Secured.
When Gandalf agreed to something, it was usually as good as done.
"Your journey may encounter many dangers," Levi said, pulling several golden apples from his backpack. "Take these with you. You know what they do."
Gandalf didn't immediately take the apples but looked at Levi with a questioning expression. "Aren't you coming along?"
"No, I plan to focus on developing my territory for now and won't be adventuring around."
"Maybe after a while, perhaps next year, or in a few more months, when all the territory's affairs are properly settled, I might go out and explore."
"Alright."
Gandalf lit up some Old Toby pipe-weed from the Shire and, with practiced ease, shaped the smoke rings he exhaled into the form of a ship, letting it float gracefully out the window.
This trick was indeed quite appealing. What child wouldn't be captivated by such a sight?
"Have you ever thought that the ring might be right beside us?" Levi suddenly asked, his tone carefully neutral.
"I know what you're referring to."
Gandalf glanced at Levi and replied: "You mean the ring that Bilbo carries, right?"
Levi nodded, waiting for his response.
"That ring does indeed contain some magic, but believe me, it couldn't possibly be the ring you're thinking of."
"Why?" Levi asked.
"Because if it really were the One Ring, Bilbo would have gone mad long ago."
"Never underestimate that ring, Levi. It has a fatal allure for all living beings in Middle-earth. Anyone who sees it would be like a troll completely stuck in a swamp. A hundred orcs couldn't pull them out."
"Well, I have to say, that's a very vivid description."
"Thank you."
Gandalf replied, then continued: "If Bilbo's ring were truly the One Ring, he should have abandoned us long ago to hide in some cave or been found by Sauron."
"That ring is alive. It has its own will, and just like its master, it excels at temptation. It doesn't simply make people fall in a specific direction but infinitely amplifies certain traits or flaws a person already has, leading them step by step into the mire in the way they like most and are least likely to be wary of, until they can't extricate themselves."
"Even I wouldn't want to touch that thing."
"I understand. This thing is indeed very dangerous."
Levi gained some new understanding of the One Ring.
It was indeed dangerous, and the kind of danger that expressed itself in very subtle ways. It was like a treacherous minister who only spoke pleasant words, step by step luring those with weak wills into the abyss, in their own preferred way.
Take Gandalf, for example.
If Gandalf obtained the One Ring, given his nature, he certainly wouldn't use it to do evil things. His first thought would definitely be to use this power to help more people.
But this kindness would also be his fatal weakness.
At first, he might only think of using powerful strength to help others, but as the corruption deepened, he might gradually become unable to be satisfied with simply helping people. He would use his power to intimidate others, even directly conquer the world, and then order everyone in the world not to do evil.
Actually, up to this point, it could still be considered good, but as his "kindness" continued to deepen, he might issue even stricter commands.
For example, "Everyone must help each other."
A step further would be "Everyone must do good deeds every day," then "Everyone must do a certain number of good deeds every day or face punishment."
By then, the world would have another "White Dark Lord," and such a world wouldn't be much different from one enslaved by Sauron, equally painful and terrifying.
Even Gandalf, such an upright, gentle, and kind old man, could become such an extreme if he obtained the ring.
Levi didn't dare to think what the world would become if he obtained the ring and was accidentally tempted.
Not getting kicked out would count as success.
But speaking of the One Ring, logically, he had already seen it with his own eyes, but aside from the temptation when he first saw it, it hadn't shown itself since then, nor had it spread its influence.
Levi even had the feeling it was distancing itself from him.
Was this playing hard to get?
"Regarding the One Ring, I'll think of a way too."
"I'll try to solve it."
Levi said something rather vague.
"That would be excellent."
Gandalf smiled, feeling that Middle-earth had gained another layer of protection.
Levi walked to the window, gazing westward toward the Shire, somewhat lost in thought.
What if the Ring destruction process was started now?
No, actually that wasn't very realistic.
This world was currently in a relatively calm chapter, where overly powerful forces were prohibited from use.
If an expedition were organized directly at this time, disrupting the rhythm, it would likely create many difficulties.
Even Levi himself might become one of the difficulties.
'Let's wait until things develop naturally before deciding.'
The chat with Gandalf soon ended.
Gandalf only had a meal here before leaving again, hurriedly heading east toward the Anduin valley.
Before leaving, he took one golden apple.
He didn't touch any of the extras.
Wizards knew how to exercise restraint.
After seeing Gandalf off, Levi wandered around his territory, sometimes watching residents digging stones, sometimes checking the growth status of the vegetable fields, and then appearing at the tree farm to check wood reserves.
Under the residents' highly enthusiastic labor, the territory's basic supplies had become quite abundant.
"Perhaps it's time to do some other work," he mused.
Mining.
Before the adventures began, Levi would go to the iron ore vein near his territory every day for mining work.
But while this distance wasn't far for him, it would take quite a while for normal people to walk there. If he directly ordered them to mine, it still wasn't very realistic.
So the best solution was to continue expanding the territory until the mining area was also included.
No sooner said than done.
Levi called several people who could build houses, or at least had some construction experience from participating in village housing construction, to the city gate, having them use shovels to turn the grassland into dirt paths.
The result was that such simple dirt paths didn't count as territory expansion.
Next, Levi gave them some blocks, having them build roads extending outward from the city gate, laying rails and guardrails on them, and placing torches or building streetlights alongside.
This time it succeeded. This small section of road became an extension of the territory.
And the extended area was sufficient to support them in building roads that continued to extend outward.
That is to say, as long as the method was appropriate, even without Levi, the residents could completely achieve territory expansion and extension. Many infrastructure projects could be handed over to them to complete.
Although each person could only carry one block at a time, as long as there were enough people, their work efficiency could match or even exceed Levi's.
"Very good, quite good."
Levi's mind became active with possibilities.
The territory's future was bright.