Deep in the Western Country stood Dog Castle.
In the darkness, the vast city loomed like an enormous black beast, majestic and imposing.
A figure radiating cold stood atop a mountain that overlooked all of Dog Castle. His eyes flickered, as though marveling at the city's prosperity.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Several figures suddenly appeared on the mountaintop, each emanating such piercing cold that they seemed utterly devoid of warmth.
"How did the investigation go?"
The man overlooking Dog Castle turned toward his clansmen, who knelt with their heads bowed, and asked.
"My lord, Dog Castle has sent many Dog Demons out to search for healing medicines and treasures. It is exactly as you predicted!"
The man at the head of the kneeling group answered respectfully.
"As I thought, Tōga must have paid a tremendous price to slay three Great Yokai of his own level single-handedly!"
"Perhaps the Ice Wolf Royal Lineage can claim the throne of the Western Country's overlord!"
The man's eyes gleamed, and a smile surfaced on his face. His wolf tail swayed beneath his coat as he gazed down at Dog Castle, the flames of ambition in his heart burning ever higher.
"What are my second and third brothers doing? After all this time, haven't they dealt with that branch yet?"
The man frowned, calculating how much time had passed. His two brothers had gone to deal with the Western Country's Demon Wolf branch and Mingye, that young upstart who dreamed of becoming king.
With so much time gone by, they should have been nearly finished.
"Lord Hyōrinmaru, there has still been no word from young masters Ice Wolf Fang and Bing Jiling."
The leader of the Ice Wolf People replied. He was puzzled as well. With the two young masters' strength, wiping out a branch that