Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Not Quite Satisfactory”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Genbul launches another attack on Moyu, determined to account for Hawk’s Nen Bullets and the shadow-like ability that had previously endangered him.
• Despite his caution, Genbul is ambushed by Rat Treasure, whose unconventional ability suddenly appears beside him. The creature uses red Go Straight Markers to decapitate him instantly.
• Rat Treasure retrieves Genbul’s severed head as a “treasure” and proudly presents it to Hawk.
• Hawk reveals his desperate plan: Rat Treasure will open a temporary Nen passage so Moyu and another companion can escape. Because Hawk is critically injured and nearly out of aura, the passage will last only about three seconds and cover limited distance.
• Moyu refuses to abandon Hawk, but Hawk insists that Moyu’s survival matters more than anything else and suggests these may be his final words.
• Before they can act, Sivir charges toward them with an overwhelming Enhancer aura. Cheadle admits she cannot stop her.
• Hawk places his final hope in the protective Nen Space left behind by Elena, believing it may save Moyu once again.
• Elsewhere, Ken exploits Cheadle’s distraction. He uses a powerful slash, throws away his sword when it misses, and then attacks with a blade-shaped aura extended from his palm.
• Cheadle is cut across the body and badly wounded, though she avoids a fatal strike. Ken admits the result is “not quite satisfactory,” but believes Cheadle will probably be removed from the Zodiacs.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Remains perceptive and composed under extreme pressure, quickly understanding Hawk’s hidden intentions. Despite recognizing that escape may be necessary, he refuses to leave Hawk behind, revealing his loyalty and emotional attachment.
• Hawk: Accepts that he is near death and becomes fully committed to sacrificing himself to protect Moyu. His concern for Moyu, whom he compares to his mother in intelligence, highlights his paternal devotion.
• Rat Treasure: Demonstrates the lethal potential of its unusual ability by killing Genbul through a surprise attack. Its childlike delight in collecting Genbul’s head contrasts sharply with the brutality of the act.
• Genbul: Shows improved caution and tactical awareness after recognizing Moyu’s danger, but still fails because he overlooks Rat Treasure’s unconventional attack.
• Cheadle: Proves highly observant and battle-ready, identifying that Ken’s comments about their shared Enhancement type were deliberately misleading. Though seriously injured, she successfully avoids death.
• Ken: Reveals himself as a highly deceptive and adaptable fighter. He combines feints, weapon abandonment, and aura manipulation to create an unexpected attack, though he is dissatisfied that Cheadle survives.
• Sivir: Displays overwhelming power and determination by breaking through Cheadle’s efforts and rushing directly toward Moyu and Hawk.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and protection: Hawk’s willingness to die so Moyu can escape is the chapter’s central emotional conflict.
• Unconventional abilities: Genbul’s death demonstrates that combat experience and preparation are not enough when an opponent possesses an unexpected ability.
• Desperation and limited choices: Hawk’s plan depends on a passage lasting only seconds, while Moyu and his allies face an approaching enemy they may be unable to stop.
• Tactical deception: Ken’s battle with Cheadle emphasizes feints, misdirection, and exploiting an opponent’s expectations.
• Power versus survival: Even powerful fighters such as Cheadle can be overwhelmed or seriously injured when multiple threats and distractions converge.

Important Character Interactions

• Hawk and Rat Treasure: Rat Treasure presents Genbul’s head to Hawk, who affectionately pets it and apologizes for not taking it treasure hunting. Their interaction mixes tenderness, exhaustion, and grim humor.
• Moyu and Hawk: Moyu challenges Hawk’s decision to sacrifice himself, while Hawk insists that saving Moyu is his highest priority.
• Moyu and Sivir: Sivir’s approach turns their emotional exchange into an immediate survival crisis.
• Cheadle and Sivir: Cheadle is unable to restrain Sivir’s stronger aura and watches helplessly as she advances.
• Ken and Cheadle: Ken’s carefully prepared deception wounds Cheadle but fails to kill her. He acknowledges her exceptional skill while concluding that her position among the Zodiacs is likely lost.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ken reflects on his earlier claim that he and Sivir are Enhancers, recognizing that Cheadle had correctly realized it was deliberate misdirection. His true strength lies in exploiting restrictions, battle conditions, and carefully prepared attacks.
• Ken and Sivir’s greatest advantage is the restriction Cheadle bears: she must protect the distant father and son while fighting. Without that burden—and without their powerful abilities, Gambler’s Rhapsody and Harvest Time—Ken believes they would be unable to defeat Cheadle.
• Ken attacks Cheadle with an exceptionally precise, all-out strike while taunting her about abandoning the people she is trying to save. However, Cheadle uses her medical-level precision and perception to identify the attack’s only escape route and dodges it.
• Sivir continues overwhelming Moyu and Hawk under the effects of War Rhythm. Moyu realizes that his previous strategies are no longer useful against her overwhelming aura.
• Hawk activates “No Entry,” causing Rat Treasure to bind Sivir with red Go Straight Markers. The ability stops Sivir’s movement, but using it severely damages Hawk, causing blood to burst from his body.
• Knowing he has little strength left, Hawk uses Rat Treasure’s “Accelerator” ability to teleport Moyu and Cheadle away. He sacrifices himself to ensure their escape.
• Ken and Sivir are surprised by the sudden escape. They consider pursuing Moyu and Cheadle rather than immediately retrieving King’s Balance, since the fugitives may disappear permanently.
• Hawk remains behind, gravely injured and leaning against a tree. Despite his condition, he appears satisfied that he has fulfilled his duty. Memories of Elena reassure him that he is not worthless.
• A massive and unexpectedly powerful Grudge aura erupts from the Temple. Ken and Sivir sense that the situation is far more dangerous than the intelligence reports indicated.
• Hawk gives Ken a knowing, almost deathlike stare, implying that Ken has fallen into a trap or that something terrible is about to happen.
• At the mountaintop, a vast black curtain patterned like a galaxy spreads over the forest. Ken recognizes it as a Nen Space and realizes the battlefield is being enclosed.

Character Developments

• Ken: Demonstrates his tactical intelligence and ruthless pragmatism. He values results over emotional reactions and believes he has achieved a major victory by taking King’s Balance and defeating a Zodiac. His confidence collapses when the Nen Space appears.
• Sivir: Remains aggressive and overwhelmingly powerful while using War Rhythm. She trusts Ken’s judgment but is also unsettled by the unexpected Grudge aura and the sudden change in circumstances.
• Cheadle: Shows exceptional combat awareness and medical precision, dodging an attack Ken considered flawless. Despite being under pressure, she remains focused on reaching and protecting Moyu.
• Moyu: Is forced to confront his helplessness against Sivir. His survival depends on Hawk’s sacrifice and teleportation ability.
• Hawk: Receives the chapter’s most significant emotional development. He sacrifices himself to save Moyu and Cheadle, revealing deep loyalty and quiet courage. His memories of Elena help resolve his long-held belief that he is useless.
• Rat Treasure: Acts as Hawk’s loyal partner, carrying out his final commands and emotionally responding to his sacrifice.

Significant Themes

• Restrictions as sources of power: The chapter emphasizes how Nen restrictions can both limit and strengthen individuals. Cheadle’s obligation to protect others makes her predictable, while Hawk’s self-sacrificial limitations enable a desperate escape.
• Sacrifice and redemption: Hawk’s final actions prove his worth despite his self-image as a failure. His sacrifice transforms his past feelings of uselessness into a meaningful act of protection.
• Strategy versus overwhelming power: Ken’s careful planning and manipulation nearly overcome Cheadle, but raw strength, such as Sivir’s War Rhythm, can render ordinary tactics ineffective.
• The unpredictability of battle: Ken believes victory is secured, yet the sudden Grudge aura and Nen Space completely alter the situation.
• Duty and emotional bonds: Cheadle’s determination to save Moyu, Hawk’s devotion to Moyu, and Rat Treasure’s loyalty demonstrate how personal attachments influence Nen battles and choices.

Character Interactions

• Ken and Cheadle: Ken taunts Cheadle by exploiting her protective instincts, while Cheadle counters his attacks through superior observation and remains committed to reaching Moyu.
• Sivir and Moyu: Sivir’s overwhelming assault leaves Moyu unable to formulate a workable strategy.
• Hawk and Moyu: Hawk quietly bids Moyu farewell and advises him to remember to eat properly, revealing his paternal concern before teleporting him away.
• Hawk and Rat Treasure: Their coordination is deeply trusting; Rat Treasure understands Hawk’s final gesture without words and executes the teleportation.
• Ken and Hawk: Hawk’s final cold smile and stare suggest that he knows Ken’s apparent victory is meaningless or that Ken is about to face a greater threat.
• Hawk and Elena: Through memory, Elena’s reassurance gives Hawk emotional comfort and affirms that his life has value.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Starry Sky Curtain, a manifestation of Elena's Post-Mortem Nen, descends and seals off the scenic area, preventing Ken and Sivir's escape.
• The Qinglin Squad suffers heavy losses, mirroring the outcome of their previous attempt to seize the "King's Balance" thirteen years ago.
• Moyu and Cheadle are blocked by the Nen Space and learn that only a Nen Exorcist can open it.
• Rat Treasure, Hawk's aura, dissipates, leaving behind a blue bead.

Character Developments

• Ken and Sivir abandon their mission and flee in panic.
• Moyu becomes determined to destroy something, likely the Qinglin Squad, after learning more about Elena and their past.
• Cheadle reflects on her past judgment of Hawk and questions the value of squandering talent.

Significant Themes

• The power of Post-Mortem Nen and its growth after death.
• The consequences of underestimating one's opponent and the importance of careful planning.
• The theme of determination and resolve in the face of adversity, as seen in Moyu's reaction to Rat Treasure's dissipation.

Character Interactions

• Ken and Sivir's interaction shows their panic and failure to complete their mission.
• Moyu and Cheadle's interaction reveals Moyu's determination and Cheadle's concern for him.
• Moyu's interaction with Rat Treasure's remnant shows his acceptance of the situation and his resolve to act.

Chapter Summary: “Starry Sky Gazing”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu uses the Exorcism opportunity granted by Perception on Rat Treasure’s bead and gains complete understanding of Exorcism-related knowledge.
• From the bead’s nature, he realizes it is not a Post-Mortem Relic, proving that Hawk is still alive. The other life forms trapped in the scenic area are likely alive as well.
• Moyu concludes that the frozen, star-filled curtain covering the area was not caused by “Balance,” but by Elena’s Post-Mortem Nen ability, Starry Sky Gazing.
• He considers ways to rescue Hawk, including obtaining more Exorcism opportunities or hiring multiple Nen Exorcists through money and Hunter Association connections.
• Cheadle urges Moyu to leave immediately and gives him an address, a contact named Liz, and money. Moyu initially refuses, believing the authorities or the Hunter Association will eventually intervene.
• Cheadle reveals that Moyu himself may be considered a potential threat because he had previously died and returned to life. She insists that he leave before outside organizations investigate the incident and uncover his origins.
• Moyu accepts Cheadle’s instructions after recognizing her determination. Before departing, he tells her that Hawk is still alive.
• Cheadle explains Elena’s ability: a spatial Conjurer technique designed solely for Exorcism that can contain and elevate Nen. Its principle slows time to an extreme degree, creating a state resembling time stasis.
• Cheadle realizes that Mr. Arieser, who helped Hawk and Moyu remove their Post-Mortem Nen, is also trapped inside the space. She contacts the Hunter Association to report the incident.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates strong emotional attachment to Hawk, whom he regards as family despite their casual relationship. He shifts from relying solely on Perception’s mysterious Exorcism rewards to considering practical solutions involving Nen Exorcists and institutional support. He also becomes more cautious about concealing his origins.
• Cheadle: Acts decisively and protectively, prioritizing Moyu’s safety even when he resists. Her knowledge of Elena and her willingness to report the incident show her growing responsibility toward resolving the crisis.
• Hawk: Though absent, his character is developed through Moyu’s memories and Cheadle’s reflections. As a father, he knowingly made a dangerous choice that may have endangered himself, Mr. Arieser, and nearby residents in order to protect his child.
• Mr. Arieser: Revealed to have sacrificed himself by assisting Hawk and Moyu, leaving him trapped within Starry Sky Gazing.

Significant Themes

• Family and sacrifice: Moyu’s determination to save Hawk stems from seeing him as family, while Hawk’s actions reflect a father’s willingness to risk himself for his child.
• The limits of power and uncertainty: Moyu cannot rely on Perception granting another Exorcism opportunity, forcing him to seek more dependable alternatives.
• Identity and secrecy: Moyu’s resurrection makes him a possible target of investigation, reinforcing the need to hide his origins.
• Time and suspended existence: Elena’s fascination with slowly moving stars becomes the foundation of an ability that freezes Nen and living beings in an artificial form of temporal stasis.
• Institutional responsibility: The scale of the phenomenon means that the Hunter Association and possibly international organizations must become involved.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Cheadle debate whether he should remain near the Nen Space. Moyu argues that authorities will eventually address the danger, while Cheadle insists that his presence could expose him and worsen the situation.
• Cheadle provides Moyu with instructions for finding Liz and warns him not to reveal his origins.
• Moyu informs Cheadle that Hawk is alive, giving her hope that the people trapped inside the space can still be saved.
• After Moyu leaves, Cheadle reflects on Hawk’s decision and Mr. Arieser’s sacrifice before contacting the Hunter Association for assistance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cheadle reports the "Starry Sky Gazing" incident to the Hunter Association.
• Netero decides to handle the situation personally due to the rarity of the Nen space and the threat posed by the Post-Mortem Entity.
• Moyu leaves the Nen Space, pays off Hawk's debts in the nearby village, and plans to find Liz in Laxiang City.

Character Developments

• Cheadle feels guilty about hiding Moyu's presence from Netero.
• Netero shows understanding towards Cheadle's actions and decides to handle the situation personally.
• Moyu demonstrates resourcefulness and consideration for Hawk's debts, showing a level of maturity.

Significant Themes

• Honesty and deception: Cheadle's struggle with hiding Moyu's presence from Netero.
• Responsibility: Netero's decision to handle the situation personally due to the threat level and rarity of the Nen space.
• Preparation and planning: Moyu's careful consideration of his next steps, including paying off debts and planning his journey to Laxiang City.

Character Interactions

• Cheadle and Netero: Their conversation reveals Netero's awareness of Cheadle's omission of Moyu's presence and his decision to handle the situation personally.
• Moyu and the villagers: Moyu pays off Hawk's debts in the village, showing consideration for the villagers despite his own situation.

Chapter Summary: “News”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Nen Space surrounding the Temple’s Release Pond finally spreads over the area, freezing everything in place and officially activating the mechanism of the ability. Before activation, the Balance aura still has a few seconds to act, leaving the Nen Exorcist who fled the Temple in potential danger.
• Moyu hopes the arrogant but dedicated Exorcist escaped safely, then leaves for the nearest city.
• During the night, Moyu accepts a ride to Ganlin City from a kind, talkative middle-aged vegetable truck driver. He tells the driver he is visiting relatives and secretly leaves him a large-denomination banknote as payment.
• The driver refuses the money, throws it back to Moyu, and drives away. Moyu is amused and touched by the man’s honesty and kindness.
• After arriving in Ganlin City at dawn, Moyu rents a room and sleeps until evening. He then searches for a way to obtain a fake identity card.
• He finds an advertisement and arranges to meet a document forger behind Ai Ai Bar, agreeing to pay 20,000 Jenie upfront and 30,000 upon completion.
• While buying maps and newspapers, Moyu hears a news report announcing that a blue pickup truck was found cut into six pieces. The driver’s body had been dismembered, and police attribute the killing to Dis Mendico, a Class C fugitive.
• Moyu recognizes the victim’s identity-card photograph as the very driver who helped him reach Ganlin City. He is stunned and remains silent as the newsstand owner angrily swats his hand away from the television.

Character Developments

• Moyu remains observant, resourceful, and cautious. He invents a plausible background, seeks forged identification, and adapts quickly to life in a new city.
• His interaction with the driver reveals a more sentimental side. Moyu admires the man’s kindness and even imagines what sort of friendly Nen Ability he might develop.
• The driver’s sudden murder shocks Moyu, interrupting his detached, practical attitude and reminding him of the dangers surrounding ordinary people.
• The middle-aged driver is portrayed as warmhearted, honest, and protective despite being a stranger to Moyu.
• The Nen Exorcist is briefly characterized as arrogant but commendably devoted to his work, leaving Moyu concerned for his survival.
• Dis Mendico is introduced indirectly as a dangerous fugitive and brutal killer responsible for the driver’s death.

Significant Themes

• Kindness amid danger: The driver’s generosity contrasts sharply with his gruesome death, emphasizing how vulnerable ordinary people are in a violent world.
• The unpredictability of fate: A simple act of kindness brings the driver into Moyu’s life only briefly before tragedy strikes.
• Moral character and Nen: Moyu reflects that kind people might develop benevolent Nen Abilities, while evil people may develop even more sinister powers.
• Isolation and concealment: Moyu’s need for a false identity highlights his uncertain status and his effort to move through society unnoticed.
• The gap between ordinary society and Nen users: The driver likely never knew Nen existed, yet he becomes a victim of violence connected to the dangerous world surrounding it.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and the Nen Exorcist are connected indirectly through Moyu’s concern over whether the Exorcist escaped the Temple’s aura.
• Moyu and the driver share a friendly, casual exchange during the long journey. The driver repeatedly questions Moyu’s nighttime travel and shows concern for his safety.
• Their relationship ends with a silent exchange of generosity: Moyu leaves money, while the driver returns it rather than accepting payment.
• Moyu’s encounter with the fake-document dealer is brief and transactional, showing his practical approach to securing a new identity.
• At the newsstand, Moyu’s shock at recognizing the driver causes him to interfere with the television broadcast, provoking the elderly owner’s irritation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu learns about Dis Mendico, a C-class wanted criminal and Nen user, who brutally killed a man Moyu had met earlier.
• Moyu buys a world map and learns about the Six Continents, Ten Districts, and the five internationally recognized great nations.
• Moyu gets a fake ID card from a shady alley shop to facilitate his journey.
• Moyu boards an airship to Laxiang City, with an estimated arrival time before evening.

Character Developments

• Moyu demonstrates his calm and calculated nature, even when dealing with potentially dangerous situations like getting a fake ID.
• Moyu shows concern for Hawk's safety by monitoring his condition using the Rat Treasure Bead.

Significant Themes

• The duality of the Hunter world: a bustling, glamorous surface hiding a chaotic underbelly with wanted criminals and Nen users.
• The importance of identity and documents for travel and transactions, as seen with Moyu's acquisition of a fake ID.

Character Interactions

• Moyu interacts with two young men at the alley shop, who forge his ID without asking too many questions.
• Moyu's calm demeanor and efficiency impress the two young men, with one of them warning the other about Moyu's potential danger.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyou, a gem hunter, is on a spaceship bar when he meets Biscuit, another gem hunter.
• Biscuit spots Moyou's Rat Treasure Bead and decides to acquire it, either by buying or stealing.
• Biscuit approaches Moyou, feigning innocence and accidentally falling to the floor.
• Moyou, initially cold, apologizes and offers to help Biscuit, who pretends to be hurt.

Character Developments

• Moyou: Initially cold and aloof, he shows concern and kindness towards Biscuit after her fall.
• Biscuit: Displays her gem hunting skills by identifying the Rat Treasure Bead and uses her charm to get closer to Moyou.

Significant Themes

• Gem hunting and the thrill of the chase.
• Deception and manipulation in social interactions.
• The contrast between Moyou's initial coldness and his later kindness.

Character Interactions

• Moyou and Biscuit's interaction is marked by deception and manipulation on Biscuit's part, and Moyou's initial coldness giving way to concern and kindness.
• Biscuit's pursuit of the Rat Treasure Bead drives her actions and interactions with Moyou.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Biscuit, a Transmuter, approaches Moyu, acting like a young girl to get to know him better.
• Moyu, aware of Biscuit's true age and intentions, plays along to avoid confrontation.
• Moyu buys Biscuit a drink, and they exchange names. Biscuit reveals her real name.
• Moyu suggests walking Biscuit back to her room, but Biscuit hesitates, leading to a humorous misunderstanding.

Character Developments

• Biscuit: Maintains her act as a young girl, revealing her real name to Moyu.
• Moyu: Keeps up his act as a kind big brother, trying to find a way to shake off Biscuit's interest in him.

Significant Themes

• Acting and deception: Both characters are acting out roles, trying to achieve their respective goals.
• Trust and honesty: Despite their deception, there's a hint of genuine connection between Moyu and Biscuit.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Biscuit engage in a cat-and-mouse game, each trying to outmaneuver the other while maintaining their acts.
• Their interactions are filled with humor and tension, as both are aware of the other's true intentions but continue to play along.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Biscuit and Moyu meet, and she pretends to be infatuated with him.
• Moyu tries to shake off Biscuit by making a fake call, using a public phone.
• Liz answers Moyu's call with an unusual, lengthy self-introduction instead of directly addressing him.

Character Developments

• Biscuit shows her ability to detect lies and concealment in others.
• Liz displays her eccentric and indirect communication style.

Significant Themes

• Deception and truth: Biscuit's act and Moyu's fake call highlight the theme of deception, while Liz's honesty, albeit indirect, contrasts with this.
• First impressions: Biscuit's initial impression of Moyu is that he's hiding something.

Character Interactions

• Biscuit and Moyu: Biscuit tries to get close to Moyu, while he attempts to create distance.
• Moyu and Liz: They communicate indirectly, with Liz giving Moyu a lengthy, roundabout explanation instead of directly addressing his greeting.

Chapter Summary

Moyu contacts Liz

While traveling by airship to Laxiang City, Moyu calls Liz, introducing himself under his false identity, Kester Bincy, and invoking his connection to Cheadle. He asks Liz to pick him up from the airport because Cheadle is too busy to come herself. Liz agrees immediately.

Liz reinforces Moyu’s false identity

Liz recognizes him through Cheadle’s connection but deliberately invents an embarrassing childhood memory about Moyu having soiled himself at her home. She does this partly to retaliate for his earlier mistake in addressing her and partly to make his fake identity seem more authentic. Moyu accepts the story without protest.

Biscuit’s interest in the Rat Treasure Bead

Biscuit overhears enough of Moyu’s call to realize that he is connected to Cheadle, a Two-Star Professional Hunter. Moyu hopes this connection will discourage Biscuit from trying to obtain the Rat Treasure Bead through improper means. Although Biscuit abandons that approach for the moment, Moyu understands that she will continue pestering him until she gets the bead.

Liz informs Cheadle

After the call, Liz messages Cheadle to report that Moyu is on his way to Laxiang City and may have encountered a minor problem aboard the airship. She also confirms that she will meet him at the airport.

Liz and Sambika’s disagreement

At the law firm, Liz explains her schedule to Sambika, including her plan to pick up Moyu and have dinner with him. She makes it clear that she intends to remain uninvolved in Sambika’s affairs. Sambika warns that the existence of G Drug will create serious trouble and argues that Liz should not assist evil. Liz rejects the criticism, insisting that neither Sambika nor even Cheadle has the right to dictate how she performs her work.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Moyu remains calm and adaptable, skillfully maintaining his false identity while using Cheadle’s reputation to manage Biscuit’s behavior. His willingness to accept Liz’s fabricated embarrassing memory shows his pragmatism.
• Liz is eccentric, sharp-minded, and highly independent. She uses her legal and psychological instincts to strengthen Moyu’s cover story, but she also displays a mischievous and provocative side. Her refusal to be controlled establishes her strong-willed personality.
• Biscuit becomes more curious about Moyu and the Rat Treasure Bead. Though she temporarily refrains from using underhanded methods, she is still determined to continue pursuing her goal.
• Sambika is presented as cautious and morally concerned, viewing G Drug as a dangerous threat. Her quiet persistence contrasts with Liz’s blunt independence.
• The chapter’s key interactions are between Moyu and Liz, whose conversation combines family-like familiarity with deception; Moyu and Biscuit, whose playful exchange masks an ongoing struggle over the bead; and Liz and Sambika, whose argument establishes a conflict between moral responsibility and professional autonomy.

Significant Themes

• Identity and deception: False names and fabricated memories are treated as tools for survival and credibility.
• Manipulation and negotiation: Moyu and Liz both influence others through carefully chosen words rather than direct force.
• Personal autonomy: Liz refuses to let Sambika—or anyone else—dictate her choices, emphasizing her independence.
• Moral ambiguity: The dispute over G Drug suggests that the chapter’s conflicts will not be divided simply between good and evil.
• Future connections: Moyu’s arrival in Laxiang City, Liz’s involvement, and Sambika’s concerns about G Drug set up larger developments involving the Rat Treasure Bead and the emerging G Drug crisis.

Chapter Summary: “Arrival, Questions, and Surveillance”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After avoiding further trouble with Biscuit aboard the airship, Moyu arrives in Laxiang City after a twelve-hour journey.
• At the airport, he finds Liz waiting for him with a bizarre sign reading “Pulling Pants Crotch.” He immediately recognizes her and decides not to provoke her.
• Liz introduces herself as a One-Star Lawyer Hunter who runs a law firm. She drives Moyu to a local restaurant, where they eat before returning to her office on Tulip Street.
• During the drive, Moyu explains that a woman on the airship attempted to do something improper to him, though he does not reveal Biscuit’s identity. He suspects Biscuit may still be watching him.
• Moyu asks about Liz’s relationship with Cheadle. Liz explains that she is Cheadle’s disciple, not a blood relative, and adopted the surname Yorkshire out of admiration for her master, who gave her a new future.
• At the law firm, Moyu begins questioning Liz about the Qinglin Squad. Liz says it was a famous team founded decades earlier by a former Hunter Association chairman and that even current chairman Netero was once a member. However, the group is rarely mentioned anymore.
• The chapter ends by revealing that Biscuit is still nearby, watching the law firm from an alley.

Character Developments

• Moyu remains cautious and observant. He avoids Biscuit, carefully monitors his surroundings, and withholds information about her from Liz. His questions about the Qinglin Squad show that he is actively investigating the mysteries connected to his past and the Hunter Association.
• Liz is established as professional, capable, and warm beneath her teasing personality. She readily takes responsibility for Moyu, treats him hospitably, and offers to help him with legal problems. Her explanation of her bond with Cheadle reveals deep respect and gratitude toward her master.
• Biscuit continues to demonstrate persistence and curiosity. Although Moyu believes he has escaped her attention, she has followed him to Laxiang City and is secretly observing him.

Significant Themes

• Surveillance and mistrust: Moyu’s constant concern about Biscuit’s pursuit contrasts with the apparent safety Liz provides, while the final scene confirms that his suspicions were justified.
• Mentorship and chosen family: Liz’s relationship with Cheadle is based on guidance, gratitude, and personal choice rather than blood. Her adopted surname symbolizes her aspiration to follow Cheadle’s example.
• Secrets and investigation: The Qinglin Squad is presented as an important but nearly forgotten part of Hunter history, suggesting hidden connections and unresolved mysteries.
• Protection versus independence: Moyu seeks Liz’s assistance but remains guarded, while Liz assumes a protective role without forcing him to reveal more than he wishes.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Liz quickly establish a friendly “younger brother–older sister” dynamic, with Liz calling him “Kester” as an alias and Moyu addressing her as “Sister Liz.”
• Liz lightly teases Moyu about the woman who pursued him and jokes about introducing herself formally, while Moyu focuses on gathering information.
• Their conversation about Cheadle reveals Liz’s personal loyalty and Moyu’s growing interest in his mentor’s connections.
• Biscuit does not interact with Moyu directly in the chapter but remains an unseen presence, secretly tracking him and creating suspense for their eventual confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Qinglin Squad”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Biscuit leaves Kester after secretly pursuing information and notices a convoy of at least fifteen black sedans racing through Laxiang City. She suspects the mafia is involved but decides not to interfere, remaining focused on obtaining Moyu’s “sapphire” and attending the Gem Exchange Fair.
• At Suibian Law Firm, Liz explains the history of the Qinglin Squad:
  • Originally founded by the former Hunter Association chairman, the squad became legendary for resolving dangerous commissions.
  • As its members grew stronger and more famous, they developed an elitist ideology and believed the Hunter Association should no longer remain subordinate to V5.
  • Netero led the faction opposing these ambitions, and the resulting internal conflict ended with Netero becoming chairman.
  • Although Netero spared the defeated members, they continued pursuing the former chairman’s ideals and attempted to establish a new Hunter Association. V5 crushed their movement, forcing the Qinglin Squad into hiding.
  • The squad survived underground and later devoted itself to collecting powerful Post-Mortem Entities.
• Liz reveals that the Qinglin Squad’s interest in the Post-Mortem Entity Hawk led to the incident involving Moyu’s mother thirteen years earlier.
• Moyu reflects on the possibility that the Qinglin Squad may have suffered another downfall before the original story began, but he rejects relying on uncertain future events and resolves to become strong enough to defeat them himself.
• His determination triggers a boost from his Nen ability: his training efficiency doubles for thirty days.
• Meanwhile, Netero, Cheadle, and Association personnel arrive at the enormous Nen Space surrounding the scenic area. The Association’s Nen Exorcist admits that the danger inside exceeds what he can handle and that he cannot dispel it alone.

Character Developments

• Biscuit remains cautious and goal-oriented. Though she recognizes the signs of mafia activity, she avoids unnecessary involvement and concentrates on her personal objectives.
• Liz provides Moyu with crucial historical information, revealing her Master’s connection to the Qinglin Squad and clarifying the group’s role in his mother’s death.
• Moyu shifts from speculation and anxiety to firm resolve. Rather than depending on possible future allies or story events, he commits himself to rapid personal growth and defeating the Qinglin Squad through his own strength.
• Netero and Cheadle take direct action by bringing a Nen Exorcist to investigate the dangerous Nen Space, showing the Hunter Association’s concern over the situation.
• The Nen Exorcist is immediately overwhelmed by the aura and recognizes that the crisis is far beyond his individual ability.

Significant Themes

• Power breeds arrogance: The Qinglin Squad’s rise from heroic professionals to ambitious extremists demonstrates how strength, prestige, and Nen can intensify buried desires.
• Ideological conflict and political control: The squad’s challenge to the Hunter Association and V5 highlights the tension between independent power and institutional authority.
• The persistence of ambition: Even after defeat and exile, the former Qinglin members continue pursuing their old ideals, showing that obsession cannot easily be erased.
• Self-reliance and determination: Moyu rejects dependence on uncertain future developments and chooses to build his own strength.
• Hidden threats beneath ordinary society: Mafia activity, Post-Mortem Entities, and the dormant Qinglin Squad suggest that major dangers are developing behind the city’s seemingly normal events.

Important Character Interactions

• Biscuit briefly interacts with Kester before observing the suspicious mafia convoy.
• Liz recounts the Qinglin Squad’s history to Moyu and confirms that the group’s pursuit of the Hawk caused the tragedy involving his mother.
• Moyu listens, questions the implications of the Qinglin Squad’s survival, and ultimately responds with renewed determination.
• Netero and Cheadle gather with the Association’s Nen Exorcist outside the Nen Space, where the Exorcist warns that the threat cannot be handled by his power alone.

Chapter Summary: “A Difficult Problem”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A Hunter Association Nen Exorcist examines the Nen Space and compares it to an insurmountable mountain, sensing both its immense danger and the even more powerful Post-Mortem Nen—the “Grudge”—sealed within it.
• She concludes that she cannot safely exorcise it alone. Even reaching the core of the Nen Space might leave an exorcist too exhausted to deal with the Grudge afterward.
• Netero realizes the problem cannot be solved quickly. The Hunter Association is acting on an official commission from the Saherta United States, which wants the threat completely investigated and eliminated.
• Netero confirms that the Nen Space and its Post-Mortem Nen are unrelated to the Dark Continent, easing Saherta’s fears about possible Calamity-level consequences. The country therefore entrusts the entire matter to the Hunter Association and agrees to cover the expenses.
• Since money alone is unlikely to attract exorcists willing to face such dangerous Post-Mortem Nen, Netero decides to issue an Exorcism commission under the Hunter Association’s name, relying on the Association’s reputation, connections, and personal favors.
• Before the commission is issued, the examining exorcist proposes an alternative: leave the Nen Space undisturbed and classify it as a Demon Domain. She argues that the Nen Space is like a sleeping lion—dangerous if awakened, but stable and harmless if left alone.
• Although Netero acknowledges that this would minimize risk, he rejects the proposal because Saherta wants the problem solved rather than merely contained. The chapter ends with the expectation that multiple skilled Nen Exorcists will need to be recruited.

Character Developments

• The Hunter Association Nen Exorcist is established as cautious, experienced, and professionally responsible. She refuses to overestimate her abilities and prioritizes risk assessment over ambition or financial reward.
• Netero demonstrates trust in expert judgment and recognizes the seriousness of the Nen Space. However, his role as Chairman and commitment to fulfilling the client’s demands lead him to favor active resolution over safe containment.
• Cheadle remains wary of Netero’s claim that the Association listens to all opinions, remembering his past tendency to disregard the Zodiacs. She nevertheless feels relieved when he decides to seek additional exorcists.
• The Saherta United States is portrayed as highly cautious regarding potential Dark Continent threats and unwilling to tolerate a dangerous unknown within its territory.

Significant Themes

• Containment versus eradication: The central dilemma is whether a dangerous power should be left sealed and monitored or destroyed at its root.
• The limits of expertise: Even a highly skilled Nen Exorcist admits that the task may exceed her abilities, emphasizing the extraordinary danger of the Nen Space.
• Responsibility and risk management: The exorcist argues that deliberately awakening a contained threat may be more dangerous than leaving it alone.
• Institutional pressure: The Hunter Association must balance expert caution with the demands of a powerful client expecting a definitive solution.
• Post-Mortem Nen as escalating danger: The chapter reinforces that Nen strengthened by death is fundamentally more difficult and hazardous to remove than ordinary Nen.

Character Interactions

• Netero and the exorcist: Netero listens seriously to her assessment and trusts her expertise, but ultimately cannot accept her containment strategy because of the commission’s requirements.
• Netero and Cheadle: Their interaction highlights the contrast between Netero’s stated openness to opinions and his history of making personal, sometimes willful decisions. Cheadle silently questions his sincerity.
• The exorcist and the other Association members: She calmly explains that her recommendation is based on decades of professional experience, convincing the others that her conclusion is not mere speculation.
• Netero and Saherta United States: Their relationship is defined by mutual reliance: Saherta provides the commission and funding, while Netero must produce a definitive answer to the threat.

Chapter Summary: “Ability Prospects”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Hunter Association begins searching for a way to handle the Nen Space Elena left behind in the Saherta United States, including the dangerous Post-Mortem Nen within it.
• In Laxiang City, Cheadle arranges for Moyu to remain with Liz temporarily after he asks about the Qinglin Squad.
• Moyu uses Perception’s temporary 100% training-efficiency boost to intensively practice Nen, particularly Ren.
• His current Ren duration has increased from five to fifteen minutes, thanks to the previous improvement in his Four Major Principles proficiency. Moyu aims to extend it to at least thirty minutes, the minimum he considers suitable for actual combat.
• Liz works late into the night while Moyu trains quietly in her office. She observes his progress but does not interfere.
• After finishing work around two in the morning, Liz gives Moyu a room in the agency. She tells him that, since her master regards him as family, she does as well.
• Once Liz leaves, Moyu resumes training and uses his Shadow Dummy to practice enduring pain.
• After half an hour of striking the dummy, Moyu collapses from exhaustion and develops a new idea: perhaps Soul Echo could eventually allow him to share not only pain, but also training results.

Character Developments

• Moyu demonstrates discipline and urgency, determined to exploit Perception’s temporary boost without wasting time. He remains focused on strengthening his fundamentals before developing Ten and Hatsu further.
• His strategic thinking deepens as he begins considering more advanced applications of Soul Echo, including making the Shadow Dummy physically identical to himself and potentially transferring or sharing training gains.
• Moyu also remains considerate and somewhat hesitant to rely on others, worrying that asking Liz for financial help would make him too dependent.
• Liz is shown to be quietly caring and protective. Though she maintains a calm, professional attitude, she treats Moyu as part of her master’s family and provides him with shelter without expecting formal gratitude.
• Liz also pays close attention to Moyu’s development, discreetly noting that he can sustain Ren for roughly fifteen minutes.

Significant Themes

• Relentless self-improvement: Moyu’s training reflects his determination to close the gap between himself and the Qinglin Squad.
• Efficiency and opportunity: Perception’s temporary boost creates a narrow window that Moyu intends to exploit fully.
• Family and belonging: Liz’s statement emphasizes that Moyu is accepted as one of their own, even though he still feels uncomfortable depending on others.
• Innovation in Nen abilities: The chapter shifts from basic training toward exploring how Soul Echo might evolve into a more versatile and powerful ability.
• Pain and growth: Moyu’s willingness to endure physical pain symbolizes the sacrifices required to strengthen both his body and Nen.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Liz share a restrained but meaningful relationship. Moyu tries not to disrupt her work, while Liz reassures him that he may train in the office and later gives him a place to stay.
• Liz rejects Moyu’s formal thanks, explaining that family members do not need to treat her kindness as a debt.
• Their interaction highlights the contrast between Liz’s effortless generosity and Moyu’s continued reluctance to accept support.
• Moyu’s relationship with the Shadow Dummy becomes increasingly important as he begins viewing it not merely as a training tool, but as a potential partner capable of sharing his progress.

Chapter Summary: “How Did You Notice?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After assessing the Qinglin Squad’s strength, Moyu becomes even more determined to improve rapidly. Although he has learned Nen only recently, he has already mastered the Four Major Principles and created his own ability, Soul Echo.
• Moyu considers expanding Soul Echo with additional abilities:
  • Shared Vision, estimated to require a development level around D- or E-rank.
  • Shared Appearance, which he prioritizes because of its tactical value.
  • Shared Cultivation Results, a much more ambitious B-rank ability that would allow the sharing of training gains. Moyu abandons the idea for now because the necessary Restrictions would likely be extreme.
• He explains that mission rankings from E to A are only an approximate way to measure Nen techniques. Different Nen users use different systems, such as levels, numerical scores, or stars.
• Moyu trains obsessively under the one-month enhancement granted by Perception, repeatedly exhausting and recovering his aura. His maximum Ren duration improves from fifteen to sixteen minutes.
• Liz brings Moyu large quantities of meat and medicinal food, worried that his relentless training is damaging his body. Her care reveals her concern for him, even though much of it stems from her affection for Cheadle.
• Moyu spends nearly all his free time training. He realizes that long recovery periods limit his efficiency and thinks of Biscuit’s Nen ability, Magical Esthetician, which can eliminate fatigue and accelerate recovery.
• Liz invites Moyu to accompany her to dinner with a client. While waiting outside the law firm, he encounters Biscuit, who has been watching the building all day in an attempt to create a “chance” meeting.
• Biscuit theatrically pretends to recognize Moyu as “Kester,” but Moyu immediately exposes her disguise. He reveals that he noticed something was unusual when she heard a private phone conversation from several meters away and asked about the embarrassing subject of him “accidentally shitting his pants.”
• Biscuit drops her disguise and releases her Nen, openly demonstrating that she is a highly experienced Nen user. She warns Moyu that Cheadle might not be enough to protect him, but Moyu calmly reasons that because she did not attack him on the airship, she is probably not there to murder or rob him.
• Impressed by his composure and insight, Biscuit says she is beginning to like him more and more.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Becomes increasingly disciplined, ambitious, and calculating. He recognizes both the limits of his short Nen experience and the dangers of overreaching. He prioritizes practical abilities, analyzes Nen development systematically, and remains calm when confronted by a powerful stranger.
• Liz: Acts as Moyu’s caretaker, trying to balance his extreme training with food, rest, and physical recovery. Her concern deepens Moyu’s positive feelings toward her.
• Biscuit: Continues her playful manipulation and disguise, but is eventually forced to reveal her true level of skill. Her interest in Moyu grows after seeing through his calm reasoning and perceptiveness.
• Cheadle: Does not appear directly, but her importance is emphasized through Liz’s devotion and the protection she provides Moyu indirectly.

Significant Themes

• The cost of rapid growth: Moyu wants to compensate for his lack of years of experience, but he recognizes that progress cannot be achieved recklessly without consequences.
• Efficiency versus endurance: His training buff increases his potential, yet recovery time remains a major obstacle. This leads him to consider abilities that could optimize training rather than simply increase power.
• Limits and Restrictions in Nen: The chapter highlights how powerful abilities require corresponding conditions, vows, and sacrifices. Moyu learns that ambitious abilities such as Shared Cultivation Results cannot be developed casually.
• Perception and deception: Biscuit’s disguise, Moyu’s ability to detect inconsistencies, and the contrast between appearances and true strength reinforce the importance of observation in the Nen world.
• Trust and indirect care: Liz’s kindness is influenced by her bond with Cheadle, but Moyu still appreciates the genuine care she shows him.

Important Character Interactions

• Moyu and Liz: Liz repeatedly urges Moyu to eat and rest, while Moyu accepts her care despite his desire to train continuously. Their relationship becomes warmer as Moyu grows more appreciative of her thoughtfulness.
• Moyu and Biscuit: Their encounter is a battle of observation and acting. Biscuit attempts to manipulate the situation through a staged coincidence, but Moyu sees through her immediately. Their exchange establishes mutual respect, curiosity, and a playful tension.
• Moyu and Cheadle’s influence: Though Cheadle is absent, her relationship with Liz explains why Liz supports Moyu so strongly and why Moyu receives indirect protection from a powerful Hunter.

Chapter Summary: “Piercing the Disguise, Seeing Through the Truth”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Biscuit evaluates Moyu as calm, perceptive, and reliable under pressure, privately holding him in extremely high regard. However, she has no interest in taking disciples because of the restrictions and responsibility involved.
• Moyu directly questions why Biscuit approached him in disguise. Biscuit instead reveals that she is Biscuit Krueger, a Two-Star Gemstone Hunter, expecting him to infer that she wants the blue Rat Treasure Bead he carries.
• Moyu pretends to be surprised and protective of the bead, maintaining the image of an innocent boy who has only just realized Biscuit’s intentions. In reality, he already knows her identity, background, and motive through his Seer abilities.
• Biscuit confirms that she wants the bead, explaining that she values attractive, sparkling objects—even if they are not technically gemstones. She briefly threatens Moyu, but he correctly observes that she does not intend to take it by force.
• Because of Moyu’s connection to Cheadle, and Biscuit’s close relationship with Netero and the Shingen-ryu school, Biscuit agrees to negotiate properly rather than act violently.
• Biscuit offers one hundred billion for the bead, but Moyu refuses without hesitation. He claims that it is an heirloom, causing Biscuit to realize that money cannot persuade him.
• Moyu considers whether he can make use of Biscuit’s Nen ability, Magical Esthetician, which could reduce fatigue and accelerate recovery, potentially improving his training. However, he cannot surrender the bead because he needs it to investigate Hawk’s condition.
• Liz arrives and recognizes Biscuit. She accidentally causes a misunderstanding by suggesting that Biscuit was the woman Moyu said had tried to “hit on” him aboard the airship. Biscuit reacts as though Moyu had exposed her intentions, while Moyu is confused and irritated because he never said this.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates exceptional composure, deception, and social manipulation. He successfully maintains his false identity while secretly understanding Biscuit far better than she realizes. He also begins considering a mutually beneficial arrangement in which Biscuit might train or assist him without receiving the Rat Treasure Bead.
• Biscuit: Reveals her identity and strong desire for the bead but remains restrained by her principles, her relationship with Netero, and her connection to Cheadle. Her normally confident attitude gives way to frustration when she discovers that money cannot overcome Moyu’s attachment to the object.
• Liz: Shows familiarity with both Moyu and Biscuit. Her casual misunderstanding creates comedic tension and unintentionally makes Biscuit believe Moyu has been talking about her romantic interest in him.
• Cheadle and Netero: Though absent, both influence the encounter. Moyu’s relationship with Cheadle prevents Biscuit from behaving aggressively, while her loyalty to Netero further discourages conflict.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Both characters are operating behind disguises and false assumptions. Biscuit thinks she has successfully read Moyu, while Moyu has already seen through her identity and motives.
• Psychological strategy and deception: The confrontation is won through observation and acting rather than force. Moyu carefully performs surprise and fear to preserve his cover.
• Value beyond money: Biscuit’s enormous offer is useless because the bead’s importance is personal and functional to Moyu. The chapter contrasts financial value with emotional and strategic value.
• Mutual restraint and social connections: Relationships within the Hunter Association and the influence of respected figures prevent a potentially violent confrontation.
• Comedic misunderstanding: The serious negotiation is undercut by Liz’s mistaken remark, creating an ironic reversal in which Biscuit believes Moyu has revealed her feelings.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Biscuit: Engage in a tense but controlled negotiation. Biscuit uses intimidation and wealth, while Moyu responds with calm logic and carefully maintained deception.
• Moyu and Liz: Communicate briefly but efficiently; Liz understands Moyu’s silent cue about Biscuit’s identity, then unintentionally disrupts his carefully constructed act.
• Liz and Biscuit: Their recognition of one another exposes Biscuit’s connection to Cheadle and triggers the humorous misunderstanding about Biscuit supposedly trying to court Moyu.
  The chapter ends on a comedic note, with Biscuit convinced Moyu has exposed her interest in him and Moyu silently protesting that he never made such a claim.

Chapter Summary: “Restless”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu, Liz, and Biscuit meet Tolan Patrick, a powerful mafia boss in Laxiang City, at an extravagant restaurant. Tolan hires Liz to handle a legal matter connected to the city’s mafia-controlled G Drug trade.
• G Drug was originally a harmless medical anesthetic, but the mafia altered it to induce hallucinations and addiction. Its legalization allowed the mafia and corrupt authorities to profit while countless people and families were ruined.
• Although Moyu disapproves of Liz working for such criminals, he recognizes that Professional Hunters accept commissions as long as they are legal and adequately paid.
• Moyu becomes absorbed in the Gourmet Hunter’s food, particularly the lamb, and briefly imagines traveling the world, experiencing new sights, and fighting powerful opponents after rescuing Hawk.
• After returning to Suibian Law Firm, Liz discovers traces of chaotic, heavy aura throughout the building. She, Biscuit, and Moyu immediately prepare for combat.
• Liz investigates her office and finds it damaged, bloodstained, and occupied by the severely injured Virus Hunter Sambika. A corpse lies near the sofa, indicating that Sambika was ambushed and fought back.
• Sambika reveals that at least one hostile Nen user may still be nearby. Liz realizes that Sambika failed to eliminate everyone who attacked her.
• While Liz questions Sambika upstairs, Biscuit examines Moyu’s Nen development. She learns that he has practiced Nen for less than a month and cannot yet use En.
• Biscuit then reveals that a hostile Nen user is currently outside the office, causing Moyu to become visibly eager for battle.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Shows growing awareness of the moral contradictions surrounding Professional Hunters and the mafia, though he remains personally detached from the political situation. He discovers an appreciation for fine cuisine and briefly reveals a desire to explore the world beyond training and rescue missions. His instinctive excitement at the possibility of combat highlights his increasingly restless and battle-hungry nature.
• Liz: Maintains her professional, composed attitude despite working for a mafia boss and returning to a crime scene in her own office. She is irritated by Sambika’s repeated apologies but remains responsible and focused on understanding the ambush. Her immediate defensive reaction demonstrates her experience and vigilance.
• Biscuit: Continues tagging along despite Liz’s reluctance, behaving playfully and shamelessly. However, she remains highly perceptive, quickly detects Moyu’s urge to fight, and senses the hostile Nen user outside before the others can confirm the danger. Her assessment of Moyu’s talent becomes much more favorable after learning how recently he began using Nen.
• Sambika: Appears badly wounded and emotionally subdued after being ambushed. Despite possessing dangerous viral abilities, she insists that viruses should only be used medically, revealing a strong moral restraint and pacifistic principles.

Significant Themes

• Legality versus morality: The mafia’s exploitation of legalized G Drug demonstrates how lawful systems can still support profoundly immoral actions.
• Professional neutrality: Liz’s commission reflects the Hunters’ practical code: they perform legal work for payment, regardless of whether the client is morally repugnant.
• Power and responsibility: Sambika’s refusal to use viruses as weapons contrasts with the mafia’s willingness to exploit dangerous substances for profit.
• Restlessness and ambition: Moyu’s enjoyment of the meal awakens broader aspirations, but his strongest immediate excitement comes from the prospect of confronting another Nen user.
• Hidden danger: The return to the law firm shifts the chapter from a calm social setting to a tense mystery, emphasizing that threats may remain concealed even after a battle appears finished.

Character Interactions

• Tolan treats Liz with exaggerated courtesy, while silently judging the presence of Moyu and Biscuit. Liz responds with professional restraint.
• Liz notices Moyu’s enjoyment of the food and gives him her own lamb chop, while Tolan orders additional dishes to accommodate him.
• Liz silently questions why Biscuit continues following them, but Biscuit ignores her and remains with the group.
• Liz orders Moyu and Biscuit to stay downstairs while she investigates, though Moyu secretly wants to join the confrontation.
• Liz confronts Sambika over the bloodshed and demands an explanation, while Sambika responds with habitual apologies and weakly explains the ambush.
• Biscuit, unlike Liz, recognizes Moyu’s suppressed eagerness to fight. Her revelation about the hostile Nen user deliberately heightens his anticipation, ending the chapter on the brink of another confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Battle-Hungry Buck Clash”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu becomes eager for a genuine life-or-death battle after Biscuit detects a hostile Nen user near Suibian Law Firm. He views real combat as a crucial way to expose weaknesses and grow stronger.
• He regrets not having fully developed Soul Echo’s Mimicry Shared Appearance ability, which could have provided useful data in the coming fight.
• The enemy, Buck Arnold, approaches the law firm after the other attackers have been killed. A mercenary and assassin who only accepts murder contracts, Buck is cautious and survival-focused rather than reckless.
• Buck confirms that his associates were defeated after underestimating a Professional Hunter. Although he intends to claim the spoils for himself, his instinctive sense of danger makes him hesitate outside the law firm.
• When a strange independent shadow appears beneath his thrown weapon, Buck realizes that a Nen user is preparing to attack.
• Moyu, using Zetsu to conceal his presence, launches a surprise kick at Buck’s leg. Buck reacts quickly and attempts to trade damage to his own leg for a lethal kick to Moyu’s neck.
• Moyu adjusts midattack, avoids the fatal blow, strikes Buck’s knee, and retreats using the recoil.
• Buck’s weapon, the Fang Blade, returns from behind Moyu on a tether, revealing that the initial throw was part of a trap. Moyu somehow avoids the returning blade despite seemingly having no way to see it.
• Buck realizes that Moyu’s shadow ability may function as a remote surveillance system, transmitting battlefield information in real time.
• Biscuit watches from concealment and begins assessing Buck’s strength.

Character Developments

• Moyu: His normally calm and gentle personality is shown to conceal a strong fighting instinct. He actively seeks dangerous battles because of their value for growth, especially after his mysterious ten-second experience at the Temple made him value combat opportunities more deeply. His quick adaptation during the ambush demonstrates strong instincts and tactical awareness.
• Buck Arnold: Buck is established as a cautious, calculating killer. He survives by refusing to fight unless victory is nearly guaranteed and is willing to be called cowardly. His weapon and tactics reveal that he specializes in deception, surprise attacks, and exploiting an opponent’s blind spots.
• Biscuit: Biscuit becomes increasingly interested in Moyu after recognizing his hidden battle hunger. She remains in the background, observing both Moyu and Buck to judge the enemy’s capabilities.

Significant Themes

• Growth through combat: Training is important, but true life-or-death battles force a fighter to confront weaknesses more directly.
• Instinct versus caution: Moyu is drawn toward danger, while Buck survives by avoiding unnecessary risks. Their contrasting approaches shape the confrontation.
• Deception and hidden abilities: Buck’s returning Fang Blade and Moyu’s shadow-based surveillance show how Nen battles depend on concealed mechanics and tactical misdirection.
• The hidden self: Moyu’s warlike instincts exist beneath his gentle exterior, emphasizing the difference between outward personality and inner nature.
• Survival versus glory: Buck prioritizes staying alive over reputation, while Moyu values the opportunity to test himself even when the danger is extreme.

Character Interactions

• Biscuit’s recognition of Moyu’s battle hunger deepens her interest in him.
• Buck reflects critically on his dead associates, blaming their arrogance for their failure against a Professional Hunter.
• Moyu and Buck immediately engage in a tactical exchange based on ambushes, counterattacks, and misdirection rather than straightforward combat.
• Buck begins analyzing Moyu’s shadow ability after Moyu evades the Fang Blade’s hidden return attack, setting up a battle centered on discovering and exploiting each other’s abilities.

Chapter Summary: “Countermeasure X Amazement X Reward”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu battles Buck, a dangerous Nen user wielding the poisoned, multi-bladed weapon Fang Blade.
• After their first brief exchange, both fighters assess each other:
  • Buck recognizes that Moyu’s shadow can scout and transmit real-time vision.
  • Moyu realizes Fang Blade is likely poisoned and that even a minor cut could be fatal.
• Buck considers retreating because he senses a far greater threat nearby, but Moyu attacks before Liz can intervene and stop him.
• Moyu uses his shadow’s vision-sharing ability, Double Vision, to read Buck’s movements and detect the moment he prepares to strike.
• He avoids Buck’s attack by halting his charge and kicking up paving bricks as a distraction.
• The Shadow Person joins the fight, creating a two-pronged assault with Moyu. Buck counters by throwing Fang Blade and controlling it like a spinning yo-yo, knocking the Shadow Person away.
• Buck presses his advantage, repeatedly forcing Moyu backward and attempting to land even a shallow cut so he can activate Bone-Deep Maggot and poison him.
• Moyu deliberately appears to lose his balance and fall, luring Buck into attacking his knee.
• At the critical moment, Moyu releases and re-summons the Shadow Person through Soul Echo and Mimicry. It reappears behind Buck and attacks the back of his head.
• Buck’s strike misses, while the Shadow Person overwhelms him with repeated blows until he is nearly dead.
• Moyu wins, but exhausts all of his aura in the process.
• Liz arrives just after the battle ends, shocked that Moyu defeated the stronger opponent.
• Moyu receives a system reward: his successful performance increases his Vow Effect by 1.

2. Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates exceptional battle instincts, adaptability, deception, and tactical awareness despite having trained in Nen for less than a month. He recognizes the danger of Buck’s poison, uses his shadow creatively, and deliberately baits Buck into a losing attack. His victory confirms that his talent is far beyond normal standards, though he expends all his aura.
• Buck: Revealed to be an experienced and calculating fighter. He uses layered tactics, poison, Fang Blade, and Bone-Deep Maggot, but becomes overconfident after believing Moyu has exhausted his options. His inability to anticipate Moyu’s final counterattack leads to his defeat.
• Biscuit: Provides a detailed analysis of both fighters and recognizes Moyu as a “natural-born combatant.” She deliberately refuses to interfere, believing Moyu must accept the risks of pursuing strength.
• Liz: Becomes increasingly worried about Moyu’s safety and distrusts Biscuit’s willingness to let the fight continue. Her concern causes her to rush to the battlefield.
• Sambika: Is astonished by Moyu’s Nen control and combat ability, especially given his extremely short training period. His performance forces her to reconsider the limits of natural talent.

3. Significant Themes

• Growth through danger: Moyu chooses to fight despite the risk because real combat provides experience that training cannot.
• Tactical intelligence over raw strength: Although Buck has superior martial arts and Nen reserves, Moyu wins through observation, feints, timing, and the unconventional use of his shadow ability.
• The risks of being a Hunter: Biscuit emphasizes that choosing to hunt means accepting the possibility of serious injury or death without relying on others to intervene.
• Exceptional talent: Moyu’s rapid development challenges ordinary expectations about Nen training and establishes him as an unusually gifted fighter.
• Confidence and overconfidence: Buck’s experience and strength are undermined by his assumption that Moyu is out of options, while Moyu’s confidence is supported by careful preparation and analysis.

4. Character Interactions

• Moyu and Buck: Their battle becomes a contest of hidden abilities and countermeasures. Buck tries to force a poison-based victory, while Moyu studies his movements and ultimately deceives him into exposing himself.
• Moyu and Biscuit: Biscuit observes without helping, respecting Moyu’s choice to fight. Her analysis shows growing interest in his potential.
• Biscuit and Liz: Biscuit urges Liz not to interfere, arguing that Moyu has a plan and would resent having his fight interrupted. Liz rejects this reasoning because she believes Moyu is at a disadvantage.
• Liz and Sambika: Both watch the battle from the law office, but Liz reacts with alarm while Sambika is primarily overwhelmed by Moyu’s talent.
• Moyu and his Shadow Person: Moyu demonstrates increasing mastery over the Shadow Person, using it for surveillance, coordinated attacks, defense, and a surprise reappearance through Soul Echo and Mimicry.