A magical journey that begins at Hogwarts

"You can do this too?" Bilbo looked at Aaron in surprise. "Wait, didn't you have amnesia?"

“Hmm…but some things I always remember.” Aaron tapped his temple. “My ancestors must have been repairmen.”

"I think I'll go check on my antique tableware!"

Bilbo struggled through the dwarfs and reached the table where he saw neatly stacked tableware, without a speck of dirt.

The dwarves were very efficient; they cleaned the hobbit hole spotless in just a few minutes.

Apart from the fact that all the food was gone, everything else was the same as before they arrived.

boom!boom!

This time it wasn't a doorbell, but a simple and forceful knocking.

Everyone fell silent and looked towards the doorway in unison.

Gandalf took a drag of his cigarette and said in a deep voice, "He's here."

Aaron noticed a hint of reverence in the eyes of the twelve dwarves and thought to himself: It seems that this leader has an exceptionally high level of prestige.

Gandalf opened the door himself, and a tall dwarf walked in.

Compared to dwarves like Devalin and Balin, this dwarf's equipment was not much better, but he had the air of someone in a superior position.

"Gandalf, didn't you say this place was easy to find?"

I got lost twice; I wouldn't have found my way at all if it weren't for the markings on the doors.

“So… now everyone’s here.” Aaron raised an eyebrow. “The thirteenth dwarf.”

“Bilbo Baggins, Aaron Gaius, allow me to introduce our leader,” Gandalf said, “Thorin Oakenshield.”

“So, this is a hobbit.” Thorin looked at Bilbo with some disdain, then turned his even more disappointed gaze to Aaron. “Gandalf, you didn’t tell me that the person you added at the last minute was a child.”

Aaron blinked.

How many times have I been looked down upon?

“Thorin, he’s different,” Gandalf said with a mysterious smile. “His intuition is very accurate; I haven’t experienced anything like it in a long time.”

Trust me, I can guarantee that Gaius will play a absolutely crucial role.

Thorin's contempt lessened somewhat. "But he's still just a child."

“What’s wrong with being a child? Everyone started as a child.” Aaron straightened his back defiantly. If he hadn’t been unaware of the state of this world, he would have taught Thorin a lesson about being a dwarf in no time.

"Hmph!" Thorin sneered. "Do you have any combat experience?"

"I think so!" Aaron looked at Thorin with some uncertainty. "One against three shouldn't be a problem."

"Axe or sword, what's your go-to weapon?"

"Swords, please!"

"Indeed, the axe is a big challenge for you."

And you? Bilbo Baggins.

“I’m still quite good at using chestnuts,” Bilbo said with a hint of pride, “but I don’t understand the connection.”

“I think so too. You don’t seem like a thief, more like a grocer,” Thorin laughed. The dwarves and Gandalf laughed as well, and the atmosphere lightened up a bit.

The dining room was converted into a makeshift meeting room, where Gandalf and the thirteen dwarves sat around a table.

Completely bewildered, Aaron and Bilbo couldn't squeeze in and could only listen in.

"How was the party in Iridron? Did everyone come?" Balin asked.

“Yes, envoys from all seven kingdoms have come,” Thorin said.

"An envoy of the kingdom?" Aaron tapped the chair lightly. "It seems your status is more valuable than I thought."

"Of course, Thorin is..."

"Bahrin." Sorin glared at Balin, who then shut his mouth in annoyance.

"What do the dwarves of the Ironhills say?" Dvalin asked. "Will Dain support us?"

Thorin remained silent for a long while. "They won't come."

Upon hearing this, the other dwarves were slightly disappointed, but they also felt that this seemed to make sense.

"They said this expedition was our own business."

“Bilbo, please light this place up.” Gandalf pulled a map from his sleeve and unfolded it in front of everyone. “In the far east, beyond mountains and rivers, through dense forests and wastelands, lies a solitary mountain.”

Bilbo took a candle, and in its light he saw the name of the place Gandalf was pointing to: "The Lonely Mountain."

“That’s not the point.” Aaron pointed excitedly to a pattern on Lonely Mountain. “This is the point.”

“This is…” Bilbo swallowed hard. “It’s not a dragon, is it?”

“This is the terrifying Smaug, the largest and most ferocious beast of this generation,” Nori said. “If you’re afraid, you don’t have to go.”

“No, I’ll go.” Aaron’s gaze was firm. “Please make sure you take me with you.”

Gandalf's lips curled up slightly. He had thought he would have to use more words, but he didn't expect Aaron to be so cooperative.

“Aaron,” Bilborgh tugged at his sleeve, “do you know what you’re saying?”

“I know it very well, I know it all too well.”

Is that a dragon? That's clearly the key to activate the Dragon Slayer Crystal.

After searching for it everywhere, I finally found it without any effort!

Brutal, killing without any guilt, powerful, and might have other characteristics after the Dragon Slayer Crystal is activated.

In short, nobody should try to take it from me.

“Child, you may not know how terrifying Smaug is,” Balin said seriously. “Dragons are fire-breathing monsters with teeth as sharp as blades, claws that are sharp and long, and their bodies are covered with indestructible scales.”

"I know you might not believe it, but I know more about dragons than anyone here does," Aaron said calmly.

He himself raised a dragon, which is still in its juvenile stage, but they have lived together for more than two years. He dares to say that no one present has had this experience.

Oli suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "I'm not afraid, I'm ready, I'm going to let him taste the power of dwarven weapons."

"Well done, Ollie."

"Sit down now."

The young dwarf's courage seemed to inspire everyone, giving them a boost of confidence.

Upon seeing this, Aaron couldn't help but frown.

Slaying the dragon wasn't based on confidence. He didn't know what Olli's weapon was, but he was very clear that Phil's sword couldn't break through the dragon's defenses.

As for the others, needless to say, they were probably about the same, and some didn't even bring any weapons.

“Even with a large army coming to our aid, this journey will still be fraught with danger and uncertainty, and we only have thirteen people,” Bahrain said with some concern. “They are not even the top thirteen, nor are they the smartest.”

“Excuse me for interrupting,” Aaron said, raising his hand. “There are fourteen people, fifteen if you include Gandalf, and we can’t rule out the possibility that Bilbo will join us.”

Furthermore, determination is sometimes more important than being top-notch or intelligent.

“That’s right.” Philip nodded in agreement. “We may not be many, but we are all warriors, fighting to the death.”

"Um... excuse me, I might have to interrupt again."

"Fighting to the death" might be a bit too much for me. I will do my best to help you within my capabilities, but let me be clear: if there is any danger to my life, then... a strategic retreat will be the only option."

Everyone:......

These words were somewhat discouraging to the morale of the troops.

Chapter 235 A Contract That Can Make People Faint

“Don’t forget, we also have a wizard in our team.” Kili cleverly steered the conversation toward Gandalf. “Gandalf must have killed hundreds of dragons in his life.”

“No,” Gandalf waved his hand awkwardly, “I wouldn’t say that.”

“I think so too,” Aaron scoffed. “Hundreds of dragons, that’s a bit of an overactive imagination.”

If Gandalf were truly that powerful, why would he need to organize an entire adventure party?

"How many are there?" Doli asked eagerly.

"what?"

"How many dragons have you killed?"

Gandalf, smoking, choked and couldn't speak.

"Hurry up! Give us a number."

Gandalf did not answer, and the dwarves seemed to glean a sad answer from his silence, and immediately began to quarrel.

The scene suddenly became extremely chaotic, and the morale of the team was in disarray even before they set off.

"enough."

Thorin shouted and stood up, and everyone else immediately fell silent.

"If we see the signs, why can't others see them?"

"Excuse me, I'll interrupt you one more time."

What are the omens?

Thorin turned around and glared at him.

Why are you interrupting when adults are talking? Can't you see I'm trying to build morale?

“The omens say the time has come,” O’In explained. “There is a prophecy that when the birds of old fly back to Irubor, the monster’s reign will come to an end.”

"Rumors are now spreading, and the dragon Smaug has been missing for sixty years."

The crowd looked out at Lonely Mountain in the east, observing, pondering, and assessing the risks. Perhaps our wealth was currently unattended; should we sit idly by and watch them seize it by trickery and force?

Or perhaps we should take this opportunity to reclaim Irubor.

Thorin roared out his last words, and inspired by their leader, the dwarves' morale soared.

But Aaron couldn't laugh; this adventure might be more difficult than he had imagined.