Fully armed, the group exited the gun shop through the back door. Following Robert Kendo's directions, they could navigate through the alley behind his store to reach the vicinity of the police station. With the main road completely blocked, they had no other choice.
Leon, holding a shotgun, led the way. He insisted on taking point to scout for the group, and no one objected. At least he was wearing a full set of gear, which provided some degree of protection—better than the others, who were dressed in regular clothing.
Especially Claire. She was wearing a sleeveless denim vest and hot pants, leaving her arms and legs completely exposed. If a zombie ambushed her and took a bite, she'd be at least half-crippled, and likely infected.
Ethan recalled that, according to the lore, the T-virus wasn't 100% infectious. About one in ten people were naturally immune. This was why, despite the widespread outbreak in Raccoon City, there were still many uninfected survivors, and quite a few managed to escape from this living nightmare.
Leon and Claire hadn't said whether they were immune, but the odds were high.
What was certain was that Ethan had no fear of the T-virus.
"Which way now?"
Leon, walking in front, had been navigating the alley for some time but couldn't determine the exact direction. He had to turn back to Robert Kendo, hoping the gun shop owner could guide him.
Robert looked around, then shook his head helplessly. "A lot of roads are blocked. We'll have to take a detour."
Although the most direct route was impassable, this didn't stump Robert, the local expert. He quickly pointed out a new path, and the group continued to move cautiously.
The alley wasn't easy to traverse, but compared to the main roads swarming with zombies and monsters, the occasional lone zombie here was far more manageable. Leon didn't need any help or even his firearm. Wielding a fire axe, he cleared a relatively safe path for the group.
"Young man, you'll make a reliable police officer."
"Thanks for the compliment. But right now, I just want to get everyone safely to the police station."
Ethan shook his head inwardly. While watching their surroundings, he was also paying attention to the group and didn't miss the conversation between the two ahead. Hearing Leon's words, he poured a bit of cold water on the idea.
"We shouldn't be far from the station now, right?"
Robert didn't quite understand the intent behind Ethan's question, but still nodded. "If the roads weren't blocked, we'd have already reached the police station."
Despite the detour, the straight-line distance to the station was quite short.
"At this distance, if the police station had established a defense line, there's no way we wouldn't hear gunfire."
Not only Leon, but Robert and Claire also froze in place.
Gunshots are loud—generally exceeding 110 decibels, even with a suppressor. At such close range, if the station had a defense line and with so many zombies around, firefights would have occurred. In other words, there should be sounds of gunfire.
But they had been walking for at least twenty minutes since leaving the gun shop and hadn't heard a single shot. It didn't feel like a place with a functioning defense line. The realization dampened their spirits, and for a moment, they hesitated—should they still head to the police station?
Ethan understood their reaction. The police station was their only hope, the driving force behind their progress through this dangerous environment. And now, before they even reached their goal, Ethan had casually cast doubt on it.
"No matter what, we still have to check it out. There's no turning back now."
When they left the gun shop, the sound of zombies banging against the rolling shutter and front door was already echoing outside. Judging from the noise, a large group of zombies had gathered. Going back would be suicide.
Their only option was forward. Reach the police station, then assess the next steps.
"That's right. Even if the police station has fallen, at least we can resupply and then escape the city together."
Leon quickly composed himself. There was no better alternative. He only hoped the station's condition wasn't too dire, and ideally, there would still be survivors.
Even if Leon hadn't insisted, Claire would have. She had come to Raccoon City to find her brother, Chris, who had been out of contact for some time. Worried something had happened, she came to investigate personally.
But the moment she arrived, she found the city in chaos. She now understood why Chris had lost contact. Her concern deepened, and she wouldn't rest until she checked the Raccoon City Police Department to confirm his situation.
It had to be said, Claire's mental fortitude was impressive. Despite the danger, she never considered retreating. Instead, she pushed forward even more decisively.
"You must confirm your brother's whereabouts?"
Along the way, Claire explained why she had to go to the station. This solidified Leon's resolve as well. Robert, upon learning that Claire was Chris's sister, also voiced his full support.
Then the three of them turned to look at Ethan.
They thought Ethan might object, since he had been the first to suggest that the police station might not be in good condition and didn't seem supportive of going there.
What they didn't know was that Ethan was the one most eager to go. If he didn't go to the police station, he wouldn't meet Sherry Birkin. And without Sherry Birkin, how would he get the G-virus?
"What are you looking at me for?" Ethan shrugged. "Alright, I'll go ahead with Leon and scout."
The group smiled, then continued carefully through the alley. When they finally reached a road, the side of the police station was already in sight.
"As long as we can get past these obstacles."
A large bus was parked diagonally ahead, and along with surrounding debris, it blocked the entire road.
Fortunately, this wasn't a game. They could climb over the obstacles or even pass through the bus. In short, the blockage wasn't insurmountable, but they still had to watch out for zombies approaching from the front and beyond the barrier. The monsters had already sensed fresh human flesh and were shuffling toward them.
"The zombies aren't attacking the station, and there's no sound from inside. That can't be good."
No one was stupid. Robert was particularly glad he hadn't stubbornly stayed behind in his shop. He had hoped the police would stabilize the situation and come to his rescue in a few days. But now, it seemed the police couldn't even save themselves. Hoping for a rescue was unrealistic.
As Robert became slightly distracted, someone suddenly yanked him backward. He stumbled a few steps. Claire helped steady him, and then he saw a seemingly dead body on the ground suddenly twitch. If he hadn't been pulled away just now, he might've been bitten.
Ethan, the one who had pulled Robert, raised his hand and bashed the zombie's head in with the iron pipe. In this world, he didn't have many chances to show his true strength. These zombies were weak and posed no threat to him. It wouldn't be wrong to say he was here for a "live game experience."
Looking at the horde in front of him, Ethan twirled the iron pipe in his hand with practiced ease. With a few flicks and swings, zombies fell one after another. Leon was deeply impressed. He couldn't help but wonder if Ethan had trained professionally. How could his movements be so fluid?
"Have you trained in something? Swordsmanship? Staff techniques?"
His police training hadn't taught him how to use a fire axe to fight zombies. And he certainly couldn't wield an iron pipe like Ethan, defeating enemies so effortlessly. He thought he was doing pretty well with the axe, struggling through one zombie at a time. But when he looked up, Ethan had already dropped several. The gap was obvious.
"You're just not suited to this weapon."
How could a stylish protagonist like Leon go around wielding a fire axe? That was more fitting for someone rugged, like Robert. Leon needed something cooler.
"I've studied some swordsmanship, and from a professional point of view, you've got potential. I suggest you try a two-handed greatsword. That would suit you better."
Leon thought Ethan was joking. Where was he supposed to find a greatsword in this kind of setting? Still, he started wondering if maybe he really wasn't suited to the fire axe. So he swapped with Robert, grabbed an iron pipe, held it with both hands like Ethan, and began swinging it at the zombies' heads.
He quickly realized that it was indeed much easier to use than the axe. Was it possible he really had a talent for swords?
With the two men leading the way, the two women and the older man took up the rear, watching for threats from behind. Working together and watching each other's backs, they quickly reached the side door of the police station.
The door was locked, presumably to keep out zombies. But it didn't stop the group. Claire knew how to pick locks. Using a random tool she had picked up earlier, she deftly opened the door, and they successfully entered the station.
Passing through a small garden, they cleared a few zombies along the way as usual, then finally stepped into the main police building.
"The situation… doesn't look good."
The spacious police lobby was in disarray. Items were strewn everywhere, and bloodstains covered the floor. Temporary beds had been set up, and judging by the piles of discarded bandages and first-aid tools nearby, this had clearly served as a triage area.
But no one focused on that.
What worried them most… was that not a single person was in sight.
(To be continued.)
***
For every 200 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on P/treon to read 30+ advanced chapters: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)