DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hunter X Hunter
Chapter 7: Voting Wisely
Morgan silently acknowledged the tension that existed whenever Killua was in their midst. Though she maintained a facade of nonchalance, she remained vigilant, wary of the unpredictable surges of bloodlust that could erupt from him at any moment.
Meanwhile, Leorio and Kurapika engaged in conversation, their voices a steady hum in the background. Morgan chose to distance herself, opting to remain a silent observer rather than an active participant.
Occasionally, Leorio directed a question her way, but she responded with no more than a curt nod or a brief shake of her head.
The sudden crackle of the loudspeaker demanded their immediate attention.
"Apologies for the delay. The airship is now prepared for landing," announced the voice.
As the three, along with the other candidates, approached the window to catch a glimpse of the next phase venue, Morgan's face pressed mere centimeters from the glass.
Not far in the distance, they beheld an immense earth spire jutting up from the plains, encircled by dense forest. Atop the spire's plateau stood a colossal, cylinder-shaped tower.
The design of the structure suggested its purpose: isolation. It seemed to be constructed either to keep outsiders at bay or to confine whatever lay within.
Upon landing on the flat surface of the tower, all the examinees disembarked, ready to begin the next phase.
"Attention, everyone!" Beans' voice echoed across the platform as soon as all the applicants set foot on the tower. "Welcome to Trick Tower, where the third phase of the exam will take place. Your objective is simple: reach the base of the tower within 72 hours. But remember, you must make it down alive to pass. With that, the third exam officially commences. Best of luck to you all." With those words, Beans retreated back inside, leaving the candidates to watch as the blimp departed into the sky.
Gon and Killua quickly regrouped with the trio.
Five of them cautiously approached the edge, peering over to survey the dizzying height below. Morgan couldn't help but shudder at the thought of what awaited them if they fell—a fate akin to jelly splattered on concrete.
"So, what now?" she pondered aloud.
While Morgan scanned their surroundings, her eyes found nothing but the barren expanse of the tower's rooftop. Even if there were ropes or ladders, it would take a lot of ropes to reach the ground.
"He mentioned reaching the bottom, but how exactly are we supposed to do that?" Morgan voiced the obvious question.
"Are we expected to climb down?" Leorio questioned, his briefcase clutched tightly over his shoulder.
"That would be suicide," Kurapika stated firmly, arms crossed in contemplation.
"For ordinary folks like you, perhaps..." came a voice from behind. They turned to see a robust man, number 86 emblazoned on his chest, grinning confidently as he approached the tower's edge and began to descend.
"A professional climber?" Morgan marveled at his effortless descent, despite the lack of visible handholds or footholds. Could he be the first to conquer this phase?
"I should've learned rock climbing," Morgan mused to herself.
"Wow," Killua exclaimed in awe.
Gon leaned over to watch the climber's rapid descent. "He's going down fast," he observed.
Suddenly, the sound of flapping wings filled the air, accompanied by loud screeches. They looked around to see four grotesques, flying creatures—resembling mutated infants with shark-like teeth and a sickly shade of pink skin—descending upon them.
"Stop! Get away!" the climber attempted to fend them off, as if they were mere nuisances.
The teens could only watch in horror as the creatures surrounded the climber, seizing him in their grasp. In moments, he disappeared into their midst, destined to become a meal for their voracious appetites.
"I don't think descending is a wise choice," Leorio finally broke the stunned silence, his voice trembling as they witnessed the climber's desperate struggle.
"Yeah," Morgan and Kurapika echoed, their faces reflecting the horror of the scene before them.
"Doesn't that mean we're in danger up here too? What if those creatures swarm up here and attack us?" Leorio voiced his fear, shuddering at the thought.
Morgan shook her head. "I don't think so. If they wanted us, we'd be a pulpy mess by now. It seems they only target those attempting to descend, like that unfortunate climber. May his soul rest in peace," she murmured, pressing her palms together in a silent prayer.
"He's not dead yet," Leorio pointed out.
"Yeah, but it's only a matter of time," Morgan replied dismissively.
Leorio's comment prompted the blonde to redirect the conversation. "Regardless, we can't afford to take any chances. We don't know what other dangers lurk in this area."
"So, we search for alternative routes?" Gon interjected, refocusing the group on the task at hand.
The others nodded in agreement, their resolve firm as they prepared to explore the tower in search of a safer path downwards.
They agreed to split up to search for the entrance, with Morgan venturing out on her own while Gon and Killua teamed up, as did Kurapika and Leorio.
Under the scorching sun, Morgan felt the oppressive heat bearing down on her, causing beads of sweat to form on her skin. Nearly an hour had passed since the blimp departed, and she was determined to find a way down.
Glancing around at the other examinees for the first time since their arrival, Morgan's brows furrowed in confusion. "Huh?"
She began counting heads, then recounted, and counted once more. There were only 23 candidates present. Considering there were supposed to be 42, nearly half of them were already inside.
"There must be a secret entrance," she muttered to herself, chastising her own oversight.
With determination, Morgan resolved to inspect every inch of the rooftop. She methodically tapped her foot on each rectangular tile, listening for any hollow sounds that might indicate a trap door. Her patience paid off when she heard a distinct echo beneath one of the tiles.
"A trap door," she realized with a smile, kneeling to confirm her discovery. There must be several hidden entrances scattered throughout the rooftop.
Without hesitation, Morgan positioned herself beside the tile and leaped onto it, landing gracefully on her feet. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, a sudden burst of light illuminated the room.
She found herself standing within a chamber enclosed by brick walls, devoid of windows or doors. In the center stood a cylindrical podium, upon which rested five watches.
Curious, Morgan approached the podium and examined the watches. Each one had both an X and an O button.
"What are these for?" she wondered aloud as she fastened one of the watches onto her right wrist. As the material encircled her skin, securing itself like a prisoner's shackle, she tentatively pressed the button. Numbers appeared on the display: 71:26:25.
Instead of the typical digits found on a watch, the display showed a countdown timer. It was evident that this indicated the time remaining until the 72-hour limit for the exam.
Glancing at the inscription atop the podium, Morgan read it aloud, "The six of you must follow the will of the majority to reach the goal."
Six of them. Morgan couldn't help but ponder the significance of this discovery.
It seemed clear that they were meant for the other candidates who would eventually join her in the room. The inscription about following the will of the majority hinted at some form of decision-making process, likely involving the buttons on the watches.
But what exactly would they be voting on?
She sighed, feeling the weight of the situation settling upon her. With numerous hidden entrances scattered across the tower's rooftop and its wide circumference, it could take a considerable amount of time for the other candidates to find their way into the room.
"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, pushing herself away from the wall. Even if someone did manage to locate another entrance, they'd still have to wait for the remaining slots to be filled before they could leave.
It seemed like waiting would be a futile endeavor—a waste of precious time.
Morgan's hope surged as she listened to the rhythmic tapping echoing from above. Finally, someone had found their way to the hidden entrance.
"Come on, just enter," she whispered under her breath, her anticipation growing with each tap. Would her voice carry to the newcomer if she called out?
How foolish, she scolded herself. It couldn't possibly be that easy.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Her patience wore thin as the tapping continued. What was taking them so long?
Then, the sound of tiles flipping from above reached her ears.
Four sets of tiles. Four new arrivals? That certainly resolved her earlier dilemma, increasing their chances of escaping the room quickly.
With a thud, the newcomers landed on the cold floor, and Morgan quickly scanned their faces.
"You've got to be kidding me," Morgan muttered under her breath as she observed the four familiar faces standing before her. It seemed like Morgan, Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio were inseparable, bound together throughout the entirety of the exam.
"That was a rather brief farewell," Blondie remarked, breaking the silence.
"So, all the doors lead to the same room," Leorio observed with a hint of resignation.
"Ah! Morgan!" Gon exclaimed, finally noticing her presence. "You're here too!"
They turned their attention towards Morgan, their expressions tinged with slight surprise.
Giving a short wave, Morgan replied, "Hi. Looks like we've all ended up here."
"How long have you been in here?" Killua inquired.
"Just a couple of minutes," Morgan responded.
"I noticed you were gone upstairs," Killua remarked.
"Yeah, got stuck and had to wait for people to jump down," Morgan explained.
"What do you mean?" Leorio asked, his curiosity piqued.
She gestured towards the podium beside her, prompting the others to approach and read the inscription above. Each of them took a watch and fastened it around their wrists.
"One watch remaining," Morgan pointed out.
"Then it seems we'll have to wait for one more," Kurapika concluded.
"That's correct!" boomed a voice from a speaker affixed to the brick wall, startling the five individuals in the room. "My name is Lippo," continued the voice. "I am the prison warden here."
"A prison warden?" Kurapika echoed, his expression one of disbelief.
"Multiple routes through this tower have been prepared. You have chosen the path of majority rule," Lippo explained. "Cooperation will be key if you wish to clear this phase of the exam. One person's selfish behavior can derail the entire group. And you can't start until you have six members. Best of luck, candidates!"
With a crackle, the speaker fell silent.
"We can't move on until someone else arrives?" Leorio grumbled, clearly displeased. "What are we supposed to do?"
"We'll have to wait, I suppose," Kurapika replied, his gaze drifting upwards, prompting the others to follow suit.
'Prison Tower?' Morgan pondered silently. So, this structure was designed to prevent those within from escaping. It seemed they were now trapped in a tower full of criminals, with the flying creatures outside serving as ruthless patrollers.
.
.
.
As they waited for the final member to join them, Morgan remained seated in the same spot, hugging her knees with her head resting atop them.
Morgan could hear Leorio's incessant tapping on the floor. His impatience was palpable after hours of being stuck inside the room.
Meanwhile, she found herself entertained by watching Gon attempt to ride Killua's skateboard. The green-clad boy seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself in the company of the young assassin.
Despite Killua's family and true to his words, Gon doesn't look affected by it at all.
Killua, for his part, seemed surprisingly attached to Gon. Despite his aloof demeanor, it was evident that he was enjoying himself, relishing the simple joy of playing with his newfound friend.
'Why did he enter the exam?' Morgan wondered, her thoughts drifting to Killua's motivations. It couldn't have been for money, given his family's wealth and their profession as assassins. Hunting criminals seemed unlikely as well. Perhaps he was seeking adventure or excitement, she speculated.
"Maybe for fun," she concluded, observing the carefree interactions between Gon and Killua.
Leorio's sudden outburst broke the tense silence, causing Morgan to straighten up from her seated position. "It's been two hours… What if the others all took a different route?" he exclaimed, his frustration evident as he stood up.
Morgan couldn't help but offer a pragmatic response. "Then we can't actually do anything about that," she stated matter-of-factly.
Leorio clenched his fist and struck his palm in frustration. "Only a fool would still be at the top of the tower," he muttered.
"Then let's hope there's still a fool up there," Morgan retorted dryly.
"Calm down, Leorio," Kurapika interjected, taking a seat next to Morgan with a notable distance between them. "Complaining won't help."
Morgan silently agreed with Kurapika's sentiment. Complaining wouldn't change their current situation.
"What if no one shows up before we reach the time limit?" Leorio continued to ramble, his frustration mounting.
'It's not like they can do anything,' Morgan thought to herself.
Their conversation was interrupted by a sound from above.
"I can't just-"
"Shh! Quiet," Kurapika hissed, silencing Leorio.
They listened intently as knocking echoed from outside. The sound grew louder, and Morgan and the others instinctively gathered at the center of the room. A tile shifted, releasing a cloud of dust and debris, until it finally flipped open, revealing a person who dropped heavily to the floor.
He groaned in pain, and Morgan turned away disinterestedly. "It's just the rookie crusher," she remarked casually.
"Tonpa-san," Gon exclaimed in surprise.
The three remaining teens looked at the newcomer with disappointment.
"Oh," Killua said flatly.
"It's the old man," Leorio remarked without much enthusiasm.
Morgan raised a brow at Leorio's reaction. Were they already acquainted?
Only Gon welcomed Tonpa and accepted him as part of the team. While Gon explained the situation to Tonpa and handed him the watch, Morgan approached Leorio and Kurapika.
"Let me guess, he gave you a can of tampered juice," Morgan remarked.
Leorio responded grudgingly, "Yes. Thanks to Gon, we were saved from it."
"I take it, you faced the same too?" Kurapika asked.
"Almost. I managed to trick that guy into confessing," Morgan replied, recalling her narrow escape from the tampered juice.
As soon as the last person put on the wristband, a door materialized on the other side of the room.
"I see," Kurapika murmured, observing the metal door with interest.
"At this door, select O to open, X not open," Gon read aloud.
Leorio voiced his irritation. "Forcing us to use majority rule already?"
Morgan couldn't help but roll her eyes internally. Of course, they didn't wait for hours just to keep the door shut. Obviously, they wanted to open it!
"The answer should be obvious…" Leorio muttered irritably, pushing the O button. Morgan nodded in agreement and pressed the O button as well. Who would be foolish enough to press the X button?
The results flashed on the black screen: five O, one X.
Morgan's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "My eyes must be playing tricks on me," she muttered, blinking repeatedly. But the result remained the same. Who in the world pressed the X button?!
"What?!" Leorio exclaimed as the door slid open and disappeared into the brick wall. "Who pushed the X button?!"
Tonpa gave an awkward chuckle, rubbing the nape of his neck. "Sorry, that was me. I pressed the wrong button by mistake."
Leorio grabbed Tonpa by the collar, a vein pulsating on his forehead. "Stop messing around, old man! Are you blind?"
"Like I said, it was an accident," Tonpa replied smugly. "Why are you so angry?"
"Accident? Or another one of your tricks?" Morgan interjected, her voice low and dangerous.
Tonpa's tone turned defensive. "It wasn't intentional. Can't a person make a mistake?"
Morgan couldn't help but roll her eyes at his attempt to play the victim.
"It doesn't matter," Gon interjected, trying to calm the situation. "The door is already open."
"No, it does matter!" Leorio snapped. "This guy deliberately pressed the wrong button…"
"Let's go," Kurapika interjected, heading towards the opened path. "We don't have time to argue."
"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 Kurapika.
Gon turned around and passed through the door. Morgan shot Tonpa a glare before turning her back on him and following the boys. She didn't have time to deal with his antics.
In the next room, Morgan found herself faced with two gates: one on the right and one on the left. A sign upfront indicated that they needed to decide on which direction to go.
Morgan scratched her head, pondering her choice. While it was common for people to instinctively go left in such situations, she considered that the examiner might anticipate this and set traps accordingly.
So, should she go right instead?
With a sigh, Morgan pressed the O button. The others made their choices, and the screen immediately displayed the result. Only two pressed the X button, while Morgan and the other three chose O.
"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," Morgan explained.
The gate on the right opened, confirming her intuition.
"That is true," Kurapika remarked. "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," Morgan clarified.
"Wait a second; the numbers don't add up!" Leorio argued. "Which button did you press?"
"Right," the three of them replied in unison.
"You guys…" Leorio said through gritted teeth. As with the first door, both Kurapika and Killua proceeded first.
"Let me ask you a question. If you're the examiner, which route would you try to make it more difficult for the other participants?" Morgan challenged.
"The left path," Leorio replied.
"Explanation?" she pressed.
"Are we in school?" he retorted sarcastically.
"Just answer it," Morgan insisted firmly. She could feel her frustration rising.
"Because that's what people would choose!" Leorio snapped.
Morgan gave him a deadpan look. "Exactly," she said. "All this voting is logical. It's their job to trick us with these kinds of tests. It's up to us whether we'll take the bait or think ahead."
"She's right," Tonpa chimed in, joining the conversation. "This tower has its own tricks, which obviously mirror its name. The participants must outsmart the examiner. And that's what the three of them were doing."
Tonpa smirked before leaving, leaving Leorio gritting his teeth in frustration. His eyes momentarily landed on Gon, who looked clueless about their discussion. "So, we're just simple-minded!" he muttered, stomping his way to the right passage.
"We?" Gon asked innocently before following him.
Morgan couldn't help but be entertained by Leorio's sulking reaction and Gon's clueless expression. She shrugged in good spirits. "Simple-minded indeed," she remarked, continuing to walk along with the group.
Leorio scanned the unfamiliar surroundings, his curiosity piqued. "What is this place?" he asked aloud, voicing the question that lingered in all their minds.
At the center of the spacious area lay an arena, encircled by what seemed like a bottomless pit. The only illumination came from four large torches positioned at each corner of the arena.
"Look over there," Killua pointed out, directing their attention to the other side where six masked individuals stood. Each figure wore a gray cloak that concealed most of their body, with only glimpses of their limbs visible.
One of them removed his cloak, revealing a muscular, bald man adorned with scars. He stepped forward, his presence commanding attention.
"Allow me to explain, gentlemen and miss," Lippo's voice echoed off the squared walls of the chamber. "In front of you are some of Trick Tower's prisoners. The Hunter Exam Committee has officially hired them as examiners. You will be fighting against six of them. The fights will be one-on-one, with each person only allowed to fight once. You are free to use any method you like. There will be no draws; victory is declared when the opponent admits defeat," Lippo elaborated.
Morgan couldn't shake the feeling of incredulity about the decisions made by the organizers of the Hunter Exam. Why would they enlist criminals as examiners? Weren't the trials challenging enough with the mindless beasts they had encountered earlier?
As the bald, muscular man stepped forward to indicate he would be the first opponent, the group faced a crucial decision: who would step up to face him?
"There's too much at stake without knowing what they have up their sleeves," Kurapika stated with a serious expression, seemingly resolved. "Given that, I shall-"
"I'll go." Tonpa interjected suddenly, surprising the others. "I'll act as a guinea pig so we can discover what they're up to. Consider this as an apology for before."
Morgan couldn't help but wonder about the sudden change of heart. Was Tonpa being genuine? Where did he find this newfound bravery?
"Hey, are you serious?" Leorio asked, his expression reflecting her disbelief at Tonpa's impulsive decision.
"You guys don't actually trust me, right? Do you really want me to be the tiebreaker when the score is 3-3?" Tonpa countered.
"...You have a point," Leorio conceded reluctantly.
"Then it's settled," Tonpa declared, his resolve apparent.
As Tonpa and the burly man advanced onto the metal bridge and squared off at the platform's center, a sudden rumbling accompanied by a slight tremor seized everyone's attention.
"Well, that's unexpected…" Leorio stuttered, shattering the stunned silence as they observed Tonpa stepping into the arena. "I didn't anticipate Tonpa volunteering."
"He referred to himself as a guinea pig," Kurapika clarified.
"Is Tonpa-san going to be alright?" Gon inquired, his worry palpable.
"Now, let's decide on the method of combat. I suggest a death match. My name is Brendot, and I'm serving a 199-year sentence for murder and robbery," the formidable man declared.
"A death match?!" Gon exclaimed, his disbelief evident in his widened eyes.
"They fight until one of them dies?!" Leorio blurted out, his voice tinged with alarm.
"No…" Kurapika interjected. "Don't allow him to provoke you."
'Hmm?' Morgan pondered, puzzled by the cautionary remark.
"Provoke?" Morgan finally spoke up. "You believe a criminal's words are merely a form of provocation?"
The blonde cast her a quick glance. "What are you suggesting?"
"I'm saying it seems too significant to be mere provocation," Morgan responded frankly, her expression remaining impassive.
Kurapika observed her reaction. "Doesn't it bother you?"
"I'd be bothered if he fails," Morgan retorted, her irritation beginning to surface.
"What if he dies?" Kurapika pressed, his tone resolute.
Morgan felt her annoyance mounting. "It's all part of the exam, blondie."
"You're revealing how self-centered you are," Kurapika accused, his gaze penetrating.
"Oh, like I care now?" Morgan shot back defiantly. "Well, I haven't even displayed half of my personality yet, blondie," she retorted sarcastically, unapologetic in her demeanor.
The blonde continued to glare at her, his frustration evident. "You're impossible."
"Thanks, I've been practicing," Morgan quipped, a smirk playing on her lips.
The hefty man accepted the challenge with a resolute expression. Brendot prepared to attack while Tonpa assumed a defensive stance. The atmosphere crackled with tension, escalating the anticipation for the first fight, when suddenly Tonpa dropped to his knees and exclaimed, "I give up!"
The girl's jaw fell open.
'What in the world?'
They all wore bewildered expressions, as if his words were echoing repeatedly in their minds.
"Did he just surrender?" Gon questioned.
"Maybe he meant 'Give me a moment?'" Leorio speculated.
"I'm pretty sure he said, 'I give up,'" she clarified.
Tonpa clarified their defeat by reaffirming his surrender, prompting Brendot to retreat and return to their side, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events. Tonpa then rejoined his group, where most of them were glaring at him intensely.
Perhaps that's why she doesn't truly care about his fate, whether they're teammates or not. Regardless of his actions, his true nature still reeks.
"Bastard," Leorio seethed, once again grabbing Tonpa's collar. "You just confirmed all my suspicions! You're a worthless piece of trash who's only good at sabotaging other applicants!"
"Exactly, that's what I do every year," Tonpa admitted with a 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 the dreams of confident young people. 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 clenched Tonpa's collar tightly, his teeth gritting with intensity as if he were ready to explode at any moment.
"Leorio, stop!" Kurapika intervened, attempting to calm him down before he could make any rash decisions. "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 interjected. "He was probably a former soldier or mercenary. If fatty here had fought the guy, he would have started by crushing fatty's throat so he couldn't give up. Then he would have used the remaining time to torture him."
Morgan, unfazed by the situation, began a slow series of applause. "Well done, Tonpa. Quite the actor you are. I have an idea brewing in my mind right now, and I'm pretty damn sure you won't like it." She raised her fist as if she were about to punch him.
"Morgan!" Gon interjected, attempting to stop her.
Tonpa recoiled in shock, genuinely believing she might hit him. "I'll behave. It would be unfortunate if I couldn't control myself. You're lucky. The group still needs you," he remarked, relieved, as Morgan lightly tapped his cheek.
"Calm down! His action saved us some time," Kurapika intervened, but Morgan just rolled her eyes. "Regardless, we need to win four rounds and advance."
"Who's going next?" Killua asked.
"Me! I'll go!" Gon declared, waving his hand high in the air.
"Are you sure?" Leorio asked, his hands on his hips, clearly worried about Gon's safety.
Another contestant stepped forward, removing his cloak to reveal a petite man with shoulder-length brown hair that partially obscured one of his eyes.
"It's okay," Gon replied earnestly. "The next one doesn't seem mean."
Morgan sighed at Gon's naive response. He seemed to have forgotten that their next opponent was still a criminal.
Kurapika sweat dropped. "Well, he's still a child," he muttered.
"Don't worry," Gon reassured them, dismissing their concerns. "He doesn't seem like the fighting type." With that, he crossed the bridge and approached the center, greeting his opponent eagerly.
However, it was obvious. The man was extremely thin, almost to the point where his bones were visible through his skin. He appeared frail, like someone who could easily be targeted for bullying. It seemed as though a light push would be enough to knock him down.
"What crime did he commit?" wondered Morgan.
"I'm Sedokan," the man introduced himself. "As you can see, I'm not much of a fighter; running, combat... not my thing at all."
Gon simply nodded. "I prefer the opposite," he replied sheepishly. "I'm not good with mind games."
"I thought so," Sedokan, Gon's opponent, remarked. "So, I prepared an extremely simple game." He then revealed two candles from behind his back. "Both of us will light a candle at the same time. The one whose light goes out first loses. Do you agree?"
Obviously, there had to be a trick to this match. It couldn't be that straightforward, especially considering they were dealing with people who were imprisoned for heinous crimes. The prisoners seemed as eager to win as the team did.
But why?
Was it because the Exam committee had instructed them to? Or was there some motivating factor in exchange for defeating them?
"Yeah, that's easy!" Gon said in a relieved tone, evidently choosing to believe that his opponent was being virtuous. "That works for me!"
"Okay," the criminal replied, holding out the two candles for all to see. He then exposed the bottom half of the candles, revealing that one was shorter and the other longer. "Which candle will you choose? Use 'O' for the long one and 'X' for the short one."
"The long one is definitely trapped!" Leorio exclaimed.
Kurapika appeared more cautious. "Yes, it would seem logical to think so," he said slowly, "but precisely because of this, it wouldn't be surprising if the short one is the trap."
"Remember what I said? This is all about logic and psychology. Sedokan obviously set something up. There are endless possibilities to consider," Morgan cautioned the group.
In the center of the arena, the criminal took a seat. "Don't rush with your decision," he advised.
"He's wasting our time!" Leorio growled, tapping his foot impatiently. "We should choose immediately."
"We can't possibly guess which candle has been tampered with," Killua informed. "Neither choice is obviously right or wrong."
"Exactly," Morgan agreed.
"Looks like you've got a dilemma over there," Tonpa remarked from his position against the wall, arms crossed, clearly relishing the situation.
"Shut your mouth!" Leorio snapped at him, to which the fat man just smirked in response.
"Hey, which one should I choose?" Gon queried his teammates.
Kurapika seemed to have an idea. "Gon, you decide! We'll abide by your decision. Choose the one you think is best."
Morgan wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea, but they couldn't come up with a better solution. It was better for the team to reach a decision quickly. It was best to let a single person decide, rather than have several people argue over the possibilities.
And who knows, Gon might be able to sniff out something, given his intuition.
"Are you sure? He never thinks anything through," Killua reminded them.
"Instead of wasting time fretting over what to do, let's rely on Gon's instincts," Kurapika responded.
Gon turned back to his opponent. "Okay! Then I choose the longer one!" His decision was immediate, while his friends awaited a solid reason for this choice.
"Did he sense something or what? Did he notice any difference in the composition of the candles?" they wondered.
"Because a longer candle will burn for a longer time," Gon said cheerfully.
There was a slight pause as everyone in the room processed Gon's words.
Morgan ran a hand through her face. "Oh great," she moaned. Gon hadn't considered the possibility of it being a trap.
"Instincts, huh? Maybe it will be the first time Gon's instincts fail us," she thought.
"Wait, he's just taking it at face value?" Leorio asked incredulously.
"I knew he wouldn't think this through," Killua muttered, his hands on the back of his neck, his expression indicating that he had anticipated this outcome.
"Well, it's impossible to know which is which anyway," Kurapika said firmly, trying to convince himself of this.
They all voted for the long one.
Sedokan handed the long candle to Gon after their votes were displayed on the screen. They both walked to the edge of the platform where the torches blazed with fire and lit the candles simultaneously.
"In case nothing funny happens, waiting for the wax to melt completely might take a while. You understand that, right?" Morgan remarked.
"True. How long does it take before it goes out?" Leorio inquired.
"Normally, it would take 5-6 hours," Kurapika responded.
A strong breeze from the bottom of the pit found its way up to the fighting area. If they weren't careful enough, their candles could easily be extinguished.
Gon stood motionless, appearing very focused on his candle.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly until Gon's flame suddenly grew larger, rapidly engulfing the melting candle wax.
Gon's chances began to decline steadily. His candle became so short that he could barely hold it due to the intense flame.
"I knew something was strange," Morgan uttered anxiously, watching the candle burn at a rapid rate. At this rate, they were bound to lose.
"He must have hidden gunpowder or some other highly flammable substance inside to make the candle burn faster," Kurapika speculated.
"At this rate, his candle will only last another two or three minutes," Killua pointed out.
"He should've picked the short candle!" Leorio exclaimed, starting to panic.
Morgan shook her head. "I doubt it. He could have tampered with both, and he likely had spares of both that he could discreetly switch. Choosing the long candle was the better option."
Kurapika nodded. "She's right. No matter what Gon chooses, the results will probably be the same."
Just as everyone thought it might be over in a few minutes, Gon looked at his candle, his face illuminating with a big triumphant smile as he turned to his opponent. "If the fire is stronger," he declared, carefully placing the candle on the floor, "then a little breeze won't extinguish it." With that, he bolted towards the prisoner and blew out his candle, catching him by surprise. "I win!" Gon declared happily.
Morgan looked stunned by the turn of events. Gon had acted quickly and seized the opportunity presented to him. She couldn't help but smile slightly, starting to understand what they meant. 'What an unusual kid.'
"Good job, Gon! Once Kurapika, Morgan, and I win, we can advance!" Leorio congratulated.
'Er, what about Killua?'
Morgan was about to protest. Out of all of them, he had a better chance of earning them a point.
'Lucky for us, we had the brat on our side.'
"So, who's next?" Leorio asked.
"Me…"