As the center of the northern region of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, Stratholm is a very bustling city.

Like every human city, most of the buildings here are made of white stone with wooden roofs. The wide street is lined with shops, a dizzying array of signs, and a small, well-tended flower garden next to the door is bustling with flowers. Retailers and hawkers have stalls under trees that have been transplanted to green the city and shade the scorching sun. Adorned pennants hung above the streets, and Lordaeron's flags flew higher than them. There is a fountain in the square that splashes water, and the surrounding crowd is bustling with laughter and laughter.

In the sun, the city looks unobtrusive.

"—even so, I didn't like her to the point of wanting to sleep on the street." Dineen commented.

Albert's head hung lower.

"Don't get me wrong, I didn't blame you. It's just a fight, and it's not a big deal. ”

Dineen really didn't take this matter to heart. Brawls in taverns were so common that even the city guards didn't bother to intervene. What's more, Albert's nature predestined him to be unable to hit people for no reason. So Dineh just glanced at it, made sure that this stupid boy who was a little inexperienced hadn't encountered any shady opponents, and turned back to continue chatting with the boss.

But at the time, he didn't expect Albert to smash half of the tavern in one go. After removing the compensation, they have very little money left. Fortunately, the drunkards on the ground also had a share, and finally gave the two of them the money left over for a few days to stay in the hotel.

Dining's heart did not fluctuate. He was used to this state of being poor and white. And it is true that the actions that follow do not cost money - it can be said that he does not have the mindset of using money to solve problems. In any case, it is not difficult to ensure daily expenses in the city. So at this time, Dineh still has the leisure to see the scenery.

He had never been to Stratholme. Not before, and he never returned to the land after fleeing Lordaeron during the Scourge outbreak. He is more familiar with the customs and culture of the Stormwind Kingdom than his hometown with vague memories. This gives him a familiarity with everything around him that comes from the same race, but a closer look reveals subtle differences.

"Speaking of which, I haven't asked you why you did it," Dineh remembered after walking half a street, and looked at his partner inquiringly, "What did they do?" ”

At this point, there was no point in pursuing this question, but he was really curious about how the group managed to provoke a paladin in three minutes. After all, Dineen himself never succeeded.

Albert's face deteriorated again, with a slight softening.

"His feeble voice was almost drowned out by the noise around him," ......they said, "and the paladin lord Ferdin, charged with collaboration and disobedience, was tried in the Inquisition Chamber this afternoon. ”

Dinen stopped abruptly, the expression on his face blanked for a moment at the name he heard, and then became extremely terrifying. But before Albert could look up, he was quickly back to normal.

"Oh." He said lightly, "And then?" ”

Albert glared at him for a moment at this cold attitude, and when he found that he was still indifferent, he replied in frustration: "And then they said a little more...... own opinion. ”

"Ahh Dineen replied clearly, finally understanding what had happened to those drunkards.

The relationship between humans and orcs is incompatible even in the future, not to mention that there are now orcs led by Thrall roaming around, and at this time, Tirio Fordin, who is recognized as one of the loyal and upright paladins and is also the lord of the kingdom, stepped forward to defend an orc, which is like a thunderbolt. It is completely conceivable how bad the opinion of ordinary people will be on this matter.

Albert didn't fully know what had happened, but hearing the drunkards insulting a senior and colleague whom he respected, the young man, who had been in a state of agitation and irritability lately, put restraint and propriety aside. Of course, he couldn't be cruel to ordinary people, so while beating the open-mouthed drunkards until their noses were blue and their faces were swollen, innocent tables, chairs and wine barrels became the main targets of anger. That's why a brawl of completely unequal strength is so destructive – but it's better to be angry at a table and chair than to be angry with him. So Dining, who couldn't cope with his partner's anger at all, had a laissez-faire attitude towards this.

Shrugging his shoulders to indicate that he understood, Dineen decided to end the conversation: "Okay, so we're going to-"

"I want to see that trial!" Albert, who wasn't listening to him at all, suddenly burst out of his mouth, only to realize that his partner was talking, "Uh, sorry, what did you just say?" ”

- No matter what I wanted to say, I don't think I can say it anymore.

Unable to change the subject, Dinein, who was choked on him, stared at him expressionlessly, and it was not until the young man was involuntarily shrunk back that he lowered his head and sighed at the trouble he had a premonition.

"Why did you want to go to that trial?" He asked.

Albert hesitated for a moment, not giving an answer right away. Apparently he didn't quite understand why.

"If you're just a habitual observer of paladins, I can tell you for sure that many members of the Silver Hand will be present at this trial, including Saidan Dasohan and Uther."

Dinen was not surprised to see Albert's body shake, and his expression was similar to that of a mouse when he saw a cat. But just when he thought that the other party would choose to flee, the young man regained his composure.

"But I still want to go." He looked up and looked at Dineen sincerely, "I know it's going to be a problem. You don't like to be in contact with paladins, and I don't want to meet Ser Uther—but I'd like to see it anyway. I wonder why His Excellency Fordin did this, and what his sentence is. ”

"I want to figure something out."

Blue eyes stared at him earnestly, full of anticipation and supplication. And Dineng remembered the blood-drenched hands that wiped the tombstones, and the holy light that had been silent for a long time.

He really can't do anything about this stupid boy.

“…… OK. ”

***

As a paladin and lord of the Hearthvale region, Tirio Fordin's trial is too high to be open to the public. All those who could attend were officials and nobles, as well as their guards.

Albert hid not far away, watching Dineen step forward with a calm demeanor and talk to a nobleman. He was sure that Dineen didn't know each other at all, but to those who didn't know them, they seemed familiar. And after reining in the gloomy anger that filled his body, his partner looked completely like a general at the moment.

The aristocrat probably thought the same thing. They talked all the way through the gate, undisturbed by the guards, and then Dineen said goodbye to each other, turning and motioning for Albert to come over.

The young man hurriedly came out from behind the carriage and hurried over. He tried to be as natural as possible, but disguise was not what he was good at. The hurried footsteps and tense faces attracted the guard's keen gaze. Albert almost froze at the look of suspicion.

"You're almost late, corporal." As if he didn't notice the guard's gaze at all, Dineen said expressionlessly, "I think, if you were sent to clean the toilet, you would know what discipline is?" ”

Once again, facing the threat of his partner's full aura, even if it was completely different from Talon Mill's time, the sudden increase in pressure made Albert forget about the guards for a moment. He immediately straightened up and saluted the other man in imitation of memory: "I'm sorry, Commander. ”

"Didn't you eat lunch, corporal?"

Albert was stunned for a second, then realized it was sarcasm. He raised his voice and repeated, "I'm so sorry, Commander! ”

The loud sound caused many people to look this way. And that's exactly what Albert wanted to avoid. But Dinen was unmoved, just nodded coldly.

"Don't make me stress about these little things that don't matter."

With that, he turned and walked into the hall, and Albert hurriedly followed, noticing that no one was looking at them anymore.

They walked unimpeded through the courtyard and into the interior. Picking a hidden corner and sitting down, the tense aura on Dining's body finally eased, and he looked at his partner who was slumped in the chair: "Good cooperation." ”

"No," Albert said sincerely, "it was an instinctive reaction. ”

With the Holy Light above, where did he get the courage to confront this man head-on? The aura of Di Ning is really super fierce!

"What?"

"Nothing."

Dineen glanced at him for some reason, but then the door to the hall was opened again. Two paladins brought the prisoner in.

This was Albert's first meeting of Tirio Fordin, although he had often heard about them. The hero who had fought valiantly against the orcs walked steadily, his chest held high, and despite his brown beard dyed gray, he still looked energetic and determined. This makes young people even more confused.

Why is such a person accused of treason? What did he do and why?

Casually sweeping his gaze to the side, Albert suddenly noticed that his partner next to him was not looking at the center of the field like everyone else, his right hand was on his forehead, and his left hand on his knee was clenched into a fist, as if he was enduring something, staring down at his feet.

"Dinein?"

The other party let out a low hum, but still didn't look up.

"Why...... Who are you hiding? Thinking about his own situation, Albert naturally came to this conclusion.

"Nope." Dinen said dryly, "It's just that there are people who don't want to see it." ”

The young man, who remembered his partner's attribute of "hating paladins", immediately twisted his head back, trying to reduce his sense of presence. Fortunately, at this time, the jurors also began to enter. The onlookers in attendance stopped talking and fell silent.

The inquisitor of this trial, as Dinin said, was the leader of the Silver Hand, Uther the Lightbringer, while the four jurors were Admiral Dalein Prodmore, ruler of the Sea Kingdom of Kul Tiras, Antonidas Das, Chief Archmage of the Magic Kingdom of Dalaran, Archbishop of the Light of Stratholme, Alonsus Fao, and High Lord of the Knights of the Silver Hand, Alexandros Mograine.

"Mograini?"

Hearing the name, Dineen jerked his head up, his suspicious gaze sweeping across the courtroom.

"Any questions?"

"I thought it was going to be," Dineen paused, "Lordaeron's Crown Prince." ”

"You mean Al-" The last two syllables were forced to swallow back by Dinein's fierce gaze, Albert took a deep breath and continued to speak strongly, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? Is he the one you don't want to see? ”

Dineen didn't answer his question, but frowned in confusion.

"In terms of status, he should be the one who is here on behalf of Lordaeron."

Prodmore and Antonidas were the leaders of their respective kingdoms, and Fao was the founder of the Silver Hand, and those who served on the jurors were supposed to be on equal footing. It was not rude for the crown prince to replace the king, but Mograini ...... It is too reluctant to sit at the table with these people as a mere member of the Silver Hand, despite his fame and popularity.

They are not the only ones who are aware of this. Although politely silent, a number of onlookers were exchanging meaningful glances.

"Maybe there's something he can't get out of?" Albert said with a little confidence.

Before Dinin could reply, Uther had already strode onto the chanting platform. He stared sternly around the room—Albert nearly slipped under his seat—and said, "Silence." ”

The courtroom, which was already silent, became even quieter. The small voices were gone. All eyes converged.

Uther nodded slightly in satisfaction, and then announced in a loud voice:

"The trial begins!"