As the lofty, fierce atmosphere passed by, Anderson's chewing suddenly ceased, and only after the figure had moved away did he gulped down the remaining rabbit meat with a soft rumble, then looked up at Germain Spaulo. "Is this the giant dragon you mentioned?" Klein nodded slightly, confirming Anderson's assumption. Anderson's lips slowly curled into a smile—uncertain whether to cry or laugh. "I thought you were referring to an adult or even a young giant dragon. This one just now... "I might not be able to become a giant dragon hunter. I'll have to settle for being the giant dragon's manure." The wild, unruly energy of the "King of the North" was indeed quite intimidating—far more so than the haphazard, hair-raising monster encountered aboard the "Future" that could make one's hair grow wild. Perhaps it even belonged to Sequence 4, at half-divine level... Klein assessed calmly in his mind, showing no signs of panic or fear. He remembered clearly that in The Groessel Travels, it was explicitly stated that the Pirate Lady was attacked by the King of the North, fought valiantly, and ultimately escaped, only to encounter the main party led by the giant Groessel. Edwena Edwards, clearly, was no demigod—she was a Sequence 5 of the "Reader" path, and since she had been suddenly absorbed into the book, several of her more cumbersome magical items or seals had remained in the captain's cabin, leaving her with only a few usable tools on her person. Yet even under these circumstances, she managed to initially hold her own against the King of the North and survive. Given that, Klein, who had just been promoted and adjusted his glove setup, felt confident he would also be able to handle the situation. Moreover, he could connect with the gray mist and respond effectively using the "Sea God's Staff!" This was precisely why Klein decided to enter immediately upon confirming that Daniz's prayer was in good condition. Well, "The King of the North" doesn't seem like a typical half-divine being. According to the "Admiral of the Ice," it's more of an unruly monster that has accumulated numerous frost-related extraordinary traits—capable of matching a half-divine being in specific domains, though inevitably flawed elsewhere... I, Edwena Anderson, together with the extraordinary beings of the main party, aren't going to have any trouble handling it! If we absolutely must, we can always rely on the "Staff of the Sea God"—I simply don't believe this book could have anticipated any items from above the Gray Mists. If it could, it would have already shown signs by now... Standing by the fire, Caine glanced down at Anderson and smiled. "Are you afraid?" Anderson paused for a moment, then responded with a bright smile. "Not at all. You seem very confident." He then turned to Daniz, who was still slightly trembling and trying to steady himself, and remarked, "Do you know what's most important to a man?" Danzel took a deep breath and paused, uncertain, bringing together his right index and middle fingers and pointing downward. Anderson blinked, then burst out laughing. "…Good heavens, you're a crude pirate! Hah, I was just about to say something—hah, I can't remember now! Ah, yes—I meant to say courage. That's what men value most. Look at you—frightened to the point of clutching your head and begging for mercy, even before the dragons launch an attack!" Danzel's face flushed crimson and he stared at him in anger. In Toskatt, you weren't like this… Klein couldn't help muttering a quiet thought. Danzel was about to explain that he had simply been affected by the presence of the high-level beings when he suddenly remembered a phrase from earlier, and his expression settled into calmness. He replied lightly, "I can't even compare to the dragons' manure." Anderson's smile froze. He cleared his throat, then, as if nothing had happened, pulled down another rabbit leg and offered it to Germain Spaulo. "Would you like to try it?" Klein remained silent for several seconds, then slowly shook his head. "This is a strange world. Before we're certain everything is all right, it's best not to eat any of the food here. Maybe just one piece of rabbit meat will keep you here forever." "...” Anderson brought the roasted rabbit leg close to his nose and mouth, then slowly set it back down, his expression gradually sinking. "Why didn't you say so earlier?" Klein responded calmly. "I just thought of this question." Anderson's expression twisted for a few seconds, then he lowered his head and quickly began chewing on the roasted rabbit leg. "Are you not afraid that something might actually be wrong?" The strongest hunter's actions left Daniz utterly stunned. Anderson sighed, with a helpless smile. "I've already eaten one. I've digested what I could. Honestly, there's nothing I can do about it. Maybe it's better just to enjoy it now." Klein and Daniz found themselves at a loss for words. Anderson finished off the rabbit leg, paused thoughtfully, and asked, "Are you truly not eating at all? We don't know how long it will take until the next phase—should we be starving, what will we have to fight off something like that great dragon we just saw?" After another seven or eight seconds, he drew himself closer to the fire once more. ………… Outside time, seven in the evening, Caine held his hat in place, held his cane in hand, and, following the guidance of the divination, proceeded with Daniz and Andersen to the foot of a mountain. Passing a massive rock encased in thick ice, they came upon a dark, cavernous entrance guarded by a woman holding an ancient bow. She had soft, luminous black hair, tied simply into a ponytail, with a gentle, refined facial structure unlike that of any person from the northern lands. She wore a brown, classic hunter's coat and trousers, and her keen awareness immediately focused on them. Noticing the slightly pointed ears of the woman, and recalling the account from the "Grosel Traveler's Account," Caine instantly recognized her: the first female elf to have known the giant Grosel, whose name remained unknown. Compared to Earth, the people of the Northern Continent are more aligned with the European-American style, while this elf clearly carries a distinct Eastern charm—Caine quickly summarized these characteristics. "Elves! She's exactly like the sprites depicted in some ancient religious paintings!" Anderson suddenly became excited. "I must talk to her—I'd like to commission her as my model and paint several portraits of her!" Daniz, standing nearby, scoffed with a simple, sharp remark. "Boorish!" It was clear he hadn't forgotten Anderson's earlier mockery. "Do you only appreciate that kind of art?" Anderson glanced at him, quickened his pace, and headed toward the female elf. As soon as he approached, the female elf raised her long bow without hesitation, and the arrow nocked on it shimmered with flowing silver electric light. "Stop!" Anderson immediately lifted both hands halfway. Useless. Most of the elves belong to the "Storm" path and are easily impatient and impetuous... Caine quietly activated the "Line of Spirits," intending to gently guide the elf into a calm, attentive listening posture. At that very moment, Anderson gasped, catching sight of two thick, sturdy gray-blue giant legs, and a terrifying massive sword driven deep into the snow! "... "Anderson stared in astonishment, realizing he was only slightly taller than the knee of the leg, and instinctively followed the sword's contours, slowly raising his gaze. In a nearly reclined posture, he finally made out a giant standing nearly four meters tall! The giant had a gray-blue complexion, thick wild animal fur covering his chest, abdomen, and hips, while the rest of his body was bare, even his feet lacking any protection. He stood firm with a sword wider than a human doorframe, his characteristic vertical single eye fixed upon Anderson and the others, his voice deep and resonant: "Who are you? Why have you come to our camp at Grolser?" Just as Kline was about to respond, a familiar figure stepped out suddenly from the vast, dark cavern. Daniz's eyes filled with joy. The "Ice Mountain General," Edwenna, dressed in an elaborate shirt and dark pants, surveyed the three of them. Her usual reserved expression showed clear surprise—she had not expected both Germán Sparrow and Anderson Hood to be here. She quickly regained composure and looked up at the giant. "Grosel, this is my companion." Grosel opened his large mouth with delight and asked, "Are you all here to deal with Yurisun as well? Yurisun? Kline found himself at a loss for words. At that moment, he noticed Edwenna giving him a subtle nod, signaling him to confirm. So Yurisun is the 'King of the North'? Kline responded quietly, thoughtfully. "Yes." "Ah-ha! Then we're allies!" Grosel looked down upon the three figures across from him, chuckling warmly. As he spoke, Anderson quietly stepped back beside Germaine Sparo, lowering his voice to say: "I've never seen a living giant before." "It's impossible to hit him where he counts—too tall," he added. "Maybe we could even give him a foot massage..." Klein made a quiet comment, responding calmly: "A large target means easier to hit." "That's right," Anderson agreed. At that moment, Edwenna approached and introduced them to the three: "This is Grosel, the leader of the camp, the Giant Guardian." "And this is Thalassia, the Elven Singer." Elven Singer? Ocean Singer? Klein suddenly felt hopeful about Master 'The Hanged Man's' potion recipe. Edwenna then turned slightly, addressing Grosel the giant and Thalassia the elven singer: "These are my companions." "The greatest adventurer, Garmen Sparrow; the treasure hunter, Anderson Hood; the renowned seafarer, Daniz." ... I always thought you, the "Ice Mountain Admiral," were a man of serious demeanor, one who never lied... A renowned seafarer, yes—well, that's true, in a way. Kline removed his hat and bowed formally, while Anderson followed more casually. Daniz, on the other hand, was delighted that the captain had introduced him as a peer rather than a subordinate, and he hesitated slightly, appearing momentarily flustered. Grossel chuckled heartily: "Let's enter the camp—we're about to face off against the dragon Yurisun!" So warm and friendly indeed... Yet, in both the church scriptures and the myths of Silver City, giants are always described as fierce, destructive, and wildly passionate creatures... Ah, books can be quite flexible—what matters is whether the author can pull it off. Kline nodded gently and followed Grossel into the broad cavern. Edwena approached the three without any apparent hesitation, seemingly guiding them, yet softly added two remarks: "The history they've recounted seems a bit odd." "As for the language—no matter which one they speak, they all understand each other."