Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 498, Section 37. Although there won't be a loving father and daughter this time, this Dai Lin is really too lame!
"Hey, human king, haven't I done you a great favor this time?"

Guarded by two enormous black wolves, Hogg swaggered into a chair at the makeshift camp, chatting and laughing with King Ryan. When asked a question, the human king pursed his lips, but still nodded and said:

"Chief Hogger took in and helped the Queen and Princess of Kul Tiras, which is of great significance to humanity. You have indeed made a noble gesture, for which I am deeply grateful."

"But gratitude must be expressed through concrete actions; mere words do not constitute gratitude."

Hogg grinned and said:

"My brave men are currently defending the coast against those damned dragonborn, some of whom are dangerous spellcasters. If a real battle breaks out, my tribe will surely suffer heavy casualties."

Although I, Lord Hogg, have little interest in power and only wish to be a carefree and happy gnoll, the will of the Black Wolf God weighs heavily on me, preventing me from being happy.

"So, King Ryan, let's get down to business?"

Ryan didn't answer, but instead scrutinized the unusual gnoll before him with a critical gaze.

This guy kept his mane very clean, and even his tail was carefully groomed. He didn't have any strange smell, nor did he have the unhygienic habits of other gnolls.

It even knew how to carve proverbs praising the Black Wolf God on its clan armor. Although the carvings were crooked and looked like children's scribbles, the engravings still gave the armor some spiritual significance.

This was clearly inspired by the faith armor of human paladins.

Hogger's eyes were very sharp, and although his beast-like pupils were unsettling, there was indeed "wisdom" in them.

If Ryan had encountered such a guy during previous gnoll wars, he would have had a real headache and tried every means to get rid of this dangerous gnoll chieftain, but the situation is different now.

While Losar is fighting on the front lines, doing his utmost to pacify the northern border, there must be no trouble in the rear.

Therefore, Ryan asked:
"So, what kind of reward does Chief Hogg want?"

“Hey, you need to deploy the Redridge Mountains border guards to help us crush those arrogant dragonborn.”

Hogger flicked out a claw and said:
"My gnolls are numerous, and I'm not afraid to tell you that their military training is not yet complete. They are not capable of fighting tough battles at all. They can only rely on Dog Red and his berserk orcs to put on a show."

But Red still needs to stay in Blackrock Spire, which is also an important part of our territory, and we can't afford to lose too many of his orcs.

Those Lordaeronians are coming for you, so you definitely need to send out warriors to hold them off.

As for me, I don't want much either.

The seven boats on the shore are mine!

"What use do you have for warships? To attack Stormwind?"

Ryan immediately retorted:
"Excuse my bluntness, but even if we give you those warships, there are no docks in the Black Swamp to moor them. The maintenance of warships is extremely complicated, and you will only waste good things."

"What business is it of ours how we use it! Black Marsh doesn't have a port, but Booty Bay and Stranglethorn Vale don't either?"

Hogg bared his teeth, revealing a fierce expression, and said:
"I need a boat! How am I supposed to cross the ocean to the Dragon Islands without a boat?"
Stop talking nonsense!

Those seven ships and their cannons are mine; the rest are yours!
Or I could withdraw my sons now and let the Dragonborn wipe out all your outposts and warriors in Lightforged Hills?
snort!
You don't have a fully-fledged army here yet.

"You can try, gnoll!"

Captain Kishan touched the dwarf musket at his waist and said in a cold voice.

The black wolf beside Hogg also stood up, baring its teeth. Seeing that the negotiations were about to break down, Hogg suddenly changed the subject, saying:
"However, what you said makes sense. Seven warships are indeed too many. I don't have enough men under my command to take good care of them. So how about this?"

We want three ships, and you can have the remaining four, but you must exchange them for grain!
Ugh, the gnolls' enormous appetites are a real headache. I'm practically sitting on a volcano right now; if I don't feed these bastards for a day, they'll start causing trouble.

I plan to expend their energy, so I'm taking them to Stranglethorn Vale for a 'hunt' next.

"hunt?"

King Ryan couldn't quite understand the gnoll's overly active thought process. He said:
"You want to wage war against the trolls of Stranglethorn Vale? Aren't you afraid that the trolls of the Gurubashi Kingdom will come out in full force?"

"I, this great one, am afraid of them? Ridiculous!"

Hogg laughed and said:
"You don't know yet, do you? The human king, the Gurubashi troll, who is completely out of touch with the world, has been 'expelled' from the human race by the Zandalari trolls!"

The noble Golden King is about to send a large army to conquer their rebellion, and the Loa god brought me enlightenment in a dream. My tribe and I will fight as 'mercenaries' in order to earn a reward from the wealthy Golden King.

Once I successfully latch onto the Troll Empire's coattails, I'll never have to worry about food or drink again.

Otherwise, what do you think I need warships for?
"Don't worry, I've suffered defeats in Elwynn Forest. I have no interest in tough guys like humans. So, it's settled then? Warships for food."

King Llane was indeed unaware that the Zandalari trolls were planning to attack the Gurubashi trolls.

But now that he knows, his mind is starting to work.

After pondering for a moment, he asked Kishan to fetch a military map of Stranglethorn Vale and whispered to Hogg:

"Do you still want the territory you conquered when you were killing trolls in Stranglethorn Vale? If you want to do business, we can actually talk about a really 'big deal'."

You can become a mercenary for the Golden King, and in return, you can sell us the land in northern Stranglethorn Vale.

I don't want much; the land north of this line belongs to us.

The trolls and Stormwind have a history of conflict, so I need to be prepared in advance.

You don't need to worry about diplomatic matters. I will send people to discuss the ownership of these territories with the Golden King. You just need to conquer them.

Although the Western Fertile Lands have been ravaged by the Greenskins, this year's harvest is decent; I could even sign a long-term food supply contract with you. If things go poorly for you in Stranglethorn Vale, the Kurson Brigade there can even provide some limited assistance.”

This time it was Hogg's turn to hesitate.

The gnoll chieftain thought for a moment and said:
"Although your offer is generous, I always feel that you have ulterior motives, so I need to discuss this with Dog Red and ask our strategist for his opinion. Why are you looking at me with that strange look?"

I'm a chieftain, after all. Isn't it normal for me to have advisors? You don't really think I'm a barbarian, do you?
"Your Majesty Ryan, that's a bit disrespectful."

While Ryan and Hogg were locked in a battle of wits, on the other side of the camp, Diakum treated the injured Queen Catherine and expelled the remaining Void Toxins from her body.

This queen is truly strong.

She was stabbed with a dagger infused with Void Poison, but the dual pain, affecting both her body and mind, did not break her; instead, it allowed her to persevere until now.

If it weren't for the encounter with Saint Diakum, other priests would have had a real difficulty dispelling this supernatural toxin in a short time, meaning the queen would have suffered even more.

After soothing the weary queen into a deep sleep, Dick cast a blessing on her to restore her energy, and then rose under the grateful gaze of Lord Cyrus.

He sat on a nearby rock, looking at Jaina's worried face, and asked:

"How did you and your mother get to the Black Swamp? And what happened to her injuries?"

"It was her best friend who betrayed her."

Jaina sighed sadly and said:
"At the banquet held at Proudmoore Fortress, Duchess Ashvane and other noblewomen pretended to urge her to drink, and when my mother was completely unprepared, that vicious woman with a hideous face suddenly attacked her with a dagger."

If it weren't for Lord Cyrus and the other guards' efforts to rescue us, my mother and I would never have been able to escape the fortress.

The Ashvane and Stormsong families launched a rebellion, and the Proudmoore family suffered heavy casualties because of Haysien. I used teleportation to escape the city with my mother and some loyal guards.

We witnessed firsthand the chaos as pirates hired by the Ashvane family stormed the port and attacked the city. It is said that the Ashvane family ceded an island off the coast of Tiragarde to them in exchange for the pirates' support.

That madwoman even secretly opened the cages of the Tol Dago Black Prison, releasing the most dangerous criminals in the entire human world as servants.

There was no safe place in Tiragarde Sound anymore, so we first fled to Norvington Manor. Sir Norvington was loyal and took us in, but my mother needed treatment, so I risked using a long-range teleportation spell.

I intended to teleport directly to Stormwind, but the teleportation was interrupted by Hai Xian.

We landed in the muddy waters of the Black Swamp, only to be discovered by Chief Hogg's gnolls.

It went there specifically to wait for us.

"Ok?"

Diakum asked in confusion:

"Waited for you specifically? So, Hogg knew you would end up in the Black Swamp? Who told it?"

"It doesn't want to say, but I guess it must be some Loa god."

Jaina whispered:

"That Chief Hogg is really 'superstitious.' He filled his dwelling with idols of every Loa he knew, and the gnolls under his command had a chaotic faith. Although they were generally followers of the Black Wolf God, they also worshipped some other Loas to gain power."

The Black Wolf God let things take their course, which was quite strange.

Oh, and my brother too.

The young Jaina rubbed her temples in annoyance, looking at the incredibly powerful alien saint before her, and whispered:

"I can feel a force clinging to my mind. It doesn't attack me, but it's forcing me to forget everything about Tanred, as if it's trying to completely erase my poor brother from this world."

I'm starting to doubt if it was all just my imagination. Maybe I never had a brother named 'Tanred' and he was just a kid!

I don't understand, what does the Void need him for?

"Perhaps it's because the Proudmoore family has an innate and close connection with the ocean?"

Diakum extended a finger and touched Jaina's brow, using his mental power to help her dispel the unique mental interference. He said:

"Considering your father's ordeal in the South China Sea, we must conclude that everything carried out against your family is part of a vicious plan. In fact, given the Proudmoore family's influence in Kul Tiras, as long as your family has successors, it will be difficult for other families to stabilize the situation in a short period of time, especially considering your father's overwhelming control over the Kul Tiras navy."

This is a very tricky problem for any ambitious person who wants to rebel.

"You and your mother are one thing, you are merely weak claimants to the throne, but your father, brother, and younger brother are threats that must be eliminated."

"This"

Jaina's face turned deathly pale in an instant.

She pleaded:

"Then can you"

"Of course, I am willing to oppose all the evil forces of the void, even if I am one of them. But even though we all walk in the night, we have different understandings of darkness."

It is common knowledge that heretics are always more hateful than heretics.

Dick smiled and said to Jaina:
"Don't worry about your mother. She'll be safe at the Northshire Abbey. You should probably go to the North Frontier yourself and protect Prince Drake on his ship. He doesn't know where the danger is yet."

After hearing about Her Majesty Dalene's ordeal, I reckon Prince Drake will be furious and want to go back to quell the rebellion, but you must dissuade him.

This is very important; don't let him go back to his death!

The vigilant warned:

"The seeds of Kul Tiras's hidden dangers were sown when you founded your nation. When the first settlers received the 'gifts' of the sea, it was destined that you would be entangled with the monsters of the ocean."

I think the Twin Realms Walker must have seen this, which is why he taught you those spells to resist the interference of the void.

Let's go to Northern Xinjiang first.

Assist Marshal Lothar in conquering the Dragonborn Empire of Lordaeron, and the entire human world will unite around you to resolve the troubles for Kul Tiras.

Don't worry, I'll go with you. Those shadows lurking beneath the waves are a bit too audacious.

It disturbed the watchful eye, and for that it will pay the price.

"But my father"

Encouraged, Jaina resolved to protect her brother, but before setting off, the young woman couldn't help but ask:

"Can my father withstand the malice from the depths of the sea?"

"I do not know."

Dick replied:
"But I guess, if you don't interfere with your father's fate, there's probably nothing in this world that can break someone as determined as Dalene. For His Majesty Dalene, you, little girl, are his greatest 'nemesis'."

"???"

------

"You son of a bitch! You bastard!"

On the wild and primitive swampy coast, a miserable and destitute middle-aged sailor struggled to climb onto the beach, still holding the delicious tail of a dead lobster man in his hand.

He looked like a tough sailor who had survived a storm, his uniform tattered, but he was in good spirits. He gripped his naval knife, cautiously surveying his surroundings, while peeling open the lobster-man's tail shell and stuffing the tender, juicy meat into his mouth.

He devoured his hunted prey, then glanced at the wrecked ship bobbing on the turbulent sea.

The sailor's mind was in disarray. He vaguely remembered encountering a terrible storm, and his ship seemed to have encountered a terrifying sea monster in the storm.

Before the monster could drag his warship into the sea, the loyal warriors desperately threw him out. The broken sampan before them was the means by which he had braved the storm to reach this strange land.

He didn't know how long he had been drifting on the sea, he had even forgotten his identity and name, he only knew that the Naga and the Tide Sage were his enemies!
And the dead
Correct!
Those damned ghost ships also joined the attack on me.

Just as the sailor had eaten and drunk his fill and was resting on the beach, he suddenly heard a strange noise coming from the swamp behind him. He got up alertly, drew his exquisite naval commander's sword from his waist, and pulled out a golden, ornate repeating pistol from his boot.

These two things prove that he is a man of high status.

Ordinary sailors can't afford these things.

As he watched, flickering spirit fires emerged from the dim swamp, accompanied by the murky sounds of undead creatures stumbling through the muddy water.

A group of boar-man undead appeared before the sailor's eyes.

The leader was a tough-looking fellow, carrying a tattered battle flag on his back and gripping a steel knife wrapped in thorns.

"His Majesty needs you, Your Excellency General."

It whimpered, calling out in a chilling voice, making the amnesiac sailor bare his teeth.

When faced with danger, his first reaction is not to run away, but to rush in and fight!

Although he had lost his memory, his formidable fighting prowess remained. In a burst of rage, he charged forward, slashing down several undead before engaging in a fierce battle with the leader of the undead boarmen.

However, more spirits were awakened, seemingly from a nearby cemetery.

The sailor realized he should perhaps retreat temporarily, and just as he was about to leave, the cry of a raptor accompanied by a shower of flames ignited all the surrounding undead.

The blazing flames danced and burned, causing the undead to scream and retreat.

The fierce sailor used his musket to kill the undead boarman who had been set ablaze, and then spat rudely at the corpse before turning around to look at the strange, giant raven clad in wooden armor.

The creature hovered and landed on the beach, transforming into a gigantic being enveloped in green light.

"Hey! Why are you wearing a wolf's head on your head? That helmet of yours is so ugly."

The sailor made a sarcastic remark.

This made Rexxar give him a strange look. Rescuing this stranded man was just a casual act. Rexxar had been clearing away the undead around Dustwallow Marsh recently, but the situation was very troublesome. The entire Razor Hill was almost becoming a "paradise for the dead".

That place used to be the home of the boar people, so it's not a problem that Rexxar alone can solve.

He dropped a packet of medicine and turned to leave, but was stopped by a sailor.

"At least tell me where this is, right?"

He asked, quite perplexed:

"I've lost my mind, I've amnesia, I've even forgotten my own name, but I vaguely remember that I should have a son who is fighting in a place called 'Northern Frontier'. Can you help me go there?"
I will definitely repay you handsomely.

"The northern frontier of the eastern continent?"

Rexxar sighed and said:

“That’s another continent, and it’s across the entire Endless Sea. I can’t take you there by flying; we’ll need at least a ship.”

"Boat"

The sailor scratched his head, then looked at the sea, and after a moment, pointed there and said:
"Isn't that a boat?"

"Ok?"

Rexxar turned around in surprise.

Sure enough, a black ship flying a pirate flag was approaching from the sea. The amnesiac sailor said eagerly:

"I can sail! All we need to do is seize that ship, and then we'll set sail for the Northern Frontier. You look like a good fighter, so I'll hire you."

"No, I'm staying here to solve the problem of the boarman undead."

Rexxar refused.

But the sailor said:

"How can you handle this alone? There are so many undead in this swamp, you could work yourself to death and still not kill them all. You need a team! An army, do you understand?"
My son must be a very important person; I remember he has a fleet under his command.

Yes.

He's definitely a skilled sailor, and he's very filial. You come with me to join him, and then I'll have him bring his fleet to help us!

Rexxar thought about it and realized it made some sense.

More importantly, he heard that the Durotan chieftain was now fighting on the eastern continent, and he would have to find a time to return the ashes of those green-skinned creatures that he had collected in Mount Hyjal.

Then, the silent but powerful orc hunter whistled, summoning his beast companions. He said to the fierce-looking sailor beside him:
You need to have a name, right?

"emmm"

The sailor scratched his head in frustration and said:

"I don't want to think about it anymore, it's giving me a headache! Those boar-men called me 'General,' so you can call me that too."

go!
Let's seize that pirate ship, recruit some skilled fighters, and head to the Northern Frontier.

Don't delay.

I sensed that if we delayed any longer, something bad was going to happen.

(End of this chapter)