The Duke's Residence

Early the next morning, a knock sounded outside the dormitory.

"Felix, wake up," Group Leader Lightfinger woke Felix from his dream, "Guildmaster VanCleef wants you."

"Coming, coming." Felix immediately climbed up from his mat, put on his blue shirt, opened the door, and stepped out of his pigeon-hole room that was only a few square meters wide.

Outside, VanCleef was already waiting for him.

"Felix, let's go, we're going to visit Duke Wishock right now."

Felix felt a wave of bewilderment. What, VanCleef was going to ask for money, and he was bringing him along too?

Yet in VanCleef's view, this was completely normal: you were the one who proposed the method and suggestion, so naturally you should also become one of the executors.

"We're going this way, right?" Felix asked helplessly.

In Cathedral Square, batches of soldiers battle-tested in the fires of war wore crudely crafted armor, marching in columns across the bridge over the canal toward the Trade District.

Their battle standards fluttered, and they seemed to be in high spirits, but Felix noticed that the pace at which these soldiers walked was quite chaotic, entirely lacking the uniformity that a powerful army ought to possess.

Moreover, the armor they wore still bore various scorch marks left by fire and dents left by blunt weapons.

The soldiers' shields did not feature uniform Stormwind lion insignia, but rather typical United Nations styles-Lordaeron, Stromgarde, Gilneas, Kul Tiras, kingdoms of every sort.

Clearly, the combat effectiveness of such an army was deeply concerning, and their morale was not high either.

Still, this was quite reasonable; after all, the Alliance's most powerful armies at this time should be the Order of the Silver Hand composed of Holy Light believers and the First Legion of Lordaeron composed of ordinary soldiers.

For a Stormwind deeply scarred by the Great War, its army could only look like this.

"Guildmaster, what are they...?"

"Oh, you might not know yet," VanCleef answered casually, "Blackrock Orcs recently attacked Stonewatch and Lakeshire, and King Varian is leading the army in person to drive them back. If King Varian doesn't march out himself, who knows what these low-morale troops would be beaten into by the Orcs?"

Immediately, the guildmaster sighed once more, "Alas, within the Council of Nobles, even the King only gets two votes. Even though Varian counts as a good man, he can't decide anything."

A sudden sense of foreboding rose in Felix's heart. Varian had already marched out with the army, which meant the internal forces of Stormwind were hollowed out, and Onyxia was about to begin executing her conspiracy.

"Actually, we aren't the only ones whose wages are affected. I've heard that the date for issuing army pay every month has been delayed now too." As VanCleef spoke, he clenched his fists again, "But damn it, those damned nobles have plenty of money in their hands! You were right, Felix, the treasury has no money, so we should go ask them for it!"

Felix listened quietly the entire way.

Perhaps this could also explain why Stormwind's army didn't look very strong. After all, troops with ample military pay and troops with insufficient military pay were entirely two different concepts.

"Please follow me, Mr. VanCleef." The butler of Boris, Duke Wishock spoke with extremely polite content, but his tone carried a hard-to-conceal sense of superiority.

Both Felix and VanCleef could feel his cold attitude and the strong disgust held within his gaze. VanCleef felt that he had been humiliated, but circumstances were stronger than people, and the current guild leader had requests to make of others, so VanCleef could only swallow this insult.

Ever since crossing over to Stormwind, this was the first time Felix had come to a noble's residence.

After the end of the war, this mansion bestowed by King Llane had been newly decorated, and the heraldry representing the Wishock Family was hung high upon the flawless white walls, while the floor tiles beneath their feet resembled clear mirrors.

Atop the floor tiles, luxurious carpets were laid out, and Felix could tell at a glance that these carpets bore distinct Quel'dorei styles. One could say this was not an ordinary carpet, but a precious work of art.

Naturally, in the home of such a noble duke, works of art were merely meant to be trampled upon.

Walking into the reception hall, Felix noticed the spacious hall was divided into several smaller partitioned zones by screens engraved with stories of the Holy Light.

These antique screens added a certain elegant atmosphere to the hall, making it resemble a true palace.

All of the above set off Duke Boris's noble temperament, as well as the profound foundation of the Wishock Family.

Surely such a wealthy, noble, and benevolent duke would not make things difficult for the Stonemasons' Guild, right?

"Mr. VanCleef, you and your brothers can sit here first. I must ask you not to cause trouble for us, and sit in the other seats," the butler said, pointing to some slightly worn chairs that felt completely out of place in this luxurious reception parlor, "Duke Wishock is currently holding an important meeting, so I must ask you to wait a moment. I have other matters to attend to."

With that, he turned and went upstairs to attend to his own business.

Then Felix and VanCleef waited here for two hours.

At first VanCleef was quite patient, but as time passed and lunchtime drew closer and closer, he grew less and less able to sit still. He stood up from his chair and paced back and forth constantly in the hall. Felix could see that his mounting annoyance was growing increasingly obvious.

"Sir," he finally couldn't help asking a servant who was cleaning up, "may I ask if Duke Wishock really has some important meeting? I would like to-"

"Stonemason, I must ask you to have a little more patience." The manservant's mouth twitched sarcastically, "I believe Duke Wishock will certainly do you the honor of sparing time to meet with you, and by then he should bestow a few coins upon you."

VanCleef's complexion turned even uglier, but he still reluctantly sat back down in his seat.

Yet Felix did not abide by the rules like him. This good-for-nothing college student from another world stood up without a word and climbed up to the second floor along the stairs.

"Hey, Felix, what are you doing?" VanCleef grew a bit anxious and hurriedly pursued him, "Wandering around everywhere without permission is impolite, you'll anger the Duke!"

Felix did not respond to him, merely continuing to explore all around, and the servants they encountered paid him no mind at all.

Until finally, he arrived before a brilliantly resplendent grand door. Behind this noble door, waves of exceptionally elegant sounds drifted out-

"Drain this cup, and have another!"

"Nonsense, I, I... am not drunk!"

"Don't leave! If we don't... drink until we drop today, nobody's leaving!"

VanCleef tiptoed over to stand behind Felix, evidently hearing the bursts of refined music drifting from within as well, and his face turned dark.