First Arriving in Stranglethorn Vale

Sun Busong helplessly rubbed his forehead.

It seemed that if he wanted Humar to understand him, he would at least have to evolve him to Blue quality.

After the Imperial Guard members returned to Night Town with the heads, Sun Busong had the Tauren carry them and went with him to the office of Altaia, the Night Watch Commander.

"Oh! It's Commander of the Imperial Guard! How did you recover so quickly? I was just thinking of going to visit you later." When Altaia heard that Sun Busong and the others wanted to see her, she hurried to open the door and welcome them without even taking time to dress up.

"You're too kind. We're comrades who look out for each other, partners who've faced life and death together. Why be so formal with me?"

Sun Busong smiled and greeted her before walking inside. After all, he was familiar with everything in the house.

Once inside, he went straight to the wolfskin chair behind the desk. "I only got up not long ago, and I missed you, so I came by to see you. Don't get the wrong idea. I was wondering if you were hurt and needed someone to treat you. I've got several healers under my command."

"Hehe, I appreciate the Commander's kindness. Thanks to you, I wasn't hurt yesterday. What about you? Have your injuries healed?"

Altaia's feelings toward Sun Busong went beyond those of a mere partner. In her heart, what she felt for him was already more than friendship or camaraderie. It was a mix of loyalty, admiration, affection, and a bond forged through life and death.

"I'm fine. The brothers under my command did a decent job. They didn't leave a single scar. It's still as smooth as ever to the touch, haha..."

As he said this, Sun Busong even rubbed his chest, making Altaia, who had been watching him, blush bright red.

Only when Mr. Heavy Fist set down the bundle containing the Defias traitors' heads did the young Night Watch Commander reluctantly tear her gaze away.

"What's that?" Seeing the bundle on the floor and smelling its strong stench of decay, Altaia frowned and glanced at Heavy Fist.

"Heads!"

Sun Busong couldn't help but marvel at how blunt the Tauren was about everything. He gave Altaia an awkward grin. "That's right! Heads, hehe. Sorry! Bringing something like this into your office really is inappropriate, but what we're about to discuss is very important. No one else can hear it!"

At his words, Altaia smiled at Sun Busong with her beautiful eyes, then looked at Heavy Fist!

Her meaning was clear: wasn't there still someone else here? Hadn't he said no one else could hear?

"Th-this isn't a person! He's my cow!"

Altaia's eyes widened. She looked like a lovestruck, silly little girl—adorably dazed and confused.

All right! You win. You say so.

Sun Busong then told Altaia everything about where the heads had come from and Night Town's future development.

"I've already sent Usop to find the Brotherhood's leader, VanCleef. He should be here by this time tomorrow at the latest. But don't worry. You'll still be in charge of the town, and I'll have Usop work with you."

Though Altaia was young, she had become a Night Watch Commander thanks to her intelligence and talent, which far surpassed that of ordinary people. After Sun Busong finished speaking, she already understood some things.

"Are you leaving?"

"Mm."

Seeing the reluctance in Altaia's eyes, Sun Busong cursed inwardly. His body was still underage. Though he was already nearly 1.7 meters tall, adulthood in this world began at fourteen, and he wasn't quite there yet.

"I'm going to take care of something in Kalimdor. I'll be back soon. After all, this is a place I worked hard to protect. And there's someone here I care about!"

That wasn't a double entendre. He'd said it, and she could figure out the rest herself!

"Will you be gone for long? What will happen to us?"

"Don't worry. The Brotherhood will back you up. You don't have to fear those scumbag nobles in Stormwind. If anything comes up that you can't handle, contact me through the secret channel. I'll take care of everything!"

"I'll stay here for three more days. Once Usop returns, the four of us will discuss Night Town's development plans in detail. Before I leave, I'll give you a little present."

The stars in Altaia's eyes replaced her look of reluctance. When a man gave a woman a gift, it usually meant something more.

"Really? What is it?" Altaia happily lifted her right leg.

"I'll keep it a secret for now, but I can tell you one thing: I made it myself!"

"Wow!~~~"

That night.

The town was brightly lit. Everyone was celebrating its rebirth, and all the survivors had gathered in the central square to sing and dance together.

The Tauren no longer had to hide his horns. The lovely ladies had decorated them until they looked like a walking flower garden, and he had become Night Town's mascot. Sun Busong could tell Heavy Fist was enjoying the attention; his little tail was wagging especially merrily.

At the largest table in the middle of the square sat Sun Busong, Mayor Elro, the scholar Derlan, Deputy Mayor Rul, and Altaia.

All the important figures were gathered at one table. Sun Busong raised his cup and clinked it with everyone who came to toast him. He was in a good mood, so he let himself drink freely.

By the time he came to, Usop had already brought Luffy to Night Town. The mayor and Altaia were welcoming him.

"Hey, brother! You're late. If you'd arrived last night, you could've experienced the beauty and drinking prowess of Night Town's ladies. I couldn't handle them, anyway!"

As soon as he saw Luffy, Sun Busong went up and gave him a bear hug.

Luffy thumped him on the back a few times and laughed as he complained, "You're always good at saying that after the fact. It was already night when I heard the news. Even if you'd given me a hundred times the courage, I wouldn't have believed you'd save Night Town from the undead warlock Mobent Fell!"

After they broke apart, Luffy punched him in the chest. "I heard the warlock stabbed you here. How come you're still bouncing around? You're always getting into trouble, but you sure are tough, hahaha."

Over the next two days, Sun Busong, Luffy, Altaia, and Usop held four meetings before finalizing Night Town's future development plans and troop deployments.

The night before Sun Busong and Heavy Fist left, three thousand members of the Brotherhood had fully entered Duskwood, taking over all the road checkpoints and watchtowers.

"Put this on and go look in the mirror. See if you like it." Sun Busong took out a cloak he'd spent three sleepless days making.

"Could you put it on me?" Altaia turned around, revealing her slender neck and shoulders, and asked shyly.

Altaia looked beautiful and alluring in the mirror. The silvery-white cloak fell all the way to her feet.

Night Watch Commander's Cloak (Blue Gear) 2 stars:

Item Level 85.

Back.

188 Armor.

+12 Strength

+12 Agility

+12 Stamina

Required Level 45.

Equip: Increases Attack Power by 40.

Equip: Increases Critical Strike Rating by 21.

Use: Grants nearby party members a 20-point Stamina bonus for 30 minutes.

When Sun Busong draped the cloak over Altaia's shoulders, she was so dazzled by its gorgeous, brilliant appearance that she could barely keep her eyes open. Then she felt the cloak's magical properties.

"Th-this is something you made?!!!"

The unique and gorgeous design alone had already left Altaia captivated. Now its stats left her unable to believe her eyes.

She had never heard of any cloak with such powerful stats. Even those Epic-quality purple items couldn't have effects like these.

"Do you like it? I poured my heart and soul into making it for you! It's the only one in the world! Don't lose it."

He really had poured his heart and soul into it. There were no cloaks with stats this incredible in this era. The Slaughter Value alone had cost over a thousand—several hundred more than resurrecting Humar.

But Sun Busong thought it was worth it if it won this woman's heart!

"I love it! I love it so much! From now on, I'm going to wear it every day. Every moment, I'll feel your presence in its warmth!"

Mission accomplished!

"Boss, where are we heading first?" Heavy Fist rode awkwardly on a little mare, traveling alongside Sun Busong.

"We're going to the Rebel Army camp in Stranglethorn Vale. Those guys hate Stormwind's bloodsuckers too. The enemy of my enemy is my friend! Understand?"

"No!"

"..."

There was only one road from Duskwood to Stranglethorn Vale. To reach Kalimdor, the two of them would have to take the Goblin route by sea. Menethil Harbor was controlled by the nobles, and that woman on Theramore Island was no pushover either.

Goblins were easiest to deal with because all they cared about was money. A few days earlier, the three of them had met a Goblin merchant while learning to ride. That route was their only way to reach Kalimdor.

Before that, though, it would be best to get acquainted with the leader of the Rebel Army. He seemed like a good candidate to recruit. The leader was a captain named Duo Lun.

When Sun Busong finally met the captain through his connections, he understood why the man had rebelled against Stormwind. A level 60 Elite Warrior was only a captain?!

What did a level 60 elite mean? Commander Lei Mao of Ironforge was only level 50! He was the leader of the Dwarf race's Warrior Class.

If they'd driven a badass like him to rebel, then Stormwind really was rotten to the core!

"Hello, Captain. My name is Sun Busong. I'm with the Brotherhood from Westfall. It's a pleasure to meet you. Your name is practically legendary where we come from."

Sun Busong was brought before Captain Duo Lun. He was a sturdy, tough-looking man in his fifties, and his silver armor made him look even more imposing and dignified. The two fine-quality Blue Gear long swords in his hands were clearly extraordinary.

"Heh! So you're from the Defias Rogue Gang. What, have you started recruiting Dwarves now? No wonder you're like rats in the street. You've really hit a new low!"

Fuck your mother!

This wasn't the character he'd imagined at all!

No wonder a level 60 elite had decided to rebel!

That foul mouth of his was to blame!

Just from that remark, Sun Busong figured this captain wouldn't make it to level 61!

"Hehe, you're absolutely right. That's why I came here to observe and learn. Our leader told me to follow you and learn from you, then go back and straighten out the Brotherhood. I hope you'll be willing to share your knowledge, Captain. I'm a hard worker. You can leave any task to me."

Sun Busong nodded and bowed ingratiatingly, his eyes full of flattery and fawning.

"Mm! You're not bad, Dwarf. I have high hopes for you. If you follow me and learn well, you'll be able to take on important responsibilities when you return. Once the Brotherhood joins our Rebel Army, I'll give you a good position."

Captain Duo Lun was pleased with Sun Busong's attitude. Though he looked down on the Brotherhood and Dwarves, he could still put them to work for him.

"Then thank you for your guidance, Captain! Hahaha."

Sun Busong smiled cheerfully. (Just you wait. Once I've learned your troop arrangements and setup, I'll take you bastards out!)

"Then you two can report to Private Salson. You've just arrived, so you'll have to start at the bottom. Go on!"

After Sun Busong and Heavy Fist left, Captain Duo Lun curled his lips into a smirk and said to Bruce, the quartermaster beside him, "Did you see those two idiots' attitudes as they left? Hahaha. A gang of thieves cobbled together from a bunch of thugs and lowlifes thinks it can cooperate with us. What a joke. In a few days, start arranging for them to scout Korson's camp. If they die, they die. Don't worry about it. They're just cannon fodder!"

"Yes! Every decision you make, Captain, is wise and mighty!"

Soon, the two of them found the private named Salson.

"Mm. Yes, I do have something suitable for you. Captain Duo Lun's direct troops, currently stationed in northern Stranglethorn Vale, need regular supplies.

"But because of the Troll ambushes, they haven't been able to get their supplies. So I need someone to help me take care of this. Just deliver the supplies to them. Remember, if you fail, you'll have to pay for our losses. Of course, you might also die on the way..."

He handed Sun Busong several crates of assorted supplies. To deliver them to Captain Duo Lun's direct troops in northern Stranglethorn Vale, they'd have to cross several dangerous areas. That was the task the private had given them.

"Boss, what should we do? Take the job or not?" The Tauren scratched the fleshy back of his hind leg with his hoof-like hand.

"Of course we'll do it! We can gain experience anywhere, can't we? But remember, once you reach level 29, stop gaining experience. The limit for advancing to a full-fledged professional is level 29. If you accidentally reach level 30, you'll be a soldier for the rest of your life!"

Sun Busong whistled. Humar darted over to him like lightning, nearly knocking the Tauren over.

"Let's go! We'll see what these Trolls are like!"

A man, a cow, and a cat set off!

New map time. We're going to stir things up this time!