Chapter 16 - 6: Bad luck

After several hours of flight the airship finally lands the next morning on Trick Tower, a prison wherein long term criminals are kept. Beans says that the aim of the third phase of the 287th Hunter Exam is to safely arrive at the bottom of Trick Tower within 72 hours. 

One of the applicants tried to climb the tower but was then attacked by a flying beast, pushing the other applicants to abandon the idea of climbing, James after a few minutes of searching found an entrance under the trunk of a tree.

"It's my lucky day."

Then he jumped inside the slippery passage into a tunnel at full speed.

"Hooray for the roller coaster!"

James laughed before landing in a slightly darkened room, He see three watches in the room with two buttons on each of them: an X and O. 

He approached the watches, took one and put it on his left wrist.

Seconds later two people also descended into the room via the tunnels.

"Why do I always have to f.u.c.k.i.n.g talk too much?"

The fortune-tellers James felt like strangling himself.

He who had said he was lucky earlier is in fact running into the two worst candidates in this exam, Hisoka who we don't need to introduce anymore and Killua's brother, Illumi Zoldyck, a professional assassin master of the Nen and especially the ultimate bro-con.(Brother controls).

Illumi participates in the hunter examination under the name of Gittarackur by sticking himself with needles that he sticks into different parts of his face to change its shape, thus taking on a different appearance.

"What a surprise, we are truly reunited by fate my little James."Said Hisoka with a slight smile that gave shivers to James, Illumi next to Hisoka then made a strange noise with his jaw that only Hisoka could understand.

"No, don't kill him, he's my prey."

Illumi fell silent, then they each took a watch, a voice echoed through the room, when the lights came on.

The prison warden, Lippo, Told them., for advance further into the tower they must choose is "majority rules" where they have to vote to do certain things in the tower when given two choices. The choice that gets the most votes wins.

James then looked at Hisoka and Illumi for a moment and said, "To get it over with as quickly as possible, I'll follow the Gittarackur vote."

James already knew the personality of Hisoka and Illumi, he knew that Hisoka had a perverse tendency to murder and fight, this may jeopardize their effectiveness during this test, but Illumi is a assassin and not a murderer, he always does things in his interest, except when it comes to his brother, following his decisions was the best choice.

Hisoka then had a disappointed expression and said in a childish way.

"Oh my little James, don't tell me you prefer Gittarackur to me, I feel offended."

James chose to ignore it, knowing that with Hisoka's personality, he was not interested in useless things like the majority and the title of leader.

Gittarackur made another strange noise before pressing the circle, James did the same, followed by Hisoka, opening a door through which they entered.

Then they made several votes in this way to choose their way for several hours before arriving in front of a large gate guarded by three handcuffed men wearing prisoners' clothes.

Lippo's voice echoed through the room again.

"For this test you are forbidden to communicate, to exchange information of any kind.

The rules of this test are very simple, All those present are entitled to 25 hours of time, if your number of hours falls to zero you will be eleminated from the test, you are facing prisoners sentenced to sentences ranging from 90 years to 230 years, for every hour you will lose, them will gain a year's sentence reduction.

The test is based on the prisoner's dilemma,

the prison authority offers each prisoner the following choices:

_if only one of the three candidates denounces the other, he is released, that is to say, he will win the test, while the other two will get the maximum sentence, that is to say, see their times drop to zero;

_If the three denounce each other, they will be condemned to a lighter sentence, i.e. the loss of half their time;

--If two of the candidates choose to denounce, the one who refuses to denounce will be under suspicion and will be given a 10-hour discount.

_If the three refuse to denounce each other, the sentence will be minimal, i.e. a reduction of only five hours.

_When you all have 37 hours or if you defeat every opponents, you will all passed the test.

The circle means to denounce someone, once you have voted circle you can then choose to denounce only one or your two accomplices, voted cross means to shut up and not denounce anyone, you will then face your opponents in a challenge of their choice, each time you win a challenge, your two accomplices win the time bet by your opponent, but you won't win anything, if you lose your two accomplices won't lose anything but you will lose the time that was bet before the challenge throw.

After each challenge we will proceed to a new vote and then to a challenge, a person cannot be challenged twice in a row and in the end if both of your accomplices each win forty points before you, you will be designated as the sole culprit and you will therefore be eleminated.

"The test begins."

Hearing this, the three remained silent as the 25-hour countdown on the wall began.

"24h 59mn 58S"