Zepile (ゼパイル, Zepairu) is an antiques trader who helps Gon raise funds for the Southernpiece Auction in Yorknew City,[1] as well as Examinee #1100 in the 288th Hunter Examination.[2]
Appearance
Zepile's 2011 design
Zepile is a man who has short, light brown hair with long sideburns on both sides of his face. His most prominent feature is his wavy, thick, brown eyebrows. He wears a red blazer with black stripes on edges, a white shirt underneath, which has a large collar that reveals a large amount of his chest and a dark pants.
Plot
Yorknew City arc
While Gon and Killua scour the Bull Market to bid on valuable items. However every item they bid on, they're outbid by someone named Zepile. Though the boys manage to procure some valuable items and sell them to a local pawnbroker. One of the items they tried to pawn was a wooden statue that the pawn broker claimed it wasn't of great value so he offered to buy it off of them for 80k Jenny and to check the age of the wood. Zepile then enters the shop and claims the broker was taking advantage of the boys on the wooden statue. He then details the history behind the wooden statue and that the pawn broker was planning on stealing the contents within the wooden statue. The pawn broker flabbergasted by Zepile's deduction tries utter something in his defense, but Zepile simply smirks.[3]
Zepile enjoys a meal with Gon & Killua
Back in the Bull Market, the boys thank Zepile for helping them. Zepile modestly claims it was nothing and simply wants 20% of the contents of the wooden statue, but Killua says they'll buy him lunch, to which he agrees too. At a restaurant, Zepile enjoys his meal and after learning how the boys managed to get a hold of such valuable items from using their Nen abilities and that they're trying to accumulate a large sum of money to buy the game Greed Island in order to meet Gon's Father Ging Freecss. Zepile then explains to them that he's a former counterfeit maker and whenever he finds his old counterfeits on the market he tries to buy, no matter what the price. Zepile also asks the boys if there's anyway that he can help them, because he felt inspired to help them after talking with them and really enjoyed their conversation they just had with one another.[1]
Sometime afterwards Zepile hammer and chisels open up the wooden statue revealing the treasures inside. Zepile examines the contents and claims even if they sold it all at a low price they'd get 300 million Jenny for it all. This excites the boys Zepile suggests they sell the contents at the Preview Market and on the way there he explains what the Preview Market is all about. At the Preview Market they're greeted by Koneruto an after examining the treasures offers 250 Million for the treasures, but Zepile refuses. Although disappointed Koneruto understands and leads them to the presentation room and as he leaves he signals someone. A large group of people then enter the presentation room and one of the people in the crowd voices his doubt of the authenticity of the items making Zepile grow anxious.[1]
You can rely on Zepile
The man continues to doubt the authenticity of the items, even though Zepile tried his best to reassure the treasures value, the man still manages to sway the crowd to his favor. Afterwards in the Bull Market, Zepile curses the man that questioned the authenticity of the treasures. The boys inquire what tactics the man used to man the crowd question the authenticity of the treasures, so Zepile explains it all to the boys until their friend Leorio gets in contact with them to inform them that he's got a lead on the Phantom Troupe.[4] The boys then rush away to meet Leorio leaving Zepile in charge of the biding process. Though reluctant at first, gives in and tells the boys to count on him.[5] While the boys tail the Phantom Troupe, Killua has Leorio contact Zepile, to help him Preview Market bidding.[6] The boys use what Zepile taught them to escape their imprisonment by Nobunaga.[7]
Zepile and Leorio enjoy a drink together
As soon as the boys return to the hotel they were staying at, they find Leorio and Zepile enjoying themselves with some drinks and snacks. The boys thank Zepile for teaching them the bluff tactics earlier. Zepile was thankful for their praise and according to Leorio he learned a lot from the stories that Zepile told him about.[8] The following day Leorio and Zepile sell the treasures at the auction for 355 Million Jenny, although Leorio was elated by the profits made, Zepile was dour and surly, claiming they could have made more than 400 Million. Leorio stated if they all split the money in half they'd have 177 Million for themselves, this makes Zepile question Leorio's friendship with the boys. Kurapika then contacts Leorio to meet up with him, so Zepile goes to the bank to validate the check and then find more items to sell.[9] Zepile's location during the the Phantom Troupe hunt in Yorknew City is revealed on a map.[10]
Greed Island arc
Gon and Killua along with Zepile, ready for the auction.
The day after Kurapika goes into a coma, Zepile checks up on him and learns that his condition hasn't changed from Leorio. Melody informs Zepile her flute has had no effect on Kurapika and doesn't believe he doesn't have an ordinary fever due to fatigue or illness. Zepile assures Melody that in the worst case scenario that he needs to go to a hospital, but he's still too fragile to be transported, he'll get in contact with an old friend of his to check up on him and Melody appreciates the sentiment. The following day Zepile accompanied by Gon and Killua attend the Southernpiece Auction.[11] At the start of the Auction for the copy of Greed Island; Gon inquires Zepile about the hand signals everyone is giving. Zepile explains that they're for and Gon accidentally preforms one of the signals causing the price for the game to double. Livid by Gon's mistake, Zepile proclaims what he did was a major blunder and the worst case scenario would be they'd be accused of fraudulent participation, be forbidden to bid any higher, and then be taken to jail.[12]
However Auctionee #16 bids higher and saves them from such a fate; making Zepile take a sigh of relief and thinks they almost died.[12] Five days after the auction Zepile appraises a pot to a client and later that same day catches up with Gon, Killua, and Leorio to return Gon's checkbook. Zepile managed to raise Gon's 80 Million to 100 Million as he promised, which should be enough for him to buy back his Hunter License. Killua praises Zepile for his hard work, but he acts modest and humble claiming all he had to do was buy items for cheap and sell them all for an expensive price. Curious, Gon inquires how Zepile managed to raise the money in five days. Zepile states that it wasn't easy and had to be vigilant to avoid counterfeits and also mentions that he'll take 40% of the profits.[13]
Zepile knocked out by Killua in the Hunter exam
Zepile then leaves the group, but not before saying to not hesitate to contact him for any more help in the future. Though far away from them, he regrets lying to them, since he actually only managed to win back 15 Million Jenny, while the 5 Million was taken from a loan shark and should have returned the money on the 8th and not the 9th. It's revealed that Zepile being over confident claimed he could raise enough money on the 8th rather than the 10th. Reflecting on his actions Zepile is filled with regret and ponders that if he had a Hunter License of his own, then he'd pawn it 10-20 it's original value. Remembering that detail, Zepile becomes inspired to get his own Hunter License in order to live a lavish life of luxury and then heads off to register for the Hunter Exam.[13] On the day of the 288th Hunter Examination, Zepile is shown to be one of the examinees, but is knocked unconscious by Killua, whom also knocks out all of the other applicants in order to finish the Exam quickly as possible.[2]
Abilities & Powers
Zepile is a skilled sculptor, able to craft as well as recognize credible fakes. He is the one who taught Gon the methods to open a wooden chest. Furthermore, Zepile is knowledgeable in the workings and proceedings of auctions, enough to act as a guide to Gon and Killua.
Nen
Zepile is a Nen genius; he uses Nen unconsciously to make his works of art more attractive.
Trivia
- Zepile's 2011 Japanese voice actor, Masami Kikuchi, voiced Wing in the 1999 anime adaption.
- According to the "Hunter × Hunter Manual" section found in the Yu ☆ Yu ☆ Hakusho official character book (Shueisha Jump remix), Zepile's stats are:
| Story Arcs | Spirit | Skill | Strength | Nen | Talent | Intelligence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yorknew City arc | 3/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 3/5 |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hunter × Hunter - Volume 10, Chapter 87
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hunter × Hunter - Volume 15, Chapter 148
- ↑ Hunter × Hunter - Volume 10, Chapter 86
- ↑ Hunter × Hunter - Volume 10, Chapter 88
- ↑ Hunter × Hunter - Volume 10, Chapter 89
- ↑ Hunter × Hunter - Volume 10, Chapter 90
- ↑ Hunter × Hunter - Volume 10, Chapter 93
- ↑ Hunter × Hunter - Volume 11, Chapter 101
- ↑ Hunter × Hunter - Volume 11, Chapter 103
- ↑ Hunter × Hunter - Volume 12, Chapter 111
- ↑ Hunter × Hunter - Volume 13, Chapter 120
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Hunter × Hunter - Volume 13, Chapter 121
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Hunter × Hunter - Volume 13, Chapter 124