now... tell us why you killed Claire."

"Do you have any proof that links me to the crime, Leon?"

Alexia tried to stay calm because she was about to lose it.

"It's simple... all men have alibis, and all women would have been MURDERED if they'd entered the wrong bathroom. The person who murdered Claire... had to be able to enter the bathroom, turn on the shower, leave her lying there after stabbing her, and... know how to camouflage themselves. And just look at you, take off your long, blonde wig and show us your natural hair. You're an Albert Wesker, only a mediocre one."

Alexia was so angry she was baring her teeth at Leon and breathing through her mouth, not her nose.

And watching her chest heave...

With every damn breath.

"It's impossible that I'm the murderer, Leon. There's no evidence linking me to the murder. And you can't prove it."

"I can't? PFFFT. Just look at the damn rules. Why are you the only 'woman' who can't enter women's areas like their respective bathroom?"

Alexia just opened her mouth, attacked, because she had forgotten that detail.

"Not only were you lucky that Claire was awake to see your letter come through her door... but you also manipulated her, you used the love she felt for her brother against her... and I assume... that must have made you SO jealous. Did it make you so angry that, even though Chris didn't know who Claire was, they were more like siblings than you and your awful family ever were?"

Leon enjoyed seeing Alexia on the verge of tears because her face was red.

"I can imagine the jealousy you felt when you saw that Claire had a genuine connection with her brother. And you? Tell us, you disgusting, pathetic, vile man dressed as a woman. YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE A LADY. A true lady wouldn't kill others like pigs."

"Don't you think you're going too far, Leon?"

Jill felt uneasy.

"Far? Far is impersonating other people so they take the blame for your actions. It all fits... someone skilled at being someone else will have no trouble pretending to be someone else to carry out their misdeeds. No matter how many prosthetics and how much makeup this gentleman wears around his neck, I always knew what he was hiding."

The atmosphere couldn't have become more tense.

Chapter 47: Ride or Die - Trial - Part X

"But... are we completely sure that Alexia is a man? How do we know the killer isn't a woman? Or in the worst-case scenario... that it's not Cindy working with one of the men so he could move the body?"

"Because it wouldn't make sense."

Saddler immediately rejected Brad's logic.

"Alcina and I were up very late into the night, and as far as we know, many people went to their respective dormitories, so much so that she and I were left alone in the dining room. I have a theory as to why Alcina and I didn't see Cindy... and it's that, in fact, we had already left by the time she went to the bathroom."

"So you weren't in the dining room all night? That's quite a long time for someone to have committed the crime without you seeing them. Yes, you were in the dining room, but not all night."

Jill exclaimed seriously, showing considerable doubt about the killer's possible identity.

"It's simple. We have to follow Leon's logic... let's suppose there's a couple, let's rule that out. Let's suppose that either a man or a woman killed Claire in the hallways, and ultimately a man put her there... that leaves a question."

Alcina prepared to offer a line of reasoning that would surely make anyone who might be involved as an accomplice in the murder tremble.

"Would the person who knows the killer's identity, if there was an accomplice, really be able to remain silent in the hope that if they win the trial, they'll be taken to freedom with them? MonoRaccoon... I have a question. Let's suppose there's a killer and an accomplice... Is the accomplice also killed if the killer is caught?"

"Absolutely!" MonoRaccoon burst with excitement. "If two participants are caught conspiring to commit a crime, both are considered the Guilty, and they are privately notified of the consequences of pursuing their case. If the Henchman doesn't reveal the Guilty's identity, then they will be executed with them, but if they betray them, they will be pardoned."

"So, it's stupid to have henchmen." Alcina remained calm, explaining Leon's logic. "The henchman doesn't win anything significant by staying silent. They die if the Guilty is caught, and under the logic of incentive... ultimately, the killer is the one who gets freedom, and the killer can very well choose someone else than the henchman."

"And that brings us to another point." Jill felt it was important to continue the line of conversation. "If there are no accomplices and no real gain for anyone... that rules out many of us, doesn't it? We don't even know each other, and are we really going to entrust our lives to strangers to the point of killing for them? I think the incentive was more geared toward the Winters and the Redfields."

"Perhaps it's best to believe there are no accomplices and that the killer acted alone. That way, we can proceed with the trial. Now, our main mission is to solve the mystery of the apparent existence of two Albert Weskers... and Alexia."

Mia sighed wearily again after rubbing her stomach, expressing how tired she was of standing for so long.

A debate began.

---

Alcina: I'm absolutely certain I saw Albert Wesker leave the dining hall.

Saddler: And not only that, we also saw him re-enter the dormitories.

Jill: But... we've already established that Albert was with me in the library.

Albert: Besides, it's impossible that I came from the dorms... because I never went in there in the first place.

Mia: But... then how does that explain what Alcina and Saddler saw?

Chris: Maybe they saw someone who looked like him?

Ethan: Are you telling me they pretended to be Albert to throw us off our tracks?

Brad: If that's the case... then we're talking about a fake Albert Wesker.

Leon agreed with Brad's statement.

Leon: That's right! Although we're just going around in circles.

---

Truth Bullet Used: Empty Bags from 1999

Plastic bags lying on the floor along with clothes scattered everywhere. There are some toy handcuffs. Found in the basement.

---

"We've talked about this before. I'm sure the killer went to the basement to open the 'Halloween - 1999' bags and dress up as Albert. If we're talking about men... well, Ethan and I are the only blond ones, but we don't meet the height requirement."

"What if he wore high heels? To compensate for the height and look the part?"

"Well, he succeeded in trying to frame Wesker, because we were thinking about him... however, I'm sure Jill and he are telling the truth; they never left the Library."

Chapter 48: Ride or Die - Trial - Part XI

"Hmm… now that I think about it, our rooms don't even have closets. The only clothes we own are the ones we're wearing right now."

Mia exclaimed suspiciously.

"That's true. My wife and I were up all night… because I was doing her laundry. She had a little accident, and I had to take care of her."

"That would explain why the killer had to steal clothes from a Halloween costume… because maybe the costume was actually a police uniform. I found some toy handcuffs that the killer probably forgot."

Leon cropped the image he sent to the group so everyone could look at it closely.

"So… we need to clear something up. This is important."

Chris started a discussion.

---

Chris: The killer went to the basement for clothes because no one owns more than what they're wearing… Right?

Chris: So... the killer went to his room to change and look like Wesker...

Jill: That's why Saddler and Alcina saw him leave the dormitories and head to the Living Room... and then return.

Mia: But then... why didn't they see Claire?

Saddler: Maybe Miss Redfield was already dead at some point.

Ethan: What if Claire died during the time that fake Albert left the dining room?

Cindy: But that doesn't explain why they didn't see Claire... Claire must have been seen at some point...

Brad: What if Claire left long before Saddler and Alcina reached the dining room?

Leon knew there was something that could be used to reach a suitable conclusion.

And after reviewing everyone's arguments, he found an answer.

Leon: I think Ethan and Brad might have the answer!

---

"I think Ethan is right... if we go by Brad's logic. Does anyone remember that evidence? The thing that could have caused Claire to leave her room."

---

Truth Bullet Used: Threat

Threatening note found on Claire's furniture.

"I have information regarding what happened to Chris in Raccoon City. We'll meet at the public restrooms. Come alone. I'm working with someone else... and if you say anything, we'll kill you."

---

"Yes... what Ethan showed us, the note to Claire. What if Claire left before Saddler and Alcina even met in the Dining Room?"

Jill had a hunch.

"That would explain why they didn't see Claire leave the dormitories... because she was already in the public restrooms, waiting to meet this special someone. So... when they saw 'Albert' leaving the Dining Room... it was really to meet with Claire."

Brad could only infer from what was presented.

"So... we had a chance to stop the killer?" Alcina placed her hand on her chest in a gesture of resignation. "Could we have prevented it?"

"Not just you... us too. The damn public restrooms are one floor below the library... if only we had come out..."

Albert just stared at the floor with a sneer of contempt.

"And so it was that... the killer is seen by Alcina and Saddler... he finds Claire in the public restrooms, where he kills her... and he returns to the dining hall. Alcina and Saddler leave the dining hall, and that's when Cindy goes to the restroom; she can hear the shower running in the men's restroom. By then, Claire had already died."

Mia tried to summarize the matter as much as possible.

"But how does that guide anyone? We need to review the circumstances of the case."

Jill knew they were reaching a conclusion.

Chapter 49: Ride or Die - Trial - The Innocents

"We need to establish that in this case, no one is working together. That's irrelevant. And besides... none of us are the murderers simply because we can't enter the men's restrooms."

Jill stated firmly.

"Which leaves clear... Mia, Donna, Sherry, Alcina, Cindy, Jill..."

Ethan knew he was right to be suspicious.

"And we'll also rule out Chris, Brad, and Karl, since even though they can enter their respective restrooms, they're the innocent ones who found the body so the BDA could be played by MonoRaccoon."

Cindy added.

"Furthermore, my husband Ethan is also innocent because he never left my side, and he couldn't have used the incentive even if he wanted to."

Mia cleared her husband's name.

"We can rule out Saddler because he's not the killer, and he never left my side. We were together all night, so I can confirm he's innocent."

Alcina had ruled someone else out.

"And based on our testimony, people like Leon and George don't match the individual we saw. Who, we must agree, was NOT Wesker."

"You're right about him because he was with me in the Library."

Jill knew they were close to finding the truth.

"And of course, Claire is dead... which leaves us with only one suspect."

All eyes turned to Alexia Ashford.

"We know it was you."

George exclaimed without hesitation.

Chapter 50: Ride or Die - Trial - Confession

"You guys are so... clever, aren't you?"

Alexia looked at each of the participants with disdain, as if she were sentencing them to death in her own mind.

"Why did you do it, Alexia? Can you explain why this strange rule applies to you? Why can't you go into the women's restroom?"

Mia tried to understand.

"I guess there's no reason to hide it, huh?" Alexia let out a cackle in her shrill voice. "Oh... so this is the feeling my father had before... this feeling that runs through you, that makes every pore vibrate..."

"Why, Claire? Why did you dare take away a part of my past, Alexia?"

Chris demanded answers, clearly hurt.

"Ugh… this happened yesterday. I was about to leave my room when I opened the door, and before I even opened it all the way… I could hear you two talking in the hallway. Claire was saying all those horrible things… all those things that make me sick. Sibling love… if I didn't have it, why would I LET OTHER PEOPLE HAVE IT?"

"But so far there's nothing to prove that Claire and Chris were actually siblings!"

Jill was just confused.

"You don't understand because you probably don't have family, you don't have… that special relationship. Claire's words, the way she desperately sought Chris's approval… I can say that you two were siblings, and I'm not wrong. It wasn't rehearsed dialogue, a speech… and when that bitch cried…"

Alexia bared her teeth in disgust.

"So… you killed Claire because of her relationship with Chris? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Karl could only look at Ashford with utter contempt.

"I couldn't watch someone living the life I never got to have. I..."

And at that precise moment, Alexia, or rather, Alfred, sighed after running his hands through his hair and carefully began to remove his wig, revealing short, blond hair.

"That's why the rule! MonoRaccoon knew he was a man, and that's why the rule! No wonder Alexia could go into the men's restroom, that's why he dressed as a man... Because he can be both!"

Jill gasped at the revelation.

"You're... you're evil." Chris burst out laughing, and soon, for the first time, he was able to cry. Laugh and cry. "You miserable, wretched son of a... my sister... And I couldn't even recognize her! You stole my past from me, you damned bastard! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

"CALM DOWN, CHRIS! ETHAN, HELP ME!"

Leon stepped off his podium to grab Chris by the arm, and soon Ethan did the same to restrain him and prevent him from causing a tragedy.

"Calm down, Chris! Alexia's going to die anyway! You don't have to pay for Claire's death with YOUR death! Calm down! SOMEONE HELP!"

Chris was so strong that neither Leon nor Ethan could stop him because he began to wriggle free.

"Calm down, Redfield! You'd better calm your damn ass if you don't want me to suffocate you!"

Albert intervened, grabbing Chris from behind and putting his arm around his neck. By then, Chris's legs gave way, and in that moment of weakness, he began to cry in Leon's lap, despite having punched him and made his nose bleed.

"Damn you!"

A man's cries were tragic. At that moment, Sherry bit her lip and began to cry, and in an act of compassion, Donna, who was beside her, had Angie, her doll dressed as a bride, hug her, which Sherry accepted.

"Let it all out, Sherry! Don't leave a single drop! Cry for your friend!"

"How can you be so wretched?" Alcina also broke down in tears seeing Sherry so hurt because she reminded her of her daughters, of the fragility of a child. "You make us kill each other... I hope you're enjoying it, you inhuman PIG."

"But why did you kill Claire? Were you really after the incentive, Alexia?"

Jill remained uneasy about Alexia's machinations.

"Of course I was after the incentive... after all... I need a perfect specimen, someone who's the right vessel... like Sherry. She'd be perfect to bring her back to life, to bring... to bring Alexia back."

"YOU SICK BASTARD! SHE'S A CHILD! DON'T MESS WITH THE CHILD!"

George clenched his fists and, taking advantage of having "Alexia" beside him, delivered a closed-fist punch straight to his face that sent him sprawling to the ground.

"We need to close this. We have everything we need. It's time... it's time to define what happened in this case."

Jill knew that some might doubt Alexia, but it was necessary to cover everything up.

Chapter 51: Ride or Die - Trial - Climax

ACT 1

George: It all started last night, while most of us were in our rooms. After we were informed that we were indeed participating in an event called "Mutual Killing Games," it was clear the atmosphere was going to change.

Jill: This information caused a rift between us, not only because of the nature of MonoRaccoon's words, but also because each of us participants dedicated ourselves to investigating different areas of this place in order to gather information. Naturally, some were more active than others.

Leon: At some point during the night, Claire and Chris had a conversation in the dorm hallways. While we don't know the full context of it, it's quite likely that it had something to do with the relationship between Claire, the victim, and Chris, whom she claimed was his sister but whom, for unknown reasons, Chris couldn't recognize. We all know this.

Cindy: And then... the killer opened her bedroom door just enough to hear what was happening in those hallways. Doing this allowed her to be an active listener to the conversation between the Redfield siblings, which was necessary for her to begin her murder plan.

Donna: The killer was so jealous of the Redfield siblings' relationship that she couldn't contain her envy! She wanted to kill Claire!

---

Act 2

Leon: It was also during that same night that the killer was awake and saw the incentive MonoRaccoon had proposed.

Cindy: Just like she confessed... she said she wanted to take Sherry. I don't even want to imagine the kind of horrible things she would have done to her if she had won the case.

Mia: Only a deranged person could think of doing all sorts of atrocities to a child... and speaking of the incentive, it was also crucial in proving Ethan's innocence, since he can't kill anyone or free anyone because that would mean both his daughter and I would die, or one of us would have to perish to be freed.

Brad: That's why... the culprit couldn't pass up the opportunity. The killer left her room, took a knife from the kitchen, and then went down to the basement, where she found bags with clothes and disguises. One of them was "Halloween - 1999," which, apparently, and based on Albert's clothing, was a police uniform. There were some toy handcuffs too. 

Alcina: That despicable creature stole the clothes, hid them—probably neatly folded among her own garments—and returned to her room, ready to carry out her plan.

George: Thus setting her twisted plan in motion. The killer knew that she could only share characteristics with one of the participants... Albert Wesker. So, in an attempt to frame him, she dressed like him, taking advantage of the fact that her hair isn't actually long and blond, but short AND blond. 

Karl: This bitch had completed part of her plan; now, it was necessary to execute it. That's how she decided to write a note and slip it under Claire's door. We know she was awake last night, and I can imagine her watching as that note was slipped in... and then reading it. 

Sherry: So... so Claire... Claire went there... she went to the public bathroooms because she was being threatened...

George: Regardless of whether Claire went at some point during the night, the killer would have acted like Albert Wesker and made us believe he killed her, so it was just a matter of luck that Claire arrived at the right moment. I can guess that Claire left her room and went to the restrooms to meet with this person shortly after receiving the note.

---

Act 3

Alcina: So... Claire left her room and went to the public baths where, in the hallways, she waited for the sender of the letter she received, or rather, the threat.

Saddler: At some point during the night, Ms. Dimitrescu and I were in the dining room... so we were able to see "Mr. Wesker" leaving the dormitories and, consequently, the dining room.

Jill: But as we've established, he wasn't Wesker, because he was with me in the library. Perhaps the killer didn't count on the fact that Wesker would have someone who would be his perfect alibi and who could defend him. I don't want to imagine what would have happened to us if I hadn't been with him...

Alcina: So, the killer, dressed as Albert Wesker, arrived in the hallways of the public baths... and found Claire.

Albert: It was there that the killer, dressed as me, slit her throat... killing her instantly.

Karl: That explains why there was so much dried blood staining the hallway carpet...

George: And why the killer was able to get into the Men's Bathrooms? Because, in fact, it was a man, and he was strictly forbidden from entering the Women's Bathrooms.

Jill: The killer's intention was to throw us all off the scent, because if Claire appeared in the Men's Bathrooms, it would lead us to believe that a man killed her. Also, since Claire was already dead, the system didn't detect her as an intruder, and she wasn't executed. This, unbeknownst to us, was actually a great help in solving the case.

Ethan: Now that I think about it... it would have been better for the killer to have left Claire inside the women's bathrooms, because that would have ruled him out, but because of this specific rule...

Saddler: So... the killer kills Ms. Redfield, carries her body to one of the showers in the men's bathrooms, and turns on the water, so the cold water will hinder the investigation by the group's only doctor and prevent him from determining what time she died.

Cindy: So, by leaving her there, lying there, letting the water mix with her blood, the killer left and turned off the light... but that also sealed his fate, because some of the blood gushing from Claire's neck reached a second shower, allowing some of it to clot and dry on the floor.

Alcina: That way, when we saw "Albert Wesker" return to the dining room, it was because he had already finished killing Claire. The killer actually went back to his room, left the bloodstained clothes there, and dressed as a woman again. After all... we'd all suspect a "he," not a "she."

---

Act 4

Cindy: After the murder, and even after Alcina and Saddler left the dining room, I left my room because my toilet was broken. Doing so allowed me to enter the women's bathrooms at night, and I heard the shower running inside the men's bathrooms...

Leon: This was important for us to determine that Claire died that night.

Alcina: And the fact that the shower was running means that the murder was indeed committed during that time, and it also cleared the name of any woman. We can't get in areas where only men are allowed. 

---

Act 5

Karl: The next morning... I woke up early and ran into Alcina in the dining room. From there, I headed to the men's bathrooms to take a shower because my own showerhead was malfunctioning and I couldn't use it.

Alcina: Which, by the way, was quite unpleasant to watch...

Karl: Anyway... I went there and... I heard one of the showers running. It was pitch black. When I went in, trying to find the switch, I tripped and... when I finally found it and turned the lights on... I screamed, I screamed like a banshee, but no one heard me.

George: This is explained by Alcina's experiment. The walls are so thick that they prevent the sound from escaping those restrooms... if the door remained closed. That's why, seeing that no one was coming to his aid...

Karl: I ran out of there...

Saddler: Eventually, all the participants, or almost all of them, gathered in the dining hall that morning...

Brad: Although by then we had already lost someone without knowing it... and Karl appeared, covered in blood and barely able to speak.

Cindy: Because Karl mentioned the bathrooms, many of us went... but Chris and Brad were the first to enter, and since they were innocent, they triggered the BDA that we all heard, making them innocent along with Karl, who was the first to find the victim.

George: It was there... that we found Claire. And the only person responsible for this event is you... and only you, Alexia Ashford: Ultimate Sniper.

 

Chapter 52: Ride or Die - Trial - Conclusion

The voting stage arrived. Everyone saw their MonoDroids locked with a selector application, displaying the faces of all the participants. Based on the evidence presented and the course of the trial, everyone chose Alexia Ashford as the murderer.

As a roulette wheel spun, passing over each of the participants...

And when it stopped on Alexia...

The application locked, and soon...

Soon it displayed an animation where two enormous bouquets of flowers appeared on either side and gold coins were ejected.

"That's correct! Alexia Ashford took Claire Redfield's life! The murderer will be granted one last moment to say goodbye to her companions."

No one was happy with the results. How could they be when it was such a stark reminder that someone had succumbed to temptation and taken a life?

Among them all, there was someone who still harbored doubts. Lying on the ground, at the mercy of others who held him up to prevent another tragedy, Chris Redfield needed answers.

"Why, Alexia? Why did you kill Claire, possibly the only person who knew anything about my past?"

Now Chris's anger turned to utter disappointment.

"It's not personal, Chris... but I couldn't bear the thought of seeing others... of seeing others have what was denied me for so long. My sister... my beloved Alexia... an experimental cell prototype took her away from me. We were close, inseparable, born from the same womb just six seconds apart."

"Did losing your sister give you an excuse to take other people's families away?"

Cindy looked disgusted.

"You bastard... And what the hell did Claire ever do to you? What horrible thing could she have done to you, huh? Answer me!"

But Alexia remained downcast.

"Nothing, Chris... Claire didn't do anything to me, she just... existed, and showed me that connection I lost. I'm sorry, I lost control, and... all these years, I've been working on a project, something that would bring her back to me. That's why Sherry was my last hope, if we went out together..."

And then, the sinister smile of the Ultimate Sniper appeared.

"I would do anything to resurrect her. A part of us doesn't disappear, it only transforms... and if I applied those techniques to her, so young, in full development..."

"You would experiment on a child? You're a fucking sicko and you disgust me."

Karl spat in the face of the transvestite man who could only contemplate the weight of all his decisions combined, transformed into the condescending and contemptuous looks of everyone.

"I've prepared a very special punishment for Alexia Ashford - Ultimate Sniper! Let's give her everything we've got! IT'S TIME FOR PUNISHMENT!"

"What? No!" Chris needed more time. "You can't do that! Alexia has to answer all my questions! You can't kill her!"

"IT'S TIME FOR PUNISHMENT!"

MonoRaccoon announced again, as if to laugh at Chris's plight.

"No! Someone stop him!"

But it was impossible.

A chain emerged from behind a newly opened door and placed a collar around Alexia's neck. Barely understanding what was happening, she was dragged away at great speed.

Chapter 53: Ride or Die - Trial - Execution

There Was A Friendly But Naive Queen

Executed: Alexia Ashford - Ultimate Sniper

All the survivors watched a particular scene unfold on a large screen. It depicted a man dressed in a red suit, similar to a military uniform. His appearance and condition indicated that he was "Alexia," or at least the man who dressed as a woman and called himself the Ultimate Sniper.

He stood before the steps of what appeared to be a grand mansion. Looking up, through the refined space covered by a red velvet carpet, he saw a woman in a beautiful purple dress waiting for him at the top, her face obscured by the darkness.

The blond man began to ascend, and with each step, he began to sweat. Something seemed to activate with each step, causing his clothes to burst into flames—a small fire that grew larger with each passing second.

That man reached such a point that all his clothing burned away, leaving him completely naked, but the matter didn't end there. He continued to burn; first, his skin began to redden, to swell until, at some point, the fire consumed every trace, but he remained faithful to his idea of ​​reaching that divine woman.

When he reached the final step, about to reconnect and touch the hand of the one he presumed to be his other half, after letting his body burn, char, and blaze to the point of blackening, no one expected that outcome.

A camera focused on MonoRaccoon using a sniper rifle, aiming directly at the killer's head. When he fired, what had once formed the body of its occupant now lay empty, nonexistent, having exploded to such an extent that only remnants of muscle remained.

And so, a story of terror concluded.

For now.

---

SURVIVING ULTIMATES

Mia Winters - Ultimate Researcher

Ethan Winters - Ultimate Systems Engineer

Chris Redfield - Ultimate Soldier

Albert Wesker - Ultimate???

Alcina Dimitrescu - Ultimate Oenologist

Donna Beneviento - Ultimate Dollmaker

Sherry Birkin - Ultimate Virologist

Cindy Lennox - Ultimate Waitress

Jill Valentine - Ultimate Cop

Karl Heisenberg - Ultimate Inventor

Leon - Ultimate???

Brad Vickers - Ultimate Pilot

George Hamilton - Ultimate Surgeon

Osmund Saddler - Ultimate Priest

---

DECEASED ULTIMATES

1st Case

Claire Redfield - Ultimate Biker - Throat Slit

Alexia Ashford - Ultimate Sniper - Shot

Chapter 54: Ride or Die - Trial - Aftermath

Shortly after the trial ended, the remaining survivors were visibly distressed by recent events. Alexia's murder wasn't a victory for anyone, because even if her guilt had been proven, it wouldn't bring Claire back to life.

"This is just a precedent," George Hamilton exclaimed in his typical serious tone, his expression stoic. "It's a precedent."

"A precedent for what, exactly?"

Cindy Lennox watched him with intrigue, disgust etched on her face.

"Are you stupid? It's obvious... any one of us could kill, and it seems we should get used to this place, 'Courtroom,' or whatever it's called. Because... there will be more cases."

"And what does that mean for us? That we should distrust everyone?"

Mia felt a bitter taste in her mouth that made it hard to swallow properly.

"Well, it's the most sensible thing to do." Alcina Dimitrescu delicately adjusted her hat. "Trust is a luxury we can't afford, not after what happened to Claire."

"I agree with Miss Dimitrescu. From now on, we can't afford to place trust in those who might take it and exploit it. Unfortunately for Miss Redfield… she chose to remain silent."

"Then so be it." Chris joined the conversation, being the person most affected by the case. "Alexia killed for a completely selfish and irrational reason… but how long will it take for us to succumb to those same impulses?"

"Chris…"

Cindy instinctively moved to Brad Vickers' side, who was also gripped by that unpleasant feeling born of distrust.

"Claire... Claire didn't deserve this. I won't say I deeply regret her death, because... I have no idea who she is, but... if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that I won't let her sacrifice be in vain. I will uncover the truth, MY truth, and I won't let you stand in my way."

Chris was among the first to enter the elevator, which by then had already opened its doors.

"This is ridiculous."

Jill Valentine exclaimed as she stepped into the metal box of horrors.

"Well, ridiculous or not, you'd better watch your back."

Ethan clung to Mia and vowed to protect her.

And so, the rest of the Ultimates entered, prepared for whatever came next.

Chapter 55: Recreation Rooms

The return trip to the complex was silent. After all, what was there to do? Chat and ask how everyone was?

When the doors opened, Chris and the rest of the survivors didn't recognize where the elevator had left them. They were no longer in the living room, but in a white corridor with several doors, each with a sign above it bearing the names of the participants.

"Hmm… this doesn't feel right."

Karl Heisenberg explored the corridor curiously until he reached his own door.

"The MonoDroid isn't showing us the other sections we've already visited. It seems… this is completely new, and it looks like we only have this corridor… which has several rooms."

Ethan Winters checked the device, which now displayed a completely different map than the one they had seen before.

"Welcome, Ultimates! Congratulations on successfully completing the recent School Trial. Therefore, you now have access to the Recreation Rooms."

MonoRaccoon appeared inside the elevator without anyone having seen him there before.

"What do you mean by Recreation Rooms?"

Jill was curious about the kind of content those rooms might contain.

"It's simple. Each Recreation Room has elements that will help you develop your skills. Therefore, it's necessary to change some of the established rules."

The two-toned raccoon sent an update to the participants' devices as a way to activate the Talent Room's functions.

Chris checked his device to verify that he had indeed received a notification in the Chat app about a system update that had occurred without his knowledge.

---

SCHOOL RULES UPDATE

SECTION: RECREATION ROOMS

Welcome to the official handbook provided by your principal, MonoRaccoon! We hope the information provided in this manual will help you overcome all barriers and unleash your imagination.

If you have any questions, don't forget to contact your Director through the "Chat" application using this contact information.

GENERAL RULES FOR USING TALENT ROOMS

- Recreation Rooms are spaces created for the comprehensive development of participants' talents. For a positive and harmonious environment, some modifications have been made to the regulations, and new ones have been created to help you understand the function of these spaces.

- The description of each Recreation Room is unique to all participants; therefore, this section does not apply to all active members:

Welcome to your Recreation Room, Chris Redfield, Ultimate Soldier Student!

Within your Room, you'll find a training field specially designed for you, where you can interact with a pair of androids, one male and one female, to practice combat techniques and refresh your important information regarding your Talent as an active member of law enforcement.

You also have an arsenal of both long-range and short-range weapons at your disposal, which you can use to harm the fellow contestants. Remember, the use of these weapons is permitted only if you use them to kill a maximum of two other participants in the game.

The creation of elements that allow other players to leave the game or that damage property in a way that is irreparable and leaves a mark is NOT PERMITTED. If you use elements within your Talent Room that promote rebellion against the Director, the Game, the Infrastructure, or more than two Participants, you will be executed.

Incentive: Famine. From now on, any participant caught eating food will be executed. The incentive is lifted upon the death of a participant.

---

"Shit..."

Chapter 56: Recreation Rooms II

"Well, looks like this son of a bitch is testing how fast we can kill each other, huh?"

Karl Heisenberg laughed at the MonkeyRaccoon, who had imposed a motive as soon as they left the first trial.

"The question is... who will give in? We're talking about starvation..."

Saddler seemed to show the ghost of a smile arround his lips. 

"And some of us haven't eaten anything... God! I can barely eat without throwing up..."

In despair, Mia burst into tears, and Ethan comforted her.

"I think you all should see this, guys."

Jill Valentine had everyone look at the Rules section.

---

Update to the School Code of Conduct

-Recreation Rooms are limited to a maximum of three participants. A single warning will be given to the fourth participant who enters a Recreation Room, requiring them to leave and resulting in expulsion. Any subsequent offense will result in execution.

-All participants will have a unique registration code, which can be obtained through the MonoDroid Visitor Log of the Recreation Room owner. To access the log, go to the recently installed "Recreation Rooms" application.

-During Night Time, all participants are required to sleep in the Recreation Rooms. Any student seen sleeping in the hallways during Night Time will be executed.

-Access to the Recreation Rooms will be granted by the occupant of the space, who must open the door from the inside. Currently, it is impossible to open these rooms from the outside.

-The following participants: Ethan Winters, Donna Beneviento, Karl Heisenberg, George Hamilton, and Sherry Brikin have their talent restrictions lifted. Consequently, they can use their knowledge to eliminate one of their fellow participants WITHOUT destroying the infrastructure or, failing that, endangering the lives of more than two participants.

---

"So... Sherry and Karl..."

Leon glanced at both the young student and Heisenberg, who didn't hesitate to burst out laughing.

"Sure, you know what I'm going to invent? A thirty-centimeter device to shove up your ass, you son of a bitch."

Heisenberg spat on Leon's shoes and then went to find his own "Recreation Room."

"Well, needless to say, I won't be part of this. I'm leaving."

George Hamilton also used his MonoDroid to head to his designated space and lock himself inside.

Just like almost everyone else, except for Jill, Leon, and Chris, who remained in the hallways.

"By the way... I'm so sorry about what happened to Claire, Chris. Maybe... maybe we didn't know her very well, but the way she spoke... it seemed like there was a connection between you two guys."

Jill tried to remain empathetic.

"Thanks, Jill. I'm honestly having a hard time processing things. Claire... Claire gave me her lucky jacket before this... before she died. Maybe... maybe if I had believed a little more, if only... if only I had invited her to stay with me."

"Then someone else would have died." Leon was a bit harsh but accurate. "What happened to Claire was... tragic, but if she hadn't died, it would have been someone else, and then maybe we wouldn't even be here. Let's try to see Claire's sacrifice as an impetus to keep going."

"Claire..."

Chris kept repeating the name as if it somehow brought back memories of that young redhead he never got to know.

"I suggest you start watching your backs. In a few hours, the effects of hunger will start to hit us, and if I'm being honest... another murder is ver likely to happen."

"Then I won't make the same mistake as before. I'll start looking for answers, no matter what it takes." Chris turned to Jill resolutely. "You say you know about me, right? That you were my partner..."

"If you have any doubts, ask, Chris. You can't stay here without knowing who you are, or what you did in Raccoon City, so..."

"Do you want to come to my Recreation Room, Jill?"

"You don't have to ask, Chris. I'd be delighted!"

Soon Redfield and Valentine entered what would be the Ultimate Military Recreation Room, hoping to find answers, if there were any.

Chapter 57: Ultimate Soldier Recreation Room

"I hope this place doesn't make you uncomfortable, Jill. There are literally so many guns in here... thankfully they're unloaded."

Chris carefully surveyed the walls of his respective Recreation Room, where there was enough weaponry to start a small-scale war.

"Don't worry, we used to have a lot more back in the R.P.D. I bet you don't remember the Explosives Crash Course Irons made us go to, huh?"

Jill gave Chris a friendly punch on the arm like in the old days, but he didn't seem to notice because he just smiled, not quite understanding the gesture.

"Unfortunately, I don't remember much. In fact the last thing I remember about my life was leaving the Air Force and being discharged."

"You told us about that. Some shitty superior wanted you to start risking your ass in situations you weren't physically or mentally prepared for. They call it 'authority issues,' but you thought it was a matter of integrity."

"That's right. The son of a bitch wanted to drag me into operations I didn't want... but damn... he didn't have to be like that."

"At least you found the strength to get out. So... your entire time in Raccoon City as such is gone, right?"

"That's right. I have no information about what I did at the R.P.D., nothing about you, Brad... that Wesker guy."

"Wow... then this is a serious case. I'm telling you, last night... I was trying to get some answers from Albert about his condition in the library, but now we don't have access to that information anymore. I have a theory."

Jill lay down on the edge of Chris's bed and surveyed the scene.

"Maybe this is a test of endurance. One of the books I found... it was quite strange, you know. They were about some kind of cell regeneration chambers and early experiments with projecting thoughts through waves that could interpret brainwave frequencies."

"Something like the image you see in your mind when you remember something or think about something... can be reproduced?"

"I know, totally surreal shit."

"How about you stay in my Recreation Room, Jill? You know... it's safe."

Although Redfield meant well, Jill seemed to misunderstand because she immediately stood up and walked toward the door.

"Really, Chris? I'm afraid I'll have to decline your offer. I'm very tired, and right now I just need a space that's all my own. I hope you understand."

"I understand, Jill. Still... if you need any help..."

"Thanks, Chris. Try to get some rest, okay? That way you won't feel the hunger when it starts to hit you."

"I'll try, Jill, I'll try. You take care of yourself too."

Chris had the feeling she'd messed things up.

After Jill left Chris's Recreation Room, Osmund Saddler was standing behind her.

"Saddler? What can I do for you?"

Chris tried to smile despite the awkward moment with Jill. Saddler noticed the situation but chose to act indifferent.

"I've come to offer my condolences for what happened with Miss Redfield. I had the pleasure of spending some time with her yesterday... and I'd like to extend my sympathies."

"That's very thoughtful of you, Saddler. I honestly don't know what to expect from the situation from now on. Perhaps..."

"Well, perhaps things will get worse from now on, but... don't lose your mind, Mr. Redfield. Only you know the demons you carry on your shoulders. Losing your past and perhaps your only intimate connection to it... has my sympathy, but it doesn't warrant my pity."

"Thank you, Saddler. I'll try to cope with this... and tell me... what was Claire like? Oh, would you like to come in? I wouldn't want to leave you out here."

"I appreciate your concern, Mr. Redfield, but Miss Dimitrescu is expecting me in her Recreation Room. And, to answer your question... Claire Redfield was someone I would have loved to meet. When I told her about my talent... she didn't criticize me, and even seemed interested in learning a little more. After all... I am one of the many incarnations of an awkward subject."

"An awkward subject?"

"I am the Ultimate Priest, Mr. Redfield. However, my creed isn't directed toward a single god, but rather toward the hope I have for humanity. People like Claire are what bring color to the world amidst the discontent and internal struggle we all face with our instincts."

"Personally, I'm not very... religious, not much, let's say, but God... This? If this shit doesn't make me believe, it'll surely tear out the last fiber of my being that wants to cling to something."

"And isn't that interesting? Not believing is also believing. May the divine light of knowledge be with you, Mr. Redfield."

And with that, Osmund and Chris gained a point of affinity.

Chapter 58: Ultimate Virologist Recreation Room

Chris Redfield needed to find information about Claire's final moments, as he felt that if he could connect with the other participants through her story and the interactions the motorcyclist had before her death, it might give him a better understanding of the situation and the people involved.

It was then that Chris saw Sherry Birkin leaving her Recreation Room, having apparently changed into a white lab coat and protective mask.

"Chris!" Sherry greeted him enthusiastically upon seeing the Ultimate Soldier standing outside her room. "Chris... you were Claire's brother, right? I wanted to offer my... my condolences."

"Oh, thank you, Sherry... I really appreciate it."

Chris knelt down to be at her level and not appear so intimidating.

"So... uh... you wouldn't know, but she was a good person. She was the only one who didn't make fun of my talent or give me nasty looks... so... it's a shame what happened to her."

Sherry clasped her hands behind her back and looked at the ground sadly.

"Claire was definitely a good person. I have no doubt about that. I hope you can feel better, Chris... knowing that Claire doesn't have to suffer. Even in death she... she didn't suffer."

"And how are you coping, Sherry? What about your parents?"

"Oh, well... they died." Sherry commented with a calmness that surprised Chris, who hadn't expected such a shocking answer from someone with such a serene expression. "They died in a robbery. Someone from a rival company... had them killed while they were in their lab, conducting research."

"Oh, Sherry..."

Chris didn't know if it was appropriate to hug her, so he simply remained silent and smiled at her.

"At first it was... strange. I was never close to them, you know? From a very young age they put me in boarding schools, hired elite teachers for me. I learned to read at two, to count at two and a half. I was solving complex equations at three, and by then I'd already gotten into an exclusive scholarship program for children like me."

"And what became of Sherry in the end?"

"That's an excellent question! I would have loved for my parents to have wondered the same thing. But oh well... their happiness always mattered to me. If I learned French and participated in those courses abroad, then so be it. Now... now with them out of the picture, it'll be complicated. Who will I dedicate my achievements to?"

Sherry sighed uneasily.

"Well, it is what it is. By the way, Chris, would you like to observe microorganisms with me? Perhaps seeing them will give you a different perspective on death, and how to cope with the situation with Claire."

"Just because we can't see something with the naked eye doesn't mean it doesn't exist, right?"

"Why don't you come in, Chris? Come on, I'll put you in a protective suit. I won't expose you to anything super-lethal, because it would literally kill me, but there's something you should see."

And so, Chris entered Sherry's Recreation Room, which was quite similar to a professional laboratory, one that didn't even compare to the one they had in the Air Force when they subjected personnel to medical tests to ensure they weren't under the influence of substances. The laboratory seemed fitting for a talent as well-suited as "Ultimate Virologist." Chris put on a white coat, a face mask, and also white gloves specially provided by Sherry, who also asked him to wear a hairnet to prevent his hair from interfering with his vision.

There, on a table, was a microscope with a rectangular glass slide where the microscope lens was focused. Sherry instructed Chris on how to zoom in and out, explaining that what he was seeing was a small blood sample she had taken herself as a way of knowing she was still alive and that, indeed, she was real.

Chris looked through the microscope and could see different cells moving at high speed. Some seemed to have more distinctive characteristics than others, such as their color or the frequency with which they appeared to "merge" and travel together. Chris felt an unusual sensation in his stomach, realizing that, at least in a large part of it, there was also that same life.

"Perhaps we too are as small as these red blood cells, perhaps our existence is reduced to this, a tiny space within a vast room that is itself within an even larger complex. But... our presence in the world is undeniable. Claire's life may have been short, but the things she did, who she was in life, and the impact she had on us, even if we only knew her for a very brief time... is proof enough that she was here."

"Is it selfish to cling to the hope that this isn't the end, Sherry?"

Chris cleared his throat, sounding uneasy, even foolish for asking.

"We are made of the earth for the earth, Chris... and there's one truth that can't be denied. Matter is always changing; we are matter, we are ever-changing beings that transform. I can't tell you with complete certainty what lies beyond the veil, but I can tell you that I don't care if there is something... or not, because being here is all I need. I can die, Chris, and what Alexia said, or what she planned to do to me..."

"Sherry..."

"I just hope she found the peace she was looking for. By the way... I found this. I don't know if it will be of any use to you, but... as 'Alexia' was dying, she dropped this."

Sherry placed a ring with a blue stone into Chris's hands. The ring was inside a clear plastic bag.

"It seemed important. I found it lying outside Alexia's Recreation Room."

"Hmm... too expensive for me."

Chris had to find a momento just to avoid reality. 

"Or for me! And too ugly for my taste. I've never liked jewelry. So... Chris..."

"Thanks, Sherry. If anything bad happens... don't forget to knock on my Recreation Room door, okay? I understand it might be scary being here on your own."

"Trust me, they won't mess with me. I'm the Ultimate Virologist. If I know a thing or two, it's because it's not in their best interest to make things difficult for me."

Chris felt a slight chill run down her spine.

"You can take off your lab coat and leave it in the basket by the entrance, Chris. You can do the same with your mask and everything else."

And with that, Chris said goodbye to Birkin, his mind filled with questions.

Chapter 59: Ultimate Waitress Recreation Room

Shortly after his visit to the Ultimate Virologist's Recreation Room, Chris Redfield ran into the charismatic Cindy Lennox strolling through the complex's corridors, though there wasn't much room to move around. It was then that the blonde greeted Chris and extended her hand.

"Chris! It's so good to see you. You did well at the Trial, you know? And... I think part of me is grateful that Leon and the others stopped you... we don't know what MonoRaccoon might do to you if you attacked her."

"That's something I thought about quite a while later." Chris exclaimed with a sigh that reflected nothing of peace, only fear and anxiety. "I probably would have died because I would have committed murder in front of everyone."

"But it didn't happen that way! Why don't you come into my Recreation Room? I mean... if you'd like to chat, even just for a bit."

"Good heavens, can you imagine if we didn't have this damn incentive? I would have definitely accepted if you'd made me a delicious drink or a juicy steak."

"Ha, believe me, being the Ultimate Waitress in this situation is... overwhelming. I have so many drinks, meat, and spices to feed everyone, but I can't cook anything. MonoRaccoon made it clear that I can't eat food, nor can I make others eat it."

"Because dying for the incentive is like putting things in their place so that, when I die, it counts as my own murder, right?"

Chris guessed, making Cindy nod with an unpleasant feeling.

"Exactly. So, at least as far as I'm concerned, don't worry, Chris... anyway, I know that with such good detectives, it's impossible for me to commit murder."

Cindy's words echoed in Chris's ears, who could only look at her with a large mark of doubt on his brow.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Come on, it's not safe to tell you here."

And so Cindy invited Chris Redfield into her Recreation Room. Upon entering, Chris noticed a familiar, almost intimate warmth. The ambiance of the place, with its giant barrel tables and chairs adorned with red velvet was striking. There was also a large bar with glasses hanging from the ceiling and bottles of alcohol on shelves behind it.

"Welcome to the Ultimate Waitress's Recreation Room! I'm so glad it's a bar, and an exact replica of J's Bar... What do you think, Chris? Does this bring back any memories?"

"How do you know about the memories, Cindy?"

Cindy seemed somewhat surprised that Chris suggested she might know information he hadn't previously shared with her.

"Well, Chris... we all noticed the look on Claire's face when you couldn't recognize her as your sister, even though you... oh... I just realized something strange."

Cindy looked sadly at the floor and, in a brief moment of clarity, she gathered her hair into a small ponytail and let it loose. The way Cindy's expression changed seemed to alarm him.

"Claire... she told me you took her to J's Bar a while ago... Don't you remember anything? Don't you remember anything she ordered?"

Chris shook his head at Cindy's questions.

"No..."

"Hmm... well, that's strange. Surely I would have heard at some point that the great Chris Redfield had the honor of bringing his family to our humble establishment. This leads me to another theory."

Cindy invited Chris to take a seat at one of the bar's tables so they could talk in peace.

"Is there anything you remember, Cindy? Perhaps... perhaps your memory could be the key to recovering part of my past."

"Look, I don't really know your situation that much, but... I always had this feeling, from the first moment I saw her, that I had met Claire before. It seems that a part of me forgot that specific memory, you know? That specific memory involved with her."

"About what exactly, Cindy?"

"That's the thing, Chris. And that scares me." Cindy hugged herself as she gazed at the patterns in the carved wood on the table. "What if I served you two? What if I was your assigned waitress? I've forgotten Claire... maybe, but I haven't forgotten you."

"Then... this is serious." Chris felt a chill run down his spine, so much so that he needed to stand up and start doing breathing exercises. "Then I've forgotten much more of my past than I really thought."

"Don't you remember us at all, Chris? Even George... maybe you should go talk to him later. It would be better if he told you his side of the story; his information might be much more useful than mine."

Chris nodded slightly and knew who he needed to talk to next to get more information.

"I'm so grateful, Cindy. I'll go see this George guy, okay?"

"That seems like the best thing to do in your case, Chris. Be careful."

And after that, Chris opened Cindy's Recreation Room from the inside, ready to find the Ultimate Surgeon.

Chapter 60: Ultimate Surgeon Recreation Room

Chris Redfield searched at his MonoDroid to identify which of the rooms was installed the Ultimate Surgeon. He found it curious that George's room was right next to Cindy's, so he quickly walked over and knocked three times, waiting patiently.

"Who is it?"

A man's voice asked through an intercom.

"George? It's Chris... Chris Redfield. Cindy told me I needed to talk to you, that you might know something about me... about my past. I wanted to know if... if you are willing to have a little chat."

"Hmm... sure, as long as it doesn't take that much of my time. But let me tell you, I won't open the door. I prefer things this way. What is it you want to know?"

Chris was surprised by George's precautions, but in the end, he understood that it was all a strategy to avoid being killed.

"Sure, George. I was wondering... have we met before? Do you know who I am?"

Redfield was quite nervous that the answers he was getting wouldn't be the right ones.

"Indeed, Chris. You are Chris Redfield, you were part of this group of the R.P.D... the S.T.A.R.S. team and you were like some sort of icon in Raccoon City. We had a... brief interaction, but you probably wouldn't remember it even if your memories of Raccoon were intact." George commented, almost laughing. "You see, there was a time when the S.T.A.R.S. went to Raccoon City General Hospital. Everyone had to undergo a general checkup."

"General checkup?"

"Yes, by order of the R.P.D. I think it's something Chief Irons required of all his active personnel. We even took your X-ray. As I was one of the few area chiefs, I had to sign the paperwork."

"Hmm... so you and I have met before."

"Even if it was just for a moment, yes. If you feel unwell or start to feel the effects of hunger... I can give you some advice, but I can't afford to open the door for you, if you know what I mean."

"That's completely understandable, George. Thank you. If you need any help..."

"I don't think I'll need anything from you right now, Chris, but I'll take your word for it. By the way, before you go... could you tell Cindy to come over, please? I'd like to talk to her about a few... things."

"Sure, George. Thanks for letting me know. By the way... it's good to know that I was at least doing something during my time in Raccoon City..."

"You were a law enforcement officer. I don't know what kind of person you were in your past, but I hope you were one of the good guys, and if not... then this is your chance to change. Do you want anything else, or are you done?"

"That's it. I'll tell Cindy... that you need her."

"Thank you. You can go now."

And so, Chris left the hallway, but not before going over to Cindy to tell her about George's request to see her. Chris had a strange feeling, so he stood outside his Recreation Room where, sure enough, he saw Cindy knock on George's door, saw her open it, and saw him come out to greet her and invite her in.

"Typical doctor after all, huh?"

Chapter 61: Ultimate ??? Recreation Room

Although Chris was showing signs of fatigue from not having slept a wink, he knew there were important matters to attend to, and that finding answers would be his only ticket out of that place... or his utter downfall.

Chris wanted to go to Leon's Recreation Room, and, summoning all the courage he could, he approached the place where Leon was staying. Chris was greatly surprised when the door opened much sooner than he had anticipated.

"Hmm... so the system works perfectly. Are you coming or staying out there? Either way, it's all the same to me."

Leon said, crossing his arms and looking indifferently at Chris, who could only smile at him.

"I think it's appropriate to talk inside, if you'll allow me."

"Whatever. Get moving before the others see us."

Leon invited him in and instructed him to immediately close his Recreation Room. Chris found it unusual that someone as refined as Leon would have a rather simple Recreation Room, in his opinion. It even resembled an office, with a small sitting area, an adjoining room with a large desk, and some bookshelves with lots of books. Could Leon be a teacher?

"Wow..."

"Did you want to know my Ultimate Talent by looking at my Recreation Room? Well, sorry to disappoint you, handsome. Sit your ass down."

Leon was quite clear, so much so that he took a cigarette and proceeded to smoke. This surprised Chris, who believed the act would kill him.

"Doesn't that kill you? You know... the incentive. And by the way... how did you know what I was thinking?"

"I'm not feeding, and in any case, I've been enjoying a delicious cigarette of death and deep depression for over ten years. MonoRaccoon told me that some things can be excluded from the rule... except for alcohol, since many of the wines and drinks that can be ingested can feed us, you know, crap like that."

"So... Leon. You did too well at the Trial. How do you know that Mia isn't faking her pregnancy or that Jill and Alcina were telling the truth?"

"Because I'm excellent at reading the involuntary movement of muscles when people lie. Let's just say my talent allows me to see beyond the obvious."

"Beyond the obvious? But... Who are you?"

"That's a question I won't bother answering, after all... my thought came true when I spoke with Claire. There's no point in making connections, memories... with people who probably won't be around tomorrow." Leon began to smoke, letting the smoke fill the room. "Tomorrow is a promise, and the future an illusion."

"So... is there a reason you invited me to your place, Leon?"

"Of course. I wanted to offer my condolences. I'm not inhuman, and judging by how the case played out and what you're going through now... it must be messed up."

"Thanks, Leon. You know, you don't seem like a bad guy, even though you're pretty grumpy and aggressive."

"You have the nerve to come here and insult me ​​in my place? Just remember, I hold the power here, and I could build a hell of a case that guarantees my escape... however, I can't fight something that's beyond my control."

"Luck?"

Chris sensed.

"That shit doesn't exist. I mean probability. It's no use doing a whole case if, for some reason... someone sees me, I don't know, someone as stupid as Brad or as idiotic as Donna and her crappy doll."

"Like what happened to Wes... Alexia, I'm sorry, I got these mixed up for a second. Alexia didn't consider the possibility that Alcina and Saddler would be in the dining room... or that Jill would be with Wesker, the very person who had an alibi."

"Indeed, so don't expect any murders from me. If you want some life-saving advice... stay away from Saddler, and if you can, stay away from any of the women, even Sherry, who's the worst of them all."

"What did you say?"

Chris let out an awkward laugh.

"Men will naturally try to protect them. Just look at how that idiot George is drooling over the waitress, or how Saddler and Alcina are having their thing... and I'd even venture to say there's some tension between Alcina and Karl, but I need proof. And Mia? Don't even get me started, everyone will want to protect the pregnant woman or the kiddo. That gives them a huge advantage."

"Are you assuming they could kill?"

"I'm just being realistic. We're all potential killers. Cindy could betray George's feelings—because, come on, the girl has her charms—Alcina knows what she wants, and I'm sure Donna has something up her sleeve too."

"Hmm…it sounds to me like Leon, or if that's your name, is involved too, isn't he? After all, his secrets and the way he interacts with the world…"

"You can think whatever you want about me, and honestly, I don't care, but I'm still alive and I plan to stay that way. Don't let your human feelings influence your mind. Remember... don't let your heart rule over your reason, even though it's stupid because the heart has nothing to do with thought itself, but... you get the point."

Leon's expression changed; even Chris could see it, and it frightened him.

"I'll share a secret with you. If we survive the next trial, I'll tell you my talent, okay? And speaking of which... I need something from you. As you can see... my Recreation Room doesn't come equipped with what I need, which I consider a cruel joke. Can you lend me a gun, Chris?"

"What did you say?"

Chris stood up and glared at the man.

"You heard me, a gun. It can be a pistol, no, a pistol, preferably. I won't kill anyone, but I want you to know I just want some protection, even though I can defend myself perfectly well with my hands... some gunpowder would do me good."

"How can I even agree? You... you're strange."

"Very well, Chris Redfield, you want it this way? Then so be it. I'm one of your only chances to get out of this mess. If it weren't for me, that trial would have gone to hell. I was the one who found out about Alexia, and for God's sake... I'm useful. I can't die, not now. But please, and I don't say that word very often because I hate it... but I need your help, Chris."

"Why do you need me, Leon? There are other people here."

"Have you seen George? The son of a bitch... there's something about his look, I think he had something to do with his ex-wife's death. Saddler isn't the right guy, and... if you don't mind me saying so, Brad seems too stupid to work. Wesker's up to something, I know it, and between him and you... I think he might be faking his amnesia."

That last bit surprised Chris, who seemed conflicted about the whole thing.

"How do you know all this? I need answers, Leon. I can't help you if you're not upfront with me."

"Bah, you're going to make me say it now, aren't you? I'll tell you about my talents, but only part of them. I work for a very important government intel agency; you don't want me against you. If I had the means at my disposal—which I think I do—I could investigate enough to find out what kind of porn you like to watch online and the expressions you make when you're about to cum the fuck out of that stinky cock of yours."

Chris felt a knot form in his stomach. Leon already seemed like a tough guy, but not to this extent.

"Are you a member of some special network, or are you, I don't know, the Ultimate Hacker?"

"You'll find out when we survive the second case, so try not to get killed. I'm expecting my weapon on the tray; you can leave it there with a yellow note that says 'BIOHAZARD.' You can leave now."

"What? You're asking me to leave after—"

"Move your fat ass out of my place. I want to be alone. Or I'll make your rectum and mouth invert. LÁRGATE, CABRÓN."

Chris nodded, and with a lump in his throat from the threat, he left as soon as he could.

Leon was dangerous.

Chapter 62: Ultimate Pilot Recreation Room

Chris definitely felt uncomfortable after his conversation with Leon, which is why he refrained from giving him a gun, not because he was afraid of possible retaliation from that supposed agent, but because it was more a matter of dignity. If Chris gave in to his request, then what other things would he force him to participate in?

Before even entering his Recreation Room, Chris was stopped by Brad Vickers.

"Chris! It's good to see you, man! How's it going?"

Brad approached Chris and extended his hand, somewhat nervously. Redfield accepted and soon shook Vickers's hand, who seemed uncomfortable no matter how hard he tried to smile.

"What a shitty situation, huh? They left us without food... and... I barely managed to eat a bite yesterday."

"Really? That's awful, man. With what happened to Claire, I barely ate anything, I wasn't hungry, and... I doubt I am now. Is something wrong, Brad?"

"A lot is happening, Chris! A lot. Can I ask you something? But I'd prefer we do it in my Recreation Room, if that's alright."

"Sure, Brad. I'll follow you."

The two men entered the Ultimate Pilot's Recreation Room. Chris was genuinely surprised to find a complete workshop with a helicopter taking up most of the room, and a hatch in the ceiling that still couldn't be opened.

"My talent is certainly special to MonoRaccoon... that's why I wanted to talk to you, Chris." Brad was about to open up about his involvement in the killing game. "MonoRaccoon offered me a deal, that's why... that's why I need your help. You're the Ultimate Soldier, right? Yeah... someone reliable like you could help me."

"What's up, Brad?"

Chris remained serious and resolute, and despite all his alarm bells going off, he didn't want to show any fear in front of Vickers or trigger a situation based on a misunderstanding.

"Look, Chris... I need some support. Um... I can't die, please. I'm the only way out for the group, MonoRaccoon promised me that." Brad clasped his hands together and smiled nervously because he was finally being honest about his talent. "As you know... I'm the Ultimate Pilot. MonoRaccoon told me that for every case I survived... he'd give me a part to repair the helicopter and get us out of here."

Chris raised an eyebrow because the situation seemed too convenient.

"And what did he give you for the last trial?"

"The helicopter's frame. It's missing a lot of parts, five in total. If we do the math, and if two people die per case, the maximum number of survivors would be four... and the helicopter only has four seats, it's very small, to be honest. It doesn't even have any fuel."

"So... you're asking me to protect you."

"That's right, Chris. All I need is protection. MonoRaccoon told me that this place... the Recreation Rooms, would be visited again, which is why it is important for the group that I survive."

"Are you telling me there's no other way out if you die?"

Now Chris was worried.

"I don't doubt there's another way... but Chris, please... I need your help. I'm not asking for much. In fact... I only know the basics of self-defense; I'm often in offices, if you remember that you'll know..."

"Would you mind talking about my past, Brad? Jill and others have told me I worked for something called R.P.D. in Raccoon City. Is that true?"

Brad nodded and, as the conversation progressed, invited him to sit in one of the chairs the Pilot had available.

"Yeah, man. I'd get you some beers, which I actually have in a fridge here, but I think that would kill us."

"Don't worry, Brad. Cindy told me the exact same thing, and Leon confirmed it too. So, no beers for now, okay?"

"Getting to the point... you say you want to know about your past. Is there anything you're interested in knowing, Chris?"

With so many things to consider, Chris wanted to take it one step at a time, starting by getting to know these supposed ghosts who claimed to know him and, perhaps, uncovering contradictions.

"Hmm... yeah, I want to know something. What role did I have in the R.P.D.? They say I was a cop, or something like that."

"Of course! And you were one of the good ones, you were pretty well known in Raccoon City for doing things right. You wouldn't know it, but we used to go to J's Bar on weekends. Chris Redfield was quite a well-known man in the city... and a part of me genuinely envied you for that."

"Wow! I find that hard to believe. The only thing I remember is the last day I got kicked out of the army... other than that, I don't remember anything."

"Really? You don't remember anything, Chris? What about Jill, or Wesker?"

"I've tried talking to Jill, but things didn't go so well. And as for Wesker... I haven't spoken to him at all. Maybe I'll go see him after this."

"Oh, well. You and Jill were very close, that's for sure, and you had a respectful relationship with Wesker… he thought highly of you. You were one of his best apprentices, and I'd even say his right-hand man. He didn't care that you were kicked out of the army, because he saw value in you."

"Really?"

"Of course, Chris! You were that guy. You always played your music at full blast, and Wesker had to remind you every day to clean your damn desk because it was a mess, but that didn't mean you didn't know how to get things done."

"I see. So… I  wasn't that bad..."

"You were the best, Chris. And by the way… I'm really sorry about what happened to Claire. I didn't know her very well, but the way she talked about you… she seemed genuine. If you need anything, don't hesitate to come knock on my door, okay?"

"Thanks, Brad. And regarding my help... what are you specifically looking for?"

Brad's face lit up at Chris's response to his request.

"Thanks, Chris. And now that we're talking about that... I need some help. I assume in the army they taught you... they taught you how to defend yourself, right?"

"Of course."

"Great! Look... if you have... if you have some time... would you like to train with me? Please, Chris... help me become stronger, help me become braver. I don't want to die. I need your help, and I'm terrified that the situation will get worse and..."

Chris nodded and smiled at Vickers's request, finding it quite genuine.

"I'd be happy to teach you what little I know, Brad."

"Really? You promise, Chris? Thanks! Thanks, man!"

Overcome with excitement, Vickers approached Redfield and hugged him, quite pleased to be starting the process.

"You're the best, Chris! Would you like me to escort you to your Recreation Room? Even if it's just to keep an eye on you and make sure you get there safely."

"I think I can go alone, Brad. Don't take any risks. And thanks to you for the information. Have a good day."

"Alright, Chris! Be careful. Lock up when you leave."

And so, Chris Redfield left the Ultimate Pilot Recreation Room, hoping for something better.

Chapter 63: Ultimate ? Recreation Room

Chris was exhausted and decided to go straight to his Recreation Room where, unsure if it was from hunger or sleepiness, or perhaps both, since the MonoDroid said it was 10:49 PM, Chris lay down on his bed after taking off his boots and shirt, hoping that strange feeling in his stomach would disappear completely.

In his dreams, Chris had a first-person perspective, as if it were a memory. In the dream, he was fishing in what he assumed was a large lake, since mountains could be seen in the distance and a forest surrounded the lake. Chris had just caught a large salmon and even asked someone to take a picture of his great catch, but when the flash went off, Redfield woke up even more tired than before he went to sleep.

Chris felt his chest sweating, and he was so dizzy that the light in his room only worsened his discomfort, leading him to close his eyes and pull one of the blankets over his head. He then rubbed his face against the already sweat-soaked pillow. Chris rubbed his face with his hands and stared at the floor where his dirty boots lay.

Until that moment, Chris hadn't noticed the dirt on his boots, but why would they be dirty if they'd been indoors the whole time? Why was there dirt on the soles of his boots?

Before he could question reality, Chris received a visitor. The other person greeted him through the intercom, where, through a small peephole, he could see that it was Albert Wesker.

"Are you there, Chris? Shit... I hope you're not somewhere else."

Chris was so concerned by Albert's apparent desperation that he decided to answer immediately.

"It's me, Wesker. Is something wrong?"

"I thought you'd be somewhere else. May I come in, Chris? I've been searching for answers all damn day... answers only you can give me. I need your help."

"Sure! Just wait a moment, I need to take a shower and then change my clothes. Is that okay for you?"

"Ugh, whatever. I'll wait for you in my Recreation Room then. Don't be too long."

Chris could only nod before stepping into the shower, keeping his head outside it to avoid getting it in his mouth and dying from the incentive. After that, Chris put on a white t-shirt, blue sweatpants, and matching flip-flops, feeling a little fresher but still hungry. While the situation was bad, Chris was grateful there were changes of clothes and that he wouldn't have to wear the same as yesterday, which made him uncomfortable.

By the time he left his Recreation Room and headed to Wesker's, the blond man immediately opened the door and invited him in. It was a surprise to Chris that Wesker's Recreation Room was a laboratory, which made him seriously question Albert's talent. Was he a doctor like George or a scientist like Sherry? And if so, what kind of person in a white coat would he be?

Chris noticed that Wesker had also just finished showering, judging by his wet hair and change of clothes. He was wearing a blue dress shirt, gray pants, and brown shoes, without socks.

"Thank you for coming, Chris. I appreciate your cooperation. Would you like to come in?"

"Of course, Wesker. If you don't mind."

"Come on in then. Leave the door open when you enter."

Redfield proceeded to enter and took a seat on a black velvet sofa that was part of a small sitting room, something like Leon's bedroom.

"Let's get straight to the point, Chris. I want you to know that I have no interest in making any connection with any of you. I just want answers, and I hope you'll be nice enough to give them to me, okay?"

Chris raised an eyebrow and smiled, a clear sign of displeasure at Albert's audacity.

"Well, maybe you should be a little nicer.Maybe you would like to become the second son of a bitch guts I hate, and to be honest, I don't like working with people who don't know how to say please."

"I'm not one to beg, Chris."

"I'm not one to give in, Wesker."

Wesker knew that his first approach could define his relationship with the Ultimate Soldier during his stay, so it was best to analyze his words and use them carefully.

"Well, well. I've gotten off on the wrong foot. I'm Albert Wesker, or at least that's what the credentials I'm carrying say. I'd like to know... what others have told you about me. I bet you've lost your memory too, haven't you? Though not as severely as I have."

There was doubt in the way Wesker was speaking, and Chris even sensed fear.

"I'm only asking for myself, Wesker. Perhaps you should be the one going out there looking for your own answers. I'm not your errand boy."

"Okay, okay. Perhaps that wasn't the best first approach. Let me rephrase my question... Have you obtained any information from the other participants that implicates us? Because I have." Wesker seemed uneasy, his face flushed, perhaps from exhaustion. "I was told that you and I were practically inseparable. I was your superior... and you were my right-hand man, but I don't remember anything."

"Hmm... that's the same information I received. Apparently, you and I worked together. To be honest... I have no idea what my life was like during Raccoon City, I don't know who you are, and I don't have much information about my past either. I'm sorry, Wesker, but I don't think I can help you."

"So we're on the same page, then? Damn it, and here I was thinking I could get something useful out of this... I don't even know what my fucking talent is. All I know is that I could be a doctor, someone who works in medicine... or even someone like Sherry, which terrifies me."

Chris knew Wesker's case was more serious, but not to this extent.

"What do you remember, Wesker? About your past."

"I don't have a past, Chris!" Wesker exclaimed in frustration. "I don't have a past, plain and simple. I don't know what talent I have, I have no idea who I was before all this shit! And, I don't know why, but I don't like these nightmares. I'm sorry to waste your time, Chris... You can go now."

"I guess we can't delve into the relationship you and I had, can we? I'd like to believe... I'd like to believe that you and I were good friends, the kind who went out for drinks on weekends at the bar and knew how to keep things professional."

"That doesn't mean we can't start over. How about we put aside my initial attitude towards you, and you allow me to introduce myself?"

Wesker thought it would be for the best to start from scratch. 

"I don't see what the problem is."

And so Albert sighed, preparing to set his ego aside and trying to appear as friendly and warm as possible.

"Well, well... um... I'm Albert Wesker. About my talent... I'm not entirely sure about it right now and... damn... this is more complicated than I thought..."

Chris noticed Albert's discomfort and approached him, extending his hand to shake it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Albert. I'm Chris Redfield, you can call me Chris. I'm the Ultimate Soldier. If you need any help... call me, okay?"

Chris's smile gave the man of unknown talent a strange feeling, a faint intuition that he had seen Chris express himself this way before. It made his stomach flutter, but not in an unpleasant way; rather, it seemed to bring him a certain pleasure.

And it was the reason he was smiling...

"If you want to talk to someone, Chris... I know I'm not good at giving advice, but I'm a great listener."

"You want to talk, Albert? Considering that you and I could die right now, only to be found tomorrow morning by someone else."

"Isn't that fascinating, Chris? Knowing that death is breathing down our necks. How will you spend your last moments knowing that you don't even have the present secured?"

"How do you want me to spend them, Albert? Or should I say... Wesker?"

"You can call me whatever you like, Chris."

And that exchange of smiles.

It was dangerous.

Chapter 64: Second Body Discovery

Chris had spent a pleasant amount of time with Wesker, discussing the latter's potential talents. Chris theorized that Albert might be a chemist, while Wesker himself believed he could be a doctor, perhaps even better than George. Chris emphasized Wesker's evident ego and suggested that some of his characteristics were innate, requiring no brainwashing, so natural, so deeply ingrained in the mind that no matter how many curses were cast, the individual would never change his true nature.

After a while, Chris left the Ultimate ? Recreation Room and returned to his own. It was there that the real ordeal began. With no food available and struggling to withstand the ravages of hunger, Chris went back to sleep, this time trying to escape the anguished thoughts, though this didn't last long. After sleeping for what he considered a great deal of amount of time, Chris began to feel worse due to hunger. His head ached, and his stomach burned intensely. His mouth was so dry that his lips were chapped, and swallowing was pure torture.

Chris even considered taking a shower just to refresh himself, and for a moment, he thought about bathing with the sole purpose of licking the water droplets that might fall through his hair and trickle down his face, clinging to his chin.

At some point, the Ultimate Soldier sensed that he might have overslept and that hunger was finally taking hold. Using what little strength he had left, and considering that the Recreation Rooms might no longer be frequented if anyone else died, Chris had an idea.

"MonoRaccoon!"

Chris called out to the void as if that could do anything, which, to his surprise, resulted in the sudden appearance of MonoRaccoon at his bedside.

"What's wrong, Chris Redfield - Ultimate Soldier?"

MonoRaccoon asked mockingly, reveling in Chris's suffering.

"I need to get into Claire's Recreation Room... please."

"Still searching for answers? On the advice of your handsome and kind Director, I'd say refrain from discovering who you are. After all... some things are meant to remain hidden."

"That's bullshit, and you know it!"

Chris retorted angrily, realizing that MonoRaccoon himself was an obstacle to discovering that part of himself he'd lost.

"I demand to be let in, MonoRaccoon! Claire is dead, and there's no reason to keep her Recreation Room locked! Now open it for me!"

"Chris Redfield - Ultimate Soldier! You are strictly forbidden from entering Claire Redfield - Ultimate Biker's Recreation Room! Any attempt to enter will be punished with immediate execution. Is that clear?"

"Fuck you! I deserve to know about my past! I haven't done anything wrong to anyone! How can you be such a son of a bitch?"

Chris exuded so much contempt that being denied the opportunity to learn about his past hurt him more than the hunger growing in his stomach.

"You miserable-"

Before Chris could even do anything about the situation, someone rang the doorbell of his Recreation Room. Trying to push aside the discomfort he felt, the Ultimate Soldier opened the door, finding Jill Valentine standing there.

"Chris! Someone attacked Sherry! Her Recreation Room is a mess!"

"WHAT? DAMN IT, NO!"

Chris rushed forward and ran toward Sherry Birkin's Recreation Room, blinded by rage that anyone would even dare to attack a child.

But all Chris received...

Was darkness.

---

The world of unconsciousness is too much fun.

A darkness that envelops you, where, for at least a moment, all your worries vanish and cease to matter.

That sacred limbo where you are everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

By the time Chris Redfield opened his eyes again...

---

"No... please... no..."

Chris felt his chest tighten as that sweet chocolate taste invaded his palate. Touching his lips, he could feel traces of chocolate on his fingertips.

"It can't be..."

---

Chris couldn't understand why Karl Heisenberg lay there, in his Recreation Room.

The man who was the Ultimate Inventor was known for having a world of ideas in his head that became reality.

But now...

Where did all those ideas go when his head was severed from his body? When it disappeared.

---

"Please... don't do this to me... don't do this to me..."

---

Chris crawled across the floor, his head still aching, as he approached his bed where another part of his past lay, or at least, someone who could give him the answers he needed.

But the dead don't speak.

Her face revealed such peace that it was terrifying to know she would never wake up again.

So why did her eyes reflect such profound calm, and her lips a serenity that sent shivers down your spine?

---

"Jill..."

The noise of the Recreation Room door opening made him turn immediately, noticing that both Brad and Wesker were staring in astonishment at three specific things.

Brad, who came in first, saw the corpse lying on the floor in a pool of its own blood.

And Wesker, who came in last, saw the body lying on the bed, its pallor indicating that it hadn't fallen asleep.

Both of them saw Chris, who by then was naked.

---

"THREE INNOCENTS HAVE FOUND A BODY! AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, THE SCHOOL TRIAL WILL BEGIN!"

---

"What the hell..."

"Chris... What the hell happened?"

Brad and Wesker's voices were interrupted by another announcement.

---

"THREE INNOCENTS HAVE FOUND A BODY! AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, THE SCHOOL TRIAL WILL BEGIN!"

---

SURVIVING ULTIMATES

Mia Winters - Ultimate Researcher

Ethan Winters - Ultimate Systems Engineer

Chris Redfield - Ultimate Soldier

Albert Wesker - Ultimate ???

Alcina Dimitrescu - Ultimate Oenologist

Donna Beneviento - Ultimate Dollmaker

Sherry Birkin - Ultimate Virologist

Cindy Lennox - Ultimate Waitress

Leon - Ultimate ???

Brad Vickers - Ultimate Pilot

George Hamilton - Ultimate Surgeon

Osmund Saddler - Ultimate Priest

---

DECEASED ULTIMATES

Claire Redfield - Ultimate Biker

Alexia Ashford - Ultimate Sniper

Karl Heisenberg - Ultimate Inventor

Jill Valentine - Ultimate Cop

Chapter 65: Above The Law - Investigation - Part I

After the Body Discovery Announcement, many of the participants emerged out from their Recreation Rooms visibly exhausted, though others seemed unfazed by the discomfort of starvation. Among these, Cindy and Sherry stood out; unlike the other participants, they moved quickly compared to some, like Osmund, who had to lean against the walls to walk due to exhaustion.

"What the hell happened here?"

George Hamilton exclaimed in disgust upon seeing Chris covered with a towel and Albert beside him, but what surprised him most was the metallic smell that permeated Chris's Recreation Room.

"We don't know! Brad and I came to visit Chris and... the door to his Recreation Room was open. We found him... we found him next to Jill's bed, kneeling and completely naked. Brad came in first before me."

---

"Truth Bullet - Wesker's Testimony."

"Brad and I were together when we noticed the door to Chris' Recreation Room was open. We went in and found the bodies, Brad came in before me. We saw Chris, naked, kneeling beside the bed where Jill lay."

---

Wesker tried to recount the events appropriately.

"And as soon as we went in... both announcements popped up. I assume Wesker, Chris, and I are innocent, until proven otherwise."

"What the hell are you talking about, Brad?" Chris didn't like the implication of Vickers' words regarding "proven otherwise." "I hope you're not saying I had something to do with it... because I didn't."

---

"Truth Bullet - Brad's Testimony."

"While Wesker and I went in together and both announcements played, there's nothing to indicate that we're actually innocent."

---

"What's that you've got in your mouth, Chris?"

George noticed a series of brown stains on Chris's chin.

"I don't know what the hell it is... I think it's chocolate. It tastes like chocolate. Yeah... it's chocolate."

"Before you lick it... or wipe it off... close your eyes."

George pulled out his MonoDroid to take a picture.

---

"Truth Bullet - Photograph A of Chris - Chocolate Marks."

"Photograph of Chris's chin and lips with traces of melted chocolate."

---

After the photo, Chris licked his lips and confirmed that it was indeed chocolate.

Chapter 66: Above The Law - Investigation - Part II

"I think we need to take this one step at a time. So... Albert and Brad arrive at the possible crime scene where they find Chris... naked. Why are you naked, Chris?"

George asked with all the calm in the world, to the point of bordering on indifference.

"I don't know! I woke up on the floor of my Recreation Room, without clothes and... with two corpses inside."

"Do you remember what you did before all this, Chris? This might help us understand how the bodies got here."

Albert was trying to take control of the situation by asking the right questions.

"Yes... actually, yes. Moments before I lost consciousness... Jill came into my Recreation Room. She told me that Sherry had been attacked, that the whole place was a mess. When I went out into the hallways... everything went dark. I lost consciousness."

"Hmm..."

Albert had a faint intuition that he preferred to save for the trial.

---

"Bullet of Truth - Chris's Testimony."

"Jill told me that Sherry's Recreation Room was attacked, and when I left, I collapsed unconscious in the hallways."

---

"Well, that's strange." George could only sigh wearily, knowing that he would soon begin the autopsy. "We need to inform the others of Karl and Jill's deaths. There's too much to work with here. If someone could, I don't know, take statements, it would probably help us sort things out."

"I'll go. The smell is killing me. If you need anything, I'll be out here."

Brad left the room, leaving Chris, George, and Albert in the same spot. It was then that an idea struck Albert.

"The rule..." Wesker smiled at the obviousness of the situation. "There were more than four of us in the same room. That has to mean something, right? After all, the alarm went off earlier, threatening Donna."

---

"Truth Bullet - Rules"

"More than four people cannot coexist within the same Recreation Room."

---

"Can you explain what you mean by the alarm going off and threatening Donna?"

Chris seemed confused because he hadn't heard any alarm.

"Seriously, you didn't hear it? That crap kept me up all night. I was woken up by an announcement where MonoRaccoon warned both Donna and Karl to leave the Recreation Rooms they were invading, or else they would be executed."

Albert commented disdainfully, remembering how those announcements were much worse than hunger.

"Which one did you hear first?"

Chris's question was something George took into consideration as a likely factor involved in the case.

"First came the warning announcement to Donna Beneviento - The Ultimate Dollmaker. MonoRaccoon told her to leave the Recreation Room immediately because it exceeded the total number of participants allowed in one room."

---

"Truth Bullet - Warning to Donna Beneviento."

"An announcement where Donna is warned to leave a Recreation Room. Its origin was never revealed. It was announced before Heisenberg's warning."

---

"And as George says... shortly after, a warning was heard, but this time it was for Karl. It was exactly the same type of announcement; he was ordered to leave the Recreation Room, but it was never specified which one..."

---

"Truth Bullet - Warning to Karl Heisenberg."

"An announcement where Karl is warned to leave a Recreation Room. Its origin was never revealed. It was announced after Donna's warning."

Chapter 67: Above The Law - Investigation - Part III

"What's that on the back of your neck, Chris? Let me see..."

Wesker noticed that Chris had a large mark on the back of his neck, more like a bruise. Touching it caused Redfield intense pain, which he immediately stopped feeling.

"Hey! What the hell?"

"Haven't you noticed, Chris? You have a bruise on the back of your neck. It's a huge mark... How did you get it?"

Wesker asked Chris to turn around, lift some of his hair so that the back of his neck was exposed, revealing the bruise on his skin.

---

"Truth Bullet - Photograph B of Chris - Bruise on the Back of the Chris' Neck."

"Photograph of Chris's neck showing a large bruise."

---

"I don't know! But it hurt a lot when you touched it."

Chris said, expressing his pain and trying to rub the area that was causing him so much discomfort.

Meanwhile, George was standing near Heisenberg's body, and it was clear it was him because of the clothes he'd worn a few days earlier: his distinctive brown trench coat and the hat he always carried with him.

"Hmm… let's see what you can tell us, Karl."

George knelt down to get a better look at the body. What immediately caught George's attention wasn't just the smell of iron, or the fact that Karl was headless, but a darkened pattern around his shirt and the skin over his chest.

"This isn't normal…" George took a photograph of the area, noticing another distinctive feature: the smell of burning, and that some of the skin appeared to have been burned. "No, it definitely isn't… What decapitated you, Karl?"

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo A of Heisenberg."

"It's a photograph of Heisenberg's clothing and his chest showing burn marks."

---

"Hmm… Could he have been shot? Just look at how many guns are here."

Albert pointed to the wall where flesh and bone fragments were embedded, right next to where Karl's body had been leaning.

"Was his head blown off with a gun? It's possible. But… if so… where are the bullets?"

"I don't know, George… but the spread of the fragments indicates an explosion. A gun is the first thing that comes to mind. You should take a picture."

---

"Truth Bullet - Heisenberg Photo B."

"It's a photograph of flesh and bone fragments embedded on the wall at an angle that indicates dispersion."

---

"I wonder how that got there…" George blinked as something landed near his eye. Wiping it away with his fingers, he saw it was blood. "What…"

Both the surgeon and Albert looked up at the ceiling, where more of those fragments were scattered, but gravity was causing them to fall away.

"Oh, no! No, not my suit! No, no, no!"

George could only tremble as those remains fell on him, specifically on his back where they stuck.

"I don't know about you, but I think this could be the rest of his face..."

"Just take a picture and get it off me! Damn it, my suit! Hurry!"

"Hold still! Just hold still."

Albert then proceeded to take two more photographs, one of the ceiling and another of the remains on George's back.

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo C of Heisenberg."

"It's a photograph of human remains stuck to the ceiling."

---

"Don't move..."

"Just take the damn picture for God's sake!"

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo D of Heisenberg."

"It's a photograph of human remains that fell from the ceiling of Chris' Recreation Room onto George's back. The presence of teeth indicates that it may belong to the head of the deceased Karl."

Chapter 68: Above The Law - Investigation - Part IV

"I can't work like this! I have to take this off... God... I hope it didn't soak through my jacket..."

George removed his gray formal jacket and placed it on a chair. Realizing the residue had indeed soaked through, he decided to leave both his jacket and shirt at the crime scene and go to his Recreation Room to change. He also brought the necessary materials to perform an effective autopsy. Meanwhile, Wesker stayed behind to keep watch.

"Hmm... well, I have to be useful somehow."

Albert approached Jill's body and noticed something rather peculiar, not only about the corpse lying there—or rather, judging by the position of the open arms and the unusual curvature of the position—but also because Chris's clothes were scattered on the floor beside the bed. Wesker knew they were his clothes because he had seen him wearing them before.

Upon closer inspection, he found nothing out of the ordinary, except for something in one of the trouser pockets.

"What's this?"

And so, Wesker pulled out what appeared to be a series of bullets, even marked with the type of ammunition they were. So, despite looking like real bullets, they were actually blanks.

"What? Why would this be here?"

---

"Truth Bullet - Blank Ammunition in Chris's Pants."

"Blank ammunition found in Chris's clothing. Seems new."

---

Afterward, Wesker took a photograph and uploaded it to the group chat along with all the others George had already uploaded.

"Now let's see what you can tell us, Jill..."

Albert looked closer at Jill, who, by then, had a large wound on her neck. While, given its size, it would have been logical to expect profuse bleeding, Jill only had blood around her neck and part of her shoulder that even soaked her blue shirt. Wesker suspected that Jill might have bled to death in bed at some point, judging by the pattern in which the blood had flowed.

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo A of Jill - Blood Pattern."

"This is a photograph of Jill that corresponds to a blood pattern consistent with the position in which the body was found. Jill bled in bed. We don't know if this killed her.

---

"Hmm… What is this?"

Wesker also noticed something curious near the wound: the temperature of that area. Jill's skin felt cold, cold and damp, which contradicted the rest of the body, which, until that moment, was still warm. Something else that puzzled him was that the bed was wet, and when Wesker tried to smell the contents of that damp stain, which was clearly not blood, he couldn't detect anything.

To avoid being left with doubts, and considering that the information could be useful, Wesker took photos and uploaded them to the group.

"This is strange..."

---

"Truth Bullet - Wesker's Testimony."

"The temperature of the area where Jill's wound was located did not correspond to the temperature of the rest of her body. The skin around the wound felt cold."

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo B of Jill."

"Strange damp stain on the bed near the area where Jill was wounded. It has no odor and is definitely not blood."

---

"How did you die, Jill?  Who killed you? Just when we were getting closer..."

Wesker was very puzzled, but above all, worried. Jill was the only person who had shown a genuine interest in helping him recover his past, and, like Chris, he had lost someone who might have given him clues about what could have happened and perhaps found answers in the subliminal, in what lay in the depths of his mind.

"Damn... and just when you were about to tell me you found a way... a way to put things right..."

"I saw your updates in the group chat, Wesker. Congratulations on your findings. If you'll allow me, I can proceed with the examination of both bodies and notify you of my findings for the Trial."

"Huh?"

Wesker turned and looked at George, dressed as a medical professional, in full scrubs like the ones he saw in his shows about doctors in an operating room who were about to cut people open.

"Wow... you didn't hold back, did you?"

"I am the Ultimate Surgeon, and it is my duty to get to the truth. Their bodies... their bodies are the last weapon they've left us to find the killer."

Wesker stepped away from Jill and gave George space to examine them.

"Do your thing, Doc. We'll check the perimeter."

Chapter 69: Above The Law - Investigation - Part V

"I don't understand how I could have been so stupid... I should have been more careful."

Chris continued to lament because, somehow, he felt that everything that had happened was his fault.

"Careful about what? Be grateful at least that you weren't killed. If what you say is true... then you were unconscious, and if I were you, I would really ask George for a full examination. You never know."

Albert watched with disgust as George knelt down and, with his instrument case, proceeded to examine Karl's body on his own.

"At least he'll find something now that he has everything at his disposal. So... Chris... Are all these weapons yours?"

Wesker gestured to all the weaponry Chris had in his Recreation Room, to which he only nodded slightly.

"Apparently, yes. All of this is mine. I wouldn't be surprised if one of these weapons was even used to kill Karl. They blew his head to bits..."

"I'm sure of it..."

The Mysterious Ultimate glanced around Chris's room, and something about it told him there were elements that didn't quite fit, something that simply didn't belong. One of them was the table of tools and disassembled weapons that Chris kept in his Recreation Room. Wesker wanted to test Chris so that he would identify the same thing he had.

"Do you notice anything different or out of the ordinary, Chris? Something you might not remember right now but you sense nonetheless. What were you doing here?"

Chris remained silent, thinking about Albert's question and wondering how it could have anything to do with the current situation.

"I don't notice anything different, Albert. I hardly did anything here; I was sleeping most of the time. I took a shower... but that only made things worse. I was chatting with some of you, so I wasn't in my Recreation Room for very long either."

"No? Are you absolutely sure?"

"Of course! I didn't even use anything from my Recreation Room because I was too tired. Why do you ask, Wesker?"

"Hmm... no reason."

Wesker approached Chris's tool table where he could see that several of the tools were being disassembled. Some pistols were completely unrecognizable; it looked as if they were assembling new ones from the parts they were putting together. Albert didn't quite understand why someone was taking apart weapons, much less why the same type of ammunition found on the table was the same type of ammunition that had been in Salva's clothing.

Albert took a photograph of the scene and kept it for himself.

---

"Truth Bullet - Chris Redfield's Tool Table."

"A table with tools and weapon parts containing the same ammunition found in Chris's clothing."

---

"I still don't quite understand what happened here. Perhaps the most feasible course of action would be to check other important locations, such as the Victims' Recreation Room."

"That seems like the best idea, Wesker. Just let me get some clothes and I'll come with you, okay?"

"Come with me? No, Chris. You're staying here. It's best if you remain in your Recreation Room. Besides... you should consider your status as a suspect."

"Suspect? Wesker! That's bullshit! I..."

"I won't discuss it with you, Chris. I don't see the need to have you around... for now."

"Why are you acting like this? I didn't do anything... I didn't do anything wrong, damn it. Are you really going to do this?"

"I'm not going to discuss it with you, Chris. I don't see the need to have you around... for now."

"Why are you like this? I didn't do anything... I didn't do anything wrong, damn it. Are you really going to do this?"

"I'm going to come with you?" But none of that mattered to Wesker.

"It's a matter of trust, Chris. You'll understand."

Chris could only feel his stomach tighten and a wave of disgust rise in his throat.

Chapter 70: Above The Law - Investigation - Part VI

Brad Vickers knew he had a mission, and that it was essential for him to obtain all the crucial information that could help in the trial. So he decided to break free from fear and face reality. Drawing on his experience in the office dealing with people who needed assistance from the authorities and always trying to put on a brave face, Brad began to construct a new persona.

"Inhale and exhale... inhale and exhale... yes."

Brad pulled out a small notebook and pen, ready to do things right.

"Hello, Cindy. I don't think we've formally introduced ourselves, have we? I'm Brad Vickers, a member of the Raccoon City Police Department. How are you?"

"Oh? Hello, Officer Vickers. I'm... shaken up. From what I've heard, something very bad happened. Two dead bodies already? Two people really died?"

"Oh come on! You can call me Brad. Can you tell me what you did for, say, the last three hours?"

Brad noticed Cindy blush and looked away, embarrassed.

"Oh... Is it necessary...?"

"It's not necessary, Cindy, it's the right thing to do. Due to the circumstances, everyone's cooperation is required. So..." Brad had noticed Cindy and George's closeness these past few days—or at least he thought it was a few days, given how often he'd slept—and he got straight to the point. "Perhaps Mr. Hamilton can answer for you."

"What? No! It won't be necessary. No, it's not necessary to bother George when he's busy."

"Then?" Brad also noticed that Cindy didn't look tired and, unlike many of the participants, including himself, she seemed more energetic. "Does Mr. Hamilton have anything to do with your radiant appearance? I won't criticize you if you and Mr. Hamilton had-"

"It wasn't like that! And speak more quietly..." Cindy led Brad to a corner of the hallway to speak more quietly. "No... it's not that. You see, Brad... George and I have been... uh... doing something so the incentive doesn't affect us."

"Care to elaborate, please?"

Cindy bit her lower lip and hugged herself, looking embarrassed.

"George has developed vitamin injections and enemas to prevent us from eating. The incentive had a catch... we weren't supposed to eat, of course, ingest things by mouth... but that didn't mean we couldn't nourish ourselves."

---

"Truth Bullet - Cindy's First Testimony."

"George helped a group of survivors with vitamin injections and enemas so they wouldn't starve to death and succumb to temptation. The Incentive had a catch. In order for you to die, you had to eat, but that didn't mean you couldn't nourish yourself."

---

"Cindy... you mentioned something that caught my attention. You're speaking in the plural... Who else did George help?"

Cindy sighed wearily and decided there was no need to lie.

"He helped the Winters... and Sherry. It was... it was our secret."

---

"Truth Bullet - Cindy's Second Testimony."

"George only helped the Winters, Sherry, and me after we received the incentive."

---

"We... we were starving..."

"Please don't take it that way, Brad! We only-"

"Thank you for your cooperation, Cindy."

"We were just doing what we had to do! Please... don't be angry."

"I'm not angry. How could I be? George helped a pregnant woman and a little girl, which is the most important thing. I don't blame him, and I don't blame you. Have a good day, Cindy."

"You think we're to blame, don't you?"

"What I believe, think, or feel is none of your business, Cindy. Excuse me."

And with that, Brad left to continue his investigations.

Chapter 71: Above The Law - Investigation - Part VII

With the information he had gathered, Brad knew he had a new target. Luckily for him, the Winters were standing just outside one of the many recreation rooms, leading him to suspect it was one of them, and just as he saw his MonoDroid, it turn out to be Mia's.

"Mia! Ethan. I don't think we've formally introduced ourselves... I'm Brad Vickers! Member of the Raccoon City Police Department. For the purposes of this investigation, you need to answer a few questions."

"Answer? Well, there's not much to tell you. Mia and I were together the whole time. Maybe you can come later? It's not the time—"

"It'll never be the right time, Ethan." Brad smile, obvious at the obstruction of information presented by Winters's words, stopped. "I want to know what kind of injections George was giving you."

Brad's direct question caused Mia and Ethan to exchange a glance, surprised by the officer's boldness and the fact that he knew such private information.

"Who told you?"

Mia exclaimed angrily.

"So it's true? It's understandable for Mia... after all, she's pregnant... But you, Ethan?"

"It's none of your business! But if you want to know something... I think this might help the case." Ethan crossed his arms and fixed his gaze on Brad as if plotting what to do with him once they made it out of the trial alive. "While George was giving Mia her vitamins... there was an accident."

"That's right. As you may know, my existence is worth two people, and thanks to that, there was an accident. Ethan and I went to George's Recreation Room as usual to get our injected vitamins."

"Wait, there's something that still bothers me about this. Aren't vitamins supposed to take several days to take effect?"

"It wasn't just vitamins, Brad... it was also IV drips, injections, nutritional enemas. George said the latter were outdated, but considering the circumstances... It was thanks to our combined talents that I was able to create a quick and effective combination. I am the Ultimate Researcher, after all. He, as the Ultimate Surgeon, knew how to apply what I had created under his guidance."

---

"Truth Bullet  - Mia's First Testimony."

"As the Ultimate Researcher, I had prior knowledge to enhance the use of IV drips, injections, and enemas that could show results that would normally take weeks in hours. Under George's supervision, I was able to carry them out, and he took care of administering them."

---

"Then... putting that aside... there was an incident. As you know, and I repeat, I'm worth two people. The maximum number of individuals allowed in a room is three, so when I went to have George administer the whole process... there were four of us."

"How is that?"

Brad was taking notes, quite interested in the new information.

"The moment the warning went off, George's door opened. When it did, that stupid doll dressed as a bride came out and apparently it made a mess in George's Recreation Room." Ethan replied, clearly agitated. "That damn doll is an extension of Donna, and when they found her, she went berserk."

"Donna's doll started to... run away, but all her movements did was destroy things in George's Recreation Room."

Mia just rolled her eyes and made another face of contempt for the situation.

---

"Bullet of Truth - Mia's Second Testimony."

"The alarm warning Donna was because her doll was in George's Recreation Room since he and I were there."

---

"I was staring at the room, and I didn't even know where the hell the doll went. From what we gather... the doll is an extension of Donna, and that might answer some questions."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Ethan's First Testimony."

"Donna's doll is a direct extension of her. It can be inferred that if she kills using the doll, it would directly influence the Ultimate Dollmaker."

---

"I just have one question... Who happened to enter George's Recreation Room first?"

Brad asked, having a question directly related to the Discovery of a Body Notice.

"It was me." Mia raised her hand to speak. "I went in first because George gave me permission. Then, when he went in..."

"The damn alarm went off. We asked MonoRaccoon about why it alerted Donna, considering that, well, she was already there and I came in later. It turns out that by granting me permission to enter, MonoRaccoon and its system were updating themselves with the Recreation Room owner's wishes."

"To summarize what Mia said... George isn't considered an intruder in his Recreation Room because he owns it but he DOES count as one person. Upon recognizing Mia, Donna, who was already there, was considered the intruder."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Ethan's Second Testimony."

"The participant limit rule has actually gone into effect. If a Recreation Room owner admits guests, they are recognized by the system and are not considered intruders as long as they don't exceed the participant limit. The owner is NOT considered an intruder."

---

"It seems that's all for now. Thank you for your cooperation."

"That's it? Aren't you going to inform us about the dead?"

"Hmm... no. Have a good day."

"You son of a-"

Brad left, knowing that Mia was going to stop Ethan from punching him.

Chapter 72: Above The Law - Investigation - Part VIII

Brad had someone else in mind to talk to, so when he checked his MonoDroid to find Sherry Birkin's Recreation Room, Vickers had no trouble locating it quickly. Brad noticed that Sherry's room was open; inside were both Alcina Dimitrescu and Saddler, trying to keep her company.

Aware of what had happened in Chris's room and that it was more of a "subliminal" situation, Brad wanted to test it, certain it wasn't a mistake. Although he hesitated for a moment about whether to enter or not, he ultimately followed the facts.

And he took a step.

Brad entered the room and was surprised that there was no announcement. This was important, and he wasn't going to let it go unnoticed.

---

"Truth Bullet - Brad's Testimony."

"More than three people could enter the Recreation Rooms during the Investigation."

---

Upon seeing him, Sherry stared at Brad, confused, as if his very existence were a mystery.

"Sorry! I just stopped by to say hello. Is everything alright, Sherry?"

"Mr. Vickers, what a surprise." Saddler greeted as he wandered around Sherry's Recreation Room, particularly drawn to some of the exhibits. "Is there anything we can help you with?"

"Um... yes, indeed. I heard there was a situation in your Recreation Room, Sherry... I received a report that you were attacked. Is that true?"

"No... but I did receive this." Sherry stood up and began searching in a drawer. Inside was a note. "Someone slipped this under my door... and with everything that's going on..."

Brad took the note Sherry handed him, and his face paled as he read its contents.

---

"Truth Bullet - Written Threat to Sherry."

"We're going to kill you. If you know what's best for you, you won't leave your Recreation Room."

---

"I received this... and I haven't left since. I received it a few hours ago. I personally hadn't needed to, because Dr. Hamilton... helped me."

"Did you contact anyone about this, Sherry?"

"No... I couldn't, Officer Vickers." Sherry sighed wearily. "There's no way to contact other people through messaging. The group chat only activates when there's a murder... although, I can tell you something."

Sherry shared a small anecdote that might not have been related to the case, but it still intrigued her.

"I... I took a shower. I asked MonoRaccoon beforehand if accidentally drinking shower water was grounds for execution... and he said yes. But... there was a moment when, while showering, not only I heard the warnings of rules being broken by Karl and Donna, but I accidentally swallowed some of that water. Shampoo got in my eyes and by accident..."

"You expected to be executed..."

"But I wasn't. And this was before the BDA's even aired. I have a theory... and I think it has to do with the fact that someone had already died before the announcement, so the incentive was canceled."

---

"Truth Bullet - Sherry's Testimony."

"I drank water in the showers before the announcements aired. Something caused the incentive to be deactivated."

Chapter 73: Above The Law - Investigation - Part VIII

"Ah... I guess this is what I get for hanging around with idiots."

Albert Wesker had asked MonoRaccoon for permission to enter Karl Heisenberg's Recreation Room, which was granted. Upon entering, he saw that the place was more like a workshop, as there were even blueprints and prototypes plastered on the walls depicting things Albert didn't understand because they weren't written in English.

"Too bad the MonoDroid doesn't have a translator, huh?"

Wesker laughed contemptuously. As he walked through the place, which reeked of a strong combination of oil and smoke from some engines that were still running, he noticed something unusual on the floor.

"Well... this isn't normal."

---

"Truth Bullet - Spent Ammunition in the Ultimate Inventor's Recreation Room."

"A collection of spent ammunition on the floor of the Ultimate Inventor's Recreation Room. Seven shell casings in total."

---

"They're the same type of blanks that are in Chris's room... What are they doing here?"

What intrigued Wesker most was seeing a long-sleeved shirt inside a wardrobe. It had once been white, but it was now soaked in blood. It stank, and Wesker could only pick up the garment from a corner with utter disgust. By then, the blood had dried. When he unfolded the rest of the folded shirt, he found a brown handle, similar to those used for gripping weapons, tucked into one corner.

Wesker knelt to pick it up and saw that the leather handle had a small gripping mechanism, as if something could be inserted through the cavity, and a pair of hooks would grip the object, preventing it from slipping out.

---

"Truth Bullet - Bloodstained Shirt."

"A white, long-sleeved shirt completely soaked in blood, found in the Ultimate Inventor's Recreation Room."

---

"Truth Bullet - Leather Handle."

"A small leather handle with a clamp function to firmly hold something that can be inserted through the cavity."

---

Finally, Albert noticed a table with many papers scattered on the floor. Apparently, Karl was devising a series of devices that resembled torture machines, which wouldn't be surprising considering the owner's particular taste for the grotesque images that decorated his room. What struck Albert wasn't the designs themselves, but rather the disarray, with those papers strewn across the floor, some half-finished clay models, and as if he had been interrupted.

---

"Truth Bullet - Heisenberg Table."

"Table in the Ultimate Inventor's Recreation Room where all his belongings are a mess."

Chapter 74: Above The Law - Investigation - Part IX

After leaving the room, Albert headed to Jill's. Upon entering, he realized it was more of a small office than a bedroom. Several diplomas and certificates attesting to Jill's experience adorned the walls, along with various photos of her with people Albert didn't recognize. One photo caught his eye when he saw that Brad and Chris appeared to be in it. If that was true, then when was the photo taken?

On a table lay a small, blue journal. Wesker read it; its contents were quite interesting.

---

"September 28, Daylight.

The monsters have overtaken the city.

Somehow... I'm still alive."

---

When Wesker tried to read further, a terrible headache gripped him, a migraine bringing out the worst in him as he staggered and his vision blurred. Wesker fell unconscious for a considerable time. He had no idea how much time had passed or what had happened, but when he opened his eyes, he saw Chris Redfield and George Hamilton standing beside him, their expressions worried.

"Albert... Did you hurt yourself? We found you like this. Come on, the investigation is over. I've updated the team with the new evidence I found; maybe it'll be useful."

"Everything alright, Wesker? We're all gathered at the elevator, but you didn't show up. We looked for you, and here you were."

"Ah... shit... How long was I...?"

Wesker could barely open his eyes because the light in the room bothered him.

"Relax, we're here now. Can you walk? MonoRaccoon is waiting for us."

Chris looked genuinely distraught.

"Yes... I can walk. Just let me check..."

On the way to the elevator, which turned out to be the same door that had led them to that hellhole, at the end of the corridor, Wesker pulled out the MonoDroid to check George's latest posts in the group chat.

---

"Truth Bullet - Bruises on Karl's Body."

"A total of seven bruises are located in the victim's abdominal region. They appear to have been caused by some kind of projectile."

---

"Truth Bullet - Wet Body."

"Karl's corpse showed signs of moisture on his abdomen. There was a water bottle lying next to him. Perhaps that has something to do with it?"

---

"Truth Bullet - Brown Stains on Jill's Index Finger and Thumb."

"A couple of barely noticeable brown stains on the index finger and thumb of Jill's right hand."

---

"Is that all? Nothing else?"

"That's all we've found, Wesker. So... Ready to go in?"

Chris invited, seeing the resignation on the blond man's face.

"Ah... honestly? No, I'm not, but I have to pretend I am."

And so, they took a step toward a possible one-way trip.

Chapter 75: Above The Law - Truth Bullets

TESTIMONIES

"Truth Bullet - Wesker's First Testimony."

"Brad and I were together when we noticed the door to Chris' Recreation Room was open. We went in and found the bodies, Brad came in before me. We saw Chris, naked, kneeling beside the bed where Jill lay."

---

"Truth Bullet - Brad's First Testimony."

"While Wesker and I went in together and both announcements played, there's nothing to indicate that we're actually innocent."

---

"Truth Bullet - Brad's Second Testimony."

"More than three people could enter the Recreation Rooms during the Investigation."

---

"Truth Bullet - Cindy's First Testimony."

"George helped a group of survivors with vitamin injections and enemas so they wouldn't starve to death and succumb to temptation. The Incentive had a catch. In order for you to die, you had to eat, but that didn't mean you couldn't nourish yourself."

---

"Truth Bullet - Cindy's Second Testimony."

"George only helped the Winters, Sherry, and me after we received the incentive."

---

"Truth Bullet  - Mia's First Testimony."

"As the Ultimate Researcher, I had prior knowledge to enhance the use of IV drips, injections, and enemas that could show results that would normally take weeks in hours. Under George's supervision, I was able to carry them out, and he took care of administering them."

---

"Truth Bullet - Mia's Second Testimony."

"The alarm warning Donna was because her doll was in George's Recreation Room since he and I were there."

---

"Truth Bullet - Ethan's First Testimony."

"Donna's doll is a direct extension of her. It can be inferred that if she kills using the doll, it would directly influence the Ultimate Dollmaker."

---

"Truth Bullet - Ethan's Second Testimony."

"The participant limit rule has actually gone into effect. If a Recreation Room owner admits guests, they are recognized by the system and are not considered intruders as long as they don't exceed the participant limit. The owner is NOT considered an intruder."

---

"Truth Bullet - Sherry's Testimony."

"I drank water in the showers before the commercials aired. Something caused the incentive to be deactivated."

---

CHRIS

"Truth Bullet - Photograph A of Chris - Chocolate Marks."

"Photograph of Chris's chin and lips with traces of melted chocolate."

---

"Truth Bullet - Photograph B of Chris - Bruise on the Back of the Chris' Neck."

"Photograph of Chris's neck showing a large bruise."

---

"Truth Bullet - Blank Ammunition in Chris's Pants."

"Blank ammunition found in Chris's clothing. Seems new."

---

"Truth Bullet - Chris Redfield's Tool Table."

"A table with tools and weapon parts containing the same ammunition found in Chris's clothing."

---

"Truth Bullet - Chris' Testimony."

"Jill told me that Sherry's Recreation Room was attacked, and when I left, I collapsed unconscious in the hallways."

---

HEISENBERG

"Truth Bullet - Photo A of Heisenberg."

"It's a photograph of Heisenberg's clothing and his chest showing burn marks."

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo B of Heisenberg."

"It's a photograph of flesh and bone fragments embedded on the wall at an angle that indicates dispersion."

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo C of Heisenberg."

"It's a photograph of human remains stuck to the ceiling."

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo D of Heisenberg."

"It's a photograph of human remains that fell from the ceiling of Chris' Recreation Room onto George's back. The presence of teeth indicates that it may belong to the head of the deceased Karl."

---

"Truth Bullet - Bruises on Karl's Body."

"A total of seven bruises are located in the victim's abdominal region. They appear to have been caused by some kind of projectile."

---

"Truth Bullet - Brown Stains on Karl's Index Finger and Thumb."

"A couple of barely noticeable brown stains on the index finger and thumb of Karl's right hand."

---

"Truth Bullet - Wet Body."

"Karl's corpse showed signs of moisture on his abdomen. There was a water bottle lying next to him. Perhaps that has something to do with it?"

---

"Truth Bullet - Spent Ammunition in the Ultimate Inventor's Recreation Room."

"A collection of spent ammunition on the floor of the Ultimate Inventor's Recreation Room. Seven shell casings in total."

---

"Truth Bullet - Bloodstained Shirt."

"A white, long-sleeved shirt completely soaked in blood, found in the Ultimate Inventor's Recreation Room."

---

"Truth Bullet - Leather Handle."

"A small leather handle with a clamp function to firmly hold something that can be inserted through the cavity."

---

"Truth Bullet - Heisenberg Table."

"Table in the Ultimate Inventor's Recreation Room where all his belongings are a mess."

---

JILL

"Truth Bullet - Photo A of Jill - Blood Pattern."

"This is a photograph of Jill that corresponds to a blood pattern consistent with the position in which the body was found. Jill bled in bed. We don't know if this killed her.

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo B of Jill."

"Strange damp stain on the bed near the area where Jill was wounded. It has no odor and is definitely not blood."

---

"Truth Bullet - Wesker's Second Testimony."

"The temperature of the area where Jill's wound was located did not correspond to the temperature of the rest of her body. The skin around the wound felt cold."

---

RULES

"Truth Bullet - Rules"

"More than four people cannot coexist within the same Recreation Room."

---

"Truth Bullet - Warning to Donna Beneviento."

"An announcement where Donna is warned to leave a Recreation Room. Its origin was never revealed. It was announced before Heisenberg's warning."

---

"Truth Bullet - Warning to Karl Heisenberg."

"An announcement where Karl is warned to leave a Recreation Room. Its origin was never revealed. It was announced after Donna's warning."

---

LETTER

"Truth Bullet - Written Threat to Sherry."

"We're going to kill you. If you know what's best for you, you won't leave your Recreation Room."

Chapter 76: Above The Law - Elevator

They say that when you have nothing good to say about a situation, then it's best to say nothing. Silence sometimes turns out to be an option.

What could those who found themselves once again in that unpleasant elevator possibly say? Knowing that, once it descended, it would mean their lives would be in danger again.

And it wasn't that their lives weren't already hanging by a thread, but that the culprit's victory would mean the end of everything.

That was something they couldn't allow.

Not in the name of hope.

But in the name of dignity, the little they had left in such a situation.

---

Twelve souls descend through the unknown wasteland.

Twelve hearts beat with the same intensity, with the same desire to escape.

Twelve are the number of sighs, sobs, and chants yearning for a new dawn.

But by then, doubt hangs in the air, suffocating it.

Will eleven survive, or will the culprit's victory seal the fate of the story?

Chapter 77: Above The Law - Trial - Part I

After the elevator descended, everyone was welcomed to the Court Room. This time, there were a total of four portraits above the places previously occupied by Jill, Karl, and Alexia.

Jill's portrait bore the R.P.D. insignia all over her face.

On Karl's portrait were a pair of gears that, when interlocked, formed an X.

And Alexia's face was covered with a target, like those used for target practice. Interestingly, each of these elements was related to their respective talents.

After everyone took their seats, MonoRaccoon proceeded with the trial.

"Welcome to your Second School Trial! I'll explain the rules simply. During this stage, you will have to deliberate on the guilt of one of your classmates. If you correctly identify the culprit, then only that person will be executed. But if you accuse an innocent person... then everyone will die except for the culprit! You may start."

"As if we needed a reminder of how unfair life is."

George exclaimed wearily.

"I hope at least you took this opportunity to feed. You'll have to excuse me, but with everything that's happened, as soon as I heard about the deaths of our people... I had to feed."

Saddler said, his tone oscillating between regret and shame.

"The current incentive was a struggle for all of us. Clearly, anyone would have killed for food. We couldn't even feed ourselves! God..."

Brad had yawned because the lack of food had disrupted his sleep cycle, a cycle of exhaustion and hunger.

"Now... how are we supposed to start this? Do we talk about the body? And if so... which one?"

Cindy hugged herself and stared sadly at the courtroom carpet, unsure of what to do.

"Perhaps George can give us a topic to start with? You know, like in the last trial."

Brad encouraged the group, especially George, because of his outstanding participation in the first trial.

"Well, if that's the case, then we should talk about the circumstances surrounding who found the body. Don't you think?"

"Then, so be it."

Albert continued with the discussion that was about to begin.

---

Albert: Before all this mess, I left my Recreation Room to go Chris' and talk to him.

Albert: After all... I had a really good time with him.

Albert: So I went out into the hallways to find him.

Brad: And that's where I saw Albert.

Brad: We both decided to pay Chris a visit when suddenly...

Albert: Chris's Recreation Room was... open. The door opened automatically.

Albert: That's when we saw Chris, completely naked, kneeling near the bed where Jill's body was.

Brad: So, after we both went in, the discovery of a body announcements were heard.

Brad: That's why... Albert and I are innocent.

Brad: Although I don't know if I should say that completely because of Chris.

---

However, Chris could sense something in Brad's words that still made him doubt, so he had to intervene.

Chris: Well, I don't think that's true!

---

"Truth Bullet - Brad's First Testimony."

"While Wesker and I went in together and both announcements played, there's nothing to indicate that we're actually innocent."

---

"Don't you remember what you said, Brad? That even though you and Albert went in and both announcements were heard... that doesn't necessarily mean you're innocent, or at least one of you isn't."

"What are you getting at, Chris?"

Albert was clearly offended by Redfield's statement.

"I'm saying that... we need to find the necessary evidence to know if you are innocent. And in turn... try to find out if I'm not the murderer."

Another debate began, this time focused on the doubts Chris had raised.

---

Albert: I think what Chris is trying to propose is absurd.

Albert: Of course I'm innocent.

Brad: That's right!

Brad: Wesker and I both entered his room, and the announcements played.

Cindy: Is that how it happened, Chris? You saw them enter at the same time?

George: I personally find that hard to believe.

George: A door that narrow where two people can fit? Impossible.

Brad: Why don't you believe us? We're innocent!

---

But Chris had another theory in mind.

Chris: I'm sorry, but I can't let this happen!

---

"Truth Bullet - Wesker's First Testimony."

"Brad and I were together when we noticed the door to Chris's Recreation Room was open. We went in and found the bodies. Brad came in before me. We saw Chris, naked, kneeling beside the bed where Jill lay."

---

"Brad... there was something that bothered me throughout the investigation, and it's related to what you said. Just because you saw the body doesn't mean you're actually innocent. Do you remember why?"

"Oh my God, Chris! What nonsense are you going to spout now? Brad and I are completely innocent because we went into your Recreation Room."

"But not at the same time." Chris made Albert's mouth drop open in surprise at what Redfield said. "By the time I turned around... I already saw you two in my Recreation Room, but I didn't see who went in first... but you told me, don't you remember?"

"Oh, shit... he's right." Brad covered his mouth, dismayed by the possibility that the rule might not apply to him as the one who discovered the bodies. "Chris might be right... and now I see why."

"Can you give us some context so we know what the hell you're talking about?"

George was confused by all the mystery surrounding who saw what first.

Chapter 78: Above The Law - Trial - Part II

"Okay, okay. I understand Chris's point. We need to recap this... but with context." Brad tried to take a deep breath and do his best. "Yeah... yeah. Okay. Remember how we discovered Claire's body? Karl found it first, and because we all went at the same time... Chris and I were the first ones in. At the same time."

---

Karl - innocent for finding Claire's body first.

Chris and Brad - innocent for finding Claire's body later, but they entered the public restrooms at the same time.

---

"So what are you getting at?"

Alcina looked down at Vickers with disdain, as if he were a mere insect.

"We need to set the record straight. Let's assume... let's assume Chris is innocent, at least for now. He saw Karl and Jill's bodies; his sight counts as one vote."

---

Chris - innocent for finding Karl and Jill's bodies.

---

"Why doubt that then? Wouldn't that make him even more innocent?"

The Ultimate Waitress asked, intrigued.

"That's what I'm getting at, Cindy!" Brad continued. "Albert and I went into Chris's Recreation Room, but I went in first... and Albert followed soon after. When I went in, a Body Discovery Announcement was broadcast."

"And when I went in..." Albert touched his forehead in realization. "Another freaking BDA informed all of you about the second body..."

"For a Body Discovery Announcement to be broadcast... three innocent people have to see it..." Ethan suspected. "But when Brad went in first... that means three innocent people, including him, saw one of the bodies and it was broadcast..."

"And by the time Albert went in, that means another body was seen by three innocent people." Mia continued, following her husband's lead. "Which puts the situation in a MUCH worse context, because if... because if Brad or Albert are murderers... it means they aren't counted for the murder the other one reported."

"So we have no way of knowing who saw what first?" Sherry looked horrified at the others who shared her feeling. "We don't know who's innocent..."

"And I'm absolutely certain that either of them saw both bodies, regardless of whether they saw one before the other, because they were in plain sight." George exclaimed contemptuously. "Which still leaves a question... someone among us, anyone, saw the bodies, but hasn't said so yet."

"How so, Mr. Hamilton?"

Saddler asked doubtfully.

"He means that as for now, the rule of innocence doesn't matter, because we don't know if Chris, Albert, or Brad are completely innocent."

Mia said with extreme coldness.

Chapter 79: Above The Law - Trial - Part III

"Then it's a mystery we'll solve later." Leon chimed in, trying to keep the group calm. "At least we know Brad or Albert are partially innocent, which is progress. And Chris... can you tell us what you were doing naked, like everyone else is saying? Anything you want to say?"

Another debate began.

---

Chris: Sure. Gladly. I can tell you that I woke up on the floor of my Recreation Room, completely naked.

Chris: The first thing I saw... was Heisenberg's corpse.

Chris: Then I saw Jill, lying on my bed... completely pale.

Chris: I went over to her and my worst fear was confirmed.

Alcina: And instead of going out to get help, you just stayed, what, kneeling beside her, lamenting for yourself?

Ethan: Personally, I find it hard to believe that Chris, being the Ultimate Soldier, couldn't do something about it.

Mia: I agree with Ethan. Why wouldn't Chris alert us about the bodies?

Mia: I have a feeling Chris isn't telling us the whole truth.

Albert listened to Mia's words and nodded.

She was right.

Albert: What you're saying is true!

---

"Truth Bullet - Chris' Testimony."

"Jill told me that Sherry's Recreation Room was attacked, and when I left, I collapsed unconscious in the hallways."

---

"Chris... this is your chance to defend yourself. Do you remember what you told me when we were talking? In your Recreation Room, after we found the bodies."

Albert hoped Chris would remember his testimony and, ideally, forget it or change it if he turned out to be the killer.

"Right... Albert. You see... the truth is, I didn't deliberately wake up on the floor of my Recreation Room... I was put there. Someone took my clothes off and... I don't understand why, but they didn't kill me."

"What did you say, Mr. Redfield? Who, exactly? Of all people here, you, being attacked?"

Saddler scratched his chin, trying to understand how someone of Chris's stature could be weak.

"What Saddler says intrigues me too. You're the Ultimate Soldier, Chris... and you couldn't defend yourself?"

Leon showed considerable intrigue at the fact that, of everyone in that game, Chris was the one attacked and vulnerable.

"Actually... there's a reason."

Chris started another discussion.

---

Chris: Before all this happened, I was very tired and exhausted from hunger.

Chris: You might think I'm some kind of superhuman, but... I have needs too.

Chris: And I was very weak.

Saddler: Naturally. No water and no food...

Cindy: But then what happened, Chris?

Chris: Jill came to my room, saying that Sherry had been attacked.

Chris: I didn't think twice and went out into the hallways...

Chris: That's when my whole world went black.

Albert remembered something he saw and asked everyone to look at the group chat.

Albert: Chris might be telling the truth!

---

"Please, everyone, look at the photograph I sent to the group. I think what Chris is saying is consistent."

Albert asked the others to look at the photograph of the back of Chris's neck with a large bruise, a photo he had taken shortly after the BDA aired.

---

"Truth Bullet - Photograph B of Chris - Bruise on the Back of the Chris' Neck."

"Photograph of Chris's nape showing a large bruise."

---

"Hmm... a lot of force must have been used to leave a mark like that. It's a miracle you're not dead." George looked at the photograph with considerable surprise, and based on his knowledge, the skin discoloration indicated that Chris could indeed have lost consciousness. "If you only knew how many patients have died from a simple blow to the back of the head... Ah... this leads me to another assumption."

Drawing courage from his sources, George spoke with determination.

"Whoever hit Chris hard enough to knock him unconscious, but not enough to kill him, must have had prior experience. I assume anyone with training could have delivered a blow that, while not killing him, left him vulnerable. Chris, they could have decapitated you."

Chapter 80: Above The Law - Trial - Part IV

"So... this would make Chris innocent, right?" Cindy joined the conversation, now with a bit more clarity. "Because if... because if he woke up in his Recreation Room, having seen both corpses... that means his sighting of the bodies COUNTS as that of an innocent person."

"Which only adds more doubt. Because if Chris is innocent... that means Brad and Wesker are still our suspects. The order doesn't add up anyway. Even if Chris saw the bodies, Brad entering first and Wesker entering later triggered two completely different BDAs."

"That's what I was thinking." George nodded in agreement with Ethan's words. "To be absolutely certain that they're both innocent, they would have had to enter at the same time, or failing that, Brad's entry would have triggered the alerts instantly, one after the other."

"If I had entered first and both BDAs were instantaneous, then I'd be innocent in your eyes, right? I understand your point. Damn it..."

"And that puts me in a much worse position." Albert was angry. "Because I saw both bodies at the same time, but there's no specification as to whether my sighting triggered Jill's BDA or Karl's."

"I think we've made progress by establishing Chris's innocence." Leon knew he had to intervene to keep the trial going. "Which, in itself, helps us understand that Chris did NOT kill Jill and Karl, and that, of course... someone manipulated him. Chris, I'm sure you know perfectly well who it was, don't you?"

Leon asked Redfield with such calm that it was clear to both of them who could have attacked him.

"Yes... and of everyone here... it had to be... It had to be you!"

Chris pointed to Jill's portrait, causing astonishment among some of the participants.

"Miss Valentine... Did she attacked you?"

Saddler was skeptical, gripping his cane with some apprehension.

Another debate began.

---

Chris: I trusted Jill.

Chris: She offered to find out about my past... because we were colleagues.

Chris: Because we worked together, or at least that's what she told me.

Wesker: I find it unbelievable that Jill attacked you.

Wesker: She was also determined to find answers about my past.

Chris: But what do you want me to say?

Chris: Jill told me that Sherry was attacked and Of course, I wasn't going to hesitate to help her.

Wesker: It's my duty to defend the memory of the woman who fought for my innocence. I think there's a hole in your story.

But Brad had something else on his mind.

Brad: Well, it's my duty to defend and fight for the lives of those here!

---

Brad knew which arguments to use to weaken Wesker.

"Sherry... Can you please tell everyone what arrived at your door? That way, we'll all be on the same page and, in turn, expose Jill."

---

"Truth Bullet - Written Threat to Sherry."

"We're going to kill you. If you know what's best for you, you won't leave your Recreation Room."

---

"Oh! Of course. Um... one of you left this under my Recreation Room door."

Sherry showed the note via group chat, which horrified Alcina.

"How awful! Making a little girl... go through something like this."

Dimitrescu adjusted her hat as she looked at the note with disdain.

"Since then, I haven't left my Recreation Room, out of fear. I even... I even stopped asking Dr. Hamilton for help."

Without meaning to, Brad had unleashed a wave of murmurs that would lead to the next topic of conversation to continue the trial.

"For now, it's clear that Jill attacked Chris and used Sherry for her plan. We don't know the details, but one thing is certain... Jill is not innocent, and the connection between Chris and Sherry will help us find the truth and her OBVIOUS involvement in the case."

Brad, at last, learned to be brave.

Having everyone's eyes on him felt good.

Chapter 81: Above The Law - Trial - Part V

"I have a question... Exactly what kind of help are you referring to, Sherry? What help did Dr. Hamilton give you?"

Leon smiled because he didn't like the possible implication of the group's doctor supporting Sherry.

"You must have been fallen ill, right, sweetheart?"

Alcina tried to see the bright side of things.

"It wouldn't surprise me if the Ultimate Virologist and the Ultimate Surgeon have a connection because of their talents. I'd even find it logical."

Ethan Winters looked nervous.

"So why don't we let Sherry explain the situation then? After all... she knows very well what I'm talking about."

Brad was determined to expose the conspiracy surrounding the group, and of course, he wasn't going to show any mercy.

If they were willing to let him starve...

Then it was war.

---

Sherry: I don't know what Officer Vickers is referring to...

Sherry: I really don't!

Cindy: Don't worry, Sherry. Officer Vickers probably misunderstood you...

Saddler: But why don't you tell us how Mr. Hamilton helped you, Sherry?

Mia: Sherry will talk when she's ready. Leave her alone!

Ethan: You'd better stop! It's not healthy for a child to be subjected to situations like this.

Ethan: So you'd better give her a break.

Brad intervened, ready for revenge.

Brad: Well, you should have thought about that before you people sold us out!

---

"Or am I wrong, Cindy? Because if you're not willing to tell the truth... then I'll get it out of you, no matter what."

---

"Truth Bullet - Cindy's First Testimony."

"George helped a group of survivors with vitamin injections and enemas so they wouldn't starve to death and succumb to temptation. The Incentive had a catch. In order for you to die, you had to eat, but that didn't mean you couldn't nourish yourself."

---

"What do you mean, Brad?"

Wesker was conflicted by the aggressiveness of Vickers's response.

"Why don't we let Cindy explain? After all... she and her group let us starve to death when they finally figured out how to deal with the Incentive, didn't you? And if you don't talk, then I will!"

Brad cornered Cindy, who smiled nervously, trying to avoid everyone's gaze.

"Uh... I..."

"You don't need to answer, Cindy. Leave it to me." George took Lennox by the shoulder, trying to comfort her and tell her that everything would be alright, that he was in control. "Like... Officer Vickers says... I discovered a way to counteract the incentive. As the Ultimate Surgeon, my Recreation Room has the necessary resources to... nourish people."

"What in the hell do you mean by that?"

Alcina was furious, her face turning red.

"I... I had serums and injections at my disposal that helped nourish some of us. That's all."

"That's all? You cowardly liar! At least have the decency to say who you helped!"

"I..."

George's denial only fueled Brad's anger and that of the other survivors, who were clearly wounded.

---

Alcina: We were starving! 

Saddler: And we tried to resist this innate desire to do harm because we were dying of thirst...

Wesker: A doctor thinking he's God? No wonder.

Wesker: They're all the same.

Cindy: Don't blame George!

Cindy: He was just doing the right thing!

Albert: Starving us to death, you bitch? Is that doing the right thing?

George: I only helped Mia, Cindy, and Sherry!

Albert: Of course! You help the bitch you're sleeping with.

Chris: The noble act towards Mia and Sherry is understandable...

George: I'm telling the truth! I only helped them!

Brad intervened, furious that George was still lying.

Brad: Besides being a bastard, you're a liar!

---

"Truth Bullet - Cindy's Second Testimony."

"George only helped the Winters, Sherry, and me after we received the incentive."

---

"How dare you say you only helped two people? Come on, George... be more honest. This could determine the course of the trial... and our lives! Or am I wrong, Cindy?"

"What did you say to him, Cindy?"

"Please don't be mad at me, George! I had no idea this would get so out of hand!"

"SPEAK, DAMMIT!" Alcina slammed her fist on her podium, tired of listening to so much pointless arguing. "FOR GOD'S SAKE! SPEAK!"

"I didn't just help them with the incentive! I... oh, shit. I also helped Ethan... and of course I administered my own medications and supplies to myself. I can't die! I'm destined for bigger things than... than this, whatever it means to be in this hellhole!."

"Well, it's settled... they're innocent too." Leon commented with an indifference that even rubbed some of the participants, like Ethan and Cindy, the wrong way. "They had no reason to kill, so... if we consider the evidence..."

Leon proposed a different scenario.

"If we take into account what George says... then..."

---

"Mia can't kill because of her pregnancy, and carrying out a plan orchestrated by her could be complicated. Besides, she had no reason to kill for the incentive.

Ethan is subject to Mia, and clearly he's not going to kill because he can't afford to lose his wife and daughter.

George and Cindy probably have something going on; I wouldn't be surprised if they even have sex as a way of establishing a relationship.

And Sherry... pfft, she was threatened so much that she couldn't have come out of her Recreation Room.

---

"This is, in fact, a major breakthrough. George's selfish actions led to the people he protected, by process of elimination, not being suspects."

"How can you find it so easy to say they aren't suspects when the evidence hasn't even been presented yet?" If you haven't noticed... they've already lied, more than once." Chris seemed to disagree with Leon's assessment. "And as far as we know, we're all suspects until proven innocent."

Leon just smiled at Redfield's audacity in doubting him.

"Ah, Chris... but what other evidence do you want? We have to be consistent. The incentive was famine... someone, at some point, had to kill because they couldn't withstand the hunger. What George did wasn't just right, but he risked having his actions backfire. He saved lives... and he also prevented those same lives from turning against him."

"And how is it that you know so for sure who's telling the truth and who isn't? You don't have something to do with all this, do you?" Cindy exclaimed in disgust. "Because you seem to know everything. Aren't you the traitor who got us into this mess?"

Chapter 82: Above The Law - Trial - Part VI

"Are you serious? Are we going to waste trial time doubting me and my talent instead of doing the right thing?"

"Go to hell, Leon." Chris didn't seem too pleased with the mysterious brunette, so she had no choice but to confront him. "Now tell us your damn talent! How are we supposed to even trust what you say? Or worse... How do we know you're not the killer? That you were able to attack both Jill and me..."

"What nonsense are you spouting, Redfield? Don't insult me. I would never kill for... nonsense. I endured hunger, I was drugged for days. So don't give me that crap, Chris."

"And how does that reflect on your abilities? It seems the only place you shine is here, in the courtroom... Haven't you considered that this could get you killed?"

Cindy was fed up with Leon's condescending attitude and how he seemed to know everything.

"You're very bold, you know? You didn't even care that your other classmates were starving to death... but I'm not one to judge. Why should I tell them about my talent? We don't even know if we'll ever see each other again. I don't want to be remembered, and personally... I don't want to be remembered."

"Oh, damn it! We just want you to tell us who you are! Because we can very well believe you're responsible for all this." Mia was dissatisfied with the few answers Leon was giving. "How can we trust what you tell us if you don't even give us the chance to meet you? To even know who you are?"

"Because there's nothing to know!" Leon slammed his fist on his podium and faced Mia, Cindy, Chris, everyone. "There's nothing to know because it won't last. The Killing Games will continue, and now... now there's no reason to pretend to be good friends. You want to know who I am? Well, I won't give you the opportunity, as you said, to attack me."

"Mr. Kennedy is right." Saddler commented complacently, though his words raised an eyebrow at something specific he said. "Vulnerability has been exploited by the killers... and, in the current case, it almost cost Mr. Redfield his life."

"What are you getting at?"

Ethan asked, dismayed by the possible implication in the Ultimate Father's comments.

"It's simple. If you get to know people, if you take the time to investigate them... you'll find weaknesses. That's why the worst thing we can do is trust them, is... get too close, because if we show our weaknesses... Miss Redfield's weakness was her brother, it was talking too much... and Mr. Redfield's weakness was trusting... Miss Valentine."

"That's what I'm talking about." Leon was grateful that he had used common sense. "I can't afford to tell you who I am or what I'm after, or what my intentions are. But... if my answer will help us proceed with the trial... ah..."

Leon took a deep breath, embraced the chill that came with it, and looked at each of his companions with determination.

---

"You see... my talent... and the reason I know so much... is because I was trained for this, to observe, to identify the details, and... this is my life." Leon grimaced in disgust and resigned himself. "I... Leon... I am the Ultimate Homeland Security Agent."

---

"My God..." Ethan felt a chill and now understood why Leon was so imposing. "That's why you knew Jill was telling the truth when she protected Wesker..."

"Now... Can we continue? Or has that been enough of an invasion of my privacy?"

The group agreed to proceed.

Chapter 83: Above The Law - Trial - Part VII

"Now that we've cleared several of us of our innocence... can we proceed with the trial?"

Cindy believed it was appropriate to continue with the evidence they had at that moment.

"Then let's talk about the deceased. That seems reasonable. Let's start with Karl."

George had initiated another topic of conversation.

---

Albert: Karl's body... It was a mess!

Chris: He didn't have a head... and there was blood everywhere.

Cindy: It was horrible seeing those images in the group chat!

Mia: I almost threw up when I saw them...

Saddler: It's worth stating from the images that...

Saddler: A firearm could have been the cause.

However, George had other information.

George: I think you're mistaken!

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo A of Heisenberg."

"It's a photograph of Heisenberg's clothing and his chest showing burn marks."

---

"No... it couldn't have been a gunshot wound. Please, everyone look at this photograph."

The group scrutinized the image, noticing details they had previously overlooked.

"Huh...? Why are there burn marks? Like his clothes caught fire."

Alcina made a face of utter disgust at the photo.

"I've seen bodies in the morgue that were shot at close range, say, with a shotgun... and this doesn't fit. It looks like Heisenberg's head exploded from the inside."

Leon looked confused.

"Personally, because I've seen cases like this, I think that's correct. Heisenberg's head exploded... it could have been a device, something, anything, that caused the explosion."

"Furthermore... if there was an explosion, it wouldn't be surprising if there was fire. That would explain why Heisenberg's clothes were burned, and, if you look closely... there are also burnt skin fragments. I agree, he wasn't shot... he was blown to bits."

Chris sighed wearily.

"Besides... we didn't find any high-caliber bullet fragments that could have caused Karl's death. Heisenberg was killed in Chris's Recreation Room, there's no doubt about that."

George only confirmed what he already knew.

"Is that really it? I need to know your reasons."

---

Saddler: I'm not satisfied with George's proposal.

Saddler: There were too many weapons in Mr. Redfield's Recreation Room!

Saddler: They could simply have been used to carry out the job.

George: But we've already established that it was an explosion!

George: There's no need to run in circles anymore..

Saddler: And that's what you want us to believe?

Saddler: You've lied before, and you can do the same by giving us a fake autopsy.

Saddler: How can we trust what you're saying?

Saddler: I firmly believe that what killed Karl wasn't an explosion!

Albert, who had been listening patiently, had a different perspective.

Albert: Stop praying and face reality!

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo C of Heisenberg."

"It's a photograph of human remains stuck to the ceiling."

---

"Saddler... tell me... let's suppose a firearm was used to kill Karl... then in which direction would Karl's remains be scattered?"

Albert asked, hoping for an intelligent answer.

And Saddler had something prepared.

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo B of Heisenberg."

"It's a photograph of flesh and bone fragments embedded on the wall at an angle that indicates dispersion."

---

"Can't you see? The remains stuck to the wall indicate dispersion. After Mr. Heisenberg was shot, part of him was stuck to the wall."

"And to the ceiling."

Albert's response made Saddler smile, though he was already beginning to taste defeat.

"Ah... you think you're quite clever, don't you, Mr. Wesker?"

"I'm just stating the facts. A single gunshot, from any weapon, is not enough to leave two fragments in two completely different places. If the killer shot Karl while they were both standing, the fragments would naturally have been stuck to the wall... as you believe, but they would NEVER have gone to the ceiling because of the angle of the shot. And in any case, if the assassin had shot Karl from below..."

"There would be no logical reason for the fragments to be on the wall... because the ceiling and the wall form two different angles..."

"And that's why I won't give you the tithe, you idiot."

Chapter 84: Above The Law - Trial - Part VIII

"And... personally... I trust what George says, because of this."

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo D of Heisenberg."

"It's a photograph of human remains that fell from the ceiling of Chris' Recreation Room onto George's back. The presence of teeth indicates that it may belong to the head of the deceased Karl."

---

"Part of Heisenberg's face fell onto George's back... and it was disgusting. An explosion could have been powerful enough to leave Karl's remains stuck. At first, we noticed the stain on the wall... we theorized it might have been a weapon..."

"But when Albert and I... well, when what was left of Karl fell on my back..."

"It makes sense. So... Karl died instantly, right? Whoever killed him..."

Ethan felt a wave of unease wash over him as he looked at the images, averting his gaze from his MonoDroid.

"But is that true? Did someone kill him?"

Alcina wanted everything to be in its place and make sense.

---

Alcina: Karl was killed by one of us, there's no doubt about that...

Alcina: However, we need to know exactly how he died.

Ethan: From what George and Albert are saying...

Ethan: It had to be an explosive.

Albert: But there were no metal fragments and no bullets. So...

Albert: I can't think clearly about what was used to kill him.

George knew they had to think outside the box.

George: Maybe we need a different perspective!

---

"Truth Bullet - Wet Body."

"Karl's corpse showed signs of moisture on his abdomen. There was a water bottle lying next to him. Perhaps that has something to do with it?"

---

"I think... I think we don't need to find out what killed Karl, but why he died."

"What do you mean, George?"

Chris scratched his head and asked, intrigued.

"I was thinking... and maybe the fact that Heisenberg's body is wet and there's a water bottle nearby could have something to do with it. The incentive was active, you know?"

George stared at the courtroom ceiling, trying to organize his thoughts.

"If Karl wasn't killed by any of Chris's weapons... and there's no trace of exactly what killed him... would that then lead us to believe he was punished? But... why would he drink water if it was forbidden? MonoRaccoon made that clear..."

Cindy readjusted her ponytail, loosening it a bit because it hurt to have her hair pulled back so tightly.

"It sounds logical. I imagine Karl drinking water and dying because of the incentive... but... wouldn't that be a risky act? Why drink water and defy the incentive?"

Ethan began to ask himself a series of questions that led him to suspect the victim.

"I think we're getting to the bottom of this... It's appropriate to resolve some unanswered questions first." Leon felt it necessary to intervene before addressing the topic at hand. "For now, I have notes on the most interesting issues we might uncover, like Brad and Wesker's innocence and the nature of Heisenberg's death, but first... there's something we need to clarify."

"What exactly, Leon?"

Chris was very curious about what the Agent might contribute.

"Simple. Do we have answers regarding the warnings that were issued before all this happened? Because if things connect... we could have a completely different understanding of the circumstances."

Leon knew it was necessary to address another topic of conversation before tackling the main issue, so he proposed something new.

---

Leon: I think we need to discuss the announcements that aired before the murders.

Cindy: You mean the warnings about breaking the rules?

Alcina: I'd completely forgotten about that detail!

Albert: Those damn warnings woke me up... and I woke up even hungrier!

Sherry: Those were really loud warnings!

Chris: Sorry, did you forget the part where I was literally unconscious? What warnings are you talking about?

---

Leon decided to clear up Chris's confusion and attend to him immediately.

Leon: Let me enlighten you!

---

"Truth Bullet - Rules"

"More than four people cannot coexist within the same Recreation Room."

---

"Something we need to consider in this case is the guidelines for this specific floor. As you may recall... four people couldn't be in the same Recreation Room, which is why two announcements were made... one for Donna and one for Karl."

"Do you think that, in order for us to know the truth, we need to find out what triggered those announcements, Mr. Kennedy?"

"Indeed, Saddler. To understand why Heisenberg was in Chris's Recreation Room, I propose we consider the warnings. It's no coincidence that Karl received a warning and was subsequently murdered."

Chapter 85: Above The Law - Trial - Part IX

"Since we're going to talk about warnings for rule violations... why don't we talk about this?"

Albert presented what he considered to be the first announcement that woke him up.

---

"Truth Bullet - Warning to Donna Beneviento."

"An announcement where Donna is warned to leave a Recreation Room. Its origin was never revealed. It was announced before Heisenberg's warning."

---

"So that would explain why you've been so quiet, Donna?"

Alcina didn't seem to have much trouble confronting the Ultimate Dollmaker, who, by then, was hiding behind her veil.

"..."

The fact that the woman wasn't speaking, and was even hugging herself, was an indication that something wasn't right. What was this woman hiding beneath her veil? And why was she refraining from speaking?

"Hmm... she's not saying a single word..." Leon also noticed something else quite peculiar, something he immediately pointed out. "Her doll... Donna doesn't have her doll. Where the hell is the doll dressed as a bride?"

"Well, if she won't talk, then it's appropriate that we do." Mia decided to expose Donna's involvement in the case. "As everyone knows... George helped me administer vitamins and IV fluids to keep me from dying. There was... there was a situation that probably almost no one knows about. Would you like to tell everyone, Brad? Considering you meddle in things that don't concern you."

"It's my duty, Mia! And I don't regret it. And if you want me to talk... fine. I will."

---

"Truth Bullet - Mia's First Testimony."

"As the Ultimate Researcher, I had prior knowledge to enhance the use of IV drips, injections, and enemas that could show results that would normally take weeks in hours. Under George's supervision, I was able to carry them out, and he took care of administering them."

---

"George's relationship with the participants he helped wasn't solely his doing. Mia Winters helped him enhance the serums and injections George administered... because as the Ultimate Researcher, she could."

"It doesn't surprise me, Mr. Vickers. If the serum's composition can be modified to have long-lasting effects... that could prevent George from wasting resources and allow him to develop potent serums..."

Saddler nodded, finding what he was hearing logical.

"But then... something else happened."

---

"Truth Bullet - Mia's Second Testimony."

"Donna's alarm warning was because her doll was in George's Recreation Room since he and I were there."

---

"Mia told me that George invited her to his Recreation Room to give her an IV drip. Ethan stayed outside. Because George invited Mia to his Recreation Room, and because Mia counts as two people... when she went in..."

Brad told everyone the information he had at the moment regarding Mia's testimony about the rule violation announcement.

"The fact that Mia is with someone in a Recreation Room means that the total of three members has been reached... you know... because she's pregnant."

Leon smiled because he was getting the answers he wanted.

"So... because George invited Mia, who counted as two participants... I think you can say it, Mia."

Brad gave the floor to Winters, who nodded decisively.

"Sure. It turns out that... when I went into George's Recreation Room... the rule violation warning sounded. It indicated that Donna Beneviento was breaking the rules, so... her stupid doll started making a mess, running around, and eventually escaped."

Mia glared at Donna, who just shrugged.

"Well, something doesn't add up... so I'll talk about it right now."

Cindy didn't seem to agree with what she was hearing.

---

Cindy: Wait... are you telling me that...

Cindy: Donna's doll was in your Recreation Room... Correct?

George: That's correct, Cindy.

Mia: And when it was found, it made a mess... running around like crazy.

Cindy: I ​​just find that hard to believe.

Cindy: The doll isn't alive. So...

Cindy: Why did the alarm go off if Donna wasn't even there?

Ethan had an answer for the doubts that were gnawing at Lennox.

Ethan: This might answer your question!

---

"Truth Bullet - Ethan's First Testimony."

"Donna's doll is a direct extension of herself. It can be inferred that if she kills using the doll, it would directly influence the Ultimate Dollmaker."

---

"It might be implied, but... we all know Donna controls that stupid doll at will." Ethan carefully considered what he was going to say to be understood correctly. "And... honestly, based on what I saw, Donna seems to be connected to the doll dressed as a bride. I wouldn't be surprised if its existence represents an extension of Donna, not as a participant, but as an entity."

"Perhaps Donna uses the doll to communicate? Because... if the doll didn't exist, then... wouldn't that be an impediment to Donna's development?"

Alcina was trying to find logic in Ethan's argument.

"If we consider the doll to be part of Donna as a whole... that explains the warning. Otherwise, the doll could have remained in George's Recreation Room without any problem."

Mia believed the argument was valid.

"This needs more answers."

Albert proceeded to start another small debate regarding the nature of the Recreation Rooms.

---

Albert: Okay, let's start with the rule of a maximum of three people per room.

Albert: That's completely understandable.

Mia: And your question is...?

Albert: Who went in first, Mia? Was it you or George?

George: Of course it was me. I went into my Recreation Room first, and then Mia came in.

Albert: That's exactly what worries me!

Albert: Because if Donna's doll was already inside George's Recreation Room...

Albert: And if George went in later...

Albert: And Mia, who counts as two, went in last...

Albert: Why the hell was Donna counted as an intruder if she wasn't the last to enter?

Ethan raised his hand with determination and smiled.

Ethan: I have an answer for you!

---

"Truth Bullet - Ethan's Second Testimony."

"The participant limit rule has actually gone into effect. If a Recreation Room owner admits guests, they are recognized by the system and are not considered intruders as long as they don't exceed the participant limit. The owner is NOT considered an intruder."

---

"I asked MonoRaccoon about this... and he has an answer. Recreation Room Owners aren't counted, because they are the owners, precisely. And besides, there are preferences for counting people in a Recreation Room."

Ethan's words captivated Chris, who nodded, forming an idea in his head.

"Now... when George entered his Recreation Room, he didn't count as an intruder, but he did count as a participant. And because he gave Mia priority entry to his Recreation Room—because she counts as two..."

Ethan followed soon after.

"When Mia entered, Donna, or rather, her doll that was inside... was considered an intruder and surplus. That's why she was warned to leave the Recreation Room..."

Brad just wanted to provide a little more context.

Chapter 86: Above The Law - Trial - Part X

"Ethan... Did you happen to see which way Donna's doll went in the hallway?"

Leon asked, a smile playing on his lips, because he'd already conjured up a very particular scenario in his mind.

"I don't know, she disappeared... I mean... of course I saw her running toward the elevator that brought us here, but my priority was surveying the mess she made."

Ethan replied immediately, annoyance evident in his eyes.

"Let me get this straight... you were outside, waiting for Mia."

Cindy joined the conversation.

"Right."

"And I assume... the door was open when this happened, right? The door to George's Recreation Room."

"No." Ethan considered what Cindy was trying to explain, and his face lit up as he understood her point. "Oh, I see... You want to know if I heard any noise too, right? Like in the case of the Public Restrooms..."

"And was there noise? Because then that would explain why... considering Karl's death..."

"Ah... no, there wasn't any noise in the hallways, Cindy... In fact, when the door opened, there was clearly broken glass and... things thrown around, chairs. Because Donna's doll was running around and I don't know if she couldn't control it or what..."

"That explains why no one heard the explosion that killed Heisenberg." Leon brushed his hair back with a subtle flick to adjust his bangs and see properly. "Which further confirms that Karl evidently died in Chris's Recreation Room."

Leon moved on to another topic.

---

Leon: It's time to talk about Heisenberg and his unexpected death.

Cindy: So far, it seems we've established that he died because of MonoRaccoon, right?

Alcina: That's the most logical answer.

Ethan: And that, undoubtedly... Karl died in Chris's Recreation Room.

Saddler: Which is also correct.

Chris: So Heisenberg really did die for the incentive, right?

George: But is that true?

George: What if Heisenberg died for violating the maximum number of guests allowed in a Recreation Room?

Brad had been mulling this over and thought it appropriate to intervene.

Brad: This is something we need to figure out!

---

"Truth Bullet - Warning to Karl Heisenberg."

"An announcement where Karl is warned to leave a Recreation Room. Its origin was never revealed. It was announced after Donna's warning."

---

"I think we'll resolve this by addressing the issue itself. MonoRaccoon... What are the parameters that must be considered for a Recreation Room abandonment warning to be issued?"

Brad's question caused the raccoon to laugh and light up its red eye as a way of showing anger.

"Didn't you read the rules? For a warning to be issued, it will be extended to any offending user found in a Recreation Room where there are already three occupants!"

"And does the owner of the Room count as an occupant?"

Cindy asked, just to clarify.

"Of course not! It's like asking you to move out of your house... Only outsiders get warned! Regardless of whether they were invited... or not."

"And is there a priority among guests? Like what happened now. George invited Mia... Why was Donna warned?"

"Now that you mention it, Cindy... indeed. Your assumption regarding the warning issued to Donna was correct. Since she wasn't invited by George, she was considered a candidate for the maximum number of participants allowed in a single Recreation Room."

"Bingo! And... MonoRaccoon... Are warnings issued once per student for each infraction, or is one warning issued to everyone? If Donna received hers... and Heisenberg broke the rules..."

George stared at the group chat, dismayed, trying to understand what had gotten into him.

"I'll just say I don't like repeating myself! Just ask me who the killer is!"

And with that, MonoRaccoon's red eye went dark.

"Well, shit... What do we do about that?"

"Assume." Wesker opened his mouth to lick his teeth. "That means Karl... Karl could have died because he was the extra in Chris's Recreation Room."

"But... if Chris was unconscious... how the hell did Karl get in?"

George kept questioning himself.

---

Alcina: Hmm... Could Heisenberg have invented some kind of device to get in?

Alcina: He was the Ultimate Inventor, after all.

Leon: Remember, Chris was unconscious when Karl's warning was heard.

George: The evidence on Chris's body suggests that he was, in fact, unconscious.

Chris: And I swear I didn't hear anything. I woke up when they were both dead.

Cindy: So we have no evidence whatsoever that could link how Karl ended up in Chris's Recreation Room?

But Albert smiled, enjoying this moment of power over others.

Albert: Let me correct you, Cindy.

---

"Truth Bullet - Spent Ammunition in the Ultimate Inventor's Recreation Room."

"A collection of spent ammunition on the floor of the Ultimate Inventor's Recreation Room. Seven shell casings in total."

---

"While investigating Karl's Recreation Room... I found this. It's spent ammunition, a total of seven shell casings, on site."

Albert showed the group some photographs he had saved.

"Did someone attack Karl? Was he shot?"

Mia looked at the bullet casings curiously.

"Then how did he arrive dead in Chris's Recreation Room if he must have been a corpse by then?"

Cindy's question only made Albert laugh, though it was a valid one. It was obvious that, being inexperienced, she wouldn't understand what kind of ammunition it was.

"Cindy, dear... it's not ordinary ammunition. They're blanks."

"Blanks? What purpose would they have in shooting Mr. Heisenberg with those?"

Saddler smiled because he liked the little mystery that, in the end, they had indeed shot the victim.

"Is there any evidence to prove they used them on him? They could have shot someone else or... Jill..."

"Actually, Ethan... now I understand why Leon asked us to delve into other matters. The bullets, or rather, the number of bullets, matches what I found on Karl's body."

---

"Truth Bullet - Bruises on Karl's Body."

"A total of seven bruises were found in the victim's abdominal region. They appear to have been caused by some kind of projectile."

---

"While they weren't lethal enough to kill him... they did leave a bruise. Seven bullets, seven marks on Karl's abdominal region... someone shot him. The question is... where did those bullets come from?"

Chapter 87: Above The Law - Trial - Part XI

"That's something that's fairly easy to answer."

Albert showed everyone a couple of pieces of evidence that could help clarify the situation.

---

"Truth Bullet - Chris Redfield's Tool Table."

"A table with tools and weapon parts containing the same ammunition found in Chris's clothing."

---

"That looks like the same ammunition found in Heisenberg's Recreation Room." Albert Wesker smiled at how the killer had been so obvious in leaving such concrete evidence in one spot. "And with so many weapons available in Chris's Recreation Room, it's safe to say that's where they came from."

"So, what? What exactly were they planning with the weapon, which is clearly shown broken into pieces on the table, and with hurting Heisenberg?"

Brad scratched the back of his neck because the sweat from the courtroom was bothering him.

"Well, judging by the type of ammunition, which, by the way, is quite detailed... it looks like a real bullet, even I was fooled." Albert was trying to formulate something suitable to move forward with the case. "It wouldn't surprise me if whoever used it, combined with the model of the gun shown on the screen, believed it was real."

"So... if Heisenberg was wounded, but survived because the bullets were fake... who fired? And above all... what did he do?"

Alcina's doubts felt like a gentle breeze as everyone believed they were reaching the conclusion of the case.

"Let's see... the person, who of course was NOT Chris... not only had to have access to Chris's Recreation Room... but also had to have the time to steal one of his guns, load it, go to Karl's Recreation Room and... attack him. All this while Chris was unconscious."

George's words echoed in Chris's head, who was trembling without realizing it.

"The only person... involved in this... the only person I opened the door for because... damn it..." Chris stared at Jill's podium, a wave of doubt and shame washing over him. "No... Are you telling me... it was her?"

"Chris, we've confirmed you were attacked from behind, by someone with the knowledge to strike at your weak point. Jill knew how to handle weapons, and I'm sure, damn it, I'm sure she knew how to take it apart... and I'm sure she did this."

---

"Truth Bullet - Blank Ammunition in Chris's Pants."

"Blank ammunition found in Chris's clothing. Seems new."

---

"Jill could have planted bullets in your clothes to make us think you were guilty, that way..."

"Isn't it a little early to assume Jill caused all this, Albert? Do we have enough evidence that Jill went to Karl's Recreation Room?"

Mia winced and groaned from a slight muscle spasm.

"We might even have discovered where she died."

Albert showed the other evidence he had found while investigating Heisenberg's Recreation Room.

---

"Truth Bullet - Bloodstained Shirt."

"A white, long-sleeved shirt completely soaked in blood, found in the Ultimate Inventor's Recreation Room."

---

"Does this sound familiar? And considering the sheer amount of blood here... Found it inside a locker from Heisenberg's Recreation Room."

"That answers a lot of things." George was astonished by the amount of blood on the shirt. "That's why it bothered me so much that Jill didn't bleed, considering the severity of her wound... so... did she die here? Did she die in Karl's Recreation Room?"

"Which leads us to another question... What the hell was Jill doing in Karl's Recreation Room?"

Ethan smiled because he thought it was a real disgrace that the person who could have been the most trustworthy in the group, being a police officer, had actually tried to commit a crime.

---

Alcina: From what we know, Jill knocked Chris unconscious.

George: She took advantage of Chris's vulnerability with Sherry...

Cindy: And based on lies, she lured him out of his Recreation Room.

Brad: So, she drags Chris's body to his Recreation Room...

Leon: Where she proceeds to undress him, steals his weapons, and when she goes to Heisenberg's Recreation Room...

Mia: Jill shoots Karl... but in retaliation, Karl attacks her.

Albert nodded and agreed at Mia that it was the most logical answer, and based on the evidence he sent to the group, he came to a conclusion.

Albert: That might have happened!

---

"Truth Bullet - Heisenberg Table."

"Table in the Ultimate Inventor's Recreation Room where all his belongings are a mess."

---

"Jill may have actually gone to Heisenberg's Recreation Room to kill him... after all, she had a gun, she had the whole place at her disposal to do it, and her perfect alibi."

"But the plan backfired because, when she fired... she only wounded Karl, she didn't kill him."

Chris began to feel unwell as he replayed a scene in his head of Jill holding the gun and then pulling the trigger.

"I can believe Heisenberg's desk is a mess because, when I went into Karl's Recreation Room, with his permission... he could have been working on something, and that would explain why it was such a disaster. Papers scattered everywhere, things broken..."

"But, Albert... So what did Heisenberg do? Because if he attacked Jill... How did he do it?"

Brad questioned, without having any definitive answers. The possibility that both Jill and Karl had attacked each other was out in the open, but how could they possibly find common ground?

Chapter 88: Above The Law - Trial - Part XII

"To determine Jill's cause of death, we need to know what object was used, but first... you need to see this."

George asked everyone to look at the photographs showing Jill's body, specifically the wound on her neck.

"The skin on Jill's neck is lacerated, and I even found some fragments of skin that were torn off due to the violent insertion of a sharp object. Part of me thinks it could have been done with a knife, and the diameter of the wound, about two centimeters exactly, is similar to what happened with Claire, as both have similar characteristics in their respective wounds."

"I completely agree."

"But, George... what kind of knife was used? As far as I know, no one found a weapon, or anything that could indicate Jill was murdered. What's more... how can we know exactly where Jill died?"

"Cindy, in fact, raises a very good question." Brad continued. "How do we know that Jill was murdered in Chris's Recreation Room?" Have we officially established where Jill died?"

"Hmm… actually, I have an answer for that, Brad. When I investigated Heisenberg's Recreation Room… the shirt I found was completely soaked, it even smelled awful, and some of the blood hadn't completely dried."

Albert corroborated.

"Also… I found this."

---

"Truth Bullet - Leather Handle."

"A small leather handle with a clamp function to firmly hold something that can be inserted through the cavity."

---

"A leather handle…"

Saddler examined the object Albert showed in his photographs in detail.

"And not only that, the little thing has some kind of hook mechanism, very sharp." It leads me to believe that they were holding something before, something that couldn't be grasped with bare hands."

"And where did you say you found it, Albert?"

Ethan expressed doubt at the sudden evidence presented by the blond man.

"That shit was safely tucked away in the bloody shirt I found in the locker. That's why I think... Heisenberg could have killed her, taken her to Chris's Recreation Room, and... what happened, happened."

"I don't see the logic in what you're saying!"

Ethan immediately started another debate.

---

Ethan: Let's see... if you're saying Jill was murdered...

Ethan: In Karl's Recreation Room...

Ethan: And then taken to Chris's Recreation Room...

Ethan: Where's the blood? The rest of the blood.

Albert: Are you an idiot?

Albert: The blood is on the shirt.

Albert: The killer used it to stop the bleeding.

Cindy: No... I think Ethan's right.

Cindy: Such severe bleeding... Stopped just by applying pressure?

Cindy: Karl must have been soaked in blood...

Ethan: Exactly!

Ethan: Where the hell did the rest of the blood go for such a serious wound as... her?

Surprisingly, Ethan's words made sense to George.

George: Your statement is logical!

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo B of Jill."

"Strange damp stain on the bed near the area where Jill was wounded. It has no odor and is definitely not blood."

---

"Ethan's right... I've personally seen much smaller wounds that bleed profusely... and for a wound like Jill's on her neck... there should have been enough blood not only on her shirt, or on the bed where she was found... but in the hallways, in both Recreation Rooms... even her clothes."

"I know! It's a matter of logic. Where's the rest of the blood?"

"Hmm... while I can't answer your question right now, Ethan... I do have something to add. When I found Jill... when I checked her, there was a strange... damp stain on the bed. It was wet but... drying. You know? And the skin around Jill's neck was cold, but the rest of her body... at room temperature, even a little warmer."

"What? But... the blood should have started to seep out and stain Chris's bed, shouldn't it? Because there was no knife, and they had to remove it from Jill's neck because IT'S NOT THERE. So... where's the knife?"

Brad smiled nervously at the mystery.

Few could imagine what was used to kill Jill.

Everyone except one person.

Sherry.

Chapter 89: Above The Law - Trial - Part XIII

"Um... uh- sorry to interrupt..."

Sherry raised her hand to get their attention; it was truly overwhelming having everyone's faces on her at once.

"Don't worry, Sherry dear. Is there anything you'd like to share with us?"

Alcina softened her hostile expression toward Birkin, turning it into a more friendly one.

"Anything you think might help us, Sherry, is welcome."

George chimed in, encouraging Birkin to speak.

"Um... well... I was thinking. The thing is, uh... we're pretty sure Jill was... stabbed in the neck... right?"

"That's the closest thing we have to the truth. Yes."

Albert was watching Sherry intently, while she stared at the floor.

"I was thinking... when they said part of her skin was cold... and the leather handle... I don't know how to say this without sounding silly, you know?"

"Just say it, Sherry. There are no silly ideas. What do you think, then?"

Chris also gave Sherry a friendly smile, and she smiled back and nodded decisively.

"For Claire! Yes... I'll say it. You see... What's cold and hurts to hold in your hands? We put it in soft drinks, it's in ice cream shops... in the freezer..."

"Oh, Sherry..." George smiled placidly, understanding what the girl was getting at. "Please, go on."

"I was thinking... that maybe the killer... used the leather handle... as a way to protect his hands from the burn... the frostbite."

As Sherry spoke, several of the survivors smiled because they already knew what she meant, but out of respect, they didn't intervene.

"And the fact that Jill didn't have the knife embedded in her neck, and consequently there was no subsequent bleeding when she was placed on Chris's bed, was because... the knife NEVER left, it was always there... what disappeared was the leather handle."

Sherry smiled excitedly and finally said what she had been thinking.

"It's ice! Jill was stabbed with ice! That's why there's nothing! Because it's the moisture in the bed."

"That's the most amazing thing I've ever heard, Sherry! And it makes sense! We didn't find a gun in Jill's neck because it disappeared... And only someone with Karl's intellect could have created it!"

George knew that Sherry was capable of contributing extraordinary things to the group with the necessary support.

"Wow! And that also solves the bleeding issue!" Cindy exclaimed. "The blood vessels constricted and formed a plug from the cold! That's why there wasn't as much blood! I can believe that initially the blood on the shirt was to clean and even further compress the ice to stop the bleeding..."

"So... we've solved that. And is there anything that can confirm that Jill was planted in Chris's Recreation Room?"

"Indeed, yes, Alcina..."

---

"Truth Bullet - Photo A of Jill - Blood Pattern."

"This is a photograph of Jill that corresponds to a blood pattern consistent with the position in which the body was found. Jill bled in bed. We don't know if this killed her.

---

"I'm certain that the blood that mixed with the ice melted, creating a vertical pattern due to gravity. Jill was definitely placed in Chris's bed..."

"That's true." Furthermore..."

---

"Truth Bullet - Wesker's Second Testimony."

"The temperature of the area where Jill's wound was located did not correspond to the temperature of the rest of her body. The skin around the wound felt cold."

---

"Jill's body, or at least the wound, did not correspond to the ambient temperature. I'm beginning to believe that because Chris's Recreation Room is so hot, this accelerated the melting process of the ice knife. Sherry's theory sounds more like the truth."

"But... this brings us to another matter." Mia sighed again, overwhelmed. "What triggered Heisenberg's warning?"

Chapter 90: Above The Law - Trial - Part XIV

"Very well. We understand that Chris was in his Recreation Room the whole time, right? It wouldn't have made any sense for Jill to move him anywhere else."

"That seems the most plausible explanation, Leon."

George nodded.

"So, he was already in his Recreation Room... if we follow the logic we've been building... Karl and Jill had to go to Chris' Recreation Room."

"Jill? But Jill was already dead, wasn't she? Isn't that right, Leon? What if other people entered Chris' Recreation Room?"

Cindy objected.

"Impossible." Albert defended Leon. "I'm sure MonoRaccoon is impartial and would have notified us of any intruder in Chris' Recreation Room other than Karl. Although... it still doesn't seem right to me that Chris and Heisenberg, being both alive... made the announcement to Karl... but weren't complete..."

"I'd like to propose something... uh..." Sherry raised her hand again, this time with more confidence. "What if... what if Jill was still alive?"

"What do you mean, Sherry?"

George looked at her with intrigue.

"Yes! I clearly remember hearing the announcement made to Karl, after the one made to Donna. Maybe Jill was alive, right? That way it would be Chris, Jill, and Karl... but... someone was already in Chris' room."

"Is that possible? Is it possible that someone on the verge of death could be considered...?"

"Let's assume that's true, Ethan... let's assume Jill was taken by Heisenberg to the Recreation Room where Chris was unconscious... that's still three people. There had to be someone, some extra, who led to Karl being considered an intruder. Chris was unconscious, Jill was nearly dead... and Karl..."

"Let's see... I'm sure the only reason Karl could have gotten into Chris's Recreation Room in the first place was because Jill was his access point." Leon insisted. "Besides, Karl's and Chris' Recreation Rooms are right across from each other, it couldn't have taken him long..."

"I have... a theory, and I want Chris to confirm it." George proposed something different that might lead to an optimal answer at the trial. "Chris... do you happen to remember what we talked about regarding the chocolate on your lips?"

---

"Truth Bullet - Photograph A of Chris - Chocolate Marks."

"Photograph of Chris's chin and lips with traces of melted chocolate."

---

"..." "Chocolate? What are you talking about?"

Cindy asked immediately, quite intrigued.

"You see... when I woke up after Jill... knocked me out, I had chocolate smeared on my lips. In fact, it was placed on my lips in such a way that I licked it without thinking, right away. That... in an incentive context, would have killed me."

"What I think... is that Chris was set up to die once he woke up." George processed the events. "Someone wanted Chris to wake up and be killed for the incentive."

"Oh, I see, George... because if Chris woke up and licked his lips upon tasting the chocolate..."

"I'm inclined to believe that, in fact... this was part of Jill's plan, Cindy."

---

"Truth Bullet - Brown Stains on Jill's Index Finger and Thumb."

"A couple of barely noticeable brown stains on the index finger and thumb of Jill's right hand."

---

"She had a brownish tint on her fingers. I sniffed it out of curiosity, and at first I couldn't quite identify the scent... until, from what Chris said... It's chocolate! Melted chocolate."

"So Jill was planning to do something with Karl that would involve Chris being killed by the incentive, by forcing him to 'eat'? I mean, it wouldn't surprise me if Jill even deliberately did something to kill both Chris and Karl when Redfield broke the incentive, but... she didn't count on Karl fighting back."

Alcina exclaimed wearily.

"It seems so... but her plan backfired."

George agreed.

Chapter 91: Above The Law - Trial - Part XV

"I propose the following scenario now that we've cleared up almost everything."

Leon resumed control of the trial to provide a new perspective.

---

• Chris is knocked unconscious by Jill, who leaves him in his Recreation Room.
• At some point, Jill arms herself with a pistol loaded with blanks, which she apparently didn't recognize as such.
• Jill visits Karl, and he lets her in.
• Jill shoots Karl, causing chaos.
• Karl is wounded, not killed, but injured, and in retaliation, he pulls out an ice knife and stabs Jill in the neck.
• Karl applies pressure with a shirt, leaving it bloodied, and wraps the leather handle he used for the knife in his locker.
• When Karl takes Jill, still alive, it triggers a warning because there were already two people inside.
• Karl leaves Jill's body on the bed and is killed by MonoRaccoon.

---

"Who the hell is the extra person?"

"I want to talk!"

Sherry raised her hand, ready to find out the truth.

---

"Truth Bullet - Sherry's Testimony."

"I drank water in the showers before the announcements aired. Something caused the incentive to be deactivated."

---

"I'd like to share part of my story regarding the announcements. You see, I was taking a shower in my Recreation Room. I had my head out of the showerhead because accidentally drinking water would kill me. It was at that moment that I heard the warning MonoRaccoon gave Donna."

"That's right. Donna came out of George's Recreation Room, or well... her doll."

Mia nodded, confirming Sherry's version.

"Well... not long after, I heard MonoRaccoon's warning to Heisenberg about the rules... and... I remember very little time passed before, by accident, the water pressure in my shower increased, causing several drops of water to fall on my face, landing in my mouth..."

"Hmm... and you're still here."

Leon observed seriously.

"And I'm still here. What I'm getting at is... someone had to die, right? Or rather... someone had already died, which is why MonoRaccoon lifted the incentive. What's the point of killing the rest of your participants for the incentive when, in fact, a murder has already been committed?"

"What Sherry is suggesting is interesting, and it gives us a richer perspective on the matter." Brad nodded and brainstormed ideas. "Let's see... Sherry mentioned something very important, Donna and Karl. Their announcements were, God, almost instantaneous. Ethan... I have a question. What did you do after Donna left George's Recreation Room?"

"Didn't you hear me, Brad? I told you I looked inside and... then I took Mia to our Recreation Room, mine to be exact. Why?"

"And you didn't see anything in the hallways?"

"No, Brad. Should I have seen something?"

"No, but I assume... and I'm damn certain that's what happened... that while you and Mia were going into your Recreation Room... Heisenberg was coming out of his own room with Jill's dying body."

Almost everyone was shocked by Vickers's argument.

"What?" Ethan couldn't believe it. "What made you come up with such a thing?"

"Sherry's testimony, brother. She confirmed to us that someone's death, and I'm sure it was Karl's, was caused shortly after his announcement because she WAS ABLE TO DRINK WATER. Someone had died, and it was definitely him."

"But that doesn't answer our question, Brad... Who is the person who caused that surplus? Because if Karl was executed for breaking the rules..."

Mia's head was filled with theories.

"It's simple. Chris... you were never alone the whole time, and that's why, thanks to THAT someone, even Albert and I got involved the way we did with the announcements. Chris, look in your room and tell me... Where could someone have hidden? Or rather... an extension of it."

Chris closed his eyes and tried to identify that special place where they could have hidden, to have a perspective that aligned with the events and, therefore, was logical.

She looked between the walls, on the table, in the shower, in the lockers, but nowhere gave her the angle she wanted.

Until she thought of a place, a specific one.

"Under the bed..." Chris whispered, then mustered the confidence to nod and say it louder. "The bed! The extra person got under my bed! So... when they saw Heisenberg die for breaking the rules..."

"Their vision counted as a vote... because they saw Heisenberg die, not Jill." George smiled at her. "Jill probably died shortly after entering your Recreation Room at Heisenberg's hands... so... with that special someone under your bed, watching... existing... and we know someone here who has a knack for sneaking around. Don't we, Donna?"

Chapter 92: Above The Law - Trial - The Innocents

"Donna makes perfect sense, or rather, her doll." George had a theory about what had happened. "I imagine Donna's doll running through the halls after being caught by Mia and me... that's where, in an attempt to get to her Recreation Room, she sees the door to Heisenberg's Recreation Room open..."

"With Heisenberg carrying Jill's body..."

Cindy said wearily.

"And since Heisenberg's and Chris's Recreation Rooms are across from each other..." Brad understood. "The doll could have entered Chris's Recreation Room because Jill left it open... and then... she hid under the bed."

"That's when the doll saw Heisenberg come in with Jill, but she was alive, and since there were already three people entering... I bet Karl was mistaken for an intruder because of that. When Karl thought the incentive had been lifted, he grabbed a water bottle and proceeded to drink it..."

Alcina adjusted her hat suspiciously.

"That's when he died for breaking the rules by not leaving Chris's Recreation Room. This was seen by the doll, who by then was considered an innocent bystander."

"There was blood everywhere, and with what she had just seen... Maybe Donna froze completely? How do you react to a live death?"

Mia tried to sound sympathetic.

"Damn... even I froze the first time I saw a dead body." Ethan had a strange feeling in his throat, like a lump. "Since Jill died... while on Chris's bed, Donna didn't see her, which gives us the following order:"

---

Donna hides under the bed
Donna sees Jill alive being carried by Karl. 
Donna sees Karl die for breaking the rules (I)

Chris wakes up
Chris sees Karl dead (II)
Chris sees Jill dead (I)

Brad and Wesker enter Chris' Recreation Room. This would let them to become the next innocents. 

Even though we don't know which one saw Jill or Karl, their mere existence triggered the announcement. 

---

"That's why Donna doesn't have her doll... because it was in Chris's Recreation Room, hidden. All this... damn it... All this time wasted just to conclude that Karl died for nothing? That Jill died for absolutely nothing..."

George tried to find the strength to stand on his podium to avoid losing his sanity.

"Apparently... we're all innocent." Albert started laughing at the cruelty of the joke. "Damn... We're all innocent! What a load of crap!"

"Well, then, as the innocent people we are... we need to put an end to this."

Chris began to wrap things up.

Chapter 93: Above The Law - Trial - Climax

ACT 1

Chris: It all started with the incentive MonoRaccoon offered us… The participants were strictly forbidden from eating or drinking anything, as this would lead to execution for breaking the rules. Even accidentally drinking water while showering was considered a death sentence.

Cindy: And, given the current state of the case… someone did die for breaking those rules, but not in the way we would have expected.

George: Over time, I was helping a group of survivors navigate the situation by finding a loophole in the incentive. Through medications, serums, and injectables, I was helping Cindy, Mia, Ethan, Sherry, and me obtain nutrients using my knowledge to avoid feeling hunger.

Mia: My role as the Ultimate Researcher was crucial in enhancing these serums and injectables, which is why we didn't need to comply with the incentive at all.

Alcina: But not everyone felt the same way. Someone among us—the victim in this case—was planning to play the game and fulfill MonoRaccoon's whims.

Chris: The victim in this case took advantage of my trust, of opening the doors to my Recreation Room, because once inside, she could begin preparing her plan. How stupid I was!

---

ACT 2

Albert: It's not unreasonable to think that the events we're about to discuss occurred within a relatively short period, but to do so, we need to follow a chronology that allows us to put all the facts in their proper place.

Sherry: Therefore, based on the information presented, I firmly believe that the female victim in this case was responsible for slipping a threat under the door of my Recreation Room. I'm not entirely sure why she did this... but by doing so, she ensured that we obtained crucial information that would later help us expose her schemes.

Chris: That's why the victim came to my Recreation Room and, knowing how I would react... told me that Sherry's Recreation Room had been attacked. I didn't think twice and left, I left without looking back because... because I trusted the person I turned my back on, I left because I feared something bad would happen to Sherry.

Saddler: Abusing Mr. Redfield's trust... the victim in this case attacked him from behind, knocking him out with a blow to the back of the head, and he was welcomed into the world of darkness.

Brad: While unconscious... Chris was taken to his Recreation Room, and it wouldn't be surprising if the victim orchestrated a whole plan to provoke a murder. If we have someone to blame for stripping Chris, stealing his weapons, planting evidence like ammunition in his clothes... I wouldn't be surprised if the victim even tried to assassinate Heisenberg by shooting him, or at least leaving him near death, to frame Chris.

Ethan: That's why... the victim in the case got hold of a chocolate bar. It wouldn't be surprising if she had one, since every Recreation Room has a vending machine—a cruel joke about our situation. The victim smeared some of the chocolate, melted by the friction of her fingers, onto Chris's lips, who, unconscious... didn't know what was happening.

Mia: This was a plan that, had it been carried out, would have led to Chris's death, since he told us that the first thing he did upon waking up was taste that chocolate on his lips. For that reason, the mere act of doing it under the guise of an incentive would have killed him.

Cindy: So, the victim in this case prepared herself. She stole a gun from Chris's Recreation Room and also obtained ammunition... ready to go out and confront the one who, in a tragic turn of events, would end up being her executioner.

George: While the victim and the killer were in a Recreation Room... something else was taking place elsewhere.

---

ACT 3

George: As you know, the Winters were among my patients, whom I was responsible for feeding with IV fluids and injections. For this reason, when I entered my Recreation Room and invited Mia in...

Mia: A warning sounded. We don't know how or why, but Donna Beneviento's doll was there, in George's Recreation Room. Since I count as two people, my entry triggered Donna's warning to leave the premises.

Cindy: And, as MonoRaccoon confirmed... the owners of the Recreation Room aren't considered intruders, or an extra who should leave their own space. Those who aren't invited, or any outside agent who enters, are considered intruders and deserve a warning.

Ethan: Donna's doll ran off, leaving George's Recreation Room. At that moment, I knew the doll went to the respective part of the hallway corresponding to the recreation rooms of the killer and Chris... but since I didn't pay any more attention to the doll, I waited for Mia so we could go to our recreation room. We left shortly.

---

ACT 4

Albert: Simultaneously, if not at the same time, the victim, who by then was already in the killer's Recreation Room, pulled out the gun she had hidden and shot him a total of seven times. The killer's fall was dramatic, causing chaos in his own Recreation Room.

Saddler: What the victim in this case didn't know was that... she had actually shot the killer with blanks. So, it doesn't surprise me to think that, confident she had finished him off, she approached...

Sherry: To a dangerous enough distance for him, being the person he was, and the only one capable of orchestrating something like this... to use an ice knife that he embedded in her neck.

Leon: The victim's blood naturally spurted out, and the killer tried to stem the flow by using a white shirt. While this did stop the bleeding, it was really the ice that constricted the victim's blood vessels, which is why the bleeding stopped.

George: And, against all odds, she was still alive... the victim who was initially presumed to be the murderer was still alive, dying, but alive.

Ethan: Therefore, right at the moment the killer was carrying her, we can deduce that he saw Chris's Recreation Room open, because, at that moment, Donna Beneviento's doll opened it, allowing him to get inside.

Mia: And with this, we confirm the origin of the second warning given to the killer. While we were dealing with Donna in George's Recreation Room, the murder was taking place in another Recreation Room.

---

ACT 5

Chris: After Donna's doll hid under the bed, she witnessed the killer and the victim enter my Recreation Room... and the reason Donna's doll didn't register this glimpse of the victim was because the victim hadn't died yet, but very soon she would.

Cindy: Believing himself victorious, the killer went to the nearest refrigerator and took a bottle of water, thinking he had eliminated the incentive of starvation, and perhaps... perhaps he did, perhaps the killer didn't actually die from drinking the water, but rather it was his punishment for not leaving a full Recreation Room when ordered to.

Saddler: Isn't this a tragic twist of fate? He thought he had killed the victim, that he had won... but he hadn't counted on the fact that she was still alive, BARELY alive. Because Mr. Redfield was unconscious on the floor, and Miss Beneviento was lying under the bed... the victim and the killer entering, the latter's entry, was what sealed his fate.

Mia: I wonder if the killer even got to taste the water he'd craved for days before he was punished...

Alcina: And as if it were a chronicle of an impending tragedy, the victim... she finally died, after her executioner died as a result of breaking the rules.

Sherry: It was during this same interval that, while I was taking a shower, I accidentally drank some water from the showerhead... and this didn't kill me, because the murders had already been committed.

---

ACT 6

Chris: That's when I woke up... I woke up and saw the bodies of both the victim and the killer. I ran to her... to the woman who promised me answers and... I knelt down...

Brad: That's when Wesker and I arrived. First me, then him. This caused us both to activate different BDAs separately because, considering the order in which things happened, both Donna and Chris witnessed the bodies, or at least one of them.

Chris: That's why... You're the ones to blame! Jill Valentine, the Ultimate Cop, was murdered by Karl Heisenberg, the Ultimate Inventor, who was ultimately punished for breaking the rules.

---

 

Chapter 94: Above The Law - Trial - Conclusion

The remaining survivors voted for the deceased in their respective order.

It was a tense moment when, after submitting their votes using their MonoDroids, the screen displayed a roulette wheel with all the participants' faces until, eventually, it landed on Karl Heisenberg as Jill's killer.

And the roulette wheel...

It began to dispense gold coins and display two bouquets of flowers because they had guessed correctly.

And when the roulette wheel landed on MonoRaccoon as Karl's "killer," the same animation played.

Relief was imminent for everyone who, at least until that moment, had even begun to doubt the entire premise, despite its consistency with the evidence presented, or worse, the possibility that the killer had deliberately manipulated the evidence to mislead everyone.

"This guarantees nothing!"

Albert exclaimed angrily, still on his podium.

"Albert's words are correct. Three days had simply passed since the first murder, and it's only a matter of time before a murder occurs." George understood the situation as a matter of life and death. "And from now on... I'm not offering my services to anyone again."

"You're right, idiot." Brad confronted George. "It's not like it was a surprise to everyone that the only reason you helped Cindy is because you're sleeping with her, and that Ethan was just an extension of Mia and you helped him out of pity."

"How dare you? Moron. And even if those were the reasons, it's none of your business."

"You're not God, asshole! You bleed too!"

"Is that a threat, Brad?"

George could only laugh.

"Hey, everyone, calm down, we're getting worked up! There's no need to do this and separate ourselves even more than we already are..."

"What don't you understand, Cindy? Jill betrayed Chris, and Claire was betrayed by Alexia when she found out why she was vulnerable! With all due respect... but from now on, I will only trust my husband."

Mia stood behind Ethan and grabbed his arm in a show of dominance.

"Well, I'm sure you're going to like our new game!" MonoRaccoon asked all the participants to look at the screen where there was a roulette wheel with their names. "For our third phase, please everyone check your devices! You've received a very special message from your friend, the director!"

And everyone, almost instinctively, complied.

"What does this mean?"

Cindy asked, noticeably intrigued, upon seeing the message in which she had been added to a chat with another participant.

"This is the new stage of our game! From now on, you'll have to work in pairs! The incentive for this stage is simple. A murder must occur within three days; if it doesn't, then everyone will be executed."

"What?" George felt a chill run down his spine. "We'll be in pairs?"

"That's right! Once we reach the new area, you'll be informed of the new rules that will be implemented!"

"We're screwed." Ethan glared indignantly, realizing that MonoRaccoon seemed to have other plans regarding his role as a father and Mia's well-being. "Fuck..."

---

The pairings were as follows:

Chris Redfield x Donna Beneviento

Leon Kennedy x Osmund Saddler

Alcina Dimitrescu x Brad Vickers

George Hamilton x Ethan Winters

Cindy Lennox x Albert Wesker

Sherry Birkin

Mia Winters

---

"This has to be a bad joke!" Alcina objected. "Sherry and Mia can't be alone! They just CAN'T!"

"It was to be expected that this son of a bitch would do something like this. Huh... we all have someone watching our backs, or maybe, it's much worse. I don't need to use my talent to realize that the pairings were made with the full intention of making us clash." Leon exclaimed, clearly angry. "They pair me with the man whose talent I've told I think is a sham..."

"And you think that's bad?" Albert glared at Cindy. "A pretty face will only slow me down. Cindy could get me killed."

"Maybe you should show some respect." George interjected. "If you don't want any trouble."

"Bah, I can trade her for Ethan, as far as I know, I don't care. I don't work with women, I'm telling you."

"And you have the nerve to say that after a woman tried to help you recover your memories?" Mia couldn't help but intervene. "Screw you, Wesker. At least you have someone."

"So... it'll be you and me, right?" Chris extended his hand to Donna, with whom he'd never really had a proper conversation. "Nice to meet you, Donna! I want you to know that I'll do everything I can to protect you. Uh... I know it doesn't sound the most encouraging thing to hear because of... what happened, but believe me... no one will lay a hand on you under my supervision."

Chris noticed a slight movement in Donna's head, as if she were tilting it slightly in recognition.

"Look, I don't know what the future holds... but things are going to get very bad from now on. From what I can tell... we have to get out of here, this place sucks."

And so, the survivors entered the elevator again, knowing that at any moment, the situation could worsen.

Some resigned themselves to their fate.

And others clung to that small hope that came with believing there was an escape.

---

SURVIVING ULTIMATES

Mia Winters - Ultimate Researcher

Ethan Winters - Ultimate Systems Engineer

Chris Redfield - Ultimate Soldier

Albert Wesker - Ultimate ???

Alcina Dimitrescu - Ultimate Oenologist

Donna Beneviento - Ultimate Dollmaker

Sherry Birkin - Ultimate Virologist

Cindy Lennox - Ultimate Waitress

Leon Kennedy - Ultimate Homeland Security Agent

Brad Vickers - Ultimate Pilot

George Hamilton - Ultimate Surgeon

Osmund Saddler - Ultimate Priest

---

DECEASED ULTIMATES

1st Case

Claire Redfield - Ultimate Biker - Throat Slit

Alexia Ashford - Ultimate Sniper - Shot

2nd Case

Karl Heisenberg - Ultimate Inventor - Head Blown Up

Jill Valentine - Ultimate Cop - Bleeding

Chapter 95: Partners In Crime

The elevator ride back wasn't pleasant for anyone. Everyone was aware that, at any moment, someone would succumb to temptation and another case would begin, no matter how hard they tried to prevent it. This uncertainty was something that bothered all the survivors so far, who wondered why no one was looking for them, why help wasn't arriving. Hadn't their families noticed their disappearance? Or did their lives matter so little that they preferred them to be forgotten?

"This whole situation seems ridiculous to me. What's the point of going back if another murder is just going to happen anyway?"

Alcina wasn't very happy with the outcome of the previous trial.

"Well, those are the rules of the game. It's not like we can do much about it." Albert yawned because he had barely rested. "So, all we can do is watch our backs... which is ironic, because now we're in pairs."

"What was the point of putting us in pairs?" Brad asked with intrigue."Perhaps because there are so few of us, they want to increase the speed at which a murder occurs?"

"That's quite possible," Leon shouted with noticeable contempt. "We're all on edge, clearly all of us are looking for any opportunity to escape."

"All of us?" Cindy asked, quite doubtful. "What do you mean by 'all of us'? Do you mean we're all going to kill but we're just waiting for the right moment?"

"Of course. I can think of hundreds of ways each of you, with your fine talents, can hurt others. But well... there are fewer and fewer of us, so we have to enjoy what little time we have left."

"He's right about that." Saddler nodded in agreement. "Mr. Kennedy has offered a perspective that fits our situation. Pairs... this method of having someone tied to us isn't for comfort, much less for security... it's a death sentence."

The elevator ascended to a new area the survivors had never seen before, a large hall furnished with various tables, a sound system, and a dance floor adorned with lights and floral decorations.

"This is a dance floor and of course, not my special place," George said with noticeable disgust. "I have two left feet, by the way."

"You had to be bad at something," Brad remarked sarcastically. "Precise with a scalpel, but terrible at salsa dancing, huh?"

"I prefer Beethoven and a bottle of gin on the side, thank you very much."

"Look at the devices... they've updated."

Chris had his companions check their MonoDroids to verify that, indeed, there was a new notification in the map application.

---

The following areas were highlighted:

AREAS

Gym - Showers
Sauna
Men's Dormitories
Women's Dormitories
Dining Hall
Shop

---

"A gym? I think I can finally do those exercises the pediatrician recommended, don't you think so, Ethan?"

Mia smiled because there was finally an interesting activity to do.

"And a sauna! I've always wanted to go to one." Albert unexpectedly commented with noticeable excitement, being observed curiously by other survivors, among whom Cindy stood out. "What? They say it relaxes your body. Can you blame me?"

"Welcome to the third area! As you have successfully completed two trials, a new area has been opened for you. Now, I'll tell you a little about the current incentive, so please check your MonoDroids. The rules have been updated."

Everyone present took out their respective devices and realized that, indeed, more rules had been added in accordance with the current situation.

---

Participants can kill their assigned teammates.

The death of a teammate by an external member of their team will result in the instant death of the remaining surviving member.

In the event that one of the teammates in a given group takes their own life, the remaining member will not be executed.

The killer will share execution or victory with the other player if the killer turns out to be their teammate.

The maximum number of kills that can be committed is three. From a fourth kill onward, the offending user will be executed, and the survivors will be informed of the relevant details.

---

"Why is this son of a bitch so determined to make our lives miserable?"

Albert grimaced as he finished reading the new rules.

"That means no one is safe... and what about the Dormitories... What exactly are they, MonoRaccoon?"

"I'll explain, Cindy. The dormitories are divided into two groups: female and male. No men have access to the female dormitories, and no women have access to the male dormitories. The same applies to the showers in the gym. However, the sauna is an exception, as people of both sexes can enter, as long as no sexual activity takes place."

"It's not like anyone's already taken care of that shit in the previous area."

"Albert!" Cindy elbowed the blond man in the ribs, and he just winced in pain. "How dare you?"

"Just saying! Ugh... you hit hard..."

"So, the sauna would be an ideal place to kill if a killer, regardless of gender, wanted to kill. After all... I don't think anyone's stupid enough to repeat Alexia's mistake."

Leon muttered to himself.

"By the way! Donna Beneviento! You left this on the second floor. Here, considering it's an extension of yourself."

MonoRaccoon pointed to a gift box on one of the tables. Donna immediately ran to the box to open it and find Angie, her doll, who soon began to move.

"I'm back!" the doll said in an apparent state of joy. "You all thought you were finally rid of me! But no! Huhuhuhuhu!"

"Just when I thought I could finally rest from that voice..." Albert had a violent urge to grab the doll and start slamming her against the floor to see how long she could last without being torn to pieces. "This calls for a meeting, then. Since we're all here."

Chapter 96: Partners In Crime II

All the participants took their seats at the large table in the Banquet Hall, and the conversation began to flow.

"Donna... exactly how did Heisenberg's situation happen? Is our conclusion about Karl's death correct? That he was executed."

Leon questioned this, as it was something he'd been thinking about for quite some time.

"You were wrong!" The doll climbed onto the table and began to laugh. "You'd all be dead for a mistake like that! No. Karl... Uhuhuhu! Karl died because he broke the rules and went against the incentive! As soon as he grabbed that water bottle... his head went BOOM! It was terrifying!"

"I wonder why we weren't executed... Wouldn't that count as suicide?"

Ethan's expression revealed intense doubt.

"I assume that, for it to be considered suicide, you have to do it on purpose... I mean, not use the rules to get yourself killed, because, in that way, you would die because you broke the rules, not because you killed yourself. Although, that raises another question... What if someone deliberately, I don't know, uses the rules to kill another person?"

Albert raised an interesting question that might serve as a basis for better understanding future cases.

"What do you mean?" Chris let out another yawn since he really wanted to go to sleep for a while. "Use the rules in what sense?"

"What Albert means is committing murder using the rules. For example... let's say I want to kill Albert." Cindy's comment made Albert turn his gaze slightly toward her, looking at her out of the corner of his eye with a noticeable smirk. "And to do that, I push him into the Girls' Dormitories. That should kill him, right?"

"You'd be executed!" MonoRaccoon suddenly appeared from under the table. "I know what your sick minds are trying to do, but it's not going to work! You won't use the system to get away with your misdeeds. Any participant who uses the rules to their advantage and indirectly commits murder will be EXECUTED."

"Well, shit."

Chris just smiled and, seeing that there was a kitchen near the dance floor, decided to get up and investigate on his own. MonoRaccon followed him soon after.

"Where the hell do you think you're going? Come back here, Chris. We need to make a plan to—"

"For what, Albert?" Chris confronted him. "So some asshole can try to win their freedom and betray us again? Bullshit. Right now I want to eat a nice steak and drown myself in as much fucking alcohol as I can find in this shithole."

"Wait, Chris!"

But Chris didn't listen.

"I don't blame him. His sister was killed, and the girl who wanted to 'help' him actually tried to kill him." George commented irritably. "And what exactly are we going to talk about? No matter how hard we try, Albert... someone's going to kill."

"Why don't we at least try for once?" Cindy tried to see things from Wesker's point of view. "The reason the murders have happened is because we're having trouble connecting. Alexia probably had issues and... please, we were just starving, that's why Jill... Karl... Can't we talk this through like adults?"

"Adults?" Leon retorted mockingly. "These adults are looking for any reason to get out of here, Cindy. We all have families, we have important things to do out there than rot in here."

"Is that a threat, Leon? Or Roy, or whatever your fucking name is?" Mia asked without taking her eyes off him. "Because it sounded like a threat to me."

"I couldn't care less what you think, Mia, or your husband, or anyone else. Why don't you mind your own business? That'll get you far. I'm leaving; I have more important things to attend to."

And one by one they began to leave until, finally, Cindy and Albert were alone.

"Ah... I guess that's how it's going to be, huh?"

Cindy exclaimed, defeated.

"It'll get worse, don't worry."

Chapter 97: Men's Showers

George Hamilton was walking through the second floor of the new area they'd been assigned to. To his surprise, there was a large gym with all the equipment needed to burn off those extra calories and weight; from perfectly maintained treadmills to a full set of weights and bars to pass the time. It didn't take him long to find lockers with their names on them, and when he went to his own, which opened by scanning his MonoDroid, he found a couple of workout outfits, including a blue water bottle and some supplies like powders and protein.

"Well, no time to waste."

George grabbed his clothes and, after heading to the men's showers, began to undress. As he took off his formal attire and folded it carefully, he heard the door behind him open, revealing Brad Vickers standing there, a slight blush on his face.

"I didn't think anyone would be here. I didn't mean to interrupt."

Vickers, who was also holding on his hands the same type of athletic clothes as George—they even shared the same purple shirts and shorts—, said trying to avoid his gaze from the doctor.

"Don't act so surprised, you saint. You've seen as many naked men in the academy showers as I have in the operating room."

George showed no embarrassment at Brad seeing him as he came into the world.

"You're right. In any case, I've seen bigger ones."

Brad entered the showers, and his comment didn't go unnoticed by George, who just stared at him, as if analyzing him. It was then that Brad also began to undress, losing all modesty and showing his robust body to George, who could only smile.

"I agree with you. In any case, I've seen smaller ones."

"Hey! It's because it's cold."

"Sure, whatever you say."

George didn't quite understand why he was stooping to that kind of humor.

"So... you and Cindy."

"What's it to you? Still, she and I have a history." Hamilton said, taking a seat on one of the toilets to remove his shoes and then his socks. "We've known each other for a while... back in Raccoon City. I don't share it with anyone because it's not public knowledge."

"You knew Cindy? Before all this shit?"

"Yes." The Doctor replied, as if it weren't the most relevant piece of information. "I went to J's Bar to get drunk after my ex-wife, that bitch, slept with someone in the bed where we sleep. In the bed! She could have done it on the couch, in the guest room, for God's sake... In the bed!"

Brad raised an eyebrow, visibly worried.

"You're the Ultimate Surgeon, aren't you? I assume your work and time—Bah, screw it. That whore cheated on you even though you gave her everything."

"How dare you to assu...?" Before George could become aggressive, he analyzed Brad's words and nodded. "Wow! Finally, someone who isn't using the excuse that I was too busy and neglected her."

"It's just common sense." Brad smiled calmly, having dealt with similar cases before. "I mean... if you'll allow me to speculate, I'd even say she was complaining about your absence, but she didn't say anything about the luxuries that came with your profession. What do I know? Jewelry, money, trips, restaurants..."

"Aren't you the Ultimate Fortune Teller? That's right. I gave her everything, and all she gave me back were sheets soaked with another man's semen. How disgusting! Fluids all over the bed. If I'd known that all she needed was for me to fuck her real good then, God, I would have done it. I was never unfaithful to her! I never touched another woman."

Hamilton stood up, walked over to one of the showers, and turned it on, alternating between hot and cold water to find the right temperature and relax.

"Ah... I needed this shit. After all that stress... and tell me... what about you? Who the hell is Brad Vickers?"

"Well... I'm Brad Vickers." Brad, who had gained some confidence, also turned on one of the showers to join George, enjoying the hot water. "Oh, fuck... this feels good. I had administrative roles in the R.P.D., and I graduated with honors from flight school. I have knowledge of how to operate all kinds of aircraft... and... You want to know something funny? I can't drive."

"What? Are you serious?" George thought it was impossible. "The fucking Ultimate Pilot can't drive? Color me in shock."

"It's true! I'm terrible at driving, I almost crashed Jill's car..." Brad stared down at the water pooling around his feet and trickling down the drain. "Yeah... that. Uh... let's just say I'm your typical American guy, you know? I liked going to the bar on Sundays, and thank God I'm single, so... Any advice for when I get married?"

"Always keep receipts for everything." George immediately replied. "Document everything and get a prenuptial agreement. That's what I did when my wife and I got married. She wanted to take everything, but luckily there were prenuptial agreements and we had a mutual understanding. It turns out this was more her family's doing because they didn't want 'their wealth affected by our union.' In the end, the jerks did me a favor."

They continued showering and even sharing more anecdotes from their lives. At one point, Brad even asked Hamilton to scrub his back because he couldn't reach it, since his arms couldn't reach the back of his neck. While this could have been a perfect opportunity for George to exert pressure and, conversely, kill him, he wouldn't leave things to chance.

Because chance is dangerous.

"I'm sorry that I said you have a God complex." Brad remarked so suddenly that it surprised George. "I don't think you're a heartless son of a bitch... just a son of a bitch, and one I don't like."

"I'm glad you're honest and aware of your feelings toward me, Brad." George didn't seem hurt by the comments. "I'm glad a cowardly, gutless piece of shit of guy like you is brave enough this time."

"Anything to put assholes like you in their place."

"Well, you did a good job." George finished rinsing Brad and dried him with a towel. "Thanks to you... we were able to find out how Donna got involved. Honestly, it wasn't something we were going to reveal. I know you must have done something to Cindy to make her spill the beans."

"I didn't do anything, I just used my charisma, just like with you."

"Pfft, charisma my balls, Vickers. Are you going to work out too, or did you just come here to admire my enviable attributes?"

"Yeah, right, Hamilton. If only you had something to envy. Come on, I'll wait for you. Finish drying your ass so we can get out of here."

The affinity between the two men grew stronger.

Chapter 98: Dining Hall

"Interesting."

Alcina Dimitrescu gazed curiously at the floral arrangement on the table, noticing that they were real flowers and that they brought back many memories. Each white petal displayed such vibrant color, as if they had been carefully tended to create a unique result. After all, flowers and their colors, like humans and their nature, will never be the same.

Because there will never be anyone else in the world like her.

"Lost in thought, Miss Dimitrescu?"

Osmund Saddler asked permission to join her in her contemplation of the flowers.

"Lost, somewhere. What brings you here, Saddler?"

"Nothing in particular. I just remembered that we haven't talked enough and... I wanted to know how you are."

"A curious question, isn't it?" Alcina crossed her arms and considered the possibility. "I'm not well. I don't even know where I am, why I'm here... I haven't had time to think about how I am; it's not relevant right now."

"I'm so sorry you feel this way. I didn't mean to upset you."

"The problem isn't you, Saddler. You're a good man. You must be even more worried than I am... and that's understandable. You have people back in Spain who need you. You've mentioned Doña María, Dr. Salvador, and your right-hand man, Mr. Méndez."

"Mr. Méndez is a great friend of mine, that's true, but I trust his judgment. I know my people are strong, and I know they'll be doing everything they can to try and find me. Now... the question is, how are your daughters? The noble Bela, the beautiful Cassandra, and the immaculate Daniela."

"I hope they're well. My treasures... I know my beautiful daugthers are strong women. Just a few days ago... I was talking with them about... about the possibility of leaving my legacy. You see... I'm sick, I have a blood disease, and it's only a matter of time before... This enigmatic pallor of mine isn't... for no reason. I'm sick, and I just want the chance to leave knowing my daughters will be alright."

"Miss Dimitrescu..."

"That's all I ask, Saddler. I don't mind giving up my talent, the pleasures of life, as long as I know they'll be alright. My precious daughters... they are my concern."

"You will see them again, Miss Dimitrescu, I know that. I have a feeling you will be reunited with them."

"And if I don't? What if they never hear from me again? What if I've disappeared forever and they don't know what became of me? I'm not a bad woman, I don't deserve this."

"I never doubted you, or your nature. Why don't you relax? In fact... let me make you some good eggnog, which is my specialty. You and your talent know perfectly well how alcohol can help us calm down and clear our minds."

"You're right, Saddler. Yes, I have to change my ways; I can't leave things like this. And by the way... I'm sorry about what happened on the previous floor. I was so overwhelmed and... I didn't want to hurt you. I preferred to stay quiet, shut myself away, and..."

"You didn't do anything wrong; only the person behind all this did. I... while I have a duty to my people, I'm also aware of my own mortality. I was just talking with Mayor Méndez about the possibility of... a successor for the church, at least in the town where I'm from. Before coming here... there was a sighting of a miraculous pregnancy, a very rare case that has been studied by the creed I belong to and where my talent comes from."

"A successor?"

"When one talent flourishes, another withers. Death is near, Miss Dimitrescu, and it's time we found someone who can bear this curse I call Talent. Come, let's not waste any more time. I'll buy you a drink to share with your children once you're safely back."

Alcina could only manage a weak smile.

Chivalry hadn't died yet.

The affinity between them grew considerably.

Chapter 99: Sauna

"Finally! A place to rest my ass after all that crap."

Albert Wesker was relaxing inside the sauna, a towel draped over his hips, enjoying the steam and the floral scent coming from the vents.

"Are you sure we should do this? It's... weird."

Cindy was beside him, wrapped in a towel that covered her naked body.

"Come on, Cindy, relax for a moment. Besides... with the incentive, we have to do everything together. One good thing about all this shit is that we're not forbidden from sleeping elsewhere, so you might as well rest on one of the sofas in the ballroom."

"Would you stand guard for me? Would you sacrifice your sleep for me? That's... woah..."

"Sure, as long as you do it for me. Although, I don't know why, but I'm one of those people who sleeps very little, so you're not going to worry too much about me."

Albert's composure was almost frightening.

"And aren't you afraid? Because something could very well happen to you. People use their wits for all sorts of things."

Cindy asked, quite worried. 

"Honestly? No, I'm not afraid. What about you, Cindy? You say you're from Raccoon City, right?"

"That's right." She answered with a smile. "I liked playing the piano, and I had a performance on Sunday for the choir kids. That... that's what I told Claire, before she died. It's strange, isn't it? Claire isn't here, or Jill or Karl... or Alexia. And somehow I wonder..."

"What if they were here?"

"Heh... you hit the nail on the head. So... your past. I assume you don't remember who you were in Raccoon City, right?"

"Nothing at all. I've had dreams... I see an office, bodies, but no faces. You know? They all have blurry holes where their faces should be. Honestly... I doubt who I am or what I was, and I still find it hard to believe that my name is Albert Wesker. Maybe I'm just a bastard with another identity and... people have a false memory of me."

"That sounds... complicated. Maybe the more you get to know Brad or Chris, the more your memories will come back?"

"Well... so far, they're the only traces of this supposed past I once had, if it even exists. Although... they could very well be lying. I'm vulnerable, and there's nothing wrong with me admitting it... but if others use it as a reason to take advantage of me..."

"There'll be trouble. Yet you give me the impression that you weren't the kind of guy who would let himself be taken advantage of anyway."

"Well, that's nice coming from you, girl who fears the implacable wrath of God."

"No doubt about it. I'd rather fear God than men; the latter just disgust me."

"And what about me, then? Do I seem disgusting to you?"

Albert asked sarcastically because he clearly couldn't care less.

"I tolerate you. You're not my favorite person, I must say, but I tolerate you."

"I'm glad to know we're clear about our feelings."

"Otherwise... then what's the point of this union?"

"Amen."

Chapter 100: Kitchen

Chris Redfield was in the kitchen preparing, as he had previously stated, some steaks seasoned enough to fill the air with a pleasant aroma. Behind him sat Donna Beneviento, motionless, and beside Chris, handing him a jar of pepper, was the doll dressed as a bride.

"Thank you. If you would be so kind as to pass me a couple of tomatoes, I'm going to roast them."

"Of course, Chris!"

The doll obeyed and, with some effort, opened the refrigerator to find a couple of tomatoes lying in the lower section where other fresh vegetables were kept. Carefully, she took the tomatoes and offered them to Redfield, who took them and appreciated the gesture.

"How do you work exactly? I've always wondered this connection between you and... well... you."

Chris asked after taking a knife and a cutting board to place the tomatoes on and begin cutting them in pieces.

"It's all about technology! In case you didn't know, I'm a prototype." The doll remarked, turning slightly on her axis and taking hold of the hem of her dress to give a small bow. "Neural network technology is the latest thing in the field!"

"Neural networks? So you're some kind of... robot?"

"I'm much more than that!" The doll watched intently as the pan made a peculiar noise when the tomato began to brown in the oil. "The commands my body would make are transmitted to me. That compensates for some physical limitations. Also... I can see everything! Uhuhuhuhu!"

"How is that? Let's see... you're supposed to be sitting back there, with that veil... How many tomatoes have I cut? And there's no way you could know because we're far away!"

When Chris turned around and saw Donna, who was seated, raise her white, well-cared-for hands to form the number three, he was greatly surprised.

"Impossible! But you're far away!"

"Have you ever seen a movie where you see the camera from someone else's point of view? Imagine that's how I see things. That's why my perspective counted as an innocent witness in the tally of people who saw Karl's body."

"But... do you see it in your mind? Or is it like a shared screen? How does it work?"

"Maybe that's something you'll have to figure out for yourself if we survive this, Chris! And by the way... thanks for your words at the trial. I thought you'd be disgusted by being my partner."

"Disgusted? Why would I be disgusted? That's stupid. You intrigue me, but disgusted? Impossible. Look, we're all in this together, and honestly... I'm not in the mood, and I don't have the time to make enemies here, at least not on my own initiative, you know?"

"So... this doesn't bother you? George... Albert... they don't seem comfortable with... my voice... or the way I look... They're demanding I speak, but... I'm not ready."

"It doesn't bother me, as I've told you. You intrigue me, you pique my curiosity, but not to the point of disturbing me. Although... if it's not intrusive of me to ask... Why the veil? I've seen your hands, very well cared for, clean nails, perfect skin. Perhaps you're hiding your beauty from us?"

Chris could see out of the corner of her eye that Donna, who was seated, became startled, making a subtle movement as if she had been surprised, so much so that the doll didn't respond immediately.

"You don't have to answer me now. Besides... Would you like me to prepare something for you? I know how to make vegetables in case you don't like meat."

And, for the first time in a long time, Donna gestured with her hands, placing her right hand on her chest.

"I'd be delighted!" exclaimed the doll. "But... I don't know how to cook for myself..."

"What did you eat at home? Let me prepare something for you."

Chris didn't know it, but beneath the veil, the woman lying there smiled.

Their connection grew considerably.

Chapter 101: The Roulette of Pain

"How have you been feeling, Mia? Are you okay?"

"I've been better, honey. Hey, what is that?"

The Winters and Sherry walked through an area called "The Happy Store." Inside, the place resembled a supermarket, and there were various cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items, and even groceries that weren't in the kitchen or dining room they had been in earlier. Something that caught Ethan's attention was that the store also seemed to have a section called "The Roulette of Pain."

When the trio entered the room, they saw various weapons on display on different shelves, some even locked in jars. And of course, behind a counter, was MonoRaccoon dressed as a supermarket clerk with a gold name tag emblazoned on it.

"Welcome to the Roulette of Pain! The exclusive place where you can get weapons in exchange for points. How can I help you?"

"Points? Weapons? What the hell is this?"

Ethan asked, disgusted.

But MonoRaccoon just wagged his tail excitedly and hopped over to the counter.

"It's simple! If you want to score points, you can choose the difficulty level of the roulette wheel. All participants get one free try."

"Hmm… let's say I want to score points. How do I do that?"

"You have to choose the difficulty level! It's Easy, Intermediate, and Hard!"

"Ah… easy. Now what?"

Ethan felt his MonoDroid vibrate and received a notification. Apparently, the system had installed an app called "Wheel of Pain." When he opened it, a green roulette wheel appeared with different ways to hurt himself.

One of them was eating junk food until he vomited; another involved slapping himself. All of them were "mild" ways he could inflict pain on himself.

"This is actually a big clue." Ethan began to understand the rules of the game. "If someone has bought a weapon... then we'll see it reflected in the number of wounds their body shows."

"If they even buy a weapon from here in the first place. What weapons are available here anyway?"

Sherry asked curiously, wanting to know what possible methods of assassination someone might use.

"You can find that in the app installed on your devices! You can check."

"Hmm..."

Mia pulled out her MonoDroid and saw that there were, indeed, some weapons available, but most of them were too expensive and would mean enduring a great deal of pain.

"Two bottles of cyanide, a pistol... immunity... wow, that sounds like a good weapon."

"Cyanide... oh no... It's a highly dangerous compound! Someone could die in a matter of minutes... depending on how much they ingested. I wonder... I wonder if this..."

"It wouldn't be impossible for me to believe that someone would endure so much pain just to have an effective weapon to kill with. You can kill someone with cyanide and hide the bottle, right? After all... this place is big."

"Don't give me any ideas, Ethan. This place is giving me a really bad feeling. Can we go now?"

"Sure, Mia. Are you coming, Sherry?"

"Of course! This place is disgusting anyway. So... let's go."

It seemed things were only going to get worse.

Chapter 102: Letters of Love and Desolation

"My name is Chris Redfield. I got a notebook and pen from the supermarket in exchange for points; these points were earned by voluntarily participating in some pain tests. Right now, my back hurts! And I'm still having some trouble walking because one of those falls was brutal, but I know I have to start documenting everything before it's too late.

I'm a man "without a past," if I can even describe my situation that way. I have some unclear memories about myself, including where I was born and the relationship I had with one of the participants in this game. Her name was Claire, Claire Redfield. She claimed to be my sister, she said she would do everything possible to reestablish our bond even though I didn't remember her.

But... she was killed.

A young woman, or rather, a gentleman named Alexia Ashford murdered her, and with that, she severed any chance I might have had of reconnecting with my so called sister and my past. That's why I'm now in this limbo. I don't know who I am, I don't know where I'm going, and above all… I have no idea of ​​the sins I carry because I've lost so many years of my life, devoured by the gloom of uncertainty.

There's a man, one who has been getting closer to me these last few days… and his name is Albert Wesker. And just like me, he suffers from a very serious form of amnesia. From what little I know, amnesia can be interpreted as a response to severe trauma that has caused the irreparable and irreversible loss of memory, or as a response to an event so devastating that the mind's only defense mechanism is to eliminate the event causing that great distress in order to avoid further suffering.

In both cases… what caused this condition? Why can't we remember certain events in our lives? That… that I don't know, and it's something that genuinely frightens me. Perhaps I should give myself a good whack to recover what I've lost. Did it steal me away? Anything to regain my lucidity.

And Jill... Jill was another participant in this place. She offered to help me, she told me everything would be alright if we worked together, but... she betrayed me. She tried to end someone else's life, she tried to take my life, and in the process, she was killed. Isn't karma cruel? Or perhaps fair. I'm not one to judge. I'm not at peace with her death because, just like with Claire, it means I don't have access to those answers, answers that have kept me awake at night.

It's been a few days since all this began, to be precise... a week. Yesterday was the last trial, and I'm not sure if we can trust the date this stupid device between us tells us. I write as a way to cope with this reality that gnaws at me, that burrows into my head and leaves a mess, almost as if someone inserted a drill inside me and started it at full speed.

I hope the time spent in this place will help me find what I'm searching for, or else... I have no idea what will become of me."

Chapter 103: Ballroom

"So, Donna... how did you become the Ultimate Dollmaker?"

Chris asked as he and Donna strolled through the Ballroom hallways. Donna carried her doll like it was her own daughter.

"It was by... chance." The doll replied, her tone a mix of melancholy and appreciation. "My father... he made dolls, beautiful dolls, each one telling a story. They were all my friends, and as I grew up, we became like family."

"Really? How old were you when you started helping him? I take it was out of curiosity, huh?"

"It was more than just curiosity! It was a calling. I started making my own dolls from the scraps my father left over from his previous projects. They all had personalities, and at one point, without me even realizing it, people were asking for the unfinished dolls I used to leave in my dad's studio. There... he saw it as an opportunity."

"You started your business at a young age? Wow! I bet your father knows a lot."

"Knew," Donna immediately corrected. "Sorry, he knows. It's just... I haven't seen him in a while."

Chris found it curious how Donna's behavior changed, and decided to let it go; after all, he wasn't in a position to judge or inquire about other people's private lives.

"You should make me a doll. I'm sure I'd love it. Maybe one made in my own image?"

Chris's comment made Donna lower her head and try to look away. He wasn't aware that beneath her veil, a red blush was spreading across her face.

"Oh! A doll... Inspired by you? I don't know if I could... I've never..."

"It doesn't have to be right now. What's more... when we get out of here, we can go to your workshop. What do you think about it? And I'll talk to your father about how brave you were."

"I don't think so... I don't know... I don't know if that's... possible... you see-"

"There's no rush. First things first, getting out of here, then we'll worry about what comes next. Thank you for putting up with me, Donna. I may seem... intense, but I'm just someone who can't help but worry, you know?"

"Thank you... Chris..." Donna hugged her doll and let out what sounded like a barely audible giggle. "Getting out of here..."

The affinity between them grew considerably.

Chapter 104: Gym

"Looks like you haven't wasted any time, huh? Again."

Albert Wesker commented sarcastically upon seeing George Hamilton completely drenched in sweat, exercising on a stationary bike.

"Well, I consider that a good thing. After all, a healthcare professional should live up to their profession."

Cindy Lennox was giving George water, which he was sipping from a purple bottle.

"And there you go... defending him."

"I could defend you too, if you knew how to treat me."

Cindy and Albert's comments held no interest for George, who remained focused on his routine.

"And with that attitude, you're the Ultimate Waitress? Interesting Expect a one star review."

"We also reserve the right to refuse service to customers we don't like, so don't expect my service, or that of anyone that comes with you."

"What if George is with me?"

Albert clapped back in a mocking tone. 

"Impossible. He has another table reserved, in the best section."

"Are you even listening to her, George? She refuses to serve me even though her damn talent is literally serving others."

George remained silent, still oblivious to their argument.

Both Cindy and Albert noticed Leon enter the gym, looking none too pleased.

"I wonder how he's going to get through all this on his own. Homeland Security Agent... it must be a tough job."

Cindy spoke quietly as she watched Leon put on headphones and begin his workout.

"Now I understand why he's acting like a jerk," Albert said with disgust. "I can't imagine what it must be like for him to see his colleagues and friends die... Imagine this, you're the number one target of who knows how many organizations that want your head, you don't have time to find love, to build a relationship because that boat has sailed"

"And his deductive reasoning... I'm surprised it's thanks to him that we have a way to move forward with the trials. If it weren't for his intervention with Alexia or the fact that we resolved the issue of the warnings with Karl and Jill first... I wonder..."

Cindy looked at Leon with intrigue, who seemed indifferent to the obvious fact that they were talking about him.

"Will that be enough for him to be a murderer?" Albert answered immediately, something that made Cindy shudder. "It could be. After all, if we follow the logic he wants us to follow, then we'd be falling into his trap."

"And I know that he and Saddler don't get along. Leon is an atheist and has openly said that Saddler's Talent shouldn't even be considered one. Even so... that doesn't give him a reason to behave like an idiot." Cindy said in a lower tone of voice. "This pairing thing makes me nervous. If someone is murdered, then there will be two victims... this can't be happening."

"Well, it's happening. As long as we stick together, nothing bad will happen. Now... we just have to focus on surviving."

"But how? Yesterday was the last trial, and as far as I understand, we're on day two. If no one dies tomorrow..."

"Someone will die, don't worry about that. After we finish this shit with George, let's go to the dining hall; I'm hungry."

"Mmm... sure."

Chapter 105: Let's Party!

On the night of the second day, the survivors gathered in the dining hall because MonoRaccoon had implemented another incentive to ensure the murder would take place. Sometime in the afternoon, everyone received an invitation via the group chat requesting that they dress in formal attire and attend the dinner celebrating their victory in the last trial. They were also shown a list of assigned duties, which had been given to them without any prior consultation.

"It's not like we want to do this shit or not. The son of a bitch even designated some places, and they're all already taken."

Leon glared at his device, realizing he was being forced to socialize.

"Let's see... we have the following duties, and it seems they've already been assigned to specific people."

Cindy carefully read the list aloud. 

---

Cook - Mia Winters

Beverage Mixer - Alcina Dimitrescu

Waitress - Cindy Lennox

Security Guard Wing 1 - Chris Redfield

Security Guard Wing 2 - Leon Kennedy

Bartender - Albert Wesker

Decorators - Donna Beneviento, George Hamilton, and Sherry Birkin

Table Arranger - Osmund Saddler.

Cleaners - Brad Vickers and Ethan Winters

---

"Oh! I'm the cook. I'll make you one of my stews! I'll have a lot of work to do then..."

"Beverage mix... To reduce my talent to the mere act of 'drinks' is an insult! But still, rest assured I'll deliver the highest quality. An experience in every sip."

"Well, in my case, the Waitress position suits me perfectly. I can carry ten plates of food at the same time, and my record is twenty mugs of beer to the same table.

"Don't you realize what's going on here?" Leon interrupted the apparent excitement of the moment. "They're giving us all weapons to kill someone with. You don't have to be a genius to realize that each of these positions has been assigned to fulfill a purpose as killers."

"Leon might be right." Chris agreed with the blond for the first time. "Maybe some of you don't know it... but this meal is just a trick. Yesterday I went to the store... and they sell two vials of cyanide, or well... they used to sell them."

"They used to sell them?" George looked at him with intrigue. "What do you mean by they used to sell them, Chris?"

"You heard me, they used to sell two vials... but now there's only one for sale."

"Oh, shit..." The color drained from Albert's face in an instant. "We're screwed then."

"Maybe if we all get naked... we might have a chance! To score points you need to be subjected to injuries, to beatings... if someone shows enough wounds on their body..."

"What nonsense are you spouting, Chris? Get naked? I refuse." Alcina exclaimed with utter disgust. "How humiliating!"

"But maybe that would be a suitable way to find out who's carrying the cyanide! That way—"

Albert tried to support Chris's idea, but Saddler immediately interrupted him.

"I think these are extreme measures, Mr. Wesker. After all, we have two excellent guards who will give us a thorough search upon entry, right? Besides, they should make sure there are no suspicious objects in the vicinity." Saddler interjected with noticeable calm. "Or are you or Mr. Kennedy carrying the cyanide? No one would suspect security, would they?"

"No matter how hard we try to avoid this, the event is mandatory, and anyone who refuses to attend will be executed. So... we can only take precautions, I don't know, carefully check that each dish hasn't been tampered with and that the drinks haven't been poisoned. Right now, we should be keeping an eye on Cindy, Mia, and Alcina."

"So quick to throw accusations, Leon?"

Mia exclaimed angrily.

"What's your problem?" You, as security, can slip things in us or do something, I don't know... But it's not fair that you doubt us!"

Cindy tried to defend herself.

"Clearly, Mr. Kennedy here wants to deflect all suspicion from him. Did you buy the cyanide, Leon?"

"Three against one? Talk about maturity."

"We gain nothing by arguing, and no, Mr. Redfield, no one will be getting naked here. This conversation is stupid, and we'll only delay the inevitable. The dinner will happen tomorrow; we've already received the invitation, our respective places. We can't do anything about it."

Saddler looked aggressive, so much so that his face turned reddish due to his obvious anger.

"So we're going to take lightly the fact that someone will die tomorrow? Come on, we haven't recovered from the last trial."

Albert Wesker tried to reason with the other members.

"Someone is going to die anyway! Some of us have already accepted it."

Alcina got up from her seat and left. Shortly after, the rest of the survivors left, except for Mia, who was clutching her stomach in pain, Cindy, Ethan, Chris, Donna, and Wesker.

"Can you believe this fucking bitch?" Mia complained. "Perfect example of how the bigger you get, the more of an idiot you become. I wish she had the same size brain as her ass!"

"Mia! Don't get so worked up... the baby..."

"Let her complain, Ethan! She has every right in the world to complain about that bitch and The Ultimate Jerk. As if praying will get us out of this situation. Fuck them all."

"I detect trouble? Maybe one of them is carrying the cyanide!"

Donna's doll exclaimed in a mocking tone.

"For once, I agree with this porcelain monstrosity! Surely one of them has the damn cyanide and they're planning to use it. There's a reason they refused inspection; that way we would know who bought it."

"But we're still facing a very obvious problem." Chris joined the conversation. "I asked MonoRaccoon if you could share points... to reach the goal, and it was possible. Besides, nothing guarantees that whoever has wounds on their body is the owner of that bottle of cyanide."

"What do you mean?"

Ethan showed clear signs of concern.

"That someone could give the cyanide to another person... let's say, as a personal sacrifice. This makes us suspicious of the couples that have formed here... like Cindy and George or... even... Alcina and Saddler."

"That's what I fear, Wesker. Even a couple could work together to divide points, although this is counterproductive because only one can graduate... but still, it's within the realm of possibility."

Chris shared his feelings with Albert and, for the first time, felt reassured that someone validated them.

"Tomorrow, everything will come out. Let's try to keep our eyes wide open, and if it's within our power... let's eat before the food even arrives, so we don't eat anything during the party. Damn it..."

Albert could only sigh, a clear sign of exhaustion.

Chapter 106: Gentlemen's Night

"I remember using one of these the day that bitch and I said "I do".

George looked at himself in the full-length mirror installed in the boys' room. The big day of the dinner had arrived.

"How did she ever decide to marry someone like you in the first place?"

Albert commented bitterly, knowing a bit about Hamilton's background.

"And how are your memories, Albert? Because you could very well be in a worse situation than mine."

George wasn't going to back down, and considering they were attacking each other where it hurt the most, he had no problem making things personal.

"Asshole."

"Come on, guys, don't fight. As far as we know, this would be our last meal... you know... today's the deadline for committing murder."

Brad answered after finishing putting on his blue socks, which would contrast with his orange suit.

"Brad's right. We can act like fucking animals when we're safe. It's been three days, and none of us are in a position to do this shit. So, if you have something to say to each other, do it later."

Ethan, meanwhile, was wearing a gold suit that was stored in a suitcase with his full name on it, on a bed he later used to sleep on.

"Does anyone know where the fuck is Saddler? We were all supposed to change together, we agreed to do so this morning."

Albert, still naked, was desperately searching for the rest of his underwear.

"The idiot doesn't realize that if he gets killed, I'm the one who gets screwed too," Leon said with noticeable anger as he finished buttoning his blue shirt. "I hope the idiot knows what the fuck he's doing and nobody catches him out there alone. That would mean trouble for me."

"Well, it's not like the women also agreed that no one would leave their room while changing. If someone kills him, we just ask them who left... and that's it, case closed."

Brad commented in a mocking tone, but Leon didn't take it that way.

"Very funny, asshole. Now give me my pants, they're right behind you. Couldn't they have chosen a smaller size?"

"Well, I'm not complaining. Although I wish the pants didn't make my ass stand out so much."

Ethan glanced behind him in the full-length mirror.

"Are you ready, gentlemen?" Osmund Saddler's voice was heard shortly after he opened the door and entered, wearing a purple suit that accentuated his gentlemanly features. "I hope we have an unforgettable evening!"

"Wow, you look like those rich sons of bitches in mafia movies and that kind of crap. You look good."

Brad complimented Saddler's commanding presence; he even smelled of cologne, and expensive cologne at that.

"Can you help me with this damn vest, Ethan? My arms are so big I can't reach my back!"

Chris turned his back to Winters, who carefully helped Chris into his green vest.

After a while, all the men were ready to present themselves in the great hall, all except George.

"Oh, shit... I think you're going to have to wait for me. I literally forgot my insulin shots."

"Insulin shots?" Brad asked, concerned. "You have diabetes?"

"Yes. You can even ask Mia or Ethan if you don't trust Cindy. If it weren't for Mia's shots, I would have died on the last floor. Luckily, MonoRaccoon left some insulin in my locker."

"Do you want us to come with you?" Chris asked anxiously. "We could go as a group."

"As a group? No, don't worry. I can watch my back, and besides, I won't be long. You can go on without me."

George left the room, carrying his gym bag, while the other men seemed suspicious. 

"Is George diabetic, Ethan?"

Albert asked out of curiosity. 

"Yeah, the bastard showed us some records and even told Mia how to prepare his injections. During the three days we were with him, he injected himself with insulin every single day, right in front of Mia or me."

"Wow, you might be right. It's the first time we're going to see him actually eat..."

Meanwhile, the group left, ready to go.

Chapter 107: The Purity of a Flower

"Are you ready yet, dear Sherry?"

Alcina asked Birkin, who was getting dressed inside a custom-made dressing room the women had set up using sheets.

"Just a moment, Alcina!"

Sherry replied from the other side, with relative excitement.

"But what a beautiful cocktail dress, Cindy!"

Mia complimented the waitress, who was finishing putting on red heels as part of her outfit.

"Thanks, Mia! You should see how many events we used to host at the bar. Since we were known all over town, it wasn't surprising that celebrities were there—you know, we even served Katherine Warren, the mayor's daughter."

"I've never heard of her, but I'm glad. And I'm also glad my dress is belly-friendly! I thought it would be hell, but I'm sure my baby and I will have a smooth evening."

"That is, if you leave out the part where if no one kills, we'll all die. This dinner... is our last chance to survive."

Alcina replied with obvious concern.

"We can't prevent the next murder. Death feels so close! Which of us will be next?"

Donna's doll, who, by the way, had acquired a new white dress, asked with intrigue. Donna, for her part, had acquired a new black dress, a flowing gown, and a red veil.

"Before, there were sixteen of us... and now there are only twelve. This... this doesn't bode well. How awful. But it's within our power to prevent it! If Mia, Alcina, and I do things right, no one will have to die because of the food. We are responsible for keeping everything in order."

"The question isn't just how someone will die... but who. Remember not to eat anything, Mia, and just in case... refrain from eating whatever we're serving at the table, Sherry. We're dealing with cyanide, so someone will definitely die by ingestion."

Alcina looked particularly worried, so much so that even her perfectly applied makeup couldn't hide it. Her red lips symbolized a mother's inherent burning desire to protect.

"Luckily, we've been put in charge of the food and drinks, so we'll have to restrict access to the kitchen," Cindy commented cautiously. "Maybe we can trust each other... but I'm not entirely sure about the others. They don't inspire confidence."

"Me neither. That guy, Albert... How could they pair you with him? So controlling and rude. Let's hope this dinner isn't our last."

After Alcina's comment, little Sherry emerged from the makeshift dressing room wearing a small, ruffled blue and white ball gown.

"They certainly didn't make a mistake with the color scheme! It contrasts beautifully with your eyes, Sherry. Are you ready?"

Alcina said as she knelt and placed a golden tiara on Sherry's head.

"I'm ready, Alcina!"

That smile and the hope her presence brought made it feel like everything would be alright.

That everything would be alright.

Chapter 108: Third Body Discovery

The twelve participants had arrived at the ballroom. As planned, Leon and Chris lined everyone up for a security check, ensuring no one was carrying dangerous objects or, in the unlikely event, the cyanide Chris had warned about. As everyone passed through, they began their respective tasks, with Alcina, Cindy, and Mia heading to the kitchen to prepare the appetizers.

---

"We definitely outdid ourselves with the decorations," George exclaimed proudly. "We found a ton of stuff in a storage room MonoRaccoon opened for us. It definitely feels like a cozy place."

"That is, if you ignore the fact that if no one dies today, we're all BAM, like Karl," Chris replied fearfully. "Damn... and just thinking about someone carrying cyanide... I don't feel safe eating."

"Are you afraid Mia or Cindy might have it?" Albert asked, trying to scare Chris. "Because you should be afraid. They have the best place to put that crap in the food."

"Or in the drinks..." Brad interrupted. "That reminds me of how people used to kill themselves by poisoning each other's food."

"There you go, making comments... screw you, Brad."

Albert just smiled.

---

Meanwhile, Alcina was helping Mia blend some tomatoes and chilies in a couple of blenders while Cindy grilled the meat in four different pans to speed things up.

"Would you like me to help you with anything, Alcina?"

Sherry asked, having sat down at one of the dining room counters.

"It would help us a lot if you stay seated where we can see you, Sherry dear! You're not putting yourself in danger and that's enough help for us!"

Alcina replied, giving Birkin a big smile. The girl nodded and chose to remain seated near the counter.

---

"How are you feeling, Donna? You must be a little nervous, huh?"

Chris asked the Dollmaker, who was stroking the hair of the doll resting in her lap.

"The air smells of danger, Chris... someone will die tonight, I can feel it."

"Just don't leave, okay? No one can kill while everyone's looking. Don't leave Angie either, because if something bad happens to her..."

"It'll happen to me. I know, thanks, Chris. Don't leave... either. Please... don't..." 

"I'm not going anywhere. I sat next to you for a reason."

Donna lowered her head sadly, contemplating the possibility of facing this feeling that had returned.

---

As the twenty minutes passed, Cindy began serving the plates containing Mia's stew. She also brought glasses of wine to the table, specially prepared by Alcina. Using her expertise, Dimitrescu had found a way to enhance the flavors of some wines she had selected, which she didn't hesitate to use to complement the taste of Mia's dish.

"A classic combination of wine and red meat..."

Alcina smiled to herself as she carefully poured the wine into a glass, which Cindy collected as it was the last one.

---

As Cindy walked along with a total of five perfectly arranged glasses, she hadn't counted on Brad Vickers suddenly getting up from his seat, just as Cindy was walking behind him. This caused her to stumble and spill the wine all over Vickers's orange suit, leaving him soaked and reeking of alcohol.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!"

Cindy tried to blot the wine off Brad's shirt with napkins, but it only made the situation more awkward.

"Oh, crap! Don't worry, Cindy! Damn... and I really loved the vest..."

"Sorry, Brad! I didn't mean to! It was all an-"

"Don't worry, relax! I'm going to have to change. Stay here, okay? Oh, crap... I need to find something to clean this up with, after all, I AM one of the cleaners."

Brad stormed out of the lounge after the embarrassing incident. Both Leon and Chris watched him to make sure he actually headed for the steps leading to the gym area, which was connected to the showers.

"So... Ultimate Waitress?" Albert let out a mocking laugh. "Is ruining your customers' suits part of the talent?"

"It's not the right time for jokes, Albert! Brad just stood up out of nowhere! Ugh... You're insufferable!"

---

"Trouble in paradise? Figures. I have to leave."

Saddler sighed and struggled to his feet, catching Ethan's attention.

"Are you alright, man?"

"I feel perfectly fine! But... it must be my age. I'm not in my prime anymore. Events like these tire me out. If you'll excuse me... I'm going to take a short break. You can call me when dinner is served, Mr. Winters."

"Take care, Saddler. Don't you want me to walk you?"

"No, Mr. Winters, thank you. You should be keeping an eye on your wife, rather than me, a sad, useless good for nothing old man.Meanwhile, I'll take this treat. Miss Dimitrescu prepared it for me.

Saddler said, taking his glass of wine. Osmund stood up, heading confidently toward the exit, inspected by Leon, who made sure he wasn't carrying anything dangerous. Saddler disappeared shortly after entering the men's dormitories.

---

"Looks like everything's going according to plan." Chris had gotten up from his seat to talk to Leon, who seemed indifferent. "Don't you think so?"

"Hmm... I don't know. What the hell happened with Cindy and Brad anyway?"

"She spilled wine on him. Damn thing ruined his suit; he reeked of alcohol too."

"Unbelievable..."

"Excuse me, I have to go. I need to start my routine before I go to sleep." George interrupted Chris and Leon, who looked at him confused. "What? I don't want to be here, and besides, I don't feel like eating anything they're serving. I already ate a few hours ago."

"You know the situation, George. If you go out, your partner could die. Ethan could die if something bad happens to you."

Leon tried to be reasonable.

"And since when do you care about that, asshole? Saddler's out there and something bad could happen to him, but I don't see you neglecting your duties. You're not some altruistic bastard, just a selfish opportunist piece of shit."

"It's your funeral then, idiot. I'm just trying to do the right thing."

Leon let George, who was offended, go first.

"Do the right thing staying out of my way, asshole."

George disappeared up the steps to the second floor, leaving Leon with nothing but a tired sigh.

"I'm just trying to do my best! But these people... God, they seem to love putting themselves in danger, huh?"

Leon looked worried at Chris who just smiled because of how embarassing the situation was.

"Chill, Leon, I understand you're upset because something bad could happen to your partner, but... you're doing a phenomenal job."

"I've already let three idiots out, and I'm almost certain at least one of them is going to die, I swear."

"Well, that won't be your fault then."

"That's easy to say!"

---

Half an hour had passed since George left the ballroom. By then, some of the participants, like Ethan and even Chris, were eating in relative calm, cautiously sipping from their glasses, even sniffing them to try and detect anything unusual.

"Oh, for heaven's sake! I didn't put anything in your drinks! How can you disrespect me like that?"

Alcina exclaimed, offended, taking her glass of wine and drinking in front of everyone.

"It's just a precaution, Alcina. You know something bad could happen to us."

Chris replied with calm. 

Soon, everyone's MonoDroids started beeping. MonoRaccoon had instituted a rule requiring ALL participants to eat the food prepared by Mia and Alcina, so it was time to face the music.

"Oh, shit..." Albert exclaimed after finishing reading the message. "Something about this doesn't feel right..."

"You think you're the only one?" Ethan exclaimed, alarmed. "Mia... you better not take your eyes off that damn plate in front of you."

"Don't worry, I didn't leave it vulnerable. You can rest assured that I asked Cindy not to carry our plates, that I would do them myself. What you're eating is safe. I made it myself for you."

"Thanks, you know I worry a lot..."

And so, one by one, the participants began to eat, some fearfully, some indifferently. Leon was forced to leave his guard post to take a seat at the large table to cut a piece of meat and taste the wine, chewing with extreme care. 

Then, from the hallways, emerged Brad Vickers, his hair wet and shirtless, with a towel rolled up behind his neck, wearing sweatpants and flip-flops.

"Did you also get the message? Eat, forced to eat something that probably has cyanide in it."

"Congratulations, princess, now eat it and shut the fuck up."

Leon exclaimed contemptuously.

"Am I late for the party?"

George Hamilton asked, sweating and wearing the same athletic suit he'd been using during his workouts.

"George! I made this dish just for you! I kept an eye on it next to mine. It's safe, no one went near it."

Cindy extended a plate of food just for George and a glass of wine for him.

"Thanks! I already injected my shit before eating all this sugar bomb!"

"Oh... oh no... ah... dear God, please no... not like this..." Mia started feeling sick, so much so that she carefully got up from her seat. "Oh, damn it..."

"Mia? Are you okay?"

Ethan was worried and helped her up.

"I peed myself... oh, crap, I fucking peed myself... Cindy? Do you think you could come with me to the showers?"

Mia exclaimed with difficulty as her stomach began to hurt.

"Don't you want me to come with you, honey?"

"It's not like you can just come into the women's showers. I can't afford for anything bad to happen to you. Stay here. After all, George is your partner, and you can't put him in danger."

"Oh, Mia! Of course, we'll take you. Albert! Do you think you could come with Mia and me to the showers? She... had an accident."

Albert stood up, concerned, and without objecting, nodded once he heard the reason for the emergency.

"I'll be back, love, just stay here. I'm going to shower, change my clothes, and I'll be good as new. I was afraid this shit would happen to me; the gynecologist warned me..."

"If anything happens, just tell me, okay? Text, shout, anything..."

"Don't worry, honey, I'll be fine, okay? Relax, realx, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."

Mia responded to Ethan by kissing him on the cheek, which reassured him, for the moment.

"I can't leave my duties, but I'll keep an eye on you from here, so nothing suspicious happens in the hallways, okay?"

Leon offered to watch them shortly after he ate some of the food that was offered to him, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"How kind of you, Leon! Thank you. Come on, I need to take this dress off... Could you come with me to take a shower, Cindy? This is embarrassing..."

"Oh, Mia, don't worry, it's girl stuff. Alcina? Do you think you could keep an eye on the food and drinks? Make sure no one goes near them."

"Sure! You all go ahead. I'll make sure none of these monkeys get near the food and do anything to it."

Alcina got up from her seat and stood guard at the kitchen entrance to prevent anyone from entering.

---

The trio of Albert, Cindy, and Mia made their way to the second floor where the gym, sauna, and showers were located. As they walked, Cindy noticed a peculiar aroma.

"Hmm... it smells interesting. Don't you think so? It seems the smell of the meat made it all the way up here, talking about a terrible ventilation system..."

Cindy tried to joke.

"It certainly smells... curious. But... the smell of meat... you didn't do anything smoky, did you? I may not have memories of my past life, but I can tell the difference between a well-done steak and... this."

Cindy and Albert exchanged a suspicious glance, as they didn't like that the smell intensified as they walked through the sauna.

"Oh, crap... Stay here, Mia... Don't leave her side, Cindy!"

"Huh? What's wrong? And that smell... uh... it's making me feel sick... Why does it smell like smoked meat?"

---

Sometimes, it's said that the nature of tragedy lies in how hard you can laugh at it.

Tragedy is, essentially, an inherent part of life.

There is no life without tragedy.

Tragedy is the constant engine, the gear of life that allows human beings to understand their reason for being.

Albert Wesker discovered that meaning when he gently opened the door and the smell disgusted him.

When Cindy Lennox realized something was wrong, she understood why Albert let out such a loud gag, the kind that vomiting was inevitable.

She covered her mouth, and because she misstepped, she ended up on the floor, stunned.

Mia, who didn't understand the pair's expressions, with a terrible premonition, as if with each step she were sealing her fate, mustered the courage to push through and see what lay inside.

The corpse of Osmund Saddler, enveloped by the steamy heat of the sauna, lay on the floor, burning hot, his reddish skin serving as a base for the bubbles forming on the surface.

---

"THREE INNOCENTS HAVE FOUND A BODY! AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, THE SCHOOL TRIAL WILL BEGIN!"

---

SURVIVING ULTIMATES

Mia Winters - Ultimate Researcher

Ethan Winters - Ultimate Systems Engineer

Chris Redfield - Ultimate Soldier

Albert Wesker - Ultimate ???

Alcina Dimitrescu - Ultimate Oenologist

Donna Beneviento - Ultimate Dollmaker

Sherry Birkin - Ultimate Virologist

Cindy Lennox - Ultimate Waitress

Leon Kennedy - Ultimate Homeland Security Agent

Brad Vickers - Ultimate Pilot

George Hamilton - Ultimate Surgeon

---

DECEASED ULTIMATES

Claire Redfield - Ultimate Biker

Alexia Ashford - Ultimate Sniper

Karl Heisenberg - Ultimate Inventor

Jill Valentine - Ultimate Cop

Osmund Saddler - Ultimate Priest

Chapter 109: An Act of Faith - Investigation - Part I

"Alcina will go CRAZY!"

Albert tried to avoid watching the scene any longer. When he When he tried to enter the sauna, he found it unbearably hot; even standing by the door, he began to sweat from the emanating heat.

"No! The smell! The smell is too much!"

Mia vomited on the floor, unable to bear the scene.

"They killed him like an animal!"

Cindy was crying on the floor, refusing to look at the corpse.

---

"SADDLER IS DEAD! EVERYONE COME TO THE SAUNA!"

---

Albert Wesker typed using his MonoDroid. After a few seconds, the hurried footsteps of everyone could be heard ascending the stairs to the second floor. Dress shoes and high heels marching in unison toward the same end.

"WHERE IS HE?" Alcina Dimitrescu exclaimed in shock, pushing Chris, who tried to calm her down. "GET OFF ME, YOU IDIOT! WHERE THE HELL IS HE?"

"You can't go in!" Albert warned. "It's too hot! I tried to go in, but I got burned!"

Alcina could only watch in horror as Saddler's body lay inside the sauna, on the floor, with no way to stop the humiliation of the corpse who once understood the hell where she came from.

George Hamilton was one of the few who saw the body and was visibly disturbed; something about it made him extremely anxious.

"The towel shouldn't... Damn it...  he's not supposed to..."

The surgeon exclaimed with a certain fear, unaware that Chris Redfield heard him loud and clear.

---

"Bullet of Truth - George's Words

George paid unusual attention to the towel the victim had on his head, which caused him great astonishment."

---

"Which of you two fucking apes killed him?" Alcina immediately looked at George and Brad, who stood out because their clothes had been changed and both showed signs of dampness upon entering the ballroom. "Bastards! One of you killed him! Killed him like a pig!"

"In these cases, we ask questions first and tear things apart later! Calm down, Alcina!"

Leon tried to prevent the wine expert from doing anything reckless by entering the sauna and risking burns. For this reason, Chris ordered MonoRaccoon to assist in reducing the heat levels inside the sauna. The Director complied, and something similar to an engine could be heard inside where Saddler lay.

"Whoever did this is a monster!"

Cindy tried to look away from the sauna, as she didn't want to be exposed to that image any longer.

"Well then, there's no time to lose! We'll split up and investigate the other locations. George, Leon, and I will stay behind to guard the body in case some idiot gets the brilliant idea to try and lead us astray. Someone go to the ballroom and check the food and drinks to make sure they're not full of weird stuff."

"Because it's not a party without some free killing, right? I'll check the gym. Anyone who wants to can come."

Albert could only comment on the audacity of the situation.

Things can always get worse.

Chapter 110: An Act of Faith - Investigation - Part II

After a while, MonoRaccoon informed the survivors that it was possible to enter the sauna after an emergency cooling-off. However, because the area was still hot and the steam made wearing clothes uncomfortable, George had no choice but to start undressing until he was down to his underwear and wearing flip-flops that covered his feet.

"This is uncomfortable, but death doesn't care about such trivial matters as shame," said George, who finished taking off his socks and proceeded to put on his sandals. "Yeah, that's more like it."

"You lose your sense of shame when the awareness of death comes into conflict. I understand, I really do!"

Chris admitted to sharing the sentiment as he removed his pants, the last garment he needed to join George.

"Let's try to thoroughly investigate the sauna. The killer might have left evidence that will help us find them. Damn it... I knew I shouldn't have let Saddler go up to the second floor alone..."

Leon groaned, unbuckling his belt and leaving his pants folded on a chair.

"Saddler went up to the second floor? When? Was it when he left the party?"

Chris asked uncertainly.

"No... when Saddler retired, he went straight to the Men's Dormitories. There was another moment when he left there and headed here. I saw him go up the stairs to the second floor, but... he never came back down, not even to try the food when MonoRaccoon forced us to eat."

"Because he was already dead..." Chris guessed. "He died here... and you probably saw him before he died. Did you happen to see him carrying anything? Acting strange..."

"Hmm... I think so. Saddler... he was carrying his wine glass, I have a slight feeling he might have... you know, with what you mentioned about the cyanide..."

"We'd have to determine if Saddler wasn't executed for disobeying MonoRaccoon's request or... in the worst-case scenario... that he either killed himself or that you killed him."

"Oh, you think you're clever, don't you, Chris?" Leon smiled for the first time, feeling flattered by the suggestion. "Ha... me, a murderer... well, you should consider all the possibilities."

"I will, don't worry."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Leon's First Testimony.

Saddler headed to the Male Dormitories after leaving the ball room, but some time later he came out and went to the second floor where the gym, sauna, and showers are located."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Leon's Second Testimony.

Saddler was carrying his wine glass while he was leaving the ball room. I wonder if he died for disobeying MonoRaccoon's request or... Is there another reason why he died and that is connected with the wine glass?"

---

"Also... when you have time, maybe we could pay Brad and George a visit. You know they both stand out for something in particular, and if you tell me what it is, I might consider not killing you for the next case."

Leon's question lingered in Chris' mind until he remembered something that had caught his attention about the pair who arrived shortly after: how they were dressed.

"Ah... now that you mention it... we all wore suits, but George and Brad... they came back in different clothes. George was wearing a white tracksuit; you could even see he was sweating on his chest and armpits. And Brad... Brad had sweatpants, sandals, and... no shirt, but he had that towel behind him because he was wet."

"Bingo. These idiots definitely have something to do with this, but be subtle. Don't interrogate them by accusing them of this; look for flaws in their story."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad and George's Clothes.

After MonoRaccoon's announcement for everyone to get together for lunch, Brad and George weren't wearing their formal attire. Brad was wet and shirtless; he had sweatpants and flip-flops. George, on the other hand, was wearing a white tracksuit; you could see sweat stains on his chest and armpits."

---

"We'll talk to them after George's autopsy. Are you coming?"

"You don't even have to ask, Chris. I'm following you from here to the end of the world."

Leon and Chris entered the sauna, feeling the stifling embrace of the heat as they went deeper and deeper.

Saddler must have suffered a lot.

Chapter 111: An Act of Faith - Investigation - Part III

"What the hell happened here?"

Chris had looked at the body more closely, noticing that the smell of smoky meat was coming from Saddler himself, who by then had become bloated.

"This must be a result of the sauna itself. Someone must have turned up the temperature so much that the steam boiled him. There's no difference between putting a chicken and Saddler in an oven. And because of this... I have to say that it will be difficult for me to estimate a time of death, and without the necessary tools, I can't determine exactly what took his life."

George was skeptical about the possibility of finding a definitive answer, but Chris just shook his head, as if he found hard to believe that George doubted his own abilities.

"Come on, you're the Ultimate Surgeon, bodies speak to you, living or dead. Imagine Saddler is a man who was shot, stabbed, and if you like, poisoned all at the same time, and he went into the operating room to die. He wasn't killed by you cutting him open, but by any of the three previous options, and maybe a fourth and fifth too. Do your fucking job and stop bitching about it."

Chris's aggression made George swallow hard, and without objecting, he took a pair of scissors from his briefcase.

"Okay, I need your help, Chris. As you can see, Saddler is wrapped in a couple of blankets, so the heat made them stick to his body. We'll try to open the blankets, and after removing his clothes, okay? That way we'll have something to start with."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Body Covered by blankets.

Saddler's body was covered by two blankets that clung to him, causing a greater concentration of heat."

---

"Sounds good to me. Leon? Can you give us a hand?"

"Okay!"

And so, both Chris and Leon took hold of one end of the blankets Saddler had wrapped around his body so George could cut them with scissors. It proved to be a difficult task because the blankets were damp from the steam. At some point, George managed to cut through the blankets and proceeded to cut the Ultimate Priest's clothing. Everyone was surprised to see that he had various wounds, bruises, and scratches all over his body.

---

"Bullet of Truth - Saddler's Wounds

Saddler had numerous wounds all over his body, many of them recent and others barely healing."

---

"Hmm… this says a lot," Chris commented in a low voice, something that seemed consistent with something he had witnessed during dinner. "Ethan… Saddler had a conversation with Ethan, since he offered to help him get up after he was having trouble doing so."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Saddler's Discomfort.

Saddler had difficulty getting up from his seat, and when Ethan offered to help him, Saddler refused."

---

"That… sounds consistent," Leon agreed. "In fact, let's assume these injuries were caused by this shitty game, the pain roulette. That would explain why Saddler refused to change with us."

"Didn't he want us to see his injuries?" George guessed. "Maybe... since all the men showered together, and in fact, we were all naked inside the Men's Dormitories. We were all there, except for Saddler, both in the showers and in the dormitories."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Male Exhibition.

All the men showered together and changed in the men's dormitories. They all saw each other's naked bodies, but none of them showed any injuries or marks, except for Saddler. All men never saw Saddler naked."

---

"Exactly! Besides, Saddler had already arrived changed. We never saw him take off the clothes he was wearing, his ceremonial clothes... and we didn't see him put on the suit he's wearing right now. Could it be that he participated in MonoRaccoon's game?"

"He definitely participated, Leon. MonoRaccoon told me anyone could. But... that doesn't mean he bought the cyanide, or maybe he did, but not for himself." Chris remembered something crucial. "There weren't any specific rules regarding who could own the prizes won through the pain wheel. While Saddler could have lent his body, he could have collected points for someone else."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Pain Wheel

MonoRaccoon confirmed that people could cooperate to participate in the game, and that prizes could be shared among participants."

---

"Well, ladies, less talk and more autopsy. Some of Saddler's wounds are fresh, I'd say a couple of hours old judging by the scabs, others are more recent. If what you two are saying is true, then Saddler definitely participated in the pain wheel... but the question is... why?"

George continued with his duties.

Chapter 112: An Act of Faith - Investigation - Part IV

"Well, this is strange."

George carefully removed the towel covering Saddler's face, which, like the rest of his body, was swollen and reddish. His skin was also peeling off, causing a series of sores to form around his forehead and cheeks.

"I suspect the towel may have absorbed enough heat for his face to take on the same characteristics as the rest of his body. Also... I can smell a very strong odor of alcohol coming from his mouth."

George knelt down so close that he could smell what he suspected was the wine they had all been drinking.

---

"Bullet of Truth - George's First Testimony.

Saddler's mouth smelled quite similar to the wine served at the party. Perhaps Saddler had a drink before the MonoRaccoon announcement?"

---

"What else can you tell us? What about that bluish color on his lips? Also... his face looks kind of... purple too, doesn't it?"

"Cyanosis. It's quite common in people with oxygen deficiency. I assume something may have negatively affected his respiratory system. It could be caused by allergies, external agents like ingesting... cyanide, or by an underlying condition, like organ failure."

---

"Bullet of Truth - George's Second Testimony.

The body showed signs of cyanosis, which is oxygen deficiency in the body. Cyanide may have caused it."

---

"Furthermore... there's vomit. There are traces of vomit in Saddler's mouth, and the towel covering his face is also stained. The vomit has a reddish tint. It's definitely not blood."

"Could it be the wine? The coloring in the wine might not have digested properly."

"That would give us a very important clue regarding Saddler's death. He was already dead after leaving the party... but the question is... how did he die, and why did he end up here? Perhaps the fact that he vomited could give us a clue."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Vomit Residues.

Saddler's body shows a significant concentration of vomit residue on his mouth, face, and the towel covering his head."

---

"Before I conclude with what I found on his head... Remember when I told you that the stains on the towel weren't blood? Well, most of them aren't. It turns out that only part of the towel has those stains, the part that corresponds to his face... but when we go to the area of ​​the towel that connected to his head..."

Chris was surprised to see a large, much darker stain around the green fabric.

"That's..."

"Blood." Leon exclaimed. "Perhaps someone hit him hard enough on the head that it caused the vomiting? And if so... that would also explain the bleeding. Does he have a head wound?"

"Some savage hit him with something hard, so hard that his scalp is swollen. I estimate that something about six centimeters in diameter was used to attack him, and if my intuition is correct, he was attacked from behind."

"A knockout like Chris's... but his was lethal..."

Leon whispered softly, trying to gather his thoughts.

---

"Bullet of Truth - Head Bleeding.

The towel covering George's head shows that he bled from being struck with an object about six centimeters in diameter, and judging by the position of the wound, it appears he was attacked from behind."

---

"It was much worse... because if George didn't die instantly... it means he felt everything."

George concluded the worst upon seeing the state of the body.

Chapter 113: An Act of Faith - Investigation - Part V

"We can deduce that someone hit Saddler from behind... specifically, on the head, with a heavy object. Also... we have to consider this."

George pointed to how both Saddler's hands and feet were bound with black tape.

"Someone must have twisted the tape really tightly so he couldn't free himself. With the high temperatures in this place... I think that's all I can say for now. I'll keep investigating the body, and if I find anything else, I'll let you know."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Signs of Binding.

Saddler's hands and feet were bound with black tape, which left him immobilized."

---

Soon, Leon and Chris left to investigate the rest of the sauna.

"The guy could have been poisoned... or boiled to death. Can you see that on the wall, Chris?"

Leon pointed to a large device mounted on the wall with constantly flashing red numbers and a temperature gauge.

"Ah... this looks like... a control panel? I assume this has something to do with the temperature in this room, right?"

"That's right. If you look closely, the buttons melted due to the heat, and it seems the whole damn system burned out, because it even smells burnt. It looks like the killer used this to set the place on fire... and if I'm not mistaken, it must be someone who can afford one of these models."

"What do you mean?"

Chris looked at Leon, confused.

"These are not cheap, Chris. You can see this shit isn't something you'd typically have in your apartment or house... unless you had the resources. Tell me... do you know how to use it?"

Chris shook his head at Leon's question. He didn't know how to use the control panel. 

"See? You don't know, and neither do I. But it looks expensive, it's expensive, and, my God... someone messed with this thing to burn the fuck out of our friend Saddler."

---

"Bullet of Truth- Temperature Control Panel.

The sauna's control panel has been tampered with, and as a result, the sauna's temperature reached levels at which it was impossible to remain inside."

---

"Also... now that I'm starting to analyze this situation, I find it curious that you, George, and I have all done something odd. Have you noticed what it is? Something that also sets us apart from the others."

Chris looked at George, who was still kneeling, performing his autopsy, and then glanced at Leon's muscular body, only to see himself.

"We took off our clothes... because even though the room is accessible, we still felt hot. The killer... must have taken off his formal attire."

"Right! Which brings us to my main suspicion: Brad and George. They might, MAYBE, have a good reason for not wearing their suits, but if it turns out to be the opposite, then... they could have come in here and carried out some other activity to explain their sweaty bodies and flushed faces."

"You're right, Leon! They'd have to have a good alibi, wouldn't they? And if we manage to connect them here..."

"Yeah, but speak more quietly, we don't want them to hear us..."

---

"Bullet of Truth - In the Heat of the Sauna.

Despite having been subjected to a cooling check, the sauna was still hot, and Leon, George, and Chris had to remove most of their clothing to enter because the heat was unbearable."

---

"I think I'll call it a day, Chris. I'm going to check the lower floor, so if you need me, I'll be down there. God... I don't like what I just thought..."

Leon left the sauna, and a short while later, Chris remained inside. If he wanted to be assertive, then he would have to follow the Agent's advice and thus arrive at the right conclusions by asking the right questions. Trying not to appear intimidating, Chris approached George, sighed deeply, and tried to relax.

"Um... George, I have a few questions for you... if you don't mind. Maybe we could go outside; it's better out there."

"I don't have time to leave the body, Chris. If you have something to say, say it now."

George replied aggressively, without even looking at Redfield as he photographed Saddler's wounds.

"What were you doing after leaving the party? You came back without your formal attire."

George took a few moments to respond and let out a long sigh.

"Ah... as you know, I'm diabetic. I have to exercise or I'll die; I have to do it for health reasons. After leaving... I went to the gym, changed my outfit and left my clothes in my gym bag. You can look for it if you want. I went to work out on the treadmill, did a lot of exercise. After that, I got that damn warning from MonoRaccoon and went downstairs out of obligation. Happy now?"

"And you didn't see anything strange? Didn't you notice the smell coming from the sauna?"

"What smell, Chris?" George replied as if he'd just heard the most ridiculous thing imaginable. "There was no smell, I don't know what you're talking about. Besides... the sauna and the gym are two completely different places. Thanks to the glass panels, we can't see into the hallways while we're in the gym. If something happened while I was working out, well... it's unfortunate, but it's not my responsibility or my fault."

"Sure... thanks."

---

"Bullet of Truth - George's Alibi

George says he worked out on the treadmill after leaving the party. He denies noticing any strange smell coming from the sauna."

Chapter 114: An Act of Faith - Investigation - Part VI

Chris walked toward the gym where Brad, Albert, and Donna were meticulously checking each piece of equipment.

"Lost in paradise, Chris?"

Albert asked when he saw Chris enter wearing only his underwear and flip-flops.

"Enjoy the view while you can. What have you found?"

"Hey, Chris! We've found some... unusual things. You see, someone took a total of three towels from the gym, MonoRaccoon confirmed the number. Judging by the fact that George and I each had one—one he used for his workout and one I used to dry off—there's a third one missing."

Brad joined the conversation, adding his findings.

"Oh, so the third one was the one Saddler had on his face," Chris guessed. "We found Saddler with a towel wrapped around his head. Judging by its design, it came from here, from the gym. I wonder... Brad, what did you do after you left the party?"

---

"Bullet of Truth - Gym Towels.

Someone took a third gym towel, the one used to torture Saddler, and put it over his head to concentrate more heat and suffocate him."

---

Brad smiled and replied quite calmly.

"I'm glad you asked, Chris! I was showering, or well, I tried to. Everyone noticed when Cindy accidentally spilled wine on me, and I can't go around reeking of alcohol; I even started feeling dizzy. I went into the showers, one of the stalls to be exact, since I didn't feel safe being alone. I locked it, took off my clothes, and... got down to business."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's Alibi

"After Cindy spilled wine on me, I went upstairs to the showers to clean up, making sure to go into a stall and lock it."

---

"You were showering for almost an hour? That's way too long, Brad..."

Chris started to doubt himself.

"Here's the thing, Chris! The water was hot for a little while, just a few minutes... but then it was freezing cold, I'm even afraid I'll get sick. I tried fiddling with the shower valves but nothing worked. So... I had to stay longer, not because of the shower itself, but because of something else..." Brad felt a chill and genuinely sounded scared as he told the story. "I heard... the door open, I didn't want to get out. Something definitely broke out there, I heard like... glass? I never knew where it came from, and then the door opened again and whoever it was, left.

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's First Testimony.

Brad says that after arriving at the showers near the gym, he tried to shower, but the water, which was initially hot, turned cold. Eventually, someone entered the showers, and Brad heard the sound of breaking glass.

---

"Hmm… I think I'll take a look at the showers. Anything else, Brad? What did you do after that?"

Chris was taking notes with his notepad app on the MonoDroid.

"I went outside, of course, but I didn't see anyone else. I saw George arrive at the gym, using the treadmill. I can even tell you which one he used. After that, I decided to go with him, lifted some weights, and took the treadmill next to him. After a while, we got the MonoRaccoon announcement and came down with you guys."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's Second Testimony.

Brad says he saw George arrive at the gym and joined him shortly after, and that he interacted with the weights and the treadmill. After a while, they both received a message from MonoRaccoon and went down to the party to eat.

Chapter 115: An Act of Faith - Investigation - Part VII

Brad led Chris to the treadmills that both he and George had used. To Chris's surprise, there were a few drops over the treadmill and on the equipment, which could indicate the presence of either water or sweat. Unlike the other treadmills, which were turned off and didn't display distance or time records, the pair Brad showed Chris displayed both usage time and approximate distance.

"The treadmill with the most time on it is George's. I was only there for a few minutes keeping him company until the MonoRaccoon announcement."

"Okay..."

Chris took some pictures of the treadmills and added them to his portfolio of evidence. He had a feeling this could be very useful.

---

"Bullet of Truth - George's Treadmill.

The treadmill George used shows a record for about thirty minutes. There are a few drops on the treadmill and the panel indicating its use, as well as footprints from athletic shoes."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's Treadmill.

The treadmill Brad used shows a record for about ten minutes. There are some drops on the treadmill and the panel indicating its use, as well as footprints."

---

Chris approached the place where the weights Vickers had previously mentioned were stored. Upon arriving, he saw Donna Beneviento investigating.

"Look at them, Chris! They're huge!" said the doll, curiously examining each of the perfectly arranged weights. Donna, still covered by her red veil, pointed to a specific spot on the weights where Angie was staring. "Oh?"

The doll, with great effort, picked up one of the weights, as it was difficult for her to lift it on her own. Chris knelt down to take the object from her hands, and at that moment, Chris noticed something unusual.

"Oh... Are these... hairs?"

Redfield swallowed hard when he saw a strange black stain with what looked like a few hairs stuck to it. Touching it with his thumb, he saw that it was blood.

"A diameter of six centimeters... considering the force with which it was used... Donna! I think you found something important! I'd even say it's the murder weapon..."

"Really, Chris? So someone used it to hit Saddler and knock his brains out!"

---

"Bullet of Truth - Bloody Weight.

A weight with a bloodstain and hair fragments. Someone must have used it to attack Saddler."

---

The doll laughed excitedly, miming with its hands how someone picked up the weight and threw it.

"Sounds possible."

"Hey, Redfield! Stop wasting time over there and look at this."

Wesker called to Chris from the other end of the gym, from some benches where a gym bag was sitting. When Chris approached Wesker and told him to look at the bag, Chris saw that inside was the formal suit George had worn to dinner.

"He went upstairs, changed in here, and left it... yes, he told me. That he came to work out."

"Don't you notice something strange, Chris? Come on, you're much smarter than that."

Chris stared at Wesker seriously, finding it odd that Albert was emphasizing George's gym bag.

"Hmm... I don't know, Wesker. What am I supposed to be looking at?"

"Don't you realize, you idiot? If George's suit is in here... and he's wearing the gym clothes he's wearing right now... where's everything else he packed in here? You don't have to be a genius to realize that a few items of clothing aren't enough to make the bag look full."

Chris's mouth fell open in surprise as he remembered how even George had struggled to pick up his bag because it seemed heavy.

"Damn... It's true! Even the bag looked full when he left to take his shots..."

"See? Also... I noticed something peculiar with the lockers. Each one is kept open using our MonoDroids. I compared two of them that were open... mine, which I just opened, and Brad's."

"So? What did you find?"

"You should see for yourself, come on."

---

"Bullet of Truth - George's Gym Bag.

George's gym bag that he carried when leaving the Boys' Dormitory. The rest of its contents are missing, and inside is the suit George wore to dinner along with his shoes."

---

Chris followed Wesker to the lockers where both Brad's and Wesker's lockers were open. It was known to be theirs because the lockers had a photograph of their faces pinned to the door.

"As you can see, we all have a sports uniform, a personal white towel, and flip-flops, which I assume are for the sauna and showers. We also have access to some equipment like headbands, black tape, and some nutritional supplements. Brad even left his stained suit here."

"Black tape... yours looks new, but Brad's..." Chris pointed out something obvious: Wesker's black tape was new, while Brad's was very worn and much smaller. "And it matches the black tape we found on Saddler's body..."

"That's right. Brad will have a lot of explaining to do. Brad's flip-flops are also missing from his locker, which I assume are the ones he's wearing. If you think about it... he's got something to do with this case. It seems strange that he left his locker open, since you have to run the MonoDroid over it again to close it."

"Damn..."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's Locker.

Brad's locker showed excessive use of black tape and the absence of his flip-flops. Thanks to Wesker, we know that lockers remain open if the owner hasn't run their MonoDroid over the detector again. The stained suit Brad used was there too,"

Chapter 116: An Act of Faith - Investigation - Part VIII

Chris left the gym area and headed to the men's showers. On a hunch, and following Brad's advice, he went to one of the showers to turn on the hot water and see if cold water was indeed coming out. When he turned the taps, the water was freezing cold, so cold that he immediately pulled his hand away.

"Damn... Brad wasn't lying. It's freezing! I wonder if... if this has anything to do with what happened in the sauna."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Below Freezing Point.

The water in the men's showers is cold, even after adjusting them for hot water."

---

"Brad wasn't lying then..."

Chris started pacing around the room, trying to find something out of the ordinary. That's when he noticed a trash can that caught his eye. When he went to inspect it, Chris couldn't believe what he saw. He immediately took a picture amidst the used toilet paper and the unpleasant smell it emitted.

---

"Bullet of Truth - Cyanide.

Bottle of cyanide found inside the men's shower trash can."

---

"Could George have put this here? He'd left... or maybe..." Chris took a small step back when he noticed some shards of glass lying in a pool of red just behind the trash can. When Chris picked up a piece of toilet paper and placed it on the pool, he could see from the color that it resembled wine. "What? What the hell is this doing here?"

Chris took another picture and sent it to the group chat.

---

"Bullet of Truth - Broken Glass.

A broken glass on the men's shower floor. It had a nutty smell and contained traces of wine."

---

After leaving the showers and the gym, Chris headed to the first floor where Alcina, Cindy, and Sherry were.

"Hi, Chris!" Sherry greeted the Ultimate Soldier warmly, and he returned the greeting. "I decided to go downstairs and see how I could help. It might sound silly, but... I came to check Saddler's place. I can tell you he didn't eat any of the meat."

Sherry led Chris to where Saddler had been sitting and was surprised to see that the plate was empty, but unlike the other plates, Saddler's didn't have its glass next to it.

"Oh?"

Chris took a picture as part of the evidence he had collected.

---

"Bullet of Truth - Saddler's Plate.

Saddler's plate shows that it wasn't eaten; however, unlike the other plates in the dining room, Saddler's plate doesn't have its glass of wine."

---

Chris heard an announcement from MonoRaccoon indicating that the investigation had concluded.

It was time to face reality... again.

Chapter 117: An Act of Faith - Truth Bullets

EVENTS

"Bullet of Truth - George's Words

George paid unusual attention to the towel the victim had on his head, which caused him great astonishment."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad and George's Clothes.

After MonoRaccoon's announcement for everyone to get together for lunch, Brad and George weren't wearing their formal attire. Brad was wet and shirtless; he had sweatpants and flip-flops. George, on the other hand, was wearing a white tracksuit; you could see sweat stains on his chest and armpits."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Saddler's Discomfort.

Saddler had difficulty getting up from his seat, and when Ethan offered to help him, Saddler refused."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Male Exhibition.

All the men showered together and changed in the men's dormitories. They all saw each other's naked bodies, but none of them showed any injuries or marks, except for Saddler. All men never saw Saddler naked."

---

"Bullet of Truth - In the Heat of the Sauna.

Despite having been subjected to a cooling check, the sauna was still hot, and Leon, George, and Chris had to remove most of their clothing to enter because the heat was unbearable."

---

RULES

"Bullet of Truth - Pain Wheel

MonoRaccoon confirmed that people could cooperate to participate in the game, and that prizes could be shared among participants."

---

SADDLER

"Bullet of Truth - Body Covered by blankets.

Saddler's body was covered by two blankets that clung to him, causing a greater concentration of heat."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Saddler's Wounds

Saddler had numerous wounds all over his body, many of them recent and others barely healing."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Vomit Residues.

Saddler's body shows a significant concentration of vomit residue on his mouth, face, and the towel covering his head."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Head Bleeding.

The towel covering George's head shows that he bled from being struck with an object about six centimeters in diameter, and judging by the position of the wound, it appears he was attacked from behind.

---

"Bullet of Truth - Signs of Binding.

Saddler's hands and feet were bound with black tape, which left him immobilized."

---

TESTIMONIES

"Bullet of Truth - Leon's First Testimony.

Saddler headed to the Male Dormitories after leaving the ball room, but some time later he came out and went to the second floor where the gym, sauna, and showers are located."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Leon's Second Testimony.

Saddler was carrying his wine glass while he was leaving the ball room. I wonder if he died for disobeying MonoRaccoon's request or... Is there another reason why he died and that is connected with the wine glass?"

---

"Bullet of Truth - George's First Testimony.

Saddler's mouth smelled quite similar to the wine served at the party. Perhaps Saddler had a drink before the MonoRaccoon announcement?"

---

"Bullet of Truth - George's Second Testimony.

The body showed signs of cyanosis, which is oxygen deficiency in the body. Cyanide may have caused it."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's First Testimony.

Brad says that after arriving at the showers near the gym, he tried to shower, but the water, which was initially hot, turned cold. Eventually, someone entered the showers, and Brad heard the sound of breaking glass.

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's Second Testimony.

Brad says he saw George arrive at the gym and joined him shortly after, and that he interacted with the weights and the treadmill. After a while, they both received a message from MonoRaccoon and went down to the party to eat.

---

"Bullet of Truth - George's Alibi

George says he worked out on the treadmill after leaving the party. He denies noticing any strange smell coming from the sauna."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's Alibi

"After Cindy spilled wine on me, I went upstairs to the showers to clean up, making sure to go into a stall and lock it."

---

SAUNA

"Bullet of Truth- Temperature Control Panel.

The sauna's control panel has been tampered with, and as a result, the sauna's temperature reached levels at which it was impossible to remain inside."

---

GYM

"Bullet of Truth - Gym Towels.

Someone took a third gym towel, the one used to torture Saddler, and put it over his head to concentrate more heat and suffocate him."

---

"Bullet of Truth - George's Treadmill.

The treadmill George used shows a record for about thirty minutes. There are a few drops on the treadmill and the panel indicating its use, as well as footprints from athletic shoes."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's Treadmill.

The treadmill Brad used shows a record for about ten minutes. There are some drops on the treadmill and the panel indicating its use, as well as footprints."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Bloody Weight.

A weight with a bloodstain and hair fragments. Someone must have used it to attack Saddler."

---

"Bullet of Truth - George's Gym Bag.

George's gym bag that he carried when leaving the Boys' Dormitory. The rest of its contents are missing, and inside is the suit George wore to dinner along with his shoes."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's Locker.

Brad's locker showed excessive use of black tape and the absence of his flip-flops. Thanks to Wesker, we know that lockers remain open if the owner hasn't run their MonoDroid over the detector again. The stained suit Brad used was there too,"

---

MEN'S SHOWERS

"Bullet of Truth - Below Freezing Point.

The water in the men's showers is cold, even after adjusting them for hot water."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Cyanide.

Bottle of cyanide found inside the men's shower trash can."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Broken Glass.

A broken glass on the men's shower floor. It had a nutty smell and contained traces of wine."

---

PARTY

"Bullet of Truth - Saddler's Plate.

Saddler's plate shows that it wasn't eaten; however, unlike the other plates in the dining room, Saddler's plate doesn't have its glass of wine."

Chapter 118: An Act of Faith - Elevator

They all entered the elevator as part of the established routine. It was strange for Chris to see that almost everyone was impeccably dressed, their suits looking sharp, as if it contrasted sharply with the fact that someone had died in a gruesome way, revealing the raw nature of everyone involved.

As if following a script they were all unconsciously following without even notice it, they returned to the same places in the elevator they had claimed since the first murder. There were no words to describe the feeling of familiarity with that place that, in just a few days, had become "that special place."

Chris could only think about when the elevator would descend again, not just for a new case, but for a tragedy in which he would be involved.

Thoughts were merely an extension of the prison his mind represented.

And he didn't like what each of them was telling him at all.

---

Eleven souls descend through an abyss of darkness.

Eleven souls know their fate is bound to a limbo of doubt, fear, and betrayal.

They know they have one last chance to give it their all.

Give it their all in the attempt or die consumed by panic.

A new trial was about to take place.

Chapter 119: An Act of Faith - Trial - Part I

All the survivors entered the courtroom, noticing that Saddler's podium now bore a black and white photograph of him surrounded by symbols from various religions, implying that his talent extended beyond any single faith. Alcina was reluctant to look any further, as it represented yet another irrefutable proof of his death.

---

"Welcome! I will now explain the rules of the trial. You must debate, based on the evidence you have found, the identity of the culprit. If you accuse an innocent person, everyone will be executed except for the murderer. If you accuse the correct person, then only the murderer will be punished.

Due to the nature of this incentive and the rules of this floor, whoever is found guilty and their involvement in the case is correct, both the guilty party and their assigned partner will be executed. However, the partner of said guilty party, should they win the case, will not be freed, as they were not the one who committed the murder.

You may begin!"

---

The group remained silent, as there was much to discuss at that moment. Chris noticed that everyone was silent, perhaps a subliminal message that they were tired and didn't want to continue.

But for Claire, his sister, and for the lives of those who died along the way, Chris would not give up.

"I think it's necessary to go back a little before the body was found. Why don't we talk about our participation in the party? Specifically, what we did during it."

Many nodded, and that's when they began to speak.

"Well... Mia, Alcina, and I stayed in the kitchen area. I was in charge of distributing the plates and glasses, Mia cooked her stew, which, by the way, was delicious, for all of us, and Alcina was in charge of making the wine."

Cindy commented, trying to actively contribute to the trial.

"Chris and I acted as guards at the entrance to the Ballroom. We checked all the guests, and even Chris and I checked each other, to prevent anyone from bringing dangerous objects to the party."

Leon added, recalling his and Chris's roles at the party.

"Okay, so I was the bartender... I was behind the bar, serving small drinks or making milkshakes for Sherry, because of course, no kid her age should be drinking alcohol, and we're not animals to even suggest her to do so."

Albert commented, looking downcast, not giving much importance to his role.

"My turn! My turn!" Donna's doll raised her porcelain hands and bounced on the podium. "George, Sherry, and I did the decorating! In case you like a good 20th-century decoration, it was all my idea, hee hee hee hee!"

"I can confirm that." George chimed in. "Donna has refined taste, and Sherry helped us get tape and glue to stick the decorations, inflate the balloons... the usual. Nothing dangerous.

"And finally... Brad and I were the cleaners. All the trash you made during the party was picked up by us, and I can say there was nothing strange about it."

Ethan knew it was time to speak.

"And Saddler… he was in charge of providing that fine music…" Alcina covered her face with one hand to avoid appearing weak. "I'm sorry, it's not ladylike."

"In conclusion, we were all involved in putting on the party out of obligation."

Cindy commented dejectedly.

"Now, let's go to the facts." Chris led the group. "We need to talk about what happened afterward. Cindy, you know what I mean."

Cindy nodded decisively and sighed.

"Sure, Chris. Ah... it's time to start, isn't it? Because that's how it is."

---

Cindy: During the party, there was... an accident.

Cindy: As everyone knows, I was the waitress at the party, and I was in charge of carrying the wine glasses.

Cindy: I ​​had a situation with Brad. He stood up as I was walking behind his seat, and I spilled five wine glasses on him.

Brad: That's true! All the glasses broke, and I reeked of alcohol.

Albert: And what did you do after that, Brad?

Brad: I went upstairs to the showers! Naturally.

Mia: How can we know that's true?

Mia: He could easily lie and make up something.

But Chris had another idea in mind.

Chris: I think you're wrong!

---

"Bullet of Truth - Below Freezing Point.

The water in the men's showers is cold, even after adjusting them for hot water."

---

"No... actually, I think Brad might be telling the truth. Brad, do you remember what you told me you did when you got to the showers? The reason you took so long."

"Oh, right, Chris! You see, I got to the showers and showered for a bit... but it was a very short time, in fact, maybe ten minutes at most? Perhaps fifteen. The water started coming out freezing cold, and no matter how much I tried to turn on the hot water tap... it kept coming out cold."

"And how do we know you're telling the truth? You could easily have gone into the showers for a few moments, tested the water, and not showered at all."

Albert didn't believe Vickers' story.

But Chris was prepared to fight for the truth.

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's First Testimony.

Brad says that after arriving at the showers near the gym, he tried to shower, but the water, which was initially hot, turned cold. Eventually, someone entered the showers, and Brad heard the sound of breaking glass."

---

"Actually... Albert, that's exactly what I did." Chris nodded. "I went to the showers... and tried to verify what Brad said. Sure enough, the shower water was FREEZING; I even had to pull my hand back because the water was so cold. I can't imagine what Brad went through with such an abrupt change from hot to cold water. But, Brad... could you tell everyone what happened next?"

"Of course, Chris! I stayed locked in the shower stall longer because... I heard someone come into the room. Since I had already turned off the shower by then, I just stayed quiet. That's when... I heard a sound like glass being broken. I didn't dare come out, no... I didn't, out of fear."

Chapter 120: An Act of Faith - Trial - Part II

Another debate began.

---

Albert: And that's your excuse, you imbecile?

Albert: You were scared you didn't go out to see? So you have no fucking idea what broke or who went to the men's showers?

Brad: Don't be like that, Albert! I was alone...

Brad: What if it was the killer who murdered Saddler?

Brad: I'm not as strong as you guys, I can barely defend myself.

Cindy: In that case, I feel for Brad.

Cindy: It must be terrifying to be in a potentially dangerous situation...

Ethan: But then... What did Brad hear?

Ethan: Assuming he's telling the truth.

Chris immediately remembered an important piece of evidence and brought it up.

Chris: I have an answer for your questions!

---

"Bullet of Truth - Broken Glass.

A broken glass on the men's shower floor. It had a nutty smell and contained traces of wine."

---

"Actually... I think there's something Brad might have heard break, and I actually found it in the men's showers. Everyone, please take a look at this."

Chris sent a photograph of what appeared to be a pile of glass with a barely perceptible red stain between the fragments.

"Oh my God! I know what it is!" Cindy covered her mouth in surprise. "It's a glass! The glasses were exactly the same after they fell on Brad and then on the floor. I'd even venture to suggest... that the contents in the fragments are... wine."

"It is." Chris agreed. "With some paper, I was able to collect some of that liquid, and seeing how it dispersed... it's definitely not blood. It's wine."

"So... how did that wine glass end up in the men's showers?"

Sherry asked, quite doubtfully.

"Because... it belonged to Saddler."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Leon's Second Testimony.

Saddler was carrying his wine glass while he was leaving the ball room. I wonder if he died for disobeying MonoRaccoon's request or... Is there another reason why he died and that is connected with the wine glass?"

---

"I saw Saddler leaving the party with his wine glass... I didn't think it was that important until you mentioned it."

Leon said as he was scratching his head. 

"And not only that! I remember something too!

Ethan provided new evidence for the case.

---

"Bullet of Truth - Saddler's Discomfort.

Saddler was having difficulty getting up from his seat, and when Ethan offered to help him, Saddler refused."

---

"When Saddler left the party, struggling to get up, he took his wine glass with him. I suggested helping him, but... he refused. Maybe he went straight to the second floor and... was murdered."

"Hmm... I don't see that as possible." Leon interrupted. "Saddler went to the men's dorms for a while, and from there he went up to the second floor. I personally saw him leave with his glass, but... I have no idea what he could have done with it, and the fact that the glass ended up destroyed in the men's showers is a mystery to me."

Chris wanted to contribute another crucial piece of information but chose not to, as he felt it wasn't the right time. Therefore, the trial continued with a new question, which was jotted down in his notebook.

"What were Saddler's steps after leaving the party?"

Chapter 121: An Act of Faith - Trial - Part III

"I think we should leave Saddler's whereabouts a mystery for now, one we'll eventually solve. Now... what did you do after that, Brad?"

Leon tried to postpone the conversation so they could bring it up again later.

"Well... I went out, Leon. I went to the gym shirtless, wearing sweatpants and my flip-flops because, like I told you, all my clothes were stained with wine."

"Where did you get those clothes?" Albert immediately interrupted. "Because none of us had that outfit you're wearing right now."

Chris was quite surprised because Wesker clearly knew, he knew where Brad got the clothes, but apparently, was he lying?

"From the lockers, Albert. You have to use your MonoDroid to open them. When Cindy spilled the wine on me. Let me tell you what I did juat like this: 

• I went to the gym after Cindy spilled wine on me.
• I opened my locker, grabbed only my sweatpants and flip-flops.
• I went into the men's showers, undressed in there to shower. 
• Then, everything I told you about the water and the stranger happened.
• I came out and that's when I saw George arrive to the Gym and then start running on the treadmill.
• Then I put my dirty suit inside the locker. Where was I supposed to leave it?"

"Are you sure that's all you did?"

Albert loved cornering people and making them doubt their own words.

"Oh, for fuck's sake! Yes, Albert! That's all I did! Why are you all going after me instead of asking George, who apparently also skipped the party? I've already told you everything I did! If you are asking about why I didn't leave my stained suit inside my locker after getting my gym clothes... What if Sherry saw me naked? Or Mia. Come on! Have some respect!"

But Albert wasn't satisfied until he'd squeezed every last drop out of him.

---

Albert: I think you're a pathetic liar.

Albert: Do you really think we're going to believe that crap?

Brad: Oh, come on! I'm telling the truth!

Brad: If you'd asked me, I would have shown you everything in my locker!

Cindy: No way...

Cindy: If Brad's lying... we have no way of verifying if he's telling the truth.

Albert: Unless Brad tells us what was in the locker...

Brad: Oh, holy shit! There were supplements! Powders, chews, energy bars, there was even a fucking black tape and I don't know why, my tracksuit, my flip-flops...

Brad: And then... after I showered, I left my stained suit in there. What else do you want from me?"

Brad: I swear! I would have even opened my locker if necessary...

Brad: I would have even given you my MonoDroid if you suspected me so much!

And that's when Chris corrected him.

Chris: It wasn't necessary

---

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's Locker.

Brad's locker showed excessive use of black tape and the absence of his flip-flops. Thanks to Wesker, we know that lockers remain open if the owner hasn't run their MonoDroid over the detector again. The stained suit Brad used was there too,"

---

"Actually... Brad is telling the truth, and his ignorance is the proof. Please, everyone look at this."

Chris sent the group a particular photograph, one of the contents of a locker.

"Oh, God! Look! It's Brad's orange jumpsuit along with everything he said was in there!"

Sherry pointed to the wine-stained orange jumpsuit.

"That's right. I think Brad's telling the truth, because we actually saw the contents of his locker."

"But how, Albert?" Brad asked, agitated. "You guys didn't have my MonoDroid!"

"It wasn't necessary, you fucking idiot! Because... you didn't even close the locker. You closed the door, but you didn't lock it again."

Chapter 122: An Act of Faith - Trial - Part IV

"Albert's right, Brad. You left your locker open, even if you closed the door. You were supposed to scan the MonoDroid to make sure it was properly closed. That means anyone who had access to your locker... or rather... George, why don't you tell us what you've been doing?"

Chris understood why Wesker took such pleasure in confronting others so aggressively.

All eyes turned to Hamilton, who swallowed hard.

A debate ensued as a result of this question.

---

George: Well... um...

George: I went to the gym. Because I have diabetes... I have to exercise.

George: I'm a healthy man. You can't blame me for that.

Albert: So where did you get your workout clothes, George?

Albert: Your fat ass better not answer what you're about to say.

George: What do you mean, Albert?

George: I just took them from the locker.

Albert smiled complacently and turned to Chris, nodding, signaling that he should interrupt.

Chris: Are you really telling us the truth?

---

"Truth Bullet - George's Gym Bag.

George's gym bag that he carried when leaving the Men's Dormitory. The rest of its contents are missing, and inside is the suit George wore to dinner along with his shoes."

---

"So, let me understand... You undressed shortly after getting your gym clothes? That seems very daring to me, George... because all the times we were with you, Cindy, don't leave me here alone. What was George doing, and what even Brad consciously did, when he changed his clothes?"

Chris looked seriously at Cindy, who lowered her head and at that moment understood the gravity of the implication.

"Oh... I hadn't noticed... oh no... George... Why would someone with as much modesty and decorum as you... get naked in the gym for something as absurd as exercising? You... you'd go to the showers and come back changed..."

"I agree that George got naked to go to the sauna or the showers because he needed to, the place was hot, but... Why do it in the gym where Sherry or someone else could clearly see him? Or worse... take advantage of him and attack him."

Leon continued with the question, which only made Hamilton's doubt grow even more.

"And... not only that. George... I think all the men here know that your gym bag was FULL. We saw how hard it was for you to carry it... And you're going to tell me that you only had your workout uniform in there? What was really inside?"

Albert made people look suspiciously at Hamilton, who was smiling, something strange for everyone because no one had ever seen him smile before.

"Well, I think that's another question we'll consider later. Come on, tell us... what did you do after you went up to the gym?"

"How dare you talk to me like that, you idiot? I went up to the gym and started working out. I... took off my formal clothes, changed, and... used the treadmill. I have nothing more to say."

Hamilton's behavior was, to say the least, strange, but Chris understood that it was time to take things one step at a time to get to the truth.

Chapter 123: An Act of Faith - Trial - Part V

"So let's talk about what happened after George and Brad left, shall we? Let's talk about the innocent people who found the body."

Chris tried to shift the focus of the trial, attempting to make it a bit more flexible.

"I... I was in the kitchen preparing the rest of the food when I felt sharp pains. By accident... I peed myself."

Mia commented, embarrassed and refusing to look the other participants in the face.

"Mia... had that accident and asked me to go with her. I asked Alcina to please keep an eye on the food and drinks in case anyone... in case anyone did anything inappropriate."

Cindy added to the story.

"And then, Cindy called me and asked me to go with them. Cindy and I have been working together, we take short, supervised breaks, and we never go alone. I always wait for her outside the showers, and she does the same; even when she has to go to the bathroom. That's why... we couldn't let Mia go all alone."

Albert answered with perfect clarity.

---

Mia: Cindy and Albert opened the sauna door...

Mia: And the smell intensified.

Cindy: It was awful! I've never smelled anything like it.

Cindy: Saddler... lying on the floor, of course it was him...

Cindy: His suit, his shoes, everything pointed to him...

Mia: And I, stupidly... went after them, and I saw him... Saddler.

Albert: And when I tried to go in... I got burned.

Albert: It was impossible to get in.

Ethan: Impossible? You couldn't get into the sauna because it was too hot?

Albert: It was much worse! It was boiling hot.

Sherry: But what caused it then? I've never personally gone into the sauna...

Leon thought it appropriate to intervene to give a definitive answer.

Leon: I have the answer!

---

"Bullet of Truth - Temperature Control Panel.

The sauna's control panel had been tampered with, and as a result, the sauna's temperature reached levels at which it was impossible to remain inside."

---

"It was the sauna's temperature control panel, Sherry. Apparently, the killer changed the sauna's temperature settings, causing them to rise to such a point that the room became inaccessible."

"Wait a minute... Could that explain what Brad mentioned a moment ago?" Cindy thought it appropriate to ask. "I mean... if all the areas are connected, the fact that it was hotter in the sauna... and then the cold water started running from the showers..."

"There might be a connection." Albert agreed. "It makes sense that Brad would have noticed the cold water from the showers because the killer changed the sauna's temperature settings. When an area needed more power and therefore generated more heat..."

"So the killer was terribly close to me while I was showering?"

Brad felt a huge chill run down his spine at the thought of his life having been in danger.

"Looks like locking yourself in that stall like a wimp kept you alive. Maybe it was the killer himself you heard coming into the showers."

Albert scoffed at how things seemed to have worked out for Vickers.

"So we've established that Cindy, Albert, and Mia are innocent," Leon jotted down on his notepad. "And I should even say this order is appropriate and saved all three from a situation. Because I'm sure if Mia had gone in before Cindy or Albert, the alarm would have gone off... after all, she counts as two people."

"Because of the pregnancy... if the baby counts as a new life, then it doesn't matter if it was the sight of Mia or her mere presence that triggered the alarm, she's innocent."

Ethan was relieved that his wife and colleagues had made the right decisions.

"This makes the rest of us suspects... but it's good to be able to rule out innocent people." Chris shivered at the thought that the trial would probably drag on. "I think it's time we started talking about what happened after we all got together."

---

Brad: Right! We were all so confused...

Donna: It was awful! Cindy was crying her eyes out! And Mia threw up everything she ate!

Cindy: Don't remind me! It was embarrassing, but it was also terrible!

Mia: Ugh! And I've been so sensitive these past few days...

Albert: I think we're getting off topic...

Brad: Oh, right! When Chris, Leon, and George stripped...

Alcina: Such unnecessary exhibitionism...

But Leon didn't want to be left out.

Leon: I think it was more necessary than you thought!

---

"Bullet of Truth - In the Heat of the Sauna.

Despite having been subjected to a cooling check, the sauna was still hot, and Leon, George, and Chris had to remove most of their clothing to enter because the heat was unbearable."

---

"Alcina... guys, can you remember why we had to get naked?"

Leon knew that any intelligent person could remember.

"That's easy. Because the heat in that fucking place was unbearable... I tried to go in but I burned my arm! The sauna was a complete inferno! That's why they had to get naked, Alcina..."

Albert replied, trying to get accurate information about the nature of the sauna.

"And yet... after MonoRaccoon's protocol to lower the temperature, we had to get naked because it was simply suffocating in there... which leads me to a theory. The killer... let's say they entered the sauna, which is hot to begin with, but if they entered while the temperature was rising..."

Chris tried to formulate his theory carefully so that it would make sense.

"They would have had to take off their suit and put on some other clothes. And I think we can all remember who fits that description."

All eyes turned to Brad and George, who knew the evidence was still pointing at them.

Chapter 124: An Act of Faith - Trial - Part VI

"And I suppose you did something important inside the sauna, didn't you? Besides just wandering around half-naked."

Alcina asked condescendingly.

---

Leon: Well, Alcina's right. There was something important inside the sauna, indeed.

Cindy: Poor Saddler…

Cindy: To die like that…

Donna: I can't imagine the despair he felt dying in the sauna!

Donna: That agonizing suffocation as his skin was steamed to pieces…

Ethan: Don't say that, Donna! It's scary!

Ethan: Still, it's tragic…

Mia: A man like him, at his age… please tell me he fought back.

But the evidence pointed to the opposite.

Chris: I'm afraid that's not the case...

---

"Bullet of Truth - Head Bleeding.

The towel covering George's head shows that he bled from being struck with an object about six centimeters in diameter, and judging by the position of the wound, it appears he was attacked from behind.

---

"Someone attacked Saddler from behind, and we believe this blow was devastating enough to knock him out."

Chris asked his companions to review the photograph showing a deep wound on Saddler's head.

"Oh, my God! They split his head open! What could have been used to...?"

Sherry looked away from the photograph and locked her MonoDroid to avoid looking any further.

Chris knew what weapon could have been used to injure the Ultimate Priest.

---

"Truth Bullet - Bloody Weight.

A weight with bloodstain and hair fragments. Someone must have used it to attack Saddler."

---

"Someone definitely attacked Saddler from behind, and they did it with these. Weights. Donna found them in the gym, and one of them had bits of flesh and hair stuck to it."

"It was disgusting!" Donna's doll spoke, covering her mouth with both hands. "Someone cowardly enough like Jill attacked Saddler from behind! It seems the killer is an opportunist!"

"To attack a man like that... and then torture him in the sauna. How savage!"

Alcina bared her teeth, trying to contain her anger.

"But... a wound like that should have left blood everywhere. The gym is clean, and there's no sign that anyone's been cleaning. Or have they?

Ethan's words resonated with Chris, who seemed to have a hunch about the absence of blood.

---

Ethan: It's just common sense.

Ethan: If someone hits you that hard with a damn weight...

Ethan: You'd expect to bleed to death!

Mia: Ethan's suggesting something we should discuss.

Mia: There should be blood everywhere!

Donna: One blow with a weight should be enough to leave Saddler bleeding profusely!

Donna: So...

Donna: Someone did a great job cleaning everything up!

Chris knew he had to intervene before someone jumped to the wrong conclusions based on flawed reasoning.

Chris: No, you're wrong!

---

"Bullet of Truth - Gym Towels"

"Someone took a third gym towel, the one used to torture Saddler, and placed it over his head to concentrate the heat and suffocate him."

---

"No, Donna... actually, I think the killer didn't have to clean it all up, or at least, didn't have to clean up too much."

"What do you mean, Chris?"

The doll shook her head in a terrifying way, twisting it to the right in a sign of doubt.

"I think... the killer didn't have to clean up the blood because... he stopped it before it started to spread and become a problem... with this."

Chris showed the photograph of the towel rack in the gym.

"Can you give me a hand, Brad?"

"I know what you mean, Chris! You see, guys... while I was investigating the gym, I found something amiss. Someone had made a mess of the towel rack. It turns out many of them were misplaced, and when I asked MonoRaccoon about it, he told me that a total of three were in possession, so they hadn't been returned.

"In possession?" Sherry looked up at the ceiling as if trying to think of something concrete. "Uh... But what does he mean? So someone took three towels for the crime?"

"No, Sherry, more like... someone took an extra towel for the crime. I took one to shower, while George took another to dry off because he was working out. One towel is missing..."

"Continuing with what Brad said, the third towel was on Saddler's head, or rather, on his face. At first, we assumed it was to concentrate the heat and smother him... but we believe it may have another purpose."

Chris considered how the towel could be involved in the case and how it related to the absence of blood.

"I think... the killer may have stopped the bleeding with the towel, in the same way Heisenberg did with Jill by applying pressure to the wound with the shirt. That way... some of the blood remained on the towel."

"So... Saddler leaves the party, goes to the dorms to do who knows what, goes upstairs where... he's attacked in the gym with a weight?"

Sherry jotted down the information she had at the time in her notebook.

"That seems the most logical explanation."

Albert replied, suffering from a stress-induced headache.

Chapter 125: An Act of Faith - Trial - Part VII

"During the investigation, we also found something worth highlighting, and it's this."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Saddler's Wounds

Saddler had numerous wounds all over his body, many of them recent and others barely healing."

---

Chris asked everyone to please review the photographs he had taken of Saddler's body and to pay close attention to each one.

"As we can see, Saddler was already badly injured. I wouldn't be surprised if the killer noticed this and that's why they chose him to kill."

"But Chris... all these wounds... some of them look very recent. How can we know that some of them weren't inflicted by the killer?"

Brad stared at the image in shock, finding it disturbing how Saddler's body resembled an abstract painting; with red, purple, and even green tones on his skin.

The debate began.

---

Brad: The killer could have inflicted those wounds!

Brad: That's why Saddler couldn't defend himself!

Brad: Because... the killer beat him senseless!

Leon: Are you even listening to yourself, Brad?

Leon: Saddler's injuries were clearly inflicted before the murder.

Leon: I'm sure we have evidence to prove it.

Brad: But aren't you looking at the photographs?

Brad: Saddler was definitely attacked by the killer!

Chris knew it was time to intervene.

Chris: No, those injuries have a different origin!

---

"Bullet of Truth - Male Exhibition.

All the men showered together and changed in the men's dormitories. They all saw each other's naked bodies, but none of them showed any injuries or marks, except for Saddler. All the men never saw Saddler naked."

---

"No, Brad... actually... there was something Saddler did before he died that proves he was already injured. Now, all you guys... do you remember when we went to the showers?"

Chris had the men in the group recall a particular event while they were getting ready for the party. That's when Ethan remembered something specific.

"Oh... Right! We never saw Saddler naked!" Ethan commented, touching his forehead, thinking it was too obvious. "Right, right! How could we have missed that?"

"All the guys... showered together?"

Cindy commented, a flush spreading across her face.

"That's right, after all, it's not the first time we've done it. At the academy, in sports... it's common. None of the guys had visible scars, but Saddler... he preferred not to shower with the group."

Chris answered quite calmly.

"Besides... we never saw him changing his clothes." Brad had remembered important details about Saddler's behavior. "Saddler arrived at the men's dorm already changed... but all of us changed together after showering."

"That way... Saddler didn't let everyone see his injuries..."

Mia concluded.

"That's why Saddler had trouble getting up during the party! Because he was in really bad shape... but... what caused him to be so badly injured? Assuming the killer didn't inflict all those bruises and cuts."

Ethan asked with great doubt, but fortunately Chris knew how to answer.

"The answer is too obvious!"

---

"Bullet of Truth - Pain Wheel

MonoRaccoon confirmed that people could cooperate to participate in the game, and that prizes could be shared among participants."

---

"Saddler... Saddler might have participated in the Wheel of Pain. MonoRaccoon said we could all participate, and that to get points we'd have to hurt ourselves."

"That's right!" Ethan raised his hand to participate. "Mia, Sherry, and I went to that store and checked what Chris said. The only logical reason for Saddler to have so many injuries, and not be dead, is because of that damn wheel. But... what did Saddler buy then?"

"The cyanide that Chris reported." Albert answered with a smile. "That son of a bitch... Saddler bought the cyanide... but that doesn't mean he actually had it..."

Chapter 126: An Act of Faith - Trial - Part VIII

"No... we won't achieve anything if we don't face the facts."

Chris was trembling because it was the first time he'd ever felt like this, so nervous, so tired, but also so close to solving a mystery.

"Brad... and George..." Chris sighed, trying not to faint because the weight of his words was immense. "Ah... I accuse you... I accuse you both of murdering Saddler."

Some gasps were of surprise, while others revealed silence, a silence akin to confronting a truth already known.

"How dare you, you stupid, fucking ape?" George slammed his fist on his podium and demanded an answer. "How dare you insult me ​​and call me a murderer, you disgusting bloody CUNT?"

"There must be some mistake!" Brad began to sweat profusely, so much so that he started drying himself with the towel he was carrying. "No, no, no! I'm not the killer! I swear on my mother's grave! I didn't kill anyone, please believe me!"

"It's just common sense, like Ethan said." Chris nodded and swallowed hard. "You two were the only ones who went to the gym, and besides, you were the only ones who had a chance to attack Saddler."

"That's a fucking lie!" George started yelling, turning red. "You shameless bastard! I didn't kill anyone! And if you want your killer, then it's Brad!"

"How dare you, asshole?" Brad glared at George in despair and burst out laughing. "M-me, kill Saddler? DON'T TALK NONSENSE!"

Brad was about to cry out of fear.

"Hey, calm down, both of you! We won't gain anything if we start yelling—"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU SCUM!" George interrupted Albert, speaking over him. "I DIDN'T KILL THAT GODFORSAKEN MOTHERFUCKER PIECE OF SHIT! IT WAS BRAD THEN! I WENT TO THE DAMN GYM LONG AFTER! BRAD PROBABLY HAD ALREADY KILLED HIM, THAT'S WHY I NEVER SAW HIM!"

"What the hell is wrong with you? I went to shower after the accident with Cindy! I never went to the gym until almost half an hour later! Someone came into the showers and I hid for ages! It was agonizing!"

"You could be lying!"

"There's no way to fix this if we don't go back to the facts! Please, based on all the evidence we have, raise your hand if you believe George is the killer!"

Chris hoped his idea would be the most effective, thus dividing the group and finally bringing their arguments to the forefront.

"I... I can't trust you, George... you scare me."

Sherry ran to where Alcina was, hiding behind her and clinging to her dress.

"How dare you scare an innocent child? You wretched, miserable creature..."

Alcina knelt down to hug Sherry, who by then had begun to cry.

"You're a fucking monster, George... I can't trust you."

Albert went to where Alcina and Sherry were to try to offer his support.

"I... I will trust George." Cindy walked over to Hamilton and put her arm around the surgeon's in a gesture of acceptance. "He saved my life before... and I can't abandon him now."

"The same goes for us."

Mia said, carrying Ethan with her, and they both walked purposefully toward George.

"I'm sorry, but this man saved my wife's and my baby's lives... and if he says Brad is the killer, I believe him."

Ethan didn't waver at all as he declared his belief.

"Don't think I'll abandon you, Chris!" Donna's doll commented enthusiastically, clearly excited. It was then that Donna, the doll's owner, touched Chris's hand with her warm touch. "I won't... leave... you... alone..."

And, for the first time, those were the words Chris heard from the Ultimate Dollmaker who, following in Redfield's footsteps, accompanied him to where the rest of the survivors supporting Brad were.

"Let the debate begin!"

MonoRaccoon couldn't have been happier.

Chapter 127: An Act of Faith - Trial - Part IX

The debate began, more heated than usual.

---

Brad's team included:

• Brad
• Chris
• Sherry
• Alcina
• Leon
• Donna
• Albert

---

George's team included:

• George
• Cindy
• Mia
• Ethan

---

ROUND 1

"Truth Bullet - Saddler's Plate.

Saddler's plate shows that it wasn't eaten; however, unlike the other plates in the dining room, Saddler's plate doesn't have its glass of wine."

ETHAN: How dare you blame George? He's helped us in every case! Besides... what probably killed him was a drink spiked with cyanide!

SHERRY: Have you forgotten the part where Saddler took his glass? The drink could have been spiked even long after it was given to him! 

"Bullet of Truth - Leon's Second Testimony.

Saddler was carrying his wine glass while he was leaving the ball room. I wonder if he died for disobeying MonoRaccoon's request or... Is there another reason why he died and that is connected with the wine glass?"

---

ROUND 2

"Bullet of Truth - George's Treadmill.

The treadmill George used shows a record for about thirty minutes. There are a few drops on the treadmill and the panel indicating its use, as well as footprints from athletic shoes."

MIA: I see a lot of flaws in your alibi! You spent a lot of time locked in the showers and you think that absolves you of the crime? You could be lying! Nobody can spend that much time locked in the showers!

BRAD: And isn't George equally suspicious? I saw George go into the damn gym! He had to have seen Saddler at some point! How is it possible that he spent thirty minutes running on the treadmill when he and I were easily working out for about ten minutes? It doesn't make sense! And I have proof!

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's Treadmill.

The treadmill Brad used shows a record for about ten minutes. There are some drops on the treadmill and the panel indicating its use, as well as footprints."

---

ROUND 3

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's Second Testimony.

Brad says he saw George arrive at the gym and join him shortly after, and that he interacted with the weights and the treadmill. After a while, they both received a message from MonoRaccoon and went down to the party to eat.

CINDY: The damn hallway reeked of Saddler being cooked alive! And Brad couldn't smell it? Blaming George is pretty bold. We all know that Brad was also near the sauna! He could've smell something!"

ALCINA: As far as we know, Brad never left the gym after you spilled wine on him! The one who should have smelled it was George, who arrived AFTER Brad and Saddler and never reported it. We would expect him to have acted like Mia, Albert, and even you did! Don't you realize that? Let me remind you your own words!

"Bullet of Truth - The Innocent's Words

Mia: Cindy and Albert opened the sauna door...

Mia: And the smell intensified.

Cindy: It was awful! I've never smelled anything like it.

---

ROUND 4

"Bullet of Truth - Leon's First Testimony.

"Saddler headed to the Male Dormitories after leaving the ball room, but half a time later he came out and went to the second floor where the gym, sauna, and showers are located.

CINDY: What if Saddler was poisoned before leaving the party and he left the dorm because he was experiencing complications from the poison?

LEON: That's impossible! We did a thorough search of the kitchen and every single guest! None of you were carrying cyanide! And Chris and I did so because it was our fucking job! May I remember you something as simple as that?

Bullet of Truth - Involvement

Security Guard Wing 1 - Chris Redfield

Security Guard Wing 2 - Leon Kennedy

---

ROUND 5

"Bullet of Truth - Signs of Binding"

Saddler's hands and feet were bound with black tape, which left him immobilized."

GEORGE: How dare you say I attacked him? You have no evidence whatsoever that I had anything to do with his murder!

CHRIS: The problem is timing, George! Someone like you could have noticed Brad leaving his locker open, stolen the tape, and tied Saddler's hands! No one else was in the gym!

"Bullet of Truth - Brad's Locker.

Brad's locker showed excessive use of black tape and the absence of his flip-flops. Thanks to Wesker, we know that lockers remain open if the owner hasn't run their MonoDroid over the detector again. The stained suit Brad used was there too,"

---

ROUND 6

Bullet of Truth - Body Covered by blankets.

Saddler's body was covered by two blankets that clung to him, causing a greater concentration of heat.

GEORGE: I didn't have anything in my gym bag! Stop lying!

ALBERT: It's obvious the bag looked full because you were carrying the blankets you used to cover Saddler's body so he would absorb more heat and be killed!

"Bullet of Truth - George's Gym Bag.

George's gym bag that he carried when leaving the Boys' Dormitory. The rest of its contents are missing, and inside is the suit George wore to dinner along with his shoes."

---

ROUND 7

GEORGE: There is absolutely no evidence linking me to the crime! Your accusations are mere baseless suppositions!

CHRIS: Oh, really? Then why did you look so surprised by the towel Saddler had on his head, and when you realized you were speaking too loudly, why did you shut up? Perhaps you didn't expect to see him like that because YOU DIDN'T LEAVE HIM IN THAT STATE?

"Bullet of Truth - George's Words

George paid unusual attention to the towel the victim had on his head, which caused him great astonishment.

---

George paled and, cornered, finally didn't reply.

There were no words to contradict something so precise.

Chapter 128: An Act of Faith - Trial - Part X

"Heh... you're really willing to fight for the truth... aren't you, Chris Redfield?"

George replied with apparent composure as he unbuttoned the collar of his dress shirt and removed his tie.

"George..."

Cindy tried to cling to the hope that Hamilton hadn't done anything wrong, but of course, they were in a world of possibilities, all tinged with gray.

"Ah... I knew I messed everything up from the start... but I wanted to hold on to hope..." George shook his head in a clear sign of defeat. "Damn it... I... I just saw the opportunity..."

George clutched his podium, his hands clenched into fists. Soon his eyes filled with tears.

"I... I deserve great things! I am great! I am important! I am somebody in life!"

Hamilton wasn't interested in how he looked crying, defeated, like a man in his forties who, for the first time, was facing the consequences of his actions.

"I want to get out of here! It's not selfishness! I've saved hundreds of lives and I save thousands every year... People know me! I can't die here... I didn't build my whole life just to be trapped in this place! I'm important... I'm important!"

George's words only made more people realize his true nature, including Cindy.

"More important... than us?"

Cindy placed her hand on her chest and, after looking George straight in the eyes, without that mask between them, she began to take steps backward.

"Cindy... I..."

"No... no, don't say anything, don't speak, I know what you're..." Cindy began to cry as she realized the utter lack of value her life held for the man she thought she knew. "You... you are important, George... so much so... that you were willing to sacrifice Mia's life... her baby's... Sherry's..."

"Don't take it like that!"

George went after Cindy, who by then had turned her back on him.

"Don't take it like that, Cindy! Look at me! It wasn't personal! It was just a small sacrifice..."

"Then sacrifice the palm of my hand!"

Cindy turned around and with a single slap, one in which she concentrated all her anger, all her resentment, all her shame, she managed to knock George to the ground. Trying to get up, he grabbed the podium with one hand and with the other he stroked his reddened cheek.

"You miserable wretch! Do you think your talent is the best, you idiot?"

And, for the first time, Cindy had sworn.

"I'll bet everything, even my life, that Sherry's talent is far more important than yours, you Quack Surgeon!"

"Cindy... that's enough..."

Albert tried to grab her shoulder, but that only made her angrier.

"Leave me alone! Don't touch me! Do you know who else has another important talent? Leon! He makes sure ungrateful scum like you sleep soundly at night while he risks his ass fighting terrorists and protecting the entire world!"

No one could stop her.

No one.

"And you think you have the authority to use a scale to measure your worth and the worth of others and decide our lives? I'm sure Chris has a talent he never asked for, and he uses it anyway because he loves his country, he loves his people, and he loves the world he lives in!"

Cindy took a step forward, making George back away.

"Maybe I'm not great... maybe I'm just a... waitress... working in a dive bar... But I'm real! I fight for what's right, and no one can take away the joy I feel in saying I'm grateful to be alive! I want to live because I have so much to prove and so much love to share! And you...? No... we're not your patients... and it offends me that you treat us with the same coldness you use to decide who lives and who dies in the operating room."

"You wouldn't understand!"

George tried to reply, but Cindy raised her hand and began shaking it.

"I'm not interested in your reasons! You killed Saddler... a good man... maybe he wasn't perfect, maybe he even seemed like a strange guy... But he didn't want to hurt anyone! And you... AT LEAST HAVE THE BALLS TO SAY WHAT YOU DID TO HIM."

Cindy lunged at George and began slapping him, punching him in the chest, and pulling his hair.

And Hamilton could only look away, too afraid to bear the guilt.

"SAY IT! SAY IT, DAMMIT! WHY? WHY DID YOU DO IT?"

Cindy grew so exhausted that, eventually, her legs gave way and she collapsed into George's lap, who hugged her tightly, even as she continued to punch him in the chest.

No one could say anything in such a delicate situation.

Chapter 129: An Act of Faith - Trial - Part XI

Cindy still wasn't calming down, so George hugged her, stroked her hair, and even her back, trying to whisper things in her ear to prevent her from having a breakdown.

"So... you killed him, George?"

Albert hated interfering in the couple's most delicate moment, but he knew it was necessary.

"Ah... I'll tell you what happened. Just... please, don't judge me."

That's when George began to recount the events.

---

"I... indeed, after leaving the party, I went upstairs... because I had spoken with Saddler beforehand. We had reached an agreement; a few days earlier, he approached me and told me that he was dying, that he could sense death so close... and that for that reason, he knew his time was coming to an end.

He told me... he told me that initially he planned to offer his life to Alcina, but that he couldn't bear the thought of her being caught as a murderer and that this, consequently, would end up killing her. We saw what MonoRaccoon does to murderers... and that's why... that's why we agreed on a plan.

Saddler told me that, during the party, after he got up from his seat and left the party, I should follow him, but wait a few minutes so as not to make it so obvious. We prepared everything as we had agreed... I left the party, went straight to the GYM and... I turned on the treadmill so there would be a record of its use, I changed my clothes, and then I grabbed the blankets I had stored in my gym bag. I took one of the weights... And I just then noticed that Brad's locker was open.

At first, I was going to use my own black tape... but seeing that Brad had given me an opportunity with his carelessness... I decided to take his tape and use it for the crime.

God...

The two of us... we both went to the sauna, where... uh... uh... where before... before I took the weight and... you know... that... Saddler told me that he was going to end the game, that he had the answer, that there would be no more deaths and that this was the ultimate sacrifice.

When he fell to the floor, I grabbed the towel and stopped him from bleeding out. The plan was for him to die from asphyxiation in the sauna, that's why I turned up the temperature, because that way Saddler was going to dehydrate... but I swear... I swear I didn't adjust the system to make the temperature... So hot! Please... believe me...

I didn't want to torture Saddler... he just... offered me the plan... and... and everything got out of control. The smell of cooked meat, that damn aroma... I wanted to keep things quiet, that's why... that's why I didn't say anything to Brad because I thought he wouldn't notice either...

So after leaving him there in the sauna, sitting and leaning against the wall with the towel wrapped around his head, I went to the gym and pretended to work out. Naturally, Brad, seeing me walk in, would think I was exercising... but... there's something I can assure you.

I did NOT leave Saddler on the floor. Saddler was NOT in that position, and that damn towel... I didn't leave it like that. Besides, I didn't make any subsequent changes to the temperature control panel settings beyond what I had already done.

Someone... someone found the body... and they tampered with the evidence.

---

Thanks to George's confession, it was clear who he was referring to.

Chapter 130: An Act of Faith - Trial - Part XII

"What the hell did you do, Brad?"

Albert swore to any god that he was fed up with Vickers.

"N-nothing... I don't know why you're looking at me like that! I... I didn't do anything!"

Brad started sweating and tried to shield himself by putting his hands up in front of him and shaking his head.

"Now that I think about it... Brad... you left... you left the gym." George had a quick thought that, given the situation, allowed him to recall it precisely. "You said you were going to do something in the men's dorms... but... no one, not even Leon, has confirmed seeing you go down there."

"Is George even telling the truth?" Mia began to question him. "Because if he's lied to us... about something so serious..."

Chris knew the feeling was shared, but something about him, something so obvious, made him want to defend him.

"Mia... I think George is telling the truth. You should have seen his face, heard the tone of his voice when... when he asked about the towel. He was so specific, about everything that was Saddler's body... Why focus on the towel?"

George nodded at Chris's words and, for a moment, smiled at him.

"Redfield... he's right, Mia. I made that comment, barely perceptible, because I didn't think anyone would tamper with Saddler's body. But now that things are making sense... What did you do, Brad?"

"I didn't do anything, damn it!"

Chris used those words against Vickers himself.

"Brad... I believe you too... in fact... it's precisely your inaction that makes you look bad." Chris was guided by simple logic. "George had a reason for not saying anything about the smell of cooking meat in the sauna... because he thought it was Saddler... he knew it was Saddler."

"What are you talking about, Chris?"

Ethan was getting confused.

"I've come up with a little logic... let me explain. Let's say George had played innocent and said something smelled fishy, ​​luring Brad into the sauna so they'd find the body... it would all be curious, wouldn't it? Brad and George being the 'innocent' ones who found the body, and then other people going in and setting off the alarm. We would have eventually realized that George was the odd one out, just like we did with Claire... or with Jill and Karl."

"I understand your logic." Leon agreed. "It was in George's best interest to play dumb and not tell Brad anything because then he'd be exposed... IF SADDLER HAD DIED... but... as we know, the alarm went off after Cindy, Albert, and Mia saw him. Which means..."

"That Brad also smelled the odor, but decided to ignore it because he had interfered with George's crime... so it wasn't in his best interest to get caught or, in any case, to alert anyone that something smelled fishy."

Alcina knew that in her mind, this made sense and had a sound logic.

"Exactly!" Chris nodded. "So Brad... we know you're not the culprit... but you were involved in the case. So please, tell us what you did... or else we could all die, including you."

"Shit, shit, shit... ah... uh... DAMN IT, I'M SORRY." Brad exclaimed in a desperate cry. "I'm sorry! I... I... uh... I swear! I just wanted... I wanted to rest... uh... I wanted to take a nap after my shower and... This wasn't supposed to happen! The smell... the smell of the meat... nnn... uh..."

"Brad, calm down..." Albert smiled desperately, not wanting his colleague to do anything crazy. "It's obvious you didn't kill him, now... please tell us what you did..."

"Albert's right, Brad. You didn't do anything wrong, you're not in trouble. We just want the truth."

Chris put his hand on Vickers' shoulder and tried to comfort him.

"We'll get through this together, okay? So, come on, I trust you. What happened?"

Brad shed a tear, then another, and then more.

He knew people would never see him the same way again.

"Ah... don't hate me, Chris... don't leave me alone... Okay? I won't do it again... I..."

Brad swallowed hard and sighed, trying not to run out of air, trying to breathe again.

One, two, three.

Inhale, hold, exhale.

"I... I left the gym... and I smelled... the sauna. I went in and... and I saw Saddler sitting, leaning against the wall... and that's when I saw... my chance... Ah... I... I took him... I dragged him in and... I took that same towel, intending to make him suffocate... I went to the temperature control panel and adjusted the settings... not because I knew what I was doing, but because the buttons were so hot it was torture to press them... and... and... I left..."

Brad knew he'd screwed up big time.

"See? It''s out now. Thanks, Brad."

Chris smiled at Vickers, but that sparkle in his eyes vanished.

It was replaced by a look of disappointment.

Chapter 131: An Act of Faith - Trial - Part XIII

"So, Dr. Jerk attacks Saddler... and Pussy Vickers tries to kill him for good... but in the end... something else killed him, right, George?"

Albert commented with complete disdain.

"Indeed, George... apparently Saddler was very resilient... because something else killed him."

George thought it appropriate to continue the case from the perspective of some important details regarding Saddler's body.

---

"Bullet of Truth - George's Second Testimony.

The body showed signs of cyanosis, which is oxygen deficiency in the body. Cyanide may have caused it."

---

"Saddler... Saddler showed signs of cyanosis, which is a lack of oxygen in the body, and when this doesn't reach the brain, it causes a bluish discoloration around the mouth and face."

"So Saddler died of asphyxiation, right? Brad is the culprit since he was the last one to handle the victim..."

Ethan scratched his chin in confusion.

"Yes... and no. While it's understandable that Saddler could have died that way, the towel he had on his head wasn't enough to kill him. I mean... it was a condition that accelerated his death, but it didn't kill him."

George clarified, trying to find answers in the last remaining evidence.

"Also... Saddler vomited, didn't he, George?"

Leon asked, still remembering the unpleasant smell of the vomit stuck to the towel.

"That's right. We can also attribute this to the body's reaction to rejecting an ingested substance. We naturally vomit because we want to get rid of something we don't need or that has upset our system. And this confirms it."

---

"Bullet of Truth - Vomit Residues.

Saddler's body shows a significant concentration of vomit residue on his mouth, face, and the towel covering his head."

---

"How awful... Saddler choked on his own vomit... What a terrible way to die!"

Donna stroked her doll almost instinctively, trying to calm her nerves.

"Now... something that really worries me is that... Saddler's breath smelled like wine. He must have drunk wine at some point... but this leads me to a dead end... if Saddler was poisoned by someone else... where is the cyanide? And above all... when did he drink it?"

---

"Bullet of Truth - George's First Testimony.

Saddler's mouth smelled quite similar to the wine served at the party. Perhaps Saddler had a drink before the MonoRaccoon announcement?"

---

The participants' eyes turned to Alcina, who was offended.

"Oh, no! I'm not the murderer! I'm innocent! I prepared all the drinks following all hygiene regulations! I didn't kill anyone!"

"Are you sure, Alcina? Because you were in charge of the wine... and if you put cyanide in Saddler's wine..."

Mia was adamant.

"Oh, for heaven's sake! I DIDN'T DO THAT! Someone probably put the cyanide in Saddler's wine after he left! But I didn't kill anyone! I swear!"

"How can I believe you?" Albert challenged. "You had the chance..."

"No, Albert... I think Alcina is innocent. In fact... I dare say everyone here is innocent."

Chris knew this was the perfect moment to mention her crucial clue.

Chapter 132: An Act of Faith - Trial - The Innocents

"Truth Bullet - Cyanide.

Bottle of cyanide found inside the men's shower trash can."

---

"Now I understand everything... Saddler... his plan... how we all got involved... It was Saddler, Saddler committed suicide. It's a matter of looking at it logically... George, Brad, and Alcina couldn't have killed him because that's not consistent with the incentive criterion... and I was watching Leon the whole time. He had no way of poisoning Saddler."

---

Participants can kill their assigned teammates.

The death of a teammate by an external member of their team will result in the instant death of the remaining surviving member.

In the event that one of the teammates in a given group takes their own life, the remaining member will not be executed.

The killer will share execution or victory with the other player if the killer turns out to be their teammate.

The maximum number of kills that can be committed is three. From the fourth kill onward, the offending user will be executed, and the survivors will be informed of the relevant details.

---

"The only logical explanation for why Leon is still alive is that he killed Saddler, but Leon didn't even have the chance. If Saddler had been killed by someone else, then Leon would have been dead, but he... he's still here."

"But what about the cyanide, Chris? If we follow the logic that Saddler participated in the Roulette of Pain... where is the cyanide?"

"It's here." Chris sent the last photo he had to send to the group, showing him holding a bottle labeled "danger," with the name "CYANIDE" written in black letters. "In the men's showers..."

"Oh... so... who I heard coming in..."

Brad was trembling with excitement.

"It was Saddler… Saddler went into the men's showers, most likely before George even noticed, and with his glass in hand, he poured cyanide into the wine and drank it…"

Chris stared at the photograph of the Ultimate Priest, disappointed.

"And then… he threw away his glass and hid the cyanide… But why? Why would Saddler make a whole plan with George if he was going to commit suicide by ingesting cyanide anyway?"

Sherry couldn't see the logic.

But Chris could.

"It's simple, Sherry… Saddler told George his true intentions. That would be the Ultimate Sacrifice. We know how MonoRaccoon is with punishments; the reason Saddler left his broken glass with wine still in it was so we'd think he was being punished."

"But what would be the point of making the deal with George then?"

Albert asked, confused.

"Isn't it obvious? Because we weren't supposed to find the cyanide. Our conclusion should have been the same as the one we reached with Karl. We should have voted for MonoRaccoon as the killer. I'm sure even Saddler knew what would happen if he didn't stay at the party. That's why... that's why he did all this."

"Oh, crap... if we had never found the cyanide, then we would have thought the wounds were caused by MonoRaccoon... And rightly so! To believe that the cause of death was MonoRaccoon..."

Brad could hardly believe it.

"That's why Leon should still be alive. But, the truth is... Saddler was already doomed when he drank the cyanide. It would have been impossible for MonoRaccoon to punish a corpse..."

"So... Saddler wanted to kill us all?" George barely blinked. "That's why... that's why the Ultimate Sacrifice... That son of a bitch! He used me! How could someone like that... with that talent...?"

Everyone stared with intrigue at Saddler's photograph, his smile seemingly concealing many secrets.

It was time to end it all.

Chapter 133: An Act of Faith - Trial - Climax

ACT 1

Chris: To understand what happened in this case, we need to know about the killer's movements before his gruesome end.

Albert: As we established, the killer participated in the Roulette of Pain, which resulted in a series of wounds and bruises all over his body. As part of the game's rules, points were awarded based on the amount of damage received.

Ethan: The killer endured a significant amount of pain inflicted by MonoRaccoon in order to obtain a specific item from the shop...

Mia: Cyanide...

Alcina: Once the killer obtained the cyanide, he carried out the second phase of his plan. After all, the killer in this case wanted to end MonoRaccoon's game once and for all.

Sherry: Knowing that his death was near... the killer contacted another of the survivors in order to begin preparations for his plan which, if it went according to what the killer thought, would not only end the game itself, but the lives of all of us.

---

ACT 2

George: The person the killer contacted to carry out his plan was... me. The killer told me he wanted me to kill him, and together we devised a whole strategy for the murder to take place. But what I didn't know... was that the killer had other intentions.

Cindy: By deceiving George, the killer offered him a way out. That's how they began making preparations together to ensure the case unfolded without interruption.

Albert: All of this would take place on the day of the party we were all forced to attend. The killer, seeing that all the men were showering, refrained from joining us.

Ethan: This has a logical explanation, because if we all saw his naked body... then that would mean we would notice the marks and wounds the killer suffered during his session in the Wheel of Pain.

Chris: And not only that! The killer also refrained from dressing with all the men in the men's dormitories because, again, if we saw him naked, we would notice his marks, which would lead us to question how he spent the points he earned.

George: It was then that, using my "diabetes" as an excuse, I grabbed my gym bag... which was full because I was carrying a couple of blankets that I would later use to commit the crime. I did this at the killer's request, with whom I had agreed to carry out this plan.

Brad: After leaving an item that the accomplice would use for the case that was about to happen, we all met in the ballroom as we had previously agreed, since we were forced to attend the party orchestrated by MonoRaccoon.

---

ACT 3

Donna: The party finally arrived!

Mia: And with that, our shattered hopes. We hadn't committed a single murder in the last three days, and it was clear someone would die that night. MonoRaccoon said so... if someone didn't die within that timeframe, then we'd all be executed...

Chris: Everyone here had roles to fill, but for the sake of this story, let's highlight three: Alcina, in charge of drinks; Mia, in charge of food; and Cindy, in charge of serving the food and drinks.

Leon: And don't forget our roles, Chris! Chris and I were both guards, and we were in charge of checking all the guests in case anyone was carrying the cyanide Chris had reported. We were afraid it might be put in the food, and someone would be killed by poisoning.

Chris: That's right! And we also checked every corner of the kitchen, the ballroom, we even took the liberty of rotating guards to make sure no one at the table tried to tamper with anyone else's food or drinks...

Sherry: But then... Cindy's accident happened. In a moment of carelessness, and I assume this was just a matter of pure coincidence, Brad got up from his seat just as Cindy was behind him, carrying five wine glasses.

Cindy: My mistake... the accident I caused led to Brad having to leave the party, to him getting involved in the case. Who would have thought that this would actually help us uncover the culprit's schemes?

Ethan: But Brad wasn't the only one to leave the party... the killer also left, struggling to get up from his seat. He couldn't hide the fact that his body was feeling the effects of all the physical ordeals he'd endured during his participation in the pain roulette, and his withdrawal... was a signal for his accomplice to act and carry out the plan.

Leon: It's worth noting that the killer didn't leave empty-handed, because he had his own wine glass, which would later prove to be very important. We can confirm that, up to that point, the wine glass the culprit took was NOT poisoned.

Mia: That's why... the accomplice, George, waited a long time in the dining room, trying to dispel any suspicion that he was going to make his move, and thus, he waited for the right moment.

---

ACT 4

Chris: Now let's look at things from what happened at the gym. Brad went up to the second floor where, upon arriving at the gym, he went to his locker and grabbed his flip-flops and sweatpants. It's worth noting that to open the locker, you have to scan the MonoDroid.

Albert: But Brad didn't know that the locker doesn't lock automatically once you close the door... because you have to scan the MonoDroid again to lock it. This, unbeknownst to him, gave George an opportunity to act later.

Brad: So... I went to the showers, locked myself in one of the stalls, and started to undress. My clothes reeked of alcohol, and I was already starting to feel dizzy. For that reason, I decided to shower immediately. I was in the shower for about ten to fifteen minutes, but suddenly the water went from hot to cold, and then to freezing. I couldn't shower properly because of this.

Mia: This temperature change is explained by the killer, who most likely went to the sauna after leaving the party and the men's dorm to change the temperature gauges. After all, the sauna is a very hot place, so the accomplice wouldn't realize he was just adjusting a system that had already been tampered with.

Donna: And then the killer went into the showers! With his wine glass and the cyanide he won from the Wheel of Pain, the killer poured some... drank it... and then threw away the glass, leaving shards of wine-stained glass in the men's showers.

Chris: And not only that, the killer hid the cyanide inside the trash can. I found the cyanide among piles of papers covered in excrement... there it was.

Brad: I didn't leave the showers because I was scared. I don't want to imagine what could've happen to me if... if they saw me, the killer and George. Maybe I would become the second victim of this case. 

George: Then... I left the dining room after a while. That's when I went to the gym where I ran into the killer coming out of the showers. I did several things, including taking off my formal suit and putting on my gym uniform so my suit wouldn't get wet from my sweat..

Albert: Also, George opened his gym bag, took out the blankets he had packed, and while he went to pick up one of the weights and one towel, he noticed Brad's locker was open and stole his black tape. That's why Brad's had his almost run out. 

Sherry: Also, George activated the treadmill to start counting down the amount of time he was absent from the gym, thus giving him an alibi...

---

ACT 5

Donna: Then the killer and George went into the sauna! That's when George, using the weight he stole from the gym... SPLIT THE KILLER'S HEAD LIKE A PUMPKIN!

Mia: Blood everywhere... George knew that if he didn't act fast, the whole plan would fall apart. George, with his extensive medical knowledge, grabbed a towel and stopped the bleeding once he wrapped it arround the killer's head. Then, using the black tape, George began tying the killer's hands and feet to immobilize him.

Cindy: George... took the blankets he stole from the men's dorms and covered the killer with them so that his body would absorb enough heat to kill him from heatstroke. That's how George left him sitting, leaning against a wall.

Leon: And it's no surprise that George, to speed up the murder process, went to the control panel where he proceeded to turn up the sauna's temperature much higher than it already was. That's how the Ultimate Surgeon left the culprit to die.

Brad: And then... I saw George walk into the gym! He was sweating, and with the weight he was holding, I thought he was working out... That's when George and I started walking on the treadmills and chatting. We spent a lot of time together in the gym. At some point... at some point, I left the gym because I was tired.

Chris: But the truth is, Brad noticed the smell coming from inside the sauna. The temperature caused Saddler's skin to start giving off a smell similar to smoked meat because, in reality, he was roasting inside.

George: Brad... Brad went into the sauna, and that's when he saw an opportunity. His plan was to take the towel the killer had wrapped around his head to stop the bleeding and wrap it over his face to try and suffocate him. He then went to the temperature control panel to increase the heat even more... but because the buttons were scalding hot, Brad only had a few chances to raise the temperature to a lethal level that would only take a short time for the killer, given his age and deteriorating condition, to die.

Alcina: So... Brad returned to the gym, as if nothing had happened, and rejoined George. When they both received the alert on their MonoDroid to go down to the party and be forced to eat, they both caught the scent of the killer's flesh in the sauna, but since they both knew what was inside, it wasn't in their best interest to say anything because that would ruin their plans.

---

ACT 6

Cindy: It was at the meeting that we noticed both Brad and George weren't wearing their formal suits anymore... because they were both actually involved in setting the stage to end the killer's life. Maybe if they had changed, maybe if they hadn't met us dressed differently...

Sherry: We were all forced to eat... we all drank the wine Alcina made and the food Mia prepared. They definitely weren't responsible for poisoning the killer's drinks. Besides... Cindy didn't poison them either, even though she had the chance.

Ethan: Bite after bite, sip after sip... we all ate fearfully because we knew from Chris that someone had bought cyanide. I... I was terrified that this was literally our last meal.

Donna: But it was someone's last meal indeed, Ethan! It was the killer's last meal as he began to feel the effects of the cyanide... when he started vomiting, when his respiratory system closed and his face, his lips... turned blue. Death embraced the killer as his body filled with bubbles and his skin peeled off, red-hot!

Mia: Then... I had my accident. I peed myself because of a really bad pain in my stomach. It was... embarrassing.

Albert: Mia asked Cindy for help to get to the showers, and since Cindy and I had an agreement, I accompanied them to the second floor... once we got there... ah... that smell... that smell had permeated the whole damn hallway.

Mia: I saw Cindy and Albert open the sauna door... it was... horrible when...

Alcina: The killer... the one who sacrificed himself... the one who wanted to commit the Ultimate Sacrifice and end the game... it was you... My dear Osmund Saddler, Ultimate Priest...

Chapter 134: An Act of Faith - Trial - Conclusion

All the survivors voted for Osmund Saddler as his own killer. Once again, their lives depended on a conclusion, on a logical reasoning that would lead them to only one answer, one that, until that moment, could be wrong.

A large screen lit up and displayed a roulette wheel with the faces of the survivors still alive, and when it landed on Saddler's face…

Sherry clung to Alcina's skirt.

Ethan and Mia held hands.

Donna found refuge in Chris's arm, gently wrapping it around him.

And Cindy and George stared at each other for a long time, sadness reflected on their faces.

Gold coins and a pair of floral arrangements appeared on the screen, indicating that their answer was correct.

The entire courtroom had a particular sound as the survivors' relieved sighs merged into one.

"Oh, shit… So he wanted us dead!"

Ethan said angrily, slamming his fist on his own podium.

"Saddler must have had his reasons! No... I'm not going to speak ill of the dead... he... he promised me... Heavens..."

Alcina pulled out a black handkerchief and used it to wipe away the smudged makeup that had formed around her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.

The elevator door finally appeared, still closed, as spotlights above indicated the floor number, not as a sign that it was all over, but as a dark invitation for the game to continue.

"We're going to continue with this... no... I can't believe it..."

Sherry began to cry, knowing they would be caught up in another terrible massacre.

"And there will be only a few of us left every time that damn elevator turns on! Haven't we satisfied you, MonoRaccoon?"

Albert's words were spat out with a venomous quality.

One by one, the survivors left their podiums and approached the elevator.

All except one.

"Leon?" Chris noticed that he wasn't moving from his podium, and that, in fact, he seemed unusually quiet. "Aren't you coming? The trial's over..."

"Heh... oh, Chris... Do you really think it's over?"

Leon commented with a smile, which was odd since he was known for never smiling.

"What do you mean?"

Cindy overheard Leon's comment and turned to face him. The survivors noticed his strange behavior.

"What do you mean it's not over? If we find the culprit, of course we're all coming back. All of us."

Ethan wanted to appear somewhat optimistic.

"Uhuhuhuhuhu! I don't think so!" Donna's doll let out a shrill laugh that made everyone tremble. "I know what Leon means! If we all go to the rules section... we'll see what he's talking about..."

And that's when the truth hit them all like a bucket of cold water.

Then, the doll took the MonoDroid and began to read aloud the following:

---

The killer will share execution or victory with the other player if the killer turns out to be their teammate.

---

"No... No! Damn it, it can't be true!"

Chris felt a pressure in his chest, as did the other members who knew that something else was about to be lost.

That the trial wasn't completely over.

"But... But Saddler committed suicide! That means you're free, Leon! No... it can't be..."

Mia covered her mouth in shock and soon felt her cold hands tremble, being covered by Ethan's.

"Now I understand... now I understand what Saddler could have meant, George... with his sacrifice." Leon spoke with such distinctive calm that it even made his teammates tremble with fear. "In this case... the rules were made so that three of us would die... three of us had to die on this floor. One by murder and two by execution..."

"But since Saddler committed suicide and he turned out to be the killer... that means..."

Sherry made a face that reflected her complete pity for Leon, who by then had contributed a lot to the group.

"That's right!" And finally, MonoRaccoon joined the conversation. "Everything he says is true! Since you have successfully identified the killer in the case, your teammate, Leon S. Kennedy, you will be executed!"

"You son of a bitch!" Chris rebuked MonoRaccoon. "You know how much Leon has helped us, and you want to kill him because he'll find out things about you and your shitty game!"

"You're a bastard!" Alcina joined in the booing. "You're killing an innocent man for actions he had absolutely no part in!"

The survivors were angry, some genuinely furious, but Leon… Leon was calm.

"Ha… so that's how it'll be." Leon pulled a small bottle of alcohol from his clothing, uncorked it, and calmly took a swig. "I hope my execution is cool, and not some shitty mess."

"How can you be so calm knowing you're going to die?" Mia didn't understand; she could barely wrap her head around the idea that something like this was possible. "You… you're about to be executed."

"We're all going to die," Leon said calmly. "But we all have the choice of how. Don't resent my death... in fact, if you want to honor me, survive. And if you're going to kill... let it be an unsolvable case."

"Leon..." Chris swallowed hard and looked into the eyes of his colleague who, until then, had been quite supportive. "Thank you. Maybe I didn't really know you... or maybe you genuinely scared me a lot, but..."

"Chris... this punishment is more than justified," Leon said with a broad smile. "I've done things, believe me... If I die, and if there is a God, if there is an afterlife... I won't be accepted into the kingdom of heaven, there, where the golden houses rest on the clouds. I'm not a good person, I never pretended to be, and that's why..."

Leon let out a bitter laugh.

"That's why I didn't want to become close friends with anyone, I didn't want to get to know anyone, because that way you wouldn't resent my death. I knew I wasn't going to survive this... and... to be honest..."

Leon approached Chris and looked him straight in the eyes, grabbed both his shoulders, and forced him to look him in the face.

"If I had gotten out of here, believe me... I would have killed someone, and none of you would have won. Do you think someone like me, with my talent, couldn't have made the perfect case?"

"That's what I thought." George chimed in. "That's why... that's also why I agreed to kill Saddler... because you would die, Leon. I'd finally get rid of the smartest one in the group, and a potential threat."

"Well, congratulations, asshole." Leon spat at Hamilton's feet. "I hope you can help these lost souls because... now that my fate is sealed... ha... I'd like to become a ghost, to watch you shit yourself when someone smarter than you really screws you over as you fail the trial."

---

"I've prepared a very special punishment for Leon S. Kennedy, the Ultimate Homeland Security Agent!"

---

"Chris! Before I die..."

---

"IT'S TIME FOR PUNSHMENT!"

---

"Take this! ONLY YOU CAN STOP THIS GAME!"

---

Leon handed Redfield a flash drive before a chain wrapped around Leon's neck and, with superhuman strength, dragged him into the shadows behind a red curtain.

---

 

Chapter 135: An Act of Faith - Trial - Execution

Leon found himself in an abandoned building. According to the device he was using, he had received a report about a dangerous terrorist trafficking a highly dangerous variant of a mysterious disease. The report warned that if the mission failed, the entire world would suffer the consequences of a new epidemic.

Walking through the building's corridors, dodging hidden wire traps that nearly decapitated him, and triggering a false floor mechanism that caused a ceiling to collapse on top of him, Leon, using his astonishing agility and physical mobility, narrowly escaped death with a somersault. It would have taken much more than that to finish him off.

After reaching an underground base where shattered glass capsules leaked foul-smelling liquids, and after hooded men raised their arms and stumbled to their doom, Leon's gunfire became the only light scattered throughout that room of horrors, where death breathed down his neck.

At some point, Leon came across a series of computers that were in the middle of what appeared to be a process for a series of guided missiles destined for several important points on a map displayed on one of the screens, each location marked by a flashing red dot.

Before Leon could stop the process, the message COMPLETED! appeared in green on each of the monitors. Leon only managed to glance at a camera that was zooming out until it eventually connected with a satellite that powered up and fired a beam.

Everything that had once been that place—the surrounding buildings, everything that had defined it—had vanished. Various shots showed buildings, roads, even a tower engulfed in flames until it collapsed.

Goodbye, Leon S. Kennedy.

---

SURVIVING ULTIMATES

Mia Winters - Ultimate Researcher

Ethan Winters - Ultimate Systems Engineer

Chris Redfield - Ultimate Soldier

Albert Wesker - Ultimate ???

Alcina Dimitrescu - Ultimate Oenologist

Donna Beneviento - Ultimate Dollmaker

Sherry Birkin - Ultimate Virologist

Cindy Lennox - Ultimate Waitress

Brad Vickers - Ultimate Pilot

George Hamilton - Ultimate Surgeon

---

DECEASED ULTIMATES

1st Case

Claire Redfield - Ultimate Biker - Throat Slit

Alexia Ashford - Ultimate Sniper - Shot

2nd Case

Karl Heisenberg - Ultimate Inventor - Head Blown Up

Jill Valentine - Ultimate Cop - Bleeding

3rd Case

Osmund Saddler - Ultimate Priest - Poisoned

Leon S. Kennedy - Ultimate Homeland Security Agent