Conspiracy

"I know that, of course. What? Does our cooperation have something to do with Gul'dan?"

When Leiluo brought up Gul'dan, Blackhand turned to glance at his adjutant, exchanging a look with him before turning back to continue speaking with Leiluo.

"No, our cooperation has nothing to do with Gul'dan. I simply want to get rid of Gul'dan, so I'd like to ask the Blackrock Chieftain for a favor."

There were only the three of them in the hall. Leiluo no longer stood on ceremony and sat down in the seat to Blackhand's left.

"So this favor is the prerequisite for our cooperation?"

Sensing the implication hidden in Leiluo's words, Blackhand grew somewhat displeased.

"What makes you think a great clan like Blackrock needs to cooperate with you?!"

Sensing his chieftain's displeasure, Orgrim hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "That's right, kid. Blackrock doesn't lack anything."

"Oh, really? What if I can provide food that can be grown even in winter?"

Leiluo finally revealed his trump card. On Draenor, no clan was ever truly free of food shortages—not even the great clans.

"That's impossible!"

Blackhand slapped the table and rose to his feet. He picked up the hammer set beside him and pointed it at Leiluo.

Orgrim also stood up, his expression grave.

"What? Do you two think I'd lie about something like this?"

Under Blackhand's fixed stare, Leiluo felt a chill crawl up his back. Yet outwardly, he did not react at all, still wearing that indifferent expression.

After staring at Leiluo for quite some time, Blackhand finally lowered his hammer and sat back down. Seeing his chieftain sit, Orgrim gave Leiluo a look and sat down as well.

As the chill in his back faded, Leiluo let out a quiet breath and shifted slightly in his seat before speaking.

"I obtained a type of wheat seed that can be planted during the winter months. We've already planted it in Stone Clan territory. When the time comes, the Blackrock Chieftain can send someone he trusts to see for himself whether it's real."

"And what I want in exchange is Blackrock's Goron-taming techniques and Komodo Dragon-taming techniques."

"No. The Goron techniques are possible, but the Komodo Dragon techniques are absolutely out of the question."

The moment he heard Leiluo's demand, Blackhand rejected it without a second thought.

"Blackrock Chieftain, I believe Goron-taming techniques aren't exclusive to Blackrock, are they? You want to trade only that for winter wheat—don't you think that's a little inappropriate?"

Leiluo refused to budge. The Goron-taming techniques were merely incidental; what he truly wanted was the Komodo Dragon-taming technique.

Komodo Dragons were large omnivorous animals found everywhere across Draenor. Most traveled in herds, and together with Thunder Lizards, they were known as the most numerous creatures on Draenor.

Komodo Dragons endured both cold and drought, were easy to raise, and had gentle temperaments. They would not attack on their own, but once provoked, they became terrifying—because they would swallow you whole.

Komodo Dragons were immensely strong, made excellent laborers, and could chew cud. They were an outstanding breed that could serve as both war beasts and draft animals.

Leiluo wanted to use Komodo Dragons to increase Stone Clan's labor force and food production. Yet so far, only Blackrock had successfully domesticated them.

However, all these terms were merely a cover for Leiluo's real goal: getting Blackhand to act. If he skipped the cooperation proposal and directly traded winter wheat for Blackhand's help, he would lose out badly—owing a favor without having anything left to offer in return.

"Don't forget, kid. I can simply take it."

Blackhand glared at him and spoke viciously.

Hearing that, Leiluo felt that his goal was close at hand. Blackhand had failed to see his true intention. Blackrock might be stronger than Frostwolf, but when two tigers fought, one was bound to be injured.

Orgrim had clearly thought of that as well. Sure enough, Leiluo revealed his final card.

"Blackrock Chieftain, Chieftain Durotan of the Frostwolf Clan and I are good friends. If I give the winter wheat to him, do you think you can still take it?"

"Hmph, what does Frostwolf amount to? Would Blackrock be afraid of them?!"

Though Blackhand's tone remained forceful, it was clearly not what he truly thought. He had already begun discussing the matter with his adjutant.

After a while, Blackhand and Orgrim finished their discussion. Blackhand leaned back, evidently unwilling to speak any further, and Orgrim took over the negotiation with Leiluo.

"Kid, Blackrock can agree to your earlier terms. But you want our chieftain to help you deal with Gul'dan. What can you offer for that?"

Orgrim walked down and stopped in front of Leiluo. When it came to strategy, he was better than Blackhand.

Leiluo chuckled. "The method for growing winter wheat."

At that, Blackhand, who had been sitting with his eyes narrowed as though resting, clearly disagreed. He opened his eyes and stared at Leiluo like a wolf.

That prickling sensation on his back returned, but having experienced it once already, Leiluo was much calmer this time.

"Sir—Blackrock Chieftain—what if my planting method can greatly increase your food production?"

Orgrim turned back to glance at Blackhand. The two nodded to each other, and only then did Orgrim turn back. "Deal."

"Since you've both agreed, Blackrock Chieftain, let's set out tomorrow."

"Don't worry. Once I give my word, I won't go back on it."

After saying that, Blackhand made a gesture to dismiss him. Leiluo rose, gave a bow, and left the hall.

"Orgrim, do you think we can trust what that kid said?"

"Better to believe it than not. Besides, we'll only give him the Komodo Dragon techniques after he provides the winter wheat. You'll have to make this trip yourself, Chieftain—consider it the deposit we pay first. If Leiluo can't deliver when the time comes, we can take him as repayment. Even Durotan won't have anything to say about it then."

"All right. I'll listen to you."

The two Blackrock leaders walked out of the hall one after the other.

Night fell, and the moon hung above the treetops.

Shadowmoon Valley, the Shadowmoon Clan—everything was quiet, peaceful, and stable.

Yet cries and wails rang out from the Shadowmoon Clan's Chieftain Hall, shattering the clan's tranquil atmosphere.

But no one in the entire Shadowmoon Clan came out to see what was happening, as though they had heard nothing.

All those cries came from a group of Draenei imprisoned inside the Chieftain Hall, nearly a hundred of them.

In the center of the Chieftain Hall stood a figure in black robes. Illuminated by the torchlight, his face was revealed—it was the orc Great Shaman, Ner'zhul.

Under the torchlight, it was also clear that his skin had already turned green.

A basin of water sat before him. His hands rested on either side of it as he muttered an incantation. As his chant neared its end, red lines appeared across the bodies of the imprisoned Draenei on both sides.

The lines continuously converged before all plunging into the basin of water before Ner'zhul.

As the lines vanished, so did the cries. Only under the light did it become clear that all the Draenei had turned into desiccated corpses.

As the final strand of red light entered, ripples spread across the water in the basin. A face appeared within it. Seeing it, Ner'zhul smiled faintly.

"My old friend, we meet again."