Hunter x Hunter 402: The Plan To Kill A Kakin Prince  (2025)

Hunter x Hunter has now released its second chapter since its return from the hiatus, HxH 402, titled “Letter.” This chapter is currently the most wordy chapter in the history of HxH, making it quite a read, but it is filled to the brim with information.

The Succession War is getting more intense, with more princes of the Kakin empire facing death as they are being targeted by others. Here’s everything that transpired in HxH 402, broken down.

Prince Benjamin’s Men In Action in HxH chapter 402

• Rihan Figures Out More About Tubeppa’s Nen Beast
• Balsamilco Plans to Kill Prince Halkenburg

HxH 402 started off with 3rd Prince Zhang. He was told that if it’s just him, as well as Woble and Tubeppa, who remain in the Succession War, then the latter two will withdraw. In return, it would be asked of him that Sakata and Hashito keep extending their support. Prince Zhang also gave that same man another one of his coins, with his Nen beast’s ability still being unknown. So far, it hasn't had any effect.

More interestingly, the chapter moved on to the 5th Prince Tubeppa, where she was signing the peace treaty. When she signed it, Rihan noticed that her Nen beast suddenly showed itself. He concluded that her Nen beast must work with some conditions. Rihan is one of first Prince Benjamin’s men, and the more Rihan knows about someone, the more dangerous he becomes with his Nen ability, Predator. His ability was showcased before against Prince Salé-Salé, and it led to the demise of the latter.

HxH chapter 402 also showcased another one of Prince Benjamin’s men, specifically the captain of Benjamin’s employees, Balsamilco Might. Balsamilco showcased some weird mechanic in his shoes that allows him to hide a very dangerous tool that he has in his possession, the Silent Killer. This tool allows him to kill via the spread of pathogens that proliferate inside the human body and even hasten decomposition, making determining the cause of death impossible in an autopsy. However, in the air, these pathogens can't survive for more than 30 seconds.

Balsamilco plans to use this against 9th Prince Halkenburg. If Balsamilco can unleash this on Halkenburg in a room with no air circulation, it’s pretty much impossible for him to survive the assassination.

Fans also got information that seems to confirm another child of Beyond Netero among the bodyguards. Salkov, a bodyguard of Prince Tserridench, mentions that he had Zetsu since he was a baby, an indication of Netero’s curse on his children.

The Plan To Save Fugetsu

Prince Luzurus Might be Behind Fugetsu’s Deteriorating State

As fans know by now, Fugetsu’s sister, Kacho, died from leaving the Black Whale on a lifeboat in an attempt to leave the Succession War. This ended in her death as it goes against the rules. After that, however, her Nen beast took her form to stay by her sister Fugetsu’s side. Ever since that event, Fugetsu’s state has been deteriorating for an unknown reason, as she is taken over by low-level evil spirits.

In Hunter x Hunter 402, Kacho showed Melody a picture of Fugetsu’s back, and it had a weird mark that could be a result of an injection. This mark, as Melody says, is most likely the result of a Nen ability. Melody believes that Fugetsu fell into a trap set by someone and that triggered all that’s happening with her right now.

Whatever the ability that was used on Fugetsu was, it made her believe that she could use her ability, Magic Worm, as much as she wished, and that has taken a toll on her.

It’s believed that some kind of drug was used on her, and the biggest suspect here would be 7th Prince Luzurus, who is involved with the mafia and would also be involved with drugs. It’s possible that Luzurus might not even be aware of the traps set, as they’re from his Nen beast that he has no control over.

That would mean that he couldn’t stop it if he wanted to, leaving the others no choice but to plan his demise to save Fugetsu.

To achieve that smoothly, however, they have to come up with a plan where they can get rid of Luzurus without it being traced back to them. The plan would be to get him to the area with lifeboats, where he could be placed, and then made to die due to leaving the allowed parameter.

However, they’d need access to Luzurus’s room. Kaiser, a member of the justice bureau who has a crush on Melody, will help them here as he came up with a plan to visit the rooms of all the princes to give them letters they will pretend are from Fugetsu’s deceased sister Kacho. This will allow Fugetsu to open her power in any of those rooms, including that of Luzurus.

Prince Fugetsu Visiting the Other Princes Is A Part Of The Plot

Everything Is A Part Of The Plan To Take Down Luzurus

After planning on how to take down Luzurus, Prince Fugetsu and Kaiser go from Prince to Prince to deliver letters they claim are from her late sister.

They start with Prince Benjamin. Prince Benjamin’s nen beast is able to keep Fugetsu’s spirits at bay for some time. He makes a mention of Martial Law, something that Kaiser believes he will abuse in the future.

Fugetsu also delivers her letter to Prince Tyson and Tubeppa, before visiting their main targets, Luzurus. After reading the letter he is given, Luzurus finds it weird that the letters are about spreading discord among the Princes and not about protecting Fugetsu, which leads him to believe every letter is different. With that, it sets the plan in motion as the group now has access to Luzurus’s room with Fugetsu’s ability.

Fugetsu’s spirits start coming back through at that point but she is given a Haiku from Basho, a character that is well known to fans from the Yorknew arc. This Haiku will protect her from lower spirits for some time and reads as follows:

Pure Light of Winger

Glittering Flakes Fluttering

Grace the Frozen Path

This Haiku isn’t a permanent solution but it will help Fugetsu until Luzurus is dealt with, even though there’s a possibility that the cause of her deterioration might not be him at all.

The final panel of the chapter might go on to reveal a huge clue about what’s in a letter to Prince Halkenburg. The birth of Prince Halkenburg is hinted at, making it possible that he might be the son of Beyond Netero that everybody has been looking for. The secret of Prince Benjamin and the depravity of Tserriendnich are also mentioned.

Now, Kurapika will have to find a way to limit the bloodshed and end this Succession War as no prince can escape the Black Whale until it ends.

Hunter x Hunter is available to read via Viz Media. The series can be read by the fans officially and for free on the Shonen Jump and the Manga Plus app. The release date for the next chapter of Hunter x Hunter, Hunter x Hunter chapter 403, is set to be October 20, 2024.

Hunter x Hunter (2011)

Animation

Action & Adventure

Comedy

Fantasy

Science-Fiction

Creator

Yoshihiro Togashi

Number of Episodes

148

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix , Crunchyroll , Hulu