Eve
Kakin throws a festival as 200,000 passengers board the Black Whale. The ship's order is laid out — five class tiers, martial law, military-run phones, a one-way bulkhead sealing Tiers 1–2 off as the contest's only 'hunting grounds' — while Balsamilco briefs Benjamin's soldiers to act as guards until the order for 'Operation Assault' comes. Kurapika promises Oito a way to avoid the battle, marks the bulkhead as an escape route, and senses aura rising from Woble's cradle where nothing should be.
- DecisionCanonicalKurapika accepts the Woble contract
Kurapika serves as bodyguard to the infant Fourteenth Prince Woble and Queen Oito — a posting he took because a pair of Scarlet Eyes is held by the Fourth Prince. He promises Oito they will look for a way to avoid the succession battle altogether.
InvolvedKurapika · Oito Hui Guo Rou · Woble Hui Guo RouLocationRoom 1014 (Woble & Oito)▸Consequences (2)
- Kurapika enters the succession war on the weakest side
- His true mission — contact with Tserriednich — must run through the war
- RecordCanonicalThe Black Whale's rules are laid out
Five tiers, royal family on top, steerage below; martial law throughout; phone lines and corridors military-controlled; the Tier 2/3 bulkhead openable only from above. Balsamilco tells Benjamin's soldiers the first two tiers are the contest's only 'hunting grounds' and holds 'Operation Assault' in reserve.
InvolvedBalsamilco Might · Benjamin Hui Guo Rou · Kurapika · Oito Hui Guo RouLocationBlack Whale No. 1▸Consequences (1)
- Kurapika earmarks the Tier 2/3 bulkhead as a possible escape route for Oito and Woble
- ConversationCanonicalThe Zodiacs are stretched thin before departure
Mizaistom warns Kurapika that crime on Tiers 3–4 already outruns Kakin's preparations — a fraction of the needed clinics and doctors boarded — and that he and Botobai must reinforce ship security instead of attending Zodiac meetings.
InvolvedMizaistom Nana · Kurapika · Cheadle YorkshireLocationBlack Whale No. 1 - DiscoveryCanonicalAura rises from Woble's cradle
Kurapika senses a burst of aura from the infant's cradle and turns to find nothing. The first hint that something invisible already lives with the Fourteenth Prince.
InvolvedKurapika · Woble Hui Guo RouLocationRoom 1014 (Woble & Oito)
- The ship's five-tier structure and martial law define the arena
- Only Tiers 1–2 are 'hunting grounds'; the voyage lasts two months
- Something with aura is already in Woble's cradle
