The Butcher and Tectus disguised themselves in human form and secretly infiltrated the Kingdom of Stormwind.
The two men had no interest in the low-rise houses; to Tectus, the magnificent Stormwind City was nothing more than an orderly array of low stone huts.
Compared to the tall and rugged architecture of Highmaul, Stormwind City is too delicate and not sturdy enough.
"A bunch of delicate, fragile toys," Tectus remarked.
There were magical fluctuations in the Mage Quarter of Stormwind City, and the Cathedral of Light was filled with Holy Light. The two people in human form were limited in their strength. In addition, with SI:7 active everywhere, the two had to leave Stormwind City and stay in Goldshire as originally planned.
"I don't understand the point of doing this," Tectus asked in a muffled voice. "What can you gain from observing the lives of a bunch of weak, fleshy creatures?"
The Butcher grinned. "To understand the threat level of a civilization, you have to observe its ordinary people. Years ago, I visited Orcs Horde and noticed a detail that predicted the Draenei would be slaughtered by the Orcs. If I hadn't given them a warning, we Ogres would have been in trouble too."
Tectus rolled his eyes, then asked with genuine admiration, "Don't hide anything from an old friend, tell me."
The Butcher was born in the stench-filled Slaughterhouse beneath Highmaul. His tragic early experiences affected his mind, to the point that he even forgot his own name.
But once you get closer to the Butcher, you realize he's calmer than anyone else and always observes things from a different perspective.
As it turned out, his judgment was remarkably accurate, a testament to his profound wisdom, which was why Imperator Mar'gok sent him to Goldshire.
The Butcher calmly said, "I've noticed that the Orcs have believed a lie: the chieftain is everything to them, and they're willing to die for him at any time."
Tectus scratched his head. "I don't understand."
The Butcher said coldly, "The Orcs chieftains exploit and torture them, taking their wives and daughters for their own gain. Every Orcs lives in pain and torment. Unfortunately, the lie has already been established, so they don't think there's anything wrong with it. Instead, they believe they are incompetent and unworthy of being chieftains. That's why Orcs chieftains change frequently, but their Horde remain as stable as a rock. The only way to resolve internal conflicts is through war—either with us Ogres or the Draenei. Someone is bound to suffer."
"Therefore, the Orcs are always fighting, never ceasing their killing and plundering. What's most terrifying is that they infect other races like Plague, plunging them into madness along with the Orcs. Since the Orcs entered Azeroth, in just a few decades, the large-scale wars that have occurred in Azeroth have exceeded the total of the previous thousand years. Countless cities have been burned, and many races have been crippled or even wiped out."
Tectus's eyes widened, somewhat bewildered. "But what does this have to do with our reconnaissance?"
"Didn't you notice the architecture of Stormwind City?" the Butcher said seriously. "They patiently polish the stones smooth, and occasionally spend several times the effort carving exquisite patterns, yet they never thought of using magic to reinforce the buildings. This proves that humanity is superficial, pursuing appearances more than substance."
Tectus exclaimed gleefully, "This proves that humanity is all show and no substance, pursuing only form. We've got this in the bag!"
The Butcher shook his head. "You haven't seen the deeper reason. The love of art is an instinct of all races, but Highmaul doesn't deliberately pursue it. Do you know why?"
Tectus shook his head, confused.
"The advantage is that it can make the nation more united, but the disadvantage is that it can easily plunge ordinary people into poverty." The Butcher's expression concealed many things.
The two arrived in Goldshire, looking for a place to stay.
The Lion's Pride Inn is a bustling place, and also the most active location for SI:7. In order to avoid suspicion, they decided to find a private residence to stay in.
A large house was found by the roadside, inhabited only by two women.
The hostess's name was Adler Feodor, and she received the two very politely.
The Butcher said the two were from Darkshire and needed to stay for a while, and that he was willing to pay a reasonable price, which was immediately welcomed.
The hostess vacated a room and began to chatter on:
"This house used to be home to many people, all my husband's friends and Followers. They never came back after they went to the front lines. The manor in Shattered Stone Fief was also mortgaged. Fortunately, Helenni has always been by my side, helping me through countless difficult years with her sharp dagger."
In the corner, a woman holding a dagger glared menacingly, sending chills down the spines of both of them.
On the night they stayed there, Adler added a dish of meat to dinner as a welcome feast.
The Butcher took only one bite, frowned, and spat it out. "This meat is rotten."
Helenni snorted and continued wolfing down her food, while Adler cut the meat into small pieces, dipped them in sauce, and ate them with a gentle smile:
"This meat was prepared by a nearby Pandaren Chef; his reputation is as good as his cooking skills, and he would never use rotten meat."
"Cooking skills?" the Butcher retorted, feeling offended.
The Butcher's culinary skills are unparalleled, especially in meat preparation; no one can match his skill at the Highmaul.
The Butcher picked up a piece of meat, smelled it, and shook his head, saying, "They added Peacebloom and Earthroot when stewing the meat. Peacebloom has a spicy taste, and Earthroot is bitter. Boiling them in water makes your lips numb and numbs your sense of taste. You've been fooled. The Pandaren used these two herbs to cover up the fact that the meat had spoiled."
Helenni slammed her hand on the table, making a loud thud. "What do you know? The Pandaren are the best cooks in Azeroth!"
The Butcher patiently explained, "The first standard for good food is health, and the second is deliciousness. Peacebloom and Earthroot are herbs that will damage your internal organs. Besides, numbing spiciness and bitterness aren't exactly delicious; at most, they're just stimulating. I find it hard to understand why you would consider such food a delicacy."
Adler said with displeasure, "I don't think laymen are qualified to judge the quality of cooking."
"You say I'm an amateur? Let me show you what real culinary skills are," the Butcher retorted.
Upon receiving the order, Tectus rushed out like a whirlwind and returned shortly afterward carrying a rabbit.
The Kingdom of Stormwind has been at war for years, with exorbitant taxes and levies, causing immense suffering to its people. Even the rabbits in the area have become cunning.
Tectus displayed his superb hunting skills, which made the two women deeply wary.
The Butcher took the rabbit, snapped its neck, neither skinning it nor bleeding it, massaged it haphazardly with his hands, and then steamed it in Fresh Water along with its internal organs.
The Ogre's cooking skills were quite crude; he boiled the rabbit for less than five minutes, Butcher took it out, tore it in half, and sprinkled it with a little salt.
"This is true culinary skill, please enjoy."
"What kind of cooking is this?" Helenni turned her face away, her expression full of disgust.
Out of politeness, Adler cut off a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. His eyes lit up instantly. An indescribable deliciousness spread between his lips and teeth, making him very hungry.
After a pause, Adler put down the knife, tilted his head, and murmured:
"It's nothing special, just average taste."
Helenni also took a bite, briefly showing a happy expression, but her face quickly changed, and she said sarcastically:
"Garbage, you can eat this?"
The Butcher's face turned pale, and he grabbed Tectus's arm.
"We should go back."