Jaina wanted five Ancient Divine Turtles at once, with no room for negotiation. Eitrigg dared not make the decision on his own and could only ask Jaina to wait and go back to discuss it with Thrall before making a decision.
The capture of Rag City is a matter of life and death for the Orcs; Jaina has Thrall firmly in her grasp.
Unexpectedly, no sooner had Eitrigg left than the Guardian Aegwynn said to Jaina, "All five Ancient Divine Turtles must be accounted for, but you shouldn't go to Rag City."
Jaina was stunned. She thought to herself that if she didn't help, Thrall would never be willing to pay the price of five Divine Turtles.
Aegwynn said calmly, "This morning I was observing the elemental movements in the mage tower. The elemental activity in Rag City has stopped. Interesting. These Troggs are quite talented; they've created Anti-Magic Array."
"Why didn't you say so sooner?" Jaina grumbled inwardly, but dared not say anything, thinking it was just another mess. Oh well, she should inform Thrall first, lest she delay something important.
Thrall's army floated on the sea atop ten Ancient Divine Turtles, gazing at the Rag City from afar.
"What did you say? There's Anti-Magic Array in Rag City?" Thrall's face twisted with rage upon receiving Eitrigg's report, "Those Evil Troggs are trying to destroy Azeroth! What are we going to do?"
Vol'jin was also in a dilemma. Without the help of magic, the Orcs army was helpless against the Volley Fire Tactics.
"There is only one way now: try to negotiate with Emperor Lagrange, and preferably form an alliance," Vol'jin suggested, but quickly realized it was inappropriate.
Sure enough, Thrall roared furiously, "How could we noble Orcs negotiate with lowly Troggs and form an alliance with them? This is an intolerable disgrace!"
With Rag City right in front of us, bypassing it to reach the Scarlet Lands was clearly impossible.
Frustrated, Vol'jin turned his attention to other locations, such as the Tanaris Desert to the south or the Goblin- ruled Rustwater Port to the north, both of which could be targets for attack.
However, once the Orcs suffer setbacks and back down, unable to even defeat the lowly Troggs, they actively avoid battle. Once they lose their edge, it will shock many races and cause them to despise them.
It will be much more difficult to establish a foothold in Kalimdor after that.
When all the generals were at a loss, Varimathras, the Dreadlord, walked in from outside. He looked at the people in the golden tent with a mocking gaze. "Indeed, a bunch of beasts. What, this little difficulty has made you lose your composure?"
Vol'jin hung his head and remained silent; he had truly exhausted all his ideas and couldn't think of a good solution. Thrall, on the other hand, showed a respectful expression. "Great Dreadlord, please offer a good idea."
Varimathras looked toward the central dining table, where a live Tauren sat, roasted until half-golden brown—today's dish.
Varimathras Proficiency severed a Tauren's arm, chewed it heartily until his mouth was greasy, and then said with satisfaction, "In this world, the greatest thing is to stand on the moral high ground. Since the Evil Troggs want to destroy the Azeroth, you Orcs might as well unite with the other races of Azeroth and wipe them out."
"Joint?"
Vol'jin frowned, wondering who the Orcs could ally with.
Thrall was also puzzled after hearing this. "Your Excellency, the Dreadlord, are you suggesting we unite with the Zandalari Trolls or Jaina of Theramore? Without magic, even if the three join forces, they may not be a match for the Evil Troggs."
Varimathras chuckled, "Foolish Thrall, I ask you, in the Azeroth, which race is the most powerful?"
Thrall answered without hesitation, "Of course, the Night Elf race."
Varimathras scoffed, "You're not entirely stupid. Then let's unite the Night Elf race, the Tauren of Mulgore, the Centaurs of Desolace, and the Quilboars of the Crossroads, and besiege Rag City. The Troggs are powerful; with the combined might of these races, they'll surely be reduced to ashes."
Thrall and Vol'jin were both puzzled, unable to understand the reasoning behind it.
When the Orcs landed on Kalimdor, these were the races most threatened. The Troggs were overjoyed to have blocked the Orcs' advance; why would they turn around and help the Orcs?
Thrall's eyes darted around as he said, "Tauren Chieftain Cairne Bloodhoof is a coward. We've eaten so many Tauren, and he can only cower like a turtle. With just a little threat, the Tauren will become our cannon fodder."
Vol'jin added, "But the Night Elf race will absolutely not help us. Foolish Centaurs and Quilboars, I don't think they'll lend a hand."
Varimathras laughed heartily upon hearing this, "Vol'jin, despite your unparalleled wisdom, you can't see through the fog of this matter. I can't guarantee anything about the Centaurs and Quilboars, but the Night Elf race will certainly be willing to lend a hand."
"Could you please explain the reasoning behind this?" Vol'jin asked politely.
Varimathras looked around at everyone intently and spoke eloquently:
"The Night Elf race have always considered themselves the Overlord Azeroth. Now, with the sudden rise of the Troggs, even we Orcs have been defeated. To the Night Elves, the Troggs have become a potential threat, shaking their Overlord position. How could the proud Tyrande and Malfurion willingly remain subservient to the Troggs?"
Vol'jin took a deep breath, suddenly realized, and nodded in admiration.
Ethics, morality, Justice are all meaningless in the face of the paramount threat of racial extinction.
The Troggs easily defeated the Orcs, but who knows if their ambitions will grow, and they might turn their guns on the Night Elf race, trying to seize Overlord over Azeroth.
For a wise leader, potential threats must be eliminated.
Thrall nodded in agreement. "Indeed, the fighting power we Orcs have displayed is not enough to instill fear in the Night Elves, but the power of the Troggs, if left unchecked, is enough to destroy the Night Elf race."
Varimathras sat down, biting through the Tauren's throat and gnawing on the delicious roasted bull's head. "Delicious beef, truly a fine delicacy. Tyrande is foolish, Malfurion is short-sighted; I'm afraid they don't even realize this yet. All we need to do is send an envoy to explain the pros and cons to them, and they will surely support us."
Thrall's eyes darted around, wondering who would be the most suitable candidate. He first looked at Vol'jin.
Vol'jin hesitated for a moment, then finally said helplessly, "Alright, I'll go. I hope it will be successful."
Varimathras slapped Vol'jin to the ground, grinning maliciously, "You're no good. You're just a filthy, treacherous Troll. The proud Tyrande despises you from the bottom of her heart. You won't even get to see her."
Vol'jin slowly got up and returned to his seat dejectedly. Varimathras was absolutely right; Tyrande and Malfurion had lived for over ten thousand years, even longer than the history of the Darkspear Trolls.
In their view, the Troll's life was as fleeting as a flower in bloom, a lowly existence like that of an ant.
Thrall's facial muscles twitched. "It seems only I, the Savior, can personally intervene."
Varimathras shook his head. "Thrall, you'll only make things worse. To persuade Tyrande, we need a neutral figure who speaks for us Orcs, and this person must hold a high position in Kalimdor."
Thrall and Vol'jin both fell into thought: Is there such a person in Kalimdor?
"As the saying goes, gold and silk are irresistible. Doras, the commercial queen and richest woman of Kalimdor, is an Orcs Doras businesses span the entire continent. She and Tyrande are known as the two great queens of Kalimdor. With her in charge, success is assured."
Varimathras stared intently at Thrall: "Now there's only one problem left: you must deal with Doras, no matter the cost."