Before leaving, Lear used going back to the office to get something as an excuse, politely declined Leon accompanying him, and returned to the officers' office alone.
The moment the door swung shut, the surroundings fell into a brief silence. Lear had only been standing there for a few seconds when the sound of light, shuffling footsteps came from behind him, and at the same time, a raspy voice echoed in the depths of his mind.
"Lear, leaving?"
Lear turned around to see Friday standing behind him, holding a crate of canned cola he had scavenged from somewhere, watching him quietly.
Lear gave a slight nod. Friday lowered his head and remained silent, but Lear could clearly sense his profound disappointment.
Before Lear could say a word, Friday silently held out the cola.
"For you. Before, people in white clothes often drank this."
Looking at the cola in his hands, Lear felt a jolt of surprise. The surrounding area should have run out of cola half a month ago. This meant…
Looking at Friday, who stood with his head bowed in silence, Lear understood. The reason he had been gone for so long was likely because he had gone searching for this cola.
The thought brought a spark of warmth to Lear's heart. In Friday's simple understanding, he couldn't distinguish exactly what cola was; he just knew that many people used to drink it, so it must be good, and he wanted to find it for Lear.
Lear reached out and gently patted Friday's large head, asking in a low voice, "Then, do you want to come with us? It might be very dangerous…"
Before Lear could finish, Friday snapped his head up, his two kind… little eyes staring straight at Lear.
"Want to go! Follow Lear! Where you go! I go!"
Hearing the excited voice echoing in his mind, Lear gave a helpless smile. The moment he received the cola, he had made a decision. Since he had already given Friday a name and intended to take him out of Raccoon City, there was no longer any need for secrecy.
As for the risk of exposure, Lear had considered it. Whether it was Leon, Claire, or Alyssa, as protagonists of the Resident Evil series, their character was guaranteed. The only one he was currently unsure about was Ada's stance.
Ada had clearly known about Friday's existence before, yet she seemed to have no intention of exposing him. Furthermore, Ada had always been the most mysterious female character in the Resident Evil series, so Lear had no way of guessing what she planned to do.
However, having made up his mind, Lear spoke to Friday.
"In a bit, come with me to the Main Hall. I'm going to introduce you to a few people."
Hearing that he needed to have contact with strangers, Friday's frame visibly stiffened. His massive body swayed from side to side, his face full of reluctance.
Seeing Friday like this, Lear could only speak softly, as if coaxing a child.
"If you don't go, how will you follow us to the laboratory? The sewer is very complex. If you lose us, you won't be able to find me."
At the words "won't be able to find Lear," a look of panic instantly crossed Friday's face.
Lear waited patiently by his side for a decision. He understood that because Friday had been persecuted during experiments and hunted by Umbrella, he didn't trust humans. But there was no better way right now.
After about half a minute, Friday suddenly grabbed Lear's arm and looked up at him.
"I go. I trust Lear!" Seeing Friday agree, a smile spread across Lear's face. Man and pet wasted no more time, turning to head toward the Police Station Lobby.
Those in the Main Hall had already finished their preparations. Leon distributed the gathered handgun ammo among them, while Ada handed Leon a shotgun she had found in the trunk of a police car in the Parking lot.
At that moment, Lear pushed the door open and entered with Friday. Seeing the massive figure following behind Lear, Leon, Claire, and Alyssa immediately raised their guns and aimed at it. Ada stood to the side with her arms crossed, watching Lear playfully.
Their reaction startled Lear, who quickly waved them down.
"Don't shoot! Listen to me. It's not like the other B.O.W.s!"
Out of trust for Lear, the three lowered their muzzles slightly. Leon remained cautious, his eyes fixed on Friday as he spoke. "Boss, what is it? What do you mean it's not like the other B.O.W.s?"
Sensing Leon's hostility, Friday immediately unsheathed the claws retracted in its palms and let out a snarl at Leon.
The sudden roar startled Lear again. He reached up and smacked Friday on the head; the creature winced in pain and retreated to the side, looking aggrieved.
"Don't just scream! You scared me." Lear soothed Friday first, then turned back to Leon to explain quickly, "I met it at the hospital. If it weren't for it, I probably would have died out there long ago. It's the one that brought me all the way back to the Police Station."
Lear gave a brief account of how he met Friday. As soon as he finished, Ada, who had been watching from the sidelines, spoke up slowly.
"I can vouch for that. When I arrived at the Police Station, Officer Lear was seriously injured, lying on a bench in the Main Hall. I also saw it bringing food and water to Officer Lear."
Having heard Lear's account and received Ada's confirmation, the wariness in Leon's heart gradually dissipated. He gave Lear an apologetic smile, then ignored Friday's exposed sharp claws and stepped slowly toward it.
"Sorry about that. I didn't know you had done so much. It was wrong of me to point a gun at you just now. I apologize." Leon's eyes were sincere and his tone gentle.
With that, he straightened up and prepared to turn away, but a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"I... forgive... you. Next time... do not."
Leon's eyes suddenly widened and his mouth hung slightly open. He stared blankly at Friday in front of him, his face full of disbelief.
"This... you... I..."
Seeing Leon like this, Claire walked forward in confusion and patted him on the shoulder out of curiosity.
"Hey! What's wrong? What's with that look?"
Leon was still immersed in the shock of Friday being able to speak and did not respond to Claire.
Just as Claire was filled with doubt, Friday's voice echoed in her mind as well: "He... okay?"
Claire didn't react at first, instinctively replying, "He's fine."
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized that no one around her had opened their lips. Claire froze for a moment, then, under the surprised gazes of the others, she looked at Friday and asked softly, "Was that you? You can talk?"
Friday nodded and pointed its claw at its chest.
"Use here... talk... with you."
By now, Claire understood why Leon had that expression, but she seemed to have a higher capacity for acceptance than he did.
Suppressing her internal surprise, she reached out her hand toward Friday, her tone gentle.
"Hello. My name is Claire."
Although Friday did not understand the meaning of "Hello," it could sense the kindness emanating from the woman in front of it. Mimicking Claire, it slowly extended a claw and lightly rested it on the back of Claire's hand.
"Hello. I... Friday."
Seeing that Friday actually answered her, Claire looked very excited. After all, in her memory, there had never been a non-human creature capable of communicating with humans.
Soon Alyssa joined them; the star reporter was clearly very interested in Friday as well. Finally, Leon was pulled into the conversation, and the three people and one pet soon hit it off.
Lear watched the scene and couldn't help but smile. At that moment, Ada tilted her head toward him.
"Care to step outside and chat?"
(Translated by yourtl.app)