"I need a lot of things, everything that can help my people achieve comfort and satisfaction." The Black Cat's ears twitched, its big eyes were cute and playful.
Robbie thought for a moment, then counted on his fingers. "So that means I need grilled fish, cat food, cat litter, a cat bed, cat toys, canned cat food, and do I also need to catch mice for you?"
"I'll handle the rat problem myself."
The Black Cat raised its sharp claws and said confidently:
"No mouse can escape my claws. Catching and toying with mice is one of my hobbies. You know, we have many uncivilized people scattered across various planets in the universe, who exchange their cuteness and coquetry for delicious food and warm shelter. In fact, they are our eyes and ears, observers spread across various worlds."
"Oh my god!" Robbie thought with a start, as if he had learned something terrible.
"Didn't you hear me?" the woman named Margaret roared, still holding up her mud-covered "delicate feet."
"You ungrateful country bumpkin! In Stormwind City, countless nobles would love to have a chance with you, but none have had the honor."
The Black Cat, seeing Robbie's bewildered expression, shook its head and said, "Margaret was originally a flower arranger who fell in love with a nobleman, but unsurprisingly, she was abandoned. On her deathbed, she uttered a curse, and I helped her. When she was resurrected, her body already smelled, which caused some problems; her personality is always a bit eccentric. My specialty is Human Charm, and I elevated her to the position of a socialite. She's one of my trained servants and knows many important figures."
A rotting corpse with a quirky personality can actually become a social butterfly.
Hey, you Black Cat Demons, it's fine to show off your superb magic, but you should consider the feelings of those noble gentlemen. You've inadvertently subverted humanity's aesthetic sense.
"By the way," the Black Cat raised its front paw and pointed at Margaret, "She always thinks she's very charming. Don't call her out on it; it'll damage her confidence."
"Lord Black Cat, what should I do?" Robbie asked. "You know my purpose: to help the Black Dragon Princess escape her tragic Destiny of death and to control this Black Dragon to work for us."
The Black Cat scratched its face and looked at Margaret: "In this Timeline, you need to lay some groundwork to achieve your goal. Well, just follow her."
"Follow her?" Robbie wondered.
Margaret snapped, "You damn filthy scoundrel, can't you hear me? Fine, I'll have Top teach you a lesson. Come on over here if you dare!"
Margaret was indignant. Ignoring Robbie's presence, she Proficiency took off her gorgeous clothes, changed into a simple dress, and washed off her makeup. She looked much better than before, but she still couldn't hide the stench of death.
Robbie followed Margaret out of the basement and found himself in the Canal District, in a spacious and bright mansion. This was one of the most expensive areas in Stormwind City, a place that most minor nobles couldn't even dream of owning.
Fifteen years Dark Portal, the reconstruction of Stormwind City is nearing completion. Wide streets, quietly flowing canals, and tall, sturdy city walls are beginning to resemble the Stormwind City of the future. Stonemasons' Guild can be seen everywhere busily working on the finishing touches.
The Black Cat sat on a broom, following behind Margaret, with Robbie behind Black Cat. They watched as Margaret hailed a carriage and headed north along the canal, towards the Cathedral District. "Is this woman going to church?" they wondered.
The carriage wasn't moving fast; Robbie could keep up on foot. The Black Cat perched on Robbie's shoulder, chattering incessantly. Pointing to the busy workers, she whispered:
"Don't underestimate these Stonemasons' Guild members. They're basically a bunch of thugs. We all know they were the ones who founded the Defias Brotherhood. Of course, their craftsmanship is quite good."
"Seven years Dark Portal, Varian led the remnants of Kingdom of Stormwind. Unfortunately, he could never overcome his fear of the Orcs, nor was he willing to relinquish his power, so he lived a life of aimless drifting. Duke Bolvar and the Black Dragon Princess had not yet truly taken power, and this was the most chaotic period in Stormwind City's history."
Heading north along the canal, passing through the unfinished Cathedral Square, the carriage turned west, passed through the brand-new city gate, and entered the dirty Harbor District.
Compared to the magnificent Stormwind Keep, the prosperous and tidy Trade District, and the solemn and holy cathedral, the Harbor District was now chaotic and noisy. Simple houses were crammed together, the alleys were stinking, garbage and sewage were everywhere, and gamblers and thieves roamed freely.
Robbie saw Margaret alight from her carriage and, dressed in her finest attire, head towards the maze of alleyways.
Robbie followed behind Margaret, punching down an approaching thief. He saw laborers in tattered clothes coming and going in the alley, most of them reeking of alcohol, their faces numb, and their conversations revolving around alcohol and women.
The Black Cat flew over Robbie's head. "Don't underestimate these dirty laborers. They are the ones who support Stormwind City's prosperity. It's a pity they are just poor people who are exploited and humiliated."
"No, I just feel sorry for them."
Robbie tossed a copper coin into the beggar's bowl by the roadside.
Many times, Robbie felt no different from those doing manual labor.
To survive, one must give up many things, work hard, endure scorn, and bear humiliation. In this chaotic world, dignity and integrity are truly worthless.
If Robbie hadn't followed the commander, he probably would have been one of them, and likely in an even worse situation.
Margaret walked into a dilapidated hotel. Looking at the crooked signboard and the drunken man leaning against the wall, Robbie was a little confused. Stormwind City's top socialite seemed quite out of place in this kind of place.
The Black Cat flew to Robbie and explained, "This is a place Margaret frequented when she was a florist. Her few fondest memories from her life are here. Like Restless Souls, she always lingers in places she used to visit."
Hi, darling, it's so nice to see you.
A strong, elderly, bearded man embraced Margaret. He probably didn't know that this unassuming woman had long since become Stormwind City's top socialite.
"Top, your beard is still as sexy as ever." Margaret beamed, and the two cuddled for a while as if no one else was around, before Margaret remembered Robbie:
"Let me introduce you, this is... By the way, what's your name?"
"Robbie Capor, from Lakeshire," Robbie answered honestly.
"Yes, Robbie, my cousin, a poor kid from the countryside, coming to the city to broaden his horizons."
Margaret's expressions and movements were completely unpretentious, friendly and natural, like a well-trained spy.
"You're her fifty-second cousin," the Black Cat explained. "She's always been like this."
So that's how it is. Robbie realized he'd misunderstood; he was just mentally unstable.
Bearded Top, unimpressed and probably used to it, ordered a cheap beer for Robbie and said Robbie, "Hey kid, wanna go have some fun? Big cities have lots of entertainment."
"Just playing around?" Robbie glanced at the Black Cat, Black Cat nodded.
Top led the way, with Margaret following, as they entered the basement beneath the tavern, where they discovered an underground casino.
There were quite a few gamblers, including some nobles, playing a card game called Hearthside Candlelight Candles. Robbie had heard that high society had a similar game, but with simpler rules and a faster pace, called Stormwind Heroes.
Robbie exchanged some chips and played three rounds, winning one and losing two, so he lost some money. It's normal to throw some money away in a casino; the important thing is not to cause trouble, especially unnecessary trouble.
Robbie spent the rest of the time observing, becoming a spectator while carefully watching his surroundings, not missing any useful information. Top assumed Robbie had lost all the money he brought, so he ignored Robbie and went to greet the other guests.
Margaret was a heavy gambler, and despite being Stormwind City's top socialite, she was huddled with a bunch of sweaty, unkempt men, shouting and yelling along. Robbie shook his head inwardly. What kind of behavior was this? Did her noble-born admirers even know?
The gambling continued for a while, then a Goblin wearing a red hat entered.
For some reason, the noisy casino suddenly fell Anjing, and the gambling stopped. Those who won money beamed with joy and stood on the left, while those who lost money stood dejectedly on the right, clearly divided.
What's going on? Is this Goblin here to collect taxes? Or protection money?
Robbie, also a loser, stood on the right, listening to the sighs and lamentations around him. "Is it really that bad? It's just a little money. Are there really gamblers who sell their children and go bankrupt?"
The Goblin took out a huge money bag and went to the winning side.
A strange thing happened: the gamblers threw their winnings into their money bags, and the Goblin recorded each transaction.
What's going on? Is the casino taking a cut?
That's not right. Several people have even lost their initial investment. What kind of situation is this?
After collecting the money, the Goblin tied the bag tightly and shouted in a shrill voice:
"Time is money, my friends, may the light of Grom Hellscream shine upon you."
"Thank you Grom Hellscream! May the great Orcs be crowned king soon!" The gamblers bowed in unison.
After the Goblin finished speaking, he picked up his money bag and disappeared in a flash.
Grom Hellscream?
Robbie felt bewildered; his worldview was crumbling before his eyes.
"Young man, is this your first time here?" a kind-looking little man asked.
Robbie nodded.
"Then, welcome to the Orcs Cult," the short man said with a smile.
"What? The Orcs Cult?" Robbie asked in confusion, "You worship Orcs?"
The short man scratched his head shyly and said, "Yes, I've only been a member of the cult for a short time. The Orcs Cult only accepts bets from the winners, so I still need to work hard to earn money and contribute to the Orcs' conquest of the world."
What's going on? Robbie was completely baffled.
Fifteen years after the Dark Portal, Thrall had yet to make a name for himself in the Arena and was an insignificant figure.
Most Orcs are imprisoned in Internment Camps and deprived of their freedom. Only Grom Grommash Hellscream and his Warsong Clan are fighting a hard battle against the Alliance's pursuit and are currently in the midst of more than a decade of escape and migration.
This year was a low point for the Orcs, so why did a mysterious Orcs Cult appear in Stormwind City?