Robbie froze. Turalyon's son, Tirion Fordring's personal disciple? That couldn't be. Turalyon and Tirion Fordring were such heroic figures. How could they have raised such a foul-mouthed thing?
Hogger couldn't hold back after hearing that. He jumped out and jeered:
"How could this idiot possibly be Turalyon's son? Who doesn't know that General Turalyon married Alleria Windrunner, one of the Windrunner Sisters? Their son is half high elf, and his name is Arator the Redeemer. What's a pure-blooded human doing calling himself Turalyon's son? Could he be a bastard?"
Tuyang Tusunpo glared. "My noble and great godfather, the wise, handsome, strong, and invincible savior Thrall, personally verified it. What right does a lowly Gnoll like you have to question it?"
At the mention of Thrall's name, Hogger obediently shut his mouth at once. He lowered his head and silently backed away, looking utterly dejected as he muttered, "If the savior says so, then it's true. Even if the savior said you were Turalyon's father, I wouldn't have any objections."
Marisa curled her lip and sneered, "I wondered who it was. So it's you, Tuyang Tusunpo. Back in Alterac Valley, you were a low-ranking Alliance officer, yet you secretly caused trouble during the battle against the Ice King and rendered outstanding service to the Frostwolf Clan. What, did taking Thrall as your godfather make you think you were above everyone else?"
So this man was an Alliance traitor!
His claim to be Turalyon's son was just an attempt to make himself look important.
Tuyang Tusunpo said viciously, "My master taught me that most of the Alliance are despicable and shameless, while all Orcs are noble and pure. Taking Thrall as my godfather meant turning away from darkness and toward the light."
With that, he kicked General Kash Baolu in the face. "You insignificant, lowly, filthy, vile dwarf, why haven't you told these despicable humans about the important mission I'm here to carry out?"
The kick was extremely hard. General Kash Baolu's face swelled up like a baked loaf of bread, bearing the imprint of the Judgement Boots. As a general, he still had some self-control. He quickly calmed down and, as if nothing had happened, said solemnly:
"Just this morning, Prince Anduin arrived at Stormshield and appointed General Tuyang Tusunpo chief investigator of the massacre that wiped out the Azeroth Whelp Protection Association in the Blasted Lands, to obtain justice for fifty-seven valiant Orc warriors. He may act at his own discretion. The letter of appointment is right here."
Robbie was startled. The case in the Blasted Lands had finally come to light.
He took the authorization and saw that it read:
"...Recently, a horrifying massacre took place in the Blasted Lands. The Azeroth Whelp Protection Association, a great and noble, pure and immortal organization of justice, lost fifty-seven valiant Orc warriors, cruelly slaughtered while protecting defenseless whelps. As the Alliance's prince regent, I have been unable to sleep at night since hearing of this incident. This was an open provocation against the world of Azeroth, and the perpetrator is the mortal enemy of both the Horde and the Alliance. This heinous crime is comparable to Deathwing destroying the world and Archimonde climbing the tree. I hereby appoint General Tuyang Tusunpo, the Argent Crusade's strongest Paladin, as chief investigator, with full authority to investigate the massacre in the Blasted Lands. He may slaughter lowly Alliance adventurers at will. The Stormwind Legion must cooperate unconditionally, and all who resist shall be charged with treason.
"Anduin Wrynn, with greetings to the great father Thrall."
Besides Prince Anduin's seal, the authorization bore the signatures of Jaina, leader of Dalaran, Highlord Tirion Fordring, Horde Chieftain Vol'jin, and others. It also stated that Dalaran and the Wyrmrest Accord would assist in the investigation, and that they would not rest until the mastermind was caught.
After reading the appointment letter, Robbie's mouth twitched.
How could there be such a strange appointment letter? It was too absurd. It had to be fake, right?
But Prince Anduin had delivered it in person, so there was no possibility of forgery.
Robbie's head buzzed, his thoughts in turmoil. He felt as though his entire worldview had been overturned. This was troublesome. Was this really the Azeroth Continent?
After reading the appointment letter, Marisa looked equally displeased.
Tuyang Tusunpo snorted coldly and said smugly, "As chief investigator, I suspect the criminals are hiding inside this fortress. Lowly Gabrielle, insignificant Kash Baolu, hurry up and obey my orders to search it. Tear this fortress apart for me, and don't overlook a single clue."
Marshal Gabrielle and General Kash Baolu both looked troubled and turned their eyes toward Robbie. If his side had no way to deal with this, they could only obey the order.
The hot-tempered Hogger jumped straight up. "Hold it! You think you can tear it down just because you say so? You say the criminals are hiding in the fortress, but where's your evidence? Show us!"
"I have never needed evidence to investigate a case in the Alliance." Tuyang Tusunpo's face twisted viciously.
"Then you're just making trouble for no reason." Hogger suddenly thought of something. He turned around and asked Marisa quietly, "How strong is this human idiot?"
Marisa replied, "Back in Alterac Valley, his strength was somewhere between Whiteboard and uncommon."
Grayfoot, Whiteboard, uncommon, rare, epic, legendary, mythic.
Ordinary soldiers were generally around Whiteboard rank, while someone of uncommon rank could serve as a low-ranking officer in the army. Hearing this, Hogger was instantly filled with confidence and broke into a smug smile.
"The People's Army takes orders from Stormwind City, but the Brotherhood doesn't play by those rules. And I, Hogger, the top boss of Goldshire in Elwynn Forest, am no pushover either. Kid, come here and let Lord Hogger teach you how to be a well-behaved human."
The mane on Hogger's back bristled. He opened his great bloody maw, his sharp teeth glinting, radiating provocation.
Hogger was fairly strong.
Robbie had successfully formed a set of Retribution Paladin runes and officially entered the uncommon rank, but he believed he still had quite a gap to close compared to that old rascal Hogger. The one known as the strongest Gnoll and the holder of Azeroth's honorable kill record had certainly earned his reputation.
The beautiful human woman accompanying Tuyang Tusunpo gave Hogger a disdainful look, curled her lip, and laughed. "How amusing. You dare challenge Senior Brother Tuyang Tusunpo? Have you grown tired of living, Gnoll?"
"Who are you?" Hogger glared at the woman, his eyes as big as light bulbs.
"Dalaran leader Jaina Proudmoore's junior sister." The woman gave a brief introduction. She seemed unwilling to say much to Hogger and didn't even give her name.
Marisa chuckled softly, her expression growing even more mocking. "I wondered which distinguished family's young lady you were. So you're Andenani, granddaughter of the late Archmage Antonidas and lover of Orcs. Back in Theramore, you declared that you would rather marry a lazy, filthy Orc peon than a wise and enlightened human prince. Seeing you in person certainly lives up to your reputation. You've really opened my eyes today."
"That's right, it's me. I like Orcs, and I'm going to marry one. What's it to you?" Andenani said proudly.
Hogger burst out laughing. "If you want to marry an Orc, you'll have to get as fat as an ogre first. You'll also have to go three years without a bath and sleep in mud every day. Looking like a bean sprout, you can keep dreaming. Even an Orc peon wouldn't want you."
Andenani flew into a rage, her almond-shaped eyes wide. Calm and composed, she sent a large fireball flying at Hogger. Hogger raised a claw and gave it a light flick, reducing the fireball to nothing.
"Come on, do it again!" Hogger beckoned flippantly.
Andenani knew she was no match for Hogger. Her pretty face flushed red with anger, and she shouted, "Senior Brother Tuyang Tusunpo, kill this filthy Gnoll!"
Tuyang Tusunpo rode his giant wolf a few steps forward, arriving beneath an ancient tree in the center of the fortress. He laughed arrogantly. "Hogger the Gnoll, I know your reputation. Are you sure you want to fight me one-on-one?"
Tuyang Tusunpo pointed at the tree. It was an ancient tree that had grown for a hundred years, over a meter in diameter, with a canopy like a great umbrella. Its luxuriant branches and leaves covered nearly half the fortress.
A white light flashed. The century-old tree shook, then slowly tilted and crashed to the ground, scattering branches and leaves everywhere.
Hogger was dumbfounded.
Marisa was stunned.
Robbie looked thoughtful, everything clear in his mind. What a shame. This tree had been deliberately left standing in the fortress. It had been a fine place to enjoy the shade, and now it was destroyed just like that.
"Wonderful, wonderful!" Andenani clapped and praised him. "Senior Brother, your mastery of the Holy Light Finger is superb. It's comparable to Archimonde's Finger of Death."
Archimonde had used his against the World Tree, for goodness' sake.
Since when had the Holy Light become so overpowering?
"What's so impressive about that? Trees can't move. Try pointing at me." Hogger was still talking tough, but his confidence had weakened.
"I advise you not to struggle in vain. Please cooperate with the Argent Crusade's search," said the gray-robed man, who had remained silent until now.
"And who are you? How dare you spout nonsense in front of me?" Hogger was a little intimidated by Tuyang Tusunpo, so he turned and glared at the gray-robed man instead.
"Cough, cough. I am Udir, a Worgen Priest from the Argent Crusade, an insignificant nobody."
The gray-robed man seemed to be ill and was coughing badly. "Cough, cough. General Tuyang Tusunpo is the Argent Crusade's most powerful Paladin. Even Highlord Tirion Fordring would be no match for him without the Ashbringer."
"What? The most powerful Paladin? You think that scares me?" Hogger's voice grew weaker, and his little eyes darted around in search of an escape route.
Hearing this, Marshal Gabrielle suddenly thought of something and asked, "I remember that during the campaign against the Lich King Arthas, Highlord Tirion Fordring held the Trial of the Grand Crusader in Icecrown Glacier to select a team of elite adventurers to attack Icecrown Citadel. The Argent Crusade's most powerful Paladin was unable to appear because of the conflict between the Alliance and the Horde. Could that have been General Tuyang Tusunpo?"
Udir nodded and said, "Cough, cough, that's right. It was General Tuyang Tusunpo. After becoming Highlord Tirion Fordring's disciple, the general comprehended the ultimate secret of the Holy Light. He was meant to be the secret weapon against the Lich King. He could defeat the Lich King with one hand. Let alone twenty-five adventurers—even two hundred and fifty, two thousand five hundred, or twenty-five thousand would be no match for the general."