Steiner (シュタイナー, Shutainā)[1] is one of the highest-ranked individuals in the International Permit Agency (IPA).[3] After the V6 approved Kakin's expedition to the Dark Continent, he was tasked with acting as Beyond Netero's guide.[2]
Appearance[]
Steiner is a tall, bespectacled man. He has light brown hair and hazel eyes. He tends to dress in a suit and tie for official business occasions.
Personality[]
In his introduction, Steiner appeared to be a self-confident man. However, he became quickly aghast after entering the International Permit Agency basement and learning about Don Freecss' book and the Five Threats from the Dark Continent. After studying the Dark Continent further, he made a conclusion the Dark Continent is not a place for humans to return to.[3] He nonetheless joins the voyage to the Dark Continent to monitor Kakin.[2]
In a meeting with the V5, Steiner shows his pragmatic and tactical sides by advising the world politicians to invite Kakin into V6 and endorse Kakin's project in order to let Nasubi Hui Guo Rou take all the fallout, but the benefits should be divided evenly if the project is successful. He also advised the ploy of labeling some uninhabited islands in the New Continent as the Dark Continent, so the public who joins the voyage will not actually be taken to the dangerous continent.[4]
Plot[]
Succession Contest arc[]
Steiner discussing with the IPA Director
Steiner is taken to the basement of the International Environmental Permit Agency by the agency director, who tells him he has been put in charge of a team coordinating the Restricted Voyage Agencies and asks him to go through his tasks. He is shocked to see the victims of the Five Threats. The director has him read the East edition of Journey to the New World. After he does so, Steiner concludes the Dark Continent is not a place where humanity should go ever again,[3] and tasks the Hunter Association with Beyond's capture.[4]
Steiner gives his speech to the V5
Nonetheless, sometime later, he gives a speech to the heads of the V5, recommending them to endorse Kakin's expedition. The only other way to stop King Nasubi would be an armed intervention. He suggests they publicly support him and invite him to join the Modern Nation Leaders, letting him take the fall when a catastrophe occurs. He also advises tricking the public at large, making them believe that some uninhabited islands in the Untamed Waters, before the border controlled by the Gatekeeper. After the presentation, the director congratulates him, and Steiner confesses he is conflicted about the morality of his actions. Still, the director replies that a world at peace is more important than honesty. Hearing this garnishes praise from his superior director, who claims he'll be a great director someday.[4]
Reading about Brion
The V6 later appoints Steiner as Beyond Netero's guide. As the Black Whale departs, Steiner flips through a heavily-tagged book and advises Peuckert and his other cabinmates to at least read the chapter on the labyrinth city (where the "Botanical Weapon" Brion is known to be found), since one of them will have to take his place as deputy secretary of the IPA if he dies. However, Steiner's cabinmates are confident of their chances of survival, since the Hunter Association is in charge of security and the current Director of the IPA is one of the unofficial "sole survivors" (of trips to the Dark Continent).[2]
On the 10th day of the voyage, Balsamilco has Prince Halkenburg arrested on suspicion of premediated murder; RVA members Steiner and Peuckert (currently on loan to the Kakin Justice Bureau Investigation Department) accompany the Kakin army to arrest Halkenburg. Halkenburg does not resist arrest, and Steiner and company bring him away, separating him from his men until his trial is finished[1]
Later in the day, Steiner witnesses Kakin Justice Bureau Investigator Kaiser see Prince "Kacho"[note 1] off to the VIP Witness Protection Area from the entrance of the Investigation Rooms, all within the Justice Bureau on Tier 2. After Prince "Kacho" leaves, Kaiser turns to Steiner and asks him for a moment of his time. Kaiser gives Steiner a button, and then proceeds to lower his voice and give him instructions to press the button if the First Prince's men or the Kakin Royal Army appear at the Justice Bureau. He explains to Steiner that the declaration of special martial law[note 2] would turn even the Justice Bureau (the most neutral institution on the ship), into a dictator's base. He explains the reasoning behind his instructions by highlighting his worst-case scenario to Steiner, that the transfer to military power happens right after a large amount of Kakin Royal Army soldiers are sent inside the Justice Bureau, which would allow the Kakin Royal Army to execute anyone within the Justice Bureau that they deem as an insurgent within the short span of ten minutes. Not being privy to the true nature of the Succession Contest, Steiner asks if the situation is really so dire that the army might go rogue. Kaiser does not know, but explains that the button is the last check against the army going rogue, and that giving Steiner the button is a precaution to maximize the chances of the button being pressed in case of special martial law, taking advantage of Steiner's status as one of the few "witnesses" on board the Black Whale that is guaranteed to return alive. Steiner worries that him being handed the button means a chance of him dying despite his protected status, and further considers that his death might be a result of a scenario that cannot be officially recorded happening. Steiner chooses not to voice his thoughts, and merely acknowledges his senior's instructions.[5]
Abilities & Powers[]
Steiner has vast authority over the International Permit Agency as well as all the RVAs.[3] His position has allowed him to communicate directly with the V5 leaders at least once, an occasion in which he showed to be a capable public speaker: his speech influenced their course of action, leading to the approval of King Nasubi's colonization project and the nominal creation of the New Continent, preventing an armed conflict.[4] Having read the East edition of Journey to the New World, Steiner was deemed knowledgeable enough to act as Beyond's guide in the Dark Continent.[2]
Manga Appearances[]
| 340. Special Mission | Absent |
| 341. Threats | Debut |
| 342. Challenge | Appears |
| 343. Invitation | Absent |
| 344. Author | Absent |
| 345. Signature | Absent |
| 346. Options | Absent |
| 347. Inauguration | Absent |
| 348. Resolve | Absent |
| 349. Worm Toxin | Absent |
| 350. Prince | Absent |
| 351. Battle to the Death | Absent |
| 352. Troublesome | Absent |
| 353. Cold-Blooded | Absent |
| 354. Heat | Absent |
| 355. Detonation | Absent |
| 356. Unfortunate: Part 1 | Absent |
| 357. Unfortunate: Part 2 | Absent |
| 358. Eve | Absent |
| 359. Departure | Appears |
| 360. Parasite | Absent |
| 361. Withdraw | Absent |
| 362. Resolve | Absent |
| 363. Nen Beast | Absent |
| 364. Speculation | Absent |
| 365. Choice | Absent |
| 366. To Each His Own | Absent |
| 367. Synchronization | Absent |
| 368. Foul Play | Absent |
| 369. Limits | Absent |
| 370. Observation | Absent |
| 371. Mission | Absent |
| 372. Disappearance | Absent |
| 373. Inheritance | Absent |
| 374. Ability | Absent |
| 375. Persuasion | Absent |
| 376. Determination | Absent |
| 377. Scheme | Absent |
| 378. Balance | Absent |
| 379. Collaboration | Absent |
| 380. Alarm | Absent |
| 381. Predation | Absent |
| 382. Awakening | Absent |
| 383. Escape | Absent |
| 384. War | Absent |
| 385. Warning | Absent |
| 386. Hypothesis | Absent |
| 387. Recreation | Absent |
| 388. Reflection | Absent |
| 389. Curse | Appears |
| 390. Clash: Part 1 | Absent |
| 391. Clash: Part 2 | Absent |
| 392. Information | Absent |
| 393. Plea | Absent |
| 394. Hypothesis | Absent |
| 395. Founding: Part 1 | Absent |
| 396. Founding: Part 2 | Absent |
| 397. Founding: Part 3 | Absent |
| 398. Search | Absent |
| 399. Expulsion | Absent |
| 400. Secrecy | Appears |
Quotes[]
- (To the IPA Director, who inquired about his duties) "Don't let anybody go to the new world. When you have to, keep them on a short leash."[3]
- (To the V5) "Considering the above, to quell this situation peacefully it is necessary to invite Kakin to the V5! Reorganize as the V6, and unofficially support Kakin's journey."[4]
- (To the V5) "Let them suffer the same fate that united the V5 so strongly in the first place."[4]
- (To the IPA Director) "Our official stance is that Journey to the New World was fiction, but in actuality, that book is the basis for the most important criteria for the world..."[4]
Trivia[]
- Steiner is named after Felix Steiner, a German SS commander. He shares a similar origin of his name (a reference to known German figures) with every other member of the Kakin's Justice Bureau: Kaiser and Peuckert.
Translations around the World[]
| Language | Name | |
|---|---|---|
 Arabic
|
ستينير | |
References[]
Notes
- ↑ At this time, 10th Prince Kacho Hui Guo Rou has already been replaced by her Guardian Spirit Beast.
- ↑ It is explained in Chapter 400 that Special Martial Law for the Kakin Empire during the Succession Contest is when the military temporarily takes control of the powers of government in the case of a national emergency. This is very similar to martial law in the real world.
[]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||