"'Nen Needle'?!"
Killua was so startled that he pulled both hands out of his pockets. The box of chocolates he'd been hiding inside tumbled to the ground with a clatter.
"You mean Illumi implanted a 'Nen Needle' in me? How is that possible? When did that happen? I don't remember it at all."
"Killua, that's one of the characteristics of a Manipulation System Nen ability... But you'll soon remember exactly when it happened."
Gelman extended the index and middle fingers of his right hand and pointed them at Killua's forehead. "Relax," he said softly.
Killua felt a cool touch beneath his white bangs and couldn't help frowning. But because he trusted Gelman, he slowly relaxed.
Ssh—
In a flash, before Killua could react, Gelman found the Nen Needle with pinpoint accuracy and pulled it out.
A fine thread of blood drifted through the air, fell, and disappeared.
"When fully controlling someone, Illumi's Nen Needle can make them his complete puppet until they die."
"Even without full control, it's enough to alter someone's way of thinking and seal away certain memories."
"You were clearly under a more precise, partial form of control. When the Nen Needle is removed, you'll break free of its mental restraints, and your forgotten memories will return."
Gelman flicked the golden Nen Needle beneath the sunlight, then casually tossed it to the ground.
Without its Nen, it was just an ordinary gold needle.
Kurapika and Gon watched in astonishment. They had both gained a new understanding of Manipulation System Nen users, and were now much more wary of them.
This kind of unseen "manipulation" was truly terrifying.
Until now, the Manipulation System Nen user they'd had the most contact with was Chikyū.
But Chikyū hadn't yet mastered the use of Nen abilities, and he hadn't made them