After the lessons learned on Draenor, Velen deeply reflected on his overly conservative governing style and began to adopt more of the High Council's proactive proposals.
When the two races collaborated on developing flying warships, the Draenei already had a good understanding of the Night Elves' vessel parameters, so there were no issues with confidentiality or familiarity.
Upon learning of the inquiry from the Night Elf Republic's High Council, Velen met with five Archbishops to discuss the matter. At the strong recommendation of the more radical Archbishop Adal, Velen agreed to send soldiers to board the ships and head to the Eastern Kingdoms to support the Kingdom of Stormwind.
Meanwhile, the Night Elf Republic was also clearing out the increasingly rampant Naga along the coast of Kalimdor.
After tens of thousands of years of dormancy, the Naga had multiplied to terrifying numbers; when they launched a full assault, their fish-tailed figures could be seen all over the world.
Not to mention they also enslaved even more Murlocs. In recent years, the main threat to the continent of Kalimdor has been these two amphibious species.
From Queen Azshara personally destroying the seal of the Tomb of Sargeras, it can be seen that the Naga, under her command, began to emerge from their hidden state and gradually step onto the stage, which is not good news for the various races of Azeroth.
Although Night Elves were transformed into Naga, Andreas does not believe that Queen Azshara's strength would diminish due to a change in race.
Furthermore, as Azeroth's first Mortal Demigod, Azshara's so-called Naga body is merely a difference in life form; if she wished, she could transform back into a Night Elf without any hindrance at any time.
Though the Naga are numerous, Andreas, confident in his nation's technological system and combat prowess, is not particularly worried about these cannon fodder. What truly makes him feel threatened are the puppet masters behind these Naga.
"Hehe~"
A familiar sinister laugh echoed in Andreas' mind, "In my opinion, although N'Zoth is the weakest of the four Old Gods rooted in Azeroth, he has very good luck and his style of action is cautious and patient enough, making him harder to deal with than Yogg-Saron."
This voice came from the blade of the dark empire hanging at Andreas' waist.
Just as Elune had once warned, Xal'atath, dormant for many years, finally awoke three years ago, and the blade of the dark empire once again possessed a soul.
Having absorbed and digested C'Thun's essence, Xal'atath's soul strength had clearly improved significantly. As soon as she awoke, this fellow launched a mental assault on Andreas' brain as a show of force.
This wasn't necessarily because she harbored truly evil intentions; her greater intention was to display her strength and gain more recognition from Andreas... or rather, from the powerful figure behind him.
However, Xal'atath clearly picked the wrong target to establish her authority. Before her slumber, Andreas was merely a Mortal; the Old God lady never expected him to have quietly ascended to a Demigod.
Feeling a needle-like pain in his mind, Andreas instinctively launched a sharp counterattack along the source of the mental assault.
The result, needless to say, was that Xal'atath, realizing the situation, decisively backed down and continued to call out "Master, Master" in a humble posture.
Tens of thousands of years had passed since she became a remnant soul, and Xal'atath had long learned to adapt to circumstances. Seeing that the situation was against her, she unhesitatingly changed her attitude, without any concern for losing face.
Although Xal'atath appeared very submissive, Andreas never relaxed his guard against her.
Old Gods, by their very nature, are masters of schemes and conspiracies. Who knows what their true thoughts are? One must always be wary of others.
However, as a member of the Old Gods, Xal'atath's understanding of N'Zoth and Yogg-Saron was exactly what Andreas needed.
"Tell me, what are your thoughts on the sudden increase in Naga activity?"
"It's simple. As time progresses, N'Zoth is getting closer to a complete breakout from his prison. He's starting to become less cautious and more focused on preparing for a full counterattack in the future."
"The numerous Naga are an important chess piece in his hand. I speculate he intends to have the Naga living in the deep sea adapt to land combat in advance."
"Although they are called amphibious creatures, in reality, the Naga's land combat effectiveness is far inferior to their aquatic abilities, which is a point that gives N'Zoth a headache."
Andreas nodded noncommittally. "One more question: since N'Zoth has started making plans, what about Yogg-Saron, who is stronger than him?"
Xal'atath said leisurely, "Their situations are completely different. Although N'Zoth is the weakest, his prison is located in the deep sea, giving him ample time and space to slowly corrupt the Titan Construct Keepers around his prison."
"In contrast, Yogg-Saron is imprisoned in the most fortified of all Titan prisons on Azeroth."
"Although he cunningly corrupted Loken, King of Wisdom, who ostensibly held the highest authority, it's not an easy task to completely control Ulduar and break out."
"Since there are still no signs of his plan being initiated, it means Yogg-Saron is not yet very confident in his plan."
"I estimate that she plans to completely corrupt Mimiron, Freya, and Hodir, then use Ulduar as her base to unleash a dark tide."
Xal'atath's speculation was similar to Andreas' considerations, at least proving from certain angles that she wasn't secretly playing tricks.
Azeroth's greatest external crisis undoubtedly comes from the Burning Legion, while the corresponding internal crisis is stirred up by the Old Gods.
With C'Thun now devoured, besides Yogg-Saron and N'Zoth, who are entrenched in Ulduar and Nyalotha respectively, there is also Ghuun, an artificial Old God created by the Titan Keepers' folly.
Ghuun is still manageable; the Zandalari Trolls, with the sincere cooperation of King Rastakhan and Prophet Zul, are in a strong golden age. The Blood Trolls and Ghuun are suppressed by Zandalar and the loa in Nazmir, unable to advance an inch.
However, Ghuun is an Old God after all, and Zandalar dares not push too aggressively into the core of Nazmir to eliminate it, only able to slowly erode the Blood Trolls' defenses and advance step by step.
The current year is the 14th year after the Dark Portal. Arthas, Crown Prince of Lordaeron, has reached 18 and officially come of age, and certain presences hidden in the darkness have also begun to quietly stir.
Not just the Old Gods, intelligence from Northrend raised Andreas' vigilance once again.
Icecrown Glacier still showed no obvious movements, but according to reports from the Suramar mages, inexplicable tremors frequently occurred underground in Northrend recently.
Speaking of the underground of the Northrend continent, Andreas immediately thought of one of the descendants of the Ahn'Qiraj Empire, the Nerubians.
Previously, these spider-men had posed a considerable threat to the Highborne of Moonlight Garden. Under Andreas' instructions, the entrance to the passage leading to Azjol-Nerub was completely sealed off.
However, this does not mean that the Nerubians cannot reach the surface; these tunneling insects can certainly dig other passages.
The entire underground of Northrend is riddled with tunnels dug by the Nerubians, but in the past few millennia, there had never been reports of continuous tremors underground.
'This means the Nerubian spider-men are fighting some unknown species in their underground kingdom?'
Actually, upon closer reflection, it's quite normal.
With Andaria arranging for a tight defense on the surface, any old beastman wanting to evade surveillance and develop his own power could only choose to start from the underground blind spots that the night elves and dragons couldn't monitor.
Through years of carefully collecting undead creatures, the Lich King, leveraging the undead's tireless and painless nature, launched a fierce attack on the spider-people's underground kingdom that spanned Northrend.
Although Andaria suspected Ner'zhul was behind it, he couldn't do anything about it for the time being.
Underground combat wasn't the night elves' forte. Recklessly entering the tunnels might lead to a concerted attack from the tense spider-people and the undead.
However, this didn't mean Andaria had no way to influence the underground.
Recently, the high elf mages in Shandalar were learning a brand new spell called Deep Tremor.
'If I can't interfere with you directly, I'll at least give you some trouble.'
The underground tunnels dug out by the Nerubian insectoids were indeed quite sturdy, but that was under the premise that there was no large-scale movement underground.
Once an earthquake occurred, Andaria didn't believe the two factions could continue chasing each other underground without any regard.
The Nerubians were nominally controlled by Yogg-Saron, but in reality, the two sides had long severed contact. And the undead's backer, Ner'zhul, ultimately belonged to the Burning Legion's forces. At least for now, he didn't have the capital to secretly engage in his own little schemes... "Boom~ Boom!"
The underground tunnels dug out by the Nerubian insectoids collapsed one after another under the influence of tremors from the surface, and many spider-people and bizarre undead were buried by the collapsing tunnels.
Compared to the slow-moving undead, the Nerubian insectoids, with the underground as their home field, reacted faster. Under the command of the swarm commanders, they decisively retreated back to their underground kingdom to defend.
"Ah! Who is playing tricks!"
A giant beetle that looked like a large cockroach roared angrily to the sky, "Dealing with the undead was already difficult enough, why did we have to encounter continuous earthquakes at this time!"
"Calm down, Anub'Rekhan."
Another large beetle with a very similar appearance said calmly, "Think about it from another perspective. This earthquake isn't necessarily a bad thing for us. At least it has cut off the undead's continued offensive, giving us some breathing room."
"So what!"
Anub'Rekhan retorted irritably, "Azjol-Nerub is isolated and helpless. The tireless undead will sooner or later dig through the collapsed tunnels. How are we going to defend our kingdom then?"
Anub'Rekhan's words were very realistic. In the years of continuous battles with the undead, the spider-people of Azjol-Nerub had gained a lot of understanding of the enemy's characteristics.
The undead felt no pain, knew no fatigue, and could launch endless attacks on the Nerubian insectoids' underground kingdom day and night.
The undead didn't need to sleep, but the Nerubian insectoids, being living creatures, couldn't. The accumulation of fatigue made the insectoids' tempers increasingly irritable, which was why the previously calm large beetle said they could take the opportunity to gain some breathing room.
And the worst thing wasn't even the enemy's relentless nature. Although the undead had many advantages, their individual combat power and intelligence couldn't compare to the living.
What terrified the Nerubian insectoids the most was their terrifying proliferation ability.
Fallen Nerubian insectoids would soon be reanimated by necromantic spells, becoming enemies standing on the opposite side. This kind of blow was difficult for any intelligent creature to accept.
A relatively thin Nerubian insectoid sighed and asked, "King Anub'arak, do you have any way to stop the undead's attack?"
"No, the undead of today are no longer something we can defeat."
Anub'arak and Anub'Rekhan were both powerful crypt lords, but facing the undead, who only grew in numbers as they fought, they, as the Nerubian insectoid royal family, also felt a deep despair.
"There are only two choices for survival at the moment."
Anub'arak said in a deep voice after considering for a long time, "One is to retreat and abandon the kingdom of Ahn''kahet, retreating to other remote underground cities to resettle."
"The second is to seek help, sending an alarm to the other races on the surface of Northrend, letting them find the source of these undead and strike directly at their lair."
"Can seeking help work?"
One of the insectoids asked worriedly, "In the early years, we had many conflicts with the taunka and high elves living on the surface. I don't think they will abandon their past grudges to help us."
"It's not about helping us."
Anub'arak said firmly, "It's about helping themselves."
"If these undead are allowed to expand, the entirety of Northrend will sooner or later become a nest of undead monsters. All the intelligent races of Northrend must unite and contain their development before the undead's forces expand further, striving to eliminate the source of the undead."
"Elder Kierz, you will serve as a diplomat to go to the surface and try to persuade the surface creatures to cooperate with us."
... Just as Andaria received the urgent message from Northrend, he was dealing with a troublesome young lady filled with a thirst for knowledge.
"That..."
Andaria rubbed his forehead with a headache, "Princess Proudmoore..."
"High Councillor Moonshadow, please call me Jaina."
A crisp and melodious voice came from the golden-haired girl in front of Andaria, her eyes full of curiosity as she looked at the night elves present.
This girl, just turned 16, was in the vibrant prime of her youth, with radiant golden hair and azure blue eyes. Coupled with the noble and elegant temperament cultivated from childhood, this little princess possessed unparalleled charm at a young age.
Andaria sighed. He was long past the age of chasing after beauty. He was curious when he first saw Jaina, but he had no intention of getting close to this Kul Tiran princess.
Due to the close trade relations between Kul Tiras and the Night Elf Republic for many years, Andaria had long heard about Jaina from Daelin and the Kul Tiran ambassador.
The little princess, who had been beautiful and exquisite since she was a child, was the pride of the entire Kingdom of Kul Tiras and Daelin's precious darling.
She showed extraordinary arcane talent from a very young age. By the age of eight, the court mages of Kul Tiras could no longer teach her anything. In order not to delay his daughter's talent and future, Daelin sent her to Dalaran to be personally taught by his old friend Antonidas.
Eight years passed, and Princess Jaina grew more and more beautiful, and her knowledge accumulated more and more.
Antonidas had taught her everything he could. Jaina had read through most of the books in Dalaran. In Antonidas' evaluation, her arcane talent even surpassed Khadgar, who was known as the hope of human mages.
If there was any country in Azeroth that had more magical books and a longer and more powerful arcane history than Dalaran, there would only be two answers.
Quel'Thalas and the Night Elf Republic.
Except for a very few original spells, most of Quel'Thalas' magical knowledge could be found in the Night Elf Republic, after all, the two came from the same source.
The ultimate arcane source surpassing the Sunwell had always been hidden deep in the continent of Kalimdor, near the Night Elf Republic's capital, An'Anas.
Over the years, although the Night Elf Republic and Dalaran had reached many cooperations, the most core Well of Eternity had never been opened to any outsiders.
The vast collection of books in Eldre'Thalas and Suramar made all mages aspiring to explore arcane secrets salivate, and these books had copies in the Naths'aras Academy in Moonshadow's Rest.
After hearing her mentor Antonidas' description, Princess Jaina's eyes shone as if they could ignite the old mage's beard.
After obtaining Daelin's approval, Jaina first went to Suramar to seek advice, and after being politely refused by Elisande, she came to An'Anas via transfer, hoping to obtain the permission of the Night Elf Republic's Supreme Council to study here.
Andaria couldn't help but pat his forehead. 'Troublesome little princess, this jinxed girl is just a time bomb about to explode in my opinion...'
"Alright, Princess Jaina."
Andreas felt slightly strange. According to the Scouts of Prisim, this dazzling princess was hotly pursued by countless males in Dalaran, including but not limited to humans.
Even Crown Prince Arthas of Lordaeron favored her greatly. Their relationship was indeed quite close, and Jaina was even once considered the most favorable candidate to become the future Queen of Lordaeron.
However, this Little Princess, whose Arcane talent was astonishingly brilliant, seemed to value her career more. Upon learning of the opportunity to glimpse higher-level Arcane secrets, she left Dalaran without hesitation and crossed the sea to the unfamiliar continent of Kalimdor.
"To be blunt, due to the age structure of its citizens, the Night Elf Republic's educational progress is completely different from that of humans. You cannot study alongside our students."
If following the Night Elves' training system, Jaina would be considered a mature woman by the time she graduated.
Andreas exchanged glances with the other council members and said to Jaina, who looked disappointed, "Considering the strong requests from Daelin and Antonidas, I can allow you to stay at Nalath Academy for self-study."
"You may read any book within the library as long as you do not take it out of the Academy, but the Well of Eternity..."
Ignoring the hopeful look in Jaina's eyes, Andreas shook his head indifferently and said, "I apologize, but the Well of Eternity is the most crucial core secret of our race. Unless under special circumstances, it will not be easily opened to any outsiders. Please understand."
"Oh... alright."
Although Jaina was somewhat disappointed that she could not research the secrets of the Well of Eternity, being permitted to study at Nalath Academy was already satisfying enough for her.
"Celeste."
No words were needed; years of marriage allowed Celeste to understand her husband's meaning just from his eyes.
Rising gracefully, Celeste smiled at Jaina, whose eyes had turned towards her. "Princess Jaina, I am Celeste Sunstrider. Please come with me. I will take you to Nalath Academy in Moonshadow's Rest."
"Sunstrider..." Jaina asked curiously, "Could it be that you are the legendary old... from Quel'Thalas?"
"Hm?!"
Seeing Celeste's golden, willow-like eyebrows suddenly stand on end, Jaina quickly composed herself and corrected, "Please forgive my slip of the tongue. Are you the Elder Celeste who struck fear into the Silvermoon Council?"
Celeste's raised eyebrows smoothed out, and she once again showed a gentle and amiable expression. "A very clever child. That's right, I am the oldest surviving bloodline of the Sunstrider Family, the daughter of the First Sun King, Dath'Remar."
"Come, we will have plenty of time together in the future. I will take you to settle into the Academy first."
"Swoosh~"
As Celeste activated the Teleportation spell and took Jaina away, Andreas sighed softly, "Why, at this specific time, did they insist on sending this child to Kalimdor?"
Lewis Waycrest, the ambassador of Kul Tiras standing nearby, said with a wry smile, "Please forgive me, but this was a strong request from His Majesty Daelin, and Master Antonidas also expressed support."
As a princess of a nation, Jaina's actions certainly did not just represent her personal will.
Perhaps Antonidas genuinely recommended her to the Night Elf Republic with the intention of letting Jaina continue her advanced studies, but Daelin's intentions were more intriguing.
Jaina's interactions with Arthas must have reached his ears long ago. As far back as the War of Five Nations, the hot-tempered Daelin charged directly into the Lordaeron Royal Palace and furiously ranted while pointing at Terenas' nose.
Although Terenas didn't flare up in public, his ashen face at the time was enough to show his attitude.
The relationship between Lordaeron and Kul Tiras dropped to freezing point. Although Kul Tiras did not immediately withdraw from the Alliance, anyone with insight could see that the relationship between the two nations could not return to what it once was.
Against this backdrop, it would be strange if Daelin simply stood by and watched while Terenas' offspring dared to blatantly approach his beloved daughter.
Before finding a reason, Daelin could still tolerate the two young people developing a normal friendship, but when the news arrived that Antonidas had nothing left to teach, Daelin immediately started having other ideas.
"Sigh~"
Rubbing his temples, Andreas smiled wryly and waved ambassador Waycrest away. "I understand Daelin's meaning. Tell him not to worry that Lordaeron would dare cross the sea to cause trouble."
"Thank you for your understanding, Speaker."
Including the royal Proudmoore family, Kul Tiras has a total of four major families: the Ashvane family, which manages maritime trade; the Waycrest family, which guards Drustvar; and the Stormsong family, which controls the Tidesage forces.
Lewis was a collateral branch member of the Waycrest family and had just taken over the work of the previous ambassador two years ago.
This man was very articulate and possessed considerable social skills, making many beneficial attempts as the diplomatic link between Kul Tiras and the Night Elf Republic.
After Lewis withdrew, Jarod and Vereesa entered the Council Chambers one after the other, holding reports.
"Speak one at a time. What is the matter? Jarod , you go first."
Jarod glanced at Vereesa out of the corner of his eye and smiled, explaining, "Perhaps the intelligence Miss Vereesa and I are delivering both originate from Northrend. Let Miss Vereesa explain."
A strange look flashed in Vereesa's eyes. She hadn't expected Jarod to guess the source of her intelligence before she even spoke.
Five years later, the personnel structure of the Quel'Thalas Embassy in Astranaar underwent some changes.
Alleria was never one to sit still. After Turalyon was trapped in Draenor, she decided to begin her travels again.
Three years ago, through Lireesa's efforts, Alleria successfully stepped down from her Master position, and the hardworking deputy envoy Vereesa filled the vacancy. Quel'Thalas arranged another deputy envoy to assist Vereesa.
Relieved of her official duties, Alleria felt lighthearted. Before leaving, she had accidentally heard Andreas mention the undercurrents in Northrend. In the following years, she plunged into the Arctic Continent, searching everywhere.
The intelligence in Jarod's hands came from the Suramar government. The fact that ambassador Vereesa rushed to seek an audience at this time likely meant that Alleria had also discovered some clues on the Northrend continent.
Andreas glanced at Jarod. This guy was clearly taking advantage of his intelligence to trick the young woman.
'I should mention this to Sarahill later. This guy needs a good beating from his dutiful wife.'
Sure enough, Vereesa's intelligence came directly from Alleria.
"Big Sister encountered a dying Nerubian in the northern part of Sholazar Basin. It claimed that a letter it was carrying had been stolen and asked Big Sister to help relay a message, but it passed away before it could finish the rest of the sentence."
"Sholazar Basin, huh."
Andreas nodded thoughtfully. This Titans' testing ground had been occupied by the Night Elves many years ago.
However, due to insufficient population for expansion, Sholazar Basin has not developed large settlements, apart from a small number of Druids permanently stationed there.
"Did Alleria say where those assassins came from?"
"Yes."
Vereesa stated solemnly, "According to Big Sister's survey of the scene, the assassins appear to be flying creatures, originating from the north of Sholazar Basin."
Andreas raised an eyebrow. 'The fox's tail is finally showing.'
"Jarod, it's your turn. What does Suramar have to say?"
Jarod felt a chill from Andreas' previous meaningful glance. He dared not act clever now and reported seriously, "The intelligence we received also comes from Icecrown Glacier. Large numbers of strange flying stone statues have begun appearing in the previously barren glacier. It is said that a small number of winged Flying Demons are mixed in among these stone statues."
The flying stone statues are undoubtedly gargoyles, a construct commonly used by the Scourge.
As for the winged demons… there are too many types of demons that can fly, and without more detailed information, an accurate conclusion cannot be drawn.
Ever since Sargeras' avatar invaded, scattered demons have periodically been summoned into Azeroth by suicidal warlocks.
Previously, the Tirisfal Council diligently hunted them, but after Medivh destroyed the Council, the task of pursuing these demons fell to all mortal nations.
The Eastern Kingdoms are self-managed by races such as humans, high elves, dwarves, and gnomes.
With its high population density, the Eastern Kingdoms offer little ground for demons to hide long-term.
Similarly, the continents of Kalimdor and the Broken Isles are under the strict surveillance of races like the night elves and tauren.
Only Northrend, with the least investment in population and resources, has the weakest defenses.
This isn't due to Andreas's negligence, but rather the harsh living conditions of Northrend, which are unfavorable for the expansion of most intelligent species.
Borean Tundra is near the blue dragon's lair, Coldarra, and blue dragons often go out to hunt for food, so Andreas doesn't want his people to live under the shadow of dragons.
Although the furbolgs of Grizzly Hills have declined, they can still largely defend their own territory.
Most of Howling Fjord's territory is still under Vrykul rule. Andreas is unsure of Loken's attitude towards demons, and he has no way of knowing what specific orders he gave these Dragonflayer Vrykul.
At least there have been no traces of demons in the parts of Howling Fjord under night elf jurisdiction.
As for Dragonblight... demons who aren't afraid of death can try their luck there; they're guaranteed to have an extremely 'thrilling' experience from start to finish.
Besides these relatively southern regions, the remaining habitable territories are only Moonglade, Sholazar Basin, and Zul'Drak.
Zul'Drak has been the territory of the Drakkari ice trolls since ancient times, and the outer districts occupied by the night elves haven't had much impact on their daily lives.
According to reports from the local garrison, no traces of demons have been found in Zul'Drak.
Compared to the many mortal-inhabited areas in the south, Icecrown Glacier and Storm Peaks are much harder to access.
The Iron Vrykul and Iron Dwarves of Storm Peaks reject all outsiders; once discovered, there's only one path: death.
Icecrown Glacier, on the other hand, has little in the way of defenses, but the harsh local climate presents a significant obstacle to intelligent life settling there.
However, according to aerial reconnaissance reports from the dragons, scattered Vrykul villages are still found in some valleys that offer shelter from the wind and snow.
The Vrykul of Northrend are very difficult to deal with.
Andreas instructed the officials of Shandalar to send scouts to contact the Vrykul, attempting to persuade them to relocate to more habitable regions in the south, but the results were not very good.
Considering the source of the Lich King's undead soldiers, Andreas stroked his chin and frowned, saying, "Jarod, have Navaraz send troops into Icecrown Glacier again to contact the local Vrykul.
I have a bad feeling."
Jarod, evidently having also considered this, nodded gravely and turned to leave Andreas's office.
"Ambassador Vereesa, thank you for the information."
Andreas smiled and thanked Vereesa, "Please give my regards to Alleria and tell her to be careful.
Northrend is unstable right now, and she absolutely must not venture into the Icecrown Glacier region rashly."
Vereesa shrugged helplessly and said, "I'm afraid you're too late.
Given my elder sister's personality, she should have already followed the clues north by now."
"Uh…"
In terms of individual combat prowess, Alleria, wielding the artifact Thas'dorah, Longbow of the Windrunners, was undoubtedly the strongest of the three sisters.
With a ranger's outdoor survival skills and vigilance, even if she couldn't win, Alleria should have little trouble escaping.
Andreas wasn't worried about Alleria's combat abilities, but rather the extreme climate of Icecrown Glacier affecting her survival.
'I hope she knows her limits; I don't want to see a Dark Ranger among the undead too soon.'
...Due to the assassination of the Nerubian Kingdom's messenger, the night elves failed to receive the true message these insectoids intended to convey.
Months later, the Scourge, under the Lich King's control, re-excavated the sealed passages, and countless undead Nerubians once again attacked Ahn''kahet.
Unable to withstand the assault, the Nerubian insectoids could only retreat while fighting.
To cover the retreat of his people, the brave and skilled King Anub'arak unfortunately fell in battle.
The ecstatic Lich King immediately personally resurrected him as an undead, and from this king, whose brain was controlled, obtained much important information about the Nerubian insectoids.
Anub'rekhan, the Crypt Lord who temporarily took over the heavy responsibility, could only withdraw from the capital Ahn''kahet according to the original plan, retreating south through the underground.
However, what Anub'rekhan didn't expect was that the Scourge, as if knowing their secret underground passages, relentlessly pursued them, chasing them all the way to their last refuge located beneath Dragonblight.
At the urging of the Shandralar high elves, the dragons began to consciously monitor the situation underground.
Sensing the tremors near the Sleeping Moon Garden, the black dragons immediately activated their innate power of the earth, and the ground beneath the snowfields began to shake violently.
Most of the Nerubian insectoids who had taken refuge in the shelters survived, though they were somewhat dizzy and disoriented by the earthquake.
However, most of the undead who were pursuing the insectoids in the underground passages were crushed within the collapsed tunnels.
Only a few undead Nerubians, such as Anub'arak, escaped.
At the same time, Navaraz also sent bad news from Icecrown Glacier.
The local Vrykul had contracted a strange plague, and every so often, someone would die from the illness.
The strangest part was that the Vrykul corpses would quickly disappear after being buried in the glacier, leaving behind only an empty grave.
'So that's it…'
A cold glint flashed in Andreas's eyes. 'So, that fellow Ner'zhul is treating these Vrykul like chives, harvesting them periodically to ensure they don't die out too quickly?'
The bad news didn't stop there; as the year entered 15 ADP (After the Dark Portal), another scandal emerged from Dalaran.
Kael'thas Sunstrider, a Kirin Tor councilor secretly researching necromantic magic, was discovered by Archmage Antonidas, who personally expelled him from Dalaran.
From then on, Kael'thas disappeared without a trace.
Scouts sent by Shandralar City reported seeing a robed and hooded figure on the barren plains of Icecrown Glacier recently, but a thorough search yielded nothing.
Kael'thas was not the first human mage to be tempted by the Lich King, but as an archmage proficient in necromancy, his role was irreplaceable by other mages.
Andreas had long warned Antonidas to eradicate any mages found researching death magic, but it seemed the old mage still harbored feelings for his former student and couldn't bring himself to be ruthless with Kael'thas.
As Northrend began to stir, and Andreas focused most of his attention on the Arctic continent, trouble arose again in the orc internment camps in the Eastern Kingdoms.
An orc, claiming to be the chieftain of the Frostwolf clan, began to travel to various orc internment camps in the Eastern Kingdoms.
With the help of a few elite Frostwolf orcs, they successively broke through several smaller, less-guarded internment camps, rescuing many orc prisoners.
The increasingly aged Terenas and the kings of other nations ordered local garrisons to heighten their alert, but a group of battle-crazed orcs, the Warsong Clan, who had streamed in from the south, now drew their attention.
"Sigh~"
Andreas waved his hand, allowing Prisium, who was kneeling before him to beg for forgiveness, to rise. "It's not your fault.
Although I'm reluctant to believe in some ethereal things, the facts prove that this might be the great fortune possessed by a Chosen One."
Prisim's scouts had been searching for the Frostwolf Clan for several years, but the harsh weather and endless mountain ranges of the Alterac Mountains meant the scouts had little success.
Ever since the Frostwolf Clan separated from the main Horde forces, they had kept a low profile, rarely venturing out of these snow-capped mountains except for occasional quiet hunts in the forests with their tamed snow wolves.
Earlier this year, Prisim reported some good news: scouts had finally discovered some distinct orc footprints in the snow.
It now seemed that the Frostwolf orcs had already been preparing to leave the mountains at that time, and their tracks were discovered too late.
"Let's set aside the Frostwolf Clan for now."
Andaria had no intention of continuing to blame Prisim and quickly changed the subject. "Let's talk about the Warsong Clan. When did they slip into the Arathi Highlands from the south?"
After the Dark Portal closed, the Warsong Clan and the Thunderlord Clan were unfortunately trapped on the Azeroth side.
The leader of the Thunderlord Clan was named Fenris, originally born into the Frostwolf Clan, the elder brother of the former chieftain, Durotan.
Dissatisfied with his father Garad's conciliatory philosophy of uniting the clans, he left the Frostwolf Clan and joined the Thunderlord Clan, which advocated personal strength and had a tougher stance, eventually becoming the Thunderlord chieftain through his own efforts.
The Blasted Lands, where the Dark Portal was located, was a key defensive area for the Alliance. Fenris, who was rather stubborn, did not leave the Blasted Lands like the Warsong Clan. Instead, he faced the challenge head-on and settled in a small marshy forest west of the Blasted Lands.
Fenris' goal was to constantly monitor the situation of the Dark Portal so that he could return to Draenor to check on things as soon as the portal reopened.
When the Alliance closed the Dark Portal, they also brought back the grim news that Draenor had been torn apart by countless spatial rifts, but Fenris' Thunderlord Clan still refused to believe Draenor was destroyed. They wanted to witness the true state of their homeland with their own eyes.
The Warsong Clan, however, was different. Grom's mind was mostly focused on combat, with little else.
His departure from the Blasted Lands to the Swamp of Sorrows was not to avoid battle, but to get closer to the core areas of the Kingdom of Stormwind and vent his grief and anger on these humans.
Grom's only son, Garrosh, unfortunately contracted a disease called the Red Pox in Draenor and was isolated in Nagrand with other infected individuals, not participating in the Horde's military actions.
The Red Pox was a protracted disease unique to Draenor, said to be spread by plant pathogens from spore creatures like the Botani and Thorn Beasts. It was highly contagious and would erupt in the orc society every few generations.
Durotan's father, Garad, also contracted the disease during one of the most severe outbreaks of the Red Pox among the orcs and was ordered to be isolated in Nagrand by Ner'zhul, the spiritual leader of the orcs at the time.
Garad soon died from the illness, but his calm leadership of the sick earned him the respect of most patients. To commemorate this Frostwolf chieftain, the surviving patients named the isolated town Garadar.
Prisim still reported respectfully with her head bowed, "A few years ago, when the Kingdom of Stormwind was still relatively weak, the Warsong Clan could barely survive in the Swamp of Sorrows."
"But as the Kingdom of Stormwind completed its reconstruction and its national strength prospered, the Warsong Clan's activity space was severely restricted, and Chieftain Grom had no choice but to lead his people to risk going north to find new hiding places."
"After the war, various nations relaxed their defenses against wandering orcs. The Kingdom of Stromgarde, which guarded the Arathi Highlands, was caught off guard, allowing the Warsong Clan to cross Thandol Span and slip into the Arathi Highlands."
Although the Arathi Highlands are high in elevation, this relatively flat plateau region is actually very suitable for training various crops, otherwise Emperor Thoradin would not have established his capital here.
The Warsong orcs entering the Arathi Highlands were like mice entering a granary. Several grain warehouses of the Kingdom of Stromgarde were raided, and the losses were considerable.
"Now King Thoras is busy clearing out the orcs in the vast highlands, but with the mobility of the Warsong Clan… I'm afraid the encirclement operation will not be so smooth."
The Warsong Clan traditionally bred war wolves. During the period when their minds were corrupted by demon blood, they slaughtered their mounts for food due to lack of provisions.
After arriving in Azeroth, as the effects of the demon blood faded, Grom's sanity greatly improved, and he ordered the taming of new war wolf mounts in this new world.
The mobility provided by riding war wolves was crucial to the Warsong Clan's ability to cross Thandol Span and enter the Arathi Highlands.
The Arathi Highlands are also rich in mounts; the highly durable Highland Warhorses have always been prized by human nations.
However, Highland Warhorses have one drawback: strong endurance but insufficient burst power, which is precisely the advantage of war wolves.
The war wolves tamed by the Warsong Clan largely retained their primal wildness, capable of bursting forth with terrifying speed at the moment of a hunt.
Moreover, wolf packs inherently have a great deterrent effect on docile herbivores like horses. Stromgarde's Highland cavalry had a very difficult time clearing out the orcs, being led around by the nose by the Warsong Clan.
"The Arathi Highlands, huh..."
Andaria pondered, chin in hand, "The Frostwolf orcs are active in Hillsbrad, right next to the Arathi Highlands. If the two groups of orcs merge, their combat power will greatly increase, and orc internment camps across the lands are likely to be breached one by one."
"Prisim."
"Here."
"Send word to Thoras, tell him to pay attention to defending Thoradin's Wall to prevent the Warsong orcs from entering Hillsbrad."
"Yes."
...The day after Andaria's order was issued, the Warsong orcs rushed and broke through an agricultural village in the northeast corner of the Arathi Highlands.
Before Stromgarde's Highland cavalry could catch up, they quickly changed direction, fleeing westward before the human army could encircle them.
Thoras, who was based in Stromgarde, was plagued by a throbbing headache from these constantly moving orcs. When he received the warning from the scout sent by Andaria, his previously chaotic mind suddenly cleared.
"Smack!"
He slammed his hand on the armrest of the throne. Thoras, whose hair was now entirely white, bit his lip and said excitedly, "So that's it. Their ultimate goal is to merge with the Frostwolf orcs in Hillsbrad. That makes things easier."
Now that he knew the enemy's objective, Thoras quickly devised an ambush strategy.
He secretly sent men to strengthen the defenses of Thoradin's Wall and laid a large number of heavy infantry in Northfold Manor in the western Arathi Highlands, while the Highland cavalry continued to press the Warsong orcs from behind.
Just as Andaria had said, the Warsong orcs had learned about the situation in Hillsbrad from local human farmers. Grom was planning to force his way through Thoradin's Wall, whose gate was not yet closed, while the humans were unprepared.
But when Grom led a large number of Warsong wolf riders to the majestic Thoradin's Wall, the gate had already been lowered, and a thousand archers with powerful bows stood on the city wall, their bowstrings drawn.
"Fire!"
Thoras, who had personally come to Thoradin's Wall to command, let out a loud roar, and arrows rained down upon the Warsong orcs below.
At the same time, the heavy infantry ambushed in Northfold Manor merged with the Highland cavalry, completely encircling the Warsong orcs from behind.
Although Grom mostly preferred to think with his muscles, having fought for many years, he was not entirely ignorant of warfare.
The current desperate situation made his hair stand on end. With an impregnable city wall blocking the front and a well-rested human army slowly advancing from behind, even a powerful warrior like Grom felt death approaching.
"Lok'tar! Don't flinch! To die in battle is our glory! Wolf Riders, charge with me! Carve a bloody path!"
Just as Grom was about to launch a desperate charge against the Stromgarde encircling forces, blue-white electric light suddenly flashed above Thoradins Wall, and many archers screamed in pain as they were electrocuted and fell to the ground.
At the same time, the ground beneath Thoradins Wall vibrated violently. This ancient city wall, once the pride of the Arathor Empire, had fallen into disrepair over the years. A small section of the wall suddenly collapsed, creating a gap connecting Hillsbrad Foothills and Hillsbrad.
Although he didn't know what had happened, Grom, who had fought on battlefields for many years, keenly sensed a chance for survival.
He immediately shouted, commanding the Warsong Orcs to rush to the collapsed section of the wall through the rain of arrows, entering Hillsbrad on the other side through this gap, which was only wide enough for two people to pass side-by-side.
After the earthquake stopped, Thoras angrily slammed the city wall, "What's going on! Who is attacking us? Why did an earthquake collapse the city wall?"
"Your Majesty! There are Orcs behind us too!"
Thoras followed the general's pointing finger and saw that a group of Orcs had appeared on the Hillsbrad side at some unknown time. The handsome young Orc leader at the forefront held a warhammer that looked very familiar to Thoras.
"doomhammer? Could it be…"
Thoras' expression was somewhat solemn as he scanned the group of Orcs. Sure enough, he found a conspicuous one-armed old Orc beside the young Orc leader.
"Orgrim!"
Although he knew the identity of the The other party, Thoras appeared hesitant at the moment.
The combined total of the two groups of Orcs had already exceeded Stromgarde's endurance limit, and the most important thing at the moment was to repair the collapsed section of the wall to prevent the combined Orcs from seizing the opportunity to flood into Hillsbrad Foothills and cause devastating damage to his kingdom.
"Don't pursue, block the gap in the wall, and send an alarm to Alterac as quickly as possible."
"Yes!"
In a critical moment, the interests of his own country were paramount. Thoras could only silently apologize to King Barov in his heart.
After successfully joining forces, Grom had many questions for the spirited Orcs in front of him; they looked completely different from the dispirited young men under his command.
"Grom, it's good to see you again."
Orgrim, with some gray in his hair and beard, stepped forward and patted Grom's strong arm with his remaining hand.
"Orgrim? You're alive!"
Grom laughed and hugged Orgrim. The former Warchief also smiled and replied, "We'll talk later; let's retreat into the mountains first."
"Oh, right."
Orgrim pointed to the clear-faced young Orc and introduced, "He is Go'el, son of Durotan, the current Chieftain of the Frostwolf Clan, a remarkably talented… Shaman."
"Shaman?!"
… "Heh~ As expected, they joined forces."
Andreas shook his head helplessly, "Forget it, let them be for now. This is, after all, an internal affair of a human kingdom; it's not convenient for us to directly intervene."
"If you can track down the whereabouts of these Orcs, relay the relevant intelligence to Niana in Lordaeron immediately, and let her decide how to handle it."
"Yes."
After Prisim left, Andreas stood up and walked to the office window, looking at the crescent moon in the sky outside the window and chuckling self-deprecatingly.
"Child of Destiny, huh? I'd like to see how strong your luck can be."
"Knock knock~"
A gentle knock came from outside the door. Andreas collected his thoughts and called out, "Come in."
"Excuse me."
A female High Elf with long golden hair draped over her shoulders opened the door and entered the office. Andreas was startled when he saw the beautiful, somewhat unfamiliar face.
"I remember, you are Vereesa's Vice Envoy, Miss Yanghen, aren't you?"
"Yes."
The female Elf respectfully performed the ancient Highborne noble present to Andreas, "Luminas Yanghen, it is an honor that Speaker Moonshadow remembers my name."
Andreas smiled and nodded, "Vice Envoy Yanghen, does ambassador Windrunner have something important to report?"
"No."
A gleam flashed in Luminas' eyes. "I am here on behalf of Prince Kaelthas. His Royal Highness wishes to obtain Speaker Moonshadow's public support."
"Oh?"
Andreas raised an eyebrow and looked deeply at Luminas. "So, ambassador Windrunner is unaware of your actions?"
"Yes, I was assigned as Miss Vereesa's Vice Envoy by His Royal Highness the Prince. He wishes to gain a direct channel of communication with Speaker Moonshadow."
Regarding Kaelthas' reforms in Quel'Thalas, Aurora had not stopped transmitting relevant intelligence in recent years.
Although Kaelthas' initial attitude was quite radical, perhaps influenced by the Sun King's persuasion, he did not adopt an all-out reckless approach when he truly began his reform actions.
Kaelthas first rallied the people of Amani Forest, led by the Windrunner Family, and initially gained a voice in the kingdom with the support of a large number of Rangers.
With Anasterian's tacit approval, Kaelthas first targeted certain small and medium-sized nobles who had clearly overstepped their bounds, while still maintaining superficial respect for the great nobles.
Kaelthas' deliberate lowering of his stance greatly pleased the powerful great nobles. Although they did not completely relax their vigilance against this radical prince, they finally felt somewhat relieved.
After some discussion, the great nobles concluded that the Prince must have been persuaded by the Sun King and dared not touch the interests of the great nobles, to avoid causing a major upheaval that would affect the entire nation.
Dealing with these powerful nobles was indeed not easy. Their family tentacles had long penetrated all walks of life in Quel'Thalas. Not only did they have people in politics, but large merchant guilds, the Arcanist Association, and the military were also inevitably influenced by these great nobles.
Using a 'boiling frog' approach, Kaelthas had dealt with many marginal nobles and cut off some of the great nobles' tentacles over the past five years. However, he consistently maintained superficial respect for the great nobles, which further confirmed some people's conjectures.
Based on the intelligence and personal analysis transmitted by Aurora, Kaelthas was definitely not genuinely capitulating to the great nobles; he was merely waiting for the opportune moment to strike decisively.
Although Kaelthas and the Windrunners were allies in political stance, they represented different social strata and could not truly be completely open with each other.
Luminas' sudden self-disclosure of her identity surprised Andreas somewhat, but upon careful thought, it was quite normal.
The Windrunners represented the interests of the broad lower class, primarily Rangers. Although Kaelthas disliked his father's obsession with power and profit, he would still prioritize maintaining the authority of the Sunstrider royal family and the overall interests of the nation.
Their positions overlapped but were not entirely consistent. Luminas secretly meeting Andreas without Vereesa's knowledge might indicate that Kaelthas' upcoming actions could cause dissatisfaction among the Windrunners.
"Speak plainly."
Andreas crossed his hands under his chin and looked at Luminas seriously, "What does Kaelthas plan to do next? What price is he willing to pay for our support?"
"You should be aware of the Night Elf Republic's stance on the internal affairs of other countries. Unless absolutely necessary, I will never arbitrarily interfere in the internal affairs of foreign nations."
Seeing that Andreas did not directly refuse but began to negotiate, Luminas' hanging heart dropped by half.
"Of course, we will not make it difficult for Speaker Moonshadow. Actually, the Prince wants to…"
After seeing Luminass off, Andreas fell into deep thought alone in his office.
When Celeste and Shandris came together to call their husband home, the shifting expression on Andreas' face aroused their suspicion.
Shandris twitched her nose and sniffed; the faint, elegant scent that had not completely dissipated made her expression turn ugly.
"Andreas, I need an explanation."
Shandris crossed her arms over her chest and questioned him coldly, "Which woman was just here? Wearing heavy makeup during work hours, if I catch her..."
"Huh?"
Shandris' voice startled Andreas out of his thoughts. After understanding the question, he chuckled and said, "No need to bother, we can't control the person who just came. She is a foreigner."
The High Council had long ago issued a rule prohibiting heavy makeup for both men and women during work hours, and scented cosmetics were strictly forbidden.
High Elves enjoy life more than Night Elves; they would never have such a regulation.
Vereesa, being a Ranger, inherently dislikes excessive self-adornment, and appearing barefaced is enough to elicit cheers of "Ooh~" from countless young men.
Celeste was very familiar with the High Elves' attitude towards life, and she quickly guessed the visitor's identity based on the information revealed in Andreas' words.
"Was it the Deputy Envoy from Quel'Thalas who only arrived a few years ago and isn't very familiar with the customs of the Night Elf Republic? Why would she come to see you alone?"
Andreas stood up and tidied his messy desk. "Let's discuss the details when we get home. Simply put, she represents Prince Kaelthas, seeking a favor."
..."The arcanador fruit?"
In the back garden of Moonshadow Manor, the three spouses went to the pavilion to rest after dinner. Hearing Andreas' description, Celeste seemed a little surprised.
"I thought Little Kael had given up on curing the Mana Addiction. Why has he suddenly decided to use the arcanador fruit now?"
Andreas shrugged, "It's nothing more than the old routine of winning over some and suppressing others."
"Not all nobles in Quel'Thalas are ambitious. Even among the great nobles, some lean towards the Royal Family... or rather, towards the Prince's ideals. Miss Yanghen, who came today, is one of them."
The Yanghen Family is also a large noble family that has existed since the founding of Quel'Thalas. Although the family's scale cannot compare to core noble members loyal to the Royal Family, such as Sunfury and Firewing, their status is far beyond what small and medium nobles can match.
Moreover, the Yanghen Family has a highly regarded identity: they are the in-law family of the Sunstrider Royal Family.
Anasterian's long-deceased mother came from the Yanghen clan. With this relationship providing the groundwork, it is not strange that Luminass, the family heir, came to discuss matters privately with Andreas.
"Kaelthas plans to first distribute the arcanador fruit to the nobles absolutely loyal to the Royal Family, allowing them to first break free from their dependence on the Sunwell and the potential hidden danger of Mana Addiction."
Because of Mana Addiction, most High Elves find it difficult to leave Quel'Thalas for extended periods during their long lives.
The Sunwell is undoubtedly an irreplaceable treasure for the High Elves, but in some respects, it is also one of the biggest restrictions preventing their continued development.
Rangers, led by the Windrunner Family, live long-term in the Amani Forest, where they cannot directly benefit from the Sunwell's magical infusion.
If the Holy Tree Sasarala hadn't relayed the Sunwell's magic, the Rangers might not have developed Mana Addiction at all.
Compared to the residents of Silvermoon City who constantly absorb high concentrations of Sunwell magic, the residents of Amani Forest have relatively mild Mana Addiction symptoms and should be able to overcome the addiction without external assistance after a period of difficult withdrawal.
The nobles in Eversong Woods, however, cannot manage. Taking Luminass as an example, she must constantly carry Sunwell water with her, or she will quickly fall ill if the supply is cut off.
Celeste was much more politically astute than the single-minded Shandris. While Shandris was still completely confused, Celeste had roughly grasped Kaelthas' intentions.
"I see. It's not suffering from scarcity but from inequality. This move by Kaelthas will inevitably provoke the great nobles who didn't receive the arcanador fruit, thus triggering fierce domestic debate."
"Furthermore, distributing all the fruits to the nobles of Eversong Woods will likely incur the displeasure of Ranger families like the Windrunners. No wonder he contacted you behind Vereesa's back."
Shandris rubbed her temples, frustrated. "Stop beating around the bush. Just tell me, what exactly does Kaelthas want you to do?"
"It's simple."
Andreas spread his hands, saying, "He plans, to some extent, to let the Night Elves take the blame. He wants to claim that the decision on how to distribute the arcanador fruit was made by the Night Elf Republic, thereby easing the sharp domestic conflicts that are likely to arise."
Shandris curled her lip and said discontentedly, "Why? We have no obligation to participate in Quel'Thalas' internal struggles."
Celeste looked thoughtfully at the still-smiling Andreas and guessed, "Could it be... that Little Kael offered sufficient leverage?"
Andreas nodded approvingly at Celeste. "Kaelthas, representing Anasterian, promised that Quel'Thalas would further strengthen its connection with the Night Elf Republic."
"Perhaps the benefits gained after city-states like Eversong, Black Rook Hold, and Suramar successively joined the Night Elf Republic stimulated them."
"Although the Sun King, out of High Elf pride, has no intention of merging into the Night Elf Republic, he hopes to reach a formal, close alliance with the Night Elf Republic and gain support from all aspects of the Night Elf Republic."
"That's it?"
Shandris said disappointedly, "Aren't they still asking for our help? Where is the return?"
Andreas smiled and pulled Shandris into his arms. "Political issues cannot simply consider superficial benefits. This action by the High Elves is equivalent to formally submitting to the Night Elf Republic, placing themselves in a lower position in mutual interactions."
"Due to the theory of self-nobility that Quel'Thalas has always promoted to its citizens, this news, once announced, will certainly spark many voices of opposition within Quel'Thalas."
Celeste added, explaining, "From our perspective, the allegiance of Quel'Thalas represents the reunification of all splinter races that broke away from Night Elf society. The symbolic meaning far outweighs the practical meaning."
Andreas smiled and nodded, "Besides, given the national strength of the Night Elf Republic, I don't think the High Elves could offer much practical leverage that we would value. This symbolic allegiance is actually just right."
Under the gaze of the two, who looked at her with the affection one gives an idiot, Shandris rolled her eyes unhappily.
"Fine, you two are amazing. I'm just the political idiot. From now on, I'll just be responsible for shouting '666' and let you two do the thinking."
Andreas kissed Shandris on the cheek reassuringly. "You shouldn't say that. At the very least, your talent in military affairs is something Celeste and I can't catch up to, even if we tried. Different strokes for different folks; everyone has their specialty."
"Hmph~ that's more like it."
Celeste watched the amusing sight of the old married couple being affectionate, and simply joined in, the three of them playfully wrestling in the pavilion.
When the first light of dawn could be seen on the horizon, Andreas looked at the setting moon and said meaningfully, "I wonder what kind of impact this round of major action by Kaelthas will have on Quel'Thalas. Will it lead to smooth reform? Or will it further intensify social conflict?"
"For now, let us wait and see."
When the Orcs intensified their efforts, roaming the territories of the northern human kingdoms to liberate internment camps, a conflict quietly erupted in Quel'Thalas, located at the northernmost tip of the Eastern Kingdoms.
The Arkandor fruit became the most frequently used uncommon term by the High Elves this year.
Led by High Nobles such as Sunfury, Fireweave, and Sunscar, High Elf nobles loyal to the Sunstrider Royal Family successively consumed the fruit of the Miracle Tree, gaining the privilege of freedom from Sunwell dependence and Mana Addiction.
This caused a thousand ripples, as rising stars of the Silvermoon Council like Riverwind, Linsong, Delashir, and Morningwalker fiercely criticized the Royal Family's preferential treatment.
Among these great nobles who consistently opposed the Royal Family, some were original followers who accompanied Dath'Remar on his eastward journey, while others were newly emerging great nobles who gradually rose later.
Before the wave of opposition could spread widely, Kaelthas casually dropped a statement.
The recipients of this Arkandor distribution were randomly selected by the Night Elf Republic and had nothing to do with the Sunstrider Royal Family.
Although anyone with discernment could see that the so-called random selection was a lie, many still believed parts of the Sunstrider Royal Family's explanation, as the Night Elf Republic did not immediately refute it, thinking the list was set by the Night Elves.
Shandris had gone to the barracks early to train newly recruited soldiers, while Andreas calmly arrived at his office to drink tea and read intelligence.
"Bang!"
The sound of the office door being violently opened made Andreas' eyebrow twitch slightly. He looked up and, sure enough, it was Vereesa, her face full of anger.
"I guessed you'd be here around now."
Vereesa strode to the desk and slammed it, "What is the High Council doing? Are they planning to interfere in Quel'Thalas' internal affairs? And why wasn't a single Arkandor fruit distributed to the common people?"
"Calm down, don't be anxious."
Andreas chuckled as he blew on the steam rising from his Calming Flower Tea, "This is just a smokescreen deliberately released by certain individuals within Quel'Thalas, aimed at shifting blame."
"See, the Night Elf Republic hasn't stepped forward to admit it, has it? We just need to wait for this wave of excitement to pass and then clarify it."
Although Vereesa was naive, she wasn't stupid. Andreas' composed attitude and concise explanation made her frown.
"So, this is a strategy you and the Sunstrider Royal Family discussed long ago? Why didn't Prince Kaelthas contact me in advance?"
Andreas looked at Vereesa with a hint of mockery in his eyes, a look that made the little girl's suppressed anger surge again.
"With your impulsive nature, are you sure you could keep the secret before the plan was launched?"
"Just watch. Next, it's highly likely that some people will secretly go to the Amani Forest to stir up trouble. You can use this opportunity to weed out the ill-intentioned individuals within the Ranger Corps."
Most Rangers were personally trained by the Windrunner Family, but this didn't mean the Ranger system was truly monolithic.
Eventually, some would succumb to the temptations of external resources like money, power, and beautiful women, falling under the command of certain Silvermoon City nobles and becoming their pawns in battle.
Vereesa was unfamiliar with Silvermoon City's power struggles, but having long interacted with the Rangers, she was no stranger to the presence of black sheep within the Ranger Corps.
After her anger subsided, Vereesa sat down on the guest sofa with some concern.
"I wonder if my second sister, who just took office, can be ruthless enough to eliminate those troublemakers..."
'Worried she's not ruthless enough?'
Andreas twitched his lips, inwardly scoffing, 'Don't worry, she'll show you what ruthlessness truly means.'
...The subsequent developments were exactly as Andreas and Kaelthas had anticipated. Seeing the Night Elf Republic remain as steady as an old dog, neither denying nor opposing, the nobles who couldn't stir up trouble turned their attention to the common people and Rangers in the Amani Forest.
Class contradictions were not uncommon in High Elf society. The "Mud-footed" people of the Amani Forest and the noble lords of Silvermoon City had been at odds for more than just a day or two.
Under the instigation of certain helpers, many villages in the Amani Forest engaged in heated discussions, and a considerable number of people, spurred on by agitators, began to express dissatisfaction with the distribution rights of the Arkandor fruit.
These commoners weren't necessarily demanding to eat the Arkandor fruit immediately; their Mana Addiction wasn't severe, so their need for the Miracle Fruit was actually not great.
But as the saying goes, it's not scarcity but inequality that causes trouble. The idea of "why do others have it and I don't" immediately ignited fierce condemnation.
However, at this very moment, the newly appointed Ranger-General Sylvanas swiftly dispatched the Military Disciplinary Team from the Ranger Corps.
In front of a large number of villagers, the disciplinary team dragged out the Rangers who were stirring up trouble from among the crowd, and, with evidence in hand, displayed the wealth seized from their homes before everyone's eyes.
Following the High Elves' consistent style, their sparse population rarely carried out severe punishments that would endanger lives.
Sylvanas ignored these established unwritten rules. She ruthlessly executed the Rangers caught red-handed according to military law on the spot, and hung their heads at the entrances of various villages as a public display.
When Vereesa heard this news, a chill ran from her feet to her head, and she couldn't help but shiver all over.
"How could Second Sister be so ruthless? Why didn't Mother stop her?"
Andreas helplessly glanced at this naive girl, "Since Sylvanas could act so quickly, it means she had already obtained Lireesa's consent."
"In troubled times, harsh measures are needed. Quel'Thalas is currently at the center of a storm; a slight misstep could trigger irreversible large-scale class conflicts. At such a time, who can be soft-hearted? Who dares to be soft-hearted?"
The Windrunner Family was undoubtedly at the forefront of the wave of change. Countless eyes were watching their every move. Once the conflict in the Amani Forest erupted, certain nobles in Silvermoon City, who had long been waiting for an opportunity, would surely seize it, and a coup d'état would likely be imminent.
Andreas speculated that Kaelthas must have discussed the operation with Lireesa or Sylvanas in advance, but deliberately kept this information from the politically naive Vereesa.
In any case, the Ranger-General's ruthless actions largely deterred the restless hearts in the Amani Forest.
Bloody heads hung at the village entrance, and the low-level ruffians who had been boasting about overthrowing autocratic tyranny immediately cowered. No one wanted to be a foolish trailblazer and get beheaded at this time.
Kaelthas' plan had only just begun. Following the clues of these Rangers who had accepted bribes, the investigation quickly implicated many Silvermoon City nobles.
This time, Kaelthas no longer pretended to be a harmless little rabbit. He decisively arrested all participating nobles on the charge of conspiring treason, confiscated their assets, dispossessed the criminals, and exiled them from Quel'Thalas to fend for themselves.
The prince's sudden ruthless tactics stunned the great nobles who had been hiding behind the scenes, planning to watch the show. Some great nobles whose interests were severely damaged finally couldn't wait any longer and personally entered the fray, unable to be held back by others.
Naturally, Kaelthas would not be soft-hearted towards these foolish opponents who delivered themselves to him. After finding conclusive evidence, he dealt with them all, and for a period, Quel'Thalas was filled with apprehension. The once powerful great nobles all tucked their tails between their legs, daring not to speak.
Of course, the situation would not end so simply. It was just that Kaelthas acted too quickly, and most nobles hadn't had time to react, preparing to temporarily cower and await an opportunity to retaliate.
Just as the Eastern Kingdoms once again fell into turmoil, new news came from Northrend.
The underground kingdom of the Nerubians was destroyed by an unknown enemy, with only a small number of Qiraji breaking through the encirclement, covered in blood, led by a Crypt Lord named Anub'Rekhan.
When Andreas received the news and personally rushed to Moonlight Garden to meet Anub'Rekhan, the great bug's mournful roar echoed throughout the entire snowfield.
"The Ankhet Kingdom... is gone!"
The Kingdom of Azjol-Nerub was an underground kingdom established by the Nerubians. For tens of thousands of years, they lived beneath Northrend, mostly observing the changing tides on the surface, occasionally emerging to expand their influence.
The private army led by a Crypt Lord who fought against the Highborne of the Moonwell Gardens was one such force. After suffering a painful defeat, he retreated underground in disgrace and never emerged again.
Thousands of years passed, and that Crypt Lord had long since turned to dust. His descendants also perished in the previous Scourge invasion. The vast underground kingdom of Azjol-Nerub suffered heavy losses as it was devoured by the fearless and ever-growing undead.
In truth, they suffered from a lack of understanding of the Scourge's command structure.
As Andreas understood it, no matter how strong Ner'zhul's mental power was, he couldn't possibly project his spirit into every single undead. In the long run, he would eventually suffer a mental breakdown.
He was directly connected only to the high-ranking undead officers commanding on the front lines, and these officers, in turn, managed the undead sergeants and soldiers below them, level by level.
Much like the Qiraji whom the Night Elves had defeated before, Ner'zhul, relying on his powerful mental abilities, simulated a hive-mind mental network similar to that of the Old Gods.
In other words, as long as one focused on striking down the officers within the undead ranks, the leaderless undead would become mindless zombies and skeletons, losing the coordination they displayed during combined operations.
The number of Nerubians who escaped from underground was very small, only tens of thousands, including civilians and worker drones. Compared to the Azjol-Nerub kingdom, which previously had a population of over a million, it was already on the verge of existing in name only.
"Troublesome…"
Even with a discount for battle losses, Ner'zhul now commanded hundreds of thousands of Nerubian undead as his foundation, with at least a hundred thousand combat-ready insectoids. His forces were fully established, and the difficulty of a surprise attack to destroy him on the great ice block had increased exponentially.
Evidently, Ner'zhul himself thought the same. With the excavation efforts of the Nerubians, he finally moved from the cramped underground. He openly placed the large ice block he was parasitic to on a permafrost glacier, and with high spirits, named it the Frozen Throne.
Although there was some wariness towards these insectoids who were once subordinate to the Old Gods, considering the extensive underground passages of the Azjol-Nerub kingdom, if they didn't want to be ambushed from beneath the surface by Ner'zhul's undead insectoids, these insectoids still had great utility.
Anub'Rekhan was the only surviving leader-level Crypt Lord among the Nerubians. According to Nerubian tradition, he automatically became the king of Azjol-Nerub.
Andreas roughly deduced Ner'zhul's strategy from Anub'Rekhan's intermittent sobs.
Anub'Rekhan had originally planned to follow the last command of the previous king, Anub'arak, and lead his people to seek refuge in the last fortress beneath the Borean Tundra.
However, the Scourge seemed to have known their intentions early on, arranging for undead insectoids to cut off their retreat and intercept them. Anub'Rekhan could only make the team quickly turn back, enduring the pursuit of the undead insectoids, and relying on a pile of bodies to break through the sealed entrance that the Night Elves had placed north of the Moonwell Gardens.
When Andreas arrived, the defenders of the Moonwell Gardens were already engaged in battle with the undead insectoids who had emerged from underground.
Seeing that he couldn't break through the Night Elf defenses in a short time, Ner'zhul ordered the insectoid officers to retreat back through the entrance, establishing tight defenses along the way.
Anub'Rekhan learned Andreas' identity from other Night Elves. He simultaneously retracted his many jointed legs and prostrated himself on the ground, adopting a low, utterly submissive posture as he pleaded with Andreas.
"Speaker Moonshadow! The Kingdom of Azjol-Nerub is willing to become a subordinate of the Night Elf Republic. I only ask that the Night Elf Republic send troops as soon as possible to reclaim our former capital."
"Deep within the Azjol-Nerub underground city, there is a hidden nest unknown to Anub'arak. If the Night Elves can help protect the insect eggs hidden within for the Nerubians, I guarantee, in the name of the King of Azjol-Nerub, that we are willing to become vassals of the Night Elf Republic, never to betray you!"
The batch of insect eggs Anub'Rekhan spoke of was only urgently relocated after Anub'arak's demise and was not recorded in the memory of the mind-controlled undead Crypt Lord, which is why they were spared.
But now, the undead insectoids completely occupied the entire underground kingdom. If they didn't seize the time to reclaim their territory, Ner'zhul would eventually discover this secret insect nest.
For Anub'Rekhan, this nest containing hundreds of thousands of insect eggs was the last hope of the Nerubians.
If only the current few thousand warriors and tens of thousands of non-combat insectoids remained, even without external interference, the Nerubians would eventually disappear into the river of history.
Andreas looked directly into Anub'Rekhan's eyes, which were small compared to his body, and began to read the surface thoughts of this large insect with mental magic.
Anub'Rekhan felt the mental probe invading his consciousness and couldn't help but tremble all over, but he made no further movements, remaining prostrate on the ground, allowing Andreas to scan his thoughts.
"At least from your surface consciousness, I see no hint of malice. You genuinely wish to reclaim your kingdom."
Withdrawing his mental power, Andreas said meaningfully, "I don't know what your true thoughts are deep down, but seeing your unwavering loyalty in wanting to restore your kingdom, I've decided to trust you for now."
"Navarro."
Navarro, the military commander of Shandris, who had been standing by awaiting orders, quickly bowed and responded, "Present."
"Send troops into the underground kingdom as soon as possible to drive the undead insectoids out of the depths of Dragonblight and Moonglade, leaving no hidden dangers."
"Yes, sir!"
The Nerubian capital, Azjol-Nerub, was located directly beneath Moonglade, adjacent to the deeply rooted World Tree, Andassil.
Perhaps it was due to the suppressing effect of the World Tree that the Nerubians had been free from Yogg-Saron's control for several millennia. They had long decided not to obey the Old God's commands anymore.
Andreas could not tolerate Ner'zhul's insectoids moving freely beneath the Night Elves' sphere of influence. Once the Scourge decided to launch an attack, the entire area beneath Shandris City would be almost completely undefended.
Rather than relying on the already scarce Nerubians for passive defense, it would be better to take the offensive and drive the undead insectoids out of the Night Elves' territory, allowing Anub'Rekhan to lead the Nerubians back to their capital to multiply and thrive.
Anub'Rekhan, profusely grateful, decided to act as a guide, accompanying Navarro's Northrend army into the underground insect nest.
Andreas patted the Sword of the Black Empire at his waist and asked in his mind, "How is it? Is what this guy said true?"
"Heh heh ~ At least for now, no signs of betrayal can be seen."
Xal'atath said with a sinister laugh, "It seems Yogg-Saron was too focused on corrupting the Titan Watchers in Ulduar. Her insectoids have collectively defected, how interesting."
If Yogg-Saron hadn't relaxed her control over the Nerubians, even with Andassil's suppression, these Northrend insectoids would have found it very difficult to escape her control.
"However, you had best remain vigilant."
Xal'atath warned solemnly, "These insectoids have, after all, experienced being controlled by Yogg-Saron. If they come into contact with her again, it's highly likely that the severed connection between them will be quickly restored."
"I know."
Andreas nodded gravely, "The Nerubians are mainly to be used against the undead insectoids. I won't let them go beyond the borders of Moonglade and continue towards the Storm Peaks, to avoid any complications."
Nerzhul's conquest of the Ankhet underground kingdom brought considerable trouble to the Night Elves.
Northrend's underground had long been excavated into a vast network by the Nerubians, and if not dealt with in time, the Undead Nerubians could theoretically launch surprise attacks from any point on the surface.
Fortunately, the Nerubians were not completely wiped out. The last remaining leader-class Crypt Lord, Anub'Rekhan, led the surviving Qiraji in a desperate struggle to the surface, abandoning all dignity to seek aid from the Night Elves for the survival of their nation.
With this group of Nerubians as guides in the underworld, the Night Elf army would at least not be easily ambushed in unfamiliar underground passages.
As the center of the underground kingdom, the city of Ankhet was undoubtedly the main focus of contention for both sides.
While the Undead Nerubians were clashing with the Moonlight Garden defenders, Nerzhul began his preparations. He had the Undead Nerubians on the front lines retreat in advance and mobilized other undead units from the rear in Icecrown Glacier to enter the underground, adopting a stance of resolute defense.
Meanwhile, the Northern Legion led by Navaz had assembled in Moonlight Garden, and Andreas was briefing them on precautions for fighting the undead.
"Remember, let inorganic constructs like arcane golem take the lead. Necromancy Spells have no effect on constructs."
"If any of our soldiers fall, try to retrieve their bodies if conditions permit. If you are unable to, immediately sprinkle diluted Moonwater on their corpses to prevent them from being resurrected and used by the undead."
Moonwater is a unique product of the Night Elves.
The conventional holy water commonly used by humans is produced by infusing Lights Power, while Moonwater is infused with the power of moonlight.
After returning from Draenor, Andreas began to try and reform the warriors in the army who believed in the power of moonlight, sharing with them the Paladin combat methods and techniques he had acquired from the Draenei.
By analogy, the previously disorganized system of these Moon Warriors gradually took shape. At the suggestion of Shandris and Jarod, the Moon Warriors in the army were singled out to form a separate force.
These warriors, equipped with combat Night Sabers, were transformed into cavalry, serving as the Night Elves' most elite ground mobile force, and were given the name Moonlit Knights by Andreas.
Although they referenced some of the mature experience of Paladins, the Moonlit Knights' fighting style was not entirely the same as that of Paladins.
Night Elves have enjoyed using the moon wheel as a throwing weapon since ancient times, a habit that gave the Moonlit Knights more ranged attack options than Paladins.
The moon wheel consists of three sharp blades. Due to the special mechanical structure added after its magical modification, the blade surfaces can rotate at high speed to reap lives when necessary.
This weapon is very difficult to use; those unfamiliar with it can easily injure themselves. Andreas, at least, was not accustomed to using it.
Night Elf warriors skilled in using the moon blade could wield this weapon with great flair, and its versatile combat style, effective at both close and long range, would make it more difficult for enemies to counter.
Moon blades infused with the power of moonlight can unleash considerable power whether thrown or used in close combat. Similar to the Lights Power, which is also a power of light, the power of moonlight can also counteract negative forces such as Fel Energy, shadow, and death.
Considering that this battle was taking place within an underground kingdom, cavalry would be difficult to deploy, so the Moonlit Knights were not brought underground by Navaz.
Given this, to prevent the undead's snowball tactic, Moonwater was indispensable.
Watching large groups of heavily armored arcane golem clankingly follow the Nerubians into the crypt first, Andreas, hosted by Roddick, the Governor of Suramar, headed to Suramar City to await news.
Roddick was the governor Andreas first met when he arrived in Suramar City. After several rotations, this restless old fellow volunteered himself and became the "new" governor of Suramar about 200 years ago.
Originally, Andreas intended to accompany Navaz to the underground kingdom to gain some experience, but under the strict persuasion of Shandris, Celeste, and others, he reluctantly gave up and went to the front-line city of Suramar to oversee operations.
After thousands of years of development, Suramar today was no longer the miserable sight it was when it first returned.
Although its population was still relatively small compared to other major Night Elf cities, it lacked none of the necessary facilities and welfare.
Under the canopy of the world tree amirdrassil, Suramar City had an abundant supply of magical energy. Within its barrier, it was spring all year round, and the people on the streets wore thin clothing completely at odds with the icy, snowy landscape outside.
Rarely visiting Northrend, Andreas took the opportunity to tour the Night Elf defense line while waiting for battle reports from the front.
A magnificent wall had been extended along the border territories adjacent to the Drakari Trolls, with a small buffer zone between it and the opposing Drakari wall section.
Perhaps the Frost Trolls knew they could not defeat the Night Elves, as they had lived peacefully for many years, with both sides minding their own business and living their own lives.
However, this did not mean the Drakari Trolls had completely settled down. Although they had lost parts of the outer district, led by DrakTharon Keep, they had not abandoned their ambition to advance southward.
The Drakari Trolls had ended their truce with the Bearmen tribes over 200 years ago, and small-scale battles frequently occurred near the wall section leading to the eastern Grizzly Hills, with Bearmen and Trolls fiercely contending for this area.
The internal strife of that year dealt a great blow to the Bearmen of Grizzly Hills. In the long years that followed, the Bearmen maintained a political structure of self-governance among their various tribes, until the Frost Trolls once again advanced with a large army.
Under the dream guidance of Uldir and Ursoc, the Bearmen Clans, pressured by strong external forces, established a military council. Each Clan was required to unconditionally provide soldiers from their respective tribes to the front line, at least to maintain a unified front against foreign enemies.
Due to the encroachment of the Nightmare, the resurrection progress of the Wild Gods in the Emerald Dream had noticeably slowed down.
Perhaps this was one of N'Zoth's purposes in sending Xavius to harass the Emerald Dream; without the assistance of these powerful Wild Gods, Mortals would have to rely solely on their own forces to resist powerful external enemies, unable to heavily draw upon demigod-level aid.
Goldrinn had already recovered his health, but this wolf god had always preferred to be a loner; even Cenarius, who resided in the Emerald Dream, did not know where he was now.
The turtle Wild God, Tortolla, was severely injured during the War of the Ancients, but it was illogical for him not to have recovered after ten thousand years. Malfurion was having the druids investigate Tortolla's condition.
The remaining Wild Gods were still in the process of resurrection, with the speed of recovery varying based on their individual strength.
The closest to resurrection was Aviana, the Mother of All Birds. Her strength was the weakest among the Wild Gods, requiring the least energy and time for resurrection.
Traveling south through Grizzly Hills, Andreas arrived at the Night Elves' military base in Howling Fjord—YShaarj.
This was once one of the most important sleeping grounds for the Vrykul. In a war many years ago, it was completely blown sky-high by the Night Elves using arcane bombs, and none of the Vrykul sleeping there survived.
After post-war reconstruction, YShaarj became the Night Elves' front-line base in Howling Fjord, constantly monitoring the restless Dragonriding Vrykul to the south.
One of Navaz's lieutenants was stationed at YShaarj. Accompanying Andreas to the city wall, this lieutenant somewhat worriedly recounted the recent situation in Howling Fjord to Speaker Moonshadow.
"With King Ymiron awakening in the Utgarde Keep, the Vrykul's movements have become increasingly frequent, and their desire for further expansion is almost palpable."
"According to General Navaz's estimation, these Vrykul will definitely attack us within a few years, attempting to reclaim lost territories."