The Same Price Must Be Paid

"Let's duel!"

After Michelle shouted those words with great force, before anyone else could react, Fang Li spoke first.

"I refuse!"

That firm, utterly unhesitant answer told everyone that Fang Li had anticipated Michelle saying this all along.

"Re... refuse?"

Michelle had clearly not expected this development at all, and her eyes widened.

"Huh? Huh?"

Bevi, Monica, Tulia, and Mavrena all looked completely lost.

Clearly, not only had the four girls failed to keep up with Fang Li's response, they had not even caught up with Michelle's sudden declaration of war.

In other words, the declaration of a duel had been Michelle's decision alone. The rest of the girls from Lusalka had known nothing about it.

"It's so obvious..."

Sylvia stood to the side, torn between laughter and exasperation.

Fang Li said helplessly, "When a problem can't be resolved, wanting to settle it with a duel may be common in Battle City, but there's no reason for me to accept, is there?"

After all, this duel had come completely out of nowhere.

"Let me ask you something first." Fang Li looked at Michelle. "If you win this duel, what do you want?"

Hearing that, Michelle finally came back to her senses. She puffed out her chest and spoke.

"Obviously, you'll leave Sylvia!"

That declaration made her sound exactly like a villain.

Even Michelle's teammates could no longer stand it.

"Um..." Bevi said quietly. "Isn't that a bit too much?"

"Exactly." Tulia agreed. "Even if you don't want Sylvia to retire, there's no need to break them apart, right?"

"You're practically a bunch of thugs." Monica spoke bluntly. "Monica doesn't want to be a bad person."

"Y-Yeah." Mavrena hurriedly added. "That's way too much."

"Ugh..." Michelle immediately shrank back, apparently realizing that herself.

"Pfft..." Sylvia burst out laughing again.

Even Fang