Chapter 234

Inside a grand hall with tall columns, a tall figure with long hair plays a violin while Killua sits cross-legged on a pedestal behind him. The violinist says, "YOU MUST NOT GO." and "YOU THINK SO TOO?" Killua replies, "I CAN ONLY THINK THAT IT'S MOVING CAREFULLY TO AVOID BEING DETECTED BY ME." and "BUT ITS MOVEMENTS DON'T SEEM TO BE THE KIND THAT'S TRYING TO LURE US OUT. NYAH." The violinist continues, "PERHAPS IT'S TRYING TO MAKE YOU THINK THAT DELIBERATELY... BUT MAYBE I'M THINKING TOO HARD... BUT, BUT... AH..." while declaring, "IT IS THE SWEET TRAP OF THOUGHT." and "THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE." A smaller panel shows the curly-haired character from behind saying, "HMM-" and "THAT IS ALL..." The violinist states, "OUR DUTY IS TO PROTECT THE KING." and "ANYTHING BEYOND THAT, WE CAN LEAVE IT TO THE OTHERS AND THAT IS ALL." In the final wide panel the violinist walks away playing, thinking, "I WANT TO REMAIN DRUNK IN THIS STATE OF BEING TORTURED BY A PROBLEM WITHOUT A SOLUTION..." while a large seated figure remains in the background.

On a dark stage-like setting, three figures stand prominently. A frilly-dressed girl with a bonnet stands to the left, a tall lion-like man with a skull necklace and star-patterned shoes dominates the center, and a skeletal figure with wild hair and crossed arms stands to the right. Large SFX "Huuu" bursts behind the lion-man as he says, "I GUESS IT'S OUR TURN." Below, a close-up reveals intense, narrowed eyes glaring forward. A speech bubble declares, "IT IS NOW TIME TO REPAY US FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!!" while another explains, "WE OWE YOU A DEBT FOR TAKING US IN AND HEALING US WHEN WE WERE BEING CHASED AND SEVERELY WOUNDED BY HUNTERS, AND EVEN INSTRUCTING US ON OUR ABILITIES." In the lower section, a hand holds out a cell phone. A voice states, "SINCE WE DON'T USE TELEPATHY. TAKE THIS CELL PHONE..." Another asks, "CAN YOU KILL IT? THERE'S SOMEONE GOING AROUND AND STOPPING MY 'DOLLS.'" A small labeled figure marked "ROGER." stands with two companions as one says, "I'LL UPDATE YOU ON ITS CURRENT LOCATION AS I FIND OUT THROUGH THAT." The curly-haired girl perched on a ledge replies, "LEAVE IT TO US."

The curly-haired girl continues speaking with a thoughtful expression, noting, "THEY'LL RISK THEIR LIVES TO COMPLETE OUR ORDERS. BUT THEY WANT TO GAIN OUR TRUST..." while adding, "MMMM I DON'T TRUST AT ALL, NYAH. IS IT OKAY TO TRUST THOSE GUYS?" In a wide shot of a domed cityscape, a voice says, "WE'LL JUST DEAL WITH THEM APPROPRIATELY AND THAT IS ALL. IF THINGS GO WELL, THEY'LL CONSTANTLY LOOK FOR A CHANCE TO STAB US IN THE BACK... HMPH, IF THAT HAPPENS..." A close-up shows Killua's sweating, determined face with spiky hair. He then appears in motion, leaping dynamically over a crowd of people while pointing forward aggressively, surrounded by motion lines and impact effects as the crowd looks up in surprise.

Killua studies a glowing map device in the dark. The screen displays a forest layout with a small speech bubble of coordinates. He mutters to himself while gripping the device. Suddenly he sprints through the trees at high speed, body low and cautious. Motion lines emphasize his rapid movement as he thinks about skipping towns and heading straight for Taba City forty kilometers away. Close-ups show his sneakers pounding the ground and kicking up debris. He glances at the time on the device, noting the two o'clock and eight o'clock directions to nearby towns. In a wide forest panel, Killua runs onward through dense roots and foliage, determined to avoid detection.

Killua continues running through the moonlit forest, a bright light visible ahead between the trees. He stops and declares he cannot go that way. The scene shifts to a man with a spotted headband who touches his earpiece and reports that a guy named Zitoh is heading their way at great speed. Two figures sit beneath a large tree at night; one says he knew he should have taken care of him himself while the other asks what is wrong. Additional dialogue notes that the succeeding Hunter failed to catch the target and wonders if he is headed toward them, with one replying no and suggesting he is passing way south.

A furious young man with spiky hair glares sideways, declaring he is already pissed off and will go even if stopped. Nearby, a man in a cap stands over a kneeling figure and asks where he is going. Narration explains that after examining the ants, Koruto confirmed there was not a single division commander among them. Through yesterday's operations the Hunter Association captured 319 ants outside NGL. The spiky-haired man insists the target is returning to the king to obtain a stronger power. A man in a changshan states it is no coincidence Zitch is coming to east Goruto because he knows the king is here. Four ants were confronted by hunters but escaped, and according to Koruto eight hostile division commanders remain. The spiky-haired man warns that if they lose him and he obtains more power they have no idea what the outcome might be. He adds that his ability is still in effect and he is still stronger. In the final panels the spiky-haired man asks if he should deal with the man in the cap first, who retorts whether he is still going to stop him. A robed figure warns that trying to separate the royal guards from the king will not be the only problem they will have to deal with, and imagines a bunch of them joining with the king.

A hand holds a small mobile phone above an open palm as small symbols appear. The spiky-haired man turns in surprise toward a ponytail man in a robe who looks back with a neutral expression. The ponytail man suggests contacting Morau-san first in the unlikely chance they do not return, needing replacements. The spiky-haired man, now holding the phone, agrees it will raise their chances of capturing the target. He decides to go with the ponytail man. In a forest setting the spiky-haired man answers the phone with confusion, saying hello repeatedly. The ponytail man notes something came. A final panel shows the spiky-haired man looking shocked while holding the phone as the ponytail man glances sideways.

Under a starry night sky over a towering city skyline, an unseen speaker rages in frustration. "THERE'S NO ONE MORE SUITABLE FOR THIS JOB THAN HIM!! HUH? I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF SUCH SHIT!!" Another voice snaps back, "STUPID IDIOTS!! WHAT DID I TELL THEM? USE RIAKKE!! USE RIAKKE, YOU DUMB SHITS!!" Inside a dimly lit office, a long-haired man in sunglasses gestures angrily while a short-haired man sits with his back turned. "THEN WHO DID THEY USE?" "WHAT HAPPENED?" "SOME FOOL I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF. HE'S PROBABLY A KYOUSEN!!" A close-up shows the long-haired man shouting, "THE COMMITTEE DIDN'T USE THE HUNTER WE RECOMMENDED!!" Another panel reveals, "YOU KNOW THE ANT THAT WE MARKED? HE ESCAPED!" A large explanatory box details the Kyousen Hunter system: the Hunter Association commissions registered hunters for government or corporate jobs, guaranteeing compensation based on difficulty regardless of success, leading to specialized hunters called Kyousen who only take association-arranged jobs. At the bottom, the man with glasses speaks seriously to the long-haired man, "HE ALREADY HAD CONSIDERABLE FRICTION WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS WHEN HE MADE THE DECISION FOR THE TWO OF US TO ACCOMPANY HIM. YOU DO REALIZE THAT IF WE IGNORE THE COMMITTEE AND PROCEED ON OUR OWN ACCORD, THE CHAIRMAN WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING, DON'T YOU?" The long-haired man replies, "PLEASE DON'T BE IRRATIONAL." A final panel shows him exclaiming, "SHIT!! I KNEW I SHOULD'VE CONTACTED RIAKKE DIRECTLY!"

In a tiled room, the long-haired man with sunglasses stands with arms raised dramatically while the man with glasses sits nearby. "THE DIVISION COMMANDERS CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED. THEY'LL REGRET IT." "OH, DON'T JUST EXPLODE WITH EMOTION ALL AT ONCE!!" A panel shows the man with glasses looking stern. The long-haired man continues, "THEY ONLY MENTION WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE PAST, AND HOW MUCH WE'VE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ASSOCIATION!" "BUT THOSE FOOLS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT GOES ON IN THE FIELD!!" He adds, "IT'S NOT LIKE WE DIDN'T KNOW THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE OBTUSE INCOMPETENTS." A lower panel shows the man with glasses noting, "THAT ALSO MEANS THAT THEY POSSESS THE TALENT TO OBTAIN THE MOST NECESSARY OF ABILITIES IN A SHORT PERIOD." The long-haired man stands near a fireplace, "THEY'RE STRONG, RIGHT? BEYOND ANYTHING ELSE, THEY'RE TRUE TO THEIR DESIRES." The man with glasses questions, "SO THEY ONLY GIVE JOBS TO THE HUNTERS WHO AGREE TO VOTE FOR THE VICE-CHAIRMAN IN THE NEXT CHAIRMAN ELECTION...?" "COULD YOU ONLY BE REFERRING TO THE RUMOR THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE VICE-CHAIRMAN'S FACTION ARE TRYING TO WIN THE COMMITTEE OVER?" The long-haired man warns, "THEN AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT THEY MIGHT WANT IN THE FIRST PLACE. IF WE LEAVE THEM TO THE COMMITTEE OR THE KYOUSEN'S WHO SIMPLY LOOK TO PAD THEIR OWN POCKETS, IT'LL ALL GO TO HELL!!" A small panel shows sunglasses on a surface.

Inside a dimly lit office overlooking the city at night, a man with glasses leans forward intensely while speaking with a long-haired figure. 'For that reason, they'll stop at nothing to mess things up,' he states. Another voice adds, 'If this case doesn't get resolved properly, the chairman will have to take the fall...!' A different speaker laughs mockingly, 'Hahah!! Like they'll leave any traces!' Someone counters, 'It's only speculation until we can find some kind of evidence, right?' The long-haired figure continues, 'Those sons of bitches are just sitting around and twirling their pens...!! The more casualties there are, the louder their demand for the chairman's resignation will get.' The man with glasses points emphatically, 'Just look at what's going on right now!! The fact that they failed to catch any of the vital division commanders is proof enough!!' He adjusts his glasses and replies, 'We already know that. The chairman is also prepared for it.' A grim assessment follows: 'Even if the king is taken out, it's already a failure if there are 5,000,000 dead!!' A fist clenches as the figure warns, 'Will be 5,000,000 minimum...' The man with glasses looks down seriously, noting the necessary preparation time to defeat the king with certainty and the number of casualties during that time. He concludes, 'The chairman himself has taken everything into consideration and came to a conclusive estimate!!' From a high vantage overlooking the sprawling nighttime cityscape, a voice exclaims, 'That's still too many...!!' Another replies quietly, 'Even so...'

In a luxurious room with a chandelier, a tall man with long hair and sunglasses stands as a voice on the phone says, 'You should only contact me if it's absolutely necessary... Huh? What?' The tall man replies, 'Marco-san, you can't be calling me like this.' A sudden impact panel shows a figure being struck. The man with glasses reacts with shock, 'Is that true!?' Outside a building entrance amid trees, a figure stands in a doorway while narration states, 'It seems to be from where the rumor of a coup d'etat is sprouting from!! The authorities have been calling from a little while ago too.' In a tense close-up, a woman with sunglasses shouts, 'Go back to your work before anyone gets suspicious!!' A circled panel reads, 'Have the citizens found out about the "selection"?' Someone yells, 'No, we don't!! We'll explain later!!' A gas-masked figure asks, 'What the hell is going on!? Do you guys have anything to do with this!?' Another voice states, 'Simultaneously, mass killings are being discovered everywhere!! Is this really happening and not just a rumor!?' The tall man with sunglasses turns his head sharply while the man with glasses stands nearby and says, 'Morau-san.'

Night falls over a sprawling city skyline filled with glowing windows. A massive sound effect erupts across the scene. Loudspeakers blare instructions to the citizens. "OUR GREAT LEADER DIEGO WILL BE MAKING AN EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT!!" Armed men in helmets and uniforms stand guard outside damaged buildings. Another order follows: "MAXIMIZE THE VOLUME OF ALL PA SPEAKERS IN EACH DISTRICT IN ORDER FOR ALL CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO THE DIVINE WORDS OF OUR GREAT LEADER!!" A man with long hair sits at a control panel with his back to the viewer. Further commands echo: "PLEASE TURN ON ALL TELEVISION AND RADIO SETS TO MAXIMUM VOLUME!!" and "IN ORDER FOR ALL CITIZENS TO LISTEN TO THE DIVINE WORDS OF OUR GREAT LEADER!!" A voice repeats the announcement over a megaphone: "REPEAT!!"

Diego appears in close-up, wearing dark sunglasses, his hair dramatically lit by radiating lines. He declares: "I WILL NOW PLACE ALL OF EAST GORUTO UNDER MARTIAL LAW!!" A second speech bubble adds: "GOOD EVENING, MY BELOVED COMRADES. THIS IS YOUR LEADER, DIEGO!!" In smaller panels, Diego continues from a podium seen through windows: "MY BELOVED COMRADES, YOU ARE NOW PROHIBITED FROM LEAVING YOUR HOMES AND STRICTLY TO LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS!!" Another panel states: "ACTS OF TREACHERY HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED AND THERE IS ONE WHO IS INSTIGATING THESE ACTIONS!!" Tanks roll through the streets while Diego warns: "YOUR LEADER DOES NOT EXPECT HIS COMRADES TO FALL FOR THE FALSE RUMORS THAT ARE BEING SPREAD BY THE ENEMY!! FOLLOW MY LEAD!!" A final threat reads: "ANYBODY FOUND OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES WILL BE CONSIDERED TRAITORS AND DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY!!"

In a dimly lit room, two figures stand near a television broadcasting news. A voice notes their response was too fast. Large speech bubbles declare: "ASIDE FROM THAT, EVERYONE IS PROHIBITED FROM OPENING THEIR DOORS!!" and "ALSO, THE STRONG AND PROUD DIEGO SPECIAL FORCES WILL BE VISITING YOUR HOMES IN SEARCH OF TRAITORS!!" A suited man with glasses speaks: "IT WOULD BE REASONABLE TO THINK THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY WOULD HAVE PREFERRED THE 'SELECTION' PROCESS TO GO UNNOTICED BY THE CITIZENS, THEY HAD A BACKUP PLAN IN CASE IT WAS FOUND OUT." Another voice replies, "I'LL TRY TO IGNORE THE SENSE THAT YOU SOUND A LITTLE PLEASED." A long-haired man with sunglasses adds, "HOWEVER, THIS IS PROBABLY A PART OF THE ANTS' PLAN. OTHERWISE, THEY'RE BEING UNBELIEVABLY CAUTIOUS...!" He continues, "KILLUA AND GON, HUH? I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY'RE JUST ACTING ON THEIR OWN...!!" Below, a close-up shows feet in sandals on grass with the line "JUST WHAT I WANTED." A small bubble reads "...HMPH." A profile view states: "UNDER THE NAME OF MARTIAL LAW, THEY CAN ISOLATE THE ENTIRE NATION OF EAST GORUTO FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD AND PERFORM THE 'SELECTION'...!" and "AND NOW THEY EVEN HAVE AN EXCUSE TO MOBILIZE THE MILITARY." The page ends with a dramatic close-up of Killua's intense face against black, sweat drops visible, declaring "I'LL STOP YOU ALL." and "TANKS, FIGHTER JETS..."