Varian received this envoy, whom he knew well, in Stormwind Keep. The visitor was the red-haired mage Rhonin from Dalaran. Varian opened with a playful remark: "Why don't I see Lady Vereesa?"
Rhonin replied, "She went to Silvermoon City, with the same purpose as me."
Varian asked, "What is it? You seem to be in a great hurry."
"It's something terrible." Rhonin's face turned grim. "Your Majesty Varian, not long ago, we discovered an evil organization called the 'Cult of the Damned' in Lordaeron. It serves a powerful Lich King, Ner'zhul, in Northrend. This fellow has developed a terrible plague that turns the living into ghouls, who obey necromancers in a short amount of time. We have confirmed that this organization is dedicated to subverting the cause of all intelligent races in Azeroth. I have come to Stormwind to convey King Terenas's request, hoping that we can reunite to eliminate the Lich King entrenched in Northrend and completely eradicate his evil schemes!"
"Forgive my intrusion, but is it really necessary for us to reunite over just a plague? Is King Terenas being a bit too... cautious?" The speaker was Countess Katrana Prestor, who was very popular in Stormwind. She was beautiful, generous, and knowledgeable, seemingly a natural social butterfly. Since entering the political stage of Stormwind, she had been thriving. However, no one here knew her true identity—she was Onyxia, princess of the Black Dragonflight, who had come to Stormwind with evil intentions, seeking to corrupt the kingdom. Clearly, she had been quite successful. The Stonemasons' Brotherhood's rebellion was one of her masterpieces.
Her words were echoed with agreement by the Stormwind nobles present at the meeting, who seemed to think that the Alliance leader in Lordaeron was making a mountain out of a molehill. "Cautious" was merely a polite euphemism.
Rhonin took out a letter sealed with wax and bearing the seal of Terenas, and handed it to Varian: "Please, after reading these, see if you can still speak such nonsense so grandly." He mercilessly ridiculed those present.
Everyone except Varian looked displeased. However, no one could say anything to question him. Perhaps they were great nobles in Stormwind, wielding great power, but Rhonin was a recognized hero of the Alliance, a figure destined to be recorded in history. He had the right to mock everyone present, but they did not have the right to refute him.
At the top of the letter was King Terenas's handwritten message. For Varian Wrynn, King Terenas held a very special place in his heart; he was like a foster father to him. Since the Kingdom of Azeroth suffered that catastrophe, the young Varian lost his beloved father. Sir Lothar led him and the fleeing people to Lordaeron, where King Terenas took them in.
The old king did not despise him, this prince in distress, because his kingdom had been destroyed by the orcs. Instead, he gave him full courtesy and respect, and promised to restore his kingdom—and Terenas indeed did so later.
During his time in the Royal Palace of Lordaeron, Varian received the paternal love he had lost from the old king. And the old king did indeed form the Alliance, defeat the orcs, and restore his country.
Varian knew very well that if there was still one person in the world for whom he would willingly do anything and pay any price, that person would only be King Terenas.
He had already determined this before seeing the letter. And after reading the letter and seeing those detailed records and the damage caused by the Scourge from other materials, he was even more convinced.
Varian put away the letter and handed the other materials to Duke Bolvar Fordragon next to him. After reading it, Bolvar passed it to Duke Leoric, and then passed it down in turn. Everyone who read it looked solemn.
Varian looked at Rhonin, who was also staring at him: "Mage Rhonin, please go back and tell King Terenas that I will bring my most elite troops as scheduled. Stormwind will always be the staunchest supporter of the Alliance!"
...
However, not all kings were as steadfast in their support of Terenas and the Alliance as Varian Wrynn. The envoy sent by Lordaeron to the Kingdom of Gilneas was almost turned away.
After finally managing to see King Genn Greymane of Gilneas, this arrogant king unhesitatingly rejected Terenas's proposal:
"Tell Terenas that Gilneas explicitly stated its withdrawal from the Alliance last time. We are now an independent country and no longer listen to his commands. As for plagues and scourges, that is none of my country's business."
The envoy hurriedly said, "But King Genn, this time the threat of the Scourge is even greater than the previous orcish invasion. You were a participant in the last war and should know that if we cannot all unite, we will only be defeated one by one!"
Genn sneered, "You don't need to worry about that. Even if Lordaeron falls, Gilneas will not. I built the Greymane Wall for this very moment. No army can break through that magnificent barrier!"
The envoy wanted to persuade him further, but Genn gave him no chance. He waved his hand and had the guards drag the envoy out. Listening to the other party's urgent pleas, the king revealed a mocking expression: "Terenas, last time you monopolized the fruits of victory that we jointly achieved. Now it's your turn to swallow the bitter fruit alone!"
His proud son, Liam Greymane, asked worriedly, "Father, are we doing the right thing...?"
"There's nothing wrong with it!" King Genn's voice was filled with anger. "Last time, during the orcish invasion, we Gilneans shed blood and sweat for the Alliance, but in the end, the land of Alterac was completely monopolized by that despicable Terenas! He thinks his political skills are brilliant, very well, now let him use his political skills against those Scourge and undead!"
Liam hesitated, knowing that the king in this state was impossible to reason with. He suppressed his desire to persuade him. In fact, he also knew his father's character very well; he was stubborn and would never change his mind once he had made it up.
At this moment, Highlord Darius Crowley barged in. He glared at King Genn and said loudly, "King, I saw your guards drive out the Alliance envoy!"
"Indeed!" Genn frowned, very displeased with Darius's behavior of barging in without reporting. "You seem a little disrespectful, my lord."
"I apologize for my disrespect, but," Darius stared at his king, "I believe the Alliance envoy is right. This Scourge is a common disaster for all mankind, even for the entire Azeroth. We cannot sit idly by!"
"I don't need you to teach me what to do! Now get out!" Genn roared, ordering his guards to drive out this reckless and disrespectful lord, just like he had just done to the Alliance envoy. "What an old bonehead!" He did not hide his disgust for this lord.
Genn knew very well that Darius had always been the leader of the faction in the kingdom that firmly opposed withdrawing from the Alliance and had a good impression of the Alliance. He even opposed King Genn's proudest project—building the Greymane Wall. After its completion, he also opposed closing the gates to isolate Gilneas from other countries. He knew that he disliked King Terenas and did not welcome his envoy, but he secretly met with the envoy and then used his power to send the envoy to his palace.
Darius opposed him in every way. If there was an opportunity to remove Darius from his position, he would do it without hesitation!
Genn Greymane did not yet know that his proudest Greymane Wall was not as useful as he thought. And he would pay a heavy enough price for his arbitrariness...
These were not things that Aiden needed to worry about. What he was most concerned about now was his "Sacred Transformation Ritual." Now the ritual platform had been completely built, and all the conditions required for the ritual had been met. The day he had been waiting for had finally arrived—
Aiden nervously straightened his clothes and then looked at Kayle next to him: "Do I need to bathe and burn incense, and fast for three days before the ritual begins?"
"Burn incense, fast, what are those?" Angel Pamyel asked curiously.
"Uh, they are preparations for some solemn activities in my hometown. Simply put, it's vegetarianism and sacrifice!"
"Such strange measures—our rituals don't require these," Ophiel replied.
After spending this time together, Kayle's two deputies gradually became familiar with Aiden's personality: he didn't like to act like a superior, but was willing to treat everyone as friends and get along with them equally. So now the two of them gradually became more talkative.
Unfortunately, Kayle was still the same. Aiden had never seen her take off her helmet for the third time.
However, Aiden firmly believed that in the future, the Judgment Angel would no longer be ashamed to show her face.
"The time has come, let's go," Kayle stood up and walked out first.
Aiden shrank his neck, feeling that these words sounded like what the execution supervisor said to an ancient death row prisoner before beheading, feeling a little creepy.
Lux, Vayne, Quinn, and Singed were not in Durnholde today. After scouting the location of Ravenholdt Manor, he began the deployment. Today was not only the day he performed the Sacred Transformation Ritual, but also the day to eliminate the evil neighbors.
This operation took all of the Noxian camp, the Screaming Serpent Air Force, and half of the police team, plus Singed's specially refined little gifts to deal with the assassins, so the operation should go smoothly.
Although the defensive forces around him were reduced by half, Aiden believed that no enemy could kill him under the protection of the three angels.
They came to the ritual platform, and the nearby police team had cleared the area to prevent anyone from causing trouble. After all, after Ravenholdt's first assassination attempt failed, it would be logical to continue sending assassins. However, they had not appeared in the past two days, perhaps they had already come, but were looking for an opportunity.
Perhaps they would think that when this ritual was being performed would be an opportunity?