Inside the Demon Domain.
Blood Snail Palace.
On a throne built from piled bones, Prince Dai Li rested her clenched right fist against the side of her face, leaning sideways as she listened with her eyes closed.
The chattering imp buzzed noisily in midair, constantly reporting the intelligence it had gathered.
When she heard, "Demon Prince Liu Wenjian killed the outsiders and seized several hundred monsters," Dai Li's brow furrowed slightly, and she opened her eyes.
The chattering imp failed to notice anything amiss and continued babbling away.
It was not until a hand formed of ghostfire clamped over its mouth that it finally fell silent.
"Shut up first. I'll ask, and then you answer."
Dai Li cast a sidelong glance into the air and spoke coolly.
"First question: where did that newly promoted Demon Prince come from?"
The ghostfire hand released it. Flapping its wings, the little demon croaked in a voice like a broken gong, "Before receiving the Holy Lord's blessing, he was a Copper Boot Warrior in the Overlord Army. He called himself Guangguai. After successfully ascending into a demon, his Talent Ability seems to have become a psychic power that lets him control insects. Luckily, he ran into Demon Prince Liu Wenjian this time. If he'd run into Demon Prince Kagmo instead, it wouldn't be clear who would win. I think Demon Prince Kagmo definitely wouldn't be able to withstand Guangguai's control. He might even end up like those Green Mushroom Imps and be... mmph!"
The ghostfire hand seized the little demon's lips, silencing its chatter while scorching it so badly that its eyes rolled back.
"Second question." Dai Li's tightly furrowed brows showed no sign of easing as she continued, "Where did those hundred-odd monsters come from?"
The ghostfire hand released it, as though lifting