For now, the Twelfth Prince's Guardian Beast doubles had latched onto Babimaina and Kangjidol.
From the known evidence, when the beast attaches itself or manipulates a target after getting verbal permission, it consumes the prince's stamina.
There were plenty of clues supporting that theory, especially considering the beast had already activated more than once.
"Slaka must be close to his limit—be careful," Kurapika warned.
"That's an opportunity. Juan's heading down to the lower decks—he still has unfinished business there. Once Slaka makes a move, Juan will explode. There'll probably be casualties, maybe even some abilities revealed." Joey took the lead.
"You're starting now?" Kurapika didn't object.
"Yeah. I need to infiltrate the King's Tier and look for something. That requires a big enough distraction." Joey wasn't waiting anymore.
Opportunities had to be created. Once the chaos broke out, he would make his move on the King's Tier.
"I'll start pulling back from the First Tier as well. You'll need to watch over Momose's safety," he added.
He couldn't risk staying by Momose's side during the operation. It would draw too much heat. Better to vanish with Fugetsu and the Kacho double to the lower decks.
Once there, Hisoka would have no more reason to maintain the clone. He could dissolve it and rejoin Melody while disguised as Kacho.
Fugetsu, from Tier Eleven, would be made to "disappear," just like the Fourth Prince.
"I'll support you. Good luck," Kurapika said. He understood Joey's reasons—it all traced back to the Fourth Prince.
After gathering intel from Tita, Joey had already shared his suspicions with Kurapika.
After separating, Joey sought out Biscuit and began exhausting the remaining energy of Golden Experience.
Within minutes, his Nen had run dry, and under Biscuit's massage, he fell asleep.
When he woke an hour later, her face was the first thing he saw.
"Thanks," he said, sincerely grateful.
Biscuit's skill was undeniable. What would normally take days to recover from, she'd fixed with just over an hour of sleep.
Even his lingering fatigue had vanished.
His mind felt razor sharp.
His En spread out, covering all of Tier Twelve—and even extended outward, blanketing neighboring sectors.
"Joey, you're progressing frighteningly fast," Biscuit muttered.
She could still picture the raw, eager boy who'd come to her begging to train Golden Experience. Back then, he'd been a rough gem. Now, he was a polished emerald.
"Wipe your drool," Joey said dryly.
She blinked, dabbed her mouth—nothing there. "Hmph."
"Something's up. Royal Guards just entered." Joey checked the time—it was past 3 AM.
Even night owls were asleep by now.
But the Royal Guard had shown up at the First Tier.
"Let's go." Biscuit stood, intrigued.
"Yeah." The Weather Beast reappeared on Joey's shoulder, and the light bent around them, cloaking them as they exited Momose's quarters.
In the hallway, they saw guards rush past, gathering at the doors between Tier Eight and Seven.
Smoke billowed from Tier Eight—likely a fire.
From Tier Seven, body bags were being carried out. Bajou stood beside the Seventh Prince in the corridor.
Joey and Biscuit exchanged a look, then crept closer—until Joey raised a hand.
His En had touched another's.
Any closer and the mirage would fail. They'd be exposed.
Judging by the aura's origin, the other En belonged to a well-dressed, long-faced man beside Bajou.
Joey recognized him: Sicalte, another Hunter Association recruit who joined via the website, just like Bajou, now a guard for the Seventh Prince.
His En radius was around five meters. Joey stopped two meters beyond that, and he and Biscuit used Gyo to eavesdrop.
"It was Satobi—he suddenly attacked, shouting, 'It asked me to!' I suspect he was manipulated, likely by Kurapika in Tier Twelve, who might've tampered with him during Nen training."
Of all the scandals to be part of—this one landed squarely on them.
The Seventh Prince flat-out accused Kurapika: "I'll be filing charges against the Twelfth Prince. This is murder!"
But the Royal Guard wasn't buying it. This was already the second incident involving someone screaming "It asked me to" before attacking: "Your Highness, the High Court has rejected your petition. The same thing happened at 8 PM today—except that time, it was the First Prince's soldier attacking the Twelfth Prince's."
The Royal Guard relayed the Chief Judge's message: "This reeks of attempted framing. Find the actual assailant and provide evidence. Only then can we issue an arrest warrant."
"Satobi is the proof! Get me the best doctor—save him!" the prince demanded.
The court had spoken. There was no arguing with Coreabatolo—the Chief Judge rarely changed his decisions.
"Of course, Your Highness. We'll do everything we can," the Royal Guard promised.
But the medics carrying Satobi suddenly froze. "No good—his vitals are crashing! Move!"
Joey watched calmly. The Weather Beast raised its hand toward Satobi.
If Satobi survived, he'd become a liability to Tier Twelve.
Better to eliminate him now.
Biscuit knew Joey was acting but didn't understand how.
Satobi convulsed on the stretcher. Foam bubbled from his lips.
Joey's method was simple—he used air manipulation to seal the oxygen mask against Satobi's face, cutting off his air.
As long as the mask stayed on, he'd suffocate fast.
Despite having medics, the team seemed amateur. As Satobi shook and foamed, one grabbed a defibrillator.
After a few jolts, Satobi went limp under the hopeful eyes of the Seventh Prince and the guards.
Dead.
Joey rubbed his chin. That medic… really?
Or was that part of the act too?
If so, who gave the order? Why?
Something about this scenario felt fresh—like everyone on this ship was wearing a mask, following a script from an invisible director.
The Seventh Prince turned wordlessly and left, fuming.
With him gone, only the Royal Guard remained, carrying three corpses from Tier Eight.
One was familiar—drained of blood, clearly the same assassin that had been active in Tiers Twelve and Thirteen.
The other two were unidentifiable, faces frozen in terror as if they'd died from fright.
Joey and Biscuit locked eyes—confused.
Satobi had likely been corrupted by the Twelfth Prince's Guardian Beast. He said "I'm free" and was triggered into attacking.
Judging by the bodies, he killed two people before being subdued.
But the Tier Eight deaths were different.
One corpse was drained—classic assassin work.
But the other two? No ID. Just raw fear etched into their faces.
Tier Eight had been evacuated after the Eighth Prince's death. His mother had taken all the guards to a private VVIP suite.
So who were these two? Joey guessed they belonged to the First or Second Prince. Only they had intel on the hidden camera in Tier Eight.
If so, why were they scared to death?
They were Nen users. For them to die of fear, the attacker must've had some intense psychological ability.
Still… this wasn't much of an intel win.
The fire in Tier Eight might've destroyed the item Joey had infused with Golden Experience. His En sensed no human presence there now.
The object was either incinerated or taken away.
He'd wait and see. If tomorrow brought intel from Tier Two, then it had been retrieved.
If not, someone else had it—possibly Benjamin's men.
But they wouldn't uncover its secret—because Joey hadn't activated Golden Experience's trigger to reveal the camera hidden inside the book.
At most, they'd find a blank notebook.
He'd planned to retrieve it tomorrow. Didn't expect the Second Prince to move so fast.
Once the Royal Guard left with the bodies, Joey and Biscuit returned to Tier Twelve under their mirage.
"So Satobi really wasn't the assassin. Maybe even Berrient isn't," Biscuit muttered, brow furrowed.
"The sudden deaths in Tier Eight were strange. If not Berrient, then maybe the one left behind—Mokunoshita, the Eighth Prince's guard," Joey said.
"But the Eighth Prince is gone. Why would Mokunoshita still act?" Biscuit was skeptical.
"Because his loyalty might not have been to the prince," Joey said.
"I'll relieve Kurapika now. You two get some rest. The coming days won't be peaceful," he said, entering Momose's chamber.
At 6 AM, she woke to start her day.
She seemed fatigued, despite eight hours of sleep.
Joey knew why. "Your Guardian Beast activated last night—it drained your stamina."
While he spoke, his En picked up movement from Slaka.
He hadn't slept. His state was terrible—bloodshot eyes, arms streaked with self-inflicted cuts, sipping coffee with twitching lips.
Far across the room, Hisoka's eyes locked on him.
And in another corner, Berrient watched Hisoka, suspicion in his gaze.
At 9 AM, Sakata arrived first.
He approached Kurapika directly: "The court has sent agents to Tier One. The First Prince is now under 72-hour full surveillance."
Joey instantly understood.
The camera-hidden book from Tier Eight had been recovered—by the Second Prince's people.
And they had an exorcist. Without one, they wouldn't have uncovered the hidden camera.
If they had an exorcist, they could also remove the Back Window Bird Benjamin's agents had placed on them.
The way they delayed contact until morning? Smart.
Otherwise, anyone would guess collusion between Tier Two and Tier Twelve.
Especially Benjamin.
First Prince being monitored? Excellent.
Sakata's delivery also confirmed Zhang Lei's goodwill.
At 9:30, Kurapika admitted the first new recruit—someone from the Third Prince.
Joey had reverted to Weather Report, but could still access Golden Experience. After a few tests, they confirmed Kurapika could still draw Golden Experience after activating his own powers.
The training resumed.
Around 10 AM, Joey received a message from Piyon.
**"Mizai wants to borrow Tita and Salkov. The lower decks are on the brink. A gang war's about to break out.
The Ayii family launched an attack on the other two, and things are escalating. Mizai's stretched thin. Tita and Salkov agreed—if you have other plans, let me know.
Also, they're disguised, so don't worry.
Lastly, the mafia's started searching the passengers. They've probably struck a deal with the Phantom Troupe. Mizai has located one of them. Once you're ready, we can move."**
"I'll head down tomorrow at the latest," Joey replied.
Judging by Slaka's condition, he'd crack before then.
If things went smoothly, he and Hisoka would descend together.
"You?" Piyon replied instantly.
"Yeah. Me." Joey responded, then put away his phone.