Ponzu

Leorio walked to the cave entrance with a branch in hand.

He tapped around both sides of the entrance, then tossed the branch inside when he found no sign of any traps.

The branch rolled several times, tumbling deeper into the Cave.

The Cave looked pretty deep. After a few rolls, the branch disappeared from sight.

Leorio crouched down to examine it.

There didn't seem to be any traps inside, which only left him more puzzled.

Leorio walked back, took his briefcase, and told Gon and the others,

"Don't come in until I say it's safe."

Kurapika frowned at that.

"Thirty minutes. If you're not out in thirty minutes, we're coming in to find you."

"No. If I don't come out, go back to the finish line."

With that, Leorio headed toward the Cave.

"Leorio, we're allies. We're supposed to help each other," Cordis said.

Leorio glanced back at Cordis.

"I know this is selfish, but let me handle the rest on my own."

Cordis didn't know what else to do. He could only let Leorio walk toward the Cave, his eyes full of worry.

Standing beside him, Gon frowned.

"No. We decided to stay."

Those words stopped Leorio short, despite his determination to go alone.

Leorio stormed over to Gon.

"What did you say, you little brat?"

"I'm not a little brat! We decided to stay on our own. You can't complain about that!"

Leorio scratched his head in frustration and muttered,

"I really don't know what to do with you guys."

Then he tossed his briefcase to Cordis again.

"Keep that safe for me."

He pulled a lighter from his pocket and waved as he walked into the Cave.

Cordis and the others could only wait where they were.

They waited for what felt like ages, but Leorio still hadn't appeared.

Cordis couldn't help voicing his worry.

"Leorio will be all right, won't he? The thirty minutes we agreed on are almost up."

Gon, however, remained unusually cheerful. Seeing how worried Cordis was, he smiled reassuringly.

"Leorio's strong. He won't get into trouble that easily."

Even Kurapika frowned with worry.

Just then, Leorio's voice suddenly rang out from inside the Cave.

"Kurapika, Cordis, Gon! Don't come in!"

Ignoring his warning, all three rushed inside without a second thought.

They hadn't run far before they spotted a cavern.

Once inside, they found Leorio lying on the ground, covered in wounds.

Cordis was the first to rush over.

He helped Leorio up and propped him against the wall.

The movement woke Leorio. He lifted his head with difficulty and saw the three of them before him.

The first words out of his mouth were a scolding.

"You idiots. Didn't I tell you not to come in?"

Kurapika looked at the bite marks covering Leorio, then at the snake on the ground, its remaining half still writhing.

He quickly understood what had happened.

"Let's get Leorio out first," Kurapika said.

Cordis looked around and frowned.

"We can't get out."

Gon and Kurapika both gave him questioning looks.

Cordis explained,

"If he could get out, Leorio wouldn't have told us not to come in. Something must be blocking the exit."

"And it's most likely these snakes. Judging from Leorio's wounds, there was definitely more than one. There could be a lot more."

Then he turned to Ponzu, who had been leaning against the wall.

"Am I right, Miss Ponzu?"

Only then did Gon and Kurapika notice Ponzu in the corner.

Ponzu had kept her presence as inconspicuous as possible the entire time.

So inconspicuous that Gon and Kurapika hadn't even noticed her.

Ponzu raised her eyes to Cordis and sighed before speaking.

"You're right. If anyone tries to leave this cavern, hundreds of snakes will bite them to death."

Then she looked at Babon, who had remained seated cross-legged.

"This is Snake Charmer Babon's Trap."

Kurapika shouted at Babon,

"Hey! Babon, you want our number badges, right? You can have them all. Just let us go right now!"

Babon didn't answer. He simply remained seated cross-legged.

Kurapika started toward him.

Cordis caught Kurapika, his expression wary.

"Don't go. It won't do any good. He's already dead."

Kurapika asked,

"How do you know?"

Cordis was silent for a moment before answering.

"Instinct."

"Instinct? Sounds like you know your stuff," Ponzu said.

Cordis glanced at Ponzu without answering.

"Gon, what's the longest you've ever held your breath?"

Gon hadn't expected Cordis to ask that. He froze for a moment, but quickly answered.

"Nine minutes and forty-four seconds!"

"Great!" Cordis praised him.

Gon scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

Cordis turned to Ponzu again and asked,

"Ponzu, you make drugs. You should have something on you that can put people to sleep, right?"

Ponzu shook her head.

"It won't work. We'd all fall asleep too."

Gon finally understood why Cordis had asked how long he could hold his breath.

He raised his hand excitedly.

"Don't worry! I can carry everyone out!"

Seeing how confident Gon was, Ponzu could only take some Sleeping Gas from inside her clothes.

They had solved the problem of getting out, but now they faced another problem.

"Leorio's been bitten by venomous snakes. If we don't hurry, he could die."

Kurapika spoke anxiously as he looked down at Leorio in his arms, his breathing growing weaker.

Cordis asked Ponzu,

"Babon should have some antivenom on him, right?"

Ponzu nodded helplessly.

"He does, but if you try to get close to him, those snakes will attack you."

Once Cordis had her confirmation, he turned and walked toward Babon.

Ponzu hurriedly called out to stop him.

"Hey! I already told you! There's no way to get near him!"

Cordis didn't answer and continued toward Babon.

Ponzu turned to Gon and Kurapika.

Seeing them still standing there and watching, she asked in disbelief,

"Aren't you his friends? He's going to get himself killed! Why aren't you stopping him?"

Gon smiled.

"Cordis is really strong! He'll definitely figure something out!"

Ponzu looked at Kurapika.

Kurapika was smiling too, nodding in agreement.

With nothing else she could do, Ponzu stayed where she was and watched.

Cordis walked up to Babon.

The snakes around Babon lay poised to strike, as though the moment Cordis touched him,

They would attack without hesitation.

Suddenly, a chill rose around Cordis.

His silver-white hair floated up despite the lack of wind.

Cordis raised a finger and pointed at Babon.

A powerful current of air surged around him.

Ponzu and the others felt the air around them begin to thin.

For an instant, they even struggled for oxygen, but fortunately, everything quickly returned to normal.

Oh yeah, finished writing!

My book hasn't even had its debut feature yet!

These reading numbers are pretty good, at least better than my last book.