Chapter 010: Establishing Diplomatic Relations

Defeated Smaug and gained his allegiance?

Are you kidding me?

The dwarves said nothing, but the disbelief was written all over their faces. Defeating Smaug? That was nothing but a pipe dream.

Ya Zi knew words alone were useless, so she raised her hand and, under the dwarves' puzzled gazes, unleashed a terrifying bolt of lightning. The lightning struck and shattered the armor on one dwarf without harming him in the slightest.

The dwarf struck by the lightning screamed in fright.

The other dwarves drew their weapons, pointing them at Ya Zi and Xiao Qing.

Seeing the dwarves dare to attack them, Xiao Qing unceremoniously pulled the flying sword from her hair. The sword whirled through the air like a streak of light before returning to her hand.

Xiao Qing tucked the flying sword back into her hair.

A series of crisp clatters rang out as the dwarves' weapons shattered into pieces and fell to the ground.

The dwarves stood dumbfounded, their mouths agape.

"Wizards, you two are wizards," a dwarf cried out in disbelief. Now they finally understood why the two women could roam this land so freely.

Having displayed her power, Ya Zi dropped her aggressive demeanor and said softly, "My friend is a hundred times stronger than I am. Defeating Smaug is no problem. Now, will you believe me?"

The dwarves exchanged glances, finally realizing this matter was beyond their authority.

Two female wizards had come to visit; they must treat them with due respect.

"We are very sorry, Lady Wizards. We must inform our king of this."

Ya Zi smiled slightly and said, "I await your reply."

The dwarves nodded, leaving two to entertain Ya Zi and Xiao Qing while the others hurried to find the ruler of the Iron Hills.

Dáin II Ironfoot.

"What? Smaug has been defeated and has submitted to a wizard?" When Ironfoot heard this news, he could hardly believe his ears.

"Who told you this?"

"Two female wizards," said the dwarf who had come to report. "They are outside."

Ironfoot's eyes flickered several times. "Why have they come?"

"They said only that they come on the orders of the King under the Mountain."

"King under the Mountain." Though Ironfoot was a dwarf, he was no fool. He immediately understood that this King under the Mountain was likely the wizard who had defeated Smaug.

If this were true, then calling himself King under the Mountain seemed only fitting.

Such was the way of the world: the strong could do as they pleased.

After pondering for a long time, Ironfoot sat on his throne and said, "Invite the two female wizards. I will see them."

He was eager to know what this wizard who had defeated Smaug intended.

If he wanted the Iron Hills to submit to him, he would never agree. Dwarves were never slaves. Not even a wizard who had defeated Smaug could make them bow.

If the other side resorted to violence, they would not go quietly. As everyone knew, dwarves did not fear war.

Before long, Ironfoot saw the two female wizards.

Even by dwarven standards, these two were rare beauties, especially the one in blue, whose looks rivaled those of elves.

It was hard to imagine that such beauties could exist among humans. Wait—they were wizards; perhaps they were not human at all, but Maiar.

"Guests from afar, the Iron Hills welcomes you." Ironfoot sat on his throne, a smile playing on his lips, exuding the bearing of a king.

Ya Zi nodded slightly and said, "Thank you."

Ironfoot leaned forward slightly and asked gravely, "I hear you come on the orders of the King under the Mountain. May I ask why the King under the Mountain has sent you to the Iron Hills?"

Ya Zi had intended to exchange pleasantries before getting down to business, but seeing Ironfoot so direct, she cut to the chase: "We have come to establish diplomatic relations with the Iron Hills."

"Diplomatic relations?" Ironfoot was momentarily taken aback, but inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief. Unless absolutely necessary, he truly did not want to go to war with a wizard who could defeat Smaug.

Even if they won, it would be a pyrrhic victory.

If they lost, it would be even worse.

Now that he heard they were not here for war, he felt a wave of relief and said courteously, "Of course, no problem. We are honored to establish relations with a powerful figure who has defeated Smaug."

But establishing relations was no simple matter; it touched on many aspects between the two nations.

Especially on Wang Bo's side, where the Lonely Mountain housed only two people and two monsters.

Moreover, after Ya Zi returned in a few days, only Wang Bo, Xiao Bai, and Xiao Qing would remain. Even counting the people from Lake-town, they were far fewer than the dwarves.

Therefore, this matter required careful and cautious discussion.

Fortunately, both sides had a need for it, so the ensuing conversation was naturally amicable.

Ya Zi was not an arrogant person.

And Ironfoot, as the ruler of the Iron Hills clan, was not an ignorant fool; he possessed the cunning and depth of a king.

After a friendly exchange, Ya Zi and Xiao Qing took their leave.

But before leaving, Ya Zi expressed her hope that Ironfoot would send a delegation to the Lonely Mountain as soon as possible to formally establish relations with the King under the Mountain.

Ironfoot readily agreed.

He also wanted to take this opportunity to see whether the so-called King under the Mountain had truly defeated Smaug and made him his servant.

Thus, on the very night Ya Zi left, he summoned all the dwarves and publicly announced the matter.

Upon hearing that Smaug had been defeated by a wizard, all the dwarves erupted in excitement.

Some dwarves, in particular, exclaimed in disbelief.

These dwarves were once dwarves of the Lonely Mountain.

After Smaug had taken over the Lonely Mountain, some dwarves had come to the Iron Hills to seek refuge with their kin and settled there.

Now, hearing that the mighty Smaug had been defeated, many dwarves found it hard to believe.

Many dwarves thought the whole thing was likely false.

Ironfoot said, "The new King under the Mountain wishes to establish relations with the Iron Hills, so I intend to send a delegation to the Lonely Mountain. Then we will know whether this is true or false."

This proposal won the approval of many dwarves.

If it were true, it would not be a bad thing for the dwarves of the Iron Hills.

Thus, a day later, a group of about twenty set out from the Iron Hills, traveling over mountains and rivers, and arrived at the Lonely Mountain.