Upon hearing this revelation, the townspeople began murmuring amongst themselves. "I remember this town in the great days of old. Fleets of boats lay at harbor, filled with silks and fine gems. This was no forsaken town on a lake. This was the center of all trade in the north!", he shouted for all to hear before turning to face the people, who were gathered around them. "I would see those days return. I would relight the great forges of the dwarves and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!", the crowd was cheering now, and Maleficent wasn't liking it. Even if she knew that Kili and Fili were following their uncle, it was not going to end well for the townspeople, and clearly, Thorin wasn't in his right mind at the moment. She could sense it.

"Death!", Bard's voice shouted from amongst the crowd as he made his way towards Thorin. "That is what you’ll bring upon us: dragonfire and ruin. If you awaken that beast, it will destroy us all", he tried to warn the dwarf Prince, but he seems to be unphased. "You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this; if we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain", the crowd looked pleased to hear this. "You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!", cheering was then heard. "All of you! Listen to me, you must listen! Have you forgotten what happened to Dale? Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm? And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a Mountain King, so riven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!", Bard sternly told the people of Laketown, wanting them to see te true picture of Thorin's plan.