Hunter × Hunter Chapter 259: The March Continues

From a high vantage, observers note that the march has started and hordes are streaming below. A small electronic device displays a countdown. A long-haired man studies the screen while a bubble states ten hours remain until action at 12 AM. Large stylized sound effects fill the panel. A caption reads that in twenty-five hours, at 3 PM tomorrow, the surrounding area will be packed with five million people. Silhouetted domes and a spire stand against the sky as the massive scale of the coming event is emphasized.

The curly-haired figure finishes his report with a sharp declaration: "THAT IS ALL." He adds that new foes have appeared and admits he originally thought there was only one strong enemy but now realizes there are many. A silhouetted figure against the city skyline murmurs "HMM" and asks whether the situation in Peijing has changed. The curly-haired speaker confirms it has, noting that even more danger exists because His Majesty himself wishes to participate in the "Selection." Another voice states there is a high probability the abductors will approach amid the chaos of the assembly. The long-haired listener agrees that the most frightening situation would be if His Majesty were forcibly transported to a secluded area where they could not reach him. A third speaker warns that if the abductors possess a Nen user capable of moving objects, they will lose track of the King. The group discusses how His Majesty has recently grown irritated when they stay too close, yet they conclude that at least one of them must remain by his side throughout the "Selection" without drawing attention, paying careful notice to his surroundings while conducting the selection inconspicuously.

The curly-haired character glances back and asks "WHAT IS IT?" A muscular bald man stands nearby while a small figure watches from the side. The curly-haired one states he understands and seems most suited for the duty. Small notes point out the process of elimination and that the muscular man draws attention because of his size even when he does not try. The curly-haired speaker declares he cannot detect any remnants of their aura at all and concludes they are most likely using "Zetsu." A close-up shows intense eyes as another voice adds that their presence has completely disappeared. Below, an overhead view of a crowded city street reveals numerous citizens moving in a procession. Several figures stand on rooftops and balconies watching the crowd. A large caption states that the targets have camouflaged themselves within the procession of the citizens.

A small figure leaps through the air with motion lines and a sharp "!!" sound effect. Nearby panels show a horizontal line marked "Z" and a question mark. In a damaged room, a curly-haired chimera ant in a hooded outfit sits on the floor and declares "GOOD WORK." Opposite him, a person with a long ponytail in a robe kneels with their back to the viewer, while a uniformed soldier stands guard near the doorway. Scattered bottles and debris litter the ground. In close-up panels, the ponytail figure and the curly-haired one discuss the crowd: "SINCE THAT WOULD LEAD TO EITHER THE EXTENSION OR THE SUSPENSION OF THE ASSEMBLY." "NOPE." "WILL THEY SUSPEND THE PROCESSION?" The soldier figure adds that the royal guards will never allow compromise. A determined young man with dark hair grips a small device and states there are hundreds of people in each building. The curly-haired one concludes, "THEY WILL GO AHEAD WITH THE ASSEMBLY, NO MATTER WHAT!" Large narration bubbles declare "TOMORROW AT 3 PM!! THIS IS AN IRREFUTABLE FACT!"

Two characters converse in close-up: a spiky-haired young man says it is dangerous to leave the enemy completely free, while his curly-haired companion replies "NO" and asks whether to call the puppets back. From a high vantage, a figure sits atop a tall monument overlooking a city square and notes that the puppets can no longer tell who is who. The movement has begun. Below, the spiky-haired young man suggests having the puppets join the soldiers directing the procession. In a ruined building interior, the same young man runs through a doorway. Subsequent panels show him moving through empty corridors and a street marked with a "Z" sound. He pauses to drink from a can and states that the area will be deserted within an hour as the puppets follow the citizens' procession. In the final panel the curly-haired chimera ant and the ponytail figure remain seated while the uniformed soldier stands nearby; the spiky-haired young man appears in the distance running toward them.

A large hand points downward toward a diagram of the palace roof and surrounding areas labeled A through E. Speech bubbles explain the layout: five entrances connect the palace vicinity to a room leading inside the palace. The royal guards are expected to intensify their watch on the front, so the group plans to stand by at areas A, B, and C in the rear. At the bottom of the page, Palm, a woman with a ponytail and serious expression, speaks while three smaller panels show close-ups of hands and two other figures. She notes they can only leave through the exit inside the palace. Another voice warns that entering the room through that entrance means if they enter too early they must stay until 12 AM, while caution is urged and someone asks what they are scared of.

The discussion continues with a close-up of a short-haired man expressing concern about waiting inside for hours due to danger. Multiple speech bubbles address the risks: an accident could alter the situation, tele-communication is impossible inside the Nen space, and no information can be received from outside. Three characters appear in sequence: a long-haired man with sunglasses, a spiky-haired boy with glasses, and a person with a patterned hat. The long-haired man agrees to go in, the boy offers to do it, and the hatted figure notes the palace vicinity is dangerous. In the final panel a young man with glasses and neat hair states he will inform them if anything happens and that he is the only one who can freely enter and exit the mansion doors.

In a dimly lit interior, a standing man in a suit addresses the group, saying, "YOU GUYS SHOULD REST IN HERE A LITTLE." Nearby, a kneeling figure with long hair asks, "ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?" A voice continues, "EVEN NEAR THE PALACE, AS LONG AS IT'S BEYOND THE RANGE OF PITOU'S 'EN'." Another speaker adds, "AS LONG AS I'M JUST OBSERVING THE SITUATION, I WON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS." The scene shifts to a close-up of a sunglasses-wearing character with long hair, who warns, "BUT...BE CAREFUL." Narration explains, "IT CHANGES SHAPE LIKE AN AMOEBA AND CAN DETECT EVEN LONG DISTANCES. THAT'S WHAT KAITO TOUCHED." A spiky-haired fighter with an earring is shown as someone notes, "PITOU DOESN'T HAVE A CONVENTIONAL CIRCULAR 'EN'." In smaller panels, a glasses-wearing character with light hair reflects, "THEIR STRENGTH. HE WAS SEDUCED BY HIS INSTINCT AND MIS-JUDGED..." while the spiky-haired fighter thinks, "IT'S A FIGHTER'S INSTINCT TO WANT TO KNOW THE STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY. HE PROBABLY TOUCHED IT ON PURPOSE." The glasses-wearing character continues, "...PFT. DON'T WORRY. MAKE SURE YOU DON'T TOUCH IT. THE 'EN' CAN BE STRETCHED TO AROUND TWO KILOMETERS IF IT'S JUST A PORTION." From off-panel, a voice says, "NEVER. I WON'T DO SOMETHING AS RECKLESS AS THAT." The same glasses-wearing character concludes in profile, "AMONG ALL OF US, I'M THE ONE WHO'S AFRAID OF THEM MOST."

A large soldier wearing a cap shouts into a microphone from an elevated platform overlooking a vast open area. He declares, "ANYONE WHO STRAYS FROM THE LINE WILL BE SHOT IMMEDIATELY!!" and "WE WILL NOW PROCEED TOWARDS THE PALACE!!" Below him, a massive rectangular zone stretches across the ground, marked with numerous sharp # symbols resembling an energy field or barrier. Rows of soldiers stand at attention along the edges. The soldier commands, "DEPART!!" The lower portion of the image shows the lower bodies of many figures standing in formation, surrounded by the same # symbols that cover the ground beneath them.

A character with voluminous curly hair turns sharply and answers "YES, SIR." In the distance, Pitou stands with one arm raised high, shouting "PITOU!" A series of close panels follows. The curly-haired character continues, "SO I LEFT IT ALONE. HOWEVER, I CONSIDERED IT NOT TO BE HARMFUL TO YOUR MAJESTY." Pitou replies "YES. SINCE I WAS KEEPING GUARD WITH 'EN'." Another voice asks, "YOU KNEW THAT KOMUGI WAS BEING ATTACKED?" A stern face in a dark panel watches silently. The curly-haired character leans in with a fierce expression, stating, "AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, TAKE CARE OF IT IMMEDIATELY." Pitou, now shown from the legs down walking alongside the curly-haired figure, receives the order: "FROM NOW ON, STAY ALERT TO KOMUGI'S SURROUNDINGS AS WELL." In a vast empty corridor, Pitou bows low and answers "AS YOU COMMAND," while the distant figure walks away. A final small bubble reads "YES."

A vast aerial view reveals a long, straight path stretching across open terrain toward a distant walled complex built on a hill. The path is lined with countless small figures marching in formation. A winding river curves through the landscape on the left, while sparse trees and rocky outcrops dot the plain. The distant structure sits atop a raised plateau, surrounded by a dotted perimeter that may indicate additional forces or barriers.

Knov stands on a hillside, gazing across the landscape as he thinks aloud. 'They're like ants. No, like lemmings heading towards death?' he murmurs. Below, he watches the distant terrain. 'Tens of thousands of people per group are obediently heading towards the King without question.' He considers the spreading darkness. 'Quik is approaching. The area will be covered in darkness soon.' Knov wonders if he should contact his allies. 'Maybe it's about time I call Morel and the others...?' Suddenly his eyes widen in shock at a distant sight. 'WHAT... IS THAT...!?'

Knov's eyes flare wide with alarm, motion lines radiating outward. '!!' A small panel shows him peering through a telescope from cover among the trees. A black horizontal band crosses the page with a tiny winged silhouette at its center. Below, a tall figure with enormous butterfly wings spreads its arms wide, body clad in a white shirt and dark pants. 'SCALES-!!?' the caption reads. Text at the bottom declares 'A dangerous encounter with Shaiapufu!?'