THE PRINCES

Outside a grand building, Kurapika discusses the pro hunter application process with a silhouetted figure. Kurapika states there is no better way to get closer to the princes than this. The silhouetted figure explains that the application method requires inputting an organization registration number, and duplicate numbers are instantly disqualified. Six of the princes are recruiting the best pro hunters they can find for bodyguards. There is still a possibility that among the six princes, one of them is the target, Tserriednich. This is a mission requiring constant presence in the immediate vicinity of the prince. They will already be ineligible if they apply while concealing their status. A large sound effect erupts as the scene shifts to a group of people. Kurapika tells the group they are going to infiltrate each of the princes' bodyguards. A bald man with crossed arms and a muscular man with a mustache stand together. A young girl in pigtails and a small girl in a hat look on with wide eyes. Someone remarks so that's why.

Three men stand in close conversation, each framed in a vertical panel. On the right, Izunabi speaks with a serious expression, questioning the timing and scope of the mission. "Making this request just one month before the voyage... and on top of that, you want to infiltrate all 6 simultaneously?" he asks. "Sure seems like something must have happened for a countermeasure like this to have been needed." In the center panel, Hanzo responds thoughtfully, "I don't think that target No. 4 is in here... No. 1 and No. 4 have the same mother, so in other words, they're all veterans at this prince game. They would surely have private forces to draw on that they can trust." On the left, Basho agrees with a firm nod, "I agree. Trying to buy dependable protection like this, that's the mark of an amateur. Naive and without experience... that would be numbers 5 through 8." The labels beneath identify Basho of the Nostrade Family, Hanzo Peer, and Izunabi in a master-student relationship.

Three female characters continue the strategic discussion in vertical panels. On the left, a light-haired girl with large eyes surrounded by chains and barbed wire declares her intent: "What I want is to get as close as possible to the 4th Prince, so what I need is for you to gather any information that would be beneficial in accomplishing that. Apart from that, I'll leave everything else to your own individual discretion." In the center, Biscuit comments on the nature of the conflict, "Battles for succession are always, at their best, ugly. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them made moves to get some of their 'threats' out of the way." On the right, Melody responds optimistically, "Well, then that would be all the more convenient for us to easily win them over. If we can win over their trust, we might even be able to get closer to the higher-up princes." Biscuit is noted as requested by Killua, and Melody belongs to the Nostrade Family.

In a spacious, dimly lit room with ornate furniture and large windows, several figures stand and converse. A voice states, "THAT WAY, I'LL HAVE MORE POSSIBLE OPTIONS AND PRECISION WITH MY ABILITIES." Another replies, "IDEALLY, CLOSE ENOUGH THAT I CAN TOUCH HIM." A third asks, "AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE? LIKE, HOW CLOSE ARE WE TALKING HERE?" Kurapika, wearing a dark suit, discusses the arrangement with a young girl who has light hair in pigtails tied with black bows. She responds, "AND SO WHEN WE SUCCEED IN THAT, YOU WILL BE COMPENSATING US PROPERLY, RIGHT?" Kurapika continues, "AFTER ALL, AFTER WE ACCEPT THE REQUESTS TO BE BODYGUARDS, OUR CONTRACT WITH YOU WILL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED." The girl presses, "BY CANCEL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS WHOLE BODYGUARD THING AND NOT YOUR REQUEST, RIGHT?" Kurapika answers, "OF COURSE, THAT'S FINE." She adds, "ALTHOUGH IF YOU HAD A NORMAL LEVEL OF COMPREHENSION, I WOULD THINK YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO CONFIRM SOMETHING LIKE THAT." Later panels show Kurapika looking down with a troubled expression, sighing, "IN ORDER TO RECLAIM MY BRETHEREN... THIS IS ALL..." A flashback-like panel depicts an intense confrontation where someone yells, "LISTEN HERE, YOU!! I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE, BUT I TRUST YOU ABOUT AS FAR AS I CAN THROW YOU!!" and "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT FROM SOME HYPOCRITE WHO PUTS ON AIRS FOR EVERYONE SHE MEETS." The girl reacts with shock, "WHAT?!" as impact lines and symbols fill the panel.

The young girl with pigtails stands with her back to the viewer as Kurapika speaks passionately, "SUCH A RARE, DELICATE, ELEGANT YOUNG GIRL AS YOURSELF... WOULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN ON THE REQUEST OF SOMEONE LIKE ME, RIGHT? AFTER ALL, IF IT WEREN'T FOR KILLUA'S INTRODUCTION..." Kurapika continues, "SO IF YOU STILL WANNA BACK'S YOUR LAST CHANCE TO DO IT. YOU'RE MUCH MORE FITTED TO BE A PRINCESS THAN A BODYGUARD ANYWAY." In another area, a group including a man in a sports jacket, a tall armored figure, and others prepare as someone asks, "ARE YOU ALL READY?" A voice replies, "I'LL DO ANYTHING... NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES!" A laptop screen displays client data while Kurapika notes, "THE CLIENTS ARE ALSO THEIR LEGAL WIVES AND CHILDREN..." The young girl exclaims, "NO... THAT'S NOT ALL..." Kurapika then instructs, "NOW THEN, PLEASE SEND YOUR DATA TO EACH OF YOUR RESPECTIVE PRINCES." The girl responds enthusiastically, "YEEES~ ANYTHING YOU SAY!"

Kurapika stands before a laptop, deep in thought. All six of the requests are nearly identical except for slight differences in their conditions and requirements. But no matter how small the difference, it may be a clue that can lead me closer to my target... I've got to choose the right one to go with! There could also be people there, in some kind of complicated situation or relationship, and of course, we'd be in no position of knowing about anything other than what we were told initially. Among all these, the person that will let me get the closest to my target... Those who were completely clear about what they were looking for, or who kept it a complete secret, or without an interview process at all... etc... Or the person who wasn't involved in competing over bodyguards from the start... the person who dropped out of the competing the fastest... the person with countless conditions for employment... or the person with none at all... The person who put their request out the quickest... or perhaps the latest... or perhaps the one who offered the most compensation... One of these two... is most likely... And I believe that one of these two is him!! The one that matches the most to that profile is Prince Harkenburg... What is needed of a prince is the ability to display maturity and confidence... and I saw that in two of them... one, from the results of the competition, put out the highest compensation... put out the highest compensation... the other refused to change his compensation. (1) In order to attain his victory, he put down the highest compensation... with no intent at all to ever lose. He's the type that puts his strength on display. (2) The one that didn't change his compensation at all has a strong sense of pride, self-esteem, and self-control. I could imagine he's the type that would expect such of his opponents...

Even among princes, his achievements excel and stand out, but he has bad relations with his mother and his two sisters. He would say that it was just bad luck. At age 15, he skipped grades to attend the world's greatest university, Miwall. There, he studied physics and also competed in the world championships of archery, winning a gold medal. 'Tserriednich is the only one of the princes that accepts me.' He himself had once posted on Facebook that... While still in grade school, they had him admitted to a boarding school which resulted in rumors such as he was exiled or in hiding from assassins. And to be perfectly frank, within the palace, he was beyond the king's control as well... they simply could not handle him. And if, even when they were apart, he would still keep constant correspondence with that person, it's highly likely that, while on a ship together, they would reunite. With such powerful feelings of alienation and angst, he had found only one person that would sympathize with him and understand him... No matter what it takes, I must deduce which of these is Harkenburg!! Either way, I can't see either of them as having a very strong connection to Tserriednich... but no matter what it takes... These two didn't even have a good reason for why they chose to give the interviews themselves apart from them both liked to choose their bodyguards based on their looks... all the while being so arrogant as to keep up with their social networking updates during the process. From their profiles, I imagine the other one is either prince no.6 or no.10.

A hand grips a phone while text reads: HARKENBURG WOULD, LIKELY, BE A VERY HARD PERSON TO DEAL WITH, BOTH TO HIMSELF AND THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM... I GUESS I SHOULD GO WITH MY FIRST INSTINCT... In a dim room a foot steps on a map as a voice declares HE'S GOT TO BE THIS ONE! with loud SFX KCHK. Elsewhere in a bright office several figures stand together. One suited man states ALL THAT'S LEFT IS YOU AND ME, WHO STILL HAVEN'T SELECTED FOR. Another replies ALL THE OTHERS HAVE SENT THEIR NOTICES. A bearded man wearing an earpiece says LOOKS LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE A BRIEFING. ME TOO. A bald man checks his phone and announces WOW, I'VE ALREADY GOT A RESPONSE. BE AT THE HOI HOI HOTEL AT 7 PM. The suited man answers OKAY THEN, I'LL TAKE THAT ONE. Outside a large building a voice explains IF THEY REQUEST TO KEEP CONTROL OVER ANY INFORMATION GOING OUT... THEN JUST AS YOU WOULD HAVE GUESSED, USE Q. ROGER. Another warns IF YOU GET ANY KIND OF CLUES, GET IN TOUCH WITH ME RIGHT AWAY. A young blond boy adds ALTHOUGH IT'S STILL A HOTEL MANAGED BY THE HUI GUO RUO FAMILY... AND ME TOO, BUT MY LOCATION IS DIFFERENT. A footnote describes an original special telephone network developed by the organization.

Kurapika stands alone on a nighttime city balcony overlooking glowing skyscrapers and a distant Ferris wheel. He descends a staircase into a luxurious hotel lobby. In a long corridor a man in a suit extends his hand toward Kurapika while another figure waits farther down the hall. A close-up shows a polished shoe stepping forward with the SFX STEP. Kurapika walks ahead as the suited man turns and states THE PRINCE IS WAITING INSIDE. Kurapika's face fills the final panel, eyes wide and serious against a dark background.

In a grand, ornate hall lined with heavy patterned curtains and marble columns, Kurapika stands in the foreground, his back partially turned as he faces a large throne-like chair. A silhouetted figure sits motionless in the chair while Kurapika holds a small infant wrapped in cloth. The scene shifts to close-ups: Kurapika’s profile with a tense expression, sweat visible on his cheek, and the woman cradling the baby, her face calm yet serious. Kurapika speaks first. "The 14th Prince... Prince Woble..."

Kurapika stands before Oito, who sits with Woble on her lap. He introduces himself firmly. "My name is Kurapika." Oito replies politely, "Pleased to meet you, Woble, and his mother, Oito." Kurapika continues, explaining his reasoning. "After all, that makes me all the more sure you’re the kind of person we’re seeking." Oito responds with concern, "Don’t worry." Kurapika presses on about their objective despite limited clues. Oito acknowledges the profile match. The page widens to a grand hall with a central fountain where many figures gather. Multiple narration boxes detail the strict data rules: princes were given only general data to prevent targeted assassinations, and all other information was collected uniformly to avoid specific requests.

A close-up reveals a figure with spiky hair against a dotted background as the realization hits: "...SO THAT'S HOW IT WAS..." In a formal room, Kurapika stands before a seated figure while explaining Prince Halkenburg's situation. "AND I'M SURE THAT HE HIMSELF KNOWS THAT. THE ONE WHO BOTH OF THOSE SEEM TO APPLY TO IS PRINCE HALKENBURG. THAT'S WHY HE DIDN'T PUT OUT A REQUEST TO BEGIN WITH." A woman with long dark hair adds, "HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET ABOVE THE RULES, BUT IF THOSE THAT KNEW HIM FOUND OUT HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH FOR BODYGUARDS, HE COULD SIMPLY CHANGE HIS COMPENSATION OFFERED TO ZERO. PRINCE HALKENBURG IS QUITE THE HARSH PERSON TO DEAL WITH... BOTH TO HIMSELF AND THOSE AROUND HIM." A massive spread shows a chaotic crowd of protesters waving signs and banners. Text overlays describe how Halkenburg's supporters constantly spread assassination rumors, used him to change his image, and gradually built his power toward a dictatorship. The woman continues, "AFTER ALL, THOSE THAT SEEK TO CONTROL AND MANIPULATE HIM WOULD KNOW HIS WEAK POINTS AND HOW TO GET TO HIM. WHILE THOSE THAT ARE AFTER HIS LIFE ARE PROTECTING US, WE CAN PRESERVE AND IMPROVE THAT SITUATION. BUT TO US, ALL OF THAT WAS CONVENIENT. THE PEOPLE HIS SUPPORTERS' INVESTIGATION TEAM WORKED TO KEEP AWAY FROM HIM WERE MOSTLY EITHER ASSASSINS OR FAKE SUPPORTERS. SINCE IT ALLOWED FOR A GIVE AND TAKE, QUID PRO QUO SITUATION." A small girl with braids looks up worriedly as someone asks, "...? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

In a grand hall with pillars and chandeliers, Kurapika responds, "NO, THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING AT PLAY HERE. IT WOULD BE A GOOD CHANCE FOR THOSE WITH ULTERIOR MOTIVES TO GET CLOSE TO THE PRINCES. THE PROS WILL HANDLE THEIR DUTIES PROFESSIONALLY, EVEN IF THEY'RE JUST IN IT FOR THE MONEY. WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH CANDIDATES FOR THE SUCCESSION ALL COMING TOGETHER NORMALLY? YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND AT ALL, DO YOU?" A dark-haired man replies, "YES." Kurapika continues, "YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT... IN THE CASE OF NEEDING TO ELIMINATE RISK FACTORS?" while a woman peeks from behind a pillar. Another panel shows the woman saying, "BUT THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY TRAINING AT ALL IN PROACTIVELY KILLING PEOPLE. PRO BODYGUARDS MAY SPECIALIZE IN PROTECTING IMPORTANT PEOPLE..." The scene shifts to a smoky background where the woman holding a sleeping baby states, "A JOURNEY UNTIL THERE IS ONLY ONE PRINCE LEFT. THIS VOYAGE IS MEANT TO BE A SURVIVAL MATCH..." Kurapika reacts with wide eyes and a sharp "!!"

A woman cradling an infant speaks firmly about the duty of raising the king's child. She questions whether anyone had opposed the succession war and notes that the princes have prepared private forces for the conflict. Stern-faced men with distinctive markings listen intently as the discussion turns to the expectations placed on the royal family. The woman declares that even the king's wife and children must embody the strength befitting royalty. In close-up, a composed figure with long hair states that a child who believes without doubt they will be king is what it means to be a prince. A light-haired person stands before an ornate throne, reflecting that a prince should seize any chance to become king. The scene shifts to a ruined battlefield where silhouetted figures stand amid smoke and debris. One declares that the fate of those who flee in defeat is unimaginable, while another recalls the king's teaching that those who are no longer the king's children are no longer princes.

A detailed cityscape panel shows the woman with the infant explaining that their only card was to threaten exposure of explosive switches and witnesses. She notes that revealing how the next king was chosen would damage the new ruler. A tall figure in formal attire stands opposite her in a grand hall as she offers ten times the original compensation if he helps them escape the ship safely. The light-haired person hesitates, stating they are not in a position to force compliance. The woman with the infant promises to protect the agreement with all her strength. A large ornate clock is visible on the left. The woman holding the baby reacts with wide eyes and a glowing aura around her head while the light-haired figure looks down with a serious expression.

In a grand chamber framed by ornate curtains, a silhouetted figure stands before a seated woman and declares, "I'LL DO IT." The woman replies, "VERY WELL." In the next panels a woman with dark hair in a bun explains the delicate balance of appearances among the princes and their attendants. She notes that breaking the strata among princes would cause a huge uproar and that they must maintain equal outward appearances at banquets and parties with other VIPs. She adds that even a survival death match would not allow open killing among passengers. The light-haired youth in a suit pleads, "PLEASE DON'T FORCE ANY SITUATION THAT WOULD CAUSE YOU TO WORRY ABOUT THAT," and receives the reply "UNDERSTOOD." The youth continues, "I THINK I'LL BE ABLE TO CREATE A CHANCE FOR YOU TO AT LEAST PASS BY HIM." A narrow black panel shows the woman walking away with a small speech indicator. The scene shifts to a ruined, debris-filled corridor where the same woman stands among wreckage and reflects, "FROM AN IMPOVERISHED FAMILY... I WAS JUST A FOOLISH GIRL..."

Amid the wreckage of a once-luxurious shop the woman continues her recollection: "WE'RE TO BE SHOWERED IN FAME AND WEALTH... IT WAS A SHAMEFUL LIFE OF EXCESS AND LUXURY." She remembers, "AT THAT TIME...MY ONLY DREAMS AND WISHES..." and "WHEN THE KING FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH ME, HE WAS SMITTEN WITH ME AS HIS WIFE." Dark panels show her inner thoughts: "AS I FINALLY REALIZED WHAT WAS TRULY PRECIOUS TO ME..." and "FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART... AT LAST I FELT REGRET..." A panel depicts a baby and states, "WHEN WOBLE WAS BORN AND I LEARNED THE TRUE NATURE OF THIS FATE..." She concludes with "BUT..." A close-up of a tear-streaked face asks, "TO HOLD MY LITTLE GIRL? WOULD YOU LIKE..." The light-haired youth is shown in successive panels reacting with a hand to the face, then embracing the woman who holds a baby, and finally standing with a determined expression and outstretched hand.

A baby with curly hair lies on its back, eyes closed and mouth slightly open with a drop of drool at the corner. Its small fists are clenched near its chest as it rests against a dark, textured garment. Below, Kurapika stares upward with a tense, focused expression, a bead of sweat visible on his cheek. His light hair frames his face, and his posture suggests he is holding or closely attending to the infant above him.

A war for succession, drenched in blood. Portraits of the princes' bodyguards are displayed with labels. Basho, bodyguard to the 7th Prince Luzurus, appears with a confident smirk. Biscuit, bodyguard to the 13th Prince Marayam, stands beside a young boy holding a card. Izunabi, bodyguard to the 6th Prince Tyson, is shown with a stern look. Hanzo, bodyguard to the 12th Prince Momoze, and Melody, bodyguard to the 10th Prince Kacho, are also featured. At the bottom, a large, dark, face-like pot or urn sits amid swirling particles, emitting sound effects ズ.. ズ.. ズ.. marking the end of the chapter.

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