Hunter x hunter: I’m interested in Nen abilities

Chapter 45: Coming to an End

The royal capital of Kakin was currently draped in a veil of gentle rain.

With the king's birthday fast approaching, even the princes who were usually scattered across the kingdom or abroad had gathered in the royal palace to attend various banquets and events.

The rain fell softly outside the windows as Babimyna stood at attention in a quiet room.

Across from him, seated at the desk, was the First Prince Benjamin. Like a lion cloaked in human skin, his imposing presence filled the room as he swiftly scanned the mission report presented to him. With each page read, he passed it to his advisor, the scar-faced, bald black man, Balsamilco, who methodically reviewed the contents until the last page.

Benjamin closed his eyes briefly, deep in thought. The advisor mulled over the report internally.

A Hunter Association one-star hunter, Alantriel Blanchatte, had indeed come into contact with the empty tomb of the First King of Kakin...

The malicious nen beast left behind by the late Prince Naste had been neutralized by Alantriel and was deemed no longer a threat to the Hui Guo Rou royal family...

The deposed queen and her entourage of bodyguards had been confirmed dead...

Babimyna reported being possibly monitored via birds…

And, most troublingly, the whereabouts of the illegitimate child were still unknown, with their survival status unconfirmed.

Benjamin opened his eyes and asked in a deep voice, "By elimination, could this Haru be the one who picked up the missing Hunter License? Or worse, could he actually be the missing illegitimate child?"

Balsamilco analyzed, "He is a Conjuration-type Nen user, but we cannot rule out the possibility that he's masquerading as an Enhancement-type… or even a Manipulation-type."

Babimyna added, "In that case, the birds suspected of monitoring me could be his doing."

"It's not impossible for Nen abilities to accelerate the growth of an infant to appear as a five-year-old child. But then… who could have facilitated such a process?"

Balsamilco hesitated. "The deposed queen was an ordinary person. Could she have awakened her Nen at the moment of death? The chances are slim. Even if the infant's body was forcibly matured, Haru's demonstrated intelligence, capability, and mental acuity remain difficult to explain. Unless…"

"Unless this Haru is not a real person but a puppet conjured by someone hidden behind the scenes," Babimyna suggested. "But that would lead to endless speculation without answers."

Benjamin nodded, finally making a decision. "Since no body has been found, assume the illegitimate child is alive. Since his location is unknown, assume he harbors hostility toward us and will seek revenge in the next ten or twenty years. Always remain prepared for battle."

"Yes!" Both Balsamilco and Babimyna responded in unison.

Benjamin's gaze lingered on the report as he ordered, "Compile all data related to this Haru and the other Hunters mentioned in Babimyna's report. For now, we'll consider this matter closed. I have other engagements to attend."

The First Prince rose from his chair. For once, he wasn't wearing his usual military uniform but a tailored black suit meant for the grand ball. His towering figure cut an imposing silhouette as he left the room.

As he walked through the carpeted corridor, he encountered a tall woman dressed in an elegant gown—none other than the Second Prince, Camilla Hui Guo Rou.

According to Kakin tradition, the king's children were all referred to as "princes," regardless of gender. The monarchy did not practice primogeniture; the throne was determined by a brutal succession war declared by the reigning monarch.

The elegantly dressed Second Prince, Camilla, sneered with disdain. "How unexpected, Benjamin. A brute like you is still hanging around. What is it? Hoping to tarnish the air in the palace I will one day inherit?"

Benjamin's face contorted with anger, his expression ferocious. "Foolish woman, when the succession war begins, you'll regret every word."

With that, he turned and strode toward the ballroom.

Balsamilco watched his prince's retreating figure, noting how outsiders often underestimated Benjamin due to his rough demeanor. Little did they know, Benjamin was a strategic thinker with both courage and intelligence, a natural candidate for the throne.

Meanwhile, Camilla's expression remained cold as she entered the ballroom filled with nobles and dignitaries.

---

Elsewhere, Ginta sat at a desk, staring at his laptop screen.

The Hunter Association database yielded no records of a Hunter named Haru. He wasn't listed among the licensed Hunters or even among past participants in the Hunter Exam over the last twenty years—or fifty years, for that matter.

"A pseudonym, perhaps?" Ginta munched on a bag of chips, pondering aloud. "If his situation is like Biscuit's, with his body permanently altered, and he's changed his name, then it's like he's become an entirely different person… Unless we get a DNA sample and run it through the international database, it's impossible to verify his true identity."

Should he ask Cheadle for help?

Ginta dismissed the thought. Though both were members of the Twelve Zodiacs, their stances often clashed. He leaned toward conservatism, while Cheadle favored more progressive reforms.

Besides, Haru seemed genuine enough. His interactions with Menchi showed no ill intent.

Shrugging, Ginta set the matter aside. He had more pressing matters as a Poacher Hunter to attend to.

---

Meanwhile, on the ship bound for the port city of Grellborg in Ochema, Menchi knocked loudly on Haru's cabin door.

"Haru, let's go out and explore! Shizuku's coming too."

From inside came Haru's muffled reply, "Training! No time!"

…

Inside his cabin, Haru clutched his chest, a faint frown on his face.

(End of Chapter)