This venerable one's concern is the destruction of the eight-headed beast that has eluded death for far too long.

[He's been really wanting to kill something worth his effort and this something is big and difficult to kill. It's a perfect target.]

The only ones this venerable one intends to protect are the God-Beasts. The people are not his concern.

[That they happened to be the home of so many and those people would benefit was just a happy bonus for those that lived there.]