You're Grinning Foolishly in Front of Me

"What do you want to do?"

Teron Gorefiend clearly did not want to see the Horde split, and he was quite interested in what Kaldara had to say.

"I don't know, that's why I'm asking you."

Kaldara replied.

"Why me?"

Teron Gorefiend countered.

Malone also felt this made absolutely no sense—Kaldara shouldn't be aware of Teron Gorefiend's true identity, right?

Not knowing the origins of the Death Knight, how could he consult an outsider about internal Horde affairs?

"Because I'm not good at thinking, and neither are the other orcs. I figured you Death Knights couldn't possibly be stupider than orcs, could you?"

Kaldara asked.

Is that really what this guy is thinking... this is way too casual, isn't it? Malone secretly complained.

"I have no solutions. Besides, we've arrived; you should head back."

Teron Gorefiend stopped in his tracks and said to Kaldara.

Malone looked up and realized that, without noticing, they had reached the front of the small hill. Circling around it would lead directly to the prisoner camp where Tiffany was being held.

"I'm going to check first."

Malone no longer cared whether Orgrim was fit to be the Warchief of the Orcs, or how Teron Gorefiend and Kaldara intended to compensate for Orgrim's weakness.

He only wanted to see if Tiffany was safe and sound.

"You don't mind if I tag along, do you?"

Kaldara watched Malone's back disappear behind the small hill and spoke to Teron Gorefiend.

"I told you, I have no solutions. Why are you still hanging around?"

Teron Gorefiend stared intently at Kaldara.

Although what this Blademaster had said in front of Orgrim was beneficial for Teron Gorefiend and Malone to escape quickly, Teron Gorefiend was not as trusting as Malone.

"Three heads are better than one when it comes to figuring things out."

Kaldara argued craftily.

"Don't make any threatening moves, or I guarantee you won't have a good time. I am not Orgrim; I don't need to overthink things."

Teron Gorefiend warned.

This time, Kaldara didn't say anything provocative like "you can try," but simply shrugged his shoulders.

Teron Gorefiend said no more and walked toward the back of the hill; Kaldara followed with a vigorous stride—truly a strange pair.

Malone had already rushed to the wooden shed of the prisoner camp, where those few Death Knights were still standing guard.

Malone tried to rush inside, but he was blocked.

"What are you doing?"

Malone looked at the Death Knight blocking his path in shock and anger.

"You cannot enter."

The Death Knight said with a stiff expression.

"Why? Did something happen inside? Who went in? How dare you..."

Malone was furious; he was on the verge of attacking the Death Knight.

"No one went in. But Teron Gorefiend said that until he returns, no one is allowed inside, including ourselves."

The Death Knight stated.

"Of course, that includes you as well."

Another Death Knight added.

"Do you not know who I am?"

Malone asked in surprise.

"We know, you are Maicomarlon, our companion."

One Death Knight replied.

"Teron Gorefiend values you highly."

The other Death Knight added.

"Then why are you stopping me? Listen, you've protected this place, and I'm grateful for that, but..."

Malone was no longer too worried about Tiffany's safety—this group of Death Knights were very competent guardians, so competent that they even blocked him!

"No one can enter, because Teron Gorefiend has not yet returned."

The Death Knight remained standing in front of Malone, speaking with cold indifference.

"You guy... are you brain-dead? Can't you think for yourself?"

Malone felt a sudden urge to curse out loud.

"I am a dead man, that is correct."

The Death Knight replied.

"What happened?"

Teron Gorefiend's voice came from behind Malone.

"Are we fighting? Count me in!"

Kaldara said, clearly hoping for chaos.

"You may enter."

The Death Knight stepped aside, clearing the path for Malone.

"Teron Gorefiend has returned."

Seeming to notice the look of astonishment on Malone's face, the fellow added.

A bunch of weirdos... Malone shook his head and ducked into the small shed.

At a single glance, Malone saw the person he had been worrying about—though now, he felt a sudden urge to laugh.

Tiffany was still sitting on the pile of hay; because her leg was injured, she couldn't move around, and there was no one there to talk to her.

Whether to relieve her boredom or to dispel the fear in her heart, Malone noticed that Tiffany was holding two blades of grass she had picked up from somewhere, weaving them back and forth.

Perhaps because she was so focused, she didn't even notice the slight noise Malone made when he entered.

Her slender, fair fingers darted between the withered yellow grass stems, leaving Malone feeling a bit dazzled.

Seeing that Tiffany was unharmed, Malone finally felt at ease.

He wanted to speak to Tiffany, but he was worried about startling her.

Malone knew that this girl must be very uneasy in her heart, like a fawn in the woods, easily frightened by the slightest sound.

Malone decided to remain silent for a moment—besides, his eyes wouldn't be idle anyway—Tiffany before him, whether it was her face, her fingers, or her focused, head-down expression, was all very beautiful.

However, Malone didn't get to watch for more than a few seconds.

The girl soon snapped a grass stem, and just as she was looking around for a replacement, she noticed Malone standing at the doorway.

"Ah!"

Tiffany let out a soft cry—though, there was very little fright in it; Malone could tell that her voice was filled mostly with joy.

I'm not that useless after all—even if I can't beat Teron Gorefiend, can't beat Kaldara, and probably can't beat Orgrim or Zul'jin, but...

At least I am the only person in this camp who makes Tiffany smile when she sees me—Malone thought with a sense of self-satisfaction.

Of course, he forgot that he was the only human in this camp besides Tiffany to begin with.

"Mr. Malone, you're back!"

Tiffany said softly.

"Mm, I'm back."

Malone nodded, walked over to Tiffany's side, and sat down.

"Is everything alright?"

Tiffany asked with concern.

"Everything is fine."

Malone replied with a smile.

"That Orc king... oh no, Warchief, he didn't give you a hard time because of me, did he, Mr. Malone?"

Tiffany still seemed very worried.

"No, you don't need to worry, Tiffany. Your situation doesn't really matter anymore; the Orcs are too busy with their own infighting to pay any attention to you. But this is a good thing for us, because it will be easier for us to leave."

Malone continued to smile.

Even though he knew he looked silly when he smiled, Malone kept trying, until the muscles in his face felt stiff and sore.

His smile, though a bit foolish and a bit ugly, was likely the most reassuring expression Tiffany could see right now, wasn't it?