The Exam Ends

Ryan held out his left hand. Inside was a number tag—Bourbon's. "I think this is the tag you want, isn't it?"

"I can give it to you, but we need to make a deal. First, give me your number tag. And I can also promise to take you out of here. How about it?"

Ponzu remained silent and looked steadily at Ryan. Ryan met her gaze calmly, his tone firm but not aggressive. "Ponzu, what do you think of my proposal? I know you still have hypnotic gas, but if you use it, you'll hypnotize yourself as well. No matter what, you can't get out on your own."

Ponzu stared at him in surprise.

"Don't worry about how I know. We don't have much time. This method of mine still needs some getting used to, so we'll rest in the cave today and leave tomorrow. Leorio needs to rest too."

He did not avoid Kurapika while speaking, but Kurapika said nothing. He merely glanced back at Ryan and Ponzu before turning to tend to Leorio.

"Your tag is Leorio's target. You saw it yourself—I can deal with snakes, and I can deal with your poisonous bees too. Besides, there are three of us. Even if Leorio is injured, you have no chance of winning."

"If you want to use your sleeping gas, you won't get the chance. Besides, if you take Bourbon's tag, you can still pass the exam. You won't lose anything."

Ponzu bit her lip, her gaze shifting between Ryan, Kurapika, and Leorio. She understood her situation clearly: her poisonous bees could not contend with Bourbon's swarm of snakes, and she had no idea what method Ryan had used to suppress them. It might even threaten her.

"Fine." Ponzu finally nodded, removing her number tag from her waist