Attitude

"I was right, coming here is just a waste of time."

"No, not entirely."

"At the very least, our party has gained a marksman like Morgan."

"More than that, I've also won my bets twice, haha."

"Hey, Bofur, you only won this once; you definitely lost the one last night."

"I'm saying, aren't you all being too optimistic? This bet isn't over yet."

"Haha, although I admit Mr. Baggins prepared a very hearty dinner for us last night."

"That doesn't mean he has the guts to go on an adventure with us."

"It's already this late, Mr. Baggins isn't going to show up."

"So, I've won for sure."

On the forest path dappled with the morning light.

The expedition party was chatting and laughing.

"Wait."

Just then, a clear, familiar voice suddenly came from behind.

Everyone reined in their horses and turned around.

They saw a small figure in a wine-red coat sprinting barefoot toward them, waving something in his hand as he ran.

"Haha, look, it's Mr. Baggins."

"Damn, that's truly incredible. I thought that lad would never catch up."

"So, don't jump to conclusions too early."

"Bofur, you've lost again, hahahaha."

"I just don't have very good luck."

"Hey, it's a good thing Mr. Baggins could make it, so the lot of you, say less."

The dwarves chattered away as Bilbo caught up with them, panting.

"I signed it."

Bilbo waved the contract, which was longer than he was tall, as he stepped into the group.

Balin, the white-bearded dwarf, reached out to take the contract, then pulled out his spectacles to carefully examine the signature at the bottom.

Only then did he look at Bilbo and smile: "Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."

As the words fell, the entire expedition party laughed kindly.

For a Hobbit who had never traveled far from home to give up a leisurely, comfortable life and dare to accept an invitation to join an adventure—

Setting everything else aside, his courage alone was worthy of admiration.

"Give him a pony."

Thorin Oakenshield said, looking at Bilbo.

Bilbo had never participated in combat or adventure, so naturally, he didn't know how to ride a horse.

Riding a large horse was prone to accidents, but a pony was much safer.

After all, the pony was only about as tall as Bilbo, so even if he fell off, he wouldn't be hurt.

Bilbo sat on the back of the small pony, feeling somewhat restrained.

The expedition party continued on their way.

At this moment, the voice of Balin the dwarf came from the front: "Hey, Gloin, you need to pay up."

As the words fell.

Whoosh.

A money pouch flew straight from the back toward the front and was caught by Balin.

"Kili."

Morgan also spoke up, and before his words had even faded, another money pouch flew straight toward him.

Morgan raised his hand to catch the pouch, instinctively weighing it in his hand. It was the ten-silver-coin wager—not much, but not little either, enough for him to have a meal of wine and meat.

"What are they doing?"

Bilbo carefully guided his pony closer to Gandalf and asked.

"They are betting on whether you would show up."

"Most of them thought you wouldn't."

Gandalf said vaguely, his pipe clamped between his teeth.

"And... what about you?"

Bilbo fell silent for a moment before continuing.

As soon as he finished speaking, a money pouch flew over from the front, which Gandalf caught and tucked into his satchel.

He then took the pipe from his mouth and smiled, "Bilbo, I never doubted you."

"I can vouch for that."

At this moment, a voice rang out.

Bilbo turned his head quickly to see Morgan approaching rapidly on horseback from behind.

"I actually won my bet because I backed you."

Morgan smiled, tossing the money pouch in his hand as he looked at Bilbo.

"Thank you for your trust."

Seeing Morgan's show of goodwill, Bilbo smiled immediately.

"Don't mention it; we're adventure partners from now on."

Morgan said casually.

He truly held no disdain, nor did he look down on Bilbo the way the dwarves did.

As the protagonist of the Hobbit series, Bilbo possessed his own unique radiance and charm.

He symbolized the story that even the smallest person could achieve great things.

As the only Ring-bearer in all of Middle-earth capable of relinquishing The One Ring of his own volition, Bilbo's character spoke for itself.

Morgan did not possess the same "great love" as Bilbo, nor could he have done the things Bilbo did in the story he remembered.

But that did not stop Morgan from admiring such a person.

Moreover, since Bilbo was the protagonist, befriending him would only bring benefits and no harm to Morgan.

Even if Bilbo was still a complete novice who knew nothing.

"Adventure partners."

Hearing Morgan's words, Bilbo couldn't help but be stunned.

Yes, I am now a member of the party; my own adventure has truly begun.

Perhaps in the future, I can achieve feats like my great-great-grandfather and great-great-great-grandfather.

Thinking this, a strange sense of excitement stirred in Bilbo's heart, and he looked forward to the coming adventure with even more anticipation.

Morgan, of course, was unaware of Bilbo's inner thoughts.

He was currently pondering that "Ring" which would be intertwined with Bilbo's life from here on out.

If the plot remained unchanged, that "The One Ring" which would stir up the winds and clouds of all Middle-earth should currently be in the hands of the mutated Hobbit, Gollum, at the bottom of a mine in the Goblin Kingdom beneath the Misty Mountains.

Morgan was considering whether he should snatch The One Ring from Gollum before Bilbo could, provided the journey followed the original plot.

Of course, Morgan was not the protagonist.

Setting aside whether he would even encounter Gollum, actually managing to take the ring if they did meet was an entirely different matter.

After all, that thing granted invisibility when worn.

Having killed his own kin to take The One Ring, it was impossible for Gollum not to know its power.

It was only because Bilbo possessed the protagonist's halo that he could fall off a cliff and easily stumble upon the ring.

If it were Morgan, things might not go so smoothly.

Middle-earth was a world that possessed deities.

And in Morgan's view, Bilbo's footsteps always seemed to be guided by fate.

Naturally, if there was a chance to get his hands on The One Ring, Morgan would never pass it up.

As for whether he could resist the temptation of the ring or if his willpower was strong enough, that would be a problem for after he actually obtained it.

After all, a magical artifact that granted invisibility at will was essentially an extra life.

It would be a lie to say Morgan wasn't tempted.

As for what would happen to Bilbo after the ring was taken, that was none of Morgan's concern.

His admiration for Bilbo's character was one thing, but his own interests were another.

When the two were weighed against each other, the latter was certainly more important.

That was a fact that would never change.

Of course, seizing The One Ring would not be easy; he would have to plan carefully.