Chapter 92: The Wind of the Times

"Silence, are you leaving?"

"Mm, Kazimierz says a VIP is critically injured and needs support."

Looking at Saria, who stood at the doorway with a complicated expression, Silence smiled gently and pushed up the glasses on her nose.

"This is a call for help directed at all medical institutions. Although our Rhine Lab has already split, it is still a large medical enterprise. I'll go see the VIP's situation over there; if possible, I want to recruit him to our side."

"Does he have that kind of value? Even to temporarily abandon current work to go look after him?"

"As Head of Security, Saria, you should have seen it, right? One person, at the cost of severe injuries, annihilated the main forces of all Kazimierz rebellions. Among them was even Mieszko the Sightless, a powerhouse capable of using Originium Arts to manipulate the five senses of an entire city block, causing confusion and madness. If we can win over such a powerhouse, not only will we gain the friendship of such a formidable figure, but we can also find a way out for our Rhine Lab. Kazimierz is a sovereign nation, so—"

"It hasn't come to that point yet, Silence. Raythean Industries and we, along with Columbia's government, are on our side. We can still encircle and annihilate those rebels who desecrated the sanctity of scientific research. So Silence, you don't need to leave this safe house now, to go to those unknown places."

"Saria."

"I…"

"Times have changed, Saria."

Looking at the figure standing at the doorway, forcefully trying to persuade her, and at the same time, herself, a trace of heartache flickered in Silence's eyes.

Saria, the Head of Security, harder than diamond, who cared about order more than anyone else; facing the increasingly intense reality now, her emotions had been completely torn apart. She could only admit she needed to cooperate with Raythean Industries, selectively ignoring Raythean Industries' overstepping of authority and coercion in various commands.

The current Rhine Lab, rather than being the original emerging large medical enterprise, had been swallowed and nibbled away into Raythean Industries' biological subsidiary department. Many original research workshops had already been shut down one after another, leaving only those countermeasure workshops targeting Umbrella Bio, which were now in full swing planning. And Rhine Lab, originally dedicated to humanity and science, no longer existed anywhere. From the moment Umbrella split off, it ceased to exist.

The remaining people were just chasing the reflection of a dream. This point, Saria, who controlled security, knew better than anyone, and also wanted to admit it less than anyone.

"We can't be willful anymore. Guard the last embers of Rhine Lab, protect everything we have, and more importantly, don't lose the integrity in your heart. We have already reached the point where we must take the initiative to strike. Kazimierz is a very good place; they are far from this current… hell."

Silence chose her words carefully, but still frowned, using a more intense tone.

And Saria's eyes darkened upon hearing this.

Hell, no word could better describe the current situation. Everyone was slaughtering each other in this small patch of soil. Whether machinery, biology, or Originium Arts, endless plans, one after another, experimental subjects. The line between the living and the dead had become ambiguous; people couldn't even distinguish whether this was reality or a dream. People who were laughing and talking yesterday, put on mechanical bodies today and stepped onto the battlefield again.

And presumably, it was the same for Umbrella Bio. A soldier could often die several times. Crawling up from hell, recycled, re-modified, then thrown back onto the battlefield. This nightmare-like scene had become a recent daily occurrence on the plains.

This was no longer a place where dreams manifested; this was a living hell.

"I must make plans for our future, so I have to go."

Silence carried her suitcase, looked at Saria whose expression was dim at the doorway, and smiled.

"That child, I'll leave her in your care. I'm leaving first. You must hold on here. Don't be assimilated."

"…Mm. Safe journey, Silence."

"You too."

Goodbye, Silence.

Watching Silence leave with a smile, Saria bit her lip.

A long while after Silence left, she finally slammed the door forcefully, then let out a breath, still maintaining that expressionless appearance as she returned to her post. But she didn't know these actions had already been seen by a surveillance device.

"Medical Director Silence has decided to head to Kazimierz. Head of Medical Security Saria shows signs of resistance. Director, how shall we proceed?"

"Rhine Lab Head of Security Saria, huh… Forget it, let her be."

Sitting on a chair watching the surveillance footage, the man shrouded in shadow swirled the red wine glass, waving his hand disinterestedly.

"In the current era, the gap between individual martial strength and weaponry has become increasingly narrow. There's no point in trying to win over such conservatives anymore. If Rhine Lab wants to find a way out, let them find it; anyway, they're just a bunch of defeated remnants. What should have been taken has already been eaten; we are not Umbrella Bio, no need to be so ruthless. Kazimierz over there is just a bunch of country folk, nothing worth targeting. Our main enemy is still Umbrella."

"The combination of biology and Originium, eternal life and intelligence, versus our mechanical, biochemical, and electronic forms of immortality; I'd like to see which side can truly gain the upper hand. Aren't the people over there very knowledgeable too? On the surface, they fight very fiercely, but between themselves, they are all testing data."

"Then let them continue testing. There are as many people wanting to make money as you want, and so are the materials. We just need to complete our mission; everything else is irrelevant."

This must be a heaven-sent opportunity. It must be.

Watching Saria on the surveillance screen already starting to gather other Rhine Lab members, preparing to split from Raythean Industries, the director in the shadow shook his head and smiled.

What use can those who can't see the times clearly be? You've already been swept into the vortex of the era's tide, yet you don't want to be disturbed by its eddies, wanting to stay away from this tide, heh, how is that possible? Those who struggle can only sink deeper, eventually being completely swallowed by the vortex, not even dregs remaining.

People with self-adherence and integrity are certainly worthy of respect, but that's all there is to it. As the saying goes, good words can hardly persuade a damned ghost ; it's just to that extent. Since you chose to leave, chose to detach from this era, then you must be prepared accordingly. Fortunately, in this era, it's not only Umbrella that has such vision, Raythean Industries also does. This cannot but be said to be a fortunate thing.

"Only without enemies does one feel lonely. We are not mortal enemies; we are competitors, that's all."

Looking at the continuously appearing weapon data, the director once again savored the fine wine, feeling the sweetness of a win-win situation.