Inadvertent Assistance

The Resident Evil theory has gained widespread attention since its publication in the newspaper. American reactions vary—some feel scared, some find it amusing, others think it's foolish, and some remain indifferent. Nonetheless, it has instigated a significant amount of panic, particularly concerning the T-Virus. This virus, capable of transforming people into carriers, raises concerns about potential experiments by pharmaceutical companies for biological weapons. This fear extends to those unfamiliar with Resident Evil, especially among non-console gamers.

"We should urge the government to take action for public safety," remarked a thin elderly man reading the newspaper during a family outing.

"Oh, come on, Dad. That news is two days old; it's probably outdated," the man in his thirties interjected.

"Even if it's from two days ago, the possibility of a pharmaceutical company experimenting with such a virus, disregarding human life, is still a cause for concern at this very moment!" the old man insisted, dismissing the newspaper issue.

Shaking his head, the man in his thirties turned to his wife and children, preparing to set up the barbecue.

The old man approached them and cautioned, "I warned you this outing could be dangerous. Zombies might be roaming around out there."

The man in his thirties and his wife exchanged glances, shaking their heads. "You're being paranoid, Dad," he sighed.

"That's right, Dad. I don't think there's any need to worry," the man's wife reassured.

"I'm telling you, these are usually the words of people before they get hunted down by zombies!" the old man insisted seriously. He added, "I couldn't leave you alone, so I joined this outing and brought some weapons we could use later."

"Zombies!?" the three children exclaimed, two excitedly while the other showed fear.

"You're scaring the children, Dad," the man in his thirties shook his head.

"Let's hunt zombies, Grandpa!"

"Let's go!"

"I'm so scared..."

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Meanwhile, after profiting from the zombie-related news, the newspaper publishers released more updates on the Resident Evil T-Virus, KiShin, and pharmaceutical companies.

It triggered a minor public alarm, and the Resident Evil theory found its way to several media outlets.

"Zombie outbreak? Is it truly plausible?" questioned an anchor in front of the camera. He continued, "Should you prepare a shelter to ensure your safety and possibly your family's against this crisis? Let's find out with the coverage from Andrew Arc."

The scene shifted to Andrew Arc, standing in front of the camera, who explained, "There's news circulating about a virus possibly being developed by pharmaceutical companies that could turn people into zombies. It originated from a horror-themed video game centered around zombies." The coverage on Resident Evil unfolded.

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As media outlets continued to cover the Resident Evil theory featured by newspaper publishers...

With the news spreading, more and more people gradually became aware of the theory, sparking curiosity, fear, or paranoia.

KiShin also came into the public eye due to this situation, as their video game initiated theories surrounding the zombie outbreak news.

Some individuals became increasingly wary of pharmaceutical companies possibly experimenting with such a virus.

Subsequently, certain media outlets approached KiShin regarding the situation.

KiShin's representative, Orio Masayoshi, responded, "We never anticipated that our fictional video game, Resident Evil, would lead to such a situation in this country. Our video game is intended solely for the entertainment and joy of those who enjoy gaming. The fear generated by a theory about our video game, covered by newspapers and media outlets, is not our intention..."

This response from KiShin emphasizes that their video games are meant for entertainment, disclaiming any intent to harm the public. They attribute the panic among the masses to the actions of newspapers publishers and media outlets.

Many people aligned with KiShin's response, believing that the company bears no responsibility for the situation.

Due to KiShin's response, media coverage faintly pointed blame at the company in their discussion of the zombie outbreak. There was a subtle suggestion that KiShin, a Japanese company, intentionally caused panic in the USA through the storyline of their video game Resident Evil, set in USA suburban areas. However, this insinuation didn't significantly impact KiShin, as some viewers believed the company was merely issuing a warning and delivering a message to the public.

Interestingly, the media's accusations had little adverse effect on KiShin; in fact, it bolstered their sales of KS1 and other video games. Particularly, Resident Evil, the focal point of attention, gained immense popularity, even reaching individuals not typically interested in video games.

Although Resident Evil was the catalyst for theories about viruses and zombies, it was the newspapers publishers and media outlets that ultimately propagated the news. This unintentionally led to increased recognition and sales for KiShin in the USA.

As a consequence, within a few days, newspaper publishers and media outlets ceased coverage of topics related to Resident Evil and zombie theories.

Recognizing that it would remain a hot topic, they refrained from spreading such news. They understood that not only would KiShin be implicated, but the company would also profit from the situation—an outcome the publishers and outlets were keen to avoid, especially after KiShin plainly stated that it was the newspapers publishers and media outlets themselves who spread panic through these theories...

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Meanwhile, Shin examined the IBM Simon Personal Communicator.

Shin couldn't deny that IBM's attempt at a touchscreen and portable device was commendable, but its exorbitant price destined it for a swift failure – roughly a thousand dollars.

"It's quite good, but who would spend a grand on this when they could buy a cellular phone?" Shin mused while toying with the IBM Simon Personal Communicator.

As he explored the device, Shin received the sales report for KiShin in the USA following the coverage of Resident Evil and zombie outbreak theories by newspapers and media outlets.

Upon hearing the report from Orio Masayoshi on the phone, Shin smiled and remarked, "Hehe, we can't thank the media enough for their inadvertent assistance." Orio Masayoshi responded with a moment of silence.