"Is it the snow monster from Lankote Snowfield coming down to look for food?"

....

Meanwhile, on the other side.

After walking invisibly for a while, Meredith and Raine canceled the Invisibility Spell. At this moment, Meredith handed a bag to Raine.

"Raine, this is the spoils from that extraordinary mage, Sarno."

"Thank you, much appreciated!" Taking the gray cloth bag, Raine noticed that Meredith’s thin red lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something but didn’t speak out.

"Is there something on your mind?" Raine asked, feeling puzzled by Meredith’s hesitant expression.

"No." Meredith shook her head.

"Is it because of the two-year promise? It’s okay, if you have things to do, you’re free to go anytime." Raine speculated after some thought.

As his abilities improved, even without the ’elite brain-eating monster bloodline’ to gain a surface mind reading spell, Raine could sense that Meredith certainly had something to say.

So, after some pondering, he guessed it might be related to the two-year promise made when he saved Meredith before.

"No, it’s just..." Meredith shook her head again.

However, under Raine’s gaze, Meredith slowly said, "I don’t have enough money."

"Not enough money?" Raine was taken aback.

What does this mean?

Is she asking to borrow money?

"I initially wanted to save enough to hire you for something, just like that Viscount Henry did."

"Huh? Do I seem that money-driven to you?" Raine was speechless.

Meredith’s thin lips curved slightly, her bright eyes glanced at Raine, and she nodded, "I noticed your eyes when the Viscount handed you the crystal card."

"Ahem... gold coins, dragons love them! It’s normal for me to like them too, isn’t it?" Raine coughed, trying to cover his embarrassment.

"By the way, Meredith, what is it that you need help with?"

Not immediately answering, Meredith seemed to be gathering her words, then slowly spoke:

"Just a few days ago, a swordsman came from Belendaan to serve under Lady Ilgerina... my father, for purposely letting me go, was imprisoned in Belendaan’s jail...."

"Although I didn’t meet my father often, he always cared for me since I was young...." As she spoke, Meredith gestured to the pair of curved swords at her waist, "These weapons were crafted by my father himself."

Raine nodded, understanding why Meredith said ’didn’t meet often.’

After meeting Meredith, he had learned about some information concerning Drow Elves. In Drow families, the highest authority figures were all females, high-tier priestesses of Rose, while males generally held low status and had no authority to nurture or educate children.

"So, you want to rescue him?"

"Yes, but I can’t do it alone. I was planning to tell you once I saved enough gold coins." Meredith nodded. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

In fact, there was something else she didn’t say.

It was after witnessing Raine fighting the Frost Giant commander and slaying the White Dragon that Meredith began to entertain the thought of asking for Raine’s help.

"Aren’t you worried that your father might..." Raine asked again.

"No, my father is a master craftsman, and there is no news of his life being in danger, he is just being imprisoned, but he’s tasked with crafting more weapons and the workload has increased." Meredith explained.

Oh, so that’s it. A master craftsman is the highest position a male Drow Elf can achieve.

Raine nodded, simultaneously deep in thought.

"I only have two thousand gold coins here, plus two pieces of magic equipment which I doubt is enough for the task reward, however... Raine, are you not interested in the ’Protector’ from the Imperial Twin Hammers?"

"I once heard my father talk about something. The vault design principles for both the Bann family in Mosobai City and the Hernett family in Athel are basically the same as our Bregen family, and my father has maintained the Bregen family vault several times."

"Raine, if I could have my father give you some more detailed advice, could that work to offset part of the task reward?"

Meredith seemed unaware of Raine’s jest about gold coins, seriously providing a detailed payment plan for the reward.

Hmm?

Access to Drow Elf vaults?

Raine’s eyes lit up immediately!

The power of the Counterattacker had already been demonstrated many times in battle, and he collected star iron for repairing the Counterattacker.

And finding a way to obtain the ’Protector’ from the Imperial Twin Hammers has always been an important future goal for him.

"Meredith, I want to ask you something."

"Between the matron of the Bregen family and the clan leader of the Gray Dwarves, Dark Furnace Clan, who is stronger?" Raine asked seriously.

Though his abilities were advancing rapidly, he wouldn’t venture rashly into action without detailed planning, a pivotal part of which involved assessing the high-end combat strength of the opponent.

Because he had a shapeshifter bloodline, infiltrating the Drow city of Belendaan wouldn’t take much effort, and even rescuing Meredith’s father from prison wouldn’t be very difficult.

The issue arises after the rescue; if it alarms the high-end strength of Belendaan, how should the situation be handled?

Although everything could go smoothly, it was always prudent to prepare contingencies.

"The matron’s strength should be stronger, because besides mastering powerful high-tier magic, as a high-tier priestess, she has received blessings and wields more extraordinary divine art."