Succession Contest arc

Succession Contest arc
Arc Info
Manga Chapters	Chapters 340 - ???
Arc Guide
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The Succession Contest arc (継(けい)承(しょう)戦(せん)編(へん)()()()()()(), Keishō-sen-hen), also known as the Succession to the Throne arc (王(おう)位(い)継(けい)承(しょう)編(へん)()()()()(), Ōi Keishō-hen) or the Black Whale arc, is the seventh story arc of the series.

The Zodiacs are caught off guard when King Nasubi Hui Guo Rou of the Kakin Empire makes an announcement declaring his intent to explore the Dark Continent on a voyage led by Beyond Netero, son of the late Isaac Netero. Cheadle accepts Ging and Pariston's requests to leave the Zodiacs and invites Leorio and Kurapika to the Zodiacs as their replacement. The V5 contract the Hunter Association to hunt Beyond, but after Kakin accepts their invitation to reorganize into the V6, have the association be Beyond's chaperone to the Dark Continent instead.

Unbeknownst to the public, the Black Whale 1 is where King Nasubi plans to decide who succeeds the throne, through a deathmatch between the fourteen princes of the Kakin Empire. Several of Kakin's Mafia families are on board too, fighting each other to help their sponsors and further their goals. Kurapika, now the newest member of the Zodiacs, hopes to recover the last of his clan’s Scarlet Eyes from the 4^th Prince of the Kakin Empire, Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou. The Phantom Troupe, having originally boarded the Black Whale 1 to steal its riches, unexpectedly find themselves chasing after Hisoka, who killed two of their members after his deathmatch with Chrollo.

Summary

The Special Assignment

Nasubi making an announcement

The Zodiacs (less Ging and Pariston) meet at Cheadle's request. Before the meeting begins, Beans barges into the room and shows them a video of King Nasubi of the Kakin Empire declaring his country's intent to travel to the Dark Continent. The Zodiacs are surprised and give an explanation of the Dark Continent and the Kakin Empire to a clueless Kanzai. Beans draws their attention to another point in the video, where King Nasubi introduces the leader of their expedition: Beyond Netero, the son of the late Isaac Netero. Any doubts the Zodiacs have of the legitimacy of Beyond's claimed lineage are dispelled after they listen to his heartfelt proclamation to accept anyone and remove all obstacles so that humanity can explore the Dark Continent together. The Zodiacs sit in silence as they process the contents of the video. Beans takes this chance to share a second video Netero left, to be played only if someone claiming to be his child came forth, and only to be played with all members of the Zodiac present.

Beyond making a statement

Elsewhere, Beyond and his team gather to observe the public's reaction to their announcement. When a member of his team brings up the V5's attempts to stop him, Beyond tells him to ignore them and instead speaks of his desire to explore new land to his team, which includes the former Zodiac, Pariston. Cheadle takes this chance to segue into her reasons for calling the meeting. She tells the Zodiacs of her approval of Ging and Pariston's requests to leave the Zodiacs, and of the special assignment given directly from the V5: Hunt down Beyond.

The International Permit Agency (IPA) director leads a newly appointed deputy secretary of the IPA to the basement of one of their agency's buildings and along the way discusses the difficulty they have in stopping Kakin's journey. At the basement, the deputy secretary looks in horror at tanks filled with biological atrocities, which the director explains are the remnants of humanity's past attempts to colonize the New World. The director passes a copy of a book to the deputy secretary, explains that it contains travels that were published hundreds of years ago, and instructs him to read it and make a report identifying the risks of traveling to the New World.

Beyond with the Zodiacs

The Zodiacs watch a video of Isaac Netero discussing his past experiences with the Dark Continent, which ends with Netero "requesting" the Zodiacs overcome the risks of the Dark Continent and return with hope, successfully exploring the Dark Continent before Beyond. While the Zodiacs debate how to do so, Beyond contacts them and turns himself in. Despite being restrained, Beyond leads the interview between him and Cheadle, seemingly even aware of the other Zodiacs watching him from another room. He boldly predicts that the Zodiacs will release him and accompany him to the Dark Continent. Beyond explains the V5's official policy and what the "real" world is to the Zodiacs. At a summit with the heads of the V5, the IPA's deputy secretary explains that the official ways to stop Kakin are limited to military, and proposes an alternative: Invite Kakin to join the V5, reorganize as the V6, and unofficially support Kakin's journey. Find a fake "Dark Continent" and colonize it to maintain public appearances, and let Kakin tempt fate as they desire. The heads of the V5 accept this proposal and sign their agreement.

In his interview with Cheadle, Beyond explains his actions as a way to force the V5 to act, the act of leading the journey itself a way for Beyond to explore the Dark Continent in exchange for helping King Nasubi leave his mark on history. The Zodiacs begin making preparations to simultaneously handle both the Dark Continent and Beyond's attempts to escape their custody once there. Elsewhere, the IPA director reassures the deputy secretary that his choice to have the V5 accept a peaceful resolution over a safe conclusion during the briefing was right. At the base of Beyond's team, programs over the television introduce the Black Whale to the public, the ship for the voyage, and discuss the threats found on the Dark Continent. Ging steps into the base, and asks to join the expedition team.

Voyage Preparations

The 289^th Hunter Exam and the Dark Continent Expedition Team

Kurapika showing Mizaistom his seriousness about the Scarlet Eyes

Cheadle contacts Leorio and invites him to be a Zodiac owing to his popularity during the election. He agrees, and asks if there is a free spot for Kurapika. At the Dark Continent Expedition Team's base, Ging's argument with Pariston heats up. Team members step in to stop them, but Ging quickly threatens them into accepting him as their team's deputy leader. Mizaistom heads to a base of the Nostrade Family and restrains some thugs using his Cross Game to strongarm Kurapika into a conversation. He convinces Kurapika to join the Zodiacs and accompany them to the Dark Continent in exchange for the identity of the owner of a large amount of Scarlet Eyes, the 4^th Prince of the Kakin Empire, Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou.

The conflict at the Beyond's team's base continues, and Ging tries various ways to resolve the conflict, including by offering to double their payment and by demonstrating his knowledge of the Dark Continent. Some members leave, and some begrudgingly accept him. Ging steps out to have a short call with Gon, who can no longer use his Nen. He tells Gon to be grateful and accept that he has returned to normal. Gon tells Mito why he chose not to travel with Ging, and is forced to catch up in his education.

Leorio reunites with Kurapika briefly before the Zodiacs' meeting. Cheadle shares Kakin is now a member of the V6, gives a quick overview of the reason past expeditions failed, and states their objectives for their journey. Kurapika asks if Beyond's allies within the Hunter Association are identified. Mizaistom leads Kurapika out and tells him that he and Cheadle have not yet concluded that none of the Zodiacs are an ally of Beyond. The Zodiacs introduce their individual roles on the voyage to each other, and Cheadle ends the meeting by announcing the beginning of the 289^th Hunter Exam, this year only allowing people recruited for the journey to pass.

Ging teaching the Expedition Team members

A month later, members of Beyond's team that failed the 289^th Hunter Exam return to their base. In feigned annoyance they threaten Ging and Pariston and ask them to decide who between them leaves. They chase Ging and Pariston down a tunnel, and Ging gets rid of them. After defeating them, he tells Pariston that he would have showed him his ability if he asked, there was no need to put on a show. With this, Ging is accepted as the team's deputy leader.

Kurapika using his Dowsing Chain to test Hunter Exam applicants

Kurapika oversees the final phase of the 289^th Hunter Exam, using his Dowsing Chain to identify Beyond's men. Mizaistom praises his ability, but Kurapika asserts that it isn't all that powerful and that someone with a similar ability could counter this one. Mizaistom explains that there probably is not even a person within the Zodiacs like that.

First Prince Benjamin contacting his brother

Tserriednich receives a call from his older brother, 1^st Prince Benjamin Hui Guo Rou, who shares that their father had declared a succession war on the voyage, with the winner being the next king of the Kakin Empire. Overjoyed by the news, Tserriednich declares that victory would be his while taunting his older brother. He gets a call from his subordinates, telling him they passed the Hunter Exam.

After the 289^th Hunter Exam, Kurapika, and Mizaistom return to the possibility of a mole among the Zodiacs. Under the guise of sharing their abilities to promote cooperation on the journey, Mizaistom summons the senior Zodiacs and explains his ability to them, prompting them to follow suit. Kurapika watches a recording and uses his Dowsing Chain to identify Saiyu as a spy for Beyond.

The Princes and the Seed Urn Ritual

4^th Prince Tserriednich completing his rite

King Nasubi's personal butler Nugui explains to Tserriednich that the Succession War would begin once the voyage began, but would be canceled if any of the participants (limited to the children of the King's legal wives) died before. Tserriednich then participates in a Kakin Empire rite, receiving, unbeknownst to him, an "egg" which will hatch into a personal Guardian Spirit Beast, influenced by his personality.

The Zodiacs and Beyond

Kurapika watches a video where Mizaistom offers Beyond the chance to participate in the eve festival and departure ceremony in exchange for the identity of his spy in the Zodiacs. Beyond denies any knowledge of a spy and any interest in the ceremony, which Kurapika verifies with his Dowsing Chain. Since Beyond is unaware of Saiyu, Kurapika and Mizaistom conclude that Pariston is the mastermind and had conspired with Saiyu, and decide that the safest course of action would be to restrain Saiyu shortly before their arrival on the Dark Continent.

Kurapika infiltrates the Princes' bodyguards

As they leave the recording room, Kurapika receives a call from Linssen, and Cheadle speaks with Mizaistom. Coincidentally, the two conversations have the same information. Kurapika learns that six of Kakin's Princes are using the Kakin government website to recruit bodyguards for the voyage, wasting their efforts to weed out spies during the latest Hunter Exam since failed examinees would still be able to travel to the Dark Continent and assist Beyond by applying to be bodyguards for the Princes.

Kurapika decides to maximize his chances of reaching Tserriednich by recruiting Basho, Biscuit, Hanzo, Izunavi, and Melody to each apply as a bodyguard to one of the six listings. Kurapika lets the others know that he desires close proximity to Tserriednich or information that would help him do so, and leaves the means to the discretion of the others. Using what little information he can interpret from the six anonymous listings and the Princes' relations, Kurapika applies to what he believes is 9^th Prince Halkenburg's listing, and immediately gets a response with his interview location and timing. Kurapika reminds the others to share any information learned with him immediately and to use Q in case of requests for information privacy, and the group split up.

Later that day, Kurapika meets his future employer at one of the Kakin Empire's hotels, and is disappointed to learn it is 8^th Queen Oito, mother of 14^th Prince Woble, a baby. Oito is relieved to see his disappointment, having hoped to find someone who could both interpret the posting details of her listing as Halkenburg and then seek to work for "Halkenburg". She reveals the posting restrictions on the listings, to both protect princes from being easily identified and exposed to assassins, and prevent the popular Princes from dominating the applicant crowd. Halkenburg, to whom both scenarios would apply, chose not to hire bodyguards through the Kakin government website. Sensing Kurapika's confusion at why assassins would proactively seek to become bodyguards, Queen Oito reveals the true nature of the succession war – a deathmatch with only one survivor. The superior Princes (Princes 1-4) would have their own private forces ready for the match. Only the younger or less aware Princes would need to resort to hiring people at the last minute to level the playing field. Queen Oito explains what it means for one to be a Prince/Queen in the eyes of King Nasubi, either a religious belief in oneself/one's child in becoming King, or a tragic fate should anyone choose to believe otherwise. She explains the younger Princes' reliance on Halkenburg and the effect of participating in the succession war on his reputation to ensure their safety in the event Halkenburg wins.

Having explained the situation, Queen Oito offers Kurapika a choice between accepting her request for tenfold compensation, or rejecting her request and keeping the details a secret in exchange for the original compensation. Kurapika agrees to accept her request on condition that she helps him get close to Tserriednich, and the Queen and Kurapika come to an agreement. The Queen reminds Kurapika about the implicit social standing between the Queens and Princes that hides behind the equal outward appearances. She reminisces about her life and lets Kurapika hold Woble. The employers of the other hunters Kurapika hired are revealed - Izunavi by 6^th Prince Tyson, Biscuit by 13^th Prince Marayam, Basho by 7^th Prince Luzurus, Melody by 10^th Prince Kacho, and Hanzo by 12^th Prince Momoze.

Heavens Arena: Battle to the Death

Hisoka vs. Chrollo

At Heavens Arena, Hisoka and Chrollo (now a Floor Master) agree to a deathmatch. A referee begins the fight, and Chrollo stabs him with an antenna and controls him with Shalnark's Black Voice to attack Hisoka. Hisoka realizes that Chrollo was using the time spent fleeing to prepare more abilities. Chrollo uses the referee to try and pin Hisoka down to stab him with Black Voice's second antenna and control him. Hisoka is forced on the defensive by the 2v1 but sees an opening and cuts down the referee. The referee explodes and Hisoka dodges by contracting his Bungee Gum to pull him towards the ceiling. Chrollo reveals two abilities: The Sun and Moon, which allows him to use his left and right hands to imprint opposing seals on targets that explode on contact with each other, and Double Face, a special bookmark allowing him to bookmark a page in Skill Hunter's book to maintain a page's ability without having to keep it open, letting him either use an ability with both hands free, or use two abilities simultaneously by having one page bookmarked and the other open. Chrollo tells Hisoka he would show him three more abilities, adding that he should be proud to be the person needing the most abilities ever to kill.

Chrollo ordering his puppet to "break Hisoka"

Chrollo then introduces Order Stamp, explaining its ability to control copies of corpses. Chrollo flips to another page and bookmarks it with Double Face, then uses Kortopi's Gallery Fake to make a copy of the referee's corpse, and then demonstrates Order Stamp's functionality by stamping the copy, turning it into a puppet, and ordering it to "break Hisoka". Hisoka beheads the puppet, confirming that beheading is sufficient to deactivate Order Stamp. Chrollo tells Hisoka that when the copy vanishes he may conclude that Gallery Fake has been deactivated. The copy vanishes as Chrollo deactivates Gallery Fake to show and explain Convert Hands, the final ability prepared for their deathmatch, an ability which allows him to give someone his appearance by touching them with his right hand and take theirs with his left hand. Before resuming the fight, Chrollo reveals that one of his abilities belongs to someone who is already dead. Hisoka understands the implication and Chrollo confirms that the marks from The Sun and Moon are a form of post-mortem Nen: they will never disappear unless they explode.

Audience puppets attacking Hisoka

Chrollo predicts and declares his victory, offering Hisoka a chance to stop, but Hisoka naturally continues. Chrollo jumps into the audience and manipulates two spectators with Black Voice, having them engage Hisoka to buy him time to disguise himself with Convert Hands. The audience starts to panic and flee the arena, and the commentator tries to direct them to exit without rushing. Hisoka starts seeing clones from Gallery Fake in the audience, and they start rushing toward him because of Order Stamp. Hisoka uses Bungee Gum to pull himself toward the ceiling, away from the puppets. The puppets stack up in a wave of bodies and force Hisoka to defend himself, leaving an opening Chrollo exploits to land a hit on him. Despite being pummeled, Hisoka enjoys the fight. He has his hands full just decapitating the puppets, and Chrollo uses openings to land guaranteed hits. Hisoka eventually successfully anticipates Chrollo's attack and flings a decapitated head at Chrollo using Bungee Gum. Chrollo dodges it easily and attacks Hisoka, but fails to notice a second head Hisoka sent flying at him and is hit.

Chrollo manages to recover from Hisoka's sneak attack while keeping Skill Hunter open, letting him keep his puppets. Hisoka continues decapitating the remaining puppets. He spots and attacks Chrollo, and Chrollo chooses to retreat into the audience. Hisoka restrains one puppet to see if Chrollo would choose to make more puppets or use his remaining ones. The stamp vanishes from the puppet Hisoka is restraining, which leads Hisoka to believe Chrollo chose to deactivate Order Stamp in order to use both hands to make more puppets with Gallery Fake before reactivating Order Stamp and controlling his new puppets. Hisoka scans the audience for signs of commotion, a sign that Chrollo had not re-disguised himself with Convert Hands. In a moment of insight, Hisoka jumps to where Chrollo had other copies on standby, and spots Chrollo in the spectator stands. He sees Chrollo concealing his hands in his clothes and is wary of Black Voice being active and the risk of being pinned by its antenna.

Hisoka killing Chrollo's lookalike

Hisoka manages to catch Chrollo by using Bungee Gum to send audience members flying at him, and sticks Chrollo's leg with Bungee Gum. He launches a series of strong, unavoidable attacks using a puppet's head, but aura begins to vanish from Chrollo's body and Hisoka discovers it was a disguised and manipulated spectator. Hisoka thinks for a minute about how Convert Hands and Black Voice could be used while the puppet's head remained from Gallery Fake, and quickly realizes that the puppets that had been marked by The Sun and Moon remain even if Gallery Fake had been deactivated.

Hisoka leaps to the center of the arena to regroup and prepare for a large series of exploding puppets to chase him. He concludes that Chrollo since Chrollo had marked the puppets with The Sun and Moon, there were fewer than he initially guessed. Chrollo sends his puppets to rampage through the audience and cause chaos, which he uses as a cover to Chrollo steals commentator's headset and to command all puppets to break Hisoka at once. Hundreds of audience members rush toward Hisoka, which he turns into a human hammer. His weapon does not last, and Hisoka returns to using a severed head as his weapon. Chrollo controls a puppet with Black Voice, and waits for Hisoka to hold the head in his hand, before ordering the puppet to touch its mark to the mark on the body of Hisoka's head, blowing his hand off.

Hisoka's severed hand

Hisoka takes a moment to understand how the situation unfolded before being forced to act defensively. Hisoka takes a new head to prevent a repeat and runs along to the walls of the second floor of spectator stands using Bungee Gum, sporadically knocking back the wave of human puppets. Chrollo orders puppets to head to the second floor and detonate in front of Hisoka, destroing his leg and sending him flying towards the arena floor. Hisoka tries to use Bungee Gum on his remaining leg to escape to the ceiling but Chrollo throws spectators at him to interrupt him and drop him into the crowd of puppets. Hisoka lands and attempts one final action before being surrounded by a massive explosion.

Hisoka after his revival

A news reporter at the scene of Heavens Arena confirms the end of the deathmatch, which resulted in several audience casualties. Shalnark, Kortopi, and Machi stand over Hisoka's corpse and verify his death. Hisoka's corpse remained mostly intact, because the large crowd of puppets had a cushioning effect that protected him from the bulk of the explosion. Kortopi and Shalnark leave but Machi remains to treat his wounds. Before she can do so, aura begins to surround his corpse, and Hisoka comes back to life; his attempt at resurrecting himself using post-mortem Bungee Gum successful. After reorienting himself, Hisoka restrains Machi using Bungee Gum, telling her he plans to kill all of the Spiders before leaving.

Shalnark and Kortopi's corpses

Shalnark talks on the phone with Chrollo, who plans to have the spiders board the Black Whale to steal its valuables. After he hangs up, Shalnark wonders why Kortopi is taking so long in the toilet. As Shalnark's phone rings, Hisoka exits the public restrooms holding Kortopi's severed head. He throws it at Shalnark, dashes forward, and delivers a powerful strike to his head, killing him before he can react. Hisoka leaves Shalnark's mangled corpse tied to a swing, with Kortopi's severed head placed at the feet of Shalnark's corpse, surrounded by crows.

The Eve Festival and Departure Ceremony

Beyond and Kakin Princes during the eve of departure

The day before the voyage arrives, and the eve festival begins. Announcers introduce King Nasubi Hui Guo Ruo to the crowd, followed shortly by Beyond and the fourteen princes. The Princes wave at the crowd and the airship containing King Nasubi lands on the Black Whale, followed shortly by airships containing the other Princes and VIPs and ferries containing general passengers. The eve festival celebrations continue in the banquet hall on Tier 1 of the Black Whale.

Balsamilco Might, captain of 1^st Prince Benjamin's Royal Guards, briefs the guards about the structure of the Black Whale, that the "hunting grounds" are restricted to Tiers 1 and 2, that they are to act as guards for the two months between the day of departure and the completion of the landfall ceremony, and the safety measures taken to ensure the safety of the princes.

Five Tiers of Black Whale 1

After the banquet, back in Room 1014, their residence, Kurapika discusses ways of escaping the Black Whale with Queen Oito, noting that contact between Queens and Princes was possible via phone. Oito lets Kurapika know that lower wives are unable to call wives above them, and that troops guard the phones. Oito is confused by the King's motives and how he expects the princes to die, considering the Royal Troops, whom she believes to be a neutral party, are monitoring the passageways and movements of everyone on Tier 1.

Kurapika decides to identify the strength of the other princes in relation to Woble's to help form a plan for Woble and Oito's safety. The results of the lax examination conducted by the Dark Continent committee resulted in around 150 temporary hunters with unknown motives roaming around Tier 1, giving Kurapika a bad feeling about the voyage. He gets a call from Mizaistom updating him on the situation on the lower decks, and letting him know that the Zodiacs will likely call off their scheduled meeting due to Kakin's lack of preparation to deal with the general public. Kurapika confirms Oito's emergency evacuation route with her, who reacts strongly to the unexpected possibility of her surviving the trip. Kurapika calls the system controls room to get more information, but senses Nen coming from Woble's direction, surprising him.

The Succession Contest Begins

Departure of Black Whale 1: The First Day

The Black Whale 1 sets sail

The Black Whale 1 sets off for the Dark Continent. An announcer announces that the Black Whale 1 will take three weeks to pass through territorial waters, before refueling and venturing into the more volatile uncharted waters for five weeks, before finally reaching the "Dark Continent". In a first-class cabin on Tier 3, Gel is seen briefing the Dark Continent intelligence/research team about the Black Whale 1's real journey. Outside Beyond's cell on Tier 1, Saiyu, Kanzai, and Saccho decide to propose a guarding rotation to Mizaistom, so that one of them may help support the Royal Troops. At the medical care facility at the center of Tier 3, Cheadle and Leorio organize the medicine amidst a hectic situation. At the Kakin Royal Troop's Meeting Room on Tier 4, Mizaistom briefs the Royal Troops. Botobai presides over the central courthouse on Tier 3.

The departure ceremony takes place, and the King, Princes, and various VIPs attend. While Oito and Woble are at the ceremony, Kurapika and the other guards find the exsanguinated corpse of fellow guard Woody in a bathroom stall. Kurapika asks the other guards if they can use Nen, but all of them deny knowledge of it. Woody's corpse is taken away, and some guards ask Kurapika why he mentioned Nen, believing their mission simply to protect Oito and Woble, and the succession contest to be an internal conflict of the Kakin Army. Kurapika realizes that he is the only guard that applied knowing about the succession contest.

The designated time for Woble to leave comes, and she and Oito are escorted out. Benjamin sees them leave and notes that all 14 princes are aboard the ship and participating in the succession war. When 10^th Prince Kacho is invited to leave, she has her sister 11^th Prince Fugetsu follow her, disregarding the measures put in place to ensure Princes leave alone. Kacho has Fugetsu help her put up a front for watching guests, but once out of earshot Kacho covertly tells Fugetsu to help her win in exchange for a pardon, leaving her no say in the matter. Melody hears Kacho's whispers from outside, having arrived to receive her, but hears her heartbeat and realizes her intolerable behavior is a facade.

Multiple Guardian Spirit Beasts invading Prince Woble's living quarters

Kurapika and several guards leave to receive Oito and Woble but return to see four more of Woble's bodyguards exsanguinated. Kurapika draws his Dowsing Chain to interrogate the remaining people in the room, getting two guards to admit to prior knowledge of the succession contest and to confess partial allegiance to others. The two are restrained and explain that together with the five murdered bodyguards, the seven of them were to keep tabs on Woble, one for each higher-ranked queen, to protect Woble but ensure she does not become a threat to their Princes. One restrained guard suggests the Seed Urn Ceremony bestowed Woble with Nen abilities. Kurapika wonders if the murders were done by Woble in self-defense, or maliciously by another Prince. Sayird refutes the idea that it was Woble by pointing out the lack of time to develop Nen proficiency, but Bill mentions it would be possible with parasitic Nen, which fits the idea of the Seed Urn ceremony.

Suddenly, Nen beasts flood the room. Kurapika makes an emergency broadcast using all channels and contacts his fellow Hunters for information. Kurapika learns that Princes are unable to see the Nen beasts, which is counterintuitive to the idea that Nen users should be able to see the Nen beasts. Kurapika calls Bill over and he explains that the parasitic abilities are like curses, using the hosts aura to fuel their ability, felt by their hosts as inexplicable fatigue. The Nen beasts leave the room, but one remains and pesters Sayird, continually asking if he is free.

Kurapika's Stealth Dolphin

Kurapika and Bill begin discussing possible ways for Oito and Woble to escape the succession battle when they hear a servant scream. They rush back and see Sayird holding a bloodied knife over the corpses of three guards. Sayird attacks Bill and Kurapika, but is swiftly restrained by Kurapika's Dowsing Chain. Kurapika uses Steal Chain to extract Sayird's aura, hoping the parasite would be forced out. A small spider-like Nen beast creeps out of Sayird's ear and attempts escape. Hoping to capture it with Sayird's ability, Kurapika activates his Emperor Time, upgrading Steal Chain into Stealth Dolphin to analyze Sayird's ability. He learns that Sayird's Little Eye is unable to control Nen creatures, and the spider-like Nen creature escapes. Sayird explains how the beast manipulated him. He tells Kurapika more of Little Eye's rules before being taken away by the Kakin Army. Two of Oito's servants leave, unwilling to continue. Resuming their conversation, Bill says that escaping needs either Pariston or Beyond, both of whom would be difficult to cooperate with.

In 12^th Prince Momoze's residential area, her mother Queen Sevanti orders many of Momoze's bodyguards and servants to be transferred to her brother 13^th Prince Marayam. The bodyguards are hesitant but defer. Momoze allows her remaining guards to relax as she knits, wondering why she feels unnaturally tired, unable to see the mouse-like Guardian Spirit Beast that had manipulated Sayird sitting quietly at her back.

Halkenburg confronting his father

At the banquet hall, Halkenburg receives his notice to depart and approaches his father for a private conversation. He announces his wishes to withdraw from the battle to his father, stating he joined merely to save his father's reputation and does not wish to earn the crown through bloodshed. Nasubi tells him to do as he wishes, while observing Halkenburg's Guardian Spirit Beast perched on his shoulders.

Bill elaborates on Nen parasites, explaining their unpredictability due to the influence of their hosts' personality and emotions. Oito shares her impression that the 1^st through 5^th Princes would never willingly opt-out, prompting Kurapika to declare that the real battle begins after all the Princes return from the ceremony.

Back at the departure ceremony, 5^th Prince Tubeppa approaches Tserriednich with a proposal for an alliance against their other siblings. Tubeppa states her belief that the lower-ranked Princes are either unwilling or unable to fight, and the top three Princes have massive character flaws. Tserriednich does not respond to her proposal but agrees with her characterizations, and clinks glasses with her. Tubeppa takes her leave, and Tserriednich wonders if she will be alive by next Sunday. Nasubi observes their Nen beasts, and has a monologue explaining the rules regarding the behavior of Guardian Spirit Beasts:

1. Guardian Spirit Beasts may not kill each other.
2. Guardian Spirit Beasts may not directly attack others with Guardian Spirit Beasts.

Guardian Spirit Beasts have these restrictions to protect the future king from fellow Princes with personalities that restrict their respective Guardian Spirit Beasts to ones with only fangs and claws. This lets Princes with talents for indirect action able to see the long path to victory have a chance at winning their succession battle. Nasubi observes 3^rd Prince Zhang Lei, 2^nd Prince Camilla, and Benjamin with their respective Nen beasts.

Tserriednich's Guardian Spirit Beast confronting Theta

Outside Room 1004, provisional hunters Theta and Salkov prepare to receive Tserriednich and discuss how to best explain the Nen beasts mentioned in Kurapika's announcement to the prince. In their rooms, 7^th Prince Luzurus and 6^th Prince Tyson learn of Nen and their Guardian Spirit Beasts through their bodyguards. Luzurus decides not to bother learning it upon hearing that it could take a year to "see" Nen. Tyson is more concerned about the appearance of her Nen beast than its abilities. 8^th Prince Salé-salé ignores the succession battle entirely, preferring to party in his room. Halkenburg is horrified as to find at least eleven of his bodyguards unconscious in his room. Theta and Salkov receive Tserriednich, and Theta is confronted by Tserriednich and his Guardian Spirit Beast. Tserriednich asks Theta if she knows about Nen beasts, and his Guardian Spirit Beast bares its fangs at Theta as it waits for her response. In fear, she explains it pertains to Nen, a special ability she can use.

Zhang Lei learns of the attack on Woble's team from his guards when they receive him. He remarks his surprise that someone would choose to target the youngest prince first. A bodyguards take the opportunity to bring up the idea of Nen beasts to him, a term his team is unfamiliar with, and suggests that it may be related to the attack on Woble's guards.

Benjamin ordering his soldiers to act as royal guards for the younger Princes

At the banquet hall, Camilla asks her father to ensure that the only accepted way to drop out of the survival contest is biological death. Nasubi tells her that the sole survivor will be the official successor to the throne, as he told Zhang Lei earlier, and that her interpretation of the phrasing is part of the contest. Benjamin arrives and tells Camilla to not be so focused on others' interpretations of the rules. The two bicker, and Camilla leaves. Benjamin apologizes to their father for her words, and makes an oath to prune the great tree of Kakin's diseased branches and protect it.

Benjamin takes his leave from the ceremony and asks one of his guards to have Balsamilco bring Tserriednich alive to him for him to kill. In Room 1001, Balsamilco meets Benjamin and advises him to wait due to the possibility of unknown rules governing the behavior of the Guardian Spirit Beasts that Kurapika mentioned over the emergency channel, and the loss of their Nen knowledge advantage because of Kurapika's emergency communication. Balsamilco suggests the announcement was to encourage a stalemate, since the Hunters' goal is to get to the Dark Continent. Benjamin summons his personal bodyguards, and using his status as Deputy Military Adviser, he orders them to guard and spy on his fellow Princes while ascertaining the abilities of the Hunters and Guardian Spirit Beasts, and authorizes the use of lethal force in self-defense.

Kurapika transferring the right to use Little Eye to Queen Oito

The Princes are seen reacting to their new guards. Camilla refuses to let them into her sight. Zhang Lei interprets the new assignment as something done because of the announcement, and decides to investigate Nen beasts. Tserriednich is seen learning Nen from Theta. Tubeppa asks her bodyguards to obtain information on Kurapika.

Kurapika and Bill discuss when to best use Little Eye when Benjamin's man Vincent shows up and kills the servant who went to receive him in feigned self-defense. Vincent threatens to arrest them for Woble's assassination, and asks Kurapika for cooperation to solve the problem (of Oito and Woble's existence). Kurapika asks Oito for her trust, before transferring the right to use Little Eye to Oito by injecting it into her using Steal Chain. Vincent is momentarily confused seeing Kurapika "attack" Oito but decides to interpret it as a sign of agreement. Bill takes this chance to get close to him while using Ken. Vincent tries to use his Nen ability, but is unable to activate it, and sees Kurapika draining his aura. Bill and Kurapika manage to restrain Vincent but he manages to swallow a hidden suicide pill. Having noticed a communication device in Vincent's ear, Kurapika decides not to report Vincent.

After hearing Vincent's communication device be destroyed, Balsamilco and Benjamin discuss the nature of the guards' ability. Benjamin has his guards to use Nen immediately after invoking their right to self-defense, and sends Babimyna to replace Vincent.

Kurapika decides to have Oito use Little Eye on a fly. He also decides not to load Vincent's ability into Stealth Dolphin in case he could not activate it, forcing him to stay in Emperor Time. Room 1014's phone rings with calls from Benjamin, Zhang Lei, and Tubeppa. Babimyna rings the doorbell. Kurapika tells Shimano to have Babimyna wait and ask for Benjamin to be put through, assuming Zhang Lei and Tubeppa merely want information on Nen beasts, and asks Bill to watch over Vincent in case he is still alive and attacks. Kurapika unexpectedly finds Zhang Lei on the other side of the phone. Zhang Lei invites Kurapika to his quarters to exchange information in person in fifteen minutes, extending the invitation to Oito and Woble at Kurapika's request. Kurapika then asks the operator to put Benjamin through, but finds that Benjamin has disconnected the call. Kurapika picks up Tubeppa's call, and finds Maor on the other side, who offers a truce in exchange for information on Nen beasts. Kurapika agrees and Maor prepares to head over, but Kurapika convinces him to wait an hour by letting Maor know of Babimyna's presence.

Before Kurapika prepares to meet Zhang Lei, he asks Shimano why she chose to put Zhang Lei through over Benjamin. She justifies herself by explaining her perceptions of the other princes, the motives behind their calls, and their response to not being answered first. Kurapika finds her judgment accurate and asks for her opinion on how to handle Babimyna. Shimano believes that they should not refuse his entry lest they be arrested along with Oito and Woble. Kurapika thanks Shimano for her advice, and contacts Babimyna to inform him that Oito and Woble are going with him to meet Zhang Lei in his quarters. Kurapika offers to let Babimyna join them, but Babimyna decides to wait in Room 1014 while they are gone. Kurapika instructs Bill to tell Tubeppa that the situation has been dealt with if she calls.

Queen Oito in Zhang Lei's living quarters

The three enter Zhang Lei's quarters, and are greeted by him. Zhang Lei requests Kurapika not waste time, and Kurapika explains the basics of Nen and the existence of Nen beasts likely from the Seed Urn Ceremony. Oito listens closely, understanding Kurapika's explanation as one for her as well. Before elaborating further, Kurapika then asks Zhang Lei if he is willing to have the next part of the conversation with guards from other allegiances around, explaining that the information could change the tide of the succession battle.

Prince Marayam's growing Guardian Spirit Beast

Four hours after departure, the Princes are seen in their rooms. Hanzo and Biscuit observe Marayam's Guardian Spirit Beast while guarding him and note that it is growing. Momoze's six remaining guards look for an opportunity to kill her without being caught by the others. Halkenburg awakens from slumber in his bed and runs to his living room, where he finds his guards unpacking furniture. He wonders if he had a dream, but notices a pinion on the back of his left hand, and realizes that something indeed had happened. Queen Swinko-swinko nags Salé-salé to focus on the contest as he lies in bed with two women. He reassures her that he has a plan for the succession war, planning to do something at the next banquet that would change the world. Maor informs Tubeppa and heads to Oito's room. Tubeppa contemplates how to get rid of Benjamin's guard Butch. Tserriednich begins learning Nen under Theta's tutelage, who discovers that he is a Nen genius. Kurapika wraps up his conversation with Zhang Lei, who has his personal bodyguards Sakata and Hashito assist Kurapika to make up Woble's lost manpower. Coventoba tells Slakka to follow them and gather information on Woble for Queens Unma and Duazul. Camilla orders her mother to get close to Halkenburg so she can kill him, telling her to help kill Benjamin and Halkenburg. Benjamin's guard Musse eavesdrops on their conversation and prepares to use his Nen ability to get evidence for her assassination plot. Benjamin and Balsamilco discuss Kurapika's actions, and Benjamin decides to send Furykov to Room 1014 to figure out Woble's guards' abilities. Kurapika return to Room 1014 with the new guards, worrying about using Little Eye in the presence of their new company.

Chrollo on the Black Whale

Meanwhile, on one of the lower tiers, a passenger notices Chrollo with a dark expression, remarking that Chrollo looks as if he wants to kill someone. He suggests that Chrollo should forget his worldly ties, but Chrollo insists that ties are not forgotten; rather, they are severed.

Oito activating Little Eye as Bill pretends to be the user

Kurapika, Oito, Bill, and Shimano search for a small insect on which to use Little Eye, earning the curiosity of Sakata and Slakka. Their search is cut short when Maor arrives. Kurapika explains his agreement with Maor to the other guards and has them convene in the master bedroom so Bill and Shimano can continue their search. Kurapika explains Nen and his current understanding of the Nen beasts to the guards when he spots a cockroach. He calls Bill over, and tells the guards that Bill will give a demonstration of Nen. While Bill makes exaggerated gestures, Oito captures the cockroach using Little Eye and has it fly in unnatural patterns to convince the guards of Bill's control over it. Bill lets the cockroach out through the vents, and Kurapika has Babimyna confirm his explanation of Nen. Kurapika tells the guards of his plan to invite all the Princes to send people to learn Nen over two weeks.

Momoze's death

Oito clandestinely uses Little Eye to direct the cockroach to survey Marayam's room, identifying his Nen beast, eighteen guards and hunters, and six servants. Oito inspects Momoze's room and sees her being suffocated by a bodyguard. Oito screams and with Babimyna's assistance arranges for a check on Momoze's room. The Kakin Royal Army appears to retrieve Momoze's body. Bill reveals that Momoze's six guards were outside her room when the murder happened, and Queen Sevanti reported them for collusion, resulting in them being taken into custody. Sakata asks Kurapika why Momoze's Guardian Spirit Beast did not protect her during the incident. Kurapika explains his theory that Momoze's early retirement was a sign of fatigue, which itself was a sign that her Guardian Spirit Beast had earlier expended her aura and now unable to protect her, possibly because it earlier attacked Room 1014's guards.

Babimyna asks Oito why she tried to help Momoze. Oito says she has nothing to say to those who find it odd she did not let her stepdaughter be killed. Babimyna leaves the room and retracts his En. Oito goes back to surveying with Little Eye. Bill tells Kurapika that ten other princes would send bodyguards for Nen lessons. Kurapika faints from the extended usage of Emperor Time.

Hanzo affected by Momoze's death

Hanzo laments over his failure to protect Momoze, and uses Biscuit as a sounding board as he reduces the number of suspects to two. Hanzo vows to avenge Momoze and catch the criminal before he acts again.

While Theta supervises Tserriednich's Gyo training, he tells her that Woble's guards had offered to teach Nen over two weeks, unlike her estimate of six months to master the basics. He asks her if she is lying, and his Guardian Spirit Beast begins to materialize beside Theta. Theta says that fast but dangerous methods exist to teach Nen, and that Woble's guards were unlikely to be using proper methods. Tserriednich asks Theta if he can trust her as his Guardian Spirit Beast comes threateningly close to her. Theta says yes, and blood splatters on the ground.

Queen Oito passed out

The next morning, Kurapika regains consciousness after being unconscious for 9 hours. Oito had also passed out when he did and he watches her get up. Kurapika asks Oito to survey Tserriednich and she cynically questions his motivations. Kurapika justifies himself and Woble suddenly shows affection for Kurapika, motivating Oito to do as Kurapika requested. Oito sends the cockroach through the vents to Tserriednich's quarters, but the bug is consumed by his Guardian Spirit Beast, deactivating Little Eye. When Oito requests to learn Nen, Kurapika apologizes and explains that Steal Chain had forcibly awakened Nen in her.

Nen Lessons Begin: Assassins All Around

At 9a.m. on the second day, bodyguards and servants of many princes convene in Room 1014's living room, each with their own thoughts on and orders for participating in Kurapika's Nen lessons. Drawing on his experience, Furykov sees four participants he believes are feigning an inability to use Nen. Unbeknownst to everyone, an unknown user activates Silent Majority.

Participants of Kurapika's Nen lessons

Kurapika has the participants gather behind a line of tape on the floor, asking them not to cross it. Silent Majority's marionette stands in a corner of the room, unable to be seen by anyone except Loberry (a servant of Kacho), who they've possessed. Tserriednich's bodyguard Myuhan crosses the line to provoke Kurapika, but is himself provoked by Kurapika's retort and restrained by Tserriednich's other bodyguard Danjin, who apologizes for Myuhan's behavior. The Silent Majority user decides to try and kill someone early to not risk the consequences of being deactivated before doing so, and prepares to attack.

As the participants introduce themselves, Furykov observes Kurapika and determines that Kurapika is likely a right-handed Conjurer. Bill accompanies Oito and Woble in the master bedroom, and watches over Oito's Nen training, hoping to develop it before Babimyna reactivates his En. Furykov approaches Babimyna to get an update on the abilities of Kurapika, Bill, and Woble's Guardian Spirit Beast, but Babimyna had only learnt that Kurapika was the strategic brains of Woble's guards and either a Manipulator or Conjurer, with possible hidden abilities. The introductions finish and Kurapika asks participants who can already use Nen to identify themselves. Only Furykov and Belerainte, a Hunter guarding Marayam, raise their hands.

Silent Majority beginning its attack

Loberry looks in Belerainte's direction, notices Silent Majority's marionette and starts to fret. As Kurapika designates Furykov and Belerainte as judges of his teaching, Furykov notices Loberry fretting, but does not see what worries her. In fear of the marionette, Loberry eventually points and asks in a panic if anyone else can see it. The participants are unable to see the marionette, and the Silent Majority user attacks Barrigen, a guard of Marayam, stood away from where the group is looking. The other participants do not notice Barrigen until they hear him falling to the ground, and see his face quickly changing color and him grabbing at his throat, unable to make any noise. The participants watch as his body rapidly shrivels, and see white snakes wrapped around his body raise themselves shortly after.

Sakata quickly shoots the snakes, and the participants watch as the snakes dissipate into aura. Belerainte confirms Barrigen's death. Kurapika starts to think of how to identify the assassin. Hashito restrains Loberry while Sakata contacts the Royal Army and requests that Queen Seiko, Kacho's mother, be charged for the events. His request is denied by Supreme Magistrate Cleapatro from the Supreme Court who explains that the ease of fabricating circumstantial evidence means it does not supersede the royal family privilege protection regulations, and instead dispatches an investigator to monitor Room 1010 for 72 hours.

Mushaho, Captain of Swinko-swinko's guards, asks for their weapons to be returned during the classes, but Kurapika refuses and gives the participants fifteen minutes to decide if they wish to continue. Kurapika goes to the dining room and quietly confronts Shimano to verify that she is not the assassin. He explains that the snakes were not an ability of the Princes' Nen beasts due to non-Nen users being able to see them, and epiphanizes that a single prince being able to withdraw from the succession battle may be sufficient to remove all Nen beasts. He keeps this thought to himself and returns to see that all the participants are willing to continue. Kurapika has the participants put their hands together and divides them into groups. He gives them different practices, and has Furykov and Belerainte check the flow of aura in the groups. Shimano and Oito have a short exchange about their families in the master bedroom.

Nugui and King Nasubi standing beside Momoze's body

In Tier 5, three Buor Family thugs extort money from passengers trying to get to the dining hall. Franklin, Phinks, Nobunaga, and Feitan come across them and beat them up. From the thugs, they learn about Kakin's three main families: the Xi-Yu supported by Zhang Lei, the Heil-Ly supported by Tserriednich, and the Cha-R supported by Luzurus. They ask the thugs how they can get to the upper tiers but learn nothing, and Phinks orders them to get the room numbers of everyone taller than 190 cm (6′3″). Chrollo and Machi meet up in a crowd of people, and both express their desire to be the one to kill Hisoka.

In a large mysterious room, Momoze lies in one of fourteen intricate coffins. A flame lights at the head of her coffin. Nugui watches Nasubi pay respect and offers him his condolences. Nasubi says that Momoze will become the foundation for the tree of Kakin.

Hanzo avenging Momoze's death

Furykov sees Halkenburg's guards Shedule and Yuhirai producing an unnatural amount of aura as they followed Kurapika's directions to help participants produce Nen and wonders why they hid their ability to use Nen earlier. Kurapika approaches them about it and they agree to speak after the lesson. Furykov considers that it may be the work of Halkenburg's Nen beast before turning his attention to the final remaining secret Nen user after Loberry's arrest, believing them to be the assassin.

In Room 1010, Seiko refuses to answer the questions of Cleapatro's investigator despite her royal privilege. In Room 1013, Sevanti sits with her head in her hands at a table with Marayam. Marayam's Nen beast has grown significantly larger and grown spikes, which Biscuit guesses is because of Momoze's death. Hanzo and Biscuit end their shift, and Biscuit watches guard over Hanzo's body as he activates Hanzo Skill 4, sending his doppelgänger to the cell of Momoze's former guard Tuffdy. Hanzo tricks Tuffdy into confessing to the murder and strangles him for it. In Room 1008, Rihan observes Salé-salé's Nen beast and tries to figure out its abilities. In Room 1006, Tyson talks with her guards about reading the Book of Tyson, and Giuliano and Izunavi wonder what the eye-wogs being around them mean.

After Kurapika's lesson ends, Sakata joins him in his discussion with Yuhirai, who recounts what happened when Halkenburg returned from the departure ceremony. After conversation, Kurapika explains Halkenburg's Nen beast's actions are consistent with a Manipulator's, and suggests that Halkenburg's desires and morals may conflict with his Nen beast's, raising the point that Halkenburg's beliefs may mean his ability risks his life. The three guards think about the implications from their conversation on their Princes but agree to convince the younger Princes to ally and turn their focus to the assassin. After dealing with Tuffdy, Hanzo returns to Room 1013 to find it empty except for the Prince's Nen beast, which is now smaller but more sinister, ready to attack if Hanzo steps any closer.

Camilla's ability activating after her death

In Room 1002, Camilla approaches Musse and demands he help her kill Benjamin or die. Musse draws his gun and Camilla continues approaching him in a state of Zetsu, inviting him to attack. Musse worries about a counteractive type ability, but shoots anyway and Camilla falls. He goes to her body and manages to activate his ability before Camilla's Cat's Name activates, consuming his body and using his life energy to revive Camilla. Her guards rush out and Camilla tells them that Benjamin's soldier shot her and ran off. They ask her not to chase but Duazul tells them to let Camilla do as she pleases. On her way, she encounters two of Benjamin's guards. Benjamin asks them to let her through and not attack her. Camilla shoots both men in the head, killing one and grazing Furykov, who guarded with Ken. Furykov follows Camilla into Room 1001 where Benjamin awaits her. Camilla empties her magazine at him, but Benjamin blocks the shots with Ken. Camilla yells at them to attack her, but Furykov calmly restrains her. She is locked up and under observation from Benjamin through Musse's Secret Window, which Benjamin's Benjamin Baton allows him to use.

Hanzo attempts to enter Room 1012, but the military stationed there inform him that if a Prince "drops out" of the contest, their residence is sealed and phone lines cut. Hanzo goes to Room 1014 to inform Kurapika that Marayam and his team are missing. Without his ID, Hanzo cannot call Room 1013, neither can Kurapika call the room of a higher Prince, but at that moment Room 1014 receives a call from Vergei in Room 1013. Hanzo quickly runs over to Room 1013, but finds it still empty. Kurapika asks Vergei where he is, who angrily tells Kurapika to know his place as a lower Queen's guard but answers. Hanzo returns and tells Kurapika that Room 1013 is still empty, and Kurapika decides to break social hierarchy to warn Vergei that Room 1013 is under an ability's influence. Vergei threatens to declare war in response to Kurapika's absurd claims, and asks for information on Momoze's killer. Kurapika offers the assassin's identity in exchange for Marayam joining Zhang Lei, Tubeppa, Halkenburg, and Woble's alliance, but Vergei remains obstinate and distrustful. Kurapika reveals the assassin as Tuffdy and provides details outsiders would not be aware of, but Vergei says his suspicion has deepened and ends the call. Hanzo leaves, planning to investigate until he returns to his body. Sakata approaches Kurapika for information on Room 1013 being under the influence of Nen, and Kurapika is surprised to see Babimyna not interfering.

Fugetsu using the ability of her Nen beast for the first time

In the wee hours of the third day, Fugetsu tears up in bed with her guards outside as she looks at a picture of her and Kacho. She notices a strange door on the wall―the exact one that was on a playset she used with Kacho when younger, pretending it was a magic tunnel to anywhere. Fugetsu enters the door and goes through the tunnel, popping up in Kacho's bed. Kacho is startled but signals for Fugetsu to quietly leave. Melody notices and asks Kacho if she is alright, and asks if she can talk to her about Nen.

Rihan continues analyzing Salé-salé's Guardian Spirit Beast. He observes clones of it appearing over those who inhale enough of the white smoke it exhales from its many mouths. Rihan blows away smoke that wafts towards him and decides to unleash his Predator against Salé-salé's Guardian Spirit Beast, after he finds out how long it takes for a clone to form over someone without loyalty to Salé-salé.

Zhang Lei hears a coin drop as he eats breakfast. The guards say it fell out of the air, but only Coventoba knows it dropped from the mouth of Zhang Lei's Guardian Spirit Beast, which also dropped a coin the previous day.

The types of some Guardian Spirit Beasts are revealed. As Tyson preaches to her guards from her book, her Guardian Spirit Beast is revealed to be a diffusive levy type Emitter, giving those who receive Tyson's book happiness in exchange for aura, but severely punishes any who the book’s sole taboo. Camilla's is a coercive type Manipulator, able to control someone at will if its conditions are met. Tubeppa's is a collaborative type Transmuter, needing a research partner to create a variety of drugs inside its body. Luzurus' is a Conjurer, with a pseudo-coercive Manipulation ability. It sets a trap by conjuring what the target desires and activates once the target falls for it.

Shikaku wary of the aura produced by Halkenburg and his men when united in action

In Room 1009, Halkenburg and his guards have a moment of silence for Momoze. Benjamin's soldier Shikaku notices an enormous amount of aura produced when Halkenburg and his men unite in action and thought. Halkenburg's Guardian Spirit Beast is a symbiotic type Enhancer, able to activate a top-tier Nen ability when those with its mark gather. Shikaku is frightened at the sight of the aura and asks Benjamin for instructions. Shikaku says he cannot currently kill Halkenburg, and asks for two people to verify information, to be explained later. After the moment of silence, Halkenburg makes his way to Nasubi in tears, wanting to prevent more deaths. In bed, Fugetsu tries to reactivate her ability to no success.

Vergei seeing Biscuit's true appearance

Hanzo wakes up in his body and tells Biscuit about the empty room and Marayam's Guardian Spirit Beast. Vergei tells Sevanti to not let Belerainte return to Kurapika's classes after Barrigen's death. Biscuit offers to teach Nen, convincing Vergei by revealing her true appearance. Vergei rapidly agrees, impressed by her physique, and agrees to let Belerainte attend the classes to gather information. The guards test the state of their room and find that it is now a one-way space when Belerainte leaves for classes. Biscuit begins their Nen training.

Halkenburg's request to see Nasubi is rejected and he is advised to give his letter to Nasubi personally at the banquet. He declares his intent to return daily until his visit is allowed. Benjamin and Camilla attend court over the incidents of the previous day. Cleapatro has both Princes confined to the VVIP area and put under surveillance until Musse is found. Camilla leaves before Benjamin, seemingly unaware of his observation of her using Secret Window.

On the third day of the voyage, Kurapika and Sakata find Myuhan dead in their bathroom, victim to Silent Majority. Kurapika's fears of the participants thinking he plots to kill them come true, but Belerainte convinces the others to continue so the real culprit doesn't get away, and so they can show Nen to their respective Queens and Princes. When Kurapika approaches him to thank him, Belerainte asks to borrow Bill, and takes Bill outside Room 1013 to share information with Marayam's team without looking like he is talking to himself.

Kacho rudely summons Melody but uses a device to give instructions to Melody over sound-based Morse code. Melody finds another device in the kitchen, is moved by Kacho's efforts to survive, and swears to protect her. Zhang Lei finds another coin and asks Coventoba what effects it may have, assuming it was really the Nen beast that made it. Coventoba provides some information about conjured objects and surmises that the coins must have an effect that's unique to Nen. Zhang Lei's Nen beast is revealed to be a Conjurer, compound type. Someone who possesses a coin will obtain various abilities after fulfilling specific conditions. Late at night on the fourth day, Fugetsu sees her door again, and investigates its capabilities.

Tserriednich performing the Water Divination test

​​​​​​In Room 1004, Danjin interrupts Tserriednich's Nen training to report that Myuhan had been killed by someone using Nen. Tserriednich listens to Danjin and trusts his judgment, allowing him to continue attending Nen lessons, on condition he proves his innocence after the last day of classes. Theta watches their conversation and thinks back to when her cheek was scratched by Tserriednich's Guardian Spirit Beast. Theta does a quick check to reassure herself that she has enough time to teach Tserriednich Zetsu before Kurapika’s Nen classes end. At his insistence, Theta allows Tserriednich to divine his Nen, and discovers that Tserriednich is a particularly sinister Specialist, the likes of which Theta has never seen before.

At Kacho's request, Seiko leaves to ask Nasubi for permission for Melody, Kacho, and Fugetsu to put on a music show at the upcoming banquet. Kacho drops her obedient daughter act and puts on a spoiled brat act as Cleapatro's investigator follows her to her leaving room to prepare to practice the glass harp. Kacho communicates her success in convincing her mother to Melody. Keeney, a Hunter guarding Kacho, approaches Melody and informs her that he detected a head pop out from Kacho's bed earlier, likely Fugetsu. Keeney and Melody resolves their desires to protect Kacho and Fugetsu.

Mafia Tension: Hunting for Hisoka

All current Phantom Troupe members meeting on the Black Whale

The Phantom Troupe gather in the central dining hall on Tier 5 and Chrollo updates them on the search for Hisoka thus far and on the Mafia influence on the lower tiers. As Illumi introduces himself and explains his agreement with Hisoka, members of the Cha-R family approach them and ask them to leave. Chrollo refuses, and the Cha-R group's leader changes his tone, thanking them for their actions in Yorknew City and offering to help them if they agree to leave. The Spiders get up, and Chrollo describes Hisoka to them. The Cha-R group's leader offers to check the passenger list but warns Chrollo that unlisted passengers are on board, and offers the group access to their ticket punchers if they join the Cha-R family. As he leaves, Chrollo asks about access to Tier 1, prompting the Cha-R man to flare up at them. As they leave, one of the Cha-R underlings worries that they will cause major trouble if they reach the upper tiers of the ship. The group's leader tells them to contact their young boss and warn him of the Troupe.

Phinks points out that the man's behavior hinted at a big secret on Tier 1. Chrollo says their first priority is finding Hisoka, and tells them to bring him Hisoka's head. The Spiders disperse. Chrollo allows Shizuku and Bonolenov to team up with him on condition that kills Hisoka himself. After Chrollo tells Bonolenov that he has a job for him to do, Shizuku asks if Chrollo can read their fortunes again, but Chrollo says that the ability disappeared from his book.

Nasubi's half-brothers Onior Longbao, head of the Xi-Yu, and Brocco Li, head of the Cha-R, call to discuss how to keep the Spiders under control. They order their respective underbosses to find Hisoka before the Troupe does. Hinrigh has the Xi-Yu search through the list of passengers and Ken'i has the Cha-R offer money for information. Both tell their subordinates that they will personally handle Hisoka once found.

Morena with her 22 subordinates as they prepare to wreak havoc

Morena Prudo, the boss of the Heil-Ly Family and illegitimate daughter of Nasubi, addresses her 22 subordinates and uses her Contagion on them to let them gain abilities by killing people, gaining them faster if they kill Nen users or Princes, and eventually able to start their own communities.

Nobunaga, Phinks, and Feitan decide to head to Tier 4, and leave Tier 5 to the Buor Family. They make their way to the warehouse and are let in by four Cha-R guards, who were notified of their arrival. One leads them through the warehouse but completely vanishes from Nobunaga's En when he turns a corner. The three Spiders look around the corner and see no one, then turn back to find the thug with his throat slit. Luini opens a hole in the ceiling from a Nen space and watches them. In the Tier 3 general passenger area, Mizaistom arrives at the crime scene of a mass killing and receives a report on the man's actions and appearances, revealing Heil-ly associate Luini as the killer to the readers.

Mizaistom interviews Cashew, a witness, and surmises that Nen was involved, but is bothered by some parts of her story. As Cashew leaves, she drops the act of being a normal passenger and not a Heil-Ly associate, and thinks about how useless she feels Luini's ability is. Luini explains his ability as he leaves the bodies of two of the Cha-R warehouse guards in an unknown room.

Ken'i Wang confronting three members of the Troupe

The three Spiders return to the warehouse entrance with weapons retrieved, finding the Cha-R guards missing and a blood trail leading down the hallway. Nobunaga interprets the situation as someone wanting to use them to identify the Cha-R base and fight the Cha-R, and decide to follow the blood trail. They find a locked door with security cameras and turn around to see Ken'i with four Cha-R members blocking their return path, asking them if they attacked the warehouse guards.

At a cafeteria on Tier 5, the Cha-R consigliere Ittoku approaches Franklin with five men as Franklin eats a meal alone. Ittoku asks Franklin why he is not chasing Hisoka, and hears that Franklin plans to wait for Hisoka to chase him. Ittoku tells him about the dead warehouse guards and asks Franklin for his thoughts on the matter. Franklin does not believe it was his comrades, but concedes they might have been responsible if provoked. Ittoku learns that the troupe plan to steal treasure but will not until Hisoka is caught, before apologizing for disturbing and leaving.

Ken'i gets a call absolving the Spiders of responsibility for the missing guards, and shares that one of their associates stupidly let a man carrying an injured warehouse guard into their base, claiming that the Spiders had injured the guard. Ken'i guesses it's a hitman from another family who desires conflict. Phinks suggests that the man needed to get inside the room to "mark" it for a Nen-based teleportation ability. Ken'i confirms his fears that the Spiders are a risk factor them, strong enough to act as they wish, and asks them to work together.

Mizaistom briefs a large group of Kakin officials and brings up the violent crimes on board. He highlights the possibility that a Prince is involved, drawing the outrage of the officials, but calms them down by explaining that if a Prince were truly involved, they could simply set up a "true culprit" and sweep the matter under the rug. Mizaistom suggests that the true criminal was likely someone inspired by the Seed Urn Ceremony's prevalence in Kakin history and its association with ritual sacrifice to try and gain supernatural powers for himself by committing mass murder. Mizaistom stresses his expectation that the crimes will increase, and eventually reach a critical point where the 200,000 people on board riot from fear. As a solution, he proposes advising Benjamin to send 800 soldiers to the lower tiers. After the meeting, Mizaistom shares his guilt at deceiving the Kakin officials but is reassured by Botobai. Botobai arranges to get in contact with various Hunters on the ship and to issue a gag order about the effect of the crimes on the ship with the Kakin officials.

Ken'i invites the three Spiders into their Family Office and shows them the security footage of the culprit, who kept his face hidden as he tried to open a back door. Ken'i senses Nobunaga's interest in the door, and accepts Nobunaga's offer to kill the culprit in exchange for seeing what's inside. Ken'i calls over the Cha-R associates in the base, and tells them that the Spiders would join their shifts. The supervisor, Tsudonke (secretly a fan of the Spiders), introduces himself and shows them around the base.

Prince Fugetsu is found in Tier 3 of the ship

At 10 a.m. on the fourth day, an announcement is made on Tier 3 imposing martial law and asking passengers to remain in their cabins due to a stowaway with a deadly weapon on the loose. Botobai leads the sweep through Tier 3 and finds Illumi and Kalluto. Mizaistom confirms with them that all the Spiders are on the Black Whale, and offers them a room in their dorm at the Central Police Station for them to remain on Tier 3 through the martial law. As Botobai escorts them away, Mizaistom debates telling Kurapika about the presence of the Spiders, wondering if they chose to board the Black Whale to get revenge on Kurapika. Mizaistom is approached and quietly informed that Fugetsu was found on Tier 3 and rushes back to their headquarters to handle the matter, asking Botobai and Ginta to take charge. On the way, Mizaistom checks that she is safe, asks for a gag order to be imposed, and has the soldiers that recognized her placed into custody. Mizaistom approaches Fugetsu and asks her to help him make sense of the matter.

In the central police station on Tier 3, Mizaistom confirms that Fugetsu is not in Room 1011 and begins interviewing Fugetsu. Despite Mizaistom's reassurances of confidentiality, Fugetsu refuses to answer Mizaistom, willing to speak to only Kacho. Mizaistom has Melody informed about the situation, warned that Kacho and Fugetsu are likely to plot an escape, and instructed to assist Keeney to shut their plans down. Melody shares the message with Keeney.

Mizaistom escorts Fugetsu back to Room 1011. She thinks about how her ability is just like their game as kids, appreciative that Kacho had always let her pick the destination. Cleapatro's investigator informs Fugetsu that she would have an escort for 72 hours, but could still attend the Sunday banquet. Fugetsu apologizes and begins practicing her glass harp. At the same time, Kacho listens to music with earbuds as Melody performs for Seiko and the investigator. Seiko is inspired to arrange for the broadcast to be heard ship-wide. As Melody sees the investigator off, he compliments her and wonders if he can use his power to protect Melody until the ship lands. Melody thanks him for his compliments. The investigator is more direct with his offers to help Melody. After he leaves, Melody wonders why his heartbeat was contrary to his passionate words, wonders if he is being manipulated, and hopes nothing else happens before the banquet.

Predator devouring Salé-salé's Nen beast

In Room 1008, Rihan notices that a small clone of Salé-salé's Guardian Spirit Beast appears over fellow guard Koroabde's head, answering his final question on the beast's abilities. Rihan activates Predator, summoning a four-legged creature with a giant mouth. It consumes the clone above Koroabde's head, then leaps through the air and consumes Salé-salé's Guardian Spirit Beast whole. Rihan reports the disposal of Salé-salé's Nen beast and requests to sub out for Yushohi. He is notified that Yushohi will be sent over, and to report to Room 1011 after Yushohi's arrival. Rihan hears Yushohi report about Fugetsu's Nen beast's ability, an unfortunate act since having abilities explained instead of deduced reduces Predator's effectiveness.

Yushohi thinks about how assassins will swarm Fugetsu now that her ability has been discovered. He reflects upon his failed attempt at using How to Get Away with Murder, terminated since he could not notice Fugetsu escaping. Yushohi receives instructions to switch duties with Rihan. At 8:00 p.m. on the fifth day of the voyage, 72 hours until the Sunday banquet, the lockdown order on Tier 3 is lifted.

Halkenburg's Nen beast preventing him from taking his own life

Four days after his first visit, Halkenburg once again attempts to see the King. The soldiers have their guns relaxed, expecting yet another letter, but are caught off guard when Halkenburg and his men point guns at them. Halkenburg walks in and sees Nasubi seated alone with his back to Halkenburg, seemingly distracted. Halkenburg demands he suspend the contest. Nasubi tells Halkenburg that the battle for succession is out of his hands, and tells Halkenburg to take action, not be hypocritical. Halkenburg fires a shot at Nasubi. His bullet stops and crumples mid-air. Nasubi takes the bullet, inspects it, and tells Halkenburg that he cannot die until the ritual ends. Nugui enters and informs Halkenburg that he and his guards will not be punished, this scenario being accounted for before the ship's departure as training exercises. Halkenburg aims the gun at himself and shoots, trying to test the rules. His Nen beast stops the bullet mid-air, and Nasubi asks him if he has awakened. Nasubi tells Halkenburg that the people's lives always come first, and that the only way for him to change the country is to become King. Halkenburg abandons his gun, and leaves.

In Room 1009, Shikaku wakes up to Benjamin contacting him through his earpiece, realizing that Halkenburg's Guardian Spirit Beast must have been the reason for his unnatural sleep. Benjamin tells Shikaku about Halkenburg's failed attempt on Nasubi's life, warns Shikaku about Halkenburg's awakening, and orders him to procure Halkenburg's ability. Shikaku watches Halkenburg ready an aura bow at him and prepares to use Culdecept to defend himself. Halkenburg shoots and penetrates Culdecept, hitting Shikaku. Shikaku sees one of Halkenburg's men collapse, right as he collapses himself. After a moment, Shikaku rises, possessed by Halkenburg's fallen man, and asks Halkenburg for orders.

During lessons, Kurapika feels this powerful undulation of aura for a second time. In Room 1008, Salé-salé asphyxiates in bed, receiving unsuccessful attempts at resuscitation. Yushohi reports the matter to his superiors.

At 8 p.m. on the eighth day, the Sunday banquet begins. The emcees announce a concert hosted by the royal family, apologize, and inform the audience that Salé-salé will not perform due to illness. Kacho and Fugetsu are told about the program changes, and note that the order of performances is unchanged. Next to Keeney, Melody nervously awaits the time to execute the plan. In Room 1013, Biscuit, Vergei, and a Hunter guard decide to send the Hunters assigned to Marayam to the "real-world" Room 1013 for it to seem more natural, except for Biscuit who decides to stay with Marayam.

Melody entrancing everyone at the banquet with her music

Melody's flute performance is introduced after Keeney finishes his piano performance. Kacho and Fugetsu put earbuds in, pretending to prepare for their act. Melody entrances her listeners into a scenic world of sound. The music plays over the speakers, entrancing even the Princes that are not attending and the guards outside the banquet hall. Keeney brazenly leads Kacho and Fugetsu through open hallways past guards to the lifeboats. Kacho and Fugetsu board a lifeboat and it launches. After the lifeboat disappears from his view, Keeney calmly leaves the lifeboat area and cocks his gun. Melody thinks of her earlier conversation with Keeney, where he volunteers to take the fall for Kacho and Fugetsu's escape attempt, absolving the Princes and the Hunter Association from responsibility. Keeney shoots himself in the head, joining his deceased wife and daughter.

Hands rushing towards Kacho and Fugetsu through the walls of their lifeboat

Fugetsu and Kacho share an emotional moment as the boat passes through the escape tunnel, but their moment is cut short when Kacho has a terrible feeling. She turns back and sees a swarm of shadowy hands coming through the walls and reaching for them. Kacho realizes that leaving the ship means death, and shouts for Fugetsu to open the door right as their lifeboat falls out of the escape tunnel. Fugetsu opens a door back to the ship, and Kacho pushes her in. Fugetsu sees the door shut before Kacho enters, but the door reopens shortly after, and she sees Kacho join her in the tunnel. As they make their way back through Fugetsu's tunnel, Kacho's Guardian Spirit Beast and its ability are revealed – if either Kacho or Fugetsu dies, Kacho's formless Guardian Spirit Beast takes her place and protects the other until her death. Kacho's lifeless body drifts out to sea.

At 10:30 p.m. on the seventh day, Ken'i updates Tajao on the unsuccessful results of their search as they walk through a dim tunnel. They exit the tunnel and Phinks, Feitan, and Nobunaga see Ken'i and Tajao stepping through the mysterious back door. Tajao seats himself at a desk and Ken'i reports the events of the past few days to him, sharing that the hitman responsible for the acts on Tier 3 likely came down with accomplices and were together responsible for about 300 missing workers. Phinks offers to get rid of the hitman in exchange for Tajao's assistance in getting permission to search Tier 4 for Hisoka. He tells him about the hitman's translocation ability and that he wants a route upstairs, pointing to the mysterious door Tajao had stepped through shortly earlier. Tajao asks why he would want to use their door and not his family's. Phinks suggests he wants to kill the Cha-R's boss. Tajao freezes for a moment before agreeing to check if Morena is in Tier 1.

Tajao tells the Spiders that Morena's absence will lead to an all-out war. Tajao and Ken'i explain the Kakin Mafia's code of conduct and the implications of killing the hitman to the Spiders:

• Members must inform their bosses before making a hit or raid on another family
• Bosses then contact the boss of the other family within 24 hours of the incident to make a deal for compensation.
  • Contact can be made after the fact only if the other's boss is away from his turf during the incident, with an unwritten time limit of 24 hours.
• On the Black Whale, only Tiers 1 and 2 are considered away from the Mafia's turf.
• It had been more than two days since the first murder, but Morena may have genuinely been away.
  • Morena being on Tier 3 but not contacting Onior or Brocco for this long is a sign of war.
• If the Spiders kill the hitman, the Phantom Troupe will find themselves at war with the Heil-Ly.

Tajao offers to talk to the Xi-Yu to let the Spiders search for Hisoka on Tier 4. Nobunaga and Phinks decide that if Morena is on the lower tiers, the quickest way to gain access to the other tiers to search for Hisoka is to kill her. They ask Tajao if he can quickly verify Morena's location, and decide to hunt down the hitman in the meantime. Ken'i and Tajao share a look about how dangerous the Spiders are. Onior and Brocco are seen in their rooms on Tier 1, but Morena's room appears empty.

Rapid Development of the 4^th and 9^th Princes

Tserriednich's two Nen beasts looming around him

Over the phone, Tserriednich confirms Morena's absence from the VVIP area. He tells the caller to do as he please, and that he would do something about an unspecified matter when he has time. As his men clean up a mass of human remains, he tells them to get the soldiers in the lower tiers to search Morena's hideout before resuming his Nen training with Theta. While applying the four basic principles, Tserriednich unintentionally conjures a jester-like Nen beast. In fear of what Tserriednich's tremendous potential might produce if given enough time, Theta decides to proactively direct Tserriednich towards learning Zetsu and sets him a target of maintaining Zetsu over his whole body for an hour. Tserriednich's Guardian Spirit Beast glares at Theta, but judges that she is not lying and retreats. Theta watches Tserriednich progress into a state of Zetsu, thinking that she can still be sincere in her desire for him to master Zetsu, and may be able to pull her goals off the next day. naturally follows He'll have to practice each one every day to strengthen his Hatsu, but she stresses that Zetsu is the key to mastering Nen. She tells him to close off his aura in sections, and then to do so for his whole body for more than an hour. The Guardian Spirit Beast becomes suspicious of Theta, who says to herself that this training is necessary for learning Nen and she hasn't told a lie. The Nen beast backs off, and Tserriednich works on his Zetsu. Theta says she can do "it" tomorrow if she has to.

25 minutes before the Sunday banquet, Tserriednich continues practicing Zetsu under Theta's supervision. She manages to distract him enough to disturb his Zetsu twice, convincing Tserriednich to obstinately resolve himself to not slip up again. Theta watches Tserriednich's Guardian Spirit Beast vanish as he enters Zetsu. She sends a small bubble of Nen towards him, but Tserriednich does not let up his Zetsu despite Theta's aura bubble popping in his face. For a moment, she sees him open his eyes and smile at her.

Theta appearing to kill Tserriednich

Slowly, quietly, Theta draws her pistol and inches towards the Prince. She flinches when an announcement plays through the room's speakers, announcing a performance by Melody and Princes Kacho and Fugetsu. Up close, she admires his zetsu, and wishes he were the type to use his talent for others, before pointing her gun at his head. She fires, expecting to follow shortly, and sees Tserriednich fall to the ground from the bullet shot. She sees Tserriednich land on a beautiful grassy landscape, and is stunned. Three minutes later, Theta snaps out of the vision, and sees herself back in Room 1004, but evidence of Tserriednich being shot missing. Guards barge into the room, and tell her to freeze. Theta raises her hands in surrender, but hears Tserriednich behind her telling the guards that they were just training. Tserriednich tauntingly asks her how his Zetsu was, and Theta manages to stagger a few steps before collapsing to her knees, unable to comprehend the matter. Tserriednich tells her to rest, and Theta looks up only to come face to face with Tserriednich's Guardian Spirit Beast, who gives her a warning not to lie again, before passing out.

Tserriednich's men tell him about their inability to move upon hearing the music, and Tserriednich decides to feel Melody out by judging her reaction to his men inviting her to him. He says to call her over and to make it sound like an invitation rather than a summons.

Theta has a nightmare of a monstrous, wounded Tserriednich asking her if he can trust her, just like he asked on the first night. She sits up and sees Salkov watching over her, learning she was asleep for only fifteen minutes. He asks her to rest as he hands her a mirror to see an infection covering the left side of her face, spreading from the wound Tserriednich's Guardian Spirit Beast gave her. Salkov points out that Tserriednich's Guardian Spirit Beast had marked her when she first lied, and now had given her a warning that may make her suffer a fate worse than death if unheeded. He guesses that it's giving those who lie so many chances because it plans to add them to the Prince's pawns by turning them into something inhuman. Theta and Salkov try to figure out what was real and what was an illusion. There was no blood when tested with luminol, yet Theta did fire her gun.

On the ninth day, Cleapatro's investigator interviews Melody in the Justice Bureau on Tier 2 about her involvement in the Prince's escape plan. He shares that the Justice Bureau is likely to use Keeney's suicide note to sweep the matter under the rug, but tells Melody he suspects something else had happened. He tells her that several Princes had invited her to their quarters because of the performance, making Melody realize that she is being protected from the more dangerous Princes by being held at the Justice Bureau. She learns that Kacho and Fugetsu are similarly being held on Tier 2, and decides to use her time in custody to plan out her next moves. In Room 1009, Halkenburg and his men observe Sumidori's brainwaves and pulse and learn that his soul had possessed Shikaku's body. Halkenburg suggests four options for where Shikaku's soul is:

1. Shikaku's soul is gone and he's dead.
2. His soul is in Sumidori's body.
3. The two coexist within Shikaku's body.
4. It's somewhere (or in someone) else.

Sumidori (controlling Shikaku's body) shooting him in the head

Halkenburg tells them that his ability awakened after the confrontation with his father made him accept his fate, and shares his belief that it will help him win the succession battle, and shares his hypothesis and plan with his men. In Room 1007, Basho feels a rumbling of aura from Halkenburg's room. Amidst the rumbling, Sumidori-Shikaku rings the doorbell. Luzurus' guard Rice asks Sumidori-Shikaku his intentions, and Sumidori-Shikaku exclaims, "Long live his highness!! First Prince Benjamin!!!" before shooting himself in the head. Rice reports what he saw over the camera; Basho notes the rumbling has stopped, and Luzurus' guards check on Shikaku's body. Balsamilco informs Benjamin of Shikaku's suicide, likely due to Halkenburg's ability. The two agree that Halkenburg is now their top priority, and Benjamin has Kanjidol summoned from Room 1007 to recount the matter. In Room 1009, a restrained Sumidori awakens and recognizes Halkenburg, who asks him for his post and service number.

During Nen lessons in Room 1014, both Kurapika and Bill feel the rumbling of aura. Bill and Kurapika guessed it was the Ninth, Seventh, or Fifth Prince judging by the direction and aura. Kurapika explains that a large amount of energy disappeared instantly, which is common with Emission abilities, which can penetrate physical barriers. Sakata reminds Kurapika that one week remains for the Nen lessons, and that participants are starting to question whether they will really be able to use Nen by then. Kurapika has the participants gather and demonstrates the Water Divination test. He tells the participants that one's ability type should not be revealed, and so has them divine their Nen in another room. Some participants question the legitimacy of the test and Kurapika's intentions. Kurapika explains that these measures were because their method of divination was unconventional, and plainly states that information on the participants is payment for him awakening Nen in them, adding that their intentions were to encourage a stalemate by boosting the lower Princes' guards with information and power. Kurapika ends off by saying that it is illogical for them to become a threat to the participants, and asks any unconvinced participant to stop lessons. With confirmation that Kurapika is a specialist, Furykov suggests having Babimyna swap with Rihan, but Babimyna thinks his ability is best used to eliminate the Princes' beasts, and currently doing a good job at preventing Tubeppa's beast from showing itself. Furykov tells Babimyna that he sounds like he's making excuses, and asks about Woble's beast. Babimyna says it still hasn't revealed itself, and so has no analysis of it.

In Room 1004, Salkov is surprised to hear that Tserriednich is applying the four major principles already. Tserriednich tells Salkov to measure the time he takes to enter Zetsu, and to spar with him when fast enough. He remarks to Salkov about a change of heart, now finding two-faced women cute.

Tserriednich witnessing how powerful Nen can be

Theta and Tserriednich's exchange during the banquet replays from Tserriednich's perspective. As Tserriednich enters a state of Zetsu, he suddenly sees a static-filled overhead view of himself and Theta. He and Theta talk in the exchange he's watching, but the vision ends as Tserriednich loses his Zetsu. He hears Theta repeats the lines she said in his vision, even when he changes his own dialogue. Eventually, he sees Theta confused at why he is staring at her, realizes that his dream ten lasted seconds, and Theta was now able to see and respond to his actions, ten seconds after he opened his eyes. Tserriednich continues investigating his ability when he is instructed to enter Zetsu. After several more visions, Tserriednich sees Theta draw a gun at him.

Tserriednich immediately opens his eyes and jumps to the side. Theta does not react to him, and continues pointing the gun at where she sees him stand. He sees Theta shoot, and simultaneously sees the background around here change to a beautiful scene of nature. Tserriednich is transfixed, but snaps ouf of entrancement after three minutes, and reels at what he just saw, fascinated by what Nen can do. Theta draw her gun and shoot him in the head. He quickly opens his eyes, darting to the side and falling to the floor. But he realizes that Theta will think he's still standing there and that she shot him. Tserriednich's guards come in and confront Theta, and Tserriednich decides to ask why she tried to kill him later when he sees her in shock. He has his guards invite Melody to him and ruminates on the new information he learned about his ability. Tserriednich concludes that he needs to perfect his Zetsu, but will be able to dominate the battle for succession once he masters it.

Maor seeing Bill's ability

Participants of Kurapika's Nen lessons wait for Ladiolus to return from the closed doors to judge the truth behind Kurapika's words. When Ladiolus steps out, Furykov inspects her, and concludes that she has truly learned Nen and is ready to train to control it, not controlled by Kurapika in some way. Kurapika requests the participants to not discuss what happened until all participants have completed, and invites Maor to be the next participant, who expected to go later owing to his status as a guard for a higher-ranked Prince.

Maor steps into the master bedroom and sees Oito seated on the bed in front of Woble, and a table with two glasses with water and a single seed in each of them. Kurapika has Bill perform the water divination test in front of Maor, and Maor is amazed to see the water overflow out of the cup and the seed begin to sprout. Kurapika explains that he would use a specialist Nen ability to borrow Bill's ability and "attack" Maor with it (lend it to Maor). He allows Maor to decline, but Maor agrees, and the other participants see him step through the door with aura nodes opened. Furykov inspects Maor and comfirms that Kurapika had been telling the truth. Babimyna is now convinced that Kurapika used Specialist ability to awaken Nen but that he probably has more, likely one for each finger, and so knows effectively nothing about his abilities. Kurapika awakens a few more participants in that lesson and asks Yuri to let Kacho and Seiko know he plans to hold more lessons when he awakens her Nen. Bill worries that the newfound power will corrupt the participants and swallow him and Kurapika up. Kurapika thanked Bill for his assistance and helped him get closure for his cowardice on the first day. Hashito and Sakata interrupt Kurapika and Bill, and ask to be awakened. Still, Kurapika refused since they had not been practicing the basics and would likely be too fatigued to stand.

Maor informs Tubeppa of his opinion that Kurapika's training is authentic, and recommends attending more lectures which would improve the chances of an alliance. Tubeppa puts him in charge of choosing participants of subsequent lectures. Rihan stands guard and observes the exchange but occupies his mind with trying to understand Balsamilco's words and actions.

Rihan thinks to Balsamilco's expression of hope for him to slay Halkenburg's Nen beast and wonders if he should be guarding Halkenburg instead of waiting for Tubeppa's beast to show itself. He thinks about investigating enemy abilities, the developing abilities of guards awakening their Nen, the difficulty of using Predator to eliminate Kurapika, the recharge time of Predator affecting his target priorities, and Balsamilco's advice to him to be patient. From the VVIP area, Balsamilco wishes for Rihan to understand his instructions. He intentionally avoided giving Rihan information to maximize his Predator, and asks some questions he hopes Rihan thinks about as well.

From her knowledge of Salé-salé's personality, Tubeppa confidently concludes his absence from the concert was due to his death. She interprets the resulting shuffling of Benjamin's men to mean that she is next to be targeted. She passes a thumb drive to Heisen with information for him to follow up on, and shifts her attention to identifying Salé-salé's cause of death without attracting suspicion to herself, concluding that the only way to proceed is to get Kurapika on her side.

At 11:30 a.m. on the tenth day, Kurapika and Bill feel a fourth rumbling of aura, sooner than they expect it to come.

At 10 a.m. on the ninth day. Kanjidol recounts what he saw in Room 1007 during the rumbling of aura. He reports the locations and actions of Luzurus and his guards within Room 1007, and mentions that the rumbling stopped after Shikaku shot himself, suggesting that Shikaku's suicide involved Halkenburg's ability somehow, and that it was likely that he was forced to commit suicide as part of a deal. Balsamilco agrees with his overall evaluation but has three problems with his theory. First, Halkenburg would have to uncharacteristically sacrificed the lower princes by shooting the Emission ability through Fugetsu and Marayam's rooms to target Benjamin in the VVIP area. Second, if Halkenburg was able to order Shikaku to do something, he would have had him go after another Prince, not commit suicide. Third, Balsamilco theorizes that the succession contest has rules preventing Princes or their Nen beasts from targeting others, dissuading beasts from having abilities to do so. Balsamilco instructs Kanjidol to observe everything that happens in Room 1007 from now on.

Steiner and Peuckert arriving to arrest Halkenburg

At 11:30 a.m. on the tenth day, Benjamin and Balsamilco feel a fourth rumbling of aura, and hear Vict signal an emergency over the radio, saying something about Halkenburg, a bow, and invincibility before crying out and going silent. They realizes that Halkenburg's aggression and strength are greater than initially thought, likely involving all his guards, and Halkenburg is now resolved to sacrifice a life for every shot. Benjamin checks his Benjamin Baton and sees that Vict is still alive, but worries about wasting any more of his men. Balsamilco advises against transferring Musse's owl from Camilla onto a guards to investigate Halkenburg because they know even less about Camilla's ability. Balsamilco has Halkenburg arrested, and Steiner and Peuckert, as part of the Kakin Justice Bureau, take Halkenburg into custody. Balsamilco believes Halkenburg will likely be put under surveillance after the trial just as Camilla was, and plans to make their move at his opening trial.

In Room 1006, Izunavi calls Giuliano for his shift, but the latter is enraptured by the Book of Tyson, saying that he was wrong about Tyson and wishes her to be King despite the contrast to her principles. Izunavi reminds him that his real job is on after the voyage, but Giuliano is unsure if he'll be able to just move on when he can see "the tragedy to come". He reports for shift and is surprised with birthday wishes despite it not being his birthday. Tyson made him a cake knowing their eventual goodbye in two months, sharing her gladness for having met him.

In Room 1007, Kanjidol tries to get information from the other guards but faces strong resistance. Kanjidol guesses Shikaku's suicide was to create a diversion, drawing attention to the hallway while Halkenburg had Duazul's men in Room 1007 do something, possibly attempting to assassinate Luzurus. Besides Satobi, five of the guards belong to Duazul, and two of them may have tried to do something to Macne and Scairt, unaffiliated with the Queen. Kanjidol worries about drawing suspicion, and decides to wait and see if signs of manipulation show. He wonders why Benjamin prioritizes investigation into Room 1007 instead of going after Halkenburg. Kanjidol approaches Basho for help with investigation. He hears Basho suspect Duazul's men, suggests that Macne and Scairt be put under surveillance (which Luzurus disagrees with since Luzurus believes Duazul does not help any Prince), and mention the possibility that her men are feigning ignorance of Nen. Basho watches Kanjidol walk off, and reveals his true opinion – that Shikaku's suicide was necessary for a post-mortem Nen ability to activate, done to put suspicion on Halkenburg while Benjamin went after a higher-ranked Prince.

Camilla looks at herself in the mirror as her servants tidy her room. Camilla's guard, Moswana, looks at a picture of Benjamin in her shirt pocket, wishing for his death so Camilla can take the throne. An ancient Kakin sacrificial burial custom known as "afterlife companions" had those from the Have-Nots (the lowest caste) supervise Princes unable to become King, to prevent them from turning into vengeful spirits that curse the King or Kakin itself. The custom is now unpracticed but Kakin's Have-Nots remain unable to hold public office or join the military and gain rank. Camilla allowed them to join her personal army, giving them the same rights as Kakin's soldiers. To return Camilla's support, the Have-nots called for the reinstatement of afterlife companions, combining this with Nen abilities to become curse assassins, able to build up a curse by wishing for a targets death at all times, activated upon the death of the assassin.

Camilla's guards gather for a briefing. Sarahell, Camilla's captain assigned to curse Prince Woble, suggests that Shikaku could have used a similar curse on Camilla, and asks their exorcist to exorcise it. The soldiers formerly assigned to curse Momoze and Salé-salé are told to investigate whether the enemy has any exorcists. Sarahell dismisses the soldiers and then calls over Fukataki, the Majordomo, to learn how much time each curse would take to activate worries, hoping to curse a Prince to learn if the Hunters have an exorcist with them. Another soldier informs Sarahell that Kacho and Fugetsu are being held in custody for an escape attempt, so Fukataki says it would take longer given their current location. Fukataki also explains that with the Nen beasts, curses would not succeed unless activated when close enough to touch a target. Sarahell concludes that the best test target is Woble.

The number on Coventoba's coin changes from a "1" to a "10"

In Room 1003, Tenftory informs the Prince of the outcome of Kurapika's lessons and the changes he feels from being able to use Nen. Zhang Lei gives him a coin as a reward, saying it's the first one he's given to someone. Coventoba, however, still has the coin he secretly picked up but notices that the coin's number has gone from "1" to "10". Coventoba confirms it's the same coin by its aura, and guesses that the number change has something to do with the Nen beast's ability. He asks to see Tenftory's coin and sees a "1" on it.

Zhang Lei tries to understand his beast and its coins. He judges his own character and decides that it will likely be useless until he takes the throne, and decides to meet with Onior. Zhang Lei tells him that three of his siblings are already dead and asks Onior about Nen beasts and Nen. Onior knows that some of his younger members have weird powers, and offers to ask around. Onior tells Zhang Lei that Nasubi won his succession contest by being patient and waiting, saying that he'll look into what happened back then. Zhang Lei leaves, thinking to himself, "I'm counting on you... father."

Mafia War: Hunting the Heil-Ly

Hinrigh contacts Onior about the worsening situation with the Heil-Ly and their killing of several members from the Cha-R and their Xi-Yu. Onior gives the Troupe permission to search Tier 4, and instructs Hinrigh to kill Morena and crush the Heil-Ly as Hinrigh searches for Hisoka on Tier 3. Hinrigh retrieves Zakuro Custard and Lynch Fullbokko and they make their way up to Tier 3. A Heil-Ly man and woman notice them and the woman leaves to report their arrival to Morena. Hinrigh spots and tails her after directing Zakuro and Lynch to confront the man. The military prevents Hinrigh from following the Heil-Ly woman into a civilian zone, an action only possible by hiding their status as mafia, clarifying the Heil-Ly's true intentions on the boat.

Hinrigh using his ability to dispose of two soldiers

Zakuro and Lynch approach and begin to question the man, but a third Heil-Ly member appears behind them and cuts Zakuro's neck. The first Heil-Ly man kicks Lynch to the ground and starts to question her, but is distracted when his partner gets caught in Zakuro's Bloody Mary. Zakuro slams his opponent to the ground, and Lynch uses Body and Soul to beat information about the Heil-Ly's manpower and abilities out of him when she sees him distracted. Hinrigh returns, followed by the guards earlier guarding the civilian area to escort the three of them out. Hinrigh pretends to bribe the guards and secretly uses Biohazard on their guns before pretending to head back to Tier 4 with Zakuro and Lynch,. Biohazard kills the guards, and the Xi-Yu members resume their search for Hisoka.

Hinrigh has Zakuro and Lynch continue searching for Hisoka while he tries to lure out some Heil-Ly men and track the Heil-Ly woman that he was forced to stop trailing. He returns to the crowd at the general passenger area, and with help of the military, manages to find a picture of the Heil-Ly woman walking into a corridor on a camcorder. He seizes it and uses Biohazard to turn it into a cat to covertly record the corridor. He leaves to search other areas for more signs of the Heil-Ly, and tries to understand what the Heil-Ly are planning without Tserriednich around to monitor them.

In Area E, Hinrigh is spotted from a distance by three Heil-Ly members: Padaille, Quorolle, and Tevelares. They make a loose plan to have Padaille go in first and make an opening for Quorolle and Tevelares to kill Hinrigh. Padaille uses Fistful of Weapons to attack Hinrigh from behind, but is caught by a set of Nen-reinforced handcuffs Hinrigh turned into pigeons with Biohazard. Quorolle and Tevelares shoot at the pigeons to no avail but draw Hinrigh's attention, and Padaille transforms his hand into a drill bit to escape his handcuffs and attack Hinrigh. Padaille manages to stab Hinrigh's hand, but he is kicked away and has his left hand handcuffed to his left ankle. Desperate, Padaille turns his free right hand into an axe, but Hinrigh catches it and pushes it into the back of his head, killing Padaille. Quorolle and Tevelares abandon Padaille over fears of being captured and tortured into revealing the location of their hideout and decide to report back to Morena.

Misha Hao disposing of Padaille's corpse

A crowd gathers around Hinrigh and Padaille, and several military members approach them to manage the situation. Misha Hao appears and possesses Padaille using Zombie Girl, feigning normalcy and covering for Hinrigh. Corporal Maizan comes and lets "Padaille" walk away after confirming that Padaille is a civilian. Misha leaves and disposes of Padaille's corpse. Under the guise of warning Hinrigh, Maizan offers him information about Morena's location. After confirming Maizan's source, Hinrigh leaves to fetch Maizan's payment.

Zakuro uses Bloody Mary to spot passengers matching Hisoka's physique and Lynch confirms their identities with Body and Soul. They find a candidate, but Lynch is knocked out before she can report the man's identity to Zakuro. Intimidated by his aura, Zakuro explains the family's search for Hisoka and asks the man to follow him back to Hinrigh for a better explanation.

Tsudonke speaks with a shopkeeper and learns of rumors of a fight between a Xi-Yu man (Hinrigh) and a member of the public (Padaille), and that Tier 1's general store could request items delivered to the Black Whale. He rejoins Ken'i and several other Cha-R family members, in their search for Hisoka on Tier 3. They agree Hinrigh was involved and Ken'i decides to split the team up. Ken'i assigns some men an area to search before reporting back to their office on Tier 5 and inform the Spiders, and has the rest continue searching for Hisoka on Tier 3 with him, telling them to let him handle Hisoka if found.

In the Cha-R headquarters, a Cha-R member watches the security cameras as the Spiders idly wait for their assassin to return. Someone knocks and a Cha-R member gets up to open the door, expecting the return of their search team, but is stopped by the camera watchman. The Spiders see Luini's arm knocking on the door through a gap in the wall from his Nen space, and the watchman points out the search team returning. Phinks looks back and sees the other Cha-R members missing. The watchman comes to take a look as well, but is told by Nobunaga to bolt himself in the monitor room and let them know if anything happens to the search team.

Nobunaga killing Luini

Luini slowly pulls into the base from his Nen space, and jokingly chastises the Spiders for betraying his expectations by working with the Cha-R instead of attacking them. He sees the Spiders annoyed and rapidly backtracks, proposing to work together with the Spiders to destroy the world. Nobunaga quickly stabs him through the forehead. The search team enter to find their underlings missing, and Nobunaga explains that Luini had killed them, pointing to Luini's dismembered body right behind them. Nobunaga declares their intent to crush the Heil-Ly while they look for Hisoka, and Phinks and Feitan thank the Cha-R for their hospitality and make plans to return in the future.

Back at the Heil-Ly secret hideout, several Heil-Ly members discuss how to proceed with the loss of Luini, while standing in a closed room around Luini's lower half and several corpses. Daemon, Gelato, Perigord, Bille, and Matvere, debate the best way to continue leveling up without Luini. Voconte proposes using his Nen ability as an alternative, but mentions that they would have to wait for victims instead of finding them. Quorolle and Televeras enter and ask about the possibility of anyone being an emitter to defeat Hinrigh. Gelato, Quorolle, and Televeras head to Morena, and ask for her opinion on how to deal with Hinrigh. Morena highlights many factors to consider and offers to let Gelato know her type. Gelato declines, preferring to be surprised.

In a dumpster, Zakuro, regains consciousness and sees Lynch, who asks if he had spoken with Hisoka after she was knocked out. They decide to let Hinrigh know that Hisoka was on his way to see a movie. After bringing Hinrigh to the cineplex, Zakuro is sent away to avoid his presence being interpreting as revenge. Zakuro leaves to help Lynch find Chrollo. Hinrigh sees Hisoka and shares with him that the Cha-R is working with the Phantom Troupe and the Xi-Yu to target the Heil-Ly, then offers him a room in the VVIP area on Tier 1 so that their Phantom Troupe allies might not find him and force them to attack him. Hinrigh makes it clear that neither mafia family intends on interfering between him and the Troupe, and his offer is accepted.

Gateaume giving up the act

Ken'i finds Corporal Maizan waiting for Hinrigh to return with money, who offers to cut Ken'i into the deal. Xi-Yu lieutenant Connelly returns with the money for Maizan, and after Hinrigh returns, Maizan brings them and several underlings to the Tier 3 first-class cabins. Maizan knocks on Room 3101's door and is greeted by Gateaume. Maizan asks Gateaume to sit on his bed and keep his hands up as he enters. Hinrigh and Ken'i wait a moment, but notice Maizan has vanished, and ask Gateaume where Maizan went. He feigns ignorance and invites them in. While outside the room, Hinrigh throws a knife at Gateaume to threaten him and check for a trap. Hinrigh asks Gateaume to step toward them but Gateaume insists on using the bathroom, so Hinrigh throws a knife into Gateaume's leg. Gateaume screams and falls to the ground, but Hinrigh notes the lack of blood and calls him out for faking his injury. Gateaume gives up the act, vanishing into Nen.

Ken'i proposes leaving the Heil-Ly to the Phantom Troupe. Hinrigh tries to stop his underling Tassi from retrieve his knife, but is too late and Tassi vanishes as he steps into the room, confirming the trap. Hinrigh speculates that this was how Luini abducted the other mafia members, but Ken'i explains that Nobunaga had killed Luini and that the Spiders plan to crush the Heil-Ly. Ken'i walks off and Hinrigh decides to return to the general passenger area to retrieve the cat-camcorder and review its footage.

Tassi teleports into the Heil-Ly base facing a door and is momentarily confused by the change in his environment. Before he can react, he's killed by Bille and his body is disposed of. Matvere, Sodom, Orarge, and Yokotani report to Morena that their liaison with Tserriednich had gone silent. Suspecting that Tserriednich might be aware of them, Morena considers Gateaume's report of Room 3101 being discovered and has Sodom work with Dogman to abduct one of Tserriednich's soldiers for her to infect with Contagion to track his movements. She has her men use an alternate entrance and instructs Orarge and Yokotani to watch Room 3101's door, but expect only Mafia and Soldiers. Notre and Soufflé are instructed to return to Room 3131 and report on the situation in Room 3101. Morena and Dogman agree to prioritize him at the new disposal plant to quickly get him to Level 50.

A group of Tserriednich's soldiers (and former classmates in the Kakin Military School) storm a Heil-Ly hideout while looking for Morena and find it abandoned. They discover the corpse of the missing Cha-R warehouse guard, giving them justification for the forced entry. While resuming patrol, Otocin suggests the possibility that the Heil-Ly has Nen users to his Corporal Gipper, having learned the information from Borksen, a member of the Royal Quarters Security Detail. Gipper dismisses Otocin's suggestions. The other soldiers note the corpse being a few days old and agree that the police and army are likely to overlook the matter, but worry about the threat of war between Kakin and its mafia, if the Hunter Association get involved and suggests Kakin eliminate its mafia to protect the Princes. They worry about the Heil-Ly's intent to upset the balance, and about the threat of the Mafia families colluding with Tiers 4 and 5's citizens, outnumbering the military. Momolly theorizes that Tserriednich's lack of action is due to him learning Nen, and the group make contingency plans in case the order is sent to avoid the Heil-Ly, so they can avoid work. Borksen meets up with the group and confirms Tserriednich's learning of Nen. Borksen remarks that Theta and Salkov started acting strangely after Kurapika's emergency broadcast about Nen, and the group agree to avoid Morena. The group agree to reach out to either the Xi-Yu or Cha-R families.

Hinrigh sees Perigord and Bille on the cat-camcorder's recording and confirms that the Heil-Ly are teleporting. He rejoins Ken'i and the other Mafia members, review their information. Ken'i shares that the Spiders were headed to deal with the trap. Nobunaga, Phinks, and Feitan investigate the trap by cutting through the back of Room 3102 to get to Room 3101's bathroom via the construction hallway. The spiders discover signs of recent inhabitation in the construction hallway. While observing the situation, Nobunaga theorizes that the Heil-Ly are a lot like the Phantom Troupe, where the loss of a companion has a big impact on them. He has a flashback to a time Meteor City before the Phantom Troupe existed.

Running through mountains of rubbish, a young Franklin catches a cassette tape, and together with a young Shalnark and young Chrollo, runs away from a young Uvogin, having been snitched on by a young Machi. Uvogin throws a rock and hits Shalnark and Franklin holds Uvogin off while Chrollo escapes with the cassette tape. A young Phinks and young Feitan cut him off with a motorcycle, and steal the cassette tape from him before driving off, but Chrollo pulls out the actual cassette tape, having surrendered a fake. At the local church, Lisores, a Meteor City elder welcomes Chrollo back, but warns him against visiting the city outskirts alone due to the raiding parties in the inner-city neighborhoods. Chrollo takes the cassette tape to the screening room, where he finds a young Pakunoda. The two try to watch it but are greeted by static. Lisores reports to the Meteor City elders, and suggests Chrollo's opinions may interest them.

The next day, Chrollo shows the cassette tape recording of the Clean-Up Rangers in a foreign language to Pakunoda, having simply forwarded through the static previously seen. Pakunoda excitedly suggests calling the others, but is stopped by Chrollo who suggests dubbing the recording so they can all understand. Pakunoda calls Sheila and Sarasa over to help record the dubbing, and return to find Chrollo already finished with the translation. As Meteor City residents get abducted in another part of the city, the four begin recording their dubbing.

A few days later, an announcement is heard of a special screening for the church's regular assembly. Chrollo helps Linores distribute snacks to the children when Uvogin comes and confronts him for stealing the recording and showing it, telling him to meet him after the screening. Phinks and Feitan come by to mock Chrollo and invite him to play soccer after his meeting with Uvogin, and are convinced to help give out snacks by Sarasa. During the screening, the children are amazed to hear the show in their language, but Shalnark recognizes the voices of Chrollo and Pakunoda. Suddenly, the audio cuts off, and Chrollo quickly begins a live dubbing, pretending that the audio was delivered live from the very beginning. The audience realizes that Chrollo has been voicing all the male characters, and Chrollo resumes the dubbing with Pakunoda, Sheila, and Sarasa, entrancing the audience with his intensity and realism. After the screening, Chrollo and his friends see Uvogin waiting for him, ready to confront him for stealing the tape, but Sarasa "dubs" Uvogin and gives Chrollo his approval, denying Uvogin the chance to pretend otherwise. Uvogin, Nobunaga, Feitan, Phinks, Shalnark, and Franklin ask to be in the next recording, and Uvogin gives Chrollo his real approval, shaking his hand.

While searching for more people to dub the recordings, the group asks Machi to voice a character, but she refuses. Pakunoda suggests that they're more of a troupe than a group. Uvogin expresses his desire to perform everywhere, to be the world's greatest villain. Chrollo notices Sarasa missing, but Phinks dismisses Chrollo's fears, explaining that it was Sarasa's turn to sort the trash. Unbeknownst to them, Sarasa was running off by herself, to search for more tapes to surprise them.

Sarasa is uncharacteristically late for the next showing, so Sheila brings Chrollo to Sarasa's wet nurses in search of her. The Troupe search for her to no avail, and reconvene before the showing begins. Chrollo steps onto the stage, and apologizes to the gathered children, explaining and taking responsibility for Sarasa's disappearance and the show's cancellation as a result. The crowd eagerly volunteers to help, cheered on by Uvogin and Phinks, and Chrollo is moved to tears. Having searched through the city, the Troupe decide to search the city's outskirts, and find Sarasa's pendant on a trail to a forest. In the forest, they see a black garbage bag hanging from a tree, and a note pinned to a tree. Uvogin asks Chrollo to read the note, unable to read it himself, and cuts the bag down for Chrollo to catch. Chrollo opens the bag, to find Sarasa's dismembered body with another note nailed to her forehead. Chrollo refuses to reveal the notes' contents, and the troupe bring Sarasa's body back to mourn.

At Sarasa's funeral, Machi is impressed by how well Sarasa is presented, and Lisores explains that Renko had embalmed her. Uvogin leaves the cassette tape with Sarasa. Machi asks Renko to teach her embalming, and Renko agrees after realizing Machi can see her aura, leaving her directions to meet her in Kirimori Valley.

One day when Chrollo and Uvogin visit Sarasa's grave, Chrollo asks Uvogin if he would wait for him instead of immediately setting out to find Sarasa's killers. Chrollo convinces Uvogin to wait three years by sharing his plan to turn Meteor City into a haven for criminals, including those that expose themselves during the upcoming communication revolution across the world by sharing images of their crimes, like Sarasa's killers, who Chrollo believed had recorded images by the theatrical location of where Sarasa's corpse was found and the signs that someone had been recording. The rest of the Troupe steps out of the forest and joins them, except Sheila, who quietly leaves. Chrollo explains his desire to become a villain that the whole world fears so that no criminal would approach Meteor City. Chrollo asks Uvogin to lead the Troupe, but Uvogin refuses, insisting that Chrollo be the leader, and promises to follow Chrollo till his death. The flashback ends when the Troupe reconvenes several years later, now as the Spiders.

Feitan forces the resident of Room 3102 to enter Room 3101 from the back of the bathroom. He safely enters, and Feitan, Phinks, and Nobunaga follow him through. They test several more theories, and the resident finally vanishes as soon as he steps through Room 3101's main door. Feitan chases another resident through the door to confirm the trap's workings. Hinrigh and Ken'i approach Feitan from the corridor before he enters the trap. Hinrigh proposes bringing along a homing device with them before they do, using Biohazard to transform it into a raw oyster. Hinrigh swallows it and hands the receiver to Phinks before he steps into the trap.

Hinrigh teleported into the Heil-Ly hideout

Hinrigh finds himself teleported to the same position Tassi was, but quickly turns and drops to the ground in anticipation of attack. The base appears abandoned, and Hinrigh plans his next course of action but senses a malicious aura behind him. He jumps forward and turns around to see Nobunaga behind him, having chosen to assist Hinrigh. Nobunaga confirms that they are in the hideout by slashing at the walls, which resists his attack, having been reinforced by Nen. They open doors and see signs of recent presence. Nobunaga realizes that their methods of testing the trap with Room 3101's neighbors might have given the Heil-Ly a heads up. Hinrigh opens the door they faced when first teleported to reveal eight Heil-Ly members sitting in a lounge room, conversing as though Hinrigh and Nobunaga were not there.

Hesitant about other doorway traps, Hinrigh throws a knife at Terebellum's head, but he uses Sweet Home to transfer the blade out through his left hand into his drink can. Terebellum stands up to face Hinrigh, but Soufflé grabs him, reminding him of their orders not to fight. Hinrigh throws another knife at Terebellum, who dodges it and pushes Soufflé away in the process. Perigord, now in the knife's trajectory, raises his hand to experiment with his Nen, but Orarge blocks the knife with a book, asking him to be more careful as the 'Organ'. Yokotani stands up, far enough from the door to avoid any slashes from Nobunaga, and introduces himself. He is caught off guard when Nobunaga unexpectedly throws his katana through his forehead, but saved by Terebellum's Sweet Home. Yokotani uses LSDF to conjure Nen puppets, which capture Nobunaga and force him through the doorway, teleporting him back to Room 3101. Hinrigh quickly runs away and regurgitates and hides the oyster before being forced through himself. Hinrigh decides to take a back seat having run out of resources for the day, and Nobunaga finds Feitan and Phinks to follow the transmitter.

Nobunaga rejoins Feitan and Phinks as they debate whether the hideout is on Tier 2 or Tier 4. They head to the passageway between Tiers 3 and 4 and are let through without resistance by the guards, having received notice from the Cha-R and Xi-Yu families to let them through. As they descend, Feitan notices that the transmitter is getting further from them, confirming that the Heil-Ly base is on Tier 2. Nobunaga realizes the source of his uneasiness - the Heil-Ly are instigating a fight without 'just cause', breaking the mafia's code of conduct. They once again debate whether to find Franklin before continuing their search for the Heil-Ly.

In Room 1006, Izunavi observes Giuliano's change in behavior after reading Tyson's book. He theorizes that Tyson's Guardian Spirit Beast's power is linked to Tyson's book and propagates devotion. He guesses that it might be possible to get Nasubi to read it and call off the war, and asks if Tyson has given copies of his book to other Princes. Tyson reveals that her mother Queen Katrono had been the one to give copies of the book to the other Queens and Princes, Tyson's condition for joining the succession war. Izunavi encourages Tyson to get Katrono to get Nasubi to read the book.

Guards stand outside Room 1010 and prevent military from entering, as inside Seiko demands to see Fugetsu. She fights to keep Room 1010 from being cordoned off and demands no one but her talk to Fugetsu, demanding that anyone that wants to do so go through her. She racks her brains to think of a way to convince the others that Kacho is alive and to make up for the fact that Fugetsu is not strong enough to win the war, consoled by the fact that Fugetsu remains protected at the Justice Bureau for now.

In an interrogation room in the Justice Department, the gravity of Melody's actions starts to hit her when Without You in the form of Kacho (hereon referred to as Kacho) suggests that they might be reliant on Fugetsu's aura, an additional burden. Kacho plans to make Fugetsu the victor by capitalizing on her presumed death to surprise others, but does not want to yet reveal her death to Fugetsu. Kaiser, Cleapatro's investigator for Room 1010, agrees with Kacho and encourages Melody to help her. Kaiser reveals that Zhang Lei and Tserriednich have invited her to perform in their quarters, and Benjamin, Tubeppa, and Luzurus have offered pardons in exchange for an encore, careful not to mention Keeney's death around Kacho. Kaiser mentions that these Nen-aware Princes have caught on to Melody's involvement in Kacho's escape and are trying to get Melody's help for their schemes. Lowering the amount of Princes sounds ideal to Kacho, but Kaiser points out the risk of acting while many higher-ranking Princes remain, risking mistakes by acting without knowing who targets who. Kaiser proposes fooling all the Princes who made requests of Melody and removing them by poisoning them while unconscious. Melody wonders why Kaiser would help them, and Kaiser confesses his infatuation with Melody. Melody hears his heartbeat contradict his words and wonders about the possibility of him being manipulated and having a hidden benefactor. Kacho leaves through the walls. Kaiser joins her, letting her return to the Prince's residential area after a courtesy meeting.

Melody sensing evil spirits around Fugetsu

Kaiser calls Steiner over and hands him a memory stick containing a contingency plan in case martial law is declared. Kacho makes her way to Fugetsu's room in the Justice Bureau and discovers Fugetsu missing. She pulls the blanket from Fugetsu's bed away to reveal Magical Worm's door. Right as she wonders where Fugetsu went, Fugetsu pops up through the door, pale and delirious, acting in contrast to her usual meek manner. Fugetsu tells Kacho that she can now use Magical Worm by herself multiple times a day, and expresses feeling overflowing with power. Kacho convinces her to rest, and lets Melody know about Fugetsu's state, who contacts Kaiser to organize a situation where Melody can hear Fugetsu's heartbeat. On her way to a meeting with Zhang Lei, Melody walks past Fugetsu in a state of near-Zetsu, sees evil spirits hovering around her, clinging to her body, and decides that Fugetsu needs an exorcist.

Zhang Lei compliments Melody's performance, and asks her for two requests – to perform again, and to keep a coin from his Guardian Spirit Beast. Representing Tserriednich, Vantaine invites Melody to Room 1004. Melody declines but expresses her willingness to perform anywhere under the right circumstances.

In her next meeting with Kaiser, Melody informs him about Fugetsu's condition and suggests holding off on the plan. Melody asks for herself to be bailed out, but Kaiser refuses, explaining that it would mean their inability to refuse a Prince's requests. Melody asks Kaiser to inform Kurapika of their findings and wonders who is behind her situation, unable to identify someone responsible for Kaiser's possible manipulation.

Longhi activating Translucent Words—Moonlight Act to prove she was not responsible for Barrigen and Myuhan's deaths

At 11:45 a.m. during Kurapika's Nen lesson on the tenth day, Longhi is invited into Room 1014's master bedroom to have her Nen awakened. Furykov watches and wonders how the final Nen user who he noticed concealing their proficiency with Nen would act. After Kurapika shuts the doors, Longhi reveals that she can already use Nen, surprising Kurapika and Bill, who react in preparation to defend themselves. Longhi addresses their most immediate concern and activates her Moonlight Act to simultaneously prove that she was not responsible for the deaths of Barrigen and Myuhan, and to get Kurapika's assistance. Kurapika activates his Dowsing Chain and prepares to shoot Longhi if he finds her lying.

Longhi explains that Moonlight Act can reward or penalize people who voluntarily sign a contract with her after she explain her terms to them, depending on whether they fulfil its obligations or not. She says that she wishes to give him additional power to further a personal goal of hers. She reveals that she is one of many children fathered by Beyond, raised in sham marriages arranged by Beyond and set on the path to become Royal Guards, many likely having done so given that they have had Nen since their birth. She explains her initial assumption that Beyond's goal was to place his children in important positions close to the next king of Kakin, and reveals that their ability to use Nen since their birth was a side effect of Beyond's Nen attack. Longhi learnt about this when her half-sister Makaha became suspicious of her own parents, and was motivated to investigate her situation secretly, discovering Longhi while Longhi herself was serving Duazul in the process. After the Seed Urn Ceremony, they had noticed a mark they had in common, and consulted a renowned Nen user who explained that the curse placed on them would activate and curse an unknown target to death upon their own.

Despite a reminder from Bill that taking too long would draw suspicion, Kurapika lets Longhi continue to help her fulfil the conditions for activating Moonlight Act. Longhi says that Beyond's lack of movement despite Makaha's failure to join Camilla's entourage was an indication that their targets were not simply the Princes they were assigned to, though she is sure that it is a Prince. Though unsure of who their targets are, Longhi is confident that Beyond is trying to influence the succession battle. Amidst Bill and Kurapika's speculation about Beyond and his curse, Longhi shares her hypothesis that one of Kakin's fourteen Princes is Beyond's child. At Kurapika's request, Oito confirms that the rules do not specify that a participant must have Nasubi as their biological father.

Sakata knocks on the door to ask if anything is wrong. Kurapika steps out and explains that they were negotiating a truce, and would explain more afterwards. Furykov notes no change in Kurapika's aura and wonders what they were discussing. Babimyna watches in silence. Kurapika returns and reactivates Dowsing Chain before asking Longhi to continue. Longhi explains the details of the proposed contract between Tubeppa and Woble that would last until 9 a.m. on Sunday, the fifteenth day, and renewed if Tubeppa had a representative in Room 1014 then, that neither side would act maliciously against the other side's Prince, Queen, or Guards, and Kurapika violating the rules will force him into Zetsu for one week as penalty, though Longhi promises to not arbitrarily interpret Kurapika's actions as malicious.

Longhi adds another stipulation for her true plan:

• Woble's side must identify the Prince that is Beyond's child before either Tubeppa withdraws, or before only two Princes remain.
• If it is discovered that none of the Princes are Beyond's child, the ability would immediately activate and reward Woble's side

Longhi promises to write Kurapika an identical contract if he is willing to continue the investigation in the event that their truce is broken before that. Kurapika notes that Dowsing Chain has not indicated that Longhi is lying. Longhi asks Kurapika to listen to her current true plan before signing—should Beyond's child be among the Princes, to kill them herself.

Kurapika agrees to Longhi's contract and to collaborate with Tubeppa. The participants watch the three step out. Furykov sees no signs of a Nen battle but that Longhi looked like she was crying and wonders what happened. He feels something slightly different in Kurapika's aura but is unable to identify what. Furykov wonders if his deduction that Longhi was the assassin was incorrect. Kurapika invites Tenftory in, the last to have his Nen awakened that day, and promises to discuss the matter with the participants afterwards.

At around 2:00 p.m. on the tenth day, Beyond asks Kanzai to arrange for someone to meet him.

In Room 1003, at 1:30 p.m. on the tenth day, Zhang Lei learns from Tenftory that Tubeppa and Woble would defer the throne to him if they were the final three Princes remaining, though in return, Woble had requested Sakata and Hashito to extend their support indefinitely. Coventoba stands guard nearby and watches their interaction. Zhang Lei rewards Tenftory with his second coin, and tells him that holding on to them would bring him fortune. He thinks that they might begin to show their power only when held by others.

In Room 1005, at roughly the same time, Tubeppa learns from Maor and Longhi that Kurapika had agreed to their alliance, on condition that Woble and Oito accompany him when he comes to Room 1005. Maor adds that Zhang Lei's personal guards also demanded to attend, in the interest of sharing information. Tubeppa welcomes the idea. Rihan eavesdrops while standing guard and learns of Tubeppa and Kurapika's collusion. Tubeppa guesses from Tserriednich's absence from the banquet on Day 8 that working with her is unimportant to him. She reminds herself not to be choosy and hopes Benjamin directs his attention toward Zhang Lei instead of her. Tubeppa tells Maor and Longhi to impress their closeness with Zhang Lei upon Benjamin's soldiers at the next class. Suddenly, Rihan notices Tubeppa's Guardian Spirit Beast suddenly appear. He wonders if the timing of its appearance was significant, which would imply that it is a conditional type.

Somewhere alone, Balsamilco tests a gas emission contraption in his shoe. He takes a potent pathological weapon out of his pocket, loads it into his shoe, and resolves to erase Halkenburg with it.

In Room 1004, at 8:00 a.m. on the eleventh day, Salkov announces to Tserriednich that he has broken the 10-second barrier to activate his Zetsu. Tserriednich is unsatisfied with the result and tells Salkov that they will try again in 10 seconds while continuing to multitask. Salkov echoes Theta's previous sentiments that Tserriednich would use Nen selfishly. He concludes that the only explanation for Theta's testimony was that Tserriednich had activated some ability during Zetsu, making him an extraordinary specialist. Salkov identifies the possibility that his jester-like Nen beast stores aura in it under normal conditions and then activates its power when Zetsu is used. He also considers the possibility that Theta was manipulated by his Guardian Spirit Beast to give false testimony. Vantine enters to report that the Ministry of Justice and Benjamin had suspected Melody's involvement in the escape attempt and are continuing to detain her and station soldiers there respectively. Tserriednich tells Vantine not to let Benjamin get ahead of him and instructs him to continue the meetings to win Melody over.

In Melody's cell at the Justice Bureau at 6:00 a.m. on the eleventh day, "Kacho" shows Melody a picture of a mark on Fugetsu's back that was not there before their escape attempt. Melody says that it looks like an injection mark, but "Kacho" dismisses the possibility since they had been immediately taken into custody by the Ministry of Justice after they returning to their room. Melody suggests that it is a mark caused by Nen, from a trap Fugetsu had fallen into. She asks if Fugetsu had said anything strange yesterday, and "Kacho" thinks back to Fugetsu's comment about using Magical Worm many times in a day. Melody tells "Kacho" to persuade Fugetsu not to use the ability anymore and suggests that Fugetsu's recent behavior shows signs of addiction. Melody shares that she was wrong in thinking that one of the Princes who had met her was using Fugetsu as part of a negotiation. She says that if Fugetsu continues using the enemy's ability, she will not last until next weekend. Melody suggests identifying and stopping the culprit, though it would be difficult to identify them without any clues. "Kacho" has an idea of who the culprit could be.

Later, Kaiser joins them and they continue their discussion in his office. "Kacho" suggests that Luzurus is responsible since he sells drugs to help back the Cha-R Family and guesses that his Guardian Spirit Beast is responsible for Fugetsu's condition. Melody points out that even if Luzurus was behind it, he did not likely consciously attack Fugetsu, so he would not be easy to persuade. "Kacho" decides that the only way to confirm and stop the ability is to defeat Luzurus or his Nen beast, deciding that they must take action immediately. "Kacho" shares her plan and that Fugetsu could connect to the inside of the first lifeboat in the emergency area though they had been unable to test if someone other than the twins could enter the door, and speculates that others could come and go if they were not inside.

Melody says that she would need someone to carry an unconscious Luzurus through the tunnel to the lifeboat. Kaiser volunteers to be their mule and tells them when to act to have an alibi. Kaiser reasons out some obvious pitfalls but proposes solutions for them.

"Kacho" asks Melody about her thoughts on the plan. Melody asks how Fugetsu would connect her door to Luzurus' master bedroom, because she needs to have visited somewhere before she could visit it with Magical Worm. Kaiser volunteers to get Fugetsu access to the necessary locations. He asks them to devise an excuse for Fugetsu to personally meet each Prince, pointing out their chance to increase the number of locations Fugetsu could travel to. "Kacho" proposes to write a "last message" to be delivered to each Prince. Kaiser agrees and tells "Kacho" to notify Fugetsu, and looks up to see Melody and "Kacho" looking at him. Believing that they still had doubts about his willingness to get involved, he prepares to restate how he feels about Melody.

Melody tells Kaiser there is no turning back, and asks him if he is sure he wants to risk everything. Kaiser confirms that he does, adding that he thinks it would be best if Fugetsu takes the throne and changes the system. He shares that he did not join the Ministry of Justice just to blindly uphold the law, he also wants to get the world closer to his ideal world. As Kaiser speaks, Melody notes his heartbeat is unchanged. She prepares to assume that Kaiser is on the enemy's side, and to protect Fugetsu, decides to maintain the relationship for the time being.

Kaiser escorts Fugetsu around Tier 1, with a group of armed soldiers. They first head to the VVIP area to pass Kacho's letter to Benjamin. While seated, Benjamin observes the spirits clinging to Fugetsu. As Fugetsu approaches Benjamin, his Guardian Spirit Beast dispels the spirits around her. Benjamin notices them vanish, confirming to him that they are low-level evil spirits plaguing those in a weakened state. He decides that she had fallen into despair after losing her sister, believing she would not last ten more days.

Benjamin opens the letter and tells the witnesses that it contains nothing worth sharing before quickly changing the topic to Musse's location. Kaiser tells him that Musse has not yet been found, offers to force thorough searches of all the Princes' quarters, and trails off to let Benjamin cut him off. Benjamin says that it would likely be pointless because of the ongoing court case to determine whether royal privilege or military authority had precedence, but regardless of the outcome, their situation was not dire enough to need martial law. Kaiser agrees, and guesses that Benjamin mentioning martial law was a sign that he was planning to implement it, a likely slip of the tongue while trying to not react to the contents of the letter.

Kaiser's group make their way to Tubeppa and Tyson so Fugetsu can pass them Kacho's final letter, then to Room 1007, where Luzurus thanks the Ministry of Justice for vouching that his quarters are drug-free in exchange for meeting Fugetsu. Luzurus apologizes to Fugetsu for Kacho before reading the letter, watched by Kaiser and several of Luzurus' guards. Luzurus says that its contents are surprising and hears Fugetsu confirm that she did not know its contents or if Kacho written the same message to all the Princes. Luzurus guesses that Kacho would not have wanted to get her little sister involved and tells Kaiser that the Ministry of Justice might want to follow up on its contents. Kaiser takes the letter from Luzurus and pretends to read it for the first time.

Kaiser thinks back to an earlier discussion with "Kacho" and Melody where he suggested dropping information bombs on the other Princes through letters "Kacho" would write containing insider information that the Ministry of Justice had gathered. Melody expresses uncertainty that anyone would believe that Kacho would have known such information. Kaiser dismisses it saying that each Prince would be too desperate to discover the source of the leak to think of it. He reassures "Kacho" and Melody that he will deflect questions that dig too deep into Kacho, and that he had no intention of having her return to Tier 1 until the succession contest is finished.

Kaiser interprets Luzurus letting him read the letter as a possible sign that he is cautious. Kaiser suggests the letter contains rumors. Luzurus suggests that it might have been a tactic to get the Ministry of Justice to investigate each Prince and expose actual wrongdoing. Luzurus thinks about his off-feeling about the whole situation. He concludes that the contents of the letters to each Prince were different and that if Kacho had intended to pit him against Tserriednich while having Benjamin protect Fugetsu, acting carelessly would be dangerous. Luzurus decides to say that he has no idea how true the letter is and has no desire to find out either, and tells Kaiser to keep the letter. As they leave Room 1007's entrance hallway, Basho gives Fugetsu a good luck charm that temporarily keeps the low-level spirits away and hopes Melody can help her before her situation gets worse. Kaiser bows to Basho.

Later, at 8:50 a.m. on the eleventh day in Kaiser's office, "Kacho" suggests acting quickly in case Luzurus is not the culprit. She says that they would be questioned in the infirmary while Fugetsu was treated, and stationing guards and Justice Bureau officials outside the room would give them perfect alibis. Melody agrees with the plan, stating that they could not confirm who the culprit was, though Basho had managed to give them some time. Melody shares that she would use the ocarina, but it would not change the fact that she could not do anything else while using her ability. Kaiser reassures them that it would be fine even if she could not do anything, that if the tunnel were about 10 meters long, he could carry Luzurus himself and still make it in time.

Melody brings up a rumbling that happened right above the Ministry of Justice and guesses that the rumbling belonged to the ability of Halkenburg or his Guardian Spirit Beast. Since Halkenburg himself had fallen ill, Melody asks to know as many details about whether it was planned or not since it was crucial to know. She also reminds Kaiser that she must hand him the letter when he wakes up. Kaiser also reassures her that this is under control since he had assigned someone he knows to Halkenburg's attendant duty. Melody hopes Halkenburg can put his letter to good use, containing information about Benjamin's secrets, Tserriednich's depravity, and the truth of Halkenburg's own birth. She also hopes that Kurapika could devise a plan so no more Princes had to die using the information delivered to him via Fugetsu's letter.

At 6:45 a.m. on the eleventh day, Balsamilco turns up at the Ministry of Justice Prosecution and Courthouse Area in preparation for his trial with Halkenburg. He mentally runs through his plans, confirming that Halkenburg had no guards around him to activate his ability with, and that his use of TSK-17 would have no risk of killing anyone other than Halkenburg. After he clears the security scans, he walks around, and eventually turns into a narrow corridor, where he senses something is off and stops. He turns around to see Vict staring at him. Balsamilco is shocked to see Vict, who begins gesturing with his hands, communicating using military sign language that he had discovered the secret to Halkenburg's ability. Around the corner, outside Balsamilco's vision, Halkenburg activates The Boy Who Shoots the Arrow: Grimmal the Dissonance, powers it with a group of civilian supporters, aims at Balsamilco through walls, and releases his bow.

Through a call, Benjamin hears that the trial between Balsamilco and Halkenburg has not started; Balsamilco's request for postponement due to equipment issues was rejected, but Halkenburg's request for postponement due to illness was accepted. Benjamin wonders if Balsamilco was trying to communicate to him that the mission was not executed, but dismisses that because Halkenburg's ability had been activated, and guesses that Balsamilco was the target though wondering why Halkenburg himself had fallen ill. Benjamin hears that Halkenburg was surrounded by roughly a dozen supporters, and guesses that Halkenburg could activate his ability with any group of supporters. He hears that Balsamilco is asking to speak with him on the phone, and is immediately wary of a trap.

Balsamilco tells Benjamin that he had not executed his mission yet, that Halkenburg had attempted to shoot him, missed, and collapsed, due to overexertion or not having guards powering his ability. Benjamin remains wary of Balsamilco and prepares to activate martial law if he returned to Tier 1 without completing his mission, suspecting a coup d'état planned with Halkenburg. Balsamilco acknowledges the suspicious position he is in, but asks for permission to meet Halkenburg, and promises not to return until he can prove that he has finished his mission when Benjamin allows him to. The call ends and Benjamin summons Butch to inform him of what to do if Balsamilco returned, before hearing from another soldier that Fugetsu and Kaiser were there to pass him a letter.

In Room 01, Unma receives a call from Halkenburg, who tells her of his plans and that he would not see her at the coming Sunday banquet. Unma expresses sorrow at not being able to see him there, but tells her son Halkenburg how proud of him she is.

Benjamin receives Kacho's letter from Fugetsu, where Kacho describes internet theories claiming that Unma had asked Duazul a favor in order to protect Halkenburg from assassination plots by his older siblings, before threatening to reveal more secrets, and asking Benjamin to protect Fugetsu. Benjamin dismisses its contents as online rumors, and tells Kaiser that the letter contained nothing worth showing. As Fugetsu and Kaiser leave, Benjamin decides that Kacho was simply bluffing with her threats, since she did not have enough influence to dig up dirt that he could not. Zhang Lei, Camilla, Tubeppa, and Tyson are seen reading their letters. While Fugetsu rests in the infirmary, "Kacho", Melody, and Kaiser discuss how Tserriednich, Marayam, and Halkenburg were the only Princes to not accept a letter, though Halkenburg not getting one was because he is sick. They agree to carry out their plan against Luzurus at the night of the next day.

In Room 1014, Kurapika explains to Oito that his letter implied that physical escape from the ship resulted in death. He asks permission from Oito to do something to protect Woble and the other younger Princes. In Room 1003, Zhang Lei looks at his coins and has his guards theorize what they could do. Their suggestions do not impress him, and he asks them to call Room 1014.

While walking, Kaiser and Steiner discuss the mass syncope episode that Halkenburg had warned them about. Steiner mentions that Worio Bay had fallen asleep in a same manner but at a different time and place than the others, and Kaiser goes to visit him. When Kaiser visits Wario, Wario shows him the mark on the back of his hand, and tells Kaiser that Halkenburg is going to die soon. In Benjamin's room in the VVIP area, Benjamin hears Balsamilco report over the phone that the mission has been completed. Unbeknownst to him, Halkenburg's soul possesses Balsamilco's body. The twelve supporters that helped Halkenburg earlier stand around Halkenburg as he lies unconscious in bed. Kaiser steps into the room and observes from a distance.

In Room 1014, Kurapika tells Oito that he wished to make her letter public, proposing to tell the Princes that its contents would be made known during the next round of lessons, which began the next day. Kurapika turns up with Oito and Woble at Room 1003 at Zhang Lei's request, and after some experimentation, gives Zhang Lei his guess at what the coins produced by his Guardian Spirit Beast can do.

Kurapika suggests that Zhang Lei's Guardian Spirit Beast has a cumulative conjuration ability, which allows the coins produced by his Guardian Spirit Beast to accumulate Nen over time, increasing by a factor of ten every ten days. Eventually, it could open the aura nodes of its owner, and after more time possibly allow the owner to manifest a Nen ability. Due to Coventoba's presence, Kurapika chooses not to mention the possibility that the coin could induce semi-forced loyalty to Zhang Lei through pseudo-coercive manipulation. Zhang Lei thanks Kurapika for his explanation, and gives him the coin that appeared that day. Kurapika thanks him and tells Zhang Lei that their other matter would need more time, and that the second round of Nen classes should be key. Zhang Lei advises Kurapika that the others likely used the first round of Nen classes to gather intel and lay their groundwork, and he should prepare himself. As Kurapika leaves, he thinks about the balance of the Kakin mafia's three families and how it placed them in a more precarious situation, since if any of them died, Benjamin would have an excuse to impose martial law, which would give him the authority to force the Princes into house arrest for their safety where his guards could freely do his bidding.

Cheadle leads a team of doctors and rushes Halkenburg's body to the general hospital on Tier 3 after he collapsed and became unresponsive. "Balsamilco" watches as Halkenburg's body is rushed away and reports the matter to Benjamin, who congratulates him on his good work and lets him know that he would send the royal and military medical teams to supervise Halkenburg's body and prevent interference. Halkenburg in Balsamilco's body thinks about his ability and prepares to take a sleeping pill right before his original body dies, so that he can control Balsamilco's body for roughly ten hours after his own body's death.

The Princes pass the remainder of the eleventh day in their own ways. Benjamin and Furykov read a tablet as they wait for an update from Balsamilco. Tserriednich manages to reduce the time it takes for him to activate Zetsu down to below 3.5 seconds and resolves to continue carving the time down. "Kacho" sits with Fugetsu as she rests and watches over her, her own body starting to become more translucent. In Room 1014, Kurapika lets the guards of other Princes in his room know that the second round of Nen lessons would begin the next day at 9:00 a.m. He asks them their thoughts on Camilla choosing to send a single guard this time, and gives Bill and Shimano instructions for the classes.

In the early hours of the twelfth day, Halkenburg's body dies. "Balsamilco" reports the matter to Benjamin and lets Benjamin know when the body would be transferred from Tier 3 to the morgue on Tier 1, and the path it would take. He also tells Benjamin of Halkenburg three last wishes—a ship-wide announcement, a send-off by his supporters, and for his personal guards to be his pallbearers. Benjamin instructs Balsamilco to do as he wished, and "Balsamilco" lets Benjamin know that he would return at the same time as Halkenburg's body did.

On Tier 3, the announcement is made of Halkenburg's death. The public is notified that his funeral procession would take place at noon through Tier 3's central staircase. Nobunaga, Phinks, and Feitan hear the announcement, and confirm that he was not a benefactor for either mafia before deciding to continue. Phinks and Feitan want to return to Tier 4, but Nobunaga points out that they had some time because of how Hinrigh had hid his transmitter, and says that there's something he wants to check with the other two families before going to the Heil-Ly hideout.

In a casino on Tier 1, Hisoka half-heartedly plays and wins some games as he thinks about his feelings of arousal around battle. Coincidentally, Bonolenov comes across Hisoka, while disguised as Hisoka himself. He keeps a distance away and remains unnoticed, and recalls the instructions Chrollo gave him, to disguise himself as Hisoka so that the mafia would mistakenly think that they had found Hisoka, and allow the Phantom Troupe to freely search for Hisoka under the incorrect assumption that they had prevented the Troupe from finding him. Bonolenov quickly heads to a bathroom to transform into Owl, the Shadow Beast, and continues strolling around the casino. As he walks around, he thinks about his battle with a woman whose punch could reveal his inner voice who he had to kill, and an I.V. drip guy, who he let live so that the mafia could find him and "convince" him to move upstairs. He worries that the mafia might come after him and tries to figure out if they would or not, but cannot come to a conclusion and gives up in mild frustration. His thoughts drift to Chrollo and Chrollo's unresolved feelings about Shalnark and Kortopi's deaths, and hopes that Hisoka will be the last for the Troupe, and that they could close the curtain on their performance after. Chrollo himself is seen walking around a lower tier as a news item is played remembering the philanthropist Risnorth, hearing the crowd around him scorn the news item being played.

Nobunaga, Phinks, and Feitan turn up at the Cha-R family hideout on Tier 5 and speak with Ken'i and Tajao. Nobunaga asks how much they knew about the current Heil-Ly, and shares his suspicion that the Heil-Ly on board the ship were not the family that the mafia had a shared history with. The spiders learn that a young woman named Morena had become the new boss of the Heil-Ly through an official handover ceremony attended by the higher-ups of the Cha-R, but admit that they are not so close with Morena that they know what she wants. Nobunaga shares his experience fighting with the Heil-Ly, and convinces Tajao that the Heil-Ly on board the ship were killing indiscriminately in order to simultaneously destroy everything, and get the power to destroy everything. Tajao officially asks the spiders to crush the Heil-Ly, letting them know that the Cha-R and Xi-Yu would fully support them, and opens the secret door in the Cha-R base to give them a route to the Heil-Ly. Ken'i watches them enter the door, and begins to worry that the spiders might find Morena sooner than expected.

In the Heil-Ly secret hideout, Morena lets her underlings know that Halkenburg's funeral procession is taking place. Dogman tells her that he is ready, and explains that after leveling up, he gained the ability to identify people and their Nen proficiencies depending on how close he gets to them. Bille and Gelato cheer in excitement, and Sodom and Dogman make quick plans on how Sodom will abduct the target Dogman identifies as they head out. Voconte asks where the others went, and Morena lets him know that Quorolle, Daemon, and Tevelares were in processing leveling up to get revenge on Hinrigh.

Tajao leads the spiders down a dark and narrow tunnel. As they walk, he lets Nobunaga know that he would keep Nobunaga's sword for him when they return. Nobunaga kicks up a small fuss at being called out, but continues down the hallway. Tajao opens the door and they step into a big chamber, with a shoddy staircase without railings or end in sight leading upwards. He explains that the stairs are next to the hull of the black whale, and that the stairs would lead them to the top of Tier 2. Phinks comments on the smell in the chamber, and Tajao explains that the chamber is dripping with the waste of the 200,000 people on board, treated at the recycling and sewage treatment facilities between Tiers 4 and 5. He confirms for Nobunaga that the Cha-R and Xi-Yu manage the treatment plants, and Nobunaga suggests that the Heil-Ly were posing as subcontractors, to find prey to kill. From Tajao's shocked reaction, Nobunaga guesses that he is correct and turns around to find them, happy to be right. Before he leaves, he tells Phinks and Feitan some tips about the Heil-Ly he encountered.

Hinrigh regroups with Zakuro and walks through Tier 3. They comment that the areas around them are getting crowded with people who want to send off Halkenburg. As they talk about getting Lynch to find out more about the Heil-Ly, a Xi-Yu underling runs up to them and lets them know that Lynch's corpse had been found. Hinrigh and Zakuro go to retrieve her corpse from the military, and Hinrigh gives them a bribe as thanks for contacting them and not writing the body up. They discuss who it could have been as they walk back, and though conscious of the fact that their theories lack evidence, come to the conclusion that someone likely had disguised themselves as Hisoka to trick the mafia into bringing him up, so that the mafia would let their side search for Hisoka in the belief that their search would be in vain. Hinrigh proposes an angry but calm Zakuro that they would avenge her death, even if the Phantom Troupe or Cha-R were behind it.

Chrollo walks through the crowds gathering for Halkenburg's funeral procession while unsuccessfully using Love Dial 6700 to try and locate his "ideal partner". He thinks about going to Tier 1, guessing that the succession war held there should mean more people with abilities hiding. His thoughts wander to Kakin's three sacred treasures used in the succession battle which he seeks. He assumes that the royal family are already aware of the Phantom Troupe's presence on board, and from the fact that their presence did not elicit much reaction, guesses that the treasures are on upper tiers enshrined in a focal point, a funeral hall, owing to their status as the root of Kakin's prosperity. Chrollo slowly becomes incensed. He seeks to upgrade Skill Hunter by stealing the treasures, giving him the power he needs to kill Hisoka for good. Chrollo reminds himself to not be impatient, and considers the risk of running into Hisoka before being ready to fight while attempting to steal the treasures. He unsuccessfully uses Love Dial 6700 again among the crowd gathered at the general hospital as Halkenburg's coffin is carried out, and concludes what he seeks is on the higher tiers.

Notable Characters

• Hunter Association
  • Zodiacs
    • Kurapika
    • Leorio Paradinight
    • Cheadle Yorkshire
    • Mizaistom Nana
    • Saiyu
    • Kanzai
  • Other Hunters
    • Hisoka Morow
    • Basho
    • Biscuit Krueger
    • Hanzo
    • Izunavi
    • Melody
    • Keeney
    • Giuliano
    • Belerainte
• Kakin Empire
  • Kakin Royal Family
    • Nasubi Hui Guo Rou
    • Benjamin Hui Guo Rou
      • Balsamilco Might
      • Vincent
      • Babimyna
      • Coventoba
      • Furykov
      • Musse
      • Shikaku
      • Rihan
      • Yushohi
    • Camilla Hui Guo Rou
      • Sarahell
    • Zhang Lei Hui Guo Rou
      • Sakata
      • Hashito
      • Tenftory
    • Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou
    • Tubeppa Hui Guo Rou
      • Maor
      • Longhi
    • Tyson Hui Guo Rou
    • Luzurus Hui Guo Rou
    • Salé-salé Hui Guo Rou
    • Halkenburg Hui Guo Rou
    • Kacho Hui Guo Rou
    • Fugetsu Hui Guo Rou
    • Momoze Hui Guo Rou
    • Marayam Hui Guo Rou
      • Vergei
    • Woble Hui Guo Rou
      • Shimano
    • Oito Hui Guo Rou
  • Kakin Mafia
    • Xi-Yu Family
      • Onior Longbao
      • Hinrigh Biganduffno
      • Lynch Fullbokko
      • Zakuro Custard
    • Heil-Ly Family
      • Morena Prudo
      • Luini
    • Cha-R Family
      • Brocco Li
      • Ken'i Wang
      • Tsudonke
  • Others
    • Kaiser
• Other Groups
  • Beyond's Dark Continent Expedition Team
    • Beyond Netero
    • Bill
    • Theta
    • Salkov
  • Phantom Troupe
    • Chrollo Lucilfer
    • Nobunaga Hazama
    • Feitan Portor
    • Machi Komacine
    • Kalluto Zoldyck
    • Phinks Magcub
    • Franklin Bordeau
    • Shizuku Murasaki
    • Bonolenov Ndongo
    • Illumi Zoldyck
  • Tserriednich's Personal Army
    • Otocin
    • Momolly
    • Borksen

Battles

Battles

Ging Freecss & Pariston Hill vs. Muherr's soldiers Hisoka Morow vs. Chrollo Lucilfer Hisoka Morow vs. Kortopi & Shalnark Kurapika vs. Sayird Kurapika & Bill vs. Vincent Camilla Hui Guo Rou vs. Musse Halkenburg Hui Guo Rou vs. Nasubi Hui Guo Rou Halkenburg Hui Guo Rou vs. Shikaku Theta vs. Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou Lynch Fullbokko & Zakuro Custard vs. Bille & Perigord Hinrigh Biganduffno vs. Padaille, Quorolle, & Tevelares Lynch Fullbokko & Zakuro Custard vs. "Bonolenov Ndongo" Nobunaga Hazama vs. Luini Hinrigh Biganduffno & Nobunaga Hazama vs. Terebellum, Yokotani, Perigord, Orarge & Soufflé

Battles
Luini vs. four Cha-R Tier 5 warehouse guards Halkenburg Hui Guo Rou vs. Vict

Story Impact

• The Kakin Empire declares its intent to explore the Dark Continent.
  • The Black Whale 1 is introduced, the vessel upon which the titular Succession Contest happens, between the 14 Princes of the Kakin Empire to determine who the next King will be.
  • Beyond Netero, the leader of Kakin's expedition, is introduced as the son of Isaac Netero.
• Ging and Pariston both leave the Zodiacs, and are replaced by Leorio Paradinight and Kurapika respectively
  • Both Pariston and Ging join Beyond's Dark Continent Expedition Team.
    • Kurapika and Mizaistom discover that Saiyu is working as an informant for Beyond and Pariston, though Beyond is unaware of his existence.
• The V5 is introduced and commission the Hunter Association to hunt Beyond
  • The Five Threats are introduced as punishment for humanity's past attempts at exploring the Dark Continent, through a book titled Journey to the New World and authored by Don Freecss, resulting in the V5's agreement to not travel to the Dark Continent 200 years ago.
  • The Kakin Empire is invited to join the V5 and accepts. The V5 reorganize into the V6 to include Kakin and allow them to continue on their journey to the Dark Continent on condition that they find a safe, uninhabited island to act as the Dark Continent for its civilians.
  • The V6 change their commission to the Hunter Association from hunting Beyond to becoming his chaperone on the Dark Continent.
• Isaac Netero, through a video recording, requests (orders) the Hunter Association to successfully explore the Dark Continent before Beyond.
• The Black Whale is introduced as the vessel for Kakin's voyage.
• It’s revealed that Kurapika has recovered every pair of Scarlet Eyes except those owned by 4^th Prince Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou.
• Gon learns that he can no longer use Nen and returns to Whale Island.
• The 289^th Hunter Exam is conducted. Only those necessary for the Hunter Association's journey to the Dark Continent are intended to pass. The secondary aim of the exam is to prevent Beyond's associates from infiltrating the Hunter Association and becoming manpower for him on the Dark Continent.
• King Nasubi Hui Guo Rou of the Kakin Empire declares that the generational Succession Contest will take place on the Black Whale 1 during its voyage to the Dark Continent, with the sole survivor being the next king of the Kakin Empire.. All 14 of Kakin's Princes participate.
  • The Seed Urn Ceremony and Guardian Spirit Beasts are introduced.
  • The Hunter Association restricted each Prince to 15 employees.
    • Princes may have their guards be Provisional Hunters (Hunters who passed the 289^th Hunter Exam
• After being defeated and killed by Chrollo at Heavens Arena, Hisoka uses post-mortem Nen to revive himself. After his revival, Hisoka makes his goal to kill all of the Spiders, and subsequently kills both Kortopi and Shalnark.
  • The Phantom Troupe board the Black Whale to steal its treasure. On board the Black Whale, they change their goals to prioritize killing Hisoka.
  • The numbers and full names of every current Phantom Troupe member are revealed.
    • Illumi Zoldyck is revealed to have joined the Phantom Troupe. Hisoka had commissioned Illumi to join the Phantom Troupe and to kill Hisoka himself.
• More is revealed about Kurapika's abilites.
  • Kurapika's Steal Chain and Stealth Dolphin abilities are introduced. Steal Chain was added sometime after the events of Yorknew City.
  • It’s revealed that every second Kurapika spends in Emperor Time shortens his life by one hour. This means that twelve hours spent in Emperor Time costs Kurapika five years of his lifespan.
• Kakin's three big mafia families are introduced

Trivia

• It is currently the second-longest story arc in the series though it is still being written, behind the Chimera Ant Arc which has 133 chapters.
• The concept of "Nen after death", "post-mortem Nen", or "Nen becoming stronger after death" is very prevalent in the Succession Contest arc, as in:
  • The Seed Urn, a conjured object that outlives its creator.
  • The Sun and Moon, a Nen ability that continued to exist in Chrollo's book even after the original owner died.
  • Hisoka's use of his Bungee Gum to reanimate his body after he died.
  • Benjamin's Nen ability, Benjamin Baton, that allows him to inherit the Nen abilities of his soldiers when they die.
  • Camilla's counteractive Nen ability, Cat's Name, that activates after she is killed.
  • The Nen ability of Kacho's Guardian Spirit Beast, Without You, whose activation is triggered by the death of Kacho or Fugetsu and starts to work from then on.
  • The Have-Nots' Nen ability, Yomotsu Hegui, a Nen curse triggered by, among other things, the user's suicide.
  • Misha Hao's post-Mortem Nen ability Zombie Girl, activated upon her death, which enables her to manipulate corpses and dispose of them.
  • The curse that Beyond's children carry as a result of his Nen attack on them during their infancy, believed to be activated upon their deaths. These curses vary in strength and their targets are unknown.

Intertextuality and References

• This arc is characterized by a plethora of references to songs or performances by the Japanese idol group Keyakizaka46:
  • The Silent Majority Nen ability has the same name as Keyakizaka46's debut single. The doll's hairstyle may also be considered reminiscent of the center girl of the song.
  • The name of Camilla's ability, "Neko no Namae", is also the title of a song by the idol group.
  • The sound made by Camilla's Nen Beast, "neru", is the onomatopoeia for kneading, but it is also the name of one of the group's members, Nagahama Neru.
  • In Chapter 378, the item numbers "Silent Majority" (SRCL 9041) and "Masshiro na Mono wa Yogoshitaku naru" (SRCL 9488) can be seen on a sign in Tier 3.
  • Halkenburg's pose when notching his arrow in Chapter 382 is taken from the music video of "Fukyouwaon".
  • The servants dancing in Chapter 383 are seen striking a pose similar to one from the concert "Keyaki Kyowakoku 2017", a similarity which is reinforced by the fact that the flag in the background is identical to the ones waved by the group.
  • The second name of Kacho’s Guardian Spirit Beast's ability, "Season of Two" (Futari Saison), is a reference to their third single and the main name, "Without You", comes from the fourth track (Kimi ga Inai) from the "Masshirona Mono wa Yogoshitaku Naru" album of the same idol group.
  • Bill's Nen ability, Erigeron, is named after a song by Nogizaka46, Keyakizaka46's associated group.