Chapter 529: The Mysterious White Woman
Since we've run into her, let's save her.
After the first black Majini went down, more thugs charged out, trying to drag the White Woman into the house.
Spreading and reproducing is animal instinct—even the Plaga parasite obeys. The method is active infection; that's why villagers implanted with Type-II Plaga turn violent and bloodthirsty.
Eddie stamped the ground and leapt to the third floor, vaulted off the balcony rail, and reached the fifth in an instant.
Facing the red-eyed thugs, Eddie showed no mercy—he snapped necks clean.
A guillotine choke prevents Plaga rampage and keeps the parasite from bursting out.
Another wave of Majini surged. Eddie shielded the White Woman and drew the Desert Eagle. "Pretty lady, by cowboy tradition, does this mean you'll marry me later?"
The White Woman laughed. "You're funny. If we make it out alive, I'll reward you handsomely."
"Just kidding—I don't want any payment. Saving people is my hobby. Doing one good deed a day is routine; helping grandmas cross the street is my holiday pastime."
Bang! One suicidal black Majini was blasted apart, Plaga parasite and all.
Jill arrived, agile as ever, displaying uncanny close-quarters prowess—dodging impossible blows and countering instantly.
Her agility even surpassed Eddie's perception; could Jill's knack be pure hand-to-hand combat?
Focused on the fight, Jill sensed nothing unusual—only an instinct to evade everything.
Whirr! A crossbow bolt shot from ten meters away, too fast to react.
Jill stepped forward, eerily evaded the bolt, kicked off the floor, and flew into the archer's chest, punching the Dark skinned man's heart to pulp.
Bang! Another gunshot—Jill tilted her head, dodged a bullet meant for her skull, kicked off the floor, crossed twenty meters in one second, and smashed the sniper off the balcony.
The twenty-meter fall killed her outright; even the parasite couldn't save her.
Chris and Fisher advanced toward the mission hub; Sheva sensed something wrong.
"There's no marker here," Sheva frowned.
"Check on Team E," Chris ordered.
"You can let me go—carrying me slows you down," Fisher said, adjusting his headscarf.
"What do you know? Why is the town controlled?" Chris pressed.
"I don't know. This is Irving's turf—he peddles bioweapons and nothing else. He's Tricell's oil-field manager here."
"Tricell?" Chris frowned. The conglomerate headquartered near BSAA HQ?
"Right—Tricell's three divisions are independent. Irving heads resource development here, occasionally liaises with medical. Grab Irving and you'll learn everything. Now let me go."
"Not yet. Two of you watch him; the rest move to rendezvous with Team E." Chris advanced.
Eddie led the White Woman downstairs—her skin was impossibly pale. Why was a White Woman in an all-black African village? Seeking thrills?
"Why are you here?" Eddie asked suddenly.
"Odd question—I can hear the sarcasm. I'm here for the acoustics; believe me?"
"Of course there'll be some snide remarks. A woman showing up here—did you come because the Black brothers here are especially well-endowed?" Eddie sneered.
The White Woman shook her head. "You really are a bastard. Hasn't your wife ever told you how revolting that attitude is?"
"Nope. Business is business—who knows what you're selling? Let's go; we've nothing left to say."
The woman didn't care. "I don't like Black men—believe it or not. May I have a cigarette?"
Eddie handed one over, then noticed the thick calluses on her fingers. "You handle guns a lot?"
"Military family—what do you think?" She smiled, inhaling expertly, looking every inch the soldier.
"Military families don't raise pampered princesses, and they sure don't stay that pale."
"Ha—natural beauty." She blew a smoke ring; clearly an old hand. "I'm Sophia—just call me that, Mr. Eddie."
"Since when am I famous?" Eddie walked on without looking back, raised his Magnum and dropped a Majini rioter, then snatched a spinning Scythe out of the air with his left hand.
"Cool under fire, young, rich, and rumored to be virus-enhanced—you're the only candidate."
"Praise like that makes me nervous. I'm married, so don't get ideas." He wagged a finger smugly.
"Pfft, don't flatter yourself—I'm not interested. My kid brother's up ahead; get me there and I'll pay you."
Chapter 530: Tricell Blows Its Own Cover First
Jill found the woman oddly familiar, then it clicked. "You're Piers's sister?"
Sophia blinked at Jill—such a striking woman married to this lout really was flowers on cow dung. "Yes, Piers is my brother."
Before they could say more, screams erupted from the building ahead, followed by the frantic rattle of Assault Rifle fire.
Chris and the others burst back out. A pitch-black humanoid monster was strolling after them, a dozen orange-yellow Pustules studding its body.
Bullets slammed into it harmlessly; every so often an arm lashed out like elastic noodles, stretching several metres.
Fortunately the soldiers weren't cannon-fodder; they dodged nimbly and returned heavy fire.
Eddie and Jill exchanged glances. "Uroboros monster."
"Pop those pustules—they're its cores!" Eddie bellowed, raising his Desert Eagle and blasting one open.
The creature shrieked inhumanly; with a thud a chunk of its body tore away.
"Hit the sacs!" Chris snapped, raking it with a long burst from his rifle.
Targeted fire quickly overwhelmed the seemingly invincible Uroboros monster; each core destroyed shrank the creature further.
Forced to feed, it lunged for nearby Majini corpses—Las Plagas within them being absorbed as raw energy.
But before it could finish, Eddie severed its feeding tendrils with a single shot.
Let it mutate after a snack? Eddie wasn't that stupid—finish the job early; only an idiot toys with prey.
The roaring Desert Eagle soon put the monster down for good; Eddie tossed an Incendiary Grenade to burn the twitching remains.
Piers spotted Sophia and exclaimed, "Sis, what are you doing here? Was that you calling for help?"
Sophia rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mr. Rescue-at-your-leisure. Wait till I tell Dad you left me to die."