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Chapter 100 Entering Lonely Mountain

Looking at the hidden door that Dui had easily opened with a single spell,

Thorin was unsure whether to be happy that the secret door was open or worried that his back door was practically useless.

However, now that the main gate was open, the group did not linger and entered the secret passage behind it one after another.

The Dulin dwarves hollowed out the entire interior of Lonely Mountain, and the dragon's location was in the hall near the front entrance, so the group didn't need to worry about being discovered by the dragon if they entered.

As their former home, Thorin and Balin, along with other elder dwarves, knew the layout of Lonely Mountain inside very well, and they easily led the group to a secluded room.

Along the way, you can see many dwarf skeletons; they were dwarfs who failed to escape when the dragons occupied Lonely Mountain.

After reaching the secluded room, the group stopped there.

The dragon Smaug is very familiar with the scents of dwarves and humans, and getting too close would easily alert the dragon.

All eyes were on Bilbo. To avoid alerting the dragon Smaug as much as possible, they could only rely on "Mr. Thief" to steal the Arkenstone.

In this way, they wouldn't have to face the dragon directly. Once they obtained the Arkenstone, they could return to Erebor and leave the Lonely Mountain. Thorin could then rally the seven dwarf races in the name of the King of the Mountain to launch a counterattack on Erebor.

Thorin walked up to Bilbo and patted him on the shoulder.

"Now it's up to you! I believe you can get the Arkenstone, right?"

Bilbo felt uncomfortable under Thorin's gaze and turned his head away uncomfortably.

"I'll try my best!"

His tone lacked confidence, after all, he was about to face a giant dragon.

Then he felt the pressure on his shoulders increase.

"Not just try, but definitely! We absolutely must get the Arkenstone!"

Thorin's voice carried a hint of madness and obsession.

"Enough!" Dui waved his hand, instantly throwing Thorin away from Bilbo.

Then he stood next to Bilbo, looking at Thorin with icy eyes.

"Thorin Oakenshield, Bilbo is not your subordinate or servant. You'd better show him some respect!"

Gandalf also frowned and looked at him with disappointment.

"Thorin, wake up! Don't let madness consume your reason. Look at yourself; you're becoming less and less the Thorin Oakenshield you used to be!"

"Perhaps sending you to Lonely Mountain in the first place was a mistake. The closer you get to Lonely Mountain, the more the dragon disease lurking in your blood manifests, and it's trying to drive you to self-destruction!"

"No, I have never been so clear-headed!" Thorin glared angrily at Gandalf. "Nothing is more important than the Arkansas! With the Arkansas, I can reclaim my Lonely Mountain, my treasure!"

Compared to this, everything else is insignificant!

"These have never been your most important things, Thorin Oak Shield. Look around you; your companions, your people, they are your true treasure."

Don't let desire blind you!

Gandalf tries to awaken Thorin's conscience.

Thorin glanced at the dwarves who were looking at him with worry, his eyes flickering slightly, but this was quickly suppressed by another kind of fanatical obsession.

His eyes became obsessive and crazed.

He shook his head, his tone indifferent:

"No, they are insignificant."

"You're insane!" Gandalf's voice sounded tired.

"Alright, Gandalf, he's lost much of his senses. You can't persuade him," Duy said. "The closer he gets to the treasure of Lonely Mountain, the more pronounced his dragon disease becomes."

"If all else fails, just knock him out and take him far away. Maybe without the treasure's influence, he'll regain his composure."

"Stop arguing! I'm going to steal the Arkenzie back!"

Bilbo's voice suddenly rang out.

Seeing that everyone's eyes were on him, he said:

"If we get the Arkenstone, everything will be fine, won't it?"

"With the Arkenstone in hand, Thorin will be able to gather the dwarves, and the mission of Duir, Gandalf, and I will be complete. I can go home now."

Everyone fell silent instantly.

"So, trust me this once, okay?" Bilbo asked with a flawless smile.

Looking at Bilbo like this, Dui was moved. He took a deep breath, squatted down to be at eye level with him, and asked again earnestly:

"Bilbo, are you sure?"

Bilbo nodded firmly.

"Since you're going, I'll provide you with some protection."

Dui stopped trying to persuade him, waved his wand at him, and muttered incantations.

"Super-strong armor protects you, enhancing all defenses, making you impenetrable, impervious to water and fire, and completely silent—"

Bilbo stared wide-eyed at the multiple layers of protection he was wearing, feeling only an invisible, bloated sensation.

Then Dui took out a pot of mandrake grass from his spatial bag and handed it to him.

"Take this mandrake with you. If you encounter a dragon, just throw it at it; it'll buy you some time. Don't worry, I've already cast a spell on it; you won't hear it cry."

"And if you really encounter a life-threatening crisis, just tap this gold coin, and I'll know immediately, and we'll come to your rescue right away—"

Listening to Dui's constant instructions, Bilbo's smile grew brighter and brighter, and he hugged Dui tightly, moved by the gesture.

"I understand, Duir, thank you!"

Dui gently patted his back.

"Be careful not to put yourself in danger, and don't force yourself to get the gem if you can't get it, understand?"

Bilbo nodded quickly.

Upon hearing this, Dui released him.

Gandalf was delighted to see this, and he patted Bilbo on the shoulder with a smile.

"Duir has done all he could. I can only wish you good luck! Bilbo, may Vera bless you!"

When the last sentence was spoken, the others were unmoved.

But Dui clearly felt a blessing power descend upon Bilbo.

Afterwards, amidst the blessings of the crowd, Bilbo left the secret chamber and headed to the dragon's vault.

Before leaving, Dui added another illusion spell to Bilbo.

While it can't guarantee that we'll escape the dragon's sight, it's still an extra layer of protection.

After Bilbo left, the dwarves were restless in the silence.

Thorin gradually lost patience as time passed, and he looked at Dui.

"Duir, doesn't your Knowledge Crystal allow you to see distant scenery? Take it out and see how Bilbo is doing now? Or is he just hiding because he's too scared?"

"Or you could check the location of the Arkenstone directly, and then we'll figure out a way to get it."

Dui gave him a cold look.

"Didn't Gandalf say that using the Crystal of Knowledge to investigate will be discovered by the dragons? You're asking for death, don't drag us down with you!"

"And Bilbo is a brave hobbit who is risking his life to find the Arkenbrooch for you. If you're not grateful, fine, but if you continue to slander and doubt him, then go find it yourself!"

He had no liking for Thorin, who now only had the Arkenstone in his eyes.

Dragon disease, to put it bluntly, amplifies Thorin's inner desires and obsessions. Although the trigger is the dragon's treasure, it essentially originates from his own inner self.

Just then, a deafening dragon roar came from the treasure vault, the sound echoing throughout the entire Lonely Mountain.

Everyone present instantly changed their expressions and looked towards the treasure vault.