In the Old Town barracks, Allen and the other two passed through multiple checkpoints under the guidance of an officer.
Inside the command room, the long table was already filled with officers.
They sat upright in crisp uniforms, their expressions stern. Thick dossiers and maps were spread across the table before them.
Allen was led to a secondary seat beside the table. Stella sat at his side, clearly uneasy. Her small body shrank into the chair, her large azure eyes darting around nervously. Surrounded by those tall, imposing soldiers, she looked like a tiny mouse that had wandered into a pride of lions.
Wren remained expressionless, one hand resting naturally at his waist, where his dagger was hidden.
Suddenly, all the officers stood up in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized. The sharp sound of boots striking the ground rang out.
They straightened their backs, their gazes fixed on the doorway, right hands raised—
"Seventh Legion, we greet His Maj—"
Before they could finish, a figure strode in.
Varian Wrynn entered the command room like a spirited young lion, head held high, chest out.
Today, he wore a perfectly tailored dark blue military uniform, the collar embroidered with a golden lion's head. The scabbard at his waist gleamed brightly.
His gaze swept over the officers who were about to speak. His brows knit slightly, and a trace of warning flashed through his eyes.
The officers forcibly swallowed their words, then smoothly pivoted: "—the nation's eagle, Stormwind's blade, the honorable Major Mathias Shaw!"
A faint smile tugged at Varian's lips, clearly satisfied with the last-second correction.
He took the seat of honor, his gaze sweeping across the room. It paused briefly on Allen, and he gave a slight nod.
Major Mathias Shaw?
Wren, who had always felt that the name "Mathias" sounded familiar, leaned slightly closer to Allen and whispered in a low voice: "I've heard of him. They say he's the blade hidden in Stormwind's shadows, the one who commands the most ruthless, most merciless, and most omnipresent intelligence agency—SI:7."
His voice was soft, but it was enough for Stella beside them to hear.
The words "SI:7" were like a bucket of ice water dumped over her head. Stella's face instantly turned pale.
Her large blue eyes looked in horror at the seated "Major Shaw." Then, without a sound, she shrank completely behind Allen, leaving only a tuft of blue hair visible, trembling.
Allen suppressed a smile and deliberately asked, "So you're Major Shaw? Then who is the Shaw beside you?"
Before Varian could answer, the real Mathias Shaw spoke first: "I am Major Shaw's cousin."
His tone was calm, his expression unchanged.
"Oh—" Allen deliberately dragged out the sound of that "oh."
Varian had a vague feeling he was being toyed with, yet couldn't find any evidence.
He cleared his throat and put on a serious face. "Enough. Let's talk business."
An officer stood up in response, walked to the map at the front, and picked up a slender pointer.
"Gentlemen," he cleared his throat and pointed to a marked location in Elwynn Forest, "three weeks ago, the De Montmorency family was massacred in their countryside villa near a lumber camp in Elwynn Forest."
The pointer tapped on the symbol marking the estate.
"According to the investigation, there were seventeen victims—the head of the De Montmorency family and his wife, their five children, seven servants, and three visiting relatives who happened to be staying overnight. All died from throat-slitting wounds. The method was clean and efficient."
As the officer spoke, Varian quietly shared additional insider information with Allen: "Since the De Montmorency family was somewhat ostracized among the nobility, this massacre didn't cause much of a stir."
"Officially, Stormwind classified it as a roaming attack by the Red Scarf bandits. After all, the valuables in the villa were indeed completely looted."
Red Scarf bandits?
Allen raised an eyebrow. The "red headscarves" Wren had mentioned came to mind.
It had only been eight years since the Dark Portal opened. Stormwind had not yet been fully rebuilt. The Stonemasons' Guild had not yet turned to banditry over unpaid wages, and Edwin VanCleef had not yet founded the Defias Brotherhood.
So where did these Red Scarf bandits come from?
Of course, there was more to the story than what Varian had said.
At the time, the Stormwind authorities closed the case under the pretext of "eliminating the largest bandit group in Elwynn Forest" and "comprehensively strengthening internal patrols." It created no ripples whatsoever. The De Montmorency family was quietly buried beneath the dust of history.
Until today, when Varian Wrynn brought the massacre back into the light.
Combining previous clues, Allen's earlier conclusion was overturned. Varian now believed that it was not the De Montmorency family colluding with remnants of the Horde, but rather a hidden Horde remnant within Stormwind that had committed the massacre.
This shift—from bandits to Horde remnants—instantly elevated the importance of the case. The nobles of Stormwind were now in a state of unease.
After all, bandits could be wiped out easily.
But the orcs of the Horde…
They had truly conquered Stormwind once.
That terrifying memory was still etched into the hearts of every Stormwind citizen—burning buildings, corpses everywhere, green-skinned demons roaring as they charged through the gates with battle axes raised…
Varian's discovery dealt a heavy blow to the regent council nobles who still treated him as a child. He also intended to use this case to reclaim the authority that was rightfully his.
Thus, the De Montmorency Massacre Task Force was formed.
After hearing the full story, Allen heard that gentle yet hollow female voice in his ear:
[Side Quest: The Mystery of De Montmorency (Completed)]
[Reward: Agility +5 granted]
[Reward: Drawing 1 random low-level spell…]
[…]
[Draw successful. Congratulations, you have obtained the spell: Tasha's Hideous Laughter]
[Spell Details:
Level: 1st Circle
Effect: Target a creature you can see within range. If the creature can be affected, everything appears irresistibly funny to it, causing it to burst into uncontrollable laughter.
This spell has no effect on creatures with Intelligence 4 or lower.
Note: Even smiles are yours to command.]
Allen stared at the interface, falling silent.
What kind of garbage spell is this? Make someone laugh? What's the point? Make them laugh to death in a fight?
Of course, Allen knew that Hideous Laughter could sometimes be surprisingly effective. He was just venting because he didn't draw a powerful offensive spell.
[Agility 6→Agility 11! (Congratulations, you now run faster than a rabbit.)]
…Well, at least escaping would be easier now.
Before he could fully process the rewards, the system spoke again:
[Side Quest Unlocked]
[Side Quest: The Mystery of De Montmorency (II)]
[A terrifying killer—the true culprit behind the massacre of the De Montmorency family—is hiding within Stormwind. You should avenge them, find the murderer, capture him… or kill him.]
[Reward: 2 random low-level spells, +5 free attribute points]
Allen took a deep breath and returned to reality from the system interface.
Just in time, he heard an officer sigh: "But where are we supposed to find the killer? There are no witnesses, no clues—only a half-burned letter and an unidentified insignia…"
The other officers nodded, their faces troubled.
Witnesses?
Allen did have an idea.
But he couldn't say it in front of so many people.
"I can find information about the killer."
Allen, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention.
Varian's eyes lit up. "Oh? What's your plan?"
"That's none of your concern…" Allen glanced around. The gazes of those officers and nobles pierced into him like needles.
They clearly disliked him—a complete outsider who had somehow influenced their king into playing "make-believe," and now boasting that he could find the killer.
He beckoned to Varian.
Varian ignored the breach of etiquette and leaned closer.
Allen lowered his voice, speaking so that only the two of them could hear: "Tonight, after midnight, come to the inn. I have a way to determine the killer's information, characteristics… even his name."
Varian looked at him with a strange expression.
…Fine.
He would trust him one more time.
Straightening up, he announced to the room: "This meeting is adjourned. Return and await further instructions."
The officers exchanged glances. Some wanted to speak, but seeing Varian's unquestionable expression, they could only salute and file out.
As they left, many cast unfriendly glances at Allen.
Those looks clearly said: We'll see how long your bluff lasts.
Once everyone was gone, Stella finally dared to poke her head out from behind Allen. She released the hem of his clothes she had been clutching and let out a long breath.
"That scared me to death…"
A few officers who had joined midway only then realized there was actually a small Gnome hiding behind Allen. They looked surprised.
Meeting their gazes, Stella instantly shrank back again.
...
That night.
The candlelight flickered inside the Pig and Whistle Tavern.
In the upstairs room, Stella looked at Allen with admiration written all over her face.
"Benefactor, you were so brave today!" she waved her little hands, her bright blue eyes sparkling. "Facing so many important people and still speaking without changing expression! Amazing!"
Allen smiled, saying nothing.
Wren, meanwhile, paced back and forth, brows tightly furrowed.
He finally stopped and looked at Allen.
"How exactly are you planning to find the killer?"
Allen smiled mysteriously, lifting his teacup and taking a sip.
"You'll know when the time comes."
Wren frowned even more, like a cat tortured by curiosity.
He paced a few more steps, then spoke again: "Did you find any other clues back in Goldshire that day?"
Allen only smiled.
Wren scratched his head anxiously, unable to sit still. He kept glancing at the moon outside the window, then at the clock on the wall.
Finally—
Knock, knock, knock—
The door was gently knocked.
Allen got up and opened it.
Outside stood two figures cloaked in dark capes—Varian Wrynn and Mathias Shaw.
"We're here," Varian said in a low voice. As soon as he entered, he couldn't wait to ask, "Now tell me—what exactly is your method?"
Allen calmly closed the door and gestured for them to sit.
Wren and Stella gathered around as well. Eight eyes fixed on Allen.
Allen smiled faintly and looked at Varian.
"Do you know where the bodies of the De Montmorency family were buried?"
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