I know you already know this but then again, Hunter X Hunter is not mine. This wonderful anime story is owned by Yoshihiro Togashi
CHAPTER 12: Guinea Pig
Just as soon as the last person put on the wristband, a door appeared on the other side of the room.
"I see," Kurapika said as he watched the metal-made door.
"At this door, select O to open, X not open." Gon read aloud.
"Forcing us to use majority rule already?" Leorio said.
Was it actually serious? They didn't wait for hours just to keep the door shut. Of course, they want to open the damn door!
"The answer should be obvious…" Leorio said irritably, pushing the button.
Sam was the last to press.
Results were shown on the black screen: four O, and two X.
"What?!" Leorio exclaimed as the door slid open and disappeared into the brick wall. "Who pressed the X button? Can't you people tell X and O apart?!"
"I know what an X and O are, but I don't know which button is which," Sam spoke, letting silence engulf them. Leorio instantly apologized. Kurapika stepped in to help Sam which of the buttons is X and O.
Leorio blushed. "Oh… right. Sorry, Sam."
She sighed while her shoulders made a shrug.
Tonpa narrowed his eyes at her. "Are you blind?"
Sam just rolled her eyes and groaned. Oh great. There's another being that's completely aware of her condition.
She just ushered dismissing the topic and said, "Are we going to waste time here telling tragic stories? Let's go."
"No." Leorio fumed. "I understand if it is Samara but I won't let this guy slide."
Tonpa gave an awkward chuckle, rubbing the nape of his neck. "Sorry, I pressed the wrong button by mistake."
Leorio grabbed Tonpa by his collar. A vein ticking in his forehead. "Stop screwing around, old man!"
"Like I said it was an accident," Tonpa replied smugly. "Why are you so angry?"
Obviously, it wasn't. Another one of his modus, maybe.
It was his turn to get pissed. And he got the nerve to get pissed. "It wasn't intentional. Can't a person do something wrong?"
"It doesn't matter." Gon tried to calm the two. "The door already opened."
"No, it does matter!" The older teen snapped. "This guy deliberately pressed the wrong button…"
"Let's go," Kurapika said, heading to the opened path. "We don't have time to bicker."
"He's right. Even if he keeps pressing the wrong one, the rest of us just need to press the right one." Killua added before following the blonde.
Gon turned around and passed the door. Sam glared at the fatso before turning her back from the two and followed the boys.
Next room, there were two gates. Right and left. There was that sign upfront saying they needed to decide on whether to go left or right. Sam scratched her head and pondered what she should do. In most situations, it was already common for people to go left but the examiner might have predicted that and might be installing traps.
So, right then?
Sam sighed and pressed the O button. The others pressed their chosen buttons. The screen immediately showed the result. Only two pressed the X button while she and the other three pressed the O button.
"Why would you choose to go right?" Leorio debated once he saw the number of votes. "Normally, you should go left."
'That's just it. Normally. It means it's already predictable.'
The gate on the right opened.
"That is true," Kurapika said. "Studies have indicated that people who are lost or stuck at forks unconsciously tend to go left."
"I've heard that before too," Killua added.
"I just chose right because choosing left is already predictable," Sam informed.
"Wait a second; the numbers don't add up!" Leorio argued. "Which button did you press?"
"Right." The three of them said in unison.
"Y-you guys…" Leorio said with gritted teeth. And just like with the first door, both Kurapika and Killua proceeded first.
"This tower has its tricks, which obviously mirrored its name. The participants have to outsmart the examiner. And that's what the three of them were doing." Tonpa smirked right after that and left.
The old teen gritted his teeth. His eyes momentarily landed on Gon who looked clueless at what they were saying. "So, we're just simple-minded!" He stomped his way to the right passage.
"We?" Gon asked innocently before going after him.
Sam just shrugged in good spirits. "Simple-minded indeed." She followed the boys.
After a few minutes of walking, and taking turns, they reached a dead end. What welcomed them was a spacious area.
"What is this place?" Leorio asked as he looked around at the unfamiliar place.
What lies at the center is an arena, surrounded by a seemingly bottomless pit. The only source of light is the four big torches positioned in every corner of the arena.
"Look over there." Killua pointed out. Ahead on the other side were six masked people. Each wearing a gray cloak hat covered most of their body except for some areas of their limbs.
One of them took his cloak to reveal his face right after his shackles fell and made a clang on the hard floor. He stepped forward. The man is bald and has a muscular body with scars located on his head. He dresses dark blue t-shirt that fits his body- tucked into pants.
"Allow me to explain, gentlemen and miss." Lippo's voice bounced off on the squared walls of the place. "In front of you, are some of Trick Tower's prisoners. The Hunter Exam Committee has also officially hired them as examiners. You will be fighting against six of them. The fights will be one-on-one. Each person may only fight once. You need to win four times. You are free to use any method you like. There will be no draws. A win is declared when the opponent admits defeat." Lippo explained.
"You may pick your order. It's majority rule, so secure four wins and you may pass. The rules are simple." The bald macho man stepped out from their base.
It turns out he was first and they have to choose who's going to fight him. What should they do? They say that the candidates can fight with any method, so that means anything goes.
"There's too much at stake without knowing what they have up their sleeves," Kurapika said with a serious face. It's like he firmly decided something. "Given that, I shall-"
"I'll go!" Tonpa just suddenly volunteered, surprising the five. "I'll act as a guinea pig, so we can discover what they're up to. Consider this as an apology for before."
That's a fast change of heart. Was he being serious? Where did he even get that newfound bravery?
"Hey, are you serious?" Leorio said in a shocked expression. Still can't comprehend his impulsive decision.
"You guys don't trust me, right? Do you really want me to be the tiebreaker when the score is 4-4?" Tonpa continued.
"…You have a point."
"Then it's settled."
There was a rumbling sound, and a slight shaking of the floor followed. Both Tonpa and the bulky man walked through the metal bridge and faced each other once they arrived at the center of the platform.
"Th-that was a surprise…" Leorio spoke after recovering from shocked silence as they watched Tonpa at the arena. "I didn't expect Tonpa to volunteer."
"He called himself a guinea pig," Kurapika said.
"Will Tonpa-san be okay?" Gon asked.
"Now let us determine the method of combat. I propose a death match. My name is Brendot, I received 199 years sentence of murder and robbery."
"Deathmatch?!" Gon exclaimed.
"They fight until one dies?!" Leorio yelped.
"No…" Kurapika trailed off. "Don't let him provoke you."
The fat man accepted the challenge with a determined expression. Bendot got ready to attack while Tonpa made a defensive stance. Everything seemed so tense, heating the first fight when suddenly he fell on his knees and shouted, "I give up!"
Sam's jaw dropped.
They have the same bewildered expression on their faces.
"Did he just give up?" Gon asked.
"Maybe he meant 'Give me a sec?" Leorio said.
"I'm pretty sure he said 'I give up'." She clarified it.
And that pig Tonpa confirmed their loss by repeating it, making Bendot back off and return to their side (he too didn't expect it coming). Tonpa returned to his group who wanted to skin him alive.
Maybe that's why she doesn't care what happens to him, teammates or not. No matter what act he displays, his true nature still stinks.
"Bastard." Leorio once again grabbed his collar. "You just confirmed all my suspicions! You're a worthless piece of trash that's only good at sabotaging other applicants!"
"Exactly, that's what I do every year," Tonpa spoke between his scheming grin. "And I plan to continue the tradition. I'm not looking to pass the Hunter Exam. I'm only in it for the thrills. The Hunter Exam is a trial meant to crush confident young people's dreams. The moment of despair, when ambition and hope give way, gives me a sense of exquisite pleasure. Especially when I actively shatter those rookies' dreams. Being a Hunter was not on my dream list."
With that statement, the eldest teen clutched Tonpa's collar tightly, teeth-gritting hardened. Like he's ready to blow up any second.
"Leorio, stop!" Kurapika tried to calm him down before he even planned to beat Tonpa. "They want us to waste our time, fighting amongst ourselves."
"Well if their goal is to buy time, then the old man made the correct choice." Killua decided to butt in. "He was probably a former soldier or mercenary. Had fatso here fought the guy, he would have started by crushing Fatty's throat, so he couldn't give up. Then he would have used their remaining time torturing him."
Well, Sam doesn't even care about that.
She made a slow series of claps. "Good. Such a good actor Tonpa. I want to do something right now and I'm pretty damn sure you'll not like it." She raised her fist and acted as if she would punch him.
"Sam!" Gon attempted to stop her.
Tonpa recoiled from the shock. He thought she'd punch him. "I'll adjust. It would be bad if I couldn't control myself. You're in luck. The group still needs you." The girl ran a hand through his fat cheek before giving a rash tap.
"Calm down! His action saved us some time." Kurapika told them. "Regardless we need to win four rounds and advance."
"Who's going next?" Killu asked.
"Me! I'll go!" Gon declared, waving his hand high in the air.