Khadgar immediately sent an assistant to locate the owner of the Booty Bay map.
The owner of the Booty Bay map was a bald Gnome. Upon hearing that Khadgar was interested in the Booty Bay, he was both apprehensive and overjoyed, and immediately offered to give it to him for free.
The little Gnome was very shrewd; he climbed up to Archmage Khadgar, and even just peeking through his fingers was enough to make him a fortune.
The little Gnome explained the origin of the Booty Bay map. It turned out that the little Gnome belonged to a shipwreck salvage team that specialized in searching for treasure in shipwrecks. While diving into a shipwreck in the Booty Bay, he accidentally discovered a message in a bottle.
The Booty Bay map was placed inside the bottle. The little Gnome consulted many mages and scholars, but none of them could decipher the symbols on it. They could only guess that it belonged to a lost school of thought in Dalaran, and the relevant information had long been lost.
Hoping to try their luck, they listed the item at the auction house for a high price.
Khadgar's assistant paid a "high price" of five hundred gold coins to buy the Booty Bay map from the Gnome.
Before Dalaran was destroyed by Archimonde, it was completely different from what it is today, a time of pure power-seeking. It was a time of great diversity, filled with various schools of thought and imaginative ideas—one of Dalaran's most glorious eras.
While Antonidas's unsuccessful rule was a factor, Khadgar longed more for the simpler, more unpretentious days of his life.
Khadgar stroked the familiar symbols on the Booty Bay map, his mind racing with thoughts and emotions surging.
If I remember correctly, the symbols on this Booty Bay map should come from a small faction called "Migratory Birds and Ocean Currents." In Dalaran, factions, regardless of size, all have their own exclusive symbols and ciphers.
At that time, there were many similar small groups in Dalaran. A formal mage would lead a few Mage Apprentices who had no hope of advancing in their studies to research the relationship between migratory birds and ocean currents. Ocean currents would bring various algae, leading to a large increase in fish populations. The fish would follow the ocean currents, and the migratory birds would follow the fish populations. That was roughly how it worked.
Although small in number, they had the support of the Kul Tiras navy and had been passed down for hundreds of years and dozens of generations, accumulating countless valuable nautical charts. Unfortunately, with the arrival of Archimonde, everything turned into dust in history.
Later, Rhonin was able to successfully unify Dalaran and become the leader of the Kirin Tor, partly because the minor factions had disappeared, leaving only a few major factions in Dalaran that simply pursued power, and they held the power of discourse.
Khadgar had contact with this small sect, knew their cipher, and was able to translate the information and text on the Booty Bay map.
He came, bringing with him a thick fog, the shadow of death looming.
"The crew members died one after another, and they rose again, raising their withered arms, their faces filled with ferocity."
"I huddled in the cabin, trembling, guarding the coffin-like weapon crate. Why did this happen? I thought it was a great discovery, that it would allow me to return to the long-lost Kingdom of Stormwind, to live a good life, and perhaps even be summoned by the King."
"Born of holiness and depravity, it needs to absorb a thousand Restless Souls. It's hungry; I heard its cries. This is a cursed weapon. I was wrong. I should have reported it. I shouldn't have taken it upon myself to bring it out. It should have been left to slumber forever in the ancient Frost of Northrend. Good heavens, what have I done? I unleashed a terrible monster that followed me all this way, claiming to be the weapon's master."
"Unfortunately, we encountered a severe storm, rapids, and reefs. Our ship ran aground on the shore, and I landed on a small, fog-covered Island. Years of research came in handy, and I managed to orient myself. I knew the name of the island."
"There's no more support. We're all going to die here. I heard the rattling of chains coming from the mist, a sign that death was imminent. The last crew member was pulled into the mist, letting out a pitiful wail. Not long after, the crew member staggered out, his eyes glowing red. He grinned at me. I knew I was next."
"Lisa, I miss you so much. I hope someone finds the message in the bottle. No, no, it's too dangerous. No one is a match for that monster. I was wrong. I shouldn't have been greedy for a Legendary weapon. Don't come here. Forget about me."
"Farewell, Lisa, I will always love you, my dear mentor, I'm coming, Mika Fei'er's last words."
Born from both holiness and depravity, requiring the absorption of a thousand Restless Souls... My God, could it be that Legendary weapon, Shadowmourne? Khadgar felt a chill run down his spine. A Legendary weapon... what did that mean?
Mika Fei'er Khadgar thought carefully. Yes, he knew this person—a young, somewhat glib Mage Apprentice had disappeared during an expedition to Northrend before Dalaran was destroyed by Archimonde.
It seems he was still alive, living until after the Lich King's fall, and coincidentally found Shadowmourne.
Khadgar had no doubt about the authenticity of the Booty Bay map. How many people could know about that memory of Dalaran, that secret magical inscription? War brought destruction and pain, erasing countless traces.
A Legendary weapon, at Khadgar's level, there aren't many temptations that can attract him.
"That Khadgar is far too cunning and greedy."
Robbie frowned as he looked at the news of the expensive purchase.
He laid out a sweet bait, and Khadgar fell for it as expected; Robbie had anticipated many possibilities.
If Khadgar were greedy enough, he would probably find some trusted people and secretly go in search of the treasure.
If he were fair enough, he would release this information to allow the Alliance and the Horde to compete on a level playing field.
Alternatively, one could secretly notify a powerful organization or a large adventurer's guild, entrusting them to bring out Shadowmourne, which would then become one of Dalaran's treasures.
Khadgar's scheme was unexpected. He claimed to have translated the Booty Bay map, but could not guarantee its authenticity. He offered to sell information about the whereabouts of Shadowmourne Booty Bay anyone interested in it.
The price of the message is 10,000 gold coins, and this price will gradually decrease over time.
Robbie quickly sent someone to buy the information, only to find that he had been tricked. Khadgar had given him a different place, a huge and dangerous island with dense forests, ferocious Trolls, and large Murlocs.
Clearly, Khadgar had played a clever trick. He deliberately spread false information to make a fortune, diverting people's attention, and then secretly hired some reliable people to go out to sea to find the whereabouts of Shadowmourne.
That's incredibly insidious.
I wonder who Khadgar's allies are!
The tranquil Booty Bay, with its blue skies and white clouds, is a haven of peace and quiet without the harassment of Bloodsail Buccaneers. Goblins patrol back and forth, and ships from all over the world replenish their supplies in the bay, creating a bustling scene.
Robbie and Kel'Thuzad hid in a warehouse, peering through binoculars at a large ship outside. Kel'Thuzad used a clever spell to reveal the interior of the ship.
Khadgar boarded the large ship with only two attendants, and a boy with distinctly Orcs features came out to greet him.
"Khadgar, is the news about Shadowmourne true?"
This young man was none other than Med'an, the son of Medivh, a failed Savior archetype.