Swardani City

Swardani City
Kana	スワルダニシティ
Rōmaji	Suwarudani Shiti
Location Statistics
Inhabitants	Beans
Debut
Manga Debut	Chapter 288 (Hunter Association HQ) Chapter 328 (Debut)
Anime Debut	Episode 142 (2011)

Swardani City (スワルダニシティ, Suwarudani Shiti) is a sprawling metropolis where the Hunter Association headquarters is located.

Overview

Swardani City is a metropolis and the location of the Hunter Association headquarters.

Plot

Chimera Ant arc

In a flashback, Netero is seen on the phone with various government officials. They only desire that the Chimera Ants are killed as quickly as possible. Netero asks them if there are any restrictions, but they defer to the Hunters since they are the experts, with Netero realizing that the Hunter Association will take the fallout if any problems arise. An image of the Hunter Association headquarters is shown for the first time.

Beans paying his respects to Netero

After arguing with Morel on the phone, Beans quietly thanks Netero for his service and hopes that he can rest in peace. In a hospital, Meleoron is seen sitting by Shoot's bed. Knov and Knuckle are waiting outside as a senior doctor comes out from Gon's room. Knuckle approaches him and asks about Gon's condition. The doctor replies that Gon is still in extremely critical condition, and Knov says that he will bring specialists to Gon since he is a hero and deserves it. He swears he will not let Gon die, even if it means rebuilding half the hospital.

Knov tells Killua that he will organize a medical team for Gon. He invites Killua to come with him, but Killua refuses and says that he is going to save Gon. He then says that Gon will need the doctors until he gets back, leaving Knov stunned. As Killua leaves, he takes out his phone and repeats that he will be the one to bring Gon back. Meanwhile, Morel learns from Colt that the small Ant found within the Queen is actually a reborn Kite. After Netero gives his final instructions to the Zodiacs, eleven individuals are shown standing outside the Association's headquarters.

13^th Hunter Chairman Election arc

Hunters preparing to vote for the next Chairman

At the Association's headquarters, the twelve Zodiacs have Beans see who will get to decide the rules to elect the next Chairman, and he pulls out Ging's slip (a plan formulated by Ging before the other Zodiacs arrived). Cluck uses her ability to send ballots to the other Hunters, and the voting commences. Illumi informs Hisoka that both Gon and Killua are likely to die, leaving Hisoka concerned and confused. Illumi explains that they have another sibling in the Zoldyck Family, and he wants to kill them. Pariston leads the first round of voting, but since the turnout requirement isn't met, a revote is called.

The second round of voting again fails to meet the turnout requirement, and the Zodiacs discuss the situation in detail. On an airship above the city, Illumi and Hisoka discuss the situation with Alluka, with the former worrying that tens of thousands will die as a result of Killua's wish and asking Hisoka to kill Alluka if they can't get Killua to cooperate with them. As Killua, Alluka, and multiple Zoldyck butlers journey to the hospital, the Hunter Association's exorcist says that she is unable to heal Gon. The Zodiacs speak in front of the other Hunters to stress the need for them to vote, and during the session, Leorio asks Ging why he hasn't visited Gon. Ging's answer infuriates Leorio, who uses his ability to punch Ging.

Killua heading toward Swardani City

The election reaches a 95% turnout, and the next round of voting is narrowed down to the top 16 candidates. After escaping a crash caused by Illumi, Killua carries Alluka and uses Speed of Lightning to reach the Parasta airport, making his way by airship toward the hospital in Swardani City. As Illumi uses his needles on innocent civilians, Teradein, Loupe, and Bushidora team up with other Hunters to confront Illumi and those he's manipulating.

As the voting is narrowed down to the top 8 candidates, Hisoka and Illumi take out the forces of the new Pure Paladin Squad, with only Loupe and Teradein left alive. Killua is confronted by Illumi and several of his needle people, and even though he is sure that Killua is still leaving out details, Illumi learns that Killua may be able to heal Gon without harming their family. Hisoka kills Teradein as he reports what happened to the Pure Paladin Squad. The voting is narrowed down to the top 4 candidates: Pariston, Leorio, Cheadle, and Mizaistom.

Nanika healing Gon

After Ging and Cheadle argue back and forth about the election and Pariston, the remaining four candidates prepare to speak to the crowd. Killua arrives at the makeshift hospital built for Gon and waits for Alluka to wake up. As the candidates give their speeches, Alluka wakes up and Killua has Nanika heal Gon, the effects of which are felt by everyone nearby. The voting is narrowed down to Leorio and Pariston, but a crying Morel suddenly enters the auditorium and lets Leorio know that Gon is okay. Gon enters shortly after, and the two embrace as the crowd applauds Gon's return.

As Cheadle confronts Pariston, Gon spots Ging and runs to meet him, blaming himself for what happened to Kite. Ging assures him that it wasn't his fault and tells him to go see Kite and apologize. Gon votes for Pariston since Leorio is studying to be a doctor, and after winning the election, Pariston makes Cheadle his Vice Chairman and immediately resigns. Finally realizing that Killua was able to bypass Alluka's rules because he was giving an order, Illumi confronts his brother and desires to control both him and Alluka. But Killua quickly summons Nanika and sends Illumi back to Kukuroo Mountain. Now alone, Killua orders Nanika to never come out again, but Alluka yells at her brother for making Nanika cry, causing Killua to apologize and summon Nanika again as the two embrace.

Morel and Knov toasting to Netero

After meeting with Kite, Gon learns that Ging is waiting for him atop the World Tree. Later, Knov is seen with Morel and together the two buy a very expensive bottle of champagne with the money from their earlier bet, toasting in front of an image of the late Netero. Gon takes a picture of the Small-billed Swans and sends copies to Knuckle, Shoot, Meleoron, Palm, and Ikalgo, who all happily sit in Shoot's hospital room. He also sends the picture to Leorio, who is presumably still somewhere in Swardani City.

Dark Continent Expedition arc

At a meeting of the Zodiacs, Beans bursts into the room and shows them a video in which the King of Kakin announces that he plans to expand their empire to the Dark Continent, adding that they have hired Netero's son, Beyond, to lead their expedition. Beyond gives an impassioned speech urging people to make the journey with him. Before the Zodiacs can watch another video left by Netero, Cheadle announces that Pariston and Ging have requested to leave the Zodiacs (and she approved both). Lastly, she says that they have been contacted by the V5 to hunt down Beyond.

The Zodiacs taking Beyond into custody

From the video message left behind by Netero, the Zodiacs learn that Beyond's previous journey brought back new threats. He had forbidden his son from going there again until after his death, and he then orders the Zodiacs to explore the continent before his son does, telling them to return with hope. Beyond meets with the Zodiacs and allows himself to be put in their custody, confident that they will accompany him to the Dark Continent. Steiner discusses the situation with V5 officials and suggests allowing Kakin to join the organization (to become the V6) and having the Hunter Association supervise Beyond during the journey, with both sides ultimately agreeing to the deal.

Cheadle invites Leorio to join the Zodiacs, and he tells her that he has someone he would like to recommend for the other opening. Kurapika then calls Leorio and tells him that he agreed to join as well. At the Association's headquarters, Beyond signs the contract that puts him in their custody during the journey. At his first meeting with the group, Kurapika believes that Beyond has allies inside the Association and even a spy among the Zodiacs. The group then discusses their various roles for the expedition.

Kurapika using his Dowsing Chain to examine the applicants

As numerous applicants are interviewed during the 289th Hunter Exam, Kurapika uses his Dowsing Chain while in Emperor Time to spot several spies trying to become Provisional Hunters, with Mizaistom greatly impressed by his ability. During a meeting of the Zodiacs, Kurapika uses the same method to determine that Saiyu is the informant.

Succession Contest arc

After questioning Beyond, Kurapika and Mizaistom conclude that Saiyu is working with Pariston to break Beyond out of custody. Mizaistom worries about Beyond escaping before they reach the New Continent, but Kurapika points out that Beyond's contract with Kakin included taking the civilians there. He adds that Beyond wants to highlight Nasubi's achievement and that he won't cause any problems during the voyage, guessing that the V5 might turn the ship around if he breaks his promise and disappears. After continuing to watch Saiyu and learning his ability, Kurapika tells Mizaistom to monitor him with surveillance cameras and call logs. He then suggests restraining Saiyu right before they reach the New Continent, guessing that the escape plot will be carried out right after the landing festival. The two discuss the importance of finding evidence that ties Saiyu to Beyond and worry about what the other Zodiacs will think if they arrest Saiyu and don't find any.

Trivia

• In Crunchyroll's translation of the 2011 anime adaptation, the place's name is "Swaldani City".

Intertextuality and References

• The Swardani cityscape image in the last panel of Chapter 330, showing an elevated lane with buildings and vegetation on the sides, is based on a photo taken from somewhere in the Shuto [Metropolitan] Expressway No. 4 Shinjuku Route (Tokyo, Japan) near the Hotel New Otani; for reference, it was seemingly before and facing the buildings of the companies Mori Trust (closer) and Alsok (the highest).
• The facade of the hospital where Gon was staying appears to be based on the real-life Keio University Hospital, one of the largest and most well-known general hospitals in Japan.

Translations around the World

Language		Name
French		Swaldani