Choice

Kurapika stands alone against a dark background, surrounded by large thought bubbles. He questions why another assassin was sent yet contact is still desired, notes they are already at war, realizes Prince Benjamin knows his soldier was killed, and concludes the other princes seek information on Nen beasts because their own forces lack Nen users. He recalls contacting the First Prince and infers the other two princes are also trying to reach him. In the lower panels Kurapika speaks with an older man in a suit, saying he will handle any trouble and asking if the man can use Gyo. Bill appears and is ordered to stay by the door and watch the soldier outside. Shimano is instructed to ask the waiting soldier to wait while the switchboard connects the call to the First Prince.

A vibrant full-color illustration depicts a young fighter with spiky black hair tipped in green leaping dynamically through the air. He wears an open tan jacket, green shorts with a striped belt, and tall green boots with gray stripes. His right fist is thrust forward, surrounded by a massive, radiant explosion of orange and yellow energy that bursts outward with sharp light rays and motion lines. His face shows a fierce, gritted-teeth expression with narrowed eyes. Swirling peach-colored energy trails curve around the figure against a plain white background. Small social media icons and handles appear in the bottom left corner.

In a hallway, Kurapika stands holding a telephone receiver to his ear while a small child crouches nearby. Kurapika thinks to himself that if his targets have taken the bait he laid by making them believe he is a Manipulator, then they will not be able to make any careless moves. He speaks into the phone with a neutral greeting. On the other end of the line, Prince Zhang Lei reacts with visible shock, his eyes widening as he exclaims the name. A close-up shows Zhang Lei gripping the receiver, sweat visible on his face, while another panel reveals Kurapika's large, focused eyes. An off-panel voice notes that prioritizing the caller over the First Prince Benjamin is a most exceptional honor.

A young boy with a topknot stares forward with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth, sweat drops visible near his face. Nearby, a light-haired girl with pigtails looks on with intense, wide eyes and sweat drops, her expression tense. The bald man seated in an ornate chair speaks calmly into a telephone receiver held to his ear. A suited man stands silently beside him. The girl leans forward, asking, "OVER THE FIRST PRINCE...? WHY WOULD YOU CHOOSE ME..." She continues, "I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE THE MOST OPEN TO DISCUSSION. TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST..." The bald man replies from his chair, "PARDON MY ASKING, BUT WOULD YOU MIND TELLING ME SOMETHING?"

Kurapika stands in a hallway, responding into the phone, "IT LIKELY HAS TO DO WITH THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WANT FROM ME. BECAUSE... I'M SORRY, BUT I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. AND WHAT DID YOU BASE THAT ASSUMPTION ON...?" Prince Zhang Lei, still seated, reacts with surprise, "OOOH...?" and then says, "VERY WELL... LET'S JUMP TO THE MATTER AT HAND, THEN." He continues, "BUT OF COURSE, THERE'S NO WAY TO ENSURE OUR PRIVACY IS MAINTAINED OVER THE PHONE. AS YOU HAVE SURMISED, I WANT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS I CAN GET ABOUT 'NEN'." Kurapika grips the phone tightly, noting, "HE WON'T LET US TAKE THE UPPER HAND IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER. JUST AS I'D EXPECT OF SOMEONE OF ROYAL LINEAGE. HOW ABOUT IT? AN EXCHANGE OF HONOR AND INFORMATION? I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO ENTER MY ROOM."

A man on the phone states he will ring back on the intercom in fifteen minutes and expresses he would never dream of siblings fighting each other. Kurapika, standing with Oito who holds Prince Woble, accepts the invitation but adds one condition. He then urgently tells the operator to connect him to the First Prince. Realizing the line has gone dead, Kurapika curses in frustration. The scene shifts to Second Lieutenant Maor answering the call under Prince Tubeeppa's authority. Kurapika identifies himself and requests an immediate connection to the Fifth Prince. Maor asks if Kurapika will accept their offer of a truce agreement in exchange for information on Nen Beasts.

Kurapika confirms he will head to Maor's room and apologizes for needing more time. Maor accepts the offer while stating their situation is of no concern and they wish to avoid conflict. He emphasizes the Prince has entrusted him with full responsibility. In close-up, Maor repeats that Kurapika's situation is of no concern. Kurapika shows visible shock with wide eyes. Maor continues that they are dealing with the First Prince's soldier outside their door and will not break the agreement depending on actions taken. He asks if Kurapika understands that they do not believe he is the only one with Nen information.

A man in a suit speaks into a telephone receiver. "WE WILL CONTACT YOU AGAIN IN AN HOUR." The reply comes softly, "...VERY WELL." The line is cut with a sharp click. "THEN OUR AGREEMENT IS OFF," the suited man states. "IF YOU HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM BY THEN..." Kurapika, seen in close profile, continues the thought aloud: "AFTER ALL, HOW THE FIRST PRINCE WILL INTERPRET THAT SITUATION IS OF NO CONCERN TO US. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" In a hallway, Bill turns and addresses Shimano. "COME HERE AND LOOK ME IN THE EYES." Shimano responds, "NO RESPONSE FROM HIM AT THE DOOR AT ALL." Bill replies, "OKAY." Nearby, Bill adds, "BILL, LOOK AFTER THE QUEEN." At the bottom of the page, the pompadour-haired man stands outside room 1014, staring at the closed double doors where a figure in work clothes waits with hands clasped behind his back.

In the corridor, a figure walks away while another stands still. A voice reflects, "WANTED TO DO MY VERY BEST TO TRY TO SURVIVE. ...I, TOO..." Kurapika, facing left, asks, "WHY? WHY DID YOU CONNECT ME THE 3RD PRINCE ZHANG LEI INSTEAD OF 1ST PRINCE BENJAMIN?" A close-up shows a wide-eyed man replying that the first prince is not the kind of person who would be swayed by negotiations or pleading for life. Another panel states, "THE FIRST PRINCE IS A CRUEL, COLD-HEARTED PERSON." A suited man with a scar explains that the first prince had only one piece of business left and would have let his subordinate handle talks. A dark-skinned man adds that the first prince would not speak directly to commoners. A dramatic close-up of intense eyes declares, "HE WILL LET US CHOOSE OUR METHOD OF DEATH." The reason given is to show respect to the queen. Oito, seen from the side, states she connected Kurapika with the third prince because she has no interest in how she dies and only wants to live. Kurapika stands silently with a sweat drop, listening.

From a high vantage, two figures stand in a grand hall as voices discuss strategy. "At the very least, he won't target us until there are fewer princes left," one says. "Furthermore, if we could negotiate with him without harming his impression of us or his mood..." Another voice adds, "While he would like to avoid killing one another, if it came down to it he would not hesitate in the slightest. He is someone who is both kind and cruel at the same time..." and "He is tolerant and generous enough that he would take the phone himself to negotiate directly with us, but prideful and not so tolerant that he would wait to be spoken to second and not hang up..." A reply confirms, "Yes, sir." The speaker continues, "So then you connected me to him first in order to best ensure your safety...? That is my impression of the 3rd Prince Zhang Lei." Kurapika, in a dark suit, states firmly, "But he has very strong, critical opinions on how the present kingdom should be." Shimano notes, "5th Prince Tubeeppa is not the type that would speak on the phone himself." Bill, with glasses, explains, "And he will have the political power to gain amnesty for the lower princes. Once he accomplishes that, he will be able to negotiate with the king... Is to stop the higher princes from taking control of the throne. The reason he is participating in this battle..." A close-up shows a surprised face as the voice adds, "He wasn't the kind of person that would interpret that as disrespect. I decided that even if we picked 3rd Prince Zhang Lei first and made him wait..."

Kurapika's profile appears as she says, "Then let me ask you this." A narration box states, "Indeed... Up till now, all of Shimano's judgments have been accurate." In smaller panels, a worried face exclaims, "We can't make him stay out there." Another asks, "What do you think we should do with him?" A figure stands before ornate doors while a voice notes, "As for this First Prince's soldier who's waiting outside..." A man in a puffy jacket stands in a hallway as text reads, "If we refuse him, the Queen, the Prince... all of us will be detained by the Royal Army." Further explanation follows: "Being an upper rank soldier who is also part of the King's personal army, he has come here under the name of national defense to 'protect and observe'." A tense face sweats while saying, "The longer this abnormal situation goes on, the easier it will be for them to lay the groundwork for that scenario." Another voice adds, "The reason he hasn't taken any actions despite having been made to wait this long... he already knows exactly what it is he should do." Ink splatters frame final lines: "All he needs is one single opening... Just a moment... and he'll construct a scenario where the Queen, being frantic and in a mental state of anguish, killed herself along with the Prince. And once we are, the First Prince's soldier will accompany us..."

Oito leans forward earnestly, pleading with Shimano. "PLEASE, TELL ME ANYTHING YOU THINK OF. I WILL BE NEEDING YOUR ADVICE." Shimano replies with quiet resolve, "YES, SIR!" In the grand hallway, Kurapika stands with his back to the group as Shimano bows and thanks him. "THANK YOU," she says, followed by a soft murmur, "...SHI-MANO." Kurapika holds a phone to his ear, apologizing to the caller. "I'M SORRY TO HAVE KEPT YOU WAITING. THE QUEEN WAS MAKING PREPARATIONS TO GO OUT." The spiky-haired man beside him states firmly, "KURAPIKA, IT'S ABOUT TIME." A cutaway shows the multi-level interior of the building with guards posted on walkways. The spiky-haired man continues, "WE'RE ABOUT TO HEAD TO 3RD PRINCE ZHANG LEI'S ROOM. OF COURSE, WE WERE INVITED BY THE PRINCE HIMSELF." In close-up, the same man glances aside with a tense expression, thinking, "TO GO OUT?"

The spiky-haired man states he will handle matters in the 3rd Prince's area. "IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN THE 3RD PRINCE'S AREA, I'LL LEAVE THINGS IN YOUR CARE. MEANWHILE, I'LL WAIT HERE IN THE ROOM." Oito turns to Kurapika and asks, "WILL YOU ACCOMPANY US?" Kurapika and the spiky-haired man stand facing each other in the hallway. The spiky-haired man replies, "...NO." Kurapika asks whether he intends to wear contacts. "NO, I'LL BE WEARING CONTACTS. KURAPIKA ...ARE YOU GOING TO GO WITH YOUR EYES LIKE THAT?" The spiky-haired man answers, "I WON'T GO DOWN SO EASILY. I'LL BE FINE." In the corridor, Kurapika walks ahead with Oito, Shimano, and the infant while the spiky-haired man follows. A large speech bubble states, "IF THE 5TH PRINCE TUBEEPPA CALLS, TELL HIM THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED." Kurapika adds, "I'LL BE IN CONTACT AS SOON AS NEGOTIATIONS ARE FINISHED."

In the ornate hallway, close-ups reveal Kurapika's intense gaze with a scar under his eye, followed by the stern profile of a spiky-haired man in a suit. A woman with a sweat drop on her cheek holds a curly-haired child while standing beside a sharp-eyed man. Further down the corridor, a man in a puffy jacket walks away with arms crossed as a door labeled with a creak sound effect swings open. In the large lower panel, the group gathers: the puffy-jacketed man stands facing forward, the suited spiky-haired man looks on, a long-haired figure in a suit turns slightly, and the woman cradles the child while another woman with curly hair stands nearby. Tension fills the air as they prepare to part ways.

The puffy-jacketed man and the long-haired figure walk ahead down the hallway as voices exchange polite farewells. A speech bubble says 'AFTER YOU.' while another replies 'TAKE CARE...'. Close-up panels show a stern bald man with a serious expression and an elderly woman with a furious, wide-eyed glare and bared teeth. In the bottom scene, Kurapika walks forward confidently in a black suit, adjusting his earpiece, leading the woman who carries the child. Two suited men follow behind them, and an elderly man stands near door 1008 watching the group depart.

Kurapika and Oito, carrying Prince Woble, walk down a long ornate hallway lined with guards. Two suited men glance back at them from ahead. Kurapika thinks, "...THOSE ARE 4TH PRINCE TSERRIEDNICH'S QUARTERS..." A man with glasses reports into his phone, "THREE PEOPLE HAVE ARRIVED AND HAVE ENTERED THE ROOM." The group continues deeper into the corridor. In a lavishly furnished room, a man in a puffy jacket stands beside a seated older man with glasses while a suited attendant waits nearby. The seated man gestures and says, "PLEASE HAVE A SEAT." The attendant adds, "WELCOME."

Two water bottles are placed on the table. The seated man with dots on his forehead says, "TAKE WHICHEVER ONE YOU LIKE." He continues, "BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT SUCH NEEDLESS THINGS. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE MEAGER HOSPITALITY." Kurapika replies, "LET'S GET RIGHT TO THIS INFORMATION OF YOURS." The man answers, "WELL THEN." He sprays a bottle while the woman with the baby says, "THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION." Kurapika explains, "USING THESE POWERS, YOU CAN SEE THINGS THAT ARE NORMALLY INVISIBLE AND ALSO USE OTHERWISE EXTRAORDINARY POWERS. NEN REFERS TO THE ABILITY TO INVOKE SUPERHUMAN POWERS WITH YOUR WILLPOWER." In close-up Kurapika thinks, "WITHIN THIS TENSE SITUATION... HE'S TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T PANIC. IS PROBABLY DIRECTING THIS EXPLANATION TO ME. KURAPIKA... THAT ARE ABLE TO USE THIS POWER. THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE..."

A massive circular emblem with cross-like spokes and a central minus sign radiates dark energy across the upper half of the page. Below it, a dark-haired woman in profile clasps her hands while gazing toward a bald man seated in an ornate chair; the man has three dots on his forehead and wears a white outfit. SFX crackle around the emblem. In a close-up, the woman’s eyes widen in surprise as she raises a hand near her mouth. A split panel shows the emblem again. The young light-haired girl with large eyes leans forward and declares, "ALL OF THE PRINCES WERE UNKNOWINGLY GIVEN NEN POWERS." Another balloon states, "THIS SUCCESSION WAR IS A SURVIVAL RACE USING NEN ABILITIES." In a wider view of a candlelit room, the bald man explains, "I BELIEVE THEY WERE ACTIVATED THROUGH THE JAR CEREMONY." He continues, "THOSE ARE THE NEN BEASTS! THE WORD THAT WAS BROADCAST ON THE EMERGENCY CHANNEL EARLIER." The bald man reacts with "OHH ...?"

Against a black background, the young light-haired girl’s face is shown with intense radiating lines as she says, "ENOUGH TO AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE SUCCESSION WAR...!" and "NOW... THE INFORMATION I'M ABOUT TO GIVE YOU IS OF EXTREME IMPORTANCE." Three small panels display labeled portraits: Bodyguard Coventoba (1st Prince Benjamin’s private soldier), Bodyguard Slacker (2nd Queen Duazul’s soldier), and a scene of the bald man seated in the candlelit room with another figure standing nearby. A voice asks, "TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION HERE?" The bald man replies, "ARE YOU SURE THAT YOU WISH..." Close-ups show the girl’s serious expression, Bodyguard Coventoba’s concerned face, Bodyguard Slacker’s stern look, and the bald man resting his chin on his hand. The page ends with the Hunter × Hunter logo and "...CH. 365 / END".