New Developments

Most people would assume that Rivigaz would never step out of Booty Bay because leaving his golden lair would make him feel unsafe. In the treacherous thorny thicket of Booty Bay, he has few allies but plenty of mortal enemies. However, Rivigaz is happy to maintain this illusion. He doesn't cower on the shore, completing his current transactions while preparing for any potential orders. He's a Goblins, a Goblins who understands the ways of business.

His motto was: the higher the risk of a trade, the higher the potential reward!

Booty Bay has become an informal trading place. Hot commodities or items with no market can be sold here. This also means that in Booty Bay, there are only people doing business, not people of any race.

But ever since receiving the new business, he had become restless. There was never a precedent of an Undead doing business with him. Could this be Bloodsail Pirates conspiracy? The wealthy man shook his head. Digg had seen the man's appearance with his own eyes, so it couldn't be wrong. Farivell was an extreme racist; he would never allow a dead man to work for him.

"Time is money," he said in that familiar tone, as he was now heading alone to the meeting place.

Without a doubt, Rivigaz's audacity surprised even himself. If something were to happen to him, it would be a huge loss, as he hadn't even had time to write himself a will.

The meeting place is in the Mistvale Valley.

Rivigaz gathered his prized longsword and dagger. In less than five minutes, he had reached the valley entrance. He knew this place. This was the gathering place of the Stranglethorn Vale gorillas. The hairy animals were currently frolicking and playing in the canyon, making quite a commotion. The same was true at night.

Rivigaz began to believe his decision to come alone was wise. The situation told him the other person hadn't arrived yet. Rivigaz grinned broadly, found a vantage point overlooking the entire canyon, and peered through gaps in the grass. He didn't have to wait long.

A figure entirely in black emerged from the shadows of the night. A cloak concealed his form, but the silhouette beneath was enough for Rivigaz to conclude that the being was indeed Undead. His color blended perfectly with the surrounding environment, yet he could never truly merge into it. Rivigaz's palms began to sweat; this person was definitely not someone to be trifled with. He was quite curious whether... he would soon find out.

The man slowed his pace and stepped onto the canyon path. The gorillas, frightened by the intruder, fled. Rivigaz, without revealing himself hidden behind the rocks, simply shouted, "Hello, Mr. Dead! Are you the savior of K'ara Kara?"

The Undead did not lift its hood, but instead raised its head, revealing a pair of terrifying eyes that stared directly at the spot where Rivigaz was hiding.

"If you hadn't come, the savior would have become the killer," Nathanos the Witherer, leader of the Forsaken, shouted back. "But now, he has been spared."

"Please don't do that! My contract with K'ara Kara isn't over yet; he still owes me several years of work!"

Nathanos looked at the goblin running towards him Goblins, "Then let's not waste time and get down to business."

"No, no! As the party initiating the transaction, you should first let me see if my 'goods' are intact!"

Rivigaz's demands were within his calculations, but Nathanos still felt that the other party was pushing his luck too far.

"Follow me!"

Rivigaz laughed again. "You've got a good business sense." The wealthy man followed behind Nathanos, but he immediately realized they were heading deeper into the canyon, not turning back. The Goblins suspected that perhaps the other man had been staying in this canyon all along? If that were the case, then...

"If I may ask, besides you, how many Undead have come to Stranglethorn Vale?"

Nathanos chuckled, Goblins aware of the goblins' scheme. "Don't worry, I won't let you see all of us. I've already sent someone to bring your first mate; he's in the canyon."

"That's good, that's good!" Rivigaz kept rubbing his hands together. He had heard that the Undead could eat people, which had worried him for quite a while.

The two men, one tall and one short, walked for a long time before stopping in front of a cave entrance. Nathanos turned around and said, "Go in and see your 'cargo'."

"I hope I can get an invoice." Rivigaz walked into the cave hesitantly. He didn't keep Nathanos waiting for long; he came out a few minutes later.

"He's still alive. Although he can't work for me now, I still want to thank you. Now we can discuss the cooperation details. Shall we go to my office?"

"No need. I'm pressed for time, so I'll get straight to the point. I need a ship, a large cargo ship."

"What? My first mate isn't worth a ship! This deal is a huge loss!" Rivigaz shook his head repeatedly. A large cargo ship can transport several tons of supplies; if it makes several trips, the profits are unimaginable.

"You'd certainly feel like you're losing out by taking the life of a first mate, but if..." Nathanos bent down and whispered a few words into Rivigaz's big ears.

The wealthy man's eyes widened slowly as he stared at Nathanos in disbelief. "What you're saying... is it true?"

The Undead offered no response. Rivigaz paced back and forth in front of Nathanos, glancing at him every now and then; he couldn't find a reason to refuse the offer.

"Oh well."

Veronalara had been waiting for Nathanos. Judging by the timeline, he should have returned long ago. If he didn't return soon, she would probably have to send people to look for him.

Fortunately, she didn't do that, and the Witherer was just a little later than expected.

Upon seeing him, Veronalara immediately stepped forward, and the complex expression on her face gave Nathanos a sense that something had happened.

"Any new developments?"

The Dark Ranger nodded and whispered back, "We captured a Troll while you were away and are waiting for your return to deal with it."

"Troll?" Nathanos's eyes turned cold. "This place was indeed once the territory of Forest Troll, but that was a long time ago. How could there still be Troll here?"

"I've seen Forest Troll and the Witherer. But this guy we've captured seems a bit different; you'll have to go see for yourself."

Nathanos looked at Veronalara, the Dark Ranger had once been Elf and harbored a natural hatred for Troll. He was grateful that she hadn't acted first and asked for his permission later.

"Take me to see it."

It was strange to find a living being in the Forsaken's camp. When Nathanos returned, he finally understood what Veronalara meant by the "difference" in her description of the Troll.

Not only Veronalara, but even he himself had never seen Troll like this. The creature appeared to be of considerable importance; unlike Forest Troll and Jungle Troll, its skin was a pale, stone-gray. It wore a tall, golden crown, the same color as its shoulder armor and gauntlets, and was inlaid with a gleaming blue gem. Its teeth were like ivory. What surprised Nathanos most was its long, white hair. Troll were a long-lived species, and Nathanos had never seen Troll with completely white hair and beard.

As Nathanos approached, the Troll guarded by two Dark Ranger revealed a cryptic smile.

"You're their leader?"

When the Troll spoke, Nathanos was astonished. He couldn't glean any useful information from the troll's tone; this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

Tell me your name.

"Just a traveler who has left his hometown."

Nathanos was very unhappy with the Troll's sarcastic reply, and he said again, "I asked for your name."

Although he sensed the threat, the Troll seemed completely unhurried. He answered slowly, this time without testing Nathanos's patience. "Zul! My name is Zul. Just a very ordinary name."

The Witherer's eyes widened slowly, and he remained stunned for a long time before reacting. "Very good," Nathanos said without hesitation, turning to Veronalara. "Send our men to the coast immediately; we must leave before dawn. As for him..." The Witherer glanced deliberately at Zul, "... release him."

Before Veronalara could voice her confusion, Zul spoke first, "I can see you are a wise leader." The Troll stood up; though hunched over, he was still much more imposing than Nathanos. "We should meet again."

Zul prepared to leave, but the two Dark Ranger guarding him stopped him. Zul looked at Nathanos once more. After the Witherer nodded to the Ranger, Zul was finally freed.

His slow pace didn't resemble that of someone escaping from a cage at all, making one wonder if he had just attended a grand party.

"Why did you let him go? What if he reveals our whereabouts to others..."

"Who in this land would believe the words of a Troll? And he is no ordinary Troll. Whether it is his skin color or his attire, he is fundamentally different from Forest Troll and Jungle Troll."

Veronalara felt a chill run down her spine when she thought of the war she had fought against the Troll. "If..."

Nathanos raised a hand. "No need to ask. I understand your concerns, but we'll be leaving soon. Once we reach Kalimdor, we'll have a much harder time encountering Troll."

"As you wish, the Witherer," Veronalara murmured, relaxing as she began to organize her people to leave Stranglethorn Vale in an orderly fashion. Although she was curious about how Nathanos had managed to acquire a ship from a Goblins, she was certain Nathanos wouldn't tell her.

"Zul?" The Witherer's eyes were fixed on the direction where the Troll had disappeared. "I think Medivh's book mentions this person."