Chapter 146 What does it mean to fight from the west to the east?
Hearing this name, Bud was stunned for a moment.
As a human living in the late Third Age, he didn't know much about the Balrog, an ancient creature that only showed signs of activity before the First Age.
But... he could destroy an entire prosperous dwarf kingdom by himself, and he could even fight with Levi for several days without any problem.
That must be a being more terrifying than a dragon.
"All right."
"But I still say that as long as there is a need, I will not step back."
Let’s move on from this topic for now.
Looking at the still powerful Levi, Bard drank a sip of tea and felt much more relaxed.
"Is there anything noteworthy recently?"
"have."
"oh?"
This answer was indeed a bit unexpected. It was just a casual question, but there was actually something going on?
"East."
Bud cleared the table and took out a map and spread it out.
"Since the development of the river valley, many merchant ships from Dorwinion have passed through here. According to the merchants above, their old neighbors have not been very peaceful in recent days."
“Old neighbor.”
Li Wei pointed out this word, thought for a moment and said:
"It should be Dongyi, what happened to them?"
"It is rumored that there has been some unrest within their borders, and the border guards have become very vigilant, even refusing to allow Dorwinion's caravan to enter."
"That's really unusual."
Levi tapped the table lightly with one finger, recalling what he had seen using the Palantir at the Tower of Orthanc.
There was a great host—a great host from Mordor—and they were marching across the pass of the valley to the north, behind the Easterlings.
What happened there? Aren't Dongyi and Mordor allies? Why send troops there? And they look murderous.
It can't be that the Dongyi are going to join the light side.
"Find out more information about this. Also, strengthen the border defenses and appropriately expand the armaments and the size of the army."
"Appropriate means..."
“Expand as much as you can.”
"I see."
Levi said this casually, but he didn't know what kind of chain reaction and consequences this simple sentence would cause.
Although he usually likes to relax, the current governor of the valley has never slacked off when it comes to work.
River Valley City is thriving, and Long Lake Town is thriving. Trade and cooperation with neighbors, dwarves, and woodland elves are going smoothly. Externally, the import and export of various products and the expansion of influence are also easy to achieve.
On the surface, he likes to slack off and drinks tea and rests whenever he has some free time, but if you look closely, you will find that no matter whether it is the development of the territory or the project started by Levi, everything is arranged properly by Bard and there is nothing wrong with it.
Even worse than that.
"Um."
Levi nodded and said, "I believe you can do it well."
Dongyi…
There's been a lot of activity there lately.
"If I have time, I'll go see what's going on..."
After a brief chat with Bard, Levi put down his teacup, left Changhu Town and continued north.
Lonely mountain.
In front of the open door, a dwarf greeted the newcomers and extended greetings.
"It's the big eater, the king of drinking, the top chef among humans, the legend in the wilderness (omitted) Levi!"
A group of dwarves exclaimed.
Apparently, among the dwarves, Levi has more titles.
Although some titles are totally unnecessary...
As soon as we stepped into the gate of Lonely Mountain, a dwarf came towards us.
"Haha, Levi, I saw you coming from a distance!"
Groin came up to Levi with his eyes wide open and gave him a bear hug, even though he couldn't even reach his waist.
Out of politeness, Levi did not move for a while. When he spread his legs, he coughed, shook hands with him, and said, "I came to see Thorin. I have something to give him."
"Of course, it's nothing shameful, you can come along too."
"Oh, I'm free. Let's go. He's in the hall."
After a moment.
Sitting at the main seat in the hall, Thorin wiped the sweat off his face, recalled the various reports from the previous meeting, leaned back in his chair, slowly raised his head, and closed his eyes.
The recovery of various projects is still a bit difficult.
With more and more tribesmen returning recently, Erebor's population base has increased, more and more abandoned facilities have sufficient manpower to be restarted, and the entire region is developing better and better - or so it seems.
But there is a hidden problem:
There are really few startup resources that can be put into use directly.
I seemed generous when I boasted to Levi before, but who can provide me with the missing resources?
This area presents similar problems to the Iron Hills.
Iron Hill has resources but no money, while Lonely Mountain has money but no resources.
However, unlike Iron Hill, Lonely Mountain has a considerable amount of untapped resource reserves, and the current problems will soon disappear on their own with the progress of subsequent mining.
It's just a short-term problem, but even though it's small, it's still very frustrating.
"Maybe I should contact Dyne and exchange some resources for emergency..."
Just as I was thinking about it, two figures, one tall and one short, walked into the hall.
Thorin stood up immediately.
"Levi."
As he walked over, he greeted her, "How are you doing recently?"
"Pretty good, how about you?"
“…Not bad.”
"It's okay? That means it's not good. What's the problem?"
"It's nothing, just a short-term problem. It will go away on its own in no time."
"Really? I hope everything goes well."
"Thanks."
After a greeting and a few words, the three of them were already sitting at a table.
Levi didn't waste any time and took out a silver-white axe under the curious gazes of Thorin and Gloin.
Swoosh——
The first moment he saw the axe, Thorin stood up suddenly and opened his eyes wide.
Groin also opened his mouth wide, and a big head kept coming closer. He was a little unsure and said, "This, this is..."
"This is the greatest treasure of our clan, the Axe of Durin!"
Thorin's voice trembled slightly. He took the axe solemnly, stroked the words on it, and said:
"Once upon a time, it represented the royal power of Khazad-dûmdúrin."
"Where did you find it, Levi?"
There was unconcealable excitement in Thorin's eyes, but it was also accompanied by some doubts.
"As you say, it was found in Moria, of course."
Levi said, "I also found some mithril there, probably enough to make a mithril armor. Do you mind if I take it and use it?"
"No, of course not. We can process it for you if necessary."
Thorin sat down slowly, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise slightly, and he couldn't suppress it.
Compared with the greatest treasure of Durin's clan, what are a few pieces of mithril? Even if you double the mithril and offer it as a reward for finding Durin's Axe, no one would dare to accept it.
"I don't know how to repay you."
After calming down, Thorin stroked the axe and looked at Levi.
"It's pointless. I don't need anything."
“That’s what’s so annoying.”
Thorin sighed softly.
"What's so troubling? Do you think I'm one of those tomb robbers who risk their lives for treasures, or a mercenary who throws his life away for some reward?"
"No, you are not that kind of person, and I will not allow anyone to call you that."
Levi smiled and said, "Come to think of it, I called myself an 'adventurer' at first. At that time, I loved going on adventures everywhere - although I am still doing this now."
"Just think of this axe as something an adventurer found by chance during his adventure."
Hearing this, Thorin shook his head slightly, just thought about Levi's words for a moment, and suddenly smiled.
"Well, that's very much your style."
"You are indeed more like an adventurer than a lord."
After all, which lord would go out and hang out every day instead of going home several times a year?
"ah!"
Groin next to him suddenly exclaimed.
This guy finally recovered.
Bang! He slammed the table and said, "No, I have to tell them about this!"
"Dwalin, Balin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Nori (omitted)... Look what Levi brought!"
Groin ran out, calling out his friends' names.
"I will announce this to the whole clan."
Thorin slapped the table and made a decision.
"By the way, I haven't asked you yet, what's the situation in Moria?"
“Not very good.”
Levi said:
"There are a large number of Orcs living there. They are more brutal and violent than the Orcs in the Misty Mountains. And there are not only Orcs, but also many giant beasts and ogres. They blocked me and almost prevented me from getting out."
“That’s really dangerous.”
Thorin said seriously, "I hope you won't be in such danger again."
"It's okay. The Oaks and the Behemoths are actually OK. I can handle it. They can't hold me back if I want to leave."
"It was mainly the Fire Demon. That thing was too clingy and I couldn't get rid of it. I fought with it for several days, from the west gate to the east gate, but neither of us could kill the other."
"ah…"
Thorin listened carefully, nodded from time to time, and after Levi finished speaking, he suddenly frowned, looking a little confused and puzzled.
Wait, what did he just say?
What does it mean to fight the Flame Demon from the west gate to the east gate?
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(End of this chapter)
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