Inherited Stubbornness

"Everyone, please listen to me, please listen to me!" Bard looked at the crowd anxiously. "Have you all forgotten what happened in River Valley City? Have you all forgotten those who perished in the flames?"

The townspeople's enthusiasm was immediately dampened, and many lowered their heads, hesitant and undecided.

"For what?" Bard looked at Thorin with disappointment. "For the ambition to become the King of the Lonely Mountain. He was driven by greed and blinded by his own desires."

"Quiet, quiet, everyone, don't rush to... shirk responsibility." The mayor suddenly interjected, "Don't forget that it was Mayor Girian of Long Lake Town, who is also your ancestor, who failed to kill the dragon."

"Is Girian your ancestor?"

Aaron looked at Bard in surprise. If this was true, it meant that Smaug's left wing was likely hit by Black Arrow, giving the dragon a fatal weakness.

Alfred chimed in, "We all know the story. He shot arrow after arrow, but he missed every time."

The winds shifted again, and the previously hesitant townspeople began to question the dwarves' actions.

Bard walked up to Thorin and said, "You have no right, no right to go into the mountains."

"I am the only one with the authority to go in," Thorin said calmly, then looked at Mayor Yu, "May I ask the mayor of Long Lake Town, do you wish to see the Prophecy come true?"

Would you be willing to share in the immense wealth of my people?

This was a heavy blow to the mayor's heart. He was willing to accept it. Who doesn't like money?

"I will tell you..." the mayor said with a smile, rubbing his hands together. "Welcome."

Welcome, and I'll say it again, welcome, King of the Mountain.

With the mayor having spoken, the townspeople, confident they wouldn't waver, burst into laughter, as if they could already see a bright future beckoning to them.

Unable to dissuade Thorin or the townspeople, Bard returned home in despair.

The mayor warmly welcomed the expedition, bringing out all the fine wines he had treasured. As for weapons, armor, supplies, and food, he assured them that they had been prepared well in advance.

"Do you want to die?" Aaron looked at Kili, who was sitting alone in the living room, with a hint of pressure in his eyes. "The poison you have is difficult to cure, but I am confident that I can suppress it. The medicine is already being prepared."

But the prerequisite is that you must recuperate properly. You cannot move around or participate in the following operations until I have prepared the antidote.

"How long will it take?" Kili asked weakly.

Aaron raised an eyebrow, thinking that Aaron had come to his senses.

"You're lucky. The orc's poison, though strange, is too crude and not carefully prepared at all."

And I happen to be a student of the Potions Master, so I can concoct an antidote using only ordinary herbs, and the poison can be cured in less than seven days.

However, because your leg injury wasn't treated in time, it will take longer to recover.

"I'm asking you how long it will take to brew the medicine?" Kili said with a bitter smile. "This expedition is too important for the dwarves. I must be there when the gates open."

Aaron:...

Your the Mother is right; you were too rash.

"Kili, do you really not value your life at all?"

"Some things are more important than life itself."

Aaron slapped him across the face.

Why did you hit me?

"I'm trying to wake you up," Aaron said irritably. "If you're really beyond saving, I'll definitely respect your opinion. Dying on an expedition is a kind of manly romance."

But now you have a chance to live. I'm confident I can cure you. The fact that you're still thinking about suicide means either the toxins have seeped into your brain, or you've lost your mind.

"I don't."

"You do." Aaron tapped him on the head. "I'm the doctor. Besides, we escaped by water. It's perfectly normal for a seriously injured person like you to have water in your brain."

"But this expedition..."

"Shut up." Aaron took the black stone hanging around his neck. "Before you want to die, think about your the Mother."

Kili was silent for a moment, then said, "Fili will take good care of her."

"Damn it." Aaron slapped his forehead. "Thorin is your relative, isn't he? I wouldn't believe it if you didn't say it's from the same bloodline."

"How do you know? He's my uncle."

Aaron:...

I've had enough, I've really had enough.

Aaron grabbed his hair, feeling agitated and even having an urge to hit someone.

"You want to die, huh! I'm going to find your uncle and brother right now, and I'll see what they think."

If everyone agrees with your suicide attempt, then I will not treat you.

"No!" Kili grabbed Aaron's arm tightly and pleaded, "Don't tell them, I beg you."

"Heh!" Aaron smiled and pried his hands apart. "Are you teaching me how to do things? You don't want me to tell them, but I'm going to tell them anyway."

A few minutes later, Aaron brought Thorin and Fili to Kili.

"Gentlemen, I have done more than enough."

His fate is now in your hands.

"You've been poisoned." Thorin looked at Kili with exasperation. "Why didn't you say so sooner?"

"Uncle." Kili stood up with difficulty. "I must be present when the hall of our ancestors is opened."

"Kili, I understand you, I understand you very well." Thorin helped him into a chair. "But you really can't go now, not just for yourself, but also for this expedition. You'll seriously slow us down."

"You must stay here," Fili advised earnestly. "You need to rest well, to detoxify and heal your wounds."

I promise you, little brother, the first thing we'll do after we succeed is bring you to Lonely Mountain.

Seeing the two's resolute attitude, Kili gave a forced smile and nodded regretfully.

Fili stayed behind to comfort his younger brother, while Thorin pulled Aaron aside and asked, "Gaius, tell me the truth, can you really cure him?"

"Don't worry, I'm 90% sure," Aaron said easily. "But it would be best if Ai Tian sent him to the Bard family. The mayor's character can't be trusted at all."

"Will he agree?" Thorin asked doubtfully, after all, he had just given Bard a good dressing down, and it was safe to say that no one in Long Lake Town hated dwarves more than Bard.

Aaron shrugged. "I'll convince him."

After the dinner, the members of the expedition team lay sprawled on the ground to rest, their snores filling the air.

Aaron slowly opened his eyes and tiptoed away.

He came to the house in Bard and knocked on the door.

Bard opened the door and looked at Aaron, saying coldly, "Take your medicine and leave. You're not welcome in my house."

"Don't be so formal!" Aaron chuckled. "I'm here today because I need your help with something."

"I wouldn't dare help you anymore," Bard sneered, then waved his hand. "Give him the stuff."

Bain placed the medicinal herbs Aaron had bought outside the door, while Sigrid placed a casserole dish and two bottles of pale purple potion in his hands. As for his youngest daughter, she placed three gold coins in Aaron's pocket.

The meaning is clear: all ties are severed, and we have no further connection whatsoever.

"Your medicine, casserole, and gold coins are all here. Leave now."

Bard was about to close the door when Aaron stopped him, saying, "The Prophecy will not change."

Upon hearing this, Bard hesitated for a moment, then said helplessly, "Come in!"

Aaron shrugged and went inside, while the three siblings carried the medicinal herbs around again.

"What do you want me to help you with?" Bard asked, sitting in his chair.

"I'll stay at your house for a few days."

"It's not just me, it's Kili too. If that guy's poison isn't cured, he'll really be close to death."

"I agree." Bard nodded hesitantly, then looked at Aaron seriously. "Now tell me how to change the Prophecy."

"There's no way to change it," Aaron said bluntly. "If Thorin and the others hadn't killed Smaug at Lonely Mountain, it would definitely have come here."

"Didn't you just say there was a chance?" Bain said, somewhat angrily.

"The turning point I mentioned only applies to your family," Aaron said, shrugging. "I'm Warlock, and protecting your family is no problem for me."

"What about the others?" Bard asked anxiously. "What about the townspeople?"

"Uh... I have to tell you a harsh truth: I can't save everyone." Aaron said bluntly. "I will inscribe a Defense Magic Array near your house. Even Dragon Fire cannot easily destroy it. As long as you hide in the ruins, you can survive."

"We won't survive. Winter is coming soon. If Long Lake Town is destroyed, we will either freeze to death or starve to death."

Aaron's eye twitched. "Couldn't we go somewhere else?"

"We have nowhere to go. If we leave this town, we will be homeless refugees."

"If we flee during the winter, we'll probably die on the way before we even reach another town."

Aaron:...

It's so pessimistic, but there's a sense of truth in that pessimism.

"Sigh!" Aaron sighed and placed all the gold coins he had scavenged from the Ogre Treasure Cave on the table. "This is all the money I have. It's enough for you to have enough supplies to get through this winter, and in the spring you can take your whole family to a new place to start a new life."

Bard looked at the bag of gold coins, a slight smile appearing on his lips. "Have you taken care of everything for our family?"

"I guess so! Your family is worth saving."

"As for others, I won't stand by and watch them die, but that will be within my power," Aaron said. He wasn't some saint; he wouldn't risk his life to save a group of strangers blinded by money.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I can't abandon the people here." Bard pushed the gold coin away. "My ancestors failed to kill the dragon, so what right do I have to abandon them and run away alone?"

Aaron paused for a moment, then looked solemnly at Bard and the three siblings standing firmly behind him.

"I knew I hadn't misjudged you," Aaron said, clapping. "I will guarantee your family's safety before I kill Smaug, in Gaius's name."

As for what happens after that, that's none of my business. Anyway, Thorin has promised to help you rebuild this town.

"Wait, you mean you're going to kill Smaug?" Bard looked at Aaron seriously. "Really?"

"It's true, Thorin wants to rebuild the Dwarf Kingdom, while my goal is simply to kill that dragon," Aaron said casually. "Originally, our team had a Grey Wizard, but he had to leave unexpectedly, so I, a Warlock alone, only have a 20% chance of winning."

But your son Bain told me that Smaug had a Dragon Scale pierced by Girian's arrow, a fatal weakness, which counts as 20%. In addition, according to the Prophecy, I can make some preparations in Long Lake Town in advance, which is another 10%.

That's a 50% chance of winning, which is enough to give it a shot.