December 25th, Christmas Eve before the transmigration, and a triumphant night in this world.
That night, Lordaeron was very lively. Countless people were celebrating the fall of the evil dragon Deathwing, but this celebration was destined to have nothing to do with the Lordaeron Royal Family.
A mourning flag was hung on the tallest remaining tower of the Lordaeron Royal Palace. The beautiful Princess Kalia Menethil had died, and not even her body was left behind.
In the mourning hall, the queen and Arthas cried loudly.
Terenas, on the other hand, was like an old man who had one foot in the grave. He sat in the corner of the mourning hall, looking at the empty coffin and the gemstone necklace that Kalia wore in the morning.
Lordaeron had suffered a double blow today.
First, Kalia's death.
Second, in the afternoon, Gilness, who seemed to be the most supportive of Lordaeron, suddenly announced that he was leaving the Lordaeron Alliance. However, this news had not spread to the public yet.
"Gilness will not associate with Lordaeron, who is in cahoots with the evil Black Dragon Nesario." These were Zeon's words.
The excuse was dignified, and politically impeccable.
Anyone with a discerning eye would know why.
Zeon was too smart. Duque's plan to build a watchtower in the Cursed Land to monitor the Dark Portal was no longer a secret. If he continued to stay in the Alliance, he would no doubt have a showdown with Gilness regarding the cost of building the watchtower.
On the other hand, because it was revealed that Nethario was the Lord of Presto, and his hopes of obtaining the Hillsbrad Plains through the Dark Alliance with Terenas had been dashed, there was no point for Gilniss to continue staying in the Alliance.
Less than an hour after Gilness quit, Cuel Salas also sent news that he was quitting the Alliance for the same reason.
If Gilness quit because there was no profit to be made, then Cuel Salas quitting was a classic case of hypocrisy. Since the reputation of the only human kingdom that bordered the Long Song Forest was tarnished, Cuel Salas, who did not need trade or military support, did not want to pay such a high price for a castle in the southernmost part of the continent. Hence, quitting was the best choice.
After all, the Lordaeron Alliance was originally an alliance against a common enemy — the Horde. It was a rather loose military alliance. If it was the Federation, you would be betraying them if you dared to back out. The Alliance and the Federation were different.
Yesterday, if Gilness and Cuel Salas dared to do such a thing, Terenas would have said something like "If the Horde or other threats come again, the Alliance will not send a single soldier to save you." Unfortunately, the Rotterdam Kingdom could not even take care of themselves now.
The alliance leader of the Rotterdam Kingdom only existed in name.
Duke Charmas, Terenas' trusted aide, said, "Your Majesty, I think we should spread the word that you were bewitched by the Wings of Death."
He pushed the blame onto the evilest existence, and a dead one at that. This was the most appropriate method. At the very least, he could answer to the people.
However, everyone knew that if it weren't for the fact that everyone in the Rotterdam Kingdom coveted Alterac's land, there wouldn't have been such a thing.
The prestige of the Rotterdam Kingdom was gone.
This was evident from the fact that the remaining countries of the Alliance were surrounding Stormwind.
What Duke Charmas did was a classic case of crisis PR, but there was no such term in this world.
"Do as you see fit," Terenas said in a weak voice.
"Your Majesty, please restrain your grief." Duke Charmas bowed deeply and left.
In contrast to the sadness of the Rotterdam Kingdom's palace, the state guesthouse where Stormwind was staying was bustling with activity.
The Rotterdam Kingdom was very rich. Not only could they hold the most luxurious banquets in the palace. Even the state guesthouse that was used to entertain foreign guests still had a huge banquet hall that was more than a thousand square meters wide.
Tonight, there were so many kings visiting. This made people wonder if the leader of the alliance was staying in the palace or here.
On the lawn of the state guesthouse, the Dwarven guards from the Iron Stove Fort and the Dwarf Griffin Knights from the Eagle Nest Mountain were drinking, and the Gnome Mages from Gnomeregan were performing magic tricks. In the corridor outside the banquet hall of the state guesthouse, the Dalajan Mages and the Cuel Salas Mages were discussing the various possibilities of the Dark Portal.
In the side hall, the men of the sea from Kul 'Tiras, the Highland Knights from Riptide Fort, and the knights from Stormwind were chatting, drinking, arm wrestling, and so on.
Other than Gilness and Rotterdam, even the Elves from Cuel Salas who claimed to have left the Alliance could be seen here.
As expected by the leaders of the Alliance, they saw Countess Ilucia Barov at the entrance of the State Guesthouse, who had come to receive the guests.
Dressed in a black velvet low-cut dress, Ilusia was quite eye-catching. Although she was a little disappointed by the decline of her family, Ilusia performed her duties as one of the two Earls under Duke Duke's command, and as his assistant.
She welcomed the guests in a natural and unrestrained manner, and accompanying her was the former Duke Alex Barov.
Every guest smiled knowingly.
The news from Rotterdam was still that Duke Barov was a traitor of the Alliance, and it would never change. At that time, it was a fact that the four kings had confirmed.
Alright!
Didn't you slander Duke Barov as a traitor of the Alliance? Now, I, Duque, will put the former Duke Barov in an important position in front of you.
Yes, this was a slap in the face for the Rotterdam. Even if the Rotterdam was already miserable enough now.
Tonight's banquet was naturally a gathering of the big shots of the Alliance.
Even though they did not agree on politics before, Duque still allowed Antonidas and Kael 'thas to come over.
Near the circle of the Alliance's higher-ups, no one dared to approach more than 10 meters away.
Laing was the first to speak. "Duque, just tell everyone the truth. What are you going to do about the Dark Portal? No one has the confidence to build a huge fortress in that desolate place. "
Almost all the big shots of the Alliance nodded.
According to past experience, building such a fortress far away from human settlements would cost at least tens of millions of gold coins, and that did not include the subsequent maintenance costs. Not only would they have to transport food and military supplies through the undeveloped Redridge Mountains, they would also have to pass through the muddy Swamp of Sorrows, and finally send them to the godforsaken Cursed Land. Such a supply line was enough to drive any quartermaster crazy.
Duque swirled the red wine in his glass. "To be honest, I don't need you to pay. I can handle all the funds myself. "
The kings were instantly in an uproar.
Solas frowned. "Then what do you want?"
"The elite troops of the various countries! And the authorization of His Majesty Laing. "
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