Following the victory in the defensive battle of the Arathi Highlands, the defense of Stromgarde achieved victory once again, and both were resounding triumphs.
The two battles that would have completely drained the foundation of the Kingdom of Stromgarde in original history not only failed to cause its decline, but instead made it even stronger.
Iron and blood forged a strong army; the new recruits who had just enlisted before the defense of the Arathi Highlands had already transformed into true, elite Stromgarde Militia after these two battles.
At the same time, the Kingdom of Stromgarde announced to the whole of Azeroth that it had not declined, and that they could still safeguard the Arathi Highlands and Stromgarde.
Unlike the Scourge, whose undead were entirely controlled by the Lich King, the allied forces of the Syndicate and the Stonesplinter Ogres chose to surrender and cease resistance once they completely collapsed.
Galyn Trollbane did not continue to slaughter these surrendered members of the Syndicate and the Stonesplinter Ogres.
The Stonesplinter Ogres had merely been bewitched. Ogres possessed very simple minds; they submitted to the strong and bullied the weak. Having experienced this defeat, they no longer dared to make enemies of the Kingdom of Stromgarde, and these big fellows made very good laborers, save for the drawback of being able to eat.
As for the Syndicate, Galyn Trollbane handled them in layers. Those ordinary refugees who had joined the Syndicate out of desperation could join the Kingdom of Stromgarde after undergoing thought-reform through labor.
Those middle-ranking members of the Syndicate laden with heavy sins were directly sent down for deep labor reform in the mines, and could only be pardoned after paying a heavy price.
As for the high-ranking members of the Syndicate and those former Stromgarde nobles who had collaborated with the enemy, they were directly locked away in the dungeons beneath Stromgarde, where they would never see the sunlight again and could only keep company with rats in the damp underground until they rotted.
The irredeemable villains would be executed afterward.
Meanwhile, the Syndicate's two highest-ranking leaders who had directed and plotted it all-Lord Aiden Perenolde and Duke Falconcrest-were nowhere to be found, for two Ninth Rank Grand Rogues were not so easily captured.
This incident also made Galyn Trollbane realize two things: first, that the Kingdom of Stromgarde lacked its own intelligence department and rogue organization, which was why the Syndicate and SI:7 had been able to infiltrate Stromgarde so easily; and second, that besides the primary combat force of the Stromgarde Militia, there was also a need for a Garrison Force stationed in the city year-round.
The most powerful intelligence agency in Azeroth was undoubtedly the Assassins League in the Hillsbrad Foothills right next to the Arathi Highlands, which SI:7 of the Kingdom of Stormwind could not possibly compare to, the two being separated by a massive order of magnitude.
The only things that could compare to the Assassins League were the Shadow Council of the old Old Horde and the future The Uncrowned.
Building an intelligence agency required a large number of rogues, which happened to be the soft underbelly of the Kingdom of Stromgarde. Yet after defeating the Syndicate, Galyn Trollbane could recruit refugees from the Kingdom of Alterac to build an intelligence agency, though he still lacked a Ninth Rank Grand Rogue to lead it.
"Rex Doom, I have heard of your deeds. If not for you, Stromgarde would have fallen. Thank you for extending a helping hand to Stromgarde." Galyn Trollbane had never heard of the Paladin Highlord Gavinrad Doom having a son, but to him, this was already an unexpected windfall.
Galyn Trollbane was aware of almost all Heroic Rank Paladins, and with the current Kingdom of Stromgarde, it was impossible to recruit any of them.
A Ninth Rank Paladin was already quite rare, and given Rex Doom's age, it was not impossible for him to break through to the Heroic Rank in the future and become a Paladin Highlord.
Most importantly, Rex Doom was a living banner. With him here, at least a portion of Paladin Highlord Gavinrad Doom's old subordinates would surely come to defect to Rex Doom.
In this way, the Kingdom of Stromgarde could acquire the heritage of the Path of the Paladin from the Kingdom of Lordaeron. As long as Galyn Trollbane promoted it, Paladins would also become an important part of the Kingdom of Stromgarde's military in the future.
Hearing Galyn Trollbane's praise, Rex Doom did not grow proud, but instead said modestly, "This is only what I should do, Prince Galyn."
"Rex Doom, the Kingdom of Stromgarde is now reviving from the ruins. I wonder if you are willing to join the Kingdom of Stromgarde?" Galyn Trollbane directly extended the invitation to Rex Doom. Since Rex Doom had come to Stromgarde in the guise of a Lordaeron refugee, there was a high hope that he would join the Kingdom of Stromgarde.
Rex Doom performed the highest courtesy of a Paladin toward a king, dropping to one knee with a hand over his chest as he said, "The Light be my witness, I am willing to join the Kingdom of Stromgarde and swear allegiance to King Galyn."
Galyn Trollbane had not yet been crowned. Although he still held the title of prince, he was practically the king of the Kingdom of Stromgarde in reality, which was why Rex Doom declared his allegiance with the highest courtesy.
First the Archmage Ansirem Runeweaver, and now Rex Doom-the addition of two Ninth Rank powerhouses from Dalaran and Lordaeron once again elevated the strength of the Kingdom of Stromgarde, and more importantly, recovered the Path of the Mage and acquired the Path of the Paladin.
What Galyn Trollbane did not know at this moment was that before long, a Ninth Rank Grand Rogue from the Kingdom of Alterac would also join the Kingdom of Stromgarde.
Lord Aiden Perenolde fled back to the Hillsbrad Foothills in disarray. He wanted to return to Alterac and continue being his local king from then on, his heart having lost even a shred of fighting spirit against the Kingdom of Stromgarde.
Thoras Trollbane had shattered Lord Aiden Perenolde's pride and brought about the destruction of the Kingdom of Alterac. Galyn Trollbane had shattered Lord Aiden Perenolde's courage, causing him to abandon all delusions and ambitions.
The present Lord Aiden Perenolde only wanted to gather all the remaining Syndicate members and hunker down in Alterac, while hoping that the Kingdom of Stromgarde would not attack Alterac once more.
"My Lord." The figure of Duke Falconcrest appeared before Lord Aiden Perenolde.
Seeing Duke Falconcrest appear, Lord Aiden Perenolde said with extreme joy, "Falconcrest, you escaped too? That is wonderful! Quick, let us return to Alterac together. I never want to fight the Kingdom of Stromgarde again."
"You are right, Lord Aiden Perenolde. We will never need to fight the Kingdom of Stromgarde again," Duke Falconcrest said with a sinister tone, and then, catching Lord Aiden Perenolde off guard, he drove a dagger straight through Lord Aiden Perenolde's heart.
"Dead men naturally do not need to fight, and I am going to defect to Galyn Trollbane. Do you still not understand, Aiden Perenolde? Our actions have angered Galyn Trollbane, and neither you nor I will escape."
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