Hypothesis (
Synopsis[]
Gateaume vanishing from Room 3101
Although the old man says that he needs to use the bathroom, Hinrigh threatens him first before suddenly throwing a knife into his right thigh. The old man screams out in pain and falls to the floor, wondering what's wrong with them and repeating that he's a defenseless old man. Hinrigh points out that there's no blood and asks where his real body is, threatening to attack it. The old man reveals that he used to be an insurance scammer and that the more honest people would believe his injuries, lamenting how the times have changed. Hinrigh asks where his body and the corporal are, but the old man chuckles in reply as he disappears, and the knife falls to the floor.
Two Xi-Yu members are taken aback and realize that the old man has powers like Hinrigh. Ken'i reminds Hinrigh that he has already found Hisoka and suggests that they send the Troupe to eliminate the Heil-Ly at their hideout. A shorter Xi-Yu member named Tassi begins walking toward the room to pick up the knife, but before the others can warn him, he enters and vanishes right in front of them. Hinrigh says that it's probably the same person who was abducting their members, but Ken'i points out that the hitman was killed by Nobunaga. With Hinrigh left surprised, Ken'i adds that even though the Troupe members left their office, the hitman's head and torso remain there, revealing the Troupe's declaration to eliminate the Heil-Ly. As Ken'i adds that they can also handle the trap in front of them, Hinrigh tells himself that he will follow up on his own leads.
The Heil-Ly preparing to dispose of another corpse
Elsewhere, as Tassi is left confused when he finds himself standing in front of a closed door, Bille suddenly appears behind him and stabs him in the neck with a small knife, celebrating the fact that he reached level 21. Three other members congratulate him as Matvere hands him a cup to perform the Water Divination test and says that he was a Transmuter. Bille hopes to be an Emitter, but is left disappointed when he turns out to be a Conjurer. Gelato points out that there seem to be a lot of left-handed Conjurers. In a different room filled with clothes, a smuggler, hitman, and Emitter named Terebellum (level 21) drops off Tassi's corpse and tells two female members that Voconte said he directly connected the room to the processing area. He adds that they will all be reaching level 21 soon, and one member happily begins to remove Tassi's clothes as the other prepares to dismember his body. The first is a seamstress, ornament factory worker, and Conjurer named Chiffon Toto (level 6). Involved in body disposal, the other is an animal feed factory worker and Conjurer named Montblanc Toto (level 3).
In Morena's office, one member tells her that the butler they left in the VVIP area as a liaison to the Fourth Prince has gone quiet. With four members standing in front of her, Morena guesses that Tserriednich may be on to them and adds that their hideout will be discovered soon based on Gateaume's report. She proposes bringing one of Tserriednich's personal soldiers over to their side, revealing that one of them will go with Dogman to capture a guard. After Matvere (level 21) says that he would prefer to be the "organ", a back-alley doctor, hitman, and Manipulator named Sodom (level 31) volunteers for the mission.
Morena talking about Tserriednich with several members
Morena says that while Tserriednich will want to deal with her personally for betraying him, it's unclear when and how he will make his move since the succession contest is still ongoing. She reveals that she wants to infect someone on his side with Contagion so that she can track his movements. She gives them a list and tells them to bring any soldiers they find to the hideout, adding that they should use door C since they can no longer use Room 3101. She then tells Orarge and Yokotani to guard the door in shifts, adding that they should invite Tserriednich's soldiers to the hideout if they see any of them. A waste disposal contractor and Enhancer, Orarge (level 21), says that dealing with the First Prince's soldiers will be difficult, wondering if they can turn them away on legal grounds. A corrupt lawyer and Conjurer, Yokotani (level 27) continues to smile and says that they cannot.
Morena tells two other members to return to Room 3131 and report back on the situation in Room 3101. A hacker and Transmuter, Soufflé (level 28) wonders how they return to Room 3131. A plumber and Conjurer, Notre (level 24) says that just got back to the hideout using 3131 and then through the disposal area (the laundry room), explaining that they need to do the reverse and go through the laundry room to the processing area (the shower room) and then out through the living room. Soufflé is left confused and asks for the explanation again, but Notre replies that their confusion will get them killed and wonders what they would do without him. Morena then summons Dogman and tells him that he has the most important mission, asking him to find what she is looking for. A professional wrestler and Enhancer, Dogman (level 36) replies that he will need a few more levels, and Morena quickly agrees, telling him to go to the new processing area so that he can get past level 50.
Several soldiers raiding the Heil-Ly's office
Hinrigh returns to the large fountain and recovers the cat, turning it back into a camcorder and reviewing the footage. Elsewhere on Tier 3, several soldiers break down a door and make sure that everything is clear. Two soldiers find a body in one of the rooms, and the corporal says that since it appears to be a Cha-R member, their forced entry will be justified, and they can contact the Central Police Station to ask for forensics. He tells the soldiers to report that they had to break in because a Heil-Ly member resisted arrest and escaped to the room after shooting at them. One soldier says that they have to treat the Heil-Ly as regular civilians since they never submitted a member list, but the corporal points out that the room is registered as the Heil-Ly's office and that the police will have to treat it as a Mafia crime until the culprit is identified. He then worries about the police treating the death of a supposed civilian as part of the conflict, adding that the situation could get out of hand if a clueless career bureaucrat considers it to be a Mafia hit on a civilian.
The corporal emphasizes the importance of capturing Morena Prudo before the situation reaches that point, adding that they should hand her over to Tserriednich before he has to trouble himself with it. He tells his subordinates that while they can sweep Tier 3 with the help of the Xi-Yu and Cha-R, they don’t want to draw attention from the Royal Army and police, ordering them to carry only handguns during the search. One soldier speaks up and asks about creating a counterstrategy if the Heil-Ly have any Nen users among them. The corporal is left confused by the term, and the soldier explains that it's a dangerous power spreading quickly on Tier 1, guessing that it's the reason why "Tserried" hasn't handled the situation on Tier 3. The corporal wonders who reported the information to a private second class, and the soldier reveals that they learned about it from Borksen, a provisional Hunter on security detail at the royal living quarters. The corporal recognizes them as a private first class and says that he will request for her to be transferred to Tier 3 as an advisor.
Gipper threatening Otocin
The corporal then addresses the soldier as Otocin and threatens to rip out his eyes if he ever abbreviates Tserriednich's name again. He warns him that he will put him on the front line against Nen users, and Otocin quickly addresses him as sir. Another soldier can't believe that Otocin would involve Bork in the situation, but Otocin replies that her information will be crucial, explaining that Morena wouldn't pick a fight with "Tserri" if she didn't have a plan. The other soldier points out that Otocin did just that against the corporal, but Otocin replies that it was calculated since he was able to get Bork transferred. The corporal then threatens to shoot Otocin if he doesn't be quiet, and Otocin quickly addresses him as sir again.
Three soldiers watch the corporal as he continues to berate Otocin, and one says that the body they discovered was already a few days old, guessing that the police and army deliberately didn't find it during the second sweep. Another soldier replies that the police and army use discretion with Mafia disputes as long as civilians aren't involved. However, she guesses that they didn't think it was a Mafia problem during the sweep, adding that the search at the Heil-Ly's office was likely a simple verbal check. The first soldier says that the police are aware of such information and that the coroner will come up with a time of death to match the official report. He then wonders about the Hunter Association and explains that if they were to investigate the forensics, the tampering would immediately be revealed and potentially cause the Association to question Kakin's investigation before starting their own. The female soldier counters by saying that the Hunters probably wouldn't involve themselves in a Mafia dispute since their main focus is guarding the Princes and providing support on Tier 3, wondering if a Mafia conflict would trigger a criminal investigation.
Tserriednich's soldiers discussing the rising tension between Kakin and the Mafia
However, the first soldier mentions the unpredictability of the Seed Urn Ceremony and that even they didn't learn about it until after boarding, adding that the Association might consider eradicating the Mafia to ensure security for the Princes if they realize the bad blood between the royal family and the second-track fakers. The female soldier realizes that those interests would also align with the Justice Bureau. The first soldier adds that the First Prince would also support the eradication of the Mafia, concerned that an all-out war between Kakin and the Mafia could easily break out if rumors begin to spread. He then explains that based on the massacre of their senior members and letting their new members board the ship as civilians, the Heil-Ly's main goal is to destroy balance, reminding them about the corporal's warning that one lapse in judgment from the head of police could result in the trumpet that begins the war.
He adds that it would end up being closer to a riot, and the third soldier says that if the Mafia teamed up and managed to win over the lower classes on Tier 4 and Tier 5, they would be vastly outnumbered. Otocin addresses the corporal as Gipper and wonders why he isn't yelling at the other soldiers for constantly talking. Gipper replies that they are actually smart and that he agrees with their opinion, again saying that they need to find Morena as soon as possible. A female soldier, whom Otocin addresses as Momolly, says that Otocin has a point since Tserriednich has remained silent despite Morena's rebellion, confident that he would only delay exacting revenge against a traitor if he has found a new toy. Gipper guesses that she's referring to the story about Tserriednich's firearm disassembly and reassembly drill in seventh grade, saying that he heard the Prince broke the academy's record after practicing without eating or sleeping. Otocin clarifies that he said he was "playing", not practicing. The first soldier says that after a classmate got into an argument with Tserriednich during the drill, the Prince shot him in the leg after the awards ceremony. The other female soldier remembers the incident, and the third soldier says that the Prince replied with a bullet instead of words.
Gipper asking about Tserriednich's Nen training
Otocin criticizes Tserriednich's short temper and recounts the other classmate's words to Tserriednich about accomplishing something first. Momolly replies that logic doesn't work on the Prince and tells Otocin that he is probably the only one who can talk back to him without getting shot. Gipper then asks the others if the reason the Prince hasn't taken action against the Heil-Ly is because he's still learning Nen. After saying that it's the best assumption, Momolly suggests waiting for Borksen's arrival to confirm the facts, quickly adding that they can discard the assumption that Morena doesn't use Nen. The first soldier suggests that they make transfer requests periodically, and the other female soldier agrees with the idea. With Gipper left confused, she explains that the plan to eradicate the Mafia will be kept classified and personal soldiers won't be given the time or details, adding that the passageway between Tier 2 and Tier 3 will be limited to the Royal Army once the operation begins. The first soldier explains that they will know if and when the operation has started as soon as their transfer requests begin getting rejected or put on hold.
Gipper begrudgingly praises their intelligence and points out that they could have easily joined the Prince's guards or the Royal Army if they were serious about it. He wonders why they don't apply themselves, and they all answer that it's too much work. He criticizes their lack of drive and says that he will put in the transfer request for himself. Momolly thinks about Gipper's words and says to herself that if Tserriednich were her friend, she should be by his side and getting on his case. Another soldier says to himself that they can't do anything about the Prince's status and nature. The other female soldier says to herself that it's his decision to make and that Tserriednich is okay with the way things are. The first soldier says to himself that the status quo is the best since they aren't just regular friends and their status and situations change. Finally, Otocin says to himself that their friendship seems to take a back seat the closer they get to him, adding that he prefers to stay at the bottom and loudly ask Tserriednich if it's really what he wants. A flashback is then shown with Tserriednich holding a gun after having shot his classmate in the leg.
Borksen reuniting with the other soldiers
Outside the Black Whale, several flying creatures are seen trailing behind it. After meeting up with the five soldiers, Borksen explains that Tserriednich is learning Nen from Theta, his personal bodyguard, warning that they will be instantly demoted if they leak the top-secret information. Otocin wonders about Nen, but Borksen herself is unaware of it since it's classified, adding that she was planning to investigate it before being transferred. Otocin asks if she's upset, and Borksen confirms it with a smile on her face, chastising him for revealing the information to Corporal Gipper. Otocin replies that they needed to know the details and adds that they were able to propose the transfer request early warning system. Borksen calls him naive and says that Gipper wouldn't agree to switch now that he's moved up, guessing that he's using her as a pretext to restrict communications with soldiers in the lower tiers in order to prevent information leaks. The first soldier says that while she is most likely right, he thinks there's a 5% chance that Gipper decides to stay in contact with them.
Borksen points out that Gipper won't be able to get any information out of Theta anyway, and another soldier asks why Theta would share top-secret information with her, even if the two are friends. Borksen replies that while she wouldn't tell her about Nen, something else got her attention. She reveals that after the emergency broadcast was made and Tserriednich learned about Nen, both Theta and Salkov began acting strange. However, she says that they will have to do what they can from the lower tiers, assuring the others that she agrees with their assessment that Morena is most likely a Nen user and that they should avoid her at all costs to protect their own lives. Two of the soldiers are happy to see that she is the same person they have always known, but Borksen points out how difficult it will be to avoid Morena while also pretending to look for her. Another soldier says that it should be easy since they know Morena's face and she doesn't know theirs. However, Borksen replies that she probably does since the tattoo artist who gave them their unit tattoos used to be a Heil-Ly member, adding that he only avoided the massacre during Morena's inauguration because Tserriednich pulled him out in time. She reveals that they were listed in his client database and that Morena most likely has information on personal soldiers.
The soldiers worried about Morena capturing them
The first soldier wonders if Nen is really that dangerous, and Borksen explains that while she doesn't know the details, she could tell from Theta and Salkov's reactions that it's comparable to a top-secret weapon. Otocin quickly reminds them that he said it was more dangerous than a gun, but the first soldier and Momolly reply that Borksen's words are more convincing. The other female soldier wonders if they are able to learn Nen as well, and Borksen reminds them that she could have investigated the question if she had remained on Tier 1. She emphasizes that survival is their top priority and that they are at a disadvantage since they don't know anything about the Heil-Ly members. She suggests contacting the Xi-Yu or Cha-R to establish a working relationship as soon as possible. Momolly then asks Bork whether she would tailor her response if one of them gets caught by Morena, and she agrees that they should come up with a contingency plan.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Gateaume (Nen Double)
- Hinrigh Biganduffno
- Ken'i Wang
- Tassi (Debut)
- Maizan (Mentioned indirectly)
- Hisoka Morow (Mentioned)
- Luini (Mentioned indirectly)
- Nobunaga Hazama (Mentioned)
- Connelly
- Bille
- Matvere
- Gelato
- Orarge
- Terebellum
- Voconte (Mentioned)
- Montblanc Toto
- Chiffon Toto
- Morena Prudo
- Sodom
- Yokotani
- Benjamin Hui Guo Rou (Mentioned)
- Soufflé
- Notre
- Dogman
- Otocin (Debut)
- Momolly (Debut)
- Gipper (Debut)
- Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou (Flashback; Mentioned)
- Borksen (Debut)
- Salkov (Flashback; Mentioned)
- Theta (Flashback; Mentioned)
Trivia[]
- Although Viz used the same title for Chapter 386, the two are different in Japanese:
- 386:
仮 説 , Kasetsu - 394:
想 定 , Sōtei
- 386:
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