Rorschach walked home carrying the clothes he had bought.
The police questioning had been unexpected.
But it had not gone beyond his expectations.
His public identity was spotless.
He had also handled every loose end from his previous work cautiously and cleanly.
Rorschach had no fear of a police investigation.
So he put the entire matter out of his mind.
Still, the NYPD had been under enormous pressure lately.
They would definitely sweep through gang territory everywhere.
Rorschach's plan to harvest gang warehouses
and replenish the Simulator's resources might have to be put on hold for now.
At the very least, he needed to wait until the news coverage gradually died down.
Until the storm of public opinion faded away...
Fortunately, the Simulator's latest Cooldown was not very long either.
Rorschach did not yet need to spend the precious time gained from converting resources.
When Rorschach returned home,
he discovered that his aunt had already put away all the cash.
As he set down the clothes, Rorschach told his aunt about hiring Mr. Schultz for the renovations.
His aunt agreed wholeheartedly.
She even gave Rorschach verbal praise for what he had done.
What surprised him even more was that
his aunt, who seemed to be gradually accepting the setting of this world,
actually began asking roundabout questions.
She asked whether Rorschach would be carrying out dangerous missions or participating in operations.
Rorschach instantly developed a headache.
He could only barely muddle through with excuses about his lowly status.
By now, Captain America should have awakened and been adapting to modern life.
If not for fear of attracting S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention
and causing even more unnecessary trouble,
Rorschach would have been willing to get acquainted with the Captain.
After all, the world of a WWII soldier was much simpler than that of a billionaire.
Early the next morning,
the dark clouds over New York dispersed, and sunlight shone brightly.
Rorschach hurriedly found Mr. Schultz, who was preparing for work.
The two had just intended to leave the apartment
when his aunt, freshly washed and full of energy, came hurrying down after them.
She had changed into durable gray work clothes, and even tied up her short hair, making her look even cleaner and more capable.
After a brief period of rest, the decisive aura of a powerful career woman gradually returned to her.
Now, she widened her eyes, stared at Rorschach, and said in a grim tone:
"Wake up, Rorschach. Your weekend is over! Have you forgotten that you have classes to attend this morning?"
Faced with his aunt's imposing momentum,
Rorschach, strong and muscular as he was, had no choice but to yield.
He had not wanted to waste any more time at high school.
Wouldn't occasionally going out to kill some gangsters and raid their warehouses
be much more enjoyable?
But no matter how much Rorschach had argued the previous night, he could not persuade his old-fashioned aunt.
Even when, at the end of their argument, Rorschach tried invoking Captain America's name,
his aunt resolutely declared,
"If the great Captain America needs an eighteen-year-old kid who hasn't even graduated high school to save the world, then let the world be destroyed! It's beyond saving!"
"Even if God descends tomorrow morning, Buddha manifests himself, or aliens invade Earth, you, Rorschach, are going to school! At the very least, you will get your high school diploma! This is not up for discussion!"
Rorschach ultimately chose to surrender.
But after getting up that morning, he had planned to skip class anyway.
Yet it seemed his aunt had been one step ahead and had long since seen through his little scheme.
Facing his aggressive aunt, Rorschach spread his hands and said helplessly:
"I surrender. I'll go to class! Auntie, be careful, and don't overwork yourself."
"Hmph, brat, do you think I need you to tell me that?"
His victorious aunt rolled her eyes at Rorschach.
Perhaps after the recent succession of mental shocks,
his aunt had also found a better way to coexist with this whole fucked-up world.
His aunt warmly ushered the utterly confused Mr. Schultz out of the apartment, and they left by taxi.
Rorschach shook his head and pushed his bicycle out of the apartment as if resigned to his fate.
But when the breeze brushed against his face, Rorschach suddenly thought of an idea.
Take leave. Take a long leave.
The excuse was simple and true.
The family restaurant had been robbed, and his traumatized family needed his long-term companionship...
Rorschach grinned as he pedaled through the chaotic traffic between the streets.
Even the force behind his pedaling seemed to grow much stronger.
Fighting people, fighting his aunt—
what endless fun!
One hour later, Midtown High School in New York.
After Rorschach's vivid, deeply moving, and detailed account,
the grade director and teachers were touched and convinced by him.
Rorschach successfully obtained a special privilege.
With only three months left before summer vacation,
as long as Rorschach passed several make-up exams and earned passing grades, he would not need to return to school for classes.
It also would not prevent him from receiving his diploma or attending the graduation ceremony!
Thus, Rorschach walked out of the school gates with a smile on his face.
He planned to go home and brush up on his high school knowledge.
The current Rorschach's killing skills had practically reached the pinnacle; calling him Dr. Head-Chopper would not be excessive.
It was just that all that knowledge he had once known so well
seemed to have gradually been digested away by him.
"Hm?"
At that moment, Rorschach frowned, and every muscle in his body suddenly tensed!
Someone had been watching him nonstop!
At this moment, Rorschach stood on a street outside Midtown High School.
The students had already entered the school for class.
There were barely any pedestrians on the entire street.
It seemed that most people had joined the protest march surrounding the NYPD to watch the excitement.
"Police? Or a gang?"
Rorschach's thoughts raced.
If they were police, there was no need to spy on him now.
They could simply swarm him with several officers.
If Rorschach resisted fiercely, shooting him dead in a hail of bullets would not even be illegal.
But if they were gangsters, did these people not prefer shooting first and asking questions later?
Screech—
Just as Rorschach stopped walking and secretly remained on guard,
a cargo van parked by the roadside suddenly started.
Its tires shrieked against the pavement as it quickly pulled up in front of Rorschach!
Rorschach had just instinctively prepared to dodge aside,
but forcibly restrained his body's instinct!
Bang—
The van door suddenly flew open, and a black-muzzled pistol was aimed at Rorschach!
At the same time, a male voice tinged with a Slavic accent drifted slowly from inside the van.
"Mr. Rorschach? The Tracksuit Gang would like to ask you about a few things. We hope you'll cooperate."
Yet faced with the gang's deadly threat,
Rorschach fell silent for a moment, then slowly narrowed his eyes.
He forced a twisted smile onto his face, one that was impossible to tell whether it was fear or excitement.
"Please don't shoot! I'll definitely cooperate."
Before his words had even faded,
Rorschach actually stepped forward and sat down in the empty seat inside the van.
His cooperation and initiative seemed to catch the armed man completely off guard.
After freezing for a moment, he pulled an airtight black hood from his pocket and gestured for Rorschach to put it on himself.
Then he turned his head and instructed the driver:
"Drive. The usual place."
The van door closed.
The engine roared.
And beneath the black fabric of the hood Rorschach had just put on,
a bloodthirsty smile gradually bloomed.
You brought this upon yourselves!
I clearly only wanted to be an ordinary citizen.
Why was that so difficult?
I'm late, I'm late!
I feel like the protagonist is about to become one of Khorne's chosen, haha.
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Thanks to everyone for the tips!
Before you continue