"Thorin!" Roland met Thorin in the Throne Hall.
"Roland?" Thorin was surprised to see him. He truly had not expected Roland to return so quickly.
"Yeah, I've run into trouble. I need the dwarves' help..." Roland explained his predicament.
"Hm? Trouble? Have the Orcs come?" Like Bard, Thorin immediately thought of the Orcs.
"It's not an Orc problem." Roland explained with a dark expression.
"What? A famine?" Thorin burst out laughing. He had never imagined that Roland, who had a Wyvern Knight under his command, would be brought down by refugees. So you have a day like this too! Thorin laughed happily.
"What the hell? Thorin, what do you mean? My people are already living on bran and wild vegetables, and you can still laugh?" Roland's eyes widened.
"No, I just never expected that King Roland, who beat the Orcs until they fled in panic, would one day be eaten into collapse by his own people..." The usually aloof Thorin Oakenshield was already laughing so hard he bent over.
"Ridiculous... Is there any necessary connection between those things?" Roland said expressionlessly, though inwardly he was in turmoil. How embarrassing! Embarrassing myself right in front of the dwarves! Bard suffered from hunger and cold because Smaug destroyed his home, while I'm suffering because I never prepared any food stores at all...
"Just tell me, do you have any spare food, winter clothing, or anything like that? If you do, I'll buy them with these!" Roland opened a small leather pouch and poured out all the gemstones with a clatter.
"..." Thorin was stunned, not by Roland's wealth, but by his shamelessness... What was this? Using his own money to buy things from him? Roland had just stripped him of a fortune, and now he had returned to spend gemstones here. That's so like you, Roland!
At once, the way Thorin looked at Roland changed.
"Yes, of course we do. Talking about money between friends would hurt our friendship too much." Thorin remembered that the dwarves from the Iron Hills had brought a great deal of supplies. They could not use it all anyway, so giving some to Roland was fine.
"That's wonderful! You're giving it to me for free!" Roland was stunned by Thorin. That's so like you, Thorin! The King under the Mountain really is different. That kind of wealth, just giving things away whenever he wants... Roland was overjoyed and naturally prepared to gather up the gemstones on the table.
Clatter! Thorin swept his arm across the table and scooped the gemstones into his embrace. Seeing Roland's bewildered look, Thorin chuckled and turned to leave. Roland had already swept away so much of his gold; he would reluctantly accept this payment. After all, even a mosquito was still meat.
Roland finally came to his senses. Thorin had gone bad! Where was the simple, honest dwarf? The kind dwarf? The warm and hospitable dwarf? Forget it, forget it. He would just consider it taken from the people and used for the people, Roland comforted himself.
Pat! Pat! Thorin forcefully patted the newly tied-down wagon and checked how secure the ropes were.
"How is it? Is this enough?" Thorin raised his head and asked Roland.
Twenty large wagons were piled high with all sorts of goods: five wagons of flour, five wagons of assorted dried meat, five wagons of leather and linen clothing, and five wagons of various tools. Roland nodded in satisfaction. With these supplies, the winter would undoubtedly be much easier. After all, Roland was also organizing people to break the ice and fish.
Looks like I can consider assigning those hundred Lagrange City Guards once I get back, Roland thought. Although the Orc army had retreated north, if the scattered bands of Orcs roaming the wilderness gathered together during winter, Flowing City, still weak and developing, would basically be doomed.
"Roland! I'll have Balin lead some men to escort you back." Thorin considered how the men Roland had brought were far too few to protect this shipment, so he planned to have Balin escort them and familiarize himself with the route to Roland's home.
"Of course. I couldn't ask for more." Roland was worried about his lack of manpower, so how could he refuse Thorin's kindness? He quickly agreed.
"You established a town at the lake's mouth?" Balin curiously looked at the lord who had changed the balance of the North.
"Yes..." Roland had no intention of saying much.
"By the way, King Roland, I have a request. I wonder if you could agree to it?" Balin suddenly remembered something and spoke somewhat awkwardly.
"A request?" Roland thought for a moment, then immediately understood what Balin wanted to say.
"You intend to lead an expedition to Moria?" Roland stared at Balin, studying him.
"Oh! You're truly wise!" Balin was impressed by Roland's wisdom. He had not expected Roland to guess what he wanted to say.
"Why do you want to reclaim Moria? Isn't Erebor good enough now?" Roland asked in confusion.
Balin shrugged, fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Khazad-dûm was the city the dwarves were proudest of... It was the dwarves' ancient capital. I hope to make the light of the Descendants of Durin shine there once more..."
"I remember Thráin once led you to attack Khazad-dûm, didn't he?" Roland remembered that the final Battle of Azanulbizar had erupted at Khazad-dûm's eastern gate. The dwarves had won a costly victory, but because the Balrog still lurked deep within the city, the surviving dwarves had been unable to reclaim Moria...
"Yes, but we failed..." Balin said in a low voice.
Roland opened his mouth, about to persuade Balin, when the system's crisp, pleasant voice rang out—
"Ding! Side quest activated: Reclaim Moria. Time limit: 1 year. Reward: Random Dragon Knight attribute *1."
"No need to say anything else! I'm definitely helping with this! For the life-and-death friendship between us! Forget Moria—even Gundabad, I'll help you flatten it!" Roland pounded his chest and promised. He could not help it... Roland had still fallen prey to the irresistible lure. A fifth-tier Dragon Knight! He had been trying to persuade Balin, only to persuade himself first.
"Uh..." Roland's bizarre move successfully left Balin dumbfounded. Roland had just been urging him not to risk himself, yet now he was more eager than Balin himself. Balin's poor brain simply could not process the turn of events.
Damn it! Caslo, following behind Roland, inwardly cursed his bad luck. The Balrog was a Super Beast... Other than himself, who could fight a Super Beast? As long as I don't have to take the field, I'm not worried at all! Caslo rolled his eyes helplessly at Roland and watched his king ruthlessly sell him out. Caslo was already considering what could improve fire resistance. He had better prepare some in advance, lest the Balrog cremate him..."
"We're here!" Roland saw the familiar crumbling stone wall and immediately felt especially fond of it. It might be shabby, but it was still his first home in Middle-earth, wasn't it?
"Not bad at all! In just a few days, your city has already begun to take shape." Balin praised him.
"Of course! Of course!" Roland was immensely pleased.
After directing the men to unload and store the supplies, Roland once again expressed his gratitude to the dwarves. Just as Balin led his men to turn around the wagons pulled by Cave Drakes, Roland suddenly remembered something.
"Right! Balin! If possible, let's set the time to reclaim Moria for next summer. I'll lead my army there to assist you then." After thinking it over, Roland called out to Balin. Choosing summer was a carefully considered decision. There was no way they could launch an expedition to Moria this winter; spring was for planting and building the city. Only in summer would Roland's army be free.
"Very well! King Roland, I will set out in summer and meet up with you then." Balin bowed in salute.
"Take care! Have a safe journey!" Roland waved farewell to the departing dwarf convoy.
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