Chapter Summaries

Gelman told Kurapika stories about revenge and warned him that obsession could consume his life. Kurapika agreed to learn Nen from Gelman on the condition that he would not devote his entire life to reclaiming the Hokage Eyes and taking revenge on the Phantom Troupe.

• Gelman explained that the Phantom Troupe had murdered the Kurta Clan to obtain their Hokage Eyes and that Shizuku had arrived too late to save them.
• Gelman told Kurapika the story of Enken, who returned to seek revenge despite finding his enemy living as a repentant adoptive father.
• Kurapika left Gelman's quarters but turned back to ask what Enken had done, realizing he had made the same choice to return.
• Gelman offered to teach Kurapika Nen if he would avoid letting revenge consume his life and help Gelman with other matters.
• Kurapika accepted Gelman's condition and left, agreeing to return the next morning for training.

Gelman took Kurapika to a mountain and forcibly awakened his aura pores with an invisible aura sword, then began teaching him Ten. Kurapika worried about the years it would take to challenge the Phantom Troupe, and Gelman began explaining how Nen systems and circumstances could let a weaker fighter win.

• Gelman took Kurapika to a mountaintop after breakfast and asked why he had come to Itro City.
• Kurapika said he had sought instruction from a Master swordsman but no longer thought it necessary after witnessing Gelman's power.
• Gelman struck Kurapika with an invisible aura sword, opening all his aura pores and allowing him to sense aura.
• Gelman taught Kurapika the basics of Ten, and Kurapika quickly understood that his aura was leaking away.
• Kurapika worried that it would take years to become strong enough to face the Phantom Troupe, so Gelman explained how timing, circumstances, and a fighter's Nen System could help the weak defeat the strong.
• Kurapika asked Gelman what a Nen System was.

Gelman continued teaching Kurapika Nen and brought him to the stronghold, where Kurapika met Wing and his disciple Chikyū. Seeing that Kurapika had progressed further despite starting later, Kurapika recognized how much effort Gelman had put into teaching him.

• Gelman explained Nen categories and told Kurapika to master the basics before developing a unique ability, and Kurapika accepted him as his teacher.
• Biscuit told the Post Carriage Group that Menchi and Buhara would visit the stronghold on May 5, and Gelman promised to return by May 4.
• Gelman returned to the stronghold with Kurapika and reminded him to maintain his aura while distracted.
• Wing welcomed Gelman, congratulated him on becoming a One-Star Hunter, and introduced his disciple Chikyū.
• Wing told Chikyū that Kurapika had started learning Nen later but had already made greater progress, leaving Chikyū stunned and Kurapika grateful to Gelman.

Gelman returned to the mansion and joined Biscuit at Shubika’s research institute, where she outlined plans to expand the group’s outpost and showed him Shubika’s preserved Plant Weapon Gold Silver Ingot. Shubika’s research suggested the organism reproduced by infecting living hosts, and Gelman learned why it had attacked the group near the Ancient Labyrinth City.

• Gelman asked Wing where Biscuit and Shizuku were, then went to find Biscuit at Shubika’s research institute.
• Biscuit showed Gelman her plans for a treatment room, training room, storage room, and library, proposing to fund the work through the Post Carriage Group Activity Fund.
• Biscuit led Gelman through a hidden door into the basement, where Plant Weapon Gold Silver Ingot and parts of the Decapitated Antler Knight were preserved in separate cylinders.
• Biscuit explained that Shubika believed Plant Weapon Gold Silver Ingot acted like a virus that needed a living host to reproduce.
• Biscuit said the Decapitated Antler Knight’s body was still alive, but would eventually die, so Plant Weapon Gold Silver Ingot sought stronger hosts and had likely been drawn to the group’s aura near the Ancient Labyrinth City.

Gelman, Biscuit, and Shubika discussed how the Ancient Labyrinth City, the All-Curing Herb, and Plant Weapon Gold Silver Ingot might form a predatory cycle, though the herb’s effects and the city’s purpose remained unknown. Shizuku told them the Phantom Troupe had regrouped in Meteor City, so she would suspend her donations until it was safer.

• Biscuit explained that Plant Weapon Gold Silver Ingot was an extremely dangerous parasite and that the V5 had rated its overall threat as B-rank.
• Gelman proposed that the All-Curing Herb lured prey into the Ancient Labyrinth City, where the plant weapon consumed them and nourished the city and herb.
• Gelman, Biscuit, and Shizuku left the research institute and discussed Shizuku’s shopping trip.
• Shizuku showed Gelman and Biscuit Sheila’s message saying the Phantom Troupe had gathered in Meteor City and was recruiting new members.
• Gelman said Chrollo’s cautious regrouping made the troupe harder to confront, while Biscuit offered to help Shizuku.
• Shizuku decided to pause her Meteor City donations until the Phantom Troupe was wiped out.

Gelman’s Nen training impressed Biscuit, Shizuku, and Wing, while Kurapika continued practicing under Gelman’s guidance. Menchi and Buhara arrived at the training grounds and reunited with Gelman by the lake.

• Wing praised Kurapika’s Ten, and Biscuit and Shizuku observed Gelman’s talented student.
• Kurapika explained that he had practiced with Chikyū, and Wing reassured Chikyū that he should follow his own pace.
• On May 5, Kurapika practiced Zetsu beneath a locust tree while Menchi and Buhara watched from nearby.
• Buhara pointed out Gelman fishing by the lake, and Menchi and Buhara recognized his skill at Zetsu and discussed his rapid rise to One-Star Hunter.
• Menchi and Buhara approached Gelman, who recognized them from the airport and shook their hands.

Biscuit welcomed Menchi and Buhara to the mansion, where Menchi watched Gelman and Wing struggle to cook dinner. Unable to tolerate their cooking, she took over the kitchen with Buhara, realizing Biscuit had deliberately baited her into doing so.

• Gelman brought Menchi and Buhara to the mansion and explained that he was teaching Kurapika Zetsu.
• Biscuit warmly welcomed Menchi and Buhara, introduced the household, and settled them in the living room.
• Menchi watched Gelman and Wing prepare dinner and grew increasingly alarmed by their cooking.
• Menchi sprang up and went to the kitchen, telling Buhara to stop eating and asking Wing to leave the cooking to them.
• Menchi took charge of preparing the food while Buhara finished stir-frying and plating it.
• Biscuit smiled as Menchi realized she had fallen into Biscuit's deliberate trap.

Gelman and Biscuit agreed to assess Menchi and Buhara before revealing information about the Dark Continent, which Biscuit had called a “secret realm.” The next morning, Gelman began testing Buhara in a fight as Kurapika and the others watched.

• Menchi and Buhara prepared dinner, and the others praised their cooking.
• Biscuit told Menchi that the group wanted to assess her and Buhara before sharing information about the secret realm, and Gelman scheduled the assessment for the next morning.
• Kurapika practiced Nen and joined Biscuit, Wing, and Chikyū by the lake to watch Gelman fight.
• Gelman charged Buhara, who sensed his aura, stomped the ground, and thrust a palm at him.
• Gelman dodged Buhara's attack and changed his cane into a Meat Saw, but Buhara avoided the slash and brought both palms down on him.

Gelman defeated Buhara in seconds, then faced Menchi in a bout that ended when she judged she could not beat him. Kurapika watched the fights and resolved to learn Gelman’s techniques.

• Gelman used his speed and the Meat Saw to pin Buhara, who admitted defeat after Menchi pointed out his mistakes and Gelman’s unused left hand.
• Wing explained that smooth aura flow allowed fighters to react and unleash power quickly, and Kurapika decided to study Gelman’s relentless techniques.
• Menchi attacked Gelman with her remotely controlled cleavers, while he used his cane’s Metal Whip and the Meat Saw to stop and redirect them.
• Menchi called off the fight, and Gelman returned her cleaver.

After Menchi and Buhara passed Gelman’s evaluation, Gelman and Biscuit showed them information about the Dark Continent and asked whether they would join the expedition. Menchi asked what motivated the others to go, leaving her decision dependent on their answers.

• Gelman judged Menchi and Buhara capable of becoming companions, then sent Kurapika and Chikyū into the forest to continue training with Wing.
• Biscuit gave Menchi and Buhara a book about the Dark Continent, whose accounts of the expedition and its dangers shocked them.
• Gelman explained that he and Biscuit trusted Menchi and Buhara to keep the information secret and asked them to join the journey.
• Menchi asked Gelman, Biscuit, and Shizuku why they wanted to go to the Dark Continent before deciding whether to accompany them.
• Gelman said he wanted to explore the Dark Continent and test humanity’s limits, while Biscuit wanted a unique gemstone and felt responsible for Gelman.

Menchi, Buhara, Shizuku, and Biscuit agreed to join Gelman on a Dark Continent expedition, each hoping to pursue their own goals. After preparing with the Dark Continent Anecdotes, Gelman set their departure for May 15 and arranged to keep the journey secret from Kurapika and Chikyū.

• Shizuku explained that she supported Gelman because she hoped his actions would change Meteor City's fate and disrupt the world's order.
• Menchi and Buhara agreed to accompany Gelman to seek unfamiliar ingredients, and Biscuit and Shizuku joined them in sealing their agreement.
• Menchi and Buhara studied the Dark Continent Anecdotes and planned to record and assess potential ingredients using Buhara's Taotie Stomach.
• Gelman began teaching Kurapika Ren after his Zetsu training ended, while Wing continued training Chikyū.
• On May 10, Gelman decided that he, Biscuit, Menchi, and Buhara would depart for the Arid River Valley at midnight on May 15, with Shubika arriving on May 14.
• Gelman and the others agreed to tell Kurapika and Chikyū that the four travelers were going on an errand and to keep the Dark Continent expedition secret.

Gelman, Biscuit, Menchi, and Buhara used the Lantern to travel from the mansion to the Dark Continent, where they arrived in a dry river valley. They had to remain there for 16 hours before the Lantern could take them back.

• Wing told the group that Shizuku, Kurapika, and Chikyū had gone to bed while Shubika remained in the research institute.
• Gelman placed the Lantern and reminded everyone that they had to spend at least 16 hours on the Dark Continent before returning.
• Gelman checked his improved attributes and confirmed that his En had expanded to a 30-meter radius.
• After midnight, Gelman, Biscuit, Menchi, and Buhara took hold of the imps and departed as Wing waved them off.
• The four hunters arrived in the Arid River Valley, and Gelman confirmed that the Lantern's cooldown would last 16 hours.

Gelman, Biscuit, Menchi, and Buhara assessed the dangers and possibilities of exploring the Dark Continent before fighting creatures in the Arid River Valley. After the group defeated giant insects, Menchi and Buhara prepared to test their meat while Gelman and Biscuit searched for other ingredients during their sixteen-hour stay.

• Menchi explained that exploring the Dark Continent was possible, but establishing a foothold and finding a way back were the real challenges.
• Biscuit agreed with Gelman's assessment and warned that being stranded without support could make returning to the coast nearly impossible.
• Gelman warned the group that the Arid River Valley's creatures were stirring, and sixteen Meat Sucking Bugs and two Poison Mist Centipedes charged at them.
• Gelman, Biscuit, Menchi, and Buhara defeated the creatures, and Gelman found a Chameleon Stone inside a Meat Sucking Bug.
• Menchi and Buhara prepared to test the Poison Mist Centipede meat, while Gelman suggested expanding their search for other ingredients during their sixteen hours in the valley.

Menchi and Buhara rated several Dark Continent creatures as food while Gelman and Biscuit sampled Grape Spider eggs. Gelman also tried Gale Ripple Moth eggs and a Grape Spider eyeball, leaving Biscuit bewildered by the others’ appetite for unusual foods.

• Menchi recorded Buhara’s ratings of Meat Sucking Bugs, Poison Mist Centipedes, Gale Ripple Moth eggs, and Hammer Mushrooms as the group assessed their food potential.
• Gelman served Biscuit a boiled egg from a local Grape Spider, and both she and Gelman enjoyed its familiar taste.
• Biscuit questioned whether Gelman had waited for her to try the egg before eating one himself, but he continued eating without answering.
• Menchi asked Gelman to try Gale Ripple Moth eggs, and he said they were good enough to sell as food if diners did not know their source.
• Gelman bit into a Grape Spider eyeball, spat it out, and rinsed his mouth while Biscuit watched the group in disbelief.

Gelman and the Gourmet Hunters spent the evening sampling food in the Arid River Valley before sharing a giant beast’s cooked head. Gelman discovered that eating food prepared by Menchi and Buhara reduced his Pressure, giving him another way to manage it.

• Gelman, Buhara, Menchi, and Biscuit sampled edible things in the Arid River Valley until night fell.
• Menchi served the giant sheep-like beast’s cooked head, and Buhara confirmed it was safe and delicious.
• Gelman noticed that eating the meat lowered his Pressure to four points.
• Biscuit joked that Gelman might be considering eating Menchi and Buhara, and Gelman explained the food’s effect.
• Biscuit welcomed the discovery as another way to relieve Gelman’s Pressure.

Menchi, Buhara, Biscuit, and Gelman finished preparing their haul and waited for the Lantern's cooldown while Biscuit described Chairman Netero's past Dark Continent journeys. Gelman sensed an approaching beast, and the group faced a giant black panther emerging from the darkness.

• Buhara spat out Menchi's roasted Black Squid, judging it too bitter and plastic-like to eat.
• Biscuit told Gelman that Netero had traveled to the Dark Continent with Lin Nie and Jeggo Zoldyck, and that his small elite team had returned safely twice.
• Gelman monitored the surroundings with En and detected a large, fast-moving four-legged beast approaching the camp.
• Biscuit refused to extinguish the campfire and prepared for a fight as a giant black panther bared its fangs at the group.

Gelman, Biscuit, Menchi, and Buhara fought the Nightmare Leopard and its smaller copies in the Arid River Valley. Biscuit baited the beast so Gelman could destroy its eyes and drive his transformed cane into its skull, and the Nightmare Leopard collapsed.

• Gelman named the beast the Nightmare Leopard, and it shed its fur, which became a pack of Little Nightmares.
• Menchi and Buhara fought the Little Nightmares while Gelman and Biscuit attacked the main body.
• The Nightmare Leopard extinguished the campfire and wounded Biscuit, who deliberately weakened her aura defense to lure it in.
• Gelman seized his chance and stabbed the Nightmare Leopard in the eye with his Meat Saw.
• Gelman dodged the beast’s claws, shot its other eye, and drove his cane spear into its skull, where it churned its brain until the Little Nightmares vanished and the beast collapsed.

Gelman, Biscuit, Menchi, and Buhara survived a night raid by the Nightmare Leopard and returned from the Dark Continent with supplies and minor injuries. Shubika treated and examined the group, while Gelman checked his improved stats and new trait.

• Gelman and Biscuit killed the Nightmare Leopard, and its smaller Nightmares vanished with it.
• Biscuit, Menchi, and Buhara regrouped; Menchi treated Biscuit's wound while the group gathered their supplies and discussed preparing for future night raids.
• Gelman used the Lantern to return everyone to the estate, where Shizuku and Shubika greeted them.
• Shubika treated Biscuit and checked all four travelers with her Medical Records ability, confirming they had no hidden injuries or infections.
• Gelman checked his status and found that his Physique and aura capacity had increased and that he had gained the Night Owl trait.

At dinner, Kurapika reflected on how learning Nen had changed his goals and wondered what kind of Hunter he should become. Gelman advised him to pursue the underworld if it served his aims, while keeping to his own principles and boundaries.

• Kurapika and Chikyū met the shy Shubika at dinner, where she removed her mask and spoke briefly with the group.
• Listening to the Hunters' stories, Kurapika realized he was increasingly fascinated by Nen and no longer saw reclaiming the Hokage Eyes and avenging his clan as his only future.
• During a training break, Kurapika asked Gelman whether becoming a Bounty Hunter or Criminal Hunter could help him find the Hokage Eyes and the Phantom Troupe.
• Gelman explained that both targets had ties to the underworld and told Kurapika that labels such as Hunter and assassin were neutral to him.
• Gelman urged Kurapika to seek the most advantageous path without abandoning his principles and boundaries, and Kurapika said he understood.

Gelman stayed at the Mansion Stronghold to help build facilities and train Kurapika, who advanced to the Hatsu stage and discovered that his scarlet eyes made him a Specialist under certain conditions. On June 30, Gelman and Kurapika left to meet Abengane and continue training on the road.

• Gelman helped Biscuit, Shizuku, Menchi, and Buhara build a treatment room and Training Room while continuing to teach Kurapika Nen.
• Kurapika took the Water Divination test and showed that he was a Conjurer normally but a Specialist when he used his Hokage Eye.
• Gelman assigned Kurapika to master Hatsu, develop a Conjuration ability, and learn Ken, In, and Gyo.
• Gelman left the Mansion Stronghold with Kurapika to meet Abengane for another exorcism and continue training.
• Biscuit showed Menchi photographs of Gelman and Kurapika, and Shizuku remarked that they were simply pictures of the two together.