No.079

Under a starry night sky, Hisoka proposes an alliance inside a ruined building. "YOU TEAM UP WITH ME...." he says with a heart symbol. "NOW, IT DEPENDS ON YOU," he continues with a diamond. Kurapika stands facing away while Hisoka, marked with club and spade symbols on his back, crouches nearby. A voice asks, "OR YOU CONTINUE ALONE?" with a spade. The scene shifts as Kurapika reacts in shock. A narration box reads: "KURAPIKA! IT'S TAKEN A TURN FOR THE WORSE! #11 OF THE GENEI RYODAN HAS ESCAPED!" Kurapika exclaims, "WHAT?!" Hisoka gestures with a hand marked by a heart, saying "PLEASE..." and then "YES?" while wind-like SFX "fūryu fūryu" swirl around him.

Hisoka, with a star on his cheek, explains that the community men were already replaced when the boss phoned. Kurapika reacts in disbelief: "HOW?! ALONE?!" and worries "THE BOSS MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED..." A speeding car appears as someone suggests, "LET'S CHANGE TO PLAN B." A frantic caller urges, "COME BACK AS FAST AS YOU CAN!" Hisoka apologizes, "SORRY, BUT IT HAPPENED BEFORE I'D JOINED THE RYODAN," with a diamond. He then asks Kurapika, "DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO SCARLET PUPILS?" Kurapika stands alone under a spotlight and replies, "HISO KA, I HAVE SOMETHING TO ASK YOU."

The woman with the spade earring continues her measured explanation. She reveals that after the boss admires the objects he has targeted and acquired, he sells everything. Scarlet pupils might not be an exception. She adds that as long as its head has not been crushed, the spider continues moving. Kurapika listens intently, then asks for her answer. In the rubble-filled room, she explains that if the condition of one or another does not fit anymore, they are free to quit the collaboration. It is give and take; the essential of the collaboration is exchanging information. Being teammates does not mean they are in the same boat. Convenient, is it not? Kurapika accepts the terms and states they will meet again tomorrow at the same time.

Night falls over a tall modern building. Inside a damaged hallway, a spiky-haired man lies on the floor with wide, panicked eyes as a phone rings repeatedly with the sound 'Tururururu'. A long-haired girl with a flower accessory also reacts to the persistent ringing. In another room, a mustached man reports that the target left immediately after hearing the call. He describes the man running up and down the stairs yelling about the chain guy. A small round creature confirms it is obvious the target has been killed. The group concludes that nobody knows the identity of the caller.

In a spacious, well-furnished room, several figures sit and stand around a large desk. One seated man declares, "THE BOSS IS PROBABLY DEAD." Another voice asks, "WELL... WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO NOW?" A third adds, "AND WE STILL HAVEN'T FINISHED OUR MISSION..." A close-up shows a bearded man in profile explaining, "THE 'BOSS' IS NOTHING MORE THAN A NAME... IT'S ONLY A YOUNG LADY..." The short-haired youth in a high-collared uniform replies, "FIRST, WE MUST INFORM THE BOSS." In the next panel the same youth, now shown full-figure with a determined expression and motion lines, states, "WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO INFORM HIM." A stern man with slicked-back hair continues, "EXCEPT THE CHIEF, NOBODY KNOWS HOW TO CONTACT HIM. IT'S HIM WHO TRANSMITTED THE ORDERS TO DALTZORNE." Beside him, a man with a ruffled collar sits on a stool and says, "IT'S RAITO NOSTRAD, THE FATHER OF THE GIRL. OUR REAL EMPLOYER ISN'T HER." At the bottom of the page the young lady with long light hair leans forward, eyes wide with distress, repeatedly whispering, "BOSS... BOSS..."

At 2 A.M. the short-haired youth stands by a window and notes the time. In a bedroom the young lady with messy hair sits up in bed, rubbing her eyes and murmuring, "HM...?" The youth reports, "THEY WERE CANCELLED. WHAT? AND THE BIDS?!" The young lady reacts with shock, "BUT WHY? CANCELLED...?" Standing figures explain that Veze, Iwancolf, and Tochino passed away and that the auction site was attacked by criminals. The young lady's eyes widen further as she gasps, "IT HAS BEEN STOLEN TOO? WHAT?! BUT THEN... THE MUMMY?" One of the men exclaims with relief, "AH! THAT'S GOOD!" while the short-haired youth stares silently. The final panel shows the young lady smiling brightly and the ruffled-collar man looking weary as narration states, "IT SEEMS THE COMMUNITY PUT THE OBJECTS OF THE SALE IN A SAFE PLACE."

A young girl with wide eyes speaks firmly into the discussion. "If we don't receive orders, we can't act." Another voice continues, "Until now, all the information we received was transmitted by the boss. Consequently..." In the next panel a boy in a striped shirt exclaims, "Wha-?! Why?!" while a long-haired girl asks, "When is the next auction planned for?" and receives the reply, "We don't know yet." The girl with the phone suggests, "Ask my father. I've got his number on my cell phone." She adds, "But I don't know any of that kind of stuff either." A scarred man protests, "It's not okay with me! I don't wanna be a leader." The girl replies, "Yes, but... Because you're the one with the most seniority in the group." The scarred man insists, "Plus, there's no way I would take care of the girl." A sudden panel shows a figure leaping as someone shouts, "SCIWALA, YOU CALL HIM." Kurapika reacts with shock, "WHAT?! BUT WHY ME?!" A large close-up of a mustached man with a dramatic background declares, "I NOMINATE KURAPIKA." The group reacts as the mustached man continues, "Anyways, we must call as soon as possible." Another member adds, "We should decide together. Wouldn't that be better?"

The mustached man raises his finger and confirms, "I agree. My choice is Kurapika." In the background a group stands together while one member notes, "It's he who captured the other guy, and I think he has good judgement." Another character asks, "Isn't he the most responsible among us?" A boy with a topknot says, "That's true, accept, please." The mustached man receives the reply, "Yes..." A close-up shows the phone girl with a serious expression saying, "Very well..." She continues speaking on the phone, "For the moment, as a temporary substitute, I'm calling Nostrade-san. Until we're certain about what has happened to Daltzorne." A small figure adds, "I would have such an opportunity so fast..." The phone girl finishes with, "It's a bit delicate to call him this way, all of a sudden. Could you call him and introduce me?" while another voice replies, "Sure." and she thinks, "I didn't think..."

Neon lounges on her bed in a frilly nightgown, phone pressed to her ear, while a uniformed attendant stands rigidly nearby. She speaks casually into the receiver. "THIEVES HAVE ENTERED THE AUCTION HOUSE! AND DALTZORNE MIGHT BE DEAD," the attendant reports. Neon replies, "AH, PAPA? IT'S NEON. SOME THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, YOU KNOW." She continues, "I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE ONE WHO REPLACES HIM AT THE MOMENT, SO DON'T HANG UP..." In the next panels Kurapika, dressed in his formal attire, confirms details over the phone: "DALTZORNE MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED, IS THAT CORRECT?" A voice answers, "YES." Kurapika says, "HELLO." Neon appears in the background waving and calling, "HERE." The page ends with a night scene of an airship gliding through starry skies. Narration notes, "WITH HIS TRAINING, HE COULD ENDURE 10 BULLETS WITHOUT BEING HURT." A final bubble adds, "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. HE'S A NEN USER."

Kurapika, in close-up, asks, "COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO AT THE MOMENT?" He introduces himself: "I'M KURAPIKA, THE TEMPORARY SUBSTITUTE, BUT..." A large panel shows a city building at night with palm trees. A voice states, "THE ONES WHO STAND BEFORE US ARE CALLED THE 'GENEI RYODAN.'" Another speaker adds, "WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO OBSERVE ONE OF THEIR FIGHTS FROM A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE, AND ONE OF THEM STOPPED A BAZOOKA SHELL WITH ONLY HIS HANDS." A mustached man replies, "I'M GOING TO LISTEN BY MYSELF TO THE SUBSTITUTE'S OPINION ON THE PROBLEM..." Kurapika continues, "IN CASE THINGS TURN OUT BADLY, I FEAR OUR PROTECTIVE CAPACITIES ARE INSUFFICIENT." Neon looks down with a worried expression. A small panel shows the airship again. Kurapika states, "I'M HEADING FOR YORK SHIN. I SHOULD BE ARRIVING TOMORROW NIGHT." He adds, "I'LL DO ALL I CAN TO SATISFY HER." In later panels he declares, "YOUR DAUGHTER'S SECURITY IS MY FIRST PRIORITY." The mustached man responds, "I AGREE ON THAT POINT, BUT WE SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT HER WISHES AS WELL." Kurapika concludes, "I WANT TO RESPECT HER DESIRES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE."

A stern mustached man speaks into a phone, his expression hard. "Here's your first order; don't let my daughter out of your sight before I arrive," he commands. "As for you, you take over for Daltzorne as the boss." In another scene a young girl with pigtails reacts with surprise. "I wanted to go to the casino..." she says. "What...?" replies the blonde figure beside her. The blonde is told, "But while waiting for him, he asked you to wait quietly in your room." "Your father should be arriving tomorrow night," adds another voice. The girl suddenly brightens, arms raised in excitement. "Really?? That's great! I'm gonna be offered plenty of clothes!!!" The blonde figure walks down a hotel hallway past a reception desk marked with an arrow. At a computer terminal the blonde lifts the receiver. "Clic" goes the phone. "I'd like a confirmation of the name of the room the room was reserved to," the blonde requests.

An open refrigerator stands nearly empty, only a few cans left on the shelves and others scattered on the floor. Outside, a multi-story apartment building rises against the night sky. A close-up shows a battered face with wide eyes and sweat drops. In a dark panel a spiky-haired man drinks from a can, the sound "Slurp" visible. A prisoner lies on the floor, speaking upward. "It's the name of the Protecting Society of the Clan Nostrade," he says. From the doorway another voice states, "The room where you were held prisoner was reserved under the name of Polio Construction, Inc." The prisoner stares upward in shock, mouth open.

Uvogin looms over the group with a fierce grin. "WHEN I WANT SOMETHING, I TAKE IT. I'M NOT LIKE YOU. I NEVER HAVE ANY MONEY." Kurapika glares back. "WHAT A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A THIEF!" Killua leans in with a sharp smile. "WHY WOULDN'T YOU TAKE ONE TOO? A HUNTER CARD." Uvogin answers flatly, "CAN YOU FIND WHERE THEY WENT?" Killua replies, "SURE." Gon adds, "LET'S TRY TO FIND IT. OTHER RESERVATIONS WERE MADE FOR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CLAN." The car pulls up with a "Bip" as Killua announces, "HERE WE ARE." A caption notes, "ON HUNTER SITES, FOR MONEY, YOU CAN LEARN ANYTHING." In the next panel Gon sits writing on a notepad with a "critch critch" sound. "YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THEM BEFORE TOMORROW," he says. "APART FROM THIS BUILDING, THEY'RE REGISTERED IN TWO OTHER PLACES, AND THERE ARE THREE HOTELS INHABITED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY." Outside a window, a spiky-haired figure in ragged clothes waves a bag and shouts "YEAH!" while Gon watches. Uvogin, shown in profile, mutters "YEAH..." Killua looks up and says, "BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. UBO!" Uvogin suddenly grabs Killua in a crushing hug, yelling "THANK YOU SO MUCH!" Killua struggles and shouts, "MONEY IS ENOUGH, I DON'T WANT YOUR LOVE! YOU'RE DISGUSTING!!"

A large full moon dominates the night sky above a city skyline. Silhouetted against the bright circle, a spiky-haired figure leaps powerfully through the air with limbs outstretched. Below, Uvogin sits with a serious expression, hands clasped near his face. He thinks, "WHAT IF I BEGIN BY CHECKING THE CHEAP HOTELS..." and concludes, "HE MUST BELONG TO A LOCAL FIGHTING GROUP..."

A computer monitor displays a long list of names under the heading 'PROFESSIONAL HUNTER LIST.' Someone says, 'LOOK AT THIS.' The group examines the screen closely. 'THIS ROOM WAS RENTED UNDER DALTZORNE'S NAME. AND AS HE'S AN EMPLOYEE OF THE PROTECTION SOCIETY OF THE CLAN NOSTRAD, HIS NAME IS ON THE LIST.' 'IF YOU LOOK CLOSER BETWEEN THE LIST OF CLAN MEMBERS, AND THE ONE WITH THE LIST OF HOTELS IN YORK SHIN, YOU CAN EASILY FIND US...' In the next panels, a spiky-haired man reacts in shock: 'OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LIST OF ALL THE MEMBERS. WHAT?!' A small bald figure adds, 'THESE ARE ALL THE PLACES WHERE THE CLAN NOSTRAD STANDS. WHAT IS IT?' The spiky-haired man continues, 'BUT BECAUSE WE'VE JUST INTEGRATED THE GROUP, WE AREN'T ON THE LIST.' Another voice notes, 'USING THE INFORMATION FROM THE SITE RESERVED FOR PROFESSIONAL HUNTERS.' The page ends on a dramatic close-up of a sweating man with a vertical scar on his forehead, eyes wide in alarm: 'WHO IS HE REALLY...? A PROFESSIONAL HUNTER...'

Inside a hotel room, the group discusses their situation. 'INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT HIDEOUT, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ACT FAST. DON'T RENT UNDER OUR OFFICIAL NAME, BASHOU OR SENRITSU IS JUST FINE.' 'IT'S USELESS TO CHECK OUT OF THE ROOM.' 'WHAT...? THE SAME HOTEL?' 'IT'S REALLY BAD FOR US.' 'THEN, IF OUR ENEMIES HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SITE...' A young girl in a dress stands nearby as Kurapika, in formal attire, stands by the desk. 'TAKE THE BOSS WITH YOU, AND QUICKLY GO RENT ANOTHER ROOM.' 'NEXT, NEITHER YOU NOR THE BOSS SHOULD GO OUT OF THE ROOM.' 'UNDERSTOOD.' In a smaller panel, a spiky-haired child-like figure protests, 'DON'T TELL ME THAT YOU WANT TO...' while another small figure with pigtails replies, 'I STAY HERE.' Kurapika turns and asks, 'BUT, WHAT ABOUT YOU, KURAPIKA?' The final panel shows a close-up of Kurapika's serious face with a sweat drop.

A wide view of a city street lined with multi-story brick buildings and hanging signs opens the page. In a doorway below, a large spiky-haired man in a fur-trimmed outfit grabs a smaller tattooed man by the collar. Speech bubbles reveal their conversation: the tattooed man says "SHE'S REALLY WEIRD! SHE COLLECTS HUMAN BODIES, THAT OR EYES, GUTS..." and continues describing her prophetic abilities and mafia connections. The spiky-haired man replies "YES!" while another panel shows a close-up of his shocked face exclaiming "THE DAUGHTER...?" and "I DON'T THINK HE'S A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY..." A third voice adds "HE'S A BODYGUARD OF THE DAUGHTER OF A CLAN HEAD..." and notes that some godfathers trust her judgment despite demands within the mafia. A splash panel erupts with "SPLASH" and "ARgh!!" as a fish-like creature lunges forward, labeled "A DIVINATORY GIFT..." The spiky-haired man stares intensely at it. In the next panel the tattooed man cowers while holding a small girl, pleading "I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT IT SEEMS THE HEAD OF OUR CLAN WOULD HAVE SUCCEEDED IN THE MAFIA. WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT? I TOLD YOU ALL I KNOW! DON'T KILL ME!!" The girl looks distressed as he says "OKAY..." The final panel is a tight close-up of intense eyes glaring forward. A voice declares "THERE WASN'T ANY TRAITOR AMONG US." Another concludes "SO, THE BOSS WAS RIGHT."

A mostly blank white page features only the upper body of a young girl at the bottom. She has long, wildly tousled light-colored hair with two prominent tufts sticking up like horns. Her large dark eyes are wide open and her small mouth forms a perfect circle of surprise. Her shoulders are bare and her expression is one of shock or astonishment as she stares directly forward.