Chapter 017 Brings Friendship

A few days later, good news came again: Dale was rebuilt.

Dale was once a human town at the foot of the Lonely Mountain. Before Smaug arrived, it was very prosperous due to its proximity to the mountain, but after Smaug came, Dale was reduced to ruins.

The surviving people left Dale and moved to Lake-town.

After Wang Bo arrived, he conquered Smaug, appointed Bard as the Master of Lake-town, provided money and grain, and had Bard lead people to rebuild Dale. Bard did not disappoint Wang Bo's trust.

With a large amount of money and grain, along with the people of Lake-town, he threw himself into the work of rebuilding Dale.

After so many days of effort, with the help of Margaret the Red Dragon, Dale was finally rebuilt.

But when Wang Bo took time to visit Dale, he found that the rebuilt Dale was not the same as the old one, not even a third of its former size.

No wonder it was finished so quickly.

But in Bard's view, this was already enough; the rebuilt Dale could accommodate even the entire population of Lake-town with room to spare.

Even if other parts were rebuilt, there would be no one to live there, and it would still be a waste.

So Bard did not clear out the entire Dale, but only a portion of it.

However, Bard believed that when the news that the King under the Mountain had conquered Smaug and Dale was rebuilt spread throughout the world, more and more people would come to Dale.

At that time, he would lead the newcomers to clear the rest of Dale.

Perhaps in a few years, Dale would regain its former prosperity.

After hearing Bard's account, Wang Bo looked at him with new respect. This fellow was not only courageous but also quick-witted, truly fit to be a Master.

"From today on, you are the Master of Dale, Bard." Wang Bo patted Bard on the shoulder and appointed him Master of Dale.

Bard was both surprised and delighted, bowing his head and saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

To be honest, when Wang Bo first asked him to rebuild Dale, Bard had already vaguely guessed, and now seeing Wang Bo's confirmation, he was naturally overjoyed.

Originally just a small merchant selling goods at a stall, he had now become the ruler of Dale. All this came from Wang Bo's regard, and he was extremely grateful to Wang Bo.

Thus, Wang Bo gained his first loyal follower in this world.

Just as Wang Bo was about to tour Dale under Bard's guidance, someone came to report that a group had appeared outside Dale. Wang Bo and Bard went outside and saw a group of dozens of people riding horses toward Dale.

Wang Bo's eyes were sharp. Before others could see who was coming, Wang Bo had already identified the intruders by their long ears.

Elves!

Yes, this group riding white horses were the elves living in Mirkwood.

At the head was a young elf.

He looked about twenty years old, but elves are long-lived; though he appeared young, he was probably older than Wang Bo's grandfather. Perhaps he was several hundred years old.

After the young elf led his party to Dale, the residents finally relaxed and warmly welcomed the elves.

Even when the residents of Dale lived in Lake-town, they had traded with elves, dwarves, and other humans living on this land.

For example, the Iron Hills were rich in iron ore but had little grain, so the dwarves of the Iron Hills often traded with the people of Lake-town, exchanging tools like sickles and kitchen knives for food.

The people of Lake-town also often traded with the elves living in Mirkwood.

The relationship between the two sides was not hostile but very friendly.

Therefore, seeing the elves arrive, the people smiled happily.

Bard told Wang Bo, "Your Majesty, the leading elf is the son of the Elvenking of the Woodland Realm, Legolas Greenleaf!"

When Wang Bo heard this name, it was thunderous.

After all, decades later, during the War of the Ring, this Legolas attended the Council of Elrond in Rivendell on his father's orders, and at the council, Legolas decided to join the Fellowship of the Ring, accompanying Aragorn and the others to escort the Ring-bearer Frodo Baggins to Mount Doom to destroy the Ring.

Wang Bo also remembered that besides the War of the Ring, this fellow had participated in the Battle of Five Armies with his father and was a highly skilled archer.

Wang Bo looked at the elves. Although there were dozens of them, they brought very few goods this time, clearly not here for trade.

Sure enough, after arriving in Dale, the elves asked the locals about Bard's whereabouts.

It was clear that these elves already knew Bard was their leader.

Bard glanced at Wang Bo, who said, "Let's go over together and see."

So the two walked over.

Legolas had been to Lake-town a few times and had seen Bard, but the two were not familiar. He was more familiar with the former Master of Lake-town, but that fellow had been dismissed by Wang Bo.

This time seeing Bard, Legolas maintained a neither humble nor arrogant attitude and stated his purpose to Bard, "We have come this time hoping that Master Bard can help us by arranging an audience with the King under the Mountain."

Bard instinctively looked at Wang Bo.

Seeing Bard's action, Legolas turned his gaze to Wang Bo, and in a flash seemed to understand something, quickly saying, "Legolas Greenleaf of the Woodland Realm offers you my respects, great King under the Mountain."

Although the elves lived in Mirkwood, they had their own informants.

This time, they learned from the birds that a mysterious wizard had defeated Smaug, occupied the Lonely Mountain, become the King under the Mountain, and even established relations with the dwarves of the Iron Hills.

So after deliberation, the elves sent their prince to the Lonely Mountain, hoping to meet this King under the Mountain, and if possible, establish relations with him.

But Legolas did not expect that upon arriving in Dale, he would immediately meet the legendary King under the Mountain.

"Welcome, Prince Legolas, and the other elves." Wang Bo smiled slightly. "May I ask what brings Prince Legolas here?"

Legolas said solemnly, "I represent the Woodland Realm and hope to establish relations with the Lonely Mountain. I wonder if the great King under the Mountain is willing to accept our friendship."