Performance (
Synopsis[]
In a high-end casino on the ship, a man asks for one more card, then another. A woman spectating says that she thought poker was played with five cards, and another man spectating explains that the game is Square-X, which uses multiple decks. He says that the Square-X variant currently being played is Square-3, then explains that players can increase their hand size and payout with duplicate cards, and that if the player wins, the stakes are set to the power of however many "one mores" they claimed. He adds that the player is unable to fold, so it's also known as "go to heaven", and that he has seen many people go bankrupt. The man playing then calls, and it's revealed to be Hisoka, who reveals his hand—five 3s, and 2 aces.
Hisoka eventually leaves the table and has a spin on the slot machines, telling himself that he has normal tastes. He rolls triple sevens, and adds that after he heard about exterminating the Ants, he wasn't turned on because they were ants. He leaves and continues his train of thought, ignoring the crowd calling at him to claim his prize, thinking about how the tremendous rumbling he felt multiple times, really turned him off after he found out that it was a group ability made possible through the support of a Guardian Spirit Beast created with the power of a ceremony. He reminds himself that he's normal since he isn't interested in bestiality or orgies, he's unable to get aroused by those things. He emphasizes that he's someone who wants to be with a person one-on-one so they can love each other to death. He laments his normalcy, but finds contentment in always being able to play with himself.
Bonolenov disguised as Hisoka seeing the real Hisoka
Someone pretending to be Hisoka secretly watches the real one and is surprised at coming across him in the Tier 1 VIP casino, wondering if he's also a fake Hisoka. A flashback reveals the Hisoka imposter to be Bonolenov, where he clarifies with Chrollo that he wants him to transform into Hisoka. Chrollo confirms it, and instructs him to hang around where the Mafia might be and to expect them to come to him and take him to the nicer rooms. Bonolenov asks why, and Chrollo explains that they want to maintain balance and that allowing two wild cards like the Troupe and Hisoka to freely roam through their turf could cause them to lose face. He adds that if they try to recruit either of them, it would lead to a fight and disrupt the balance, which the Mafia hates the most. He explains that the simplest way to avoid that would be to find Hisoka and keep him away from them, adding that it's harder to contain the Troupe since they're a group. Bonolenov understands and says that once the Mafia thinks he's Hisoka and hides him away, the Troupe can then go find the real Hisoka. Chrollo says that everyone can then save face, but he adds that promoters might try to feature Hisoka since he's a Floor Master.
Back in the present, the disguised Bonolenov remembers Chrollo telling him that the real Hisoka is likely already on Tier 1 somewhere as a VIP through a Prince's invitation, and that once he gets invited upstairs, he should be careful not to run into him. Bonolenov notes that Chrollo was right and guesses that he didn't tell the others because he wants to deal with Hisoka himself. He then remembers Chrollo telling him that if he finds the real Hisoka, he should transform into someone else and wait for him since he will decide whether they fight. Walking into a nearby bathroom, Bonolenov tells himself that his ability doesn't work well against Hisoka anyway, adding that he would have no chance of transforming while dodging his Bungee Gum.
Bonolenov having transformed into Owl
Bonolenov then transforms into Owl, and a narration explains that Bonolenov's Transformation: Metamorphosen allows him to transform into someone he has talked to in person, for an amount of time equal to the amount of time he has spent with that person. The narration explains that although that there is no limit in body size, Bonolenov believes that the smaller the smaller the body compared to his own, the shorter the time he can remain transformed. Bonolenov's inner thoughts as he considers the new situation reveal that he was discovered by the woman whose punch can force out a person's inner voice, and so had to kill her. He had let the I.V. drip guy live so he could come upstairs, hoping that it won't be a problem and saying that if they find her body later, they shouldn't think that Hisoka did it.
In a flashback, Lynch asks the disguised Bonolenov if he's Hisoka and suddenly punches him. As he reflexively knocks her out, her punch lands and he hears himself reveal that he's only pretending to be Hisoka. Confused, Bonolenov wonders if that was his voice and assumes that the guy with her heard it too. Zakuro anxiously asks if he's Hisoka, letting Bonolenov know that only he and Lynch heard his voice. He says to Zakuro that he must not have heard him, then knocks Zakuro unconscious to safely transform into him. The Zakuro-disguised-Bonolenov approaches Lynch as she wakes up and gets her to reveal that she knows that the Hisoka they found was a fake. Lynch gets angry as she explains that he was trying to trick them, and guesses that he's either from the Heil-Ly, or the Troupe. She says that he won't get away with it and declares that she will get Hinrigh to put him on the top of the hit list. While still disguised as Zakuro, Bonlenov glowers at her and tells her that it was too bad.
Back in the present, Bonolenov walks through the casino and says that he then took the form of the woman he killed, tricked the I.V. guy, and led them to the movie theater. He hopes that the Mafia will think someone else killed her after they split up and thinks that the I.V. guy shouldn't suspect that her death was connected to the previous encounter. He adds that even if they find her body, the Mafia probably wouldn't come upstairs in full force to kill Hisoka. However, he worries about the possibility and says that he can't be sure, telling himself that he should just ask Chrollo and that he really wants to have Phinks' group deal with Hisoka. He says that the whole Troupe knows Chrollo is hurting after the deaths of Shalnark and Kortopi and that he's trying to act as if he's fine because he knows that they know. He adds that they all know he wants to settle it once and for all, by himself this time, and that the "treasure" he's looking for on the ship is an ability that he needs to kill Hisoka for good, explaining that it's the reason why they all want to kill Hisoka first before Chrollo can get to him. Internally speaking to Chrollo, he says that they all know why he left the #9 spot open, hoping that Hisoka can be the last and they can close the curtain on their performance.
Chrollo walking away from a program on Sarasa's murderer
Elsewhere on the ship, a program is shown on a large screen, and the presenter states that it has been ten years since the brutal murder of Mr. Risnorth, who was the chairman of "Mom's Help", the charity foundation dedicated to helping children. After adding that no suspects have ever been apprehended, they say that they will look back at his contributions and pay their respects to his greatness, claiming that there has been a growing public outcry demanding the identification and arrest of his murderer. As various people question the media's report, Chrollo is seen with his back toward the screen as he walks away from it.
In the Cha-R's family hideout on Tier 5, Nobunaga asks Ken'i and Tajao if they have all known the Heil-Ly for a long time. Tajao quickly says no, and Ken'i adds that the new boss only recently took over. Nobunaga says that it must be difficult to predict what they're thinking and to notice if something is off if they're not even a functional Mafia family. Confused, Ken'i bluntly asks him what he's trying to say, and Nobunaga asks if it's really the Heil-Ly on the ship. Tajao and Ken'i silently glance at each other, with the former saying that it's an interesting idea and asking who they are if they're not the Heil-Ly. Ken'i assures him that they had the official succession ceremony and that even their boss went, as did the rest of them.
As Ken'i wonders if Nobunaga is trying to say that the previous boss was manipulated with Nen and killed, Phinks quickly asks what the current Heil-Ly boss is like. Ken'i replies that she's a young woman named Morena, a royal descendant without succession rights. He adds that the titles for Kakin Mafia bosses are always inherited by a person of royal blood who has no claim to the throne. He clarifies that while they know her somewhat, they're not so close to her that they know what she wants. He says that they are the Heil-Ly on paper, but again emphasizes that they don't know what they want, asking Nobunaga if they found any clues. Nobunaga says that while they didn't find anything concrete, they did learn some things after fighting them. He explains that they seem to be doing whatever they want, mentioning "the wall guy" who confronted them and got himself killed. However, he reveals that when they went to their hideout, they were organized and showed signs of being under someone's leadership. He says that the leader decides the strategy and allows the members to come up with their own tactics, revealing that it's their own style and the Heil-Ly are using the same playbook.
Nobunaga analyzing the situation with Morena and the Heil-Ly
Nobunaga then wonders what the group's motivation is and what kind of orders they're operating under. He says that if their goal were to crush the other families, it would make sense to kill Mafia members, wondering why they're killing civilians. Ken'i isn't sure and says that maybe they have another motivation. Nobunaga quickly agrees and says that the Heil-Ly is trying to destroy everything, with Tajao left surprised by the assertion. Nobunaga says that they want to kill everyone aboard the ship, including the Royal Family, which gives the group the chance to destroy Kakin itself. He says that the ship being so contained is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them, adding that they could have multiple motivations and that they are killing to get the power needed to destroy everything. Phinks explains that it's a classic move to use human sacrifices to gain supernatural power, asking if they know about vows and limitations. Feitan then quickly adds that they plan to kill everyone anyway and that if they set the number of people they kill as a limitation, they can meet the condition to produce powerful Nen.
Although he says that he's not one to talk as a Mafia member, Tajao calls their suggestion crazy. Phinks assures him that it's definitely not normal, and Tajao clarifies that he meant not only the Heil-Ly but the three of them as well for coming up with it. He explains that their own origins are twisted and it's why they place so much importance on balance, saying that they proudly support Kakin from the shadows. He stresses that fighting is a last resort and used to keep things in check, adding that civilians are their customers and that they would never think of them as targets.
Tajao taking the three Troupe members through the Cha-R's route
With Ken'i staying silent, Tajao says he now understands that while they look like the Heil-Ly, they're something completely different from the Kakin Mafia on the inside. He then walks over to the door leading upstairs and opens it, telling the three Troupe members that the Cha-R and Xi-Yu will fully support them and asking them to crush the Heil-Ly. Nobunaga tells him that the three of them will go on ahead, and Phinks asks if they can tell the rest of the Troupe and Hinrigh. Saying that he will send a grunt to fetch them, Ken'i internally wonders what they should do and addresses Morena by name, saying that they have a problem. He worries that the Troupe members might find her much sooner than they expected. He then reveals that it accelerates the schedule considerably and that they might have to use their "joker".
In the Heil-Ly's secret hideout on Tier 2, Morena speaks with Dogman and says that she has heard Halkenburg's funeral procession will happen soon. She adds that a number of people will gather together to see him off and that it's a perfect opportunity, asking if he's ready. Now level 62, Dogman says that he is and that he leveled up a lot with everyone's help, revealing that he can sniff out Nen types five meters away and whether they have learned Nen from two meters. He also says that if he sniffs their heads up close, he can identify them with 100% certainty, assuring her that he will find them. Morena then happily tells the others that if Dog finds who they are looking for, they have a green light and it's the beginning of the end. Bille is excited by the news, but Gelato isn't sure whether they will join them once they hear their goals. Morena says that while that's true, she will try her best to make sure that they get a yes, with Gelato staying positive and saying, "Never give up!" Dogman then tells Sodom that they should get going and asks how he should let him know once he finds his target. Sodom says that he will be right by his side, telling him to simply point them out and that he will take care of the rest. He then explains that since his kidnapping ability requires that his target doesn't know Nen, he can bring them back to the hideout by himself.
Tevelares, Daemon, and Quorolle preparing to hunt down Mafia members
Voconte then approaches Morena and asks where the others went. Morena tells him that they are leveling up in the processing area and that they are eager to get revenge on Hinrigh. In the processing area, with piles of dead bodies behind them, aura swells around Tevelares, Daemon, and Quorolle (now level 51) as they prepare to go on a Mafia hunt. Elsewhere, Tajao and the three Troupe members walk down a long, dark corridor before eventually reaching another door. As he slowly opens it, Tajao warns them that things will be a bit rough going forward, with all three members taken aback by what they see on the other side.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Hisoka Morow
- Bonolenov Ndongo (Disguised as Hisoka and Owl)
- Lynch Fullbokko (Flashback)
- Zakuro Custard (Flashback)
- Hinrigh Biganduffno (Mentioned)
- Shalnark (Mentioned)
- Kortopi (Mentioned)
- Risnorth (Photo; Mentioned)
- Chrollo Lucilfer
- Nobunaga Hazama
- Tajao
- Ken'i Wang
- Phinks Magcub
- Feitan Portor
- Brocco Li (Mentioned indirectly)
- Luini (Mentioned indirectly)
- Morena Prudo
- Halkenburg Hui Guo Rou (Mentioned)
- Dogman
- Bille
- Gelato
- Sodom
- Voconte
- Tevelares
- Daemon
- Quorolle
Trivia[]
- The chapter marks the first appearance of Hisoka in the story since Chapter 357, which was published on June 13, 2016.
- The scene where Bonolenov thinks about Chrollo intentionally leaving the #9 spot in the Spiders open likely implies that Pakunoda was member #9, given the revealed closeness of his bond with her across Chapters 395 and 397. This closeness was strongly suggested to be mutual in a Volume 38 extra.
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