"I haven't figured out what the hell is wrong, Colonel?"

Lorena stood in the observation room of the North Outpost, looking out the window. It was Major Daven, the supreme commander of the North Outpost, who spoke. Lorena and her team had arrived an hour earlier, but there was nothing they could do with him.

In the center of the observation room was a small table, and Daven sat on the chair next to it. He was a big fat man with a thick beard on his face. He had just told Sù Lorena that a patrol ship had gotten lost in the fog, and that might be the same ship that the orcs had seen.

Lorena turned and looked down at him—it was easy, though Darven wasn't taller than her when standing—and said, "The problem is, Major, the orcs want our help, and that ship should be signaling for help. ”

"Why?" It sounds like Davon is confused.

"Because they are our allies. Lorena couldn't believe that she needed an explanation. Davon was a hero in times of war. His unit was wiped out to escort a mage, and he was the only one who survived. The experience was a priceless asset.

Now the hero just shrugged his shoulders: "We do fight together, but it can't be helped. They are not educated at all. The reason why we can tolerate them is all for the sake of Thrall's face, and the reason why we give Sal face is because he was raised by humans. But that doesn't mean the orcs are in good hands. ”

"Queen Prodmore doesn't think so," snapped Lorena, "and so do I." She turned away. It's spectacular to stand here and admire the Endless Sea, it's much more comfortable than staring at Daven's stinky face. "I have sent for Captain Avino and his crew. I'd like to hear what he has to say. ”

Davon stood up: "With all due respect, Colonel, this is not 'anyone's' to say. Aveno's ship got lost and managed to return to its course, I know that the orcs have been attacked by pirates, but it has nothing to do with us. ”

"No, it's about us," Lorena didn't turn to look at him. "Pirates don't care who they attack. They may attack goblins, orcs, trolls, ogres, elves, dwarves - and even humans. But as long as pirates appear near Ratchet City, we can't stand idly by. ”

"Colonel, I've been sent here for three years," Davin snapped. "I don't need you to explain to me what a pirate is. ”

"If that's the case, then you shouldn't need me to explain to you why you want to help the orcs destroy the pirates. ”

A short private reluctantly knocked on the door of the observation room. The uniform on his body was surprisingly large enough to be worn by someone who was a head taller than him. "Uh, sir, someone wants to see you and Colonel Lorena. Sir, I don't know if it's okay, sir?"

"Who is it?"

"Well, sir, it's Captain Avino, and there's another one I don't know. ”

"That's Strovo," said Lorena, "I told him to bring the captain here." ”

Daven glared at Lorena, "What is your intention in taking my people to the observation room like prisoners?"

Lorena was thinking about writing a letter to Queen Prodmore and General Norris, requesting that Darvin be transferred to the kitchen, "First of all. Major, I think you should be present when you question your captain; And secondly, do you usually take prisoners to the observation room? Shouldn't they be taken to the detention cell?"

Daven was speechless, and had to continue to stare at her.

Lorena turned to the private and said, "Bring them in." ”

The private gave the major an unhappy look on his face and did not retreat until he nodded.

Two people came into the observation room. Strovo was the most popular-looking of all Lorena knew - medium height, average weight, medium build, brown hair, brown eyes, and a thin beard, and looked about the same as all grown men. His characterless appearance made him a natural scout: wherever he appeared, he would not attract attention.

The man walking behind Strovo had a face that had been dried by the wind. He took heavy steps and bent the floor. His face was covered with wrinkles. The skin has turned dark red due to years of exposure to the sun.

"Captain Avino. Daven shifted his chair back, "This is Colonel Lorena. Queen Proudmore sent her from Theramore to investigate why the pirates attacked the orc ships. ”

Avenor frowned, "I think it's obvious, Colonel. ”

Lorena glared at Davin. He nodded again and greeted Avino: "The Major's words are not accurate. In fact, I'm here to investigate why pirates would attack an orc merchant ship - uh, I wonder why you didn't help them?"

Aveno pointed at Strovo and asked, "That's why this man and his companions keep harassing me and my crew?"

"Officer Strovo and his men only did what the Queen had ordered. Me too. ”

"I'm on a mission, sir. I'll answer that question later. ”

"No, Captain, no. ”

Avino looked at Davin. Daven shrugged. It means that he can't control this matter. Averino looked at Lorena aggressively: "Okay. So when did this so-called attack happen?"

"Five days ago. According to Major Darvan, you were trapped in fog that morning. ”

"Yes, sir. ”

"Of course, did you see the other ships?"

"It seems to have seen - it seems that a ship has appeared at sea, but I am not sure. I can conclude, however, that our ship was at one point very close to that ship - and they also sounded the fog horn. ”

Lorena nodded. This confirms the orc claims.

"But I'm not sure. The fog was so thick that I couldn't even see the nose on my own face. Colonel, I have never seen such a fog in my more than fifty years of seafaring career. Sargeras may have been walking on our deck at the time, but I didn't see it. I didn't go to help because I was afraid of a mutiny, that's true. And we don't have to worry about the greenskins. ”

Lorena stared at the captain for a long time and sighed, "Very well, captain, thank you for your cooperation. You're good to go. ”

"What a waste of time. Avenor muttered under his breath and left.

After the captain left, Strovo said: "That's what most of the crew said, sir. ”

"Of course," Daven said, "because that's what it is." Just think about it on your toes and you can understand. ”

Hear the Major's words. Lorena felt dizzy. "Sue me, Major," she asked, "why didn't you say at first that Captain Avino had encountered another ship—and that ship had a fog horn?"

"I thought it didn't matter. ”

Lorena decided to change the letter and ask the queen to transfer Daven to the manure tank. "Major. Your duty is not to estimate whether it is irrelevant. Your duty - and your duty - is to obey the orders of your superiors!"

Davin let out a long sigh of relief, "Look, Colonel - you're here to find out if Captain Avino has been negligent in his duties. Now the truth is out. He didn't. So what happened to the Greenskin's cargo?"

"Actually, it didn't work out - they fought off the pirates alone. ”

Daven stood up again. He looked at Lorena like a madman, "So--with all due respect, sir, what's the point of this investigation? It looks like those greenskins don't need our help--why are you trying us as prisoners?" We are not at fault. ”

Lorena shook her head, completely disagreeing.

Bylock never imagined that the best time of his life would be the days of fishing.

Literally, "fishing" shouldn't be a way of life that orcs would choose. He has nothing to do with war, nothing to honor, nothing to fight against, and no opportunity for people to prove their courage. Without weapons, you won't see blood.

But it doesn't matter what you do. Bylock fishes old only because he is very idle.

As a young man, he took Gul'dan and the Shadow Council's promises and thought he could have a new world. There the sky was blue, and the orcs were tightly united, never to be defeated. Bylok and his clan followed Gul'dan's lead, not expecting that he and his Shadow Council were sent by Sargeras and demons, let alone that they would pay for their souls when they came to this world.

It took ten years for the orcs to be defeated. They became slaves of the devil, though they had regarded the devil as their benefactor; They have also become slaves to humans, and have fought with them so many times that even demons have turned their eyes on them.

The demon's magic has made it impossible for Bylock to remember what his hometown looks like. He also did not want to remember the days when he was enslaved by humans. He only remembered that during that time, he worked non-stop every day, and his back was about to be tired. But this qiē did not destroy his will. Demons can't do it, and humans can't do it.

Later, Sal came.

A qiē has changed. The great son of Durotan - whose death meant the end of an era - Thrall escaped from the overseers and used the techniques he had learned from the humans against them. His presence brought the orcs back to their glory days.

The day Thrall and his growing army rescued Bylock. He made a vow that unless one of them died, he would remain in power with the young orc leader for the rest of his life.

So far, this premise has not been true. Neither humans nor demons wanted to kill one of them, but none of them were able to do so. But an inconspicuous creep from the Burning Legion almost did it. He blinded Bylock's right eye, and in exchange for Bylock's entire head was cut off.

After the war is over, or after the orcs settle down in Durotar. Bylock applied to quit the army. But he promised that he would be the first to return to the ranks as soon as the trumpets of war sounded again, although his right eye was no longer visible, and now he wanted nothing more than to enjoy the freedom he had so won so hard.

Sal agreed to his request. He sent everyone who wanted to go home home.

Bylock is not practical to fish. Durontal's arable land is among the best in the world. Only humans in the swamps had to abandon farming and fishing. Because they want to exchange the surplus fish for the surplus food of the orcs.

But Bylock wished that humans would not be able to catch a single fish. If possible, he wished he didn't have to do anything for humanity. Yes, he had to fight alongside humans, but it was a last resort. Humans are a bunch of monsters, and Bylock doesn't want to do anything for these uneducated monsters.

It's not hard to imagine how surprised the one-eyed orc was when he suddenly saw six humans while fishing on the Dead-Eye Coast as usual.

The place where Bylock usually fishes is covered with deep weeds. Although he had lost his right eye, he could conclude from the beginning that there was no sign of anyone else walking - especially a human one, except for the six footprints he had made as he walked through the grass. And he didn't see a ship passing by, and he couldn't even see the shadow of a ship from here.

But it doesn't matter where these people came, what matters is that they came. Bylock snapped his rod and untied the Meteor Hammer tied behind him—a gift from Chief Thrall when he rescued him. So wherever he went, he took it with him.

If these uninvited guests were Bylock's kindred, he would have questioned them now, but they were human - and probably spies - so he would never do so. You can't startle the snake. If only they were a bunch of fools who accidentally crossed the border. According to Bylock's judgment, this is very unlikely.

They are most likely intruders. If that was the case, he would never let them leave alive.

Bylock had learned human language when he was in human captivity, so he could now understand the words of these men—at least the parts he could understand. He crouched quietly in the tall grass, eavesdropping on the men.

That doesn't sound like a good situation. "Kill it. "There was one person who said. "Sal. The other continued. Others say "greenskins" - a term often used by humans to insult orcs.

He heard a complete sentence: "We are going to kill them all and occupy the entire continent." ”

Someone asked a question. Bylock heard it only once - "troll". As a result, one of the people who spoke earlier said, "Don't worry, we're going to kill them all." ”

Bylock tore through the grass so he could see the six men clearly. They don't look special, and to Bylock, humans all look the same. But the elderly orc noticed a pattern on the two closest to him—the fire blade. One has one such tattoo tattooed on his arm, while the other carries one such earring.

Bylock's blood clotted all at once, and he recognized the sign. Long ago, the orcs had just come to this continent under the guidance of Gul'dan. These people are known as the Fireblade Clan, and they are emblazoned with this pattern on their banners and armor. The Fireblade Clan is the most vicious of the legions that obey the Shadow Council. Then they were all wiped out. Not a single one remains.

But now there are humans wearing their emblems, and they say they want to kill Thrall.

Bylock's blood boiled. He stood up, lifted the Meteor Hammer above his head, spun around and charged at the six. He was a large man, but as he approached the men, there was no sound except for the chains of the Meteor Hammer and the thud of the spike ball circling overhead.

Unfortunately, two people happened to turn around—the same two with the Fireblade Clan emblems on them—and Bylock had to deal with them first. He slammed the meteor hammer into the head of one of the shaved men. He didn't worry about losing his weapon at all—because no one could hold it. (To be continued.) )