021 (Vol 4) HxH: Tombbound Power

However, the egg-in-the-pot ceremony also has a time limit. If more than one prince remains after two months, the ritual will automatically fail.

Take Bomber Genthru's Nen ability, Countdown, for example—its power lies in planting explosive Nen markers on a target. But if those markers are removed or the Nen is disrupted before detonation, the technique fails to activate and deals no damage.

According to Emuksu, after searching through Ickshonpe's "Internet Kingdom," he discovered that even in the history of the Kakin Empire, there were once peace-loving princes who refused to harm their siblings.

But such cases are exceedingly rare. To ensure the princes engage fully in the succession war, Kakin kings have long cultivated conflict between their children—going so far as to instill grudges from childhood.

Take Benjamin and Tserriednich. Or Camilla and Halkenburg. Though born from the same mother, they all harbored intense hatred for each other, wishing nothing more than to eliminate their siblings with their own hands.

As for the unusually close bond between Kacho and Fugetsu, that's likely due to two factors: they're twins, and perhaps more importantly, King Nasubi believed the upper princes would crush the lower ones anyway, and so paid little attention to their upbringing.

The few princes who favored peace had tried to band together, refusing to participate in the egg-in-the-pot ritual. They shared a silent understanding: do not kill one another.

But the outcome was always the same.

The old king would strike first—brutally and decisively. Like autumn wind stripping away leaves, he executed the pacifist princes and propped up the youngest one, still innocent and malleable, as the next heir.

"A coward who cannot withstand blood and fire is unworthy of the Kakin throne."

That is what every king who suppressed the pacifist faction would say.

Every reigning monarch had once been the victor of a previous succession war. Cold, ruthless, unfeeling—men whose hearts were carved from stone. The character of such men never allowed for mercy. Not even for a beloved daughter or son.

And Nasubi, a king who rose to power from the ranks of the lower princes, was no exception. If anything, he was even more brutal.

When Luzurus and the others stopped fighting among themselves, they knew what would come next.

The king would act.

The execution of Zhang Lei had already proved it. Luzurus was certain of it.

Now that Benjamin was gone, their next opponent… would be the giant looming above them all—their father, King Nasubi.

...

Time was running out. Nasubi's paranoia was unmatched, and after the incident with Zhang Lei, his suspicion only deepened.

If he so much as sensed treachery, he wouldn't hesitate. He'd rather kill an innocent than risk letting a threat slip by.

And so, Luzurus, who understood his father all too well, couldn't help but feel his knees go a little weak.

Still, the message he'd received from Ronnel brought a bit of comfort.

"Don't worry. I won't interfere directly in the war between the princes—but if Nasubi takes action outside the rules, I won't just sit by and watch."

"I hope you'll be a better man than your father."

That was Ronnel's promise.

Even so, the shadow Nasubi had cast over Luzurus since childhood ran deep. Not even Ronnel's reassurances could wipe it away completely.

But if it weren't for Ronnel, he would've already died—whether at the hands of Benjamin or Halkenburg. All he could do now… was trust him.

...

Not just Luzurus—Kurapika and the others had realized it as well.

If the princes stopped fighting, the one who orchestrated this war wouldn't sit idle.

Their next enemy… was the king.

The relief they had briefly felt after Benjamin's defeat quickly evaporated. A new pressure settled in.

Their expressions turned grim.

"We shouldn't let the other princes know about this yet."

Everyone exchanged glances and came to a silent agreement: they would only report Benjamin's death.

There was no need to stir panic with rumors about Nasubi. Not unless it became a certainty.

After all, the fear and influence Nasubi wielded over the princes far surpassed that of Benjamin.

...

After settling on a course of action, the group shared a few final words before retreating to their designated rooms to pass along the news.

"That's great!"

"We made it!"

In room 1010, Kacho and Fugetsu threw their arms around each other, crying and laughing at the same time as they called each other by their childhood nicknames.

The constant threat of death had finally lifted. The peaceful days they once knew felt possible again.

Their mother, the sixth queen, Seiko, wiped tears from her eyes. She didn't relax until Melody had repeatedly confirmed the truth.

For the first time in days, the mother and her children could finally breathe easy.

...

Of course, Kacho and Fugetsu weren't the only ones haunted by the fear of death.

After Seko heard about the deaths, she was so shaken she barely slept.

She had initially hoped Nasubi would intervene—but when he didn't, she lost all faith.

Now, with Benjamin—the most dangerous prince—confirmed dead, the weight crushing her chest finally lifted.

...

Next door, in Momoze's room.

After hearing the news, the gentle thirteenth prince offered a warm, genuine smile.

Tch. Even someone as kind as Momoze didn't feel the slightest bit of sorrow for Benjamin's passing. That said a lot about how unpopular the man really was.

Kacho and Fugetsu probably felt the same way.

To them, Benjamin wasn't a brother. He was a monster. A walking nightmare that had shattered their peace and hunted them like prey.

...

Elsewhere, in another quiet room, thirteenth prince Marayam reacted in his own way:

"...Benjamin is dead? The bad guy? Oh! The bad guy's finally dead—dead!!"

His mother, Queen Sevanti, ignored the boy's childish joy and calmly confirmed the truth with Leorio, Hanzo, and the others—wanting to know every detail of what happened.