Arriving in Dalaran

The large teleportation array was normally kept shut, with designated personnel in charge of maintaining it.

Only when it was needed would they insert an energy crystal into the array.

Before teleporting, they also had to use a small communications device to confirm with the people at the other end.

The people at the receiving array had to activate it before anyone could teleport.

The entire process was extremely complicated and time-consuming.

That was only to be expected. First, if the array were kept active all the time, it would constantly consume energy to stay running, which would cost a great deal. Keeping it activated for long periods would also put a heavy strain on the array and make it prone to damage.

Second, these precautions were necessary. After all, if anyone could teleport at will, then an enemy who knew the coordinates could teleport straight to a specific location and attack from within.

That was why the array was only activated when needed, with the people on the other end confirming and identifying those coming through. This also prevented anyone from launching a surprise attack from within.

In any case, the teleportation station had a dedicated lounge where Karen and his group could rest and wait. Fresh fruit and refreshments were provided, too.

That was standard practice at teleportation stations, especially when there were many people waiting to use the array and many different destinations.

They would have to wait in line for the station to arrange their teleportation. After every large-scale teleportation, the array also needed to be inspected, maintained, and serviced.

So having a lounge was essential, much like a railway waiting room—except this was a VIP lounge. After all, anyone who could use the array here was an important figure.

The least distinguished member of Karen's group was an intermediate alchemist. Even among ordinary people, intermediate alchemists were beyond most people's reach. Drew, for instance, had only been an intermediate alchemist before.

But without Karen, a master-level figure, leading the group, they wouldn't have qualified to use this teleportation array.

Of course, the kingdom had other, smaller teleportation stations that could be used for short-distance travel. Those had no such restrictions, and they weren't within the royal city.

Teleportation was prohibited within the royal city. The restriction was lifted only within the small area occupied by this station's large array.

There was only one array capable of crossing the national border. It could cover a great distance and transport many people at once.

At last, the array was ready. Someone from the station came to inform them that they could teleport.

The group followed the person who had come to notify them into the teleportation chamber and stood in the center of the magic runes.

The mages beside the array activated the energy stored in the crystals, guiding it into the runes. Magical patterns appeared across the array, surrounding everyone.

Fortunately, everyone had used a teleportation array before, so no one moved.

After a bout of dizziness, they arrived in Dalaran's teleportation chamber. This time, they had used an extremely long-distance array, and the journey was farther than any Karen had experienced before.

Fortunately, his strength had improved, and Karen only felt dizzy for a little while. Some of the weaker alchemists, however, threw up violently. Thankfully, the station here had been prepared, and there was a trash can right beside them.

Returning here brought back memories of the last time he had come, just after leaving Silvermoon City.

Back then, he had been greeted with great ceremony. A group of High Elves led by his older brother, Prince Kael'thas, had welcomed him, along with a delegation of human masters brought by Archmage Staley Green, one of the Kirin Tor Council members in Dalaran.

Now, by contrast, the only person there to greet them was the Alchemist Association headquarters' representative. Karen couldn't help feeling wistful.

He glanced around and saw that Vereesa was still standing beside him, not leaving.

So he said to her, "Ambassador Vereesa, we've arrived in Dalaran.

"Now that we're here, we should part ways. You should hurry and report back. I won't keep you any longer."

Vereesa clenched her fists angrily, but with so many people around, she couldn't risk revealing her identity.

Reluctantly, she started toward the exit. As she walked, she heard Karen chatting with someone from the Alchemist Association headquarters, asking what there was to do in Dalaran. He didn't seem to be in any hurry to leave.

He was waiting for her to disappear from sight before going anywhere. Did he really dislike her that much? Vereesa felt indignant.

Vereesa's eyes darted about, then she turned back and said, "Oh, right, Master Drew. Our prince also gave me a message.

"He told me to take you to see him as soon as I arrived. Your mentor, Archmage Marco, has sent something for you.

"Sorry for the trouble, but please come with me now."

Karen froze. What was going on?

Who was Archmage Marco?

Wait, Marco—wasn't that the name of the alchemy mentor he'd made up for his background?

He hadn't expected this young woman to pull a stunt like that.

Karen had no choice but to play along and look thrilled, as if he could hardly wait to go.

He left the group in the care of an older, well-respected senior alchemist, explaining that he had to leave and that the rest was in the other man's hands.

Why not leave them with Nelson, whom he knew well?

Nelson was still a rookie, after all, and his authority and ability were simply too limited for him to lead the group.

With Karen there, it had been fine. Nelson could ride on his coattails, just as he had during the training camp, and even help teach the others.

Now that Karen was leaving, Nelson couldn't keep the group in line.

After giving his instructions, Karen left with Vereesa. He had planned from the start to leave the group and wash his hands of things; he just hadn't expected to go with Vereesa.

They arrived at Kael'thas's Mage Tower.

Vereesa said to the two High Elf guards at the entrance, "Master Drew, whom the prince wishes to meet, has arrived. Please announce him."

The High Elf guards saw that Karen looked like an ordinary human.

They looked down at him with disdain, their expressions thoroughly smug.

It seemed Kael'thas still hadn't told them that the human Master Drew, the master alchemist, was actually Karen.

"Wait here. Don't go wandering in," one of the guards said sternly to Karen.

Then he turned to Vereesa and said respectfully, "Ranger-General, please come in."

Seeing Karen get snubbed, Vereesa discreetly made a face at him.

Then she imitated the guard's haughty manner, swept past Karen, and went inside, leaving him waiting outside alone.

Damn those two guards. They used to fawn over him like lapdogs, acting as if they wanted to show him all over Dalaran.

Now they were treating him like this. It was infuriating. Karen wondered whether he should make things difficult for them later.

And Vereesa—she knew exactly who he was, yet she still refused to show him any respect. He wanted to grab her and spank her.

After Karen had waited outside for a little while, Capernian, a senior advisor to Prince Kael'thas, came out and respectfully led him inside. The two guards were left staring at each other. Could this human really be someone important?

How could someone so young and unfamiliar be important enough for Lady Capernian to come greet him in person? How had they never heard of him or seen him before?!