"Hm? What is this place?"
Kuro glanced around. The more he looked, the more uneasy he grew. High walls stood everywhere, with dark buildings looming behind them. The place was so grim and oppressive he could barely breathe. He turned to leave, but just then, Smoker caught up with him again.
"Let him go. Now."
Cigar in his mouth, Smoker glared at Kuro. His voice was slightly hoarse, but a fierce killing intent blazed in his eyes. Kuro had pushed him too far.
If his superiors found out, they would never let Smoker off lightly. Nothing mattered more than a Celestial Dragon's safety.
Smoker might not care whether the Celestial Dragons lived or died, but even the Five Elders dared not cross them. No amount of courage or stubbornness would help him.
"Let him go? And then I'll be safe?" Kuro scoffed.
"Heh. Keeping him won't make you safe either."
Someone had spoken behind Kuro.
The laugh was cold enough to chill the blood. Even Smoker felt a shiver run down his spine, as though a sudden cold had risen through the soles of his feet.
"Who's there?"
Startled, Kuro spun around. A man in a white suit had appeared a short distance behind him.
The man had handsome features and a friendly smile, but there was a soft, unsettling chill in his eyes.
"Bill, Dragon Guard of the Heavenly Prison!"
Bill took off his gloves and smiled at Kuro. "Now that you've come all the way to the Heavenly Prison, why not go in and have a look?"
"Hmph..."
Kuro sensed danger from Bill. He dared not linger and turned to leave, but Bill closed in with a single stride.
"Stay back, or I'll kill him."
Kuro flicked his wrist, opening a bloody cut on the Celestial Dragon's neck.