Chapter 74 Gandalf's Invitation (revised)

There were thirteen dwarves and a tall grey-robed elder.

With such recognition, Ino knew that these people were the protagonists in the story of Smaug.

After a while, the group seemed to have recovered and began to look around.

"Hey! That human, your farm is about to be invaded by a giant beast, and you just stood there and watched stupidly? You didn't even come to help." A fat dwarf said.

"Bombur!" A middle-aged dwarf with a heroic appearance walked out of the crowd, scolded the fat dwarf's complaints, and then turned to look at Ino.

"I'm sorry! We have caused you trouble. Please allow us to stay here for one night. We will leave tomorrow morning. The dwarves will remember your kindness and send you rewards in the future."

"You shouldn't say this to me, because I am also a guest here." Ino spread his hands innocently.

"Then who is the owner here?" asked the dwarf.

As the dwarf finished speaking, the gray-robed elder who had been silent came out: "I think the owner here should have just been locked out by us."

Hearing that there was no owner here, the dwarves did not think about what was locked out, and each of them was like a student in a classroom without a professor.

No longer caring about etiquette, they each found a comfortable place in the courtyard, lying or sitting to rest.

Seeing this scene, Ino also smiled and shook his head, then turned and walked into the house.

After sleeping in the courtyard for an afternoon, the bread and honey he had eaten had long been consumed, and he was now going to prepare some dinner.

As for the dwarf team, they will move forward according to their own destiny.

In the room.

Ino first heated the bread for lunch, then took out two bottles of blueberry jam, a little dry cheese and sliced ham from the suitcase, and then ate by himself.

Speaking of this, he still needs to thank Dumbledore. After the transformation of the suitcase, it is also divided into two modes like Newt.

In Muggle mode, he always puts some simple food, which is also convenient for taking out and eating during the journey, so that it will not appear abrupt.

Just as Ino was enjoying dinner peacefully, a little head suddenly popped out of the room.

"Can I exchange food with you? Fresh blueberry jam, smoked ham, these are my favorite dishes in the Shire."

"Oh, yes! My name is Bilbo, a Hobbit from the Shire."

Putting down the bread in his hand, Ino looked at the "snitch" in the adventure team with interest.

He still had a good impression of the Hobbit in front of him. Just being able to resist the temptation of the ring had already defeated 99% of people, at least in terms of character.

"Okay, Bilbo! But what are you going to exchange with me?"

Looking at Bilbo who came out with nothing, Ino also joked.

"I have it!" Bilbo said as he lifted up his shirt, and then after a while of groping, he took out a small package that was simply packed but extremely tightly sealed.

"Fine tobacco from the Shire! I've always been reluctant to smoke it, you'll like this mellow and rich taste!"

Looking at the small package on the table, Ino also became interested. After all, in the distant memory, he liked these things very much at that time, and he could even say that he never put them down before going to bed or after meals.

"I agree! You can eat as much as you want. If it's not enough, tell me. I have a lot more."

He handed another bottle of unopened jam to Bilbo, and then he went to cut a plate of ham.

After doing all this, Ino opened the gift from the Shire. Looking at the familiar color and the familiar taste, he hesitated for a long time.

In the end, he chose to reseal it. After all, he looked like he was in his 20s now, but that was just the effect of the polyjuice potion.

Glancing at Bilbo who was eating with relish, Ino picked up the half-eaten bread again.

However... this meal seemed destined to be ill-fated. He had just eaten two bites when another figure came into the room.

"Excuse me! Can we talk? Traveler from a foreign land."

Gandalf's words were like a brick thrown into a calm lake, which immediately made Ino nervous.

Of course, in order to make sure that he was not overthinking, he also replied calmly: "Of course! It is always pleasant to have someone to chat with during the journey. I have heard of your legend, the gray wizard Gandalf."

On the other side, Bilbo saw the two people start talking, and politely took his food and walked out of the room.

At this moment, the room was unusually quiet.

"The power of darkness has revived again." Gandalf sat on a chair nearby and spoke slowly:

"They are ready to move, and Middle-earth will once again be shrouded in darkness. The dwarves will recapture the Lonely Mountain and restore the former glory of the King under the Mountain. This will protect the vast territory west of the Misty Mountains..."

"...With the Lonely Mountain as the starting point, unite the forest elves and the humans of the valley town to form a line of defense. Countless lives will be saved from disasters and wars."

After a few minutes, Ino quietly listened to all of Gandalf's stories, and then slowly spoke:

"It's a great mission! But I'm just a wandering bard. Perhaps I can sing praises for this great feat for you on my future journey."

He understood Gandalf's underlying meaning, but he was unwilling to take over the conversation.

"Wandering?" Gandalf repeated with a smile, "Maybe, but if the dark forces are completely eliminated, you may not have to wander."

"The essence of wandering is not to be homeless, but I am willing to choose to wander." Ino explained.

He now discovered that Gandalf seemed to have seen something. In short, his words and deeds were all revealing a message, that is, to join the dwarf adventure team.

But to be honest, although there was no danger in the dwarf's journey to Lonely Mountain, he did not want to get involved too much. Smaug might be okay, but the Battle of Five Armies later was really not something a little wizard could participate in, even if he now had the magic power of a fourth-grade student.

For a long time.

Gandalf slowly spoke again: "It seems that you know what I mean. Yes, I want you to help them, foreign wizards! Really, this way you may not have to wander in the future, because Middle-earth will always welcome you."

Time passed by minute by minute.

If Gandalf's previous words were like a calm lake turning its head, then what he said now was like a depth charge detonating at the bottom of the lake.

After a long while,

Ino said calmly, "Can we talk about it tomorrow? I want to take a break now."

"Of course!" As if the mission was accomplished, Gandalf stood up with a smile, "But it's better to be quick, because we have to set off early tomorrow morning."

...

"Huh..."

Ino leaned back in the chair and took a long breath.

Although he knew that the water in Middle-earth was deep, he never thought it would be so deep.

Today's situation was something he had never encountered before. Even Santa Claus in Narnia only expressed it briefly, and today Gandalf's words...

Comparing the two, the former is probably a girl next door expressing her love implicitly, while the latter is like a hot school girl boldly kissing and asking for love.

"You are always welcome..."

Leaning on the chair, Ino murmured and repeated Gandalf's words.

This made him start to examine himself again and examine the miracle that happened to him.

It seems that he has never been able to fully understand it from beginning to end. Whether it is entering the story or leaving at the end, he has always been so passive to accept it.

And Gandalf's words today seemed to open another door, and also revealed another possibility.

New book release, new journey, thank you all for your support.

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