Hunter × Hunter Chapter 417: Emergency

The long-haired man lies dead on the ground, eyes wide and mouth open. The shooter stands over him, gun lowered. A suited man in the foreground reacts with shock. In a series of panels, the suited man questions the reality of the event: "IS THIS...AN ILLUSION--A FAKE?! THEN WHEN DID IT BEGIN? AND HOW MUCH OF THIS IS FAKE?!" The shooter declares, "I AM THE ONE WHO PUT YOU IN THE GROUND-- AND THE LAST THING YOU WILL EVER SEE IS THE SOLE OF MY BOOT. BURN THIS SIGHT INTO YOUR EYES, THEN GO TO HELL." Earlier panels show the moment of impact with "THUMP!" and "STEP!" sound effects, the suited man's concerned expression, and the shooter saying "THEREFORE, YOU ARE SENTENCED TO DEATH. YOUR IDLE CHATTER IS A MENACE."

A man in a dark suit clutches his head in pain as a massive black spiky mass is crushed underfoot with a loud SQUELCH STOMP. In the next panel a figure in a white protective suit stomps down on a prone opponent while speaking. "Allow me to teach you something: Zetsu is extremely dangerous. It even makes your Guardian Spirit Beast disappear. But it seems you had only learned it and were still training. I thought it was a counter-type ability... Are you listening?" A close-up shows the spiky-haired man in the white suit exhaling "WHEW..." Nearby, a bald man sweats heavily, his eyes wide with shock. "...And if this isn't reality... then what about them...? Is Benjamin real? Or is he an illusion too?"

Multiple figures float and stand in disarray as someone shouts "HEY YOU!" and "IS EVERYONE HERE..." Text reads "SEEING THE SAME ILLUSION...?!" A suited man identified as Tserriednich appears in a panel. "THE SAME THING... AS TSERRIEDNICH..." Benjamin glares and states "State honestly and exactly what you saw. If you are ever given the opportunity to testify about this incident..." Below, the white-suited guard aims a large weapon and declares "Tserriednich is human garbage!! Even without the succession war, I intended to kill him with my own hands. In other words, this is a private execution! That piece of trash over there is most certainly no hero of Kakin's glorious royal succession war."

A voice wonders aloud whether Tserriednich's death could truly be real, questioning if Benjamin's surprise attack succeeded and how to verify it. In a small inset, a bound man is held at gunpoint while announcements declare that anyone testifying about Fourth Prince Tserriednich's crimes will receive a reduced sentence or pardon, and that Tserriednich was executed on sole authority with his crimes to be tried. Theta stares forward with a serious expression, her face covered in a distinctive patterned wound. A close-up reveals a stern profile noting that only Nen users can see Theta's wound and wondering what it means if the mark has vanished. In the large lower panel, a spiky-haired man in a puffy jacket grips a massive firearm and issues rapid orders: the location of the courtrooms must be secured before his arrival, Salkov and Danzin must be taken into custody at the Central Judicial Bureau, and military personnel are to relocate to the Ministry of Justice to establish unified headquarters on the seventh floor. Armed soldiers stand ready around him amid motion lines and tension.

Close-up of polished black boots stepping onto a wooden floor as a voice calls out 'PRINCES.. PRINCES!!' and declares that this is where the real battle begins now. A hand holds open a laptop displaying a grid interface while the same boot steps on a fallen tag labeled 'POP.' The spiky-haired man crouches in a narrow wooden corridor, adjusting his footwear with a focused expression. In the large lower panel the same man walks away down a long ornate hallway lined with decorative moldings, his back to the viewer, while bold text proclaims 'FOR THE GREAT KAKIN EMPIRE!! FOR GREATER PROSPERITY!!!' and another voice cries 'OFFER UP YOUR LIVES.'

In a tense corridor briefing, guards report that the third and seventh princes escaped before the capture order was issued. One soldier asks how many princes are present after securing the fifth and sixth. Another panel shows a group of armed guards in white uniforms standing at attention. A detailed discussion follows about pressuring the Hunter Association: once the Ministry of Justice is secured they can convene a special tribunal and demand the seventh prince's extradition, using the assault on Kanjidol as leverage. A small character with a beard states there is no need to detain a certain individual because the coercion was only partial and he was manipulated into cooperating with Zhang Lei under certain conditions. The same speaker adds that he will question him personally. Coventoba himself has reported his involvement and requested detention and monitoring after the third prince used his guardian spirit beast's ability to manipulate him. In another panel a guard explains that the captain has requested detention for the ninth prince Halkenburg, who must be confined in the dining hall together with Coventoba. The speaker demands to know the orders. A stern man confirms they administered test questions and verified the subject is himself, then reports finding the captain unconscious in room 1009 with no injuries. The scene shifts to room 1001 where a commanding figure declares he will deal with the two princes first and orders everyone, including those in the dining hall, to wait outside so he can speak to them directly. The group responds with an affirmative OK.

Close-up panels show the stern face of a bald man with a mustache followed by the intense glare of another bald man. In a spacious room lined with tall chairs and glass cases, a seated bald man in a white uniform faces a standing guard. Additional panels depict the standing guard turning his head with motion lines, a bearded man looking surprised, and another guard glancing sideways. The final wide panel reveals a large hall where several suited men and women stand around a round table; some figures sit with backs to the viewer while three white-uniformed guards walk in from the right side of the frame. The atmosphere is heavy with silent tension as the group awaits further instructions.

A composed man with glasses clasps his hands and greets the room with a simple "HI." Across from him, a young girl with pigtails beams from an ornate chair and replies brightly, "HAII- BIG BROTHER GOOD DAY TO YOU." In the next panel a stern soldier in a jumpsuit strides into the ornate conference room, flanked by attendants. He announces, "IT IS AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR US TO ADMIT, BUT THERE IS A TRAITOR IN OUR MILITARY WHO HAS STOLEN PART OF OUR SCIENTIFIC WEAPONS. SORRY TO HAVE KEPT YOU WAITING. I WILL BRIEFLY EXPLAIN THE BACKGROUND OF THE SPECIAL MARTIAL LAW ISSUED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION." The man with glasses narrows his eyes and asks, "WHO WAS IT?" The girl covers her mouth in shock, exclaiming, "WOW! HOW SCARY.." The soldier, now seated with hands folded, continues gravely, "THE STOLEN COMPONENT CANNOT BE USED ON ITS OWN, BUT WE WILL RECOVER IT AT ALL COSTS AS A PRECAUTION! THAT IS WHY I DECLARED SPECIAL MARTIAL LAW. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE CULPRIT. HE IS BOTH A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ARMY AND ONE OF MY PRIVATE SOLDIERS, AND HE HAS STRONG TIES TO CAMILLA, WITH WHOM WE ARE CURRENTLY IN CONFLICT."

The pigtail girl leans forward with a sly smile and suggests, "LET'S GO BACK TO KILLING EACH OTHER!" The spiky-haired soldier counters, "WELL, IF THERE IS NO RISK OF IT BEING USED THEN NO CONCERN. IT WAS INTENDED TO DEAL WITH DANGEROUS LIFE-FORMS ON THE NEW CONTINENT. WHY WAS SOMETHING LIKE THAT BROUGHT ABOARD THE SHIP IN THE FIRST PLACE?" A composed man in a suit adds, "A HUNTER ASSOCIATION MEMBER NAMED KURAPIKA PROPOSED A HYPOTHESIS...! IF MULTIPLE PRINCES REMAIN ALIVE WHEN WE REACH OUR DESTINATION, THERE HAS ALSO BEEN PROGRESS ON THAT MATTER." The soldier replies, "IT APPEARS NOT EVERYONE AGREES. UNFORTUNATELY... BUT ALL OF US MAY SURVIVE! I GATHERED YOU HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE EVERY PRINCE SHOULD DISCUSS AND EXAMINE THAT POSSIBILITY TOGETHER. THE NATION WILL LOSE THE PROTECTION OF THE GUARDIAN SPIRITS AND THE CURRENT ROYAL DYNASTY WILL COLLAPSE-" A heavy boot steps forward with a sharp "FSHHHH" sound effect.

In a lavishly decorated room, a man with slicked-back hair asks if they may be present during the inspections. Another voice confirms, of course. A man with glasses stands calmly and states that recovering the weapon is only a matter of time, but as a formality he asks consent to safety inspections of each residential area. Nearby, a spiky-haired man in a puffy jacket adds that the ban on leaving the princes' residential quarters and the V2 area will remain in effect until special martial law is lifted. A small child-like figure crouches in the background. The man with glasses continues, noting that even without the succession war he thinks the addressee is the one most suited to be king. He then warns that there truly is a will capable of overturning the monarchy, and if the restrictions are not observed, the first prince remains closest to the throne. If the monarchy collapses into a military regime, only convincing the board by removing Camilla would prevent it. A massive black creature with glowing eyes emerges from the floor amid a thunderous roar.

Soldiers in uniform secure Area B and report Area A secured with nothing unusual. First Prince has arrived. All of Tier 3 is now under their control. The First Prince is here. In the grand hall, Benjamin stands tall holding a massive firearm while troops line the corridors and salute. Multiple squads report their positions secured. Benjamin and another man in similar attire walk forward as soldiers stand at attention. In the foreground, a spiky-haired man reacts with shock upon seeing Benjamin, exclaiming what and recognizing Prince Benjamin. Benjamin glances sideways with a stern expression while other soldiers look on.

A scarred man with a stern expression declares that the situation is no more than a soldier's duty and the same applies to him. Another voice warns against wasting time on petty risks and urges focusing on analyzing the enemy's ability, noting that the risky lives of soldiers had the enemy's attack carved into their bodies. A figure states that the nature of the enemy's attack remains unknown and the morale of the other soldiers must be considered. As feared, they should not accompany their highness. A close-up shows a man with wide eyes and a cracked face shouting to use Gyo. The large central panel reveals a man with intense eyes and sweat drops explaining he has been infected with TSK and has roughly half a day left to live. He adds that it is even possible the curse beyond is said to have placed on Furykov—a curse more powerful than those of the have-nots—is directed at him as well. It is a curse placed by one of Camilla's private soldiers, apparently a secret rite of the have-nots. Smaller panels show reactions: a man asks about death, another questions what to do with the enemy, and a spiky-haired man calls it exciting. A bald man with a mustache says it is their friend, while another voice orders to annihilate them all. A soldier responds with a nervous 'Y-yes sir!'

A massive panel shows the First Division of Kakin's Royal Army standing in formation, rifles ready. Their leader, a tall spiky-haired man carrying a large firearm, shouts 'WHO ARE WE?' The soldiers respond in unison that they are the First Division of Kakin's Royal Army. In the following panels, a man with a stern face discusses the power of the coin, noting it is strong enough to make the holder voluntarily spill secrets after possessing it for ten days. The number remains at '10' for now, yet further effects are feared once it ticks over to the next digit. Another figure states the mark of the feather on the hand is definitive proof and it is only a matter of time. A bald man named Roger is ordered to find him. The scene shifts to an ornate hall where soldiers in white uniforms surround a group of people seated at a long table. One soldier says they will corner him starting from the top, while another adds they will crush him from the bottom.

On suspicion of high treason and conspiracy to stage a revolution, arrest the leader of the Xi-Yu mafia and transfer him to the Ministry of Justice. A stern-faced man issues the order while soldiers stand ready. If the third prince flees downstairs from the first floor, hand everything over to the 3rd unit recon squad. A large man in a black suit and tie grips a rifle, flanked by armed guards in a hallway lined with paintings. It is obvious the mafia leader aided the third prince's escape by plotting an escape route. This is a grave felony. A figure in a patterned robe gestures emphatically in another room. Tell him the only viable bargaining chip is the prince's whereabouts! Instruct the elite assault squads of the 3rd and 7th units to focus entirely on securing the third and seventh princes! A man with slicked-back hair gives the command as a bald subordinate listens. We are currently verifying the escape route and tracking the third prince's movements! Further updates in 15 minutes. It has been confirmed that right before the order was issued, the third prince left the passage of the Xi-Yu's leader's residential quarters via the connecting bridge and moved to the second floor! This has been codified as a contingency for national crisis independent of the succession war...!! Article one of the emergency law: a crisis that threatens the monarchy's survival!! 'In the event of inevitable attacks such as scientific weaponry, epidemic, riots, and natural disasters, where the crown and its next generation of heirs are all dead or otherwise face an impending death!!!' A close-up reveals a fierce eye and bared teeth. If multiple princes survive by the time we reach the continental port, that spells a bad ending! Then would the death of all princes also be a bad ending...? No it won't!!

You were the first to pull the trigger!! Every piece of circumstantial evidence will support the conclusion that you committed this act of terrorism! A massive swirling energy effect surrounds a circular device. And gather all the necessary equipment and personnel from the central medical department too!! You can ring the surgeon general's bell even during the SML. Have them come at once!! I don't care if you get a bunch of scientists, have them determine if the weapon is bacterial or viral! A woman in a simple dress stands with arms outstretched amid swirling smoke and a shadowy silhouette. Scum unfit not only to be king, but even to be called human!! At last, one burden has been lifted from my shoulders. I have disposed of Tserriednich!! I feel as though I have finally emptied years of impacted filth. A parasite that gnawed at Kakin from within. A monstrous figure with wild hair and a crown-like headpiece looms over a rocky, chaotic background. They do not possess the qualities of a king!! Your deaths will not be in vain. I will protect and guide the next king, and the king after that, and the one after that, so that each may lead an ideal nation!! You may depart this life in peace!! I infected fifth prince Tubeppa and sixth prince Tyson with TSK as well...! They will likely die around the same time as the second prince. I bear them no personal hatred. There are aspects of them worthy of respect as human beings... however-- A young girl wearing a crown holds an open book while a man with glasses and a scar stands beside her, a small dark object floating between them.

Eleventh Prince Fugetsu is already dead. She has suffered enough. The official account will be that she despaired over her TSK infection and committed suicide by poison, but it will at least let her pass as peacefully as if falling asleep. May she be born into an ordinary family in her next life. Prince Fugetsu's haggard state after the Tenth Prince's death could never have been feigned. The things swarming around her were evil spirits and wandering ghosts drawn to a soul plunged into despair. And when you tried to resist, the only person who would stand with you was likely your younger sister, who was nursing an infant of her own. It is almost certainly true that the child has no right of succession, but what I choose to conclude is 'fact' is an entirely separate matter. Prince Woble—no, Eighth Queen Oito—I cannot approve of using a substitute, however desperate the measure. But I understand how you felt. There are people willing to accept the promise of wealth for their families and relatives in exchange for an infant's life. But if, by any chance, the real Fourteenth Prince Woble is aboard this ship, regardless of whether that child possesses the right of succession, I will deem this a cowardly trick intended to seize the throne, and the four of you—both mothers and children—will truly die, along with your entire clan. It would be easy for me to declare you 'dead' in recognition of the resolve with which you exchanged your beloved children as though tearing your own bodies in half and boarded this ship. I will let you go with no more than the exile of your entire clan, provided you can prove that the real Fourteenth Prince Woble is outside the ship.

Before I die, I will either eliminate every remaining prince or infect them with TSK. With the extinction of all the princes made an unavoidable future, I will invoke the Emergency Situations Act and compel Father to name my child first among the next successors. Emergency Situations Act: if the deaths of every person possessing the right of succession become unavoidable, leaving only the current king alive, the current king must immediately announce the names and order of the next successors and prepare for the emergency. The method for determining which blood relative—one of his natural kin—it will possess: first, the decision is whether First Prince Benjamin or his guardian spirit beast will choose the initial host. Thereafter, they will take turns choosing each succeeding host whenever the current blood-relative host dies and is replaced. Prince Benjamin's guardian spirit beast ability: 'The Wandering People's Bohemian Rhapsody'. After Benjamin's death, it merges with Benjamin's Nen, selects one of his blood relatives, and becomes that person's guardian spirit beast. Once it fuses with a Nen beast and loses the means to inhabit a living human in this world, it forfeits the right of succession, just as Tenth Prince Kacho did. Furykov taught me with my guardian spirit beast's ability. I can protect the nation of Kakin for all of eternity.

Narration details the first queen's scheme: she gave Furykov the TSK, exploiting the fact that once he learned of Beyond's curse he could never escape the worst-case possibility. Under the pretext of serving the nation she pushed him toward a forced mass suicide that would drag the other princes down through him, and urged the declaration of special martial law. Mother's minimum objective is for one of her own children to become king; once that aligned with Beyond's ambitions she changed course and chose to keep the more easily controlled younger brother alive. A man with a headband stares forward with wide eyes as narration continues: if Beyond's curse is directed at me the one certain and immediate means of exorcising it is to reflect the curse back. I have no choice but to die first. If Beyond's curse activates before that then depending on its power and nature there is a risk that my guardian spirit beast's ability will cease to function. Flames erupt across the panel as the man with the headband declares, "BIG MISTAKE, MOTHER ... I'LL BE SURE TO ASK YOU!!" A voice answers, "HOW DARE YOU EXPLOIT FURY KOV'S LOYALTY... AND MAKE A FOOL OF ME!! NOW THAT I HAVE ACTED, YOU MUST BE CONVINCED OF YOUR VICTORY...!!" In a massive close-up the fierce-eyed man glares with burning intensity, sweat and veins standing out, while text proclaims "THE ULTIMATE DECISION!" He demands, "WILL YOU BEG FOR YOUR OWN LIFE!! OR FOR 'LITTLE BROTHER'S'!!"

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