HYPOTHESIS

On the ninth day at Deck 2 of the Justice Administration Office, guards stand watch outside the tall modern building under a clear morning sky. Inside an office, a suited man hands a plastic bottle to a seated bald man with long side hair and says, "HERE." The bald man, looking tired, asks, "HOW MUCH LONGER UNTIL I CAN GO BACK TO MY BODYGUARD DUTY?" while another voice inquires, "WERE YOU ABLE TO GET ANY SLEEP?" A man with glasses and a suit stands with arms crossed, explaining, "ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, THE CURRENT CONCLUSION WE'VE ARRIVED AT IS THE HUNTER KEENI ACTED ALONE TO TRY AN HELP THE TWO PRINCES ESCAPE. THAT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH YOU COOPERATE." He continues, "BUT I'VE ALSO BEEN CONSIDERING OTHER POSSIBILITIES..." The bald man reacts with wide eyes and shock lines as the glasses man adds, "AND THEY WERE DRAWN BACK TO THEIR OWN ROOMS... MANY OF THE OTHER PRINCES WERE SO 'MOVED' BY YOUR PERFORMANCE..."

The bald man responds with "...I SEE." while the glasses man wonders if any princes are thinking the same and states he is being restrained to protect him from the dangerous princes. He notes the Justice Department has made themselves independent from the royalty and asks for details of movements on the day of the incident. The glasses man questions Prince Kacho and Fugetsu while sipping from a cup. He states there is no other evidence besides the will that the two princes wanted the escape to happen. The bald man thanks him. Later in a busy open office, the bald man thinks to himself, "I'VE GOT TO THINK OF WHAT TO DO NEXT...!" while another person says, "I'M GOING TO USE THIS TIME..."

A motionless body lies on a medical table, head encased in monitoring equipment. A voice reports that the pulse is stable and brainwaves show no irregularities. Nearby, suited men examine the scene and conclude the data suggests a state of sleep. One man notes that from a sensory perspective nothing about the body has changed. The group theorizes that Sumidori’s soul may have been swapped with Shikaku’s, or that the consciousness of the first prince’s private soldier now resides in the same vessel. Another suggests the souls might have flown off somewhere together. A long-haired man in a suit steps forward and proposes testing the theory that Sumidori has been possessed by Shikaku. He outlines four possibilities on a diagram: death and destruction, soul swap into Sumidori’s body, cohabitation within Shikaku’s body, or relocation elsewhere. A woman holding a bow and arrow states that if she shoots a target among them, someone’s soul will transfer into a controlled vessel, revealing what happens to Shikaku’s will.

A man in a patterned suit points to a whiteboard covered in diagrams and numbered theories while explaining that under theory three Shikaku’s soul would remain inside Sumidori’s body. He notes that any change in brainwaves could prove someone has entered Sumidori. Another speaker adds that at the current point there is still no evidence to support or disprove any of the four theories. The long-haired man declares they will test the theory. A sudden close-up shows intense eyes beneath furrowed brows. Below, a chaotic scene erupts with figures struggling violently amid debris and smoke. A woman’s voice states that immediately after this ability awoke within her, and after speaking with her father she accepted her fate and steeled her resolve.

Tserriednich stands centered against a black background with radiating lines, his expression intense as he addresses the group. "SO PLEASE, LISTEN CAREFULLY TO MY HYPOTHESIS AND TAKE IT TO HEART," he says in one speech bubble. In the other, he continues, "I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN ABILITY FOR ME TO SURVIVE AND WIN THIS SUCCESSION WAR WITH...!!" In the next panel he points upward with his right hand while standing beside a door marked with a clock symbol. Nearby, three stern men react with focused stares and one small boy peeks from behind. A wide panel shows several dolphins leaping from the water around a dark spherical object splashing on the surface. From behind, Tserriednich extends his arm and releases a small rectangular object that flies into the distance with motion lines. The final panel reveals a long empty hallway with checkered flooring and rows of doors on both sides.

A large group of suited men and a few others stand in a line facing forward. One man in a patterned suit gestures while saying, "WE CAN THINK OF IT IN 12 PARTS..." Another replies, "I SEE..." In profile, Tserriednich speaks to Sumidori: "SO IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD GET INFORMATION FROM A NEN SPECIALIST TO BACK MY THEORY." Sumidori answers, "OF COURSE, THESE ARE MERELY MY INTUITIVE THEORIES WITH NO SOLID KNOWLEDGE ON THE WORKINGS AND MECHANICS OF NEN ABILITIES." Close-ups show Sumidori and another man listening intently. Tserriednich asks Sumidori directly, "SUMIDORI... CAN YOU DO THIS FOR ME...?" while adding that absolute confirmation of Nen abilities is required. Sumidori replies, "THANK YOU...!" and "I'D BE GLAD TO." The final panel shows the number 1007 on a door in a dark interior space.

A stern man with slicked-back hair and a beard glares forward and declares, "IT'S BACK." In the lavish room next door, Prince Sale-Sale lounges on an ornate couch holding a bottle while a large television screen shows a figure screaming in terror. The same bearded man, now in profile, mutters, "THAT RUMBLING AURA," as smaller panels capture startled reactions from other men in the room. "WHAT IS?" one asks. The view widens to a spacious chamber where suited men stand alert; one announces, "IT'S COMING FROM NEXT DOOR." Large jagged sound effects "Z" "Z" "Z" "Z" "Z" "Z" shake across the page. A man in a puffer jacket peers at the television and says, "YES... I DON'T KNOW WHAT ABILITY IT IS... BUT IT'S DEFINITELY BAD NEWS." Another suited figure points toward the screen and questions, "IS IT 9TH PRINCE HALKEN-BURG?" At the bottom of the page the bearded man stands in silhouette as a doorbell rings with the onomatopoeia "DING-DOOOOONG."

From a high angle, Prince Sale-Sale lies on a patterned rug while a large man in a puffer jacket stands nearby; a suited figure points and demands, "WHO'S THERE?" Another voice commands, "STAY THERE, YOUR HIGHNESS." In a separate panel the bearded man shouts, "ASK HIM WHAT HE WANTS!" A bald man replies, "...I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS." A young suited man on the phone reports, "IT'S 1ST PRINCE BENJAMIN'S PRIVATE ARMY." The same young man answers the phone with a startled "?" as a monitor shows the puffer-jacket man saluting. At the door a suited attendant says, "STATE YOUR BUSINESS." The final circular panel reveals the puffer-jacket man standing outside, right hand raised in salute, waiting.

A soldier in a high-collared uniform snaps a crisp salute, eyes wide and mouth open in a fierce cry. 'PRINCE BENJAMI-IIIIN!!!' he shouts. 'LONG LIVE...' The next panel shows the same man pressing a handgun to his own temple, face set in grim determination. In the long ornate corridor below, the distant figure raises the pistol and fires. A massive 'BANG!' erupts, the sound echoing down the empty hallway as the soldier's body begins to collapse.

From above, several suited men lie sprawled across the black-and-white checkered floor of a grand lobby. One man clings to the ceiling molding while others scramble in shock, marked by a large '!!?'. In the next panel a suited man holding a pistol gestures toward the corridor and declares it was probably the first prince's private soldier. Another voice asks 'WHAT IS THE MATTER?!' Below, the body of the soldier lies spread-eagled on the floor with the gun nearby. A kneeling man in a suit stares in horror and says the soldier just shot himself in the head. Two other men rush in, one calling 'HEY, RHYS!!' and another asking what happened outside.

In a long ornate hallway, several figures lie on the floor amid scattered debris while suited men stand guard. A tall man with a thick mustache and slicked-back hair strides forward, his expression tense. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" he demands. Another voice notes, "HE RUMBLING HAS STOPPED..." In an adjacent room, a spiky-haired man stands with arms crossed beside a seated figure as narration states: "WITHOUT A DOUBT, IT SEEMS TO BE THROUGH SOMEONE'S ABILITY FROM 9TH PRINCE HALKENBURG'S CAMP. PRINCE BENJAMIN... SHIKAKU HAS COMMITTED SUICIDE." Close-ups reveal a scarred, bandaged man identified as Halkenburg, his eyes wide. Prince Benjamin stares intensely. "HALKENGURG..." he mutters. A bald man with a mustache replies, "AT THE PRESENT MOMENT, HE MAY BE THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN NOW...!" and "IT SEEMS HE'S SUDDENLY BECOME A PERSON OF IMPORTANCE." In the empty corridor, an unseen speaker orders, "HAVE HIM RECALL TO US ALL THE DETAILS OF EVERYTHING LEADING UP TO THE EVENT. SUMMON KANJIDOL BACK FROM ROOM 1007."

Black horizontal bars fill the upper portion of the page. Below, a white-haired man in a suit sits with a worried expression, facing a blond man whose back is turned. Surrounding them are several tall men in black suits standing silently with hands behind their backs. The white-haired man stammers, "PRINCE HAL... ...KEN... BURG..." A close-up shows the blond man's sharp, intense gaze as he leans forward and asks, "WHAT IS YOUR AFFILIATION AND ID NUMBER...?"

In a grand hall, Theta stands in the foreground with a serious expression, observing the distant group. A man with spiky hair points toward the far side of the room and states, "IT WAS OVER THERE, WASN'T IT?" while another suited man stands with arms crossed. Nearby panels show discussion: "I THINK IT WAS AROUND THE 9, 7, 55..." and "IT DEFINITELY WASN'T ON THE EVEN NUMBERED SIDE." Theta adds, "IT WASN'T THE AURA OF THE 3RD PRINCE'S GUARDIAN SPIRIT BEAST. THE POSSIBILITY IS NOT ZERO, BUT..." A man asks, "CAN WE EXCLUDE 3RD PRINCE ZHANG LEI?" A close-up reveals a cautious man declaring, "HE'S DEFINITELY VERY MUCH CAUTIOUS AND ON HIS GUARD, BUT IS HE REALLY THAT DANGEROUS?" Others conclude, "THEY'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD. AS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T SENSE NEN AT ALL..." Theta sweats, thinking, "THE MOST DANGEROUS THING OF ALL IS THE FACT THAT THESE ARE STILL UNKNOWN ...!" and questions, ""WHO" IS ATTACKING, AND "WITH WHAT KIND OF ABILITY" ...?" Narration explains emitter phenomena: "PASSING THROUGH A PHYSICAL OBSTACLE OR WALL SHOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT FOR AN EMITTER'S ATTACK. A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF ENERGY SEEMINGLY EXPLODED AND THEN SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED... THESE ARE PHENOMENA THAT OFTEN OCCUR WHEN AN EMITTER USES THEIR ABILITY."

A stern man states, "THEY'RE DOUBTING WHETHER THEY WILL REALLY BE ABLE TO LEARN NEN THROUGH THIS." while another notes, "EVERYONE'S BEGINNING TO HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT CONTINUING THIS SAME TRAINING." The spiky-haired man replies, "THAT MAY BE SO... BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT." Theta touches her glasses and thinks, "PERHAPS IT'S TIME TO BEGIN... INDEED, HE'S RIGHT... I PLAN TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STAGE TOMORROW." The scene shifts to a close-up of a water glass containing a leaf, with a hand performing the water divination ceremony. Reactions erupt: "WHOA ....!" "...BUT... IS THIS AN ABILITY...?!" "THE COLOR OF THE WATER CHANGED...?! AND THE LEAF IS SPINNING?!" and "THIS SHOWS THAT MY ABILITY IS A SPECIALIST-TYPE." The group watches intently as the leaf spins in the altered water.

A suited man leans close and says, "Give it a try." The short-haired girl replies, "You're the most capable of learning." In the next panel a voice calls out "Lagi-olas." Another speaker continues, "But there have been several members that seem to be capable. If you cannot generate enough aura, then you will not be able to test yourself this way." The girl stands among several men in formal attire, one of whom exclaims "Huh?!" A nervous woman with buns sweats and mutters "Okay..." and "O..." The suited young man explains, "It doesn't matter quite as much for me, as my typing is a specialist, which doesn't give any information as to what my ability may be. But...! Your ability's type is normally something that you mustn't ever, ever, let anyone else find out... It is top secret." On a black background a stern man with styled hair declares, "It will dispel the hostility from these muscleheaded morons, and they will hop back into the training with renewed passion. He's good... By choosing someone unexpected like her, he's able to appeal to them showing that Nen does not discriminate against sex or body type." In a hallway lined with ornate doors the same young man states, "Because of that, we will be conducting this divination in a separate room so that others will not find out your typing." A caption reads, "Once you learn your opponent's type, you can gain insight and foresight on all his future actions. It's the same level as knowing what someone's going to throw in rock paper scissors before they do it. Just understand it is a serious disadvantage." An older man in a suit gestures and says, "If you're in a sealed off room, then there's no way for us to know if you're really doing the divination or not, right?" The short-haired girl answers, "I can't comprehend that at all." A bald man adds, "Only Bill and me." Another voice asks, "Who will be there watching over it?"

The short-haired girl continues, "Therefore, I will not back down from my requirement that Bill and I are watching over the process." A tall man with a goatee replies, "In order for you to acquire Nen abilities in this super short time of 2 weeks as promised, I will need to support you all with different methods in accordance with your Nen typing." He adds, "Then we won't need you watching over at all." The short-haired girl responds, "Besides, if you just tell us how exactly the divination works and how to do it..." She concedes, "Well, strictly speaking, you are right." In a close-up the girl insists, "I said it didn't matter as much for you all finding out my Nen type, but comparatively speaking, I'm also undertaking a considerable risk." She further states, "Therefore, getting information on all of your types as compensation... is a privilege that I must insist on." A hand is raised as another speaker declares, "Therefore, the notion that we would be the ones to inflict or instigate harm against you is complete and utter nonsense!" A caption clarifies the protective duty toward Prince Woble and the need to raise lower princes' security to match the upper princes. The suited young man turns his back and says, "Then you can just stop here, that's fine by me." The goateed man warns, "If you cannot accept this situation..."

Two men confer in a high-ceilinged room. One with a scar asks whether they should swap out with Lihan. The other replies that the current arrangement is giving them the knowledge that Kurapika is a specialist. A third man with a high pompadour notes that Tserriednich is letting loose and speaking his mind, calling it refreshing. Nearby, a stern woman with short dark hair confirms that the man finished with 8th Prince Sale-Sale and has now begun surveillance of 5th Prince Tubeppa. She adds that Lihan's ability should be used to exterminate the prince's guardian spirit beast. A smaller panel shows a young man with a neat haircut listening. The pompadour man continues that Tserriednich's nature is getting the best of him, making him overly cautious. Another man states that the host of the beast is either too young or it is a counter-attack type. The woman asks what happened to the analysis of 14th Prince Woble's guardian beast and whether the report was planned for yesterday. The man answers that it has not been shown at all. The scene shifts to an open sky above the sea where a dark submarine-like vessel sails beneath flocks of birds. Two small figures on a balcony remark that this is a perfect example of strategic patience and that there is still one week of the voyage left.

Vertical title text runs along the left edge: "WHAT IN THE WORLD HAS HE DONE? AND WHAT DOES HE KNOW?" Inside a modern room marked with the number 1004, a suited man with spiky hair answers "Yes" to increasing the speed of "Zetsu." A woman with long straight hair stands with her back turned. The man declares his goal is to apply the four major principles as fast as he can blink. A close-up shows him sweating, realizing he has been at this for one week. He reflects that once past one second he will have a match with himself and measures how long it takes to close and open his eyes. In another panel a woman with shoulder-length hair asks what she should do. The spiky-haired man notes that recently he has been surprised at changes in his own state of mind. The long-haired woman at the bottom of the page smiles and says she just finds two-faced women so cute. The page ends with the Hunter × Hunter logo and "...CH. 386 / END."