At a hospital reception desk, Naoki– a tall figure with long, white hair and a sleeveless coat– speaks to a curly-haired nurse in scrubs. At first, the nurse tries to deny his request, explaining there are no visitors allowed. Her demeanor changes quickly when she realizes he is the Grand Inquisitor, and she nervously agrees to help. The word "EMERGENCY" is partially visible on the wall behind them.A uniformed officer blocks Naoki and a nurse from entering a hospital room, stating no visitors are allowed until detectives have questioned the patient. A wired-glass door is visible behind him. The same nurse from earlier stands in the hospital hallway, looking incredulous as she defends Naoki. She gestures toward someone off-panel, her tone urgent and frustrated. A wired-glass window is behind her. Naoki, a calm older man with long white hair and a leather blindfold, speaks with quiet understanding. He wears a dark robe and a jade beaded necklace. In the background, hospital decor and large potted plants are softly visible as he prepares to leave to get coffee. A uniformed officer stands awkwardly beside the curly-haired nurse outside a hospital room. The officer looks flustered and uncertain, while the nurse corrects him with a pointed expression. A door with a wired-glass window is behind them. The uniformed officer and the curly-haired nurse continue talking in the hospital hallway. The officer looks puzzled, then makes a sarcastic remark. The nurse responds with a matter-of-fact expression. A wired-glass door is visible behind them.

Panel 1 At a hospital reception desk, Naoki– a tall figure with long, white hair and a sleeveless coat– speaks to a curly-haired nurse in scrubs. At first, the nurse tries to deny his request, explaining there are no visitors allowed. Her demeanor changes quickly when she realizes he is the Grand Inquisitor, and she nervously agrees to help. The word "EMERGENCY" is partially visible on the wall behind them. Panel 2 A uniformed officer blocks Naoki and a nurse from entering a hospital room, stating no visitors are allowed until detectives have questioned the patient. A wired-glass door is visible behind him. Panel 3 The same nurse from earlier stands in the hospital hallway, looking incredulous as she defends Naoki. She gestures toward someone off-panel, her tone urgent and frustrated. A wired-glass window is behind her. Panel 4 Naoki, a calm older man with long white hair and a leather blindfold, speaks with quiet understanding. He wears a dark robe and a jade beaded necklace. In the background, hospital decor and large potted plants are softly visible as he prepares to leave to get coffee. Panel 5 A uniformed officer stands awkwardly beside the curly-haired nurse outside a hospital room. The officer looks flustered and uncertain, while the nurse corrects him with a pointed expression. A door with a wired-glass window is behind them. Panel 6 The uniformed officer and the curly-haired nurse continue talking in the hospital hallway. The officer looks puzzled, then makes a sarcastic remark. The nurse responds with a matter-of-fact expression. A wired-glass door is visible behind them.

Transcript

Panel 1
Naoki: Ma’am, I need to see Kimura Ran. Which room is she in?
Nurse: She’s to have no visitors--
Nurse (cont’d): --oh. I’m sorry, Grand Inquisitor. R-right this way.

Panel 2
Officer: Sorry, no visitors ‘til detectives question her.

Panel 3
Nurse: Don’t you know who this is?

Panel 4
Naoki: It’s all right. He’s just doing his job.
Naoki (cont’d): I’ll get some coffee. And when I return, hopefully the detectives will be done.

Panel 5
Officer: Th-thanks, mister.
Nurse: Grand Inquisitor.

Panel 6
Officer: Huh?
Nurse: That was Grand Inquisitor Naoki. Leader of the Seekers.
Officer: You’d think they’d pick someone who can see to run something called The Seekers.

Dead shall rise – Chapter 2 page 4
Posted on July 7, 2025 by Maho Noir

There are rules. No visitors. No exceptions. But all it takes is one quiet man with the right name to walk right through them.

Naoki doesn’t raise his voice. He doesn’t need to. The nurse recognizes him instantly-- her shift from firm to flustered tells you everything. And the cop? He tries to do his job, bless him. But Naoki’s already on a different level.

This page plays with status. Not with weapons or shouting, but with calm. Authority that doesn’t ask. A reputation that enters the room before he does. And then, of course, he leaves. Doesn’t pull rank. Doesn’t need to. He says he’ll be back after coffee, and somehow that feels more threatening than any sword or badge could be.

Coming up next: what’s left of Ran’s arm has a few secrets of its own.