Chapter 156: Awakening

Rorschach woke up three days after the encounter with the Black Horse in his dream.

As soon as he regained consciousness, the room quickly filled with people.

Aside from Skylark and the others, Zefa, Garp, and Drake were also present.

"What were you thinking, acting so recklessly? You were already seriously injured, yet you still insisted on protecting that Roswald family? If you'd sacrificed yourself for those pieces of trash, all the effort us old-timers invested in you would've been wasted!"

The moment Rorschach opened his eyes, Garp knocked him on the head, making him grimace in pain.

"Grandpa Garp, take it easy! Big Brother Rorschach is still hurt," Hibari interjected, visibly distressed as she saw Rorschach tearing up from the pain.

"Hahaha! Hibari, such a little thing, and already feeling sorry for her sweetheart? Looks like Sakazuki's precious little cotton jacket isn't so warm anymore!"

Garp roared with laughter, ruffling Hibari's hair with his large hand.

Hibari's face flushed crimson at his words, and she didn't dare look at Rorschach .

"Hey, are you alright?"

Drake pushed aside the silent Ro and leaned in closer to Rorschach, asking with concern.

Rorschach assessed his current physical condition.

The wounds wrapped in bandages were beginning to itch, a sign that the flesh was regenerating. His body seemed to be recovering without major issues.

The pain he still felt came from his left arm and two deep cuts across his chest—injuries inflicted by the blade of Saint Grinko.

Mentally, however, he felt sharper and more clear-headed than ever, as if his spirit had been rejuvenated.

"I'm fine. Sorry to have worried you all."

Noticing the concern in Drake's eyes, Rorschach couldn't help but feel touched.

Since coming to Marineford, he'd felt that life had gone surprisingly smoothly. Everyone around him seemed to treat him exceptionally well.

While this filled him with gratitude, it also left him with a sense of unease and apprehension.

What had he done to deserve such recognition from these high-ranking figures and the kindness of his peers?

"It's good that you're alright. We only stayed here a couple of extra days because of you. Now that you're awake, it's time for us to return to Marineford."

"Return to Marineford?"

Rorschach's keen instincts picked up on the implications of Drake's words, deepening his confusion.

In that hazy, dreamlike world, he vaguely remembered orchestrating the trap that led to the demise of the Roswald family. He was sure the Black Horse had uncovered the truth.

If the director of that so-called Crime Investigation Bureau already knew Rorschach was the true culprit behind the Roswald family's deaths, why was he still here, unharmed?

Even after considering numerous possibilities, Rorschach hadn't anticipated that the Marines might have someone with an ability akin to the Memory Fruit—capable of delving into others' subconscious to uncover secrets.

Since his mind was clouded with doubts, Rorschach didn't hold back and asked directly.

The room was clear of outsiders.

"How was the matter of the Celestial Dragons' deaths handled?"

He got straight to the point and looked at Drake.

Drake didn't seem surprised that Rorschach was so concerned about this.

After all, most of Rorschach's injuries were a result of that incident.

Word had it that a high-ranking official from the World Government wanted to hold Rorschach accountable for it.

Even Drake felt indignant on Rorschach's behalf.

Despite his desperate efforts, not only did Rorschach fail to receive the recognition and rewards he deserved, but he was also being framed.

After listening to Drake's explanation, a peculiar expression spread across Rorschach's face.

"Huh?"

"You're saying the attack on the Celestial Dragons by Dafrons was orchestrated by the Dark King, Rayleigh?"

"Why... why would he do that?"

"Why else?" Drake replied matter-of-factly. "Of course, it's because of the purge the World Government ordered years ago—targeting Roger's bloodline on Baterilla Island in the South Blue."

"As the first mate of the Roger Pirates and Roger's closest friend, if Rayleigh had the chance to avenge Roger's unborn child, wouldn't he take it?"

Drake's explanation was logical and convincing. If Rorschach weren't the real culprit sitting right there, he might have believed it himself.

Now he finally understood why Lwa had been silently standing off to the side, holding his sword "Ghost Cry" with a distracted look on his face.

So it turned out that the disaster they had caused had been pinned on Rayleigh.

And the most crucial part? The reasoning formed a perfect loop—flawless and airtight!

After a while, everyone left the room, except for Zefa, who remained behind.

Rorschach sat up straight and looked at the elderly man who had always treated him kindly.

"Teacher Zefa, is there something you want to ask me?"

Zefa, sitting on a chair by the bed, had been silent since entering the room. Now that they were alone, his expression grew complicated as he gazed at Rorschach —the last promising student he had truly invested in for the future of the Marines.

As Rorschach's primary trainer, Zefa knew his capabilities better than anyone.

Others, like Kizaru, Aokiji, and Garp, only occasionally dropped by to spar or offer pointers. But Zefa was different.

Unless his asthma flared up and he was hospitalized, Zefa attended nearly all of Rorschach's training sessions.

After observing Rorschach's battles with other Marine officers, Zefa would meticulously review his mistakes and techniques, providing detailed guidance.

It was no exaggeration to say that Rorschach's rapid improvement over just three months owed as much to Zefa's teaching as to his own ability to learn from others.

If Sengoku, Garp, or others were still uncertain about how Rorschach compared to someone like Aristo, Zefa had no doubt. He believed that Rorschach could defeat such opponents without much difficulty.

A strong natural physique, a top-tier Devil Fruit, rare mastery of Armament Haki, and a perfectly matched great sword—these combined made Rorschach arguably the strongest Marine candidate below the rank of Admiral.

Given this level of ability, it was no wonder Saint Grinko suspected Rorschach's role in failing to stop Dafrons.

When Zefa remained silent, Rorschach sighed inwardly, realizing that his clumsy attempts at hiding the truth had failed to fool the teacher who knew him best.

Not just Zefa—Rorschach suspected that Sengoku, Kizaru, Kuzan, and even Garp might have seen through him as well. They just chose not to confront him.

And then there was that enigmatic Black Horse official.

What motives did he have for not exposing Rorschach ? Was it because of Sengoku, his own intentions, or someone else's influence?

The silence in the room grew heavy.

Finally, sensing Hibari's presence approaching again, Rorschach mustered the courage to break the tension.

"Teacher Zefa, please believe me—I will always stand on the side of justice!"

The boy's deep blue eyes burned with unwavering conviction, clearer and more resolute than ever before.

Zefa's doubts found their answer in those eyes.

He sighed inwardly.

So, it's true. The death of the Celestial Dragons can't be separated from this boy.

But I'm old now. I've seen enough of the darkness above.

Young people have their own ideals, and I have no reason to stop them.

As for what future path Rorschach will take, my duty as his teacher is simply to guide him.

With that thought, Zefa rose and walked toward the door. Before leaving, he paused.

"For someone like you to take such a beating from a mere pirate with a bounty of 300 million berries, it seems your strength is still lacking. Prepare yourself for even harsher training from now on."

Rorschach froze for a moment, then broke into a wide smile and nodded firmly.

"Yes, Teacher Zefa!"

(End of Chapter)

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