VanCleef's refusal

VanCleef was stunned. He just-just hadn't expected Bolvar to be so shameless.

He clenched his sweat-soaked palms into fists and forcibly held his temper in check as he said, "Grand Duke Bolvar, what I want isn't honor, or medals, much less some noble title. Honor can't buy food for my brothers, medals can't provide warmth on cold nights, and noble titles can't cure my brothers' loved ones of their illnesses. Your esteemed Grace, I hope you will represent the Council of Nobles, fulfill the council's promises, and uphold the honor of the nobility!"

Though he still maintained admirable restraint, VanCleef refused to budge.

"Earl VanCleef, you should broaden your horizons!" Bolvar said in all seriousness. "As a refined nobleman, you shouldn't concern yourself too much with such trivial matters."

"You're trying to buy me off, Bolvar!" VanCleef's voice grew louder and louder. Even the guards nearby wanted to rush into the throne room to restrain him, but Bolvar waved his hand, signaling for them to leave.

VanCleef still refused to yield an inch. "If you think this will make me betray my brothers, you're sorely mistaken!"

"Chairman Edwin, please mind your words and actions!" Duke Bolvar's tone remained rigid and stern. "Though you are an earl, you still have no right to insult a duke; though you are a hero of Stormwind City, you still have no right to interfere with the council's ruling!"

VanCleef grew increasingly agitated. "Bolvar, do you think you can fob us off with such a paltry benefit?"

"No, Chairman VanCleef, we're not fobbing you off. This is merely a small token of our goodwill." Bolvar seemed very sincere, or at least he thought so himself. "We will honor our promise. But the kingdom really has no money right now-only right now. Please believe me, I will seek help from the Alliance. In just one more week, we'll be able to-"

"Two months ago, the other members of the Council of Nobles said exactly the same thing," VanCleef interrupted coldly. He had originally thought Bolvar would be kinder and more just than Wishock and the others, but he hadn't expected him to be an utterly despicable, shameless hypocrite too. "But two months have passed, and they haven't even-"

"I swear upon my honor as a Paladin." Bolvar Fordragon suddenly raised his right hand and swore, "If I cannot fulfill my promise to Earl VanCleef and the entire Stonemasons' Guild, then may the Holy Light abandon me in a cold, dark place where no light can be seen all year round, destroy my face, make my life worse than death, and leave me to suffer torment for all eternity."

Bolvar felt no mental burden over making such an oath.

In his view, fulfilling this promise would be easy. As long as he and King Varian went to Lordaeron together and pleaded poverty to Terenas, the benevolent and wise king of Lordaeron would certainly not stand idly by.

After all, though such a sum was astronomical to the impoverished Kingdom of Stormwind, it was negligible to wealthy Lordaeron.

Yet, for some reason, hearing Bolvar's promise suddenly made Felix want to laugh a little.

However, Comrade Felix had received professional training. He generally wouldn't laugh, and he could hold it in.

Unlike Felix, who was unconvinced and even felt like laughing a little, VanCleef's anger subsided in an instant.

In human society at the time, a Paladin's word was worth its weight in gold. Since Bolvar had sworn such a dire oath in the name of the Holy Light, VanCleef believed he was worthy of trust.

"All right. I hope you won't disappoint the Stonemasons' Guild, Bolvar," VanCleef said coldly. "As for that earl's title, let's discuss it in a few months, once the guild's wages have all been paid in full. I don't want anything now, and please don't call me 'earl' anymore."

"But you can still take these twenty gold coins, Chairman VanCleef," Bolvar said. "This is my personal gift to you and the Stonemasons' Guild."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Grace."

VanCleef knew he had received a check from Bolvar that would be cashed in a week. Now, he could only place his hopes in the Holy Light.

Bless the Holy Light, praise the Holy Light!

After returning to their quarters near the city planning hall, Felix carefully recalled everything that had happened that day.

Whether someone could fulfill a promise was one matter; whether they did their utmost to fulfill it was another.

Bolvar was clearly not a man who broke his word, so even if he truly had no way to help and ultimately broke his promise, he would at least be certain to try his best.

Then, given the Kingdom of Stormwind's current circumstances, what other solution could Bolvar come up with?

"Please believe me, I will seek help from the Alliance." Bolvar's words suddenly flashed through Felix's mind.

So Bolvar's solution was actually to go to Lordaeron and borrow money from Terenas?

Felix felt as though he had been struck by a thunderbolt.

Bolvar's idea was good, but the crucial problem was that their lord was currently absent. If Bolvar left, then apart from Reginald Marshal Windsor and the city defense general Marcus Jonathan, both military men with no say whatsoever in the council, Stormwind City really seemed to have no capable loyal servants left-only nest after nest of traitors within, along with rebels like Felix himself.

With so many rebels and traitors, how were the lord and his loyal servants supposed to play?

When that happened, during the vacuum of supreme power in Stormwind City, Katrana Prestor would become its de facto queen. Even if it was only temporary, that would be enough for this schemer to unleash a bloodbath here!

There was no use telling VanCleef about this. This open and honest leader of the Stonemasons' Guild, who had little wariness, trusted Felix and would likewise trust the other brothers in the guild. Who knew whether he might turn around and tell Baros Alexston, dragging that time bomb into it too?

What's more, VanCleef firmly believed Katrana was a kindhearted countess.

Felix immediately sought out the two accomplices he considered the most reliable.

Joseph was in a fairly good mood that evening, because the chairman had not only told him that a Paladin who kept his word and followed through on his actions was willing to do everything he could to help them, but had actually given him twenty gold coins to continue treating his mother's illness!

"Vladimir, Joseph, we're heading to the Mage Quarter and the Wizard's Sanctum right now to scout the place out. I have a feeling something big is about to happen!"

Joseph frowned. Things were looking thoroughly promising now, and he couldn't understand Felix's words at all.

"Let's go, Joseph. Felix has a point." Vladimir's expression was just as grave. "I have the same feeling. What the chairman said keeps making me uneasy. I wonder... isn't all this a little too good?"