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"I-I..."

Vladimir was like a jammed cassette tape, stammering so badly he could not get out a complete sentence.

In the end, the toad-headed demon elder stepped forward and gave his shoulder a meaningful pat, saving Vladimir from choking to death on the spot.

"...Enough. Cooperate properly, and don't do anything stupid. It wasn't easy for you to make it as far as demon princes, after all..."

Vladimir seemed to have had his spine pulled out, his entire body going limp.

If not for the trolls behind him holding him up, he would likely have collapsed into a pile of mush on the ground.

Kagmo and Bogang, standing nearby, were scared pissless!

Those few words from the demon elder had actually made things very clear—

You caused this mess, so you should bear the blame as well.

Cooperate obediently and take responsibility on your own initiative. Once things took a turn for the better, everything could still be discussed.

But if they dared to play tricks and evade responsibility, not only would they bear all the guilt, they might even be executed on the spot!

In short, the three demon princes, Vladimir included, were not going anywhere.

They had to wait outside the entrance for Evelina and Lu Li to emerge from the Ancient Basin.

"Now, explain yourselves properly." Another demon elder removed his hood as well, revealing a grotesque head covered in bony spikes.

Two clusters of blue-violet flames burned within his hollow skull sockets. It felt as though staring at them for even a moment too long would drag one's soul inside.

"Tell us, in every detail, what happened between you and these two Challenger Cards."

"Oh, right. You should all know what I'm capable of, so don't even think about lying..."

Inside the Ancient Basin.

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