Nº101 - 3 Septembre 17

From a high angle, a group of men in dark suits surround the injured figure still seated in the rubble. Several hold handguns aimed toward the center. One man in the lower left shouts with a speech bubble reading 'HEY! WHERE'VE YOU BEEN?!' while others stand or crouch among the broken tiles and rocks. The injured man remains the focal point of their attention.

Kurapika stares intently to the side as voices discuss the captured leader. "DON'T DAMAGE THE BODY MORE THAN IT ALREADY IS," one orders. "WE NEED TO BROADCAST HIS PICTURE ON THE NET." Nearby, suited men examine the bloodied young man on the ground. "THIS'S THE LEADER?" one asks. "HE WAS REALLY YOUNG." A sudden shout rings out: "AHH! WE'RE COMING!" followed by "WE'VE FOUND THE REST OF THE RYODAN!!" Several figures in black lie sprawled across the grass, some bound or motionless. Kurapika leans forward with a sharp gaze while another black-clad figure reaches toward the bodies. In the next area, men in dark suits stand over the fallen. One seated man with a chain necklace declares, "THAT'S A TOTAL OF 5 BODIES." From the trees, another calls, "THERE'S ONE OVER HERE TOO!!"

A stern man with a facial scar issues cold commands. "I WANT YOU TO ELIMINATE FAMILIES, FRIENDS, HUSBANDS AND WIVES..." he states. "WHEN YOU HAVE DISCOVERED THEY ARE... TAKE THEIR GENETIC CODE, FINGER PRINTS, AND DENTAL PRINTS. EXAMINE STAMPS, EXAMINE EVERYTHING!" He continues, "ANTICIPATE, AND GET RID OF THE PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY ARISE. SO THAT WE NEVER RUN INTO THESE TYPES OF PEOPLE AGAIN. YOU MAY CUT THEM OPEN, IT'S NO MATTER." Suited subordinates listen in the background. A dramatic speed-line panel follows. At the auction hall, an announcer declares, "THIS IS THE LAST ITEM!" and "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE CLOSING THE AUCTION FOR TODAY!!" Kurapika stands among the crowd with a surprised expression, one hand raised slightly as the hall begins to empty.

The auctioneer thrusts his arm forward with theatrical flair, microphone in hand, as he announces the prize to the room. 'OOOOOH THESE ARE "THE SCARLET EYES"!!!' he bellows. 'ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD!!' A woman stands beside the display case holding the glowing red orbs. The crowd reacts with excited 'Brouaha' murmurs. Close-ups reveal Kurapika's wide, shocked eyes staring at the display. A large panel shows the auctioneer's intense face as he continues, 'THE ONES WE'RE PRESENTING ARE OF AN EXCEPTIONALLY BRILLIANT COLOR!! THERE ARE ONLY 36 PAIRS REMAINING FROM THE KURATA CLAN, NOW EXTINCT!!' In the lower panels Kurapika sweats heavily while clutching a fish-shaped pastry, his expression tense. A phone rings with 'TUUUUUUT' and 'Bip Bip' sounds as an unseen hand answers it. On the far right Kurapika, now in his auction attendant vest, stands by a doorway holding the ringing phone.

Bidders in the shadowed auction hall raise numbered paddles as the price climbs rapidly: '120 !!!' '150 !!!' '110 !!!'. A voice on the phone reports, 'SIR? IT'S KURAPIKA.' In the next row of panels the same voice continues, 'IT SEEMS MY PREMONITION WAS MISTAKEN.' Kurapika, still on the line, says 'OF COURSE! THIS ITEM I WANT, WHATEVER THE COST!' and asks if they should join. Another voice replies that the current bid for the Scarlet Eyes is rising and that the auction proceeded as expected, noting the Danchou of the Genei Ryodan has been killed. A commanding figure declares, 'YOU HAVE FREE REIGN! YOU HAVE NO LIMIT!' The auctioneer shouts the escalating bids, '350 !!' 'GOING ONCE...' and confirms 'WE HAVE 310 MILLION ON THIS SIDE!!' as the final bidder responds 'UNDERSTOOD.'

In a crowded auction hall, a short-haired bidder in a dark jacket with a distinctive flame-like emblem raises their hand sharply. The bid is called at 500!!! as spotlights flare. Nearby panels display rapidly climbing numbers from the excited crowd: 355!!, 3515!!, 371.2!!, and 370!!. Tension builds as another panel shows the bidder turning with a startled !! expression. A large speech bubble erupts from the audience declaring ONE BILLION !!!. In the final wide panel the bidder stands among the murmuring crowd, facing a bald man in a dark suit who has just descended a short flight of stairs at the front of the room. The bald man stands alone on the steps while spectators watch from both sides.

A mustached man with a stern expression stares toward a window where the bald man in a suit stands with his back turned, hand to his face. A large bubble shows the shock at 2.9 BILLION ?!. The mustached man mutters Well, whatever... while thinking that the amount exceeds expectations because of that fat pig. Another panel reveals the bald man was with the Zenji group of assassins whose presence has driven bids higher. The mustached man clenches a fist, noting it works for him regardless and that higher prices let the community profit more. In a hallway below, a lone figure in dark clothing walks away. A final close-up shows the mustached man adjusting his glasses and declaring the situation fine and perfect, deciding to bail out quickly thanks to Neon's prediction while calling it an investment.

A mustached man in a dark suit leans forward with intense focus, declaring, "YOU'RE IMPORTANT... EVEN MORE THAN EVER...!!" He continues, "THAT'S WHY I MUST PRIORITIZE NEON'S HEALTH OVER EVERYTHING ELSE." In the next panel, his hand rests gently on the head of a sleeping girl with long hair as he vows, "I'LL WIN MORE THAN NEEDED!!" and "WITH YOU..." The scene shifts to a large, eerie container resembling a cabinet with two round, unblinking eyes staring outward from behind glass doors. At the bottom of the page, a close-up reveals one of the girl's eyes opening slightly, showing a dark, reflective pupil.

In a formal room, suited men complete a transaction as one asks, "DO YOU CONFIRM THAT THE ITEM IS CORRECT?" Another states, "YOU'RE THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NOSTRADE CLAN, CORRECT? CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACQUISITION." The representative replies, "YES..." while holding the eye-containing container. Nearby, Neon stands with a tear on her cheek, watching a woman at a counter where "floc floc" sounds are heard. Close-ups show Neon's distressed face. The scene transitions to a vast starry void where Neon, now in a frilly dress, stands alone as shooting stars streak by. A dark silhouette appears behind her, raising a gun with a "clic" sound.

On a dark pier lit by floating orbs, a young girl in a dark dress walks away from a bald man in a suit who points a gun at her back. "YOU THINK YOU CAN LEAVE LIKE THIS?" he demands. The man, sweat flying, growls "OR I'LL BLAST YOUR HEAD OPEN." The girl stops and says "STOP!" Two taps sound as her hair shifts. She orders "GET AWAY." The man's face twists in panic as he stammers "YOU ... I'M WARNING ..." In close-up the girl's shadowed eyes glare forward. "I'M READY TO KICK THE ASS OF THE FIRST PERSON I MEET," she declares. "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT."

The bald man's face contorts in horror, eyes bulging and sweat pouring down. Close-ups show his trembling eye and the words "I'M COMPLETELY DOMINATED... ME..." and "IM... IMPOSSIBLE." Neon's large face fills the panel, half in shadow, staring coldly. She says "YOU INCLUDED." Below, the bald man stands with gun raised while Neon walks away across the pier without looking back.

A bald man with a heavily swollen nose stares in shock, sweat pouring down his face as he gasps 'IS HE?!' and 'WHO THE HELL...'. Behind him, a lone figure in a long dress stands on a wooden pier beneath a starry sky dotted with glowing orbs. The scene shifts to a raucous bar table where Leorio throws his head back laughing, a bald man chugs directly from a bottle with loud 'Glou' sounds, and Gon and Killua watch from the side. Japanese text 'わはははは' sprawls across the bottom as the bald man roars with laughter and Leorio shouts 'HAVE ANOTHER GLASS!!!' and 'HEY! LET'S GO!!'.

Leorio explains that in his country people drink at age 16. Killua asks if Leorio drank underage and notes the time. A man in a striped shirt stands on the table holding a bottle, surrounded by spilled drinks and papers, while Gon stands nearby. The group discusses how the Genei Ryodan captured them and how they escaped thanks to Zepairu. Leorio says he sobered up, the bald man is glad the lesson helped, and Gon smiles while holding chopsticks. In a close-up, Leorio notes that knowledge of counterfeiting might help capture the Ryodan and that experience can bring unexpected solutions.

Gon, Killua, and Leorio sit with a mustached man in sunglasses as they discuss their plans. The man notes that tomorrow at dawn the auction starts again. He admits he drank while listening to Zepairu's stories, while another figure claims he only drank. They agree they must see Kurapika so he can teach them about Nen. The group expresses a strong desire to go despite the risks. In a darker panel, Leorio asks if they want him to teach them about Nen, and the mustached man confirms that Kurapika said he would call them back. At a cluttered table covered in papers and cans, the mustached man reveals that despite everything, Kurapika managed to kill one of the Genei Ryodan members. Gon looks surprised while Killua listens closely. Close-ups show Gon pondering a force independent of experience and power, and Leorio reacting with shock to the idea of a secret in Nen.

A tall building rises against the night sky. Inside a bright room, Neon holds up a large camera with excitement while her father watches. She shouts thanks to her dad and cheers that it is cool. Her father smiles and tells her that with the camera she will feel better. Neon forgives him, making her father happy. In a close-up, the father explains that tomorrow the handkerchief of an actor will be up for bidding at the auction. He adds that once they acquire it, they can return to the hotel because his daughter's health has improved. The final wide panel shows the family group walking down a long hotel hallway lined with potted plants.

Kurapika stands beside Zepairu in a quiet room, his expression calm yet distant. A mustached man in a dark suit gestures confidently while speaking to them. "I'm taking the morning off the day after tomorrow. You'll stay and accompany my daughter shopping," he declares with a gloups sound effect. Zepairu replies that Kurapika can use the time to rest if he wants, and they will handle the auction tomorrow along with the shopping. Kurapika lowers his head slightly and says, "I'm sorry, thank you." He then murmurs, "Really...?" In a darker panel, the mustached man and Zepairu watch Kurapika and Neon walking away down a long tiled corridor. The mustached man asks, "You think he'll be okay?"

Gon sits on a rooftop ledge at night, holding a can and looking surprised as he calls out "KURAPIKA?" Killua appears beside him with a large exclamation mark. Gon confirms with a simple "Yes." Below, Neon stands alone on a wide illuminated rooftop overlooking the glowing city lights. She speaks into the night: "You don't need to bother any longer. You said you wanted to arrest the Ryodan, didn't you? All the 'Spiders' are dead."

In a dark room, a voice exclaims in frustration, 'DAMN IT! THE LINE WAS CUT.' Another adds, 'HE HUNG UP.' The next panel erupts with shock as someone yells 'WHAT?!' followed by the declaration 'THE GENEI RYODAN NO LONGER EXISTS.' Kurapika, holding a phone with a tense expression amid scattered bottles and cans, reacts sharply as another character asks 'KURAPIKA YOU MEAN.....!!' and 'WHAT'S WRONG ?' A close-up shows a hand gripping the phone displaying a cartoon face, with the caption 'WHAT A PITY.' marked by a spade symbol. The scene shifts to a lively gathering where a large 'CHEERS!' banner dominates. A group of young people including Gon, Killua, Leorio, and others raise glasses and bottles on tiered stone steps. One character in the center thinks, 'THINKING THAT I WANTED TO CONSOLE HIM.' with a small heart symbol. In the foreground, a muscular man with a spider tattoo on his chest and a tear on his cheek sits holding a bottle, while others laugh and drink around him.

A young girl with short dark hair stands alone against a stark white background. She wears a traditional black kimono with intricate white and gray patterns on the lower half and sleeves, paired with a dark obi featuring a woven basket-like design. Her posture is upright and still, hands resting at her sides, with a neutral, slightly somber expression as she gazes forward.