As soon as Javier and Angela left the lab, they found Claire waiting outside. The heavy sky mirrored the tension that still lingered in the air. Outside the building, Leon was already waiting beside a military jeep.
"You did it..." he said, relieved.
"The army is on its way. Hold tight."
The sound of helicopter blades in the sky cut off any response. Several military choppers landed in the nearby field. One of them brought Davis, who disembarked in a hurry, his eyes scanning the area like a wounded predator.
"Where is Frederick Downing?" he asked, voice tense.
Javier gave him a piercing look.
"You still don't get it, do you? Frederick Downing was in control the entire time."
"This is madness," Davis replied, visibly shaken.
"Downing was just the pharmacist responsible for the lab."
"He was the mastermind behind all of it," Claire added.
"The soldiers under General Grando we captured confessed. He was the one who tricked Angela's brother, stole the G-virus, and caused this entire tragedy," Leon continued.
Davis turned pale.
"So I was used..."
"Welcome to the club," Angela replied bitterly.
Davis clenched his fists, trembling with anger.
"Where is he now?"
Leon nodded toward the mountain.
"At the summit. Let's end this."
---
The vehicle climbed the steep road. At the top of the mountain, now under military control, Frederick Downing was on the phone, his back turned to the path. When he saw the vehicle approaching, he froze. He hung up abruptly and pulled a pistol with shaking hands.
Everyone got out. Leon reflexively drew his weapon.
"Frederick Downing! Drop the gun!" he ordered.
Downing stepped back, eyes wild.
"Don't come any closer!" he shouted.
"These are the last vaccines... and the only remaining data! The last records in the world! If anyone steps forward, I'll destroy everything!"
Leon hesitated, still aiming.
"You've got no way out. Think carefully, Downing. Humanity needs that vaccine."
"Exactly!" he yelled.
"And that's why you need me! You know what I've been through! I was surrounded by the infected! I survived! I made the cure! And now you want to treat me like a criminal?"
"Because you are one," Javier said coldly.
"A cowardly murderer. And now, a desperate man."
With calculated movements, Javier advanced. Frederick tried to shoot, but Javier disarmed him in seconds, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him into the air with brutal force. The weapon fell to the ground.
"Javier!" Leon shouted.
"Don't kill him! Let justice do its job!"
With a grunt, Javier slammed Frederick to the ground. The man coughed and writhed, groaning.
"Wait... we can negotiate!" Frederick pleaded, spitting a bit of blood.
"Half the data. Money. That's what you want, right? Just... don't turn me in!"
Angela stepped closer, looking at him like he was garbage.
"You destroyed lives for profit. Would you call that a cure?"
"I did what had to be done!" Frederick shouted.
"The world needs someone willing to get their hands dirty!"
"Then why are you crawling now?" she retorted, bitter.
"You only have courage when no one's watching."
Leon retrieved the data and the vaccines. Minutes later, soldiers arrived and cuffed Downing. He was taken away, defeated and humiliated.
"Finally..." Claire murmured.
"It's finally over."
---
Back at the hotel, Javier and Claire fell asleep the moment they hit the bed. The day had been far too long, and the weight of the mission still echoed in their minds. Leon stayed at the base, filing the last reports and requesting reinforcements.
Angela, shaken by the truth about her brother and everything she'd faced, took a leave of absence as soon as she returned to the precinct. The airport incident was officially closed. The infected had been eliminated. The survivors were vaccinated with the Azure Dragon formula. For the first time in hours, the city could breathe again.
---
The next morning, Leon found Javier and Claire in the hotel lobby. Together, they climbed back up the mountain. There, Angela was watching the ruins of Wilpharma, the wind rustling her purple dress.
"He confessed everything..." she said without turning.
"Frederick Downing caused this crisis on purpose. Supplied the virus to terrorist groups, sold data on the black market, and when he realized the disease would spread... he created the cure."
She turned, her face serene, but her eyes heavy with sorrow.
"My brother was just a pawn in his game. But even so... I can't forgive what my brother did."
"He also wanted to prevent another Raccoon City," Claire murmured.
Angela nodded.
"But in the end, we're all responsible for the choices we make."
She stared at Javier for a long moment, as if trying to read him. Something unspoken lingered. Claire noticed. So did Leon.
"Well," Leon said, breaking the silence.
"I think we've seen enough here."
He went down first. Claire followed. Before leaving, Javier looked at Angela.
"Take care of yourself."
Angela gave a soft smile.
"When you can... come visit me. Maybe we can go diving again."
"It would be a pleasure."
---
"You went diving?" Claire asked as they walked down the trail.
"It's a long story," Javier replied, with a slight, sheepish smile.
"Hm. Men and their secrets..." she said, rolling her eyes.
At the helipad, Leon offered a ride.
— "Coming with us?"
— "We've got a car waiting," Claire replied, waving toward Renee and her aunt in the distance.
Leon extended his hand to Javier.
"I hope next time we meet in a place less... confusing."
"We all hope so."
---
In the following days, Claire's interview was postponed. The group stayed at the hotel, monitoring developments. Rani became a close friend to Claire, a bit of light after so many dark days.
One night, Javier was watching the news.
"Davis resigned and lost his shares in Wilpharma. He was found dead in his office. Cause of death: suicide."
Javier's gaze hardened.
The exposure of Wilpharma's illegal projects caused a catastrophic drop in the company's stocks. With no way out, it declared bankruptcy. Tricell and Azure Dragon split what remained—labs, formulas, patents.
Javier crossed his arms, deep in thought.
"Tricell moves too fast..."
Even with all his preparation, he knew he still underestimated that corporation.
Not long after, the two companies announced the formation of a task force. Curtis's body had been found in the Wilpharma ruins. He was... "divided" for analysis.
Javier had expected it.
He knew: it was only a matter of time.
---
A few days later, Javier's phone buzzed. It was Catherine.
"Javier, I got a call. A pharmaceutical company called Shen Ya wants to discuss a partnership with you."
Javier remained silent for a moment.
"Shen Ya..." he repeated softly, eyes fixed on the window.
The name was familiar.
He turned off the TV, leaned back in his chair, and began to consider his next steps.
(End of chapter)
[End of arc]
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."