Chapter 223: The Hero Returns

Upon hearing the familiar, gentle voice, Hibari, who had been sobbing, trembled violently in her petite frame.

She quickly turned around to see a pair of large hands reaching out, grabbing her under her arms, and lifting her out of the seawater, cradling her in his embrace.

"Staying in the cold seawater for too long will make you catch a cold," Rorschach said with a smile, looking at Hibari, whose eyes were red from crying and whose cheeks were still wet with glistening tears. He reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Ro... Rorschach, big brother, you're not dead?" Hibari looked up at Rorschach, her lips quivering as if she doubted whether she was dreaming.

A large hand rested on her head and ruffled her hair vigorously.

"Didn't I tell you? Not to worry. And don't just assume someone's dead so easily, you dummy," Rorschach said, his voice trailing off as Hibari suddenly hugged him tightly.

He was momentarily stunned.

The little girl clung to him desperately, burying her face in his chest, her scalding tears soaking his shirt.

"Rorschach, big brother, I won't allow you to die. You promised to protect me, to protect everyone. You can't lie to us like this again," Hibari murmured through her sobs.

A gentle smile appeared on Rorschach's face as he softly patted the girl in his arms.

"I won't die, Hibari."

"Swear it," Hibari said, lifting her head from his chest.

Rorschach couldn't help but wry smile, raising his right hand. "I swear, I won't die easily."

"Not easily, you can't die at all!"

"Alright, alright, I won't die, okay?"

The two of them continued their intimate conversation, oblivious to the hundreds of eyes staring at them in shock from the surrounding sea.

"Hey! How long are you two going to keep this public display of affection going?" On a nearby small boat, Law stood up, holding onto Kikoku, and shouted angrily.

Rorschach chuckled awkwardly, looking up and scanning the crowd before waving.

"Uh... everyone, I have some good news. I'm not dead."

"So you're not dead after all!" Bari, standing on the deck of the Galley-La Company's ship, had just lit a cigar, but his jaw dropped in shock, causing the cigar to fall into the sea.

"If you're not dead, why didn't you show up sooner! We've been searching for you for so long! You jerk, don't think just because you're the hero who saved Water 7, you can do whatever you want!" Dored and a group of shipwrights couldn't help but make complaints.

"I'm sorry! It's my fault! I made everyone worry," Rorschach promptly apologized, bowing his head.

"Hahaha, good! It's great that you're not dead! It's really great!" Iceburg, who had just put on a diving suit, laughed heartily towards Rorschach.

Franky covered his eyes, tears streaming uncontrollably through his fingers.

"Wahhh! You brat, do you know how guilty I felt? It's really great that you're not dead, wahhh!"

"You're too emotional, Franky," Bari couldn't help but make complaints.

"None of your business!"

Law frowned at Rorschach, puzzled. "By the way, how did you get rescued? I clearly saw you fall into the sea."

Rorschach, along with Hibari, who was bearing their combined weight, was brought to Law's small boat by the overburdened frog, Yokozuna.

Hearing Law's question, Rorschach smiled and pointed at the frog floating on the sea.

"When I fell into the sea, I was grabbed by a big fish, but luckily this frog saved me. It took me to the abandoned station beneath Water 7, where Kokoro, who was hiding from the tsunami, woke me up."

"So you were saved by Yokozuna and Kokoro?" Iceburg and Franky both widened their eyes in disbelief, leaning over the ship's railing to look at the frog beside Rorschach.

"Ribbit! Ribbit!" The frog's eyes narrowed into slits, and it proudly patted its belly.

"Well done, Yokozuna! Today, you're truly super! Even I have to bow to you!" Franky gave a thumbs-up with a loud clap.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!" All around, thumbs-up gestures were raised in unison from the surrounding ships.

"Since our hero is safe and has returned, let's head back! Tonight, I'll host a banquet at the city hall, and everyone in the city must attend! To celebrate our survival from Rakuyona once again, and to honor the hero who saved Water 7, Commodore Rorschach!" Iceburg declared passionately.

"Wooohooo! Let's have a banquet!" Cheers erupted across the sea, echoing far and wide.

Penguin and Bepo, along with other Marines, climbed out of the sea and boarded the surrounding ships.

Rorschach, Hibari, and Law also boarded a nearby large ship.

Penguin walked up excitedly, his voice trembling. "Commodore Rorschach! It's really great that you're safe!"

Rorschach looked at the soaked uniforms of the Marines, their fingers and lips pale and cracked from the seawater, and felt a deep sense of gratitude welling up inside him.

"Thank you all for your concern. Rorschach is deeply grateful!" Rorschach bowed deeply to the more than fifty Marines in front of him.

"Commodore Rorschach! You mustn't do this! You're our superior; it's our duty to do this!" The Marines were flustered, some even shouted.

"Since the Commodore has expressed his gratitude, you should accept it. It's the thanks you deserve," Law said softly.

Only then did the Marines relax, their gazes towards Rorschach filled with even more respect.

Although the obedience and assistance of subordinates to their superiors were ironclad rules in the military, receiving gratitude from a superior showed that Rorschach was not like some of the higher-ups at headquarters who treated their subordinates as expendable.

He understood and cared for his subordinates, much like Lieutenant Commander Penguin.

This young Marine Commodore was indeed a leader worth following.

"Hibari, since Iceburg has announced a banquet, inform Palmer to bring the warship over. The tsunami has subsided, and we'll likely be resting in Water 7 for the next few days. I plan to have Iceburg and the others help build a new warship, salvaging some useful parts from the old one to install on the new one," Rorschach instructed Hibari.

"Yes," Hibari replied, pulling out a damp Den Den Mushi from her pocket.

The Den Den Mushi was surprisingly resilient.

After being soaked in seawater for over an hour, it only looked a bit wilted.

Rorschach smiled and walked over to Law, saying, "Law, I made you worry."

"Who's worried about you? Don't flatter yourself," Law retorted, turning his head away.

"Hey, hey, I think I saw you crying."

"Who would cry for an idiot like you? Stop being so full of yourself."

(End of Chapter)

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