Reliable.
When Gandalf agrees to something, it's usually as good as done.
"Your journey may face many dangers."
As Garrett spoke, he retrieved several golden apples from his inventory.
"Take these. You know what they do."
Gandalf didn't accept the apples immediately. Instead, he studied Garrett and asked, "You're not accompanying me?"
"No, I plan to focus on developing my territory for now. I won't be adventuring for a while."
"Maybe in some time, next year perhaps, or in a few more months, once everything in the territory is settled, I might go out and explore."
"Very well then."
Gandalf lit some Old Toby pipe-weed, and playfully shaped the smoke rings into a tiny ship, letting it drift out the window.
One had to admit, that little demonstration was quite mesmerizing. What child wouldn't be fascinated watching such a display?
"Have you ever considered the possibility that the Ring is right here among us?" Garrett asked carefully.
"I know what you're suggesting."
Gandalf glanced at Garrett and replied, "You mean the ring Bilbo carries, don't you?"
Garrett nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"That ring does contain some enchantment, but believe me, it couldn't possibly be the one you're thinking of."
"Why not?" Garrett inquired.
"Because if it truly were that ring, the One Ring, Bilbo would have been consumed by madness long ago."
"Never underestimate that accursed thing, Garrett. It holds a deadly allure for all living beings in Middle-earth. Anyone who beholds it becomes like a spider caught in its own web, no force could extract them."
"Uh… I have to say, that's quite a vivid metaphor."
"Thank you," Gandalf replied with subtle amusement, then continued, "If Bilbo's ring really were the One Ring, he would have abandoned us long ago to hide in some cave, or worse, the Dark Lord would have found him by now."
"That ring is alive. It possesses a will of its own, and like its master, it's an expert in corruption. It doesn't twist people in one obvious direction, instead, it amplifies traits or flaws that already exist within a person. It leads them down the path they most desire, in the most subtle ways, until they're ensnared and cannot escape."
"Even I would hesitate to touch such a thing."
"I see... It really is dangerous," Garrett said, beginning to understand the Ring's true nature.
It was dangerous, not in an obvious way, but in a subtle, insidious one. Like a silver-tongued deceiver whispering sweet promises, luring the weak-willed into the abyss, in precisely the way they found most appealing.
Consider Gandalf, for instance.
If he were to possess the Ring, given his character, he'd never think to use it for evil. His first instinct would undoubtedly be to use its power to aid others.
But that very nobility could become his fatal weakness.
Initially, he might simply wish to use the Ring's strength to help people. But as the corruption deepened, mere assistance might no longer satisfy him. He could begin using his power to intimidate others, or even conquer nations, so he could command everyone to do good and eliminate evil.
And even that stage might still be considered "righteous." But as his sense of justice grew more absolute, he might issue increasingly harsh decrees.
Such as: "Everyone must aid one another."
Then, "Everyone must perform good deeds daily."
And eventually, "Everyone must complete a quota of good deeds each day, or face punishment."
At that point, the world would have a new "Bright Dark Lord." And such a world would be little different from one enslaved by Sauron, equally oppressive and terrifying.
Even someone as wise, gentle, and good as Gandalf could transform into such an extremist if he possessed the Ring.
Garrett didn't want to imagine what the world might become if he somehow acquired the Ring and accidentally fell under its influence.
If he didn't get expelled from Middle-earth entirely, that would be a minor miracle.
Speaking of the One Ring, theoretically, he had already observed it firsthand. But aside from that initial moment of temptation when he first encountered it, the Ring hadn't revealed itself since, nor had it exerted any noticeable influence.
In fact, he even had the sense that it was deliberately keeping its distance from him.
Was it playing hard to get?
"I'll think of a way to deal with the One Ring," Garrett said vaguely. "I'll try to resolve it."
"That would be most welcome," Gandalf replied with a smile, feeling that Middle-earth had gained another guardian.
Garrett moved to the window and stared off into the west, toward the Shire, lost in thought.
What if he initiated the Ring's destruction immediately?
No, that wouldn't be very realistic.
The world was currently experiencing a relatively peaceful period, where overwhelming displays of power were essentially discouraged.
If he were to suddenly organize an expedition at this stage and disrupt the current balance, it would likely create numerous problems.
He himself might even become one of those problems.
Better to wait for Bilbo to arrive, he thought
His conversation with Gandalf soon came to an end.
The wizard remained only for a meal before departing again in a hurry, heading eastward, toward the Vales of Anduin.
Before leaving, he accepted one golden apple.
Not one more.
Wizards know how to show restraint.
After seeing Gandalf off, Garrett wandered around his territory. He stopped here and there, observing settlers digging up stone, inspecting the agricultural plots' progress, and later visiting the lumber yard to assess the timber stockpile.
Thanks to the settlers' energetic and enthusiastic labor, the territory was now well-supplied with basic resources.
"Maybe it's time to take on something else…"
Mining.
Before embarking on any new adventures, he had been extracting iron daily from a nearby vein outside the territorial boundaries.
Though the distance wasn't far for him, it would require ordinary people quite a while to get there. So, ordering them to mine there directly wasn't very realistic.
The optimal solution, then, was to expand the territory, until the mine fell within its borders.
No sooner thought than done.
Garrett summoned several people with experience in construction, or at least those who had assisted with village building previously, and instructed them to begin at the gates, converting the grassy terrain into a proper dirt pathway using shovels.
But it turned out that such a simple dirt trail didn't qualify for territorial expansion.
So he provided them with building blocks and directed them to construct a proper road extending from the main gate, laying down stone paths and fencing, with torches and lamps positioned along the sides.
This time, it worked. That small section of road officially became part of the extended territory. And with that expansion, the newly claimed area was large enough to support further road construction outward.
In other words, as long as the right method was used, the citizens could handle territorial expansion entirely on their own, even without his direct involvement. Much of the infrastructure development could be delegated to them.
Though each person could only transport one block at a time, with enough manpower, their efficiency could rival, or even exceed, his individual efforts.
"Excellent. Really excellent," Garrett mused, his mind buzzing with possibilities.
The future of the territory looked promising.