Hunter × Hunter Chapter 159: Love Love, the City of Romance

Gon and Killua stand with their backs to the viewer as they watch the man continue walking ahead through the forest path. Close-ups show Killua's narrowed eyes and a star-shaped mark on skin. Biscuit appears with a surprised expression. The man is seen from behind descending a slope. Gon, Killua, and Biscuit react with varied expressions: Gon wide-eyed, Killua smiling with closed eyes, Biscuit looking concerned. In a later panel, Gon speaks with a long-haired person beside a tree. The long-haired person says, "YEAH, IT'D BE NICE TO FIND PEOPLE LIKE YOU, WHO AREN'T GATHERING CARDS." Gon replies, "WE HAVE TO FIND TEN OTHERS FOR OUR GROUP, RIGHT?" Biscuit points ahead and shouts, "HEY YOU!! WALK IN FRONT!" Killua notes, "HE'S... DEFINITELY WATCHING US..."

Hisoka leans in with a sly smile, a diamond symbol on his cheek. "Whimsical players like me are quite rare... Everyone comes to Greed Island to beat the game, right?" In a smaller panel he adds, "Mm... nope." A voice replies, "You have an idea?" A close-up reveals Killua's intense stare as he thinks, "He's hiding something... I'm sure of it..." Biscuit stands nearby with clasped hands while Hisoka sweats slightly. Hisoka then points upward and asks, "What skill did you use before, when you flew to me? By the way..." Gon, facing away, answers, "Yeah, there are forty types of cards, so it's hard to get the card you want." Hisoka continues, "If I'm not mistaken, you can buy them in stores... but you don't know which card you get when you buy them." Hisoka holds up a club card and remarks, "Aah... so that's what it was. Oh, that was one of the game's spells." At the bottom, Gon runs forward with a troubled expression, thinking, "...Something's strange."

Gon rests his chin on his hand, thinking, "Is there something contradictory in what he says...? He doesn't say the truth..." Killua walks ahead with Hisoka, internally noting, "There's definitely something going on." A narration box states, "He came here to ask the Ryodan members about Kuroro's whereabouts. The key is hidden in those words..." Hisoka turns and announces with a club symbol, "We're here." The scene shifts to a wide view of a sprawling city on a hill under trees marked "love". A large heart-shaped balloon floats above with a smiling face, accompanied by the text "LOVE LOVE, THE CITY OF ROMANCE."

Gon, Killua, and Biscuit arrive in a lively town. A man with a star and tear marks on his face explains, "It's a city where you can have fun meeting people in various ways." Biscuit suddenly trips and loses her glasses, crying out, "My glasses, my glasses..." She crawls on the ground searching for them while Gon and Killua watch. The man continues, "She'll become your friend. If you pick them up for her..." Biscuit finds her glasses and stands up flustered. In the next moment she dashes off in a panic, shouting "KYAA!! I'M LATE!" while a large man in a vest calls after her, "AH... SORRY, ARE YOU OKAY?" and "HEY! WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING!" The man with the star mark warns, "This town is renowned for its easy meetings. Ah... be careful at that corner." Biscuit tumbles dramatically onto the street, scattering papers and flowers as bystanders react with surprise.

The man with the star mark continues explaining the town's customs while Killua listens. A young man in a robe appears and offers haircuts, prompting Gon to shout "HEY!!" and "PLEASE STOP!" The robed man insists he is searching for models. Meanwhile, a blonde woman in a revealing outfit is surrounded by muscular members of the Danda Group on stone steps near ancient ruins. She threatens to scream as the thugs laugh and refuse to let go. One large bald man declares, "In this town, nobody can oppose the Danda Group!" Killua and Gon watch the confrontation from a distance while the woman struggles and the thugs close in.

Gon stands tall in the center of the panel, arms at his sides and a serious expression on his face as he shouts "SUPAKA—N!!" A large starburst bubble beside him reads "WAIT A MINUTE!!" In the background, Biscuit floats mid-air with her arms raised, while Killua and other figures tumble or react with surprise. Below, a spiky-haired man leans forward with an intense glare, and a young girl with messy hair stares upward. In the next tier, several characters including a bald muscular man and a suited figure react with sweat drops and nervous postures. Speech bubbles convey confusion: "i'm not sure, but i think her personality just changed...", "OF ALL THINGS, WE'RE NOT HERE TO MAKE THESE KINDS OF MEETINGS!", "YOU WAIT A MINUTE!", and "THAT HURT!" with sound effects like "HEH HEH" and "please stop!" In the lower section, the group discusses their next move. A character with slicked-back hair suggests, "SHOULD WE GO SOMEWHERE ELSE? THIS TOWN IS KINDA DANGEROUS..." while another replies, "WE CAN COME TO SAVE HER WHEN WE HAVE SOME FREE TIME!" Killua adds, "THIS IS A GAME!" and notes, "BUT SHE WAS TRAPPED..." Gon looks down thoughtfully as someone says "YEAH..."

Killua's face fills a close-up panel, eyes wide as he thinks "BORED ....?" A black panel above shows the word "BORED" in white. Below, a dramatic circular panel bursts with realization: "THE LOCATION ....!!" and "I UNDERSTAND NOW! I DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT AWAY, BUT..." Text explains the spell card system: "WHEN YOU START THE GAME, YOU LEARN ABOUT SPELL CARDS, AND YOU QUICKLY BECOME AWARE OF HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE." Killua stands in a dynamic pose, hand to his chin, declaring "THAT'S IT! GENERALLY YOU DON'T MOVE FROM MASADORA!" A large bubble states "HISOKA'S BEEN TO MASADORA NOW!!" Narration notes that Gon and Biscuit met Hisoka during the Hunter Exam in Masadora. Further panels show Killua concluding, "SINCE MOST PLAYERS GO THERE LOOKING FOR SPELL CARDS, YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT THERE!" and "HE WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT MASADORA IF HE WAS REALLY SEARCHING FOR THE RYODAN..."

Killua's eyes narrow sharply as a realization strikes. "HE'S ALREADY DONE SEARCHING ...?!" a voice wonders in the black panel above. Nearby panels capture the blond man's profile and Killua's tense expression while internal monologue continues: "HE'S BORED... HE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO... IN OTHER WORDS, HE'S NOT SEARCHING FOR ANYTHING... NO!" A small speech bubble adds, "THIS PLACE IS FINE TO PASS THE TIME WITHOUT GETTING BORED." Killua processes Biscuit's earlier words, understanding their nuance: "I UNDERSTAND THE NUANCE IN BISCUIT'S WORDS WHEN SHE SAID, 'HE'S NOT TELLING THE COMPLETE TRUTH!'" His eyes widen with sudden clarity. "THAT'S IT...!" A massive radiating panel shows Killua's profile as the thought explodes outward: "HE'S ALREADY MET UP WITH THE RYODAN, AND IS WAITING FOR SOMETHING!!" At the bottom, a close-up of Killua's hair and the blond man's shoulder frame two final bubbles: "OF COURSE!" and "WHAT IS HE WAITING FOR...?"

A dramatic full-page spread erupts with speed lines and a shattered silhouette. Hisoka appears on the right with a slight smirk and cross-shaped mark on his cheek, while a figure in traditional robes stands on the left with arms crossed. At the center, a black silhouette of a person with a starburst on the chest is surrounded by breaking chains and a spiky aura, labeled "A NEN ERASER!!" Below, Gon's face fills the panel, eyes wide and mouth open in shock, sweat flying. Text declares: "AND HISOKA AND THE OTHERS ALREADY KNOW IT!!" and "THERE'S A NEN ERASER IN GREED ISLAND!!"

Outside a stone building with a tall tower, Gon rides his skateboard while Killua walks beside him. Killua glances back and asks, "Is something wrong?" Gon answers, "NO, NOTHING." In the background, two figures stand near the entrance as someone wonders aloud whether the princess in the castle will hand over a rare card. Gon thinks to himself that Killua is still mad at him. Killua internally resolves, "I CAN'T TELL GON YET! HE'S NO GOOD AT LYING!" and adds that he wants to avoid that at all costs. He continues reasoning that if the number of people in their group decreases they will lose track of the Ryodan's movements and Hisoka will probably disappear if he realizes they know. Gon suggests that the guy already has a group and knows the game well, so discussions will be fast, and that they should really ask Tsezguerra to join them. Killua turns and says, "BY THE WAY, KILLUA..." as Gon looks up curiously with an "AH, WHAT IS IT?" and a surprised "H... HM?!"

Killua reacts with surprise, exclaiming "BINDER..." while Hisoka's voice suggests it is better to meet once and have him in the list of their binder. Killua thinks that even if Hisoka does not become part of their group it is always convenient to know his movements. Gon suddenly demands, "HISOKA, SHOW US THE LIST OF YOUR BINDER!" Hisoka, with a star on his cheek, replies that there might be someone named Tsezguerra on the list and that he would like to see it. Gon asks how to check it and Hisoka answers that in a way it is nicely done. The group stands together in the stone corridor as Hisoka holds up the binder page showing the word "LIST?"

Gon stares ahead with wide eyes and a hand near his mouth, sweat visible on his face. Narration explains that Gon knows nothing about the situation and is genuinely searching for information on Tsezguerra without hiding anything. There would have been a risk of Hisoka noticing if anyone had asked to search through his list, but the plan proceeds anyway. Gon leans in, realizing that if Hisoka refuses to show the binder screen then his suspicion is correct. In another panel, Gon holds an open binder while Killua watches; a card is inserted into the last page. Gon reacts with an excited “Ooh ♥”. Nearby, Hisoka snaps his fingers and declares “BOOK!!” as a small cloud effect appears. On the floor level, Gon, Killua, and Biscuit gather around a glowing screen. Killua points and says “Look, right here.” Biscuit answers “Yep.” Gon exclaims “Really?!” Hisoka, shown in close-up with star markings and a tear-like streak, smiles faintly and says “Ah, there he is. Tsezguerra… Tsezguerra…”

A close-up shows the binder screen filled with many small names and the text “THERE AREN’T…” visible at the top. Gon and Killua lean over the open binder together. Gon says “FROM THE RYODAN…!!!” while Killua adds “THERE AREN’T ANY OF THE NAMES…” Killua continues “Ah, found it!” and questions “Which one…” while wondering aloud whether Hisoka is showing them the list on purpose. A large panel focuses on Gon’s intense, sweat-dropped face as he wonders if he is overthinking. In the next scene, Biscuit stands with arms crossed beside a seated man in a vest who rests his chin on his hand. Biscuit explains that the basis of her thinking is her intuition about Biscuit. Hisoka, holding the binder, states that he is truly searching for those guys. The man in the vest replies that they will still need insurance in case the targets finish the game before any information is exchanged, and Biscuit agrees it is realistic.

A large heart-shaped balloon labeled "CONTACT" ON! rises above a city skyline as Tsezguerra's voice calls out. In the next panels Gon and Killua examine playing cards while Hisoka watches nearby. Gon asks, "Then, can you read this, Hisoka?" Killua adds, "We'll take care of the negotiations." Hisoka replies with a smile, "Ooh... these are really useful objects. I can use them too, that's nice." A spiky-haired man laughs "HEH HEH HEH!" while Gon and Killua react in the background. In a dramatic full-page spread the same man clutches his head, his hair whipping wildly as motion lines radiate outward. He declares, "MY 'DECEIT-FUL TEX-TURE.'" and "IT REALLY IS USE-FUL..." while a broken chair lies at his feet.