Green's eyes lit up. Then he turned a less-than-friendly gaze on the big black fish that had surrendered.
Little Black felt a stabbing chill run through his body, as though he were a fish in a market tank. The girl atop his head cried out, "No! No! My meat tastes terrible! It's poisonous, too, and it stinks..."
Green gave this shameless Sea God Guard a surprised look, but he was in no hurry to kill him for food. Since the big fish knew how to behave, Green could keep him around and question him about the Sea God. The Daughter of the Sea God was a special case; Green could only glean fragments from her murmurs in dreams. This Sea God Guard, on the other hand, was an ancient survivor from before the Sea God's fall. Even without anything about the Sea God, his memories spanning more than ten thousand years were a considerable treasure.
Just then, Alshfaro, the Shadow Red Dragon, landed with a full belly and let out a rumbling belch. He was still eyeing Little Black hungrily. The meaning was unmistakable. The girl atop the big black fish's head squealed and tried to hide, but had nowhere to go. Her face went pale as she trembled.
Green frowned and gestured for the Shadow Red Dragon to stop causing trouble. Then he said coldly to the big black fish, "Enough. Drop the act. You became a Sea God Guard and survived unharmed until today, so you're no fool. Neither am I. If you want me to spare you, show me why you're worth keeping alive. Understood?"
The girl atop the black fish's head dropped her terrified expression and looked at Green with a little more composure. She nodded. "Yes, my lord. I understand."
Realizing Green would not be