In the eyes of Kurumi, a cold light flickered without time to think of anything else. Two different types of clothes poured out and scattered on the ground. The body of the wild boar disappeared quickly.
As for the black cat...
"Tsk, really!"
Fortunately, with abundant spiritual power, a spherical barrier formed, trapping the black cat inside.
Whether spiritual power could block the virus, no one knew for sure.
"Red Queen, can you stop the spread of other viruses?"
"I'm sorry, this virus can spread through the air. Without specialised equipment, I can't analyse it."
"Based on its contagiousness... it won't be long before the entire community gets infected."
In Kurumi eyes, light shimmered, finally disappearing into the depths. "Call Umbrella for assistance, take a virus sample, and research an antidote as soon as possible."
"Master... Umbrella is already preparing, but this virus is potent. The difficulty of finding a cure... even a civilisation at the Beta level might struggle."
Kurumi was about to say something when dizziness struck, and she fell to the ground.
A chilling touch spread through her skin, jolting her awake!
"Damn it!"
The projection of the silver pieces formed the Red Queen's worried face. "Master, your condition is far from right. I suggest entering the main god's marketplace to find a potion."
A gentle touch to the head sent warmth into her core, slowly restoring her spiritual power.
"I'm fine. This virus is indeed quite intense."
"Master, your body temperature is nearing 38°C..."
"I'm fine. The virus has been suppressed by spiritual power. It seems even my body has become stronger."
The wind blew outside the window. It was early in the night, and many of the estate owners in the community had not yet fallen asleep. However, danger could strike at any moment.
"Bang!"
Kurumi raised her folding fan. She had just witnessed a car accident on the road outside. Though neither party seemed severely damaged, no one got out of the vehicles...
Infection... had begun!
"Red Queen, remove Umbrella's emblem. I want you to oversee the development of the suppression solution personally."
"Yes, Master!" The Red Queen's crisp voice sounded determined yet cautious. "Master, according to the information from the cloud computing base, this virus isn't entirely harmful."
Kurumi sneered, "The advantageous side is that it promotes evolution, right?"
"Master, you're quite clever."
Kurumi's gaze became intense, "What would be the probability of evolution? Can one out of a hundred thousand people achieve it?"
"Not quite, Master. Based on simulation calculations, if the body is resilient enough, it can survive and gain benefits."
"That simple?" Kurumi found it hard to believe.
"Although the probability of evolution is still low, it's really that simple."
Her eyebrows furrowed, "Isn't it the T-virus?" Her gaze shifted to the black cat among the pile of clothes. Its body had grown three or four times larger than before, and under its heavily injured form lay explosive power.
"How does spiritual power react to the black cat?"
"It heals slowly but can't suppress the virus spreading in its body."
"How much longer until Umbrella's team arrives?"
The Red Queen fell silent for a moment. "At the earliest... three hours."
She had dispatched almost all the combat personnel to the underground base, even though she hadn't anticipated that such a situation could occur within New York City.
"You're saying... if I activate the Spirit Gathering Array now, can I draw in the dispersed virus?"
"The likelihood is low, and it's too risky. The amount of virus released by the wild boar and the black cat is minuscule, and it's already reached the limit infecting the community's population."
"But..."
"If the virus treats humans as a gathering point, reinvigorating itself to spread again, the whole of New York will become hell. But from what we can see now, it seems this virus doesn't have the potential to turn people into zombies."
"Zombies? Master, are you referring to those monsters in movies resulting from failed genetic evolution?"
Kurumi shrugged, "If that's how you understand it."
"Master, there's an activity in Villa D3."
"Where are we?" Kurumi asked.
The Red Queen rolled her eyes, "Master, we are in zone A5."
Suddenly, Kurumi remembered that these wealthy people had peculiar hobbies, just like a Middle Eastern tycoon living in Zone A, who seemed to keep a pet alligator.
Opening her folding fan once again, Kurumi looked at the location where the sirens were blaring... sympathy filling her eyes.
Sure enough, gunshots rang out outside not long after, mixed with cursing, and cries for help.
Kurumi had keen hearing and could hear the chilling sound of "biting."
The ice-cold teeth would bite through flesh and bone, consuming it... if this were not on land, she believed no policeman would survive.
Blinking her eyes, "Looks like we'll be dealing with S.H.I.E.L.D." Her gaze turned to the interior, looking at the two large piles of different types of clothes that filled the bedroom, causing her a headache.
Her concern was not for the clothes but for the DNA left behind by the wild boar and the black cat...
"Master, private property is inviolable."
"What if they have a search warrant?"
"Believe me, and those wealthy folks won't let them succeed first. The interesting things in their houses are no less than ours."
"Tsk, the power of capitalism."
Gaze would indeed converge on her. If negotiations with Nick Fury fail, wouldn't they send agents?
But the Red Queen could assure her even if the Black Widow came, and she would be outmatched! She might even take the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division (S.H.I.E.L.D.) to the Supreme Court!
Trust her, and there would be a horde of lawyers eager to help the girl fight the legal battle.
...
The wind outside grew stronger until searchlights illuminated the area, revealing the arrival of helicopters.
Kurumi still stood by the window, "Red Queen, do you think they might get infected by the virus?"
"Definitely. It's just that the amount is small. It's likely to lurk in their bodies, waiting for their immunity to weaken before launching a full-scale attack!"
"Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap!——"
The sound of automatic rifles firing wasn't far from Kurumi's villa. They were probably shooting at that alligator.
Poor alligator, barely mutated and already facing extinction by humanity.
"Red Queen, are there any other mutated species in the community?"
"Nearly all animals have been infected, but mutations are rare. The virus seems to have spread too sparsely to trigger 'evolution.'"
"Besides that alligator, what other animals are there?"
"A leopard, a lion, a dog."
Kurumi raised an eyebrow, "Is this truly the affluent district? They dare to keep these things in the city. Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"And the humans? How are they faring?"
"Cameras can't capture that much, but seventeen of twenty-five villas have sent out signals to the outside world. The actual situation is still uncertain."
Kurumi closed her eyes, her lips parting slightly. "Survivors... can't exceed ten."
"Bang, bang, bang!"
The knocking on the door began.