Lear followed behind Marvin, walking briskly up to the second floor of the Police Station and heading straight to Deputy Chief Raymond's office.
The door was slightly ajar; Marvin gave two light knocks before pushing it open. The light inside the office was dim, with heavy curtains half-drawn, allowing the gray mist from outside to seep in and add to the oppressive atmosphere. Raymond was standing behind his desk, which was covered by a map of the Raccoon City district, marked with red circles around schools, hospitals, residential areas, and shelters.
Hearing footsteps, Raymond turned around. He was dressed in a sharp Police uniform, his brow carrying the composure of a man long accustomed to high-ranking authority, though it also concealed an unmistakable exhaustion. Seeing Lear, he skipped the formalities and spoke directly.
"Marvin has already briefed me on the situation outside. The Infected, the biting, the reanimations... everything you witnessed at the scene, I know." He looked out the window at the Umbrella logo.
Lear nodded, his tone steady and direct: "Chief, the most logical choice right now is to immediately consolidate all police forces and hold the Police Station. This place is structurally sound with centralized entry points, plus it houses an armory and medical supplies. As long as we reinforce all windows and seal every door and underground passage, we can definitely hold out until outside help arrives. Scattering our forces will only lead to them being picked off one by one."
He paused, his voice gaining weight: "Once the Police Station falls, the civilians and officers here will no longer have a safe stronghold."
Raymond remained silent for a moment, his gaze falling back to those red circles on the map, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. He had served in the Raccoon City Police Department for nearly twenty years; he understood the importance of this station better than anyone, but he knew even better that countless living souls were trapped inside those circles.
"I know that holding the Police Station is the safest bet." Raymond's voice was low but exceptionally firm. "But I cannot stay here and do nothing while listening to the cries for help outside. There are still many civilians in the city who haven't had time to evacuate—the elderly, children, ordinary families... they lack weapons, they have no defenses, and they certainly don't have experience facing those... 'thugs.' If we ignore them, they're as good as dead."
He looked up, meeting Lear's gaze with sincere intensity. "I intend to lead a team into the city to evacuate trapped citizens."
Lear's brow furrowed slightly. "The city's layout is complex, and the number of Infected is impossible to estimate. Once a squad goes deep, it's highly likely they'll be trapped—or even wiped out entirely."
"I know the danger," Raymond admitted candidly. "But I can't abandon them just because it's dangerous."
He took a step forward, his tone carrying an earnest plea: "Lear, you've seen those thugs with your own eyes. You know how they move and their weaknesses, and you're calmer and more decisive than any other officer. I am formally requesting that you come with me. With you there, the team's survival rate will be much higher, and we'll be able to save far more people."
Lear felt a stir in his mind.
He kept a neutral expression, but his mind began weighing the options. Staying at the Police Station meant dealing with the potentially volatile Irons, being restricted at every turn, and being unable to act freely. Following Raymond on a rescue mission would not only give him a legitimate reason to leave the Police Station, but would also allow him to use the evacuation as a cover to accomplish something he absolutely had to do. Certain thoughts shifted quietly within his mind. The original plan was no longer applicable; now, he had a higher priority, a place he absolutely had to reach.
Lear paused for a moment as if weighing the pros and cons before finally nodding slowly.
"I understand. I'll go with you."
The tension on Raymond's face finally gave way to a sliver of relief, and he clapped Lear heavily on the shoulder. "Good man. Having you there puts my mind at ease."
"However, I would like to make a suggestion," Lear said calmly. "I want our first stop to be the Raccoon City Orphanage. It's in a remote location and easily overlooked. It's filled with children and caregivers who have almost no way to defend themselves. Once they're surrounded by zombies, the consequences will be unthinkable."
Without a second thought, Raymond immediately agreed. "No problem. The elderly and children come first; that's the primary principle of any rescue mission. I'll set the Orphanage as our primary objective."
This trip for Lear wasn't just about cooperating with Raymond's rescue efforts.
He wanted to reach the Orphanage before everything became irreversible to find Sherry Birkin—that sensible child who was so brave it was heartbreaking. Even when she was shaking with fear, she never cried out or made a scene; even after being injected with a virus, she endured it in quiet silence, not wanting to be a burden to anyone, her eyes hiding a strength far beyond her years. He would find her and spare that poor, strong little girl some of her suffering.
The plan had changed once again. Lear was no longer prepared to wait for the plot to unfold. In the original timeline, Leon and Claire had been separated from the start at the Police Station. By that point, after a day of bitter fighting, the effective strength of the Police Station had been almost entirely depleted, leaving Leon and Claire with no choice but to wander blindly through the building while fending off zombie attacks. Now, with his warnings and early preparations, the Police Station would surely hold out longer and suffer fewer casualties. He planned to take Sherry and wait there for Leon and Claire to arrive.
With the decision made, the two men wasted no more time.
Raymond immediately issued orders, giving Marvin full authority over the reinforcement of the Police Station's internal defenses—blocking the police station main gate and side entrances, constructing defensive lines out of desks and cabinets, inventorying weapons and ammunition, designating quarantine zones, and arranging for the remaining officers to keep their radios clear. Marvin offered no objection and turned to begin the deployment immediately.
Meanwhile, Raymond personally led a squad to perform emergency equipment preparation.
The armory doors swung open, and officers lined up to receive pistols, shotguns, rifles, spare magazines, first-aid kits, radios, and ballistic vests. Every face was solemn, but their movements were orderly; no one backed down in the face of the mission.
Lear also re-checked his equipment: his pistol was secured at his hip, his shotgun slung across his back, his tactical vest packed with magazines, and his first-aid kit firmly strapped to his waist. His movements were practiced and his expression calm—actions he had rehearsed countless times over the past few days—forming a sharp contrast with the slightly nervous officers around him.
Just as he was about to turn and head downstairs, a small hand lightly tugged at the corner of his jacket.
It was Emma. The little girl looked up with a face full of anxiety, clutching a worn rag doll tightly in her arms, and spoke in a small voice: "Brother Lear... are you going out?" Lear stopped in his tracks, his voice softening. "Yes. I'm going out to save more people." Emma bit her lip and forcefully pressed the rag doll she had been clutching into his hand. Her voice was quiet but earnest. "This... is for you. It will protect you. You have to come back."
The doll carried the child's faint warmth, soft and comforting. Looking into her reddened eyes as she struggled not to cry, Lear felt his heart soften. He gently patted her head. "Alright. I'll take it. I will definitely come back." He carefully tucked the doll into an outer pocket of his tactical vest, leaving half its head peeking out as if it were silently keeping him company.
With everything ready, Raymond stood by the Police Station entrance, looking over the dozen or so officers prepared for departure. His voice was steady and powerful.
"For this mission, our primary objective is the evacuation of civilians. If you encounter Infected, aim for the head. Do not engage in prolonged combat unless necessary; prioritize the protection of the elderly and children. Our first stop is the Raccoon City Orphanage. After that, we will establish temporary positions in residential areas and street corners to evacuate people in stages."
"Understood!"
The synchronized response echoed through the Main Hall.
Raymond turned to Lear, his gaze resolute. "Move out."
Lear gave a slight nod and was the first to step out through the police station main gate.
The early morning mist remained heavy, and occasional distant roars drifted across the streets. The air was thick with a lingering, metallic stench. The police car engines roared to life, shattering the dead silence. Lear sat in the passenger seat, his gaze calm as he stared at the street ahead, swallowed by the fog.
Marvin remained at the Police Station to hold the fort, while he and Raymond ventured deep into hell to bring back those abandoned lives.
The convoy drove slowly into the heart of the city, passing crumbling buildings and streets strewn with wreckage. The sun was blocked by the thick fog, leaving all of Raccoon City steeped in silence and despair.
Lear tightened his grip on his weapon.
The rescue had begun.
(Translated by yourtl.app)