Zepile (ゼパイル, Zepairu) is an antiques trader who helps Gon, Killua, and Leorio raise funds for the Southernpiece Auction in Yorknew City.[1] He is also an examinee in the 288th Hunter Exam.[2]
Appearance[]
Zepile 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 the edges, a white shirt underneath with a large collar that reveals a large amount of his chest, and dark pants.
Personality[]
Zepile is an appraiser in all things related to the black market[3] and auctions. As a former counterfeit artist, he feels remorseful for creating counterfeits and buys back his work, hoping to redeem himself.[1]
Plot[]
Yorknew City arc[]
Gon and Killua scour the Bull Market to raise enough money so that they can buy a copy of Greed Island. While they're successful in most of the items they bid on, someone named Zepile outbids them on a weird vase. The two boys take their three items to a pawnbroker who first values a "worthless" wooden statue at 
1,500, but then reveals that the wood is valuable, offering them 80,000. Fortuitously, Zepile enters the shop and states that the broker is taking advantage of them. He details the history behind the wooden vault and deduces that the pawnbroker was planning on stealing its contents. Exasperated by this declaration, the pawnbroker is at a loss for words, while Zepile merely smiles at the outcome.[4]
Zepile walking with Gon and Killua
Gon and Killua thank Zepile for helping them, but Zepile asks for 20% when they sell the vault. Killua claims that it's too much and offers to buy him lunch instead, and Zepile quickly accepts the offer, much to their surprise. At a restaurant, Gon and Killua explain their reason for raising an exorbitant amount of money and how they used Gyo to identify possible valuable items. Zepile tells them that he made the vase they attempted to win. He explains that he is a former counterfeiter and tries to buy back his old counterfeits. He also asks if he can help them in any way because he is happy that his vase caught their eye.[1]
Later, Zepile opens up the wooden vault and reveals the treasure inside. He appraises it to be worth 300 million and suggests that they sell the contents at the Preview Market. At the Preview Market, the three are greeted by Taloon, who offers 250 million for the contents, but Zepile refuses. Although disappointed, Taloon understands and leads them to the presentation room, signaling to someone as he leaves. A large group of people then enter the presentation room, and one in the crowd begins to doubt the authenticity of the items, making Zepile anxious.[1]
Zepile assuring Gon and Killua that they can rely on him
The man continues to doubt the authenticity of the items, and even though Zepile tries his best to reassure the others, the man still manages to sway the crowd in his favor. Afterward, Zepile curses the man who questions the authenticity of the vault and its contents. Gon and Killua wonder what tactics the man used on the crowd, and Zepile explains it all to the boys until Leorio gets in contact with them to inform them about a lead on the Phantom Troupe.[5] The boys then rush away to meet Leorio and leave Zepile in charge of the bidding process. Though reluctant at first, he gives in and tells the boys to count on him.[6] Before the boys tail the Phantom Troupe, Killua tells Leorio to contact Zepile and work with him on the auction.[7] After being caught by the Troupe, the boys use what Zepile taught them about doctoring methods in order to escape from Nobunaga.[8]
Zepile and Leorio enjoying a drink together
As soon as the boys return to their hotel, they find Leorio and Zepile enjoying themselves with some drinks and snacks. The boys thank Zepile for teaching them about doctoring methods. Zepile is glad he could be helpful, pointing out that forgery could be useful against the Troupe. Leorio says that Zepile was telling him all about forgery, impressed that there's so much one can do with it.[9] The next day, Zepile and Leorio sell the wooden vault at the Preview Market for 355 million. Although Leorio is elated, Zepile is disappointed and claims that they could have made more than 400 million if they had had a better time slot. Leorio jokes about splitting the money in half, and Zepile wonders if he is really their friend. He then tells Leorio that he plans to stick with them since he knows that he will get more opportunities. He adds that the experience will be priceless, and Leorio happily agrees. After Leorio meets up with Kurapika and the others, Gon asks where Zepile is, and Leorio replies that he went to the bank to pick up the check and then to find more items to sell.[10] As the Troupe makes their way toward the Hotel Beitacle, Zepile's location is also shown on the map.[11]
Greed Island arc[]
Zepile preparing to attend the auction with Gon and Killua
The day after Kurapika falls unconscious, Melody tells Zepile that it isn't just fatigue since her flute won't work on him. Zepile suggests taking Kurapika to a doctor if his condition doesn't improve, offering to call one he knows if they don't want to risk taking him to a hospital. The next day, Zepile, Gon, and Killua attend the Southernpiece Auction.[12] When the bidding starts for a copy of Greed Island, Gon asks Zepile about the hand signals to place a bid, and Zepile confirms that the auctioneer announces the highest bid among them. Gon accidentally raises up his thumb, and the auctioneer recognizes that Gon wants to double the price to 2.4 billion. Livid at Gon's mistake, Zepile tells him that it's the signal to bid the same increment as the last person, adding that he can't take it back once it's been recognized. As the auctioneer asks for any other bids, Zepile nervously says that they have no way to pay if they win, warning Gon that he may be arrested for malicious interference and fraud. Battera thankfully raises the bid to 2.5 billion, and Zepile gives an enormous sigh of relief.[13]
Five days after the auction, Zepile is seen selling a vase before he meets up with Gon and tells him that he made 80 million into 100 million. Gon sees his new balance, and Zepile says that he can now buy his Hunter License back from the pawnshop. Both Gon and Killua are impressed that he made the money so quickly, but Zepile assures them that it was easy with 80 million in seed money. He adds that he didn't want to disappoint Gon since he entrusted his entire fortune to him. Gon thanks him, and Leorio adds that he would have had to pawn his own license if things didn't work out. Zepile tells them not to thank him, reminding them that he took 50% of the profits as their contract stated. Gon then realizes that Zepile was able to make 40 million in only five days, and Zepile reminds them that he's a professional, telling them to call if they need him and saying goodbye.[3]
As Zepile smokes a cigarette and walks away, he wonders why he has to be such a showoff as it's revealed that he really only made 15 million and had to make an illegal 5 million loan by using his organs as collateral. He also tells himself that he should have offered to make the deal by the 9th, not the 8th, realizing that he couldn't have asked for an extension once he had made the promise. He wonders how he should pay off his new debt since he isn't into making counterfeits anymore and since he would need seed money if he wanted to deal in antiques. He realizes how incredible a Hunter License is since a pawnshop offered Gon 100 million in cash, guessing that it would sell for 100 times that amount. He then has an epiphany, saying that he should become a professional Hunter and then sell his license, adding that he could live off the interest for the rest of his life. He then runs off into the distance and says that he needs to think of a strategy for the exam.[3]
Zepile knocked unconscious by Killua at the Hunter Exam
On the day of the 288th Hunter Exam, after the examiner tells the examinees to take the badges of five others, Killua begins to dart through the crowd and knock everyone unconscious. Zepile is seen lying on the floor with a pool of drool next to his mouth. He recounts what happened and says that he saw a shadow flying through the crowd and everyone collapsing. He adds that he only later realized it was Killua, who told him that he would be the only one to pass that year. Zepile was left confused and then instantly knocked unconscious by Killua's attack. He reveals that his doctor told him it was a precise strike to his neck and that a martial artist told him it was a superhuman feat.[2]
Abilities & Powers[]
Zepile is a skilled sculptor, able to craft and recognize credible fakes. He is the one who taught Gon and Killua the methods to open the wooden vault. Furthermore, Zepile is knowledgeable in the workings and proceedings of auctions, enough to act as an advisor for the two boys.
Nen[]
Zepile is a Nen genius, having unconsciously used Nen when he made his counterfeit vases.
Manga Appearances[]
Battles[]
| Battles |
|---|
|
Trivia[]
Zepile's counterfeit vase
Seed Urn
- The design of Zepile's counterfeit vase shares some similarities with Kakin's Seed Urn used in the Seed Urn Ceremony.
- 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 | Mind | Skill | Body | Nen | Ingenuity | Intelligence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yorknew City arc | 3/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 3/5 |
Intertextuality and References[]
- The appearance of Zepile's counterfeit vase resembles the facial features of the Dogū clay dolls from the late Jōmon period of Japan.
Anime and Manga Differences[]
- In the 1999 anime adaptation, Zepile does not take part in the 288th Hunter Exam.[14]
- In the 2011 anime adaptation, Zepile's examinee badge number in the 288th Hunter Exam is #1100.[15] In the manga, the number is not revealed.[2]
Miscellaneous[]
- Zepile's 2011 Japanese voice actor, Masami Kikuchi, voiced Wing in the 1999 anime adaptation.
Translations around the World[]
| Language | Name | |
|---|---|---|
 Arabic
|
زيبايل (Zibayil) | |
 Chinese
|
仙派 (Xiān pài) | |
 French
|
Zepairu | |
 Russian
|
Зепайл (Zepayl) | |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hunter × Hunter - Volume 10, Chapter 87
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Hunter × Hunter - Volume 15, Chapter 148
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Hunter × Hunter - Volume 13, Chapter 124
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Hunter × Hunter - Volume 13, Chapter 121
- ↑ Hunter × Hunter - Episode 80 (1999)
- ↑ Hunter × Hunter - Episode 66 (2011)