Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 389, Section 79: What Second Empire? There is no such thing as a Second Empire in this world! Loyalty! Honesty!
"Hululu"

Dai Lin, holding the earthenware bowl, ate the very flavorful stewed meat with great gusto, then drank the broth dry, letting out a satisfied snort. She placed the bowl on the rough table and exclaimed loudly:
"Delicious! I'll have another bowl!"

"Go and serve yourself. This isn't your palace; we're guests now."

Queen Catherine, unable to tolerate her husband's dissolute behavior any longer, gave him a light tap on the shoulder, causing the admiral to purse his lips and get up to serve himself another bowl of the orc-style meat soup from the pot.

Arthas was extremely envious of this scene.

He had heard from his mentor Muradin Bronzebeard since he was a child that a warrior's appetite represented his strength! From this perspective, Admiral Daelin, who had already eaten six bowls and was starting on her seventh, must be the most powerful warrior among humankind.

Well, Marshal Losa, who ate six bowls, was no less impressive.

I'm the only one who's bad at this; I didn't even finish the first bowl.

He glanced furtively at the very ladylike Jaina, who had already eaten two bowls.

Arthas had learned about Jaina's situation from Queen Catherine's conversation with her sister; the blonde girl, like Varian, had undergone a miraculous "growth."

She is half a year younger than me, but she is already about sixteen years old. It is said that her magic release has reached a level far beyond that of her peers.

Jaina noticed Arthas's gaze, turned around, gave the little prince a sweet smile, and then continued to eat and drink heartily.

Her demeanor was very elegant, but she ate at an incredibly fast pace.

Considering that she had traversed the Star Sea with the Twinworld Travelers for two months, the journey could no longer be described as "eating in the open and sleeping in the sun." Tonight, she finally had a normal meal, and Jaina was almost moved to tears.

This scene solidified Arthas's resolve.

He glanced at his sister and vowed to himself that he would do whatever it took to persuade her to let him participate in the Prosperity Ceremony.

While Arthas was eating meat soup and deep in thought, Lothar and the mountain guardian were chatting casually on two chairs not far away.

"Your retirement benefits are pretty good."

While eating the rather delicious split-hoof beef ribs, the marshal complained:

"For a war criminal who should be hanged, the fact that you orcs' god has been able to come and protect the holy land is truly a blessing."

"Well, saying such disrespectful things here will be punished by the spirits of our ancestors."

Orgrim, with a corncob pipe dangling from his lips, leaned back in his chair, eyes half-closed, and covered himself with a blanket. As he enjoyed his dwarven tobacco, he muttered incoherently in the moonlight:
“Mount Woshu is the domain of the spirits of our ancestors. The souls that have returned from the world of the dead watch over their descendants in the spirit world. They do not speak often, but when they do speak, they can influence destiny.”

My ancestors are right behind you.
If you continue to be so rude, it will teach you a lesson.

"Who are you trying to scare?"

Losa chewed on the bone without looking up and said:

“My ancestors are also within me; your ancestors probably couldn’t defeat him either.”

"Wow, they've started fighting!"

Jaina, who was eating in the back, turned around once and her eyes widened in surprise.

She saw in the air behind Marshal Lothar that a golden Arathi barbarian spirit was fiercely fighting several orc ancestral spirits one-on-one.

They fought in the air, but the orcs were clearly no match for the Barbarian King.

Unfortunately, this unprecedented "spectacle" could only be seen by her alone. Her blue eyes, reflecting something ominous, were tinged with a hint of darkness, symbolizing that Jaina had indeed mastered some powers that ordinary mages should not have under the tutelage of the Two Worlds Walker.

However, the Twin Walker did not completely bring Jaina into the Void. It seemed to sense that Jaina's destiny belonged to arcane magic, and the Void was merely a passerby in her fate. Therefore, it only taught her how to be wary of temptations from the darkness and incidentally taught her some "self-defense techniques."

For spellcasters like Jaina Proudmoore, who possess terrifying talents, battling the darkness within their hearts is a trial destined to last a lifetime.

"So, you and Arthas have been staying in Draenor and don't know what happened in Lordaeron, right?"

At the dining table, Queen Catherine held her daughter's hand and whispered to Princess Galiya, who was sitting at the table having finished her meal:

"Poor girl, damned fate is not kind to you."

"I"

Princess Galiya lowered her head.

She was originally quite naive, but after Archbishop Isana personally dispelled the lingering "sedition" spell in her mind at the Karabor Temple, she actually knew that the Lord of Davar was problematic.

My admiration for him was merely the effect of an evil magic spell.

Come to think of it, other people's daughters are all older than her. She must be out of her mind to fall in love with a gloomy man who could be her father.

What is the picture?

Is it because he's old? Is it because of the gloomy aura he exudes? Is it because he's always plotting?

Calia was also a very clever princess. After realizing this, she tried her best not to imagine what would happen to the Kingdom of Lordaeron after she and Arthas left their homeland. She pretended to be a princess who was working hard for her country.

However, the arrival of Dalene and Catherine made it impossible for her to avoid them.

So at her request, Queen Catherine told her everything she knew, and Daelin also mentioned what Lothar had told her about the "Black Dragon Plot."

These events combined turned Princess Galiya pale, and the little prince jumped up in indignation, shouting:

"Those black dragons dared to bewitch my father? How hateful! They are harming my people, and I will personally wipe them all out! Sister, are you still going to stop me from participating in the Prosperity Ceremony?"
Our country needs our own hands to save it.

"you shut up!"

Galia scolded her brother, not understanding Arthas's hidden thoughts that were written all over his face.
Then he turned back to the Dalyn couple and said:
“Your Majesties, it’s not that I don’t believe your description, but this concerns my father and my country, and I must return to Azeroth in person.”

"What can you do if you go back?"

Catherine shook her head, glanced at her daughter in her arms who was about the same age as Galia, and sighed with a touch of affection for Galia, saying:

"In the current Northern Frontier, not to mention you, even the most elite veterans are vulnerable in that chaotic land. Demons, werewolves, dragonborn, and those even more dangerous creatures lurking in the darkness—any one of them could easily kill you."

Child, stay here obediently!

Don't go back and cause trouble for the warriors. Just think, how many brave knights of the kingdom will die for you if you go?

Dale and I do not currently have any clear political affiliation, so what we are telling you is the truth!
I have led the fleet back and forth between the north and south many times, and I have witnessed those legendary events with my own eyes. Don't harbor any illusions. Your father will never see you, and it's even uncertain whether the soul hidden beneath King Terenas's body is truly his original one.

"But one thing is certain."

Dailin took out a handkerchief, wiped her mouth, and whispered:

"Perhaps becoming the Dragonborn King was a sacrifice he made under pressure from demons, but Terenas' thirst for power had already erupted when he sat on the throne."

You know better than we do what kind of person your father is!

Therefore, the so-called 'Lordaeron Dragonborn Empire' is definitely not just a shameless exaggeration by busybodies.

Your father will definitely make that choice; even without the Black Dragon's involvement, other forces will push him to that point.

Galiya's face grew paler and paler.

She wanted to refute it, but she couldn't produce any evidence. She was even somewhat convinced. She knew she should do something, but when she looked back, she realized that she couldn't do anything to help her hometown.

"Sister! Don't be afraid, I will protect you and our hometown, I can definitely do it."

Alsace noticed Galiya's confusion and helplessness.

He ran over and grabbed Galia's cold hand, glaring at Queen Catherine and Her Majesty Darlene, and shouted:

"You are all bad people! You came here to bully my sister."

"Ha, the little guy is quite brave. He'll definitely become a great warrior when he grows up."

Dale laughed and said something, and Arthas immediately asked:

"really?"

"It's fake. The Little Prince is really lame because he can't even understand good and bad words."

Dale gave a rather wicked grin, got up and walked towards Lothar and the mysterious mountain guardian. He hadn't participated in the orc war, but he could sense that the mountain guardian who had saved his daughter was no ordinary person.

It is extraordinary in every aspect.

"Write a letter."

Catherine reached out and took Galiya's other hand, whispering:
"I met Sir Uther in Stormwind Kingdom. He was selecting warriors from the exiles of Lordaeron to train soldiers, and he also had the support of Archbishop Faol and Archbishop Benedictus."

That loyal knight would never have any other ideas, so you and Arthas will soon have your own armed force.

You can have Sir Uther go and take a look at the northern frontier in your place.

But I advise you not to return to Azeroth until the situation becomes clearer. Otherwise, you and your brother will be dragged into a political vortex that neither of you can currently control.

Queen Catherine, who came from a prominent family and possessed a keen political mind, offered this advice:
"This is a struggle for legitimacy within the human empire, child. The entire eastern continent cannot remain uninvolved. Not to mention you and Arthas, even Daelin and I would be torn to shreds if we rashly got involved. You are still a child."

Unfortunately, you now have to kill the girl within you and grow up much faster.

Jialiya lowered her head.

A moment later, Queen Catherine felt tears falling, and she heard Galiya sob as she said:
"Why must everyone fight each other for that position? What's so great about that throne? Everyone wants it. We finally drove away the orcs; we could have easily driven out the demons by uniting."

“Alas, the throne of power is the worst thing in the world, but unfortunately, if the wrong person sits on it, even more terrible disasters will break out. Lothar is now fighting for that position, not because he so desires power.”

He was simply trying to avoid having new nightmares.

Queen Catherine sighed, rose, and embraced Galia, gently comforting her.

Arthas and Jaina, the two children, one big and one small, stared at each other, unable to comprehend these complicated matters, but they sensed that it was very serious.

On the other side, three men sat in chairs facing the sacred mountain, smoking and looking completely at ease.

"Lothar, I will not support you."

With her sailor's pipe dangling from her lips, Dale finally spoke out about the matter for the first time.

他 说:

"Kul Tiras is not my personal fiefdom. Let me make it clear: the Proudmoore family is currently neutral, but the Waycrest family leans towards you, and the Stormsong family leans more towards the one in the North, but not because of issues of power or justice."

The Sea Sages under the Stormsong family were not unaware of the darkness that permeated the Northern Frontier, but they preferred to maintain their independence.

Most importantly, there is a certain doctrinal conflict between the Tide Worship of Kul Tiras and the mainstream Light Worship of the continent. The Tide Worship Sages do not want to trigger a brutal religious war, so they do not intend to support the reconstruction of the Empire.

As for the Ashvane family…

Dailin pouted and said:

"Whoever can offer them more benefits, they will help. As it stands, you are not as generous as King Terenas. That king has promised that once the Lordaeron Empire is established, all domestic commercial circulation can be entrusted to the Ashvane family for management."

But as far as I know, the 'financial backer' behind you is Prince Hotspur of the Hotspur Consortium.

"Ha, that damned goblin has been the biggest competitor of Kul Tiran merchants for decades."

The old sailor shrugged, exhaled a puff of smoke shaped like a ship, and irritably ruffled his hair, saying:
"I don't want my country to fall apart. Most importantly, Kul Tiras has not yet recovered from the demon attacks. For us, regaining control of the South Sea trade routes is of paramount importance."

So don't expect us to get involved in your conflict anytime soon.

"This is enough."

Losa nodded and said:
"I can accept not helping either side, but the Kul Tiran fleet should not get involved in the war on the continent. You guys just focus on doing business."

"This isn't right."

Orgrim, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke:

"Your mindset doesn't seem like that of someone preparing for war; it's more like that of a peacemaker. Lothar, if you approach the fight against the Northern Frontier with this kind of complacent attitude, you'll suffer a crushing defeat. Tell me honestly, what are your true thoughts about this war?"

The marshal hesitated for a moment, then said:
“I can’t possibly wipe out all the werewolves and dragonborn; they’ve only changed their form, they’re still human. So, I plan to deal with the black dragons, and then…”

"Then use political means to build a weak alliance?"

Orgrim scoffed:
"Just like I was back then, when the Blackhand Warchief had gone down a dead end, I also thought that by dealing with Gul'dan and the Shadow Council, I could persuade the obsessed Warchief to listen to advice and get back on the right track."

Then I was targeted for assassination.

"If it weren't for Kargath's secret assistance, I would have died in Frostfire Ridge long ago."

The mountain keeper took off his corncob pipe, gazed at the sacred mountain gleaming in the moonlight, and after a moment, said to Losa with emphasis:
"That won't do!"

It's a festering sore. Even if you do your best to repair the skin and make it look good again, you can't change the fact that the whole body is decaying.

Even if the sore isn't removed, the giant will still die from poisoning.

You know where the problem lies; you just can't make a decision. Dragonborn, werewolves, demons—these are all symptoms! It's like an orc who has drunk demon blood and is affected by a curse of rage. Can you say that changing a chieftain will solve the problem?
Don't be silly!
No matter how eloquent the chieftain's words are, there's no way to bring the orcs back from the curse of demonic blood without eliminating the two great demons.

How long can your empire last if you don't eliminate those ambitious schemers who instigate conflict in the shadows?

Orgrim snorted, flicked the ash from his pipe, and said:
"That's a problem that has continued from the division of 2,800 years to the present. For us short-lived species, the great unification of 3,000 years ago is just a legend. You think you can unify all countries with a legend? That's wishful thinking!"
Your people aren't fools.

They don't care about your bloodline at all; they only care about who can bring them lasting peace and prosperity when they become emperor.

If you believe that King Terenas can make life better for the people once he takes power, then you might as well surrender now. If you think he can't, then you should fight him to the end!

It's not about how much you crave that position, but about the fact that you have to do it.

If you don't do those things for them, no one else will.

If you choose to escape, every hardship and tragedy your people will face afterward will be inextricably linked to your weakness.

This isn't even a question of whether you want to or not.
You've come this far; the will of the people is there, and you can't turn back, otherwise you'd be letting down those behind you.

At this point, the mountain keeper stood up, put away his stool and blanket, and said:
"Let me tell you a secret: I never liked that seat for even a second during my time as the Great Chieftain, so when you defeated me at Mount Hyjal, I was grateful to you."

You freed me from that terrible duty, and I have fulfilled my promise to the people.

This will be your life from now on, Lothar.

Even if you don't like that throne, you have to sit on it until you find someone else qualified to inherit it, only then will you find the liberation you desire.

He stretched out his one arm, patted Lothar on the shoulder, and said:

"This is a battle you have to fight. Since you're going to fight it, go for victory. Rather than leaving trouble for your descendants, you might as well resolve it all at once."

Forget your lineage, forget the glory of the Arathor Empire—that was the glory of your ancestors, and has nothing to do with you.

What you're going to build isn't a second Arathor Empire, it's a new Lothar Empire.

In the name of the people!

Rather than in the name of bloodline or ancestors
Knowing full well that the northern frontier is a pit of fire, don't push innocent children like Alsace into it. Go challenge it, and then defeat it.

After saying that, Orgrim yawned, took the blanket back to his room, and slammed the door shut without any politeness.

Dale looked at Lothar in surprise and said:
"Who is this guy? I feel like if he were your shill, I might have already agreed to work for you. He's much better at talking than you."

"Sigh, if it were him, he would definitely be much more determined than I am."

Losa sighed.

He also looked at the distant Mount Worshugu, and picked up the Heart of Azeroth hanging on his chest, rubbing it in his hands.

Several minutes later, he said to Dale:

“I’ve changed my mind. Kul Tiras must stand by me! You have no right to stand aside. That guy is right. This isn’t just my business, and I can’t just do it haphazardly.”

"Hmph, you wish."

Dai Lin pouted and said:
"What if we don't want to?"

"Then let's go back and prepare for battle."

Lothar stood up, waved his hand, and said:
"For the profits of the South China Sea trade, every goblin consortium would risk everything to hand over every single gold coin they have to me! Just so I can drive your fleet out of that rich ocean."

The Kul Tirans have dominated the South Sea for far too long, therefore, Daelin…

Lothar turned and stared at the Sailor King, saying:

"You either obediently lead your fleet as the vanguard of the king, or I will use the goblin money to crush you, and then order your wrecked fleet to carry my warriors to the northern frontier."

ten years?

Do not!
I cannot allow those dragonborn and werewolves to oppress my people for ten years!

I want to unify the human kingdoms, the sooner the better!

Go back and tell the Ashvane family! Terenas's promise of Imperial trade is indeed tempting, if they're willing to sacrifice all their interests in the South Sea. Besides, four families controlling and sharing power?

"Your reign as king is truly fucking miserable."

Lothar extended his hand to Dalene and said:

"Become the Imperial Navy Admiral!"

I assure you that in all matters concerning the sea, you are the primary decision-maker of the empire. Let the glory of our ancestors return to them; let us build an empire of our own generation!
How to say?
Want to do something together?

(End of this chapter)