Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Rankings”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Shizuku defeats Regan and Pame of Twin Wings, she and Moyu introduce themselves to each other.
• Shizuku intends to dispose of the criminals’ corpses and clean the inn, but Moyu explains that the bodies are necessary evidence for claiming the bounty.
• Understanding that the innkeeper could suffer from the corpses and bloodstains, Moyu takes responsibility for contacting the authorities and arranging the cleanup.
• Menchi returns with the freckled girl, who is relieved to find Moyu and Shizuku unharmed and breaks down emotionally after the ordeal.
• Local law enforcement arrives about half an hour later, removes the bodies, and cleans the inn. Moyu receives a 230-million-unit after-tax bounty for Twin Wings.
• Moyu splits the bounty evenly with Shizuku, reasoning that she killed Regan even though she was not motivated by money. He also pays for the inn’s repairs despite the innkeeper’s refusal.
• The next day, Moyu and Menchi prepare to travel to the Meilin Ecological Zone, where Menchi plans to work and accumulate merit.
• Light contacts Moyu to explain that Bounty Hunter organizations maintain public information rankings listing completed bounties and activity levels.
• Moyu considers whether to hide his identity but decides to remain visible because the Path of Legends rewards fame and recognition. He informs Cheadle of this reasoning, while other Hunters also message him after learning of his achievement.
• Menchi investigates Gourmet Hunter rankings and discovers that the profession has only one notable ranking: the number of ingredients discovered, currently led by Linne Horsdoeuvre.
• Shizuku unexpectedly approaches Moyu and Menchi before their departure. After a humorous exchange about whether she is a “stranger,” she learns that they are heading to Meilin and joins them.

Character Development

• Moyu demonstrates fairness and consideration by sharing the bounty with Shizuku and compensating the innkeeper. He also shows increasing awareness of the value of reputation and chooses to make his achievements public for the sake of the Path of Legends.
• Shizuku displays her unusual but sincere logic. She initially views corpse disposal practically, wanting to spare the innkeeper trouble, and accepts Moyu’s explanation about the bounty without hesitation. Her interest in joining the trip suggests she is becoming more comfortable around Moyu and Menchi.
• Menchi becomes more motivated to pursue merit after Moyu’s successful first bounty. She remains protective of her authority as Moyu’s master and is suspicious of Shizuku’s strange behavior, though she ultimately allows her to come along.
• The freckled girl is shown to be brave and compassionate despite her fear, having returned to help the others. Her relief and tears reveal the emotional impact of the attack.
• Light continues acting as a supportive senior and informal mentor, providing Moyu with useful professional information without forcing his own opinion.
• Cheadle shows quiet concern by carefully explaining the risks and benefits of public rankings while respecting Moyu’s independence.

Significant Themes

• Recognition versus anonymity: Moyu must decide whether the benefits of public fame outweigh the danger of becoming more visible to enemies.
• Merit and motivation: The chapter contrasts bounty-driven work with personal motivations, emphasizing that Shizuku acted to protect others rather than earn money.
• Responsibility and compassion: Moyu’s handling of the inn’s cleanup and repairs shows that professional success does not excuse neglecting the people affected by violence.
• The power of money and organized professions: Bounty Hunting thrives because financial rewards make Hunters more proactive than official authorities, though the profession also carries severe risks.
• Unusual social logic: Shizuku’s literal reasoning creates humor while showing how differently she interprets relationships and social boundaries.
• Fame as a strategic resource: Public accomplishments are not merely vanity for Moyu; they may help him progress along the Path of Legends.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Shizuku: Their relationship develops through mutual respect. Moyu treats Shizuku as an equal partner by sharing the bounty, while Shizuku accepts his reasoning and later joins his journey.
• Moyu and Menchi: Menchi remains the more assertive figure, but Moyu’s growing achievements increase her enthusiasm for their shared work. Their playful exchange over Shizuku joining the trip highlights their master-student dynamic.
• Moyu and Light: Light offers guidance about the Bounty Hunter ranking system, and Moyu responds with sincere gratitude.
• Moyu and Cheadle: Cheadle provides balanced advice, and Moyu trusts her enough to reveal his decision and his desire for fame.
• Menchi and Shizuku: Their interaction is marked by suspicion and confusion. Menchi attempts to discourage Shizuku from asking about their destination, but Shizuku interprets the conversation literally and concludes that she is not a stranger.
• Shizuku and the freckled girl: Although their direct interaction is limited, Shizuku’s wish to clean the inn reflects gratitude toward the girl for overcoming her fear and helping during the attack.

Chapter Summary: “Extermination X Bodyguard X Important Matter”

Key Plot Points and Events

• News spreads worldwide that all 128 members of the Kurta Clan have been massacred. The killers tortured the villagers, provoked their Scarlet Eyes, removed the eyes of every pure-blooded Kurta, and left behind the message: “We reject nothing, so take not even a fraction from us.”
• The massacre causes intense excitement among black-market dealers and collectors, who expect the stolen Scarlet Eyes to become extremely valuable, limited-edition commodities.
• Celebrity Airedin becomes interested in obtaining a pair of Scarlet Eyes for her collection. She discusses her upcoming attendance at the Antiquities Exchange with her bodyguard, Harvey, and approves the hiring of Kanzai, a Professional Bodyguard Hunter and member of the Hunter Association’s Zodiacs.
• Airedin comments cynically on the Antiquities Exchange, viewing it as a publicity and price-inflation scheme. She is especially intrigued by the legendary crown Monka Expeditionary Force’s Endpoint, although it is not included in the event’s advance auction list.
• On an airship, Kanzai carefully studies Airedin’s information despite disliking reading. Fiona, another Bodyguard Hunter traveling with her client Koko Hex, is surprised by his professionalism. Their exchange becomes a humorous argument involving insults and wordplay.
• At the Meilin Ecological Zone, Menchi prepares a newly discovered freshwater fish called the Scale-Armored Fish. She explains various ways to eat it, while Shizuku eagerly volunteers to find a stone slab for pan-frying.
• Shizuku uses Blinky to produce dozens of suitable stone slabs, having collected every type she could find rather than selecting only one or two. Menchi is initially exasperated but ultimately has the materials she needs.
• Moyu, Menchi, Shizuku, and Rat Treasure prepare a fire and begin cooking the fish. Before the meal starts, Moyu receives an urgent message from Biscuit telling him to meet her.

Character Developments

• Airedin is shown as wealthy, influential, and highly interested in rare or grotesque collectibles. Her indifference toward the Kurta massacre contrasts sharply with her fascination with the commercial value of Scarlet Eyes.
• Harvey continues to act as Airedin’s efficient and attentive bodyguard, handling arrangements and anticipating her needs.
• Kanzai demonstrates a serious, responsible side beneath his abrasive personality. He diligently prepares for the assignment and recognizes the importance of treating bodyguard work professionally.
• Fiona serves as a teasing counterpart to Kanzai. Their banter reveals familiarity and mutual irritation, while also showing Fiona’s guarded professionalism regarding her employer.
• Menchi advances her career as a Gourmet Hunter after discovering three new ingredients, including one rated B-rank. The achievement improves her prospects for earning a One-Star title, although the resulting invitations from the Hunter Association annoy her.
• Shizuku remains absent-minded and literal, but her efforts are helpful: she gathers an excessive number of stone slabs through Blinky and shows genuine enthusiasm for food.
• Moyu continues to act as a relaxed, supportive mentor and companion. He jokes with Menchi, helps prepare the meal, and recognizes that their large appetites may require more food.
• Biscuit’s urgent message introduces a new unresolved development at the chapter’s conclusion.

Significant Themes

• Exploitation and commodification: The Kurta massacre is immediately transformed into a profitable black-market opportunity, emphasizing the horrifying commercialization of human remains.
• Indifference versus empathy: Airedin’s detached interest in Scarlet Eyes contrasts with the brutality of the massacre, highlighting how wealth and obsession can erase human suffering.
• Professional duty: Kanzai’s preparation emphasizes the seriousness of Hunter work, even when the assignment appears low-risk.
• Humor and camaraderie: The Kanzai-Fiona exchange and the cooking sequence provide comic relief after the grim news and show the characters’ comfortable, informal relationships.
• Discovery and advancement: Menchi’s new ingredients represent progress toward her Gourmet Hunter ambitions, while the chapter also hints at broader developments surrounding rare treasures and the Antiquities Exchange.
• Anticipation of danger: Although the bodyguard assignment seems safe, the Kurta-related black-market activity, the auction, and Biscuit’s urgent summons suggest that more serious events may soon unfold.

Character Interactions

• Airedin and Harvey: Their relationship is formal and service-oriented. Harvey provides information and assistance while Airedin confidently directs the conversation.
• Kanzai and Fiona: They trade insults and jokes, revealing a combative but familiar dynamic. Fiona mocks Kanzai’s unusual dedication to reading, while Kanzai tries unsuccessfully to appeal to their supposed camaraderie.
• Menchi and Shizuku: Menchi criticizes Shizuku’s excessive appetite and initially doubts her sincerity, while Shizuku focuses earnestly on helping prepare the meal.
• Moyu and Menchi: Their mentor-student relationship is warm and playful. Menchi insists that Moyu is “different,” though she cannot explain why, prompting him to laugh.
• Moyu and Shizuku: They share an understanding of their enormous appetites and wait eagerly for the food, with Moyu quietly compensating for Shizuku’s unconventional behavior.
• Moyu and Biscuit: Their interaction is only initiated through Biscuit’s urgent text, creating a cliffhanger and signaling that the peaceful cooking scene is about to be interrupted.

Chapter Summary: “Spiders Gather”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu receives an urgent message from Biscuit asking him to bring plenty of money to a meeting in Vandi City. She plans to pursue the jeweled crown known as Monka Expeditionary Force’s Endpoint at the upcoming Antiquities Exchange.
• After leaving the Meilin Ecological Zone with Menchi and Shizuku, Moyu travels to Vandi City. He reveals that the crown being auctioned is probably an ancient imitation, though its seven gemstones are genuine and valuable.
• Moyu privately tells Menchi that they possess the real crown, which is currently being kept by Netero. Their plan is to use it to prove the auctioned crown is fake, causing its price to drop. Biscuit can then buy it cheaply for the gemstones, while Moyu can eventually sell the genuine crown for a fortune.
• Biscuit arrives in Vandi City after working to gather enough money. Once Moyu reveals that he has access to the real crown, she agrees to help execute the plan.
• The chapter introduces the Snow Palace, the heavily guarded estate of the Hex Family and venue for the Antiquities Exchange.
• Koko, one of the event’s organizers, is pleased because she has located a Nen Exorcist and obtained backing from the Zoldyck Family. The exorcist is revealed to be Arieser, whose ability is Appetite of the Anorexic. He is expected to remove the dangerous Dead Nen surrounding Koko’s Blood-Pattern Blade.
• The chapter ends with the Phantom Troupe gathering in a scrapyard. All thirteen members are present, including Shalnark, who survived his encounter during the Hunter Exam but lost much of his left arm and his right hand. Franklin has also lost his right arm.

Character Developments

• Moyu continues to act strategically and cautiously. He conceals the real crown until revealing it can directly benefit Biscuit and strengthen their shared plan. He also maintains his disciplined routine, training every morning.
• Biscuit is shown to be determined and financially resourceful, having worked intensely to prepare for the auction. Her excitement shifts from anxiety over the crown’s price to confidence once Moyu reveals the real crown.
• Menchi remains protective of valuable information, refusing to reveal that she and Moyu possess the genuine crown. She is also increasingly attentive to Moyu’s plans.
• Shizuku follows Moyu without needing detailed explanations and remains fascinated by the crown’s gemstones. Her quiet loyalty contrasts with Menchi’s more argumentative nature.
• Koko is relieved and optimistic after finding a Nen Exorcist and securing Zoldyck support. Her motivation centers on removing the Dead Nen from her blade.
• Fiona recognizes Arieser and learns that Koko’s difficulties stem from the dangerous cursed aura surrounding the Blood-Pattern Blade.
• Shalnark has survived a near-fatal incident but is seriously injured. He credits Sheila with saving his life, though neither he nor the others knows where she is now.
• Franklin has also suffered a severe injury, emphasizing the heavy cost of the Phantom Troupe’s recent activities.
• Chrollo presides over the reunited Spiders, reinforcing his role as their leader.

Significant Themes

• Mutual benefit and manipulation: Moyu and Biscuit’s scheme relies on controlling information and manipulating the perceived value of the fake crown.
• The tension between authenticity and imitation: The crown’s appearance may be false, but its gemstones are genuine, raising questions about what truly determines an object’s worth.
• Loyalty and secrecy: Menchi’s refusal to expose their possession of the real crown shows the importance of discretion, while Shizuku’s unquestioning following demonstrates quiet loyalty.
• Consequences and survival: Shalnark and Franklin’s injuries reveal that the Phantom Troupe’s recent conflicts have had lasting physical consequences.
• Preparation before conflict: Moyu’s training, Biscuit’s fundraising, Snow Palace’s security, and the Spiders’ gathering all suggest that major confrontations are approaching.
• The dangers of Nen: The Blood-Pattern Blade’s Dead Nen illustrates how Nen effects can remain dangerous even after their original wielder or purpose is gone.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Biscuit interact like experienced schemers, negotiating a plan that benefits them both. Biscuit initially complains about Moyu’s limited funds, but quickly becomes enthusiastic after learning about the real crown.
• Menchi and Shizuku exchange dry, understated remarks about blindly following Moyu. Shizuku points out that Menchi herself does not know the full plan, leaving Menchi unable to respond.
• Moyu shares the crown’s information with Menchi and Shizuku but keeps the most sensitive details private through text messages with Menchi.
• Koko and Fiona discuss the Blood-Pattern Blade and the need for an exorcist. Fiona’s recognition of Arieser adds context to the specialist Koko has hired.
• The Phantom Troupe members question Shalnark about his survival and Sheila’s role in saving him. Shalnark admits that he does not know Sheila’s current whereabouts, leaving her fate uncertain.

Chapter Summary: “He... Resembled the Leader”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter explains Sheila’s Nen ability, Adventurer’s Path, which progresses through the stages “Getting Lost,” “Seeking Help,” and “A Way Out.” Her ability can force her into dangerous situations until she finds the person or route that serves as her escape.
• After being sent away by the Pipeline and severely injured, Shalnark awakens in a forest village, where Sheila has rescued and treated him. He realizes that he may have been the “way out” Sheila’s ability was seeking.
• Shalnark returns to the Phantom Troupe with both hands missing, replacing one with a conjured mechanical hand. He identifies the person responsible as Illumi, a Heavens Arena floor master, and shows the Troupe Moyu’s photograph.
• The Troupe discovers that Illumi is also the person who previously severed Franklin’s arm. According to Meteor City’s principle—“We reject nothing, but neither will we allow anything to be taken from us”—the entire group immediately regards Illumi as a target and vows to make him pay.
• Shalnark and Franklin describe Illumi’s combat ability. Although his Nen reserves and direct power may not be extraordinary, his techniques, adaptability, and fighting style make him extremely dangerous.
• Franklin says Illumi’s battle style reminded him of Chrollo, causing the Troupe to fall silent. Shalnark agrees that Illumi resembles their leader in the way he fights.
• The Troupe debates whether to pursue Illumi immediately, despite their current mission being the Antiquities Exchange. Chrollo takes personal interest and asks Franklin and Shalnark to explain Illumi’s abilities.
• Meanwhile, Illumi completes an assassination while training Killua and briefly experiences an unexplained pain in his temple, hinting at his connection to the Troupe’s growing hostility.
• Biscuit returns to Vandi City after confirming the authenticity of the crown with Netero. She prepares to expose the counterfeit and has Moyu, Menchi, and Shizuku select formal clothing for the upcoming Antiquities Exchange.
• At the formalwear shop, Moyu and Hisoka unexpectedly see each other through the display window, with both simultaneously wondering whether to pretend they did not notice the other.

Character Developments

• Sheila: Her history and ability are clarified. Her lonely journey, shaped by the earlier tragedy, has caused Adventurer’s Path to develop in unpredictable ways. Her rescue of Shalnark demonstrates how the ability can guide her toward an unexpected “way out.”
• Shalnark: He has survived catastrophic injuries and developed a conjured mechanical hand to compensate for his lost limb. He remains analytical and self-aware, acknowledging both his limited information about Illumi and the limits of his own combat-oriented abilities.
• Franklin: His anger over losing an arm is restrained but intense. He wants to personally defeat Illumi, though the other Troupe members insist on helping avenge both him and Shalnark.
• Chrollo: He quietly memorizes Moyu’s appearance and shows unusual interest when Illumi’s fighting style is compared to his own. The resemblance seems to intrigue him.
• The Phantom Troupe: Their loyalty and collective sense of retribution are emphasized. They quickly transform the matter from a personal grievance into a group vendetta.
• Biscuit: She demonstrates her strategic and somewhat mischievous nature by using Netero to safeguard the genuine crown while preparing to reveal the counterfeit.
• Moyu, Menchi, and Shizuku: Their lack of experience with formalwear provides a lighter contrast to the Troupe’s violent plans, while their preparation signals the approaching Antiquities Exchange.
• Hisoka: He appears without his usual makeup and encounters Moyu unexpectedly, creating an immediate but unspoken tension.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and collective loyalty: The Troupe’s response to Franklin and Shalnark’s injuries reflects Meteor City’s principle that nothing taken from them will go unanswered.
• Strength versus combat effectiveness: Illumi may not possess overwhelming raw power, but his abilities and tactics make him difficult to hit and exceptionally dangerous. The chapter stresses that practical combat ability cannot be judged by aura reserves alone.
• Parallels between characters: Illumi’s methods resemble Chrollo’s, suggesting a thematic connection between their adaptability, strategic thinking, and unconventional approaches to battle.
• Fate and unintended connections: Sheila’s ability leads her to Shalnark without either of them fully understanding the process, implying that seemingly random dangers may be part of a larger path.
• Preparation beneath ordinary events: While the characters shop for clothes and handle the crown, multiple factions are quietly preparing for conflict at the Antiquities Exchange.
• The author’s health: The closing note explains that the author and family are ill, with the author continuing to write while warning that updates may slow and that the planned doubled monthly votes will not be pursued.

Chapter Summary: “Killing Intent”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu and Hisoka unexpectedly meet in a formalwear shop in Fandi City. Neither wants another life-or-death battle yet: Moyu wants Hisoka to grow stronger before harvesting him again, while Hisoka is still preparing to overcome Moyu in the future.
• Hisoka deduces that Moyu is likely attending the Antiquities Exchange. He leaves without provoking a fight, while Moyu wonders whether Hisoka has come for the same event.
• Moyu, Shizuku, and Menchi finish choosing formalwear and return to their hotel to await the exchange.
• Meanwhile, Nen Exorcist Arieser struggles to remove the Dead Nen from the Blood-Pattern Blade. The painful process makes him reconsider his long-held belief that Exorcism must necessarily involve extreme suffering.
• Arieser successfully cleanses the blade before the exchange. Koko is pleased and decides that maintaining contact with Nen Exorcists would be useful in the future.
• The next day, Moyu, Biscuit, Menchi, and Shizuku arrive at Snow Palace using official invitations. They inspect the exhibits, food, and security arrangements.
• Moyu studies the Blood-Pattern Blade, impressed by its intense killing intent and considering it a reference for developing his own Black Blade.
• Arieser recognizes Moyu and approaches him with obvious respect. Koko notices this unusual interaction and becomes curious about Moyu’s influence over the normally arrogant Exorcist.
• Important guests arrive, including superstar Airedin, her bodyguard Harvey, and Kanzai. Kanzai notices Moyu but cannot greet him because he is on duty.
• The Antiquities Exchange begins, with an elderly appraiser explaining the origins of various artifacts. Moyu is uninterested in most antiques and waits for the Blood-Pattern Blade to be introduced, while Shizuku focuses on eating desserts.
• In the surveillance room, a disguised intruder enters by controlling or impersonating a security employee. Unknown to the surveillance staff, a Little Devil Wing Antenna is embedded in the infiltrator’s neck. The intruder quietly gathers killing intent, signaling the beginning of a threat inside Snow Palace.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Remains calm and strategically detached toward Hisoka, viewing him as someone to cultivate into a stronger opponent. He also shows interest in the Blood-Pattern Blade as inspiration for his own weapon.
• Hisoka: Although he avoids another immediate battle, he remains determined to surpass Moyu. His curiosity is renewed when he suspects Moyu is connected to the Antiquities Exchange.
• Arieser: Successfully exorcises the blade’s Dead Nen but begins questioning his traditional understanding of Exorcism. Moyu’s effortless techniques inspire him to seek a less painful and more efficient method.
• Koko: Becomes more appreciative of Arieser’s usefulness and recognizes the importance of maintaining ties with Nen Exorcists. She is also intrigued by the respect Arieser shows Moyu.
• Biscuit: Heads eagerly toward the famous expeditionary crown, apparently interested in joining the surrounding excitement and possibly examining its gems.
• Shizuku and Menchi: Shizuku enthusiastically eats the available desserts, while Menchi critically evaluates them, highlighting their contrasting personalities.
• Kanzai and Fiona: Both notice Moyu but remain focused on their bodyguard duties.
• The infiltrator: Conceals his identity while entering the surveillance room and begins preparing an attack.

Significant Themes

• Delayed confrontation and mutual anticipation: Moyu and Hisoka recognize that their rivalry is not ready to reach its conclusion. Both are willing to wait until the next battle will be more meaningful.
• Growth and cultivation: Moyu treats Hisoka almost like a resource that must be allowed to mature, while Hisoka seeks ways to reignite Moyu’s interest and eventually defeat him.
• The cost of power: Arieser’s painful Exorcism raises questions about whether suffering is an unavoidable part of strength or merely the result of limited technique.
• Killing intent: The Blood-Pattern Blade’s aura, Moyu’s interest in its presence, and the infiltrator’s concealed hostility all reinforce the chapter’s growing sense of impending violence.
• Appearances versus hidden motives: A formalwear shop, an elegant antiquities event, and polite social interactions conceal rivalries, secret missions, and an infiltration underway.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Hisoka exchange restrained, wary conversation, each recognizing the other’s reluctance to fight immediately.
• Moyu warns Hisoka not to forget the pain of their previous encounters, but Hisoka responds with silent confidence.
• Arieser respectfully discusses the Blood-Pattern Blade with Moyu, while Koko observes their interaction from a distance and is surprised by Arieser’s humility.
• Menchi and Shizuku humorously disagree over the quality of the desserts.
• Moyu deliberately avoids interrupting Fiona and Kanzai while they work as bodyguards.
• The chapter ends with the disguised intruder interacting normally with the surveillance team while secretly preparing a violent move.

Chapter Summary: “Kanzai’s Quick Wits”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Shalnark uses “Carrying Others’ Fate” to control a suited security officer through an Antenna. The puppet murders personnel in the surveillance room and disables security systems, allowing the Phantom Troupe to infiltrate the Snow Palace undetected.
• Pakunoda guides the Troupe through the palace using intelligence obtained with “Memory Exploration,” demonstrating how her ability supports their carefully planned operations.
• During the antiques exchange, Moyu grows bored waiting for the Blood-Pattern Blade and Monka Expeditionary Force’s Endpoint to be presented and joins Shizuku at the buffet.
• The lights suddenly go out, and Franklin unleashes “Double Machine Gun” from the balcony, massacring security personnel and throwing the guests into panic.
• The Phantom Troupe reveals itself in the hall. Their objective is the antiques, not the guests, and they deliberately avoid damaging the display cases.
• Franklin recognizes Moyu and attempts to attack him, but Phinks restrains him to prevent the Nen bullets from destroying the valuable exhibits.
• The guests begin fleeing. Kanzai escorts his employer, Airedin, out of the palace, believing the Troupe will allow uninvolved people to leave.
• Outside, a controlled security officer murders the captain and opens fire on the fleeing guests. Harvey protects Airedin with “Firearm Prohibition,” while Kanzai guards the remaining angles.
• Kanzai identifies the Antenna controlling the attacker and destroys it with a precise Nen-enhanced punch, freeing the puppet and exposing Shalnark’s manipulation. Shalnark realizes his plan to recover the Antenna has failed.

2. Character Developments

• Shalnark is shown as a highly effective infiltrator who combines manipulation with the Troupe’s larger strategy, though his confidence is shaken when Kanzai destroys the Antenna.
• Pakunoda proves essential as the Troupe’s intelligence specialist, using stolen memories to map the palace and reduce the risks of infiltration.
• Franklin displays the destructive power of his altered one-handed machine gun. His personal hostility toward Moyu briefly threatens the Troupe’s broader objective.
• Moyu remains alert and quickly identifies the attack as a Phantom Troupe operation. His previous clashes with Franklin and Shalnark make him a specific target.
• Kanzai demonstrates sharp combat instincts and excellent control over his strength. He prioritizes protecting Airedin while also quickly deducing and neutralizing the enemy’s Manipulator ability.
• Harvey shows the defensive strength of his firearm-blocking ability, completely shielding Airedin from the ambush.
• Uvogin immediately singles out Kanzai as the strongest-looking opponent and eagerly anticipates a fight.
• Rice ignores his former associate Koko and focuses on Airedin, emphasizing his selfish and opportunistic nature.
• Shizuku remains detached and understated, offering Moyu a jelly while recognizing the Troupe as fellow Meteor City residents.

3. Significant Themes

• Preparation over brute force: The Phantom Troupe’s success comes from intelligence gathering, infiltration, manipulation, and coordination rather than a reckless frontal assault.
• The contrast between control and awareness: Shalnark controls others from a distance, while Kanzai’s perceptiveness allows him to recognize and counter that control almost immediately.
• Professionalism amid chaos: The Troupe remains focused on the antiques and avoids unnecessary killing, while the panic of the guests and the betrayal within the security force create disorder.
• Conflicting priorities: Moyu’s personal history with the Troupe threatens to interfere with their goal, while Kanzai’s duty to protect Airedin takes precedence over pursuing the attackers.
• Power and restraint: Franklin’s overwhelming firepower contrasts with Phinks’s practical restraint and Kanzai’s precise destruction of the Antenna without harming the controlled body.

4. Character Interactions

• Pakunoda and Shalnark cooperate closely, combining memory extraction and remote manipulation to make the infiltration possible.
• Moyu and Shizuku share a brief, casual exchange at the buffet before the attack interrupts them.
• Franklin targets Moyu, but Phinks stops him to preserve the antiques; Feitan and Nobunaga then examine Moyu with interest.
• Uvogin focuses on Kanzai, recognizing him as a worthy opponent, while Kanzai concentrates on protecting Airedin.
• Biscuit warns Moyu about the Troupe’s strength, and Moyu confirms their identity and danger.
• Koko looks at Rice with hostility, but Rice ignores her in favor of Airedin.
• Harvey and Kanzai coordinate naturally during the outside ambush: Harvey blocks the frontal gunfire while Kanzai protects the other directions.
• Kanzai’s destruction of Shalnark’s Antenna directly frustrates Shalnark’s plan and highlights the clash between the Troupe’s strategy and Kanzai’s quick response.

Chapter Summary: “Netero”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A security guard under Shalnark’s manipulation suddenly shoots at fleeing guests, causing panic and destroying confidence in Snow Palace’s security. Kanzai destroys the controlling Antenna, but fails to inform the other security personnel that the guard was manipulated.
• Airedin leaves the exchange with Harvey and Kanzai acting as escorts. Shalnark decides not to pursue Kanzai, recognizing his strength, and returns to Snow Palace to support the Phantom Troupe’s operation.
• Inside the exchange hall, Franklin suppresses the arriving security forces with his One-Handed Machine Gun while the Troupe begins taking control of the venue.
• Moyu orders Menchi, Biscuit, and Shizuku to escape while he stays behind to delay the Phantom Troupe. Biscuit understands that Moyu can use a shadow placed outside to escape through Shadow Shift.
• Feitan attacks Moyu, but Biscuit intercepts him with a powerful kick. Her speed, timing, and combat experience astonish both Moyu’s allies and the Phantom Troupe.
• Moyu reveals his Black Blade and Shadow Clone, intending to cover the women’s retreat. Chrollo quickly deduces that Moyu has placed another shadow outside and recognizes that Moyu’s ability would be valuable to steal.
• Chrollo orders the combat members to restrain Menchi, Biscuit, and Shizuku, preventing Moyu from escaping freely. Uvogin and Franklin confront Moyu directly.
• Koko orders the security personnel to fire despite the risk of destroying the antiques. The Phantom Troupe protects the valuable exhibits while fighting back. Feitan attacks the security forces and kills them with overwhelming speed.
• Fiona convinces Koko to retreat. Moyu uses Shadow Shift to escape Uvogin and Franklin, then reunites with the women in the courtyard and orders them to continue running.
• Just as Fiona and Koko emerge from the hall, an apparently elderly Netero appears. Fiona recognizes him as the president, but Moyu and the others notice that his eyes are hollow, suggesting that he is being manipulated or is otherwise not truly himself.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates caution and tactical judgment by refusing to fight the entire Phantom Troupe directly. He uses his Shadow Clone and Black Blade openly once the Troupe learns about his ability, and successfully escapes after realizing Chrollo has understood his strategy.
• Biscuit: Reveals exceptional combat experience and power beneath her harmless appearance. Her intervention prevents Feitan from striking Moyu and earns the Phantom Troupe’s respect and suspicion.
• Chrollo: Shows his analytical ability by immediately identifying the tactical basis of Moyu’s confidence and recognizing the great value of Moyu’s shadow-based Nen ability.
• Feitan: Acts aggressively and displays terrifying speed, but is unexpectedly repelled by Biscuit. He later massacres the security personnel when the situation changes.
• Shalnark: Remains pragmatic, choosing not to risk a confrontation with Kanzai and focusing on the broader objective.
• Koko and Fiona: Koko initially tries to protect the exchange and its artifacts, but ultimately accepts that the venue is lost. Fiona pragmatically forces her to retreat.
• Kanzai: Proves strong enough to destroy Shalnark’s Antenna and safely escort Airedin away.
• Netero: Appears at the end in an unsettling, apparently controlled or manipulated state, creating a major new threat.

Significant Themes

• Tactical intelligence versus raw power: Moyu and Chrollo rely on reading and countering each other’s abilities, while Uvogin, Franklin, and Feitan represent overwhelming direct force.
• The danger of information: Once the Phantom Troupe learns how Moyu’s ability works, they immediately adapt their strategy and target the people who enable his escape.
• Appearances versus reality: Biscuit’s innocent appearance conceals extraordinary experience, while the Netero who appears at the end looks familiar but seems fundamentally wrong.
• The collapse of order: The security force’s betrayal, the guests’ panic, and the Troupe’s takeover demonstrate how quickly authority and public trust can disintegrate.
• The value of people versus objects: Koko struggles between protecting the priceless antiques and ordering gunfire, ultimately choosing to sacrifice the collection to stop the attackers.

Character Interactions

• Shalnark observes Kanzai’s strength but deliberately avoids provoking him.
• Biscuit protects Moyu from Feitan, then forcibly pulls Shizuku to safety and persuades her to trust Moyu.
• Chrollo studies Moyu’s abilities and manipulates the battlefield by ordering the women restrained.
• Uvogin and Franklin pressure Moyu while Chrollo’s command prevents him from escaping immediately.
• Koko and Fiona retreat together after realizing the exchange cannot be saved.
• Fiona’s recognition of the strange Netero ends the chapter on a cliffhanger, while Moyu and Biscuit react with immediate alarm.

Chapter Summary: “Kanzai’s Quick Wits”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Phantom Troupe begins its assault on the Snow Palace Antiquities Exchange through a carefully planned infiltration rather than a direct attack.
• Shalnark remotely controls a security employee with his Manipulator ability, “Carrying Others’ Fate,” using the puppet to enter the surveillance room, kill the staff, and disable the security systems.
• Pakunoda guides the group using intelligence obtained through “Memory Exploration,” which allows her to read and transfer memories.
• Inside the auction hall, Moyu waits impatiently for the appraisal of the Blood-Pattern Blade and Monka Expeditionary Force’s Endpoint, eventually going to the buffet with Shizuku.
• The lights suddenly go out, and Franklin opens fire with “Double Machine Gun,” killing the security personnel on the balcony and later dozens of gang members who rush into the hall.
• The backup lights reveal the Phantom Troupe gathered on the staircase. Their goal is to seize the antique treasures, not necessarily to massacre the guests.
• Franklin recognizes Moyu and attempts to attack him, but Phinks restrains him to prevent the Nen bullets from damaging the valuable antiques.
• The guests begin evacuating. Kanzai escorts Airedin, his employer, out of the palace, believing the Phantom Troupe will allow noninterfering guests to escape.
• Outside, Shalnark’s manipulation causes a security officer to betray and shoot his own captain. When the gunfire threatens Airedin, Harvey protects her with “Firearm Prohibition,” a Nen shield that completely blocks frontal firearm attacks.
• Kanzai identifies the antenna controlling the traitorous guard, destroys it with a precise Nen-enhanced punch, and breaks Shalnark’s control. Shalnark realizes this unexpected intervention has ruined his plan to recover the antenna.

Character Developments

• Shalnark demonstrates the Phantom Troupe’s reliance on covert manipulation and preparation, but his confidence is undermined when Kanzai quickly deduces and destroys his antenna.
• Pakunoda proves essential to the operation by supplying detailed intelligence about the Snow Palace.
• Franklin displays overwhelming firepower, especially with his modified one-handed machine gun, but his personal hostility toward Moyu conflicts with the Troupe’s need to preserve the antiques.
• Phinks acts pragmatically, stopping Franklin from recklessly firing at Moyu.
• Moyu immediately recognizes the attack as a Phantom Troupe operation and remains alert to the danger, particularly because of his previous conflict with Franklin and Shalnark.
• Biscuit and Shizuku recognize the seriousness of facing the Phantom Troupe; Shizuku’s connection to Meteor City is subtly emphasized.
• Kanzai shows sharp combat instincts and excellent control over his strength. He prioritizes protecting Airedin while quickly analyzing the enemy’s Nen ability.
• Harvey demonstrates the defensive power of “Firearm Prohibition,” making him an effective protector for Airedin.
• Uvogin immediately identifies Kanzai as the strongest opponent by aura and eagerly chooses him as a potential rival.
• Rice ignores Koko and focuses his attention on Airedin, revealing his fickle and predatory interest in her.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus impulsiveness: The Phantom Troupe’s infiltration reflects their methodical nature, while Franklin’s desire to attack Moyu introduces a potentially dangerous personal impulse.
• The contrast between destruction and restraint: Franklin’s gunfire is devastating, yet the Troupe deliberately avoids the display cases and generally permits guests to escape because their objective is the antiques.
• Intelligence as power: Pakunoda’s memory-reading and Shalnark’s manipulation show how information and indirect control can be as important as raw strength.
• Professional duty: Kanzai remains focused on protecting Airedin despite the chaos, while Harvey’s ability reinforces the importance of specialized defensive roles.
• Unpredictability in battle: Shalnark’s carefully arranged plan is disrupted by Kanzai’s quick observation, showing how a single alert opponent can overturn a sophisticated strategy.
• Moral ambiguity: The Phantom Troupe is brutally violent toward security forces and gang members but does not indiscriminately kill fleeing guests, operating according to their own practical priorities rather than conventional morality.

Important Character Interactions

• Shizuku offers Moyu a jelly dessert, creating a brief humorous moment before the attack.
• Franklin targets Moyu, but Phinks physically restrains him to protect the auction treasures.
• Uvogin focuses on Kanzai, recognizing him as the most formidable fighter present.
• Koko glares at Rice with resentment, while Rice ignores her and fixates on Airedin.
• Kanzai and Harvey coordinate to protect Airedin during the evacuation.
• Kanzai’s destruction of the controlling antenna directly frustrates Shalnark, turning the Troupe’s successful operation into an unexpected tactical setback.

Chapter Summary: “Worthy of Chairman Netero”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A figure identical to Chairman Netero appears at Snow Palace, but Moyu, Biscuit, and Fiona quickly realize he is an artificial Nen creation because of his hollow, pitch-black eyes.
• The fake Netero uses a weakened version of Netero’s 100-Type Guanyin, striking Fiona and pinning her beneath its palm.
• Fiona protects Koko by pushing her out of harm’s way, then becomes the puppet’s target. The fake Netero extracts Fiona’s eyes, replacing its own empty sockets with eyes resembling the real Netero’s.
• The Phantom Troupe’s current Number Four, Omokage, reveals himself and explains that the figure is a Netero Puppet, created through his Specialist Nen Ability, “God’s Puppeteer.”
• Omokage’s ability creates puppets from memories taken from people’s eyes. The puppet can imitate a person’s appearance, personality, fighting style, and Nen ability, though imperfectly.
• The memories within Fiona’s eyes unexpectedly contain detailed information about Netero, greatly strengthening the puppet.
• Moyu arrives to rescue Fiona. Koko asks him to help Fiona, and Moyu is impressed that she remains concerned for her bodyguard rather than fleeing.
• Franklin attacks Moyu with his “One-Handed Machine Gun,” but Moyu blocks the barrage with a full-strength Shadow Clone and throws the blinded Fiona toward Koko.
• The Netero Puppet attacks Franklin, Uvogin, and Phinks, effortlessly sending all three flying with the 100-Type Guanyin. This causes Kanzai, Airedin, and Harvey—who have just reached the area—to mistakenly believe the real Netero has arrived.
• Moyu sends another Shadow Clone after Biscuit, Menchi, and Shizuku, who are being pursued by Feitan, Bonolenov, and Machi.
• The chapter ends with the Phantom Troupe and the Hunter-side characters still caught in a dangerous confrontation, while the fake Netero’s power creates widespread confusion.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Remains composed under extreme pressure and prioritizes rescuing Fiona while protecting Koko and buying time for Biscuit’s group to escape. His quick judgment and use of Shadow Clones demonstrate his growing combat skill and endurance.
• Fiona: Shows courage and selflessness by shielding Koko. Even after losing her eyes, she continues moving and trusts Moyu when he calls to her.
• Koko: Proves unusually compassionate for someone in her position. Rather than abandoning Fiona, she asks Moyu to save her, earning his respect.
• Biscuit: Immediately accepts Moyu’s order to evacuate the others, recognizing that the fake Netero and his copied ability have made the situation far more dangerous.
• Omokage: Is established as a highly dangerous Specialist who treats human memories and bodies as materials for creating powerful puppets. He becomes interested in Moyu as a valuable potential “collection.”
• The Phantom Troupe: Franklin, Uvogin, and Phinks underestimate the puppet and are decisively countered. Their confidence is shaken by the overwhelming display of the copied Guanyin.

Significant Themes

• Imitation versus authenticity: The puppet looks and acts like Netero, but its hollow eyes and inferior power reveal that it is only a copy. The chapter explores how memories and abilities can reproduce someone’s image without truly recreating the original.
• The danger of stolen memories: Omokage’s power turns memories, eyes, and personal knowledge into weapons, emphasizing the violation involved in using people’s identities and experiences for combat.
• Appearances and misunderstanding: Several characters assume the puppet is the real Netero because of its appearance and signature ability, demonstrating how easily reputation and spectacle can obscure the truth.
• Selflessness under pressure: Fiona protects Koko, Koko worries about Fiona, and Moyu risks himself to rescue her. Their actions contrast with the Troupe’s utilitarian treatment of people as disposable resources.
• Strategic survival: Moyu and Biscuit focus on evacuation and delaying the enemy rather than trying to defeat everyone outright, highlighting the importance of tactical judgment in an overwhelming battle.

Character Interactions

• Fiona protects Koko from the fake Netero and later follows Moyu’s voice after being blinded.
• Moyu orders Biscuit to evacuate the others and later throws Fiona toward Koko for safety.
• Koko openly asks Moyu to save Fiona, revealing her concern for her protector.
• Omokage explains his ability while observing Fiona and recognizes Moyu as a desirable future puppet subject.
• Franklin ignores Omokage’s command to hold back, prompting the puppet to strike him. Uvogin and Phinks then attack and are also defeated.
• Kanzai reassures Airedin that Netero is present, unintentionally encouraging her and Harvey to walk directly into the battle zone. Their admiration is based on a dangerous misunderstanding.
• The author’s closing note briefly discusses the monthly-ticket bonus event and apologizes for the late, shorter update due to illness.

Summary: “Moyu Makes His Move”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hex’s security forces are largely defeated, prompting the gathering’s guests—including Biscuit, Shizuku, Menchi, and the Nen Exorcist Arieser—to flee.
• Kanzai, Airedin, and Harvey return toward Snow Palace after seeing a gigantic 100-Type Guanyin, mistakenly believing that Chairman Netero has arrived to resolve the crisis.
• The Guanyin is revealed to be a puppet created by Omokage’s Nen ability, designed to imitate Netero and his signature technique.
• Moyu recognizes the misunderstanding and warns Kanzai that the “Netero” is fake. Kanzai refuses to believe him, convinced that no ability could reproduce both Netero’s appearance and the Guanyin’s power.
• The puppet strikes Kanzai with a powerful palm, finally proving Moyu’s warning and sending Kanzai flying.
• Uvogin survives the puppet’s attack without injury, realizing that although the counterfeit Guanyin is extremely fast, it lacks the destructive force of the original.
• Omokage explains that the puppet attacked the Phantom Troupe because their actions conflicted with his order to capture the enemy alive.
• The puppet challenges Moyu, who accepts. It launches the 100-Type Guanyin: First Palm, but Moyu effortlessly evades the attack and decapitates the puppet with a single slash of his Black Blade.
• The puppet and Guanyin immediately vanish, exposing the imitation’s weakness. Everyone present—including the Phantom Troupe members and Omokage—is stunned by Moyu’s overwhelming speed and precision.

Character Developments

• Moyu remains calm, perceptive, and strategically minded. He quickly understands why Kanzai returned and chooses to let the puppet’s attack demonstrate the truth rather than continue arguing. His decisive defeat of the Netero Puppet establishes his superiority over Omokage’s strongest creation.
• Kanzai is shown as stubborn and impulsive. His faith in Netero causes him to dismiss Moyu’s warning, but being struck by the puppet forces him to recognize his mistake.
• Omokage displays confidence in his creation at first, believing the Netero Puppet to be an extraordinarily powerful weapon. Its instant defeat leaves him shocked and unable to accept the result.
• Uvogin demonstrates his exceptional durability by withstanding the Guanyin’s attack unharmed. He also correctly assesses the puppet’s limitations, recognizing that its speed exceeds its actual power.
• Franklin and Phinks remain recovering from earlier attacks, while the other Phantom Troupe members continue looting Snow Palace.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: The puppet perfectly imitates Netero’s appearance and technique well enough to deceive experienced Hunters, emphasizing the danger of judging power by appearances.
• The authority of reputation: Kanzai’s immediate trust in the apparent Netero shows how legendary status can override reason and personal judgment.
• True strength versus imitation: Although Omokage’s puppet can reproduce the spectacle and speed of the 100-Type Guanyin, it cannot match the original’s destructive power or Netero’s true mastery.
• Action as proof: Moyu’s single decisive strike demonstrates that results can communicate more effectively than prolonged explanations.
• Control and obedience: Omokage’s puppets operate according to his commands, but his attempt to control the battle through them collapses when his strongest creation is defeated instantly.

Character Interactions

• Moyu warns Kanzai that the Guanyin is a Phantom Troupe puppet, but Kanzai angrily rejects the explanation and approaches the false Netero.
• The puppet’s palm strike hits Kanzai, forcing him to confront the truth.
• Uvogin questions Omokage about the puppet’s behavior, and Omokage casually explains that it was enforcing his capture-alive order.
• Moyu and the puppet engage in a brief but dramatic duel. After evading the First Palm, Moyu beheads it in one slash.
• The defeat leaves the surrounding Hunters and Phantom Troupe members stunned, while Omokage reacts with disbelief at the destruction of his supposedly unbeatable creation.

Chapter Summary: “One Against Three”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu destroys the Netero Puppet with a single slash, causing Omokage to lose the aura invested in it. This immediately establishes Moyu as a serious threat and shifts the battle’s momentum.
• Uvogin becomes excited after witnessing Moyu’s strength and loudly challenges him. His aura-enhanced shout disrupts everyone nearby and reveals him as an exceptionally powerful Enhancer.
• Moyu silently orders Fiona to evacuate with Koko. Fiona initially hesitates but ultimately carries Koko toward safety, recognizing her responsibility as a bodyguard.
• Airedin and Harvey also attempt to leave. Kanzai, intending to escort them, detects Rice hiding nearby through his heightened senses. Kanzai destroys Rice’s Tree Hollow Space and forces him into the open, preventing Rice from abducting Airedin.
• Uvogin attacks Moyu directly. Moyu avoids the punch using Shadow Shift, exchanging places with a hidden Shadow Clone.
• Uvogin reveals that he had already detected Moyu’s shadow with Gyo. He uses aura-coated stones as predictive projectiles, forcing Moyu to choose between taking the attack or returning to the shadow and enduring Uvogin’s punch.
• Moyu counters by using Godspeed: Water-Wearing Stone, piercing and destroying all four projectiles with emitted aura.
• Franklin objects to Uvogin interfering, claiming he intended to deal with Moyu himself. Uvogin refuses, unwilling to surrender such an exciting opponent.
• Moyu attacks Uvogin from behind, but Uvogin anticipates the strike and concentrates aura at the point of impact, preventing the Black Blade from penetrating.
• Moyu and his Shadow Clone then execute a pincer attack. While Uvogin defends against the blade, the clone strikes his temple, injuring and sending him flying.
• Franklin fires a barrage of aura bullets, interrupting Moyu’s pursuit of Uvogin. Moyu evades the bullets with his Shadow Clone.
• Phinks anticipates Moyu’s retreat and intercepts him midair. Moyu attacks backward through his own clothing, but Phinks catches the blade with his bare hand.
• Moyu dismisses and instantly resummons the Black Blade, using Godspeed: Gun to strike Phinks directly in the brow and launch him backward.
• In less than three seconds, Moyu has successfully knocked away both Uvogin and Phinks, shocking Franklin and the other witnesses with the dramatic increase in Moyu’s combat ability.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates remarkable adaptability, precision, and tactical creativity. Rather than confronting the stronger Enhancers directly, he uses Shadow Shift, Shadow Clones, feints, and rapid weapon manifestation to control the battlefield. His ability to injure both Uvogin and Phinks confirms that his power has advanced significantly.
• Uvogin: His battle-hungry personality is emphasized. Although reckless and direct, he is not careless; he uses Gyo to analyze Moyu’s technique and successfully anticipates his movement. He respects Moyu enough to treat him as an equal opponent.
• Phinks: Displays excellent combat instincts, reaction speed, and defensive judgment. He quickly recognizes the role of Moyu’s Shadow Clone and manages to catch the Black Blade, but Moyu outsmarts him by dismissing and recreating it.
• Franklin: Remains composed and tactical, using aura bullets to protect Uvogin and disrupt Moyu’s attack. He is increasingly alarmed by Moyu’s sudden improvement.
• Fiona: Shows responsibility and emotional conflict. Though she wants to remain and assist Moyu, she prioritizes escorting Koko to safety.
• Kanzai: Demonstrates sharp sensory perception and decisive action by detecting and attacking Rice before he can harm Airedin.
• Rice: Is exposed while attempting to abduct Airedin. His confidence collapses after Kanzai destroys his hiding technique and nearly defeats him.
• Airedin and Harvey: Recognize the severity of the danger and abandon their earlier desire to witness the battle, focusing instead on escape and survival.

Significant Themes

• Strategy versus overwhelming strength: Moyu survives against multiple powerful enemies by relying on deception, mobility, timing, and layered abilities rather than brute force.
• Adaptation and combat intelligence: Both Moyu and Uvogin rapidly study each other’s techniques, turning the fight into a contest of prediction and counter-prediction.
• Teamwork and protection: Fiona and Kanzai prioritize their employers’ safety, while Franklin intervenes to protect Uvogin. Moyu also fights primarily to buy time for others to escape.
• Respect among enemies: Uvogin’s excitement reflects his respect for Moyu’s strength, while the Phantom Troupe members begin treating Moyu as a genuine threat rather than an opponent to underestimate.
• Growth under pressure: Moyu’s increasingly aggressive tactics reveal how danger pushes him beyond his normally cautious fighting style.

Character Interactions

• Moyu communicates silently with Fiona, urging her to flee with Koko.
• Fiona and Koko leave together while Kanzai attempts to secure Airedin’s escape.
• Kanzai confronts Rice, protecting Airedin and Harvey from an ambush.
• Uvogin challenges Moyu and clashes with him directly, while Franklin criticizes Uvogin for interfering.
• Moyu defeats Uvogin’s initial assault through a Shadow Clone combination and then turns Phinks’s own defensive response against him.
• Franklin’s intervention prevents Moyu from finishing his attack on Uvogin, leading to a brief three-on-one confrontation in which Moyu momentarily outmaneuvers Uvogin, Phinks, and Franklin.

Chapter Summary: “Justice Descends from Heaven”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Franklin realizes that his understanding of Moyu is outdated. Moyu’s strength and combat ability have improved dramatically over the past year, transforming him from merely a clever tactician into a highly dangerous fighter.
• Franklin attempts to suppress Moyu’s Shadow Clone with his One-Handed Machine Gun while coordinating with Phinks and Uvogin. However, Moyu’s shadow can flatten into a two-dimensional form and move rapidly across the ground, allowing it to evade Franklin’s Nen bullets.
• Moyu defeats Phinks in a surprise exchange. After Phinks grabs the Black Blade, Moyu uses his ability to manifest and dismiss the weapon and then combines Conjuration and Emission to drive the blade into Phinks’s forehead. Uvogin is also struck and injured, though both Enhancers quickly recover.
• Phinks and Uvogin conclude that one of them must fight Moyu’s real body while the other handles the Shadow Clone. They settle the assignment by flipping a coin, but Moyu immediately withdraws the Shadow Clone, rendering their strategy pointless.
• Moyu is surrounded by Uvogin, Phinks, Franklin, and Omokage. Despite being outnumbered, he remains composed and provocatively invites all four to attack him together.
• Elsewhere, Rice attempts to abduct Airedin, but Kanzai intercepts him. Airedin orders Kanzai to eliminate Rice, and the two move away while Harvey protects her.
• Kanzai overwhelms Rice in close combat. Rice uses his amber Transmutation ability to encase Kanzai in hardened amber, but Kanzai effortlessly breaks free. Rice is forced to retreat and eventually calls for help.
• Feitan catches up with Biscuit, Menchi, and Shizuku as they flee the Snow Palace. He repeatedly targets Menchi, the weakest fighter, but Biscuit protects her and Shizuku successfully blocks Feitan’s attacks with Blinky.
• Biscuit recognizes Feitan’s exceptional speed and combat skill. Feitan chooses to stall the group until Machi and Bonolenov arrive, after which the situation becomes much more dangerous for Biscuit’s side.
• Chrollo, Kortopi, Nobunaga, Pakunoda, and Shalnark emerge from the Snow Palace and join the battlefield. They are surprised to see that Moyu has already injured Uvogin and Phinks despite being outnumbered.
• At the climax, a brilliant sphere of light descends from above like a comet and explodes near Rice. The blast creates a powerful shockwave and dust cloud that engulfs the battlefield, including Kanzai and the surrounding fighters.
• Moyu recognizes the chaos as an opportunity. Hidden within the dust, he creates another Shadow Clone and gives it the Black Blade, apparently preparing a new maneuver or deception.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates that he has grown far beyond Franklin’s previous assessment of him. His tactical intelligence is now matched by strong frontal combat ability, rapid reactions, and sophisticated use of multiple Nen categories. Even when surrounded by powerful opponents, he remains calm and actively searches for ways to exploit the battlefield.
• Franklin: Shows disciplined tactical judgment, choosing to avoid unnecessary friendly fire and attempting to counter Moyu’s shadow-based escape method. However, he is shaken by Moyu’s growth and struggles to hit the Shadow Clone in its flattened form.
• Phinks: Suffers a forehead injury and possible skull fracture after underestimating Moyu’s ability. He remains combative and analytical, correctly recognizing that Moyu’s simultaneous use of Conjuration and Emission is highly unusual.
• Uvogin: Takes a heavy blow but quickly recovers due to his Enhancer durability. He is aggressive and confident, insisting that he should fight Moyu’s real body.
• Rice: Is exposed as vulnerable when his spatial/tree-hollow ability is destroyed. His amber technique cannot restrain Kanzai, forcing him to abandon pride and ask his companions for assistance.
• Kanzai: Acts as a dedicated bodyguard, prioritizing Airedin’s safety. His Enhancer strength and self-healing make him nearly immune to Rice’s attempts to restrain or poison him.
• Feitan: Displays tremendous speed, precise swordsmanship, and a ruthless tendency to target the weakest opponent first. Rather than recklessly fight Biscuit, he focuses on delaying the fleeing group until reinforcements arrive.
• Biscuit: Protects Menchi through superior technique and battle awareness. Although Feitan judges her raw power as unimpressive, her experience and defensive skill repeatedly prevent him from reaching Menchi.
• Menchi and Shizuku: Menchi becomes acutely aware of the gap between herself and Feitan, while Shizuku provides crucial support by anticipating and blocking Feitan’s attacks.
• Airedin: Recognizes Rice’s hostile intentions and decisively commands Kanzai to protect her, showing confidence in her authority as his employer.
• Chrollo and the others: Arrive at a crucial moment and immediately reassess the battlefield after seeing Moyu’s surprising success against Uvogin and Phinks.

Significant Themes

• Growth and misjudgment: Franklin’s outdated image of Moyu emphasizes how dangerous it is to rely on past assessments of an opponent.
• Adaptability versus overwhelming force: Moyu survives through deception, positioning, and control of his shadow, while Uvogin, Kanzai, and Feitan rely on raw strength, speed, and direct pressure.
• Teamwork and reluctant cooperation: Phinks and Uvogin must abandon their usual individualistic approach and divide targets. Biscuit, Menchi, and Shizuku likewise depend on coordinated defense to survive Feitan.
• The value of specialized abilities: Rice’s complicated ability fails against Kanzai’s physical power, while Moyu’s shadow manipulation creates major problems even for several elite fighters.
• Battlefield opportunism: The sudden explosion changes the balance of the confrontation, and Moyu immediately uses the confusion to prepare a new strategy.
• Pride and humility: Phinks and Uvogin reluctantly cooperate, Rice is forced to request help, and powerful fighters repeatedly learn that arrogance can lead to injury or tactical disadvantage.

Important Character Interactions

• Franklin’s calculated support of Phinks and Uvogin contrasts with his growing alarm at Moyu’s unexpected power.
• Phinks and Uvogin argue over who should face Moyu’s real body, resolving the dispute through the Phantom Troupe’s coin-flipping tradition.
• Moyu silently undermines their agreement by dismissing the Shadow Clone, leaving both fighters momentarily confused.
• Airedin commands Kanzai to deal with Rice, and Kanzai treats the order as part of his professional duty.
• Biscuit repeatedly intercepts Feitan to shield Menchi, while Shizuku supports Menchi by blocking Feitan’s attacks.
• Feitan, Machi, and Bonolenov coordinate to trap the fleeing women, with Feitan using his speed to stall them until reinforcements arrive.
• Chrollo’s group joins the main battlefield just as Moyu is surrounded, escalating the danger.
• The unexplained celestial attack interrupts every confrontation, giving Moyu the opening he needs to create another Shadow Clone and continue his preparations.

Chapter Summary: “This Is Chrollo”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Silva Zoldyck suddenly descends from the sky and kills Rice with a massive Nen attack, leaving a huge crater and carrying away Rice’s severed head.
• The Phantom Troupe initially refrains from attacking Silva because of their unwritten rule: anyone who kills a member may be invited to replace them.
• Chrollo offers Silva two choices: take Rice’s number and join the Phantom Troupe, or die.
• Silva turns away, effectively rejecting the offer. Chrollo immediately attacks, interpreting Silva’s departure as a choice to fight.
• Chrollo and Silva engage in a brief but intense close-range battle. Silva’s physical strength, defense, and combat instincts impress Chrollo.
• Chrollo activates Skill Hunter while Silva forms a massive Nen Ball. Instead of taking the attack directly, Chrollo uses an apparent teleportation ability through his book to redirect Silva and the Nen Ball toward Moyu’s Shadow Clone.
• Moyu’s deception—giving the Black Blade to his Shadow Clone—causes Chrollo to mistake the clone for Moyu’s real body. Moyu narrowly avoids being killed, while Silva alters the Nen Ball’s trajectory enough to prevent a direct hit.
• The explosion blasts the Shadow Clone away but fails to seriously injure Moyu. Silva discards Rice’s ruined head and again attempts to leave.
• Chrollo reveals through his thoughts that he intends to stop both Silva and Moyu from escaping and steal their abilities.
• The Phantom Troupe admires Chrollo’s tactical maneuver, unaware that Moyu was only injured through a Shadow Clone. Kanzai checks on Moyu, but the clone’s silence and cold expression irritate him.

Character Developments

• Silva Zoldyck: Demonstrates overwhelming power, speed, composure, and battle awareness. Although he is capable of fighting Chrollo, Silva is uninterested in unnecessary conflict and wants only to complete his assassination contract and collect his payment. He also shows enough restraint and adaptability to redirect his attack when he realizes Moyu may be caught in Chrollo’s trap.
• Chrollo: Establishes himself as a calm, authoritative, and highly calculating leader. He follows the Troupe’s apparent recruitment tradition but uses the confrontation to manipulate Silva and potentially eliminate or steal the abilities of both Silva and Moyu. His willingness to redirect a lethal attack toward Moyu emphasizes his ruthlessness.
• Moyu: Gains valuable insight into the timeline and Silva’s connection to the Phantom Troupe. He remains cautious and uses his Shadow Clone as a decoy, successfully preventing Chrollo from identifying his true body. His main concern is protecting Kanzai, whom he believes is in serious danger.
• Kanzai: Shows concern for Moyu by checking whether he is injured, but becomes annoyed when Moyu responds coldly. He remains unaware that he is speaking to a Shadow Clone.
• Rice: His death triggers the confrontation and illustrates the danger of crossing both the Zoldyck Family and the Phantom Troupe.

Significant Themes

• Pragmatism within the Phantom Troupe: Despite their loyalty to one another, the Troupe evaluates situations rationally. Even Rice’s killer may be offered membership if he proves strong enough.
• The danger of Chrollo’s leadership: Chrollo’s calm demeanor conceals ruthless strategic thinking. He turns a formal choice into an opportunity to manipulate the battlefield and acquire powerful abilities.
• Strength versus strategy: Silva relies on immense physical power and precise combat instincts, while Chrollo uses deception, timing, and stolen abilities.
• Identity and misdirection: Moyu’s Shadow Clone and the Black Blade create false information, allowing him to survive Chrollo’s attempt to exploit Silva’s attack.
• Mutual respect among dangerous enemies: Silva and the Phantom Troupe recognize one another’s threat level. Both sides understand that prolonged conflict would be costly, though Chrollo is more determined to force the confrontation.

Character Interactions

• Chrollo and Silva: Their encounter shifts from a possible recruitment offer to a deadly duel. Chrollo tries to force Silva into combat, while Silva attempts to disengage.
• Chrollo and Moyu: Chrollo treats Moyu as another valuable target and deliberately redirects Silva’s Nen attack toward him, believing the Shadow Clone is Moyu’s real body.
• Silva and Moyu: Silva unintentionally nearly kills Moyu but alters his attack to reduce the danger once he realizes Moyu is nearby.
• Kanzai and Moyu’s Shadow Clone: Kanzai expresses concern, but the clone’s inability to respond makes him think Moyu is being unnecessarily cold.

Summary of “Moyu’s Calculations”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Silva’s sudden arrival distracts Chrollo, giving Moyu valuable time to prepare and reducing the immediate threat posed by Chrollo’s unknown stolen abilities.
• Moyu decides to stall rather than confront the entire Phantom Troupe directly. He identifies Shalnark as the easiest and most vulnerable target among the group’s noncombat-oriented members.
• Moyu secretly transfers the Black Blade to his Shadow Clone, causing Phinks and Uvogin to misidentify which figure is the real body.
• Uvogin charges toward Moyu but is intercepted by Kanzai. Their powerful punches collide, creating a destructive shockwave and establishing Kanzai as Uvogin’s temporary opponent.
• Phinks attacks the Shadow Clone, believing it to be Moyu’s real body. He avoids using his Ripper Cyclotron because Moyu’s position-swapping ability would make charging the technique impractical.
• Franklin joins Phinks, firing Nen bullets while closing in, allowing the two to suppress Moyu’s ability to switch positions.
• Omokage withdraws from the battle after deciding not to reveal his additional puppets, which were secretly modeled after Phantom Troupe members without their consent.
• The battle divides into several simultaneous confrontations: Silva versus Chrollo, Kanzai versus Uvogin, Phinks and Franklin versus Moyu and his clone, while the remaining Troupe members observe.
• Moyu deliberately allows the fight to progress as though he is losing. He carefully measures everyone’s positions, distances, and possible attack angles while waiting for the right moment.
• Phinks eventually breaks the Shadow Clone’s defense and launches it toward the Snow Palace gates. Franklin’s attacks also strike Moyu, making both appear seriously injured.
• Using Shadow Shift at the precise moment, Moyu switches places with the airborne Shadow Clone and catches the falling Black Blade.
• He immediately uses “Godspeed: Crossbow” to launch the blade past Nobunaga and straight into Shalnark’s chest.
• The chapter ends with the Phantom Troupe realizing that the figure Phinks defeated was only a clone, while the real Moyu had been setting up the attack all along.

Character Developments

• Moyu demonstrates exceptional patience, tactical awareness, and multitasking. He fights defensively while simultaneously calculating escape routes, attack angles, and the positions of every enemy.
• Phinks shows confidence in his close-combat ability and adapts intelligently by abandoning Ripper Cyclotron, recognizing that Moyu’s teleportation-like ability would nullify its charging time.
• Uvogin remains aggressive and prideful, eager to fight Moyu after being humiliated earlier, but he is forced into combat with Kanzai instead.
• Kanzai establishes himself as a powerful Enhancer capable of matching Uvogin’s explosive strength head-on.
• Shalnark is revealed as Moyu’s carefully selected target because he is positioned away from the main battle and has less direct combat power than the primary fighters.
• Omokage appears cautious and secretive. Although he possesses other powerful puppets, he refuses to reveal them because they were created without the Troupe members’ permission.
• Chrollo and Silva remain engaged in their own confrontation, with Chrollo’s involvement preventing him from directly coordinating against Moyu.

Significant Themes

• Strategy over brute force: Moyu survives not by overpowering the Troupe but by manipulating their assumptions and arranging the battlefield to his advantage.
• Patience and timing: His apparent retreat and defensive struggle are part of a calculated trap, emphasizing the importance of waiting for the correct opening.
• Misdirection and mistaken identity: The Black Blade becomes a deliberate decoy, convincing the Troupe that the clone is the real Moyu.
• Adaptability in combat: Both Moyu and Phinks adjust their tactics based on the strengths and weaknesses of their abilities.
• The cost of underestimating an opponent: Phinks and Franklin believe they have won because they successfully suppressed Shadow Shift, but they fail to recognize that Moyu is controlling the battle on two fronts.
• Individual versus group tactics: The Phantom Troupe relies on coordinated pressure, while Moyu uses deception and battlefield calculations to turn their teamwork against them.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Chrollo: Chrollo’s attention is diverted by Silva, which Moyu views as a major tactical advantage.
• Moyu and Phinks: Phinks believes he is dominating Moyu’s real body, but he is actually fighting the Shadow Clone and unknowingly helping position it for Moyu’s final attack.
• Moyu and Franklin: Franklin’s ranged attacks force Moyu to endure damage and maintain careful distance, contributing to the illusion that Moyu is close to defeat.
• Uvogin and Kanzai: Their direct punch collision reveals that Kanzai can withstand Uvogin’s immense physical power, creating an unexpected stalemate.
• Moyu and Shalnark: Moyu targets Shalnark from a distance, using the chaos of the larger battle to deliver a sudden, nearly unavoidable strike.
• The Phantom Troupe as observers: Pakunoda, Shalnark, Kortopi, Nobunaga, and Omokage initially watch the fights from the gates, but their apparent safety is undermined by Moyu’s carefully calculated attack.

Chapter Summary

• Moyu kills Shalnark: Using a setup involving Silva, a Shadow Clone, and the Black Blade, Moyu creates a deceptive opening. The blade-holder is revealed to be a Nen Clone, while the real blade is redirected toward the group. Moyu targets Shalnark because his missing arm and hand leave him poorly equipped to defend. Shalnark attempts to react using his recently developed Conjured Mechanical Arm, but he has not mastered it enough to block the attack. The Black Blade pierces his chest, killing him instantly.
• Moyu continues attacking: After using Shadow Shift to return to his original position, Moyu exploits Franklin’s momentary shock and attempts to stab him as well. Franklin narrowly retreats and fires Nen bullets from his finger guns. Moyu avoids the barrage with Rhythm Echo, creating afterimages and maintaining distance rather than engaging Franklin at close range.
• The Phantom Troupe’s reaction: Phinks realizes that the group was deceived and recalls that Silva’s arrival created the opportunity for Moyu’s substitution trick. He feels partly responsible for Shalnark’s death. Pakunoda catches Shalnark’s falling body and is devastated when he dies, while Kortopi reacts with visible rage. Omokage recognizes that any of them could have been chosen as Moyu’s target and begins viewing Moyu as an exceptionally dangerous opponent. Nobunaga is overwhelmed by anger, regret, humiliation, and a powerful desire to kill Moyu.
• Chrollo and Silva: Chrollo notices Shalnark’s death but remains composed while fighting Silva. Silva observes that Chrollo possesses excellent tactical judgment, Nen skill, physical ability, and combat experience. However, Silva is even more impressed by Moyu, comparing Shalnark’s sudden death to an army losing its commander.
• Uvogin versus Kanzai: Uvogin continues launching powerful attacks at Kanzai, but Kanzai’s endurance-focused Enhancement ability, toughness, and self-healing allow him to withstand and counter the assault. Uvogin has sustained several bruises but remains physically resilient. He becomes frustrated because he cannot find an opening and realizes that Kanzai’s defensive endurance compensates for his relatively unimpressive build. Their battle emphasizes that explosive strength alone does not determine victory.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Moyu demonstrates strategic adaptability, deception, precision, and ruthless battlefield awareness. His choice of Shalnark reveals that he quickly identifies and exploits opponents’ weaknesses.
• Shalnark’s death deeply affects the Phantom Troupe, turning their earlier confidence into shock, rage, grief, and renewed determination.
• Phinks recognizes his own indirect role in allowing the deception to succeed, increasing his anger toward Moyu.
• Pakunoda and Kortopi openly mourn and rage over Shalnark, while Omokage becomes frightened by Moyu’s lethal potential.
• Nobunaga shifts from confidence to an intense, personal determination to kill Moyu.
• Franklin remains disciplined despite his fury, immediately recovering from the shock and using ranged fire to defend himself.
• Chrollo stays calm and focused despite losing an ally, while Silva gains greater respect for both Chrollo and Moyu.
• Uvogin and Kanzai illustrate contrasting Enhancement styles: Uvogin relies on overwhelming force and explosive power, while Kanzai relies on endurance, defense, and recovery.

Significant Themes

• Strategy over raw power: Moyu wins his opening by planning several moves ahead and exploiting timing, positioning, and distraction rather than relying only on strength.
• Combat power is multifaceted: The Uvogin–Kanzai fight highlights the importance of ability design, physical build, technique, endurance, and matchup—not merely destructive power or reputation.
• The cost of overconfidence: The Phantom Troupe assumes that Moyu has been cornered, allowing him to reverse the situation and kill Shalnark.
• Grief and responsibility: Shalnark’s death exposes the emotional bonds within the group and causes several members to confront their own mistakes.
• Perception versus reality: The chapter challenges assumptions that a character’s title, appearance, or reputation automatically determines battle superiority.

Author’s Postscript

The author explains that Kanzai was intentionally written as an endurance-oriented Enhancer rather than a physically overpowering fighter like Uvogin. The author defends the idea that combat outcomes depend on more than raw strength and criticizes readers who judge battles through simplistic power-scaling or personal bias toward the Phantom Troupe.

Chapter Summary: “Murderous Intent Diverted”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Uvogin remains trapped in Kanzai’s “faster flow” technique, which keeps him off balance and prevents him from finding an opportunity to use Big Bang Impact.
• Although Uvogin is being gradually overwhelmed, he refuses to call on his companions and insists on breaking through Kanzai with his own strength.
• Kanzai recognizes Uvogin as an extremely experienced and dangerous Enhancer shaped by countless brutal battles. He abandons his usual foolish demeanor and adopts the focused presence of a serious martial artist.
• Kanzai attempts to bait Uvogin into sacrificing defense for a powerful attack, but Uvogin’s instincts and caution prevent him from taking the bait.
• Kanzai eventually chooses to trade damage for an opening. He partially blocks Uvogin’s punch, allowing his arm to be injured, while concentrating Nen into his counterattack and striking Uvogin heavily in the abdomen.
• Uvogin spits blood and is thrown across the ground, but immediately rises and charges back at Kanzai, with his injuries only intensifying his fighting spirit.
• Kanzai activates Tiger Stripes Self-Healing, rapidly restoring his injured arm. He believes Uvogin’s reckless behavior will allow him to finish the fight in only a few more attacks.
• Elsewhere, Shalnark has been killed by Moyu. Nobunaga initially prepares to attack Moyu out of murderous rage, but Uvogin’s reckless condition draws his attention.
• Recognizing that Uvogin is fighting poorly against an equally powerful Enhancer, Nobunaga changes priorities and decides to assist him. His murderous intent is therefore diverted from Moyu toward Kanzai.
• Kanzai’s battle with Uvogin has unintentionally helped Moyu by drawing away some of the pressure from the Phantom Troupe, although the Troupe still retains a numerical advantage.
• The chapter closes with a brief author’s note addressing readers’ complaints about Killua’s Lightning Five-Lash harming Youpi and mentioning the author’s illness and difficulty sleeping.

Character Developments

• Uvogin: His pride, combat instinct, and obsession with direct confrontation are emphasized. Even while badly injured, he refuses assistance and continues attacking, showing both extraordinary resilience and dangerous emotional recklessness.
• Kanzai: He is revealed to be far more disciplined and capable than his usual personality suggests. His experience as a bodyguard Hunter has helped him overcome his former impulsiveness, and his self-healing ability reflects his commitment to protecting others and surviving difficult battles.
• Nobunaga: His priorities shift from personal revenge for Shalnark to protecting Uvogin. Though still enraged, he demonstrates tactical awareness by recognizing that Uvogin’s current approach is leading him toward defeat.
• Moyu: Benefits indirectly from Kanzai occupying Uvogin and drawing Nobunaga’s attention away from him.
• Shalnark: His death remains the catalyst for Nobunaga’s murderous intent and the escalating conflict.

Significant Themes

• Pride versus rationality: Uvogin’s refusal to seek help highlights how pride can become a liability, even for an experienced fighter.
• Battle instinct and discipline: Uvogin relies on instinct and endurance, while Kanzai combines combat experience with tactical control.
• Emotional rage versus strategic judgment: Uvogin’s anger makes him more aggressive but less careful; Nobunaga must decide whether revenge or battlefield necessity should guide him.
• Strength through experience: Both fighters are portrayed as products of countless life-or-death struggles, but Kanzai’s later professional discipline gives him an advantage over Uvogin’s uncontrolled aggression.
• Battlefield interdependence: Even fights that appear separate affect the larger conflict, as Kanzai’s duel with Uvogin redistributes pressure and changes the decisions of the surrounding combatants.

Important Character Interactions

• Uvogin and Kanzai: Their battle is the chapter’s central confrontation, contrasting Uvogin’s brutal persistence with Kanzai’s controlled, adaptive technique.
• Nobunaga and Uvogin: Uvogin’s reckless charge forces Nobunaga to reassess his own intended attack and come to Uvogin’s aid.
• Nobunaga and Moyu: Shalnark’s death initially directs Nobunaga’s revenge toward Moyu, but that intent is redirected when Uvogin’s danger becomes more urgent.
• Kanzai and Moyu: Though they do not directly coordinate, Kanzai’s fight with Uvogin helps relieve pressure on Moyu.
• Kanzai and his past self: Kanzai’s thoughts reveal that he once fought with the same impulsive refusal to accept defeat that Uvogin now displays, but his work as a bodyguard forced him to develop greater restraint.

Chapter Summary: “On the Use of Trump Cards”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Uvogin continues battling Kanzai, relying on his trademark strength and explosive power. However, Kanzai’s resilience and superior Nen technique force him to recognize that raw strength alone may not be enough.
• Uvogin refuses to surrender and continues attacking stubbornly, while Nobunaga abandons his attempt to kill Moyu and moves to support him.
• Moyu is already fighting Phinks and Franklin through “dual-thread control.” Nobunaga’s decision to assist Uvogin prevents the battlefield from becoming even more overwhelming for Moyu.
• Moyu acknowledges that Uvogin and Nobunaga’s teamwork could greatly increase their combat power, since their coordination and mutual understanding are exceptionally strong.
• Moyu reflects on his remaining Latent Aura. His frequent use of “Shadow Shift” and “Godspeed” has reduced his reserves, forcing him to preserve enough energy to escape if necessary.
• Moyu considers using the Antenna taken from Shalnark’s “Black Voice.” It can activate “Automatic Mode” in a target, rendering them unconscious and forcing them into a powerful, uncontrollable berserk state while draining their aura.
• Moyu realizes the ability is dangerous to use: placing it on Uvogin would turn him into an even more destructive enemy, while using it on himself or Kanzai could also create uncontrollable risks.
• Shalnark’s death intensifies Phinks and Franklin’s hatred toward Moyu. They attack together, now determined not to let him ambush another member of the Troupe.
• At the Snow Palace gates, Pakunoda and Kortopi remain with Shalnark’s corpse but struggle with whether to join the battle. Their anger and killing intent are obvious.
• Omokage decides to enter the fight. Using “God’s Puppeteer,” he creates puppets of Phinks, Franklin, and Nobunaga, allowing him either to control them or merge with them to imitate their Nen abilities.
• Omokage’s arrival restores the pressure on Moyu and worsens his tactical situation.
• The chapter ends with an unidentified observer watching the battlefield from the darkness, apparently suppressing a powerful desire or impulse.

Character Developments

• Uvogin: Begins accepting, despite his stubbornness, that pure physical power cannot overcome every opponent. His pride remains intact, but Kanzai’s techniques force him to reconsider his approach to combat.
• Kanzai: Establishes himself as a highly resilient and technically skilled fighter capable of pushing Uvogin into a disadvantageous position.
• Moyu: Demonstrates increasing tactical awareness. Rather than relying blindly on his trump card, he carefully weighs its limitations, prioritizing survival and a possible retreat. He remains committed to defeating the Phantom Troupe but understands that prolonged combat could exhaust him.
• Nobunaga: His loyalty to Uvogin takes priority over his chance to kill Moyu, revealing the strength of their partnership.
• Phinks and Franklin: Shalnark’s death deepens their anger and drives them to attack Moyu more cautiously and cooperatively.
• Omokage: Moves from observation to direct participation, motivated partly by the hope that helping kill Moyu will protect him from the Troupe’s resentment over his secret puppet-making.
• Pakunoda and Kortopi: Their grief and rage over Shalnark’s death bring them close to joining the battle.
• Shalnark: Though dead, his abilities and the Antenna taken from him remain important factors in the conflict.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus technique: Uvogin’s struggle highlights the limits of relying exclusively on physical power and the importance of refined Nen techniques.
• The danger of power without control: Automatic Mode is extremely powerful but uncontrollable, showing that a trump card can become a liability depending on how it is used.
• Teamwork and synergy: The chapter emphasizes that coordinated Nen users can achieve far more than the sum of their individual strength, particularly through the partnership of Uvogin and Nobunaga.
• Strategic restraint: Moyu’s greatest concern is not simply winning but managing his dwindling resources and preserving a route of escape.
• Grief and vengeance: Shalnark’s death reshapes the battlefield, turning the Troupe’s emotions into a stronger collective desire to eliminate Moyu.
• Unseen danger: The mysterious observer at the end suggests that another force may soon intervene or that a hidden desire could dramatically alter the battle.

Important Character Interactions

• Uvogin and Kanzai: Their clash is both physical and ideological, with Kanzai forcing Uvogin to confront the weakness of relying only on strength.
• Uvogin and Nobunaga: Nobunaga’s decision to support Uvogin demonstrates their deep trust and combat compatibility.
• Moyu and Phinks/Franklin: Their battle becomes more dangerous after Shalnark’s death, as both men attack with greater caution and hostility.
• Moyu and Shalnark’s remaining ability: Moyu weighs whether and how to use Automatic Mode as a trump card without creating a new threat against himself.
• Omokage and the Phantom Troupe: Omokage joins the fight partly to prove his usefulness and avoid consequences for secretly creating puppets.
• Pakunoda, Kortopi, and Shalnark: Their reaction to Shalnark’s corpse reveals the emotional cost of his death and their growing desire for revenge.
• The unknown observer and the battlefield: The chapter closes by introducing a silent watcher whose suppressed impulse hints at an impending escalation.

Chapter Summary: “Can I Join?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hisoka arrives at the Antiquities Exchange after sensing the presence of dangerous criminals, particularly the Phantom Troupe.
• He is thrilled to see Moyu battling powerful opponents but restrains himself from challenging Moyu immediately, recognizing that he is not yet strong enough to survive a death match against him.
• Seeking another outlet for his bloodlust, Hisoka decides to target Omokage, whose puppet abilities make him a suitable opponent and whose defeat could also help Moyu.
• Hisoka dramatically enters the battle, asking, “Can I join?” The Phantom Troupe regards him as a potential enemy, while Moyu quickly understands that Hisoka is looking for someone else to fight.
• Omokage controls puppets modeled after Phinks, Nobunaga, and Franklin to defend himself.
• Hisoka opens the attack by throwing Nen-coated playing cards. The Nobunaga puppet blocks them with its sword, while the Franklin puppet responds with a barrage of Nen bullets.
• Hisoka evades the gunfire in midair. When Omokage attempts to trap him with an aerial barrage, Hisoka uses his Nen ability—implied to be Bungee Gum—to pull himself toward the Nobunaga puppet.
• He lands beside it and tears off its head with his bare hands, immediately demonstrating the danger he poses.

Character Developments

• Hisoka: His obsession with fighting strong opponents intensifies after watching Moyu. He shows restraint and strategic judgment by postponing his fight with Moyu while choosing Omokage as a more suitable target. His entrance and attack emphasize his unpredictability, theatricality, and combat skill.
• Moyu: He remains focused on the larger battle but correctly interprets Hisoka’s motives. His friendly encouragement unsettles Hisoka slightly, suggesting that Moyu’s unusual attitude can disrupt even Hisoka’s emotional momentum.
• Omokage: Initially confused by Hisoka’s hostility, Omokage quickly becomes defensive and aggressive. His control over the replicated puppets appears powerful, but he underestimates Hisoka’s mobility and abilities.
• The Phantom Troupe: They treat Hisoka as a possible threat rather than welcoming his offer to participate. Their guarded reaction reinforces the dangerous tension among all combatants.

Significant Themes

• Battle as entertainment and desire: Hisoka views combat, bloodshed, and death as a form of beauty and pleasure.
• Restraint versus impulse: Although consumed by the desire to fight Moyu, Hisoka recognizes the importance of waiting until the conditions are ideal.
• Unpredictability and manipulation: Hisoka enters the conflict for his own reasons, indirectly aiding Moyu while pursuing personal enjoyment.
• Strength and perception: The chapter highlights the danger of misjudging an opponent; Omokage assumes Hisoka is vulnerable in midair, but Hisoka turns the situation to his advantage.

Character Interactions

• Hisoka observes Moyu from the shadows and becomes intensely excited by his strength.
• Moyu invites Hisoka to join the battle, though Hisoka deliberately ignores him and chooses Omokage instead.
• Hisoka and Omokage engage in a brief but violent exchange, with Omokage relying on the Nobunaga and Franklin puppets and Hisoka exploiting their positioning.
• Hisoka’s opening move ends with the destruction of the Nobunaga puppet, shifting the battle’s momentum in his favor.

Chapter Summary: The Second Bloom

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hisoka defeats Nobunaga’s puppet by using previously hidden Bungee Gum attached to its sword. He then throws the puppet’s head and body back toward Omokage, forcing the puppet controller to defend himself.
• Omokage reacts by sending Franklin’s and Phinks’s puppets after Hisoka. Franklin provides suppressive fire with a puppet version of Double Machine Gun, while Phinks’s puppet attempts to crush Hisoka at close range.
• Hisoka recognizes that Omokage has distributed most of his Manifestation Aura among the puppets, leaving his own defenses weakened. However, he suspects Omokage has a countermeasure against direct attacks and therefore chooses not to rush him.
• Hisoka reveals that his earlier attack on Nobunaga’s puppet was part of a larger setup intended to kill Omokage, though he delays the final strike to enjoy the battle.
• Elsewhere, Moyu remains locked in close combat with Phinks’s puppet while avoiding its powerful attacks. Franklin and Phinks decide to abandon caution and have Franklin fire at both Moyu and Phinks, accepting the possibility of hitting their ally.
• Moyu uses Phinks’s punch against his own body to launch himself out of the firing zone. He then hides a shadow inside the tunnel created by his penetrating Godspeed: Crossbow attack.
• After Phinks dodges the blade and steps away from the tunnel, Moyu uses Shadow Shift to exchange places with the hidden shadow and appear behind him.
• Moyu immediately strikes Phinks’s lower back without wasting time conjuring Black Blade. The attack severely injures Phinks and sends him flying, though it fails to kill him because Phinks reinforces himself with Nen and possesses exceptional Enhancer durability.
• Franklin continues firing at Moyu while Phinks recovers. Moyu acknowledges that his attack was not as devastating as hoped, reinforcing his awareness that he still lacks sufficient strength.

Character Developments

• Hisoka demonstrates his trademark deception, tactical patience, and psychological manipulation. He deliberately allows Omokage to believe the puppets are controlling the battle while quietly arranging a lethal counterattack.
• Omokage becomes increasingly alarmed as his supposedly invincible puppets are defeated or outmaneuvered. His reliance on multiple puppets also exposes a weakness: much of his aura is diverted away from his own body.
• Moyu displays improved combat judgment and decisiveness. Rather than trying to defeat Phinks quickly through brute force, he prioritizes survival, positioning, and exploiting the battlefield. His decision to strike barehanded instead of taking time to conjure Black Blade is crucial to landing the hit.
• Phinks remains physically formidable and highly durable. Although Moyu catches him off guard and seriously wounds him, he survives because of his Enhancer defenses. His frustration grows because Moyu repeatedly outmaneuvers him despite Phinks’s awareness of the shadow ability.
• Franklin and Phinks reveal their willingness to sacrifice an ally’s safety for tactical advantage, as Franklin fires freely into the area where Phinks and Moyu are fighting.

Significant Themes

• Strategy over strength: Both Hisoka and Moyu succeed by preparation, misdirection, and timing rather than direct power.
• The limits of control: Omokage’s puppets are powerful but require extensive aura investment, weakening the controller and creating an exploitable imbalance.
• Adaptation and hidden information: The fighters continually adjust based on what they learn about one another’s abilities.
• Decisiveness under pressure: Moyu’s refusal to hesitate or pursue a potentially stronger attack allows him to land a successful blow.
• The gap between skill and power: Moyu’s tactics can overcome Phinks temporarily, but Phinks’s raw Enhancer durability prevents a decisive victory. Moyu recognizes that his current strength remains insufficient.

Character Interactions

• Hisoka taunts Omokage indirectly by treating the carefully crafted Nobunaga puppet as disposable, provoking Omokage’s shock and anger.
• Omokage commands the Franklin and Phinks puppets to keep Hisoka under pressure.
• Phinks and Franklin coordinate against Moyu, with Phinks ordering Franklin to attack without concern for Phinks’s safety.
• Moyu exploits Phinks’s aggression and Franklin’s fire to escape, then uses his shadow ability to ambush Phinks from behind.
• Phinks’s anger at being outmaneuvered contrasts with Moyu’s calm, analytical approach to the fight.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Phinks and Franklin struggle to capture Moyu despite outnumbering him and possessing greater overall power. Moyu continually evades them, using his mobility, tactics, and shadow ability to control the pace of the battle.
• Franklin realizes that his One-Handed Machine Gun lacks the suppressive fire of his original two-handed technique. Although each bullet is stronger, the reduced attack frequency makes it difficult to restrict Moyu.
• Moyu is mentally exhausted from maintaining constant vigilance and managing his “dual-track operation,” but his physical condition remains relatively strong. He deliberately stalls Franklin while waiting for an opportunity to weaken or kill another Phantom Troupe member.
• Moyu reflects on the unexpected advantages he has received: Silva killed one of the Troupe members and drew Chrollo away, while Hisoka helped restrain Omokage. He intends to capitalize on this temporary balance before the battlefield shifts again.
• Moyu begins smiling despite his exhaustion, alarming both Phinks and Franklin, who realize that he is still actively searching for a way to turn the fight in his favor.
• On another front, Nobunaga arrives in time to protect Uvogin from Kanzai’s powerful offensive technique. His intervention restores the Troupe’s momentum.
• Uvogin acknowledges that Kanzai’s Nen technique gives him a decisive advantage in single combat. He abandons his attempt to overpower Kanzai alone and agrees to fight alongside Nobunaga.
• Nobunaga and Uvogin prepare a coordinated two-on-one attack. Kanzai recognizes their partnership but remains confident because his self-healing ability allows him to recover from mistakes as long as he is not killed instantly.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates exceptional tactical awareness, endurance, and adaptability. Though mentally strained, he remains excited by the challenge and continues searching for openings rather than merely surviving.
• Phinks: Becomes frustrated and begins questioning why Moyu is more difficult to handle than stronger opponents. His confidence is undermined by Moyu’s evasiveness and tactical control.
• Franklin: Recognizes the limitations of his modified One-Handed Machine Gun and grows increasingly frustrated at his inability to suppress Moyu.
• Uvogin: Shows unusual humility by admitting that Kanzai’s technique surpasses his own in a direct fight. He becomes calmer after Nobunaga’s arrival and accepts the need for teamwork.
• Nobunaga: Acts as a stabilizing force for Uvogin and immediately understands the importance of ending Kanzai’s fight quickly to help the others.
• Kanzai: Remains confident despite being outnumbered, relying on his self-healing ability and combat experience to compensate for the disadvantage.

Significant Themes

• Strategy over raw power: Moyu’s success demonstrates that superior tactics, timing, and adaptability can overcome disadvantages in strength and numbers.
• Mental endurance: The battle emphasizes the immense strain of maintaining constant awareness when even a small mistake can result in defeat.
• Teamwork and coordination: Uvogin’s inability to defeat Kanzai alone contrasts with the strength created by his partnership with Nobunaga.
• Adaptation and self-awareness: Both Moyu and Uvogin assess their situations honestly and alter their strategies accordingly.
• Battlefield momentum: Small interventions—Silva’s attack, Hisoka’s arrival, and Nobunaga’s rescue—dramatically alter the balance of power.

Character Interactions

• Moyu evades Franklin while manipulating both Franklin and Phinks into reacting to him.
• Phinks and Franklin share frustration and alarm when they realize Moyu is smiling rather than panicking.
• Nobunaga encourages Uvogin to remain calm and reminds him that every second matters to the wider battle.
• Uvogin accepts Nobunaga’s support and agrees to cooperate against Kanzai.
• Kanzai prepares to confront both Troupe members, trusting his healing ability to withstand their combined assault.