“Looks like we’ve got a checkpoint,” he muttered under his breath, mostly to himself, but loud enough for you to catch. Leon raised his weapon as he approached the old and broken cabin, though it was still intact. His eyes scanning every inch of the area, cataloging potential hiding spots, weak points, and ways to move through without attracting attention.

As the two of you approached, he noticed your gaze lingering on the structure—a flimsy door and narrow windows barely secured with old, rotting boards. Leon understood the silent question. He kept his voice low, his tone a mix of reassurance and warning. “If they’re holed up in there, we’ll need to be quick. No time to play nice if this goes south.”

In sync, you circled around him to cover his back, alert and ready. Leon’s hand fell to his hip, checking his ammunition as his other hand signaled a countdown with his fingers. Three, two…one. In a swift, fluid motion, Leon pushed the door open with a controlled force, taking quick strides into the cabin.

“You take the left side,” he instructed quietly, his eyes tracing a line from the shadowed doorway to the open back window.

A faint creak sounded from above, and his expression tightened, his hand instinctively tightening on his gun. He then gestured toward the staircase. When he reached the top, a figure suddenly lunged from the shadows—a villager, eyes glazed with the telltale signs of Las Plagas control. Leon reacted instantly, shifting his weight and bringing his arm up to block, his other hand raising his gun in a quick, practiced motion. “Get down!” he shouted, directing it toward you as he fired a clean shot, the villager dropping in a lifeless heap.

Leon’s breathing steadied, and he checked his surroundings, quickly scanning for more threats. His gaze settled back on you, his expression softening only slightly.

As he moved past the fallen villager, Leon glanced at you, his face a mixture of seriousness and something faintly reassuring. “Stay close,” he said, his voice low but firm.