The Celestial Dragons stared greedily at Shirahoshi, drool already dripping from their mouths.
Then they suddenly glanced at one another warily.
And on each other's faces, they saw the same desire.
"Hey, let's get this straight. I saw her first. None of you are allowed to fight me for her!"
"Mine! All mine!"
"That's the most beautiful mermaid I've ever seen. Only I deserve to own her.
I'll invite you all to my house to admire her!"
"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and catch her for me!"
Every one of the Loyal Hounds was at a complete loss.
They could neither act nor stand still.
Couldn't these people settle things before ordering them to move?
Every last one was their master. Offending any of them meant death.
Those vicious-looking Celestial Dragons frightened Shirahoshi to tears.
"P-please don't hurt my father and mother!"
Her soft, sweet voice and helpless little expression only excited the Celestial Dragons even more.
"Stop standing around! Hurry up and throw away that filthy mermaid you're holding!
Go catch that one for me! Catch her!"
One Celestial Dragon shouted.
The Masked Man immediately tossed Otohime aside and charged toward Shirahoshi.
Shirahoshi saw only a blur before pain shot through her head.
By the time she came to her senses, she was already being dragged along by her hair.
"Bastard, let go of my sister!"
Covered in blood, Fukaboshi rushed to the Masked Man's side.
He thrust his trident at the Masked Man with every ounce of strength he had.
The Masked Man's eyes turned cold.
"You ungrateful fool."
He raised one hand and easily caught Fukaboshi's all-out strike.
Then his fingers tightened, shattering the head of the trident.
Fukaboshi immediately dropped the shaft, ready to fight with his bare hands.
But in the next