With the naked Roxie Vault standing in front of him, Leon feels a dangerous sensation take over him.
"Woah there, newbie! Looks like you've got a little monster growing in your pants. Want me to take care of it for ya?" Roxie teases, grinning as her eyes drop down.
"Damn, kid—she's right. You got a whole monster hanging there, hahaha!" Axel adds, pointing and laughing from the couch.
"Both of you, stop! I have a wife! This is just… just a natural reaction!" Leon yells, frantically covering himself with both hands.
"Yeah, you're right—it is natural. Who could resist my luscious assets?" Roxie says proudly, cupping her own breasts.
"Please, for the love of God, put on some clothes!" Leon shouts, stumbling back with his eyes covered.
"You'll get used to it, kid. Roxie always walks around naked after she's done having her fun," Axel says, casually laying back.
***
In Leon's head, panic runs wild.
Roxie Vault. 108 S-rank missions, 546 A-rank missions, 774 B-rank missions, 1,366 C-rank missions… 2,792 missions total. Ranked 3rd in the squad. And this is the most skilled one here?! Oh fuck. How many more nutjobs am I gonna meet in this squad?!
"You're thinking dirty thoughts about me, aren't ya?" Roxie says with a wink.
"No! And when you said 'back blown out'—"
"Fun fact, kid," Axel interrupts, smirking. "Roxie here is a total slut. But don't think about smashing her—she'll slice your head off right after."
"That's not funny, Axel!" Leon snaps.
"Who said I was joking? Don't forget the three big F's start with Fuck love," Axel shrugs.
"Wait—for real?" Leon yells, horrified.
When Leon looks back, Roxie is already chugging down both beer bottles at once.
"How are you even—"
She smashes the empty bottles on the floor and stumbles toward Axel, body swaying dangerously.
"Heyyy! Axel! You talkin' sh–shit!"
"Yeah, I'd love to, but you can't even walk. I could beat you by just handing you a third bottle," Axel says, laughing.
"Oh yeah?! I'll whoop your ass with a pinky finger, you blatahc!" Roxie slurs.
"What the hell is a blatahc? Yeah, you're gone. Just pass out already," Axel says, unimpressed.
"Listen, you lit—"
Before she can finish, Roxie trips over nothing and falls face-first onto the floor.
"Khhrrrhhh…"
"Wait… did she just pass out?" Leon asks, stunned.
"Yep. Her hangover tomorrow's gonna be S-rank," Axel says with a grin.
"I see you've finally met Roxie."
Leon looks over and sees Raven coming down from the stairs.
"Oh, it's you, Raven. I just finished my training with Axel—though all I got was my ass beat," Leon says, wiping his bloody nose.
"Well, I hope it prepared you. Roxie's training won't be easy," Raven replies.
"Oh yeah… Roxie," Leon says, side-eyeing her unconscious, naked body sprawled on the floor.
"And get ready for your next mission. That's where Roxie's going to train you. It's an A-rank."
"Wait—A-rank?! And training?!" Leon yells, panicking.
***
Three days later—nighttime, Tallahassee, Florida.
In the middle of a forest stands a tall square building, smaller outposts surrounding it like a fortress. Red laser scanners sweep across the trees.
On a hill overlooking the base, Leon scans the grounds with binoculars, counting guards.
"Whoa… this base is loaded with security. Please tell me we don't have to break into that," Leon says, voice trembling.
"Let me see those," a familiar voice says from behind.
Leon turns to see Roxie, now dressed for war: a black sports bra with subtle gold accents, black athletic shorts that stop mid-thigh, steel-toe combat boots, and fingerless leather gloves. Two daggers rest on her lower back, just above a pair of brown pouches.
Leon hands her the binoculars, still stunned.
"Still can't believe how different you look when you're not butt-ass naked."
"Don't get all smart on me now," Roxie chuckles. "Raven, give us the breakdown."
***
"Alright, as you both know," Raven begins through the earpiece, "next year's presidential election is critical. One candidate has raised a concern about another man who just announced he's running. That man is Tony Sparrow—a legendary U.S. army general."
"Oh god. A presidential election. I already hate where this is going," Leon mutters.
"You don't got much of a spine, do you, newbie?" Roxie says, smirking.
"You wouldn't be the first to tell me that," Leon replies, still watching the base.
"Tony Sparrow," Raven continues. "A decorated general known across America for his battlefield record. In his time as a general, he never failed to end a conflict. If America was in danger and peace talks fell apart, this was the man they called. It's said he could lead an army of bugs and still win."
"Okay, but why doesn't he just end this war, then?" Leon asks skeptically.