Although Jaina had acted quickly enough, by the time she came running over with three Paladins carrying a stretcher, Dick had already passed out. An ordinary person could have lost their life to a Troll's full-force blow. The fact that Dick was still breathing was ample proof of his physical strength.
Faced with this situation, however anxious Jaina was to learn about the plague, she could only stay in the barracks at the Bulwark and wait for Dick to recover. Fortunately, Paladins all had healing abilities, so with the help of an old Paladin who specialized in healing spells, Dick's condition had improved considerably.
When Dick opened his eyes the next morning, the first thing he saw was Young Lady Jaina standing beside the window, watching the Paladins train with curiosity. Today, she wore white mage robes with a blue coat over them. A short staff hung at her waist, and her golden hair fell loosely over her shoulders.
In short, although Dick had woken up, he tilted his head and watched her for five minutes before the dryness in his throat became unbearable and he let out a grunt.
"Oh, you're finally awake!"
Jaina seemed to have some experience caring for patients. She picked up the cup of water on the table and handed it to Dick.
His lower back still ached faintly, but the old Paladin's healing spells were no joke. He could already move his body a little.
Dick propped himself up with both arms and leaned against the wall. His face was somewhat pale, but that was a normal aftereffect of losing too much blood. Only after he had gulped down a large cup of water did Jaina, who was sitting in front of him, speak.
"Didn't you say you had information about the plague? Tell me now."
Dick shook his head.
"No, I can't. I have to wait until Prince Arthas arrives before I can share this information."
"But I'm the one responsible for investigating the plague!"
Jaina gave a disgruntled huff. Her beautiful eyes fixed on Dick as she said angrily,
"Why do you all only have eyes for Arthas? You're like this, and so is the captain of the guard in Andorhal. That arrogant prince even treats me like his attendant! I'll prove that I can find the source of the plague without his help! You can stay here and wait for your prince!"
With that, Jaina rose angrily and started toward the door. Only then did a bewildered Dick realize what had happened. He hurriedly called after the young mage, who had already reached the doorway.
"Hey, wait, Lady Jaina... come back first!"
Jaina stopped at his call. But the young mage was still a newcomer to the world. Although her strength had already broken through to Legendary, she had spent the first eighteen years of her life in Antonidas's Wizard's Tower and the orderly city of Dalaran, so she had pitifully little experience dealing with other people.
The young lady mage returned to her chair with an icy expression and said impatiently,
"What?"
Watching Jaina, who was quarreling with Arthas, Dick's eyes shifted. He quickly put on a woeful expression and glanced around, looking just like a petty thief caught stealing. Lowering his voice, he said mysteriously,
"Lady Jaina-never mind, I'll just call you Jaina."
This form of address made Jaina's expression stiffen for a moment. In this orderly society, commoners like Dick were not allowed to address nobles directly by name; they generally had to use an honorific. But considering that Dick did not yet know her identity, Jaina thought it over, decided this was rather fun, and gave a reserved nod.
"Well, Jaina, you don't know this yet, but there's nothing simple about the source of the plague. Besides some mages, powerful nobles are involved too. Now do you understand why I won't speak until Prince Arthas arrives?"
At Dick's words,
Jaina's expression suddenly darkened. "Mages! There are actually mages who dare take part in something like this! This is... this is outrageous!"
Jaina spoke through gritted teeth. Her anger was hardly surprising. Her mentor was Antonidas, the current leader of Dalaran, the city of mages, and the most powerful Archmage in the human world. His power had already surpassed Legendary.
In fact, during the Second War, which had ended only a few years earlier, Lordaeron would have fallen to the Orcs' attacks long ago if Antonidas had not helped defend it.
Under Antonidas's leadership, human mages had their own code of conduct. Anyone discovered doing something like spreading a plague through the human world could find themselves wanted by the Kirin Tor Mages' Council.
Dick glanced at Jaina as she ground her teeth. He shook his head almost imperceptibly and said inwardly,
The one spreading the plague is none other than your fellow apprentice, Kel'Thuzad... I wonder what it'll look like when you see him.
While Jaina was lost in her thoughts, the door suddenly swung open. Dick froze, then saw the tall figure entering the room, flanked by four Paladins.
Like Jaina, he had golden hair, cut to a medium length and falling behind his head. His young face was full of resolve and determination, while his ocean-blue eyes gave this resolute knight a gentle air as well.
Dominance and gentleness, two completely opposing qualities, were united almost perfectly in that face. In fact, the moment Dick first saw Arthas, he finally understood why the young lady mage Jaina had rejected the advances of Kael'thas, the High Elf prince as handsome as a painting, and instead fallen into this prince's arms.
This prince, who would one day become one of the most terrifying monarchs in the entire world, was simply a born lady-killer.
He wore an ornate suit of golden armor and a dark blue cloak, with a showy sash across his chest. A gold-and-blue warhammer rested on his back. He looked imposing, truly possessing an air that made people want to bow down before him.
"You're Dick Tang? The champion who crossed Silverpine Forest alone three years ago and brought back intelligence on the Orcs for Lordaeron?"
Arthas sat down in a chair without so much as looking at Jaina, instead questioning Dick directly. This little detail delighted Dick. Jaina, oh, Jaina, I said I'd repay you, so let me help break up this ill-fated romance and spare you from running around with the name 'Jaina the Husband-Jinx' in the future.
Over the past three years, Dick had buried his glorious history deep in the past. Even Jaina and the old Paladin who had saved him had no idea that this fellow, who looked like a farmer, was actually someone of note.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Dick dipped his head, neither servile nor overbearing, and said casually, "It's truly a pleasure to see you again."
Dick was not making this up. After bringing back the intelligence on the Orcs, he had received a personal audience with King Terenas and been awarded a Knight's Medal, the highest honor a common soldier could receive. Arthas himself had pinned the medal to his leather armor.
So this was their second meeting.
But Dick clearly understood what mattered, so before Arthas could ask, he said quietly,
"Your Highness, please dismiss your attendants. I have something extremely important to report to you! It's information about the source of the plague!"
Hearing this, Arthas glanced at Dick, then waved a hand. The four Paladin guards accompanying him and the old Paladin who had entered with him immediately left the room. Only Dick, Arthas, and Jaina remained.
"Your Highness, I previously served as Sheriff in Darrowshire. After driving off a group of Murlocs, I happened to find one of the Royal Knights from the court. He said he was a scout you had sent out. This is his identification badge."
Dick struggled to pull open his clothes and took a small iron badge from the inside pocket of his shirt, handing it to Arthas. Arthas examined it gravely in his hand and nodded.
"This is indeed Night Owl's badge..."
"No, Your Highness, you don't need to test me anymore."
Dick waved a hand, looking utterly drained, and said weakly, "His code name was Hunter. He was one of the Royal Knights you sent to Stratholme, half a month ago."
Arthas's test had been exposed, but he showed no embarrassment. Dick understood. After all, he had served as a scout in the Fourth Legion himself, and such caution was essential. So he said directly,
"Your Highness, according to Hunter's account before he died, this plague actually originated in Stratholme, specifically around Zul'Mashar. The plague was caused by grain shipped from Stratholme to Andorhal. Those behind it call themselves the Cult of the Damned, and their leader is..."
Dick glanced at Jaina, who was staring at him, then lowered his head and uttered the name that left her dumbstruck.
"Kel'Thuzad, former Archmage of Dalaran."
"That's impossible!"
Jaina shot up from her seat. A flicker of panic crossed her beautiful face. Seeing Arthas looking at her coldly as well, she hurriedly protested,
"That's impossible! He... he must be talking nonsense! My fellow apprentice Kel'Thuzad... he disappeared a year ago!"
Arthas looked at Jaina, then turned back to Dick. Dick met his gaze without the slightest evasion in his eyes.
"In fact, the reason Hunter died was that Kel'Thuzad discovered him while he was infiltrating the Cult of the Damned and placed a curse on him. In the end, his strength gave out, and he fell into the hands of Murlocs controlled by the Cult of the Damned."
Arthas fell silent. Faced with an Archmage, even he felt the pressure. Half a minute later, he asked hoarsely,
"Where's the evidence? Dick, you know that without evidence, I can't submit a warrant for an Archmage's arrest to my father."
"I have no evidence, but Hunter said Kel'Thuzad isn't in Stratholme right now. He's roaming within Lordaeron, secretly controlling the movement of that plague-tainted grain. So all you need to do is follow the grain shipments, and you'll find evidence very easily."