Tauren Leipi scratched his head. "Shortly after Illidan's fall, a mysterious shareholder appeared in the Tauren Chieftains, investing a large amount of money every year. It was this shareholder who sent me here."
The Red Dragon Queen's eyes widened. "This is interesting, continue."
Leipi said with difficulty, "The shareholders asked me to request a Void Dragon Essence."
The Red Dragonflight's secret research into Void Dragons is almost a top secret, with very few people knowing the truth.
A list quickly formed in the Red Dragon Queen's mind, ultimately confirming who had leaked the information.
Black Dragon Eggs, Kalecgos.
"Your shareholder is highly incompetent. What makes him think I possess Void Dragon Essence, and why is he so certain I would hand it over to you?"
Leipi hung his head and remained silent, staring at his own hooves. He was merely a middleman who had been commissioned and had no idea how to negotiate with the Red Dragon Queen.
The Red Dragon Queen waved her hand dismissively, saying, "You can go back now. Northrend welcomes the Tauren Chieftains to perform anytime."
Leipi felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly turned and left.
Krasus carefully observed the Queen's expression. After a long while, the Red Dragon Queen slowly said:
"Use your network to send a Void Essence to Velen. I'd like to see how he reacts."
The Red Dragon Queen had already guessed that it was Velen who sent Leipi. Velen had been exposed, but the Red Dragon Queen did not want to give Velen any leverage over him.
Krasus accepted the order and withdrew.
An old friend from Stormwind City sent a gift through a messenger. When Velen opened it, he found it was a Void Dragon Essence.
Velen frowned. This was clearly a gift from the Red Dragon Queen. He had been exposed, and the Queen was hiding behind the scenes. In this battle of wits, Velen was at a disadvantage.
Having paid such a high price, how could Velen possibly waste this essence?
As both sides gradually committed more troops, the Lightforging War in Azshara escalated, resulting in heavy losses for both sides.
Interestingly, both sides tacitly avoided deploying high-end combat forces, and the war gradually turned into a meat grinder for low-ranking soldiers.
On this day, Jaina was calmly directing the battle on the front lines, unaware that a conspiracy was brewing in the shadows.
After a fierce battle, Jaina directed the logistics troops to clean up the Battlefield, Garrosh came running up, panting.
"Jaina, something terrible has happened! The Flesh-Eternal in trouble!"
"What? What happened?"
Jaina teleported Garrosh back to the Orgrimmar base, to the location of the Flesh-Eternal, where the high command of the Alliance was present.
Velen's face was grim, and he immediately launched into a barrage of questions upon meeting him:
"Jaina, I need an explanation. Why has the Flesh-Eternal stopped growing?"
Jaina replied dismissively, "Velen, this is none of your business. You can go back now."
"Damn it, I am the leader of the coalition forces, you must be held responsible for this."
Velen was aggressive; he had finally found something on Jaina and was determined to make the most of it.
Jaina, used to being domineering, wouldn't bother explaining herself to Velen; a slight smile played on her lips.
As a resounding dragon's roar echoed, Holy Dragon appeared overhead, Jaina declared confidently:
"Watch your tone, Velen. Although you are the leader of the Allied Forces, I am the true leader."
"What did you say?"
Velen was furious, his face turning ashen. No one had ever dared to defy him like this during his reign over the Draenei.
Jaina stepped forward and used her Mage Hand, slapping Velen's face hard with a transparent palm the size of a winnowing basket.
Velen was sent flying and crashed heavily to the ground, half of his face a bloody mess. He was completely stunned and couldn't utter a single word.
Magatha wanted to say a few words in defense of Velen, but seeing Jaina's menacing aura, like a demon, he could only lower his head helplessly.
Jaina snorted coldly, stepping on Velen's head before beginning her formal questioning.
The mage on duty was so frightened he almost fainted, his legs going weak as he reported to Jaina:
"Around 3 a. m. last night, the Flesh-Eternal emitted a Void power, along with the aura of Black Dragon. I hurriedly activated the Holy Light Magic Circle to bake it, but I couldn't Pain Suppression that aura. Before dawn, the Flesh-Eternal stopped growing."
"Why didn't you report to me immediately?" Jaina asked, clearly displeased.
The mage on duty glanced at Velen lying on the ground. Jaina understood immediately, and viciously pinched Velen's face while staring at him expressionlessly.
Velen was terrified and somewhat regretted making an enemy of Jaina. He stammered:
"Listen to me, I thought I could solve the Flesh-Eternal; I have served the Holy Light for countless years."
Bang!
The Holy Dragon landed on the ground, seemingly by accident stepping on Velen's right leg. The bone shattered, and Velen screamed in agony before falling unconscious.
"There has been a traitor among us."
Jaina spoke loudly, her gaze once again turning to Velen:
"If I find out who this traitor is, I will turn him into Flesh-Eternal, and keep him alive for ten thousand years."
The two Tauren carried Velen back to the tent, and it was quite a while before Velen woke up and used the Holy Light to heal himself.
Velen ruled the Draenei for tens of thousands of years, and with the help of the Naaru, his rule was so secure that he lacked experience in political struggle.
Jaina's direct and confrontational approach was something Velen always used against others; he had never experienced it himself.
Their previous rule over the Draenei was as childish as playing house.
"Jaina!"
Velen was trembling with rage, feeling both hatred and fear towards this woman.
"Do you need my help?"
A young man appeared in Velen's tent at some unknown time; it was Kalecgos had successfully escaped.
Kalecgos is now a full-fledged Twilight Dragon, and in human form, his original blue hair and blue eyes have turned into an ominous deep purple.
Velen panicked and whispered, "Why aren't you running away? If Jaina finds out, we're all finished."
Your situation seems quite dire.
Kalecgos chuckled, his gaze sharpening, his pupils dilating rapidly, the whites of his eyes disappearing, the Black Dragon Eggs temporarily taking control of the body.
"You think Jaina would look for evidence? What a naive idea. Jaina doesn't need evidence. She spared your life for only one purpose: to turn you into a Flesh-Eternal. I bet she's making preparations. The camp is full of Jaina's people; you can't escape."
Velen clutched his hair in despair, never expecting it to end this way, and murmured, "What should I do?"
Kalecgos sat down beside Velen, chuckling, "I've been among the Flesh-Eternal for a long time. Aside from the deceased Aegwynn and the mysteriously vanished Medivh, no one knows Flesh-Eternal better than me, including Jaina. With my help, you'll definitely turn the tide."
Velen pleaded hopefully, "Kalecgos, you must help me."
Thinking of the torment he had suffered, Kalecgos gritted his teeth in hatred:
"The Flesh-Eternal are directly linked to the Orcs. The more innocent people they betray to the Orcs, the more attracted they become to the Flesh-Eternal. I admit, I've done similar things, but not nearly as heinous as Aegwynn and Jaina. To the Flesh-Eternal, Jaina is far more appealing."
Velen asked incredulously, "You mean, Jaina betrayed countless humans to be eaten by the Orcs, and she's more suited to be the Flesh-Eternal than I am?"
Kalecgos nodded. "Jaina has committed countless evil deeds; this is the punishment she deserves. Velen, you can rest assured."