"Chris?" Claire's smile instantly froze on her face.
Inside the carriage, the air that had just become warm suddenly turned cold and thin.
Ada's gaze remained locked on Claire's face in the rearview mirror, which had instantly lost all color.
She turned the steering wheel unhurriedly, and the vehicle merged smoothly into another lane.
"A guy wearing sunglasses and acting all foolish tricked your brother into a very troublesome place."
Her tone sounded as if she were sharing some insignificant gossip.
"Rockfort Island."
Noah could clearly feel the girl's body beside him become incredibly tense in an instant.
He gripped her hand tightly with his own, trying to convey some strength.
"Just as you were turning the Umbrella Paris Branch upside down..."
Ada's voice continued.
"Wesker used his hidden network to spread a piece of fake news: 'Claire Redfield was captured by Umbrella while on a secret mission in Europe,
"And she is being held secretly on Rockfort Island.' Your brother, that S.T.A.R.S. Elite with an exploding sense of justice, dove right in without a second thought."
Just then.
The black phone resting on Noah's lap vibrated abruptly.
The monotonous and hurried vibration sounded exceptionally harsh in the deathly silent carriage.
Noah glanced at the caller ID.
A string of irregular garbled characters.
It was Trant.
He pressed the answer button and put it on speakerphone.
A magnetic, steady, and cold voice came from the phone's receiver, echoing in the cramped carriage.
"Lin, I believe Ada has already told you the basic situation."
"Yes."
Noah's voice was very calm.
"Wesker wants revenge."
Trant's voice carried no emotion.
"The series of previous failures cost him a lot, including his status within Umbrella, Spencer's trust, his position in the new company, and his plans."
"He blames all of this on Chris Redfield."
"Rockfort Island is the private territory of the Ashford Family and one of Umbrella's most important research bases; its defenses are even far superior to the Paris Branch."
"That place is Wesker's hunting ground."
"He has prepared a grand welcome party for Claire's brother."
Noah office silent for a moment.
His fingers gently rubbed the cold body of the phone.
"This isn't just Wesker's personal grudge," Noah's voice broke the silence.
"Your true goal is to use Wesker's hand to completely destroy the Ashford Family's assets on Rockfort Island, while simultaneously obtaining the research data and records inside."
"The Ashford Family is one of the founding families of Umbrella, but they don't seem to listen to you very much."
"And Wesker, this out-of-control chess piece full of various desires, will be cleaned up by you—meaning us—in passing after he completes his mission."
"Killing three birds with one stone."
A more terrifying silence fell over the carriage.
From the driver's seat, Ada took a deep look at the calm man in the back through the rearview mirror.
A strange glint flashed in her charming eyes.
The other end of the line also fell silent; Trant rubbed the gold-threaded agate ring on his index finger with his thumb.
A full ten seconds passed.
For the first time, a hint of almost appreciative laughter entered Trant's steady and uniquely magnetic voice.
"It's so much easier talking to smart people."
"Correct."
"Rockfort Island, along with the Ashford Family and Wesker, are all unstable factors in my plan that need to be erased."
"And Claire's brother, Chris, happens to be the most perfect fuse to ignite it all."
...Noah could almost hear the sound of Claire's heart sinking heavily into the abyss beside him.
"To ensure the smooth progress of the plan," Trant's voice rang out again.
"I have already sent my most capable subordinate to you."
"She will provide you with all necessary support."
The call was hung up abruptly.
The busy tone sounded exceptionally clear in the carriage.
Noah put away his phone without a word, only holding Claire tightly.
His gaze turned toward the window.
The street scenes of Paris were receding rapidly; those ancient and romantic buildings now seemed to be covered with a cold gray filter in his eyes.
After a long while.
He finally turned his head and looked at Ada, who was driving.
"Aren't you going to see Leon?"
His voice was very light, as if asking a very casual question.
The corners of Ada's mouth curled up again.
That smile appeared somewhat inscrutable under the soft light inside the car.
She didn't answer, and after slowly bringing the car to a stop.
From a hidden pocket in her bright red cheongsam, she took out an elegantly styled bright red lipstick.
She skillfully unscrewed the lipstick.
Facing the rearview mirror, she carefully touched up her full lips with an even more vivid layer of color.
Then she took out a piece of high-quality stationery from the glove box.
She then held that pure white stationery up to her lips.
And gently pressed them against it.
A perfect, enticingly glossy red lip print was left in the center of the stationery.
She folded the stationery, which emitted a faint scent of perfume and an ambiguous atmosphere.
She handed it back from the driver's seat.
"Help me~ give it to him." Her voice carried a hint of languid laughter.
"Tell him I still owe him a date."
Noah took the stationery, which still held some warmth; he didn't look at Claire's expression beside him.
Because he knew that at this moment, she had no mood whatsoever to gossip about the tangled romantic affairs between Leon and Ada.
Her entire world was left with only that isolated island named "Rockfort."
And the person on the island she worried about the most.
Noah tucked the stationery into his pocket.
He reached out his other hand and gently held Claire's cold hand.
Her body was trembling slightly.
"Don't worry." Noah's voice was low and steady.
"Your brother is Chris Redfield."
"He is the strongest S.T.A.R.S.."
"He'll be fine."
"We'll rest for a bit, replenish our equipment, and then set off."
Claire didn't speak.
She just buried her face deep into Noah's embrace.
That warm and solid chest was like a harbor that could shut out all storms, allowing her heart, which was beating violently due to fear and hesitation, to finally find a sliver of peace to anchor in.
She reached out her arms and hugged Noah's waist tightly.
After a long time.
Noah finally felt the girl in his arms nod gently.
The black Iveco finally stopped outside that off-white apartment building.
Ada turned off the engine.
"I have a flight the day after tomorrow; I need to handle some wrap-up work."
From the glove box, she took out two brand-new plane tickets and handed them to Noah.
"These are your tickets for tomorrow."
With that, she pushed open the car door and got back into the car.
That bright red cheongsam was like a flame about to burn under the Paris night sky.
She didn't look back, just waved her hand casually, and soon disappeared around the corner of the street.
Noah and Claire returned to the temporary safe house.
The air of their presence before they left still lingered in the room.
On the coffee table in the living room, that Michelin Travel Guide that Noah had blasted with a punch was still scattered in a mess on the floor.
The faint smell of paint in the air mixed with a hint of ambiguous sweet fragrance.
Everything here seemed to have been paused.
Without a word, Claire walked into the bedroom.
Noah didn't go to disturb her.
He knew she needed a little time to process this sudden and massive shock alone.
He just silently began to clean up the mess in the living room.
He swept up the broken scraps of paper little by little.
He threw the mop handle, which had snapped into two, into the trash can.
He did it very slowly and seriously, as if only through this most primitive mechanical action could he calm his own heart, which had also become somewhat irritable due to worry.
Night gradually deepened.
By the time Noah had cleaned up the last scrap of paper.
The bedroom door was gently pulled open.
Claire walked out.
She had already showered and changed into one of Noah's oversized T-shirts.
Her wet, reddish-brown long hair draped casually over her shoulders.
On that pretty face, slightly flushed from the steam, the previous fragility and helplessness could no longer be seen.
In its place was a sense of calm and resilience, like the sky after a rain.
She walked to Noah's side and hugged him gently from behind.
"I'm sorry." Her voice carried a heavy nasal tone.
"Just now, I..."
Noah turned around and gently pressed his finger against her lips.
"You don't need to say anything."
He gazed into her azure eyes, which looked exceptionally clear under the light.
"I know."
The next second.
He leaned down and kissed her.
This kiss was different from any before.
No testing, no teasing.
Only the most direct and primitive plunder, full of possessiveness.
Like a long-premeditated violent storm, it instantly swept through the cold apartment.
Tearing all the unease, fear, and worry into shreds... No one knew how much time had passed.
The storm finally subsided.
The large bed in the bedroom was a mess.
Claire curled up in Noah's arms like a languid cat that had finally found a sanctuary.
Her face, with its flush not yet faded, carried a hint of satisfied exhaustion.
Her even breathing brushed against Noah's neck, bringing a warm and moist itch.
The room was very quiet, with only the occasional sound of vehicles passing outside the window.
Noah held the warm, soft body in his arms, but the question he had been suppressing in his heart suddenly came to mind.
He looked down at Claire's smooth shoulder, which was covered in a thin layer of sweat.
His voice carried a hint of hoarseness from the intense exercise they had just experienced.
"Claire..."
"Hmm?"
Claire responded lazily, not even bothering to open her eyes.
"Your body..."
Noah organized his words.
"Is it... because of me..."
He could feel the body in his arms stiffen noticeably.
Claire snapped her eyes open.
In those beautiful azure eyes, still misty with moisture, a flash of panic from having her thoughts exposed instantly appeared.
Her cheeks rapidly flushed with an even more enticing crimson at a speed visible to the naked eye.
That red spread from her cheeks all the way to her delicate little earlobes.
"Shut up..."
Her voice was both embarrassed and annoyed, sounding like a pout and a threat at the same time.
Seeing her adorable appearance, Noah couldn't help but chuckle lowly.
That laughter sounded exceptionally clear in the silent night.
"So, there really is such an effect..."
He muttered to himself, as if he had discovered a new world.
"It seems in the future, we should do it more..."
Before he could finish his sentence.
A soft pillow accurately slammed into his face, blocking all his unfinished words.
"I hate you!"
"You're not allowed to say it..."
Claire's voice came muffled from behind the pillow.
Noah laughed as he moved the pillow away.
He looked at the girl who had already buried her entire face in the quilt, leaving him only a back of the neck so red it seemed about to bleed.
The last trace of worry in his heart also completely vanished... The next day.
The morning sun shone in through the gaps in the curtains.
The two of them packed all their luggage.
They properly placed the two alloy boxes containing the virus samples and serum, along with the set of silver needles emitting an ancient aura, back into the safe; after organizing the weapons, they put them back in the case and stuffed it under the bed.
Before leaving.
Noah's gaze fell on that inconspicuous red button below the TV cabinet in the living room.
He reached out and pressed it without hesitation.
There was no sound, nor any reaction.
But they both knew.
From this moment on, the meaning of this apartment's existence had completely ended.
It would be erased from everyone's memory as if it had never appeared.
The two walked out of the apartment building.
Not long after.
A black Citroën XM Exclusive silently stopped in front of them.
The car window slowly rolled down.
Revealing that face which was still cold and elegant, yet carried a hint of familiarity.
It was the French lady codenamed "Fox"; she wasn't wearing that provocative Chanel suit today.
Just a capable, black professional business suit.
Her long blonde hair was also neatly tied back.
Her gaze lingered on Noah and Claire's faces for a moment, and then she nodded.
"Get in."
From the apartment to Charles de Gaulle Airport, there was no conversation along the way.
Before the airport's VIP lane, Fox brought the car to a steady stop.
She turned her head and looked at Noah and Claire in the back.
"My mission is over."
Her face still wore that professional smile without any temperature.
"I wish you a smooth journey ahead."
"Thank you," Noah nodded with a smile.
After speaking, she didn't stay any longer.
She got back in, started the car, and disappeared cleanly into the airport traffic.
Noah and Claire glanced at each other.
Neither spoke, only turning to walk into the bustling airport lobby.
Walking through the corridors, passing through security, they arrived at the boarding gate.
A massive Boeing airliner was quietly parked on the tarmac, waiting for the travelers about to embark on a long journey.
Noah and Claire, with their first-class tickets, boarded the plane early.
They sat down in the window seats... As the roar of the engines gradually rose.
The plane began to taxi slowly on the runway.
The scenery outside the window began to recede rapidly.
That city full of romance and danger was getting further and further away from them.
Noah could feel Claire beside him leaning her head gently on his shoulder.
He turned his head.
He happened to meet her clear azure eyes.
"Lin."
"Hmm?"
"We will definitely bring Chris back safely."
Her voice was very light, yet full of determination.
Noah smiled.
He reached out and held her cool hand.
"Of course."
The plane soared into the sky, leaving all the haze and darkness behind on that vast land.
Ahead was the piercing golden sunlight.