From Mardi, Zul'ra learned about the latest situation between the Alliance and the Horde. The Horde seemed unwilling to accept defeat. Quite a few Orc and Troll remnants were still holed up near Blackrock Mountain, and Orcs had even launched surprise attacks against the Alliance through the Dark Portal. But Zul'ra knew it was nothing more than a last gasp. The Old Horde was nothing without Orgrim.
In response to the Horde's frequent moves, the Alliance wasn't about to sit back, either. Although the various nations paid little heed to Lordaeron's call, some militiamen were preparing to enter the Dark Portal and counterattack Draenor at Marshal Turalyon's urging.
Mardi shared a great deal of news, but the former Trade Prince had still played his cards close to his chest. He'd concealed that the vital supplies his fleet was transporting were weapons. He was afraid that the Trolls would be angered if they found out he'd sold weapons to the Alliance, but his own men had betrayed him.
Although Mardi had deceived him, Zul'ra didn't hold it against him. There was no point. He didn't care that Goblins sold weapons to the Alliance. Those little green-skinned runts were capitalists, and capitalists had never been known for their scruples.
In Booty Bay, Zul'ra released Mardi and his men. Mardi generously paid their docking fees in the bay, which was quite generous by Goblin standards. As he left, Mardi loudly thanked Zul'ra.
"Thank you, Troll. You're the most magnanimous fellow I've ever met. And you're one of the tallest, too." Mardi tried to hug Zul'ra, but when he saw the other Troll's three-meter height and cool expression, he could only abandon the idea.
"Good luck, Mardi!" Zul'ra watched the fellow, overjoyed to have escaped with his life, with a faintly mocking expression.
"Good luck? Of course I'll have good luck." Mardi's expression faltered when he saw the Troll's imposing face and faintly mocking smile.
"No, I mean, good luck keeping your life." Zul'ra grinned.
"What do you mean?" Mardi couldn't help feeling a pang of panic at the fellow's grin.
"Even the greatest capital can crumble in the face of violence. Gallywix won't let you go. You'll never make money faster than he can pull the trigger." Zul'ra looked down at the fat Goblin and sneered.
"All right, I've said my piece. I hope we meet again!" Zul'ra lifted his gaze to a giant Goblin statue in Booty Bay, bringing the conversation to an end. Mardi opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only lower his head and leave.
Zul'ra waited in Booty Bay while his ship took on supplies, planning to set off the next day. But unexpectedly, Mardi returned alone that evening. As soon as they met, he held out a box about the size of a shoebox and opened it.
"What are you doing?" Zul'ra looked at the almond-shaped gold coins in the wooden box, then glanced at Mardi, who had come alone.
"Help me. Like you said, I can't make money faster than that bastard can shoot. All my men have turned on me. My life could be over at any moment." Mardi was drenched in sweat.
"Sorry, I can't help you. Just as you can't make money faster than someone else can shoot, this rickety ship of mine can't stand up to Gallywix's capital now that he's become the Trade Prince. He destroyed your fleet with ease. Honestly, I think it was a mistake to even meet you." Zul'ra looked at Mardi and shook his head with a grin.
"No, please! Save me!" When Mardi saw Zul'ra shaking his head, he nearly burst into tears.
"But I really can't do anything." Zul'ra looked at the Goblin, who was on the verge of tears. He could sense Mardi's desperation, but what good would that do? He was helpless, too!
"Please, at least give me some advice. You can have all these gold coins." Mardi clung to Zul'ra like a drowning man grasping at a lifeline.
"Tell me, does the Bilgewater Cartel have any rivals or enemies you can reach right now?" Zul'ra looked at the pleading Mardi and turned his gaze slightly aside. If he refused Mardi now, the Goblin would surely drag him into this at any cost. He might as well give him some advice.
"What do you mean?" Mardi looked at Zul'ra.
"Your enemy's enemy is your friend. And if they aren't friends, they can still become allies. You're the former Trade Prince of the Bilgewater Cartel. The most valuable things you have now are your business acumen and your knowledge of the Bilgewater Cartel. Your wealth is worthless." Zul'ra pointed at Mardi.
"You have five fingers." Mardi stared at Zul'ra's hand in surprise. Only now had he suddenly noticed that the fellow before him had five fingers. Trolls were supposed to have only three.
"We've gotten off track." Zul'ra gave the astonished Goblin a pointed reminder.
"All right! I can find a rival of the Bilgewater Cartel. Right, the Steamwheedle Cartel. Gazlowe of the Steamwheedle Cartel is a pirate and a Goblin, so he'd want more wealth. But he might not offend Gallywix for my sake. I hear they get along well." Mardi looked troubled.
"That's only what you've heard. And like you said, would a Goblin pirate turn down more wealth? Use your gift of the gab to convince Gazlowe to protect you first, then look for another way in. Take it one step at a time." Zul'ra looked at Mardi's troubled expression and spread his hands.
"All right, all right!" Mardi listened and managed to calm himself down.
"Be careful. If you don't give it everything you've got, Gallywix will catch you. Can you imagine what'll happen to you then?" Zul'ra looked at Mardi, who had barely managed to steady himself, with a faintly mocking expression.
"I'll do my best." Mardi nodded repeatedly. If he didn't want to die, he had no choice but to try.
"Good. Leave." Zul'ra smiled as he watched the frantic Goblin, then closed the wooden box on the table and pocketed the payment. Whether Mardi managed to escape with his life was up to him.
"C-could I wait until dawn before leaving?" Mardi watched Zul'ra put away the box of gold coins. He felt a pang at the loss, but was also afraid.
"Sure. But by dawn, you'll be even more exposed to their watchful eyes." Zul'ra looked at the frightened Mardi and shrugged indifferently.
"B-but I'm scared." Mardi's face turned a murky green.
"Then how about this? I'll cast a spell and turn you into a bird, so you can fly to Gazlowe. How does that sound?" Zul'ra looked at the green-faced Goblin and lowered his gaze. He needed to get rid of the fellow quickly. Who knew whether Gallywix might come here and blow the place up?
"G-good." As Mardi listened to Zul'ra's suggestion and imagined himself with a pair of wings, his eyes lit up. That would be best.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go outside." Zul'ra looked at Mardi's nod and made up his mind.
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