Hunter × Hunter Chapter 217: Meat Garden

A dramatic close-up shows the Chimera Ant King in his helmeted form, pointing forward with a wide, cracked grin. "THE MORE HE EATS... THE STRONGER HE BECOMES!!" the narration states as the King echoes "THE STRONGER HE BECOMES!!". The scene shifts to an indoor hall where a uniformed official with glasses and medals reacts in shock. "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?" he shouts. In the background, another man at a table yells "WHAT THE HELL ARE THE SECURITY GUARDS DOING!?" while several figures stand near the doorway.

A booming proclamation fills the air, declaring the titles of the supreme ruler: "THE SUPREME RULER OF THE AGES!! THE GREAT FATHER TO ALL PEOPLE!! THE KING AMONG ALL KINGS!! MAGADORU DIEGO!!" Magadoru Diego, a stout man with glasses and a mustache wearing ornate robes, stands with arms raised in fury. Nearby, a helmeted figure with a stern expression states, "I can't sense a thing. Trash." Another panel shows a long-haired woman listening as the helmeted man questions, "Why is trash like him claiming to be a king?" Magadoru Diego's intense close-up reveals wide eyes as he declares, "HOW ABSURD. THE LEADERSHIP OF A FOOL CAN ONLY LEAD TO MORE FOOLISHNESS. I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT THIS IS THE ACT OF FOOLISH CREATURES." In a side panel, a spiky-haired youth and a cat-like person converse with the helmeted figure. The youth notes, "EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT RARE PREY, WE CAN RATION THEM OUT TO THE SOLDIERS," while the helmeted one adds that the creatures are not only high-quality meat but can also care for themselves. The cat-like person agrees they have no choice but to look after the creatures themselves. Magadoru Diego then thrusts forward dramatically, shouting, "LEAVE HERE AT ONCE!! I WILL USE MY SUPREME POWERS TO BESTOW PUNISHMENT UPON YOU!!"

Magadoru Diego is hurled violently through the air amid a massive explosion of smoke, debris, and impact lines. His body tumbles backward with limbs flailing as dust and rubble fill the scene. A voice requests, "PLEASE ALLOW ME TO HANDLE THE DISPOSAL OF THIS." In the lower panels, a lizard-like chimera ant with a tall collar stands before a group of seated, bound humans marked with an X on a sign. The lizard says, "DO AS YOU'D LIKE." A spiky-haired figure laughs, "Hahaha it only took a little nudge to tear him apart," while another character states, "I WAS HOPING TO USE THIS TO MANAGE THE HUMANS..." Several figures including a long-haired person and a muscular man stand with their backs partially turned, observing the scene.

The Chimera Ant King laughs heartily while declaring the two captured humans foolish creatures. The terrified pair, a boy and a girl, beg desperately for their lives, pleading not to be killed. In close-up the King asks whether humans ever listen to the cries of mercy from the pigs and cows they slaughter, telling them to use what little brain power they have to think very carefully. From an upper window overlooking a vast ruined cityscape he remarks that it is a nice view. Standing on a grand balcony with several attendants present, the King proclaims he shall name this place the Meat Garden and use it as the site for human disposal. A long-haired female attendant replies, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Under a dark, swirling sky two small silhouetted figures stand before a large ruined building. Killua, sweating, thinks that he has to protect Gon from Palm before even worrying about their enemies. Gon stands beside him looking forward. They approach and enter the damaged structure, footsteps echoing on debris-strewn floors past broken railings and hanging chandeliers. A loud creak sounds from the floorboards. Gon suddenly whips around with wide eyes and an exclamation of surprise.

In a wrecked room littered with defeated spiky creatures, a long-haired figure crouches while clutching a needle-like weapon. The figure declares, "I'm holding you responsible." Close-up panels reveal intense, swirling eyes amid heavy shading. The long-haired figure points the needle and states, "And you said if you broke your promise you'd swallow a thousand needles, right?" Gon and Killua appear side by side; Gon recalls, "You said it yourself, didn't you? That you'd definitely take me to NGL...!" The long-haired figure turns away, noting, "Swallowing a thousand needles won't do much good either." Gon replies, "I don't want your apology... but..." Killua bows his head and says, "I'm sorry." Gon affirms, "Yeah." The long-haired figure asks, "...well... Then how should I make it up to you?" Killua responds, "Okay..."

Gon and Killua stand close in profile against a dark background. The long-haired figure, half-hidden in shadow, insists, "You have to listen to whatever I say." A hand forms a circle gesture while a small voice adds, "Just once." The long-haired figure commands, "Go out..." Gon and Killua react with surprise; Killua shouts, "You! Do you have any idea what Gon's going through right now?" Gon answers firmly, "OK, I understand!" The long-haired figure turns away and pleads, "Go out with me...!" Large close-ups show Gon and Killua's determined eyes.

Gon stares forward with a serious expression and declares, "ALRIGHT." Beside him, Killua reacts with shock, exclaiming "WHA..." Palm looms in close-up, her face half-hidden by long, disheveled hair, gripping a large knife as she says, "JUST BETWEEN THE TWO OF US..." Killua leans in and argues, "BUT I TOLD HER I'D LISTEN TO WHATEVER SHE SAID. YEAH." Gon shouts back, "ALRIGHT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN ALRIGHT? DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS YOU'RE ALRIGHT WITH!?" Palm continues, "THIS DOESN'T INVOLVE YOU. THIS IS JUST BETWEEN THE TWO OF US." Killua presses, "DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING!? IS THIS WHAT YOU REALLY WANT!?" Palm turns away with a soft laugh, "UHUHUHUHU..." while Gon watches in confusion. A dark silhouette of Palm appears, stating, "THERE'S THIS PLACE I REALLY WANT TO GO TO." Killua insists, "EITHER WAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER. WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT NOW." Palm repeats, "STAY OUT OF THIS. THIS IS JUST BETWEEN THE TWO OF US." Killua warns, "IT'S BETTER OFF IF YOU DON'T DEAL WITH THIS KIND OF PERSON, GON!" Palm reacts with surprise, "EH?" Gon apologizes, "OH, SORRY, I CAN'T TODAY!!" and someone shouts, "YOU JUST LIKE SAYING THAT!"

Palm's eye fills a panel as she asks, "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?" Gon replies, "HUH?" Palm's silhouette continues, "THAT'S RIGHT, PALM. YOU CAN COME WITH US!!" Gon confirms, "YEAH. WE'RE GOING OUT, RIGHT...?" Palm's face twists in rage, knife raised, as she screams, "WE'RE GOING ON A DATE! AND NOT JUST ANY DATE, OUR FIRST DATE!!" She demands, "SO WHAT'S WITH THE THIRD WHEEL? AND THE TRAINING!? ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE ME LOOK STUPID!?" Gon looks confused, "PREPARE? PREPARE WHAT?" Palm insists, "AND BESIDES, I'M GOING TO NEED SOME TIME TO PREPARE." In the background, Palm stands dramatically on stairs while Gon and Killua react. Gon smiles and says, "IT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO FOR TOMORROW!" Killua notes, "THAT'S A SECRET—" Palm declares, "IF WE'RE GOING ON A DATE, I WANT TO DO IT RIGHT. JUST LIKE PALM SAID, IT WILL BE OUR FIRST DATE." Killua sits on the ground, remarking, "WOW... THE WORD 'DATE' IS BEING THROWN AROUND EVERYWHERE."

Gon repeatedly apologizes to the curly-haired woman. She replies that if he had told her sooner she would not have gotten so upset. Gon accepts the explanation. The woman reaches out and says she sees. Gon bursts into laughter, clutching his head as he reacts with surprise. The woman leans in close, telling him she wanted to keep their meeting a secret to surprise him. A wide view of a bustling city appears. Gon agrees to the plan. The woman specifies they will meet in front of the bulletin board tomorrow morning at ten. Inside a training hall, a bald man swings a weighted rope while asking what Gon is talking about. Gon stares in amazement. Later, Gon peeks over a railing with a puzzled hmm. Killua, seen from behind, tells him he could not have known. A muscular man in the gym remarks that Gon sounded used to handling such situations. Killua clarifies it is just from Gon’s conversation with Palm. Gon, now lifting a heavy barbell across his shoulders, asks if Killua has been on a date before.

Killua answers that he has been on dates, mostly with Mito-san, though occasional fishing boats carrying only females would stop at Whale Island. Gon reacts with shock, exclaiming that there have been others. He stares wide-eyed, thinking this guy knows all kinds of things. Killua continues that he would accompany Mito-san to town and she would teach him all kinds of things, sometimes meeting women who only liked younger guys. Gon’s face fills the panel as he realizes with a start that those kinds of people are called manias. Large bold text declares that the man is an adult.

Gon and Killua sit across from each other at a table. Killua admits, "My entire life had been dedicated to training in becoming an assassin and since I've met you, I've been with you the entire time." Gon replies, "Really?" Killua continues with determination, "And the truth is, I want to stay by your side... always..." Gon answers, "Yeah..." Internal narration reads, "This is dangerous. My determination is wavering." Gon questions, "Did you know...?" while internal text states, "Even though it's a decision I made for myself." The scene shifts to a hallway where Gon stands on a skateboard with his hands on his head as Killua walks ahead and calls out, "Hello?" A small creature with a bone appears on a counter emitting "P?" as Gon reacts with surprise.

Gon holds a phone to his ear and speaks urgently, "I'm calling to tell you that we found Kaito." Knuckle's voice replies through the receiver. Gon asks, "Kaito's okay, right!?" and receives confirmation, "Really!?" Gon continues, "It's Knuckle." In the background Killua reacts with shock, "Knuckle!?" Gon explains, "So in that sense... I'm not sure if I can say that he's okay." He adds, "I think... Kaito's under the control of the enemy." The panel shows a cityscape with narration, "They've scattered everywhere trying to imitate the King." Gon says, "I think it'll take us around three days to get back. Make sure you don't run into any soldier ants until then." Knuckle responds, "Alright...." Gon concludes with relief, "That's good enough!! There will definitely be a way to fix him!" and "Got it."

A frantic close-up shows a spiky-haired boy with goggles shouting at the top of his lungs, "I KNEW IT! KAITO IS ALIIIVE—!!" while an off-panel voice screams "YEEE EAAA AAAA AAH—!!" and another panel adds "ALRIGHT!!". Smaller reaction panels capture the same boy’s hair flaring wildly and a second figure with spiky hair reacting with "YEE". A side view reveals a white-haired boy clenching both fists and declaring, "IS FOR ME TO PROTECT YOU FOR A MONTH...! NOW ALL THAT’S LEFT...". Nearby, two girls with twin buns grin while holding up cell phones and exclaiming "LOOK THIS WAY-!" and "WOW!". A short-haired girl and a boy in the background react with startled "ざわ" sound effects. The bottom splash panel reveals a tall, imposing figure with feathered shoulders and striped pants standing in the middle of a bustling town street, arms crossed, announcing "PERFECT FEEDING GROUND" with a small heart symbol beside the words. Townspeople walk in the background as the figure towers over the scene.

In the lower right corner stands a tall, slender figure with extremely long, unkempt black hair completely obscuring the face and upper body, wearing a loose, tattered white garment and holding one hand near the chest.