Gryan Stoutmantle

For two whole months, neither Stormwind City nor Westbrook Garrison sent out troops. Moonbrook fell completely, and Westfall descended into chaos.

When almost everyone had given up hope, 59-year-old Old Gryan stepped forward.

Just as he had once led a squad in the Order of the Silver Hand, he used a willpower and speed beyond anything an ordinary person could imagine to form a defense force from local farmers, retired veterans, and people who came to help in their own capacity.

This was the People's Militia of Westfall, an army formed by the people to protect the people.

Like the Holy Light he had believed in all his life, Old Gryan shone upon the nearly despairing refugees and united them all, preparing to fight to the death against the organization called the Defias.

In truth, those thieves were nothing but a rabble. The militia led by Old Gryan successfully held their last stronghold, Sentinel Hill, and dealt the Defias thieves a heavy blow. In the end, he hoped that a small squad he had sent out would succeed in killing the leader of the Defias Brotherhood, Edwin VanCleef.

Yes, the Defias Brotherhood, spread throughout Westfall and infiltrated into Elwynn Forest, Duskwood, Stranglethorn Vale, and even Stormwind City, had finally met a truly formidable enemy: Old Gryan.

This was Old Gryan.

This was Gryan Stoutmantle.

This was the man Old Saldean respected.

However, all of the above was nonsense.

Shawn knew very well that, as the leader of the militia and the Marshal of Sentinel Hill, Gryan Stoutmantle had no reason to show up at Saldean Farm.

To inspect public safety?

Westfall was enormous, and Gryan had only a little over three hundred people under his command. How could he inspect the whole place?

To procure food and supplies?

Stormwind City gave Old Gryan no resources at all. So although he accepted help in any form, he couldn't pay for it—and had no money to buy provisions. The soldiers at Sentinel Hill were all starving and miserable.

So what was he here for?

Shawn suddenly felt uneasy.

"Dad, what exactly did Commander Gryan Stoutmantle come here for?" Shawn interrupted Old Saldean's endless chatter.

"Oh? Didn't I mention it?" Old Saldean asked, looking puzzled. When Shawn nodded firmly, he suddenly understood. "Oh, right! Something big happened yesterday! For some reason, the Kobolds from Jangolode Mine started fighting the Murlocs at Gold Coast! I heard the Kobolds ambushed the Murlocs, who suffered heavy casualties. But plenty of Kobolds died too, so Commander Gryan Stoutmantle brought his men here to investigate."

Shawn nodded absentmindedly.

So that was it!

Sentinel Hill was in central Westfall, Jangolode Mine was in the northwest, and Gold Coast was along the northern coast of Westfall.

Old Gryan would indeed pass by the scattered farms in the north while looking into the Kobolds and Murlocs. It made sense for him to visit Saldean Farm.

Old Saldean beamed. "By the way, I told you last time that I'd be going to Goldshire in a couple of days. I was going to take you with me and introduce you to an engineer there as an apprentice, so you could learn about Engineering. Well, now's our chance! After Commander Gryan inspects Jangolode Mine and Gold Coast, he's going to Goldshire to order a large batch of weapons and armor. I plan to go with him; it'll be safer that way. You should come too!"

Old Saldean's words set Shawn thinking.

Ever since he'd first heard about this, Shawn had been making plans.

He had a few good items on hand now: a Fine Iron Dagger, a Kobold Shaman Wizard Staff, and a Dalaran Wizard Robe. They were all common-quality, white items, but still pretty decent. Other than the Fine Iron Dagger, Shawn couldn't use either of the other two, so he planned to sell them and buy things he needed.

For that, he needed to visit a bustling town. Goldshire, the nearest one, was the perfect choice.

He'd originally planned to go with Old Saldean, but now he had the chance to travel with Gryan Stoutmantle. That was even better. Not only would he be safe, but if he got the chance to meet Gryan and build a good relationship with him, that would be even better.

After all, whether on Earth or Azeroth, connections were the most important resource.

Shawn was delighted.

But before long, his face suddenly turned deathly pale, and he started acting strangely.

As soon as Gryan Stoutmantle saw Shawn, he took him to the warehouse and pointed at the three mining carts Shawn had brought back from the Kobolds. His voice was ice-cold.

"Shawn, where did you get these three mining carts?"

"If I said I just happened to find them, or that they'd always been in this warehouse, would you believe me, sir?" Shawn looked utterly innocent. His little eyes lit up as he raised both hands—no, both little hands.

Gryan Stoutmantle stared at Shawn for a few moments, then shook his head. "I don't believe you. You little rascal, did you think no one would notice just because you hid the carts in the warehouse? I have an eyewitness!"

An eyewitness?

Shawn froze.

Someone had seen what he did yesterday? That couldn't be. He'd been very careful, and it had already been dark when he got back. Who would have wandered over by the warehouse and seen him?

Unless...

Wait, did Gryan Stoutmantle have someone at Saldean Farm?

Shawn eyed Gryan Stoutmantle suspiciously. Seeing his amused expression, Shawn's heart gave a thump, and he understood at once.

This old fox was bluffing!

The guy didn't have an eyewitness at all!

Shawn hastily put on a frightened expression and waved his hands. "How could that be? No way! I drove the Shredder out to cut wood yesterday, but couldn't find any suitable timber, so I came back in the evening. I never saw any mining carts! How strange. Where did these three carts come from? This makes no sense!"

The most convincing lie was one that was nine-tenths true. If most of what you said was true and only one part was false, you could fool people.

Shawn openly admitted that he'd driven the Shredder out yesterday. There was no point hiding it; anyone could find out just by asking around. Besides, he was a beginner—a beginner, a kid, wandering around everywhere. It was perfectly normal for him not to find suitable timber!

Shawn couldn't help admiring his own cleverness.

But Gryan Stoutmantle somehow produced a chunk of ore slag and held it out in front of Shawn. "You little rascal, you admit you drove the Shredder out yesterday, right? Then I found this on the Shredder. How do you explain that?"