At the Allied Frontline Command Headquarters, Boss Hu sat upright in the center of the hall. Behind him stood an Eye of Truth banner that covered the entire wall, while the "Origin of Divine Power, Azeroth Binder of Magic" staff floated beside its master, swaying slightly from time to time.
At that moment, a human general strode in, bowed deeply to Hu Feng, then gave General Lothar on the other side a military salute.
"Report! Arathor's Second Legion has completed its mission. The Trolls in the western district have all been eliminated. The brothers are burning the bodies."
Hu Feng nodded at the report, waved him away, and continued looking outside.
Before long, two more generals hurried in. Their armor was splattered with blood, clearly showing that they had been through a brutal battle.
"Report! Arathor's First Legion has captured the central palace of Zul'Aman. The Troll leaders Zul'jin and Warlock Lord Malakas are missing. All remaining Trolls have been killed!"
"Report! Arathor's Third Legion has occupied the northern district. All Trolls have been eliminated!"
Then an extremely violent surge of energy swept over them. Hu Feng raised his head and sensed it, quickly recognizing the aura as Meryl Winterstorm's. He had once again cast a combined large-scale spell through their mental link.
"Report! The Elven Mage group has completed its support mission and is continuing the search for remaining Troll forces!"
"Report! The Fourth Legion has occupied the southern district. All Trolls in the city have been completely eliminated!"
One victory report after another arrived, and Boss Hu nodded in satisfaction.
After this battle, the Amani clan had more or less been completely wiped out. They had no hope of rising again, and they would never return to Eversong Woods or Zul'Aman.
At that moment, Alleria strode in briskly with her divine longbow in hand, her face full of unwillingness.
"Report! The Windrunner Ranger failed to complete its mission. Troll leader Zul'jin and Warlock Lord Malakas... they escaped. Please punish me, Divine Lord."
Hu Feng raised his head and looked at Alleria.
"How many escaped?"
"A group of Witch Doctor Priests, a group of Troll civilians, and a squad of Zul'jin's personal War Bear Soldiers."
Hu Feng nodded and chuckled a few times for reasons unknown.
"Good. It's good that they ran... Don't pursue them any further. Let them go. Send orders to all forts along the route, especially the high wall of Quel'Thalas. If the remnant Troll army is spotted, only feign an attack and drive them out of the territory."
Seeing the female ranger's puzzled expression, Hu Feng had no intention of explaining his reasoning. Dath'Remar, however, frowned and pondered for a moment before seeming to understand something.
Although Eversong Woods was now safe and Quel'Thalas no longer had enemies causing trouble within its borders, external enemies were necessary. The fleeing Zul'jin served precisely that purpose.
That incomparably cunning Amani chieftain would certainly find a way to rise again. He would most likely gather Troll clans from other regions, using their manpower and territory to grow strong once more.
Sometimes, one could not completely exterminate an enemy. Otherwise, the alliance between humans and High Elves would inevitably develop all kinds of problems and disagreements, gradually drifting apart until they eventually turned against each other.
Thus, with Zul'jin's Troll clan serving as an external enemy, the alliance between humans and High Elves would surely continue. Internally, they would not sink into complacency simply because they no longer had an enemy.
With that thought, Hu Feng looked toward General Lothar, the human General Commander, wearing a kindly... diplomatic smile.
"Let me congratulate you in advance, General Lothar... After this war ends and you return home, Emperor Thoradin will surely grant you the Arathor Empire's first fief. Lothar of the Menethil family will surely prosper and flourish as well. As a Titan, I possess some ability to glimpse the future."
General Lothar was overjoyed. What kind of being was a Titan Divine Lord? Since he had said Lothar's territory was a certainty and would become prosperous and powerful, then there was no doubt about it.
Lothar immediately rose to his feet and bowed deeply to the Titan Divine Lord in a respectful salute.
"Thank you for your congratulations and guidance, Divine Lord. Lordaeron will always welcome your arrival. You are the eternal friend of our Menethil family."
Hu Feng waved his hand, signaling for General Lothar to rise.
"Enough. The Trolls can be considered completely wiped out this time. There should be no major threat from them for the next few decades... And I will soon return to the Kalimdor Continent... Dath'Remar, General Lothar, the future alliance between humans and High Elves will depend on you. United, both sides benefit; divided, both sides suffer. Do not disappoint me."
"As you command, Divine Lord." Dath'Remar immediately rose and accepted the order.
"After returning to Stromgarde, I will also do everything in my power to uphold the alliance between the Arathor Empire and Quel'Thalas. Rest assured, Divine Lord." General Lothar likewise bowed and accepted the order.
General Lothar truly and sincerely wanted to preserve the alliance between the two sides. After this campaign, his reputation had spread among the High Elves. Many High Elves, and even Silvermoon City's authorities, thought highly of and supported him.
This was a major source of external support. His position within the Arathor Empire was already that of its foremost general. With Quel'Thalas's diplomatic support added to that, his standing would naturally become unshakable.
Moreover, with this connection, future exchanges and trade with the High Elves could be centered entirely on his Lordaeron fief, turning Lordaeron into the Arathor Empire's uniquely prosperous trading city.
One had to know that the luxury goods and various little magical trinkets produced by the Elves were immensely popular among the Arathor Empire's nobility, and their prices were anything but cheap.
If the Menethil family controlled this sector, they would surely become the greatest noble house in the empire.
Of course, General Lothar was utterly loyal to Emperor Thoradin. He had absolutely no thoughts of raising an army to establish himself independently or rebelling. He merely wished to secure some benefits and influence for the Menethil family with the Emperor's permission.
Yet human plans could never match the whims of fate. The older generation could never control the thoughts of their descendants, nor could they predict what the situation would become after the old generation passed away.
Hu Feng looked at the delighted General Lothar without saying anything more, his expression calm as still water.
This parting would be a final farewell for most of those present.
And when they met new faces again, the world would naturally be an entirely different sight.
The human and Elven allied army began returning to the city. The vast host left behind that bloody, devastated battlefield, leaving only a ruined city in its wake.
Quel'Thalas's construction teams and colonization forces would soon arrive. They would erase the Troll traces from the area and turn it into an Elven-style town.
Whenever civilization sought to develop, it was always accompanied by war and slaughter.
There was no right or wrong, no justice or evil. There was only development and expansion. The victors naturally became kings, and the defeated naturally became outlaws.
"You're a Titan Divine Lord, yet you also brood and lament?"
Alleria had stared at Hu Feng for quite some time. The female ranger noticed that this usually carefree Divine Lord was now silently gazing at the increasingly distant Troll ruins, a rare sight indeed.
Hu Feng smiled at her words, turned around, and slumped back onto his luxurious throne.
"Of course. I have to show some depth of thought now and then."
Please send some recommendation votes my way~~~ And while you're at it, I'd appreciate some tips too~~~~!
Before you continue