Hunter × Hunter Chapter 340: Special Assignment

A large round-faced man with a topknot beams with closed eyes and an open mouth, declaring grandly. "HUMANITIES PEACEFUL FUTURE IS WAITING FOR US THERE!" "VAST AMOUNTS OF NATURAL RESOURCES! OVERFLOWING AMOUNTS OF FOOD!" Smaller panels show reactions: a woman with wide eyes and a suited man with glasses wonder about the mysterious "place," while others question the scale of resources and identify "KAKIN'S KING, HOICORO." A spiky-haired character asks, "WHO IS THIS GUY?" The large man continues, "PUT ALL OF HUMANITIES DREAMS ON OUR BACK!" "SO WE THE KAKIN NATION WILL..." In the dramatic bottom panel, a small figure stands before a massive explosion of arrows and impact lines. Bold text proclaims, "I DECLARE IT HERE!" "THE VOYAGE TO THE DARK CONTINENT."

Leorio stares intensely while declaring the untouchable nature of the subject. A rabbit-like figure and a man in a star-patterned hat emphasize that humanity's greatest taboo concerns the Dark Continent. Ging, or a similarly intense figure in a wide hat, listens with a stern expression. In the next tier, a woman with large eyes explains that several types of other human beings thrive in regions absent from the world map, noting that magical beasts also originate from there. Killua reacts with shock, questioning the seriousness of the claim and demanding to know what kind of Hunter the speaker is. The woman asks what the Dark Continent even is. A large central panel shows the hatted man explaining that the agreement between the modern five nations to avoid the region was made over two hundred years ago, written in ancient artifacts and relics, with every attempt by humanity resulting in disaster. At the bottom, a large man in ornate traditional robes gestures emphatically, arguing that people from emerging nations should lead the current world and calling the old superstition utter nonsense.

Multiple characters react to the ongoing discussion. A small figure questions whether the obligation applies to all nations. The woman with glasses wonders if Kakin is even part of the agreement. Killua notes that the time has come to open the Dark Continent. The rabbit-like figure asks if an old nation simply changed its name. The star-hatted man wonders if the speakers know they have a chance of succeeding. A helmeted figure in the background comments on economic advancement allowing actions that ignore the contract. The woman with glasses explains that thirty years ago Kakin shifted from a socialist empire to a parliamentary democracy after removing the royal family's name. In a lower tier, a bearded man in a striped shirt reacts with alarm while a young girl and others show concern. A small character states that this is a big problem with moral principles. A large foreground character with a bow tie points dramatically and urges everyone to look at something important, declaring that the real big problem starts from here.

A hand gestures dramatically as a voice announces, 'WELL THEN LET ME INTRODUCE TO YOU!' Two speech bubbles explain that the group succeeded in locating the perfect unmatched man for the role and identify themselves as the ones responsible for the Park Continent Investigation Group. In the next panel a stern man with a topknot and mustache stands before a checkered backdrop and shouts 'TA!' while a row of surprised faces below reacts with shock and tension. The scene shifts to a close-up of an elderly bearded man with a topknot and earrings. Large text declares him 'THE LEGENDARY PRO HUNTER MR. ATZAK NETERO' and states he leads the world's finest group of specialists and has survived hundreds of battles. A small robed figure stands in front of him with arms raised while several wide-eyed onlookers stare up in awe.

A scarred man with a topknot and fierce glare fills the left side of the panel. On the right stands a tall imposing figure with long flowing hair and beard wearing flowing robes, his head surrounded by radiant lines. A speech bubble above the tall man reads 'HIS SON!' while another bubble near the scarred man declares 'CAPTAIN BEYOND NETERO!' The two figures stand side by side against a dark background, emphasizing their dramatic presence.

A massive overhead view shows a crowd of figures staring upward in shock at a glowing triangular screen. Speech bubbles explode across the panel: "HAD A SON!?" and "CHAIRMAN NETER0..." Below, a dark-haired woman with wide eyes exclaims, "WE NEED TO FIND OUT IF IT'S TRUE OR NOT," while a helmeted man beside her sweats and mutters, "I WAS TOLD THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FAMILY BUT...!?" and adds, "FIRST THE TRUTH." In the foreground, Chairman Netero stands tall in flowing robes, arms raised. The bottom panel shifts to a dramatic low-angle shot of Netero on a starry stage, declaring, "THE MOMENT YOU STOP ACCEPTING CHALLENGES IS THE MOMENT YOUR LIFE ENDS," as another voice states, "MY FATHER WHO I LOVE AND RESPECT ALWAYS TOLD ME THIS."

Close-up reactions show two older men gasping, "DON'T THINK THERE'S A NEED TO MAKE SURE OF IT" and "OH WOW..." while a small creature comments, "GRAB... RAAA..." Text boxes explain, "IT BECOMES A FACT THAT OUR ANCESTORS FROM ANCIENT TIMES HAVE WENT BEYOND WHERE WE ARE TODAY" and "WHEN YOU READ THE MYTHS AND ENCOUNTER THE ANCIENT ARTIFACTS." A large panel features a fierce man with a topknot and armor declaring, "IT'S JUST CHAIRMAN NETER0 I IS ACTUALLY TALKING," while another states, "THE NUMEROUS OBSTACLES THAT LAY BEFORE US" and "BEFORE WE STEP INTO THE HOME LAND!!" The central splash shows the armored man thrusting his fist forward, shouting, "I WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THEM!" Bottom panels depict a quiet room and a television broadcast listing "AGE! GENDER! NATIONALITY! OCCUPATION! ETHNICITY! I WON'T QUESTION ANY OF THEM," with the caption, "EVERYONE HAS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY."

A muscular man with a topknot and long beard stands tall, his right fist raised high as he shouts with intense passion. "ANYONE WHO ASPIRES THE NEW WORLD IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR FAMILY" he declares. "I WON'T REFUSE ANYONE WHO HAS A CHALLENGING HEART!" he continues. Below him, a row of stunned faces from the crowd reacts with wide eyes and clenched teeth. "THE ONLY THING WE NEED IS THE COURAGE TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP!" he proclaims. A large banner displays the sound effect "ウァアアアア" as the crowd cheers wildly. "YOUR INDIVIDUAL TALENTS WILL DEFINITELY COME INTO SOME KIND OF USE," he adds. In a massive full-page spread, the man leaps forward with both fists clenched, cape billowing. "LET US GO!! TO THE NEW WORLD!!!" he roars. "COME!!! TO KAKIN!!!" the enormous lettering emphasizes as the ground shakes beneath him.

A fierce close-up shows a wild-haired, bird-like figure with an enormous open mouth shouting at full volume. "I WILL DEFINITELY" appears in a jagged bubble. "TAKE YOU THERE!!" follows as the figure leans forward with intense eyes. Below, a grid of reaction panels captures the stunned crowd: a long-haired woman stares in surprise, a spiky-haired boy grits his teeth, a round-faced character sweats, and others display shock, confusion, or determination. A large SFX "ビクン..." pulses across the panels as the impact of the words hits everyone.

In a tense gathering, a large curly-haired figure looms beside an armored silhouette while smaller characters react in the background. The scene shifts to close-ups of stunned faces as the group processes shocking news. A small bald man in a formal tuxedo stands center stage, sweat beading on his head as he speaks with wide eyes. Narration overlays reveal that everyone is shaking and that even the speaker once believed the Chairman acted exactly like the previous Chairman. The bald man continues, noting that of course they are the same. In a dramatic close-up he raises a peace sign and declares that the number was actually two—the exact count of DVDs the Chairman had left behind.

The curly-haired figure reacts with alarm, eyes bulging and mouth open wide as a speech bubble declares that the Chairman must have known this would happen beforehand. Nearby faces show grim determination and surprise. A hand places a DVD case onto a surface while a voice announces its arrival. In the lower section a crowd of Zodiacs and associates reacts with varied expressions. Speech bubbles convey warnings: if someone claiming to be the Chairman's son ever appears, all the Zodiacs must watch that person closely.

The Zodiacs erupt in heated discussion over Ging's absence. A stern man in a tall hat shouts, "IT'LL TAKE FOREVER TO FIND GIN, YOU IDIOT!!" A woman with a high ponytail retorts, "YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME! ARE YOU STUPID? 'WITH ALL 12 ZODIACS' 2 OF THEM AREN'T HERE!" Ging, spiky-haired and scowling, growls, "LET'S SEE IT QUICK. IS THIS FOR REAL?!" In the next tier, members debate leadership: "WE NEED TO CHOOSE A VICE CHAIRMAN AS WELL," while another notes, "OH THAT'S RIGHT." A close-up shows a serious profile saying, "NOPE. THAT GUY ISN'T THE VICE CHAIRMAN ANYMORE RIGHT?" A mustached man adds, "PALISTON MUST BE AT THE OFFICE RIGHT NOW." Lower panels show casual reactions: a small figure complains, "I THINK GIN DOESN'T ANSWER PHONE CALLS---" as another sighs, "GEEZ IF THAT'S SO LETS DO IT LATER." A calm voice states, "THE MESSAGE IS THE TOP PRIORITY!!" A large-headed character suddenly yells, "ATTENTION!! EVERYONE" as the group turns. At the bottom, a bespectacled girl with cat-ear accessories raises her hand and declares, "SINCE IT'S NOT IRRELEVANT FROM THIS ONE" while adding, "WELL THEN... FIRST I WILL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT."

A sweeping cityscape shows a tall tower rising above rooftops under a bright sky. A large speech bubble notes, "AFTER ONLY AN HOUR AN HOUR OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT GOT OVER A 100 MILLION VIEWS ON I-TUBE." Another bubble states, "THE QUESTION'S AND APPLICATIONS FOR THE NEW WORLD CAN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH OUR 100 THOUSAND OPERATION LINE!" Inside a grand hall with arched windows, a woman in robes kneels before a seated bearded man in ornate armor. She reports, "THE KING HAS SAID THAT THE VS IS WAITING FOR YOU TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT TO TAKE BACK THE ANNOUNCEMENT YOU MADE EARLIER." The man replies calmly, "KEEP ACCEPTING THEM! GOOD GOOD." In a smaller lower panel, a long-haired woman stands outside looking concerned. The bearded man continues, "SO HOW DO WE GO TO THE 'OUTSIDE' WHILE FOLLOWING WHAT THE VS SAYS AGAIN? HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF YEARS ARE THEY GOING TO BE SAYING SUCH RIDICULOUS THINGS" and orders, "TELL HIM TO IGNORE IT."

The woman with spiral-patterned glasses and long dark hair details the lengthy bureaucratic hurdles ahead. She explains that even after securing three invitations from each country's bureaucrats and meeting the department chief of the special administration, the group must still obtain a special authorization from the foreign ministries, sign contracts, and listen to explanations that could take a month. She adds that with five countries involved the full application process to each foreign ministry will take around half a year, and even after paying a hefty sum there is no guarantee of acceptance. The bearded man with long hair suddenly erupts in fury, his face filling the panel with rage lines as he yells that he does not know and finds all the words irritating. He demands she shut up. Calming slightly, he states that after paying the sum they will join the investigation but will only be on a sightseeing tour, constantly monitored and unable to move freely. The woman replies that even if the application succeeds it will take years before they can join.

The bearded long-haired man declares he will neither refuse anyone who comes nor go after anyone who flees, but he will defeat anyone who gets in the way. He wants to go to a place no one has ever gone before and meet people no one has ever met before. He urges the group to make something that no one has ever touched theirs, to step into the unknown, and to do what they want without being held back by anyone. A large central panel shows a diverse crowd of characters listening intently, including a chef-hatted figure, a girl with buns, a boy with a lollipop, and others. The bottom row displays close-up portraits of ten individuals with varied expressions, from serious to determined. The bearded man stands on the far right, pointing forward with resolve.

A close-up shows a young man with spiky hair and a striped collar turning his head slightly, his expression serious. A speech bubble reads "PALISTON AND". The scene shifts to a wide landscape where a robed figure stands with his back to the viewer, facing a distant city across water. Speech bubbles state "HAVE APPLIED FOR WITHDRAWL FROM THE ZODIACS" and "JIN". In the final panel a bespectacled girl with long hair and prominent ears reacts with wide eyes and an open mouth; large bold SFX "ドーン!!" burst beside her as she declares "I APPROVE OF THIS!!".

A group of Zodiacs and other figures stand together under dramatic lighting. One armored character says "I BELIEVE WE MEET THE CONDITION TO SEE THE MESSAGE. WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK?" while another adds "HENCE FROM THIS POINT THE ZODIACS INCLUDES EVERYONE WITH THE 10 OF US." In the next panel a crowded assembly reacts; speech bubbles declare "THIS IS ACTUALLY MORE OF A DIRE SITUATION", "A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT HAS COME", and "A MESSAGE FROM THE V5". At the bottom a girl with glasses stands alone on rocky ground while an older man with a topknot shouts "BEYOND NETERO!!" and "HUNT HIM...." A note at the very bottom states the author will be taking a break.