About two and a half days later, Seattle, Washington.
You know, I wish this was a solo mission.
On a train slicing through the heart of the city, Leon sits with his arms crossed and eyes shut tight, sighing in frustration.
The drive was already weird… but this train ride? It's unbearable—and it's all because of him.
Leon peeks to his left. Sitting beside him is Victor Harrow, his large body pressing into the seat, a creepy smile stitched across his face.
Victor Harrow. Fifteen S-ranked missions. One hundred twenty-three A-ranked. Five hundred forty-six B-ranked. Six hundred seventy-three C-ranked. Total: 1,357 missions. He's ranked sixth—right above me. But according to Raven, this guy doesn't take many missions anymore because of his 'limitations.'
Leon slowly cranes his neck up to get a full look at Victor's hulking frame.
Limitations? That Goliath has limitations!? Bro's like two of me stacked! He could probably crush my head between his palms like a grape. If someone like him is limited, then what the hell am I supposed to do!?
The train screeches to a stop. Victor and Leon stand and exit.
***
"Seattle," Victor mutters as he slips in his earpiece. "What an amazing city to visit."
"Wait—what'd you say? Can you ever just talk like a normal person?" Leon asks as he plugs in his own earpiece.
The two begin walking the city sidewalks as Raven's voice crackles into their ears.
"This is a C-rank mission. Since Leon is still a newbie, I'm assigning Victor as backup. His… expertise will be useful for this one."
"Yeah, his talent for creeping me out will definitely come in handy," Leon mutters, rolling his eyes.
"He may be an insane creep, but trust me, you'll want him there. This mission came from the government. A Russian spy, embedded in our military for six months, was recently discovered and is now on the run."
"Russian?" Leon repeats.
"Yes. Keep in mind, this is a world war. Several nations have backed Germany—and Russia's one of them. Your objective is to capture the spy, disable him, and deliver him to the drop-off point within the city."
"No killing? Perfect!" Leon beams.
Eventually, the two reach a neon-lit building that reads: Kissy Kissy Strip Club.
Leon stares blankly at the sign.
"…Of all places."
"You know, Leon…" Victor says, his voice gravelly and low. "You don't have to kill someone to make them feel death."
Leon inches away. "Okay. I officially want this mission to be over."
"Raven, I'm hoping there's an actual reason you led us to this place?" he asks through the earpiece.
"I tracked him through city cameras. The army gave me his photo. He's inside. Go ahead and check your phone."
Leon pulls out his device and sees the photo of a white man with long blond hair.
The two make their way past the bouncer and step into the club.
***
The smell of perfume, alcohol, and neon sweat hits Leon instantly.
They walk in slowly—until Leon stops dead in his tracks.
"That's him! He's right there! He's even grabbing the stripper! What a damn Schurke," Leon hisses into the earpiece.
Victor appears at his side and nods.
"A Russian enjoying an Ebony woman's lap dance in America… an astonishing sight."
Weirdest analogy I've ever heard.
Suddenly, the spy pushes the stripper off his lap and bolts toward the back.
"Hey!" she yells as she hits the floor.
"He's running!? How the hell did he know!?" Leon shouts.
"Well, you two were staring," Raven says flatly. "I'd run too."
"We gotta catch him before he escapes—come on, Victor!"
Leon dashes after the spy, weaving through the club.
The spy crashes through a back door, and Leon follows, stumbling into the alleyway behind the building.
He spots the spy sprinting down the sidewalk.
"God damn, he's fast! I can't keep up!" Leon wheezes.
"Leon, your stamina can't match his. But I've got the city layout—take the next left and cut through the store. You'll end up in front of him if you hurry," Raven instructs.
"Right! Come on, Victor—we can corner—"
Leon glances back.
Victor's gone.
"Where's my partner!?"
"I'm not much of a runner," Victor says through the earpiece, out of breath. "I will catch up… shortly."
"Seriously!? I thought all of Squad Bastards was faster than me!"
Leon groans but follows Raven's orders, darting into the store.
He crashes through the exit and bursts back onto the sidewalk—just as the spy sprints into view.
"I scanned him. No weapons. Get ready for hand-to-hand combat," Raven says.
"Hand-to-hand!?"
Leon freezes in place.
Wait… that means—
WHAM!
A hard punch crashes into Leon's jaw, sending him stumbling backward.