Looking at the secret door that Luke had easily opened with a single spell, Thorin was momentarily unsure whether to be happy that the secret door had opened or to worry about his own back door being as good as useless.
However, since the door was open, everyone stopped lingering and entered the secret passage behind the door one after another.
The Durin Dwarves had hollowed out the entire belly of the Lonely Mountain, and the Dragon's location was in the hall near the front door, so no one had to worry about being discovered by the Dragon upon entering.
As their former home, Thorin and Balin, along with the other elder Dwarves, knew the internal structure of the Lonely Mountain like the back of their hand, and successfully led everyone to a hidden room.
Along the way, many Dwarf skeletons could be seen; they were the Dwarves who had failed to escape when the Dragon occupied the Lonely Mountain.
After everyone arrived at the hidden room, they stopped moving forward.
The Dragon Smaug was very familiar with the scent of Dwarves and humans, and getting any closer would easily alert the Dragon.
Everyone's gaze fell on Bilbo, as to minimize disturbing the Dragon Smaug, only "Mr. Thief" could be relied upon to steal the arkenstone.
This way, they wouldn't have to face the Dragon directly; once they obtained the arkenstone, they would return the way they came and leave the Lonely Mountain, and Thorin could then, in the name of the King Under the Mountain, rally the Seven Clans of Dwarves to retake the Lonely Mountain.
Thorin walked up to Bilbo and patted his shoulder.
"It's all up to you now! I believe you can definitely get the arkenstone, right?"
Bilbo felt a bit uncomfortable under Thorin's gaze and turned his head away awkwardly.
"I'll try!"
His tone was a bit uncertain; after all, he was about to face a Dragon.
Then he felt the pressure on his shoulder increase.
"Not 'try,' but 'must'! You must get the arkenstone!"
Thorin's voice carried a hint of madness and obsession.
"Enough!" Luke waved his hand, instantly flinging Thorin far away from Bilbo.
Then he stood beside Bilbo, looking at Thorin with cold eyes.
"Thorin Oakenshield, Bilbo is not your subordinate or servant; you'd best show him some respect!"
Gandalf also frowned, looking at him with disappointment.
"Thorin, clear your head; don't let madness consume your reason. Look at yourself; you're becoming less and less the Thorin Oakenshield you once were!"
"Perhaps bringing you to the Lonely Mountain was a mistake from the start. The closer you get to the Lonely Mountain, the more the Dragon Sickness lurking in your blood manifests. It's trying to make you self-destruct!"
"No, I have never been so clear-headed!" Thorin glared at Gandalf furiously. "Nothing is more important than the arkenstone! As long as I have the arkenstone, I can reclaim my Lonely Mountain, my treasure!"
"Compared to this, everything else is just fleeting clouds!"
"Your most important things have never been these, Thorin Oakenshield. Look around you; your companions and kin, they are your treasure.
Don't let greed blind your eyes!"
Gandalf tried to awaken Thorin's conscience.
Thorin looked at the Dwarves who were watching him with worry, his eyes wavering slightly, but soon they were suppressed by another insane obsession, and his gaze became biased and fanatical.
He shook his head, his tone cold: "No, they are insignificant."
"You truly are mad!" Gandalf's voice was somewhat weary.
"Alright, Gandalf, he doesn't have much reason left; you won't be able to persuade him," Luke said. "The closer he gets to the Lonely Mountain's treasure, the more pronounced the Dragon Sickness in him becomes."
"If it really comes to it, just knock him out and take him far away. Perhaps without the influence of the treasure, he might regain his calm."
"You all stop arguing! I'll go steal the arkenstone!"
Bilbo's voice suddenly rang out.
Seeing everyone's gaze turn to him, he said, "As long as we get the arkenstone, everything will be resolved, won't it?"
"Once the arkenstone is obtained, Thorin can rally the Dwarves, and my, Luke's, and Gandalf's missions will be complete, and I can go home."
Everyone instantly fell silent.
"So, trust me this once, okay?" Bilbo asked with an innocent smile.
Luke looked at Bilbo like this, touched, and took a deep breath, squatting down to meet his gaze, seriously asking again, "Bilbo, are you sure?"
Bilbo nodded firmly.
"Since you're going, I'll give you some protection."
Luke no longer tried to dissuade him, waving his wand over him and muttering incantations.
"Super Protego, Protego Totalum, Fortifying Charm, Impervius, Silencing Charm— "
Bilbo's eyes widened as multiple layers of protection were cast upon him, feeling only an invisible sense of bulkiness.
Then he saw Luke take a pot of Mandrake from his spatial pouch and directly hand it to him.
"Take this Mandrake with you. If you encounter the Dragon, just throw it out; it'll buy you enough time. Don't worry, I've already cast a spell on it so you won't hear it cry."
"And if you truly face a life-threatening crisis, tap this gold coin, and I'll know immediately. We'll come to save you right away— "
Listening to Luke's continuous admonitions, Bilbo's smile grew brighter and brighter, and he hugged Luke tightly, moved.
"I understand, Luke, thank you!"
Luke gently patted his back.
"Be careful not to put yourself in danger. Don't force it if you can't get the gem, alright?"
Bilbo nodded quickly.
Upon hearing this, Luke released him.
Gandalf liked to see such a sight. He chuckled and patted Bilbo's shoulder.
"Luke has done everything he can. I can only wish you good luck! Bilbo, may the Valar bless you!"
When he said the last sentence, the others felt nothing.
But Luke clearly felt a power imbued with blessings fall upon Bilbo.
Afterward, Bilbo, amidst everyone's blessings, left the Chamber of Secrets and headed towards the Dragon's treasury.
Before he left, Luke added another layer of Disillusionment Charm to Bilbo.
Although it couldn't guarantee to fool the Dragon's sight, it was an extra layer of protection.
After Bilbo left, the Dwarves sat restlessly in the silent atmosphere.
Thorin, in particular, gradually lost patience as time ticked by. He looked at Luke.
"Luke, can't your Palantír see distant scenes? Take it out and see how Bilbo is doing now? Or has he cowardly hidden himself?"
"Or why don't you directly check the location of the arkenstone, and we'll figure out a way to get it."
Luke gave him a cold look.
"Didn't you hear Gandalf say? Using the Palantír to check will alert the Dragon. If you want to die, don't drag us down with you!"
"And Bilbo is a brave hobbit. He is currently risking his life to find the arkenstone for you. It's bad enough you're not grateful; if you slander and doubt him again, go find it yourself!"
He had no goodwill left for the current Thorin, whose eyes only saw the arkenstone.
Dragon Sickness, put simply, amplified Thorin's inner desires and obsessions. Although the trigger was the Dragon's treasure, it fundamentally stemmed from his own heart.
And just then, a deafening Dragon roar came from the treasury, its sound echoing throughout the entire Lonely Mountain.
Everyone present instantly changed their expressions, turning to look in the direction of the treasury.