The plan to use Dalaran, this super sky city, to transport the Alliance army to Gilneas by flying over the Greymane Wall was a great success. The Scourge army never expected them to adopt such a risky, almost militarily nonsensical attack plan.
Speaking of which, the Scourge commander, Dar'khan, also used this unexpected method to raid Gilneas. Now is the time to repay him in his own coin.
After landing, the Alliance army divided into two groups. One group, mainly composed of the Southern Lordaeron Legion, plus the Wildhammer Clan and the Stromgarde Vanguard, was responsible for attacking northern Gilneas; the other group, composed of the Valoran Allied Forces and the Gilnean Brigade, was responsible for attacking southwards from eastern Gilneas, until they connected with Stormglen. In this way, the south, north, and east directions around Gilneas City would be controlled by the Alliance, and the Scourge's activity area would be tightly confined to Gilneas City and its western quarter of land.
The Scourge on the Greymane Wall did not dare to leave the protection of the wall to attack the Alliance army behind them, because there were still troops constantly rushing from the Burning Wood Village front. With the support of Dalaran, leaving the wall would only lead to death!
The Alliance troops advanced very smoothly. The Eastern Allied Forces led by Aiden had already re-liberated Emberstone Village. The Scourge's resistance was very weak. Apart from the troops sent out at the beginning being somewhat threatening, now all that came to stop them were some vulnerable guys like skeleton soldiers summoned from the graveyard. The enemy seemed to have made up their mind to defend Gilneas City and the Greymane Wall to the death.
Awaiting the Scourge was the Alliance army's encirclement from three sides, or even four sides, and finally the complete eradication of the Scourge's fate!
Everything was gradually being realized.
Aiden's temporary command post was located in Emberstone Village. It was famous for the Emberstone Mine, the largest ore producing area in Gilneas, where almost all the locals were engaged in work related to mining. After the Scourge arrived, most of the people here did not die. The Scourge enslaved them to continue mining, using all the ore for smelting and forging weapons and equipment.
After eliminating the Scourge here, the people of Emberstone Village regained their freedom. Miss Lorna Crowley temporarily took over here. She was a Gilnean, which could minimize trouble.
Aiden had just finished breakfast and was preparing to deal with official business when Kayle walked in. Although she didn't speak and couldn't see her expression, Aiden felt that she seemed to bring bad news. Sure enough—
"Commander: Prince Liam led his guards to burn and sink most of the Alliance Navy's large ships at dawn today, and then escaped from the sea aboard Admiral Daelin's flagship. I am tracking them and looking for opportunities to eliminate this threat—Kassadin."
Aiden read every word and felt very tired. He was a little frustrated. After doing so many things, did Liam still slide into the abyss?
Yesterday, when Kassadin's previous letter mentioned the tragedy of the Greymane Estate, he had a strong premonition. He had always admired Liam. Although their only meeting was not pleasant, thinking of what he had experienced and his uprightness and bravery in the original history, Aiden felt that he still had a chance to save him.
Unfortunately, he still failed.
"Did I do something wrong?" Aiden leaned wearily on the back of his chair. "I did another meaningless thing."
If he had acted in advance when he saw that the Scourge's target was Liam, the result would definitely be different. He thought so.
Kayle took a step forward, looked at him, which made him a little strange.
"Are you waiting for me to comfort you?" she said.
"...No." Aiden suddenly felt that his thoughts had gone astray. He stood up, cheered up again, "We can't be led by the nose by the Scourge anymore. We must enter our own rhythm!"
Then Aiden notified the Valoran Allied Forces to prepare to retreat at any time, and asked Archmage Vargus to contact Dalaran to prepare to meet them.
After the order was issued, Lorna, who was very incomprehensible, came to the door. This thorny rose directly questioned loudly: "Your Excellency Aiden, what do you mean by your order?"
"Take a look at this." Aiden handed her Kassadin's letter. After reading it, she still widened her eyes in disbelief: "This can't be true, right? How is this possible? How could Liam do such a thing?"
"No one wants to believe it, but I believe my subordinates will not lie to me more." Aiden replied.
"If this is true, I will apologize to you." Lorna said, then asked puzzledly, "But even if this is true, why issue a retreat order? It says here that Liam only took away his guards. Without him, we can still liberate Gilneas!"
Aiden said: "I'm afraid it's not that simple. Liam's actions caused losses not just to that bit of military strength. More importantly, it is the Alliance's warships and the relationship of trust between each other. I'm afraid that after this news spreads, the Alliance will change its attitude."
This was Aiden's guess. In fact, even if the Alliance really didn't mind the past and was willing to help Gilneas, it was estimated that it would not continue to invest a lot of troops at this point in time. The loss of warships would make the army in Gilneas almost lose its retreat route. Once something happened to Dalaran, they would become an isolated army.
No Alliance leader could bear such a risk. Aiden was the same. Therefore, it was the safest choice to withdraw from Gilneas in time and wait for an opportunity.
—
On the way to Moonglade Town, where the resistance headquarters was located, Princess Tess saw the Kul Tiras naval flagship "Courage" and two other warships in the distance.
She recognized this ship: "That's Lord Daelin's ship. Is it returning to Kul Tiras?" She had heard these two days that the joint fleet of the Alliance Navy of Lordaeron and Kul Tiras had sent troops to land in Moonglade Town to help Gilneas defend its front and transport refugees.
"It should be in this direction." Doctor Crowley replied.
"I really don't know how to thank the Alliance... Lord Daelin actually used his flagship to transport refugees?" Princess Tess said gratefully. She was much more cheerful than she was at the estate. Because Izel told her that another hero had gone to save her brother Prince Liam. The other party should have already arrived in Moonglade Town, and she would be able to see her brother when she returned.
After experiencing so many hardships, Princess Tess felt that as long as her brother was by her side, it would be a blessing in disguise. She really wanted to throw herself on Liam's shoulder and have a good cry. Then cheer up and save Gilneas.
Izel stood at the bow of the boat. He also saw the ship, but he didn't feel so good. With the intuition he had developed over many years of adventuring, he felt that there should be something wrong with this ship.
His intuition was right—the "Courage" was the Kul Tiras flagship that Liam had seized. These three ships were almost the fastest warships in Kul Tiras. Especially the Courage, which combined firepower and speed, was one of the best sailing battleships in Azeroth.
Liam would take this warship to the frozen wastes of Northrend to find Frostmourne and the Armor of the Frozen Wastes. By then, he would have the power to avenge the demons!
The fate of these two siblings passed by in this way, heading in completely different directions.
When Tess's ship returned to Moonglade Town, she was a little strange. Why were there so many planks floating on the sea, looking like a naval battle had taken place? And what she saw after landing was a scene she had never imagined:
The Gilnean soldiers, who were previously grateful for the Alliance's rescue, looked terrified and uneasy. They huddled together in groups, clearly separated from the other Alliance troops.
The Alliance rescue troops no longer looked at them kindly. They seemed to regard every Gilnean soldier as a traitor.
'What on earth happened here?' She was terrified and puzzled.
When they saw her return, the people of Gilneas seemed to have found their backbone. The soldiers surrounded her in the crowd, guarding her while escorting her to Lord Godfrey.
Tess's heart was full of questions, and these were answered by Godfrey—the answers she was most unwilling to believe.
Liam led his most loyal guards to blow up and sink the joint fleet's warships, and stole the Kul Tiras flagship Courage and two other destroyers.
He had betrayed Gilneas, betrayed the Alliance, and even... betrayed humanity!
Lord Herivel also followed Liam. Now, only Godfrey, Darius, Ashbury, and Walden were left as Gilneas's ministers.
Except for Walden, who was still guarding Stormglen, the other three had gathered here.
They had been arguing about how to handle the relationship with the Alliance after Liam did such a thing.
Godfrey suggested rebuilding Gilneas; Darius suggested relying on the Alliance; Ashbury and Walden even proposed splitting Gilneas and governing their own affairs. No one could convince anyone.
And Tess's appearance provided them with a consistent way to compromise.
Godfrey took off his top hat first and knelt on one knee: "Princess, I am willing to make you the King of Gilneas!"
Tess was at a loss. She had never thought of becoming a queen. She didn't know what to do at all.
Ashbury thought for a while and also bowed his head and pledged allegiance: "Princess Tess, if you become the Queen of Gilneas, Lord Walden and I are willing to follow!"
Only the last Darius was left. He was silent for a while and also knelt on one knee: "I hope you will remember the lessons of your predecessors and lead Gilneas on the right path."
"But...I..." Tess didn't know how to respond. The Gilneans in front of her all knelt down, even including the royal doctor Crowley. Only one other person was still standing—the explorer Izel who escorted her back.
She couldn't help but cast a look of help at Izel.
Izel showed a full smile and encouraged: "Believe in yourself, you can do it!"
Princess Tess only felt that this smile was like a warm current, making her feel relieved.
"I agree, please get up!" She bit her lip lightly, her voice slightly trembling.
"Your Majesty!" After Lord Godfrey changed his words, he immediately threw the most practical question in front of her, "We must immediately repair our relationship with the Alliance!"