On the deck outside the ship, with unseen eyes watching from the shadows, Zul'ra used voodoo to transform Mardi into a crow right then and there. After watching him flap away, he clapped his hands and returned to the cabin, though he felt he might have underestimated how much Gallywix cared about the matter.
After night fell, a group of Goblins came to visit the ship. They were all fully armed, most of them wearing leather and sporting Mohawks, ponytails, or spiky hair. They carried guns and all sorts of bottles and jars; some rode around in rumbling machines. Since they came on strong, the Trolls stopped them before they could board, and Zul'ra came out when he heard about them.
"Who's your leader?" Zul'ra asked, looking over the fierce-looking Goblins before him. His gaze finally settled on one who stood out from the rest, mainly because he wore a tall hat and had several folds of fat beneath his chin. Two sagging mounds of flesh hung over his smooth, round belly, and he had a cigar in his mouth.
"You know me, right, big guy?" the Goblin asked gruffly, looking up at the towering Troll with a cigar between his lips.
"Gallywix?" Zul'ra asked, raising an eyebrow at the disreputable-looking fellow.
"That's right, Gallywix—that's me, Gallywix. Come on, bring our guest a gift." Gallywix puffed out a cloud of smoke as he introduced himself in a comical tone, then waved his thick right hand, covered in gold rings, and sent a Goblin forward with a box.
"What do you want?" Zul'ra asked. When the Goblin carrying the box approached, he raised a hand to stop him. Mardi had been desperate and needed his help, which was why he'd brought a gift. But he couldn't accept some mysterious present from a Goblin. Who knew if there was a bomb inside?
"Tell me, where did Mardi go?" Gallywix asked, his eyes narrowing beneath the cigar smoke.
"He said he was going to see Baron Gazlowe," Zul'ra replied honestly, gazing at the Goblin whose face was veiled in smoke.
"How could he..." Gallywix's expression flickered with surprise beneath the smoke.
"Because I told him to. I don't want him hanging around here, giving you an opportunity to blow up my lousy ships." Zul'ra spread his hands. Cunning was no match for honesty; the best way to fool someone was to tell the truth.
"Clever move. But, big guy, how do you know I wouldn't blow up your ships even without him here?" Gallywix couldn't help laughing. This Troll was quite something. He had five fingers, and wasn't hunched over or bowlegged. He seemed to be one of those legendary Zandalari Trolls!
"There are plenty of things in this world that can't be stopped. With Mardi here, I'd feel a little guilty. But if he's gone and my ships get blown up, I won't have to feel bad about getting revenge." Zul'ra bared his tusks in a faint smile. There were plenty of things in this world that couldn't be stopped—not only by others, but by oneself, too.
"You're quite a character. You're the most interesting Troll I've ever met. Take it away, take it away." Gallywix grinned at him and waved repeatedly, cigar between his teeth. The Goblin holding the box hurriedly backed away.
"You're an interesting fellow. I, Jastor Gallywix, Trade Prince of the Bilgewater Cartel, have decided to make you my friend. I miss my friends in the Horde. I hope we can do business someday. I'll give you a special discount." Gallywix casually spat his cigar aside, took off his tall hat to reveal his long, pointed ears, each adorned with several gold rings, and gave an exaggerated bow.
"My name is Zul'ra, and I'm from Zul'Aman, Trade Prince Gallywix." Zul'ra gave a slight nod as he introduced himself to the roguish Goblin tycoon.
"Haha! Then goodbye, goodbye! Trade Prince Gallywix—I like the sound of that." The Goblin tycoon laughed theatrically, bidding Zul'ra farewell as he called to his underlings in the machines. They rumbled off.
Watching the Goblin tycoon leave, Zul'ra furrowed his brow slightly. The fellow wasn't someone to take lightly; Mardi's little tricks wouldn't work on him. Fortunately, Zul'ra hadn't expected Mardi to accomplish anything anyway. He'd just have to be careful when dealing with Goblins from now on!
After Gallywix left, Zul'ra carefully inspected the ships once more. They waited until dawn before leaving together. The ships first sailed south, rounding Cape of Stranglethorn, then turned north along the mainland coast through the Forbidden Sea.
After several days at sea, the mountains rose and fell along the coast, and the ships finally sailed safely back into the strait of the Thalas Mountains. Zul'ra, Malacrass, and eighty other Trolls set foot on the land of Zul'Aman once again, after two years and four months away.
Zul'Aman didn't hold much of a welcome ceremony for Zul'ra and the others returning from their studies abroad. The moss-covered ancient Troll city still seemed run-down. Only Haimuxi and the other Trolls were overjoyed to reunite with their families.
There was no ceremony with flowers. Zul'ra and Malacrass first went to the Altar of Deities to meet Zul'jin, who was waiting there. Though the Alliance and Horde were still fighting outside, Zul'Aman was in no position to take part.
The Elves and humans had joined forces to blockade the Thalas Mountains and Darkwood. Zul'Aman now knew nothing about the outside world and had no means of joining the conflict beyond its borders. The major Forest Troll tribes had been cut off from one another, and Zul'jin was growing deeply frustrated, desperate to find a way out of their predicament.
"Zul'jin, we don't have a good solution to these problems, and I don't recommend expanding outward anytime soon, either." Zul'ra looked at Zul'jin, who was desperate to break the deadlock, then glanced at the helpless-looking Malacrass before shaking his head at the Amani chieftain, who still had only one arm and one eye.
"The best thing we can do right now is use the knowledge we have to carry out more thorough, comprehensive reforms in Zul'Aman. We should further improve our weapons and armor, open up farmland, and train Warriors and Witch Doctors. Then we can seek out allies and put our own house in order. Once we've done all that, we'll be in a position to gradually take on the Alliance. Right now, we're no match for them."
"Zul'jin, I agree with Zul'ra." Malacrass nodded in agreement with his suggestion. Though he and Zul'ra had fallen out before, Mardi in Booty Bay had told him that the Alliance was counterattacking on the other side of the Dark Portal, and he was afraid. If the Alliance focused all its strength on attacking Zul'Aman, could Zul'Aman survive?
"I understand what you're saying. If that's the case, then let's do it! Zul'ra, starting today, I appoint you Exarch of Zul'Aman, responsible for reforming it. Malacrass, you'll be Zul'ra's deputy and assist him with the reforms." Zul'jin looked at Malacrass and at Zul'ra, who had changed greatly and grown even taller. A knot of anger tightened in his heart, but he had no choice but to agree.
"Thank you for your trust, Zul'jin." Zul'ra bowed slightly to Zul'jin without changing his expression. Malacrass, standing beside him, wore an unreadable look, but he nodded too, indicating that he would wholeheartedly assist with the reforms.
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