Curse

The bald man asks what the three problems with the suicide-bargain theory are. Kanjidol agrees with the assessment of the enemy’s attack ability but notes three problems. Another man questions whether Prince Halkenburg would truly prepare an attack. The group considers that the rumbling was caused by an emitter preparing his ability. A large diagram of the VVIP Residential Area shows floors 1–14 with an arrow pointing to floor 13. Narration explains they are in the VVIP area at the heart of the confinement surveillance center. If Halkenburg had discovered the surveillance through his assassin, attacking here would require blasting through lower princes’ quarters. The bald man says “INDEED.” The spiky-haired man and others listen as the theory is weighed against Halkenburg’s profile, noting how unnatural a sudden change of heart would be.

A spiky-haired man stands with arms crossed, speaking firmly. "AND THE THIRD." Nearby, a bald man with a goatee raises three fingers and replies, "YOU HAVE A POINT." An unseen speaker continues, "IF YOU WERE GOING TO FORCE SHIKAKU TO DO SOMETHING, WOULDN'T ORDERING HIM TO ASSASSINATE ONE OF THE OTHER PRINCES BE MORE BENEFICIAL?" Another voice asks, "WHY SUICIDE?" A mustached man holds up two fingers and states, "THE SECOND." In a dark panel a stern man questions, "EXCUSE ME...? CAN FELLOW PRINCES ACTUALLY KILL ONE ANOTHER IN THE FIRST PLACE?" The discussion turns to the nature of Nen beasts. "WE CAN ASSUME THAT THIS IS A RULE BUILT INTO THEIR VERY NATURE," one speaker asserts. "WHICH MEANS THAT NEN BEASTS CANNOT KILL ONE ANOTHER!! AND THAT A NEN BEAST CANNOT DIRECTLY KILL ANOTHER PRINCE!!" Another elaborates, "BUT IF EITHER OF THOSE WERE POSSIBLE, THEN THERE'S NO WAY THAT SIR BENJAMIN'S NEN BEAST, WHO HAS INHERITED HIS OWN PERSONALITY AND TRAITS, WOULD HAVE NOT ACTED ON IT BY NOW...!!!" A large speech bubble concludes, "IT IS BOTH MY AND 1ST PRINCE SIR BENJAMIN'S OPINIONS THAT IF OUR NEN BEASTS COULD KILL ONE ANOTHER... OR IF OUR NEN BEASTS COULD KILL OTHER PRINCES, THEN THIS WHOLE ORDEAL COULD BE RESOLVED QUITE QUICKLY." A close-up face adds, "SO IT WOULD ONLY BE NATURAL THAT ALL THE PRINCES' NEN BEASTS ALSO FUNCTION WITH THAT RESTRAINT LODGED INTO THEIR CONSCIOUSNESS." "FURTHERMORE, ALL THE PRINCES HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT THE ABSOLUTE LAW OF 'KILLING A MEMBER OF ROYALTY IS A CAPITAL CRIME' WILL APPLY TO THEM AS WELL! SO FOR A PRINCE, THE KILLING OF ANOTHER PRINCE BEING EXTREMELY TABOO IS EMBEDDED DEEPLY IN THEIR MINDS...!!!" A surprised man exclaims, "I SEE..." At the bottom of the page a massive winged beast looms behind a young man in a suit. "THERE'S NO WAY A NEN BEAST WOULD ENABLE THE USE OF AN ABILITY THAT COULD LET A PRINCE DIRECTLY KILL ANOTHER PRINCE...!!!" A final bubble explains, "WE KNOW THAT, BEFORE BOARDING THE SHIP, 9TH PRINCE HALKENBURG WAS UNABLE TO USE NEN... WHICH MEANS THAT, IF THAT RUMBLING WAS CAUSED BY HIS NEN BEAST AND IT WAS TARGETING THE 1ST PRINCE, IT WOULD BE BREAKING ITS CORE RULE. EVEN IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRINCE'S ABILITIES WERE SOMEHOW AWAKENED THROUGH THE AID OF HIS NEN BEAST..."

A scarred bald man explains, "BESIDES, SHIKAKU HIMSELF WAS A MANIPULATOR... HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE COUNTER-MEASURES AGAINST A MANIPULATOR OPPONENT." Another speaker adds, "EVEN IF HE WERE, THAT STILL DOESN'T EXPLAIN WHY HE SPECIFICALLY COMMITTED SUICIDE." In the background three men stand in a room while one sits. "SO THEN WAS SHIKAKU BEING CONTROLLED, AFTER ALL...?" a voice wonders. "I HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT IT THROUGH THAT FAR..." A panel shows a pointing finger. "WHEN THE ASSASSIN ACTIVATES HIS ABILITY, HE WOULD FIRST TARGET HIMSELF! THIS WOULD DEFEND AGAINST ANY OPPONENT'S MANIPULATOR ATTACKS!" A caption reads, "'IN A BATTLE OF MANIPULATORS, THE FIRST TO STRIKE WINS.'" A man in a high-collared jacket states, "IT'S ONE OF THE MOST CORE CONCEPTS FOR MANIPULATORS... THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT." "I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THAT..." someone admits. A profile view notes, "LIHAN MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS EITHER... IF SO, THEN I'LL HAVE TO GIVE UP ON THE IDEA OF PLACING HIM ON 9TH PRINCE HALKENBURG'S GUARD..." In a lower panel a man reacts with shock. "WHY... DID HE DIE IN FRONT OF ROOM 1007?" Another replies, "THE KEY TO THAT MAY LIE WITH THIS ONE OTHER DOUBT I HAVE." "BUT THEN IF ALL THAT'S TRUE... WHY DID SHIKAKU COMMIT SUICIDE...?" A large close-up of the scarred man declares, "REMEMBER THE CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WITH AS MUCH DETAIL AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN!! AND KEEP AN EXTREMELY CLOSE EYE ON THE ACTIONS SURROUNDING ROOM 1007 AS OF NOW. WITH THESE, WE WILL SEARCH FOR THE ANSWER TO 'WHY'!!!" A box states the time: "9TH DAY (MONDAY) 10:00 AM" The final panel shows a ship on the ocean at night.

On the tenth day at 11:30 a.m., heavy rumbling shakes the building as Vikto stands alert in the hallway. A voice calls out asking Vikto what is going on while another notes that the interval between the rumblings is growing shorter. The fourth rumbling echoes loudly. In another room, a bald man reports that while First Prince Benjamin still has the radio on, the others are fighting. A bearded man with a stern expression hears a double click and wonders if it signals an emergency. Below, the radio equipment fails completely amid continuous rumbling and static. Close-ups show wide, tense eyes reacting to the chaos. At the bottom, a desperate voice screams that attacks have no effect and that Prince Halkenburg's swsssh swsssh swsssh is invincible as the rumbling drowns everything out.

The rumbling continues with intense swsssh and ruuuumble effects as someone turns a dial on the radio. A hand presses a button with a clear click. In the ornate room, a man in uniform explains that Prince Halkenburg is more suited to combat than expected and that once his attack preparations are complete it will be impossible to defend against. Another speaker praises Vikto's tackle shield as both offensive and defensive, suggesting it could hold back an overpowered Halkenburg. Vikto stands with arms crossed while listening. In close conversation, a mustached man and a spiky-haired man discuss Halkenburg's resolve and the collective strength of his private guard, realizing they cannot avoid or fight back against the coming attack.

In a dimly lit room, two men discuss strategy. One man with a star-emblazoned glove on his raised hand says, "Vikto is still alive..." while another voice adds, "Shikaku has died... but..." The first speaker continues, "I need some kind of lead, but I can't afford to waste any more pieces like this. And it wasn't a simple emitter's attack. There's such mystery." Nearby, a bald man with a thick beard questions, "That doesn't sound like a good idea. We know even less about 2nd Prince Camilla's abilities than we do Halkenburg's. Should I have Musse's owl, which is currently attached to 2nd Prince Camilla, attach to the private guard instead and search there?" The bearded man later states firmly, "Please leave it to me. But clearly we're in a state of emergency regarding Prince Halkenburg. Do you have some kind of plan?" He adds, "Besides, even if we're able to see the enemy attacking someone, I still have great doubts that we'd be able to determine what exactly their ability is. Prince Camilla's ability killed Musse instantly... That alone makes it a viable threat. We need to keep her under surveillance." In another panel, the bearded man explains, "Furthermore, my private guard have continued to observe strange behavior surrounding Prince Halkenburg's camp and have sufficient evidence and viable motive to suspect him of premeditated murder. Due to the serial killings currently occurring across the lower decks, I've had any non-local troops be shuffled and redeployed as a counter-measure." On the phone, he concludes, "Then the best strategy is to not allow him to use it. If the enemy's ability is powerful..." A voice on the line replies, "Exactly." In the final panel, a lone figure stands in an ornate room as the bearded man notes, "With the personnel chain cut off, split up the remaining troops from the one giving them orders...?"

A group of stern men in formal suits stand in formation under dramatic speed lines. Labels identify Steiner as National Naval Regulation Board Special Duties Section Chief Advisor from Kakin Judicial Branch Criminal Investigation Department, and Poicelt from the same board's Special Duties. The men proceed down a grand hallway with chandeliers and uniformed guards. A sign reads "DING-DONG" as doors open. In the background, 9th Prince Halkenburg is shown isolated. Narration explains that with Vikto's current safety and whereabouts unknown, Halkenburg is extremely likely to be released due to insufficient evidence and placed under surveillance, just like what happened with 2nd Prince Camilla. Halkenburg has been isolated from his private guard and will be forbidden contact until the trial is over. The bearded bald man declares, "To get him out of the way for good. This may be our once-in-a-lifetime chance...!" A reply confirms, "Yes. The first trial will be where the battle's fought."

A wide-eyed boy with messy hair holds open the ornate book titled The Taithon Canon, its pages glowing as a small black creature peeks over his shoulder. In the next panels a suited man named Juliano stands in a hallway while a younger boy lies on the floor still reading the same book. A girl with short hair discusses the volume passionately, noting its propaganda-like points and how each chapter's song selection stays in the reader's head. Juliano reflects that the final chapter gutted him and feels underappreciated as the sixth prince's aide. He worries that the book's teachings may contradict Prince Taithon's ideals and that other princes would have to be eliminated. Nearby, Izu and Julia exchange opinions about the dangers of excessive empathy and over-sensitive love, with Julia warning against song quotes.

Juliano continues speaking with a blond man in a suit about their contract and the Hunters' Association mission to protect the princes on the new continent. The blond man says goodbye and walks away. Suddenly the scene shifts to a grand hall where a crowd shouts Happy Birthday Juliano and Surpriiise. Juliano stands stunned as party guests surround him. A woman presents a cake, noting it is two months early, while Juliano protests that his birthday has not arrived. The woman insists it is an order from the prince and that the cake is delicious despite the sugar and flour content. In the final panel a smiling woman wearing a crown made of candy and holding a decorated cake declares she is glad they met.

In a brightly lit hallway marked 1007, several men in suits discuss the recent chaos. A bearded man insists, 'It's a waste of time asking. I'm an honest guy so I'll tell you straight out, we're not tellin' you nothin'.' Others speculate that after the gunshot no one left the ordinary room immediately and question why the scene stayed so quiet. A stern man with a goatee concludes that nobody from the room offered information. In a lower panel a large man in a high-collared jacket thinks that, as expected, no one will volunteer details. Two women with headscarves and a suited man analyze the situation: Prince Halkenburg used Queen Duazul's officer in room 1007 during the commotion, but the real target was likely 7th Prince Luzurus. They conclude the only logical plan was a diversion so Shikaku could kill himself in front of room 1007. At the bottom, a worried man realizes that Macnay, Gado, Odessa and Skult from the Hunter Association were also in the break room and may have taken advantage of the confusion.

The discussion continues in an office-like setting. A seated man theorizes that Macnay was manipulated into assassinating Prince Luzurus and that keeping watch on the four sleeping guards is the best course. Another man in a robe states he has realized the possibility that all six of Queen Duazul's officers were non-Nen users. A suited man with slicked hair considers pulling the trigger himself later. In smaller panels a masked figure and the suited man agree on special surveillance for Macnay and Skult. A tall man in a robe asks for help investigating the guards' behavior. The final panels show the robed man and the suited man agreeing that both Macnay and Skult must be Nen users to have survived the succession war dangers.

With that kind of resolve, using a Nen that increases in strength after death would have quite the considerable amount of power indeed...! If I assume committing suicide in front of room 1007 was done in effort to mislead the investigation... then Prince Halkenburg was framed for the crime, and in reality they're going after the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th prince... I think all of you in Prince Benjamin's private guard are behind this...! You're all in on it! An ability that Shikaku activated by taking his own life...! Would a prince who already has a Nen beast attached to him be able to be haunted by yet another entity...? Either way, for now my only option is to observe. The most popular kind of post-mortem Nen is the kind that haunts the target after death, causing all manner of harm and ill-fortune to befall the haunted. But with these entrusted curse-type abilities, if one like the guardian Nen beasts were invoked, you would be able to see it. The structure of his organization feels no remorse at using his officers' lives as ammo, after all... so it wouldn't be peculiar in the least for there to be many among them with post-mortem Nen. In the VVIP area of the 2nd Prince Camilla's surveillance quarters, a maid stands near an elderly woman while a long-haired woman watches from the side. Below, a figure on an ornate patterned floor cries out in anguish. I want to hurry up and die already...! NGGGG GGGH~...!

A close-up shows a hand buckling a belt on a prone figure with light hair. Moswana stands in uniform beside a maid holding a large bundle and another guard. From the day I was born, I've learned exactly why I was born... every day, without fail, I've come to see you... So that we can be bound together in hell... So that Prince Camilla can become king and prosper...!!! I swear... I will curse you... to death!!! A panel explains the afterlife companion tradition of ancient kingdoms where a selected member of the opposite sex was buried with the prince. Another panel details how the afterlife companion is now obsolete but those born as untouchables remain locked into the class system. Though it was supposedly an honor to be the prince's companion, in actuality it was quite the opposite. In a class system where you were born into a class and of that class for your entire life, the companion, forcefully chosen from the lowest tier of the untouchables, rises to a higher level official or joins the military.

Along with the overwhelming support that these once discriminated people hold for Camilla, amongst her private guard there naturally began calls for the afterlife companion system to be reinstated. This fused with Nen powers and transformed into an incredibly potent assassination curse. But Camilla gave all of these untouchables a chance to join her private guard. They received their own private land in a special ward and granted the same status and rights as fellow soldiers. A large grid displays the many guards serving under the 2nd Prince. 5th Prince Tserriednich's guard Jidal is in charge of Tserriednich's curse. 4th Prince Tserriednich's guard Hignori is in charge of Tserriednich's curse. 3rd Prince Zhang Lei's guard Basket is in charge of Zhang Lei's curse. 9th Prince Halkenburg's guard Kako is in charge of Halkenburg's curse. 7th Prince Luzurus's guard Risamusetta is in charge of Luzurus's curse. 6th Prince Taithon's guard Burbena is in charge of Taithon's curse. 13th Prince Marayam's guard Tallah is in charge of Marayam's curse. 11th Prince Fugetsu's guard Meshushi is in charge of Fugetsu's curse. 10th Prince Kacho's guard Mozube is in charge of Kacho's curse. When the invoker dies, the ability will be activated. Ideally, you should kill yourself in front of your target's eyes. Stay as close as you can to your target for as long as a period as you possibly can. During this time, the greater your desire it, the stronger the curse will grow. Carry with you something related to your target, their name, photograph, clothing, or part of their body, and curse your target.

It would not be all that surprising if there were a few among them with circumstances similar to our own. Prince Halkenburg's private army was made up of people from many countries with mostly unknown birthplaces. But it's possible that he was an entrusted curse type user like us. It is obvious that Shikaku was an untouchable of Kakin. In a hallway, a woman exclaims That's right!! Umanma declares he would happily give his life in order to remove it from her. Kavich states he is ready and willing too. Nukuokon wonders if they don't have to become afterlife companions. Sarahell stands firm, saying if a curse ever came for Prince Camilla. A close-up shows a determined guard vowing they will use their lives not for the sake of a dead prince, but for the future of Prince Camilla. In the grand hall Camilla's followers chant Yes, Ma'am! and affirm they will not cause trouble. A final narration box explains that those haunted by the cursed Nen will have their aura stolen and die within a few hours, while the untouchables carry out the ritual with a small blade and the target's item.

A stern-faced young man with light hair stares intently as he weighs the risks. 'With still so much unknown about the princes' guardian beasts' abilities, to send a curse after the upper ranked princes would be risking it all on a gamble with a very high chance of failure... but if it goes well, then we could kill the princes with a curse. Even if it gets exorcised, we'll have been able to lure the Hunter Association's nen exorcist out into the open...' Nearby, someone suggests, 'Should we go for the 10th or 11th prince...? Or maybe the 15th...? My prince, the 14th, hasn't spent long enough building up the curse yet...' A voice commands, 'Call Fukataki, the head servant, here!' Fukataki arrives and reports on the timing required to send curses from room 1002 to Mozube, noting it would take ten days for one target and three months to kill all three with their curses. The group debates whether Mozube, Meshushi, or Tallah is the most qualified to deliver the curse. The young man snaps that he wants to send the curse today but must leave the target alive briefly to confirm whether the Hunter Association has a nen exorcist. In another room, a suited man discusses the 10th and 11th princes' detention for attempted escape and rumors of deaths. The old woman with a bun listens as the young man warns that stealthy curses from outside would be detected instantly by the guardian beast. She smiles and explains that to kill a prince one must get close enough to touch the skin directly while the target stares fixedly at the attacker, because the guardian beast protects the royal family through generations.

The light-haired young man stands with hands on hips in an ornate room while the old woman with a bun sits nearby. He apologizes for the earlier roundabout discussion and states it is the job of the young to skin their knees and the old to bring the medicine. The old woman agrees to carry out the task. In a large panel the young man declares that if he curses the 14th prince from right beside him the short incubation period will still unleash a powerful curse, and he believes Prince Camilla will grant permission for the objective of killing a prince. He adds that room 1014's nen teaching is causing a stalemate and he will leave once a second round of classes begins. The old woman smiles and reassures him that even if she fails she has nothing to lose because she is untouchable. She warns that slipping and falling while going down the hill would only result in scratches but being too openly hostile could get one killed. The young man retorts that she is telling him to steel himself. She replies that using love to silence hate is her specialty.

Physically, I feel myself rapidly growing stronger. And the way I see the world has quite literally changed. Having acquired it yourself, how do you feel? Mmm. He was able to carry them to taking their first steps in activating their Nen abilities by the final day. And thus, as of today, everyone who took the course has had their Nen ability awaken. A large 1003 is displayed prominently. In a small panel a man with glasses asks, "What is this...?" A bald man in uniform replies, "Here, take this for your reward." He adds, "Well done." In the grand hall a cloaked figure stands before the throne as the seated person asks, "So then can you see my Guardian Beast right now?" The cloaked figure answers, "Yes. It's far more vivid and grander than I ever imagined." A close-up shows the man on the throne declaring, "You will be the first person to receive the 'H1' coin. It's a coin created by my spirit beast." Below, a stern man with braided hair thinks, "Though I've got the real first #1." Another man bows deeply, exclaiming, "Thank you!! I'm so thrilled...!!" with a "March" sound effect nearby. A close-up reveals intense eyes and a clenched fist. The final spread shows a hand gripping a coin marked 10 as large text declares the number has increased...?! A still yet unknown ability. The number... The page ends with the Hunter × Hunter logo and "CH. 389 END."