Veracity

A digital interface displays icons including a leaf, book, flask, and others, with a close-up of an eye. Options appear: 'Weapon', 'Armor', and 'Tool'. Text reads 'Remove the curse' and 'Matching Nen user'. A profile shows px4098 next to a silhouette labeled '?'. Furykov, holding the laptop, thinks in multiple bubbles: 'IT WASN'T THERE WHEN I CHECKED THIS MORNING, SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED SOMETIME DURING THE DAY...! DID ANYTHING STRANGE HAPPEN...!', 'THE WARNING APPEARS WHEN YOU'RE BEING AFFECTED BY A PROGRESSIVE MANIPULATION ATTACK OR A LATENT ATTACK INFLICTED THROUGH NEN, SUCH AS CURSES OR ILLNESSES.', 'I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S BEEN CURSED BY SOMEONE...! WHO ARE THEY?', 'SOMEONE IN THE MILITARY? OR A PERSONAL GUARD FOR ANOTHER PRINCE... IT MUST HAVE TO DO WITH THE SUCCESSION CONTEST, RIGHT?', and 'IF THEY'RE LISTED HERE ON FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, THAT MEANS THEY WERE AFFECTED BY THE SAME CURSE AT THE SAME TIME I WAS...!!!'.

A massive Seed Urn looms in darkness amid jagged lines as someone exclaims in shock, "IT CAN'T BE... THE PERSON WHO WAS CURSED AT THE SAME TIME WAS A PRINCE...?!" and "THE SEED URN CEREMONY....!!!" Below, a close-up of an eye discusses the curse trigger: "WITH THAT ASSUMPTION... ONLY AN INCREDIBLY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS." "IF PARTICIPATING IN THE SEED/URN CEREMONY WAS THE 'TRIGGER' THAT CAUSED ME AND THAT PRINCE TO BECOME CURSED..." A muscular man holding a tablet declares, "IF THAT WERE THE CASE, THE PRINCES AND PERSONAL GUARDS BOARDING THE BLACK WHALE SHOULD ALL BE LISTED HERE!" and "IF NEN ABILITIES ARE BEING USED IN THE SUCCESSION CONTEST, IT WOULDN'T BE STRANGE FOR ANY LIMITATIONS TO EXTEND TO THEIR ATTENDANTS... NO!" A silhouette states, "IT'S NOTHING BUT MALICE!!" Another panel notes, "THEIR FACE ISN'T BEING DISPLAYED BECAUSE THE USER IMBUED THE CURSE WITH CONCEALMENT NEN." The muscular man concludes, "THIS ISN'T COMING FROM WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SUCCESSION CONTEST!!" At the bottom, a box labels "Matching Nen user" while a portrait declares, "THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON 4098 IT COULD BE....!!!" and a silhouette adds, "A BASTARD CAPABLE OF STOPPING THIS LOW...."

At night, a long-haired scarred man answers a phone call on a balcony overlooking the city. "HELLO?" he says. The caller, a bald muscular man named Furykov sitting in a room, asks, "WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS?" The scarred man replies, "OH? YOU'RE THE ONE WHO CURSED ME, AREN'T YOU?" and "I'M SURPRISED YOU ACTUALLY NOTICED. IMPRESSIVE." Furykov explains, "THIS IS FURY KOV, A PERSONAL SOLDIER OF THE FIRST PRINCE. I WANT YOU TO PUT ME THROUGH TO BEYOND." and "AN IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION REGARDING THE SUCCESSION CONTEST." In an elegant room, the scarred man lounges and says, "...MY ABILITY WILL LET ME KNOW IF YOU'RE LYING." "HEH HEH. THEN WHY DID YOU CALL ME? JUST USE THAT ABILITY." Furykov continues, "THE CURSE I PLACED ON YOU IS FOR PRINCE BENJAMIN'S BENEFIT." "IT'S A CHARM FOR KAKIN'S PROSPERITY TO HELP THE SUCCESSION CONTEST PROCEED WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TO GUIDE THE NEXT SUCCESSOR." "THE ANSWER IS YES." The scarred man responds, "AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, I'M ALSO AWARE OF PRINCE BENJAMIN'S ABILITY. ISN'T IT KILLING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE?" "THE PRINCE PERFORMING THE SEED URN CEREMONY... THAT WAS THE TRIGGER?" Furykov confirms, "THAT'S RIGHT." and explains the post-mortem Nen curse on a certain prince, adding, "I ATTACHED IT TO YOU RIGHT AFTER YOU WERE BORN. BUT DON'T WORRY. IT WON'T CAUSE ANY HARM UNTIL YOU DIE." The scarred man concludes, "TO PUT IT SIMPLY, IT'S ACTIVATED AT YOUR DEATH, AND WITH POST-MORTEM NEN, IT WILL CURSE A CERTAIN PRINCE TO DEATH." "I WANTED TO SAVE MYSELF THE TROUBLE... SO WHAT KIND OF CURSE IS IT?"

A seated man with a phone gestures while speaking. 'No matter how I explain it, you still won't believe me, right?' he says. Another voice replies, 'Just use your own ability to confirm it.' Laughter echoes as a third speaker adds, 'Ha ha ha!' A man lounging with a device on his ear states, 'Assuming your story is true.' Below, a bearded man declares, 'I think the decision would land in my favor since I'm the one helping the succession contest proceed smoothly.' The ear-device man continues, 'In that case, you'll have to go through the current king first, since I'm technically still a top-level VIP. I'll also let you know that I can't reveal the target of the curse or any other details, so are you gonna interrogate me?' He adds, 'The goal of this scumbag is likely a voyage to the new continent... If there's any reason for him to side with Prince Benjamin, it's because he wants to preserve the current regime. The expedition will need long-term support, after all. He's trying to curry favor with the next king, so he can use Kakin's colonies as his base of operations...!' A close-up shows a determined face as the man thinks, 'If it's true that my death will trigger a curse that kills a prince, then even revealing that fact to me wouldn't interfere with his plans...! But...! I have 'Fullmetal Alchemist' 'Combo Master'!! Uncovering his ability will be easy!' He continues, 'A certain prince... activated at my death... I need to confirm these first...!! Beyond doesn't know my ability! He cast the curse assuming I wouldn't notice, but I caught him!! Now I need to assess the veracity of what he said after that!!' In the final panels, the man stares intensely as a screen displays 'BEEP' and 'Creation of Curse-Removing Item,' with text noting, 'After that, I'll know how long it will take to create the curse-removing agent! The details of the curse, and the formula for the antidote to remove it!! If I offer to be part of his security detail and can stay near him, then after a few hours, or a few days at most...'

A system screen displays: 'The time required to decipher the curse is approximately 365 days. Will you proceed?' with Yes and No options. Below it reads, 'The time required to create and conjure the antidote is approximately 700 days.' A checkbox states 'Deciphering not yet performed.' The ear-device man reacts with shock, sweat flying, shouting, 'A year...?! Just to decipher it all while staying near him?! And then two years to conjure the antidote!!' A bearded man asks, 'Did you manage to figure out even a tiny portion of the curse?' The ear-device man replies, 'Sometimes the time needed for conjuration drops drastically... but even so!' and 'Once the deciphering is done!' He adds, 'These are... countermeasures against Nen exorcists!! He intentionally made the spell complex and obscure to interfere with any deciphering...!' A close-up shows intense eyes as a voice states, 'It's a curse that has been taking your aura little by little and has built up its strength...! It won't be broken so easily.' The ear-device man responds, 'I told you, didn't I? I attached it to you right after you were born... over 20 years ago.' In the lower panels, the bearded man on the phone says, 'Well, no matter how much I explain, you'll probably still have your suspicions. Of course I will.' The ear-device man explains, 'It's a curse I prepared for the succession contest, after all. Once it all starts, things called Guardian Spirit Beasts, a type of Nen beast, will manifest for each prince and protect them, so regardless of who the target is, it's obviously more convenient to have the curse be as powerful as possible.' He concludes, 'My target... could it be Prince Benjamin...?! You let it slip...! I didn't!? A target that needs that much powerful aura to kill right after you were born... They can't be an ordinary human...! They have to be a Nen user.'

A short-haired man with a fierce expression grips a cell phone tightly, his eyes wide as he speaks with urgency. "OH MY, COMING FROM A SOLDIER SERVING AS A TRUSTED SUBORDINATE TO THE KAKIN EMPIRE'S ELDEST HEIR, DO YOU RESENT BEING A 'PAWN' TO PRINCE BENJAMIN?" he exclaims. He continues, "MIXING TRUTH AND LIES TO THROW PEOPLE OFF IS HIS USUAL TACTIC... AND THAT'S THE CASE..." and "WHEN IT COMES TO AN ASSHOLE LIKE YOU, WHO SEES EVERYONE ELSE AS NOTHING BUT PAWNS, EVEN BELIEVING HALF OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY IS GIVING YOU WAY TOO MUCH CREDIT!!" The man insists, "NO MATTER WHAT!! I WILL EXPOSE IT!!" and "THE ACTUAL TRUTH IS SOMEWHERE IN THERE, TOO...!!!" Smaller panels show a cityscape and a close-up of another intense man as dialogue continues about the succession contest: "THERE ARE MANY POSSIBLE OUTCOMES TO THE SUCCESSION CONTEST, BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE PATH BY WHICH THE SUCCESSOR TO THE CURRENT KING CAN CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE GUARDIAN SPIRIT BEAST'S BLESSING, WITH THE NATION'S PROSPERITY ASSURED." A voice replies, "WELL, OUT OF RESPECT FOR YOUR LOYAL DEVOTION TO YOUR PRINCE, I'LL OVERLOOK YOUR INSULTS AND GIVE YOU A PIECE OF ADVICE." Another panel shows a shocked face: "BOTH THE PRINCE AND I!! SINGLE LEAVES ON THE GREAT TREE OF KAKIN!! SERVANTS OF THE COMMON GOOD!! WE ARE NOTHING LIKE YOU, TAINTED BY YOUR SELFISH GREED!!" and "DON'T YOU DARE COMPARE YOURSELF TO THE PRINCE, YOU PIECE OF SHIT." The short-haired man declares, "DETERMINING THE ONE AND ONLY SUCCESSOR...!!! THAT'S THE RULE SERVING AS THE LIMITATION!!" and "BEFORE THE BLACK WHALE REACHES THE (FAKE) NEW CONTINENT, KILL ALL THE PRINCES EXCEPT PRINCE BENJAMIN...!!!" In the final panels he concludes the call: "WELL, I THINK IT WOULD BE WISE TO PUT MY CURSE TO GOOD USE FOR PRINCE BENJAMIN'S BENEFIT." and "SINCE I'LL END UP WANTING TO TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, I'LL MAKE THIS THE LAST CONTACT WE HAVE. SEE YA." A city view shows: "I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW COMMENDABLE I THINK IT IS THAT PRINCE BENJAMIN AND HIS TRUSTED SOLDIERS DID NOT TAKE PART IN THE CARNIVAL." and "FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS WELL, THIS IS CLEARLY THE BEST WAY TO MAINTAIN AMICABLE RELATIONS WITH KAKIN." The phone clicks off.

A muscular man sits cross-legged on a simple bed inside a dimly lit room, focused on a laptop resting on his lap. Nearby panels reveal a long empty hallway with doors on both sides and a nighttime view of a multi-story building under a full moon. The man leans forward, hand near his mouth, staring at the laptop screen displaying text and a tree-like symbol. His thoughts read: "IF, PRINCE BENJAMIN ISN'T THE TARGET... THE SECOND PRINCE, THEN? I KNOW THE WOMAN IS A NEN USER. WHEN IT COMES TO SOMEONE CAPABLE OF OVERTHROWING THE CURRENT REGIME, SHE'S A HIGH-PRIORITY THREAT THAT HAS TO BE MET WITH CAUTION—ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE NINTH PRINCE!!" He continues internally: "THE SEED URN CEREMONY IS STILL GOING ON... FOLLOWING THE TIMELINE, I WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THE CEREMONY HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED THROUGH THE EIGHTH PRINCE BY THE TIME I OPENED MY PC AND NOTICED THE CURSE—MY TARGET... IS AMONG THE FIRST EIGHT PRINCES...!!!" A dramatic close-up shows wide, sweat-covered eyes filling the frame as the man resolves: "I MUST VERIFY IT ON MY OWN!!" and "NO...!! I CANNOT LET MYSELF TAKE HIS WORD FOR IT!!!"

In a lavishly decorated hallway, Kurapika stands with Queen Oito and a maid as they discuss delivery options. "It's a general store that offers a delivery service using drones and high-speed boats. You send them your request, and they can deliver whatever you personally need," Oito explains. Kurapika replies, "Yes." Oito wonders aloud, "Yorozuya...?" A caption notes the date: Day 11 since departure, Wednesday 1:50 P.M., 25 minutes before Special Martial Law. They move to a private room where Oito opens a cabinet. She asks about the deadline for requests after departure and whether a reply can reach the ship before violent storms. Kurapika confirms the final deadline is two weeks after departure. Oito holds up a postcard and says, "This is the postcard I'm sending her." She worries about getting it to her sister in three to five days through proper channels. Kurapika explains using Yamato script's multiple character systems to create a coded message addressed to relatives on her mother's side from Yamato. Even if the wording sounds awkward, it can be explained as a lack of study. Oito sits with the baby Prince Woble while Kurapika holds the postcard showing the address "To my sister" and a note about three ways to render "Kakki" in hiragana, katakana, and kanji.

Kurapika advises choosing a meeting place far from Oito's hometown and using a special keyword both would recognize. Oito agrees to avoid naming specific people or places in the code. She asks Kurapika to write down what she wants to convey in her own words. In a darker panel, Kurapika stares silently at the postcard. The narrative then details the worst-case scenario: if the military deciphers the code, tracks the postcard, and confirms Prince Woble's participation, both the First Prince and his men would eliminate the rival prince. If Woble is captured, the Queen and her relatives will lose their lives. Kurapika worries about the risk of abandoning the code or the letter altogether. He imagines Oito's cautious sister suddenly meeting two boys claiming to be Hunter Association members without warning while caring for a baby. Oito listens intently as the dangers of mailing the message are weighed against the need to contact the mainland.

Two figures stand facing each other in a quiet upper space: a person in a light kimono with glasses and a blonde figure in a dark suit. Below, three close-up panels show young women reacting with wide eyes and sweat drops, their expressions tense. In the next sequence, a man in uniform speaks into a phone while another figure holds up a postcard. Dialogue reveals that under the Quarantine Act the Yorozyua can handle mail directly since the censorship system has been abolished. Queen Oito requests inspection of eight postcards addressed to her relatives and wishes to use the Yorozyua general store. The name "BABIMYNA" is called out. The scene shifts to a large panel where the blonde figure stands at the edge of a grand interior overlooking the massive black whale ship floating on the sea. Soldiers in uniform stand guard near the entrance while a man on a telephone reports that the military still controls the Yorozyua distribution network.

A massive black whale ship looms over the water under a cloudy sky, its hull covered in rivets and circular hatches. Dramatic lightning-bolt effects and jagged sound lines fill the sky. Two large starburst captions declare that special martial law has been declared and that this is not a drill, repeated in an emergency broadcast. Smaller panels show armed soldiers inside a building aiming rifles, civilians looking upward in alarm, and a close-up of running feet on a metal deck. A final speech bubble repeats the emergency message that special martial law has been declared.

In Room 1003, an urgent announcement blares through the speakers: "REPEAT!!! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!" A bald man stares in shock, sweat dripping, while background figures react with alarm. In the VIP Area of the Second Prince's living quarters, a woman with a ponytail lies face-down on a bed, arms crossed, as another character demands, "HEY, CAN SOMEONE SHUT THAT THING UP?" The broadcast continues: "SPECIAL MARTIAL LAW HAS BEEN DECLARED!! REPEAT!! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!" A close-up reveals the bald man's frantic thoughts: "HOW DID THIS HAPPEN...?! DAMN IT!! WHY?!" and "SURELY IT CAN'T BE... BECAUSE I HAD THAT COIN...? WAS IT ZHANG LEI'S COIN...?" The scene shifts to Room 1004, where a spiky-haired man in a suit glares tensely, a long-haired man in a tank top stands with arms at his sides, and others listen as the announcement repeats. A bespectacled man in the background clasps his hands while a woman with long hair looks on with concern.

A stern man in a jumpsuit stands with arms crossed, ordering everyone to remain in the living quarters until martial law is lifted. Nearby, suited men kneel or gesture in discussion while a woman in traditional attire watches. The prince is ordered to evacuate to room 1001 with the guards. In a smaller panel, a man aims a handgun while a girl with glasses and a suited man with glasses react; the suited man says, "IT'S NOT LIKE WE GO ANYWHERE ANYWAY." A bald man sweats heavily as another character threatens, "WANT TO GET SHOT?" and considers "suspicious behavior." Further dialogue addresses concerns about a faction using the succession contest to cover the annihilation of the nation, with one speaker insisting researchers must not be threatened because they are irreplaceable for scientific research on the continent.

Prince Benjamin will provide an explanation once you arrive at room 1001. And how long is a while? Until measures are in place to investigate this threat, we will observe a temporary ceasefire. We ask that you proceed promptly to room 1001! I'm looking forward to hearing where he'll draw the line between 'making efforts to win the succession contest' and 'threatening to overthrow the state'. An explanation, huh... I either something extraordinary happened for Benjamin to invoke his trump card, special martial law, this early... or, if this was his plan from the start, it could be a surprise attack meant to eliminate the higher-ranking princes before they become a serious threat. Though it's not clear whether I'm included among them. You'll be briefed on the military's response going forward once you're there. It'll be more cramped than your current living quarters, but you'll have to bear with it for a while! However, if the situation remains serious and uncertain, you will all be required to live together in room 1001! Your weapons will be collected upon entering room 1001. We will remain outside, while Prince Benjamin will speak with everyone inside. Any number of guards belonging to the royal army may accompany you. I am allowed to bring my guards to room 1001, yes? ... Prince Benjamin alone...? I can't figure out what he's after... but given the situation, I have no choice but to go... For now. Run tests on the samples. My hypothesis that it's because Kurapika isn't by her side is starting to seem more plausible... I figured the guardian spirit beast that appeared the moment Tubeppa contracted into a conditional type... but it hasn't made a single move since then...

A large group of suited men and guards gathers in the ornate hallway. A smiling woman with a bandaged arm gestures while speaking. He may be the mafia boss!! Get in touch with him immediately! Rice is also nowhere to be found! Yes! Luzurus is missing?! It was before special martial law was declared!! It's a real problem! When I got there, he'd already killed the seventh prince's guards in the break room. He ordered me to delay the first prince's soldier. What did you discuss with the prince? This'll get the association members, Luzurus' guards, and the Cha-R family connected to them all wiped out for treason! These bastards will get what's coming to them!! Heh heh... Pointless details about the exact timing can be dealt with later!! The fact remains that there is objective proof that I, a trusted soldier of Benjamin, was personally assaulted and restrained by a member of the Hunter Association!!

In a sealed room labeled 1011, a young woman with light curly hair points urgently while shouting orders. A soldier with a rifle stands ready as another man warns that once the room is sealed, no one leaves. The group is told to proceed to VIP quarters immediately under martial law. In Room 1003, a Nen space at 2:00 P.M., a man on the phone receives orders that action begins at 1415 hours. A girl with wide eyes thinks about neutralizing the first prince's soldier and staying calm to avoid treason charges. Another girl with an H on her jacket notes something different about the soldier's tense posture. A man in a puffer jacket stands with his back turned, aura flaring. Large text emphasizes that leaving is not an option because the seventh queen's guards accompany the prince and they would be powerless outside. The group debates creating a continuous Nen space despite its one-time-use limitations.

Large thought bubbles stress that a weak prince must avoid fighting and stay inside the Nen space to survive. Two figures stand together as one suggests Vergei come over. In Room 1014 twenty minutes after the declaration, Queen Oito is shown under suspicion of contempt. Prince Benjamin grants clemency and defers indictment for Prince Woble. A close-up of a stern man with spiky hair warns that anyone leaving the master bedroom will be charged with fleeing custody. A girl with an H jacket thinks about the search for Prince Woble and the impulsive reaction to Special Martial Law. Two women discuss motives and the possibility that Prince Woble is hiding aboard the ship. The page ends with the Hunter × Hunter logo and Chapter 415 / End.