Resident Evil: Between betrayal and salvation - Leon's life

Act 1: Raccoon City, Underground Laboratory (Remake 2)

The Umbrella Corporation laboratory is collapsing.

Smoke and sparks fly, and the creaking of pipes overhead echoes.

Leon aims his gun directly at her.

Before him is Ada.

Until a few hours ago, she'd thought of him as an ally and a helping hand. But the truth is different.

"Ada, I heard everything. You're not FBI."

Ada's expression clouds for a moment.

She speaks with a sad face and a sorrowful voice.

"You should have just given it to me. Give me the G-virus!"

Ada draws her gun and points it at Leon without hesitation.

"So I was a sacrificial pawn?"

It was the first time a sarcasm crossed the lips of this innocent, justice-loving rookie police officer's lips.

"This is my job."

Ada's expression doesn't change at all.

This woman is a professional... A chill ran down Leon's spine.

Resigned to his position, Leon lowered his gun and deliberately shook the test tube containing the G-virus sample hanging from his hand.

Ada's gaze sharpened. Silence fell as she held her gun at the ready.

Leon's throat went dry.

At that moment, an explosion rang out, and the steel overpass Leon was standing on collapsed.

If Leon fell, the G-virus sample would fall with him.

"Fire..."

Leon muttered to himself.

"You can't do that, right? If you shoot me, the G-virus will reach the depths of the earth."

Ada's finger just grazed the trigger.

But she didn't fire.

Was it because she was a professional spy?

Or was it because she was a woman?

But in that moment, her footing gave way.

Ada's body was pulled into the abyss, and she clung to the steel beams.

The G-virus case slipped from her hand and fell into the deep darkness.

"Ada!"

He clung to her outstretched hand.

But she let go.

"!"

"Leon, you're alive..."

Her compassionate voice and sad gaze tightened his chest.

Tears nearly spilled from Leon's eyes, but the next moment he saw something.

Ada was following the G-virus sample with serious eyes as it fell into the abyss.

The sad expression on her face from before was gone, replaced by the face of a cold-hearted spy.

Ahh... This woman was a professional.

Compared to her, what a weak and pitiful creature I was.

All that remained were empty palms and a pain that tore through his chest.

Moaning, Leon desperately tried to climb out.

Was it foolish to believe her?

Or was it my own weakness that made me want to believe her?

Leon stood alone in the flame-lit hallway of the laboratory.

Deep in his heart, his first "betrayal" was carved like a deep wound.

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Act 2: A Remote European Village (Remake 4)

As Leon explored the mansion in search of Ashley, a shadow suddenly appeared from behind.

A red knit dress and high-heeled boots.

A woman appeared before him, gun in hand, an unforgettable one.

"Ada..."

He desperately tried to keep his voice from shaking.

Six years had passed since Raccoon City.

It was during his training as an agent that he first heard rumors of her being alive.

"It's been a long time, Leon."

She smiled seductively.

She didn't express any joy at their reunion, just a provocative tone.

"What are you trying to do? What are you doing here?"

The gun remains pointed at her.

But deep down, he knows.

Her goal has always been a mission, a deal.

She's not someone he can discuss with human emotions.

"Just like always. Serious and inflexible."

Ada shrugged and leaned against the railing of the bridge.

"It's too late for her. Give up now."

"Don't get in the way of my mission."

Even if he wanted to believe it, he couldn't.

He was attracted to her, yet she was pushing him away.

This contradiction tormented Leon even during the time he was unable to see her.

Ada turned away.

"See you again, Leon."

The red shadow dissolved into the darkness.

His hand gripping the gun was trembling.

Leon gritted his teeth and muttered in a spit-out voice.

"...Damn it."

There was no joy in their reunion.

Just the frustration of being manipulated by an incomprehensible woman and the lingering uncertainty.

These feelings piled up heavily on his heart.

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Act 3: At the Airport (Degeneration)

At the request of the Harvard Building SWAT team, Leon headed to the scene to rescue those who had been unable to escape, including the senator.

Fighting through the onslaught of zombies, he charged into the room where the senator was supposed to be, only to find Claire, whom he hadn't seen in six years.

"Claire..."

In Raccoon City, the three of them, including Sherry, held hands and discussed what they wanted to do if peace returned.

Sherry said she wanted to be adopted by Claire, and the two of them discussed the kind of home they wanted.

Claire, who was leaving Sherry in a temporary facility for disaster orphans, looked on the verge of tears.

There's no way a college student searching for her brother could raise a child.

I'm talking about Claire.

She probably seriously considered making Sherry part of the family.

I said nothing, just turned to her and quietly shook my head.

After Claire went out to search for her brother Chris again, I chose to become a US government agent in exchange for being guaranteed Sherry's safety.

We were comrades who survived the night in Raccoon City.

As an agent-training student, I couldn't speak or even look at each other.

Time passed, and I was soon 28 and she was 26.

Together, we created a lobby filled with zombies and rescued the senator, and we fought alongside Claire again in an underground facility where an enemy conspiracy was brewing, and emerged victorious.

We waved goodbye to Angela, a special forces member, and started walking.

Many things came to mind about this incident.

It had been a long time since I felt this way.

Loneliness and betrayal were commonplace in Agent Leon S. Kennedy's work, but this was perhaps the first time he had fought with complete trust in everyone around him.

Angela, the now-deceased members of the special forces.

And of course, Claire.

It had been a tough battle, but deep inside, he felt something long-closed off beginning to slowly unravel.

The tragedy at Raccoon City seven years ago.

And a year earlier, he had been toyed with by Ada in the Spanish village, his heart worn down by feelings of attachment, distrust, and fear of betrayal.

The exhaustion he felt back then was gone.

His expression was blank, but the tension in his shoulders naturally relaxed.

He let out a deep breath, still clenching his fists.

It was as if his nerves, long numb, had woken up, just a little.

As the helicopter arrived, and before he boarded, Leon chanced to look at Claire.

"...Maybe we'll meet again? Maybe somewhere more normal next time."

Claire nodded slightly and smiled.

"Yes, that's right."

The helicopter roared as it took off.

The green Harvard Building was visible through the window.

The sky swayed gently.

Leon's shoulders relaxed even more, and while his expression was blank, he clearly felt a sense of calm relief.

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Act 4: Between Duty and Friendship (Infinite Darkness)

The White House lobby.

The afternoon light reflected off the marble floor, and the silence was tinged with the faint murmur of people.

As I was walking with my teammates for this assignment, I suddenly heard a voice call out from behind: "Leon."

"Claire, it's been a while..."

Has it been six months since we last met in Harvard?

Why was she at the White House when she was supposed to be overseas on business?

She smiled back. But I could see the worry and confusion in her eyes.

I wanted to talk to her so much,

But my mission prevented me from taking the time.

The sketchbook she handed me to look at was clearly filled with troublesome drawings.

"...Don't do anything reckless."

My heart was wrenched, torn between my desire to protect her and the responsibility of the mission.

With no communication between us possible, the operation began.

A few days later, we met again in the dark underground base of the White House.

Claire, are you doing something dangerous again?

Why do you make me worry so much?

I just want you to live your days in peace.

After the battle ended and we escaped the base, I found a small case in my hands.

It contained the evidence of this incident.

Claire asked me to hand it over to her, to make it public so the case could be solved, but I told her no, I would keep it in the dark.

"I thought you were inviting me to dinner."

It was both a joke and a wish.

I'd known her for a long time.

We'd fought together many times.

But how much private time had we been able to spend together?

But I was an agent.

I gave up my friendship and my desire to spend private time together for my country and the justice I believed in.

And even so, it meant looking at the back of the person I trusted more than anything else in the world.

Claire quietly turned her back and walked away.

Leon continued to stare at her back.

Trustworthy friends, a normal life, everyday things like going out for pizza.

He reminded himself that this was a world beyond his reach.

"...A normal life is no longer for me."

He muttered softly, heading into the darkness.

Still, he felt a small sense of relief that he was at least able to send her off, wishing her safety.

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Act 5: A Night of Romance

A high-rise hotel in New York.

Midway through the mission, Leon met up with Ada to exchange information.

They walked down a luxurious corridor and entered a dimly lit room. A skyscraper-filled skyline could be seen from the window.

Ada sat down without hesitation in a chair and crossed her legs.

"As always. Devoted to your mission, and so serious."

Leon took off his coat and placed his gun on the desk.

"No time to play around. Do you have any information?"

She smiled faintly and showed me the small case tucked into her chest.

"If you want to know... here's part of the answer."

It was a disk filled with virus-related information.

Leon's eyes wavered slightly.

That was certainly what he wanted. But the way he presented it was far too provocative.

"...What do you want?"

"What do you want?"

Ada slowly stood up and approached Leon.

The strong smell of her perfume made his breath hitch.

"Would you give it to me if I asked? You're an interesting person..."

In that moment, the distance between them suddenly closed. A tense, thread-like tension hung in the air.

Leon's hand unconsciously grabbed her arm.

"Ada..."

He forcefully captured her lips.

He stroked her body as he embraced her, then reached down to her chest and pulled out the case.

He then pulled her away from him.

"...I've got the information. This is farewell."

Even though he spoke coldly, he felt a pain deep in his heart.

He didn't miss the moment her expression clouded over.

"I see. You're a coward, after all."

Ada shrugged and gave him a sarcastic smile.

"...Interpret it however you like."

Taking the disc, Leon turned away.

He felt like he'd lose something if he looked back.

Just before he closed the door, her voice called out to him from the other side.

"See you again, Leon."

He didn't reply.

All that remained in the depths of my heart was an indescribable hesitation and the pain of having to push her away.

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Act 6: Eastern Slav Republic - Underground Reunion (Damnation)

Eastern Slav Republic.

The underground base of the presidential palace was engulfed in war.

Amidst the crumbling concrete, Leon walked through the darkness, gun at the ready.

Darkness and silence, and...

"It's been a while, Leon."

A voice from behind me made my heart skip a beat.

I turned around to see a woman in a black suit pointing a gun at me.

I've never forgotten that face.

"...Ada."

He pointed the gun back at her.

They glared at each other, neither giving an inch.

The night at the hotel a few years ago came back to him vividly.

The distance he couldn't cross back then.

The words he'd said so coldly back then.

"Hey, I wonder when we can have a sequel to that night."

Harsh words.

Leon's heart slammed hard.

"Not now, that's for sure."

Hiddening his true feelings, she snorted and spat out the words.

"Could it be... you're making me wait?"

There was a sting in her light voice.

An emotion that was neither reproach nor loneliness clouded her expression slightly.

She used her hookshot to soar inside.

"This town will soon be purified."

Was it the return of Raccoon?

Was the Demon King about to fall from the sky?

Leon laughed sarcastically.

Taking those words to heart, I walked into the darkness.

I didn't look back.

If I did, I'd be shaken again.

But deep down, I knew.

No matter how hard I tried to resist, she wouldn't disappear.

It was this contradiction that exhausted me the most.

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Act 7: Five Years of Disappearance: Renewing Friendship

A White House conspiracy quietly came to the forefront.

TV news reported the arrests of those involved in the attempt to destabilize US-China relations.

As Claire stared at the TV screen, she felt a small sense of relief deep in her heart.

"...Leon, you stopped that man."

Memories of the parting they'd had after the White House incident.

The sadness and sense of loss from that time seemed to fade in an instant.

Leon, who had been forced to give up his friendship for the sake of his mission, now understands that after five years, he has indeed solved the case.

She immediately takes out the phone.

She speaks through the receiver, her voice shaking with a hint of embarrassment, but with unmistakable joy.

The voice that comes through the receiver is unmistakably that of her former comrade-in-arms.

"I saw it on TV. Leon... the case's solved, isn't it?"

A calm voice comes from the other end.

"Yes, you're safe. The world is safe now. I'm glad nothing happened to you."

A five-year gap.

Even over the phone, as if nothing had ever happened, they can sense their ability to trust each other.

All the estrangement, frustration, and misunderstandings that had existed up until now slowly melt away.

"...I'm so glad. Really."

Claire lets out a small sigh.

"...We can only talk on the phone, but let's stay friends."

Leon's voice was no longer cold like before, but now gentle.

The news they'd seen on the screen reconnected their hearts.

It felt like a small miracle that happened not on a major battlefield or mission, but in a quiet place in everyday life.

After a brief silence, Claire chuckled.

"Hey, how about we get together for dinner? I couldn't make it then."

"Hey, aren't you in New York? I'm in Washington."

"Yeah, let's talk on the phone together."

"...over the phone?"

Leon was taken aback by the unexpected offer.

"I'll bring some potato chips and beer. I also have a bagel sandwich I bought. Is there anything else, Leon?"

Realizing what he was saying, Leon smiled faintly, opened the freezer, and pulled out a pizza.

"All right. Let's have a toast."

Through the screen, Claire smiled, holding the drink in her hand.

"I never thought the day would come when we'd be able to have dinner together like this."

"Yeah, me too. But I'm glad we could just talk for a little while."

As they stuffed their mouths with pizza and sipped their drinks, the two exchanged old stories and jokes.

"Leon, you've gotten a little rounder since five years ago, haven't you?"

"...Huh? You mean I've gotten fat? Can you tell?"

Claire's laughter echoed through the phone, and Leon's shoulders relaxed even more.

Though he was remembering those lonely and exhausting days, now was a time of relief.

This was a conversation unrelated to missions or conspiracies, simply between friends.

Just that, Leon's heart quietly filled with joy.

"See you again soon, Claire."

"Yeah, definitely. Next time, somewhere more normal. And by the way, I want you to see me soon, too."

As he hung up the phone, Leon let out a small sigh.

The tension in my shoulders relaxed, and a calm relief I hadn't felt in a long time spread deep in my heart.

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Act 8: Encounter at the Washington Branch

The lobby of the BSAA branch, located on the outskirts of Washington, D.C.

The early afternoon light reflected off the marble floor, softly illuminating the white walls.

Claire's expression seemed somewhat tense, yet she couldn't hide her joy.

Leon, walking next to me, remained silent.

However, the image of a long-ago battlefield still lingered in his gaze.

The men walking down the hallway were all dressed in military uniforms and combat gear.

Seeing them reminded me of my own time as a trainee.

"Here he is."

Claire stopped and pointed to an office at the back.

The door opened, and the shadow of a burly man appeared.

A man with a piercing gaze yet a friendly smile, he was Chris Redfield, a living legend of the BSAA.

"Welcome, Leon S. Kennedy."

There was no need for them to introduce themselves.

They already knew of each other's existence through Claire.

Moreover, both were skilled warriors known throughout the world of anti-bioterrorism.

But standing before each other only made those rumors a reality.

Ten minutes.

That was all the two were given for a brief conversation.

"Bioterrorism is born from human greed and arrogance."

Chris said, tapping his fingers lightly on the file on his desk.

"And that's why I'm going to crush it with all my might."

Leon nodded quietly.

"It's the same for me. I started in Raccoon City. That's where I met Claire and we fought together.

But Raccoon City is as you know. I don't want to lose any more lives."

Chris looked back at him, understanding the slight bitterness in his voice.

And then, suddenly, a smile formed between the two of them.

Even during a heavy conversation, the moment they realized they were looking in the same direction, the distance between their hearts instantly closed.

"...I think we'd make good friends."

Chris extended his hand.

Leon let out a short breath and shook it firmly.

To break the cycle of hatred.

To devote all his efforts to eradicating it.

The words they exchanged lasted only a few minutes.

But that promise became a conviction that would stay with them for years to come.

Outside the branch office, the afternoon light poured down softly.

Beside Leon, Claire smiled, seemingly relieved.

"...We finally got to meet."

She muttered softly.

"I wanted to introduce my brother to Leon, even if just once. He's my proud brother."

Leon looked at her in surprise, then suddenly smiled back.

"...Thank you, Claire."

It was a smile of relief that Claire hadn't seen in a long time.

She walked off happily.

It was as if connecting her brother and friend had been her mission.

And then Leon thought,

This bond will surely give me strength in the battles ahead.

The Washington sky was an endless blue.

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Act 9: Why Me... (Numbered 6)

Helena could only watch her sister Deborah's transformation within the cocoon, calling out her name.

At that moment, an arrow flew from behind and pierced Deborah's chest, as she was on the verge of transforming into a monster.

"...Ada."

The name slipped out of Leon's mouth naturally.

A woman emerged from the shadows, her crimson blouse fluttering.

Her eyes brought back memories of the countless times she had been deceived and saved.

Leon quickly regained his composure.

The rumors that she was working with Simmons filled Leon with cold suspicion, and made him grip his gun.

"Are you... employed by Simmons?"

A low, hushed voice.

Ada smiled slightly and approached him without hesitation, step after step.

As the red cloth swayed in the darkness, Leon's gaze wavered slightly.

"What will you do with the answer...Leon?"

The voice could be interpreted as either provocation or affection.

Leon's finger trembled as it was on the trigger.

In the next moment, she handed over a small piece of metal.

A data chip glowed with light.

"Take this. It will prove your innocence."

Leon's eyes widen.

Why? Why did she—

"What are you trying to do, Ada...?"

He asked hoarsely. But no answer came.

Ada turned away and briskly walked up the stairs.

The night breeze blew in, and as they emerged onto the roof, the roar of a helicopter shook the air.

A red shadow jumped onto the circling aircraft.

"Ada!"

Leon's voice was drowned out by the roar of the propellers.

Why... did you save me?

If you're teaming up with Simmons, wouldn't it have been more logical to just shoot him here?

Wasn't the Plaga you stole from the Eastern Slav Republic... for him?

So why are you giving me the evidence?

Is it to use me?

Do you really enjoy toying with me?

Or... do you really... want me?

I don't know. It's always been like that. I want to believe, but the reality forces me to doubt.

Caught between these two, I've been hurt and saved by her so many times.

...Is she watching me?

Or is she just treating me as a pawn?

The answer faded into the darkness, and the helicopter, cutting through the night sky, slid away.

"What are you doing, Leon? Hurry and go after him."

Helena's voice came over the comm.

But Leon shook his head.

After a brief moment of silence, he spoke in a grave, calm voice.

"No... it's okay."

"Do you need to detain him? He's an internationally wanted criminal. There's still time. Hurry and go after him!"

"I've entrusted the task of detaining Ada to Chris. We have our own mission."

His gaze followed the afterglow of the helicopter as it disappeared into the darkness.

The question, "Why me..." continued to echo in the back of his mind.

But the next moment, he raised his head, shaking off any hesitation.

A firm determination dwelled in his eyes.

To protect the president's honor.

To stop terrorism.

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Act 10 - Vendetta with New Allies

Deep in the Oregon mountains.

A cold, snow-filled wind was blowing.

Leon sat dejectedly at the hotel bar, a bottle of alcohol in hand.

The recent tragedy had taken the lives of all his DSO team members.

Since then, the faces of those killed had repeatedly flashed through his mind.

"When I was little, what kind of adult did I want to be...?"

The first time he put on his police uniform,

He was thrilled that his childhood dream had come true.

But then, on his first day on the job in Raccoon City, everything changed.

The zombies, the Tyrants, attacking one after another, came to mind.

And then there was that woman's face.

"At least, this is not the kind of life I wanted..."

He muttered softly.

Alcohol was the only thing that soothed his loneliness and sadness.

At that moment, a large man and a petite woman appeared through the restaurant door.

"Leon, please help me. It's Chris."

I didn't have the energy to turn around.

Not again? Not again!

Though I was fed up, a sense of resolve surged through my heart.

I couldn't run away.

I fought alone in a world where I couldn't always trust anyone.

Chris was blessed with good allies, but he lost them because of the mission.

Our situations and fighting styles were different, but we were both facing different forms of hell.

As they headed toward Los Angeles in the Osprey with Chris, Rebecca, and their BSAA comrades, Leon gripped her cold hand again.

A quick strategy meeting began aboard the Osprey.

They exchanged information, confirmed their roles, and anticipated the enemy's movements.

In normal DSO operations, I had to discipline myself alone and take on everything on my own.

But not now.

"Leon, cover this side."

"Got it, Boss."

Through this simple exchange, they trust and cooperate with each other.

They are able to complete their mission without being crushed by loneliness.

This feeling filled Leon with a strange warmth.

Even on the battlefield, he isn't alone.

He has comrades.

Just knowing that makes his heart feel lighter, like a lie.

After solving the case in Los Angeles, as he returns in an Osprey with Chris and Rebecca, he thinks:

No more drunken vacations.

"From tomorrow, I'll live properly."

He vows to himself.

Rather than carrying out his mission alone, he will cooperate with his comrades and fight while laughing together.

This is the new normal he has been given.

It's the beginning of the days he must slowly reclaim.

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Act 11: From Loneliness to Trust (Death Island)

The sea is calm before dawn, the waves faintly reflecting the moonlight.

Leon, alone on his underwater motorcycle, heads for the island under orders from the DSO.

In his solitude, only his mission keeps him going.

A sense of tension builds as he navigates Death Island's ruined corridors.

However, he soon meets legendary BSAA member Jill Valentine.

Even though it's his first meeting, Leon knows she's Chris's comrade and a highly renowned and skilled member, and silently and naturally prepares to join forces.

"Leon, let's go ahead."

Leon nods at Jill's brief command.

Her movements are precise and calm, yet her determination to protect her comrades is clear.

He finds Chris and Claire, who are being held hostage in the cell.

"Chris! Claire!"

His brief call brings expressions of relief and surprise to their faces.

Leon quickly opens the lock and frees the hostages.

"This will make our work a little easier."

Muttering a sarcastic, light-hearted remark, he and his comrades headed toward the exit.

Waiting outside the prison was a giant shark-like BOW.

The battle was fierce, but they overcame it with mutual trust and teamwork.

Jill, Chris, Claire, and Rebecca carefully watched each other's movements and helped each other subdue the BOW.

As they basked in the afterglow of victory, a long-awaited smile broke across Leon's face as the helicopter approaching them landed.

"Great, everyone's safe."

Leon felt not only the tension of the mission, but also a warmth in his heart.

He was no longer a lone warrior, but a warrior who could laugh with trusted comrades.

He realized that this was who he was now.

In the helicopter, Leon made a non-sarcastic, light-hearted remark to his comrades.

"Hey, Jill. Let me have my moment next time."

"That's not going to work," Jill said with a laugh.

Chris, Claire, and Rebecca all smiled.

Leon's heart was neither heavy nor lonely.

He was simply enveloped in a sense of relief and warmth.

At that moment, as she looked out the helicopter window at Death Island, Claire saw what seemed to be a shadow looking in their direction.

A woman...? No, it was probably her imagination.

Claire pulled herself together, handed out Cokes to everyone, and they shared a light toast in the helicopter.

The Coke quenched Leon's parched thirst.

Perhaps it was inappropriate.

But even if he were to face another life-risking mission, he felt like he could get through it.

Now he had friends who shared the same goal: working toward a world without bioterrorism.

He didn't want a life like this.

But now he felt like there was a future for this kind of life.

Leon looked around at the faces of each of his friends once more.

And for the first time, he thanked God that he hadn't died in Raccoon City.