Purification

"Your Highness Roland! Greetings!" Thorin offered his respect as Roland rode closer.

"Mm, I'm here to collect our due reward," Roland stated coldly from his horseback perch. The sacrifices of the Swift River Infantry had made his tone less than friendly.

Seeing Roland covered in black bloodstains, Thorin opened his mouth as if to say something, but seeing the Knights and Archers arriving behind him, he changed his mind.

"Of course, you deserve this reward. The wealth of Erebor City is yours to take." Thorin bowed to Roland, remaining the simple and kind Dwarf prince he always was.

"I apologize for the heavy casualties among your subordinates..." Seeing Roland's bloodshot eyes, Thorin promptly shut his mouth.

"Then please allow us to clear the battlefield..." Thorin glanced at the mess in front of Erebor City, where Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs lay dead and wounded. Squads of the Ironfoot Army were now moving through the scattered limbs and bodies, searching for any surviving Dwarves and Elves, and finishing off any half-dead Orcs.

At this moment, Thranduil and Bard, having settled things in River Valley City, also led their forces towards Erebor City.

"King Roland! Thank you for your timely assistance. The Elven race will remember your kindness." Thranduil, looking dusty and disheveled, bowed slightly. Roland's decisive intervention had greatly relieved the pressure on Thranduil and Bard, and Caslo had successfully helped River Valley City stabilize the situation.

"I'm so glad you could come to support us!" Bard's eyes welled up with emotion. The Elf Archers' weak melee combat abilities had caused Bard considerable trouble during the street fighting to defend River Valley City. However, with the help of Roland's Wyvern Knights, they had managed to create distance from the Orcs, allowing the Elf Archers to unleash their full potential.

"What? Are you two planning another Battle of the Lonely Mountain?" Roland raised the Dragon-slaying Sword in his hand and gestured towards the sparse soldiers behind them.

"No, we just want to reclaim the wealth promised by the King Under the Mountain to rebuild our homes," Bard said calmly.

"We merely wish to obtain the Arkenstone," Thranduil looked at Thorin Oakenshield.

"Thorin..." Roland called out.

"Mm... Of course, this is what you deserve." Thorin looked at the scattered remnants of their armies behind the two, then sighed as he watched the Dwarves searching the battlefield.

"Everyone, come to Erebor! Tonight, we will hold a celebration banquet for the recapture of the Lonely Mountain," Thorin extended his invitation to everyone.

"Hi! Master Baggins! Thank heavens you're still alive!" Roland spotted Bilbo, who was idly standing around. This kind Hobbit always brought joy to everyone.

"Mr. Roland? It's so good to see you again. I thought you were already at Rivendell..." Bilbo stammered.

"Don't worry. The Knights of Lagrange are incredibly strong! The Orcs couldn't defeat us!" Roland stated firmly.

"So, what are your plans for the future?" Bilbo asked, looking up.

"Well! I plan to establish a small town at the mouth of the Long Lake. You're welcome to visit then," Roland said to Bilbo with a smile.

"Oh, right, take me inside to have a look. I've never been to a Dwarf city before," Roland glanced at Thorin, Bard, and the others who were negotiating, then turned to Bilbo. He had no intention of getting involved in the disputes between the Dwarves, Elves, and Humans.

As soon as he entered Erebor, Roland felt the Dragon-slaying Sword tremble. The last time he had felt this way was during the battle with Smaug. However, since Smaug had once occupied this place, it was understandable that there would be traces of dragon aura.

"Something's wrong!" Compared to Roland's slight surprise, Caslo's reaction was much more intense. He gazed solemnly at the grand Dwarf hall, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.

"It is indeed wrong. An evil curse lingers here, the dragon's greed has become tangible, and the shadow of death hangs over this place..." Temple Priest Ivy said with a look of disgust, frowning as she surveyed her surroundings. It was clear she didn't like it here.

"Hi! Friend! What's wrong?" Dáin saw Roland and his entourage stopped at the entrance and asked curiously.

"Uh, my subordinates might not like the atmosphere here..." Roland spread his hands to explain.

"My lord, leave this place!" Suddenly, Caslo grabbed Roland and tried to drag him out.

"What the heck? What happened?" Roland was utterly bewildered. Do you have many friends?

"Enough! Caslo!" Reno stopped Caslo's impolite behavior.

"Apologies, my lord. The curse here has a significant effect on those of higher standing..." Caslo apologized for his recent rudeness.

"A curse? What's going on?" Roland was completely confused.

"You foolish child... the King is a Paladin! Have you ever seen a Paladin afraid of curses?" Reno felt Caslo had embarrassed him all the way to Lagrange City.

"..." Caslo was petrified.

"Alas, my lord, it's like this: the dragon that once resided here placed a curse on the wealth..." Ivy, unable to watch any longer, began to explain.

"It makes people greedy!" Gandalf appeared at the entrance.

"Greetings, Wizard Gandalf!" Roland bowed his head respectfully. After all, one had to show some deference to the old man.

"Then, Mr. Gandalf, do you have any solutions?" Thorin, Bard, and Thranduil's group entered.

"This requires purification through magic. However, you are very lucky, Thorin! There are three people before you who can successfully purify the curse here," Gandalf said, taking out his pipe and speaking with an air of leisurely confidence.

"There are four! Mr. Greycloak! You too," Ivy suddenly added.

"Uh..." A smile froze on Gandalf's face.

Roland looked at Gandalf curiously and couldn't help but want to laugh. Was he trying to slack off and got caught? Who initiated the expedition to the Lonely Mountain? Who should solve their own problems? Did he think he could just slip away? Impossible.

"Could you please help us remove the curse here? We are willing to pay a reward," Thorin looked at them.

"Holy cow!" Roland was stunned by the scene before him. What was a mountain of gold? What did it mean to have a mine at home? Roland felt that the depictions of Erebor in movies were far from the wealth in the real Erebor City. What greeted his eyes were dozens of golden hills tens of meters high, scattered with magnificent gemstones...

"Gulp!" Caslo quietly swallowed.

"Tears" of disbelief streamed down Roland's face. It was too shocking. No wonder the Orcs wanted the Lonely Mountain! Roland now wanted to ask if it was too late to gather his army and take the Lonely Mountain. Waiting for an answer! It's urgent!

"Let's begin..." Ivy, having regained her composure, quietly wiped the saliva from the corner of her mouth.

"Purify!" Four soft white lights illuminated the entire Dwarf treasury. Ivy's Light of Evolution had the widest range, while Roland and Reno's purification was the most effective. Holy attributes provided terrifying buffs and enhancements to dispelling skills. As for Gandalf's purification... it was barely anything. After all, you couldn't expect a wizard who dealt with prophecies and curses to be proficient in divine arts like purification.

"Alright!" Ivy said sweetly, wiping the sweat from her brow.

"Thank you, my friends!" Thorin said excitedly to everyone.

"My friend, you can take whatever wealth you find here! Take as much as you can carry!" Thorin knew Roland had large spatial storage equipment, so he said generously.

"Really?" Roland was incredibly surprised.

"Really! Our friendship is truer than gold!" Thorin thumped his chest.

"Then I won't be polite?" Roland tested.

"Take it! This is the reward you deserve!" Thorin was extremely generous.

Encouraged by Thorin, Roland reluctantly went down and activated the Ring System in his hand. Instantly, a large amount of gold coins was converted into wealth points by the system. One, two... ten thousand... As the wealth points continuously jumped, the golden mountains collapsed and disappeared...

At this moment, Thorin on the steps widened his eyes, completely unable to believe what he was seeing. Was this some kind of money vanishing trick?

Finally, Roland decisively stopped converting gold coins when his wealth points reached 1 million. At this point, nearly one-seventh of the area in the entire vault had been cleared by Roland. Where the "mountain of gold" had once been, there were now only scattered gems on the ground...

"Oh! By my beard! Has Erebor been robbed?" Dain came looking for Thorin and saw the area in the vault where the gold had vanished.

"No! No..." Thorin said blankly.

"Uh, Thorin, are you alright..." Roland looked at Thorin with concern, fearing he might pass out.

"I'm fine! I'll keep my promise, anything you can carry is yours." Thorin forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace.

"The feast is about to begin, and we still need you to host it! Your Highness Roland, would you like to join us in the celebration?" After speaking to Thorin, Dain turned to Roland and asked if he wanted to celebrate with them.

"Of course! I'd love to experience the Dwarves' hospitality!" Roland happily accepted the invitation.

Only Thorin, as if he had lost his soul, was dragged away by Dain.