Marvel's Death Merchant

Upon hearing this, Leon's head buzzed, and scenes from a few years ago seemed to flash before his eyes. Back then, Tokyo, a bustling metropolis with a large population, had always been strict in its virus prevention and control measures and was well-prepared, yet it still became a zombie-infested hell on earth within just a few days! The current scene was extremely similar to that time. Leon shouted that something was wrong, and he even considered contacting the team members who had returned to the United States. He drew his gun, calling out to the fleeing crowd while pointing both guns at the lobby of Building One.

Chapter 506 Full Alert

Those who could run had almost all escaped the hospital. Items like fruit and flowers, meant to comfort the patients, were scattered everywhere, turning the once quiet hospital into a chaotic mess. The others moved forward slowly, but their hands holding guns remained clenched. Although the lobby was now empty, the building was still filled with shrill screams. Those patients lying immobile in their beds were destined to face the terrifying nightmare of becoming zombies!

The ground troops who were originally on guard also realized that something serious had happened in the hospital, and they also gathered towards the lobby. However, everyone had the same question in their minds: how did the person who caused this chaos sneak into such a heavily guarded hospital building?

Some of the officials were cursing inwardly, cursing the soldiers guarding the building for their incompetence. So many things had happened in one day, not only were there inexplicable explosions in some places, but the suspicious man Wesker's friend Weaver had seen had also escaped, and now even the heavily guarded hospital had become such a disaster. They were going crazy!

"Mr. Lyon, request backup from Umbrella headquarters immediately! Hurry!" Weaver shouted. Even though he knew the situation was critical, he tried his best to remain calm. Although they had a long history of combat experience, he was still somewhat flustered after witnessing such a tragic scene again.

“Yes, Mr. Weaver!” Leon quickly turned on the communicator in his ear and reported to Umbrella Corporation headquarters, “Headquarters, Headquarters! Please respond! Please respond!”

"Headquarters received, please speak!" The voice on the other end maintained its nonchalant tone.

At the same time, Weaver stepped forward, grabbed a female nurse who had just escaped from the lobby, and asked sternly, "How many people are in this hospital?"

The nurse was probably terrified; she just collapsed to the ground, clutching her head and screaming, "I don't know! I don't know! It's so scary!..."

"You absolutely need to know, God!" Weaver's voice boomed like thunder. He knew he had to know exactly how many patients were in the hospital to decide whether to retreat or open fire. If there were too many zombies in the hospital, he had to immediately notify Umbrella Corporation headquarters to decide on sealing off Sector D—the last thing Liu Qiang wanted. Because that would mean the vast majority of residents in Sector D would turn into zombies!

Since the biological crisis that struck this Russian city several years ago, it has been divided into five major urban districts, A through E, with a robust and unbreakable biological isolation network established between each district. If an outbreak occurs in any district, the isolation network between districts will immediately close, leaving only those with air transport to escape. This is a defensive measure that many countries have sought after in response to biological crises.

Fortunately, Hospital 514 is located in the sparsely populated D area, in a relatively remote central location. Even if D area is sealed off, the anti-biochemical forces will still have time to set up biochemical isolation nets as close as possible to the streets of Hospital 514, which will greatly reduce the number of zombies.

At Weaver's loud shout, the nurse, trembling, pulled a patient record book from her bosom, handed it to Weaver, and fled without looking back. Weaver had barely taken the book when he sensed something was terribly wrong. A quick glance revealed that there were at least 150 patients in the orthopedic ward alone. If they were to meet with certain death, the sheer number of zombies would be far beyond the capabilities of just the two of them and fewer than thirty soldiers!

There's no time to lose. It seems the only option is to close off Zone D!

Upon receiving the information, headquarters, abandoning its previous leisurely approach, reacted immediately. They promptly informed major radio stations and broadcast the news on Umbrella's network, instructing residents of District D to evacuate immediately and as quickly as possible to the nearest border area, as all quarantine barriers would be fully closed in twenty minutes! Simultaneously, troops equipped with quarantine equipment were mobilized to Green-Blue Avenue, four kilometers from Hospital 514, to construct a circular quarantine barrier along this street. This deployment would effectively contain the outbreak within only one-fifth of District D.

Weaver and Leon's orders were to use their weapons to hold back most of the zombies, buying time for the equipment-setting team. Once the isolation net was in place, they would be picked up by helicopter immediately.

Leon shouted "Understood," and quickly discussed the situation with the company commander beside him. They decided to use abandoned cars on the street to form a high wall as the first line of defense before the zombies emerged, and immediately close the tempered glass doors of the lobby to slow down the zombies' movement. As for Weaver's beat-up Hummer, it would naturally be destroyed in this "restraint" battle, but to be honest, that suited the remaining men perfectly.

About five minutes later, mutated zombies began to smash the hospital windows and climb out. However, some zombies, even though they were on the fifth or sixth floor, still foolishly climbed out and fell from such a height, landing right on the concrete slab at the bottom of the hospital. Before they could even scream, they were dead and reincarnated!

Before long, the cement slab was piled with smashed pieces of flesh and limbs. Being a zombie has one advantage: it no longer knows what Newton's law of universal gravitation is. No matter how high it is, as long as there is a window, it will jump down, even if it crashes into a pancake. It is a very "fearless" example!

Those who fell lower weren't so lucky to die. After falling, they still got up, stretching out their arms covered in black blood, and began to wander aimlessly. As soon as they spotted any living people, they would rush towards them without hesitation! Judging from the bloodstains all over their bodies and the clothes torn by sharp claws, it was clear that they had struggled fiercely before. Some even had their stomachs slashed open, their intestines spilling out, but for these emotionless undead, there was no pain whatsoever.

All combat personnel, including Weaver and Leon, were in position, ready for battle. They would open fire relentlessly as soon as any zombies got close enough, killing as many as possible and stalling for time. The biohazard outbreak in Tokyo was already extremely serious; if it spread globally, the world would be in danger.

Suddenly, Weaver saw Leon, without hesitation, grab a dagger and charge towards several other zombies that were some distance away. Weaver saw him clash with the zombie in the black suit, his target clearly the zombie's head. It seemed Leon was using some of his superpowers to conserve ammunition. Weaver was about to say something when Leon, having taken down one zombie, came running back, cursing as soon as he stopped, "Fuck, those damn zombies! Use a gun!"

Chapter 507 Alarm

Chris didn't know how long he had been unconscious. He felt a throbbing in his head and was not very clear-headed. Although he managed to open his eyes, everything in front of him was still blurry. Apart from what seemed like a figure moving around, everything around him was gray and hazy. Only one side was slightly brighter, and there were gusts of sea breeze blowing around him, making him feel a little cold.

Where am I?

He struggled to sit up, spread his hands, and looked around, but everything was still blurry. He shook his head vigorously, and slowly recalled his earlier episode. Today was truly unlucky. If it weren't for the mission, he should have gone to Hospital 514 to pick up his medication. But no one expected so many things to happen, and now, he couldn't even see where he was, let alone leave.

Having apparently heard Chris's commotion, a gray figure strode over, kicked him, and asked while still standing, "Hey! You're not dead, are you?"

Chris looked up but still couldn't make out the person's face. He simply asked, "Where is this? And who are you?"

The man chuckled irritably and said, "Hmph! Who am I? Weren't you following me? You've already forgotten?"

Upon hearing the man's words, he remembered the Hydra fugitive he had been following all afternoon—Hanks Cavill! Without hesitation, he reached for his waist, but found nothing; it seemed his gun had been taken by this Hydra guy.

"Give me my gun!" Chris yelled at the blurry figure, but he could only muster the strength in words; he couldn't muster any strength in his hands!

Hanks chuckled again, probably thinking that the man before him, who had just been a fearless warrior, was now utterly weak and like a useless piece of trash. Hanks slowly suppressed his laughter, not drawing his so-called gun, but instead squatting down in front of Chris's face, as if he understood something, and said, "Don't worry about the gun for now, let's talk business. Although I don't know your rank, I am well aware of your condition. If you don't take your medicine in five hours, your eyesight will be ruined, am I right?"

Chris trembled, staring at the dark figure with his eyes, which seemed to be covered by a layer of frost, and asked solemnly, "What...do you want me to do?"

Hanks chuckled to himself, patted Chris on the shoulder, and said, "How about we make a deal?"

Chris seemed to have guessed what the man was thinking. Before he could say anything more, he turned his head to the side, no longer looking at Hanks, and said resolutely, "If you want me to help you break free from Umbrella's control, you're dreaming! I'd rather go blind than help someone from Hydra!"

After hearing Chris's words, Hanks seemed to have anticipated this response and remained unhurried. He simply said calmly, "Don't jump to conclusions. You know, people's thoughts can change under certain circumstances. Besides, I never intended to run away." Hanks glanced at Chris and continued, "All I want to do now is help you!"

Chris was startled, and asked with some skepticism, "Save me? What do you mean by that?"

Hanks chuckled. He said, "I'm only saving you because we're both Americans. You know, it would be such a waste for someone as righteous as you to lose your eyesight and become a cripple. Besides, you're a battle-hardened veteran of the Umbrella Corporation, which makes it even more significant."

Chris snorted and said, "Who would believe your nonsense! How many people have you harmed before, and now you're being so kind as to save a complete stranger like me?"

Hanks remained silent for a moment, realizing he had no choice but to use his trump card. This stubborn mule wouldn't necessarily yield even with a knife to his throat; the most difficult thing to break down in an Umbrella was their unwavering mental fortitude. After a moment's thought, Hanks realized something might pique his interest, and said, "I imagine you're eager to find out the identity of that mysterious man, aren't you? Hydra and I are just in a business relationship; I don't want to be targeted by those superheroes."

Sure enough, Chris's expression changed slightly. Hanks noticed this and knew that Chris's defenses had loosened a bit, so he continued, "Although I don't know that person's identity, there's a secret I can tell you. But don't worry, this isn't part of our deal." Hanks cleared his throat, seemingly ready to reveal everything.

"The antiviral serum I traded with him was newly developed by Will Biopharmaceuticals, which I managed to obtain with great difficulty two weeks ago..."

“You really are no good!” Chris said coldly.

Hanks remained unmoved and continued, "Although I don't know what the actual effects of this antiviral serum are, if you are interested, I can give it to you, and you can then pass it on to your headquarters..." A glint flashed in Hanks' eyes, and as he expected, Chris looked at him.

"Give it to me?" Chris looked at the blurry yet cunning black figure before him, somewhat puzzled. "Didn't you already give it to that mysterious person?"

Hanks smiled slyly and replied, "You think I'm really stupid? I wouldn't dare take that risk without being sure I have the money! I've hidden it in a place only I know about. That's always been my style, just like you would rather die than cooperate with me!"

"Then what you gave him wouldn't be...?"

"You guessed right! It really is... the T-virus!"

"What?! You mean the T-virus?! You're actually making deals like that too! Do you know how many people this will kill? Tokyo was completely destroyed because of that!" Chris roared, almost tearing Hanks to shreds!

Hanks ignored him, looking indifferent, and said, "I have always believed in Umbrella's capabilities and have always recognized their ability to handle emergencies. I don't think any other country can match them. This is my sincere opinion, even though I am an American."

“So, according to you, if that mysterious person leaks the T-virus, then this place…? Then it will be in complete danger,” Chris didn’t dare to think any further.

“That’s right! This place will become hell!” Hanks’ eyes were sharper than before. “But by then, I’ll already be out of here! Haha…”

"No! I have to get out of here right now! I have to report this to Umbrella Corporation headquarters!" Chris struggled to get up, but his vision was blurry and he couldn't even tell which way to go, let alone get back to headquarters.

Just then, Hanks suddenly froze, staring blankly at the piercing city sirens blaring overhead, and said helplessly, "It seems the virus research has exploded, and it looks like none of us can leave!"

Chapter 508 Leak

"Warning! Warning! A large-scale T-virus has been detected in Zone D! A large-scale T-virus has been detected in Zone D! Citizens of Zone D, please evacuate within twenty minutes. All passageways will be closed in twenty minutes!..." The citywide sirens blared incessantly over Zone D, instantly shrouding the once peaceful city in a terrifying cloud! The superheroes also left. They clearly knew this was a good place to defend, so they weren't in a hurry. Besides, they still had a mission: to protect important figures.

Chris, who was standing to the side, suddenly laughed. Although it carried a hint of irreversible helplessness, it still made Hanks feel uncomfortable. Chris laughed and said, "Looks like you've got your wishful thinking in mind!"

Hanks was furious. He hadn't expected the mysterious man to make a move so quickly. Thinking about it, there was absolutely no way he could escape the so-called D District without this man leading the way! However, he couldn't see anything at the moment, which made him, who had been so arrogant just moments before, suddenly feel dejected.

Hanks knew perfectly well that once Sector D was sealed off, escaping would be virtually impossible. But he had no other choice. His weapons and precious antiviral serum were hidden in a concealed location he had chosen. To go out unarmed would be like engaging in hand-to-hand combat with zombies! He'd probably die within a few rounds! Hanks immediately decided to adopt the second, unavoidable plan.

He walked over to Chris, looked at him to calm his anger, and said, "How about this, we make a deal. I'll take you to find the medicine, and I'll also help you find out the identity of this mysterious person. But there's one condition: you have to spare my life!"

Chris chuckled at him and asked in return, "That's all?" At this point, he was in the dominant position.

Hanks frowned a few times before finally revealing his true purpose: "Once we find out the mysterious man's identity, I just need to get back my $300 million, and then we'll go our separate ways. That wouldn't be too much for you, would it? I'd help you find out the truth, and I'd get what I deserve—a win-win situation!"

Although Chris wore a smile, his heart was heavy. Many of the residents here were likely destined to become zombies, and even he himself might not survive. But he refused to give up. As Hanks had said, as a member of the military, he had a responsibility and obligation to find out the true identity of the culprit and seek justice for this city!

Chris, dragging his weary body, stood up unsteadily and said solemnly to Hanks, "Fine! Deal! I hope you'll take responsibility for your words and not break your promise!"

Hanks breathed a sigh of relief. He asked, "Where are we going next?"

Chris calmly replied, "First, we'll go to Hospital 514 to get the medication, and then we'll go to the place you mentioned to retrieve the serum. As long as you help me accomplish these tasks, I will guarantee your safety and help you get what you want!"

At this moment, in the lobby of the No. 1 ambulance building of Hospital 514, all the glass had been shattered by zombies. Because of the "wall" formed by cars, a large number of zombies had gathered inside, the vast majority of whom were patients wearing hospital gowns. Even the bandages that had originally been used to wrap their wounds were still visible, but the once clean hospital gowns were now all torn strips of cloth, stained with black blood. The sight made one feel nauseous, almost vomiting up the food they had eaten the day before!

Given the darkness, Leon frequently glanced around, fearing that zombies might surge out from other directions and surround their group of thirty-odd people. Fortunately, the zombies didn't understand combat tactics; they all roared and charged forward from the front, with only a few failing to find their target and veering off in other directions.

Leon quickly dispatched several men to other locations to shoot down the zombies that had fled in other directions. The situation became even more tense because of the reduced number of men.

Just then, Leon's communicator suddenly rang. He quickly pressed the switch and heard a very familiar voice coming from the other end—it was none other than Captain Wesker. It seemed he had returned from the Umbrella Corporation meeting, and judging from his tone, he seemed to know everything that had happened.

Captain Wesker's tone remained calm as he said, "Leon, remember this! No matter what happens, you must do everything in your power to buy time for our company, even if it costs you your life. Do you understand?"

When Lyon heard Captain Wesker's voice, he was truly astonished. He hadn't expected so many extremely serious things to have happened during their few days away. As the captain, it was only natural that he, as the captain, would risk his life. He immediately replied, "Understood! Captain Wesker! We will do everything in our power, please rest assured!"

Leon put down the communicator, glanced at the zombies eager for fresh blood, and immediately ignored everything else, roaring, "Fire! Send all these guys to hell!"

In an instant, assault rifle gunfire erupted, countless bullets left the barrels, and the heads of numerous zombies exploded, black blood splattering everywhere. Some were even riddled with bullet holes, yet they continued to surge towards the soldiers relentlessly...

The crisscrossing streets of District D were now filled with vehicles speeding away. However, the Nanguan Overpass, near the underground shopping mall, was also congested with a dense network of vehicles, almost causing a traffic jam! Without warning, this misfortune turned the once orderly four-level spiral overpass into a dead end where countless vehicles could not move an inch!

The bridge was filled with the sounds of cursing and swearing, and the dark mass of refugees. Two kilometers south of here was a quarantine zone set up by District D on the Guangbei River. Passing through there would allow one to escape the territory of District D. However, at this moment, many people were in complete despair, and only a few people were still walking towards the quarantine zone without giving up.

Two kilometers north of this overpass, under the dim streetlights, there was hardly a soul in sight. Only the abandoned boxes and scraps of paper fluttering in the cold wind suggested that someone had once lived here.

Inside a sports car under a streetlamp, Chris and Hanks sat anxiously. Chris, though uneasy, wasn't as sweaty as Hanks. Sitting in the passenger seat, Chris kept urging Hanks, who was trying to force the car to start, "Are you done yet?"

Chapter 509 Zombie Highway

Hanks didn't even look up, just stared intently at the two wires in his hand, occasionally touching the two exposed copper wires together. Each time he touched them, a spark would fly at the point of contact between the two copper wires, and the engine would hum for a moment, but it wouldn't last more than two seconds before going out again!

This was a brand new Mazda RX-8 sports car. Judging from its smooth and clean exterior, the owner had only recently bought it. Although its performance was excellent, starting this keyless sports car was quite a challenge. If Hanks hadn't been armed and managed to stop the car, they'd probably be walking to Hospital 514 by now. What he hadn't expected was that the despicable driver had taken the keys with him when he got out and ran away! By the time he realized it, the man was already gone!

Helpless, he could only imitate the scenes in the movies and resort to a violent start. However, he was not a professional driver after all, and after trying for nearly ten minutes, he still hadn't succeeded. This made Hanks curse in his mind: "If anyone makes a movie about violently stealing cars again, I'll kill their whole family!"

Listening to Chris's incessant nagging, he retorted with great annoyance, "What are you yelling about? Can't you see I'm trying? Please shut your mouth!"

Although Chris had regained some of his strength, his blurry vision showed no improvement, so he had no other choice but to sit quietly in the car and wait. He touched the pistol at his waist and the QBZ95 sniper rifle on his back, feeling a little comforted but also utterly helpless. He was completely powerless at the moment, not even capable of the most basic action of raising and aiming his weapon.

He later learned that Hanks had been hiding with him in an underground culvert in a sewer, and Hanks wasn't stupid when it came to his guns and equipment. The moment he helped Chris out of the alley, he noticed the taxi waiting on the street, and looking at Chris's clothes, he naturally understood that Chris's belongings were inside.

At this moment, Hanks, true to his word, returned everything to him, because he needed Chris's help to save his life. As for Hanks emerging unscathed after being shot by the mysterious man, that was thanks to the bulletproof vest he was wearing. These days, easily trusting others is tantamount to courting death!

Chris knew that waiting around wasn't going to solve anything. Seeing Hanks' clumsy figure, he suddenly looked out the window and shouted, "Hurry up, there are zombies over there!"

Provoked by his words, Hanks trembled instantly. His previously clumsy hands suddenly became incredibly nimble, and the moment he touched the copper wire, the car started moving! Chris clearly felt the car vibrate slightly. Seeing that he had succeeded, Hanks quickly looked up, ignoring the sweat on his brow, and anxiously asked while looking around, "Zombies? Where are they?"

After looking around for a while, there wasn't a single zombie, not even a ghost in sight! Hanks seemed to understand something, turned to Chris angrily, and said, "Chris, you dared to lie to me! But let me tell you, I'm not one to be intimidated. If you weren't still useful, you'd pay for your recklessness one day, hmph!" He then slammed on the gas pedal, ignoring Chris's snickering, and before either of them could react, the car's momentum pulled them violently into their seats.

Before the two could recover from their shock, Hanks instinctively slammed on the brakes again. They lurched forward once more, nearly throwing Chris off the windshield. Luckily, he had his seatbelt on, preventing a head injury. Even so, Chris's heart was pounding, practically in his throat!

What Hanks didn't know was that this Mazda RX-8 sports car featured an automatic transmission and four-wheel drive, coupled with a 1.3-liter twin-rotor engine, giving it considerable horsepower. Furthermore, it's possible the previous owner had made some modifications, further increasing the horsepower, which allowed the car to achieve such high acceleration in such a short time. If it weren't for Hanks's sudden braking, the two of them would probably have crashed into the roadside barriers!

This scare, however, made Hanks, who had been a little nervous, feel excited and thrilled. He never imagined that he would be driving such a good car today. The feeling of surging forward had activated every cell in his body, and he couldn't wait to experience it again! He had only heard that racing was exciting before, but now, in Hanks' eyes, he could finally experience it for himself!

Without waiting for Chris to speak, he slammed on the gas pedal again, and the car shot forward like a bull unleashed. This time, however, it didn't stop but continued straight ahead! Chris, sitting in the car watching Hanks drive like a madman, wanted to say something, but couldn't utter a word amidst the jolts. He felt like he was on a roller coaster, involuntarily grabbing the handle above the window and yelling for Hanks to slow down.

Hanks' brain was now completely aroused, a surge of passion and excitement coursing through his body! Coupled with Chris's shout, he stepped on the gas pedal even further, becoming increasingly reckless and daring. Ahead was a T-junction, and he was about to turn, but Hanks showed no intention of slowing down. Instead, his eyes gleamed, and judging from his expression, he seemed determined to crash into the car!

Sure enough, just as Chris's stomach was churning violently, he was suddenly pulled by an invisible force from one side and was slammed against the right-side car door without any warning. His face made intimate contact with the glass. If the glass hadn't been of good quality, Chris would probably have been thrown out of the car window!