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Umbrella Corporation's situation was merely a microcosm of this world. Suddenly encountering a bacterial infection, large-scale and widespread outbreaks occurred across the globe during this period.
Various government departments urgently issued directives, requiring all departments to coordinate with disease control centers and do a good job in epidemic prevention.
In Eddimene United States, the number of infected people in just one city exceeded 10,000, and the number of people temporarily isolated directly reached as many as 40,000. Within just a few days, the number of outbreaks rapidly increased, and the disease control centers, even operating at full capacity, began to struggle.
Only with the cooperation of relevant departments and the police was the situation barely brought under control; otherwise, the sheer number of isolated people alone would have collapsed buildings. Not only that, but even so, large numbers of people still fled the cities to safer, uninfected areas.
Eddimene United States, Aral City, 13:00 PM sharp.
The golden sun hung high in the sky, its fierce heat scorching the earth. The current temperature was 35 degrees Celsius; the world was like a fiery furnace. This high-temperature feast began at ten in the morning and would continue until evening. People in the city walked in the shadows of streets and buildings, avoiding direct exposure to the scorching sun, but still could not escape the sweltering weather.
"It's too hot..."
In front of the presidential mansion, a guard wearing sunglasses couldn't help but look up at the scorching sun.
"Squeak..."
Seven black sedans stopped in front of the presidential mansion in the capital of the Eddimene United States. A dozen bodyguards in black uniforms streamed out, escorting several doctors into the presidential mansion. As soon as they stepped inside, several reception staff came forward, followed by two Secret Service security personnel.
"Dr. Carly, Dr. Cooper, Mr. President is already waiting for you inside."
The group, escorted by Secret Service security personnel, went directly to an oval office, where a white-haired old man was leaning back in the presidential office chair. He was frowning deeply, reading a document, not even noticing the group entering the office.
At this moment, the presidential office contained more than just the president; in addition to the Secret Service security personnel, there were also the Secretary of State, the Vice President, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Secret Service, and other executives.
A security guard came to his side, bent down, and whispered something into his ear. Caldwell then looked up and saw the group standing in the office.
"Welcome, Doctors. Please be seated."
"Good day, Mr. President."
As the President rose and sat on the sofa, he gestured for the two to sit down. After a few pleasantries, he got straight to the point.
"Regarding this sudden epidemic, do the two doctors have anything to say?"
"Mr. President, regarding the DCM-1 bacterium involved in this epidemic, relevant departments had actually issued a report half a month ago."
"But I apologize, our government did not pay due attention."
"You don't need to apologize; this is our fault."
"I read the document report you sent. The incubation period for DCM-1 has passed, and it is now entering its explosive outbreak phase?" Caldwell placed the document report in his hand on the table, speaking sternly.
"Yes, Mr. President."
"But in reality, the situation is even worse than anticipated."
Dr. Carly pulled out a tablet, marking a large number of red areas on the map, and handed it to the President so he could clearly see the diagram.
"This is the statistical data as of 12 PM today. The epidemic has spread to almost the entire West and North Coasts. Except for some areas in the South Coast, major cities across the country have outbreaks."
"Mr. President, the current outbreak is not the peak. According to the experimental data from the Centers for Disease Control, the incubation period for DCM-1 is at least ten days."
"In other words..."
President Caldwell covered his forehead, a headache setting in.
"In other words, we must prepare for the worst, ready to face a situation even more severe than now."
Dr. Carly and Dr. Cooper remained silent. After a moment, Dr. Cooper finally spoke.
"In twenty-four hours, it is highly possible that millions of infected people will appear nationwide."
"Mr. President, please be prepared."
At these words, everyone in the presidential office's expression darkened. President Caldwell took a deep breath and asked.
"Then do we currently have any way to treat this virus?"
"Regrettably, this DCM-1 is resistant to almost all antibiotics. Currently, we have no way to treat patients." Dr. Cooper and Dr. Carly were both unwilling, but this was the reality.
"In other words, you also have no solution?" The Vice President, seated on the sofa, frowned and looked at the two doctors, saying.
"That is currently the case."
Dr. Cooper fell silent. The President and Vice President also stopped asking questions, and the office fell into an eerie silence.
"Doctors, thank you for your hard work. You may return now."
The President rose. The two doctors also rose, gave the President a deep look, and turned to leave the presidential office with the security personnel.
15:00 PM sharp, Presidential Mansion, Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting.
"The virus is spreading at a rate of 24 hours, 36 hours, 48 hours. Measures must be taken swiftly and decisively."
A white-haired military man stood before the projector screen, explaining as the images on the screen constantly changed. The participants in the meeting looked at the continuously reddening map, conversing and whispering among themselves.
"Alright, quiet please!"
President Caldwell slammed his hand on the conference table, and the meeting room immediately fell silent.
"General Dick."
Caldwell leaned back in his chair, looking at the military old man who had previously explained the virus and the epidemic, who was seated in the third seat on the right, and said with a half-smile.
"I know that you, some time ago, used incendiary bombs to destroy the Say Valley camp, killing 1012 soldiers of the Eddimene United States with a bomb whose power was second only to an atomic bomb."
"This bomb, after exploding, can burn a large amount of oxygen, incinerating all men, women, old and young, and all viruses in the air within a radius of 1.5 kilometers."
"Completely clean, the incident subsided, the crisis averted."
At this point, the President stood up. He seemed very hot and took off his jacket, his expression displeased. He pulled a copy of the Eddimene United States Constitution from his trouser pocket, threw it with a "thwack" in front of General Dick, his expression agitated.
"This...!"
"I have read the Eddimene United States Constitution from beginning to end. It does not say that 1012 soldiers who fought for their country can be burned to death with bombs!"
"But there are several places that mention that no citizen's life or property shall be deprived without due process!"
"Now!"
President Caldwell rose and slowly walked around the office, coming behind General Dick. He paused for a second, then walked away, circled once, and returned to his position, standing.
"First!"
"I want your unreserved support! And you must support me publicly!"
"If I step down, you all step down with me!"
"Second!"
"Find a large group of authoritative experts with rich experience, and tell the news reporters that this is the only option!"
"Government personnel are not allowed to disclose any related information or dissenting opinions to news agencies or radio stations! If anyone present holds a dissenting opinion, I will invite them to see something!"
The President picked up a pile of photos from his desk and threw them with a "thwack" into the center of the conference table. The photos immediately scattered, allowing the others to see their content. They were all photos of infected individuals suffering from the bacterial virus: old people, children, women, and strong men, all looking ghastly, vomiting, bleeding, incontinent, etc., a truly horrifying sight.
"These are the citizens of our country!"
"Take a good look, this isn't a statistical chart!"
The President suddenly raised his right index finger, pointing at the photos on the table, and said through gritted teeth.
"These are living, breathing citizens of ours!"
"I want you to engrave this deeply in your minds!"
"Until you die!"
After a long silence, the President's roaring speech concluded. Through a meeting in the office, President Caldwell made arrangements.
First, integrate information and establish an emergency epidemic response team, personally commanded by the President, and directly reporting all situations to him at any time.
Second, immediately raise the security level to the highest, Level 6, and notify other countries, issuing a warning.
Third, notify Congress to activate emergency legislation, and simultaneously mobilize the National Guard to cooperate with the Centers for Disease Control in implementing mandatory isolation measures.
Fourth, prepare a press release. President Caldwell was to address and notify all citizens nationwide.
The Eddimene United States, a government agency usually seen as bloated, at this moment burst forth with powerful action and execution, striving to implement emergency plans in the shortest possible time.
Just an hour after the orders were issued, residents in various cities of the Eddimene United States found that all local police had been mobilized, advising pedestrians still wandering the streets to go home. Not only that, but in addition to the police, they also discovered large numbers of military soldiers pouring into the cities to enforce mandatory curfews.
Aral City, 8 PM.
On the cold, silent streets at night, figures of police and military soldiers were everywhere. They patrolled the streets, carrying rifles and tasers.
"Woof~"
Under a street lamp at the corner, a stray dog appeared, exhaling a puff of white air. It whimpered softly, looking at the human figures moving around, its eyes showing fear. But hunger drove its body. The stray dog moved slowly, step by step, to a dumpster filled with food, rummaging for something to fill its stomach.
"Buzzing..."
Suddenly, the ground vibrated. The feeding stray dog trembled, raised its head and pricked its ears, following the sound to the end of the street, where three black multi-purpose SUVs appeared.
"Woof woof..."
The stray dog barked twice, and the three black SUVs sped past it with a "whoosh."
"Whimper..."
The stray dog instantly trembled with fright, retreating fearfully behind the dumpster, shivering as it watched the black monsters speed away.
The three black SUVs drove along the road. The surrounding police and soldiers did not stop them; instead, they let them pass all the way. Ten minutes later, the three black SUVs drove to the outside of the presidential mansion and stopped together in front of a white building.
A group of security personnel in suits got out of the cars. Immediately, two men in suits jumped out of the cars. After being searched by the Secret Service security team, they entered the presidential mansion.
"Mr. President, people from Umbrella Corporation have arrived."
The Director of the Secret Service came to the office and whispered his report to Caldwell.
Pegorose, Pattilus City.
Pattilus City, still immersed in the hot weather, was much quieter than usual. The circulating crowds and vehicles on the streets were only one-tenth of their usual number, mostly people out buying daily necessities.
The DCM-1's contagiousness in the hot summer exceeded people's imagination, causing a large number of people to be infected even in sparsely populated places like Pegorose, leading to panic. Shopping malls, schools, companies, and other public places were all closed by unspoken agreement.
Parents fearfully brought their children home, neighbors only dared to contact each other by phone, and some even raised their guns to warn anyone who tried to approach their homes.
The police could only patrol the streets wearing masks, and the sound of ambulances whizzing by was constant.
"Boss, it seems that the governments of various countries have not yet publicly announced the news that the new antibiotics can treat DCM-1."
Jim Bradley and Illumi sat in the car, the black sedan slowly moving, observing the quiet city.
"Do you think it's appropriate to announce it now?"
Illumi didn't answer his question, but instead counter-asked.
"According to Riley's calculations, in a week, the number of infected people worldwide will reach tens of millions." Jim Bradley stated Riley Gates' estimate. For a population of billions, ten million was a very small number.
But in reality, this was only one batch of infected people. If even one batch reached tens of millions, if the time dragged on a little longer, the number of infected people would exceed people's imagination. Even a country like Pegorose had over a hundred thousand infected people, and in a week, it would develop to over five hundred thousand.
When the number of infected individuals reached 500,000, it would show a linear decline.
However, the current situation had already plunged the world into panic. This incurable bacterium was most terrifying for its mental blow to humanity. Large-scale clusters of deaths would naturally create a ripple effect.
"Our production capacity is not yet sufficient. Contact the governments of various countries; we will announce it in a week." Illumi said. Jim Bradley nodded upon hearing this. A week was about right; too long or too short would be inappropriate.
"If the time is too short, our interests won't be fully utilized."
"If it's too long, we won't be able to respond and explain well. Only when the incident fully ferments will the world truly recognize the effect of Umbrella-A."
As the two spoke, they completely disregarded human lives. Because the result of their actions would be tens of thousands of deaths during this period. Illumi himself was not a great philanthropist.
From the perspective of a capitalist, conscience brought no benefit to himself. As long as there was profit and money, even if more people died, he would not gain sympathy.
Of course, if Illumi were to be compared to the capitalist tycoons of Wall Street in his previous life, he would surely be met with a wave of mockery. Millions of people? Tens of millions of people? At least tens of millions of people would have to die to raise their drug prices again and again. That would be maximizing profits.
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