Although he is jokingly called the "Captain of the City Management Bureau," General Marcus is actually a high-ranking and powerful figure who commands a large army and controls the security forces of Stormwind City. If his status were in ancient Huaxia, he would be at least at the level of the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard or the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
This general was diligent and conscientious, and every day without fail he would ride around on horseback to inspect the area, and the place he would stop at most was Valley of Heroes.
This is because it is the gate to Stormwind City, and also the site of the memorial statues commemorating the Five Heroes of the Dark Portal. During World War I and World War II, before Marcus was a general, he had served under Marshal Lothar and Commander Turalyon.
Standing here, beneath the statue of Turalyon, is like being with him still.
Under his gaze, Marcus always felt that the commander was spurring him on, encouraging him to move forward.
" Nicholas? What brings you here?" General Marcus saw Jiang Jie and immediately dismounted. Jiang Jie's status made him dare not be negligent.
" General Marcus, it's been months. What has made you look like this?" Jiang Jie noticed that General Marcus looked haggard and aged ten years compared to a few months ago.
"Sigh! It's a long story." Marcus shook his head and said, "This isn't the place to talk. Let's walk and talk. You came to see me, so you must have something to say, right?"
"I'm looking for someone, and after thinking it over, only SI:7 can help. You know, SI:7 is much stronger than the Assassins' Order of Lordaeron," Jiang Jie said with a smile.
"If Mathias Shaw heard that, he'd be so happy he wouldn't be able to sleep for three days and three nights!" Marcus chuckled, handing the reins to a guard, then said, "Come with me. Mathias Shaw just returned from the Westfall this morning. He hasn't been having a good time lately..."
"What exactly happened?" Jiang Jie, somewhat surprised. "Could it be the Defias Brotherhood? Haven't they been wiped out yet?"
When the Scourge ravaged Lordaeron, many Lordaeron nobles sailed to Westfall and settled there.
The Westfall is the territory of the Defias Brotherhood, and if those nobles want to survive here, they will definitely wipe out the Defias Brotherhood.
The Defias Brotherhood is indeed formidable, with a large number of members, and has even extended its reach into Elwynn Forest, Duskwood, Redridge Mountains, and even Stormwind City. However, the nobles of Lordaeron have brought a large number of private soldiers, estimated to be several thousand. It shouldn't be difficult for them to wipe out the Defias Brotherhood.
" The Defias Brotherhood been wiped out, but those Lordaeron nobles Defias Brotherhood!" General Marcus couldn't help but complain, " Nicholas, sending them to Westfall has really given us a huge problem!"
"You can't control the Westfall anyway, so isn't it perfect to just leave it to those nobles? They can just pay taxes. Those nobles are rolling in money, so this little bit of tax shouldn't be a problem for them, right?" Jiang Jie, somewhat surprised.
Logically, the arrival of those nobles in Westfall should have been more beneficial than harmful to Stormwind City.
For the past few years, Westfall has contributed almost no tax revenue to Stormwind City, and so many farms have been abandoned. Now that it's being managed and there's a stable tax revenue, isn't that perfect?
"They've come, bringing even greater dangers." Marcus shook his head. " Nicholas, the Cult of the Damned has come too!"
Cult of the Damned!
Jiang Jie was startled and frowned.
When he made that suggestion, he hadn't actually considered this aspect.
Yes, the Cult of the Damned has long since infiltrated the noble circles of Lordaeron. Now that a large number of nobles have come to Westfall, the Cult of the Damned must have followed.
There were already two factions here: the Black Dragon and the Twilight's Hammer. Now, the Cult of the Damned has joined the fray!
The Cult of the Damned Defias Brotherhood; they're not even in the same league!
It seems the water here is getting increasingly murky.
As they spoke, they arrived at the headquarters of SI:7.
Marcus had enough influence that, after a brief introduction, Jiang Jie finally met Mathias Shaw Shaw.
The current head of SI:7,
He looked to be under forty, not very tall, but exuded an imposing presence, and was shrewd and powerful. His eyes gleamed with a sharp light; he was indeed a formidable figure, on par with Edwin VanCleef, the current head of SI:7, and a highly skilled master assassin.
" Marquis Nicholas? The leader of the Lordaeron Royal Assassins?" Mathias Shaw was clearly more interested in Jiang Jie's other identity. He sized Jiang Jie up for a moment, then asked calmly, "Is there something you need?"
" Mathias Shaw," Marcus stepped forward, smiling, and asked, "How's things going in the Westfall?"
"Still the same old story." Mathias Shaw shook his head, glanced at Jiang Jie, and couldn't help but complain, "Those Lordaeron nobles are even more cunning than old foxes! Thanks to Marquis Nicholas, a third of MI7's SI:7 has been scattered across the Westfall!"
"Listen to this! Nicholas, Mathias Shaw is very unhappy with you!" Marcus joked with a laugh.
"Yes, it's my fault." Jiang Jie nodded seriously and said, "I will ask Her Majesty the Queen to intervene and discuss with King Varian to recall all the nobles of Lordaeron in the name of the kingdom. That way, you won't have to worry about this matter anymore."
Mathias Shaw was taken aback, opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
Marcus's expression also became quite interesting.
The arrival of the nobles of Lordaeron is definitely more beneficial than harmful!
These nobles controlled at least a third of the wealth of the entire Kingdom of Lordaeron, and now they had all been taken to Westfall. According to the agreement between Lordaeron and Stormwind City, since these nobles had arrived in Westfall, they were now considered citizens of Westfall, citizens of the kingdom. This meant that Stormwind City's total wealth had instantly increased by half!
As long as these nobles remain in the Westfall, they will have to pay taxes, spend money in Stormwind City, and be subject to Stormwind City's control. As a result, a large portion of their wealth will flow into Stormwind City, which is a godsend for Stormwind City, which has only been rebuilt for a few years!
Moreover, in the original Stormwind City, King Varian did not actually control much of the city. Only a small number of troops, such as the Stormwind City Defense Force, SI:7, and Marshal Reginald's direct forces, were under his command. Most of the power in Stormwind City was actually distributed among the nobles.
The result is:
The Defias Brotherhood, a mere trifle, has remained undefeated for so many years!
Everyone knew perfectly well that many nobles Defias Brotherhood and were interfering, unwilling to send troops or spend money to wipe out the Defias Brotherhood.
As a result, Gryan Storman was forced to establish the People's Militia for self-defense, but it was far from enough to fight the Defias Brotherhood.
Now the nobles of Lordaeron have arrived, and they've wiped out the Defias Brotherhood. Although some remnants remain, VanCleef is dead. How much more trouble Defias Brotherhood cause now?
The unstable foundation of the nobles of Lordaeron was like injecting fresh water into a stagnant country, stirring up the situation and giving King Varian the opportunity to expand his power and deal with the nobles!
This is why Marcus and Mathias Shaw are so focused on the Westfall.
Because they were all King Varian's most trusted men!
If these Lordaeron nobles leave, it won't do them any good!
If that's the case, why would they be willing to let those nobles leave?
Recommended reading: "Yuan Zun" by Tiancan Tudou, and "Da Dao Chao Tian" by Mao Ni.