Hearing VanCleef's words, Felix wanted badly to argue, but he knew this was no time to let his emotions get the better of him.
In the end, he simply nodded in silence, then saluted VanCleef.
Outside the city gates, Felix turned back and gazed at the magnificent, imposing Stormwind City, fire burning in his eyes.
Stormwind City was the culmination of skilled workers' ingenuity and conscripted farmers' sweat, yet now the people who had built it had to flee the city under threat of death.
The majestic grandeur of Stormwind City, set against the sight of countless craftsmen and farmers dying horribly as the army drove them out, formed a splendid, deeply ironic picture.
Stormwind City, I will return! Felix clenched his fists and silently swore this oath, then led the large force of stonemasons in their flight toward Westfall.
Since Varian Wrynn had already taken the more capable frontline troops to the Redridge Mountains, only a small garrison remained at Westbrook Garrison. They did not dare move to stop the desperate men under Felix's command.
Their monthly pay amounted to just a few silver coins, and this month's wages had not even arrived yet. Who would risk their life for that pittance?
And so, after two days of frantic flight, the survivors of the Stonemasons' Guild crossed the Mirror River and the Westbrook River and reached Westfall.
Entirely unlike the desolate landscape in the game, the Westfall that unfolded clearly before Felix's eyes was a scene of vibrant life, with everything flourishing. The land was broad and level, the houses stood in neat rows, and fertile fields stretched over vast expanses. It was no exaggeration to call this the breadbasket of the entire Kingdom of Stormwind.
In the world without Felix, the Stonemasons' Guild would degenerate into an outright bandit organization, and that organization would reduce prosperous Westfall to a barren wasteland.
In the original history, VanCleef and the others had begun gathering men and raising funds to take revenge on the Kingdom of Stormwind.
To expand his forces quickly, he recruited talent without restriction. As long as someone was useful to the Brotherhood, he dared to recruit them, whoever they were. After taking in all manner of defectors and outlaws, stonemasons and farmers conscripted for forced labor made up an ever-smaller proportion of the Defias Brotherhood, while strange creatures such as Murlocs and Gnolls accounted for an ever-larger share. In the end, a group demanding unpaid wages successfully turned into a band of brigands.
To raise the funds needed for his great undertaking of revenge, VanCleef tacitly allowed his followers to plunder and exploit Westfall's farmers. Some farmers died and others fled, until, in the end, only a handful of farm owners actually remained to stand against the Brotherhood.
Farm owners had originally been the farmers' natural class enemies, yet through VanCleef's breathtaking series of blunders, those farm owners somehow transformed into the farmers' heroes.
But things were different now. Felix silently swore that he would not let that happen. The guild had to establish a positive reputation among the farmers for never taking so much as a blade of grass from them; only then could it add something of the spirit of "punishing tyranny and bringing down Stormwind."
A day later, at Saldean Farm in Westfall.
A scattering of farmers' houses stood across the fields, all belonging to tenants of the Saldean farm owners. Beyond them, tents large and small dotted the land everywhere, and countless members of the Stonemasons' Guild walked among them, talking and bartering-
Or simply eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves, making merry while they still could.
After all, the battle two days earlier had already proved that they were no match for Stormwind City's army. With their livelihoods gone and all of them now wanted by the kingdom, what hope did their lives hold? What could they do from now on?
While Felix and the others were roasting meat, a group of filthy, bloodstained people arrived at the agreed rendezvous.
VanCleef was at their head, and he was in very poor shape.
"Guildmaster, you've finally made it back safely! That's wonderful!" Bazil hurried to offer him a piece of roast meat, but VanCleef, whose mood could not have been worse, ignored his kindness.
He said sorrowfully, "We still lost several brothers in the fighting, and some others were captured."
What are we supposed to do now? Use up all the supplies we brought with us, then all starve to death here? Intense anguish and fear of the enormous uncertainty ahead nearly overwhelmed VanCleef. He could not help covering his face with both hands, trying to keep his brothers from seeing how lost he was.
But VanCleef was a strong man. A moment later, he found a new purpose in life-to tear down the Stormwind City they had built with their own hands.
He rallied his spirits and pointed the Cruel Barb in his hand straight at the sky. "Brothers, do you think those nobles who deserve to be cut into a thousand pieces really have no money? No! When I went to demand our wages that day, they were holding a lavish banquet!"
VanCleef's expression grew increasingly impassioned. "I told them some of my brothers already had nothing to eat, and humbly begged them to show us some kindness. But guess what they said to me?"
"The man at their head, His Grace Boris, Duke Wishock, sat high above me in a glittering hall. Holding up an extravagant goblet and feasting on every delicacy imaginable, he smugly told me with a flippant grin that they had no money!"
"Brothers, do you believe their bullshit?"
"No!" At first, only a few scattered voices answered, but then all the stonemasons replied in unison, "Never!"
"Who built Stormwind City?" Felix walked up beside VanCleef and loudly challenged the assembled stonemasons.
"We did, the Stonemasons' Guild!" the guild workers answered loudly.
"Exactly! Everything should belong to the workers. How can we tolerate those parasites?" Felix's voice grew more and more excited, and his hands began waving involuntarily. "Brothers, we must take back the fruits of our labor with our own hands!"
"We must take back what belongs to us!" The stonemasons were fired up.
Finally, amid the blood-stirring atmosphere, VanCleef loudly declared, "There is no turning back for us now. From this day forward, we are all members of the Defias Brotherhood! We will make those sons of bitches in the nobility pay their blood debt!"
Standing beside him, Felix added, "Don't say we have nothing. We are the true masters of Stormwind City!"
Yes, it was still only year sixteen after the opening of the Dark Portal.
That year, Varian had yet to obtain Goldrinn's power. Though he was still a powerful Warrior, his strength had not reached unimaginable heights;
That year, Velen was still fleeing for his life and had not awakened the power to trade energy blasts with Archimonde and Kil'jaeden;
That year, Jaina was still a mage apprentice. She had received neither Aegwynn's guidance and teachings nor the Thunder King's power;
That year, Arthas was still a novice Paladin. He had not set out in search of Frostmourne, nor had Lordaeron become the Undercity of the dead;
That year, Kel'Thuzad was still a reclusive mage on Dalaran's Council of Six. He had not become a great Lich who had thrown in his lot with death;
That year, Anduin was still only a baby, not the dirty priest he would later become, who could casually resurrect entire groups;
That year, Malfurion was still asleep, Tyrande was not the Night Warrior, and Night Elves and humans did not yet know one another.
That year, Tirion Fordring was merely an ordinary Paladin and lord, without the holy power awakened in Love and Family.
That year...
That year, neither the Alliance nor the Horde had ridiculously overpowered cheaters everywhere.
Azeroth's heroes became heroes precisely because, during the coming upheaval unlike anything seen in ten thousand years, they would encounter one extraordinary opportunity after another, temper their wills, hone their character, receive blessings, and pursue power.
But for now, who would determine the fate of Azeroth's vast lands remained unknown.
Then who said rebels could not seize the initiative over the next twenty-odd years of chaos and opportunity?
"No king rules forever." Who said Felix could not make good use of opportunity after opportunity, end royal rule, and lead Azeroth into a new age?
Before you continue