038 (Vol 4) HxH: Tombbound Power

On the Black Whale, even a veteran sailor with a lifetime of seafaring behind him and now working for the Hunter Association—mistook the approaching storm.

The sailors under his command immediately began muttering superstitions, convinced it was an omen of death. And the rest of the passengers, who knew next to nothing about sailing, panicked even more.

A riot was inevitable under such tension, forcing Kurapika to step in and calm the crowd with the help of Mizaistom Nana and the others, who had started getting anxious themselves.

...

On the third floor, in a cramped room, two men shared the space quietly.

"It really seems we've sailed off the map," Ging said, reclining on the bed with his hands behind his head as he listened to the chaos outside.

"I'm really looking forward to it. The Dark Continent…"

Pariston, lounging on the bunk below, didn't respond. He silently flipped through the pages of a book, but the subtle curve of his lips betrayed his excitement.

"Dark Continent…"

...

Just as quickly as the riots had begun, they quieted down again.

The Black Whale was under the control of an elite pilot. Though storms and rough waters persisted, there were no major issues. Sea beast activity was avoided with practiced caution.

The upper management soon began broadcasting calming messages, while the Hunter Association swiftly dealt with those who had incited the unrest. Things gradually stabilized.

Even though strange sounds caused by bizarre weather conditions occasionally echoed across the decks, panic never took hold again.

And so, the Black Whale continued its careful voyage into uncharted seas.

Weeks passed in the blink of an eye.

...

On the first floor, inside a high-security luxury prison cell—

"Are we nearing our destination?"

Lying on the bed, Beyond finally opened his eyes.

"About time, huh? After being stuck in here so long, I feel like my joints are rusting."

He sounded casual, but his gaze drifted toward the cell door.

At some point, the guard rotation system had quietly changed. Instead of the usual one-man watch, all three guards—Kanzai, Ginta, and Cheadle Yorkshire—sat outside, staring silently through the iron bars. Not even a game of cards in sight.

"This is the final stretch of the voyage," Kanzai said harshly, rubbing his hands together like he was preparing for something. "Don't even think about pulling anything."

The other two said nothing, but their eyes echoed the same warning.

Beyond simply chuckled. "Heh heh heh~"

Whatever security measures the Hunter Association put in place—he had already moved beyond this prison.

...

Soon, the sun hung high in the sky, casting its rays across the deck of the Black Whale. In the distance, the blurred silhouette of the continental plate appeared on the horizon.

The two-month voyage was finally coming to an end. Their destination was within reach.

When the scouting navigators relayed the news, both the upper and lower decks exploded in celebration.

Arriving safely in the New World was a moment destined to go down in history.

Everyone rejoiced—except for a few rooms tucked away on the first floor.

...

"We've finally arrived," Bill said with a relieved exhale inside room 1014.

Only once they were on solid ground would their escort duty truly end.

"The next step should be the landing ceremony, followed by the royal succession hosted by Kakin, right?" Kurapika asked, after finishing a call with the Hunter Association regarding updated security protocols.

He offered a polite nod to Queen Oito before glancing over at Ronnel, who was chewing contentedly on takoyaki, holding a small box in his lap.

"Want one?" Ronnel asked, holding up a toothpick with a golden ball of takoyaki on the end, steam wafting upward.

The rich, savory aroma—unlike anything from the Six Continents—made even the staff mopping the floor pause to swallow their saliva.

"No, thanks."

Kurapika looked at the takoyaki for a moment, then quickly turned away. He wasn't entirely sure, but something told him those ingredients didn't come from anywhere familiar.

Ronnel didn't press. He just popped the ball into his mouth, eyes fluttering closed in satisfaction.

"This chewy, firm meat… it's delicious. Not like anything from back home. It's got that deep-sea richness—something primal. I doubt any meat on the Six Continents could compare."

He happily reached for another.

"If any gourmet Hunters were aboard, they'd be losing their minds right now."

As he savored the next bite, Ronnel recalled how he'd come across such a strange and flavorful ingredient.

It had been shortly after they entered unknown waters—when the Black Whale had the misfortune of sailing into a brutal clash between two giant eight-clawed octopuses and a massive squid.

The chaos affected large portions of the ship and nearly caused a second wave of panic.

The Hunter Association handled everything, but Ronnel… Ronnel had been the only lucky one.

Using his particle clone, he'd slipped through a gap in the ship's hull and witnessed the underwater battle up close.

The three monsters went at it viciously, turning the sea crimson.

Countless fish, crabs, and smaller sea beasts were caught in the crossfire—victims of a battle they didn't even understand.

Those poor creatures had no idea what hit them.

Then came the sharks, drawn by the blood—adding to the chaos.

But Ronnel's clone darted through the battlefield, scooping up bucket after bucket of freshly killed, high-quality seafood before it could spoil.