Happy times are always fleeting.
The female Orcs left with satisfied expressions, and Tirion Fordring's happy time came to an end.
Robbie's happy time was over, and he had to find a way to stall Tirion Fordring.
The Castle is five stories high, with dozens of rooms of varying sizes and hidden chambers. Even Vanessa would need a long time to search it all.
We need to come up with a solution.
A compelling topic is needed to grab Tirion Fordring.
"Honorable Tirion Fordring, please wait!" Robbie called out.
Tirion Fordring turned around in surprise and saw a strong Orcs, who gave him a friendly smile.
How to stall for time? Should I ask Tirion Fordring for advice?
This is unwise; it would easily reveal that you possess the Holy Light.
If an Orcs Paladin Holy Light, then Tirion Fordring would surely wonder if something is hidden beneath that Orcs face.
Moreover, Robbie didn't think he could last longer than the group of female Orcs, given how few topics there were to discuss.
The most likely outcome is that Tirion Fordring will impatiently refuse; in Tirion Fordring's eyes, male Orcs are probably not as gentle and lovely as female Orcs.
Or perhaps pretend to reunite with an old friend?
Robbie wasn't confident about playing an Orcs.
Although Robbie's appearance, actions, and expressions were all acceptable, he knew very little about the Orcs life in Orgrimmar, and there were always subtle differences between hearsay and reality.
Given Tirion Fordring's relationship with the Orcs Eitrigg and his understanding of Orgrimmar, it would be easy for him to tell that Robbie was an Orcs.
Robbie sees himself as an Orcs knows nothing about Orgrimmar.
Robbie decided to make a big bet.
If you're going to lie, tell a shocking lie.
"Gul'dan Khan, Leonardo Brutalaxe, greets you, great Paladin."
"Gul'dan?" Tirion Fordring's pupils contracted rapidly.
What comes to mind when Gul'dan is mentioned during this time period?
In the Second War, with the Orcs' victory over the humans seemingly within their grasp, Gul'dan, yearning for power, led Half-Orcs out to sea in search of the Legendary Tomb of Sargeras.
Gul'dan successfully found the Tomb of Sargeras, but what awaited him was a maddened Demons.
Gul'dan then fell as expected, and his skull became a famous artifact, the Skull of Gul'dan, one of the collections of the Demon Hunter Illidan.
"Young Orcs, what are you talking about?" Tirion Fordring's expression relaxed, his tension dissipating. He thought the Orcs was joking.
"Honorable Paladin, I haile from the Broken Order's Suramar City."
Robbie, recalling the upcoming events in Warcraft, casually remarked, "The great Gul'dan has reached a preliminary agreement with High Archmage Elisande."
"Impossible, Gul'dan is dead." Tirion Fordring was skeptical, Robbie's mention of High Archmage Elisande, the renowned leader of the Highborne, stirred something within him.
"Tirion Fordring, you may have some misunderstanding about death. Though the great Gul'dan's body has been torn to pieces, his soul remains and has found a new Vessel for himself."
Robbie made a regretful expression and shrugged, saying:
"Lord Gul'dan needs some help to break free from certain constraints. Whoever is willing to lend a hand will share in the great power from Sargeras with him."
Robbie used a common scam from his past life: I am Qin Shi Huang, I am not dead, I have two hundred tons of gold, and I need two thousand dollars to unlock it. If you succeed, I will make you a general.
I wonder if Tirion Fordring will fall for it.
In the worst-case scenario, Tirion Fordring drew his sword on the spot.
Then the only option left is to run away.
Paladins are notoriously short-legged, and even Tirion Fordring is no exception.
Robbie felt that even without revealing the Holy Light, there was a good chance of escaping. This was a desolate wilderness with complex terrain, and Tirion Fordring was wearing an expensive suit, which would buy Vanessa some time.
Fordring's expression was uncertain. He hesitated, pondering the power of the Dark Titan Sargeras, one of the strongest forces in the universe. Who could resist such temptation?
Robbie took a deep breath, decided to use his ultimate move, and shouted:
"Race does not define honor, Paladin. I know some Eredar Demons who Scourge as venerable as the noblest knights; I also know some Orcs who are as Evil as the most ruthless Undead!"
"This way, Your Excellency, Emissary of Gul'dan." Tirion Fordring smiled with satisfaction.
Standing before Tirion Fordring's luxurious residence, Robbie feigned hesitation, looking at Tirion Fordring with a wary expression, refusing to go inside.
Tirion Fordring laughed heartily, "What, Gul'dan's envoy, are you worried about an ambush?"
"Orcs may die on the battlefield, but not in a treacherous trap!" Robbie roared. "My actions concern Lord Gul'dan's safety; there is no room for error."
"Very well, Gul'dan's envoy, this way please."
Tirion Fordring led the way, and the two arrived at Tirion Fordring's small hut, where they sat down as host and guest.
"Most of the time, I prefer this little hut," Tirion Fordring said with a chuckle. "That luxurious palace is just a symbol of status, a cold signboard."
"We Orcs don't care about our dwellings, as long as they're sturdy enough," Robbie said noisily.
"That makes sense. When I was lord of Hearthglen, I never liked being in the Castle; I preferred the narrow watchtowers." Tirion Fordring poured two glasses of wine, seemingly casually recalling the past.
"Unfortunately, that watchtower wasn't sturdy enough and collapsed. If it weren't for that accident, coupled with the young paladin Barthilas suddenly unleashing a powerful burst of holy light, Eitrigg and I could have defeated Arthas, and there wouldn't be the Lich King now."
Wow, there's so much information in those words, Tirion Fordring. Are you telling the truth or testing me?
Tirion Fordring squinted, carefully observing Robbie's expression.
Anyone who has personally experienced that period of history would surely change their expression upon hearing such shocking news without prior warning.
Although Robbie was also very surprised, he was wearing a thick disguise, and his expression showed no abnormality.
"Oh, I've heard the Lich King's name more than once along the way," Robbie asked calmly. "Sounds like he's a big problem?"
"A huge problem." Tirion Fordring's expression was grim.
"If Lord Gul'dan returns, the mere Lich King is nothing but a bug," Robbie declared confidently.
Tirion Fordring raised an eyebrow, his trust in Robbie's identity growing considerably. "So, out of mutual trust, could you reveal something to me... such as Gul'dan's condition?"
Robbie hesitated for a moment, then blurted out:
"I swear by the honor of the great Brutalaxe Family, the great Gul'dan discovered a complete Titans body at the very bottom of the Tomb of Sargeras. Unfortunately, Lord Gul'dan's power was insufficient, and he needed the assistance of the Power of the Holy Light to break through certain shackles."
"So, Gul'dan's soul is trapped inside Titans's body?" Tirion Fordring asked tentatively. "In what state? Asleep or awake? Or is it some kind of illusion?"
Robbie shook his head, feigning seriousness, and said:
"I don't know much about matters of the soul, but in short, Gul'dan needs a teammate, a chosen one who understands the Holy Light. Lord Gul'dan means to find Uther the Lightbringer and have sufficient reasons to persuade this Paladin, but all I see is his tombstone."
"Rest assured, I am more suitable than Uther the Lightbringer."
Tirion Fordring revealed a defiant expression and sneered:
"What do you think I'm doing in the Eastern Plaguelands? Living in seclusion in despair after being exiled? Ha! My Holy Light grows stronger every day. One day, I will personally drag Arthas off the Frozen Throne."
As expected, Tirion Fordring's greatly increased strength was no accident, nor was it because he obtained Ashbringer. Behind every successful person lies countless hours of hard work.
Robbie displayed the typical naiveté of Orcs, mocking, "But all I see is White Maggot Meat."
"Don't underestimate the White Maggot Meat; it's a kind of edible Holy Light." Tirion Fordring revealed a profound expression, his mouth tight-lipped, stopping short of saying anything more.
Edible Holy Light —that's quite a novel idea.
"I heard from adventurers that once you've maxed out your reputation, you can get a follow-up quest." Robbie glanced around, making conversation to stall for time.
"Follow-up mission." Tirion Fordring chuckled.
"The 'simple Orcs' excuse is just that. At a certain point, I will have them retrieve a painting from the library in the Stratholme Scarlet Enclave. Unless the Lich King Arthas himself comes, I don't believe anyone can accomplish this task."
In the Love and Family questline, one step requires entering the Scarlet Enclave in Stratholme to find an ancient painting.
When Taelan Fordring was a child, the Tirion Fordring family, who were lords of Hearthglen, often vacationed on the scenic Caer Darrow Island. On one occasion, they met an artist named Rivern, who painted a family portrait of the Tirion Fordring family taking a walk by the lake.
In the game, only five players are needed to complete this task.
However, in the real Azeroth, in the Scarlet Enclave of Stratholme, the stronghold of the fanatical Scarlet Crusade, not even five, fifty, or five hundred adventurers could break through it, let alone five.
"Tirion Fordring Tirion Fordring, Tirion Fordring, I've finally found you! I got the painting!" A bearded Dwarf ran over, his nose dripping with sweat from excitement.
Tirion Fordring's expression changed.
Robbie recognized the Dwarf as none other than the famous Persistence Emperor.
Over three years, he collected 33,000 pieces of White Maggot Meat, single-handedly raising his reputation from respected to revered. The indomitable Dwarf Anxu Yili.
Anxu Yili, removed the scroll from his back, and slowly unfurled it on the table.
Robbie leaned closer to admire the view: the clear lake water, Tirion Fordring with his dark hair, his young and beautiful blonde wife, the adorable little boy, and below was the author Rivern's stamp.
It really is that painting.
How did you get your hands on this painting?
Tirion Fordring looked skeptical. Although Anxu Yili to be a Stealth based on his attire, Tirion Fordring didn't believe he could infiltrate the heavily guarded Scarlet Enclave of Stratholme.
Anxu Yili chuckled smugly, "Fortresses are always breached from within. I bribed a Scarlet Crusade member, and he easily retrieved this painting for me. It's not an important item; mixed in with a pile of junk, nobody would notice it."
"Alright, now there's only one last task left," Tirion Fordring said seriously.
"Go to the Scarlet Crusade headquarters in Hearthglen and see my son, Highlord Taelan Fordring. Ask him if he still has the meat sauce he brought back last time. After that, you will receive my Mysterious Inheritance."