-Resident Evil 4

-The Merchant's Pitch

-Chapter 4: The Infinite Launcher

The Merchant was about to spout off another one of his personal comments regarding a weapon Leon Scott Kennedy had pulled from his selection... but there was something different this time. He couldn't help but save his expression and gaze over his most loyal customer's shoulder.

"Hey stranger. Who's your friend there?" He pointed out.

Leon turned around to look at Ashley Graham, the president's daughter and also the main reason why he was running around the European countryside. She was also the reason why he had to fall back on the mysterious Merchant throughout the course of his rescue attempt.

"Leon." Ashley started in a nervous tone. "Who is this guy?"

"Relax okay. He's cool." Leon assured her, then turned back to the Merchant. "She's the president's daughter."

"Ah... that explains a lot, mate. But enough about the pleasantries. Let's get down to the weapons."

There was a short moment as everyone loosened up, especially Ashley. She no longer hid behind Leon and moved to the side to see just what was going on. To her surprise, Leon and the Merchant were looking down at a Rocket Launcher with an olive drab missile tip. Of course, anyone going for accuracy in the name department would call it an RPG. But either way, it did one job perfectly well. Blowing stuff up.

"Hah hah. Stranger, not even the military needs this kind of firepower."

Leon carefully picked up the weapon known as the "Infinite Launcher" by the Merchant. Whether literally of figuratively, he didn't know yet. What he did know, that this particular variant of Rocket Launcher could be loaded again and again, as long as the wielder had arms and carried a pulse.

"So, stranger. Have a bad day?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Leon asked, slinging the RPG over his shoulder.

"What? Ha hah. You're thinkin' about buying one serious piece of artillery there. Don't tell me you aren't suffering from anger issues. Because the first step is admitting you have a problem."

"Leon, why are you buying that anyway?" Ashley asked. "It seems to me a... little overkill..."

"Don't worry Ashley. I know how to use this. Besides, I'll make sure whatever I'm shooting at is well off in the distance."

"Listen to the lady there." The Merchant laughed. "You're talkin' about blowing bits into bits. Nothin' gonna be left after you use that beauty. Not to mention... you might not be able to handle it."

"What?" Leon nearly shouted.

It was easy to see those weren't the best words to say to Leon regarding a weapon dealt out explosive death one rocket at a time.

"You got something to prove otherwise?" The Merchant continued.

"I bought those other Rocket Launchers. You didn't care then."

"Well, those only shot one rocket. Well within your experience mate. But here, here we're talkin' about something that can fire rockets like there's no tomorrow. You know what I'm sayin' stranger?"

Leon huffed and put his eye to the scope of the launcher. His plan was now to try and forget even the possibility someone doubted his experience with Rocket Launchers. However, his plan was flawed in the way that the Merchant, nor Ashley was going to stop giving him crap about the idea of buying such a weapon.

"Come on Leon, let's go." Ashley urged. "You got us this far already without that thing. We can go all the way... right?"

"Look Ashley," Leon began, bringing his eye away from the scope. "If you've seen what I've seen, you wouldn't even think twice about buying a Rocket Launcher. Some things in this world can't be killed any other way."

"Name one stranger." The Merchant challenged.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Leon answered quickly.

"Oh? Is that a fact? Need I remind you, I have quite an interestin' item in the ol' breadbasket."

The Merchant patted his chest. At that moment, Ashley noticed the glowing red eyes of the weapons dealer in the black coat.

"Leon!" She squealed. "He's one of them!"

"Oh great." The Merchant moaned. "Now you've done it, mate."

"What I've done? What about you? You're the one who brought it up!" Leon snapped back.

"Will ya' quit whining and calm her down. She looks like she's about to lose her head 'ere!"

Leon went into comfort mode. He had to try and remind Ashley that she had stood in front of the Merchant for quite a while and nothing had happened. He had to convince her that standing around would only continue to produce the same result. Nothing would happen.

"Look, I know he looks like one of them. But he's been helping me out so far. I don't think I would have made it here so quickly without getting some extra firepower now and then."

"But he's got those eyes!"

"Not my choice, little girl!" The Merchant defended.

"Look; let's put it this way. As long as I'm around, nothing will happen? Okay?"

"Okay..." Ashley said slowly. "Okay."

"Quite right. Now, where were we?" The Merchant wondered aloud.

"You were telling me I couldn't handle a Rocket Launcher." Leon answered in an annoyed tone.

"No, I told you, you couldn't handle an 'Infinite Launcher'. There's a difference stranger."

Now Leon couldn't take any more of this stupid bantering. He was going to set the record straight once and for all. Even if everyone around him would most likely dismiss it as crazy.

"Listen to this. I've seen monsters that eat bullets for breakfast and use their own right hand as lethal weapons. I've seen the dead walk. I've seen killer plants. I went to Raccoon City the very day it went to hell. So if you don't get off my back, you're going to need that parasite just to keep breathing."

The Merchant didn't say anything right away; it looked more like he was thinking about something.

"Hold on there, mate. Did you say Raccoon City? Hah hah. My apologies stranger. By all means, help yourself."

"Thank you."

"By the way, that'll be one million pesetas stranger." The Merchant exclaimed.

"Dammit." Leon groaned.

-End of Story

-Thanks for Reading