Some people are destined to be Kings from birth.
Moira believed herself to be that kind of person; she didn't care about the curse of old age or the more than ten years of miserable suffering. She simply enjoyed the feeling of being high above others.
Of course, Moira wasn't blindly arrogant; she understood the strength of the Dark Iron Dwarves, and that attacking Ironforge was impossible without their help.
Moira went to Jaina for advice. Behind Jaina stood two Guardians and a group of mages from Dalaran. If Jaina was willing to help, Moira's chances of winning were extremely high.
Upon entering Jaina's tent, Moira was surprised to find Jaina packing her belongings.
"Jaina, what are you doing?" Moira asked, puzzled.
Jaina smiled. "Moira, you promised me you'd become Queen of Ironforge and give me Prince Anduin, but you're not queen now."
Moira tried to explain, "Jaina, that's precisely why I need your help to reclaim the throne. I will not only give you Anduin, but also offer you a greater reward."
Jaina shook her head and said, "I'm sorry, Moira, I don't want to get involved in the Dwarf civil war. You know me, I've always loved peace and can't stand sacrifice and bloodshed."
After saying that, Jaina packed her bags and left. Moira stood there stunned for a long time before stamping her foot and complaining, "Damn it, how could that vicious woman Jaina love peace? Muradin must have agreed to hand over Anduin. Humph, you won't get away with this!"
After Anduin left, Muradin once again ventured into the Titans Relics chamber to read the documents left behind by his predecessors. He inadvertently discovered a mahogany box with a lock on it.
Muradin searched the entire room but could not find the key.
The lock was very ingenious, but fortunately Muradin was a skilled blacksmith. After some effort, he successfully opened the mahogany box.
Inside the wooden box lay a red hair, exuding an ominous aura.
Beneath the red hair was a thick stack of books, which shocked Muradin.
An ominous old age, red hair, terrible curses, mournful howls, and a grotesque monster.
Various terrifying words kept jumping into Muradin's eyes.
No wonder Magni didn't pass the King to Moira. It turns out that every King of the Bronzebeard Clan is cursed, going mad in his later years, covered in red hair, and forced to enter Old Ironforge.
They endure unimaginable pain every day, screaming pitifully, and only regain consciousness for a few short days each month.
The ancestors of the Bronzebeard Clan tirelessly researched this terrible curse, for example, they tried to pass the King to the Anvilmar Family, but the World Tree Guardian of the Bronzebeard Clan still could not escape the Destiny of the curse.
Magni made a breakthrough in his research on the curse, discovering the origins of the Humans through the excavation of ancient ruins; they were originally creations of the Titans.
Magni then analyzed that the Titans power remaining within the Humans would conflict with the power of the Elune, causing them to grow into terrifying deformed monsters in their later years.
They only regain a brief period of lucidity on specific days of the month when the power of the Elune prevails.
Muradin was secretly relieved that Magni was still alive, and that he was not the Guardian of the World Tree, so he was spared the entanglement of this terrible Destiny.
Jaina entered Ironforge and, through Magni's arrangement, met Prince Anduin.
Anduin remained calm and said indifferently, "Archmage Jaina, I've been ready for a long time. Thrall, the Savior Thrall probably getting impatient."
Looking at the polite Prince before her, Jaina was somewhat suspicious. Judging from the Prince's tone, he seemed completely unafraid of death, which was quite different from the Anduin she remembered.
Jaina plans to use bloodline tracking to verify Prince Anduin's identity.
After hesitating for a moment, Jaina gave up. What difference would it make if it really didn't work out? As long as she could report back to Thrall, that was enough.
Anduin added, "But I have one condition. My father has lost his son and must be suffering unimaginable pain. I want to return to Stormwind City to see him one last time."
Jaina was certain that the "Anduin" before her was a fake; Varian and his son had never been on good terms, only pretending to care for each other in front of outsiders.
"Okay, I promise."
What harm could there be in just meeting him once? Jaina agreed, not wanting to cause any more trouble.
Jaina opened Portal, sending Prince Anduin back to Stormwind City.
King Varian was displeased to hear that Anduin a final farewell, but he could only pretend to receive Anduin in his study.
Upon seeing King Varian, Anduin emotion, knelt on the ground, and wept:
"Father, I am about to depart. Thrall is a great Savior who has devoted himself to the cause of Azeroth. As Prince of Kingdom of Stormwind, I must also fulfill my responsibility. I am very willing to sacrifice myself for Azeroth, but I am sorry for failing to repay your kindness in raising me. Please forgive my filial impiety."
What's going on?
Varian was baffled. This was no Prince Anduin; he was more like a saint from a fairy tale. In Stormwind City's royal family, someone like this would be devoured in less than half a day.
"This is not normal, this is absolutely not normal."
Varian glanced at Jaina beside him, Jaina expression remained calm, showing no surprise whatsoever.
"Could the Anduin before me be an imposter, or a test from Thrall?"
Varian suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if countless eyes were staring at him, and he feared that Thrall might step forward at any moment and kick Varian off the throne.
"You are not Anduin," Varian said, standing up with a grim expression.
Jaina, standing to the side, was stunned, finding Varian's reaction strange. She quickly explained, "No, Varian, you're mistaken. He is indeed Prince Anduin."
Varian scoffed, "Jaina, I know what you're thinking. This is a test for me, isn't it? Rest assured, for Azeroth, I'm willing to give everything. I will never allow a fake Anduin to tarnish the name of the great Savior Thrall."
Jaina, filled with regret, could only weakly struggle and say, "No, Varian, it's not what you think."
"Stop talking."
Varian asked solemnly, "Tell me where the real Anduin is, and I will capture him and personally deliver him to Thrall, for the sake of Azeroth."
Jaina smiled wryly and remained silent, while Varian, in his self-righteousness, asked:
"It's in Ironforge, isn't it? I'll bring him back myself."
Varian believed that rescuing Prince Anduin was unnecessary and that the cooperation of SI:7 would suffice.
Shaw, the leader of SI:7, was stunned when he received Varian's order.
Shaw knew perfectly well what Ironforge was; it was protected by mysterious forces, and even Orcs dared not attack Ironforge. SI:7 agents never acted recklessly in Ironforge.
But Shaw dared not tell Varian the truth.
Trying to persuade a stubborn King would only lead to his own demise. Helpless, Shaw could only pick out the expendable agents of SI:7, falsely claiming they were elite troops, and hand them over to Varian to lead.
Unaware of the trap, Varian led dozens of SI:7 agents to storm Ironforge.