Stormwind.

This great city-state, founded in the southern part of the Eastern Kingdom of Azeroth, has a history of nearly a millennium since its establishment.

After the opening of the Dark Gate, it served as the main force of the First Orc War, standing on the front line of resistance to the orc army invading Azeroth.

Although Stormwind has now returned to a prosperous and peaceful scene, the internal political factions, the intrigue of the aristocracy, and the oppression of the people at the bottom by the ruling class still make this ancient and majestic city surging in the dark current.

Especially now.

When this majestic city loses its true owner, a group of forces with ulterior motives are now hiding in the shadows, sharpening their fangs and claws to watch over this weakened behemoth, looking forward to a carnival that belongs to the conspirators......

Three months ago, the king of Stormwind, Varian Ureon, left his throne in the castle to travel to Kalimdor on the other side of the sea for a diplomatic engagement. Since then, the lord of the kingdom of Azeroth has never appeared before his people......

Some blame the king's disappearance on the conspiracy of the tribes, and they did not hesitate to declare war on the tribes and even fight the tribes in the hills of Hillsbrad; Someone pointed the finger at the consul Bervar Furtagen, accusing this qiē from this former military role model, who is greedy for power. Mobile Reading Network and planned a kidnapping; Other well-informed sources have learned from some cryptic sources that the disappearance of His Majesty the King involves several behind-the-scenes forces - the Brotherhood of Defia, the Naga, ogres, the Minotaur and even the legendary Black Dragon......

Under the disturbance, Stormwind City became more and more turbulent in the gossip.

In order to calm the growing unrest in the kingdom, as a political measure to calm people's hearts. King Varian's son, the young Prince Anduin Ureon, was elected king. He temporarily ruled the kingdom under the assistance of the consul Duke Berval and the president of the noble council, Count Catlana. However. This initiative doesn't seem to have done much.

Compared to his tough and reliable father, the young Prince Anduin did not yet have enough trust and prestige in the hearts of the people......

But today, because of a single exciting news, the gloom of the past seems to have vanished.

The King is back!

His Majesty King Varian is back!

The inhabitants of Stormwind spontaneously gathered on both sides of the streets of the Valley of Heroes, cheering and welcoming their missing King Xià to his hometown after the statues of the five heroes cheered.

The inhabitants of Stormwind believe that with the return of His Majesty the King, as the Kingdom is back under the patronage of King Varian, as Countess Catlana Presto proclaims. The turmoil in Stormwind will subside, the unrest will fade away, and the careerists lurking in the shadows will retreat under the sword of the royal guards, and the kingdom of Stormwind will get back on track and slaughter the Horde on the battlefield, successfully rescuing the people of the Hillsbrad Hills......

Well, the above paragraph is the propaganda of the House of Nobles, but in fact......

"Look, it's our 'little' King Anduin,"

Among the people who welcomed the Heroes Valley Road, many of the residents of Stormwind City looked like they were cheerfully welcoming on the surface. In private, he angrily whispered to his neighbors, colleagues, and friends.

"He has the same name as Marshal Lothar (Note 1), but I don't know how much he can have the skills of a marshal."

"Whatever. He's not a king anymore anyway. Hearing the questioning of his companion beside him, a big man dressed as a blacksmith shook his head nonchalantly and muttered in reply.

"Even if he's still a king, it's useless." Another resident joins the conversation, interjecting with a mysterious expression, "That's a puppet!" In Varian's absence, Duke Berval Vertagen and Countess Catlana Presto are the rulers of Stormwind! See, see it, it's the two people who are following King Varian! ”

"That's the Duke of Berval? Isn't it rumored that the disappearance of His Majesty was planned by him behind this? How could he still have the face to follow behind His Majesty? I used to think he was a hero of the kingdom! Another Stormwind resident in the welcome queue said indignantly.

"Don't just listen to those malicious slanders and rumors!" A veteran in the crowd who had retired from the army heard the slander of the others against his former superiors, and couldn't help but stand up and scold the other party, and defended Duke Boval: "Your Excellency the Archon is a model for a soldier and a truly noble paladin!" How could you do such a dirty thing for a little power! ”

"That rumor is really unreliable, it should just be a rumor spread by political enemies." An old man with a white beard couldn't help but join the debate, "Boval Fotagen is already a duke and still holds the position of consul, under one person, above ten thousand, he doesn't need to do that." ”

"Ha, maybe he's tired of being subservient, and wants to change his chair and taste what it's like to be a king!" Perhaps he was tired of seeing so many people explain Bergval, and a fat businessman with a mercenary face joined the conversation and made malicious remarks and mockery.

"Who cares what Bervar Vortagen, look at Countess Catlana! Oh my God, she's so charming! ”

"Yes, beautiful, elegant, noble, majestic like a queen!"

More and more people joined the discussion, and the whispers on both sides of the street gradually converged into a noisy buzz.

"Hmph, that's a femme fatale! She and the entire corrupt House of Nobles are on the same footing! ”

"That's right, the wool comes from the sheep! The ransom paid for the return of His Majesty from the tribal barbarians and the Brotherhood of Defia cost us dearly! ”

"That is, it is a shame that the king who saved himself should pay a ransom to the kidnappers! The bureaucrats and the military of Stormwind are a bunch of wastes that waste resources! The most important thing is that this ransom will also be deliberately increased in taxes to take away from us! ”

"Well, anyway. When Varian returned, Stormwind was at peace. ”

"Hmph. Our king might as well be missing. I can't even keep the coffin book to pay taxes! Just for a special tax on emergency matters, what the hell! ”

"Yes!"

"Well said......"

"They say the little prince wants to speak for us poor people, but he is so young, who would listen to a little child, even if he is the king in name!"

"These corrupt maggots!"

“……”

When it came to the exchange of ransom money for the king, the crowd gradually became indignant and vented their dissatisfaction in angry tones when they thought of the tax collectors eager to take the last copper plate out of their pockets.

Although limited to the occasion. Even if everyone is angry, they are all restrained, and they are all carefully controlling the volume, but the disgruntled people in their hearts occupy too much, and the noise in these cheers gradually becomes noisy and loud, and naturally cannot escape the ears of the dignitaries and dignitaries who are clustered around Varian in the queue.

Many of the nobles who came to take over were outwardly angry, but in fact they were gloating in their hearts, bent on seeing the jokes of Varian and Bolval; Countess Catlana Presto had a blank face, as if she didn't care about this qiē, but her charming eyes sparkled brightly. It seems to be smug about something; Only the Duke of Berval and the little prince Anduin, who were neck and neck, looked embarrassed and turned red after hearing these grievances......

It is a pity that King Varian Ureon, who should be most concerned about this matter, has turned a deaf ear to the discontent and resentment of his own people. It's as if nothing happened. It was almost impossible for this to happen before the disappearance.

"Father."

Looking at his father, who had not been seen for months, he looked suspiciously, and an indescribable strangeness came to the little prince's heart. Gently patting the foal under his crotch and running a few steps, Anduin Wryon felt that he should remind his father to listen to the people. The returning Varian seems to be more concerned with the small talk with the countess than noticing that his son is calling him.

"Father!" The little prince raised his voice a little aggrieved, and stepped forward and tugged at King Varian's fluttering cloak slightly; "Father, in these days of your absence, the council has increased taxes, and many of our people are dissatisfied, and they ......"

"Kid, there will always be complaints!" Gently rubbing Anduin's little head, Varian Ureon interrupted the little prince's advice with a nonchalant expression, and said with a smile: "No one can satisfy everyone." There is a war going on at the front, son, we need to replenish military spending. Ms. Katrana didn't do anything wrong. ”

"But,"

"Nothing, my son!"

Hearing Varian's answer, the little prince Anduin was about to argue but was once again interrupted by His Majesty the King. Dissatisfied, interrupting his son's exhortation, Varian Urien changed to a loving smile in the blink of an eye, and said playfully:

"You don't have to worry about that, little one, leave all these little troubles to the adults. I've worn you out these days, and now it's your task to go back and change into your dress and accompany me to tonight's dinner. Then we both have a good night's sleep and tomorrow we will go hunting together in the forest! Maybe Father, I'll hunt a rabbit and make you a lucky rabbit's foot! ”

Without waiting for the little prince to react, Varian turned his head to continue to laugh with Katrana Presto beside him, completely frivolous and profligate.

The doubts in his heart grew heavier and heavier, and he stared at the figure of his father's laughter, and the little prince with a frown on his brow gradually slowed down, until a broad, solid palm landed on his shoulder—it was the Duke of Berval.

"What are you thinking, Your Highness the Prince? Worried about tomorrow's hunt? Berval Vortagen stepped forward with a warm smile on his face, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes like that of the little prince.

"No, it's not like that, Uncle Bolval." Anduin Wryon shook his head and replied hesitantly, "I just think my father has changed a little bit...... It feels a little strange...... It's like a different person! ”

Bowall's eyes changed slightly, but his face remained silent, and he patted the little prince on the shoulder and whispered comfortingly: "Don't think so much, child. Varian has been through a lot of suffering this time, and some changes are normal! At this time, you should be by his side and support him, shouldn't you? ”

"But the G-7 summit is about to begin, and I was going to remind my father, but he won't listen to me at all......" The little prince complained to Bolval with some grievances.

"Leave it to me, I'll report to your father tonight." Touching Anduin's brain, Berval made a relaxed expression to the little prince, and said in a pretended lighthearted manner.

The cavalry escorting the king gradually moved away, and looking at Varian who was chatting and laughing with the countess, Bowval's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his face gradually became solemn.

[During the war, banquets were held and hunting was organized...... Varian, that's not your style. 】

[And Katrana....... you have always been unapologetic to her, and even advised me to stay away from her, why are you ...... now]

[Hopefully, I've thought too much......] Bowwal is also unfamiliar with the returning Varian, as a partner and friend for decades, today's series of strange behaviors of Varian have made one doubt after another appear in the heart of His Excellency the Archon [The battle in the hills of Hillsbrad is raging, the reinforcements of the tribe are already on the way, and the plan to rebuild the Federation of Azeroth is about to enter the negotiation stage......]

[At this time...... I can't afford any changes! 】

―――――――――― long-lost dividing line――――――――――

In Stormwind City at night, the royal family's banquet hall is singing and dancing.

The sound of loud laughter and loud music drifted through most of the city with the night breeze.

Not far from the banquet hall, in a gloomy living room, two unsightly figures stood opposite each other.

There were no candles lit in the room, only the fireplace burning in the corner of the wall was faintly glowing. Clothed in a cloak to cover her face, Countess Catlana Presto wore a black gauze dress embellished with red patterns, and her graceful body loomed in the firelight.

"The Assassins' Guild have failed...... a bewitching voice sounded, "I've been disappointed by the people of Ravenhold Manor, and I don't know if I should trust you hidden assassins." ”

"It's just a bunch of amateurs whose hands and feet are limited by dogma," said the countess, a thin figure with a mask over his face, mocking with disdain, "when it comes to assassinating commissions, we syndicates are the right choice." ”

"But," the masked man paused, and said in a sinister voice, "our asking price is twice as much as theirs!" ”

"Money is not a problem," the lion opened his mouth in the face of the thief, but the countess did not care: "I can pay you half of the fee now, and the rest will be settled after the work is done!" ”

"Either pay in full, or this conversation ends here." The countess's condition failed to impress the face-covering fellow, but replied in a resolute tone: "I'm sorry to say that, but ...... The nobility of Stormwind has always been known for their debts. What do you say, ma'am? Know that we know who you are! ”

"Well, pay in full as you wish." The countess didn't care about the probing and warning of the needle hidden in the mask man, and simply agreed to the other party's request. "You have to be fast, though! Within a month, I'm going to see the target's head! ”

"No problem! Who do you want us to kill? ”

"His name was Lagash, a gladiator champion from the Hammer of Doom. Bring more capable personnel, that's a very strong opponent! Stretching out her hand and brushing the black hair in front of her forehead, the countess did not forget to advise: "In the next few days, the 'Wave Breaker' on which the target is riding will dock at the port of Minethil. The target is accompanied by a Night Elf Druid and a Blood Elf Rogue, making it easy to recognize......"

"Remember, don't mess up!"

Throwing a big jingling money bag to the masked man, Countess Catlana Presto looked at the other party in a gloomy tone and a menacing face: "Otherwise, I promise you......"

"You'll see me for who I am!" (To be continued......)

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