Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 596, Section 57. Lothar's Shock: The Ancestors Had Quite Diverse Tastes - Bonus Chapter [35]

(Bonus chapter for the "SpongeBob SquarePants in the Deep Sea" brothers [3/5])
On the eastern continent, Lothar has just finished an award ceremony.

Seventeen commanders who distinguished themselves in the Battle of the Northfront were officially promoted to generals of the Empire, while Sir Uther, Danas Trollbane, and Grand Duke Bolvar Fordragon were granted the rank of "Marshal," and were stationed in the north, central, and south of the Empire, respectively, overseeing military strategies in their respective regions.

This is only a temporary division under the current circumstances of the ongoing war. The generals who attended the award ceremony today are all privately saying that when the empire's territory is determined, that is, when Kul Tiras is officially recovered, there will be even more lucky ones who will be promoted to marshal.

After all, the territory of the Stromka Empire was too vast.

From north to south, the empire possessed almost two-thirds of the continent's area. The combined territory of the seven kingdoms was so vast that even three marshals, or even three more, wouldn't be enough to govern it.

The kings of various regions will be demoted to dukes, but will be granted the powerful title of "Guardian of the Empire." This essentially means that after nominal unification, most of the kings' power will not be immediately reduced. After all, centralization of power is something that must be done gradually, and rushing it can easily lead to major problems.

Lothar's plan was to reclaim some administrative power and all military power before he died of old age, leaving the rest to his successor.

Under these circumstances, Lothar had to ensure that every marshal and general he appointed was loyal to the Empire, and he also had to address the role of Dalaran, this special city-state, within the Empire. A powerful magical floating island was sufficient to ensure the Empire's military deployment at any time.

Losa doesn't like doing this kind of thing.

He wasn't inherently a power-hungry person, but he knew he couldn't just do whatever he wanted.

Now that I've taken this position, I must be conscientious and dedicated to my duties.

"Marshal! My soldiers and I from the Stonewall Brigade yearn to serve the Empire."

General Blackmore strode up to Lothar in a majestic human form.

This guy, who had just obtained the general's position he had always dreamed of, was burning with excitement. He couldn't wait to lead his troops to Kul Tiras and use the heads of the cultists there as stepping stones for his military advancement.

Before becoming a general, he was single-mindedly focused on becoming one; after he actually became a general, even more ideas began to emerge.

With the empire newly established, it's time to change the old system of nobility!

The calamities in the northern frontier, in particular, have led to the destruction of many noble families and the creation of far too many unclaimed territories.

In this situation, he had to think about his family. Even though he was now the only one left in the Blackmore family, what did a man have to worry about not having a wife?

If I could become a marshal and be granted a title in another region, wouldn't this great noble family be established just like that?

He then said to Losa with genuine emotion:

“Please allow us to be the vanguard in liberating Kul Tiras! My warriors are outraged after hearing about the cultists’ deeds in Kul Tiras! As devout followers of the Holy Light, how can we allow these damned Void fiends to run rampant on the lands of the Empire?”

"However, the quota for the vanguard has already been decided."

Lothar had fought a lifetime of wars; how could he not know what this werewolf general was thinking?

He hesitated for a moment and said:
"The vanguard force to be dispatched to the Drustvar Mountains is already at full capacity, and there is really no room left. But if you really want to contribute to the Empire, I can send you to another place."

Have you heard of 'Machagon Island'?

This inquiry did not disappoint General Blackmore; on the contrary, it filled him with secret delight.

Marshal Lothar has his own elite Seventh Legion and Stormwind Legion, so it's not his place as a commander who "joined halfway" to lead the vanguard. But as long as he can get to Kul Tiras, he can find an opportunity to make a fortune when the war starts.

General Blackmore was very confident in his experience in finding opportunities.

"Oh, those dwarfs' 'steel relatives' seem to be over there?"

The werewolf raised his eyebrows and said:
"I heard that noisy gnome quartermaster from the Stonewall Brigade boast that the Mechagnomes are their kin, that they built the most advanced mechanical city in the world on Mechagon, and that it's located further west of the Kul Tiras coast."

"Yes, the two places are not far apart, but the mechanical gnomes' islands have amazing technological devices that can interfere with reconnaissance, so they have never been exposed to the Kul Tirans."

Lothar looked around and whispered:
"You will lead the Stonewall Brigade there to support High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque and help the dwarves solve a series of problems caused by the mechanical dwarves. This is a special consideration from the Empire for our dwarf friends. We humans and dwarves have always been the best of friends."

They are about to take action and are in dire need of a powerful assault force; the Stonewall Brigade would be a perfect fit.

However, the development of technology in the Empire is of paramount importance, so if the opportunity arises, I hope you can also bring back some valuable knowledge for the Empire's engineers.

Of course, all of this must be done without affecting diplomatic relations between the Empire and the Dwarves.

Do you understand what I mean?

The werewolf general blinked.

He understands so well.

Isn't this just "stealing technology"?

This time, the werewolf Blackmore was going to do "spy" work, which made him even more excited.

Well, don't get me wrong, he doesn't have any special fetishes. After giving up drinking because of a vow, this guy has devoted himself to his career and is as upright as a paladin.

His excitement stemmed from the fact that he had sensed a "great achievement"—who says one can't make extraordinary contributions on the secret front?

I, Blackmore, am a brick of the Empire; I'll be moved wherever the Empire needs me!
Blackmore readily agreed, and Lothar instructed him to return to Durnholde Castle to recuperate, as MI7 agents would soon approach him.

Just minutes after Blackmore left, a portal opened near the training ground, and to the astonishment of Lothar and Grand Duke Bolvar Fordragon, the Sun King Kael'thas strode in with a serious expression.

Beside him was Lothar's girlfriend, Brigadier General Daenerys, the future Empress of the Empire.

"We have news from Dai Lin."

Daenerys stepped forward and whispered to her husband:
"He encountered an advance force sent by the Arathi Empire during a storm, and they invited you and His Majesty Kael'thas to immediately travel to the island where they are currently located."

"Hmm? The Arathi Empire is real? As expected, every word Saint Diakum said had a deeper meaning."

Lothar was initially startled, then his face lit up with undisguised joy, but he then asked in return:

"The Storm Sea is on the other side of the world! What can't wait until they reach the Eastern Continent to talk about it? Why are you in such a hurry? Has Dale really found something extraordinary?"

"He has found your 'family'."

Daenerys said softly:

"To be precise, according to the family tree they presented, you should even call them 'Second Uncle'."

Losa's expression immediately became quite interesting.

His family lineage had a rough time in the Eastern Continent, and now he was the only one left. But who would have thought that the Arathi Empire actually had other branches of the Lothar family?
Kael'thas also spoke at this moment:

"Our elven brethren also exist in the Arathi Empire, and they seem to have found a way to control their mana addiction. Archmage Aethas the Sunreaver has ordered me to go there in person. Also, you'd better bring the Emperor's Sword, Stromka."
Although Aethas didn't say it explicitly, I suspect that the astute archmage must have noticed something." The Sun King hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice:
"The succession of the Arathi Empire may involve some 'legal issues'."

Losa nodded in understanding.

His Emperor's Sword was never out of his sight, so there was no need to go back to retrieve it. While waiting for Kael'thas to cast the spell, he found the Sun King standing with his hands behind his back, maintaining his air of superiority as the Elven King, and had no intention of opening a portal to the other side of the world.

In response to Lothar's silent question, Kael'thas sighed and said:
"Do you know how dangerous it is to open a portal that spans half a world? What's more, there's special energy interference there. I dare to open the portal, but do you dare to go in?"

Even if you dare to step inside, I will definitely stop you from committing suicide.

After all, I don't want to be branded a 'king killer'.

Be patient. Lady Aegwynn has retrieved the Scepter of Sargeras, which is currently the most dangerous yet safest method of teleportation.

However, I've always had a small question.

Kael'thas gave the fair-skinned and beautiful Daenerys a strange look, and then whispered to Lothar:
Do you like dark-skinned girls?

"What is this nonsense!"

Lothar categorically rejected the idea:
“I don’t have that strange fetish. I am a paladin, and I appreciate the beauty of the soul. Of course, my wife’s appearance is as beautiful as her soul.”

This response pleased Daenerys, who narrowed her eyes into crescent moons, and the fingers that had been pinching Lothar's back changed to a gentle caress.

At that moment, Lothar felt that Kael'thas was utterly wicked.

Why are you, the Sun King, not doing something productive instead of trying to sow discord between my husband and me?
But soon, when Aegwynn, wielding the Scepter of Sargeras, opened the portal to the island for the Nobles, and Lothar and Kael'thas walked in together, he realized he had wronged Kael'thas.

The Sun King's question was just to give him a "mental preparation".

"hiss"

Daenerys gasped.

She looked at Lothar's blank expression and whispered:
"Your second uncle is a 'night human'? Why is his skin so dark?"

"Well, I've heard that during the barbarian tribal era, some clans from remote areas did have this skin, and they were said to be very good at moving at night."

Lothar rubbed his face, sizing up the middle-aged man in front of him who was talking to Dale, but who bore a striking resemblance to him. He muttered:

"But isn't it said that the Lothar family has always maintained its pure bloodline in the Arathi Empire? It shouldn't be that they got tanned, right?"

"But he's bald!"

Daenerys's voice became even softer as she said:
"Isn't this a tradition of your family? It's said that Emperor Thoradin did the same when he was middle-aged."

"Can you please not bring this up?"

Losa sighed.

Although he was very curious about what the Lothar family had encountered in the Arathi Empire to make their skin so dark, he still maintained the dignity of an imperial reserve emperor and strode forward to meet the "human Ni Ge".

The first thing the two sides did was to compare their family genealogies.

This is a very important part.

The Arathi Empire only learned of the Old World's news a month ago. Even if they had started compiling the genealogy of this "Lothar family" from then on, it would have been too late, because some secrets are known only to true family members, and no one would be foolish enough to spread those secrets around.

Therefore, when the two families' genealogies were compared, they found an almost identical record at the top of the lineage tree, around 2,700 years ago. This basically confirmed that the dark-skinned, bald, middle-aged man in front of them was indeed a member of Lothar's family.

Of course, it's been over two thousand years, so there's no question of family kinship; the only thing the two sides share is this surname.

Moreover, although the Lothar family of the Arathi Empire had also multiplied and maintained a small but not insignificant clan, they had lost power and become commoners over a long period of time. The Lord Lothar before them had only been promoted to a lord by the Emperor just before their departure.
"Don't feel pressured by my presence, Your Majesty."

Lord Lothar smiled, handed the family tree in his hand to the Emperor of the Stromka Empire, and said softly:
“I understand the Emperor’s meaning, and I also wish to do something for the Arathi Empire, but I will not betray the glorious traditions that my family has always upheld. I am a devout citizen of the Holy Flame, and my faith does not allow me to steal what does not belong to us.”

Therefore, from this day forward, my family and I will change this ancient surname to sever any potential succession issues that may arise for you and your empire.

I believe this was also what our ancestors longed for.

But... could I see him? Let me fulfill this wish.

Lord Lothar, with his dark skin, made a request, and Marshal Lothar nodded, summoning the spirit of Emperor Thoradin, who was startled when he saw his other bloodline.

He exclaimed in surprise:

"Were you burned like this, child? You're as black as a lump of coal!"

"Uh"

Both Losa were embarrassed.

Lord Lothar of the Arathi Empire touched his face and sighed:
“Speaking like that would get you taken to court in the Arathi Empire, Ancestor. We don’t comment on people’s skin color so casually, and we shouldn’t judge a person by their appearance, should we?”

"Hmm, is it because of those barbarian tribes in the borderlands?"

Emperor Thoradin nodded and asked:

"Now, they are also official members of the Arathi Empire?"

"The moment our ancestors endured the torment of the stormy seas and stepped into the New World, there was no longer any distinction between barbarians and skin color."

Lord Lothar whispered:
There, we shared a common name and identity.

We are exiles of the old world and pioneers of the new continent, but today I have finally seen you again. May you be well, my noble ancestor. Your bloodline may be in decline in the new continent, but it still maintains its dignity.

Actually, my wife and I are planning to have another child, a daughter, but we haven't been able to decide on a name yet. Could you please suggest a name for the child?

This request prompted Emperor Thoradin to shrug, and he casually replied:

"Then let's call her 'Feline'."

It doesn't have any special meaning, but I thought that if I had a daughter, I would definitely name her Feline. May your children have a lifetime of happiness, my descendants. May you all be strong and go see the future and end of the two empires I left behind.

May the Holy Light bless you.

(End of this chapter)