September 2, 1998
The month of August passed by at a surprising speed. I finished filming the series with Lisa, and I officially took up my new position at the police department. Now a consultant, I'm only called in for critical situations, which, thanks to the improvements I've implemented in law enforcement, have yet to occur. My visits to the station have become rarer, but whenever I go there with Lisa, she is welcomed like a little star, having gained the status of the station's unofficial mascot.
Two weeks ago, an incident disrupted the daily life of the station. A detainee about to be taken to his cell attempted to take Lisa hostage in a bid to escape. Unfortunately for him, Jill, who was with Lisa at the time, gave him no chance. Within seconds, she neutralized him with deadly precision, sending him directly to the hospital's intensive care unit. Although surprised, Lisa was not scared, and Jill now watches over her with heightened vigilance.
On another front, my financial situation quickly took on unexpected proportions. The launch of the King Phone 1 was a resounding success. This phone, sold at $400 a piece, revolutionized the telecommunications market. Featuring a sleek, minimalist design, a color screen, and advanced features for its time, such as a built-in camera and basic internet connectivity, the King Phone 1 captivated a wide audience, quickly becoming the most sought-after phone of the moment. Its intuitive interface and durability reinforced its popularity, making the King Phone 1 a must-have product.
The meteoric success of the King Phone 1 propelled my company, KingTel Communications, to the forefront of the industry. Faced with exponential demand and unprecedented enthusiasm, I decided to take KingTel Communications public. The IPO was a true triumph. The stock prices soared on the first day of trading, propelling the company to unexpected financial heights.
Investors scrambled to acquire shares in the company, confident in the future of KingTel Communications and its growth potential. However, I quickly bought 51% of the shares myself to prevent anyone from stealing my asset.
Simultaneously, the skincare product line developed by the Jordans also met with tremendous success. Based on innovative formulas and leveraging advanced biochemical knowledge, these products deliver spectacular results in record time. Anti-aging creams, revitalizing serums, and moisturizing lotions – each product in the range has become a must-have for those seeking excellence in skincare. Their impressive effectiveness, combined with carefully crafted marketing, significantly contributed to their market success.
With these two financial pillars in place, I was able to diversify my investments. I began acquiring traditional businesses: bars, bakeries, textile shops, and many others. The success of these ventures quickly boosted my liquidity, turning each new project into a new revenue stream. In no time, I accumulated several hundred million dollars, an astronomical sum that barely gives me time to realize just how fruitful my investments have been.
August was marked by intense and strategic preparations. I took control of a security and protection company, a calculated decision to anticipate the dark events I foresee. With the help of my resources, I had special outfits designed for my agents: full-body uniforms with helmets that completely conceal their faces, giving them an anonymous but intimidating aura. I then began deploying my Pascal clones, gradually integrating this discreet but effective force into all my companies as well as into other local businesses that needed this type of service. Now, I had my first line of defense ready to intervene if Raccoon City turned into a battlefield, as I feared.
At the same time, I took advantage of this month to conduct a major cleanup in the Arklay Mountains. The infected creatures roaming the forests and hills posed a constant threat. I released a massive number of leeches and wasps, tasking them with eliminating the infected animals and birds that could become a problem later. This process of "purification" was ruthless. I knew I didn't have the time to capture and convert each creature individually, so I ordered the eradication of anything touched by the virus. This significantly reduced the population of infected creatures in the region, making the mountains a bit safer, at least for now.
Thanks to my infiltrators, I also located several strategic sites belonging to Umbrella, each presenting unique dangers and opportunities.
The first was a secret laboratory hidden within Raccoon City General Hospital. With a subtle approach, I took control of Dr. Nathaniel Bard, the head of laboratory operations, along with his team. By infecting and transforming him, I managed to make him much more docile, especially toward the female staff of the hospital. Since our "discussion," he's been managing the synthesis of the antivirus for me, a crucial element for the survival of the population once the outbreak begins. I took advantage of this takeover to convert a significant portion of the hospital staff, just as I had done with the police officers. These individuals would be on the front lines during the outbreak, and their transformation would ensure better resistance against the infected. For the others, Dr. Bard's antivirus should suffice to limit the damage. Additionally, I invested heavily in the hospital, employing my Pascal clones to secure the premises. With more than 400 clones at my disposal, it would have been a shame not to use them effectively.
The second site I infiltrated was an independent team operating in the city's sewers. They had several Hunter Gammas under their control, creatures adapted to swampy and aquatic environments. I retrieved these creatures for my own purposes, though I acknowledge that their utility is limited to specific environments like the sewers. Their brute strength, however, remains a considerable asset.
The last site, and perhaps the most important, was the Raccoon City subway. I purged all Umbrella personnel infiltrated within the network, subduing them one by one. Once control was secured, I released over 20,000 leeches from the 80,000 under my command. Their mission was to discreetly patrol the trains and tunnels, ensuring that everything in the city's underground was under my constant surveillance.
I also encountered an unexpected obstacle in my attempts to locate Birkin's laboratory. Despite my advanced knowledge and abilities, every attempt to penetrate the complex ended in failure. It's clear that something, perhaps the system or the administrator himself, is blocking my access. It seems that certain events are destined to unfold as planned, without my direct influence. This leaves a bitter taste, but I understand that sometimes, you have to let things take their course. (Note: For those familiar with role-playing games, think of it as a GM not wanting you to spoil their scenario ^^)
Back to the Present
"Lisa, do you want to see your friends today?" I asked my little princess, as I adjusted a beautiful azure blue dress adorned with ruffles on her. She looked like a true little princess, radiant in her outfit.
Lisa looked up at me with her big, excited eyes. "No, today I want to spend the day with Daddy! Can we go to the zoo?" she asked with that puppy-eyed look I could never resist.
I smiled, touched by her enthusiasm. "Of course, sweetie," I replied as we started gathering a few things for our outing.
On the way, we ran into Jill in the hallway. She was wearing civilian clothes that immediately caught my attention. Her long legs were barely concealed by a denim skirt that looked perfect on her. My heart skipped a beat seeing her like that, but I tried to keep my cool.
"Good thing you're going out, I was starting to get bored," she said with a teasing smile, fully aware of the effect she had on me.
"Auntie!" Lisa shouted before jumping into Jill's arms, who caught her easily with a joyful laugh. I felt a slight pang of disappointment realizing that Lisa had prevented Jill from stumbling, a missed opportunity for me to enjoy a breathtaking view.
"What are you thinking about?" Jill asked, playfully tugging on my ear, a mischievous smile on her lips, while Lisa burst into laughter at our interaction.
"Do you want to come with us to the zoo, Auntie?" Lisa asked, her innocent and irresistible face lighting up with a bright smile.
"Of course, sweetheart, I never get tired of spending time with my gorgeous niece," Jill replied, tenderly taking the little girl's hand. Together, we headed to the zoo, a twenty-minute walk that promised to be pleasant.
As we walked, Lisa chattered happily about the animals she wanted to see, while Jill and I exchanged knowing glances. There was something deeply soothing about these simple moments spent together, a warmth that reminded me how essential these two had become in my life.
"Daddy, Auntie, do you think there will be lions?" Lisa asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I'm sure there will be, sweetie," I replied, gently ruffling her hair. "And if we're lucky, maybe we'll even see a tiger!"
"And a panda!" Jill added with a laugh, exchanging a conspiratorial glance with Lisa.
"Yes, a panda!" Lisa shouted, jumping up and down, unable to contain her excitement.
I smiled as I watched them, my heart feeling light. Although I know it's unlikely we'll see a panda, as in my world, only China has them, I refrained from saying anything, thinking to myself that Jill would take the blame for that one as I smiled even more.
Arriving at the zoo's entrance, it was impossible not to notice the looks turning our way. Lisa and I had already become familiar faces thanks to the Detective Raccoon series, currently airing. Children pointed at us excitedly, while parents whispered among themselves, delighted to have recognized "Commissioner King and the little detective" in person.
Lisa, holding my hand tightly, beamed with happiness. She loved the attention and was thrilled to spend the day with her dad at the zoo. Beside us, Jill smiled as she saw the reactions of the people, even though her role in the series was just a cameo as Commissioner King's secretary. A few fans recognized her and exchanged knowing looks with her, recalling her brief but memorable appearance.
After showing our tickets, we headed to the big cat exhibit, one of the zoo's main attractions. As we entered the large, cool, dark room, a powerful roar echoed, immediately grabbing our attention.
"Daddy, look! The king of the jungle!" Lisa exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she pointed to an enclosure where a majestic lion lounged on a rock, surrounded by two lionesses who seemed to be guarding him.
"He's really impressive," Jill murmured, visibly in awe of the animals' grace and power. The enclosures were vast and well-maintained, giving the big cats plenty of space to move around. Next to the lion, a tiger paced its territory, its piercing eyes following our movements with fascinating intensity.
"Auntie Jill, look at his big claws!" Lisa exclaimed, staring at the yawning tiger, revealing its sharp fangs.
"Yes, darling. Good thing he's safely behind that glass," Jill replied with a laugh, amused by the little one's amazement.
We spent a long time admiring the big cats, with Lisa running from one enclosure to the next, eager not to miss anything. Her eyes shone with curiosity as she discovered the pumas, panthers, and leopards, all exuding majesty and mystery.
"Daddy, they're all so beautiful," Lisa whispered, impressed.
"Yes, and they're also very powerful. Just like you when you solve your cases," I replied with a wink, making Jill burst into laughter.
After this captivating visit, we headed to the elephant section, where the midday parade was just starting. We arrived just in time to see Oscar, the zoo's famous elephant, preparing to put on his show.
Oscar, an old male with impressive tusks, was known for his dancing skills. As the music played through the park, he began moving in rhythm, swinging his trunk from side to side and shaking his large ears to the sound of the drums. Families, enchanted by the show, clapped along to encourage the gigantic animal.
"Oscar is amazing!" Lisa exclaimed, clapping enthusiastically, with Jill smiling beside her, touched by the little one's overflowing enthusiasm.
"You know, sweetie, Oscar learned to dance like that thanks to his caretakers who've been looking after him for years," I explained, happy to see my daughter so captivated by the show.
We stayed for a long time, admiring Oscar's talents, with Lisa beaming with happiness. At that moment, everything seemed perfect.
Lisa suddenly turned to me, her eyes full of anticipation. "Where are the pandas, Daddy?" she asked with all the innocence in the world, expecting to see those adorable creatures.
I was caught off guard, just as Jill stiffened slightly beside me. She had mentioned the pandas earlier as a joke, not thinking that Lisa would take it seriously.
"Uh... the pandas, sweetheart," Jill began hesitantly, "well, they mostly live in China, and it's very rare to see them in a zoo like this."
Lisa frowned slightly, visibly disappointed. Jill bit her lip, embarrassed that she had given the little one false hopes. She shot me a guilty look, silently apologizing.
I decided to take matters into my own hands to divert Lisa's attention. "But you know, sweetie," I said in a light tone, "there's a very special place in this zoo. It's the insect domain. But I'm not sure a brave little girl like you would dare to go in there. They say it's full of creepy-crawlies and buzzing creatures."
I expected Lisa, still reeling from the disappointment, to hesitate. But instead, her eyes lit up. "I'm not afraid of insects, Daddy! I want to go!"
Jill and I exchanged a surprised, then amused look. Lisa had just dismantled any attempt to distract her. "Really?" I asked, feigning disbelief. "Are you sure you want to face those little critters?"
"Yes, Daddy!" she replied with determination. "I'm a detective, nothing scares me!"
Jill burst out laughing, her embarrassment dissipated. "Well, it looks like it's decided. Let's go see those famous insects!" she said, taking Lisa's hand, who walked proudly beside her, already ready for her new adventure.
I smiled as I followed, once again admiring the courage and energy of my little girl. Forget the pandas; today, Lisa was ready to take on the world, one little creature at a time.
(Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. There should be one more chapter like this before I start the events of RE 3 and then RE2, as the chronology is reversed by a day.)