Dwarf Visitors Arrive One After Another

Aaron changed into clean clothes and stood in front of a mirror to quickly fix his hair.

This was the first time he had ever met someone as hospitable as Bilbo Bagins. Although the guest room was relatively small, it was fully equipped and not much different from the master bedroom.

Most importantly, Bilbo didn't intend to take the money, for a simple reason: taking money from a child with memory loss would trouble his conscience.

Aaron laid out all his current possessions on the table: ten gold coins.

In this world, gold coins are the hard currency. He planned to leave two coins behind when he left, as a way of thanking Bilbo for his care.

He then closed the door, gently bolted it shut, and drew the curtains, leaving no gaps.

After ensuring sufficient secrecy, he began to inscribe summoning Magic Array on the floor.

The white Magic Array emitted a faint light, but quickly returned to stillness.

"Can't Kuangtong summon Abei?" Aaron frowned slightly. "It's not possible with magical creatures specific to another world, but it should be possible with ordinary animals in this world. It's just a matter of whether they'll obey."

"Gaius." A knock sounded, followed by Bilbo's voice, "Come out for dinner."

"Coming right away."

Aaron came out of the guest room and saw two fried grass carp on the dining table, still steaming.

"Here's the condiment bowl. You can add salt and pepper to your liking." Bilbo pushed the bowl of condiments toward Aaron, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "If you don't like fish, there's also cheese, fish, vegetables, bread, and various kinds of meat in the pantry."

"This is already very good, I'm not that fussy."

However, I would be very happy if there were drinks.

"Alcohol?" Bilbo paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "You can't drink alcohol, you're too young."

"I've already told you not to treat me like a child. My alcohol tolerance is definitely worse than yours."

"That's not true either."

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Aaron shrugged helplessly. He just wanted to have a drink to celebrate his first day in this strange world going smoothly, why was it so difficult!

Ring ring!

Bilbo had just put on his napkin and sprinkled some salt on the fried fish when the doorbell rang.

"I'll go open the door."

Aaron got up and walked towards the door. When the door opened, he saw a gleaming light bulb... or rather, a bald head illuminated by candlelight.

This middle-aged man was a little taller than Bilbo, and he didn't have pointed ears or thick-soled feet, so he was initially judged to be a dwarf.

When the dwarf saw Aaron, he was surprised for a moment before bowing respectfully. "Dwalin, I am at your service."

Aaron:...

What's going on?

Is this dwarf etiquette? But isn't "ready to be ordered around" an exaggeration?

"Uh...wait a minute." Aaron turned around. "Mr. Bagins, do you know a dwarf named Dwalin?"

Bilbo walked to the door, looked the travel-worn Dwalin up and down, and his expression became somewhat strange.

Do we know each other?

"I don't know him," Dwalin said directly, then walked into Bag End on his own.

"Bilbo, I personally think that letting strangers into the house was a hasty decision."

"I think so too, but you opened the door."

Aaron's lips twitched slightly. That makes so much sense. I was speechless.

"Which way, little brother, this way?" Dwalin asked as he took off his cloak.

"What do you mean, which side?" Bilbo asked, puzzled.

"Dinner," Dwalin tossed the cloak to Bilbo. "He said there will be food, and plenty."

"He said?" Bilbo looked bewildered. "Who said that?"

"It's obvious it's Gandalf without even guessing." Aaron pointed to the door, which now had a pattern flashing blue light. "That's probably the mark."

Upon hearing this, Bilbo blinked. "Why did he do that?"

"Is this what you're having for dinner?" came Dwalin's gruff voice from inside the house. "I'm starving, so I won't stand on ceremony."

"I don't know why he did this, but I know that robbers never tell you before they rob your house."

By the time the two reached the table, Bilbo's fish had already been half-eaten by Dwalin, who had even devoured the side dishes.

As soon as he put his eyes on the plate opposite him, Aaron immediately sat back down and casually poked his dinner with his fork.

Dwalin felt embarrassed to fight with a child for food, so he picked up the half-eaten fish and bit off the head in one bite.

"This is delicious, is there any more?"

"What?" Bilbo was stunned for a moment before realizing that the other person hadn't eaten enough. "Yes."

He took a plate full of bread from another table, but in that instant, he inexplicably kept one for himself.

Please make yourself at home.

Dwalin was not polite at all, grabbing bread and stuffing it into his mouth, leaving crumbs all over the ground.

"I just didn't expect to have visitors," Bilbo said.

"Then you'd better be prepared," Aaron said with some reluctance. "Do you remember what Gandalf said?"

'I'm looking for adventure partners,' 'I'm going to inform the others.'

If I'm not mistaken, a lot of people will be coming over tonight, and your house will be very lively.

Moreover, after Dwalin came in, he said that there would be plenty of food here.

It's not hard to tell that these people probably came hungry.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the doorbell rang again.

Bilbo was a little confused. Opening the door seemed inappropriate, but not opening it...

Dwalin glanced sideways at Bilbo. "The doorbell is ringing."

Gollum!

It seems even more inappropriate not to open the door.

Bilbo swallowed hard and gave Aaron a pleading look.

He didn't know why he would ask a teenager for help, but he was truly at a loss.

"Don't look at me like that. It's your turn to open the door now." Aaron gestured for him to go. "If only you had listened to my advice and gone out to hide for a couple of days earlier, but now you have no choice but to open the door."

Bilbo nodded somewhat dejectedly and walked towards the door again.

"Kid," Dwalin said, looking at Aaron, "I need to confirm your name."

"Gaius, Aaron Gaius." Aaron calmly ate his dinner. "Remember this name; it will leave a legend in this world."

"Ha!" Dwalin's lips curled into an approving smile. "I'll be waiting."

"Balin, at your service."

A white-haired, white-bearded dwarf stood at the doorway. He was quite old, but he was still vigorous and looked very energetic.

"Good evening," Bilbo said.

"Yes, it's very good." Balin looked up at the night sky. "Although I think it will rain."

Am I late?

"Uh... you're the second one here."

"That means you're not late." Balin walked into the Bag End and saw Dwalin eating. He laughed heartily. "Good evening, brother."

Dwalin laughed when he saw his old acquaintance, "Good heavens, you're even fatter and shorter than the last time we met."

"He'll only get fatter, not shorter," Balin laughed. "He's still smarter than you."

The two exchanged friendly glances, then bumped their heads together on the forehead as they got closer, and then laughed in unison. This might be a special way for friends to communicate.

"I'm sorry, I apologize, I didn't mean to bother you."

But haven't you come to the wrong place?

"Sigh!" Aaron sighed. "Bilbo, unless you tear down your front door right now, they've really come to the right place."

Bilbo pursed his lips, unsure of what to say.

Dwalin and Balin, two old friends, chatted familiarly, but their conversation eventually led them to the kitchen.

Have you eaten?

"Not yet."

What is this?

"I don't know, maybe it's cheese, but it turned blue and was covered in mold."

When Bilbo saw them unscrew his wine barrel, he couldn't help but feel a little anxious. "It's not that I'm unhospitable; Hobbit are all very hospitable, but I want to get to know my guests first."

Actually, I don't know you at all. I don't want to be rude, but I must say... I'm sorry.

While Bilbo continued chatting, the two dwarves fell silent and stared at him.

"I accept your apology." Balin nodded with a smile, then looked at Dwalin, "Pour me a full glass of wine, don't be stingy."

Just then, the doorbell rang again.

Aaron put down the fork. "I'll open the door for you this time!"

"Oh! Thank you." Bilbo really needed to calm down and didn't want to be stimulated by anything else.

The door opened, and two relatively young dwarves stood outside. However, compared to the previous two, they had brought a much larger group of men with them.

"Fili".

"Kili"

"At your service."

"Welcome, please come in."

"You must be Mr. Gaius," Kili said with some curiosity. "Gandalf never told us your age, which is quite surprising."

Aaron's lips twitched slightly. He had thought that only Bilbo had been dragged into the adventure party, but he hadn't expected that Gandalf would still include him.

Damn it, this is too much! Even though I have amnesia, you still won't let me go.

"Yes, it's me, Aaron Gaius." Aaron forced a smile. "Excuse me for asking, what is that old Gandalf's plan, no, what is it?"

"He'll tell you when he gets here," Fili said. "Mr. Baggins?"

"He is currently entertaining Dwalin and Balin."

"Thank goodness, it seems we're not late." Kili walked into the room, slightly excited, and casually slung a few weapons over Aaron's shoulder.

Fili took the sword off his back and placed it in Aaron's hand. "Be careful, I just had it sharpened."

Aaron raised an eyebrow and pulled the sword a few inches out. "Wow, the quality is pretty good, but the person you hired isn't very professional. There's a really, really small nick on the blade of this sword."

"You understand this?" Fili, somewhat surprised.

"My ancestors were blacksmiths." Aaron smiled as he sheathed his sword. "I suggest you get a better one. This nick may seem harmless, but it will be a fatal flaw against a sharper weapon."

Upon hearing this, Fili nodded silently.

It's not that he doesn't want to change; the truth is he doesn't have the money.

"Don't step on it, that's my mom's daughter's trunk." Bilbo walked over and stopped Kili from using his mom's trunk to wipe the mud off his shoes.

"Fili, Kili, come quick and help!"

Dwalin grabbed Kili's arm and pulled him toward the restaurant, with Fili following behind.

Instead of catching up, the four dwarfs tidied up the room.

"Put this in the hallway so everyone can come in," the elder from Balin instructed.

"How many people are coming?" Bilbo asked, sounding somewhat weary.

"Be prepared for the worst," Aaron patted him on the shoulder. "For example, filling this room to the brim."

However, one thing I'm pretty sure of is that everyone who comes here is a dwarf, except for Gandalf.

As soon as he finished speaking, the doorbell rang again.

"Should I open the door again this time?" Aaron put Fili and Kili in the corner and was about to walk towards the door when Bilbo cut in front of him.

He walked away aggressively, cursing as he went.

"Nobody's home, go bother others, there are already too many dwarfs here."

Which idiot came up with this joke? Haha, it's so tasteless!

Bilbo yanked the door open, ready to show the dwarf outside the door the wrath of the honest man.

However, as soon as the door opened, a bunch of dwarves uncontrollably tumbled in through the doorway.

"Aww!"

"Get up, you fatso."

After silently comparing the numbers, Bilbo swallowed back the words that were about to come out of his mouth.

At that moment, a pair of blue pupils appeared before the two of them, and Gandalf was bending over and peering into the Bag End.

"Gandalf," Bilbo said, looking at him angrily.

Aaron gave a standard fake smile. "Grey-robed mage, I think we need an explanation."

"There will be an explanation, but before that, could you please ask the owner of this cave to entertain our guests who have come from afar?" Gandalf said with an embarrassed smile, "After all, I went to great lengths to organize this adventure."

"We have no objection to your organizing of risky actions, but why should we meet at Mr. Baggins. Bilbo Baggins' house?"

It's one thing to meet at Mr. Baggins' house, but why wasn't he told us in advance? We weren't prepared at all.

Of course, these are no big deal. For hospitable Hobbit, a few unpleasant days will pass, as long as you haven't added us to the adventurer list.

"Well..." Gandalf hesitated for a moment, "I will respect your own wishes; it is up to you whether you go or not."

Aaron breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Bilbo beside him, "Mr. Baggins, I can only help you gain some initiative, but things still need to be done."

"I understand." Bilbo glanced at the dwarves who were gradually gathering in Dwalin's room and said somewhat wearily, "The Hobbit will take good care of these visitors."

"No, you don't understand. You need to be prepared for a huge hemorrhage; they'll probably throw a party at your house."

If possible, I'd like you to fill a bottle for me, because barns will likely be emptied very quickly.

"Children shouldn't drink alcohol," Bilbo said bluntly, then realized, "It's not that serious, is it?"

"It's always good to be prepared," Aaron said with some sympathy. "I suggest you write down your losses on paper and then ask Gandalf for reimbursement. In a way, he's the real culprit."

Gandalf:...