GAME'S SECRET

Outside on a street, Gon excitedly suggests, "YOU'RE REALLY OPTIMISTIC, AREN'T YOU? LET'S GO! BUY FOOD AND DRINKS, AND DEPART TO THE CITY OF MAGIC!" Killua agrees, "OF COURSE! I WANNA USE A MAGIC CARD TOO!" A small voice replies, "OK...! UNDERSTAND!" Further along the street, Gon and Killua walk while discussing their situation. Gon asks, "WHAT?" Killua responds, "AS FOR THE MONEY, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT FOR THE MOMENT. HERE WE ARE. WE ONLY HAVE USELESS CARDS IN OUR BOOKS." Killua adds, "APART FROM FOOD AND DRINKS, WE NEED SOMETHING ELSE." Gon suddenly realizes and points upward, declaring, "A MAP OF THE ISLAND!" The scene shifts to an indoor shop where customers browse card displays and two clerks work behind the counter.

Two magic cards are displayed. The first is card 101, Island Map D-70, priced at 650000 Jenny, described as a detailed map with place names, towns, secret paths, and annotations. The second is card 100, Island Map G-400, priced at 20000 Jenny, showing only the island outline that fills in automatically as one moves. Gon and Killua examine the cards in a shop. Gon excitedly points at card 100 and declares it is number 100 and the only one they can afford. Killua glances sideways, thinking he is asking just in case which one they are buying. The boys complete the purchase; Gon holds the card and says thank you so much. In the shop aisle, Gon remarks that it is more fun to discover stuff by ourselves. Killua replies that Gon really is quite optimistic. A large SFX reads GAIN! as they walk away with the card.

A large detailed map of an island is shown with labeled locations including Masadora and Antokiba. A scale bar indicates 0km to 60km. In a close-up panel a stern man with short hair and furrowed brows states it will be 3000 Jenny if they want the position of Masedora. Gon and Killua are seen from behind; Killua suggests they ask for directions while Gon notes they really do not know much.

A hand points northwest along the lake toward Masadora. From this town, cross a mountain then head north about 80 km to reach a lake where Jenis costs 3,000. The bearded man notes that the price is high but can be lowered since the group has visited many times. Killua calculates that at 80 km they can arrive in one day if they hurry, and the man adds that two small towns lie along the way for rest. If the group avoids the bandits and crosses the mountains, monsters will be the next threat. Gon and Killua react with wide-eyed excitement as large starburst words explode around them: MONSTERS!! and BANDITS!! The bearded man watches their enthusiasm while Gon declares he wants to see monsters and urges everyone to hurry so the journey feels like an RPG.

Gon thrusts his fist skyward and shouts YOSH! WE'RE LEAVING! while Killua stands ready behind him on a dirt path with mountains in the distance. A young girl with pigtails and a frilly dress runs after them, pleading WAIT FOR ME! and PLEASE LET ME ACCOMPANY YOU! Gon and Killua turn back; Gon says YES... while Killua adds I.... The girl lands in front of them with a determined expression, hands clasped, insisting she remembers entering the game together.

Two girls with matching pigtails stand with their backs turned. Gon faces them and firmly declares, "THE ANSWER'S NO!" Killua, standing beside him, raises a hand and blurts, "AAAH, SORRY!" In a close-up, one girl speaks with intense frustration: "IF I REALLY WANTED TO, I WOULD FLOOR YOU WITH JUST ONE FINGER! I WAS ON MY WAY TO HELP YOU OUT, BUT YOU'RE IRREDEEMABLE! I'LL WAIT FOR YOU TO BE ON THE VERGE OF DEATH BEFORE I INTERVENE!" She adds that the boy really said he had been around much longer than that brat. The other girl looks shocked, sweat drops visible, and questions, "WHY... WHY IS THAT SO...?" and calls the speaker a hindrance. The first girl then smiles slyly with a playful expression. In the next panel the two girls walk away while one says "yeah" and the other asks, "we go this way?" A large dramatic panel shows the second girl turning back and desperately shouting, "WAIT... WAIT FOR ME! I PROMISE I'LL MAKE MYSELF AS INCONSPICUOUS AS POSSIBLE!"

A tall character with light hair stands confidently and states, "I'VE OBTAINED ALL THE INFORMATION WE WANTED." Another voice asks, "THEN COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN?" The light-haired character replies, "WELL..." A map of the island appears on the right, labeling locations including SAIS TREE, MASADORA, BUBULTA, and RIRA. In the next panel the light-haired character explains, "IT'S TYPICAL OF CHARACTERS IN VIDEO GAMES." Nearby townspeople are shown listening. The speaker continues, "1: I ASKED QUESTIONS OF THE INHABITANTS OF THIS TOWN, AND THEY CAN ONLY GIVE STANDARD ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT ARE OUT OF THEIR ROLE." A close-up shows a character activating an ability with the word "GAIN!" The light-haired character holds up two cards and declares, "AND IN MY RIGHT HAND, THE COPY THAT KUROTOPI MADE." and "IN MY LEFT HAND, THE REAL CARD..." while another character shouts "BOOK!" and examines a book-like item with a circular symbol.

Kurapika stands against a dark background, raising a playing card in one hand while the rock in his other hand erupts in flames and smoke. He explains the limits of Shizuku's vacuum cleaner. The tool cannot inhale items with special abilities like the card he holds, even though they appear inanimate. It is also set up so that cards and items cannot be found using Nen abilities. This card is one of Kurotopi's cards that does not come from the program, so there must be a default prevention system at work within the game. Kurotopi's card did not transform. Even in this world, Shizuku's vacuum cleaner can inhale objects from outside the game, like the rock. Shizuku, with her dark hair and glasses, stands with a hand to her chin, pondering the information. Kurapika leans in with a thoughtful expression. Someone asks 'AND?' Kurapika concludes that one can already come to a conclusion from this information, but actually from this information...

A large black panel displays a rough white outline of a landmass resembling a continent or island. Two large speech bubbles declare that this game is not in an imaginary world and that it actually takes place somewhere in our real world. At the bottom, three close-up panels show reactions: Kurapika with light hair and a slight smile, a character with long straight hair and a visible eye, and Shizuku with glasses staring forward with a serious expression.

The group discusses the implications of materialized objects on the island. If the important items of the island are also materialized objects, then the inhabitants of the town are under the control of a Manipulation Nen user, or if they had been materialized into puppets, everything can be explained with Nen. Shizuku questions what this means. Kurapika points out that Shizuku's vacuum cleaner cannot inhale an inanimate object if it was materialized by Nen, and notes that Kurapika cannot copy Nen. Kurapika explains his own limitation allows him to detect traps planted by enemies, while he cannot copy the ability of turning cards into objects. Gon asks if their bodies disappeared, right? A flashback shows a player at a console as someone recalls having the idea when Feitang and Phinks entered the game. The theory continues that above all, the conditions necessary to separate someone's body and soul were too light, so it is not necessary to transport the body as well. If a player really entered the game, his soul would get free of the body and the body would be left in place. Standing in front of the console and using Hatsu is shown in silhouette.

The CD of Greed Island is of no use in starting the game. It is just a trick that teleports the player when he uses Hatsu. Therefore, the player is forced to move to another place, making the conditions too simple for a game where you are supposed to risk your life. Kurapika and Killua react with surprise. A panel shows the group realizing they are in the real world. If the map is correct, this island has the size of the Republic of Kotoritana. It is an important piece of information. Gon stares at the map in profile, then turns with a determined expression, declaring there is not only one game master.

Killua stands holding an open book while addressing the group. "Do you remember the information I obtained (by force) from the other players, about the reward for clearing the game?" he asks. Gon, crouched nearby, replies, "You forgot? Hmm... well, about that... What was it?" Killua continues, "From now on is the real performance! So, what do we do now?" The long-haired character responds, "Then... I see..." In a large panel, the long-haired character raises three fingers and explains, "When you have filled the fixed slots with their item cards, you can take three of them back to the real world to use them." Gon holds up a pen-like object and says, "It's not necessary to spend time trying to clear it. If this game really is somewhere in reality..." Killua, now holding the book again, concludes, "That means we can effectively use the items outside the island. So..." A small card with a star symbol lies on the floor nearby.

Gon stares at a card labeled '22 TORAEMON A-15' showing a striped cat-like creature holding a club. He says, "It's possible for us to bring items back without any problems. And not only three: all of them!" The long-haired character replies, "It's worth it. I see." Gon wonders aloud, "I wonder what other precious and useful items exist... I'm really interested in getting all of them." The long-haired character adds, "We still only know a few of them... Of the 100 kinds of items..." In the final large panel, large stylized Japanese text 'ヒュオオオオ' dominates the background. Gon states, "Next, we should find Phinks and Feitan, and work together." The long-haired character responds, "The most urgent objective is to gain the spell card 'God Eye.'"

On a sandy shore, two figures stand apart while discussing their recent victory. One voice notes that the defeated opponent possessed many spell cards, highlighting that "COLLISION" is quite useful even though it can only be used alone. Another remarks that the same man also carried the cheap map. A small panel shows an "OK" response from a seated figure. The suggestion is made to act independently and regroup in Masadora after one week. The scene shifts to a confident man with spiky hair standing over two defeated opponents sprawled on the grass. One of the fallen men, face bloodied and marked, lies motionless. The standing man declares it is fine with him but orders to take their cards before killing them. He then proposes a contest to see who can kill the most players.

A young girl with twin pigtails tied by ribbons stands alone against a stark white background. She wears a black-and-white frilly dress with puffed sleeves and a scalloped hem. Her hands are clasped tightly together in front of her chest, fingers interlocked. Her large eyes are wide and her mouth is slightly open in a surprised or concerned expression. Her legs are positioned apart in a stable stance, feet in simple shoes with straps. No other figures or objects appear on the page.