Azeroth: Starting with Eagle Eye in the Necropolis

Page 59

“Then what about the Stormwind Kingdom? King Wrynn can’t just sit idly by!” Princess Galiya said.

The Stormwind Kingdom had been destroyed by then, and the young prince led a large number of refugees to Lordaeron, where he was generously received by his father.

Later, his own father even helped the other party resurrect and return to the throne. Before leaving, King Varian told King Terenas that if the kingdom were ever alone and in need of help, the Kingdom of Stormwind would unconditionally agree to help Lordaeron.

“Stormwind has a lot of internal problems. I heard that not long ago, the Queen of Stormwind was killed by a mob. After the construction of Stormwind was completed, the local stonemasons were not paid. They even started a riot in Westfall. Moreover, the Kingdom of Stormwind is too far away from us. If we go to Stormwind, we will indeed be accepted, but there will be follow-up issues to resolve,” Rhodes said with a shrug.

Relying on Stormwind is too unreliable. Stormwind is quite far from being a lone wolf, and its internal problems are extremely serious right now. The Black Dragon Princess is constantly causing trouble.

Even if Lordaeron's large fleet arrives in Stormwind, it's another matter whether Stormwind can support so many people. After all, Stormwind has only just been rebuilt and its national strength has not yet recovered. It's not like Lordaeron back then, which could accept so many refugees.

After Rhodes spoke, everyone fell silent. So, of the seven human kingdoms, only Kul Tiras and Dalaran could truly help, and both had limited strength. Stromgarde and Alterac could only provide some refugees at most, which was worse than not providing any help at all!

Galiya's eyes dimmed, and she even seemed a little lost. She was just a woman! Such immense pressure was weighing on her.

"And there is hope, Your Highness. We brought back Lord Uther, the leader of the Silver Hand, saved countless citizens of Lordaeron, and made a crucial deal with the goblins, solving our immediate crisis. This in itself is power, and proof of Lordaeron's indomitable spirit."

As for the Titan Guardians…” Rhodes paused, his gaze sweeping over the expectant eyes of the people around him, “this will be one of our most important bargaining chips at the conference table.”

Archmage Antonidas was a wise elder; he understood that the threat of natural disasters far outweighed internal strife.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Rhodes was right; at least for now, they were still the rightful rulers of Lordaeron.

Calia took a deep breath, her eyes gradually hardening: "Then, I, Regent Rhodes, Lord Uther, and Jaina will be the core representatives heading to Dalaran."

"Renault Mograine, you, along with Darion, Sally, and the knights Barard and Gwenrad, are requested to remain in Southshore to maintain order, coordinate with the goblins' supply transfer, and prepare to receive any more refugees. Report any news regarding Arthas's or the Scourge's main forces' movements immediately via magical communication!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" The crowd immediately obeyed.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the day to head to Dalaran arrived.

At dawn, the Dalaran mage responsible for guiding the teleportation arrived on time, and a stable arcane portal unfolded in the center of the camp, radiating a soft violet glow.

Princess Calia changed into a relatively neat but weathered royal robe of Lordaeron, her expression solemn. Uther was still wearing his battle-worn Lightbringer paladin plate armor, some stains wiped away but still cracked, his Silver Hand warhammer firmly in his hand.

Jaina wore a Kul Tiran-style mage robe, while Rhodes changed into a regent's robe.

Under the hopeful yet worried gazes of the many paladins and civilians who remained behind, the four stepped into the portal side by side.

The dizziness brought on by the spatial shift instantly struck them, and the group arrived in Dalaran, the city of mages.

They appeared in the center of a magnificent circular hall, the heart of Dalaran's Violet Citadel—the Kirin Tor Council Hall.

At this moment, many figures had gathered in the hall. The white-haired and white-bearded Archmage Antonidas stood in the main seat with a solemn expression.

Beside him were several members of the Kirin Tor Council of Six, but apart from Kael'thas, Rhodes didn't recognize any of them, nor did he know if the famous Rhonin was among them.

In addition, there were representatives from Stromgarde, Stormwind, the Kul Tiras navy, the Wildhammer dwarves, the Monoregan gnomes, and Ironforge.

These people were all invited by Antonidas, and some of them even used teleportation magic. If it weren't for the convenience of teleportation magic, the news of the fall of Lordaeron probably wouldn't have spread throughout the human world by now.

The moment the teleportation light faded, all eyes turned to the four who had just arrived, and a subtle silence fell over the hall.

Sympathy, scrutiny, inquiry, worry, admiration... a complex mix of emotions mingled in the air.

Who could have imagined that the Kingdom of Lordaeron, the most powerful nation in the Alliance, would be destroyed in such a short time?

Archmage Antonidas broke the silence first: "Princess Calia Menethil, Uther the Lightbringer, Jaina Proudmoore, and... Regent Rhodes."

Welcome to Dalaran. Seeing you safe and sound puts my mind at ease. We deeply understand the suffering of Lordaeron.

Representatives from other races and nations also spoke, expressing their sympathy for the plight of Lordaeron.

"Kul Tiras will do everything in its power to help the Kingdom of Lordaeron. We will send a fleet to escort Lordaeron's immigrants to Kalimdor."

“The high elves will also send a group, including priests and mages, numbering around a thousand,” Kael'thas said, nodding to Rhodes.

He had just received news yesterday that the overconfident undead army had actually marched north to attack Quel'Thalas, which was simply courting death.

Protected by the eternal Sunwell, the entire Quel'Thalas is shrouded in a massive magical barrier, three layers deep, making it virtually impossible for the undead army to break through.

I believe Arthas will soon be dealt a heavy blow by Quel'Thalas' army and suffer a crushing defeat.

Chapter 104 Alliance Meeting: Supporting Indifference, This Young Man Is Not Worth Planning With.

"At the same time, we in Quel'Thalas are willing to provide some resources, including food, medicine, and magic potions," Kael'thas said.

These things meant nothing to the wealthy Quel'Thalas; rather, they presented a good opportunity to befriend Rhodes, the Titan Guardian.

“We in Dalaran will also send some mages to accompany the princess to Kalimdor, and we will also provide a batch of supplies,” said Archmage Antonidas.

However, the supplies they could provide were actually very limited, and the logistical support for maritime navigation still depended on Kul Tiras. At this time, no one knew that Rhodes had already solved the problem of maritime navigation support.

"We, the Wildhammer Dwarves, can also provide some supplies, some dwarven musketeers, and gryphon warriors."

"The Stormwind Kingdom wants to help, but our army will have a hard time reaching Lordaeron by boat or on foot. If we go by land, we will have to cross Blackrock Mountain."

That's orc-controlled land, and there are also Dark Iron dwarves in Darkforge. Their supply lines are too long, making it extremely difficult for us to break through.

"Even traveling by water would require at least three or four months of preparation. I'm sorry, Your Highness, Stormwind City probably can't offer much help this time," the Stormwind City representative said with a regretful expression.

After learning of the disaster in Lordaeron, King Wrynn could hardly believe it. He simply could not accept that Arthas would assassinate his father, betray his people, and destroy his country.

King Wrynn was very keen to help Lordaeron, after all, he had received a great favor from King Terenas in the past, but the situation in Stormwind City did not allow him to do so.

Many nobles opposed supporting Lordaeron, since they were struggling to survive themselves, and Stormwind was not a maritime power. Some nobles even suggested that if Lordaeron's refugee fleet wanted to come to Stormwind, they should refuse, as Stormwind could not accept so many refugees.

Through the meticulous machinations of a certain countess, almost all the nobles voted against it, refusing to help the Kingdom of Lordaeron in any way, leaving the king powerless to intervene even if he wanted to.

Upon hearing the Stormwind envoy's words, everyone present changed their expressions slightly. "We've all contributed our time and effort, yet Stormwind says they can't offer any help!"

Are you kidding me? The greatest favor bestowed upon Lordaeron by your king is... this is just too much! How can anyone do this?

Princess Galiya glanced at the Stormwind representative with great disappointment. They hadn't even offered them a formal invitation to seek refuge in Stormwind, especially knowing that they were heading to Kalimdor. It was incredibly disappointing.

When the young Prince Wrynn and Ser Lothar led the refugees to Lordaeron, they were received with great hospitality by his father!

Fortunately, they did not heed the advice of those nobles and go to Stormwind City, otherwise they would have been met with indifference.

“Thank you very much for your kind words. We will remember Stormwind’s generosity,” Rhodes said with a cold laugh.

Sooner or later I'll go and chop that black dragon to pieces! No! I'll ride it first.

Having spent every week farming the Black Dragon in the Swamp, Rhodes still hadn't obtained Onyxia's Reins. Now that he'd finally arrived in Azeroth, he absolutely had to get his hands on this legendary mount.

"I'm sorry, Stormwind City simply doesn't have that capability. However, King Wrynn said that Princess Calia can take some nobles to that place for refuge."

"Once the Kingdom of Stormwind has finished dealing with its current affairs, it will definitely help Lordaeron regain its kingdom," said the representative from Stormwind.

She was actually quite embarrassed to say those words, but it was the decision of the king and the nobles in the council, and there was nothing she could do but relay it.

“Princess Galiya, we at Stromgarde cannot offer any assistance, but we can provide a group of refugees.”

"We are also suffering from the Scourge's attacks. It's all Lordaeron's fault. If it weren't for the betrayal of your prince, this disaster wouldn't have happened. He even personally slaughtered the people of Stratholme." The Stromgarde representative sneered.

Lordaeron came to them asking for aid, and they wanted an explanation from Lordaeron! Who caused this Scourge of the Undead? Wasn't it some king's good son?

This plague, while escaping Kul Tiras and Stormwind, has affected several other human nations.

“If your country is unwilling to take care of its own refugees, then we in Lordaeron are not incapable of accepting it. For the sake of the Holy Light, I will take them to Kalimdor,” Princess Calia said with a cold snort.

The people are the foundation for rebuilding the kingdom. Without the people, there is nothing. The more people who go to Kalimdor with her, the better. Anyway, Rhodes has already solved all the problems.

Even without the Alliance's help, they were able to safely enter Kalimdor, and now she has seen through the true colors of the human nations.

"On behalf of Gilneas, I declare that the King of Gilneas is withdrawing from the Alliance and we will no longer be involved in any Alliance affairs."

"Besides, this is just a natural disaster caused by the undead; it's Lordaeron's internal affair, and we have no reason to interfere," the Gilneas representative said with a cold snort.

They have built the towering Greymane Wall, a massive defensive structure that can withstand any attempt to invade Gilneas, ensuring their safety.

They had no interest in getting involved in Lordaeron's affairs. As for the representative of the Kingdom of Alterac, well, there was no representative, since the country had been annexed by Lordaeron in a sense.

"Is that so? Then when Gilneas suffers a disaster someday, I hope you won't come begging to us." Rhodes glanced at the Gilneas representative and said.

You bunch of weaklings, you were forced to summon werewolves by a swarm of undead during the Third War, and were bullied by the Forsaken for a long time afterward. If you hadn't finally rejoined the Alliance, you would have lost your home.

This country will soon be cursed by werewolves, and then you'll suffer the consequences.

"Hmph! That day will never come. Excuse me, everyone, I must return to Gilneas. I have no time for idle chatter here." The Gilneas representative showed no courtesy and left immediately.

This time, they didn't come to attend the alliance meeting; they came to withdraw from the alliance.

The atmosphere at the meeting became slightly awkward after the Gilneas representative left.

"Ironforge is also willing to support a group of dwarven warriors, but Khaz Modan is still far from here, and we may need some time to travel there."

"As for supplies, it will take four or five months to transport them, but if Your Highness needs them, we can take in some refugees," said the Ironforge representative.

His Majesty Magni Bronzebeard, still grieving the loss of his brother, is now forging a divine weapon with intense resentment. Ironforge wants to offer assistance, but the distance is simply too great.

The assistance they can provide is very limited, but they can accept some refugees.

Princess Calia nodded in response, expressing her gratitude to Ironforge. She was aware of the dwarves' situation, as Muradin Bronzebeard could be said to have indirectly died at Arthas's hands.

The fact that the other party was willing to accept a group of refugees and even promised to provide some supplies was beyond his expectations. The dwarves were still reliable. It was just a pity that the supplies they provided would take several months to arrive, so it was as good as nothing.

“We are very grateful for His Majesty Magni’s generosity, but we are afraid we will not be able to wait for the dwarven reinforcements. We plan to set off for Kalimdor in a few days,” Rhodes said.

“Princess Galiya, I regret to announce that we in Monoregan cannot provide much support. At most, we can send a group of dwarf engineers, or some engineering creations such as engineering tanks and airplanes to help,” the dwarf representative said.

There was nothing they could do; it wasn't that they didn't want to provide support, but they simply had no other options.

Morroregan is being harassed by cavemen. They originally wanted the Alliance to come to their aid, but the Alliance is now in dire straits, so they decided not to trouble them. The High Tinker didn't even choose to ask their staunch ally, the dwarves, for help.

Rhodes sneered and shook his head. Compared to his fellow humans, the dwarves, gnomes, and high elves provided far more help to Lordaeron. It was truly a disorganized mess.

"Gentlemen, I hope you will show some responsibility. Lordaeron was once the backbone of the Alliance. When King Terenas was alive, he helped all the nations. We cannot just sit idly by." Even Archmage Antonidas could no longer stand by and watch.

The many envoys of the alliance looked at each other in silence, none of them willing to speak.

"I think we don't need your aid supplies. If you are willing to send some people to cross the sea to Kalimdor with us, then Princess Galia and I are naturally willing to take them."

However, I no longer need your resources. As the Regent of Lordaeron, I have already communicated with the goblin forces.

"The goblins are willing to provide us with airships and a large amount of supplies to help us reach the continent of Kalimdor," Rhodes said with a cold snort.

If we had relied on the Alliance for funding before, we would have made a huge mistake. Luckily, we found the goblins beforehand. There's a saying that goes, "It's true."

You must rely on yourself; you can never truly depend on others. The only people in this world who can unconditionally help you are your parents.

"Regent Rhodes, did you make a deal with the goblins? What did you give them? Those little fellows are quite greedy," Archmage Antonidas asked.

The goblins are actually in charge of logistics this time? Those guys never get up early for nothing. Did Rhodes offer up some Titan artifact?

"It's nothing but some worthless little gadget, which I happen to not need anymore, but the goblins do."