A New Mission

Shawn always thought that Vanessa was one of the truly clever people on the continent of Azeroth. He had always been very interested in her, and felt a deep sense of sympathy and admiration for her.

Therefore, upon seeing Rick tie her up, Shawn's face darkened instantly.

Shawn said, "Rick, speak. What on earth is going on here! If your explanation doesn't satisfy me, I'll slaughter you!"

Rick had not expected such a sudden shift in Shawn's attitude, but that was unimportant.

He recounted what he had been through these past few days.

Rick was formerly a member of the Stormwind City Mason Guild and a highly skilled architect. His professional skill level was second only to that of Edwin VanCleef, reaching the Grandmaster rank-which was precisely why Shawn's Eye of Insight had been unable to detect it.

During the project to rebuild Stormwind City, Rick had been in charge of the Mage District section. It was also during that time that Rick had gotten to know Theocritus, along with quite a few other mages.

Later, Stormwind City defaulted on their wages. Under the manipulation of the Black Dragon Princess, Edwin VanCleef led the majority of the Mason Guild to undergo a sudden transformation, turning them into the Defias Brotherhood. However, quite a few masons chose to leave alone.

Rick was one of them.

Over the years, Rick had been wandering.

He had witnessed all of VanCleef's actions. He felt deep sorrow for this former old friend and former boss, hoping that he could turn over a new leaf and stop engaging in those deeds driven mad by hatred.

He had also met with VanCleef a few times, but each time he was chased away by VanCleef.

"If you won't join us, don't stop us! If there is a next time, I'll kill you!"

VanCleef's attitude left Rick utterly heartbroken.

A few days ago, Rick intended to make one last attempt.

This time, he was beaten heavily by VanCleef and nearly killed.

Right at that moment, he caught sight of Vanessa, had a flash of inspiration, kidnapped Vanessa, and escaped from the Deadmines.

After finishing the story, Rick sighed and said, "That's how things are. I brought Vanessa, fled all the way, and ran into you. Remembering that you are a mage, I planned to throw in my lot with you."

Shawn remained silent for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Rick, do you hate VanCleef?"

Rick replied, "I don't. No matter how he treats me, he is still my old friend. Besides, he has his own hardships. Stormwind City is too abominable! It was Stormwind City that failed VanCleef first, not VanCleef who failed Stormwind City!"

Shawn sighed.

The entire Westfall was a thorough tragedy. And one of the root causes that brought about all this tragedy was a certain hateful individual.

He decided to do something.

Looking at Rick, Shawn shook his head and said, "Actually, it's not entirely Stormwind City that failed you all. The one who truly failed you is someone else. Or rather, some other dragon."

Rick was stunned, failing to understand what Shawn was talking about, so he asked doubtfully, "What do you mean, Shawn?"

Shawn said, "Here is how things stand."

Long ago, Azeroth's famous mega-boss, the Deathwing Neltharion, dispatched his daughter, the Black Dragon Princess Onyxia. Disguised as "Lady Katrana Prestor", she infiltrated the upper echelons of Stormwind City and stirred up trouble using political means.

The disappearance of Stormwind City's King Varian, the noble faction's default on the Mason Guild's wages, and VanCleef leading the Mason Guild to transform into the Defias Brotherhood-all of these events had her shadow behind them.

It could be said that the entire tragedy of Stormwind City and the entire tragedy of Westfall were brought about single-handedly by her.

Shawn concluded, "Therefore, if you want to hate someone, you should hate the Black Dragon Princess Onyxia. She is the true mastermind."

Onyxia!

The Black Dragon Princess!

Rick's jaw dropped.

He was not someone lacking in experience.

As early as the reconstruction of Stormwind City, he had heard legends about dragons from the lips of the mages.

Those were powerful and terrifying legendary creatures! Any adult dragon possessed the strength of a great professional, soaring through the skies, hundreds of feet long, looking down upon heaven and earth, blocking the sun with their wings.

Yet his true enemy, and the true enemy of all members of the Defias Brotherhood, turned out to be a dragon? And furthermore, a very powerful one among the black dragons: the Black Dragon Princess?

For the first time, an incomparable despair surfaced on Rick's face, surpassing even the despair he felt when he failed to persuade VanCleef.

"Shawn, I believe everything you say. You have no reason to lie to me, even though I don't know where you learned all this from. But, but what use is it even if we know? How could we possibly kill a dragon? How could we ever get our revenge!"

Tears welled up in Rick's eyes.

A real man does not easily shed tears, save when his heart is truly broken.

Shawn smiled and said, "Actually, there is a way."

Hearing this, Rick stopped his tears, immediately grabbed Shawn's arm, and asked eagerly, "You have a way? You can let us get our revenge? You can let us kill Onyxia?"

Shawn smiled and said, "Perhaps you cannot kill a dragon by yourselves, but that doesn't mean the entirety of Stormwind City can't do it. Find a way to persuade VanCleef and make him reconcile with Stormwind City. As long as you unite and cooperate, you will definitely be able to kill Onyxia. I guarantee it!"

Rick stared dazedly at the person before him-this teenager who was not even fifteen years old-and suddenly felt that he possessed a convincing aura about him. He was so extraordinary. His ears were a bit pointy; he was a half-elf, hiding his true depth, and nobody had ever known before that he was a mage. His origins were mysterious, and he actually knew so many secrets...

Rick suddenly bowed and prostrated himself before Shawn: "Shawn, as long as we can kill Onyxia, I swear to follow you for the rest of my life! I'm going to find VanCleef right now and I will definitely persuade him! I leave Vanessa to you. Take good care of her; she is the daughter of my best friend!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Rick suddenly scrambled up and hurried off in a jog, unsure whether he was in a rush to break the news to his dear old buddy Edwin VanCleef or simply afraid that Shawn would refuse.

And so, Shawn accepted a quest half-willingly and half-cooperatively.

It was not a quest given by Rick, but a task issued by the Space Garrison.

Side Quest: Maiden Cultivation Plan.
Cultivate Vanessa VanCleef and raise her into an outstanding, upright, and socially useful person.
Remarks: Hee-hee, Commander, shouldn't you be cautious to the utmost, and cherish to the utmost, the very first important female character in your life on the continent of Azeroth? Cultivate her well, for the rewards are generous!
Quest Completion Conditions: Unknown.
Quest Rewards: Unknown.
Quest Time Limit: Unknown.

Shawn carefully read the quest description, raised his head, gazed at the sky at a 45-degree angle, and was left speechless at the heavens: "So, a quest to cultivate a kuudere maiden without giving any details at all-is this really okay?"