[The Battle to Come]

"They won't let me go over there!"

"Over there, either..."

"Anywhere guarded by trolls is off-limits."

"Same here."

"..."

The next day at noon.

Shaxx Biggwig and the four young goblins under him quietly gathered together, sharing the results of their morning's exploration.

Goblins were willing to do business with any faction or being, so long as the other side could pay. Even if someone wanted to destroy the world, they would gladly supply them with explosives and bombs.

But the prerequisite was that the other party had to be able to pay. Zutona wanted to do business with the goblins, and the goods they offered were highly appealing. Yet the goblins had operated in Tanaris for over a century and had never heard of such a tribe of trolls within Un'Goro Crater.

Naturally, they had their doubts.

Aside from sounding the other side out, the delegation's greatest purpose was to gather more intelligence on this place.

And over the course of the entire afternoon.

Under the watch and protection of several trolls, the goblins had toured nearly all of the still-small Zutona. Aside from a few places they were forbidden to enter, they had visited every part of this previously unheard-of troll city.

By all rights.

With the goblins' sharp eyes, one tour should have exposed any secrets. Yet this troll city was the exact opposite—the more they learned about it, the more shocked they became, and the greater the curiosity that rose within them.

"How did they do it? Those enormous stone people, and those man-eating flowers! How can they possibly coexist peacefully with them?!" Marin Noggenfogger, the young goblin, exclaimed in astonishment.

"Not just that."

Another goblin said.

"I've been to Zul'Farrak and Zul'Gurub. I've seen the big shots and witch doctors in those two troll cities. I know what those trolls are like! Good heavens, the trolls in this city... they give me the feeling that they're full of wisdom..."

"I felt the same way." Shaxx Biggwig nodded. "The trolls here are very different. Did you notice that huge statue in the center of the city, and the fountain beneath it? They possess immense magical power!"

"I went to look!" Marin Noggenfogger raised his hand and shrieked. "I asked around! The residents call that statue Tonatiuh, which is also the chieftain's name. The fountain beneath it is called the Cleansing Spring. The trolls here bathe in it one month after they're born, and they bathe in it again when they come of age!"

Shaxx Biggwig glanced at Marin Noggenfogger. He thought the kid was clever, and he had heard that he was quite gifted in alchemy as well.

Shaxx Biggwig somewhat regretted swindling him yesterday. Not because the goblin had suddenly developed a conscience, but because he felt he should have waited until this clever little fellow had earned more money before getting his hands on it.

"Everything here is shrouded in mysterious secrets, but we have already completed the task the trade princes gave us. I think it's time to set out for Gadgetzan."

That was what Shaxx Biggwig said.

The next morning.

When the goblins said their farewells and prepared to leave Zutona for Gadgetzan under the protection and watch of several Zutona voodoo archers.

The goblin delegation saw, at the gates of the troll city, that the abnormally tall troll leader had gathered a large army of trolls, as though they were about to march off to war.

"Hey! My friend, what are they doing? I saw the esteemed Lord Tonatiuh. Are you going to war?"

Without changing expression, Shaxx Biggwig flashed an unattractive smile at the female troll archer escorting them and asked.

"His esteemed Majesty is going to—"

The young female troll spoke instinctively, then immediately realized something was wrong and changed her words. "Lord Zangar ordered me to escort you out. Please do not make things difficult for us. Let's go."

Her politeness surprised the sensitive goblin. Since when had desert trolls been so polite? Even forest trolls had never been this courteous. Only the trolls from Zandalar occasionally used honorifics.

But the residents of this troll city truly were very polite. If not for the vast differences in appearance and stature, the goblins might even have suspected they had entered a human city.

No.

They had not encountered such politeness even in human cities. No matter what these trolls truly thought, at least their outward manners were impeccable.

Though most of the time.

Such manners and politeness were worthless to goblins.

"Fine..."

Shaxx Biggwig muttered.

"I was just curious!"

"Please."

Agna, the voodoo archer, said somewhat awkwardly.

She was a young troll, only sixteen years old this year, and had been a voodoo archer for less than half a year. She had once been no different from the other desert trolls, but after coming to Un'Goro Crater, His esteemed Majesty had ordered all trolls to abandon their former barbaric habits and become more civilized. Only then could they earn the favor of the Supreme and Exalted Majesties.

Being polite was one of the signs favored by those two lofty Majesties.

In order to receive greater divine favor, Agna, like the other trolls, had been trying to adapt despite not being used to it.

The goblins wanted to gain more intelligence and information so they could make more advantageous judgments and decisions in future business.

But with more than a dozen tall, powerful trolls watching them, they could only leave in disappointment.

And Agna's escort squad, made up of young trolls, looked enviously toward their compatriots in the distance.

To fight for the Supreme and Exalted Majesties under the leadership of His esteemed Majesty was the dream of every Zutona Troll.

The focus returned to Tonatiuh.

He stood before all the trolls, while the following information flashed across his retina:

[Main Quest: The True First Battle!]

[Quest Reward: Advanced Class Flame Warrior, Endless Spring Water x10]

[Quest Description: Un'Goro Crater is filled with energy. Some of it was left behind by the Titans, while some is due to the weakness of the barrier here! The power of fire erupted in the center of the basin, changing the terrain. Lead your army to subjugate the flames there! This will be the first official battle of the newborn city!]

[Quest Requirements: Subjugate the fire elementals of Fire Plume Ridge. Kill at least ten Flame Invaders, fifty Living Flames, one hundred Scorching Elementals...]

This was a system quest.

Over the past year, it was precisely with the system's help that Tonatiuh and the trolls had come this far and developed Zutona so quickly.

He intended to lead some troll elites to Fire Plume Ridge, roughly a hundred kilometers from Zutona, to take a look and complete the quest while he was at it.