Chapter 38: Arrival of Team Alpha

Half an hour later, Wesker led the Alpha team members to the scene of the incident. The sight of the numerous bodies shocked everyone. It was clear that these were civilians. Could the Bravo team have shot so many civilians? And if so, why would they have called for assistance?

"What happened here, Enrico?" Wesker asked, approaching the captain with a calm demeanor. He glanced at the bodies before inquiring about the situation.

Captain Enrico briefly recounted the events, describing the moving corpses and the appearance of the monster. The members of the Alpha team were taken aback by the revelation.

"Indeed, on closer inspection, these bodies have been dead for over ten days, judging by their state of decay," Chris commented after examining the bodies.

As the S.T.A.R.S members regrouped, Zhang Fan showed no sign of joy. His attention was focused on Tomoyo Sakagami, the female warrior from Kouhaku High School. She seemed unusually shaken today. Although Tomoyo was strong enough to handle petty thugs as an ordinary person, the sight of real death had profoundly impacted the seventeen-year-old girl.

"Are you okay, Tomoyo?" Zhang Fan asked with concern, understanding her feelings. He, too, had been shaken during his first encounter with such horrors, even killing zombies himself. Without mental preparation, how could one endure such an ordeal?

"Senior..." Tomoyo's lips quivered slightly. Seeing Zhang Fan's concerned expression, she felt a warmth in her heart. She knew Zhang Fan, the Chinese man, must have some connection to her world. Otherwise, he wouldn't know the name of Kouhaku High School. Instinctively, she felt closer to Zhang Fan, and his concern greatly encouraged her.

"I'll be okay, senior. I can handle it," Tomoyo nodded, her trembling subsiding, replaced by a resolute look in her eyes. She had vowed to complete the game's tasks and find her way home. This was just her first mission; she couldn't back down now.

"That's good. Be careful, this mission is no simple task," Zhang Fan said, his words holding a double meaning that Tomoyo understood. Although it was a game, it was fraught with danger. A single misstep could lead to death, just like those lying on the ground.

Meanwhile, Jill observed Zhang Fan's care for Tomoyo. While she appreciated his concern for a teammate, she couldn't help feeling a strange bitterness inside. Was she developing feelings for the young man? No, that seemed impossible! In her heart, she tried to dismiss these thoughts, considering him more like a younger brother.

"Wesker, we need to report this as an emergency," Enrico stated. The team continued their search, trying to uncover any useful clues. Despite being elite members, the danger level was high. Normally, the military would be called in for such situations.

Zhang Fan sensed Wesker's intentions. Was he delaying or sending them to their deaths? Zhang Fan could only follow orders and see what unfolded.

Zhang Fan and Rebecca continued to team up, with Jill looking after Tomoyo. The four were responsible for searching the same area, staying close to each other.

It was evident that Tomoyo lacked experience with firearms. She held a K17 semi-automatic pistol but seemed inexperienced in handling it. Had she been dropped into this world without any basic training?

In contrast, Jill frowned at Tomoyo's performance, finding her unfit for battle. Could she have gained entry into S.T.A.R.S. through backdoor means? Despite her internal debate, Jill couldn't deny a hint of personal sentiment in her judgment.

An hour later, the teams regrouped, having found nothing significant. Strangely, the Hunter's corpse had vanished. If not for the bloodstains and bullet casings, they might have thought the battle a dream. Who could have taken the body? Was this an organized, premeditated act?

Wesker remained silent, simply instructing the hospital and police to survey the scene and remove the bodies, before leading the team back.

The team expected the incident to cause a stir, but to their surprise, Chief Brian Irons suppressed it. Why? They sought answers from Captain Wesker, who only responded with "classified information." The team struggled to accept such an unsatisfactory explanation.