Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Surging Aura”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After a month of training with Biscuit, Moyu’s rapid growth amazes her. His discipline, execution, and willpower allow him to maximize his talent despite the difficulty of his training.
• Moyu prepares to leave for the Saherta United States, asking Biscuit to arrange his flight and travel documents.
• Reflecting on his recent battle with Biscuit, Moyu identifies a technical weakness: if he could cancel his ability immediately after Biscuit kicked the duplicate, he could recover his aura sooner and avoid some of the resulting pain.
• The next morning, Biscuit leaves Moyu a rental-locker location containing his travel necessities, including a new identity card, entry documents, and the Rat Treasure Bead. Although she initially claims she will not see him off, she unexpectedly appears and accompanies him to the airport.
• Biscuit reacts comically after Moyu jokingly calls her “Aunt Biscuit,” striking him and leaving bumps on his head.
• Moyu buys a luxury-class ticket using the money Sambika gave him and boards the airship. Biscuit watches him depart, while Moyu reflects gratefully on how much others have helped him.
• During the three-day journey, Moyu trains almost continuously. Before eating dinner, he receives a farewell message from Sambika and realizes he had forgotten to say goodbye to her.
• In the airship restaurant, Moyu once again detects numerous people with the strange aura he identifies as “Suspected Kindred.” He counts eleven such individuals, including members of several apparently ordinary families, leaving him deeply suspicious and confused about their true nature.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates major physical and combat growth, recovering quickly from his battle and analyzing it to improve his technique. He remains humble and grateful toward those aiding him, while becoming increasingly alert to the mystery surrounding the “Suspected Kindred.” His relentless training continues even during travel.
• Biscuit: Shows strong affection and concern for Moyu beneath her teasing and abrasive behavior. She arranges his documents, obtains the necessary travel items, accompanies him to the airport despite claiming otherwise, and reacts possessively to his joking nickname.
• Sambika: Though absent from Moyu’s departure, she remains supportive by giving him substantial financial assistance and sending him a safe-travel message.

Significant Themes

• Growth through discipline: Moyu’s progress comes not only from natural talent but from his determination, willpower, and ability to learn from defeat.
• Mentorship and support: Biscuit’s guidance and practical help are crucial to Moyu’s advancement and journey, while Sambika also contributes materially and emotionally.
• Gratitude and dependence: Moyu recognizes that he has relied heavily on others, contrasting his independent ambition with the support network surrounding him.
• Mystery and hidden identities: The repeated presence of ordinary-looking people with “Suspected Kindred” auras establishes a growing supernatural mystery and suggests that Moyu’s journey will involve uncovering what these individuals truly are.
• Humor amid tension: Biscuit’s banter and Moyu’s awkward interactions with her provide comic relief before the chapter shifts toward the unsettling discovery aboard the airship.

Important Character Interactions

• Moyu sincerely thanks Biscuit for helping him, while Biscuit masks her concern with sarcasm and mock hostility.
• Biscuit and Moyu share a playful but affectionate relationship, highlighted by her reaction to being called “Aunt Biscuit” and her decision to personally see him off.
• Moyu exchanges a brief farewell with Sambika through text, realizing only afterward that he had neglected to say goodbye in person.
• The chapter ends without direct confrontation: Moyu silently observes the suspected Kindred passengers and questions what they are, setting up the next mystery.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu senses eleven mysterious auras aboard the airship. Unlike ordinary life energy, these auras are imperceptible to other Nen users, including Biscuit, suggesting that only Moyu can detect them.
• He chooses to observe a family of three: a father, mother, and young daughter named Xiao Duo. The family is unusual because two members possess the strange auras while one appears normal.
• Moyu secretly sends a shadow clone to follow them, allowing him to monitor their movements and hear their conversations remotely.
• Xiao Duo asks her father to help her see the stars. He patiently carries her around the airship until she is satisfied, revealing the family’s warm and affectionate public dynamic.
• After returning to their room, Xiao Duo falls asleep while her mother tells her a story. The father goes to shower.
• Without warning, the mother attacks her husband with a heavy glass ashtray, severely injuring him. He flees to protect Xiao Duo, assuming his wife has become dangerous.
• When the father picks up Xiao Duo, the girl suddenly tightens her arms around his neck with unnatural strength. Despite appearing loving and innocent, she strangles him while asking whether he will take her to see the stars again.
• The chapter ends with the father realizing that Xiao Duo—not merely the mother—is the true threat. Her apparent love for her father becomes the mechanism of his death.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Becomes increasingly intrigued by the mysterious auras and adopts a cautious, investigative approach. His shadow ability allows him to observe events without exposing himself, demonstrating both his growing control and strategic caution.
• Xiao Duo: Initially appears as an innocent, affectionate child who adores her father. Her behavior later takes on a horrifying meaning when her loving embrace becomes an act of murder, suggesting that the strange aura has transformed or possessed her.
• The Father: Portrayed as gentle, attentive, and deeply protective of Xiao Duo. Even after being attacked, his first concern is saving his daughter. His trust in his family makes the final betrayal especially tragic.
• The Mother: Initially appears loving and supportive, but abruptly becomes violent. Her attack may indicate possession, transformation, or involvement with the mysterious aura phenomenon.
• Biscuit: Though not present in the main events, her inability to sense the strange aura establishes that Moyu possesses a unique perception.

Significant Themes

• Innocence concealing horror: Xiao Duo’s childish sweetness contrasts sharply with her lethal strength.
• Distorted familial love: The title’s idea that Xiao Duo “loves Daddy most” becomes sinister, as her affection directly causes his death.
• Appearance versus reality: The family seems happy and ordinary in public, but their private behavior reveals a supernatural threat.
• Isolation of knowledge: Moyu alone can perceive the abnormal auras, placing him in a unique position to uncover the danger.
• Trust and betrayal: The father’s complete trust in his wife and daughter leaves him vulnerable to the attack.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Duo repeatedly seeks her father’s attention and affection, while he responds with patience and tenderness.
• The mother and father initially cooperate lovingly in caring for Xiao Duo, reinforcing the illusion of a happy family.
• The mother’s sudden attack destroys this apparent harmony.
• The father tries to protect Xiao Duo from her mother, only to be betrayed by Xiao Duo herself.
• Moyu remains physically detached but observes the family through his shadow, making him an unseen witness to the horrifying incident.

Chapter Summary: The Replacer

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Duo, a young girl, inexplicably strangles her father to death while her mother attacks him with an ashtray. Both women remain calm and cheerful, showing no awareness that they have committed murder.
• Moyu observes the scene through his shadow and suspects a Manipulator-type Nen ability, since the victims’ memories and consciousness appear to have been altered.
• Moments later, lightning erupts from the dead man’s corpse. A Humanoid Scorch Mark is left behind, while an identical version of the man appears alive and behaves as though nothing happened.
• The mother and daughter also fail to notice the corpse’s disappearance or the scorch mark, suggesting their memories and perception have been manipulated.
• Moyu recognizes the phenomenon as resembling the events described in Swamp Man: lightning, scorch marks, and replacement copies of people known as Marshfolk.
• He recalls the suspicious man he encountered at Shivadani City Airport and realizes that the airport encounter may have involved another Marsh Person.
• Moyu speculates that Swamp Man’s author, Davidson, may be a Nen user who created or spread the phenomenon through an ability based on the novel.
• The next day, Moyu encounters the apparently happy family again and senses aura from them. He sends his Shadow Copy into their room to investigate further.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Becomes increasingly alarmed and analytical as he confirms that the Swamp Man phenomenon exists in reality. He carefully studies the mechanics of the replacement process, including aura manifestation, memory alteration, and identity assimilation. He also questions whether his own transmigrated existence makes him similar to a Swamp Man.
• Xiao Duo and her mother: Their behavior demonstrates the effects of the phenomenon: they can commit violent acts without emotional recognition of them and have their memories and perceptions rewritten afterward.
• The father/Marsh Person: After being killed, he is replaced by an identical copy that retains the original’s behavior and memories, making the replacement indistinguishable from the original.
• Davidson: Though absent, he becomes a significant suspect in Moyu’s investigation because of the apparent connection between his novel and the real-world phenomenon.

Significant Themes

• Identity and individuality: The chapter raises the central question of whether a replacement that possesses someone’s memories and personality should still be considered the same person.
• Reality shaped by Nen: Fictional concepts may become real when supported by Nen, suggesting that imagination and supernatural ability can blur the boundary between fantasy and reality.
• Manipulation of memory and perception: The Marshfolk do not merely replace bodies; they alter how people understand events, allowing horrific crimes to disappear from conscious awareness.
• The nature of the self: Moyu reflects on his own status as a transmigrator and wonders whether he, too, is a kind of replacement being.
• Hidden danger beneath normalcy: The family appears peaceful and happy despite the violence that occurred in their room, emphasizing how thoroughly the phenomenon conceals itself.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Duo and her mother cooperate in putting the father to death, yet their altered minds treat the act as ordinary.
• After the replacement, the father interacts normally with his wife, while she unknowingly prepares to put Xiao Duo to bed.
• Xiao Duo innocently asks her mother for a bedtime story, reinforcing the family’s artificial appearance of domestic harmony.
• Moyu observes the family from a distance rather than confronting them, using his Shadow Copy to continue investigating their nature.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu sends a Shadow Copy to inspect the Humanoid Scorch Mark near the family’s room. A second close-range examination confirms that the mark contains no concealed Nen.
• He tests whether the mark can be removed. Despite intense scrubbing—and even dyeing the Shadow Copy’s hand beforehand—the mark cannot be erased, nor does it leave any residue.
• Moyu concludes that the Humanoid Scorch Marks are not merely a condition supporting the Marshfolk’s spreading ability. Their true Restriction is their permanent indestructibility.
• He reasons that as Marshfolk replacement spreads, more marks will appear. However, because most people cannot identify Marshfolk and there are technically no confirmed deaths, society may fail to recognize the phenomenon as a serious threat.
• Moyu considers whether the Marshfolk should be regarded as different from the people they replace, since they retain the originals’ memories and personalities, but he avoids pursuing the moral question.
• Believing the phenomenon could qualify as a Dark Continent Calamity, Moyu sends Cheadle a message describing the Marshfolk and attaching photographs of the scorch marks and the replacement family. He deliberately withholds his ability to identify Marshfolk and asks Cheadle not to reveal him as the source.
• Moyu returns to his normal training, leaving the matter to the Hunter Association and other organizations.
• At the Hunter Association building, Cheadle reads the message and realizes the danger. She remembers that similar marks had already appeared throughout the city and were dismissed as fan-made vandalism.
• She recalls a failed cleanup commission in which even a Hunter could only remove the section of flooring containing a mark. Cheadle finally understands that the events described in the Swamp Man novel are occurring in reality.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Becomes more certain about the nature of the Humanoid Scorch Marks and demonstrates his cautious, analytical personality. He prioritizes gathering evidence and protecting his identity, especially his transmigrator status and ability to recognize Marshfolk. He also shows moral hesitation over whether the replacements should truly be considered separate beings.
• Cheadle: Shifts from regarding the marks as meaningless vandalism to recognizing them as evidence of a potentially catastrophic supernatural phenomenon. Her trust in Moyu allows her to immediately take his warning seriously.

Significant Themes

• Identity and replacement: The Marshfolk possess the memories and thoughts of their victims, raising questions about whether they are truly different from the original people.
• Evidence and denial: The indestructible marks are permanent proof that replacements have occurred, yet society ignores them because no conventional deaths have been confirmed.
• Fear of the unknown: The International Permit Office and Hunter Association’s experience with Calamities emphasizes the danger of phenomena that appear quietly and spread unnoticed.
• Self-preservation and secrecy: Moyu must balance warning others with concealing his unusual abilities and true identity.
• Fiction becoming reality: The Swamp Man book’s descriptions are revealed to correspond directly to events in the real world.

Character Interactions

• Moyu observes the apparently normal family of three while investigating the traces left by their replacement.
• He communicates with Cheadle indirectly through a carefully limited text message, giving her enough evidence to act without exposing himself.
• Cheadle connects Moyu’s warning with previous reports from city officials and Hunters, allowing her to recognize the broader scope of the Marshfolk phenomenon.

Chapter Summary: “Ordinary”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cheadle immediately reports Moyu’s discovery that Marshfolk can replace human beings. While awaiting instructions, she begins investigating all recent information concerning Humanoid Scorch Marks.
• She attempts to contact Ging because of his connection to the Swamp Man, but he does not answer. She sends him a text instead.
• Cheadle identifies two urgent objectives:
  1. Locate and detain Davidson Donald, author of Swamp Man, to determine whether he is connected to the Marshfolk phenomenon.
  2. If the connection is confirmed, develop a method to distinguish Marshfolk from ordinary humans and gather further intelligence.
• Cheadle realizes that Moyu’s warning may have prevented a worldwide crisis. Without his observation of a replacement, Marshfolk could have spread unnoticed by taking over people’s identities.
• Moyu continues training aboard the airship and avoids the family of three who have been replaced by Marshfolk.
• After the airship reaches Laxiang City, Moyu disembarks instead of continuing to Saka City. He plans to visit Liz and possibly ask her to place a Hunter Website commission to locate Dis, his wanted target.
• While searching for a hotel late at night, Moyu encounters another Nen user. The person is revealed to be Illumi Zoldyck, who casually judges Moyu as “ordinary” and continues on his way to complete a commission.
• At the hotel, Moyu checks in and summons Picasso for his usual training before going to sleep.
• A predatory criminal follows Moyu to his room, releases anesthetic gas, breaks in, and attempts to attack him. Moyu awakens instantly and kills him by twisting his neck.
• The supposed corpse suddenly transforms into black, swamp-like matter and rushes toward Moyu, apparently being absorbed by his Shadow Copy.
• The real Moyu is revealed to have been waiting outside on the air-conditioning unit. He realizes that the intruder was a Marshfolk and is surprised by its postmortem transformation and apparent absorption.

Character Developments

• Cheadle becomes more proactive and determined, shifting quickly from receiving information to organizing an investigation and planning containment measures. She also recognizes the potentially global scale of the danger.
• Moyu remains calm and focused, continuing his training despite the disturbing discovery aboard the airship. His caution is demonstrated when he uses a Shadow Copy as a decoy and positions himself safely outside the hotel room.
• Illumi Zoldyck is introduced through his professional, detached perspective. His lifelong assassination training allows him to evaluate Nen users instinctively, but his quick dismissal of Moyu reveals that he seriously underestimates him.
• The Marshfolk are shown to possess another dangerous trait: when killed, they may dissolve into an adhesive black substance capable of merging with or being absorbed by Moyu’s Shadow Copy.
• The hotel attacker is revealed as both a dangerous predator and an unsuspecting Marshfolk, though his identity and purpose beyond targeting Moyu remain unclear.

Significant Themes

• Hidden infiltration and paranoia: Marshfolk can appear completely human, creating the possibility that anyone—even entire communities or governments—may already have been replaced.
• The danger of underestimation: Illumi sees Moyu as ordinary, while the intruder assumes Moyu is helpless. Both judgments contrast with Moyu’s actual awareness and strength.
• Preparedness versus complacency: Cheadle’s rapid response and Moyu’s use of a decoy show the importance of acting immediately against an unknown threat.
• Identity and the loss of individuality: The replacement phenomenon raises questions about whether an outwardly identical person is still the same individual.
• Predation and hidden monstrosity: The attacker’s human appearance conceals both his criminal intentions and his Marshfolk nature, reinforcing the chapter’s focus on threats that look ordinary.

Character Interactions

• Cheadle attempts to contact Ging and later reflects on Moyu’s warning, emphasizing her reliance on both allies and new intelligence.
• Moyu encounters the Marshfolk family but deliberately avoids interacting with them.
• Moyu and Illumi pass one another without conflict. Each notices the other as a Nen user, but both continue on their separate paths; Illumi dismisses Moyu as insignificant.
• Moyu interacts briefly and politely with the hotel clerk before confronting the intruder.
• The final confrontation between Moyu and the disguised Marshfolk reveals Moyu’s superior awareness and introduces a potentially important connection between Marshfolk remains and his Shadow Copy.

Summary

This chapter is a direct address from the author, Purple Pig, announcing that the Hunter fanfic will begin its premium subscription phase after midnight.

Key events

The author explains that five chapters will initially go behind the paywall, with a possible sixth chapter added before midnight. They plan to release four or five more chapters during the following day, aiming for ten or eleven chapters on the premium launch day. The author also announces a reward system: if first-day subscriptions exceed 1,500, an additional chapter will be added for every 500 extra subscriptions.

Author development and perspective

Purple Pig reflects on the difficulty of writing the Hunter fanfic, describing the extensive time spent checking details, plot structure, and logic. Despite Hunter’s smaller fanfiction readership compared with Naruto and One Piece, the author remains committed to continuing the story, acknowledging that choosing Hunter again was a stubborn but deliberate decision. They express anxiety about the book’s performance and set a sustainable target of roughly 6,000 words per day if reception is satisfactory.

Significant themes

The chapter focuses on the tension between artistic commitment and commercial viability, the demanding nature of long-form fanfiction writing, reader support, and the author’s uncertainty before monetization. It also emphasizes gratitude and perseverance, particularly given the comparatively limited audience for Hunter fanfics.

Character interactions

There are no fictional character interactions or plot developments. Instead, the chapter centers on the relationship between the author and readers: the author asks financially able readers to subscribe, thanks patrons for donations, and acknowledges their support during the book’s launch period.

Chapter Summary: A Suspected Path to Growth

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu senses a Marshfolk entering his hotel room and uses a Shadow Copy to ambush it, snapping its neck before it can retaliate.
• After death, the Marshfolk transforms into a thick black liquid that clings to and seemingly enters the Shadow Copy.
• Moyu discovers that the Shadow Copy may have absorbed the substance. It appears slightly larger and stronger afterward, suggesting that consuming Marshfolk could increase its volume and power.
• He reflects on the limitations of his Mimicry ability: the Shadow Copy’s total volume is fixed, and dividing it weakens the individual copies. If the Shadow Copy can grow by absorbing Marshfolk, this may provide a new route for improving its normal strength.
• Moyu wonders whether his ability, Soul Echo, is connected to the book Swamp Man, which appears to be linked to the Marshfolk transformation phenomenon.
• He speculates that the author, Davidson, may have initiated the first Marshfolk through conditions related to a book-signing event, such as obtaining a signed copy or genuinely liking the book.
• Moyu also considers whether transformed Marshfolk can create more Marshfolk by killing others.
• The next day, Moyu leaves the hotel, buys Liz a Nature Beauty Set, and travels to Suibian Law Firm.
• On the way, he notices advertisements for a Swamp Man signing event that began three days earlier, confirming that Davidson was recently in Laxiang City.
• Moyu reunites with Liz, who warmly welcomes him. He gives her the beauty set, and she invites him to dinner with Toran Patrick.
• Meanwhile, Illumi arrives at Toran Patrick’s mansion to carry out his final assassination assignment in the city.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates increased caution and tactical skill by using the Shadow Copy as bait while positioning himself safely outside. His discovery about the Shadow Copy’s possible growth gives him a new potential method for developing his Hatsu. He also becomes increasingly suspicious of the connection between his ability and Swamp Man.
• Liz: Remains affectionate and caring toward Moyu, greeting him warmly and noticing his physical growth. Her worsening dark circles suggest continued exhaustion from staying up late.
• Illumi: Advances the parallel assassination plot by reaching Toran Patrick’s residence, though the outcome of the mission is not yet shown.
• The Marshfolk: Their behavior is shown to preserve the personality and morality of the humans they replace. Evil individuals remain evil after transformation, implying that Marshfolk are not inherently identical in character.

Significant Themes

• Growth through danger: Moyu may be able to strengthen the Shadow Copy by defeating and absorbing Marshfolk, turning a threat into a possible resource.
• Uncertainty and investigation: Moyu must distinguish between what he knows and what he merely suspects regarding the Shadow Copy, Swamp Man, and the transformation process.
• Identity and morality: Because Marshfolk retain their hosts’ memories and personalities, their actions reflect the original person’s nature, raising questions about whether the transformation changes identity or merely replaces the body.
• Hidden conditions and causality: Moyu searches for the rules behind the Marshfolk phenomenon, considering whether the book-signing event or emotional attachment to the novel triggers transformation.
• Contrasting relationships: The chapter shifts between Moyu’s dangerous supernatural investigation, Liz’s warm personal relationship with him, and Illumi’s cold professional assassination.

Important Character Interactions

• Moyu and the Marshfolk: Their brief confrontation establishes the Shadow Copy’s ability to kill and possibly absorb Marshfolk.
• Moyu and Liz: Their reunion is affectionate and familiar. Moyu shows consideration by buying her a gift, while Liz responds with warmth and invites him to dinner.
• Moyu and Toran Patrick: Though Toran does not appear directly, his prior hospitality is remembered fondly, and he becomes the center of the upcoming dinner and Illumi’s assassination mission.
• Moyu and Illumi: They do not interact directly in the chapter, but their storylines converge around Toran Patrick.

Chapter Summary: “Waterloo of His Career”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tolan, the powerful mafia boss of Laxiang City, is introduced as wealthy, influential, and extremely cautious. He protects himself with armored vehicles, heavily guarded properties, elite bodyguards, security systems, and trained dogs.
• Despite these defenses, Illumi infiltrates Tolan’s mansion unnoticed while Tolan is reading in his study.
• Illumi kills Tolan instantly by severing his head, photographs the corpse as proof, leaves without being detected, and sends the evidence to his client.
• The client transfers Illumi’s payment, and Illumi considers the assassination an easy, successful, high-paying commission.
• However, Tolan’s body mysteriously regenerates. A black substance emerges from his blood, restores him completely, and erases his memory of being killed. Tolan resumes his ordinary routine of reading the book Swamp Man.
• Later, while waiting at the airport, Illumi receives an angry call from his client, who claims Tolan is still alive and accuses him of sending fake photographs.
• The client sends new photographs showing Tolan alive at a restaurant, inviting two guests: a handsome young man and a woman with dark circles under her eyes.
• Illumi recognizes the young man as the “ordinary Nen user” he previously encountered. He begins to question whether he has truly failed his first assassination.
• Rather than feeling personal embarrassment or disappointment, Illumi becomes furious that the incident may damage the Zoldyck Family’s reputation. His violent aura frightens the people around him.

Character Developments

• Illumi: Demonstrates his overwhelming assassination skills by bypassing Tolan’s security and killing him effortlessly. His emotional detachment remains intact, but the apparent failure deeply disturbs his professional pride and concern for the Zoldyck Family’s reputation. His anger escalates when he realizes the situation is inexplicable.
• Tolan: Initially appears highly intelligent, cautious, and security-conscious. His unexpected resurrection reveals that he possesses—or is protected by—a powerful supernatural ability connected to the black substance and the book Swamp Man. He has no memory of Illumi’s attack.
• The Client: Begins satisfied enough to pay Illumi, but becomes enraged after discovering Tolan alive. He confronts Illumi and provides photographic evidence, forcing Illumi to investigate the failure.

Significant Themes

• Limits of professional certainty: Even an apparently flawless assassination can be undermined by forces outside the assassin’s understanding.
• Reputation and perfectionism: Illumi’s main concern is not guilt or failure itself, but the potential disgrace brought upon his family.
• Hidden supernatural power: Tolan’s resurrection introduces a mysterious ability that can restore life and erase memories, suggesting that appearances and evidence cannot always be trusted.
• Security versus true power: Tolan’s expensive defenses are useless against Illumi, yet Illumi’s own lethal skill is also rendered meaningless by Tolan’s unexplained restoration.
• Identity and repetition: Tolan returns to his routine as though nothing happened, reinforcing the eerie idea that his life can be reset without his awareness.

Character Interactions

• Illumi and Tolan have no direct conversation; their interaction is a silent confrontation in which Illumi effortlessly assassinates him.
• Illumi communicates with his client by phone. The client angrily accuses him of fraud and failure, while Illumi initially responds with confidence and indifference.
• The photographs reveal a possible connection between Illumi’s failed assassination and the mysterious young Nen user he previously encountered, setting up a future conflict or investigation.

Chapter Summary: “Angry Illumi (Third Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At night, Liz and Moyu meet mob boss Tolan at a restaurant reserved and heavily guarded by nearly a hundred gang members and four bodyguards.
• The table is filled with luxurious food, but Moyu finds it tasteless because the Marshfolk Phenomenon has affected the cuisine as well.
• While Liz discusses an upcoming court hearing and her final commission for Tolan, Moyu secretly detects Marshfolk auras from Tolan, all four bodyguards, and eight of the gang members outside.
• Moyu realizes that Tolan has been replaced or transformed, demonstrating how widespread and difficult to detect the Marshfolk Phenomenon has become.
• Moyu quietly warns Liz to be careful. Liz maintains her composure and intends to finish the discussion quickly before leaving with him.
• At 7:18 p.m., Illumi arrives outside the restaurant, enraged because an employer took his payment without completing the commission and apparently deceived him about the targets.
• Four gang members confront Illumi. He uses Ball-Headed Needles to turn them into Needle People and orders them to attack the other guards.
• Three of the four people Illumi controls are secretly Marshfolk, but Illumi cannot distinguish them from normal humans.
• The controlled gang members open fire, causing panic outside and forcing a wounded Needle Person into the restaurant.
• Moyu notices the needle embedded in the intruder’s forehead and realizes that Illumi has arrived.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Remains alert and analytical, carefully identifying the hidden Marshfolk while pretending to focus on eating. His awareness confirms his growing ability to detect the phenomenon, though he cannot openly reveal what he knows.
• Liz: Demonstrates composure and professionalism, continuing negotiations despite the danger. She trusts Moyu’s warning and prepares to leave, while also lightly teasing him by calling him her “greedy” younger brother.
• Tolan: Continues acting polite, hospitable, and composed, but is revealed to be a Marshfolk. His replacement exposes the vulnerability of even powerful and well-protected individuals.
• Illumi: Appears unusually furious and personally offended by the employer’s deception. His controlled, lethal response shows both his assassin’s professionalism and the intensity of his anger. He enters the conflict without hesitation and uses his Manipulator ability against the gang.
• Marshfolk: Their infiltration of Tolan’s organization illustrates that they can remain outwardly indistinguishable from humans until their transformation conditions are triggered.

Significant Themes

• Paranoia and hidden infiltration: The Marshfolk can occupy positions of power without detection, making trust and security nearly meaningless.
• The limits of perception: Even Illumi, despite his extraordinary combat and assassination skills, cannot recognize the Marshfolk among his victims.
• Professional pride and revenge: Illumi’s anger stems from being deceived and having his reputation damaged, turning the mission into a personal act of punishment.
• Appearance versus reality: Tolan’s courteous behavior, the lavish meal, and the gang’s impressive security conceal the corruption beneath the surface.
• Unintended consequences: Illumi’s attack kills and controls both ordinary humans and Marshfolk alike, potentially escalating the danger without understanding the true enemy.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Liz communicate indirectly: he warns her covertly, while she maintains a calm public façade and uses their sibling-like relationship to explain his presence.
• Liz and Tolan discuss legal business, with Tolan attempting to appear gracious and attentive by commenting on Liz’s lack of interest in the food.
• Tolan jokes with Liz about Moyu’s appetite, reinforcing the illusion of a normal dinner despite Moyu’s suspicion.
• Illumi confronts Tolan’s gang from outside, immediately overpowering the guards through his Needle People.
• The chapter ends with Moyu recognizing Illumi’s technique as the violent attack spills into the restaurant.

Chapter Summary: “Needle Person Moyu”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu recognizes a gangster with a Ball-Headed Needle embedded in his forehead as a Needle Person controlled through Illumi’s Nen ability. Fearing for Liz’s safety, he immediately shields her.
• The Needle Person suddenly attacks Tolan with a gun. Tolan’s bodyguards protect him, exchange fire, and eventually shoot the attacker down.
• Despite the apparent threat being eliminated, two of Tolan’s surviving bodyguards suddenly become vacant and reveal themselves as additional Needle People under Illumi’s control. They aim at Tolan and attempt to kill him.
• Liz intervenes, knocking the controlled bodyguards away and preventing Tolan’s immediate death.
• Illumi appears beside Liz and launches a surprise attack, using his family’s precise footwork and a Ball-Headed Needle. Liz, a One-Star Professional Hunter, manages to block his first strike with Ryu.
• Illumi quickly assesses that Liz’s aura control is slightly slower than his own and adopts an aggressive rhythm designed to overwhelm her before she can recover.
• When Moyu rushes in to help Liz, Illumi changes targets and drives a Ball-Headed Needle into Moyu’s head. He then retreats and throws another needle into Tolan’s head.
• Illumi successfully completes his objective: Tolan is controlled or neutralized, and Moyu has also been turned into a Needle Person. The chapter ends with Liz staring in shock at Moyu’s vacant expression.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Acts protectively toward Liz despite being unable to communicate verbally. His instinct to intervene against Illumi demonstrates his courage, but his lack of combat experience and limited abilities leave him vulnerable. He is ultimately pierced by a Ball-Headed Needle and seemingly placed under Illumi’s control.
• Liz: Reveals strong defensive instincts and competent Nen fundamentals. She protects Moyu and Tolan, successfully blocks Illumi’s initial attack, and tries to counterattack after Moyu is struck. However, she is outpaced by Illumi’s superior combat rhythm and tactical precision.
• Illumi: Demonstrates his trademark ruthlessness, deception, and highly refined assassination technique. He uses controlled bodyguards to create confusion, manipulates the battlefield, and deliberately exploits Liz’s instinct to protect Moyu in order to strike both Moyu and Tolan.
• Tolan: Begins the scene confused by the betrayal of people he trusted, but remains focused on understanding the situation rather than immediately escaping. His lack of awareness leaves him vulnerable to Illumi’s manipulation.
• Tolan’s bodyguards: Their loyalty and protective training initially save Tolan from gunfire, but several are secretly converted into Needle People, showing how thoroughly Illumi infiltrated the group.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and betrayal: Trusted gang members and bodyguards are revealed to be controlled puppets, undermining the idea of loyalty and personal agency.
• Protection and sacrifice: Moyu and Liz both try to protect others, but their protective instincts are exploited by Illumi.
• Combat rhythm and tactical superiority: The battle emphasizes that victory depends not only on raw power but also on timing, speed, positioning, and the ability to predict an opponent’s reactions.
• Loss of autonomy: The Ball-Headed Needles symbolize the erasure of individual will, as the victims are reduced to instruments of Illumi’s commands.
• The danger of underestimating an opponent: Illumi initially regards Moyu as mediocre, yet still treats him as a target once he recognizes Moyu’s potential to interfere.

Character Interactions

• Moyu instinctively shields Liz, while Liz responds by trying to protect him as the elder.
• Tolan relies on his bodyguards, only to discover that some of them have become weapons against him.
• Liz and Illumi engage in a brief but intense Nen exchange, with Liz defending successfully at first but struggling to match Illumi’s speed.
• Moyu intervenes to save Liz, prompting Illumi to redirect his attack and use Moyu’s rescue attempt against him.
• The chapter concludes with Liz emotionally shaken by Moyu’s apparent transformation into a Needle Person.

Summary: “The So-Called Sure Victory”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Illumi explains the nature of his coercive Manipulator ability: once a Ball-Headed Needle enters a target’s head, it erases their consciousness and turns them into a puppet.
• Because Moyu blocked Illumi’s needle intended for Toran Patrick, Illumi assumes Moyu is completely controlled and effectively dead.
• Liz realizes the severity of Moyu’s condition and becomes overwhelmed by guilt, anger, and grief. Illumi warns her to suppress her killing intent, but she refuses and prepares to fight.
• Illumi orders Needle Person Toran and Needle Person Moyu to stop Liz, then leaves because his assassination commission has technically been completed.
• Liz attacks despite her emotional instability. Her anger strengthens her aura but prevents her from activating her Nen Ability, which requires her to remain completely calm.
• Illumi easily counters her reckless assault, exploiting his superior physical ability, combat experience, and the threat of his needles. Liz is forced onto the defensive.
• Liz injures Toran but hesitates when fighting Moyu, allowing Illumi to identify an opening and prepare a finishing attack.
• In an unexpected reversal, Moyu—despite still having Illumi’s needle embedded in his forehead—attacks Illumi instead. His Nen-enhanced punch sends Illumi flying and injures him.
• Liz and Illumi are both stunned by Moyu’s resistance. Moyu remains focused on Illumi while an internal voice reveals that Perception has granted him two rewards.

Character Developments

• Liz: Her strong sense of justice and attachment to Moyu drive her into an emotionally uncontrolled battle. Although her aura becomes powerful, her inability to remain calm prevents her from using her principal Nen Ability. She also reveals that she cannot bring herself to seriously harm Moyu, even while he is being controlled.
• Illumi: He demonstrates his confidence, professionalism, and overwhelming combat skill. However, his certainty that Moyu is an ordinary, fully controlled puppet is challenged when Moyu acts independently. Illumi’s composure briefly breaks in surprise.
• Moyu: Initially appears to have been reduced to a mindless puppet, but unexpectedly retains enough autonomy or hidden power to attack Illumi. His sudden counterattack establishes that his abilities are far more unusual than Illumi anticipated.
• Cheadle: Through Liz’s memories, Cheadle’s mentorship is shown to have shaped Liz’s restrictive Nen Ability and her belief that emotional control is essential to judgment and success.
• Toran: Functions as another controlled puppet and is quickly defeated by Liz, who breaks his shoulder.

Significant Themes

• Overconfidence and the illusion of certainty: Illumi believes his coercive ability guarantees victory, but Moyu’s unexplained resistance overturns his “sure victory.”
• Emotion versus discipline: Liz’s anger gives her greater raw aura but undermines her ability to think and use her Nen effectively.
• Justice and personal attachment: Liz’s professional ideals conflict with her emotional response to Moyu’s apparent death and Illumi’s escape from legal judgment.
• Professionalism versus morality: Illumi treats the fight as a completed contract and refuses to kill unnecessarily, but his detached standards contrast sharply with Liz’s emotional commitment to justice.
• Hidden potential and unpredictability: Moyu’s unexpected action suggests that abilities and individuals cannot always be understood through established Nen rules alone.

Character Interactions

• Illumi taunts and explains the situation to Liz while treating Moyu as an expendable casualty.
• Liz rejects Illumi’s warning, choosing to attack him despite lacking access to her full ability.
• Illumi and Liz clash directly, with Illumi exploiting her emotional instability and superior combat experience.
• Liz fights the controlled Toran and Moyu but hesitates against Moyu, creating the opening Illumi intends to exploit.
• Moyu unexpectedly reverses the situation by attacking Illumi, leaving both Illumi and Liz shocked and shifting the battle’s balance.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Illumi’s assassination plan initially proceeds exactly as intended. He controls the Needle People, uses the restaurant bodyguards to create an opening, manipulates Liz and Moyu into favorable positions, and finally needles Tolan to complete his commission.
• Just as Illumi believes he has secured total control, Moyu breaks free of the Needle’s influence and lands a devastating punch, sending Illumi crashing through the restaurant and into an adjoining room.
• Severely injured, Illumi concludes that he cannot continue fighting. He struggles to understand how Moyu resisted his Manipulator ability, speculating that Moyu may have controlled himself beforehand and thereby established a higher-priority form of control.
• Illumi escapes, frustrated that an opponent he considered only average managed to defeat him. Nevertheless, he takes comfort in having completed the assassination and prioritizes preserving his family’s reputation.
• Before leaving, Illumi remains puzzled by Tolan’s apparent resurrection after being beheaded. He soon witnesses the corpses outside the restaurant revive as Marshfolk, allowing him to understand how Tolan returned, though he still cannot identify the ability responsible.
• Illumi orders the remaining Needle People—including the revived Tolan—to kill Moyu before departing.
• Moyu receives two rewards from Perception: an increase to his Zetsu level and a new Replication Nen Box. The box contains a modified, single-use Nen Needle that can reproduce the full effect of Illumi’s Manipulator ability.
• Tolan attacks Moyu with a handgun, but Moyu decapitates him again. His body, head, and blood then transform into black, viscous matter and rush toward Moyu.
• Liz attempts to shield Moyu, but he moves aside and allows the substance to cover him before it disappears.
• Dozens of enraged Marshfolk enter the restaurant, and Moyu wonders whether he can absorb all of them without overwhelming himself.

2. Character Developments

• Illumi: His defining need for control is shattered. Being unexpectedly defeated leaves him confused, irritated, and deeply frustrated. He is forced to acknowledge that his calculations were incomplete and that he underestimated Moyu. Despite his wounded pride, he remains pragmatic, escaping once the mission is complete.
• Moyu: He demonstrates that his apparent vulnerability was part of a successful countermeasure, breaking Illumi’s control at the crucial moment. His powerful attack earns Perception’s approval and grants him a potentially valuable ability-copying tool. He also remains calm and curious in the face of the revived corpses and the approaching Marshfolk.
• Liz: She is visibly overwhelmed by the increasingly inexplicable events but continues trying to protect Moyu, warning him about Tolan and attempting to intercept the black substance.
• Tolan: Even after being repeatedly killed and revived, he remains an instrument of Illumi’s control. His body’s transformation into black matter emphasizes his unnatural connection to the Marshfolk ability.

3. Significant Themes

• The limits of control: Illumi’s belief that every detail is under his command collapses when Moyu resists his Needle. The chapter emphasizes that absolute control is impossible, particularly when an opponent possesses hidden abilities or strategies.
• Overconfidence and delayed consequences: Illumi’s defeat comes precisely when he feels most certain of victory, reinforcing the danger of celebrating too early.
• Uncertainty and hidden mechanisms: Moyu’s resistance, Tolan’s resurrection, and the Marshfolk transformation all reveal powers that defy Illumi’s knowledge and expectations.
• Adaptation and reward: Moyu’s ability to survive and capitalize on the battle results in new growth, showing how successful improvisation can produce both immediate and long-term advantages.
• Life, death, and identity: Tolan’s repeated revival and transformation blur the boundaries between a living person, a corpse, a controlled body, and a Marshfolk creature.

4. Character Interactions

• Illumi and Moyu: Their confrontation reverses the expected power dynamic. Illumi attempts to control Moyu, but Moyu escapes the Needle’s influence and injures him severely.
• Illumi and Tolan: Illumi uses Tolan as an expendable tool, ordering him to attack even after his body has been mangled and decapitated.
• Moyu and Liz: Liz warns Moyu of Tolan’s attack and instinctively tries to protect him from the black substance, while Moyu confidently handles the situation without her intervention.
• Moyu and the Marshfolk: After defeating Tolan again, Moyu becomes the focus of the revived gang members’ anger. Rather than fearing their numbers, he immediately considers whether he can absorb them all.
• Moyu and Perception: Perception rewards Moyu’s successful resistance and attack, granting him both improved Zetsu proficiency and a replicated version of Illumi’s Nen ability.

Chapter Summary: “Can Moyu Perform Exorcism?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• When Moyu and Liz first arrived at the restaurant, gang leader Tolan welcomed them with his entire group present. Moyu noticed that Tolan, his four bodyguards, and the eight gang members were all Marshfolk in disguise.
• Suspecting danger, Moyu secretly warned Liz and used his ability to leave a Shadow Copy in his place while keeping his real body hidden.
• Illumi Zoldyck unexpectedly appeared, presumably hired to assassinate Tolan. Moyu recognized the threat and tried to escape with Liz, but the Shadow Copy’s inability to speak delayed them.
• Moyu instead confronted Illumi and successfully drove him away with a single punch, earning two unexpected rewards from his Perception ability.
• A larger group of Marshfolk gang members then stormed the restaurant to avenge Tolan. The Shadow Copy fought them and defeated the entire group.
• After the Marshfolk died, their bodies transformed into black, viscous material infused with faint Nen. The substance was absorbed into Moyu’s body through the Shadow Copy.
• Moyu realized that absorbing the material greatly increased the Shadow Copy’s volume and, when compressed back to its normal size, effectively doubled its hardness and strength.
• He also had the Shadow Copy absorb the remains of Tolan’s gravely injured bodyguards, ensuring none of the material was wasted.
• Moyu reunited with Liz and pretended that he had merely been suffering from stomach pain. Liz remained unaware that the “Moyu” she had seen fighting was actually the Shadow Copy.
• Moyu asked Liz to erase the restaurant’s surveillance footage so he would not be implicated in the massacre. Liz agreed, recalling Cheadle’s instructions to assist him.
• Once the Shadow Copy returned to him, Moyu suffered severe dizziness and collapsed. Liz caught him and concluded that his condition might be an aftereffect of exorcising or absorbing Nen.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates careful planning, adaptability, and increasing mastery of the Shadow Copy. He recognizes the danger posed by Illumi, changes tactics quickly, and discovers that Marshfolk remains can strengthen his shadow. However, absorbing so much material places considerable physical strain on him.
• Liz: Becomes increasingly suspicious of Moyu’s abilities after witnessing the Shadow Copy defeat the gang members and absorb their remains. Although she does not understand the truth, she chooses to protect him by deleting the surveillance footage.
• Illumi: Appears as an outside assassin hired to kill Tolan. His brief encounter with Moyu establishes Moyu as powerful enough to repel him, though Illumi leaves before fully preparing his Nen defense.
• The Marshfolk gang: Their deaths reveal that their bodies conceal a strange Nen-related substance, suggesting that the Marshfolk possess unusual biological or supernatural properties.

Significant Themes

• Secrecy and concealment: Moyu constantly hides his identity, abilities, and involvement, using the Shadow Copy and disguising his actions to avoid future consequences.
• Adaptability under pressure: The chapter emphasizes Moyu’s ability to abandon an escape plan and improvise when circumstances change.
• Power through absorption: The black material provides a new method of strengthening the Shadow Copy, raising questions about the relationship between the Marshfolk, Nen, and Moyu’s abilities.
• Trust and cooperation: Liz does not fully understand Moyu but still agrees to help him, showing growing trust and loyalty.
• The cost of power: Although Moyu gains significant strength, absorbing the Marshfolk’s remains causes severe pain and eventually leaves him unconscious.

Character Interactions

• Moyu secretly attempts to warn Liz about the Marshfolk and later asks her to erase the surveillance footage.
• Moyu’s Shadow Copy fights both Illumi and the gang members while Liz watches, leaving her confused about Moyu’s true capabilities.
• Liz observes the black Nen-infused material being absorbed and wonders whether Moyu is capable of Nen exorcism.
• After Moyu collapses, Liz cares for him and speculates that his fainting is a consequence of the mysterious exorcism-like process.

Chapter Summary: “Rabbit X Nen Thoughts X Commission”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu’s shadow absorbs the black viscous remains left by the dead Marshfolk. Liz initially mistakes his resulting collapse for ordinary Nen exorcism backlash.
• The substance contains faint post-mortem Nen—the residual souls and thoughts of the humans who had been transformed into Marshfolk. Moyu’s Shadow Copy purifies and absorbs it, but Moyu must endure the combined psychological impact of dozens of lingering consciousnesses.
• Two days later, the Detana Restaurant massacre has destabilized Laxiang City. With Tolan and the Patrick Mafia Family effectively destroyed, rival mafia groups prepare to seize his territory, while the Patrick family and Tolan’s relatives face ruin.
• The Hunter Association begins investigating the incident and the classified “Swamp Man Phenomenon.” Piyon, the Rabbit of the Zodiacs, arrives to inspect the overlapping humanoid scorch marks.
• Piyon behaves casually and attempts to film the scene for online views despite the Class B confidentiality status. Liz, concerned about being implicated, records Piyon instead. Piyon then reveals that she knows Liz deleted the restaurant’s surveillance footage and uses this as leverage to request a meeting with Moyu.
• Liz agrees, recognizing that Piyon would investigate Moyu regardless and that the Swamp Man Phenomenon is too dangerous to handle recklessly.
• Moyu awakens after two days of unconsciousness. Although suffering from headaches and mental exhaustion, he discovers that absorbing the Marshfolk remnants has roughly doubled the Shadow Copy’s strength.
• Moyu analyzes how the mafia members became Marshfolk. He concludes that Illumi’s manipulated Needle People likely forced some Marshfolk to kill their companions, bypassing the usual condition that transformations occur without outsiders present.
• Moyu examines the Replication Nen Box granted by “Perception.” It contains a one-use bead-headed Nen needle that can reproduce Illumi’s manipulation ability.
• Unlike Illumi’s normal needles, Moyu’s replicated needle can either create a mindless puppet or control an unconscious target while preserving their consciousness, memories, and Nen abilities.
• Moyu considers exploiting this ability to control Marshfolk and transform death-row prisoners into additional Marshfolk, allowing the Shadow Copy to absorb their remains without harming innocent people. He views this as a possible way to power up rapidly while remaining faithful to his moral principles.
• Moyu also recognizes that his encounter with Illumi indirectly gave him this opportunity and wonders whether fighting famous individuals may produce further rewards from Perception.
• At the Zoldyck estate, Milluki is tasked with erasing images and videos of Illumi’s high-profile battle in Laxiang City. He is shocked to see footage of Illumi being violently knocked through a wall and realizes that someone must have been strong enough to seriously injure him.
• Unable to remove all copies himself, Milluki hires an online contact named “L,” paying with the rare game item Ulala Magic Wand. He then spreads the news throughout the Zoldyck household, telling Tsubone and the young Killua that Illumi was badly beaten.
• Illumi, traveling by airship, relies on Milluki to erase evidence of the incident and appears confident that his younger brother will complete the task.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Becomes stronger through the absorption of post-mortem Nen but is forced to confront the psychological cost. He demonstrates analytical thinking by deducing the Marshfolk’s transformation conditions and develops a morally restrained strategy for exploiting his abilities.
• Liz: Remains disciplined and rule-conscious, but shows practical judgment by cooperating with Piyon rather than obstructing the Hunter Association. Her earlier illegal deletion of surveillance footage becomes a vulnerability.
• Piyon: Is introduced as energetic, mischievous, and seemingly irresponsible, prioritizing online content and entertainment even during a sensitive investigation. Beneath this unserious behavior, she is perceptive and shrewd, quickly identifying Liz’s involvement and pressing for access to Moyu.
• Illumi: His defeat at the restaurant reveals that he is not invincible and that his unusually public approach to the assassination was out of character. He also indirectly enables Moyu to obtain a powerful replicated manipulation ability.
• Milluki: Displays strong technical ability and loyalty to Illumi, though he is lazy, gluttonous, and easily distracted by games. Despite resenting the cost, he sacrifices his prized item to fulfill Illumi’s request.
• Killua: Reacts with astonishment to the news that Illumi was defeated, receiving an early reminder that the outside world contains dangerous opponents.
• Tsubone: Is skeptical of the rumor because Illumi is known for acting only when success is nearly certain.

Significant Themes

• The cost of power: Moyu gains a major increase in strength, but absorbing the Marshfolk’s remnants forces him to bear their lingering emotions and memories.
• Morality and exploitation: Moyu seeks a way to strengthen himself without killing innocent people, debating whether using criminals and death-row prisoners can make his plan ethically acceptable.
• Identity and the soul: The chapter emphasizes that Marshfolk are not merely monsters; traces of their original souls remain after transformation, complicating the difference between killing a creature and killing a human.
• Rules versus pragmatism: Liz represents strict adherence to regulations, while Piyon treats confidentiality more casually. Their interaction highlights the tension between institutional procedure and practical investigation.
• Information as power: Surveillance footage, online videos, and rumors become important tools. Milluki’s technical efforts, Piyon’s filming, and Liz’s evidence-gathering all show how information can expose or endanger powerful individuals.
• Unexpected consequences: Illumi’s actions create the conditions for the Marshfolk outbreak and inadvertently provide Moyu with a powerful new resource.

Character Interactions

• Liz and Piyon: Their contrasting personalities drive the investigation. Liz is controlled and cautious, while Piyon is playful and provocative. Piyon exposes Liz’s illegal actions and persuades her to arrange a meeting with Moyu.
• Moyu and Illumi: Though they do not meet directly in the chapter, their previous confrontation shapes the events. Moyu benefits from injuring Illumi, while Illumi’s abilities and actions inspire Moyu’s new strategy.
• Milluki and Illumi: Milluki complains about Illumi’s unusual request but ultimately works hard—and pays a significant personal cost—to protect his brother’s anonymity.
• Milluki and Tsubone/Killua: Milluki deliberately spreads the sensational news of Illumi’s defeat, amusing himself by shocking both Tsubone and the young Killua.
• Moyu and the Marshfolk: Moyu’s relationship with them shifts from simple combat to a deeper ethical and strategic problem, since their remains contain the souls of the people they once were.

Chapter Summary: The Hunter Association Needs Your Abilities

Key Plot Points and Events

• After being unconscious for two days, Moyu wakes up extremely hungry and raids Liz’s stockpile of instant noodles.
• Liz returns with Piyon, the Rabbit Zodiac and an ancient-text Hunter, who has come to investigate the Detana Restaurant incident.
• Piyon reveals that the Hunter Association has reviewed footage of Moyu and Liz’s battle with Tolan’s group. The Association is particularly interested in the Marshfolk, whose bodies sometimes become black, swamp-like substances after death.
• Piyon questions Moyu about his ability to absorb the mysterious substance. Moyu claims that he is a Nen Exorcist, using Nen exorcism as an explanation for his unusual actions.
• Moyu explains that he had previously encountered a Marshfolk at a hotel, which is why he was not surprised when the enemy at Detana Restaurant transformed after dying.
• Although Piyon remains uncertain why only some Marshfolk leave behind swamp-like remains, she cannot disclose all of the Association’s findings because of confidentiality regulations.
• To gain access to Moyu’s abilities and cooperation, Piyon formally invites him to join the Hunter Association’s Swamp Man Phenomenon Emergency Response Team.
• Elsewhere, other Zodiacs locate the family of three Marshfolk previously encountered by Moyu. The Association is also considering Saccho’s “Counseling Room” ability and searching for Davidson, the suspected creator of the Swamp Man phenomenon.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates calmness, quick thinking, and strong improvisational skills. He anticipates the Association’s suspicion and prepares a plausible explanation for his ability. He also shows no regret over risking himself in the restaurant battle because the experience produced valuable gains.
• Piyon: Is established as a capable but highly eccentric investigator. Despite her casual, phone-obsessed behavior, she carefully observes Moyu and asks perceptive questions. She is practical and willing to recruit useful outsiders, though she is frustrated by bureaucratic restrictions.
• Liz: Remains protective of Moyu and apologetic that the Association learned about the restaurant incident. Her concern is shown when she tries to stop him from eating instant noodles and offers to order proper food.
• The Hunter Association: Becomes increasingly involved in the Marshfolk investigation, seeking both an efficient identification method and information about their suspected creator.

Significant Themes

• Concealing one’s abilities: Moyu must carefully control what he reveals, since openly explaining a Nen ability would itself be suspicious.
• Institutional secrecy versus investigation: The Association possesses information about Marshfolk corpses but cannot freely share it, demonstrating the tension between solving the crisis and following confidentiality rules.
• Pragmatism and recruitment: Rather than arresting or condemning Moyu, the Association chooses to make use of his unique ability.
• The ambiguity of humanity: The Marshfolk’s uncertain status—human or something else—creates legal and moral complications.
• Comedy amid danger: Moyu’s frantic eating and Piyon’s compulsive phone gaming contrast with the serious investigation, giving the chapter a light, absurd tone.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Piyon: Their conversation is a test of suspicion and deception. Piyon probes Moyu’s knowledge and abilities, while Moyu gives carefully constructed answers without exposing the truth.
• Moyu and Liz: Liz acts as a caretaker and ally, while Moyu reassures her indirectly by showing that he does not blame her for the Association’s discovery.
• Piyon and Liz: Their ordinary, somewhat strained familiarity suggests they are colleagues rather than close friends. Liz treats Piyon as unreliable, especially because of her constant phone use.
• Piyon and the Association: Piyon’s recruitment offer reflects her role as the Association’s representative, while her frustration with legal and bureaucratic limits reveals her conflict with the institution she serves.

Chapter Summary: “The Difficult Part”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Hunter Association mobilizes to contain the rapidly spreading Marshfolk phenomenon.
• Piyon is sent to investigate the Detana Restaurant incident in Laxiang City, while Cheadle leads an investigation into a known family of three Marshfolk.
• Cheadle’s team includes Tiger Kanzai and Horse Saccho, whose contrasting personalities create frequent friction.
• The team arrives at a monitoring room beside an interrogation room, where the Marshfolk family appears completely normal.
• Because Marshfolk retain their original bodies, memories, and personalities, identifying them is extremely difficult. Their only difference is the hidden Manipulator ability implanted within them.
• Saccho prepares to hypnotically examine the young daughter’s genuine memories. His Nen-based psychological counseling requires him to be alone with the subject, creating a risk that he could himself become a Marshfolk.
• Saccho explains that every session will be recorded and voluntarily submitted afterward, allowing the others to determine whether he was transformed.
• Cheadle emphasizes that the phenomenon’s greatest danger is not merely its spread, but the possibility that infected people may unknowingly act under manipulation and later return to normal.

Character Developments

• Cheadle acts as the cautious, rational leader. She understands the technical nature of the Marshfolk ability and tries to prevent Kanzai from responding recklessly.
• Kanzai is portrayed as impatient, aggressive, and intellectually unsuited to the complex information in Swamp Man. His instinct is to solve problems through physical force, but this approach is dangerous when the enemy’s victims may be innocent or indistinguishable from allies.
• Saccho remains calm, analytical, and psychologically perceptive. He accepts the possibility of being infected and establishes safeguards through recorded counseling sessions.
• Kanzai and Saccho’s argumentative friendship is highlighted through insults and misunderstandings. Saccho mocks Kanzai’s limited comprehension, while Kanzai threatens to settle the matter with violence.
• The unnamed monitoring-room attendant quickly recognizes Kanzai’s temperament and chooses to communicate primarily with Cheadle and Saccho.

Significant Themes

• The difficulty of identifying evil: Marshfolk look and behave normally, making suspicion impossible to direct reliably.
• Free will and responsibility: A person controlled by a Manipulator may commit acts without awareness or intent. The chapter questions whether such a person should be punished for actions they did not choose.
• The limits of brute force: Kanzai’s straightforward approach is ineffective—and potentially disastrous—against a subtle ability that can turn allies into unwilling agents.
• Trust and verification: Saccho’s recording system demonstrates the need for evidence and safeguards when even trusted companions might unknowingly be compromised.
• The dangers of Nen dissemination: The chapter suggests that widespread access to powerful abilities can create uncontrollable consequences, with individual cases revealing a much larger social threat.

Character Interactions

• Cheadle and Saccho tease Kanzai for refusing or failing to understand Swamp Man, while Kanzai misunderstands their remarks and becomes increasingly frustrated.
• Cheadle gently criticizes Kanzai’s reliance on fists and urges him to study the ability so the investigation team can communicate effectively.
• Saccho calmly explains the risks of his one-on-one counseling method after Kanzai points out that an infected Saccho might deceive them.
• Cheadle’s internal reasoning shows why Kanzai’s simplistic sense of justice is dangerous: attacking someone who was manipulated would effectively punish an innocent victim rather than the true culprit.

Chapter Summary: “Finding the Caster”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Saccho the Horse uses his Nen ability, “Psychological Counseling Room,” to hypnotize a family suspected of being Marshfolk. His ability creates a private, soundproof counseling room where he can question people subconsciously while using a sand table to visualize their memories.
• After examining the daughter and both parents, Saccho determines that all three had attended Swamp Man author Davidson’s autograph session and had physically interacted with him.
• None of them possess memories of being transformed, suggesting that the Marshfolk condition is caused by a Manipulator-type Nen ability.
• Saccho concludes that the likely conditions for creating the first batch of Marshfolk include:
  • Being a loyal Swamp Man fan
  • Attending an autograph session
  • Owning a signed copy of the book
  • Physically touching Davidson
• He also believes that Marshfolk can spread the ability only by personally killing their victims, though Cheadle notes that at least two additional unknown conditions must exist. Otherwise, the Black Humanoid Scorch Marks would have spread uncontrollably.
• Cheadle emphasizes that identifying Davidson is more important than any containment strategy. The Hunter Association has already taken aggressive measures against suspected Marshfolk who attended autograph sessions and is investigating whether Nen Exorcists can reverse the transformation.
• Elsewhere, Moyu questions Piyon about why Davidson has not yet been found. He assumes the Hunter Association must possess a Nen user capable of locating people, but Piyon explains that no such person is currently available.
• Moyu realizes that, despite the Association’s resources, Marshfolk are extremely difficult to detect because they normally appear to be ordinary humans. He also recognizes that his own ability to sense their aura makes him unusually valuable to the investigation.
• Piyon asks Moyu why the Marshfolk he killed turned into black swamp mud. Moyu simply answers that he does not know.

Character Developments

• Saccho demonstrates the versatility and sophistication of his Nen abilities. His psychological technique allows him to extract information without directly interrogating or physically harming suspects.
• Cheadle shows strong investigative judgment, recognizing both the importance of identifying the transformation conditions and the urgency of locating Davidson.
• Kanzai remains impatient and practical, preferring to watch Saccho’s recorded findings rather than listen to a verbal explanation. His misunderstanding about Saccho conjuring a television provides comic relief.
• Moyu displays self-awareness and strategic thinking. He understands that he cannot personally stop a worldwide outbreak and accepts that the Hunter Association and V5 must lead the response. Nevertheless, he acknowledges the unique importance of his aura-sensing ability.
• Moyu also thinks ahead about Palm’s future potential, realizing that her people-finding Nen ability may not yet exist and considering whether he could influence her development before the main story.
• Piyon becomes increasingly frustrated with Moyu’s questioning, reminding him that she is supposed to be conducting the interrogation.

Significant Themes

• The limits of individual power: Moyu recognizes that even a powerful Nen user cannot personally resolve a global crisis.
• Information and investigation: The chapter focuses on identifying the conditions behind the Marshfolk transformation and tracing the phenomenon back to its caster.
• Hidden threats: Because Marshfolk appear normal and do not remember their transformation, conventional detection and containment methods are ineffective.
• The importance of the caster: The chapter reinforces that stopping Davidson is the only reliable way to end the spread of Swamp Man.
• Uncertainty and incomplete knowledge: Even after Saccho’s investigation, crucial transformation conditions remain unknown, leaving the authorities vulnerable.
• Preparation and foresight: Moyu’s thoughts about Palm show his tendency to plan for future threats and cultivate promising abilities before they fully develop.

Character Interactions

• Saccho calmly guides Xiao Duo and her parents through hypnosis, while Cheadle and Kanzai wait outside the sealed Psychological Counseling Room.
• Kanzai eagerly takes Saccho’s videotape but must retrieve the necessary viewing equipment from the surveillance room, amusing Saccho and briefly highlighting their contrasting personalities.
• Saccho and Cheadle analyze the family’s memories together, with Saccho providing evidence and Cheadle drawing broader conclusions about the Marshfolk outbreak.
• Moyu and Piyon discuss the Hunter Association’s failure to find Davidson. Moyu asks increasingly direct questions, while Piyon grows annoyed at being treated as the respondent rather than the investigator.
• Their exchange ends with Piyon asking about the strange black swamp mud left behind by Marshfolk killed by Moyu, deepening the mystery surrounding his ability and the phenomenon itself.

Chapter Summary: “Piyon: Y-You?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Piyon explains that when genuine Marshfolk die, they normally become ordinary corpses that gradually lose their warmth. This confirms that Marshfolk are fundamentally humans affected by Nen rather than beings completely transformed by it.
• Moyu questions whether the Hunter Association’s test subjects were truly Marshfolk, since the Marshfolk he killed disintegrated into black swamp-like mud instead of leaving corpses.
• Piyon dismisses the possibility of an error in the Association’s research, insisting that the subjects had undergone thorough examinations.
• Piyon recruits Moyu into the investigation team studying the Marshfolk and the Detana Restaurant incident. Her immediate goal is to keep Moyu involved so they can investigate why the Marshfolk he killed turned into swamp mud.
• Liz reports the conversation and developments to Cheadle after Moyu and Piyon leave.
• At the sealed Detana Restaurant scene, Moyu examines the overlapping humanoid scorch marks left by the Marshfolk.
• He concludes that the Marshfolk transformed on the spot when Illumi’s controlled Needle People accidentally triggered the conditions necessary for their transformation.
• Moyu writes down his observations and deductions about the Swamp Man phenomenon in Piyon’s notebook. Piyon is shocked to find that many of his conclusions match the Hunter Association’s research, while others go beyond what she expected.

Character Developments

• Moyu: He gains a deeper understanding of the Marshfolk and recognizes that their contradictory postmortem states may reflect his own unique relationship with the Shadow Copy. He realizes he stands between two moral paths: helping the Association stop the Marshfolk or exploiting the phenomenon to gain power by harvesting criminals and other victims.
• Piyon: Though irritated by Moyu’s blunt and deliberately annoying behavior, she acknowledges his usefulness and intuition. Her opinion of him rises sharply when she sees how accurately he reconstructs the case from limited evidence.
• Liz: She remains observant and supportive, relaying the important information to Cheadle rather than interfering with Moyu and Piyon’s new partnership.
• Illumi: His role becomes clearer: the Needle People he controlled unintentionally triggered the Marshfolk’s transformation by forcing them into the relevant conditions.

Significant Themes

• Humanity versus transformation: The Marshfolk are presented as ordinary humans altered by Nen, raising questions about whether they should be treated as victims or monsters.
• Good and evil: The two possible outcomes after death—normal corpses or swamp mud absorbed by Moyu’s Shadow Copy—symbolize opposing moral paths. Moyu considers whether to protect people or exploit the situation for strength.
• Moral choice and power: Moyu recognizes that his abilities could tempt him to disregard human life, but he ultimately leans toward helping the Association and preserving his moral boundaries.
• Observation and deduction: Moyu’s ability to derive complex conclusions from limited evidence highlights his growing competence as an investigator.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Piyon exchange sarcastic, exasperated dialogue, with Piyon comparing his irritating manner to Ging’s.
• Piyon formally brings Moyu into the investigation, creating a new working partnership.
• Moyu relies on Piyon for investigative materials but gives her detailed deductions in return, reversing the expected assistant-and-investigator dynamic.
• Piyon’s startled reaction to Moyu’s notebook—“Y-you?!”—marks her realization that he is far more perceptive and capable than she initially assumed.

Chapter Summary: “Are You Really Only Thirteen?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu organizes his deductions about the Swamp Man Nen ability in a notebook. He concludes that:
  • The ability was likely created by the book’s author, Davidson.
  • Its activation requires several conditions, including acknowledging the book and its author, obtaining a signed copy, touching Davidson, and fulfilling the conditions before dying.
  • The first transformed person became the original Swamp Man, while later victims became Marshfolk.
  • Marshfolk spread through death, particularly through killing, though unintended deaths may also trigger transformation.
  • Transformed Marshfolk retain the memories and characteristics of the people they copied.
• Moyu’s deductions impress and unsettle Piyon, who realizes that his analysis is more complete than the Hunter Association’s verified intelligence.
• After leaving Detana Restaurant, Piyon and Moyu book a flight back to Shivadani City, where the Hunter Association is based. Moyu informs Liz and Cheadle about the situation.
• During the flight, they discuss Davidson. He was last seen at a book signing in Laxiang City and has since vanished, suggesting that he knows the Hunter Association has uncovered his connection to the incident.
• Moyu warns Piyon that simply finding and killing Davidson may not end the crisis. Davidson may be forced to remain in Zetsu, and killing him could cause unpredictable consequences:
  • Existing Marshfolk might die with him.
  • Davidson could leave behind powerful post-mortem Nen.
  • His death-enhanced Nen might create an even greater calamity.

Character Developments

• Moyu demonstrates exceptional intelligence, deductive ability, and caution. He can rapidly reconstruct the likely rules and restrictions of a complex Nen ability from limited evidence.
• He also shows strategic maturity by considering consequences beyond the immediate goal of killing Davidson, especially the dangers of post-mortem Nen.
• Piyon shifts from confidence in the Association’s investigation to surprise and concern over Moyu’s superior analysis. She becomes more aware of how dangerous and complicated the Swamp Man incident truly is.
• Piyon also begins treating Moyu with increased admiration, openly comparing him favorably to another Hunter associated with a “tiger.”
• Their relationship becomes more familiar when they exchange contact information. Moyu saves Piyon under the teasing name “Bunny Girl.”

Significant Themes

• Death as creation: Death is not merely the result of the Swamp Man ability but its foundation. The book’s opening event—an accidental death followed by replication—mirrors the ability’s central mechanism.
• The danger of incomplete knowledge: The Association’s assumption that killing Davidson will solve the problem may be dangerously simplistic.
• Post-mortem Nen and unintended consequences: The chapter emphasizes that death can strengthen Nen rather than eliminate it, turning Davidson’s possible death into a potential catastrophe.
• Appearances versus reality: Moyu’s youthful appearance and age contrast sharply with his intelligence, judgment, and ability to anticipate complex dangers.
• Replication and identity: The Marshfolk retain the original person’s traits, raising questions about whether they are copies, replacements, or something in between.

Character Interactions

• Piyon reviews Moyu’s notebook but can only add minor details because his deductions already surpass the Association’s findings.
• She attempts to conceal her embarrassment by changing the subject and exchanging phone numbers with him.
• On the airship, Piyon repeatedly watches Moyu, impressed by his reliability and insight.
• Moyu questions her optimistic assumption that Davidson’s death would resolve the crisis, prompting her to reconsider the entire operation.
• Shocked by his reasoning, Piyon asks whether Moyu is truly only thirteen years old, highlighting the contrast between his age and his remarkable maturity.

Chapter Summary: “Who Is Kester?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• While traveling by airship, Moyu explains his theory about the Marshfolk, the trigger-based Manipulator ability implanted in them, and the possibility that Davidson may leave behind Post-Mortem Nen after death.
• Moyu questions whether Marshfolk who retain their bodies, memories, and souls after being freed can still be considered the original humans. He compares the issue to Kite’s resurrection as a Chimera Ant.
• Two days later, Moyu and Piyon arrive in Shivadani City. Piyon hurriedly completes her overdue investigation report on the Detana Restaurant incident, using Moyu’s written theories and evidence.
• Piyon sends the report to Beans, signing it “Kester, Piyon”—despite Kester not being a known Hunter Association member. This immediately makes Beans and Netero suspicious and curious about Moyu’s identity.
• Netero and Beans decide not to update the Association’s official information yet. In two days, dangerous criminals will be transferred to Shivadani City, allowing them to conduct experiments and test their theories about Davidson, the Marshfolk, and Post-Mortem Nen.
• At the Hunter Association entrance, Moyu senses a powerful, deliberate gaze from above. He briefly activates Nen, but the presence vanishes. He suspects Netero may have been observing him, possibly after learning about him from Cheadle.
• Meanwhile, Davidson has hidden himself beneath a swamp after realizing that his activities have been discovered. Another mysterious man tracks him down and approaches, expressing interest in Davidson’s “Swamp Man” ability and suggesting they talk through the night.

Character Developments

• Moyu/Kester: Demonstrates exceptional deductive ability, caution, and knowledge of Nen. His habit of qualifying his theories reflects strict family education from his previous life. He also shows philosophical uncertainty about identity and whether a person remains themselves after bodily or spiritual alteration.
• Piyon: Reveals herself as talented but irresponsible with paperwork. She procrastinates until the last moment, then relies on Moyu’s notes to strengthen her report. She deliberately includes his alias, “Kester,” partly to make the report appear more substantial, unintentionally drawing the attention of Beans and Netero.
• Beans: Becomes intrigued and concerned by the report’s unusual content and the unfamiliar name attached to it. His confusion highlights how closely he tracks Association members and activities.
• Netero: Shows his usual playful idleness while still carefully monitoring developments. He immediately recognizes the importance of Post-Mortem Nen and appears to take a personal interest in Moyu.
• Ginime: Acts as Piyon’s enthusiastic “errand boy” and chauffeur. He assumes Moyu may be important to Piyon—and perhaps romantically involved with her—and is pleased with his own decision to address Moyu respectfully.
• Davidson: Remains calm after discovering he has been exposed, indicating confidence in his ability and plans. He has gone into hiding but is soon confronted by an unknown, potentially dangerous individual.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Piyon debate the dangers of Post-Mortem Nen and the identity of the Marshfolk.
• Piyon treats Moyu as an informal investigative partner, borrowing his written material and placing his name before hers on the report.
• Ginime repeatedly calls Piyon “Rabbit sis” and refers to himself proudly as her errand boy, irritating her but providing transportation.
• Beans and Netero analyze Piyon’s report together. Netero notices the unexplained name “Kester” and enjoys Beans’s confusion.
• Piyon reacts immediately when Moyu releases Nen outside the Association, showing that she is alert to his abilities and concerned about possible threats.
• An unknown man confronts Davidson in hiding, setting up a future conflict or possible alliance.

Significant Themes

• Identity and continuity: The chapter asks whether a person remains the same when their body or nature changes, using the Marshfolk and Kite as examples.
• The danger of Post-Mortem Nen: Nen that persists after death is presented as a major threat requiring careful investigation and experimentation.
• Appearance versus reality: Moyu is publicly known only as “Kester,” while Piyon’s report inadvertently exposes his existence to the Association.
• Caution and preparation: Moyu’s habit of anticipating worst-case outcomes contrasts with Piyon’s procrastination and the Association’s deliberate decision to wait for more evidence.
• Hidden forces and surveillance: Moyu’s mysterious encounter with the unseen gaze, Netero’s apparent observation, and the man tracking Davidson all suggest that multiple powerful parties are quietly monitoring events.
• Cliffhanger: Davidson’s hiding place has been discovered by an unidentified man who is fascinated by the Swamp Man ability, leaving the nature of their coming interaction uncertain.