Chris was unsure whether to believe Wesker or remain suspicious. Wesker's intimidation had truly gotten to him. Chris's sense of justice was strong, but he was still young and lacked the experience to make an absolute judgment. Wesker's seemingly righteous lecture had completely thrown him off. Wesker was right, after all. They were just insignificant S.T.A.R.S. members. While they might be "star cops" in Raccoon City, they were nothing on the scale of the U.S. government. A single order from the Raccoon City Police Chief could disband the S.T.A.R.S. team at any moment.
Battling a corporate giant like Umbrella was unthinkable. It was a multinational pharmaceutical company with a private military, acting like a government unto itself. Its influence on the U.S. economy was too vast for the government to move against it without absolute proof.
Chris had to admit that they, as mere S.T.A.R.S. members, couldn't affect Umbrella. They could only do their job and complete their mission.
"I'm sorry, Captain Wesker," Chris said. "That was reckless of me. I apologize for my words. I just... I'm just too concerned about the innocent people. This virus is so dangerous. If it really leaks, the entire city will be affected."
"And Umbrella, having developed this bioweapon, must have more than just one research facility in the Raccoon City mountains. The company has bases all over the world, which must be fronts for more virus research."
"Just as Javier said, we have to find the most important evidence to expose Umbrella's crimes. Only then can we protect more innocent people, even... save the world."
Chris had apologized, but he had also voiced his true concerns. He wasn't a fool. If Umbrella was researching bioweapons, Raccoon City couldn't be the only location. He couldn't stand by while the lives of innocent people were at stake. His emotions had momentarily gotten the better of him.
"Hmph!" Wesker just snorted. He didn't argue further. But in his mind, he was both impressed and wary of Chris. He was impressed by the rookie's sharp insight, which saw through Umbrella's global network of research facilities. He was wary because Chris's strong convictions would undoubtedly cause him problems later on if he didn't deal with him in the mansion. The brief conflict was over, but Wesker was unaware that his cover would soon be blown. Another S.T.A.R.S. member who had been in the mansion the longest—Bravo Team Captain Enrico Marini—had found crucial evidence, including Wesker's secret identity as an Umbrella researcher.
The Cursed Book and a Fool's Errand
Meanwhile, after resting, Jill and Barry looked at the Cursed Book Javier and Rebecca had found. They were skeptical. A cursed book... four masks... it all seemed so childish. And a sealed coffin in the basement? Why would they unseal a coffin when they were supposed to be looking for Bravo Team members and evidence against Umbrella?
"It's not strange at all," Javier said, easily convincing Jill. "To find out if the clues are real, we just have to look for the masks. The creature in the coffin is still alive. It could be a monster, or it could be a trapped Bravo Team member. And even if it's a monster, a monster that's sealed away must hold some kind of secret. Maybe it's tied to important evidence against Umbrella. Either way, we have nothing to lose by trying. We have no other leads anyway."
Javier's reasoning was convincing. He was an expert at talking his way out of things. The truth was, he was lying about the Bravo Team members being in the coffin. He knew they were all cannon fodder, with the exception of Rebecca and himself. He just wanted Jill and Barry to help him find the masks, as it would be too time-consuming to do it alone. He wasn't just here to clear the game; he was here for the points, and the more puzzles he solved, the more points he would get.
After hearing Javier's analysis, Jill and Barry hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed. As Javier had said, it didn't matter if a person was in the coffin or not. What mattered was that they had no other clues. It was better to try to solve this puzzle than to run around aimlessly like headless chickens.
"Alright, we'll split up again," Javier commanded. "I'll keep searching the second floor with Rebecca, and you two can take the first floor. We should be able to find the masks quickly. We'll check in on the walkie-talkies and meet back in the main hall every 20 minutes to ensure our safety!"
Jill and Barry agreed without complaint. While Javier was laid-back, his leadership and tactical skills were undeniable.
The two pairs quickly split up and began searching the mansion. They checked every room and corner, looking for clues in paintings, statues, and vases. After her terrifying encounter with the zombie, Jill was much braver and more confident in shooting. Her aim was excellent, and she easily landed headshots.
Interestingly, all four of them had the ability to force open doors. This wasn't possible in the training facility, where the doors were heavy steel, but the mansion's doors were mostly beautiful wooden ones, which made them easy to break down.
"Hey, Javier, look what I found!" Rebecca said, holding up a stack of old files. Javier, who was busy ransacking the place—no, I mean, looking for clues—came over to see what she had found. The file contained a note from a clueless researcher:
"Hey, Mr. Spencer told me to hide this thing so no one could find it. But no one would ever think to hide it on the collar of one of the Doberman zombies. Those dogs are crazy, no one would mess with them. Besides, you need a special dog whistle to even attract them."
Another smart guy who kept a diary. The note described a special item hidden on a dog collar, and to find it, they'd first need a special dog whistle. This task was too much of a hassle. Javier quickly dismissed the idea of running around the mansion with a dog whistle to summon a zombie dog.
Javier and Rebecca continued their search. They used the diamond-shaped key from the Cursed Book to open a special room. It was a long, dark corridor, with a single, brightly lit stone box in the center. Inside the box was a square purple key. It was an obvious trap. The empty, quiet room and the single box screamed "ambush." But they had no choice but to take the key.
Javier and Rebecca approached the box, both armed. Javier had the powerful M500 revolver, and Rebecca held her M1897 shotgun. Javier even had a high-explosive grenade ready. They were confident they could handle anything—a Hunter, a Tyrant, or any other monster—as long as it wasn't a ceiling or a giant boulder trap. They had enough ammo and firepower to take on a Tyrant if they had to.
But...
"May he who takes this emblem find peace in death..."
An ominous message was carved onto the stone box, a clear warning. But Javier and Rebecca were unfazed. They chose to be reckless and quickly took the key.
Then...
"Rumble—!!!"
The trap was triggered. The walls of the corridor began to close in, forming a narrow passage that only one person could pass through. And at the end of the passage...
"Whirrrrrr—!!!"
A sharp, piercing whirring sound filled the air, like a chainsaw. Was it a chainsaw killer? No, it was a stone killer. A life-sized stone statue appeared at the end of the narrow corridor. On its chest was a giant spinning, spiked wheel, like a meat grinder.
Now Javier finally understood the message: "May he who takes this emblem find peace in death..."