"Hey, Derek is working hard, it's just that your Proudmoore family demands too much."
Derek is an excellent crown prince, the successor Daelin groomed. Daelin is very satisfied with him, but with Arthas's brilliance beforehand, the nineteen-year-old legend is hard to admire compared to the thirty-year-old legend.
People tend to have a comparative mentality, especially when Derek's status means he's only compared to those of similar standing, the so-called second-generation royalty circle that Galen mentioned!
But what Galen said makes sense, because besides learning to handle political affairs, Derek also has to undergo traditional warrior training, and to go to sea, he has to study the power of the Tidesage. In the last ten years, the Church of the Holy Light has become increasingly prosperous, and Derek is learning the way of the Holy Light like his old man, juggling three things at once, how can he not be slow!
"Besides, Uncle, you probably don't know, but half a month ago, Jaina successfully broke through and became a legendary Archmage in the Hillsbrad region, taking even less time than Arthas by more than half a year!"
It must be said that if Galen wasn't a cheater, then the protagonists of this era are undoubtedly Arthas and Jaina.
"Really?"
"Indeed!"
Galen couldn't help but add a strange operatic flourish, but Daelin didn't understand and couldn't follow up.
"Legend! Legend, my daughter hasn't even had her nineteenth birthday! An eighteen-year-old legend!"
Daelin can't wait to return home now, and then hold a grand celebration like Terenas, to make that boastful old man jealous!
As Daelin thought about it, the pride in his eyes almost overflowed.
"It's all thanks to Gandalf's good teaching!"
Daelin is very satisfied. It seems that his queen's insistence on Jaina becoming Gandalf's apprentice was the right choice. Originally, Daelin preferred Antonidas, after all, this would deepen the relationship between Kul Tiras and Dalaran. Later, with Galen's rise, he felt that deepening the relationship with Stromgarde was also good.
"But no matter how powerful they are, they can't compare to you, Demigod. Only with a Demigod behind them can humans talk to dragons on equal footing!"
Daelin remembered when fighting the Orcs, the red dragons attacked the humans on the side of justice without any pressure, and afterwards, no red dragon stood up to take responsibility for their actions. Many sailors and warships of Kul Tiras were destroyed by dragon breath.
Especially Derek, if Galen hadn't prepared a backup plan for him in advance, Kul Tiras would have lost this excellent crown prince.
"The dragon's apology? It will come soon."
Galen has now infiltrated the Red Dragonflight and the Blue Dragonflight, crippled the Black Dragonflight, and created the Golden Holy Dragon. The soul of the Eternal Dragon King is still in his hands. When he turns the five-colored dragon legions into subordinate organizations of the Crusade, won't he be able to do whatever he wants?
Daelin patted Galen on the shoulder again, feeling a little excited.
"Why don't I marry my daughter to you, Galen!" Daelin said this seemingly jokingly.
Galen was shocked!
Damn, I treat you as an elder, and you actually want to be my father!
Although Galen can most likely transform Jaina so that she doesn't become as much of a daddy's girl as she was later, Galen doesn't know if he can handle it!
"Uncle Daelin... you know, I have a Windrunner girlfriend, and then I had another Windrunner girlfriend, you understand!"
Galen knew that Daelin Proudmoore had a high elf lover in Dalaran besides the Queen of Kul Tiras.
It must be said that our admiral is still very charming. He can capture the heart of a high elf mage, and she is willing to bear him children.
A role model for us!
"Windrunner? Two of them! Hahaha, as expected, the younger generation surpasses the old, I can't compare to you!"
Daelin felt that Galen was a force to be reckoned with!
So the two of them cherished each other!
"Galen, according to me, with such a strong body and outstanding talent, you should get married early and have more children, otherwise you will be wasting the excellent genes of your Trollbane family!"
Damn, sea king!
Daelin's remarks stunned Galen.
This is a real sea king, whether in the literal or deeper sense, Galen is willing to call Daelin the strongest sea king.
Galen felt that he was being too petty?
"Indeed, you have become a demigod, and theoretically have endless life. There is no problem in finding high elves as companions. Their lifespans of several thousand years give them more time to accompany you than humans who live for a hundred years!"
"Perhaps you can outlive the next king of the high elves..."
Galen knew that Daelin was talking about Kael'thas. Poor Kael, even at this time, he could become the subject of comparison.
"Lifespan is not a problem. There are many ways to extend lifespan in this world." The bronze dragons, or the Titan Aman'Thul behind the bronze dragons, can grant others eternal life.
Of course, the safest way is to wait for Ai Jiang to be born. As long as she is blessed, a race can easily achieve immortality.
For example, the Draenei, who were blessed by the original Star Spirit Argus and are immortal.
"If you really have a way to deal with lifespan, it's not impossible for me to give Jaina to you!"
Daelin blurted out without much thought.
Regarding his daughter's longing to marry Galen, he, as a father, had also heard about it. After considering many aspects, Daelin felt that Galen was indeed Jaina's best destination.
First of all, Daelin would not choose to let Jaina marry for political reasons. The example of the eldest princess of Lordaeron was right in front of him, and he did not want his darling to be sad.
Secondly, Galen became a demigod!
Not to mention that there is no one more outstanding or stronger than him among his peers, even looking at the entire human race, and even the high elves, there is no one more outstanding than him!
As for Jaina not being able to become Galen's only one...
From Daelin's point of view just now, humans are humans, and high elves are high elves. It's okay for his daughter to become Galen's only human companion!
"Ha! Uncle, your ideas are too trendy, I can't do it for the time being, haha!"
Galen didn't expect the admiral to be so open-minded. If Jaina transforms herself, she won't sell her father in the future, but, alas, it becomes the father who pits his daughter.
It was also thanks to Galen saving Derek, who didn't die in the red dragon's dragon breath, otherwise, with Jaina's excellent talent, Daelin wouldn't let this heir marry far away to another country.
As for taking Jaina, Galen hasn't thought about it yet.
There will be so many crises in Azeroth in the future, Galen just wants to say: The Old Gods are not destroyed, how can there be a home?
Excuse, I'm afraid you're afraid of a fire in the backyard!
"Ah, yes, yes, yes, if you continue to drag on like this and don't start a family, be careful that old man Thoras raises his axe to chop you!"
Sorry, my old man already tried to chop me with an axe, but I disarmed him in one move, hehe.
Seeing that Galen wouldn't budge, Daelin stopped mentioning Jaina and instead asked, "Why did you come to Stratholme alone this time? Just to watch the Alliance's trial of Tirion?"
Facing Daelin's question, Galen couldn't exactly say he was there to poach talent, could he?
Lordaeron doesn't want Old Man Fordring, but the Scarlet Crusade does!
Good heavens!
That's Tirion Fordring! Who could refuse to have Old Man Fordring as a follower?
That's something that even the Millionaire Lord and the three Lich Kings couldn't accomplish!
I, Galen, am determined to have him!
Of course, he couldn't say that, so Galen's mind raced, and he instantly came up with a high-sounding reason.
"Fordring's matter was unexpected. I came to Eastweald this time to track down the Blademaster of the Burning Blade Clan!" Galen put on a serious face.
"The Blademaster of the Burning Blade Clan!"
Admiral Daelin was stunned and instantly recalled the ghostly orcs who assassinated and beheaded mid-level Alliance officers on the battlefield back then!
In addition to assassinations, these orc masters, carrying the clan's banners, would also penetrate deep into the Alliance's rear to carry out sabotage, slaughter civilians, and disrupt logistics supply lines, causing great trouble to the Alliance.
This was also the reason why Lordaeron vigorously developed the Royal Spymasters after the war, and why Stormwind Kingdom reorganized SI:7 at the first opportunity.
It is said that before an army moves, provisions must go first. In addition to provisions, intelligence is also very important, and everyone is vigorously developing intelligence organizations.
In addition, many orcs slipped through the net and were active on the borders of various countries, so it was necessary to place informants in the undeveloped wilderness.
Later, everyone discovered that King Terenas intended to use the Alliance to reunite humanity, but most royals were unwilling to give up their crowns, so they busied themselves with mutual sabotage.
"What are they doing here!?" Daelin clenched his fists, his arms bulging with veins.
"Rescuing someone, of course."
"That's right, the orc Tirion is protecting, they're here to save him!" Daelin suddenly understood, "It seems that the old orc has a high status in the Horde. No, I have to notify Uther."
After Daelin finished speaking, he looked at Galen, using his eyes to ask for his opinion.
Galen was happy to find some fun for the Burning Blade Clan, and shrugged indifferently.
"I have no objection. Go ahead, Uncle Daelin. I'm relieved to have you handle this, just don't reveal my whereabouts."
"Alright! I'll go now!"
Daelin hurriedly wanted to leave the mansion to find Uther in the Stratholme Council Hall. To deal with the Blademaster of the Burning Blade Clan, the most elite Knights of the Silver Hand had to be dispatched, otherwise ordinary soldiers would just be delivering food.
"Wait, Uncle Daelin!"
Galen stopped the admiral.
"Also, let me tell you some news. The missing Kel'Thuzad has returned to Lordaeron. He has joined a mysterious being in Northrend. This time, he has returned on a mission to form a cult, and the cult's purpose is to spread the plague of death in the human kingdoms."
"If I were you, I would go straight back to Kul Tiras and use the power of the church to investigate the country's food supply, and prevent those cultists from putting the plague in the food."
"Remember, this is not an ordinary plague, you need to use magic and the power of the Holy Light to detect it!"
After Galen finished speaking, he didn't give Daelin time to react, and with a wave of his hand, he teleported to outside the city of Stratholme.
Kul Tiras was not Kel'Thuzad's, or rather, the Scourge's, hardest-hit area, and was even less affected than Gilneas and Stromgarde.
Galen only remembered that Dirusberg, located on the northern coast of Kul Tiras, had been besieged by the Scourge, and he didn't know any other information.
Galen came outside the city, preparing to intercept Tirion, who was preparing to break into the prison.
That's right, Old Man Fordring was going to break into the prison to fulfill his promise and save Eitrigg.
And Galen had predicted correctly, Tirion was currently riding his beloved horse, Mirador, back to Stratholme overnight from Hearthglen.
Yesterday, after the trial ended, Tirion was escorted back to Hearthglen by his loyal retainers to meet his wife and children. His wife did not understand why her husband would give up everything for his so-called honor, and at the same time, for the sake of her children, she was unwilling to follow Tirion into the wilderness.
Tirion left a letter for his son, Taelan, and then headed straight for Stratholme overnight.
"You shouldn't have come!"
Just as Tirion was crossing a forest, approaching the Eastwall Gate of Stratholme, a voice came from the earthen slope ahead.
Tirion was shocked. He looked up and saw a tall human in tight leather armor, sitting casually on the earthen slope, looking down at him.
When Tirion saw the human's face clearly, his vigilance instantly relaxed.
"Galen! Ah ha, it's you!"
Tirion was extremely excited. Although Galen was more than ten years younger than him, his position in Tirion's heart was no less than that of his wife and children!
Tirion dismounted and ran up the earthen slope, hugging Galen tightly.
"Good brother, you know everything? I know I shouldn't have come, but I must!"
"You will help me, won't you?" Galen was Tirion's guide on the path of the paladin. Galen presided over their Holy Light awakening ceremony, and had been teaching them many Holy Light combat skills!
Both teacher and friend!
"I will indeed help you, but I don't agree with you taking action yourself. The moment you show yourself, you will bring more trouble to your wife and children."
"Justice needs to be executed, not just talked about, even if it comes at a heavy price."
"Hey, the hatred between humans and orcs is higher than the sky and deeper than the sea. The anger of others will send you into the abyss."
"I still uphold my Holy Light path!"
"Holy Light path? Hehe, you've lost it, but Uther held back. The Holy Light power in your body has only been sealed. He left you a way out."
Tirion suddenly raised his head, and a light of hope burst out in his eyes: "Galen, you have a way to break the seal, right? Help me!"
"No, Uther's seal is nothing to me, but to me, the seal is more like a test for you. I hope you break it yourself!"
"But…"
Tirion's heart sank to the bottom. Without the blessing of the Holy Light, his combat power was weakened by 70%, and the hope of rescuing Eitrigg was very slim, especially since Tirion was unwilling to harm those innocent guards.
"Don't worry about that orc bro… friend, his clansmen will come to save him."
"What!"
It would have been better not to mention it. The mention of this information made Tirion even more worried!
Not every orc has a sense of honor like Eitrigg!
Tirion was the Grand Lord of Lordaeron, a high-level shareholder in the kingdom, and very well-informed about the outside world.
He already knew about the recent resurgence of the Orc Warchief Orgrim, and that they had attacked many Orc internment camps, rescuing many Orcs.
Of course, there was also the devastation of the Hillsbrad region, with countless guards and civilians killed or injured.
Tirion was worried that Eitrigg's Orcish brethren, while rescuing him, would also harm the civilians of Stratholme!
"We must enter the city, Galen!" Tirion said anxiously. Whether it was to save Eitrigg or to prevent the Orcs from destroying the city, he had to go.
"Let's go, I'll take you in!"
Galen had Tirion secure his mount, then grabbed his shoulder and teleported to the Shadow Section's stronghold in Stratholme: the Stone Raven Inn.
The Stone Raven Inn was ideally located on the main thoroughfare of Stratholme's main gate, in the heart of the city. The King's Square, one of the city's main squares, was right outside the door, with the Festival Path leading to the Elder Square to the east, and the Stratholme market district to the west.
Tirion put on the hood Galen handed him, after all, he had become an exiled criminal yesterday.
The sun had just climbed over the distant Alterac Mountains. Stepping out of the inn, Tirion found the city's light still dim. Apart from a few merchants and vendors arranging their goods, there were almost no pedestrians on the street.
The place where Eitrigg was to be executed was King's Square!
Since it was still early and Tirion had been riding all night, he was exhausted. So he followed Galen to the second floor of the inn, chose a room with a view of the entire King's Square, and began to close his eyes and rest.
After an unknown amount of time, Tirion heard the sounds of laughter and commotion. He glanced at the clock, it was already nine in the morning.
Tirion got up and went to the window. He saw a large crowd gathered in the center of King's Square, shouting and joking excitedly.
From this vantage point, he could just see the newly erected gallows in the center of the square, guarded by a group of soldiers.
Soon, the group who had judged him yesterday came from the west, but Tirion only saw Dathrohan and Uther, not Daelin, the Archbishop, or the Princess.
A group of knights in silver armor escorted a scarred old Orc.
As the Orc appeared, more and more people gathered in the center of the square, even women and children crowded forward, hoping to catch a glimpse of the terrifying Orcish monster.
Soon the crowd erupted in cheers, throwing garbage and stones at the Orc. The knights, clad in shining armor, gleamed in the morning light, unfazed by the projectiles thrown by the crowd.
However, Eitrigg was out of luck. Lacking protection, he was bound and unable to dodge, adding many new wounds to his body.
Although the old Orc was covered in wounds, he still held his head high with pride. He refused to let his tormentors see his despair, he would not satisfy the sadists!
When Eitrigg was brought to the gallows, more knights and elite Lordaeron soldiers came out, members of the Silver Hand and the Stratholme Brigade!
They divided into two teams, separating the onlookers into the east and west areas of the square, instantly clearing King's Square, leaving only the central and southern areas leading to the main gate.
Tirion's heart pounded violently.
Uther, the leader of the Knights of the Silver Hand, and Dathrohan, the commander of the Stratholme Brigade, were prepared!
They must already know that the Orcs were coming to raid the execution ground!
But what if the Orcs failed?
Facing such a group of elite warriors, how could he have any chance of rescuing the old Orc?
Tirion had not made any plans, and did not even have a decent weapon!
In the square, the executioner was preparing the noose.
Eitrigg was about to die.
Tirion looked back at Galen, and found him also looking at him, without any intention of acting.
Tirion was anxious and prepared to jump out of the window!
Damn idiot!
Galen cursed inwardly, instantly casting Frost Nova to freeze him, preventing Tirion from jumping out of the window.
"With me here, Eitrigg won't die!"
Seeing Galen's assurance, Tirion's heart finally settled down, and he broke free from the ice under his feet and leaned against the window to continue observing.
A knight walked onto the gallows, Tirion recognized him as his own follower, the young paladin who had denounced him!
He shouted fanatically: "Dear guardians of Lordaeron, I am very pleased to see you all gathered here early in the morning."
"The abominable monster standing behind me is a blasphemy against the Holy Light, and our common enemy. It was his damned kind that brought war and suffering to our country, and inhumanely slaughtered thousands of our compatriots."
The paladin said, looking back triumphantly at Eitrigg, whose neck was in a noose, "Therefore, we will end the life of this despicable monster without guilt. Murder must be paid with a life, blood debts must be repaid with blood!"
After the young paladin finished speaking, he signaled the executioner to move Eitrigg to the trapdoor, ready for execution.
Tirion looked back at Galen again.
Galen was still calm and composed, even pouring himself a glass of wine to sip. "Relax, relax, I'm prepared."
Prepared my ass, I didn't prepare to take action at all.
If the Burning Blade Clan Orcs rescue Eitrigg, I will take action to snatch him. If the Burning Blade Clan fails, I can just grab Eitrigg's corpse and use a resurrection spell.
Either way, I'll be the ultimate winner!
Perfect!
The crowd cheered wildly, screaming to drink the Orc's blood. Tirion had never felt that his people could be so brutal and evil. Their suffocating hatred almost broke him, and he once again doubted his own persistence.
The executioner put his hand on the trapdoor lever. As death approached, the old Orc's body trembled, roaring and trying to break free, but this futile struggle only made the onlookers laugh.
Unlike the onlookers, Dathrohan and Uther looked solemn, their eyes sharpened, observing the situation in King's Square and the main gate, not letting go of any clues!
The young paladin raised his arm, ready to order the opening of the mechanism, ending the Orc's life.
At the moment his hand went down!
Ah!
A scream came!
The onlookers only saw a huge warblade suddenly appearing from mid-air!
Then an arm wearing a gauntlet flew up!
Everything happened so fast, like a flash of lightning. The Stratholme citizens watching hadn't even reacted before the young paladin on the gallows was heavily injured.
Then, the Blademaster rotated his wrist, and his warblade severed the rope around Eitrigg's neck with a single strike.
However, Uther and Dathrohan sensed the killing intent the moment the Blademaster appeared and issued orders immediately.
The elite soldiers of the Stratholme battle group, forming a human wall, immediately drove the citizens outwards. Actually, there was no need to drive them; the citizens were already in chaos upon seeing the orc appear and such a bloody scene. The human wall only prevented the citizens from surging towards the center of King's Square.
More Blademasters appeared! The soldiers of the Stratholme battle group were only focused on stopping the citizens' surge and were cleaved in two by warblades from behind!
Uther led the knights of the Silver Hand towards the center, and on the way, Uther struck an orc Blademaster with all his might!
Zzzt!
The Blademaster exploded from Uther's warhammer, but Uther didn't see a corpse!
"A Mirror Image?"
Uther looked up at the gallows. There was no time to distinguish between the real orcs and the Mirror Images. In any case, that orc was definitely real!
Uther went straight for Eitrigg!
On the platform, Eitrigg, whose ropes had been cut, was too weak to stand and collapsed into a green chest.
"Dal?" Eitrigg said in surprise.
"That's right, Eitrigg," the chieftain of the Burning Blade Clan said. "It is I. The Warchief sent us to bring you back."
Eitrigg trembled painfully all over. He was exhausted, but he still tried his best to focus his scattered gaze on Dael Threeblood.
"You shouldn't have come! The humans are prepared! Don't worry about me, leave quickly!" Eitrigg was more worried about his old friend being lost here than his own safety!
"It's alright, the Warchief was prepared!"
Before Eitrigg could react, loud and clear drumbeats suddenly rang out around the streets, drowning out the chaotic sounds of fighting!
Eitrigg shuddered and slowly raised his head, scanning the periphery of the square. The familiar war drums awakened the memories of the old orc who had been in seclusion for more than ten years!
The rhythmic drumbeats grew louder and louder, and more powerful new drum sounds continued to join in, clearly audible to everyone present.
As the terrifying sound gradually approached, the already panicked crowd became even more chaotic, scurrying around like headless flies.
The members of the Silver Hand Knights were besieging the dozen or so Blademasters in the center of the square, while the remaining soldiers vigilantly scouted the edge of the square, trying to find the source of the continuous drumbeats!
At this moment, many green figures leaped down from the houses!
Uther and Dathrohan were shocked. This method of surprise attack broke their understanding of the orcs. They were actually using the rooftops and narrow surrounding walkways to launch a surprise attack. Didn't the orcs prefer frontal charges?
The Silver Hand Knights and the infantry of the Stratholme battle group rushed to meet the orcs, and King's Square instantly turned into a living hell.
Fortunately, Uther and the others had prepared in advance and evacuated the civilians in the first instance, otherwise this place would already be littered with corpses!
The clanging of weapons colliding and the chaotic battle cries mixed together, and Stratholme fell into chaos.
Blademaster Dael supported Eitrigg as they fled towards the south gate. The west side of Stratholme was where the barracks were located. In addition to the two groups of humans present, more troops would come to support them later. Once surrounded, even if he was a highly skilled Blademaster, he would die in battle.
Moreover, until now, the human commanders had not fully attacked. Just as the humans knew the power of the Burning Blade Blademasters, the orcs also knew about the Alliance's several human armies with explosive combat power!
These knights wearing blue robes with a silver hand palm relief on their chests and another group of knights with a red background and a white cross were all tough nuts to crack.
Fires soared everywhere in the city. The Blademasters were creating chaos everywhere, trying to disrupt and disperse the human forces. At this time, the orcs' forces were insufficient, so they could only delay time by this method!
The fearless orcs bought time for Dael and Eitrigg, and they soon arrived at the city gate. The human guards here had already been assassinated, and they left the city smoothly.
After entering the dense forest, Eitrigg's body went limp and he fell directly to the ground covered with leaves. Dael checked his body and found that Eitrigg was now dying and on the verge of death.
After a while, rustling footsteps came from the periphery, and more than a dozen Blademasters returned, but the orc death squads who stayed behind to cover their retreat were forever left in Stratholme.
"How is he!" a Blademaster asked.
Eitrigg, from the Blackrock Clan, was not only highly skilled in combat, but also worthy of respect. Moreover, his son Ari'auk was known for his bravery. Everyone respected them and called them the brave Eitrigg and son.
"His injuries are very serious!"
They looked at the wounds on Eitrigg's body. Obviously, the human torture had caused serious injuries to the old orc!
A bottle of potion was taken out by a Blademaster and carefully fed to Eitrigg, but Eitrigg didn't have much of a reaction!
"Damn it, the effect of the herbs is too weak. We may lose him!"
The Blademasters of the Burning Blade Clan looked dejected. They didn't expect that after sacrificing hundreds of clan members, their mission would still fail!
"Oh? How about I give it a try?"
An orcish sentence with a pure Nagrand accent came from outside the forest!
"Who is it!"
The Blademasters were shocked. When did someone sneak to the edge of the forest where they were hiding without them noticing!
They turned around vigilantly and found that it was actually their compatriots who had come!
The orcs surrounding the Burning Blade Blademasters were wearing gold and black armor. The shoulder pads were two huge Nagrand thunder elek tusks. They were bare-chested and could see their brown skin, but the war patterns on their skin exuded a golden glow!
However, the Blademasters did not let down their guard. The orcs' attire was too strange. Most importantly, they were all unfamiliar faces!
"Who are you? Which clan are you from!" Old Dal saw the brown skin, and the hand holding the warblade actually trembled a little!
An orc pushed through the crowd and walked in. He was also wearing plate armor, but he had a white wolf head on his head!
Most importantly, the door-panel giant axe on his back was also very familiar!
It was Frostwolf's Battle Axe!
"Durotan!"
"No, impossible, you are not Durotan, he is dead, dead at the hands of Gul'dan's assassins!"
"Who exactly are you!"
The brown orc wearing the wolf head walked up to the Blademasters and said in a young and charming voice:
"I am Go'el, from the Mag'har orc United Clan!"
"Mother Geyah sends her regards to you!"