Friends

The bald man’s face twists with excitement as he feels the rush of blood and tingling skin. He grips the bed rail and declares this is the moment. Luzurus’s hands twitch and clutch at the sheets while the bald man continues his assault. Luzurus’s eyes close and his hair stands on end. The bald man pulls on a pair of striped gloves, shouting that five minutes of martial law have been granted. He laughs and states he is better off fighting than getting bogged down by details, vowing to slaughter anyone who resists. The bald man sits on the lower bunk, gloves on, staring ahead with a grim expression.

A long, ornate hallway stretches into the distance with two guards standing watch at the far end. Further along the corridor, more guards are visible near the walls. A close-up reveals an older man's tense face as he glances sideways. Two guards stand rigidly in front of double doors marked 1009. The older man turns and says, "LET'S TELL THE PRINCE." Beside him, another suited man replies, "SOMETHING'S GOING ON WITH THE FIRST PRINCE'S SOLDIERS. HEY." In the next panel, the older man stands before a different set of ornate double doors as a shorter man in a suit knocks and shouts, "RICE ENTERING!" The view widens to show another grand hallway where a lone figure walks toward the foreground while two guards remain posted on either side.

A woman with an afro hairstyle and large headphones speaks into a device, saying, "HAND ME SOME WATER. I'M THIRSTY." In the background, a prince sits on a large bed watching television while two guards stand nearby; one guard states, "I'M AWAKE." and another reports, "THE PRINCE IS ASLEEP RIGHT NOW. I'LL HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY." A mustached man in a suit reacts with "OH." while a goateed man explains, "THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING GOING ON INSIDE THE QUARTERS OF THE LATE NINTH PRINCE." and "TWO OF THE FIRST PRINCE'S SOLDIERS ARE OUTSIDE ROOM 1009 WITH THEIR AUTO-RIFLES." The curly-haired woman continues, "OR MAYBE THEY'LL GO WITH THE NARRATIVE THAT HALKENBURG HIMSELF WAS BEHIND THE ATTACK." and "TREATING HALKENBURG'S DEATH AS THE RESULT OF A TERRORIST ATTACK..." The goateed man adds, "SO IT'S FINALLY STARTING." and "SPECIAL MARTIAL LAW...!" while the mustached man asks, "WHAT IS?" A guard in the background warns, "ONCE MARTIAL LAW IS DECLARED, THEY'LL SHOOT FIRST AND ASK QUESTIONS LATER." The mustached man issues the order, "GIVE THIS DIRECT ORDER TO ALL PERSONAL GUARDS! ABSOLUTELY NO RESISTANCE! TELL THEM TO GIVE UP THEIR WEAPONS AND PUT THEM IN ONE PLACE."

In a tense hallway discussion, suited men urgently coordinate to delay Benjamin's soldier. One warns, "IF THEY'RE ON THE MOVE BEFORE MARTIAL LAW IS EVEN DECLARED, THEY MUST'VE ALREADY BEEN NOTIFIED BY RADIO! HURRY! DON'T LET HIM LEAVE THE BREAK ROOM!" Another replies, "I ASSUME HE'S ASLEEP RIGHT NOW..." A third adds, "KEEP BENJAMIN'S SOLDIER BUSY. THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO LAY A HAND ON MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. ANY EXCUSE WILL DO," while tugging at his collar. In the grand corridor below, personnel receive sharp orders: a sign reads "RICE COME HERE A SECOND," while another commands "DISPOSE OF ALL THE DRUGS IN THE MASTER BEDROOM!! PUT THEM IN A POT OR SOMETHING AND BURN THEM IMMEDIATELY!!!" and "ORDER TO ALL PERSONNEL!!" Men in dark suits hurry through the ornate space. Nearby, a group debates the prince's directive: "IT'S THE PRINCE'S ORDER, SO STOP QUESTIONING IT AND GET A MOVE ON!!" One worries, "IF IT TURNS INTO MILITARY RULE, THEY CAN JUST SEE THE INNOCENT AS GUILTY, CAN'T THEY? SO WHAT'S THE POINT OF..." Another states, "ONCE SPECIAL MARTIAL LAW IS IN PLACE, THE MILITARY RUNS THE WHOLE SHOW. WHAT'S BAD WILL BE BAD." A fourth asks, "WASN'T THE ISSUE WITH THE DOPE ALREADY SETTLED WITH THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE?" In a side room, a heavyset man in a puffy jacket kneels over a motionless body sprawled on the checkered floor, murmuring "OH..." A suited man stares in shock with "!!" as another figure walks away down a long empty corridor.

The man in the puffy jacket stands over the body, weapon in hand, declaring "IT WAS IN SELF-DEFENSE. HE ATTACKED ME FIRST." A suited man demands, "WHY DID YOU KILL HIM?!" while impact lines and "SHF" marks emphasize the tense standoff. In a separate panel, a curly-haired man asks, "WEIRD. WHO'S INVESTIGATING WHO HERE?" Another replies, "I'VE GOT NO PROBLEM PUTTING THE WEAPON DOWN, BUT..." A bald suited man insists, "BASED ON THE DETAILS, A JUDICIAL INVESTIGATION MAY BECOME NECESSARY...!" and orders, "PUT THE WEAPON DOWN...! I WANT YOU TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED." Close-up panels show the puffy-jacketed man's intense glare and the bald man's narrowed eyes. A small "CLINK..." sound effect marks the weapon being lowered as the confrontation continues under the stark lighting.

Yushohi stands facing Chiyamashi in the hallway. "IT'LL BE CONSIDERED AN ACT OF TREASON AGAINST THE ROYAL ARMY," Yushohi states. Chiyamashi replies, "NO RESPONSE... IF SOMEONE'S INSIDE..." Two armed guards in protective gear approach a numbered door marked 1000. Yushohi continues explaining his limitations: "MY ABILITY TO KILL TARGETS WITH A COMBINATION OF EN AND MY STINGER BALL ISN'T SUITED AT ALL FOR GROUP FIGHTS BETWEEN NEN USERS. THE SWEEPING STRATEGY UNDER SPECIAL MARTIAL LAW IS PROGRESSING FAR MORE QUICKLY THAN EXPECTED, BUT THAT WORKS TO MY ADVANTAGE..." A large explanatory panel details the risks of extending En, psychological pressure, physical attacks, sensory overload, and Nen attacks, noting that maintaining En while surrounded by Nen users is a mental feat. Yushohi adds that even under martial law, his ability may no longer be needed in the succession contest. Close-ups show boots and a hand near a door as he notes the difficulty of keeping the Stinger Ball attached to the princess without discovery. At the bottom, Yushohi and Chiyamashi converse: "AND THAT'S WHY I WAS TEAMED UP WITH CHIYAMASHI..." Chiyamashi responds, "YUSH OHI." Guards stand ready as one says, "ROGER." Yushohi concludes, "THE MOMENT IT'S DECLARED, WE'RE MOVING IN."

Yushohi looks ahead with a calm expression and says, "OF COURSE." Chiyamashi asks, "ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?" Sound effects indicate tension as Chiyamashi's hand moves. A panel explains Chiyamashi's ability: "Lord of the Flies: 'Muteking' Manipulation (Pseudo-Coercive). By maintaining physical contact with a volunteer for a set amount of time, he can make that volunteer invincible for the same amount of time." Once the invincibility period ends, the volunteer enters forced Zetsu for 100 times longer, receiving recoil damage equivalent to one-third of all attacks nullified. Chiyamashi places his hand on a guard's shoulder, triggering the ability with crackling effects. Yushohi, now holding a large rifle, stands with Chiyamashi's hand on his shoulder. Yushohi thinks, "DEPENDING ON THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE NULLIFIED... I'LL DIE ONCE THE INVINCIBILITY ENDS." He also notes, "USING EN, I WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT ONLY ONE PERSON IS INSIDE THE ROOM..." Chiyamashi stands beside him with a determined look. A note states that symbiotic attacks from multiple Nen users cannot be blocked.

In a quiet room aboard the ship, a woman with dark hair tied back reflects on recent events. "CONFUSED AND FLUSTERED. HOWEVER, AS I LOOKED AT PRINCE WOBLE—NO, I SHOULDN'T SAY PRINCE ANYMORE—WELL, AS I LOOKED AT THE BABY'S FACE..." she recalls. "AT THE TIME, I WAS INDEED..." Another voice continues the memory: "I REALIZED IT WHEN I CHANGED HIS DIAPER FOR THE FIRST TIME." "I... WHEN QUEEN OITO FAINTED AT THE SAME TIME AS KURAPIKA..." Queen Oito sits with a serious expression, holding the baby Prince Woble. She explains, "I CARRIED ON WORKING AS USUAL. BECAUSE IT WAS MY DUTY AS A SERVANT TO LOOK AFTER THE TWO OF YOU... TO BE HONEST... AND FORGIVE ME FOR SAYING THIS, IT JUST DIDN'T MATTER ANYMORE." Kurapika, with his blonde hair and sharp features, listens intently alongside Oito. "IT'S LIKELY TO DEPEND ON WHICH PRINCE REMAINS AT THE END," he notes. "THAT'S ONE THING EVEN I DON'T KNOW." "AFTER ALL THIS... WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT WILL SHE RECEIVE?" "OF COURSE, I IMAGINE SHE'S IN A SAFE PLACE, BUT..." "THAT SAID... I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE REAL PRINCE WOBLE." Oito's face shows worry as sweat drops form. "NORMALLY, IT WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE FOR ONE TO UNDERGO THAT RITUAL AND THEN NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE SUCCESSION CONTEST," she says. "THAT'S... ENTIRELY POSSIBLE, ISN'T IT..." Kurapika responds, "THE FIRST IS BEYOND'S CURSE! IF THE CURSE'S ACTIVATION CONDITION IS OFFICIAL PARTICIPATION IN THE SUCCESSION CONTEST, THEN AT LEAST PRINCE WOBLE ISN'T AFFECTED." "BEFORE THAT, WE HAVE TWO MAJOR ISSUES." "IF IT'S NOT SETTLED BY THE TIME WE DISEMBARK..." "IF... WHAT KURAPIKA SAID IS TRUE... IS IT LIKELY THAT ALL THE REMAINING PRINCES WILL BE SPARED...?" Kurapika adds, "AND IT HAD TO BE ACTIVATED SOME OTHER WAY AFTER THE SHIP WAS BOARDED..." "ON TOP OF THAT, WHAT IF... THE CURSE MEANT FOR A NEWLY BORN PRINCE WASN'T FINISHED IN TIME..." "ON THE OTHER HAND... IN THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO, IF THE ACTIVATION CONDITION TURNS OUT TO BE PARTICIPATION IN THE SEED URN CEREMONY..."

Kurapika continues explaining the situation. "THE ONLY WAY TO CONFIRM THEM IS TO ASK BEYOND HIMSELF." "AS FOR THE EXACT CONDITIONS THAT ACTIVATE BEYOND'S CURSE..." A shadowy figure appears in the background. "IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE NEN OF THE ASSASSIN WHOSE TRUE IDENTITY IS STILL UNKNOWN, OR THE NEN OF ONE OF THE FIRST PRINCE'S SOLDIERS." Oito sits holding Prince Woble, listening. "THE TRUTH IS, SHORTLY AFTER WE ENTERED THESE QUARTERS, I SENSED WHAT FELT LIKE A SURGE OF NEN NEAR THE PRINCE." "YES." "A CURSE ON THIS BABY INSTEAD...?! IS THAT EVEN A POSSIBILITY...?" Kurapika states, "THE CONDITIONS NEEDED TO ACTIVATE THE CURSE MUST BE QUITE DIFFICULT... IF I COULDN'T CLEAR THEM IN TIME, I WOULD DIE." "I COULD USE MY CHAIN TO EXTRACT BEYOND'S ABILITY AND LEARN ITS MECHANICS, BUT..." "I HAD MY BACK TURNED, AND IT WAS ONLY FOR A SPLIT SECOND... SO THERE'S NO WAY OF KNOWING ITS TRUE NATURE AT THIS POINT." In another room, a man with a stern expression replies, "YEAH." "BESIDES, I DOUBT THAT HE WOULD EVEN ADMIT TO BEING THE ONE BEHIND THE CURSE ITSELF." "AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S IN THE INTERESTS OF BOTH SIDES THAT BEYOND DOESN'T MAKE A MOVE UNTIL WE REACH THE CONTINENT." "BUT THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THE KAKIN SIDE WOULD RELEASE HIM FROM CUSTODY, AND BEYOND HIMSELF DOESN'T WANT TO BE RELEASED." "THAT WOULD JUST BE SUICIDE. THE REALISTIC OPTION IS TO NEGOTIATE TERMS WITH BEYOND..." Close-ups show Kurapika's serious face and another character's intense expression. "THAT HE WOULD DEFINITELY ACCEPT." "I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY REALIZED IT, BUT THERE IS ONE STIPULATION..." "...KURAPIKA." At the bottom, a bearded man in bed surrounded by books and papers reacts with shock. "THE HUNTER ASSOCIATION GRANTING BEYOND A PARDON...?" "YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT..."

In a dimly lit room, several figures discuss the dangers ahead. A young boy with spiky hair questions the risks while a girl with pigtails and a fan listens intently. An elderly man with glasses and a bald figure debate the Chairman's orders and the possibility of coordinating with both sides for a win-win outcome. They note that Netero's final order is out of the question and that the Hunter Association's restraints are gone, allowing members to jump at the chance. The group agrees there is no way the target would reveal anything about the curse, suspecting a trap even if cooperation occurs. They start from the premise that Beyond is willing to use his own children to achieve his ambitions. A close-up shows a determined man with wild hair declaring they will set their own trap in return. In another panel, a curly-haired man asks why they would go this far, while a woman with a bob haircut questions Bill's supposed allegiance to Beyond's side. A suited man with an H emblem suggests discreetly slipping an ability clause into Beyond's contract or using the penalty for breaking it. He asks if they can make good use of the woman's ability to pull it off. The bob-haired woman reacts with surprise as the curly-haired man sighs in resignation, saying he is glad she is not on Beyond's side.

The discussion continues as a man with an H emblem on his suit speaks with the bob-haired woman. He acknowledges her impressive resolve and notes that once she sets her mind to something she sees it through, calling it a common villain trait. The woman retorts that she is not loyal enough to keep working under Beyond. In another panel, text boxes reveal Queen Oito and the others are the speaker's first priority, but he wonders if stopping the succession contest entirely is possible. His goal has shifted to protecting the Queen and Prince, though he now wants more. A young boy with wide eyes listens nearby. The H-suited man explains that only the current King and higher-ranking princes fear the collapse of the limitations and loss of Guardian Spirit Beast protection. He bets the Hunter Association would not want to see people killing each other. He adds that since Beyond is capable and confident, he will accept the challenge and not turn it into a game of tag. The man believes Beyond can be released on non-permanent terms and that the Association united could stop Beyond's curse and weaken the Kakin monarchy. The curly-haired man emphasizes that the entire Hunter Association needs to stop the contest because Beyond's meticulously crafted scheme is troublesome.

Kurapika stands in a formal suit, fist raised as he addresses a man in a dark suit and a woman holding a bundled infant. The woman, Queen Oito, looks up with wide eyes and says, "UM..." A small panel shows her glancing aside. Kurapika continues, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT AGREEMENT WAS MADE BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU WHEN YOUR CHILDREN WERE SWAPPED... THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT EVEN YOU, YOUR MAJESTY, DO NOT KNOW PRINCE WOBLE'S LOCATION." A flustered chibi Kurapika blurts, "MY SINCEREST APOLOGIES!!" while another tiny figure adds, "OOPS! YOU STILL HAVEN'T EXPLAINED THE SECOND MAJOR ISSUE..." In profile, Kurapika asks a dark-haired man, "IF YOU TRULY HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THE PRINCE IS..." The man replies, "YES." Kurapika presses, "BUT YOU BELIEVED IT WAS BETTER TO REMAIN UNAWARE OF HER LOCATION FOR THE PRINCE'S SAFETY, RIGHT?" The man answers that proving the prince's location to the military is the real problem. Queen Oito and another woman react in shock as Kurapika declares in a dramatic spotlight panel, "THAT MEANS YOU ALSO CAN'T RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT PRINCE WOBLE IS SOMEWHERE... ABOARD THIS BLACK WHALE." Queen Oito sits holding the baby while Kurapika stands over them; she murmurs, "IT'S LIKELY THEY'VE ALREADY BEGUN THEIR OWN SEARCH," and Kurapika notes the first prince's faction would not have discarded the possibility.

Kurapika continues the discussion in a series of large speech bubbles. He states they will prove Queen Oito is not participating in the succession contest. A bespectacled man interjects while a young girl reacts with "HUH?" Kurapika explains there is no point hiding the truth and that being under suspicion works in their favor. He notes he asked Pyon to cross-reference passengers under two years old. In a large central panel Kurapika points upward, declaring that the baby swap was deliberate, so the military will assume Prince Woble is still eligible and aboard the ship. Further bubbles detail that participation in the ceremony grants the right to the contest and that swapping sons would mean the real prince's son took part while the actual prince escaped. Kurapika concludes that until Prince Woble is found, higher-ranking princes must keep searching, and Queen Oito's daughter would forfeit participation if she leaves the ship. The final panel shows a seascape with the ship under clouds as voices debate the implications.

High above the sea, three large speech bubbles outline the dilemma facing Queen Oito and Prince Woble. Assuming things remain in this gray area, she'll inevitably fall lower on the list of priority targets to eliminate in the succession contest. The higher-ranking princes can neither find her nor confirm whether she has the right to participate. All that to say, as long as she is on this ship, Prince Woble is invincible. In the next tier of panels, Kurapika's intense close-up face appears as he declares there are two ways to solve that. If she's outside the ship and her location is unknown, there's nothing they can do, but if she really is a target of Beyond's curse, they must immediately identify Beyond's children—the cursed offerings—and lift the curse. If she is indeed a target of the curse, first they must unravel Beyond's curse and determine whether or not Prince Woble is one of its targets. Three worried faces react below: a sweating man, a dark-haired woman, and a spiky-haired man. Large bubbles conclude the page: if she turns out to be a target, they must find the prince as quickly as possible and seek the guidance of a skilled exorcist. As far as the succession contest goes, being outside the ship in an unknown location makes her invincible, but when it comes to the curse, the opposite is true. Second, they must discover Prince Woble's location.

Kurapika's gloved hand is shown again as he continues speaking. It also aligns well with fulfilling Longhi's contract. Therefore, they should work toward the first solution: severing the source of the curse or removing the curse from its target. There is one fundamental problem with lifting the curse, but the approaches to solving it are completely different, so the two issues are separated into categories. To resolve the second issue, they must proceed under the assumption that Prince Woble is a target of the curse. Kurapika would like to ask the Hunter Association to search for the prince so they can protect her and attempt an exorcism. However, they also need to act assuming the worst-case scenario is possible so that they can prevent it. At present, they don't have enough time or manpower to pursue both approaches simultaneously. Queen Oito, with curly hair and a headset, replies Okay... A close-up shows her looking down with a sweat drop. Finally, just to confirm, Kurapika asks if Queen Oito wouldn't have arranged a person or place to contact if something were to happen. In actuality, in the event of an emergency, just in case...

The queen understands that remaining silent in the dark is her final and greatest weapon. Even after uncovering several truths, Kurapika never jumps to the conclusion that he's found the whole truth. A woman with short dark hair listens quietly with a serious expression. In a wide panel showing a distant view of the ship at sea, someone asks, 'Would you... please tell us...?' Another voice explains that if they at least knew where the prince was, they could enlist the support of the Hunters back on the mainland. The worst-case scenario is that Prince Woble is both on the ship and one of the curse's targets. Queen Oito recalls that once the next king was chosen, the royal army would find her daughter Woble and execute her entire family. She had imagined the worst. Before learning about the curse, she feared that Prince Woble's withdrawal from the succession contest would be seen as a deceptive strategy and that they would be punished as criminals. Kurapika notes that it is clear the withdrawal is a grave crime punishable by death. Queen Oito admits there are people within the Hunter Association with all kinds of agendas, but she cannot honestly ask them to trust every one of them. She affirms that with that said, this much she can confirm: if the Hunter Association is willing to protect her, all they can do is pray that her daughter isn't cursed and trust the hypothesis on the succession contest's limitations. Their hope had been that Prince Halkenburg would survive and become king, but now...

Queen Oito sits in a striped armchair holding Prince Woble close to her chest. Kurapika kneels on one knee before her. Queen Oito declares, 'I will swear my life on this.' Kurapika responds, 'I... have friends that I trust even more than myself!' In a close-up, Kurapika's eyes shine with determination as she says, 'Knowing them...' The final panel shows Queen Oito's face with a gentle yet resolute expression as she concludes, 'They will definitely protect the prince!'

Gon stands on a grassy cliff overlooking the sea, one hand shading his eyes as he calls out with a wide grin. In the distance, Killua walks away along the path with his hands behind his head, followed by two smaller figures. A close-up shows Killua glancing back with a neutral expression. Another panel focuses on Gon smiling confidently. The scene shifts to a bustling town street where Gon, Killua, a girl in a black dress with a white bow, and other characters move through the crowd past stalls and buildings. In the final panels, narration explains a plan involving letters and a post office in Yamato. A dome-shaped building emits smoke as speech bubbles detail the scheme: sending a letter with a code to a relative, then forwarding it to a sender's address in Yamato without a delivery record, and processing a return to Kakin marked 'address unknown' for a fee. A small bubble notes they can make use of this. At the bottom, a box states '49 days remain until the end of the Succession Contest.' The page ends with the Hunter × Hunter logo and 'Chapter 414 / End.'

Kurapika stares intently to the side, his large dark eyes wide and focused. His blonde hair frames his face with sharp strands catching the light. His mouth is slightly parted as if reacting to something unseen, eyebrows subtly drawn in concern or realization. The background shows faint architectural lines suggesting an indoor setting.

Gon stands in the foreground with his right hand shading his eyes, mouth open in a shout as he gazes across the sparkling sea. In the distance, Killua and Alluka walk away along a rocky path that leads toward the water, their backs turned to the viewer. The next panel shows Killua in close-up, smiling confidently with his spiky white hair catching the light. Behind him stretches a bustling town street filled with people in varied clothing. A blonde girl peeks in from the side. In the lower section, a figure with a dark ponytail and gold hair clip looks toward the right. Large speech bubbles detail a covert plan: letters can be forwarded to a sender’s address in Yamato without leaving a delivery record, then processed as a return marked “ADDRESS UNKNOWN” for a fee, allowing secret communication with a relative working at a post office. A small bubble states, “We can make use of this…” At the bottom of the page a box reads “49 days remain until the end of the Succession Contest.” The final caption declares “Friends supporting Kurapika from afar!!” The page ends with the Hunter × Hunter logo and “Chapter 414 / End.”