"I didn't remove his ability," Kurapika said as Joey approached the unconscious Fourth Prince. His voice dropped lower. "Keeping it for too long has… side effects."
Joey blinked, then nodded.
Of course. Kurapika had to enter his Scarlet Eyes state—Emperor Time—to use the chain that steals abilities.
And maintaining Emperor Time drained his lifespan.
Kurapika's refusal to hold onto the ability made perfect sense.
That meant the Fourth Prince was merely unconscious, not neutralized.
Joey crept forward cautiously. No nen beast appeared.
That was the sign.
Killer Queen appeared behind him—its gloved palm reaching out to touch the prince.
From this moment on, if Joey willed it, a flick of Killer Queen's thumb would reduce the Fourth Prince to ash.
This was the First Bomb.
Its drawback? The target couldn't touch anyone or anything—not even living beings—without risking detonation.
Inconvenient. But better than letting the bastard escape.
Meanwhile, the remaining guards in the Fourth District had been taken care of—Joey's crows had done most of the work.
But not alone.
Tita and Sarugov—the Fourth Prince's own guards—had turned on their master.
Joey gave both of them a respectful nod, then turned to the strange door now embedded in the wall. He knocked—three long, two short.
The door opened.
Kacho and Fugetsu peeked out.
Even stoic Tita's eyes widened when she saw the twin princesses.
The girls had been warned, but still gasped when they saw the Fourth Prince's scorched body on the floor.
"We can either move him and replace him," Joey said, turning to Kurapika, "or finish it here. Up to you."
Kurapika needed answers—the location of the remaining Scarlet Eyes—and interrogation might take time.
So there were two options:
Move the prince back to the Twelfth Prince's room, replace him here with a double.
Or extract information now, then eliminate him immediately.
Kurapika didn't hesitate.
"Transfer him."
Joey nodded.
Replacement would allow them to fabricate a cover story for the dead guards. But it required coordination—with Tita and Sarugov's help.
It also meant Joey had to warn Hisoka, who would now be in charge of watching the prince.
A risk. Hisoka would learn details about the First Bomb.
But not too dangerous. Hisoka had already seen enough to suspect Joey's tricks.
Also, with the nen beasts still a threat, only Hisoka could be trusted to keep the prince under control.
"Let's move him to the Twelfth Prince's room. I'll monitor him personally. His ability is troublesome—and his beasts even more so."
Joey was clearly speaking to Kurapika… but his glance drifted to Tita.
He suspected she knew more about the prince's abilities than she let on.
After all, she had seemingly understood Joey's previous warning not to train the prince too quickly—and didn't attack him.
So how did the Fourth Prince know his nen ability?
It was a mystery Joey would dig into later.
"For now," Joey added, "we've got a 12-hour window. I'll maintain the ability until then. If we don't get what we need… I blow him up."
That was Joey's hard limit. His remaining nen reserves wouldn't hold much longer.
He wouldn't waste time healing the Fourth Prince either.
As long as he didn't die outright, that was good enough.
Joey eyed the prince's limbs thoughtfully.
Turning him into a limbless torso might simplify things.
"No need," Kurapika said firmly, catching the look. "Let's not complicate it."
With the plan set, Joey turned to Fugetsu and handed her a ladybug-shaped button.
"When this becomes a real insect, that's the signal. Open the portal to the Twelfth Prince's room. I'll handle the replacement."
"And me?" Kacho asked nervously.
Fugetsu could create one-way portals—but returning required her help.
"You're coming with me," Joey said. "I'll protect you. But if the First Prince sends more agents to monitor us—especially ones using En—then I'll have to switch tactics. Don't be alarmed."
Kacho didn't quite understand, but she nodded.
Joey's real plan was simple:
If the First Prince made another move, he'd kill the Fourth Prince and disguise Hisoka as the replacement.
Joey would pull Kacho out safely—she had to remain in the Twelfth District. Otherwise, Fugetsu's gate would strand them.
Joey carried the unconscious prince through Fugetsu's portal with Weather Report's assistance.
The Twelfth Prince's bedroom was empty—but Hisoka sensed their arrival with En and entered.
Joey flinched—but relaxed when he heard Hisoka's voice.
Biscuit Krueger was guarding the Twelfth Prince now. That meant Joey didn't need to track Hisoka down—he was already here.
He handed the prince over to Hisoka and instructed Kacho to wait.
Then he returned through the gate.
Back in the Fourth District, Fugetsu was visibly drained.
Kacho, however, seemed fine.
Fugetsu opened a gate to the 11th District, allowing Kacho to retreat.
Joey waited until the gate closed, then activated Golden Experience.
Another clone.
He molded the body. Reshaped the face. Adjusted the height.
When it was done, it was the Fourth Prince, down to the last detail.
He and Kurapika gave Tita a nod, then walked through the gate—returning to the Twelfth District.
Once there, both exhaled in unison.
In front of the Twelfth Prince, they pretended to deliver a report on their "meeting" with the Fourth Prince.
In truth—Kurapika had to begin the interrogation.
"I wanted to place a condition on him," Kurapika said, stroking the chain on his pinky finger. "Make him live in repentance."
Joey knew that chain: the Judgment Chain, Kurapika's tool for binding enemies to oaths—and executing them if they broke them.
It had once killed a member of the Phantom Troupe.
Back then, Kurapika had used it alongside the Chain Jail—a tool that could only be used on the Troupe. If he used it on anyone else, the Judgment Chain would kill him instead.
Kurapika was merciless—to others and to himself.
But the Judgment Chain wasn't limited by that restriction.
He could use it on the Fourth Prince.
Still…
"There's a risk he might remove it later," Joey muttered. "And come back more pissed off."
That was what worried him. Nen abilities could be exorcised.
Kurapika might succeed now—only for the Prince to return later.
And Joey had already learned what Kurapika's "persuasion" meant.
Brutal enforcement.
"So what now?" Joey asked.
Kurapika's eyes shimmered. Regret. Resolve. Mourning.
He was close—so close—to retrieving the Scarlet Eyes of his clan.
And yet…
"Now I think it's best to end him," Kurapika said coldly. "He didn't bring the eyes aboard. They're still in Kakin. Once we return, I'll find them. But his aura—his beasts—Tita's warning... all point to one conclusion. He must die."
"You're right," Joey said.
Killer Queen appeared behind him.
Kurapika didn't even process what was happening until Joey's thumb pressed down.
The sleeping prince glowed.
His guardian beast flickered—then vanished.
And so did he.
Gone. Vaporized.
"...uh," Kurapika blinked. "We were in the middle of a conversation."
"You're right!" Joey gasped. "Sorry! My stress got the better of me."
"It's fine," Kurapika sighed.
Then frowned. "Joey—look."
Joey followed his gaze.
The Twelfth Prince's nen beast—once a fluffy teddy bear—had grown larger.
From its pouch, a smaller version climbed out.
It locked eyes with Joey.
Then vanished—and appeared instantly on his shoulder.
"I have time now. I can help you!" the tiny voice chirped.
Its claws gripped Joey's shirt.
Kurapika tensed.
Then another cub emerged—this one climbing onto his shoulder.
"Could it be," Kurapika whispered, "that as the other princes' nen beasts die, Princess Momoze's evolves?"
Joey nodded. "Yes. Her beast's second power might be support-based. That pocket—those duplicates—they weren't there before."
"Momoze has unlocked nen," Kurapika added. "And even with minimal training, she's stronger than before. Her beast is improving too."
Their words weren't whispered.
They wanted Momoze to hear them.
And she did.
Her smile bloomed.
"I wonder," she murmured. "Is that… a good thing?"
She wasn't wearing the mask now.
No longer the elegant, serene young royal.
Just a teenage girl, alive again.
Joey smiled. "Of course it's good."
Momoze lit up. "Then I have something for you."
She fetched two boxes—gifts.
"I made them myself," she said shyly. "Wool sweaters. I picked the best yarn. Measured your sizes by guess."
Joey blinked, then smiled—genuinely.
He accepted the box. Didn't unwrap it.
Instead: "Thank you."
Kurapika bowed too, equally moved.
"It's me who should thank you," Momoze said, smiling brighter.
That night, rumors spread through the Fourth District.
Guards missing. Burned room. A blown-out door.
The Royal Army investigated.
But the Fourth Prince—alive in appearance—showed no interest in seeking revenge.
Unable to find a clear culprit, they blamed it on a mysterious nen beast.
Just like the vanishing incident in the Twelfth District.
Later, in a quiet room—
Joey's clone sat with Tita and Sarugov.
"So… can you tell me what really happened with the Fourth Prince?"
Tita nodded.
"Of course."