Seeking Someone

"I know that coastline," Tatsel said quietly.

Veronalara. They were now carefully concealed in the shadows under the cover of twilight. The appearance of lights ahead would signal the end of their journey.

"What are your plans?" Tatsel asked.

Nathanos should have been the one to answer this question, but now the Witherer seem intent on testing his followers. Veronalara realizes this is her first campaign since becoming Forsaken.

"Shadowfang Keep will become an important stronghold for the Forsaken in the Eastern Kingdoms." Nathanos said this before they left. He attached great importance to this operation, and just in case, he also sent Meryl to assist Veronalara, essentially as an overseer.

"Take over that coastline first." Even without the Dark Ranger speaking, Tatsel had already guessed most of it. "We need to understand the situation here first."

"We're almost at shore, but strangely, Meryl is missing. Do you know where he went?"

"I don't know, Captain," Veronalara replied. "Perhaps he has his own plans, or perhaps the Witherer have given him another mission. Let's not talk about him now; I'm eager to get back into the battle."

"I have a bad feeling," Tatsel said. "The Witherer have committed almost their entire fleet to this battle, including the sailors and your Dark Ranger. Does this mean there's going to be a major battle?"

"I don't know," Veronalara sighed. "I don't understand why she put me in charge of the battle. She just told me that I would know the answer when I arrived at Silverpine Forest."

"So besides occupying that coastline, what other plans are there? For example, combat strategies or something?"

"We haven't been back to Lordaeron for a long time." Veronalara's thoughts drifted back to the past; before Nathanos found them, she had also searched for the Undead in Silverpine Forest. "The Witherer have assigned us a guide."

"Guides?" Tatsel asked in surprise. Could there be reinforcements besides them?

"I don't know who it is either, but she'll show up and help us when the time comes." Veronalara pulled up the hood of her cloak, covering her long gray hair. "Prepare for action! Wipe out all the creatures on the shore!"

As often as before, Nathanos set off alone, unnoticed by anyone. He sometimes blamed himself for keeping it from his subordinates, but there was nothing wrong with hiding things. For just one gold coin, the Goblins of Ratchet would treat him like a VIP, bowing and scraping as they drove him toward the Eastern Kingdoms. Occasionally, the filthy lobster-men would make annoying clucking noises, but otherwise, the journey was relatively peaceful.

The ship stopped in Booty Bay, but the wealthy Rivigaz was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he was greeted by K'ara Kara, the Tauren he had once saved. Since leaving the Eastern Kingdoms, Nathanos had maintained contact with Booty Bay —trading with it.

This time, Nathanos came to Booty Bay to find someone he had an agreement with Rivigaz: the latter would help him find a highly skilled Goblins craftsman who was not greedy and was completely devoted to the research of weapons and equipment.

The wind brushed against Nathanos's face. His hood was tied very carefully and did not fall down, but his cloak was flapping loudly in the wind.

Where is the richest man?

K'ara Cape was still not used to his appearance. Although Nathanos had saved her, there was no precedent for Undead to have set foot in Booty Bay. To avoid suspicion, K'ara only secretly greeted Nathanos, which was at his request.

The Tauren spoke in a very deep, rough voice; he had already lowered his voice, but it had little effect. "The wealthy man went to Kezan to discuss a business deal."

"He just left like that? It seems the Bloodsail Pirates have been wiped out by the Kul Tiras navy," he said, while keeping an eye on the Tauren's emotional state.

"Indeed," K'ara agreed. "It's been too long, it was years ago. The wealthy man asked me to give you his regards; your deal with Booty Bay made him a lot of money."

"I am also very grateful to him; the supplies he traded to me played a vital role," he nodded in response.

K'ara led Nathanos to Rivigaz's office, where Nathanos assumed the person he was looking for was, but things didn't turn out as he expected.

"Where is he?" Nathanos asked. "The Goblins I'm looking for?"

"Perhaps he's trying to sell his products, but no one's buying. You've been traveling for days, don't you need a rest?" the Tauren asked.

"I don't need rest," Nathanos said. These words would have sounded like mere polite formality coming from anyone else, but from him, K'ara Cape sensed their sincerity. "I just hope this trip wasn't in vain, after all, the sea breeze isn't very kind to my body..." A sense of dread crept over Nathanos as he spoke. For the first time in a long time, he had paid attention to his own body. To protect himself, Nathanos had covered all his skin except for the area around his eyes.

The misconception among outsiders is that Undead creatures do not perish with the passage of time. However, every gust of wind, every grain of sand, and even every drop of water in this world can harm the Undead. This harm is not visible in the short term, but over the years, the traces will become very obvious.

K'ara looked him in the eyes. "In that case, I'll take you to see him."

"I hope Riveraz adheres to the standards I set," Nathanos said with a hint of warning in his voice, "Otherwise I won't pay."

Silvermoon City

Alleria handed Vareesa a thick stack of documents. She finally had time to see her children, and if she wasn't mistaken, Sylvanas should be there too.

"Sister?" Vareesa picked up the top document, frowning. This document could become the trigger for a dispute among the higher-ups. "Regarding Ghostlands... have you made up your mind?"

"Yes, sister." Alleria thought for a moment. "I initially wanted to take it slow, but the reality doesn't allow it. If we wait until we've resolved the issue of the Mindless Ones before considering reclaiming our forest, it will take a very long time... I think it's time for us to find allies."

Vareesa thought of Quel'Thalas, who had joined the Alliance, then left, then joined again, and finally left again, repeating this cycle over and over. She feared the Alliance would no longer trust them.

Alleria read Vareesa's thoughts and smiled reassuringly. "It's alright. I've met King Varian of Stormwind City; he's a wise ruler."

"That's different." Vareesa shook her head. "That was many years ago. Varian was just a child then, and we don't know what he's like now. Besides... and have you forgotten that the Night Elf joined the Alliance? Have you forgotten what happened to Prince Kael'thas?"

The Regent was taken aback. Vareesa had considered the matter far more thoroughly than she had; she had only considered that it was a policy beneficial to the people. Alleria grew serious and sighed, "Keep it. I... I'll think about it some more."

"You don't need to consider that. You can't have everything in life. What you need is the support of the Prince and the people, just like your bow and arrow and your shooting skills. You can't do without either."

Alleria's expression had remained perfectly calm until now, when she began to show some unease. "Do you think Prince Kael'thas will agree?"

"In my opinion, I'm afraid they won't agree."

"You're starting to look more and more like a politician, little sister." Alleria smiled indulgently at the silver-haired Female Elf, only to be met with a glare from the woman.

"That's also because of your influence, sister."

"Seriously, you really don't think my proposal is a good idea?"

Vareesa shrugged. "I just hope that you and Rommath won't have another argument at the next meeting."

The younger sister's concerns were not unfounded. Alleria was not afraid of Rommath, but the Archmage had His Highness the Prince as his backer.

"Let's see which Prince Highness will choose between the people and personal grudges."