"Good," Krauser said, hearing the recruits' loud response. He then ordered, "Leon, return to the ranks."
"Yes, sir."
With the blond recruit rejoining the group, all the trainees lined up neatly, awaiting further instructions.
Krauser turned and headed out of the training hall. "Everyone, follow me."
"Yes, sir!"
As they exited through the hall's main entrance, the midday sun glaringly bright, the trainees squinted, adjusting to the brightness before continuing to follow Krauser in silence. Though not part of Atlas's "regular" forces, they were expected to strictly follow orders and remain quiet until directed otherwise.
Samuel Young's military background instilled a strong sense of discipline and obedience in Atlas's military units. More importantly, there was a clear understanding of the purpose behind their actions. Within Atlas, beyond the initial desire for a better life for their families, there was an indescribable "drive," especially among those with clearance to know about their boss's immortality and the existence of the space gate.
Even though Samuel never formally proclaimed any ideology, only issuing simple and straightforward notices within the company, employees and soldiers still felt a sense of righteousness, believing they were fighting for the future. After the space gate opened, Samuel frequently used terms like "aliens" and "scum" in internal communications, subtly instilling a "fight for humanity" mentality.
Most employees and soldiers had been carefully selected, their attitudes towards family, past spending habits, and professional or military records assessed for responsibility and a willingness to sacrifice for comrades. Some personnel were motivated by a deep gratitude for the assistance and support their boss had provided in their lives, coupled with a strong animosity towards Vought International and superhumans.
This environment fostered a harmonious and proactive atmosphere within Atlas, driving them to achieve their goals.
As a former U.S. Army officer, Lieutenant Jack Krauser initially didn't understand why the company had specifically recruited Leon and assigned him to undergo training under his supervision. Since being "sold" to Atlas with his subordinates on June 5, 1993, Krauser had served as the chief instructor for investigators, a role he had grown to enjoy. It freed him from the murky political struggles of the U.S. military.
Investigators' primary role, as Krauser had mentioned during the reprimand, was to assist Atlas in infiltrating and gathering detailed information and intelligence in unknown areas. For example, investigators sent to Zero One Earth's London and Belgium brought back vital data. These investigators, leveraging their skills, successfully secured positions within the United Defense Force (UDF) and its armories, providing the company with advanced technology and materials, similar to spies and agents.
Thus, investigators needed strong individual capabilities, at least meeting the standards of ARS's first company. Krauser, a former U.S. Special Forces member with extensive combat experience, excelled in independent intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism, infiltration, assassination, and training, making him a perfect fit for the instructor role.
Previously, Atlas selected potential investigators from within ARS or among orphans personally trained by Samuel. With Krauser's addition, the recruitment, training, and assignment of investigators became more systematic.
Krauser was puzzled by the company's decision to break protocol and allow a nineteen-year-old who hadn't graduated from police academy to join the six-month training. Reviewing Leon's file, Krauser noted that Leon had no significant life pressures and a neutral attitude towards superhumans, seemingly lacking a compelling reason for recruitment, especially as such a young recruit.
However, as training progressed, Krauser recognized Leon's potential and aptitude, along with remarkable luck. During wilderness survival training in jungles or deserts, Leon frequently found water, food, and avoided danger, far exceeding the average trainee's success rate. Combined with Leon's strong sense of justice and unwavering loyalty to his teammates, Krauser's impression of him improved.
The only issue was Leon's tendency to instinctively perform flashy, stylish combat moves, which annoyed Krauser.
Unbeknownst to Krauser, the primary reason for Leon's inclusion in the training was his full name: Leon Scott Kennedy. To those in the main universe, this was just another name, but to Samuel, it signified an "S-rank agent." Leon, with his blond hair, approximately 1.8 meters tall, handsome features, and peculiar luck, along with a "jinx" tendency towards his teammates, was a character from "Resident Evil," like Krauser.
However, the main universe's Leon lacked the prominent chin and was closer in appearance to the original version. Although there was no Raccoon City in the main universe, Atlas's significant influence in the Midwest USA quickly identified all Kennedy families near Colorado, pinpointing Leon's whereabouts. An experienced HR manager then approached Leon, still in police academy, convincing him with talk of "dark forces" and the need for "young people like him to save the world," successfully recruiting him to Kenya.
As for Leon, he hadn't considered much else, driven by a desire to "uphold justice" and curiosity about where his superiors would take him.
The scorching heat and harsh sunlight made Leon and the trainees sweat as they walked through the base's streets, but they were already acclimated to the African climate. Soon, Krauser led them indoors to a large lecture hall that could seat 300 people. There, several equipment boxes bearing the red "Λ" symbol were arranged.
"Recruits, I will now introduce you to the standard equipment for investigators."
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