Make Azeroth breathtaking

"You've arrived, Talonnicus. Please take a seat. And this young lady is..."

Seeing Talonnicus lead Tannis into his temporary palace, Kael'thas gently pointed to a chair and softly asked a question.

"This is Tannis, the adopted daughter of the Baron of Ratchet, the Great Tinker."

Talonnicus gracefully introduced Tanys to his prince, and Tanys bowed slightly in return to Kael'thas.

"Ratchet... I'm very sorry, as you can see, we blood elves are in a very difficult situation right now; there's not much business to be done..."

With all the magic circles destroyed, Kael'thas, whose first mission to serve Illidan had ended in failure, waved his hand helplessly, signaling that he was being dismissed. Now, all he could think about was how to change Illidan's opinion of him so that he could obtain the Well of Eternity to save his people who were deeply addicted to magic.

“Your Highness, I think you should take a look at the specialties of Ratchet before making a decision.”

Realizing that his prince was starting to doubt himself due to a series of setbacks and the lack of good news, Talonnicus stepped forward and took out a small, colorless crystal. The arcane energy pulsating within it instantly caught Kael'thas's attention.

"This is an arcane crystal? No, the energy isn't pure. It's like an arcane crystal being converted into a lower-level energy, but that's not right either! Arcane energy can't have this kind of conversion! Could it be a reverse conversion? Can lower-level energy be converted back into arcane energy? Has Ratchet City mastered this technology that defies the laws of arcane magic?"

"That's right, my prince. I just spoke with Miss Tanis, and she told me that Ratchet City has been using this technology for ten years; it's a very mature technology."

"If it weren't for what happened today, I wouldn't have known that something that's a regular energy source in Ratchet actually contains arcane energy..."

To strengthen the persuasiveness of her words, Tannis casually opened her motorcycle energy storage, where several colorless small crystals were embedded in fixed positions, shimmering slightly.

"........"

Upon seeing that Tanis was using this energy as fuel, Kael'thas's mind went blank for a second, followed by ecstasy. He knew very well that if this thing were mass-produced, the probability of his people overcoming their magic addiction would increase dramatically!

But a few seconds later, his eyes dimmed again.

"Ratchet allows us to exchange knowledge or arcane services for this resource, and welcomes our people to join in the work of upgrading and improving the machinery that manufactures these colorless crystals."

Talonnicus, who could tell at a glance what his prince was worried about, quickly spoke up.

That's wonderful...

Kael'thas let out a long sigh of relief, feeling much better after messing up Illidan's plans.

——————————————Strange dividing line——————————————————

While Kael'thas and Tanys began negotiating, Malfurion was confronting his brother Illidan—although Illidan had detected Malfurion's presence when the first magic circle was destroyed, he was too late. By the time he intercepted his brother, the failure of the ritual and the destruction of the Eye of Sargeras were already inevitable.

"My dear brother, could it be that your statement about banishing me from the Night Elves was just a 'joke'?"

Illidan gripped his blade tightly, his fel-powered pupils piercing through his blindfold as he stared intently at his brother, Malfurion, as if trying to see into his very soul. Behind him, several night elf demon hunters, blades in hand, silently guarded their teacher.

“Illidan, although I banished you from the night elves, I cannot watch you continue to make the same mistakes.”

Malfurion looked into his brother's eyes, his voice filled with sorrow.

"Wrong? Brother! You have no idea what I'm doing, yet you arbitrarily decide whether I'm right or wrong! You couldn't understand me ten thousand years ago, and you still can't understand me ten thousand years later!"

Hearing Illidan's question, Malfurion fell silent. In fact, he didn't know how to face his unruly brother. He knew very well that although his brother was obsessed with power and often did things that were incomprehensible or even infuriating, his actions often brought unexpected results.

After a long silence, Malfurion slowly spoke.

"Your actions... are far too dangerous, Illidan. Have you considered the consequences of your failure?"

"Failure, failure, you always think we'll fail. According to your logic, we should have been kneeling before Sargeras ten thousand years ago, fawningly licking his boots!"

"Even knowing the outcome, I would have stopped your adventure ten thousand years ago, Illidan."

"Heh~~"

The two brothers remained locked in a standoff until Maiev appeared in the ruins, her tone tinged with an indescribable sense of pleasure.

"High Druid Malfurion, I have some bad news for you. Our forces have been attacked by the Scourge, and High Priestess Tyrande has died while covering the retreat of the Sentinel forces..."

"!!"

"!!!"

Maiev's words struck like lightning, leaving both Illidan and Malfurion, two millennia-old night elves, stunned. A few seconds later, Malfurion flew into a rage, while Illidan immediately knelt on the ground.

"Illidan!!! It's all because of you!!! Tyrande!!!"

Roaring in fury, Malfurion clenched his fist, as big as a casserole dish, and slammed it toward Illidan's face. Illidan, who loved to argue with his brother, did not dodge, waiting for Malfurion's fist to hit his face.

Just as Malfurion was about to have a close encounter with Illidan, Tanys's voice rang out at an inopportune moment.

"Archdruid Malfurion, I've received a distress signal from Tyrande. She seems to be trapped in a rather unpleasant place... What are you doing?"

31. A Temporary Parting of Ways

The moment Tanis uttered those words, Malfurion abruptly stopped his fist, using the remaining force to turn ninety degrees and run to her side. Illidan also unfurled his demonic wings and flew to his brother's side.

"Tyrande is still alive?"

"Yes, she has already used the distress device I gave her when I was in Ratchet to call for help."

Looking at the excited Malfurion, Tannis had a question mark in her eyes. She pressed a button on her mechanical assistant, and as a light came on, Tyrande's intermittent voice came from it.

"My dear...Zzz...Malfalson, I'm trapped on a small island right in the middle of the largest river...Zzz...I need your help...Zzz..."

"Tyrande! Tyrande!"

Malfurion was overjoyed to recognize that the voice coming from Tannis's mechanical assistant was indeed Tyrande's, while Illidan turned around and looked at Maiev with a gloomy expression.

“Mave, I think my brother and I need an explanation. Why do you think Tyrande is dead when she's clearly alive?”

"You actually believe an outsider, Archdruid? Don't you know that the profit-driven goblin adopted daughter is just trying to swindle you out of money?"

Faced with Malfurion and Illidan's joint questioning, Maiev did not panic, but casually tossed the ball to Tannis's head.

"...Are you questioning the credibility of the Gadgetzan Consortium, Maiev the Watcher?"

Tannis's face darkened after being inexplicably questioned by Maiev. She quickly started operating her mechanical assistant, and a few seconds later, a map marked with a small red dot appeared in the void.

"Tyrande's location is right here. Believe it or not, let me make this clear: according to my high-altitude reconnaissance drone scans, a large wave of undead is heading in the direction Tyrande is currently in. Who knows what will happen if we delay any longer!"

"Brother, now is not the time for us to fight. We must rescue Tyrande before things get worse!"

Instinctively sensing that Tannis wasn't lying, Illidan looked at Malfurion, who, knowing Tannis's character, nodded in agreement.

"I'll go ahead and scout ahead, open a passage. Illidan, you and your men follow me!"

"Yes! Naga! Blood Elves! The time has come for you to serve your masters!"

Illidan shouted and led his demon hunters in a rush toward the direction Tannis had marked. Hearing Illidan's call, the Naga and Blood Elves also emerged from their hiding places and lined up to follow their current master. In less than ten minutes, the ruins of Dalaran fell silent.

"So, Maiev the Watcher, aren't you going with them? You should know that Tyrande was in danger because they came to save you."

As Tannis directed her drone to continue tracking the trajectory of the rampaging undead scourge, she casually inquired, her fragmented memories vaguely telling her that an opportunity was hidden on this land.

"You have no right to judge me, mortal. If Tyrande hadn't released Illidan, I wouldn't be in this predicament."

Maiev's tone was calm and collected, but those familiar with the warden knew that the calmer her voice, the stronger her murderous intent.

"As far as I know, after Illidan was tried, he was sentenced to imprisonment for ten thousand years. Calculating the time, it's about time. In the human and dwarven kingdoms, there's a concept of sentence reduction. Illidan being released early by Tyrande doesn't mean he hasn't served his full sentence. — Do you really want to imprison him for another ten thousand years?"

"...Where did you learn all this from?"

A hint of wariness crept into Maiev's voice. Tanis was a mortal; she shouldn't know so much.

"...Your night elves' library in Ashenvale isn't closed, is it so hard to learn some Elvish and read your history?"

Tanis looked at Maiev with a strange expression.

“I cannot tolerate Illidan being released, especially since many of my colleagues will never be able to stand up again because of Tyrande’s actions.”

A few seconds later, Maiev abruptly steered the conversation back to the original point.

"Alright, alright, this is indeed a matter between you night elves, just don't drag me into it too much."

Knowing that Maiev couldn't be persuaded in just a few words, Tannis sighed helplessly and prepared to end the topic, but Maiev wouldn't let it go.

"So, why did you save Tyrande?"

"...Tyrande was one of my employers. You're paying me money now that she's dead?"

Tanis stood with her hands on her hips, looking at Maiev with an air of self-righteousness.

"The Watchers have no money."

After a long pause, Maiev gave an answer that wasn't really an answer.

"So, for the sake of my purse, I'm going to save Tyrande. Are you satisfied now...? Hmm, they're pretty quick, aren't they?"

As Tannis spoke, several portals opened in the ruins of Dalaran. Malfurion helped Tyrande out of the portals, and behind him, Illidan, Kael'thas, Vashj, and others followed with their troops. Clearly, the rescue had gone smoothly.

"Illidan!!!"

Seeing her old enemy reappear, Maiev instantly abandoned her conversation with Tannis and turned to pounce on the demon hunter with her spinning blade. However, before she could take a step, the vines on the ground grew wildly and bound Maiev within them.

“Illidan… As you said, I banished you, so I have no reason to interfere with your actions… But at least tell me… why did you do such a thing?”

Malfurion, who had casually bound Maiev, stared at his brother, his voice utterly weary. He realized that he could no longer understand his twin brother, his comrade-in-arms who had fought alongside him for ten thousand years.

"Should I thank you, brother? But it won't hurt to tell you, since you can't help me anyway."

Illidan's lips curled slightly, he fluttered his wings, turned to look north, and uttered a single sentence.

“The Lich King, my goal now is to destroy it—or at least put it to sleep. There are things you can’t see, but I can, brother.”

"The Lich King? Lord Illidan, your goal is to destroy the Lich King?"

Illidan's words froze Kael'thas, who was about to speak with Tanis. A raging fire rose in his eyes, and the cries of his people when Quel'Thalas was destroyed echoed clearly in his ears once again, lingering in his soul.

"Of course, my dear little prince. The purpose of the ceremony I held not long ago was to make the Lich King roll off his throne, but unfortunately, my elder brother ruined it. Therefore, I have no choice but to go to Northrend myself and shatter its crown. Do you have the guts to come with me to that frozen world... that world of eternal death?"

“I dare not disobey, Lord Illidan. However, please allow me to arrange some personal matters.”

After saying this, Kael'thas led Talonnicus to Tannis, looking guilty.

"Miss Tanis, due to the suddenness of the situation, I will appoint Talonnicus as Quel'Thalas's plenipotentiary ambassador to Ratchet, leading some blood elves who are no longer able to hold out to Ratchet ahead of time..."

"Don't worry, I know you're having a tough time. It's alright—by the way, I have some colorless crystals here. If you're going on an expedition to Northrend, take them. Consider it an advance on your wages!"

Although it's a bit of a shame that a large number of blood elves can't go to Ratchet to work for a while, it's already a pretty good result for Tanis to have some of them come first. After all, as Ratchet has developed, the problem of lacking spellcasters has gradually become apparent. Even if there are some goblin shamans, their numbers are just a drop in the ocean. Blood elves, on the other hand, even the worst blood elves, can easily become apprentices and learn to cast spells like Fireball!

"Thank you so much!"

Kael'thas was overjoyed and expressed his gratitude to Tannis with the etiquette due to a mage.

"It's nothing, nothing at all. You go ahead and do your work, Prince Kael'thas. I also need to make some preparations to return to Ratchet!"