At the most critical moment—when Bubuson was likely on the verge of regaining consciousness—the power of these words proved overwhelming indeed.

Now, even if Bubuson knew it was a trap, he could neither expose nor escape it. He had to take that first step into the pit without hesitation...

"That doesn't matter. Losing won't either," muttered Munetsu with deliberate provocation in his tone, "Don't fear our accusations that you refused the high-stakes wager on the Torrent Mirror. What's your position here? You have no reason to worry about us spreading rumors. I doubt any demon would believe such tales... even if a few did..."

Sabonis Kage secretly observed Lucifer Ryusui's composed expression, his curiosity piqued. How had this long-absent princess gathered so many exceptional demon talents around her? No bloodline demon warrior—yet every ordinary demon here possessed unique expertise! At least the speaker just now demonstrated profound understanding of demonic hearts, using a few well-timed words to force Bubuson, that proud blacksmith, into accepting the bet.

This tenth princess... Sabonis Kage nodded inwardly. Her cunning far surpassed rumors. With such talents at her side, if these demons could further develop their awakening powers... she might indeed become an empress one day!

"Bet! I'll bet with you!" Bubuson brandished his hammer, "Do you think I'd fear you?"

"Such boldness—no wonder you're the famed smith!" Munetsu gave a thumbs-up, "Indeed not someone without courage!"

Boxforce wore an exhausted smile. This demon's words were too sharp and perfectly timed—he first enraged Bubuson before elevating him to impossible heights. Now even if the Demon Emperor himself appeared to dissuade Bubuson, it would be useless; the blacksmith had been elevated beyond redemption by those few sentences.

"A bet is a good thing," countered Dofu Naito, "But not with empty promises." He pressed his advantage: "I don't doubt Master Bubuson's craft, but does your reputation hold weight in Maman Demon territory? Can you truly command resources freely?"

Bubuson only wanted to finalize the wager quickly. Let this arrogant half-demon learn that true strength in blacksmithing belonged solely to dwarves! To dwarves alone!

"Can't I command resources?" Bubuson's hand shot out, conjuring a block of cold-tinged metal from thin air.

The Arena! A master-class smith like Bubuson naturally possessed combat prowess. Combined with his special status, an Arena was no surprise.

"This is Halite Acid Ice Iron?" Qianjing's eyes brightened. No wonder the four-element smith! At a glance he recognized soul-weapon materials. If victorious this time... surely more than just profit awaited him?

Bubuson's expression carried faint pride: "You have some discernment, at least. There's also turquoise parrot stone, fire cat's eye..."

One after another—these were treasures even money couldn't buy! Materials flew from Bubuson's Arena, making Qianjing swallow repeatedly. This was the accumulation of true powerhouses!

Gold coins? To these powers, mere trinkets! Many of these materials couldn't be bought for all the wealth in existence.

Soul-weapon materials... soul-weapon materials... this was! For the first time since entering demon territory, Qianjing's eyes fully widened—Holy Relic materials!

"What is this? Why's a useless waste mixed among them?" Bubuson examined the gold-red needle tiger eye stone in his hand, dark and ordinary. "Probably some impurity... never noticed it before."

Impurity? Waste? Qianjing's heart nearly leapt from his throat. He wanted to kick Bubuson aside. Even if all those soul-weapon materials combined, they paled next to this single stone!

A Holy Relic indeed! Without doubt—a key material for belts used in Holy Relics!

Crash.

Bubuson casually tossed the gold-red needle tiger eye onto the ground, never glancing at it again.

Dofu Naito noticed Qianjing's gaze and bent to pick up the discarded stone from the arena. "Lovely rock," he smiled, "Make a pair of earrings or a bracelet for some lady... would you gift it to me?"

Bubuson continued drawing materials without even looking at Dofu: "Take it if you want—only useless demons like you would covet trash."

As Boxforce and Sabonis Kage watched suspiciously, Dofu returned to Lucifer Ryusui's side. He extended two fingers toward Qianjing. Two cigarettes! Otherwise none!

Qianjing understood the simple hand signals and responded with one finger—one stick only!

You don't smoke anyway, why be so cheap? Dofu winked at him.

I'm doing this for your health. Qianjing scoffed as Dofu muttered to the stars—fine, just one then! Next time we'll ask later. "Enough materials?" Bubuson gestured toward two towering piles resembling a human-shaped mountain in front of him. "Is this enough for your wager?" Boxforce's mouth turned bitter. This dwarf was too honest, actually offering ten percent of his resources to bet against the Torrent Mirror!

Qianjing nodded at the dazzling materials. If he won, he could experiment with soul-weapons again... maybe even create one by luck...

"Wait first," Bubuson raised a hand between Qianjing and the materials, "I know your little trap—you forced me into betting. But I must say..."

Bubuson's expression darkened further—twisted almost into a snarl: "Do you wonder why I came? Let me tell you—Sabonis is my adopted son!" Qianjing's brows twitched. He hadn't expected this dwarf to share such ties with Sabonis, the one he had killed.

Behind the group, Sabonis glared at Qianjing. Few in Maman Demon territory knew of this connection—not even elders! Otherwise clan leader might never have brought Bubuson here.

"When my adopted son's death was announced, I decided to kill you," Bubuson's smile turned feral, "I've spent years planning how to defeat you. But I know my demon warrior strength can't match yours. A direct fight would lose me."

"Truly blessed by the stars!" Bubuson suddenly raised his voice with unrestrained excitement, "I planned to hire killers afterward! Until your friend proposed this wager... My opportunity arrived! I feigned anger—I walked into your trap—just to kill you! No! Not even kill you!"

Bubuson roared: "I want to torture you! If I win, I'll shatter both hands and legs! I'll throw you to wild beasts for their pleasure!"

"Correct! Let them take advantage of you!" Bubuson's veins bulged on his forehead as he continued. My beloved adopted son brought me a hundred beautiful ten-year-old girls yearly from Zhenche Dynasty for my enjoyment. Ten years, one thousand girls! You! You killed my son and destroyed my happiness..."

No wonder this dwarf often gave Sabonis extra equipment! Boxforce clenched his fists tightly. All along it was because of this? If he had known the dwarf favored ten-year-old girls from Zhenche Dynasty... why not provide two hundred yearly instead of just one hundred?

Qianjing showed no emotion as Bubuson ranted, yet hearing these words stirred inevitable anger—a thousand children meant a thousand broken families. The greatest villains in this world were traffickers and those who accepted their victims.

Bubuson studied Qianjing for a long moment before slowly unclenching his thick eyebrows with a nod: "I once heard rumors you might be the madman Dainobu... but now I see otherwise. A Zhenche citizen would have raged if told ten thousand of their own children were violated."

Qianjing remained calm, not because he lacked anger, but because it hadn't erupted yet. In Demon territory, one misstep could doom everyone following him here. This was the spiritual baptism—constant trials that demanded absolute control.

"Dainobu, my senior brother?" Qianjing addressed Bubuson. "If I were him, you'd already be a pile of meat for speaking truthfully."

"Correct! I ranted out frustration and want your death... but I also doubted if you were Dainobu when I spoke honestly..." Wait—senior brother?

Bubuson suddenly froze as all demons around him paused. Was this Torrent Mirror actually Dainobu's junior sibling?

Boxforce's furrowed brow smoothed instantly, his mysteries now clear. That explained everything—the sudden emergence of Dainobu in Zhenche Dynasty and the parallel appearance at Lucifer Kingdom.