"Sounds like it's my honor then." Hearing Alexia's words, Aiden sighed emotionally, "But arrogance is not a quality a lady should have."
"But pride is." Alexia corrected his wording.
"Alright then, proud Miss Alexia." Aiden tilted his head rather helplessly.
Raising the teacup in front of him and taking a sip, Aiden then asked another doubt in his heart.
"How did you know I was here?"
Alexia also raised her teacup and took a sip, but she really wasn't used to this kind of tea, which to her was rather low quality. She only sipped a small mouthful before putting it back, then said, "That girl named Hailey you found a few days ago, her research institute is sponsored by my foundation."
"Your… foundation?" Aiden didn't ask her why she knew Hailey, that question was just too stupid. He was only interested in the foundation Alexia mentioned.
Alexia smiled without showing teeth and nodded, "Yes, my foundation, or more accurately, a foundation established under my family's name. The Ashford Foundation."
Long ago, after Alexia awakened, she became the actual controller of Umbrella's American branch. However, under pressure from the U.S. government, Umbrella's American branch had already gone bankrupt on the surface.
But a dead camel is still bigger than a horse, and coupled with the fact that Alexia was truly a genius, after consolidating all usable assets, she rebuilt the company.
Just, the current Umbrella American branch had been renamed Veronica Biopharma, and she also established the Ashford Foundation under the family name, perhaps to revive the family's glory, or perhaps to do something big.
"Ashford Foundation?"
"I remember that establishing a foundation requires official recognition. Where did you get the qualifications? Would the U.S. government allow you to establish it?"
"Or did you offer those Congress lords an offer they couldn't refuse? Political donations they couldn't turn down?" Aiden asked one question after another.
"Something like that. Mainly, there's a saying that's very true, there are no eternal friends in this world, and even more so, no eternal enemies. Although Umbrella has gone bankrupt, as once the number one biopharma company, money is actually the least useful. Technology, resources, and results, those are what's truly valuable."
Alexia slowly said, "After Umbrella's bankruptcy, the U.S. government and other pharmaceutical companies were all frantically plundering the company's resources."
"But as the legitimate heir with strong claims, I had already integrated most of the American branch's resources and technology. They only got a small portion. And, eternal life and a superhuman body weren't pursued by Spencer alone. Many people in the world want immortality, especially those capitalists and high-ranking officials."
"So, by paying just a little cost, I could make my new company appear under a legitimate identity in the public eye."
"Greed really does drive people crazy. But I'm a bit curious, how come they didn't just kill you and take what they wanted? That's what they're best at." At this point, Aiden looked at Alexia's exquisite face and found that the girl seemed to look even more beautiful than before.
"Aiden, watch your eyes. Staring directly at a lady is an impolite behavior." Since the two were sitting face to face, Alexia naturally noticed Aiden's gaze and immediately spoke with an annoyed tone, "Especially in front of your maids. They'll feel ashamed to have a master like you."
"We won't." Roberta said coldly.
Alexia's expression clearly froze, utterly astonished.
"Although she probably doesn't count as human anymore, why does she feel more normal than Choi Ji-yoon…" Glancing at the stunned Alexia, Aiden withdrew his gaze while thinking in his heart.
"Sorry, habit. I'll pay attention next time."
He shrugged and continued, "You still haven't answered my earlier question!"
"Of course, the situation you mentioned does exist. But as I am now, it's already very hard to kill me through physical means. After I dealt with several waves of assassins, some people instead contacted me on their own, hoping to cooperate with me." Alexia said.
In the original plot, Alexia was awakened early. But even then, ordinary firearms barely harmed her, let alone now, having perfectly adapted to the Veronica Virus. Unless they used massively powerful bombs or weapons stronger than linear particle cannons, it was very difficult to kill her.
Precisely because of this, certain forces or politicians were drawn to her abilities and wanted to obtain the same powers.
"The temptation of eternal life and immortality really is huge!" Aiden sighed.
"That's natural. Immortality and eternal life are among humanity's ultimate goals." Alexia nodded.
"But not many can perfectly adapt to the Veronica Virus like you. Even cooperating with you, it's hard to gain the same abilities." For now, Aiden only knew that Alexia and Manuela had perfectly adapted to the Veronica Virus. Even though both had external help, that didn't mean everyone could do it.
First, one needed to withstand the virus's corrosion after infection, otherwise, they'd just become monsters like Javier or other infected.
Alexia nodded, then said, "Even so, for many people, as long as there's a one-percent chance, they're willing to try, unless they can find another method with a higher probability."
Speaking of this, she suddenly remembered something and continued, "Some time ago, when I was integrating the company's assets, I obtained some of Spencer's journals. One of them recorded that when he was young and traveling in Europe, he met a strange woman. That woman not only could live eternally like me, but could also bring the dead back to life, and those revived retained their past memories."
"Sounds like you're telling a myth." Aiden knew who that woman was, but right now he could only pretend not to know, "If that's the case, why did he still study viruses instead of directly seeking that woman to grant him such power?"
"That I don't know. It wasn't written in the journal. It's a pity." Alexia also couldn't figure it out. After reading that record, she was immediately strongly interested. If not for certain reasons, she would've already gone to Europe to search for that woman.
"From your tone, you seem very interested in this kind of ability?" Aiden saw a flash of excitement in Alexia's eyes.
He continued asking, "Why don't you go look for her?"
He really wanted to know whether the Veronica Virus or the Mold was stronger.
"Because of certain reasons, I can't get away for now. But if I finish what I'm currently handling, I'll definitely take a trip to Europe. After all, there are a lot of things there that interest me."
"Ah, right. Speaking of Europe, I have something to tell you."
Alexia remembered another thing.
"Some time ago, someone I planted inside H.C.F. told me that Wesker also went to Europe. He seems to be looking for some kind of parasite being sold on the black market."
"What does that have to do with me?" Aiden had already encountered Plaga parasites a few days ago and wasn't interested in them.
"Aside from Wesker, that woman named Ada Wong also went. I remember you two were lovers. Aren't you planning to go help her?" Alexia asked curiously.
Aiden shrugged, "I trust she can…"
Before finishing the sentence, he fell silent. He suddenly remembered that in the original plot, Ada safely left that village only after working with Leon. But now that they no longer had that relationship… well, he started to worry a bit about Ada.
But more importantly, he didn't want to hear in the future that Ada had only completed her mission through mutual assistance with Leon. Even if that man was Leon, he had been there first.
After a moment of silence, Aiden stood up and said with a hint of gratitude, "Thank you for the reminder, Miss Alexia."
"No need to be so distant, Aiden. You can just call me Alexia." Alexia also stood up and held the hem of her dress to give him a curtsey.
Alexia's visit this time wasn't just to chat with Aiden, she had other matters to handle. After talking with Aiden for a bit more, she got up and took her leave.
Aiden accompanied her downstairs, not only to thank her for the reminder, but also because he noticed that Alexia now paid a lot of attention to etiquette. Since that was the case, as someone from the land of etiquette himself, he naturally had to be respectful.
At the hotel entrance, a row of cars was parked. Dozens of security guards wearing the former Umbrella uniform were looking around, except now the Umbrella logo on their shoulders had been replaced with the Ashford family crest.
Such a display naturally attracted the attention of onlookers. Some nosy people even began to ask which big shot had arrived.
Alexia walked down the steps to one of the luxury cars, then turned slightly toward Aiden and said, "Let's stop here."
'Where else would I send you…' Aiden muttered in his heart, but said out loud, "Not staying for a meal?"
"If you had said that before I came out, I would've thought you were sincere. But now…" Alexia smiled slightly, "Don't force yourself."
Aiden awkwardly cleared his throat and then said, "Then next time. Next time we meet, I'll treat you, whatever you want to eat."
"I heard that in your country there's a feast called Imperial Feast…"
"You'd have to come to our country for that."
"Then next time, remember to invite me to your country." Alexia said, "Don't forget again."
"I won't." Aiden nodded.
"Goodbye then."
However, Alexia didn't immediately get in the car. Instead, she gracefully extended the back of her hand to him.
Aiden looked at Alexia in confusion.
Seeing the slightly bewildered Aiden, Alexia helplessly said, "Haven't you ever received etiquette training?"
"The etiquette training I got the most was kowtowing to elders during New Year…" Aiden mumbled.
At that moment, Roberta leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Aiden, she wants you to perform a hand-kissing ceremony for her."
'Hand-kissing ceremony?'
Aiden froze for a moment, then remembered the court etiquette in old Western films and dramas he had seen before. He immediately knew what to do.
He knew what to do, but didn't know how to actually do it. So he grabbed Alexia's slender hand like shaking hands, and planted a strong kiss on the back of it. Afterward, he even smacked his lips, feeling that her hand was soft like tofu.
"You really have nothing to do with the word gentleman…"
Alexia expressionlessly pulled her hand back, took out a handkerchief from who-knows-where, and wiped the back of her hand.
"I should really find someone to properly teach you how to treat a lady." She continued.
"No need, I'll learn it myself." Aiden responded perfunctorily, he wasn't interested in Western etiquette.
But Alexia didn't catch on and nodded with satisfaction, "I hope next time we meet, you'll be more skilled."
After saying this, she turned and got into the car.
Watching the motorcade disappear into the distance, Roberta spoke again, this time with a trace of doubt in her tone, "Aiden, I remember the hand-kiss ceremony can only be used for married women."
Those words left Aiden slightly confused. He scratched his head and asked doubtfully, "When did she get married?"
Alexia's matter didn't puzzle Aiden for long. As soon as he returned to the room, he immediately called Shenhua and asked her to book them a few tickets to Europe, as soon as possible.
Resident Evil 4's plot takes place in a mysterious village in Europe. Departing from Bangkok, it wouldn't even take a day. The only difficulty was that the village was hard to find.
But Aiden believed in his luck. Plus, Jill had told him some time ago that Chris was also in Europe and had even met Leon, so after finishing the call with Shenhua, he dialed Jill's number.
Because Aiden was the only one who had that number, as soon as the call connected, Jill's excited voice came through the phone, "Aiden, did you miss me?"
Aiden didn't know how to respond, telling the truth might hurt the woman who loved him deeply. So he spoke affectionately, "Yeah, Jill, I missed you."
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