Upon hearing Meryl's words, Tirion Fordring jumped up with a start, his expression changing drastically.
If that's the case, not only will we get nothing, but we might also lose our lives.
Considering the character of these individuals, they are all treacherous, cunning, cruel, and ruthless. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to hold such high positions. It's not surprising that they would resort to conspiracies and tricks.
Meryl simply smiled and asked, "Tirion Fordring, do you have any ideas on how to deal with this?"
How to deal with it?
Tirion Fordring's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty upon hearing this.
Although the Argent Crusade has a constant supply of soldiers thanks to the help of the Peace Dove, Tirion Fordring has yet to cultivate an elite force.
The few loyalist squads they had painstakingly built up were of questionable combat strength and were definitely no match for the Orcs and the Forsaken.
It seems that running away is the only option.
Meryl saw through Tirion Fordring's thoughts at a glance and smiled, saying, "Tirion Fordring, do you really want to give up everything? To die alone in some corner like an ordinary old man?"
Tirion Fordring was unwilling to accept this. Realizing something, he stared into Meryl's eyes and said sincerely, "Please teach me, Archmage."
Meryl nodded in satisfaction. "Tirion Fordring, you're a smart man. Everyone says that the Lich King Arthas brought the Scourge to Azeroth, but few people know that the Undead have existed for a long time. Besides the Scourge, do you know how many Undead live in this world?"
Tirion Fordring shook his head blankly.
Meryl chuckled and said:
"In unseen corners, such as dark mines, crisscrossing caves, or places where people gather, such as bustling metropolises, Tranquility villages, or unknown hamlets, the traces of the Undead are everywhere. There are over five million Undead creatures throughout Azeroth."
"What, five million?" Tirion Fordring stared at Meryl in disbelief.
Five million Undead creatures are enough to wipe out the Alliance and the Horde.
Meryl shook his head and said:
"The abilities of Undead creatures are beyond your imagination. Many Undead can disguise themselves extremely well, living in seclusion among the living for thousands of years. They can be a nobleman with a good reputation, a strict middle-aged teacher, a beautiful woman parading through the streets, or even a high-ranking mage in Dalaran or a senior advisor to the King. Undead creatures are everywhere. If we Undead wanted to, we would have established a kingdom in Azeroth long ago, and the Scourge would have nothing to do with us."
Upon learning this earth-shattering secret, Tirion Fordring trembled with excitement and hurriedly asked:
"Do these Undead creatures know of each other's existence?"
A disorganized group is not the same as a loosely organized group.
Meryl looked on with admiration and said reverently, "The Undead are very well-organized, with all sorts of rules. Our leader, the Undead Emperor, is older than this world itself. His strength far surpasses that of the Lich King Arthas; he could shatter the Frozen Throne with a single hand."
Azeroth has been hiding such a powerful expert.
After calming down, Tirion Fordring had some doubts in his mind, and it was hard to be sure that Meryl wasn't lying.
Meryl smiled slightly and took out a precious Communication Gem.
"Tirion Fordring, the Emperor thinks very highly of you. In every era, there are only a handful of people who can catch the Emperor's eye. You have been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make contact with the Emperor."
Meryl personally cast a spell, Communication Gem flashed continuously, gradually making the image clearer.
Tirion Fordring was surprised to find a hazy planet in the image, with clearly defined continents and oceans.
"This is the Azeroth Planet," Meryl introduced.
"In the star system where Azeroth is located, there is a thick layer of cosmic dust, within which lies an unclaimed spaceship, five thousand kilometers long, a relic of a prehistoric civilization. The Emperor obtained ancient inheritances within this mysterious spaceship."
It turns out that the Undead Emperor has already left Azeroth, which makes Tirion Fordring extremely envious.
The image gradually zoomed in, revealing a strange creature inside the spaceship, appearing before Tirion Fordring. It had nine dragon-like heads, all with their eyes closed, except for the leftmost head, which opened its eyes and carefully examined Tirion Fordring.
Meryl said respectfully:
"This is an avatar of the Emperor. I'm sorry, Tirion Fordring, your strength is not yet sufficient to meet the Emperor's true form. If the Emperor's true form were to glance at you, you would die."
Two beams of light shot from the dragon's head, and a majestic voice rang out. "You are Tirion Fordring, very good."
Then, the image disappeared with a snap.
Meryl put away the Communication Gem: "Tirion Fordring, this is your good fortune. In the last hundred years, you are the only one qualified to meet the Emperor."
That's right, that's the style of big shots—unfathomable, elusive, and their words are as good as nothing at all.
Tirion Fordring had no more doubts. If he could gain the Emperor's support, then great things could be accomplished. But he just didn't know what this mysterious Undead Emperor needed.
Tirion Fordring asked uneasily, "What can I gain, and what price must I pay?"
Meryl said calmly, "The Emperor has long transcended life and death, and has become indifferent to fame, power, and glory. In the Emperor's eyes, there is only balance."
"Balance?" Tirion Fordring was baffled.
Meryl explained:
"Where there is life, there is death. With the Orcs invading Azeroth, the Scourge must exist. If Arthas dies, the balance will be broken, and the entire Azeroth may be destroyed. To save Azeroth, the Emperor is willing to send an avatar hidden in Azeroth to take over the Scourge from Arthas and become the new Lich King."
All this talk about saving Azeroth turns out the Emperor actually wanted the Lich King.
Tirion Fordring couldn't bear to part with it, so he lowered his head and remained silent.
Meryl's expression was displeased, and she said rather bluntly, "Tirion Fordring, you have no choice. Without the Emperor's support, only death awaits you. As long as the Scourge exists, the Argent Crusade will have its value, continuously bringing you glory and Wealth."
Fording's mind showed Thrall's ferocious face and all kinds of unimaginable cruel methods, and he couldn't help but tremble all over.
Cooperating with the mysterious and unknown Undead Emperor involves a great deal of risk.
But as Meryl said, Tirion Fordring had no other choice.
Tirion Fordring finally made up his mind and said solemnly, "The Argent Crusade is willing to serve the Undead Emperor."
Meryl, his expression unreadable, stood up to take his leave.
"Tirion Fordring, you are very clever, which allowed me to complete the mission smoothly. Otherwise, I would have needed to kill you, then resurrect you, disguise myself as a living person, and also be able to use the Holy Light, which is a very troublesome matter, and I hate trouble the most."
Tirion Fordring felt a chill run down his spine; he realized he had just narrowly escaped death.
Having left the Argent Crusade's camp and finding no one around, Meryl's lips trembled slightly, he let out a muffled groan, collapsed to the ground, and rolled around, his body convulsing.
Bright rays of light burst forth from his body, the effect of the Ashbringer. His seemingly casual stroking of the Ashbringer was actually a forceful Pain Suppression of Holy Light within his body.
The Power of the Holy Light had to be expelled from her body, which caused Meryl terrible pain.
The guard who caught Ashbringer in his palms watched Meryl indifferently and laughed, "Meryl, you did well. Tirion Fordring. Only we Dreadlords are qualified to become the new Lich King."