Loyalty

A top-down view reveals a vast circular chamber formed by a complex black-and-white maze of walls. Sixteen ornate caskets are arranged in a perfect ring around a central mechanical device with radiating spokes and glowing orbs. Thin lines connect each casket to the center. Scattered near the top right of the maze are several rectangular objects resembling documents or money. A small staircase is visible in the upper right section. A text box in the lower right states: Thirty minutes before the declaration of Special Martial Law.

A close-up shows a young man with light hair and closed eyes, his face calm amid radiating lines. Below, a bespectacled man states that unlike the eighth, tenth, and twelfth princes, the ninth prince's flame of life has not been ignited. Another voice notes it appears he still possesses eligibility. In a medical pod, the ninth prince lies with a small flickering flame hovering nearby while two observers watch. A large panel reveals the right of succession is not lost as long as his soul resides within a body. At the bottom, a bald man in an ornate robe with a cross emblem declares "STILL FIGHT-ING...!" while a bandaged man beside him says "HE IS..." amid rumbling SFX "RRRRMMM".

Halkenburg stands in a grand hall, eyes wide with shock as he processes the revelation. Speech bubbles detail that only Halkenburg's body died, meaning his soul survived, and that his ability was not lost. A close-up shows a bald man with a scar covering his mouth in thought. Halkenburg resolves to test a new hypothesis by impersonating the sergeant to approach his brother. At the bottom, silhouettes of onlookers surround a figure in a wheelchair-like device while Halkenburg's thoughts continue about his perfect impersonation.

A massive impact erupts across the top of the page with jagged white shapes and heavy motion lines. In the hallway below, several pairs of legs in puffy pants and boots stand on tiled flooring as a voice shouts orders. The people around him are Halkenburg's followers. Detain all of them. They are material witnesses. Dispatch soldiers to room 1009. Balsa should be there. The ability to swap minds explains Shikaku taking his own life and Vict as well. A spiky-haired man in a puffy jacket stands with his back to the viewer in a long corridor lined with doors and chandeliers. Nearby, a bald man in similar attire walks away. The spiky-haired man declares he must figure out the rules behind the mind swap as quickly as possible, otherwise he won't know who snapped with whom next time. Another man with short hair raises a hand and insists no, focus on Balsamilco first. His mind is Halkenburg's and now he is using his ability on someone else. Sir. At the bottom of the page a bald man with wide eyes looks up and asks Your Highness...? A bearded man with a serious expression holds a hand to his mouth and responds with a single question mark.

The spiky-haired man leans over a sink vomiting violently, body shaking with the force of each heave. Speech bubbles show Gah... Ah! Guh... Ah! and Guh... Uh! A bright flash effect fills the background. Close-up panels reveal his strained face covered in sweat, eyes narrowed in pain, with labels noting body fatigue and joint pain, severe nausea, and a fever. He stares at his reflection in the mirror above the sink, one hand braced on the counter. A small panel shows a single eye with the text It can't be...!!! This is... it can't be...? The bottom of the page erupts with a massive swirling distortion effect resembling a skull-like face emerging from darkness, accompanied by the large text INFECTION...?! Water droplets and motion lines emphasize the sudden realization.

At that point, Balsamilco was still at the Ministry of Justice below. Impossible!! It wasn't Halkenburg!! TSK-17 has an incubation period of roughly six hours from infection to the onset of symptoms... To ensure a 100% chance of infection, taking my height into account and given that the poison is dispersed near the floor, when it's dispersed in the air the range of guaranteed infection is two meters. TSK-17 is inside a container that cannot be opened except with the boots that were specially made for personal soldiers. To be sitting down... I have... That was the moment...!!! A large man in black stands silently in the room while the spiky-haired man seated at the desk clutches his clipboard in shock. A loud impact echoes through the space as the door slams shut.

The spiky-haired man enters a code on a keypad, causing a beep. He opens a reinforced case labeled TSK-17 containing multiple vials and syringes. Balsamilco... only removed one vial!! They're here...!! Assuming that a personal soldier besides myself and Balsamilco smuggled this aboard beforehand, how was it done?! If TSK-17 wasn't used, then these symptoms...?! It's just an ordinary illness...?! Could it really be a coincidence?! No!! Think!! The spiky-haired man's face twists in panic and realization as he holds the open case, sweat flying from his head.

In a high-tech laboratory, white-coated researchers work at benches and monitors. One seated scientist exclaims in frustration, 'LEAKED IT TO THE TRAITOR IN MY RANKS...!!' while another colleague nearby adds, 'SOMEONE IN THE WEAPONS R&D DIVISION...' A masked female researcher peers into a microscope as staff in protective gear handle equipment. The scene shifts to a smoky, dramatic panel showing two silhouetted figures. One kneels while the standing figure points accusingly: 'IF THERE WAS AN ABSOLUTE ORDER THAT CAME FROM THE TOP...!!' Text explains that even with strict security measures including production reports, inventory control, inspection of belongings, and data processing, everything was working as it should. A close-up shows a heavy boot stepping down forcefully with motion lines, accompanied by the line 'AND HANDED IT OVER TO THE TRAITOR...!!' and 'FROM MOTHER!! IN THAT CASE, THE QUEEN'S ROYAL GUARD REMOVED A VIAL...' In the final panel, a spiky-haired man in a puffer jacket stands angrily with clenched fists, shouting 'MY BROTHER OVER ME!!!' while a silhouetted figure in a dark jacket turns away, murmuring 'MOTHER... SHE CHOSE...'

A close-up reveals a bald man with a facial scar and intense eyes, identified by the sound effect 'FURY-KOV....!' Two figures in puffer jackets stand in the background. The bald man accuses, 'WORKING BACKWARDS, THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD HAVE POISONED ME IS YOU...' In a side profile, he demands to know the motive: 'BUT WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVE?! MONEY?! STATUS?! BEFORE YOU DIE, TELL ME WHAT WAS THAT CORRUPTED YOU!!' and states 'YOU OBTAINED TSK-17 THROUGH THE FIRST QUEEN AND TURNED TRAITOR FOR MY BROTHER...' The spiky-haired man reacts with shock, eyes wide, replying 'HOW-EVER...' and 'YOU'RE NOT MISTAKEN THAT I WAS THE ONE WHO DISPERSED TSK-17 AND INFECTED YOU, YOUR HIGHNESS! ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED TO THIS.' He continues, 'TURN TRAITOR?! ABSOLUTELY NOT!! I HAVE PLEDGED MY LOYALTY TO THE NATION AND TO YOU, PRINCE BENJAMIN, AND I ALWAYS WILL!!' Additional dialogue reveals the bald man's goal to exploit Queen Lunma's scheme for Prince Halkenburg's victory and his intent to kill before the other can finish. The spiky-haired man's face shows grim determination as he warns that choosing this moment could make the other part of the scheme.

The spiky-haired man stands in the bright room, explaining the curse embedded in him by Beyond. "THAT'S THE CURSE THAT WILL ACTIVATE UPON MY DEATH...! IT WAS EMBEDDED IN ME BY BEYOND AND IS PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE," he says. He continues, "THE QUEEN THREATENED THAT MY DEATH AS WELL WOULD BE TRIGGERED BY BEYOND, LEAVING ME WITH NO CHOICE." Through his Guardian Spirit Beast's ability, he claims he will become a god. Prince Benjamin listens intently as the man adds that reflecting the curse back is the only reliable way to avoid it eliminating the guardian spirit beast. "MY SOLE CONCERN WAS THE POSSIBILITY THAT DEATH BY THIS CURSE MIGHT ELIMINATE YOUR GUARDIAN SPIRIT BEAST'S ABILITY," he states, while Prince Benjamin worries the curse might target his own highness instead. In a grand panel, Prince Benjamin declares with outstretched hands, "WITHOUT A DOUBT... YOU SHALL BUILD A GREAT NATION OF UNSHAKABLE PROSPERITY WITH AN ETERNAL, UNBROKEN IMPERIAL LINEAGE!!" The spiky-haired man replies that he has been granted the honor of becoming the guardian deity, able to protect the beast by appearing to yield while actually turning the Queen's demand for TSK-17 on Prince Benjamin to his own advantage.

Close-up of the spiky-haired subordinate's face shows shock as he mutters, "WHAT A FOOL I WAS, NOT EVEN TRUSTING MY OWN MEN..." Prince Benjamin responds with wide eyes, "I HAVE NO ATTACHMENTS LEFT IN THIS WORLD..." and vows, "EVEN IF I PERISH REFLECTING THIS CURSE, I COULD ASK FOR NO BETTER FATE!!" He offers to accompany the subordinate a little longer. A large panel reveals an armored, skeletal guardian spirit beast standing behind the subordinate, who kneels before Prince Benjamin. Text boxes detail Fuyukyo's ability "Combo Master" (Specialization), explaining how proximity allows him to decipher and transmute a target's ability over time, either destroying or strengthening it. The subordinate cries, "MY PRINCE!!" and "WITH PLEASURE!!" while Prince Benjamin stands firm. At the bottom, waves crash as text states that Tserriednich and Halkenburg have stolen and used a scientific weapon from the military after conquering together.

Prince Benjamin stands with his arm thrust forward, his face twisted in fury as he issues commands. At 1415 hours today a declaration of special martial law will be made, he shouts, ordering notices sent to all personal soldiers. He declares this the highest authority that transcends even the king and claims he himself would become the spiritual foundation for the Great Tree of Kakin in place of the Seed Urn ceremony and the Guardian Deity of its leaders. Furykov has deciphered the ability of his Guardian Spirit Beast, and if it were to merge with Benjamin Baton the succession contest would change. Benjamin warns not to lay a hand on any member of the Association once the declaration is made, ordering regulations followed and the princes assembled in the grand hall of room 1001. He states Kakin will one day achieve world unification and the throne will be occupied for all eternity by the Hui Guo Rou line in unbroken succession under the sacred canopy above the throne. The succession contest was never a mere game of survival to select a king. Preparatory operations commence at 1400 hours with tier 1 targets executed on sight, personal guards unaffiliated with the royal army to be killed quietly and properly.

Benjamin grips a large rifle and declares he will purge the remaining princes before them and be officially anointed as successor. He notes that Camilla and Tserriednich's mother's faction cannot learn of his Guardian Spirit Beast's ability and he has little time left to live. A bald soldier watches nervously from the side. In a close-up Benjamin's hand displays four black star marks on the palm as he resolves to issue a last will and testament as the next king. The panel cuts to a close-up of a face marked with black crosses over the eyes and the words Musse your secret window appear beside it.

A large narration box details the safety checks on Camilla and Tserriednich, noting they will take roughly 15 minutes excluding Halkenburg and Fugetsu, with the remaining six princes to gather in room 1001 by 1430 hours. Camilla is shown receiving a post-lunch massage in her quarters. Multiple circular bubbles explain her Nen ability: upon being killed, her post-mortem Nen activates, stealing the attacker's life energy and reviving her. She is identified as a counteractive type whose ability level has increased through extended observation via a secret window, allowing her to rewind and view footage of her attacker. A hand holds a bottle while discussing how her quarters were stormed and opened fire indiscriminately. In a lower panel, a spiky-haired man in a jacket grips a large rifle and speaks with others, including a bald man with a headband. He states they can contact through the room phone so the declaration should reach them, and if they do not come to room 1001 by 1430 hours, dispatch Rihan. A close-up shows a bearded man with a scar glaring intensely, declaring he will make the target suffer until they beg for death before killing them, but he does not have time to waste. He shouts 'TSERRIE-DNICH!!' as the panel emphasizes his fierce expression.

A detailed overhead map of the 1000-series rooms shows multiple compartments with X marks on some, indicating cleared or restricted areas. Small character portraits are placed in various rooms including 1001 through 1014. A large circular burst reads 'UNTIL SPECIAL MARTIAL LAW...' while another emphasizes '15 MINUTES REMAIN!!!' Benjamin makes his move according to a side label. Close-up insets show a bald man on the phone looking concerned, a spiky-haired man also on a phone with a serious expression, a man with a knife looking aggressive, and other figures reacting with shock. One inset shows a long-haired person on the phone. The map highlights movements and positions of various individuals across the floor plan. A final inset shows a bald man with a sweat drop looking upward in alarm. The page is marked as the end of Chapter 413.