"I understand, sir."
A resident spoke with steeled resolve, his voice carrying unwavering determination: "I have already sworn to entrust everything to Roadside Fort. I am willing to risk my life to confirm whether this dragon truly poses no danger."
"May I touch it?"
"Yes, go ahead."
Levi extended his hand, holding the dragon forward with encouraging gentleness.
The resident took a steadying breath and cautiously reached forward with a trembling hand. He barely brushed the tiny creature's head with his fingertip before yanking his hand back like he'd touched fire.
The little dragon hadn't even had time to close its eyes in pleasure before the brief contact disappeared, leaving it visibly confused by the abrupt interaction.
"Phew!" The resident exhaled deeply with obvious relief, then turned to address the gathered crowd with newfound confidence:
"Everyone, please trust what our lord says completely. This dragon is absolutely safe!"
The residents expressed surprise and wonder, all directing their curious gazes toward the little fire dragon resting peacefully in Levi's protective hand, with quite a few showing eager expressions of wanting their own turn.
Levi raised his free hand with gentle authority:
"Alright, alright, everyone disperse now. This little one was just born recently. Don't surround it like this, or it will become frightened."
"Oh!" The residents responded in perfect unison and scattered obediently, no longer crowding the immediate area.
But their eyes couldn't help stealing continuous glances in this direction, fascinated by the impossible sight.
This incident was destined to cause tremendous upheaval throughout the settlement, especially since the residents enjoyed plenty of free time each day, and any noteworthy news would spread to everyone with just casual mention during conversations.
A dragon, a dragon whose nature wasn't inherently evil. This was simply inconceivable, beyond the imagination of everyone in this world who had grown up with tales of terrible, destructive beasts.
The residents became increasingly restless, with those who had finished their work all finding excuses to walk in this direction, desperately wanting to see the dragon their legendary lord was personally raising.
But they were destined to be disappointed by the timing.
While the residents were pretending to pass by casually outside, stealing hopeful glances at the incubation site, Levi had already retrieved materials to craft a specialized "Dragon Amulet" and carefully stored the bewildered little fire dragon inside the magical container.
This was an item from advanced magical crafting, designed to provide dragons with a pocket dimension so they could remain with their master at all times without causing inconvenience.
However, this item possessed a special characteristic: when the dragon was contained within the amulet, it would enter a state of temporal stasis, including stopping physical development, growth, and natural changes.
Thus, this amulet could only be used as an emergency measure. If one wanted the dragon to develop normally, it still needed to be released regularly for free activity and proper care.
But given the current situation, Levi wasn't comfortable allowing this vulnerable little creature to move around independently away from his direct protection. At least during its critical juvenile period, carrying it with him seemed infinitely safer.
This arrangement could ensure its complete safety from any potential threats.
After confirming the amulet functioned perfectly, Levi released the young dragon within the castle again, feeding it carefully while contemplating an important matter.
This dragon should definitely have a proper name after being born into the world.
"What should I call it?"
Naming was truly one of Levi's greatest weaknesses, standing before him like an insurmountable wall of creative inadequacy.
But that was manageable. No matter how formidable the wall, Levi could excavate through it with a pickaxe and determination, let alone such a relatively small problem.
Levi gently stroked the young fire dragon's tiny head, observing its tender skin that was red with a pink tinge or pink with a red tinge, not yet protected by grown scales, and suddenly clapped his hands with inspiration.
"I'll call you Little Pink for now."
It can serve as a temporary pet name. When I think of something more dignified later, I'll formally bestow a proper title.
Having solved the immediate naming problem, Levi felt quite pleased with his solution. He retrieved some beef jerky from the kitchen stores for Little Pink to gnaw slowly, treating the tough meat as a teething aid.
At this moment, Little Pink didn't understand the meaning or significance of this name. It only knew the beef jerky before it smelled absolutely delicious, much more appetizing than cooked fish and cabbage, just somewhat difficult to bite through with its small teeth.
After remaining at Roadside Fort for two additional days and confirming Little Pink's condition remained excellent, Levi stored the dragon securely in the amulet, stepped through the Nether portal, and took his ice road toward Dale.
During this journey, he also confirmed that Little Pink couldn't be released while in the Nether. From the moment he entered that dimension, the amulet showed no response, as if it were completely isolated from its contents.
Before long, Dale's Nether portal twisted with familiar purple energy, and Levi emerged from it, once again arriving at this prosperous land.
It was still the same lively, bustling scene. Slightly different from his last visit was that there were now many miners carrying pickaxes, walking in small groups toward some destination, looking as relaxed and cheerful as if they were departing on holiday excursions.
Only after asking a passerby did he learn they were going to participate in the stone quarrying and road construction project.
"That road is really both neat and beautiful, sir."
In front of a modest house in the city, Levi sat comfortably on the front steps chatting with an elderly man, who said with obvious admiration: "If I weren't too old for such work, I'd also want to participate in this road building."
"Sir, actually many of us want to see this road completed more than you could imagine."
"It will make life here even better, though the life we're living now is already beyond what we dared dream before."
Levi nodded with understanding, breaking the soft little biscuit in his hand in half and offering it to the old man, who naturally accepted it and began savoring the treat.
For a peaceful moment, it was exactly like two ordinary neighbors sharing a casual conversation, quite a harmonious scene that spoke to the settlement's comfortable atmosphere.
Levi certainly wouldn't put on pretentious airs or maintain artificial distance.
As for this old man, at his advanced age, having experienced everything life had to offer, there was nothing left to feel timid about when speaking with anyone.
"Very delicious, sir. Even my old teeth can appreciate the flavor within. This biscuit must be quite expensive."
"I don't know if it's expensive, but it's certainly tasty."
Levi pointed to a pastry shop around the corner: "The owner there gave it to me as a gift. That pastry chef wanted to pack up all the fresh pastries in his entire shop for me to take away, but I only accepted two biscuits."
Without exaggeration, at this moment Dale was like a huge buffet specifically for Levi. He didn't need to spend money at all. Simply showing his face would make owners of various shops and stalls eager to stuff their finest specialties into his hands, afraid Levi wouldn't eat enough to stay properly nourished.
But regarding pastry making, Dale's residents truly possessed considerable skill. They had genuinely mastered the intricate art of creating various delectable sweets.
"Were you always this skilled at making sweets? I hardly saw these things in Lake-town."
"Because our former life was desperately poor, sir. We had no opportunity for such luxuries."
The old man explained: "When living in Lake-town, hardly anyone could gather enough basic grain for survival. Milk and honey were incredible luxuries for us, extremely rare treats."
"The last time I tasted something this sweet was many years ago."
Levi immediately replied: "Then you can indulge freely in the future. Everyone has plenty of grain now and will continue to have it. Eat however much you want."
Although Levi had no opportunity to spend money here, judging from the prices he overheard at various stalls he passed, the pastries and various foods weren't expensive, quite affordable compared to other settlements.
After all, food was something everyone truly didn't lack. Many of the pastry chefs still operating shops were largely motivated by genuine interest and artistic passion.
During this time, they were energetically competing in skill, continuously developing various innovative new pastries based on their abundant grain reserves.
Hearing Levi's generous words, the old man smiled and slowly shook his head.
"As you can see, sir, my teeth aren't very reliable anymore. Before, I ate everything because I had no choice for survival. Now I actually prefer eating lighter, gentler foods."
"That's truly regrettable. I think the pastries here are the finest in all Middle-earth, better than what even the elves create."
"They would be very happy to hear you say that."
As the old man spoke, a pastry chef passed by carrying a woven basket full of fresh bread.
"Hey, wait!" Levi called to him.
"Lord." The pastry chef immediately stopped and bowed respectfully to Levi in greeting.
"How much for this bread? I want to purchase one."
The pastry chef immediately became animated with excitement.
"Sir, all of these are for you without charge."
While eagerly handing over the entire basket of bread, this chef had already conceived tomorrow's shop advertising slogan:
'Bread that even the lord loves to eat!'
"No, no, no, one is sufficient. I'm just curious about the taste..."
"Sir, how could one piece possibly be enough? Please accept them all. This is my finest work recently, absolutely delicious!"
"Alright, alright, here's payment for you..."
Helplessly accepting the basket of bread the pastry chef enthusiastically pushed at him, Levi opened his backpack and retrieved a small bag of silver coins from his inventory.
But before he could close his storage interface, the pastry chef had already disappeared without a trace.
He moved nothing like someone offering gifts. You could say he'd just robbed Levi's payment, and people would believe it completely.
Shaking his head helplessly, Levi didn't pursue him but examined the bread in the basket.
He was very familiar with this item. It was exactly a former specialty of Lake-town: cram.
Unlike the purely functional travel ration cram Levi had purchased from dwarven merchants, this basket of cram looked much more appetizing, with honey and cream inside that made one's mouth water just looking at it.
Levi offered one to the old man beside him. The old man hesitated but ultimately accepted it graciously.
Seeing Levi's somewhat amused, knowing expression, the old man said: "Eating something not so light occasionally isn't harmful. After all, I'm already at this age. If I don't enjoy it now, I won't have the chance later."
The old man bit down, causing sweet cream to overflow from the bread. After tasting it, he nodded repeatedly and couldn't help taking another eager bite.
"This bread is absolutely delicious, sir."
Seeing the old man eating with such obvious pleasure, Levi also sampled the bread in his hand while storing the others in his backpack for later.
Just as the two sat side by side enjoying their treats in comfortable companionship, another elderly man suddenly settled down beside them, sighed deeply, and adjusted his traveling robes.
A gnarled staff was simply placed against the wall beside him, receiving the same casual treatment as a clothes-drying pole.
"Good morning."
Gandalf greeted Levi warmly, then also greeted the old man beside him, making sure not to exclude anyone from his courteous acknowledgment.
The old man nodded politely in response.
But the other person wasn't planning to settle for just a simple greeting.
"Good morning?"
Levi took a deliberate bite of bread and said: "Do you mean you hope my morning goes well, or that regardless of how I am, this morning is inherently good?"
Gandalf blinked twice, looking at Levi with complete disbelief at this unexpected philosophical challenge.
Regardless of how confused Gandalf appeared, Levi continued his verbal assault:
"Or do you mean you're feeling particularly good this morning, or that having such a morning is quite pleasant?"
You dare use my own technique against me?
This was the first thought that popped into Gandalf's mind.
He shook his head and replied with resignation: "All of those, I suppose."
"What you have there looks quite appetizing. I haven't had breakfast this morning."
Great, this means he wants me to share some.
Levi broke off half of the remaining biscuit in his other hand and offered it to him.
Gandalf consumed this half biscuit, then tucked both hands into his sleeves, making the signature 'patient villager' gesture, and continued staring meaningfully at the bread in Levi's hand.
His expression practically declared, "Are you treating me like a hungry beggar?"
Helplessly, Levi had to retrieve another piece of bread for him. Only then was Gandalf satisfied and began eating with obvious contentment.
"Quite excellent. The pastries here are becoming more and more delicious."
"Because there's enough grain to use freely for experimentation."
"That's truly wonderful. If only all places could enjoy such prosperous lives."
"That day won't be too far away."
After finishing the bread and chatting briefly about local developments, Gandalf addressed the main point:
"I visited Thorin recently. Their various industries are recovering quite well, but they've still encountered some significant problems."
"Just this morning he asked me to invite you to Erebor to meet with him if I encountered you, or he could make the journey here to find you."
"Alright, there's plenty of time anyway. I'll make the trip."
Levi stood up, bid farewell to the old man beside him, and prepared to depart.
Gandalf also rose and followed behind.
Just before the two reached the corner, the old man also used his walking cane to prop himself upright.
He gazed at that dark figure with deep respect and bowed slightly in grateful farewell.