Chapter 24: Towards Tower's End
Ignoring the stares from everyone, Raymond simply shook his head as the next prisoner dragged Remy away.
It was fortunate for him that he was familiar with those paintings.
He often bought such things as investments, and sometimes, he'd sell them at a loss to his other company to lower the company's profits and gain tax benefits.
Why did he do this?
Well, the banking system in this world was a mess.
They printed money like crazy.
Even being a Hunter came with hefty expenses, sometimes racking up to billions.
So Raymond made sure to convert his profits into tangible assets like rare art and diamonds – things that wouldn't be affected by the ridiculous inflation caused by the flawed financial system.
It was just a smart move to protect his wealth.
"..."
Ponzu wordlessly ascended the platform, her expression serious as she sized up her opponent.
The newcomer, of similar build, shed her robe to reveal a striking woman with cropped dark hair and a martial kimono.
Recognition flickered across Ponzu's face as she realized her adversary's identity. Her demeanor shifted to one of solemn acknowledgment.
"Oh? Seems like you recognize me, little girl..."
Standing before her was Nohara from Jappon, a famed ninja akin to Hanzo.
However, unlike Hanzo's path of honor, Nohara had embraced the life of a thief, earning infamy for her exploits across the globe.
With a reputation for cunning deceit and unmatched agility, Ponzu braced herself.
"Alright, let's get straight to the point then..."
Nohara chuckled as she explained, "My game was simple, we're going to try to knock each other out inside my smokes..."
As Nohara unveiled the game they were playing, a glint of cunning lit up Ponzu's eyes.
Ponzu's advantage lies in Nohara's ignorance of her own abilities.
Adopting a defensive stance, Ponzu's seemingly passive demeanor almost provoked laughter from Nohara.
Undeterred, Nohara proceeded with the game's explanation. With a flourish, she unleashed a thick veil of smoke, obscuring the platform from view.
The game was on, and anyone caught within the fog and knocked out would be declared the loser.
Little did Nohara know, she had unwittingly set the stage for her own downfall. With a sly smirk, Ponzu unleashed her secret weapon:
A swarm of buzzing bees!
Their strange noises echoed through the haze, catching Nohara off guard.
It happened in a flash. Nohara's screams pierced through the thick smoke as a bee found its mark, delivering its painful sting.
Before she could react, another followed suit, sending her spiraling into unconsciousness.
A single bee sting was tolerable, but the venomous strike of two proved fatal.
As the smoke dissipated, the platform revealed Ponzu, silent and unmoving, her gaze fixed on Nohara's lifeless form.
The other participants regarded Ponzu with newfound wariness.
It became clear that she was no ordinary contender.
The eerie buzzing of insects had hinted at her deadly arsenal, and now, with Nohara's demise, their suspicions were confirmed.
Ponzu was a force to be reckoned with.
"Fucking useless..." muttered one prisoner, disappointment etched on his face.
"I thought I'd at least shave a few years off my sentence..."
The complaints echoed loudly as the game concluded with the participant's victory.
With that out of the way, the participants were free to continue their descent down the Trick Tower.
Silence settled over the group as they moved forward, navigating through a labyrinth of traps and obstacles.
Surprisingly, the challenges seemed fairly manageable for all of them.
Raymond kept pace with the others, observing the subtle shift in their demeanor.
It seemed they had grown wary of him, a fact that slightly amused him.
After navigating through hours of traps and obstacles, they finally arrived at a pair of imposing doors. Lippo's voice echoed around them, "Well, well, well... Welcome, everyone."
"These doors mark the final hurdle of your test! Congratulations on making it this far..."
His chuckle filled the air as he continued, "Now, these two doors: press X for the door on your right, offering an easier and shorter path, or O for the left door, a harder and longer route..."
The group remained unimpressed, fully aware that there was a catch.
Lippo's laughter grew even louder, his amusement evident. "But here's the kicker: the easier path can only accommodate three people. The rest had to be shackled to the walls to open it. And the harder path would get you through in 45 hours regardless of how fast you were going..."
"Hehehe...then, which door will you choose?"
He teased as his laugh echoed through the room.
"..."
The group fell into a tense silence, each member exchanging wary glances before collectively focusing on one person.
"They've figured out I'm the biggest threat, huh? Pretty sharp..."
Raymond chuckled, noting the weight of their stares with a hint of amusement.
Bodoro stepped in, shaking his head, "Let's calm down, guys. Check your timers..."
"We still have 63 hours left. No need to fight over something so trivial. We can all get what we want without causing a scene," he reasoned, directing their attention to their wristwatches.
A moment of quiet contemplation followed Bodoro's words. Slowly, the tension dissipated as the group seemed to agree with his logic.
Considering how smoothly they'd navigated through the traps, Bodoro's suggestion made sense.
"Yeah, Bodoro's onto something..."
"I'm with Bodoro," Ponzu and Kenmi nodded in agreement.
Bourbon just shrugged, showing he was on board too.
"I'll leave the decision to you," Raymond said, smiling as everyone turned to him.
With Raymond on board, the tension melted away, and they all visibly relaxed.
His words might've sounded like an order, but in the moment, they were just glad to have a decision made.
"But there is no rule saying we can't just force the door open by ourselves, right?" Bodoro suggested, laughing heartily.
It dawned on the others that this was indeed a viable option.
With a grin, Bodoro strode towards the door marked as the easier path.
He took a deep breath, then swung his fist at the door with all his might, creating a loud thud that made some of them flinch.
"What?"
To Bodoro's surprise, his punch didn't even make a scratch on the door.
Undeterred, he tried again and again, but the door remained stubbornly intact, frustrating his efforts.
Bodoro turned to Raymond with a wry smile, "Young man, care to give it a shot?"
Raymond was taken aback by the unexpected offer.
He hadn't anticipated Bodoro's invitation since it might have hurt his pride, but he was willing to try.
"A wise and humble old man, huh?"
Raymond nodded at Bodoro who just smiled at him.
They shook their head as they mentally prepared themselves to tackle the harder route, not expecting Raymond to be able to open it up.
However...
BAM!
A deafening blast echoed through the chamber, causing them all to turn and stare in astonishment.
A massive hole had been blasted open, revealing not only the easier route but also the harder one.
Their jaws dropped in disbelief as they watched Raymond's nonchalant figure.
"Let's move..."
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