Before they could pick up Leorio and bring him to the exit, I stop them.
Esther: "Stop! It's not safe… there are more snakes outside."
"He's right you know. You're not getting out so easily."
Leorio's target speaks.
"We're trapped. Whenever someone tries to leave this cave, the snakes will attack you on mass. It's a trap, set by the snake charmer. If you're bitten, you'll end up completely paralyzed. Just like your friend here. After that, you die."
Kurapika: "Snake Charmer, you're looking to collect more badges right? We'll give you everyone we have. Just please, let us out of here."
"Don't bother. You see? He's already dead."
Esther: "…you killed him, didn't you?"
"My methods are a trade secret."
Kurapika walks up to him. Snakes surrounds and shields him.
"It's no use. You won't be able to search him. The snakes are trained, and if you even try to touch him, or try to leave the cave and escape, every single one of them will attack you."
Leorio's condition is worsening. Guess I have no choice.
Esther: "Gon, Kurapika. Take care of Leorio. It's not guarantee, but I'ma search him. He may have an antidote."
They say something in protest, I don't listen. I stand face-to-face with the snakes. I quickly search him. The snakes lunge onto me, they keep biting and trying to squeeze me.
Esther: "I found it!"
I take out the antidote and throw it to Kurapika. He catches it. I fall to the floor, the snakes leave me.
Esther: "Hurry up, heal Leorio… don't worry about me, I can handle poisons."
Kurapika treats Leorio while Gon patches me up. That's better.
"Are you crazy?! You could've died!"
Esther: "Call me crazy if you want, but Gon would've done the same thing if I wasn't here."
Gon: "Right!"
I sit up. I pull out the snake charmers badge.
Esther: "So…care to negotiate?"
"That's the badge I need!"
Esther: "Yes, and I'll only give it to you if you tell us how you killed him. There's no way he would have died unless you got him to stop moving. What did you do?"
"…I put him to sleep using my sleeping gas. Then, I killed him."
Kurapika: "How did you kill him without getting close enough to where the snakes would bite you?"
"Trade secret."
Gon: "Got anymore of that sleeping gas on you?"
"Yes, what for?"
Gon: "To use it. We can fill up the cave and knock them out cold."
"But that would take 5 minutes, that's way longer than anyone can hold their breath!"
Esther: "Gon and I can just carry you outside. Gon and I used to play who can hold their breaths the longest under water which is a lot more harder than it sounds. Of course, I would always lose but that isn't the point. Gon can hold in his breath for at least 9 minutes while I can for only 8. We can carry you outside. Trust us."
"Yeah right, you're just going to leave me here."
Esther: "If I wanted you dead, I would have killed you by now. Just trust us ok?"
"…not like I have anymore options. Fine."
She prepares the gas. We wait for Gon's signal. Now! As the gas spreads, the others are knocked out cold. We pick them up and wait for 5 minutes before charging outside. I could see the many snakes that lay on the ground sleeping as we exit the cave. Gon places Ponzu down near a tree and gives her snake charmers badge. He takes her badge though then lays down to rest for the night. I should do the same.