In the Argent Crusade camp, Thrall sat with his legs crossed, carefully eating a piece of tender Tauren meat. His expression seemed nonchalant, but his ears were listening intently.
In front of a table piled high with cow bones, the Goblin Gazlowe knelt on the ground, carefully reading a business plan.
To complete the thick proposal, Gazlowe poured his heart and soul into it, and hadn't slept for three days.
Unfortunately, Gazlowe made the mistake that Goblins make: his plan was too long, including a lot of irrelevant details.
The praise for Thrall alone was lengthy, and Thrall was almost finished with his dinner before they even got to the main topic.
However, it was precisely because of his all-encompassing and unwavering flattery that Gazlowe was granted an audience with Thrall.
The praise for Thrall had barely ended when a smug Thrall snatched the thick proposal and glanced at the table of contents.
"Little Goblin, do you have a problem with how we use the ingredients?" Thrall asked, displeased.
Gazlowe spoke cautiously and as briefly as possible:
"Great Savior, the Argent Tournament is about to eliminate millions of Argent Crusade soldiers. Before turning them into military rations, why not maximize their remaining value and create Wealth for the Horde?"
"Speak your opinion." Thrall rewarded Gazlowe with a cow bone, seemingly pleased with his flattery.
Gazlowe was overjoyed and treasured the bone, carefully wrapping it in a handkerchief and preparing to chill it as a family heirloom for his descendants.
"My Lord Savior, Northrend has abundant mineral resources, but the environment is too harsh for mining. Since the soldiers of the Argent Crusade are destined to become rations, why not order them to mine for the Horde before slaughtering them? After all, we don't have to pay them wages."
"With the mines, we can forge weapons and armor. Before long, a large-scale production base will be established. We'll need a large workforce for infrastructure development, and the soldiers of the Argent Crusade will become our free construction workers. A great city will rise."
Thrall's eyes widened as he interrupted Gazlowe, "Little Goblin, do you know the consequences of doing this? Too much labor will turn the food into skin and bones, and it won't taste good."
Gazlowe grinned obsequiously, "Savior, leave it all to me. I guarantee they'll earn us far more value than their own flesh and blood before they die from exhaustion."
Thrall narrowed his eyes slightly, pointed to the bones on the ground, and asked, "Little Goblin, do you know what this is?"
Gazlowe looked surprised, not understanding why Thrall asked such a question, and honestly replied, "Tauren bones."
Thrall nodded and said coldly, "Tauren are strong and robust, among the best laborers in Azeroth. They don't even need food, just grass. Yet the Orcs use Tauren as food, not as slaves. Do you know why?"
Gazlowe shook his head. Although he already knew the answer in his heart—that Orcs had no business sense—he dared not say it to Thrall.
Thrall yawned and waved his hand, saying:
"Go back and think about it carefully. Once you understand it, you'll understand why the soldiers of the Argent Crusade are only considered food, not as unpaid miners."
Gazlowe, completely bewildered, left Thrall's Tent with the proposal in hand.
However, Gazlowe's proposal was not without effect, Thrall adopted a small portion of it.
Without compromising the quality of the ingredients, the soldiers of the Argent Crusade were ordered to perform tasks such as gathering herbs and mining, euphemistically called "training their minds."
The construction of the Argent Tournament went very smoothly, and the shooting range and training grounds are now officially in use. Warriors of the Argent Crusade must pass equestrian, archery, and other tests to qualify for the next round of elimination matches.
The final stage of the preliminary rounds is called the Trial of the Champions, which selects adventurers with the best skills in each area to form a five-person team to compete in a championship tournament.
After meticulous preparation, the first champion trial team finally emerged victorious. Beneath each champion team lay piles of corpses, with over five hundred Argent Crusade soldiers brutally eliminated, their bodies turned into Tough Jerky.
Since this was the first Championship Trial, Tirion Fordring took it very seriously and specially invited Horde heroes such as Thrall, Vol'jin, Eitrigg to watch.
Icecrown Citadel.
Robbie arrived at the lower levels of Icecrown Citadel, descending the spiraling staircase to the darkest cavern deep underground, which was the Scourge's prison.
In fact, there are not many prisoners qualified to be imprisoned here. Most of them are Demons of the Burning Legion or monsters from the Void, and must be special beings of research value.
In a prison cell, the aura of death ensnares a knight clad in black armor.
If the prisoners in the Scourge Prison were ranked by strength, this Black Knight would undoubtedly be at the bottom, and would be of no research value whatsoever.
The reason this Black Knight has been imprisoned until now is simply because he is a creation of Ner'zhul and has a close relationship with Ner'zhul.
Ner'zhul's ice coffin was placed on the Frozen Throne by Kil'jaeden. Ner'zhul, who had lost his freedom, initially thought of finding a body for himself and escaping the confinement of the ice coffin.
Only a body of direct blood could contain Ner'zhul's tormented soul. Although Ner'zhul's wife had long since died, as the chieftain of the Shadowmoon Clan, countless female Orcs were willing to throw themselves into his arms, leaving behind many Bastard Son.
Ner'zhul lured a group of adventurers, promising them a large sum of gold to help them find his son.
The adventurers did not disappoint Ner'zhul. After paying some gold, they bought one of Ner'zhul's sons from the Orcs internment camp and presented him to Ner'zhul.
Ner'zhul felt Blood Bond and was overjoyed. He used the dark power taught to him by the Burning Legion to Pain Suppression the soul within his body and then corrupt it into a dark knight.
Unfortunately, Ner'zhul wasn't very skilled with his hands and didn't know which step went wrong, resulting in the Dark Knight being unable to contain Ner'zhul's soul.
This defeat was a huge blow to Ner'zhul. He sometimes doubted the knowledge taught by the Burning Legion, and sometimes felt that he was not capable enough. The suspicious Ner'zhul accomplished nothing until Kel'Thuzad appeared.
After the Scourge Army occupied the Frozen Throne, they found the Black Knight and learned about his origins from Ner'zhul's memories.
Because he was Ner'zhul's son, they thought he might be useful later, so they imprisoned him.
The Dark Knight's Pain Suppression soul has been freed, and this Black Knight is extremely loyal to Ner'zhul, who calls himself the Lich King. Robbie decides to use the Black Knight to test Elune.
The Trial of the Champions was held as scheduled, and five Horde representatives were selected: three Orcs, one Darkspear Trolls, and one Forsaken.
Tirion Fordring said in a humble voice, "Lord Eitrigg, your two brothers-in-law and cousin are in the ranks. Oh, and Lord Vol'jin, your sweetheart's younger brother has also been chosen."
Thrall disagreed; what he needed was not strength, but absolute loyalty.
"What is the origin of that Forsaken?" Thrall asked, still uneasy.
Tirion Fordring quickly replied, "This man was Nathanos Blightcaller's uncle."