Upon hearing the name "Shanmiusen," Robbie immediately sprang to his senses, all sleepiness vanishing. This man was definitely here to cause trouble.
Robbie immediately donned his gear, prepared for Holy Light's Vengeance, and asked, "Commander, what are your plans?"
"The same old method." Vanessa smiled faintly and said nonchalantly, "Anyone who dares to investigate the Brotherhood will be subjected to the Nightmare Torture."
Robbie knew that the rebuilt fortress was equipped with Nightmare Array, and that once an enemy invaded, they would first be trapped in the Nightmare.
"Commander, what if Shanmiusen breaks the Nightmare Array?"
Does he have that ability?
Vanessa scoffed, "Even if he breaks the Nightmare Array, then I'm sorry, the Brotherhood stop at nothing to stop them—poisoning, assassination—to ensure he dies an unexplained death. It's not the first time they've done something like this."
Robbie sensed that the other party had come prepared. He frowned for a moment, then suddenly a name came to mind and he blurted it out:
"Velen."
"What?" Vanessa's eyes lit up; she understood Robbie's meaning. "You mean Velen will come too?"
Robbie nodded. "Shanmiusen must know the Brotherhood's ways. He dares to come looking for trouble with us; he must have powerful backing. He won't just throw his life away. I suspect his reliance is Velen."
Vanessa's eyes blazed with fury as she roared, "If Shanmiusen gets hold of this, we'll be completely at a disadvantage. Velen will definitely use this to blackmail us, demanding that the Brotherhood risk their lives to rescue the Draenei prisoners."
No matter how they try to whitewash it, thanks to the combined efforts of the Stormwind City nobles, the Defias Brotherhood long been on Stormwind City's blacklist, with all its members listed as wanted criminals with high bounties. It's just that few have the courage to expose the truth.
Vanessa was silent for a moment, then clenched her fists and said viciously, "Velen is too naive. He thinks I wouldn't dare kill him. Fine, I'll make sure he doesn't leave alive. That Prophet old man, what kind of prophet is he? I don't believe he can foresee his own death. I'll chop him up and use him as fertilizer."
Robbie was shocked upon hearing this and quickly tried to dissuade her. "Vanessa, you mustn't! With Velen dead, there's no possibility of us cooperating with the Draenei anymore. Why don't you leave this matter to me?"
"You have a way?" Vanessa looked at Robbie, somewhat skeptical.
"Don't worry, Commander. Last-minute scrambling is just a matter of quick thinking. True wisdom comes from foresight. I anticipated this situation and made preparations in advance."
"Then it all depends on you." Vanessa knew it was best not to kill Velen: "I'll stay hidden. If you can't handle it anymore, then I'll step in. The Defias Brotherhood never compromise with any power. Brotherhood stand in Azeroth because of benevolence and kindness? I'll show them the Brotherhood's bloody methods."
Vanessa's fortress belongs to the People's Militia, a legitimate organization with the support of SI:7. Shanmiusen would never dare to act recklessly.
He must be dealing with the Brotherhood using official methods, relying on witnesses, evidence, and testimonies.
Robbie's biggest fear was that there was a traitor inside the fortress, who could work together from the inside and outside, making things impossible to explain later.
The Brotherhood's officers are all very reliable, after all, few of them are human, and Vanessa's Followers are all well-known. Robbie's biggest concern is his childhood friend Luobo'an.
After his lucky return from Shaz'gul, Luobo'an was so frightened that he collapsed and hid in Robbie's fortress hotel, not daring to even step out of the door.
Robbie had reservations about trusting him. Even if he wasn't a spy, given Luobo'an's cowardice, he could probably confess everything with just a few threats from Shanmiusen.
Just in case, Robbie decided to silence him. Without witnesses and without evidence, Shanmiusen was destined to fail.
Robbie woke Hogger and they went into Luobo'an's room together.
While Luobo'an was still half asleep, Hogger pulled him out of bed. Robbie pulled out a handful of fish. "Luobo'an, my good friend, I've got some rare delicacies, and I can't wait for you to try them."
Hogger sniffed it. "It smells good. What kind of fish is it?"
"Savory Wind Serpent."
Pirates, ninjas, no, keep eating. If you don't want to eat, force-feed it. After eating more than ten, Luobo'an finally turned into a sticky, Ooze.
"Alright, let him roam the fortress. Just say he's a pet the commander collected. Also, here's something for you." Robbie pulled out a hard notebook. Hogger glanced at it, unsure what it was, and stuffed it into his pocket.
The time had come; the sound of horses' hooves echoed outside the fortress. Shanmiusen, leading fifty elite soldiers from Ashran, blocked the fortress's exit.
Robbie ordered the fortress gates opened, and as Robbie had predicted, the Prophet Velen followed behind Shanmiusen.
"Hahaha, what a rare guest!" Robbie laughed, extending his hand, stepping past General Shanmiusen, and grasping Velen's hand tightly, exclaiming with delight:
"It is an honor that the Prophet has graced my fortress with his presence. Men, slaughter a pig and a sheep to Prophet the prophet."
Velen squinted and remained silent. Robbie pulled him forcefully toward the hotel. Being older, he stumbled as Robbie dragged him.
Shanmiusen remained expressionless, suddenly grabbing Robbie's wrist. Robbie twisted his wrist, seizing Samuelson's hand. The two engaged in a silent struggle, and soon Shanmiusen grimaced in pain, repeatedly crying out.
Little brat, I spend my free time practicing my strength against Hogger and Ogres. You're still a long way off.
"Prophet, who is this pretty boy?" Robbie released his grip and asked with a smile.
"Damn it! I, General Shanmiusen, have received a tip from an informant that I suspect a wanted criminal is being harbored within the fortress. Get your commander out here to see me!" General Shanmiusen roared at Robbie, jumping up and down in a rage.
"Excuse me, General, my commander is out."
Robbie remained unfazed, spouting a lie. "General, the fortress is full of law-abiding citizens, the Alliance's most loyal soldiers and adventurers. They would never harbor criminals. If you want to arrest someone, please produce evidence."
"Of course I have evidence. Gather all the men in the fortress, and I'll point it out to you," Shanmiusen sneered.
Everyone in the fortress was already awake and ready. Shanmiusen's gaze swept over several Followers, his expression changed, and he asked, "Why is one person missing? Where is my subordinate, Luobo'an?"
"My friend Luobo'an left early; his Succubus is lost, and summoning Succubus requires the heart of a powerful being," Robbie explained, deliberately glancing at Velen's chest.
Shanmiusen snorted, walked up to Hogger, and glared at him angrily:
"Hogger the Gnoll, Elwynn Forest's most wanted criminal, perpetrator of numerous serious assaults, and the mastermind behind the Stockade riot—I'd recognize you even if you turned to ashes."
Hogger glared at him and bared his teeth; the two seemed to have a grudge from the Stockade.
There was no way around it; Hogger had just too many enemies.
"General, you've mistaken me for someone else. Hogger is already dead in Stormwind Prison; that's common knowledge."
"Really? Then tell me, who is he? Don't just make things up, I need evidence."
" With the Prophet here, I certainly won't speak carelessly." Robbie pointed at Hogger: "This is Fan Tong, a Pandaren hired by the Commander from Stormshield, Pandaren Windrunner Monk who graduated from Shado-Pan Monastery, Taran Zhu."
"You call him Pandaren?" Shanmiusen sneered. "What's with those sharp teeth? And what's with the mane and big tail on his back? Explain yourself!"