《The Garrison of Warcraft》


 Chapter 1锛歀eveling System

    Class Level is divided into seven Ranks, namely Low Rank, Mid Rank, High Rank, Grandmaster Rank, Legendary Rank, Demigod Rank, God Rank.


    The Level ranges for Low, Mid, High, and Grandmaster Ranks are Level 1 to Level 5, Level 6 to Level 10, Level 11 to Level 15, and Level 16 to Level 20 respectively. As for Legendary Rank, it is Level 21 and above.


    Demigod Rank is a unique, separate group. This is because they are immortal and possess frightening strength. Hence, they must be placed in their own unique system.


    Demigod Rank has a total of 10 levels. A Level 1 Demigod Rank character is equivalent to a Level 26 Legendary Rank character and a Level 10 Demigod Rank character is equivalent to being Level 35 in Legendary Rank.


    God Rank is above Demigod Rank. In other words, it''s equivalent to Level 36 and above in terms of Legendary Rank.


    Some information relating to God Rank.


    Blizzard''s setting is simply too disorganized. Demigods, Loa, Old Gods, Gods, and the Titan Pantheon are all not true Gods. There are also the Naaru and other messy things. So, it''s impossible to follow Blizzard''s lore faithfully.


    Hence, I''ve set the strongest boss to be God Rank, such as the Void Lords and the Titans.


    As for the Old Gods, they are nothing but servants of the Void Lords. They were dispatched to corrupt Titans that have yet come to existence, but they failed to do so after a long time. The strongest Old God, Y''Shaarj, was single-handedly crushed to death by one of the Titans. Hence, the Old Gods are not God Rank. They''re considered Demigod Rank.


    Many friends of mine are gamers and they requested that Class Level match with Game Level. Generally speaking, this is the conversion rate. Class Level 1 is equivalent to 5 levels in the game.


    In other words, a Level 1 Mage in the story is equivalent to a Mage between Level 1 to Level 5 in the game. A Level 5 Mage is equivalent to a Mage between Level 26 to Level 30 in the game. A Level 20 Archmage is equivalent to Level 96 to Level 100 in the game.


    However, I wish for everybody not to compare it down to the dot. This is because the game has considered its nature and there are many things that simply don''t make sense. For example, VanCleef''s Deadmines is a Level 10 Dungeon, and yet his daughter, Vanessa''s Deadmines is a Level 85 Dungeon�� How does that make any sense?


    Hence, when it comes to the Dungeons from the game itself, I''ll merge my ideas with Blizzard''s setting and adjust the Level accordingly.


    For example, Arugal from Shadowfang Keep is an Archmage and he has Ancient Magical Worgens as his subordinates. This means that Shadowfang Keep isn''t something a group of Level 10 to Level 20 can defeat.


    As for the Combat Level.


    Combat Level is an individual''s actual combat strength. It''s a calibration towards the individual''s Class Level.


    For example, a specialized Holy Priest, even if his Class Level is equivalent to an Archmage, might not be able to defeat an experienced old soldier.


    On the other hand, an experienced Assassin can kill a Mage that is much higher level than him.


    For instance, the main character might only be a level 2 mage, but he has a fully-equipped gear. Hence, his Combat Level would always outrank his Class Level.

 Chapter 2锛欰s for the timeline and whatnot, please have a look below.

    Many of you might find the timeline to be very confusing and annoying. The main reason is that Blizzard''s paradoxical setting is a mess.


    Look at it this way. Assume the Gate of Spacetime is a unique Dungeon and has nothing to do with reality and will not affect it anyway. Once it does affect the real world, the Bronze Dragonflight and Infinite Dragonspawn will definitely step in.


    Then comes the questions related to the Elven Planet.


    There is more than one planet in the World of Warcraft. There are also Outland, the Prison World of Mardum, the gathering place of the Pantheon known as Nihilam, The White Lady, and The Blue Child.


    This universe has a countless number of worlds and nobody knows just how many worlds have been destroyed by the Burning Legion.


    Obviously, there''s a reason why I''ve set this novel on only one planet.


    Azeroth was destroyed. Everyone knows it''s impossible for Azeroth to fight against the Burning Legion and the Void Lords. Hence, he needs external help�� The main character needs external assistance. The main character''s Druidic path is closely related to this planet.

 Chapter 3锛歍he Gate of Spacetime

    Light broke from the east as morning dawned on Westfall.


    There was a youngster, aged roughly fifteen or sixteen, half-lying on a rattan chair as he enjoyed the cool breeze coming from Elwynn Forest, which with it carried the hint of fragrance from some flowers.


    The youngster had a pair of light blue eyes. They were brimming with energy. His ears were sharper than an average joe and his skin was much fairer than the commoners. He also had a head of beautiful golden hair.


    There were no cars, no neon lighting, no tiles, no bricks, no cement, nor tall walls. There were only single-story houses, vast farms, and Volatile or Gentle Elementals, which possess strong but barely detectable mysterious power.


    This was no longer Earth. It was Azeroth.


    He was currently in Westfall, a wilderness ruled by Stormwind City of the Human Kingdom. The place was desolated and would often be invaded by Murlocs that came from the sea. Gnolls were scattered about all over the map and had filled the place with their stench. The south of Moonbrook had been taken over by the Defias Brotherhood. All of Westfall was in chaos.


    Sentinel Hill, located at the center of the map, and a few farms, including Salden''s Farm, were the last few safe havens in Westfall.


    The owners of the farm, the Saldeans, having lost their son, had decided to be kind by assisting the weak and elderly, people who had no place to return to�� This included untrustworthy bandits. The host body Sean had taken over was one of the orphans taken in by Elder Saldean.


    A few days ago, a Dwarf fugitive had arrived with the latest news. The Gnomish city, Gnomeregan, had fallen due to betrayal. Radiation that had been sealed away leaked out, causing the city to be uninhabitable. Approximately 80% of the Gnomes had died because of this incident and the remaining Gnomes had no choice but to flee. Under High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque''s lead, they fled to the Bronzebeard Dwarves'' Ironforge.


    It was then that Sean realized that it had been 24 years since the opening of the Dark Portal!


    To Sean, the Lich King, Deathwing, and the Old Gods were still too far away to matter. They were not beings Sean needed to take note of at the moment. Furthermore, nothing major would happen to Stormwind City for the next two years. This excluded King Varian, but the king had nothing to do with Sean.


    What would truly affect Sean was Westfall.


    Westfall was currently being invaded by three terrifying forces - Murlocs, Gnolls, and the Defias Brotherhood. This made life at Saldean''s Farm rather unsafe. It was rather unrealistic to rely on the Saldeans and a group of homeless people to protect Saldean''s Farm.


    "That''s why I said that the only person I can rely on to live a comfortable and happy life is myself!"


    Sean sighed as he shut his eyes.


    Starlight appeared in his mind and, spurred on by Sean''s will, gradually expanded, forming a wasteland.


    This place was around the size of Saldean''s Farm. However, there was no farm nor fields, ony rubble and dried dirt.


    This was Sean''s benefit for transmigrating to this world.


    At the same time, an illusory Control Panel appeared in Sean''s mind.


    There were big blood-red characters fixed at the very top of the Control Panel. It was also the Ultimate Quest, bound to the Transmigrator for the rest of his life. The quest was to upgrade the Spatial Garrison into God''s Garrison.


    Who the f*ck knew what exactly God''s Garrison was?!


    The only thing Sean knew was that this wasteland he had been given was called the Spatial Garrison. It was a unique space, independent of the planet Azeroth. Although there was nothing at this point in time, he would be able to construct all types of miraculous Facilities as long as he had enough Garrison Resources. Furthermore, as the Facilities increased in number, Sean and the garrison''s Level would increase as well.


    Sean was the person with the highest authority in the Spatial Garrison.


    The garrison was currently at Level 0 and his goal was to increase the garrison to Level 1.


    Sean could only build one Facility when his garrison was at Level 0. That was the Town Hall. He would be able to build other Facilities when he had built a Level 1 Town Hall.


    However, Sean had a strong urge to curse when he saw the resources needed to build a Level 1 Town Hall.


    The Town Hall was the core Facility of the Spatial Garrison. It was the place where the Garrison Commander gave his orders. It was also a compulsory Facility, needed to increase the Spatial Garrison''s Level. The Garrison Resources required for a Level 1 Town Hall were 100 Wood, 100 Leather, and 100 Stone.


    There were only three resources and yet Sean was having a headache.


    The resources required in the Spatial Garrison could be acquired from the real world.


    One matured tree was equivalent to one Wood.


    A good quality boulder was equivalent to one Stone.


    Leather from the hide of an entire adult goat would be equivalent to one Leather.


    In order to collect the required resources to build a Level 1 Town Hall, Sean might just have to tear Saldean''s Farm apart!


    That was not all.


    In order to convert the real world resources into Garrison Resources, Sean would need to expend Mental Energy as well.


    According to Sean''s experiments, he would fall into a deep sleep after converting 5 points worth of Garrison Resources. He would sleep soundly for at least 8 hours before he woke up.


    This meant that even if Sean was able to rip apart the entirety of Saldean''s Farm, assuming he did not need to eat or drink, he would need at least a week to transform everything into Garrison Resources!


    He could not just give up on eating and drinking.


    Sean, as a member of Saldean''s Farm, did not eat and drink for free. He had to pay in hard labor. Out of 24 hours in a day, he needed to do at least 8 hours of labor. He was required to do field work, patrol the area, and even fend off any invaders...


    Sean did not have much time left after he was done with everything!


    Even if Sean really could tear the entire Saldean''s Farm down, he would need at least a month to build the Level 1 Town Hall.


    Fortunately, God would not put Transmigrator at a disadvantage.


    In a certain corner of the deserted Spatial Garrison lay an illusory Light Gate.


    It was the Legendary Facility - The Gate of Spacetime.


    As long as he put in the required amount of Garrison Resources, he would be able to build a one-time-use Gate of Spacetime. It would send Sean to a unique space similar to a Dungeon.


    This was a benefit granted to Transmigrators. It was one of three Legendary Facilities given by the Spatial Garrison that Sean could choose from when he transmigrated to this world.


    He could only pick one out of the three.


    He would obtain a specific curse in response to his choice. This was the price Sean had to pay for early access to a Legendary Facility. That was because according to the standard procedure, Sean had to increase his Spatial Garrison by multiple Levels before he could build a Legendary Facility.


    The Five Dragonflight''s Lair was able to nurture Dragons, Drakonid, and Wyrmkins. The curse that would follow him to his grave was Fury of the Dragons, which caused all Dragon species in Azeroth to see Sean as an enemy.


    The Titan''s Research and Quarantine Facility was able to produce Titan-forged and Titanic Devices. However, its eternal curse was known as Titan''s Divine Punishment. It would cause any Titan-forged to see Sean as an enemy.


    The Gate of Spacetime possessed the power to travel through space and time. Naturally, this would disrupt Azeroth''s timeline. Hence, Sean would be hunted by the Bronze Dragonflight, the wardens of time. The curse that would only leave when he died was called Nozdormu''s Watch, was equally troublesome.


    The three had their own pros and cons and Sean had chosen the Gate of Spacetime.


    ��

 Chapter 4锛欿obold鈥檚 Lair

    Although he had obtained the Gate of Spacetime, in truth, he had only obtained a weakened version of the Gate of Spacetime. The Light Gate was illusory and did not have a physical form. Sean had to use some Garrison Resources to build a one-time-use Gate of Spacetime.


    Sean could only build an actual Gate of Spacetime when the Spatial Garrison''s Level had sufficiently increased.


    The current illusory Light Gate of the Gate of Spacetime was nothing but a faint point of light.


    As Sean focused on it, a blurry image appeared at the point of light along with a line of text.


    [Kobold''s Lair.]


    There were two options for him to pick.


    [Do you wish to enter?]


    [Yes / No]


    This was the purpose of the Gate of Spacetime. It could teleport Sean to a unique space.


    Sean could then start to gather Garrison Resources.


    In order to use the Gate of Spacetime to head to Kobold''s Lair, he needed 10 points worth of Garrison Resources. Wood, Stone, or Leather could be used.


    It took one week for Sean to prepare and he had finally succeeded.


    He got up from his rattan chair and went back to his room. He poured himself a cup of hot water and placed it on the table. Then, he picked up the luggage that he had prepared a long time ago before he chose to enter the space.


    Then, the world around him turned dark. By the time Sean regained consciousness, he was no longer in his little room. Instead, he was in a dry and dirty mineral cave. There was an opaque watermark not far away from Sean that was blocking his vision.


    "Did I really teleport through spacetime? Where is this? Is this Kobold''s Lair? Am I in a cave? Is this a mineral cave?"


    Sean was astonished as he observed his surroundings. He realized there were quite a number of candles lit in this mineral cave. The candlelight swayed along with the air current, giving off a creepy vibe.


    There was also a box.


    It had a different vibe from the ancient mineral cave as the box looked much newer. It was as obvious as a red-crowned crane mixing together with a flock of ducks. As Sean moved closer to inspect it, his expression changed. He did not know if he should laugh or cry.


    "Beginner''s Crate? This really is a Dungeon!"


    After his comment, Sean opened up the unlocked Beginner''s Crate.


    There were not many items in the crate. A scroll, a dagger, a potion bottle, and a palm-sized bag.


    Sean picked up these items as messages appeared in his head, one after another.


    The dagger was made out of Indurium. It was a White Common Equipment. It was so sharp that Sean could easily cut open his linen shirt with a small amount of force. It would be horrifyingly effective if used to stab someone.


    Sean could recover from injuries swiftly, whether internal or external, after consuming the potion. It was called a Lesser Healing Potion, a product of Alchemy and any Apprentice Alchemist was capable of making it.


    The bag was a regular six-slotted bag. Each slot was equivalent to one cubic meter. ''Isn''t this the bag from the game? Would that make it the Inventory, the place where I can store items?''


    One could imagine just how useful this item could be!


    Sean was even more excited when he looked at the scroll.


    [Scroll of Town Portal has the following effects: Once bound to a location, one is able to return to the location when used. It''s already bound to the spawn point of the Dungeon and will disappear upon use.]


    In other words, was this item a one-time-use equivalent to a Hearthstone?


    Furthermore, it mentioned a spawn point in this Dungeon. This felt more and more like a game now.


    Sean adjusted his clothing and tried to leap across the watermark.


    Then, his vision expanded.


    The mineral cave was extremely vast and rusty mining picks could be seen everywhere. There were only a small number of candles and broken minecarts within his proximity. Within the minecarts, there were small fragments of mineral ores, though the type could not be determined.


    Sean was not knowledgeable in mining and could not tell what mineral ores were present here. However, that was not important.


    He casually picked up a mineral ore and a message appeared in his mind.


    [Low-quality gold ore. It possesses a small amount of gold and can be exchanged for Garrison Resources. Do you wish to collect?]


    [Note: No Mental Energy is required when exchanging items for Garrison Resources in the Dungeon.]


    Sean''s eyes brightened up instantly.


    ''No Mental Energy required? F*ck yes!''


    For Sean, the biggest obstacle to gathering Garrison Resources was Mental Energy.


    Since there was no need to spend Mental Energy in this mineral cave. Did that not mean that he could collect Garrison Resources without holding himself back?


    Sean thought about the deserted Spatial Garrison. Then, as he imagined all the Garrison Resources and types of Facilities he could have, he grew so excited that he started tearing up, wishing he had eight hands.


    Sean immediately decided that he would start collecting the ores.


    Soon, all the gold ores had disappeared. However, the Inventory was empty.


    "Were there too few gold ores? Perhaps, since 1 point of Stone is equivalent to a cubic meter of rocks. How many palm-size gold ores would I need in order to make one cubic meter then? To make things worse, they don''t even contain a lot of gold."


    Sean looked around hastily.


    Sean had to admit that the Kobolds were incredibly thorough when it came to the great mining industry. They had taken almost every single gold ore out of this place.


    If it were not for their incredibly bad sight affecting their movements, the place might have been spotless. Sean looked around for a long time and could only find ten gold ores that were on the verge of falling apart.


    As Sean gathered the gold ores, the Inventory had a reaction.


    [1 Gold.]


    Ten gold ores were equivalent to one point of Gold in terms of Garrison Resources. The amount was considered significant. Meanwhile, his Stone remained the same. It seemed that the exchange rate for Stone and Gold were different. While 1 Stone required a cubic meter of rocks, a small amount of gold was enough to reach 1 point.


    Sean had found the first benefit of this Dungeon.


    His happy life of collecting mineral ores started here.


    However, this place was still Kobold''s Lair. What was Kobold''s Lair without any Kobolds?


    As Sean turned a corner, he found a Kobold with a candle on its head.


    It was in an orange-red shirt and had a mouse-like tail. It was small, had a candle on its head and barked like a puppy.


    This was a Kobold.


    Kobolds were a vast race which, according to rumor, had at least ten different subspecies.


    The ones living in this cave were small. Their height was less than a meter and they were incredibly dirty. In order to adapt to the dim underground, they had placed candles on their heads and were not afraid of the wax burning their skin.


    The Combat Level of the weakest Kobold was only Level 1. On the other hand, the strongest Kobold Shaman could have a Combat Level that exceeded 10. It had far surpassed the realm of a High Rank professional.


    In fact, in the distant Stonetalon Mountains, the most infamous Kobold clan, the Drywhisker Kobolds, had achieved an amazing feat. They had allied with the Giants to seal away a princess of the earth. To the Kobolds, this was a legendary feat!


    However, the Kobold in front of him was small and weak. It looked rather yellowish due to malnutrition. Other than the candle above its head, it did not possess any weapon at all. This was, assuming that a candle could be counted as a weapon. Claiming it was Class Level 1 was an overstatement.


    In other words, an ordinary Human adult with an ordinary stick would stand a chance to fight against it. Furthermore, the chances of winning against it was at least 90%.


    ��

 Chapter 5锛歍he Kobold Shaman

    Although Sean was underage, he held a sharp dagger in his hand.


    He had no reason to be afraid since he was fighting a Kobold that was half his size.


    Sean rushed towards the Kobold, not uttering a single word. He stabbed the Kobold, exerting all his strength to pierce its heart. In an instant, he had sent his victim to meet the Kobold God, assuming it existed. Only those who died would know if it did.


    Killing the living meant nothing to Sean. It did not matter whether it was the Sean living in Azeroth''s chaotic era, or the Sean who slaughtered pigs and dogs back when he still lived in 21st century Earth. Furthermore, even though the Kobolds had entered their stone age, the humans had never considered them as intelligent beings.


    However, the corpse was certainly rather disgusting to look at��


    Sean continued further and encountered a few more Kobolds.


    The Kobolds did not have high intelligence. They were weak and timid. They would still be afraid of Sean, who was twice their size, even if they had superior numbers. As long as Sean''s attacks were swift and decisive, the Kobolds would scream and disperse in fear. All Sean had to do then was chase them down.


    As Kobolds had short legs, they moved slowly even when they ran. Hence, chasing them down and killing them was incredibly easy for Sean.


    There were many intersections in the mineral cave, and it was incredibly complex. Although Sean had a good memory, he was worried that he might get lost. Fortunately, the Spatial Fortress had unlocked a new ability when he arrived - Map.


    Yes. Whether it was a first-rate game or a third-rate game, there would always be the feature known as the map.


    The entire map was pitch black and only a small portion of it was revealed. It was the location Sean had already explored. According to the size of the map, the Dungeon was as big as a village.


    For a mineral cave, it was decently sized.


    If Sean were to explore the entire mineral cave, he would be so tired and hungry that he might just go crazy.


    Fortunately, Sean could leave the mineral cave whenever he wished.


    It cost 10 Garrison Resources to activate the Gate of Spacetime. Furthermore, he could stay in this mineral cave for as long as two full hours. If Sean wished to leave before time ran out, he could do so. However, he would have to sacrifice 10 Garrison Resources.


    Sean had to obtain at least 10 Garrison Resources within 2 hours to make the trip worthwhile.


    This Quest might be rather difficult for him.


    Nevertheless, he kept moving forward.


    Ten minutes later, Sean saw a fiery light appear. The end of the tunnel was an incredibly spacious hall.


    As Sean approached cautiously, he realized that there was a small bonfire at the center of the hall. On top of it was unknown being''s flesh being barbecued. The meat seemed to be almost done cooking as it exuded an incredibly thick and tempting aroma.


    Three Kobolds surrounded the bonfire. Six eyes were glued onto the cooking meat, saliva drooling from the edge of their mouths.


    There were two strong-looking Kobolds that were larger than average. Both of them held an old dagger in their hands and were dressed in oil-stained linen clothing that Sean did not know the source of.


    The third one was an elderly Kobold. It wore a mage''s robe, though it did not resemble what a Human would wear. He was holding a twisted staff that was made from an old tree branch. At the very top of the staff was a bright gemstone, emitting a blue glow.


    It looked incredibly strange.


    However, it was not something to joke about.


    That was because Sean knew what it meant.


    The two strong-looking Kobolds were, most likely, either Kobold Supervisors or Kobold Chieftains. Regardless, their Combat Level would definitely be not lower than 2. In other words, this would be the limit for an average male adult. Sean might have to put in a lot of effort just to deal with one of them. Furthermore, it would be very difficult for Sean to beat his opponent, even if he did put in the effort. In fact, it was possible his opponent would kill him.


    Since it would be difficult to fight one, what were his chances when battling two at the same time?


    To make things worse, there was also the elderly Kobold.


    That Kobold was obviously a Caster. A Kobold Shaman.


    The Kobold Shamans, as a type of Caster, were the spiritual leaders of the Kobolds. Not only were they much more intelligent than an average Kobold, but they also had significantly more Mental Energy. Furthermore, they were much more knowledgeable and had the ability to cast spells. Specializing in Low Rank Elemental Magic, the Kobold Shaman was guaranteed to have a Combat Level higher than 3.


    The Elements was one of the seven schools of magic. It was the art of converting Arcane Energy into a physically destructive force. The most well-known of the Low Rank Elemental Magic spells were Fireball and Frostbolt.


    Whichever Spell it decided to cast, Sean''s fragile body would not be able to handle it.


    Naturally, although this Kobold was a Shaman and its Spells were equal in power to a Level 5 Warrior, it was physically weaker than the average Kobold. After all, this was one of the main characteristics of a Caster.


    Sean was confident that if he were to ambush it, and did not miss, he would be able to kill it.


    Regardless��


    "Is it really alright for me, an ordinary teenager to face such a group?"


    Sean muttered frustratedly and decided to give up.


    Sean''s first priority was to protect his life, no matter what situation he was in.


    Staying alive was of utmost importance because, as long as he was still alive, there was hope.


    A great leader once said, "When the enemy attacks, retreat! However, when the enemy retreats, pursue them! Retreat when the enemy is energetic and attack then the enemy is tired!"


    Sean decided to add another line to the saying. "If the enemy is strong and I''m weak, then it''s best to move your legs and run!"


    Sean stepped back quietly, not making a single noise. He was incredibly cautious as he was afraid of alerting the Kobolds.


    However, when Sean looked back a second time, he saw God standing within the dim light. It seemed that God had given Sean a reason to stay.


    The meat was done grilling.


    The Kobold Shaman''s status within the group of Kobolds was incredibly high. It was only natural that no one dared to eat before it had. However, as the Kobold Shaman had taken the most delicious portion of meat, the two powerful Kobolds attacked each other, fighting over the grilled meat.


    The fight between the two Kobolds was nothing to talk about. They exchanged blows and, eventually, started hugging each other as they brawled. They were competing over their stamina, strength, and will.


    This scene seemed to be a very common thing to the Kobolds and none of them were bothered by it. Perhaps this scene would occur whenever meat was done cooking. It was a show that occurred in every Kobold''s daily life, entertainment for their boring lives.


    Everything was fine as long as they did not die.


    The Kobold Shaman had no intention of stopping the fight, simply taking its meat and leaving. It seemed like this was such a common occurrence that it had gotten used to it.


    As a Shaman that stood above all, this was one of the ways it managed its subordinates. When it came to controlling those beneath it, infighting like this was beneficial.


    It had learned this from the Humans in Stormwind City, as the Humans loved ruling over others.


    The Kobold Shaman then trapped itself in memories.


    It was old, that was why it was easy for it to recall the old times. Although it was only in its thirties, it was considered very old for a Kobold. Perhaps in just a few years'' time, it would be buried. Before that happened, it would often recall the beauty of days long past.


    The days when it risked its life and the incredibly tough journeys.


    While it was still lost in thought, it walked towards the tunnel that Sean was hiding in.


    ��

 Chapter 6锛欳learance Reward

    "This is why I said that the main character''s luck is always good!"


    Sean slowly retreated and hid in the corner.


    There was not much light in the tunnel and, since Kobolds had bad eyesight, the Shaman would not be able to notice him.


    The elderly Kobold Shaman was slow with his steps. It took it a long time to reach the mineral cave, but was now less than two meters away from Sean.


    As Sean listened to the soft footsteps, he bent his waist down, arched his foot, and sprung out. Gripping the dagger with both hands, he sprung into action.


    "Creak!"


    The dagger accurately pierced the Kobold Shaman''s throat. It was an instant kill.


    The elderly Kobold Shaman widened its cloudy eyes in disbelief.


    Although it was already old and had only a few years left before it met its maker, this did not mean that it wanted to die yet. After a life full of struggle and hard work, it had finally become a leader. It intended to enjoy the high life and get its hands on some female Kobolds.


    However, all of this was no longer possible. All of its dreams had burnt to ash.


    As the Kobold Shaman''s hand flopped down, its staff crashed to the ground, making a soft sound that no one heard. With the last of its strength, it closed its eyes.


    However, it could not just die without knowing the full picture.


    No matter how legendary a mage was, they could still be killed by an unconventional thief.


    As the saying goes, "Even a dog can bully a tiger when it loses its advantage, an unaware Shaman is no better than a chicken!"


    As Sean had moved quickly, the Kobold Shaman did not even have the chance to scream before it died. Since the two strong Kobolds were still fighting over the meat, it was only natural that they were completely unaware.


    Sean let out a sigh of relief.


    Even if they were a Legendary Mage, no Mage could survive a stab or two. It was possible for them to be killed by an ordinary bandit. Sean was excited as he had killed the general of an army. Although, because it was one against one, the excitement died down rather quickly.


    Since battle was all about the rewards, Sean needed to check what he got. If he did not receive anything, it would mean that the battle had been rather pointless.


    He casually picked up the Shaman''s staff and was incredibly delighted.


    [Kobold Shaman''s Staff, White Quality, Common Equipment, Spell Effect +1.]


    The description was simple and did not have high Stats, but a staff was still a staff.


    As Blizzard''s biological son, the Mage was an honorable Class in the world of Azeroth. Any Mage, even a Mage Apprentice, would be loved and envied by all. Being a Mage was practically everyone''s dream. Since a staff was compulsory for all Mages, the value of the staff was extremely high.


    There was a "knowledgeable" lackey in Saldean''s Farm, who was once friends with and had also served a Mage Apprentice. The lackey had once heard the Mage Apprentice mention that the most common staff would cost at least 10 Gold Coins!


    To top it off, though there was demand, there was simply no supply..


    10 Gold Coins was enough for Sean to live for a year.


    Although this was a Kobold Shaman''s Staff, it could still be used by other Mages.


    Greed could be seen in Sean''s eyes. He reached out his hands as he looked at the robe the Kobold Shaman was wearing.


    "As expected!"


    Sean''s face lit with happiness.


    He immediately took the robe off the Kobold.


    [Dalaran Apprentice Robe, White Quality, Common Equipment. Armor+1, Magic Resistance +1, Spell Effect +1.]


    Sean''s mouth turned O-shape as he frowned slightly.


    He did not know how he had accomplished this action that had a difficulty of at least 4.0.


    "Dalaran huh?"


    Dalaran was a powerful Magocratic Kingdom. It was the place that had the most Mages in Azeroth. As one of the Seven Human Kingdoms, Dalaran''s influence was unrivaled. Even Stormwind City and Lordaeron were unable to outshine it.


    Since a Dalaran Apprentice''s Robe had appeared, this meant that it was very likely that a Dalaran Mage Apprentice died here.


    The question was, where exactly was this place?


    Dalaran had been around for at least 2700 years. Since he had teleported through spacetime, which timeline was he currently in?


    The Gate of Spacetime could only last for 2 hours. Now that an hour had passed, Sean did not plan to risk it by challenging the two strong-looking Kobolds. Instead, he decided to use the Return City Scroll to return to the Dungeon''s entrance.


    Since the Gate of Spacetime connected two spaces together, it needed two coordinates. One for time and one for space.


    Both space and time had, to a certain extent, safety nets. Time had a tolerance of an hour and space had a small location around the entrance.


    He could only leave the Dungeon if he returned to the entrance within an hour.


    If Sean were to miss the time or location, he would be stuck in this spacetime.


    Hence, Transmigrators needed to be cautious as it was extremely dangerous!


    Although he had not managed to collect 10 Garrison Resources, he had obtained a robe and staff in exchange. The reward was already considered good.


    Sean placed the items back into his bag as he chose to leave.


    The instant Sean left the place, a huge Bronze Dragon opened its eyes. The dragon was hidden away in the Caverns of Time, which was located on the distant continent of Kalimdor.


    Nozdormu the Timeless One, Aspect of the Bronze Dragonflight.


    It was one of the five Dragon Aspects, the most mysterious Aspect of the Bronze Dragonflight.


    Its eye was as big as a house, could view time and space as a physical latitude and longitude. Nozdormu''s eyes pierced through the obstacles of spacetime as it tried to track Sean down through the ripples left behind by his travels.


    It gazed at the chaotic vortex of time, its intelligent eyes shifting through countless dimensions.


    After all, a disturbance in any timeline could produce unimaginable consequences.


    One day, it would find this damned Transmigrator!


    Sean opened his eyes when the earth and sky stopped spinning. What he saw was his room.


    The first thing Sean did was look at the cup of hot water on the table. It was still releasing hot vapor and he found it incredibly hot to the touch.


    "Is this still the same time as when I entered the Gate of Spacetime? Did the Gate of Spacetime freeze time the moment I entered? That''s good news."


    In other words, whenever Sean entered the Gate of Spacetime, everything happened in an instant in the eyes of outsiders. This meant that nobody would notice any abnormality from him.


    Sean smiled gently as he soon realized more good news.


    The six-slotted spatial bag was still there, along with the items that Sean had put into it. In other words, this spatial bag was not restricted by spacetime or the Dungeon. It could continue to exist!


    Sean had obtained a piece of Spatial Equipment without doing anything. This was certainly good news!


    Sean then inspected the staff and robe in his hand once more. He noticed that the items were exactly the same as they were in the Dungeon. The Stats remained and both items could be used.


    [Ding!]


    Out of the blue, a message appeared in Sean''s mind.


    [Congratulations on successfully killing the Kobold Shaman and clearing Kobold''s Lair, Commander. Overall Rating: C. Do you wish to collect the reward?]


    ��

 Chapter 7锛欳lass Selection

    ''There''s a clearance reward as well? This feels more and more like a game now, no?''


    However, this was a good thing!


    Since he only got a C rating, did that not mean that there were the B and A ratings above it? Perhaps even an S rating?


    Sean was incredibly ecstatic and instantly collected the clearance reward.


    [Clearance Reward 1: Additional 2 Stat Points.]


    Stats was one of the essential elements of any game.


    Sean''s Stats Interface was at the top right corner of the Control Panel.


    [Name: Sean Feathermoon (This is not an ordinary surname. It''s a legendary and reputable figure of the past, but he has yet to be recorded into history.]


    [Race: Half-Human, Half-Elf. (An average-sized and intelligent race. Possesses the blood of both Humans and Elves. Commonly known as Half-Elf.]


    [Stats: Strength 5, Agility 7, Stamina 8, Intelligence 12, Spirit, 18. (Possess an above-average Spirit)]


    [Main Class: None]


    [Subclass: None]


    [Skills: Low Rank Common, Low Rank Elven, Low Rank Cooking, Low Rank Planting.]


    [Equipment: Kobold Shaman''s Staff (White Quality, Common Equipment), Dalaran Apprentice''s Robe (White Quality, Common Equipment), Refined Iron Dagger (White Quality, Common Equipment)]


    A Human adult, on average, had roughly 10 points in their 5 stats. Since Sean was still a young Half-Elf, he was slightly weaker in Strength, Agility, and Stamina. However, he had an abundance of Intelligence and Spirit. This was probably because his soul was merged and evolved when he transmigrated.


    He was free to increase whichever basic Stats he chose to.


    After giving some thought, Sean increased his Stamina.


    This was because he was slightly physically weak, and Stamina represented endurance, resistance, and regeneration. These were all very important.


    Any Mage would appreciate a better physique. No matter how powerful a Mage could be, they could be easily killed by an assassin if they were physically weak.


    [Ding!]


    [Congratulations on reaching 50 points for the Five Basic Stats, Commander. You''ve reached the requirement and a Class Advancement Quest has been triggered. Please choose your Main Class.]


    What followed was a series of Class introductions. There were a total of 12 of them.


    [Druid, Mage, Priest, Rogue, Warrior, Paladin, Death Knight, Hunter, Warlock, Shaman, Monk, Demon Hunter.]


    12 Classes, 12 options.


    "So, I''ve got to make a choice and complete the corresponding Class Advancement Quest in order to change my Class? When I do, I''ll have a Class?"


    Sean cursed softly as he raised his arms. He then shut his eyes and began thinking.


    Holy Light and Void, Arcane and Fel, Nature and Necromancy.


    These six cosmic forces were the basic forces that created this universe. They were followed by the Four Great Elements - Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind. There was also a fifth Element, Spirit.


    All 12 Classes were here.


    Druid - the path of nature.


    This was a class that worshipped nature. In normal circumstances, only Night Elves, Trolls, and Tauren could become a druid. Druids were able to use both Arcane and Nature Magic. They could even shapeshift into beasts and obtain the beast''s vigor. It was an incredibly versatile Class and an excellent choice.


    Mages were seekers of knowledge and understanding. They wielded Arcane Magic and had even categorized it into seven schools. The way Humans analyzed and applied Arcane Magic had been rumored to surpass even the Elves.


    Priests believed in the Holy Light, but they did not reject the Void. Seeking equilibrium between the two forces or devoting themselves fully to one, three sects had been created. The Holy Priests, Shadow Priests, and Discipline Priests. It is recommended that Priests stay in churches and monasteries.


    Rogue worshipped the Void, often ambushing from the shadows as an initial attack. They were incredibly strong in close combat. There were also those who specialized in direct combat, though, they were few in number. In a protracted battle, they would use a series of carefully selected skills as their combo, damaging and weakening the enemy''s strength in order to land the final blow. Rogues were often seen as Thieves or Assassins.


    Warriors were the most common Class. They were the ones who charged in first and used their bodies as shields. This Class was the most likely to get injured or die. However, a few legendary characters have emerged in the past, such as King Varian. The strength of a Warrior came from their body, flesh, and soul.


    Paladins worshipped the Holy Light, and only the Holy Light. They wielded the Holy Light as a weapon in battle. Paladins were devout and elite warriors. Not just zealots, they were also guardians of justice. They blessed those the Holy Light shone down upon. The Holy Light radiates from Paladins, and comrades who stand near them are strengthened by its power.


    The Death Knight was a rather unique Class. As the name suggested, one could only become a Death Knight by dying. This was a Class for those brought back from death. They were incredibly powerful and were filled with death''s merciless cruelty.


    Hunters, initially, had nothing to do with war. They were those who, in order to survive, had taken up their daggers and bows, killing farmers and beasts. They used bows and firearms and specialized in range attacks. Some claimed that Elven Rangers, Dwarven Riflemen, and Tamers were prime examples of Hunters. Although this was not accurate, they did have similarities.


    Warlocks were people who had sold their souls to the Demons, gaining demonic power at the cost of their souls and lives. This Class was more evil than the Death Knights and were exceedingly powerful. Warlocks used Fel and Shadow Magic. The majority of Warlocks were former Shamans or Mages and still possessed the knowledge and Magic of their previous Class.


    Shamans worshipped their ancestors and the Elements. They would communicate with their ancestors'' souls and the natural Elements in order to obtain more strength. Shamans were all intellectuals among their own race.


    Monks were a specialized Class for Pandaren. They would use their unique Qi to strengthen their bodies and train their souls. It was incredibly interesting.


    Demon Hunters were those who willingly accepted the Burning Legion''s Fel Energy. By wielding Fel Magic and Shadow Magic, they possessed the ability to transform along with Spectral Sight. They relied on their frightening agility to chase after and survive against most dangerous targets. Their only purpose in life was to combat the Burning Legion and kill Demons.


    Without much thought, Sean eliminated more than half of the 12 Classes.


    Priest and Paladins believed in the Holy Light and upheld the law. That was something Sean was not willing to choose. Strictly following the law was not in Sean''s blood.


    Rogues, be it in assassination, observation, or battle, required an agile body along with perceptive and sharp eyes. Rogues held their targets'' lives in their hands by lurking in the dark and this was something Sean did not want.


    Warriors were the ones who would stand on the frontlines of battle in order to protect the other Classes. Their bravery was praise-worthy, and they sought only strength and glory. However, Sean preferred to cast spells rather than fight on the frontlines.


    Death Knights and Warlocks were Classes that would shock the Humans and Elves. As a Half-Elf, Sean would certainly not pick either. The problem was Factions. Sean had no plans to join the evil faction just yet. After all, he was a lawful person.


    Shamans worshipped their ancestors and the Elements. However, it was impossible for Humans and Elves to put their faith in Shamanism. Sean would not bother picking it as one could not make someone believe in something if they refused to do so. How could someone who did not believe in Shamanism become a Shaman?


    Although Demon Hunters sounded incredibly cool, Sean would have to give up on the idea of appearing in public if he were to become a Demon Hunter. If he were to do so, what would welcome him was being constantly chased and dead.


    Hence, there were only four options left.


    ��

 Chapter 8锛欱ack To The Beginning

    The remaining four choices were Druid, Mage, Hunter, and Monk.


    Druid possessed the power to shapeshift into a variety of animals. This ability had given birth to multiple types of Druids. It was a good Class, but Sean gave up on it after giving it some thought.


    Why?


    The reason was simple. Druids were, in the long run, not good.


    The majority of a Druid''s power came from nature itself and their ability to shapeshift came from the Wild Gods. Speaking from a certain perspective, a Druid''s strength was fundamentally limited. Malfurion, the most powerful Druid, had trained for at least ten thousand years and gained strength that could rival the Wild Gods. However, he could not surpass them.


    Although Hunters were not limited in achievements, Sean had given up on it as well. That was because the strongest Hunters, the Champion of the Horde, Rexxar, and the Banshee Queen, Sylvanas Windrunner, did not seem to be all that strong. In fact, they were nothing compared to Malfurion.


    Were Rexxar and Sylvanas even considered Hunters?


    Sean''s real struggle was picking between being a Monk or a Mage.


    If he were to decide based on the legendary characters that have appeared in the past, Mage would have overwhelmed Monk. Magus Medivh, his mother Aegwynn, and the Elven Queen, Azshara, were incredibly powerful beings. Their strengths could very well be above the strongest Monk, the Pandaren Emperor, Shaohao. Furthermore, for the past ten thousand years, the Pandaren had only one legend.


    However, Sean, who was originally a citizen of China, could not let go of his desire to become a martial artist. He really wanted to be a Monk.


    ''Why do I feel a shiver down my spine whenever I think of the word "Monk"?'' Sean thought.


    Sean could not decide which Class to pick.


    After giving it much thought, Sean had made his decision. He would become a Mage!


    As this was the 24th year since the Dark Portal had opened, Pandaria was still shrouded and the Pandaren was still unknown to the public. Sean was just a commoner, how would he learn the art from a master? Where would he find a sparring partner and learn a Monk''s skills?


    Comparatively, Mage was a better choice!


    "I choose to be a Mage!''


    [Ding!]


    [Congratulations on picking the Mage Class, Commander. Begin Mage''s Class Questline.]


    [Accessing Quest��]


    [Ding!]


    [Mage''s Class Questline has been created!]


    [Low Rank Mage Class Quest: The Origin of Arcane!]


    [Commander, please step through the Gate of Spacetime to Stromgarde Keep, 2800 years ago. You will attend the very first Arcane lesson and become a Mage! Quest time limit: 1 month. Quest reward: Appraisal Sight.]


    The Gate of Spacetime?


    2800 years ago at Stromgarde Keep?


    The very first Arcane lesson?


    Could it be��


    Sean''s eyes gradually brightened up as he had the urge to dance in excitement.


    Arcane Magic was said to originate from the Titans.


    However, on Azeroth, it could be attributed to the Night Elves.


    In the beginning, Azeroth was ruled by the Trolls.


    Only a handful of people chased after knowledge and the truth. The majority of Trolls used Voodoo, a form of Dark Magic, until the Well of Eternity appeared.


    Soon, the Trolls realized the miracle of the Well of Eternity. Addicted to their discovery, the Dark Trolls decided to settle upon its shores.


    As these Trolls bathed in the energy released by the well, their bodies mutated, causing them to be worthy of their noble souls. The Trolls had turned into a group of intelligent, eternal beings. Gradually, they abandoned their old traditions and customs.


    The race''s Mystics started worshipping the Moon Goddess Elune, believing that she was strongly related to the Well of Eternity. They claimed that, deep in the well, the Goddess slumbered. They soon started calling themselves Night Elves and separated from the other Trolls.


    The Night Elves had transformed into a noble race under the influence of the Well of Eternity. As hundred and thousand of years passed, the Night Elves rose to the top of the food chain under the leadership of the great Ruler, Queen Azshara. She had led her race to glories that nobody had seen before�� However, she had also planted the seeds of their destruction.


    The Night Elves, who could live eternally, possessed very powerful Arcane Magic and significant Arcane knowledge.


    In ancient times, when Azeroth possessed a huge amount of Arcane Magic, it had caught the attention of Sargeras, the Dark Titan. Sargeras led his Burning Legion across the Twisting Nether to invade Azeroth.


    It was a war that shook the sky and earth. Ultimately, the source of Azeroth''s magic, the Well of Eternity was destroyed.


    The majority of Night Elves abandoned Arcane Magic, which had brought disaster upon them, and turned to Druidism. Only a handful of them continued studying Arcane Magic. They left their home for a different location, becoming what was known as High Elves.


    Due to a historic war 2800 years ago, the Magic possessed by the High Elves was passed down to the Humans.


    This was the beginning of Arcane lessons!


    This was the origin of Arcane Magic!


    Now, Sean''s Class Quest was to travel 2800 years back in time and attend the very first Arcane lesson.


    Sean''s heart was filled with excitement.


    In that era, as the Humans started learning Magic, many talented Mages were born. These Mages used the most basic, primitive, and simplest of Arcane knowledge, standing on the forefront of the war between the Humans, High Elves and the Troll Empire. Through fire and blood, the Mages shaped history and gained honor. For 2800 years, they embraced the glory of magic.


    This Arcane lesson led to the Magocrat Lords, and from them the Magocratic Nation of Dalaran, the Kirin Tor, the Violet Citadel, the Council of Tirisfal, the Guardian of Tirisfal, Aegwynn, and Medivh were brought into existence.


    A legendary Mage had also been born from this Arcane lesson. The infamous Undead Mage, Meryl Winterstorm.


    Being able to return to that era and attend this lesson, how could Sean not be excited?


    However, excitement would not be able to do him any good. Sean took seven full seconds to calm himself down and took note of the second clearance reward.


    [Clearance Reward 2: Lucky Wheel.]


    A huge wheel appeared in front of Sean. There were a total of six slots and each slot had a corresponding reward. After the wheel spun and stopped, Sean would obtain the reward the arrow pointed at.


    There were 100 random Garrison Resources, a Small Blueprint, a Green Potion, a horn-like Equipment, a green-glowing scroll, and an ancient spell book.


    Naturally, 100 random Garrison Resources was something Sean needed urgently. If he could obtain 100 Garrison Resources, a third of Sean''s Level 1 Town Hall would have been done. This slot''s area had covered half of the wheel of fortune.


    If he obtained the Small Blueprint, Sean would be able to start building the corresponding building. This slot covered only one-fourth of the wheel.


    Sean did not know exactly what the Green Potion was. However, he knew that, judging from its green halo, it was a Green Quality item. It was an item that was a level higher than White Quality items. This slot covered one-eighth of the wheel.


    The horn was a special item and it was a Green Quality item as well. This slot covered one-sixteenth of the wheel''s area.


    Sean did not know what scroll this was. It was also a Green Quality item and the slot covered one over thirty-two of the wheel of fortune''s area.


    The spell book was a book that had a Spell in it. It was not just a book, it was a book that had been enhanced with a huge amount of Magic. If Mages were to obtain this spell book, they would be able to cast Spells that they had yet to obtain. It was very practical and very valuable. The price of this spell book was not something that could be compared to the Kobold Shaman''s Staff and Dalaran Apprentice''s Robe. It would cost at least ten times if not a hundred times more.


    This slot covered one over thirty-two of the roulette''s area.


    ��

 Chapter 9锛欻arvest Golem

    Each of the rewards contained within the six slots were of differing values. The larger the area a slot occupied, the higher the chance it would be selected was, and at the same time, it also meant that its value was lower than the rest. As such, it was clear that the spell book''s worth was several magnitudes higher than 100 random Garrison Resources.


    In Sean''s point of view, the 100 random Garrison Resources was the most worthless among the rewards. After all, he only needed to toil away for a certain amount of time, and he was certain to collect a vast amount of Garrison Resources. From a logical standpoint, the resources were clearly the least valuable as they were the easiest to obtain.


    Sean also regarded the Small Blueprint as worthless. As he had yet to construct his Level 1 Town Hall, even if he were to obtain many Small Blueprints, it would do nothing to aid his current situation.


    After giving it some thought, Sean had found the Green Quality potion to be a decent reward. However, as there was no indication of what type of potion it was, it was hard to determine its exact worth.


    As for the horn, Sean believed the horn to be an extremely rare special item. Although there were only a few famous ones, each one was extremely valuable ,each serving a unique purpose.


    Similar to the potion, there was too much uncertainty to determine the scroll''s worth.


    Naturally,out of all the rewards, the spell book was the most valuable. At the same time, it was also the reward that Sean wanted the most.


    After taking in a deep breath, Sean spun the wheel.


    While his eyes shone with anticipation, the wheel gradually slowed down, and in the end, it landed on a certain slot.


    Fate did not smile on Sean, as he did not obtain the spell book nor scroll that he so desperately desired.


    However, fate had not completely abandoned him either, as he did not obtain the 100 Garrison Resources.


    Instead, what he had obtained was the Green Quality potion.


    Moreover, upon reading the description of the horn, Sean''s eyes immediately sparkled with delight.


    The concept of PM2.5 did not exist in Azeroth, and its morning air was especially fresh.


    A group of vagrants was engaged in conversation at a distance, telling stories of death and disaster, the happiness they had once been blessed with, and the sights they had come across during their journeys.


    Kids were playing about. With only a few sticks and stones, the kids had already experienced a fulfilling day.


    Teenagers toiled away in the fields. They were responsible for handling the wheat and pumpkins, as such, their job scope included culling weeds, catching pests, and watering the crops. This was all done for the sake of the harvest season, so that their family''s stomachs would not go empty.


    Old Saldean sat in the corner of the farm. With a wrench in his hands, he toiled away, repairing a Harvest Golem. Few had ever spoken of his past, but it was an undeniable fact that he was familiar with fixing golems. In truth, the two-meter tall Harvest Golem he was working on had been designed to kill. As a result, it possessed massive firepower.


    Had Old Saldean not gotten his hands on these Harvest Golems, would the vagrants behave this obediently? Of course not! Old Saldean''s farm would have been under new leadership without the golems in place!


    Meanwhile, the female owner of the farm, the kind and amicable Salma Saldean was preparing breakfast.


    Salma had a pretty high level of Cooking, and she was estimated to be around Mid-rank. Had she been on Earth, she would be qualified to be a Level 2 Professional Chef.


    Soon, it was time for a meal.


    As they were located on a huge farm, there was never a shortage of food. Moreover, to those who had no home to return to, the simple meals prepared were amazing delicacies.


    After eating breakfast, Sean set off to finish his chores. Once he was done, he headed over to Old Saldean''s side and observed as Old Saldean repaired the Harvest Golem.


    "Old Man Saldean, why are you always repairing the Harvest Golems? Why are they always broken? Did you create them? Are they strong? Can they defeat wild boars?"


    Sean''s eyes widened with enthusiasm as he fired off the chain of questions at Old Saldean.


    Frankly speaking, it was quite difficult for Sean, who was mentally 20 years old, to act like a 15-year-old teenager. However, Sean had given it his best to obtain a unique skill.


    After all, the Harvest Golems were no pushovers. They were powerful enough to be called the Westfall Newbie Killers, a testament to their strength. Furthermore, there were at least 8 Harvest Golems within Saldean''s Farm. If Sean were to get his hands on them, it would undoubtedly be a huge boost to him.


    Upon hearing Sean''s questions, Old Saldean raised his hand and gave Sean a look of shock. "Sean, you were never this talkative in the past! You''ve asked me a bunch of questions, where do you think I should start?"


    Sean scratched his head awkwardly. His little face was slightly red as he mentally berated himself.


    Along with the fact that he had never had parents, the previous Sean had always believed that he was inferior to his companions, as his body was different. He was depressed and rarely spoke to others, making him seem like a loner.


    However, after the soul of the 21st Century young adult, Sean, had transmigrated, the Sean of Azeroth had begun to speak more, albeit still not a healthy amount. Furthermore, as the current Sean was desperate to understand the world he was in, he had spoken to almost every person he met, earning himself the title of the farm''s ''Social Flower''.


    Nevertheless, Old Saldean had only said what he had on a whim.


    Over the past few days, Old Saldean had gotten used to Sean''s sudden talkativeness. He had assumed that Sean was turning over a new leaf and regarded it as a positive change. However, it had not even crossed his mind that the loner of the past had been replaced with a new soul.


    "These Harvest Golems have actually existed for a long, long time. They were passed down to me by my father. However, if you were to ask me about their origins, I couldn''t tell you. Not even my father knew. Although, I did hear that they were made by Gnomes. Say, did you know that despite their tiny brains, the little things are actually quite smart? They specialize in making weird creations like these."


    Old Saldean laughed out loud. "So, why do you ask, Sean? Do you like them? Let me tell you, these Harvest Golems are way more powerful than wild boars! Heck, even a pack of wolves would be no threat to these golems. Without these Harvest Golems, let''s just say that our farm would be doomed!"


    Sean was well aware of the Harvest Golems'' might, however, he could not expose himself, could he?


    As such, he feigned a look of surprise and yelled out, "Really? Old Man Saldean, can you teach me how to fix them? If anything were to happen to the golems, I could help you out! What do you say?"


    Sean endured the awkwardness that surged within his heart as he held Old Saldean''s arm and swung it around.


    Frankly speaking, even though Sean was 15, he was already way over the age where he was allowed to act like a spoiled child. However, since Sean was a Half-elf, when compared to the pure Humans of Azeroth, his delicate looks made him seem like he was 12. As such, despite being forced, Old Saldean regarded Sean''s actions as cute and accepted it.


    While he extended his calloused hand and rubbed Sean''s little head, Old Saldean grinned kindly and stated, "My dear Sean, repairing these golems is no easy task. It involves a lot of Engineering knowledge. Had I not been an Engineer in the past, I would never be able to repair these golems. Say, Sean, if you truly want to learn how to repair them, you''d better be prepared to put in a serious amount of effort!"


    Sean hurriedly answered, "No problem! I''m not afraid of hard work! Please, Old Man Saldean, can you teach me?"


    Old Man Saldean was delighted by Sean''s request.


    Out of all the kids he had taken in, Sean was the smartest, only held back by his sense of inferiority. However, now that Sean was starting to liven up, Old Saldean was extremely happy.


    Heck, Sean had even reminded him of his son.


    Yes, Old Saldean''s dead son. He was smart and lively, similar to the present Sean. However, he had been taken by the mercilessness of war. ''If my son were still alive, he''d be quite old, right?''


    As Old Saldean wandered within his thoughts, tears began to stream from his eyes.


    A measure for air pollutants contained in the ai

 Chapter 10锛歋earching for Golem Hearts

    "Old Man Saldean?" Sean had spotted the tears running down Old Saldean eyes and called out to him.


    Old Saldean quickly wiped away his tears, and he responded with a smile, "Come, Sean, I''ll teach you��"


    With that, a day had gone by in a blink of an eye.


    The Harvest Golems were much easier to understand than what Sean had assumed.


    ''Frankly speaking, compared to what''s found on Earth, the technology here is way worse. At best, their technology is around the level of the Second Industrial Revolution. However, due to the presence of magic, even simple machines were capable of carrying out tasks that were impossible for the most complex of machines back on Earth.


    In addition to the four limbs and torso that made a Harvest Golem, they also required a ''Golem Heart''. It was the most important component of a Harvest Golem.


    All of the Harvest Golem''s strength, intelligence, and programming came from the Golem Heart. Without it, the golem would cease to function.


    Old Saldean had inherited these Golem Hearts from his father. They were unable to be replicated or manufactured, and should they break down, even Old Saldean would have no way of repairing them. The only problems that Old Saldean was able to fix were those that were related to the limbs and torso. For example, if there were any damaged, broken, or rusted parts, Old Saldean would be able to repair them.


    As an engineering graduate, the technicalities of golem-repair did not pose too much trouble for Sean.


    After spending a whole day of effort, Sean had finally mastered the skills required to repair the Harvest Golems. It would not be an exaggeration to say that, if he were to acquire a Golem Heart and some other necessary materials, Sean would be able to create a Harvest Golem of his own.


    However, with Sean''s current knowledge of the world, he was unable to understand the mechanisms of the Golem Hearts and, as a result, was unable to replicate it.


    Sean opened up the Properties Interface and switched to the Skills Panel. It was then that he realized he had earned a new skill.


    "Engineering �� Apprentice"


    By becoming an Apprentice Engineer, Sean had earned the ability to create basic gadgets. This, however, did not interest Sean.


    In his view, his most substantial gain today was the Harvest Golem-repairing skills he had acquired, along with the ability to control them. With this, Sean had improved his combat strength by quite a significant amount.


    What surprised Sean, however, was that the Spatial Garrison had given him a new quest.


    [Side Quest: Golem Hearts]


    [Objective: Obtain 10 Golem Hearts.]


    [Reward: Small Building Blueprint (Golem Factory)]


    After eating dinner, Sean lay on his bed. Using his arm as a pillow, Sean shut his eyes in contemplation.


    "10 Golem Hearts?"


    Sean rubbed his chin, and with his eyes still closed, he began calculating.


    There were at least five farms in Westfall, and each farm contained Harvest Golems of their own. Besides those from the farms, there was a possibility that there were rogue Harvest Golems scattered around Westfall as well. If Sean were to total them all up, there should be at least 50 Harvest Golems, which was by no means a small number.


    However, these Harvest Golems were guards posted within their own farms. Without their presence, none of the farms would be peaceful. As such, Sean dared not lay a finger on them, otherwise, Old Man Saldean would be the first person to come after him.


    ''Maybe I should look for the rogue Harvest Golems?''


    As Westfall was a huge area, it would take Sean several months to completely explore. This was time he could not spare, plus, he did not have the determination and stamina for it as well.


    "Is there no other way?"


    After giving it some more thought, an idea flashed across his mind.


    "Oh yeah, the quest only states that it requires Golem Hearts. There''s no mention that the Golem Hearts had to be in perfect condition! After all these years, there''s bound to be a few Harvest Golems that have broken down, right? Maybe, I can use Golem Hearts from broken Harvest Golems for my quest!"


    On that note, Sean leaped off his bed and ran to look for Old Saldean.


    "Old Man Saldean! Old Man Saldean!"


    A series of thumps resounded from the floor as Sean rushed towards Old Saldean''s room.


    A moment later, Old Saldean opened his door, and with an angry expression, he said, "Sean! Why are you making so much noise instead of staying in bed?! What do you want?"


    Sean caught a whiff of the sharp smell coming out of the room. It was a VERY familiar smell, and upon noticing Old Saldean''s messy clothes, disheveled hair, and reddened face, Sean took a peek into the dark room. Upon making out the vague figure of Salma Saldean, Sean''s face instantly turned red.


    ''The Saldeans were playing a baby-making game and I interrupted them? This is bad!''


    ''No wonder Old Saldean is mad! If this happened to me, I would''ve been mad too!''


    However, since Sean had already interrupted Old Saldean''s fun, he decided to thicken his skin and ask, "Umm, Old Man Saldean, I learned how to repair Harvest Golems today, right? I was wondering, could I borrow a Golem''s Heart to study? I still don''t understand the Golem Hearts. I don''t need a perfect one though, a broken one would do just fine��"


    Sean''s voice gradually softened as his courage dissipated like the air within a balloon, disappearing within the howling winds coming from the room��''Wait, why is there wind coming from the room?!''


    After taking a glance at Sean, Old Saldean''s expression improved slightly.


    ''Oho, so Sean wishes to research Golem Hearts, eh?''


    ''It had only been a day, but that was all it took for Sean to master repairing the Harvest Golems. This kid''s an Engineering genius! If I were to introduce him to the Engineers of Stormwind City, or maybe the Stonemasons Guild��''


    The moment the Stonemasons Guild crossed his mind, Old Saldean''s expression turned dark, and he cut off his thoughts. He then answered, "The broken Harvest Golems are stored inside the east warehouse. Look for them yourself. However, don''t get your hopes up, after all, only Expert Engineers are able to understand it��"


    Before Old Saldean had even completed his sentence, Sean had already happily left, leaving Old Saldean behind with a surprised expression. He had meant to continue with, "I''ll be bringing you to Goldshire in the next two days. I''ll introduce you to the Engineers there and make them take you on as an apprentice��"


    Sean had no intention of becoming an Apprentice Engineer with no future. After all, his dream was to become a Mage that was known throughout the land.


    Upon reaching the east warehouse, Sean opened the door, and through the moonlight that filtered past the doors, he noticed the abandoned Harvest Golems.


    They were around three meters in height and were obvious to spot. They looked just like Gundams.


    However��


    ''Why are there only two golems?''


    Sean widened his eyes in surprise.


    It had not even occurred to him that after all these years, only two Harvest Golems would break down. However, after giving it some thought, Sean realized that Old Saldean had probably played a huge role in it.


    After all, Old Saldean would immediately set off to repair the golems the moment a problem occurred. By doing so, Old Saldean had greatly extended the lifespans of the Harvest Golems, and as such, Sean could understand how only two golems had broken down.


    However, if that were the case, it had also meant that Sean''s hope had been crushed.


    As he dejectedly dug out the two Golem Hearts and placed them into his inventory, Sean shook his head and muttered to himself, "It seems that I''ll need to visit the other farms. I do hope that there are more broken Harvest Golems in those farms. Otherwise, this quest will be quite a pain to complete."

 Chapter 11锛歍he Genius, Young Engineer

    The second morning.


    Transmigrators were truly fated to be lucky. Although they usually were not able to find gemstones simply by slipping, things like that did happen when they had a lucky break.


    Old Saldean called Sean after breakfast.


    "Sean, two Harvest Golems have broken down at Furlbrow''s Farm to the north and Furlbrow has asked me to fix them. Do you want to come along? I''m close to the Furlbrow Family, and if you''re able to fix one of the Harvest Golems, I''ll ask them to reward you with 1 Gold Coin."


    1 Gold Coin!


    Young Sean had never seen such an astronomical amount of money before. Even with all his savings, he only had 1 Silver and 32 Copper Coins. Compared to the other orphans Old Saldean had adopted, this was already considered a huge amount.


    However, Sean now had the opportunity to earn 1 Gold Coin! In an instant, his wealth would be multiplied multiple times. It would be a waste for him to not loan out his money at high interest rates!


    Frankly speaking, Sean was not shocked because of the money. What he really did not understand was Old Saldean promising to ask Furlbrow to give him one Gold Coin as a reward.


    It should not cost that much to fix a Harvest Golem. 10 Silver Coins were more than enough. Since Old Saldean had made such an offer, it must mean that he had a strong affection for and high hopes in Sean!


    ''Oh right, I think I heard Old Saldean saying something when I ran off yesterday. It''s unfortunate that I left too quickly and didn''t hear him clearly. I wonder if Old Saldean was trying to tell me something important.''


    However, that did not matter at the moment. What Sean needed to do right now was to accept Old Saldean''s offer.


    "Don''t you worry Old Man Saldean. I''ll definitely fix that Harvest Golem!" Sean patted his chest in confidence.


    As Old Saldean looked at the young Sean acting like an adult, he imagined the future version of Sean in a cool suit and with his hair combed into an adult''s hairstyle. He could not help but let out a complicated smile when he imagined it.


    "If only Sean was my child. What a blessing that would be!"


    Unfortunately, there were no ''ifs'' in this world.


    Westfall was vast and there were many farms scattered around in the north. The most famous of them were Saldean''s Farm and Furlbrow''s Farm. These two farms could be considered as neighbors as the distance between them was not large. However, on foot, it would take them a few hours.


    Fortunately, Old Saldean was rich and had a horse on the farm. Riding the horse was much faster than walking.


    Soon, Sean and Old Saldean left Saldean''s Farm. They traveled along a small road and arrived at Furlbrow''s Farm.


    Furlbrow''s Farm was also known as Furlbrow''s Pumpkin Farm because this farm only grew pumpkins.


    An explanation was required here. As Azeroth was covered by Arcane Energy, the influence of temperature, humidity, light source, the growth cycle of crops was different from Earth. Simply put, plants could grow for all four seasons and could be harvested multiple times in a year.


    Hence, Furlbrow''s Farm focused on growing pumpkins all year round.


    Rumor had it that Furlbrow''s Pumpkins were not only sold throughout Westfall, but they were also exported to Europe�� Ah no, they were sold in Elwynn Forest, Stormwind City, Stormwind Harbor, and even other cities in Azeroth. At least one-third of the pumpkins in Stormwind City were supplied by Furlbrow''s Farm.


    Rumor had it that many nobles from the north only accepted Furlbrow''s pumpkins and refused to eat pumpkins from any other farm.


    As a result, the Furlbrow''s Family was incredibly rich. They were a lot richer compared to Old Saldean.


    However, the family did not really have a good ending. In this era of chaos and war, the rich Furlbrows were like a gigantic light bulb, attracting the attention of countless people.


    Eventually, their farm was taken over by the Defias Brotherhood. Stranded, they joined the People''s Militia and traveled across Westfall. The Westfall People''s Militia evolved into the Westfall Brigade and joined the Alliance''s Northrend Expeditionary Force. As part of the Expeditionary Force, they battled against the Worgen Wolfcult in Grizzly Hills. Soon after returning from Northrend, Furlbrow, his wife, and his beloved horse were murdered under mysterious circumstances.


    Many people suspected that the Furlbrow Family had been murdered by the Defias Brotherhood.


    However, at the moment, the Furlbrow Family was living a good life.


    It took a full hour for Sean to finish repairing one Harvest Golem. In fact, he had even finished faster than Old Saldean.


    Sean wiped away his sweat and screamed, "Uncle Furlbrow, I''m done!"


    Furlbrow was younger than Saldean and was still very fit. When he saw that Sean had finished repairing the Harvest Golem, he laughed loudly as he shoved one Gold Coin into Sean''s hand and said, "Haha Sean. You''re more amazing than Old Saldean! In my opinion, youngsters like you should go out and make a living on your own instead of nesting in this deserted Westfall! Stormwind City is much better. Why don''t you go there? You belong there!"


    Furlbrow''s words were very persuasive but Sean was not affected by them at all.


    He knew that the current Stormwind City was chaotic and dangerous. King Varian had been abducted and Lady Onyxia of the Black Dragonflight was wreaking havoc. Stormwind City was no place for any man and he would certainly not go there.


    Westfall was much better!


    Although the three powerhouses, the Gnolls, Murlocs, and the Defias Brotherhood made everyone''s life miserable, it was not that bad.


    Murlocs and Gnolls did not pose that much of a threat and the Defias Brotherhood were basically a bunch of farmers that were forced to kill. As long as Sean had his foundations set in stone, he had no reason to fear.


    After all, there were a few farms that were peaceful, no?


    "Haha, I''ll be frank with you, Furlbrow. I''m planning to take Sean to Goldshire to become an Apprentice Engineer! Hehe, this kid has got some brains! He''s smart and has a bright future!"


    Old Saldean had finally finished repairing the Harvest Golem. He put down his tools and wiped the sweat off his head.


    "Old man, you''ve got a good idea there. I see Sean has a bright future ahead and I''m sure he won''t waste his life here in Westfall!" Furlbrow patted Sean''s shoulder and spoke to Old Saldean, "Old man, I''m sorry but I still have another thing that I need your help with. Hehe. I plan to chop down a few trees to fix my house, but I realized that the shredder is spoiled. Do you mind taking a look at it?"


    Old Saldean frowned. "A shredder? Furlbrow, that isn''t something I''m good at, but I can give it a try. I don''t mind since I need Sean''s help but I don''t think he should be doing free work, right? How about this, why don''t you give him another Gold Coin as a reward?"


    Furlbrow did not know what to say. "Old man, you''re really calculative! Do you think I don''t know you? How can a shredder be harder to repair than a Harvest Golem? Whatever, I know you''re doing this for Sean. I''ll give him the Gold Coin!"


    Sean''s eyes shone brightly the instant he heard the word shredder as he listened to the two speaking. "Uncle Furlbrow, I don''t need any reward. Instead, when I''m done fixing it, why don''t you teach me how to use the shredder and let me borrow it for a while. How about that? I want to build a house�� It''s too stifling being squeezed in with the other kids!"


    Old Saldean said rudely, "Kids? Aren''t you one of them? Fine fine. I''ll help you to build a house then. I''ll build a house so big that you can use it when you find a wife! Judging from your age, it''s about time you get married, no?"


    Furlbrow burst into laughter upon hearing it.


    Sean''s face turned red instantly.


    ��

 Chapter 12锛欽angolode Mine

    Indeed, the shredder was much easier to fix than the Harvest Golem as the structure was simpler. Soon, Old Saldean was done fixing the shredder. Since Sean had been standing by the old man''s side, he understood the structure of the shredder. In fact, he had even got the chance to try operating it.


    In Sean''s past life, he had driven tricycles, four-wheelers, tractors, electric cars, and motorcycles. In fact, Sean had even obtained a Class C driver''s license and had no trouble operating the shredder. Old Saldean and Furlbrow praised him endlessly as they watched.


    Furlbrow had even expressed publicly that the shredder would be lent to Sean. Since he was in no hurry to use it, Sean could use it as long as he pleased.


    Ever since he had arrived at the farm, Sean had been thinking about his main goal. He asked shamelessly, "Uncle Furlbrow, uhm�� I''m currently researching Harvest Golems and I''m looking for a few broken Golem Hearts. I wonder if you have any here�� Don''t you worry, if my research succeeds, I''ll definitely make a few Harvest Golems for you!"


    Furlbrow was slightly taken aback before he patted Sean''s head and laughed out loud. "Sean, I didn''t know you had such a huge ambition! Alright alright alright, I''ll wait for your good news! I have five broken Harvest Golems here. Since they''re just laying around here, I''ll give all of them to you!"


    Sean cheered the instant he heard there were five units here!


    In addition to the two Golem Hearts back in Saldean''s Farm, Sean would have a total of 7 Golem Hearts! This meant that he was 3 Golem Hearts away from finishing the quest.


    Perhaps he would be able to collect enough by visiting another farm.


    Sean and Old Saldean went back home. The former drove the shredder while the latter rode his beloved horse.


    By the time they returned to Saldean''s Farm, it was already evening.


    The three-meter tall shredder looked incredibly majestic and had attracted a lot of attention. Everyone realized that the depressed and cowardly Sean had changed. He had become confident, cheerful, and gave off a different vibe.


    "Our little Sean is a grown man. Not only does he know how to fix a Harvest Golem, but he knows how to drive a shredder as well? Amazing, simply amazing!" The lady of the farm, Salma Saldean said with a cheerful look on her face.


    Sean was so embarrassed that he shook his head.


    The wilderness of Westfall at night was so dangerous that it was not safe to travel. Sean lay in his bed after dinner and shut his eyes.


    Back when Sean was still on Earth, his career involved pipelines and construction. Hence, he had some knowledge of buildings. As he recalled his experience, he started coming up with a blueprint in his head.


    What he had said earlier had not been a lie.


    Naturally, the main reason Sean had borrowed the shredder was to collect Wood. However, he also really wanted to build a house for himself.


    After all, Sean had too many secrets that nobody must know, making it inconvenient to continue living in Old Saldean''s home. Additionally, Sean''s soul had already matured and he felt rather awkward hanging out with a bunch of kids.


    The trees on Azeroth were very different from those on Earth.


    Due to Azeroth''s unique environment, the trees would absorb the Arcane Energy that was floating in the air. After some time, not only would the quality of the wood improve, but it would also provide some form of Magic Resistance.


    For example, a house made of wood that had high fire resistance would not burn down. After a huge fire, the house would still be in a near perfect state.


    Westfall was incredibly near to Elwynn Forest, Duskwood, and Stranglethorn Vale. These three locations were rich in plant life. Only Westfall''s wilderness was desolate and did not have a single tree. If Sean wished to find enough trees to cut down, he would have to spend a lot of effort to do so.


    However, Sean had another idea that he had yet to put into action. If this idea worked, Sean''s future life would be incredibly amazing.


    On the second day, Sean drove the shredder to the west of Saldean''s Farm, towards the infamous Jangolode Mine.


    For the past few years, a group of Kobolds, under the leadership of a master digger, had occupied Jangolode Mine. They had teamed up with the Defias Brotherhood, selling minerals that were extracted to the Defias Brotherhood and also helping the Defias Brotherhood build Golems and Battleships.


    The Jangolode Mine was literally a tiger''s den for the citizens of Westfall. The reason Sean came here was that he wanted to test something and the reason he wanted to perform this test was that he had obtained something good for clearing the Kobold''s Lair.


    [Kobold War Horn (Westfall). Green Quality, Uncommon Item.]


    [Effect 1: Kobold Affinity +1. Westfall Kobold Affinity +5. Spirit +1.]


    [Effect 2: When the Kobold War Horn is blown, Westfall''s Kobolds may be commanded.]


    [Usage 10 minutes / 10 minutes. Effect lasts for 30 minutes. This old war horn is on the verge of destruction and will turn into dust after being used for more than 10 minutes. Please use it with caution.]


    [A token from the ancient Kobolds and a symbol to the heroic Kobolds that fought in the war. We''ll listen to your command if you blow it!]


    One would not know how amazing this item was until one took a second look at it.


    Sean knew that if this Kobold War Horn were to be used properly, it would be a deadly weapon at his disposal. It will certainly play a huge role if used at a critical moment.


    The purpose of Sean''s visit that day was to personally test if this horn would be of any use at all.


    The Kobolds liked the darkness and feared the sun. As the sun was shining brightly in the middle of the sky, they were currently hiding inside the mine. Only two or three of them would be stationed outside as sentries. These were Sean''s targets.


    Sean cautiously approached closer. When he was no more than 20 meters away from Jangolode Mine, he intentionally made some noise and hid behind a huge boulder.


    "@��%%**��*%��#��@!"


    The sound had obviously alerted the three Kobolds. They, with their inferior intelligence, did not leave someone to stand guard. Instead, all three of them, with their candles, approached Sean.


    Sean waited for the three of them to get close before revealing himself and blowing the Kobold War Horn.


    Sean used only a minute amount of his strength and, as a result, the sound was incredibly weak.


    The deep sound traveled no more than 20 meters away from Jangolode Mine. Only the three Kobolds could hear the sound of the war horn.


    Sean did not know what kind of magic was contained in the war horn, whether it was the frequency being different or it had some sort of unique sound. Regardless, the instant the war horn was blown, the three Kobolds were instantly tricked by Sean�� Wait no, the Kobolds were instantly tricked by the war horn.


    All of a sudden, it was as if the three Kobolds had seen their almighty, glorious, and intelligent leader. He was the great herald of war that only appeared in old legends. He was the greatest existence, an immortal legend, and now, he had appeared before them.


    One should not question how they knew he was the great herald of war. He just was!


    They could feel the blood in their bodies boiling, as if water was being boiled inside of a pressure cooker at 120��C. It was an incredibly exciting and powerful strength that filled them with the urge to fight.


    The Kobolds screamed and sang ancient war songs in their native tongue.


    They were so excited that they turned blood-red. Their bodies trembled and their throats were on fire.


    ��

 Chapter 13锛欿obold鈥檚 Bloodbath

    Sean could not understand them at all.


    Only a handful of Kobolds knew how to speak Common and it was obvious that these three inferior Kobolds were not included.


    The Kobolds were a sentient race that had just begun its primitive society and they possessed their own language. Their language was rather simple, which suited their inferior intellect. Due to their small brain capacity and lack of knowledge, they found it hard to understand an advanced and complex language such as Common.


    Only the smartest of their race, the Shamans could understand a small portion of it.


    Sean did not understand the Kobold language.


    However, Sean was not dumb.


    He understood the instant he saw the scene. The war horn in his hand had come into effect!


    "Hmm, why don''t the three of you go back in and push out three carts worth of minerals for me!" Sean ordered.


    He felt like slapping himself the instant he gave his command.


    How could these three Kobolds understand his words?


    However, what happened next stunned Sean.


    He did not know why, but the three Kobolds ran in immediately. One of them even chattered about.


    ""!@��@#...��%*"


    As a precaution, Sean climbed up a huge tree at the side.


    Thanks to this healthy tree and its dense branches and leaves, Sean was completely hidden. It would be impossible to spot Sean if one did not pay a closer look.


    One could not help but be impressed. A Kobold''s strength and endurance seemed to be limitless when it was riled up.


    Fifteen minutes later, the three Kobolds each pushed out a cart filled with minerals as they charged towards Sean. Behind them were a bunch of Kobolds, pushing out carts of minerals as well.


    Sean was completely dumbfounded.


    Never in his dreams had he imagined that the three Kobolds would lead so many Kobolds over.


    However, ecstasy soon could be seen on his face.


    There were at least ten carts!


    Although the Kobolds'' carts were only one-third the size of a human''s, the amount was still quite large since there were at least ten of them.


    This was basically wealth landing in his laps!


    Additionally, Sean finally had a better understanding of just how valuable the war horn in his hand was. In fact, he had no further desire to use the war horn and decided to carry the carts back himself.


    It should only be used at the most critical moment!


    However, he had no choice but to use it again or the Kobolds that were not hypnotized would certainly charge at him and rip him into pieces when they saw his human form.


    Hence, Sean sounded the war horn once more and shouted.


    "My friends! Leave the carts you''re carrying and run in the opposite direction! Run straight towards the coast! We need to engage in battle now! Our first target is those damned Murlocs! Kill the Murlocs! Defeat the Murlocs! Let''s conquer all of Westfall!"


    The Kobolds cheered in unison under the influence of the war horn as they charged towards the coast.


    That day, a huge war erupted.


    That day, there was a river of blood.


    That day, the number of Kobolds in Jangolode Mine dropped by a third.


    That day, the Murlocs by the Gold Coast encountered the most terrifying ambush and lost half of their numbers.


    That day, war cries shook the sky and the citizens of Westfall lived in fear.


    That day, the guards of Sentinel Hill gathered together and entered level-one alert.


    That day, the Defias Brotherhood held an emergency meeting and all its leaders were present.


    That day, Sean''s earnings were off the charts.


    Sean put away the Kobold War Horn without any hesitation the instant the Kobolds turned around and rushed towards the coast. He picked up the minerals in the carts with both of his hands and placed them into his spatial bag.


    As he finished throwing all of the minerals into the spatial bag, Sean picked up a cart and placed it into the spatial bag as well.


    Then, a problem arose.


    The spatial bag was full!


    Sean had no choice but to convert the cart into Garrison Resources.


    There were only three carts left after converting some ten carts into four points of Garrison Resources. Sean then started feeling tired. He had no choice but to place the three carts onto the shredder, driving it back to Saldean''s Farm.


    After hiding the three carts in the warehouse, Sean was physically and mentally tired and immediately went to bed.


    It had been a long time since he slept this soundly. He even had a good dream. He dreamt that he really had become the leader of the Kobolds, the general of an endless Kobold army that had toppled the Alliance''s power in Draenor and Argus. He then led his armies to fight against the Pantheon and the Burning Legion��


    Then, he woke up.


    Sean opened his sleepy eyes and was greeted with a pair of concerned eyes.


    Sean rubbed his eyes. It was Old Saldean.


    Old Saldean was incredibly excited as he kept dancing about.


    "Old Man Saldean, are you high on drugs?" Sean asked.


    "Pfft, you''re the one who''s high on drugs! Get up now and follow me to meet Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle! He''s a very authoritative man and Westfall''s legend! If it wasn''t for Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle standing up to the Defias Brotherhood when the latter were wreaking havoc and setting up The People''s Militia at Westfall''s Sentinel Hill to protect Westfall, we farmers wouldn''t be living this comfortably right now!"


    Old Saldean''s face was filled with respect whenever he mentioned the name Gryan Stoutmantle.


    ''Gryan Stoutmantle?''


    ''Who''s that?''


    ''Wait a minute��''


    ''The People''s Militia at Westfall?''


    ''Gryan Stoutmantle?''


    ''Oh, so it''s him!''


    Information regarding Gryan Stoutmantle gradually surfaced in Sean''s head.


    Meanwhile, Old Saldean was busy chattering about beside him.


    As he pieced the information together, a figure appeared in Sean''s head.


    Gryan Stoutmantle. He was the classic example of a Paladin and a member of the Knights of the Silver Hand. Gryan was credited for his effort back when he fought against Lordaeron''s Scourge army.


    Gryan Stoutmantle was already quite old back then. The war had fatigued him greatly and he decided to return to his hometown, Moonbrook in Westfall, prepared to spend the rest of his life there.


    He had never once mentioned his glorious and amazing past to anyone. All he wanted was to live the rest of his life peacefully.


    However, the Defias Brotherhood was already terrorizing Westfall. They had even teamed up with the Goblins, Gnolls, and Kobolds to rob traveling merchants, terrorize farms, and rob the nation''s gold ores. They had even taken over Stormwind City''s trading hub in Westfall, Moonbrook after the garrison had left.


    Coincidentally, Moonbrook was also Gryan Stoutmantle''s hometown.


    Old Gryan had been determined to stay away from war. Furthermore, he alone would not be able to face the entire Defias Brotherhood. Hence, he decided to not make any moves. What was important was that he hoped that the nobles from Stormwind City would send a team of elites to deal with the Defias Brotherhood so that peace could once again return back to Westfall.


    The Westbrook Garrison, which was located in Elwynn Forest was a few days trip from Moonbrook. There, Stormwind City''s elite troops were stationed along with a huge number of mechanical weapons made by the Dwarves. It would be a piece of cake if they were to face off against the Defias Brotherhood.


    After all, the Defias Brotherhood back then was still a group of homeless masons.


    However, Old Gryan was incredibly upset with reality.


    ��

 Chapter 14锛欸ryan Stoutmantle

    For a whole two months, Stormwind City did not send out a single soldier, and neither did the Westbrook Garrison. As a result, Moonbrook had fallen and Westfall was plunged into chaos.


    Just as everyone had given up hope, a 59-year-old Gryan stood up.


    As if he was still in his glory days, when he still led a squad in the Knights of the Silver Hand, Gryan formed a militia composed of farmers, retired soldiers, and a few specially requested individuals at an extraordinary speed.


    With that, the People''s Militia of Westfall was established. It was an army that was created by the people of Westfall and served to protect the people of Westfall.


    Back then, Gyran had appeared to the victims just like the Holy Light he had devoted his entire life to. He illuminated their lives that were devoid of hope and banded them together, preparing them for battle against the Defias Brotherhood.


    Frankly speaking, however, the band of thieves were actually a disorganized force. As such, Old Gryan was able to lead the people to defend the final stronghold, Sentinel Hill, dealing a massive blow to the Defias bandits. In the end, Old Gryan had dispatched a small combat force in the hopes that they would be able to assassinate the Defias Brotherhood''s mastermind, Edwin Vancleef.


    Indeed, the Defias Brotherhood, which had spread throughout Westfall, permeated Elwynn Forest, Duskwood, Stranglethorn Vale, and even Stormwind City, had finally met a fearsome opponent, Old Gyran.


    That was who Old Gryan was.


    That was Gryan Stoutmantle.


    That was the person who Old Saldean had respected.


    However, all of this was beside the point.


    Sean was well aware that as the commander of the People''s Militia and the Marshal of Sentinel Hill, Gryan had no reason to appear in Saldean''s Farm.


    ''Is he patrolling the area?''


    ''No, Westfall is such a huge place, and Gryan only has 300 or so subordinates. There''s no way he''s here for a patrol.''


    ''To replenish their food stocks?''


    ''No, that can''t be it. Stormwind City doesn''t provide Old Gryan any resources, and while Old Gryan accepts any form of help he can get, he''s still unable to pay his subordinates. So, there''s no way he can afford food, and as a result, all the troops stationed at Sentinel Hill were suffering from hunger.


    ''So, what is he here for?''


    Sean could not wrap his mind around Gryan''s visit.


    "Old man, why is Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle here?" Sean asked, interrupting Old Saldean''s long speech.


    "Oh, didn''t I mention it to you?" Old Saldean had a confused expression on his face, and it was only after he saw Sean''s resolute nod that he answered, "Oh okay. So, here''s the thing, something huge happened yesterday! For some reason, the Kobolds from Jangolode Mine and the Murlocs on the Gold Coast fought against one another! I heard that the Kobolds were the ones who attacked the Murlocs, and the Murlocs suffered heavy casualties. However, the Kobolds didn''t fare any better, and due to their clash, Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle has personally come down along with his troops to patrol the area."


    Sean nodded absently.


    ''So that''s why!''


    Sentinel Hill was located in the center of Westfall, whereas the Jangalode Mine was located in the Northwest, and the Gold Coast was the coastline on the northern end of Westfall.


    Since Old Gryan''s goal was to investigate the battle between the Kobolds and the Murlocs, he would indeed pass through the sparsely located farms on the northern end of Westfall. As such, Old Gryan''s visit to Saldean''s Farm was not without reason.


    Old Saldean added with an excited expression, "Oh yeah, I mentioned this to you last time, I''ll be heading to Goldshire within the next two days. You''ll be tagging along with me, and while we''re there, I''ll introduce you to the Engineers there and make you their apprentice, so that you can learn all sorts of Engineering-related knowledge. Well, our opportunity has finally arrived! After Marshal Gryan has patrolled the Jangolode Mine and the Gold Coast, he''ll be heading to Goldspire to purchase a bulk of armor and weapons. I plan on going together with him, since it''s safer that way, and I''ll be bringing you along as well!"


    Upon hearing Old Saldean''s words, Sean''s heart began to thump with excitement.


    After Old Saldean''s first mention of the Goldshire visit, Sean had already started planning his next move.


    At that point of time, Sean had several good items, namely, the Refined Iron Dagger, the Kobold Shaman''s Staff, and the Dalaran Apprentice''s Robe. Although they were only White Quality items, they were considered quite decent. Moreover, unlike the Refined Iron Dagger, Sean was unable to use the two other items. As such, he would rather sell them off and obtain other items he needed more.


    Thus, he would need to visit a crowded town to perform this action. Coincidentally, however, Goldshire, the town closest to him was the perfect place to do so.


    Although tagging along with Old Saldean was fine and all, traveling along with Gryan Stoutmantle was even better. Not only would doing so guarantee their safety, but should the opportunity arise, Sean might even be able to interact and make friends with Gryan Stoutmantle. That was the best possible outcome.


    After all, be it on Earth or Azeroth, networking with others was still an important aspect of life.


    Sean was overjoyed.


    However, not long after, Sean''s face had turned a ghastly pale, and his body was frozen stiff.


    The moment he met Gryan Stoutmantle, Gryan immediately brought Sean into the warehouse and pointed at the three minecarts Sean had ordered the Kobolds to obtain. In a frigidly cold tone, he asked, "Sean, would you mind explaining these three minecarts? How did you get your hands on them?"


    "If I were to say that I picked them up by chance, or that the minecarts have always been here, would you adults believe me?" Sean feigned a look of innocence as he narrowed his eyes and raised his ea�� No, his two tiny hands.


    Gryan Stoutmantle stared at Sean for a few seconds before shaking his head and answering, "I doubt it. You sly brat, do you really think that just because you hid the minecarts within this warehouse, no one would notice it? I have a witness!"


    ''A witness?''


    Sean was dumbfounded.


    ''Did someone really catch me in the act? That''s not possible. I was extremely careful yesterday, and by the time I returned, the sky was already dark. Who would be free enough to linger around the warehouse and notice me?''


    ''Unless��''


    ''Wait, could it be? Did Gryan Stoutmantle plant men in Saldean''s Farm?''


    Sean stared at Gryan Stoutmantle suspiciously. When he noticed the sly expression on Gryan''s face, he could hear the gears snapping into place in his mind, as he had finally understood the situation.


    ''This cunning fox is trying to trick me!''


    ''He doesn''t have any witnesses!''


    Sean feigned a terrified expression as he hurriedly waved his hands, saying, "No, no, that''s impossible! I was operating the shredder yesterday, and since I wasn''t able to locate any usable lumber, I only returned at night. However, even then, I didn''t notice any minecarts! That''s weird, where did these minecarts even come from? What a mystery!"


    The most effective lies were those that were laced with the truth. Out of everything Sean had said, only a small part of it was false, whereas everything else was true. It was only via this method that Sean could make his lie seem believable.


    Sean immediately admitted that he had operated the shredder the previous day. After all, there was no use in hiding it, as Gryan only needed to ask around to get the answer. Moreover, as Sean was still a newbie in using the machine, and since he was still a child, it was normal for him to be unable to locate any viable source of lumber!


    Sean could not help but praise his own intellect.


    However, his celebration was cut short, as Gryan Stoutmantle had brought out a lump of ore from nowhere and displayed it in front of Sean. He then stated, "You slick lil brat, so you DO admit that you''ve used the shredder yesterday, right? Well then, how do you explain this ore that I found on the machine?"

 Chapter 15锛歁age Class Quest

    As Sean rubbed his eyes and stared at the ore that Gryan held, he became stunned.


    There were only a few mines across Westfall. And among them, there was only one place where the shredder could make a day''s trip and return, Jangolode Mine. As a result, Sean was unable to offer an explanation. Was it not too obvious what had happened?


    Sean could only blame himself for being too worn out last night. He was too occupied with hiding the minecarts that he had forgotten to inspect the shredder to see if he had left any clues.


    Sean completely neglected the fact that had he not greedily taken the minecarts, Gryan would not have connected the dots to Jangolode Mine and inspected the shredder...


    Wait, that was not right!


    A correct way to put it was Gryan had probably inspected the shredder first, found the ore and then connected the dots to Jangolode Mine. The end result was Gryan confronting Sean.


    If that was the case, why had Gryan inspected the machine in the first place?


    It was Old Saldean''s loud appraisal of Sean that had piqued Gryan''s interest! In fact, Old Saldean may have even personally invited Gryan to take a look at the shredder!


    What a troublesome teammate!


    Sean naturally filtered out another pressing question.


    Without his extraordinary performance, would Old Saldean even praise him every time he met someone?


    Regardless, Gryan already had his suspicions fixed onto Sean.


    Fortunately, there were no eye-witnesses. Gryan was still merely hypothesizing.


    Sean immediately pretended that his little secret had been revealed, acting ashamed, he murmured, "Well, about that�� Sir, it actually goes like this�� Yesterday, I was going high and low searching for wood, and unknowingly, I bumped into Jangolode Mine and witnessed a bizarre incident��"


    "What bizarre incident?" Old Gryan asked.


    Sean answered, "I saw a group of Kobolds charging in the direction of the Gold Coast. They even abandoned their carts. Then, greed got a hold of me. So I loaded three carts near the mine entrance onto my shredder and drove back."


    Naturally, Gryan felt that this reply matched his theory. He asked further, "In that case, why did you only bring back three minecarts? Your shredder is capable of loading at least five carts."


    Sean cried, "I wouldn''t dare! There were only three carts parked at Jangolode Mine''s entrance, the rest were inside. What if there were still Kobolds in there? I wouldn''t dare enter to search for more. If they saw me, I couldn''t run away even if I wanted to!"


    Actually, Kobolds had short legs. One could easily outrun them��


    Upon hearing his explanation, Old Gryan finally lowered his suspicions of Sean.


    In reality, it was almost impossible for Old Gryan to have thought that the culprit behind yesterday''s bloodbath was none other than Sean Connery himself. He speculated that the biggest role Sean could have played was a bystander who profited from the situation. He had only hoped that Sean could explain the reason behind the Kobolds'' attack on the Murlocs on the Gold Coast, though he did not have high expectations.


    "Sly little one, do you know why the Kobolds attacked the Murlocs on the Gold Coast?" Gryan asked.


    Here, Gryan had set up another trap.


    The Kobolds'' attack on the Murlocs had become widespread news. However, if it was true that Sean slept immediately after he returned last night and was only woken up by Old Saldean this morning, Sean would not have known about the incident. Gryan also overheard that Old Saldean had not yet mentioned the incident to Sean.


    It was Gryan''s last attempt to determine whether Sean had something to hide and was indeed related to the incident.


    However, Gryan was up for disappointment.


    Ever since Gryan had his suspicions fixed onto Sean, Sean Connery had been cautious of everything he said. Hence, the moment Gryan asked his question, Sean had already considered his answer from multiple perspectives. He then exclaimed in surprise, "What? The Kobolds attacked the Murlocs?!"


    It was, in truth, not entirely an act.


    Although Sean was the one who initiated the Kobolds'' attack on the Murlocs, the effect from the Kobold War Horn was not that long. The Kobolds could have even regained their consciousness on the way to the Gold Coast and turned back.


    Now that Sean had heard the attack had actually taken place, it was unsurprising that he was genuinely shocked.


    It was fortunate that Sean''s shock was genuine, otherwise, it would have been picked up easily by the wise and experienced Gryan.


    It was only then that Gryan fully trusted Sean. He nodded and said, "That''s right, the Kobolds attacked the Murlocs. There were significant casualties. Do you know the reason why they attacked the Murlocs in the first place?"


    Deep down, Sean thought, ''Of course it was because of me! The smart, handsome and brave hero of the story��'' However, there was no way these words could actually be said, right?


    Acting all confused, he replied, "How should I know?"


    Gryan believed in him.


    He would not expect an adolescent Half-Elf to have the answers.


    Gryan patted Sean''s shoulder and said, "Sly little one, I heard from Old Saldean that you''ll be joining us to Goldshire, is that right? Are you looking to become an apprentice of one of the Engineers there? Be sure to work hard, I have high expectations of you!"


    After a brief conversation, Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle rounded up his soldiers and left for Jangolode Mine to investigate further.


    Regardless, the Murlocs and Kobolds comprised some of the largest populations within Westfall. If they went to war, it would be a situation dire enough to disrupt the entire Westfall. Gryan Stoutmantle must exercise the utmost precaution. Comparatively, a random adolescent who knew how to operate a shredder and to repair Harvest Golems was of little importance.


    Old Saldean initially planned to join Gryan''s party to embark for Goldshire. However, he was dissuaded by the fact that the party first needed to inspect Jangolode Mine and the Gold Coast, which made the journey far more perilous. Moreover, Old Saldean''s business supplies for Goldshire were not yet ready to be loaded into his cart. As a result, he was unable to follow through with his plan.


    After a brief discussion with Gryan, Old Saldean had decided to delay his trip until the next day. Then, he would head to Westfall''s northernmost farm, the Jansen Stead, where they would group up with Gryan''s party and travel to Goldshire together.


    After breakfast, Sean did not return to his room. Instead, he went to the warehouse.


    Closing the doors after him, he leaned on the scrapped Harvest Golem and became briefly saddened.


    On that day, Sean was not happy at all.


    Having had a personal encounter with Gryan, Sean was disheartened. It was not merely due to the huge gap between their age and experience, Sean was also affected by the differences in their status and capabilities.


    Gryan was a Paladin that had served in the Knights of the Silver Hand. He was also a war veteran who had fought fiercely against the Scourge in Lordaeron, the leader of The People''s Militia in Westfall and Marshall of Sentinel Hill. He was the epitome of a capable person.


    On the other hand, Sean was an adolescent Half-Elf who had not even learned any fighting techniques. If he had gotten into any fights, he would probably even lose to Old Saldean.


    Sean was unhappy with the pressure he felt when standing face-to-face with Gryan.


    He needed to change this situation.


    His only way to do so, for now, seemed to be changing his Class and becoming a Mage. For that, he would need to complete the Mage Class Quest known as "The Origin of Arcane".


    To complete that quest, Sean needed to embark on a journey through the Gate of Spacetime, traveling 2800 years into the past to Stromgarde Keep. If he wanted to get through the Gate of Spacetime, Sean needed to gather enough Garrison Resources to build a temporary Gate.


    Whether it was for a quest or not, this requirement had no exceptions.


    Author made a nickname referencing Sean''s cunning

 Chapter 16锛歁eryl Winterstorm

    There was no other way. Sean hid himself in the warehouse and quietly turned the ores and carts he had acquired from Jangolode Mine into Garrison Resources.


    1 o''clock, 2 o''clock, 3 o''clock��


    Within the interval, Sean went home for lunch and immediately returned to the warehouse.


    As dusk approached, Sean''s hard work since noon had gathered him enough Garrison Resources. It was enough to complete the space-time travel.


    However, Sean did not begin his journey immediately.


    Before he could begin, Sean needed a good night''s rest to recover. God knows what would happen when one traveled through the Gate of Spacetime.


    After returning home for dinner, Sean retreated into his room and slept soundly. In the dead of night, he woke up and built the Gate of Spacetime.


    "Stromgarde Keep (Dark Portal 2800 years ago)."


    "Do you wish to enter?"


    "Yes/No?"


    Sean chose "Yes".


    In the next moment, it was all dark. Sean vanished amid the darkness.


    It was unclear how much time had passed. Sean awoke from his slumber.


    Before he could even open his eyes, Sean heard someone calling out for him.


    "Sean, Sean! Come look, come look! Elves, Elves!"


    ''Who exactly is calling out for me?''


    Sean instantly widened his eyes and took a quick glance across his surroundings.


    He was in a fairly simple and unembellished bedroom. The structure and walls of the room were made out of angular rocks. As the antique wooden door was pushed open, a joyous teenager around the age of fifteen was seen rushing excitedly towards him.


    "Sean, Sean! The legendary Elves are here! They''re here in Stromgarde Keep! What do you think the Elves are here for? I''ve heard that all the Elves are good-looking, the males are handsome and the females are beautiful, all blessed with good physiques, not to mention those pointy ears! Sean, Sean, it''s almost similar to your ears, except even pointier!"


    Sean traced his sight to the source of the voice.


    It was a fairly frail teenager who shared a similar physique with Sean. ''Who exactly is he? Why does he know my name? This is so weird.'' Sean thought.


    However, from what Sean had heard, it seemed that he had arrived in Stromgarde Keep. Was it the Stromgarde Keep from 2800 years ago?


    There was a group of Elves who had arrived here as well? What were they here for?


    At that time, the Elven Kingdom of Quel''Thalas was under attack by the Forest Trolls of the Amani Empire. As the High Elves were scarce in number, they could not hold out against the aggressive Trolls for long. Hence, the High King of Quel''Thalas, Anasterian Sunstrider, was compelled to seek assistance from the then weak but populous Humans.


    Anasterian believed that, even though they had not been exposed to magic, because the Humans were large in number they held great potential. If the Humans were properly trained, they could definitely be put to great use.


    Hence, he proposed what some would say was an insane plan.


    He sent out ]ambassadors on a mission to Stromgarde Keep to meet the ruler of the Empire of Arathor, King Thoradin.


    Although King Thoradin was shocked by their arrival, he was still obligated to receive them into his kingdom. He had already gotten wind of the dilemma the Elves were facing but did not think the Trolls would pose a threat to his kingdom. The ambassadors, already worn out when they arrived, warned the king about the severity of the situation - once Quel''Thalas had been captured by the Trolls, the Empire of Arathor would undoubtedly be their next target.


    Though King Thoradin was suspicious of magic, what the Elven ambassador warned was a truth that he could not deny.


    He agreed to the Elves'' plea for help.


    Soon enough, Elven Mages started flocking into the kingdom, educating the Humans on the ways of magic.


    However, there came a question.


    Who were the Elves that were stepping foot into the kingdom at this time? Were they the initial Elven ambassadors, or were they the Elven Mages that arrived only after?


    In other words, would Sean have to wait for a while before the first Arcane lesson could actually begin? Or had it already started?


    The lack of information was a blind spot in Sean''s deductions. Sean then executed the most fundamental method to resolve this question.


    Sean quickly got up and left the bedroom with the teenagers, arriving on the street.


    All it took was a quick glance to recognize whether those were Elven ambassadors or Elven Mages.


    Arriving in a fairly large group, the Elves ambled from the main gate of Stromgarde Keep towards the palace. They were not on horses and were not hasty at all. All of them had put on a posh and elegant appearance. The Elves were dressed in fancy robes and armed with delicate staves. From there, their identity was apparent.


    "I see now, those are Elven Mages. Looks like the fun is just about to start!" Sean exclaimed.


    There was not even any preparation time for Sean!


    He was not clear who would be the intended group for the Mages to impart their Arcane knowledge to. If there were to be selections and Sean was filtered out, would that not be a troublesome situation? Sean had to think this through!


    As they all said, those who travelled through time were always faced with unextraordinary luck.


    At that moment, Sean could hear the teenager beside him clenching his fist. The teenager''s face turned solemn and he declared, "I, Meryl Winterstorm, swear that I''ll earn fortunes big enough that I will be able afford to dress fancier and look better than all of them!"


    Upon hearing it, Sean nearly could not contain his astonishment.


    He pointed towards that teenager, and stuttered, "What, what did you say? You, you are, you are Meryl Winterstorm?"


    Sean''s impression of Meryl Winterstorm was that he was a heroic Mage who had lived for 2800 years. The oldest Human Mage, the first Undead Mage and the mentor and guide of the last Guardian of Tirisfal. Finally, he had also merged the abilities of a Mage and a Warlock into a single body. He was a man that countless legends spoke of. Unfortunately, Sean''s admiration of Meryl was instantly shattered at that moment.


    "And so they say, to chase after a legend is more preferable than to witness one! Who would have thought that Meryl Winterstorm was such a money-grubber? The oath he took after witnessing the Elven Mages was not to become a noble Mage, but to earn great fortunes."


    For that, Sean felt as if his excitement was instantly trampled on, but he soon recovered as an idea sparked in his head.


    Meryl Winterstorm, the most renowned Mage of the first hundred Human Mages was destined to participate in the first Arcane lesson. As long as Sean followed him closely, he would definitely not miss out on the event.


    The war between the High Elves and Zul''Aman Trolls was in full swing and battles were spreading like wildfire. The High Elves could not afford to procrastinate for even a second. After a brief audience with King Thoradin, the Elven Mages immediately started Arcane training camps.


    Contrary to what Sean had expected, the Elven Mages did not have stringent requirements for their trainees. Although the Elven Mages knew that training too many Mages amongst the Humans was a future threat to Quel''Thalas, the imminent annihilation of their kingdom by the Trolls was a far more urgent priority.


    What more, the High Elves were a proud species. The high elves did not believe that the Humans would possess magical talents that could surpass their abilities.


    From the High Elves'' perspective, it did not matter even if everyone in Stromgarde Keep enrolled to learn magic. If, by the end, there were only a hundred Humans that ended up becoming a Mage, it was considerably a decent result.

 Chapter 17锛歐hat Is A Half-Elf?

    In short, any Humans who were willing to learn magic could head to the central square of Stromgarde Keep to achieve their goals.


    However, the situation was contrary to what the Elven Mages had expected.


    In the beginning, highly curious about learning how to wield mysterious magic, many flocked towards these lessons to try out. Even King Thoradin himself had scheduled to attend for a few hours, but it was not long before his interest dwindled.


    He simply could not understand anything.


    Arcane Magic touched upon knowledge that was profound and in-depth. If the Elves had systemized their training regiment, coupled with if King Thoradin had much time to spare, with his extraordinary intellect, King Thoradin could have probably still understand the basics.


    However, defeating the Trolls was the reason why the Elves were teaching Humans how to become Mages. As a result, their training scope was extremely narrow and only knowledge for the purposes of defeating the Trolls was imparted. Also included in the syllabus was an excessive study of Trolls.


    Besides, King Thoradin was a busy person. The fact that he had spent a fraction of an hour attending the lessons was a decent endeavor. How could he afford to spend more time?


    As soon as King Thoradin left, more than half of the crowd dispersed as well.


    In truth, they understood even less and only felt compelled to stay because King Thoradin was still present in the hall. Now that King Thoradin had left, what else were they there for? Their curiosity had been quenched, and they all returned to their families.


    Soon enough, there were only less than 300 people remaining in the central square.


    Within the remaining crowd, most were only there because they refused to give up. Very few could understand parts of it, and even fewer had found the course interesting.


    Sean was part of this minority.


    "Protection, Conjuration, Divination, Animation, Leash, Enhancement, Illusion, Psychic and Transmutation. Of the nine schools of Arcane Magic, the Elven Mages emphasized Animation, whereas when it came to Protection and Conjuration, they''ve only briefly discussed it. The remaining schools were left unmentioned. Indeed, everything served the purpose of winning the war!"


    Sean was emotional.


    The Animation school of Arcane Magic was one that focused on the methods of transforming Arcane energy into material explosive energy. The same Arcane Magic that could be used to pull off harmless pranks could be utilized as an attack against enemies, creating tonnes of explosive force on the battlefield."


    The most commonly seen of these spells were such as Arcane Explosion, Arcane Missiles, Frostbolt and Fireball.


    The former two belonged to pure Animation magic techniques. However, the latter two required the usage of Conjuration techniques to summon Ice and Fire and then shaping them using Animation techniques in order to cast.


    It was the reason why the study of Conjuration was compulsory.


    After attending the lessons for an entire day, Sean was pleased.


    Indeed, the studies of Arcane Magic done by the Elven Mages was in-depth. Although it was no match for the future Dalaran, a place that had studied Arcane Magic to the point that they could even conjure flowers, the Elven Mages discussed the nature of Arcane Magic in detail. It was the purest and most authentic of magic knowledge.


    Sean decided to cherish this opportunity.


    Hence, as soon as dawn arrived, Sean dragged Meryl Winterstorm along to meet the group of Elven Mages.


    The High Elves of Quel''Thalas were scarce in number. Although there had not been anyone who had conducted an in-depth population survey in the World of Warcraft, it was clear from certain details that the High Elves were not a populous race.


    After 2800 years, Dalaran, the city that had the highest population of Mages in Azeroth, had less than 3000 Mages.


    2800 years before that, the High Elves would defeat the Zul''Aman Trolls with the help of Thoradin''s empire, especially the 100 human Mages.


    How much higher could the all-Mage population of the Quel''Thalas High Elves be?


    Already suffering from a limited Mage population and coupled with the ever-worsening situation on the battlefield, Quel''Thalas had managed to send over only five Elven Mages and none of them were high leveled.


    In fact, only one of the five Mages was a High Magus, the remainder were still Mid Ranked.


    Being sent on a mission to impart Arcane knowledge to Humans, the five Elven Mages held high hopes for the Humans. They hoped they could find a group of individuals who displayed extraordinary magical talents. However, within a day of their arrival, the Elven Mages were disappointed.


    The truth was that even for the High Elves, who were naturally inclined towards arcane energy, it still required prolonged hours of practice and training before they could exhibit strong magical talents and become a Mage.


    However, time was not on their side. How was it possible to nurture a sufficient number of Human Mage Capable of participating in the war within such a timeframe?


    "It was all just a pipe dream!" The only High Magus in the group sighed deeply.


    The rest were also equally disappointed.


    They even felt a strong urge.


    ''To remain in Stromgarde Keep would be a waste of time. Instead of rotting away here, why not rush to the frontlines, killmore Trolls and fight bloodily for our kingdom and people!'' they thought.


    Just as they were prepared to give up on their endeavor, a Half-Elf and a Human teenager called out for them.


    "Wise Master Mage, my companion and I are both very interested in Arcane Magic. Do you mind spending a little time lighting up the smaller stove?"


    Although they did not understand what "lighting up the smaller stove" meant, hearing Sean''s compliment and that the pair showed a keen interest in Arcane Magic, the Elven Mages'' eyes brightened and they stopped planning to leave.


    Even though they were disappointed that no Humans had shown any extraordinary magical talents, they were still delighted. They had lived long enough to understand that interest was the best educator.


    It did not matter how strong one''s magical talent could be, if there were not enough interest, one could never go far. On the other hand, with enough effort, a person who showed strong interest in Arcane Magic would definitely excel, even if he was not initially gifted with much talent.


    The Elven Mages were happy to meet people who were genuinely interested in Arcane Magic.


    However, this was not what made them the happiest nor what surprised them the most.


    In the next moment, the Elven Mages turned their backs around and saw Sean. They all were shocked.


    It was only seconds later that the High Magus recovered his thoughts. Putting in no effort to conceal his surprise, he looked at Sean and asked, "Are you�� a Half-Elf?"


    It was still 2800 years ago. Even though interactions had existed between the Elves and the Humans, it was still rare. What more, it was even rarer for a Human and an Elf to fall in love and bear a child together. As a result, a Half-Elf was more uncommon than a giant panda on Earth.


    This created another situation - very few people knew about the existence of Half-Elf and could immediately recognize one.


    This was simply observed from a common phenomenon - there was no one in the entire Stromgarde Keep that had questioned Sean''s species. At most, they had assumed that Sean''s appearance was due to a genetic mutation, though, they probably understood the concept of genetics even less.


    Meryl Winterstorm was one of them.


    Upon hearing the High Magus'' question, he scratched his head and he asked embarrassedly, "What, what''s this Half-Elf thing?"


    In Chinese idioms, lighting up the smaller stove originally means to provide better food than the average standard. It is a metaphor of giving special favo

 Chapter 18锛歍he Journey to Becoming A Mage Begins from Studying

    What is this Half-Elf ''thing''?


    Was that an insult?


    Even though Meryl did not mean it that way, why did it feel like an insult?


    Sean instantly roared, "A Half-Elf isn''t a thing! Wait, that''s not right. It is a thing, but that''s not right either��"


    Meryl Winterstorm was obviously made more confused by Sean. He widened his eyes and asked cluelessly, "So is it a thing or not?"


    The exchange between the adolescents had provoked laughter even among the typically elegant and gentle High Elves.


    The High Magus chuckled for a good few moments. She finally recollected herself and explained, "Half-Elves are a unique race. They''re a mixed race that shares two different bloodlines as a result of Elves mixing with other species. Young one, forgive me for being presumptuous, but what''s your name? I''m referring to your full name that includes your surname as well."


    Sean immediately sensed that this was a background check.


    This world placed a huge emphasis on surnames because it represented their bloodlines, which was why when many introduced themselves, they typically included the names of themselves and their parents''.


    For instance, if Medivh was to introduce himself, he would say, "I am Medivh Aran, son of Nielas Aran." In fact, he was more likely to mention his mother instead of his father, since it was his mother who was more powerful and reputable.


    The High Magus had wanted to unravel Sean''s origin through his surname. Since ancient times, the elves were not a populous race, which meant there were a limited number of surnames. Any Elven adults would be familiar with all the surnames that existed.


    Sean did not intend to lie to the High Magus.


    In reality, Sean himself would like to figure out the story behind his peculiar surname and his Half-Elf identity.


    Sean only hesitated for a brief moment before he replied, "My name is Sean, Sean Feathermoon."


    Sean Feathermoon?


    The Elven Mages looked at each other and saw that they were all equally puzzled.


    They could not recall any Elves with the surname ''Feathermoon''.


    ''Perhaps, it''s a declining surname? Or perhaps a newly emerged one?'' the Mages thought.


    The surnames of the Elves were not all permanent and unchanging.


    Take the king of Quel''Thalas for instance. The noble Anasterian Sunstrider''s surname, Sunstrider, was only created after the High Elves had separated from the Night Elves.


    Perhaps the surname Feathermoon had similar origins?


    The Elven Mages did not care about the matter too much, and soon enough, they quickly dropped the topic. The High Magus smiled gently towards Sean and asked, "Sean, you mentioned that�� you would like us to light up the smaller stove for both of you. What does it mean to light up the smaller stove?"


    Sean hurriedly answered, "It goes like this, wise Master Mage. To light up the smaller stove is to give us a private lesson. We were quite confused about the daytime lecture''s content, so we would like to request that you go over it with us again. Is that alright?"


    Sean lowered his voice and started to act all cute and innocent.


    This spontaneous act was a result of Sean''s acute observation.


    He was able to pull it off only because the High Magus standing in front of him was a beautiful female Elf. If it had been a male, Sean would have thrown up first! Sean was straight, he did not swing the other way and had no interest whatsoever towards others of the same sex.


    Furthermore, although the High Elves were no longer immortal after leaving the Well of Eternity, they still had long lifespans that could easily last up to a thousand years. As a result, the High Elves hardly saw Sean, who was around sixteen years-old, as a young adult. At most, he was a child�� This was even after considering that he was a Half-Elf and not one of the pure Elven races.


    Hence, the High Elven Mages were understanding of Sean''s behavior.


    Perhaps due to Sean''s Half-Elf identity, it felt as if the High Elven Mages were instantly friendlier to them. They quickly agreed to Sean''s request.


    Due to their status as distinguished guests in Stromgarde Keep, the High Elves'' residence was not far away from the king''s palace. Following the female Elven Mage''s lead, Sean and Meryl both arrived in a room.


    It was a room that resembled a library and was filled generously with books on the inside. Most of the books belonged to the royal family of Arathor''s collection. Only a few, that were radiating with intense Arcane energy, were magical books that were brought over by the Elven Mages.


    Every single magical book was extremely valuable.


    All of the Elven Mages were high achievers. Their powerful magical abilities had been cultivated after a tireless amount of study and practice.


    After ensuring that Sean and Meryl were literate, the female Elven Mage retrieved a huge stack of books from the shelves and piled it in front of them. Before she retrieved another book for herself and started reading, she gave a simple instruction to the duo.


    "Read from the top to the bottom. Meet me after you''ve thoroughly and completely studied these."


    The books that were piled in front of Sean and Meryl were not magical books, but magical textbooks. There were large distinctions between the two though both names differed by only a word.


    Magical books not only recorded the various types and forms of magics, these magics could be instantly casted once supplied with enough enchantments. This was no different from a Mage who casted a spell after a long preparation. Furthermore, magical books were a tool that no Mage could go without, its value even surpassed that of a staff.


    A Mage who wielded a magical book was likely to be more formidable than a Mage armed with only a staff, provided the two Mages were of the same level.


    On the other hand, magical textbooks were ordinary books that recorded magical knowledge within it. They were merely a medium for the accumulation of knowledge. Magical textbooks and magical books could never be used interchangeably.


    Magical textbooks were not made out of ordinary paper, but were created by the High Elves using fibres from a unique species of plants. These plant fibres had natural magical resistance properties, such as being waterproof and even fire resistance, which meant that when made into magical textbooks, the textbooks shared the same qualities too. This way, the textbooks could be preserved for a prolonged period of time, perhaps up to tens of thousands of years.


    The only downside to it was the pages were extremely thick. A book as thick as a brick only contained thirty-five pages and was unable to contain much information.


    The contents of the textbooks piled in front of Sean and Meryl would probably not exceed that of a preliminary language textbook.


    These textbooks were written not in Elven, but in the Human language, which would become the most commonly spoken language amongst future generations. These textbooks were handwritten by the scholars of Quel''Thalas before the Elves arrived in Stromgarde Keep to be understood by Humans.


    Flipping the cover of his first textbook, Sean soon immersed himself within the pages.


    The magical textbooks did not contain any information on shaping magic. Instead, it merely discussed the fundamentals of magical knowledge, such as the origin of magic, the essential factors of enchantments, the materials constituting the world, the Four Great Elements of Earth, Wind, Fire and Water, the difference between elementals, and the ways and functions of meditation.


    Although these were the mere basics, it was of great importance to any beginner in magic. If one did not devote time studying the knowledge and experiences that had been accumulated for thousands of years by the generations before them, one could never walk down the path of a Mage.

 Chapter 19锛欳onjure Water

    Time passed and Sean and Meryl had spent ten days studying.


    Within those ten days, Sean had already combed through the pile of textbooks multiple times so that he could memorize all of its content by heart. Having a greater comprehension ability than people his age and also being exposed to magic knowledge in his past life meant that his understanding towards these textbooks surpassed what the female Elven Mage had expected.


    The female Elven Mage was pleased with Sean''s performance.


    Judging from his progress, it would probably take another 10 days before Sean could attempt Conjuration.


    On this day, Sean and Meryl meditated in their room.


    The meditation was to enhance their mental strength.


    This world was filled with Arcane energy, but to cast a spell, one must use their mental energy to manipulate this Arcane energy. During meditation, one could also absorb the Arcane energy that lingered within this plane and store it within their bodies. When the Arcane energy was needed, a spell could then be swiftly casted.


    Sean had already started studying other magical textbooks that were more specialized.


    The first one that he had read was a magical textbook on summoning Water Elementals.


    Here, summoning Water Elementals did not refer to summoning Water Elemental companions that were battle-ready. Very simply, it referred to the summoning of a Water Elemental, and then condensing it into water. Anyone who had played the game would understand that this was the ''Conjure Water'' spell, the simplest of Conjuration spells.


    Sean had great magical talent, which probably originated from the Elven blood that coursed through his veins.


    When the Dark Trolls had evolved into the Night Elves, they had been constantly bathed in the rich Arcane energy that surrounded the Well of Eternity. After thousands of years of infusion, their magical talents had surpassed that of any other race within the great land of Azeroth.


    To grow from having zero understanding of magic to being able to cast the simple Conjure Water spell within ten days was a shocking display of magical talent.


    Though, the amount of water that Sean conjured was only enough to dampen a cloth.


    "Sean, I''m thirsty."


    Meryl closed the last magical textbook on the table and told Sean.


    As a Human teenager who was at the age of fifteen, being able to thoroughly finish and understand a huge pile of magical textbooks within ten days signified that Meryl was incredibly smart.


    "Open your mouth."


    Sean extended his left hand. As beams of pale blue colored lights gradually condensed together, a water globe the size of an egg took shape. With the swing of his hand, the water globe travelled a perfect parabolic trajectory and landed in Meryl''s mouth.


    Licking his lips, Meryl complained, "I''ve finally finished all of it! I don''t know what''s the purpose behind having us reading so much, they didn''t even teach us any spells. If I can learn how to conjure water too that''d be great, at least I''d be able to head out and perform a magic show to earn some money."


    Sean laughed when he heard Meryl''s complaint. He teased Meryl, "Meryl, how is it that the only thing you think of is money!"


    Meryl gestured with his fingers and explained, "You see, when I have enough money, I can afford to purchase nice clothes, delicious food, a strong horse, a stable and comfortable house and marry a beautiful, caring wife�� You see, being rich is great!"


    Meryl spoke with such confidence that Sean had almost believed in his narrative.


    However, Sean understood clearly that in a fantasy world like Azeroth, it was strong abilities that defined who one was. ''Money? Heh. Had anyone seen a Mage who went bankrupt? Every person who became a Mage was richer and more formidable than even the nobles.'' Sean thought.


    Now that he was able to conjure water, Sean could already somewhat be considered a Mage. However, he was still not considered a proper Mage. At best, he was a Mage Apprentice.


    There were no magic books in the room. In order to learn true spells, they must meet the Elven Mages. The female Elven Mage had instructed them to meet her only after they both had completed studying the textbooks.


    Had he not been waiting for the future legend, Meryl Winterstorm to finish, Sean would have gone to meet the Elven Mage five days ago.


    Today, Meryl had also completed his assigned tasks. Therefore, it was time.


    Night approached.


    Recently at these hours, the atmosphere within Stromgarde Keep was tense. Arathor''s army was being assembled and King Thoradin had announced a compulsory order to all the nobles. All of mankind must form an alliance with the High Elves of Quel''Thalas to collectively fight against the invasion of the Zul''Aman Trolls.


    Their fates were linked. This was an undeniable truth.


    King Thoradin had always placed significant trust in the strength of his warriors. Obviously, he had low expectations on how the future Human Mages would turn out. Even the High Elves did not dare have high hopes. What Quel''Thalas truly needed was not the nurturing of a few dozen amateur Human Mages, but the greatest powers in the entire Human kingdom.


    Arathor''s warriors, the royal knights.


    These were Quel''Thalas'' true saviors.


    When Sean and Meryl found the female Elven Mage, she was leading the rest of the Mages in enchanting the armor and weapons of the Arathor knights.


    As the light on her hand flickered, rich Arcane energy and colorful elements of Earth, Fire, Water and Wind all converged within the room and condensed above a delicate runed rod.


    The female Elven Mage brandished her rod and inscribed a detailed pattern onto the knight armor. After it was completed, she retrieved a crystal vial the size of a palm and opened it. A small pinch of Strange Dust that was light green in color behaved as if it had been instructed by a flow of mysterious energy, uniformly attaching itself onto the lines of the pattern.


    "An excellent piece of equipment, with a minor permanent enchantment."


    Sean raised his eyebrows.


    Being Blue Rare Equipment meant that the quality of this armor was extraordinary. Enchantments were categorized into two types - temporary and permanent enchantments. Temporary enchantments typically did not require reagents, and its effects only lasted a short period of time. On the other hand, permanent enchantments required more precious reagents, and its effects could last for a prolonged period of time. Theoretically, it could even last forever.


    The quality of a minor enchantment was equivalent to Green Uncommon Equipment. It did not measure up to the value of this armor piece. If this were to happen in Dalaran, it would have been considered a wasteful practise. However��


    This was Stromgarde Keep, the Stromgarde Keep 2800 years ago.


    The current number of Mages was not as great as it would be in the future. The scarcely numbered Elven Mages did not have many reagents prepared either. The only reagents that could be utilized by the female Elven Mage had been hastily made. They had limited supplies to work with.


    In fact, only officers and knights who were mid level and above had the privilege to acquire permanent enchantments. The rest of the low level officers could only use temporarily enchanted equipment.


    The Elven Mages unfortunately could not make bricks without straw. It was not that they were unwilling to offer the same privilege to everyone, but that they lacked the proper resources to do so.


    The female Elven Mage noticed Sean and Meryl''s arrival and signalled for the knight to collect his enchanted armor. As she turned her head around, her tiredness was obvious. She managed to squeeze a faint smile and asked, "Sean, I see you and your friend are here. Have you finished the books?"

 Chapter 20锛歋urnames of the Elven Race

    The female Elven Mage was pleased at the speed in which Sean and Meryl accomplished her tasks.


    Even she had not progressed that fast when she was newly exposed to magic. Indeed, the noble king of Quel''Thalas was right when he said although the Humans could not live long, they possessed extraordinary learning capabilities.


    "Yes, we''ve finished." Sean nodded. He then extended his left arm and a small amount of Water was seen converging on his palm.


    The female elven mage''s eyes instantly widened, she was dumbfounded for an entire three seconds before she exclaimed, "What! You can already conjure water?!"


    The exclamation from the female Elven Mage shocked the rest of the Elven Mages. One of the male Elven Mages was enchanting a longsword for a knight when he heard heer. Upon hearing it, his hand jerked and the runed rod malfunctioned, causing the enchantment to turn into a mess. The owner of the longsword raged at the sight of it.


    However, the male Elven Mage completely ignored the royal knight even though he was not of a low level. He rushed towards Sean and stared at the Water suspended above his palm. In self denial, he shook his head and murmured to himself, "Impossible! This is impossible! This is totally impossible! How can a Human even possess such strong magical talent, this is totally impossible!"


    The female Elven Mage was incredulous too. She shook her head and said, "If you were a High Elf who had reached adulthood and possessed a strong Spirit, that''d still be understandable. After all, strong mental energy is immensely helpful in learning the ways of Arcane Magic. But you''re just a kid, a Half-Elf who hasn''t even reached the age of fifteen�� How is that possible!"


    However, the truth was standing in front of her.


    Sean would not reveal that even though the body that was standing in front of her had only lived for less than fifteen years, his soul was a fusion of at least two people. One was the fifteen years old Sean of this world, the other was the more than twenty years old Sean from Earth.


    The fusion of two souls was not as straightforward as simply summing up both Spirits. Sean''s powerful soul had caused his Spirit attribute to shoot up to 18 points. Such a strong Spirit could already be compared to that of a Mid Level Mage. Hence, it was no surprise that he was able to conjure water.


    It was only moments after that the female Elven Mage managed to recover herself. She instructed the other Elven Mages to continue their enchantments and lead Sean and Meryl into her room.


    Signalling for the both of them to sit down, the female Elven Mage spoke softly, "I''ve been flipping through some books and I managed to find your surname in an ancient tome. Feathermoon was a surname borne by Night Elf nobility, they were also known as "The Highborne". Perhaps it''s due to this bloodline that you''ve been blessed with unprecedented magical talent, which explains why you''re able to conjure water within the short period of ten days."


    After a brief pause, the female Elven Mage lamented, "What an admirable surname. It''s unlike mine, Morningdew, the surname of a commoner."


    In the distant past, the elves had derived their surnames from objects in nature. The higher the position an object was in nature, the greater the status of the surname.


    Most of the surnames amongst the lowest class of society included phrases such as Water, Soil, Grass and Dew, like Morningdew, Winterdew and Blacksoil.


    Words like Storm, Tree and Mountain represented the middle class of society. Stormrage, Whisperwind, Windrunner, Oaktree and Volcano were examples of such surnames. Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage and Elven Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind were both nobles born around ten thousand years ago.


    Surnames that referenced terms such as Cloud, Rain, Snow, Raven, Bird and Eagle represented the upper class of society. Ravenshade and Mistwalker were two such examples.


    Finally, the surnames of the uppermost class society referenced objects in nature that were high above, their surnames contained words like Star and Moon, such as Starwhisper, Dawnstar, Feathermoon and Sunstrider.


    The Feathermoon family was obviously one of the most influential ones within the Elven race.


    However, the High Elves had been separated from the Night Elves for as long as eight thousand years and the ancient surnames had since become an increasingly forgotten history. Perhaps the only surname they remembered that belonged to the highest class of Elves was the surname of the king of Quel''Thalas'' himself�� Sunstrider.


    Speaking of ''Feathermoon'', Sean immediately thought of a name that had long been on his mind. He asked, "Feathermoon? Shandris Feathermoon?"


    The female Elven Mage clearly did not expect Sean to mention that name. She was taken by surprise and said, "You''ve heard of this name? I only found out about it while flipping through the ancient records. According to it, she was the outstanding member of the Feathermoon clan''s younger generation, a powerful bright ranger. She was also one of the few survivors within the family after the War of the Ancients.


    Survivors?


    Few?


    Sean was stunned.


    Sean had limited understanding of the history of the World of Warcraft. Besides, the world of Azeroth was nowhere similar to the Azeroth he had encountered in the games and novels of his past life. In regards to matters related to the Feathermoon family, Sean had no further memories other than a vague memory of Shandris Feathermoon.


    If General Shandris Feathermoon was one of the few remaining survivors of the Feathermoon family, then was Sean related in any way to the legendary general of the Sentinels?


    The female Elven Mage had no appetite to gossip further, her priority remained fixed only on Sean''s study of magic.


    She interrupted Sean''s thoughts and said, "Sean, Conjuration is all about learning the magic of summoning, it''s what most mages are first exposed to when they start. The great elements of Earth, Fire, Water and Wind can be summoned to our service. However, all Mages have differing affinities and strengths towards the different elements. For instance, I am inclined towards Water. Only very few geniuses have a strong affinity towards all elements. Sean, the first thing you''ve learned to summon is Water, which means you''re quite inclined towards this element. However, I wonder if you share the same affinity for all the other elements."


    Elemental affinity is important.


    For instance, if the Fire Element was not fond of you, it did not matter how much effort you put in, you could only summon a tiny spark of flame that would not be warm enough to light a candle.


    On the other hand, if the Water Element was fond of you, all it took was a thought for a Sea Giant to bend the knee, perhaps it would even bring a handful of its minions along.


    Although Sean could summon Water, his affinity for it still needed to be properly determined.


    The female Elven Mage extended both her arms, with red light radiating out of one hand and blue light from the other. She explained, "Among the Four Great Elements, the Earth Element is dense in nature, whereas the Wind Element is illusive, they''re difficult to control. Only the Fire and Water Elements are sought after by most mages. I have the greatest affinity with Water, but I am decently inclined towards Fire. I''ve summoned both Elements here, feel it."


    The Elven Mage raised both hands, the Elements pervaded in the air and fused together while still retaining their individual properties, exemplifying the capabilities of the experienced High Magus.


    Sean and Meryl were surrounded and immersed within the Elements.


    If a mage had great affinity for Fire, he would become a Fire Mage, like the Blood Elven Prince, Kael''thas.


    On the other hand, if a mage had great affinity for Water, he would become a Frost Mage, just like the eternal main character, Jaina.


    However, if a mage showed no affinity for either, he would have to focus solely on Arcane energy itself and become a pure Arcane Mage, for example�� the legendary Mage, Antonidas? Fine, perhaps this noble Mage''s affinity with the elements was not that bad��

 Chapter 21锛欶ireballs Were a Mage鈥檚 True Love!

    Fire Magic, Frost Magic and Arcane Magic, together they formed the legendary Tri-elemental Mages.


    If a mage had a great affinity for Water and Fire, had strong passion for the pursuit of Arcane knowledge, was highly talented, intelligent, hardworking, and had at least one capable mentor - as long as the various factors were in their favor, then�� Alright, that was the Tri-elemental Mage, Khadgar. He was a legend, do not get too obsessed over him��


    Sean closed his eyes at this moment and sensed the Ice and Fire by tapping into his Spirit''s energy. He could easily sensed that his affinity towards Fire and Water was actually�� not bad at all?


    "Indeed, as the only transmigrator, the main character of Azeroth, my affinity is�� absolutely fantastic! If the room had also been filled with Earth and Wind, I would definitely have caught all of their attention!"


    "I am destined to be a man with great affinity for all four elements!"


    Sean had given himself 10086 approval points.


    However, with a body of a 15 years old, Sean was still not a man.


    He soon realized that the Water surrounding his body had gradually disappeared.


    No, it was not that it hated him, nor was it that his affinity was poor. It was that the guy beside him had an affinity to Water so great, that the cute Water Elementals��. No, the detestable Water Elementals had abandoned the main character and flocked to the other side��


    It was that greedy fella, Meryl Winterstorm!


    ''Is it because his surname is ''Winterstorm''? But what does winter have to do with water? Furthermore there''s a storm within his name, shouldn''t he have greater affinity with Wind?''


    Sean mentally dissed Meryl.


    However, he knew that such a scene was to be expected.


    As one of the first hundred Human Mages in history and the most famous one of the group, Meryl Winterstorm''s Elemental affinity was definitely not lacking. Besides, Meryl Winterstorm had also been a mentor to the first Guardian of Tirisfal, Alodi, who was also a legendary Frost Mage. Had you not realized that his staff, Ebonchill, was a Frost Mage''s Artifact?


    Behind every successful student was a similarly successful teacher�� Was it this line?


    It was not important. In short, Alodi was a Frost Mage, so his mentor, Meryl Winterstorm would definitely also be a Frost Mage�� Yup, that settled it.


    Okay. As Meryl''s affinity for Water surpassed that of Sean, it immediately shocked the female Even Mage.


    The female Even Mage felt that this was an occurrence that she had never expected to witness and was filled to the brink with excitement.


    ''Gosh, such a strong affinity for Water, it''s unprecedented! Even if I were to search through the entire Quel''Thalas, it''s not possible to find anyone like this! This person will surely become an excellent Frost Mage. In fact, he might not only stop at becoming a High Level Mage, but rise to the level of Archmage, perhaps... becoming a legend himself!''


    The female Elven Mage had thought even more.


    If Meryl Stormwinter would one day rise to the position of a reputable legendary Mage, as the guide and mentor of such a legend, she would surely benefit and become more respectable��


    What woman did not love to dream?


    The female Elven Mage was no exception.


    She started venturing into her own thoughts, deeper and deeper��


    "Coughs, teacher, teacher? What do you actually think about our elemental affinities?" Sean had repeated the question twelve times before the female Elven Mage was snapped back into reality.


    She blushed slightly and soon recovered the strict demeanor of a teacher. Nodding her head, she said, "Right, Sean, you''re indeed the descendant of the Feathermoon family, your affinity for Water and Fire has reached a high level. You''ll surely succeed one day and become an excellent Mage."


    Hearing her compliment of Sean, Meryl immediately asked, "What about me? What about me?"


    The female Elven Mage brightened and said, "For you, your affinity for Water has exceeded anything I''ve ever seen before! As long as you work hard, you''ll definitely surpass me and join the ranks of legends. However, you must remember to not let this get to your head, know that success is always a mixture of 99% perspiration and 1% talent��"


    With a strange expression, the female Elven Mage stopped herself before she could finish her sentence.


    It was because at that moment, Meryl Winterstorm was counting his fingers and even murmured loudly, "Right. My teacher is a high level Mage and she''s already this rich, much richer than those old knights. She also has so many books, dresses up beautifully and has armed herself with such an elegant staff. If I''m destined to surpass her, then I''ll surely be even richer! Then I can buy more beautiful clothes, a nicer-looking staff, even more bread, and throw each loaf away after taking a slice��"


    Sean started to cover his face.


    The female Elven Mage started to groan.


    Sean and the Elven Mage looked at each other. Without saying a word, they hurriedly left the room together.


    Forgive them, they had probably hoped that they had never met Meryl Winterstorm.


    That greedy little fella!


    A greedy little fella who had tarnished the Elven Mage''s dignity!


    Ever since he learnt of Meryl''s exceedingly powerful affinity for Water, Sean temporarily suppressed his desire to control Water and shifted his focus on becoming a Fire Mage��


    After all, fireballs were a mage''s true romance!


    Furthermore, from another perspective, since Sean was already able to summon Water, it was natural that he ought to give Fire a try. One must know that powerful Conjuration techniques were also capable of summoning powerful Fire Elemental beings. Blood Elven Prince Kael''Thas'' ability to summon the phoenix, Al''ar, was an example.


    Sean did not care much about summoning a phoenix. His grand plan�� or rather, his grand ambition, was to summon the Elemental Lord of Fire, Ragnaros, as his pet!


    There was still a long journey to be ventured ahead and Sean needed to rest his body��


    The journey ahead looked promisingly bright, but his eyes were not.


    In the middle of the night, Sean laid on his bed amid the complete darkness.


    His consciousness had travelled to the Spatial Garrison, where his long-forgotten Stats Interface revealed some changes.


    Name: Sean Feathermoon (This is not an ordinary surname. It''s a legendary and reputable figure of the past, but he has yet to be recorded into history. Now that you have uncovered the clues, continue your search, young one!)


    Race: Half-Human, Half-Elf (An average-sized and intelligent race. Possesses the blood of both Humans and Elves. Commonly known as Half-Elf. This mixed-blood identity will bring forth talent and also discrimination. You are disliked by Elves and Humans.)


    Stats: Strength 5, Agility 7, Stamina 10, Intellect 12, Spirit 19 (Comment: You are an extraordinary adolescent. What a great Spirit!)


    Main Class: Mage (Apprentice).


    Secondary Class: None.


    Skills: Low Rank Common, Low Rank Elven, Low Rank Cooking, Low Rank Planting, Low Rank Engineering


    Equipment: Kobold Shaman''s Staff (White Quality, Common Equipment), Dalaran Apprentice''s Robe (White Quality, Common Equipment), Refined Iron Dagger (White Quality, Common Equipment)

 Chapter 22锛欶ireball

    The biggest change to Sean came from the change in his stats.


    After completing the ''Kobold''s Nest'' quest, Sean had been awarded two free stat points and decided to add them to his Stamina, increasing it from eight points to ten points.


    His Spirit points had also increased to 19 from 18. This was due to his days of diligent study and patient meditation. Although the initial effects of meditation were quick to take place, its long term effects were much slower. To rely on meditation to increase his Spirit upto 20 was a difficult task that required many days to complete.


    Additionally, there was an unexpected change.


    In his quest interface, besides the unchanging Ultimate Quest ''Upgrading Spatial Garrison into God''s Garrison'', the Mage Class quest ''The Origin of Arcane'' and an unfinished side quest ''Golem Heart'', there was another new side quest.


    "Side Quest: Arcane Saint."


    "Objective: Become the first Low Rank Mage in Human history."


    "Quest Intro: How is this possible, how is this possible! It''s not possible that there''s a Mage smarter than you! Defeat Meryl Winterstorm, defeat him, make him bend the knee and surrender! Become the first Low Rank Mage and have King Thoradin personally bestow you the title of ''Arcane Saint''."


    "Quest Reward: Blue Colour, Rare Quality Equipment, ''Mage Saint''s Ring'', can be levelled up."


    What was the biggest benefit Sean had gotten from the Spatial Garrison?


    The Gate of Spacetime?


    The various facilities?


    No, it was the various quests!


    Where there were quests, there were rewards and unending benefits!


    Obviously, any rewards that included Blue Rare Equipment that could be levelled up was enough to draw Sean''s attention. Sean drooled and surrendered to his own temptations.


    "For the reward�� No, for my dreams! I shall work hard to become a Mage Saint!"


    Then, Sean did not go back to bed. Instead, he started meditating.


    The next morning, Sean appeared in front of the female Elven Mage and Meryl with dark circles under his eyes.


    "Sean! Did you stay up late last night?" Meryl was motivated by Sean''s unwavering diligence, "You''re really brilliant, Sean! I would love to learn from you, let''s work hard together!"


    Sean was almost tempted to faint upon hearing Meryl''s motivation growing.


    Meryl already had exceptional talent, if he invested even more effort�� would there be space for people who were not as talented to even breathe?


    "Coughs, to defeat the Trolls, let''s work hard!" Sean shifted the conversation and started cheering.


    The greedy little fella, Meryl, did not react to this cheer at all.


    However, the female Elven Mage immediately clenched her fist said with solemnity, "To defeat the Trolls!"


    Then, they all worked harder than before.


    Although Meryl was more talented, Sean''s 19 points of Spirit was undeniably beneficial to his progress. It was the reason why when Meryl was still an ordinary person, Sean was already capable of summoning Water.


    When Meryl was capable of summoning Water, Sean had learned to summon Fire.


    Unfortunately, just as Sean expected, while Sean was only capable of summoning a tiny flame, Meryl conjured a large mass of water from above. As a result, Sean was completely drenched.


    "Meryl you did that on purpose! You did that on purpose!" Sean raged.


    That night, Sean sat alone in front of a fireplace and stared blankly into the mildly bright flame.


    Amidst his absent-mindedness, the Arcane energy around him suddenly rippled, causing the flame in the fireplace to sway gently.


    Sean''s eyes gradually brightened up.


    Talent did not decide everything. Similarly, affinity for elements was not the only decisive factor.


    In order for Sean to surpass Meryl Winterstorm, there were still many paths that could be taken.


    Paths such as pure Arcane Magic, such as learning both Fire and Frost Magic, such as�� borrowing from an external source of power!


    Given that the Fire Sean summoned was insufficient to form a concentrated Fireball, why not form it from flames that already existed in his environment?


    Sean concentrated his energy and manipulated the Arcane energy. A Fireball the size of a fist gradually emerged from the flames in his fireplace��


    From certain perspectives, being able to conjure a Fireball had already qualified Sean as a Low Rank Mage.


    Even though this Fireball was not a result of summoning Fire and then shaping it.


    Even though it would probably not be accepted by the female Elven Mage and King Thoradin.


    Even though it was not technically considered a true Fireball.


    However, Sean had managed to increase his rapport with the Fire Elementals after interacting with the flames. The amount of Fire Sean could summon had also been increased.


    The decisive factor behind how much Fire one could summon was not only the affinity one had. The ability of one''s Spirit to manipulate the Fire Elementals also played an important role!


    Assuming affinity stayed the same, the more of one''s Spirit was used, the greater the quantity of Elementals that could be manipulated! Without it, even if one''s affinity was sufficient, their ability would be limited to summoning Elementals without being able to control nor shape them��


    This was the reason why Meryl was able to summon a huge gallon of water but was unable to shape them into Frostbolts. His Spirit was not strong enough and he could not utilize it properly. Ultimately, this meant that his understanding of the elements was also limited.


    Sean grinned with a bright confidence.


    Even though Sean was unable to summon large quantities of Water Elementals like Meryl, Sean believed that he would surpass Meryl. It would not take long before that happened.


    The day when he surpassed Meryl was right before his eyes.


    It was another ten restless and sleepless nights. Sean would meditate when he felt tired and only ate in his room when he was hungry. When he was well-rested, he would sit near the fireplace and interact with the flames to increase his affinity for it. Sean did not even care how scruffy and dirty he had become throughout this period. His sole focus was on improving himself so that he could actually conjure his first Fireball as soon as he could.


    Time, like water, flowed incessantly.


    Ten days time had passed before one could even notice.


    Within these ten days, Meryl Winterstorm had also improved quickly.


    Having an exceptional affinity for Water, Meryl never had to worry about having insufficient Elementals to work with. He was only a step away from his goal of forming a Frostbolt, but it was not an easy one.


    In regards to the usage of his Spirit and his understanding of Fire, Meryl was still far behind.


    He needed to interact more with Fire Elementals, utilize and train his mental energy and meditate relentlessly until his Spirit was increased to ten points.


    Of course, Azeroth did not have a method of quantifying Spirit, this explanation was only using Sean''s Stats Interface as a reference.


    According to the quantification of the Spatial Garrison, it was only when there were 10 points in Spirit that the ability to conjure Frostbolts and Fireballs was unlocked. It was also only then when one could be officially qualified to be a Mage.


    There was no doubt about the Spatial Garrison''s quantifying ability.


    Meryl Winterstorm''s Spirit stat had reached nine points, a mere one point away from his goal. With his exceptional affinity for the elements, forming Frostbolts would be a walk in the park once this goal was reached.


    Sean was about to face a huge challenge.


    However, he was confident.


    On his twenty-seventh day in Stromgarde Keep, Sean had finally managed to summon a flame the size of a basketball and condensed it into a Fireball the size of a fist.


    A Fireball with destructive capabilities.

 Chapter 23锛歊eward

    In the center square of Stromgarde Keep, a female Elven Mage stood upright with a staff in hand.


    On the side, Meryl Winterstorm, the little miser, was feeling the heat, albeit it was not from the pressure to compete for the number one spot. Regarding whether or not Sean was capable of casting Fireball, Meryl Winterstorm only had good wishes for Sean because his real concern had always been money!


    Sean stood in the center square. Ten meters in front of him was a human-shaped target made out of straw, better known as a scarecrow.


    When Sean extended his left hand, Fire Elementals began to amass in the hollow of his palm.


    10 seconds later, these Fire Elementals crystalized into a sphere to the size of a basketball.


    Sean gently closed his eyes as he activated his Mental Energy. Mobilizing and freeing the Arcane energy in the air, he compressed the Fire Elementals in his palm over and over again.


    Another 10 seconds had passed and finally, the Fire Elementals were compressed to a knuckle-sized Fireball.


    "Fire!"


    "Swoosh!"


    With twisting and turning motions, the Fireball flew straight at the scarecrow, landing right in the chest.


    "Bam!"


    Following a loud explosion, the scarecrow was blown apart, leaving only its torso burning with raging flames.


    It was a success!


    Sean let out a sigh of relief. He turned his body and faced the female Elven Mage with a huge grin.


    Oh yes, he succeeded. He succeeded in casting Fireball.


    In other words, at this very moment, he had made the cut to become an official Mage.


    With that, a change was observed in the Main Class section of his Spatial Garrison''s Stats Interface.


    [Main Class: Low Rank Mage (Level 1).]


    [Mastered Spells: Summon Water Elemental (Level 0), Summon Fire Elemental (Level 0), Fireball (Level 1).]


    Sean was grinning from ear to ear.


    It took 7 whole seconds before Meryl Winterstorm cried out in surprise.


    "Sean! You did it! You really did it! You have officially become a Mage! The first official Mage in the history of mankind!"


    The female Elven Mage finally recovered from her shock.


    Indeed, Sean succeeded and became an official Mage.


    This was the first official Mage in the history of Humankind. Their hard work had not been in vain.


    Anasterian Sunstrider, High King of Quel''Thalas had made the right call; the Humans'' gift in Magic far surpassed the Elves'' imagination. Moreover, the Elves paled in comparison when it came to their assiduous drive, undying determination, and rich creativity.


    It took Sean less than a month to become an official Mage and Meryl was not far behind him. In addition to this, dozens, if not hundreds of Humans had made huge progress.


    Perhaps it would not take a year for dozens and hundreds of official Mages to emerge amongst the Humans. When the time came, they would be a force strong enough to turn the tables of the war.


    Although they were still weak, there was room to make significant strides. At the rate they were progressing, they would level up to Mid Rank Mages, then High Rank Mages in a few years'' time...


    The war between Quel''Thalas and Zul''Aman Trolls had been going on for a while, so what was a few more years?


    The female Elven Mage saw the hope for victory in Sean.


    She had the urge to gasp, shout at the top of her lungs, cheer, and leap in joy.


    However, she held back.


    Tears gushed out of her eyes. The female Elven Mage cried out of joy.


    Watching as Sean and Meryl embraced in laughter, happiness crept into her heart.


    She wanted to let King Thoradin in on all the details, notify Anasterian Sunstrider, and send word to every Human and Elf.


    She wanted to hold a grand ceremony for Sean. Humans and Elves needed celebrations as an encouragement.


    Coincidentally, Sean was a Half-Elf, a descendant of an Elf and a Human.


    Would that not make him a bond between Elves and Humans bestowed by heaven?


    The ceremony was held on the next day.


    Seated on the throne in the King''s palace, was King Thoradin while the female Elven Mage stood erect beside him.


    Dozens of Arathorian Nobles and Knights stood beneath. They were all waiting.


    There were also 4 Elven Mages standing in the opposite direction with faces lit up in anticipation.


    Hundreds of Humans on the path to acquiring Magic crowded outside the palace. Meryl Winterstorm took the lead and was describing the scene in which Sean unleashed Fireball to the others.


    Everyone was watching the time.


    Sean finally made an appearance.


    Although pressed for time, the royal tailor had managed to rush a magnificent Mage Robe in just one day. It was tailored using valuable materials. The robe, outlined in gold and silver, was personally embedded with the female Elven Mage''s Enchantment. The blue glow was a telltale sign of its Quality.


    A Blue Rare Equipment with Green Intermediate Enchantment.


    The value of this Mage Robe was fairly high.


    Sean held a staff in his hand.


    The staff was from the female Elven Mage''s collection. Although it was only of Green Uncommon Quality and incomparable to the one she held, its value was no lower than the Mage Robe. The Quality of Enchantment was a similar Green Intermediate.


    Clothes made a man.


    From head to toe, Sean''s Equipment had transformed the common young Half-Elf into a noble Mage.


    Right there and then, all eyes in the palace were on him.


    Sean came to the center of the palace and motioned a Mage''s salute before King Thoradin and the female Elven Mage.


    The female Elven Mage smiled, so did King Thoradin.


    "In the name of Arathor, I confer Sean the title of Arcane Saint. Sean, you''re the symbol of Humankind, the pride of Arathor!"


    The female Elven Mage motioned forward and grabbed Sean''s left hand to place a glowing blue ring on his finger.


    "In the name of Thoradin, I grant you Arathor Gold Medallion. In the name of Selena Springdew, I grant you this enchanted ring." Thus, the ceremony came to an end. With Sean''s Side Quest, ''Arcane Saint'' finally completed, Sean obtained the deserving reward.


    Including the 3 from the ceremony, he had received 4 pieces of Equipment in total. Each of them were very valuable.


    [Arcane Saint''s Robe, Blue Quality, Rare Equipment. All Resistances +3, Defense +3, Spirit +4, Spellpower +3.]


    [Fortified Spell: Mage''s Armor. Passively activated, it forms an Armor with Magic that is capable of resisting Low Rank damage.]


    [Minor Enchantment: Spirit. Spirit +2.]


    [A Mage Robe meticulously tailored by Stromgarde Keep''s royal tailor. This is the first Mage Robe in the history of Mankind. The exquisite workmanship and high end materials raise this Made Robe to Rare Quality.]


    [Arcane Saint''s Staff, Green Quality, Uncommon Equipment. Spirit +2, Cast Speed +2, Spellpower +2.]


    [Minor Enchantment: Spirit. Spirit +2.]


    [From the High Rank female Elven Mage, Selena Springdew''s valuable collection, this was the staff she used when she was younger and has accompanied her throughout the years. Please rename the staff with the blessings and expectations of your mentor.]


    [Arathor Gold Medallion, Blue Quality, Rare Equipment. All Stats +3.]


    [Mid Level Enchantment: All Stats. All Stats +2.]


    [This is an exquisite medallion, representing the honor of Arathor. Only heroes who have contributed greatly to the empire are granted the right to wear it. So far, no more than 10 have been issued.]


    [Arcane Saint''s Ring, Blue Quality, Rare Equipment. Spirit +4, Cast Speed +2, Spellpower +4.]


    [Fortified Spell: Skyfire Fall. Summons flames from the Elemental Plane of Fire to descend from the sky and set all enemies on fire. 1 Spirit exhausted every second.]


    [This is a ring that is hard to come by and can be upgraded. A product of the Garrison, guaranteed to be of good quality.]

 Chapter 24锛歄ld Saldean Hiding Light under a Bushel

    With 4 pieces Equipment in hand, Sean''s Stats had immediately doubled.


    Especially his Spirit, as the Mage Robe increased it by 6 points while the staff raised it by 4 points. The Arathor Golden Medallion pushed it up 5 points and Arcane Saint''s Ring added another 4 points. From the original 19 points, his Spirit had almost doubled to 36 points, putting the Stat higher than many High Rank Mages without Equipment.


    Of course, Sean was delighted.


    It never crossed his mind that he would gain a lot from ''The Origin of Arcane'' Quest.


    A banquet on a grand scale followed the ceremony. It was an exquisite feast prepared with various rare ingredients.


    Sean remained reserved while Meryl Winterstorm let loose his gluttonous side. In his own words, this scrumptious meal was money. It was money, all the dishes were money! He profited by eating the food and there was no point wasting it. God knew when his next feast would be.


    The guy was hopeless!


    Sean consumed a little bit of alcohol.


    Unable to hold his drink, Sean was flushed in the cheeks. His head was spinning and he saw six fingers when he opened his palm. Even so, he made an effort to retain his consciousness because he had to drag Meryl home.


    The guy was formerly, at most, 49 kg but should weigh at least 50 kg now. God knew how much he stuffed himself with food and wine! Meryl was a dead weight after having passed out, drunk. If it were not for the female Elven Mage casting Levitate, Sean would have hurled him to the ground.


    By the time they returned to their room, it was late into the night.


    Sitting alone in bed, Sean fell into deep thought with Meryl''s snoring in the background.


    There were only 3 days left to the month-long Quest. Sean knew it was time to leave.


    However, prior to his departure, Sean had other things in mind to attend to.


    For the past few days, Sean had read a lot of books and was engrossed with the Arathorian royalty''s rare book collection and the female Elven Mage''s magic books. As a bookworm, it pained him to leave without reading all of them.


    A Mage was in constant pursuit of knowledge and truth, and reading was the most effective method to obtain knowledge.


    Knowledge came from books and experience out in the world. This was the principle Sean wanted to uphold ever since he came to this world.


    Hence, he intended to take a whole library of books along with him!


    This place was another world after all. Sean did not know if he could ever return to this place.


    The majority of Arathorian Humans were not fond of reading. There would not be anyone flipping through these books here for tens, if not hundreds of years.


    It was rare for anyone to go through the magic books brought by the female Elven Mage. Even for Humans on the path to become a Mage, they would rather acquire combat Spells than bury their heads studying the essence of Magic.


    Sean placed book after book into his spatial bag.


    He started by selecting magic books and after he was done, he moved on choosing the ornately bound books.


    Due to the large collection of books, Sean was not able to fit them all in. He was only half way through when the spatial bag was filled to the brim. Lucky for him, the ore and mine cart had been converted into Garrison Resources in the past few days. Otherwise, he would be in a bind.


    In the end, gritting his teeth, Sean spread out a bedsheet and placed a huge pile of books on it. He secured it with a knot before heading towards the direction of the royal palace. He waved his arm, silently bidding farewell to everything here.


    After a dim flash of light, Sean had returned.


    Lying in bed, Sean was in a good mood.


    He burst with joy as messages sprung up from his Spatial Garrison.


    [Ding!]


    [Mage Class Questline''s Low Rank Mage Class Advancement Quest, The Origin of Arcane is successfully completed. 100% completion. Accept reward?]


    [Yes/No.]


    Naturally, Sean picked "Yes".


    A pile of complex information flooded Sean''s mind. It took Sean half an hour to finally absorb this information but he was tickled pink.


    This information was a skill, the sole reward from Sean''s Mage Class Advancement Quest.


    [Appraisal Sight, active skill, exclusive skill, can not be upgraded. Relying on Leylines all around Azeroth and with the Spatial Garrison as a hub, it shows insights to the truth of Azeroth and reveals information on things. It is able to show information from beings and items not higher than the Commander''s Level +5. Details are as follows...]


    Subsequent to that was a complicated introduction.


    Sean''s current level made a good example.


    Sean was a Low Rank Mage (Level 1), which made him a Level 1 Mage. With Appraisal Sight, he would be able to probe beings that were Level 6 (1+5). Level 6 beings belonged to the Mid Rank Class range and their corresponding Equipment should be Green Uncommon Equipment. Hence, Sean was capable of detecting Green Uncommon Equipment, at most. It would be the Expert Level in terms of Profession. As long as it was no more than an Expert Level Profession Skill, Sean would be able to detect it.


    This skill came in handy and was not inferior to the legendary Appraisal.


    After a night of beauty sleep, Sean got out of bed the morning of the next day. He bumped into Old Saldean when he was out the door.


    "Old Man Saldean, have you prepared the items you require to go to Goldshire?" Sean stretched his body and asked at the sight of Old Saldean stuffing items onto his carriage.


    "Soon now. Sir Gryan Stoutmantle will be acting as my escort, so I should prepare more goods for exchange in Goldshire. Sigh, life''s been hard with the Defias Brotherhood on a rampage!" Old Saldean loaded the carriage with a sack of grain before turning to face Sean. Taken by surprise, Old Saldean rubbed his eyes and asked with a curious look on his face.


    "Sean, why do I feel like you''ve changed and seem different? It''s sort of, sort of like the bearing of a noble from Stormwind City? No, that''s not right. It resembles, resembles the Old Mage I encountered before in Goldshire."


    Sean marveled at Old Saldean''s sharp senses, prompting him to cast Appraisal... Uh, no, Appraisal Sight on him.


    [Name: Saldean]


    [Stats: Strength 13, Agility 11, Stamina 15, Intelligence 12, Spirit 14]


    [Class: Farmer (Expert), Low Rank Warrior (Level 4), Merchant (Advanced)]


    [Skill: Farmer''s Three Punches (Level 0), Basic Swordsmanship (Level 0), Expert Planting, Beginner Engineering, Beginner Mining, Beginner Fishing, Beginner Cooking]


    [Combat Level: Level 5]


    Old Saldean sure hid his light under a bushel about being an Advanced Merchant!


    It explained his keen observation!


    There was a 180 degree turn of Sean''s impression on Old Saldean.


    Sean had always thought of Old Saldean as simple, honest, and skilled Farmer with a kind heart. He only realized now that Old Saldean was not only an Expert Farmer, but a Level 4 Warrior and Advanced Merchant! Old Saldean''s Combat Level was Level 5 while in his Stats Interface, Sean''s Combat Level was only a measly... Huh? Level 6?

 Chapter 25锛欴eparture

    Yes, Combat Level. This was a new Stat that showed up in the Stats Interface after Sean completed the Mage Class Advancement Quest. It was a comprehensive assessment of an individual''s combat effectiveness.


    The method of assessment was fairly complicated for Sean to understand because it factored in a lot of elements, including Stats, Class, Skills, Equipment, knowledge, experience, character, etc that only the despicable, shameless, omniscient Spatial Garrison was capable of evaluating.


    However, the assessment from the Spatial Garrison did make sense upon further thought.


    As a Level 4 Warrior, the fact that Old Saldean''s Combat Level was Level 5 was understandable.


    Sean''s Combat Level would probably be between Level 2 and 3 starting off as a Level 1 Mage who only mastered Fireball and had a 20 second-long Cast Speed. Nevertheless, Sean''s body of Green and Blue Equipment added a lot of Stat points, pushing him to Level 6.


    In other words, Old Saldean was no match for Sean if they were to come to blows. That Kobold Shaman in Kobold''s Lair would not stand a chance either.


    By way of explanation, the incapacitated loser, Sean ,was now powerful and had become a less-incapacitated loser!


    Alright, back to the point.


    No matter how sharp Old Saldean''s senses may be, he would never have figured out the huge change to Sean overnight, much less that Sean had spent a month in the Stromgarde Keep of 2800 years ago.


    Hence, he merely asked a question and went back to work.


    Feeling bored, Sean wandered around and used Appraisal Sight on anyone in sight to get a hang of it... That said, it was a pity that it was a skill that could not be upgraded so there was no need to increase skill level.


    It was then that he gained a direct understanding of the combat effectiveness of the lowest rung of the ladder.


    The Combat Levels of teenagers, regular farmers that had just come of age, and the old, weak, sick, and disabled Adventurers were Level 1.


    The pigs, cows, and goats reared by Old Saldean were Level 1.


    Adventurers who once were Soldiers, Hunters or other battle classes were Level 2 or 3 in Combat Level.


    Goretusks and Wild Hungry Wolves often found in Westfall were at least a Level 2 in Combat Level.


    The Combat Level of Harvest Golems stretched up to Level 5. The assessment would probably be higher if it were not their lack of Fire Resistance.


    In short, Sean had yet to come across a Combat Level that surpassed Level 5. It was impossible for something that powerful to exist in the tiny Saldean''s Farm... Otherwise, Old Saldean would not be able to establish dominance.


    Old Saldean''s team was ready for departure after breakfast.


    The escorts were as such.


    Captain, owner of Saldean''s Farm, Old Saldean.


    Deputy, hidden standby Mage, Old Saldean''s adopted Half-Elf orphan �� Sean Feathermoon.


    Bodyguard, a candidate recruited from the Adventurers, a former guard of Moonbrook, Level 4 Warrior �� Donald.


    Scout, a recruit from the Adventurers, a middle-aged man said to be from Stormwind City, Level 3 Rogue �� Rick.


    Then there were 2 semi-children who were orphans adopted by Old Saldean. Sharing a similar age to Sean, one was called Heller, while the other, Paul.


    The Level 4 Warrior, Donald had a sturdy build and was a pure Warrior. According to him, he had been a guard in Moonbrook for ten years until it was destroyed, leading him to wander around. Donald had only recently arrived at Saldean''s Farm.


    The Level 3 Rogue, Rick had been sponging off Saldean''s Farm for the past 3 months. As a resourceful man with a way with words, no one had a bad impression of him. He said he was from Stormwind and shared a good relationship with a Mage in Elwynn Forest. However, Sean found out it was all bullsh*t after casting Appraisal Sight on him.


    [Name: Rick]


    {Stats: Strength 12, Agility 17, Stamina 13, Intelligence 12, Spirit 11]


    [Class: Low Rank Rogue (Level 4), Low Rank Warrior (Level 2)]


    [Skills: Sinister Strike, Eviscerate, Pick Lock, Steal, Sprint, Kick, Ambush]


    [Combat Level: Level 5]


    This middle-aged Rogue with the gift of the gab was not Level 3, but Level 4. Moreover, he was a Rogue and a Low Rank Warrior. The Rogue Skills he mastered number as many as 7. His Combat Level surpassed that of Donald and Old Saldean but was a level lower than Sean.


    This guy...


    It seemed Sean had to keep an eye on him!


    As for Heller and Paul, the two little chums, they had each inherited different skills from Old Saldean. Heller was fond of Planting while Paul loved doing business. One was a future farmer and the other, a future merchant. It was Heller''s first journey together with Old Saldean but Paul''s second.


    While on the way, Paul held onto Sean and Heller, babbling about his first trip to Goldshire with Old Saldean. Heller''s eyes were beaming with excitement while Sean, on the other hand, was one step away from falling asleep.


    ''Oh Paul, why aren''t you honest like Old Saldean! Nine out of ten sentences were over exaggerations!''


    Sitting in the carriage, Sean took his time to deliberate.


    During the month in Stromgarde Keep, the ores and mine carts Sean had obtained from Jangolode Mine were converted into Garrison Resources. He had acquired 20 Stone, 10 Gold, and 15 Iron.


    By his calculations, the Town Hall was still out of reach!


    However, it was alright because Sean had a plan.


    The shredder borrowed from Furlbrow had not been returned so Sean intended to cut wood without restraint upon his return from Goldshire to accumulate Wood Resources.


    There were plenty of Hunters in Goldshire and he should be able to get his hands on Leather from them. Sean planned to sell the Kobold Shaman''s Staff and Dalaran Apprentice''s Robe in exchange for a large sum. Apart from buying Leather, he could purchase Stone from the Quarry. The Town Hall would not be a problem then.


    Once the Town Hall was completed, he could establish many more buildings, such as the Mage Tower, Golem Factory, Alchemy Lab...


    Nevertheless, these were future considerations.


    All Sean should focus now was raising his strength.


    Although he was a Level 1 Mage, Sean only mastered one Spell and that was Fireball. The Cast Speed of his Fireball was too long at 20 seconds. Fortunately, his body of Equipment added +4 to his Cast Speed. Thus, the time to unleash a Fireball was lowered to less than 10 seconds but it still took some time.


    By the time he fired a Fireball, the battle would have already ended.


    This could not be helped as Sean needed constant practice, of which he did not possess the time to.


    Sean made up his mind to calm himself by studying the essence of Arcane and learning another skill.

 Chapter 26锛歋ee Through You to the Core

    Arcane Missiles.


    This was a Guidance-type Spell in which Arcane energy was shaped into concentrated missiles for prolonged attacks on enemies. As long as one had high enough Intelligence and Spirit, the attack would not end.


    Compared to Fireball, Arcane Missiles may lack in firepower, but it did not share a lengthy Cast time. Hence, it made a good choice.


    Of course, the difficulty of Arcane Missiles was much higher in comparison to Fireball. Nevertheless, perhaps due to his adequate Intelligence and powerful Spirit, Sean was able to go through Arcane Missiles at a hastened rate.


    It was all thanks to the female Elven Mage, Selena Springdew.


    The female Mage had taught three Spells, Fireball, Frostbolt, and Arcane Missiles to Sean and Meryl while withholding more significant Spells like Arcane Explosion, Flamestrike, and Blizzard.


    Hence, Sean had to seek another way if he wished to pursue more Spells.


    On the journey from Saldean''s Farm to Goldshire, they had to first cross farmland in the Northmost part of Westfall called The Jansen Stead. Even though they were traveling on a horse carriage, the journey from Saldean''s Farm to The Jansen Stead took at least a day. This meant that Sean, Old Saldean, and the rest would have to spend the night in the wild.


    Fortunately, they could take turns keeping watch at night. After an uneventful night, Sean''s group arrived at The Jansen Stead the morning of the next day.


    Old Saldean was acquainted with every farmer in Westfall. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Sean enquired if there were any scrapped Harvest Golems available.


    As luck would have it, Jason''s Farm happened to have 3 scrapped Harvest Golems.


    With 3 Golem Hearts in hand, his Quest was completed, and in turn, Sean received a Small Blueprint for a Golem Factory.


    [Golem Factory: Small-scale construction. Possesses a complete Golem production line, able to produce various small- and medium-sized Harvest Golems. For other Golems, certain Garrison Resources are required for research. The period of research and Resource cost will depend on the Golem''s difficulty level.]


    [Garrison Resources required for construction: 100 Wood, 100 Stone, 100 Iron]


    [Period of construction: 1 day]


    Just as Sean thought, it was capable of producing Harvest Golems!


    However, he was unable to construct it at the moment. Otherwise, the production of several Harvest Golems to follow alongside him would guarantee his safety.


    Due to the delay of Gryan Stoutmantle''s party, Old Saldean and the rest were held back in The Jansen Stead. It was late in the afternoon when Gryan Stoutmantle arrived.


    "Haha, great, great!"


    Gryan exclaimed in pleasure before greeting Old Saldean.


    "What''s great?" Handing Gryan a bowl of water, Old Saldean asked with a smile.


    Gryan gulped down the water and replied cheerfully, "The Kobolds and the Murlocs suffered heavy losses and their bodies are scattered along the Gold Coast! Hehe, this is a golden opportunity, a golden opportunity to vanquish the Kobolds and the Murlocs once and for all! However, Old Saldean, I''ll need the help of you farmers. You know, I''m strapped for cash, hehe."


    Gryan rubbed his palms together.


    Old Saldean and Jansen exchanged glances. Able to read each other''s minds, they nodded and answered, "Sir Gryan, don''t you worry. We are willing to fork out as much as you need to totally eliminate the Kobolds and the Murlocs!"


    With the Kobolds notorious for harassing farms and the Murlocs fond of blocking roads and attacking travellers, it was a huge problem for the farmers of Westfall. Old Saldean resigned himself to pay a limited sum should these two giants be vanquished.


    Old Saldean''s affirmative response led Gryan to stick out five of his fingers and chuckle. "Five hundred Gold Coins! Only five hundred Gold Coins from each of you! There''s many farms so you guys can pool the sum of five thousand Gold Coins. I''ll be heading to Goldshire to purchase armor and weapons. Then I''ll be back to lead the troops in vanquishing the Kobolds and the Murlocs!"


    Five thousand Gold Coins was not a small sum. Even with the farmers of various farms sharing the cost, it still took a bite out of them.


    Old Saldean and Jansen were hesitant.


    Gryan then secretively lowered his voice and said, "Old Saldean, Jansen, I''ll let you in on something. Stormwind City lacks control over Westfall, so as long as we get rid of the Kobolds and the Murlocs, the entire North of Westfall will be ours. During this time, the gold in Jangolode Mine will be ours to keep! Treasure collected by Coast''s Murlocs from sunken ships will belong to us! Let me say this, we''ll divide the spoils three to seven. 30% for you, 70% for me..."


    Old Saldean paused for a whole five minutes before coming to his senses. He answered in fury, "No way! It should be... 70% for us and 30% for you!"


    Gryan. "..."


    Jason. "..."


    Sean. "..."


    The others. "..."


    After a two-hour marathon of negotiations, Old Saldean and Jason finally gave in to the sly Gryan and settled on a percentage. Gryan received the biggest share of the pie at 60% while Old Saldean''s and the other farmers took home 40%.


    Sean had once asked Old Saldean in secret why he agreed to such an unfair deal. Not only did he have to come up with the funds, he received quite a low percentage.


    Old Saldean proceeded to inform him that were it not for Gryan and The People''s Militia he formed in Westfall, all the farms would have been done for. Moreover, Gryan''s request for a substantial amount of money was not for himself. The soldiers under him had been having it hard, living hand to mouth. Their armor and longswords were in such terrible condition that some had to resort to fighting with their bare hands...


    The fund raising delayed everyone another two days in The Jansen Stead. Several farmers rushed to The Jansen Stead two days later to hand over their Gold Coins to Old Saldean, the entrusted keeper. The group then set out in departure.


    Apart from Old Saldean''s party of five, Gryan brought along a team of soldiers, putting the total to ten. All was quiet throughout their journey and soon, they arrived in Goldshire.


    The moment Gryan Stoutmantle set foot into Goldshire, he led his team of soldiers to seek Marshal Dughan. It was obvious that there were matters to discuss.


    Old Saldean began to rush off his feet in search of familiar merchants to discuss business.


    With a thought in mind, Sean hung onto the Level 4 Rogue, Rick.


    "Hi, Sean! Do you need me for something?"


    In Sean''s vision was a man with unkempt hair, tattered linen clothes, a cunning smile, and clear squinty eyes that spoke of untold hostility. This middle-aged man in his early thirties was Rick, who claimed to be friendly with some Mage from Elwynn Forest.


    This Adventurer from Stormwind City had come across people of various hues more often than any ordinary man. It had not been a few days since his arrival at Saldean''s Farm yet Rick was acquainted with everyone. He was on good terms with everyone, especially Sean. The extraordinary young man left quite an impression on him.


    "Brother Rick, remember last time, when you mentioned that you''re familiar with a great Mage and are good friends?" Leaning against a wall with folded arms, Sean asked with a smile.


    Rick''s eyes lit up. He took a few astute glances at Sean before replying in a seemingly nonchalant manner. "Yes, I followed the Mage for six whole months! I would have become a Mage if it weren''t for my inability to understand such profound Magic! What''s up, Sean? What do you have in mind?"


    "So you''re saying that you''re still the Mage''s follower?"


    Sean smirked inwardly. With Appraisal Sight, Sean was able to see through Rick to the core yet he dared to play pretend in front of him?


    Though such were his thoughts, Sean chuckled. "About that, Brother Rick. Actually, you know a child like me has impractical dreams. I have always wanted to know a distinguished Mage. I was wondering if Brother Rick could do me a favor by introducing me to him?"

 Chapter 27锛歋hining Silver Breastplate, Five Gold a Piece!

    Who was he bluffing?


    Rick smirked inwardly.


    Although he had only been in Saldean''s Farm for a few days, he could tell that this Half-Elf was no saint.


    Ignorant civilians may not be able to spot the difference in Sean. They would most likely excuse him for having slightly sharper ears and being blessed with good looks but it was clear to Rick that Sean was a Half-Elf. The child of an Elf and a Human.


    Half-Elves inherited the strengths of both Humans and Elves.


    Even though they did not share the same endless longevity, a lifespan of two hundred or three hundred years was possible.


    Sean may look young but his actual age was not necessarily fifteen or sixteen. Hence, Rick dared not treat him as a child.


    For some reason, Rick sensed Sean to be unfathomable since the moment they left Saldean''s Farm, more so than before. This boy looked at him with a penetrating gaze, as though he could see through his innermost thoughts.


    For someone with many secrets, Rick could not help but grow wary of Sean.


    Rick knew that this Half-Elf had his own intentions for wanting to be acquainted with a Mage.


    After some slight hesitation, Rick awkwardly answered, "Sean, it''s no big deal... but you know, due to personal reasons, it''s been some time since I met the Mage. I haven''t seen him for more than six months. I''ve just been wandering from place to place with no intention of seeking out the Mage..."


    With that, Rick rubbed his fingers together, motioning a gesture universally known.


    A regular youngster would perhaps struggle to get it but Sean was a different story.


    ''Miser! A miser like Meryl!''


    Drawing his arm to his apparel, Sean rummaged about before finally fishing out three Silver Coins and thirty-odd Copper Coins. He gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Rick, if you''ll introduce me to that Mage, these are yours to keep!"


    Rick''s eyes lit up at the sight of the small pile of Copper Coins in Sean''s hands.


    Three Silver Coins and thirty-odd Copper Coins may not be a lot but considering Sean was only a fifteen year old teenager who was not financially independent, three Silver Coins and thirty-odd Copper Coins was a steal. Moreover, this intelligent young man had surely retained the lion''s share to pay respect to the great Mage later.


    He was aware of the lion''s share. Sean had obtained 1 Gold Coin as a reward for repairing a Harvest Golem in Furlbrow''s Farm. Everyone in Saldean''s Farm knew about this!


    At that thought, Rick snatched the coins and muttered, "Sean, leave it to me! Just you wait, I''ll bring you good news in no more than three days! However, it''s wise not to mention this to anyone as we have to be careful not to offend the great Mage!"


    Sean immediately replied, "Brother Rick, don''t you worry, my lips are sealed! I won''t say a word! Brother Rick, you have to fulfil my dreams!"


    Sean''s lips curled into a smirk as he drew far from Rick.


    As to whether Rick would run off with the money, Sean was not worried.


    A Silver Coin and thirty-odd Copper Coins was not a small sum for a youth like Sean. However, it was nothing to an Adventurer like Rick. It was only peanuts. It was not hard to understand why Rick would lend a hand for a measly crumb.


    The sneaky Rick was a Rogue. With a Class similar to that of a thief, there had to be some sort of connection. The Skills this guy had mastered included Pick Lock and Steal, after all. A person lite that would not let any opportunity to earn some cash slip away.


    Thus, all that was left for Sean to do was to wait. In three day at most, he would be able to meet the Mage.


    Sean had his own reasons for trying to get acquainted with the Mage.


    Humans were social creatures, and even Mages were no exception.


    The majority of Mages may not get on well with others, but that was due to their pursuit of truth and knowledge. As intellectuals, there was rarely anyone who could hold a conversation with them.


    Now that Sean was a Mage, he should find ways to meet with other Mages for conversation and mutual enrichment. Otherwise, Sean would not go far in the path of a Mage.


    Even though he was in possession of the Spatial Garrison.


    Having sealed the deal with Rick, Sean planned to look for Old Saldean in the hopes that he could rely on his connections to meet with a dependable Hunter. He wanted to purchase some Leather and Stone.


    As Sean was passing by Goldshire''s only Smithy, he recognized exasperated screams coming from Gryan Stoutmantle.


    "What? Five Gold a piece? Why don''t you just rob a bank? This Shining Silver Breastplate is obviously made from fish scales! I''ll give no more than one Gold!


    Hearing Gryan''s cries, Sean was struck by a thought and entered the Smithy.


    Gryan was standing and yelling at the entrance of the Smithy. The angry look on his face resembled an angry... bird?


    A middle-aged Blacksmith in his forties held a hammer and stood behind a desk with a smirk.


    On the desk was a Hauberk shining with a silver glow. It seemed rather exquisite, as if it was made with pure silver. However, the Hauberk showed its true colors with a simple use of Sean''s Appraisal Sight.


    [Fish Scale Breastplate, White Quality, Common Equipment. Forged using Murloc scales and iron, plated with silver. Defense +4, Water Elemental Resistance +1.]


    What an unscrupulous merchant!


    This middle-aged Blacksmith seemed crude and rough yet he managed to come up with an idea to plate a layer of silver over a Fish Scale Breastplate, giving the illusion that it was a Shining Silver Breastplate when, in actual fact, this was not the case.


    If it were a Shining Silver Breastplate forged with Bronze Bars, Moss Agate, Moonstone, Iridescent Pearls, and Silver Bars, Gryan would probably be more than willing to pay 50 Gold a piece without complaints, let alone 5 Gold a piece. It would be genuine Blue Quality with at least +10 in defense.


    However, this Fish Scale Breastplate was a piece of White Common Equipment yet it cost 5 Gold a piece? More importantly, he tried to sell to Gryan for 5 Gold a piece?


    Was Gryan that easy to be ripped off?


    The sly old man had sensed something amiss with the weight of the Hauberk when he picked it up. He then used his finger to scratch the silver layer off, revealing the fish scales beneath.


    It led to this event.


    No wonder Gryan was fuming.


    He was buying armor for the soldiers under him so that they could deal with the Kobolds, the Murlocs, and the Defias Brotherhood. Many would lose their lives if they were to equip this sort of armor. This was no joke.

 Chapter 28锛欸uard Set

    Gryan slammed his palm onto the desk and yelled, his finger pointing at the middle-aged Blacksmith. "Anyway, I wouldn''t want this piece of sh*t even if you gave it to me for free! Bring out your good Equipment and you should cut the price by half to make up for the emotional damage you''ve caused me! Otherwise, I''ll report you to Dughan. We''ll see if your Smithy can stay open then!"


    Hearing these words, both Sean''s eyes and jaw opened wide.


    F*ck! He knew better than to expect any noble virtue of this old guy.


    Putting himself in the shoes of his underlings? Afraid that his subordinates would get in harm''s way? It was all for show! All that talk was to drive down the price!


    Old Gryan was not one to mess with, but who said the middle-aged Blacksmith was a pushover?


    Unwilling to budge, the guy tossed his hammer onto the desk. With folded arms, head high, and chest out, the man answered in disdain, "Old Gryan, do you think you scare me? You think I would operate a Smithy in Goldshire without ensuring everything''s above board? You want to report to Sir Dughan? Well, I''ll see if he needs my annual support and significant tax payments! Humph! I couldn''t care less whether you purchase something or not. Get lost if you''re not buying, I have better fish to fry!"


    Gryan''s expression completely changed from a fit of rage to brown nosing. "Hehe, about that, everything''s up for discussion! I''m here to cut a huge deal for you if you''re willing to bring down the sale prices a little? What do you say? 40% off?"


    The middle-aged Blacksmith''s eyes lit up at the mention of a huge deal. Pressing both palms on the desk, his cold yet arrogant face loosened up while his narrowed eyes opened wide. His single-turned-double eyelids showed a livelier side to him. "How big of a deal are we talking?"


    With that, Gryan immediately resumed the bearing belonging to the Commander of The People''s Militia. He waved his arm to add to his imposing appearance. "Give me five hundred Hauberks, five hundred Two-handed Swords, and any other supporting Equipment that comes with them!"


    Taken by surprise, the middle-aged Blacksmith rolled his eyes. "Do you have money?"


    Oh! Gryan was being looked down upon.


    However, the guy did not blow his top. Instead, Old Gryan smiled proudly, giving off the vibe that he was loaded.


    The middle-aged Blacksmith got the picture.


    To finally be buying Equipment sets for his struggling men, this guy must have swindled off a quite sum from some gullible rich people. Over three hundred soldiers, and every single one would get a full set, plus replacement sets. It came up to a total of five hundred sets, which was a really big sale!


    The middle-aged Blacksmith wasted no time now that he knew more about Old Gryan''s situation. He knew that dawdling with this guy would come to no good. Hence, he smacked the table and said, "My best offer is a 20% discount! Don''t bother negotiating or I''ll show you the door! You''re welcome to try other Smithies!"


    He was confident.


    After all, there were no other Smithies around.


    There was only one Smithy in Goldshire; his shop. The closest Smithies were in Stormwind City and Lakeshire. Lakeshire was quite a distance, at least ten days away. Meanwhile, the insatiable merchants in Stormwind City would probably ask for a higher price. Where else could Old Gryan go?


    Indeed, Gryan came to the same conclusion and knew a 20% cut was good enough. Thus, he smacked the desk and answered, "Deal!"


    Next was viewing the stock.


    The middle-aged man waved his arm, signaling his Blacksmith Apprentices to retrieve a pile of samples from the warehouse. Displaying them all on the desk, the Blacksmith then began to introduce each piece.


    "The Charger Set, includes a hauberk, a two-handed sword, and a tactical dagger. Made from pure iron, simple yet practical. I''ll throw in an oak shield with a layer of iron over it. One set is 10 Gold and with 20% off, it''s 8 Gold. Pretty good price, huh?


    "The Ironforge Warrior Set, includes a hauberk, a two-handed sword, a tactical dagger, and a hammer. A blend of iron and bronze mixed with a small amount of silver. Thick and practical, provides good defense. Oh, there''s also a Wooden Buckler, making the whole set 12 Gold. 20% off would be 9 Gold and 60 Silver. How about I throw in a helm to make a nice round figure at 10 Gold?


    "The Bronze Scout Set includes light armor, a one-handed sword, a tactical dagger, and a shortbow with 20 feathered arrows. The light armor is made from bronze while the one-handed sword and dagger are forged with steel. We used high end rattan for the shortbow to make it lightweight and convenient. 15 Gold for the whole ensemble and the 20% discount makes it 12 Gold, what do you think?


    The middle-aged man was growing enthusiastic as he spoke, a contrast to Gryan''s grim face.


    He could figure out the numbers without counting with his fingers. The cheapest set that the middle-aged Blacksmith offered was 4000 Gold for 500 sets. His 5000 Gold would not be enough if he were to make any other Equipment purchases.


    This heartless unscrupulous Merchant!


    However, Gryan knew well that the price quoted by the middle-aged Blacksmith was reasonable. Only, these Equipment sets were simply too high end for him to afford.


    Surely, this guy did it on purpose. It must be, right?


    Before the middle-aged Blacksmith moved onto the fifth set, Old Gryan cut him short with a stiffened face. "Five Gold, five Gold, the most each set should cost is five Gold! I''ll pay no more than five Gold''s worth for each set! I won''t accept any more than that!"


    The middle-aged Blacksmith was in the zone when Gryan''s words put a damper over him. He murmured under his breath, calling the guy a poor wretch for being a wet blanket before ordering his Apprentice, "Go go, bring the most unprofitable set over!"


    What kind of Equipment was most unprofitable?


    It was those that were unembellished, bare, stripped down, in other words, ugly Equipment with only its most basic defense mechanisms retained. Though, they were sturdy and durable.


    Pointing at the set brought over by his Blacksmith Apprentice, the middle-aged Blacksmith said in a weak voice, "The Guard Set, a blend of bronze and indurium. Five Gold a set but you can have it for four Gold. Just take it!"


    It was a standard hauberk. It had been specially made for the Goldshire Guards several years ago but was now obsolete. No one would be caught dead in it in Goldshire because it was simply too ugly. It was definitely not a feast for the eyes.


    Nevertheless, Gryan was pleased.


    Sean used Appraisal Sight and found the Equipment to be up to par.


    Though a simple piece of White Common Equipment, its Armor had reached the limit of a Common Equipment; 5 points. An additional point would make it a piece of Green Uncommon Equipment. Moreover, it only cost 4 Gold. Compared to other beautiful yet useless Equipment, it was well worth the price.


    Gryan swung his arm. "This is the one. Five hundred sets it is!"


    The middle-aged Blacksmith nodded. "It''s 2000 Gold for five hundred sets. It''ll take 10 days to put together with the Smithy in full force, including whatever is in stock. Is there anything else you want?"


    Gryan chuckled. "There sure is. You know, I''m the Marshal of Sentinel Hill and the Commander of The People''s Militia after all. I should get a good set of Equipment myself. Help me pick a good one, an expensive and useful one!"


    As five hundred Guard Sets cost him 2000 Gold, he had 3000 Gold left from the 5000 Gold pot. He estimated that he would have at least 1000 Gold extra after purchasing any other items, so of course he was going to get himself something good!

 Chapter 29锛歁urloc Shallow

    The middle-aged Blacksmith''s eyes lit up.


    In fact, low grade Equipment was unprofitable for Blacksmiths. Why? For starters, it required a lengthy period to forge and secondly, the price was low and materials were common. The Guard Set, for example, only profited him 1 Gold for each set. With the salaries of Blacksmiths and Blacksmith Apprentices factored in, he earned at the very most, 300 Gold from this sale.


    However, if a set of high grade Equipment was sold, the ensemble alone could give him a clean 300 Gold profit.


    Hence, the middle-aged Blacksmith was beside himself with joy over Gryan''s statement. He immediately asked, "About that, Gryan, what kind of Equipment do you have in mind? How about a Stormwind City Royal Chevalier Set? It''s on sale for 1000 Gold Coins but you can have it for 800!"


    Gryan''s high head hung low. With a stiffened smile, he swung his arm. "No no. It looks nice but it''s not practical! You think I''m going to some ceremony? I''m going to war! Give me something practical!"


    The middle-aged Blacksmith muttered to himself before complying. He then turned to retrieve a box from the warehouse. The Blacksmith placed it onto the desk and said with a heavy heart, "You have it hard in Westfall. This set... 800 Gold, take it!"


    "What sh*tty Equipment is worth my eight hundred Gold..." Gryan wiped away the dust and pulled it open. He swallowed his words before he could finish. He stared blankly inside the box.


    Taken aback, Sean used Appraisal Sight on the Equipment inside the box but could not pick up anything. The set was at least Blue Rare Equipment!


    After a moment, Gryan began mumbling to himself, "Lightforge! This is Lightforge Armor!"


    Hearing these words, Sean took a deep breath in.


    So the Equipment in this box was Lightforge Armor!


    There were sets specific to every class. These sets were able to perfectly capture the unique characteristics of individual classes, enhancing the respective class'' abilities perfectly. The Mage''s Arcanist Regalia, the Priest''s Oracle Ensembles, and the Rogue''s Bloodfang Armor were great examples.


    Due to the high compatibility of these sets with their respective classes, they were widely acknowledged and pursued by High Rank Classes. Lightforge Armor was one of them.


    This was the first set for Paladins that was created. Divided into eight parts, the set included shoulder plates, a breastplate, a helm, leg plates, combat boots, gauntlets, a belt, and bracers. It shone with a dazzling golden light.


    This complete Blue Rare Quality set was top notch Equipment. Each article was a rare work of art. The complete set was definitely not valued at eight hundred Gold.


    Yet, the middle-aged Blacksmith only wanted eight hundred Gold.


    The old Blacksmith was looking down as he added in a whimpering voice. "Think of it as a gift for the citizens of Westfall. You know, I once lived in Westfall. I worked together with Moonbrook''s old Blacksmith and drank wine with the miners in the Deadmines. I left tracks in every farm and personally forged many farming tools..."


    Alas, this was all in the past.


    Westfall in its current state was chaotic. The masses lived in dire poverty with bandits on a rampage.


    Gryan Stoutmantle was an important stabilizing force in Westfall. A symbol of hope.


    Old Gryan bent over to pick up the Lightforge Armor, a rare pious look on his face. He was a believer in the Light and a just Paladin, after all. How could he possibly suppress excitement over seeing an entire set that was exclusively for Paladins?


    "You''ll need a hammer or longsword. "The middle-aged Blacksmith continued, "Which would you prefer?"


    Old Gryan caressed the Lightforge Armor and muttered, "Longsword, I''d prefer a longsword."


    ''


    The middle-aged Blacksmith retrieved a two-handed sword from the warehouse before handing it to Old Gryan. "Truesilver Champion, made from truesilver and mithril. Inlaid with Star Rubies and forged with Breath of Wind. You''ll be protected by a Holy Shield when using it."


    It was another piece of Blue Equipment. Although it was not top notch, it was still amongst the finest of the fine. The value of this Truesilver Champion was probably higher than Sean''s Arcane Saint''s Staff.


    Hot with emotions, Old Gryan put down the Lightforge Armor and accepted the Truesilver Champion with both hands. He carefully stroked the sword with fondness. Nevertheless, his expression changed after a while. Glaring at the middle-aged Blacksmith, he asked warily, "This two-handed sword is sh*t, you''re not going to raise the price too high, right?"


    The middle-aged Blacksmith. "..."


    Sean. "..."


    Blacksmith Apprentices. "..."


    Sean never discovered the price of the two-handed sword because he left the scene before negotiations started between Gryan and the middle-aged Blacksmith. He simply could not take Gryan Stoutmantle''s shamelessness anymore.


    Due to this experience, Sean acquired an understanding of the value of superior Equipment. He smiled bitterly at the thought of his Dalaran Apprentice''s Robe and Kobold Shaman''s Staff.


    These two pieces of White Common Equipment were not worth much...


    Sean then looked for Old Saldean to ask about the price of Leather and Stone. He was rendered speechless. The price of Leather and Stone were way past Sean''s expectation, especially Leather. It was a lot more than he could afford!


    "In short, I should look for better stuff! The Gate of Spacetime, here I come!"


    It was a vast beach with sand so fine and soft, the glare from the sun bounced off it. It was a rather brilliant scene. Sand Crawlers raised their sharp claws as they crossed vertically. Multicolored Murlocs formed small groups of threes and fours, keeping a distance from each other.


    Murloc Raiders, Murloc Tidehunters, Bluegill Warriors, Grimscale Oracles, Coldlight Oracles, Murloc Tidecallers, Coldlight Seers, Murloc Warleaders...


    Fine, at least there were not any Murlocs as powerful as the Murloc Warleaders in sight.


    This was a Dungeon called Murloc Shallow. The condition to clear it was unknown but there was 3 hours on the clock. The spatial redundancy was a 2 meter diameter circle on the ground. There was neither a Beginner''s Crate nor any advantages.


    Sean stood at the high end of the shore, using Appraisal Sight on everything he could see.


    [Murloc Tidehunter, Combat Level 3.]


    [Murloc Raider, Combat Level 3.]


    [Bluegill Warrior, Combat Level 3.]


    [Grimscale Oracle, Combat Level 3.]


    [Coldlight Oracle, Combat Level 4.]


    [Murloc Tidecaller, Combat Level 3.]


    [Coldlight Seer, Combat Level 5.]


    ...


    The rule of the food chain was, the larger the population, the lower it was placed on the food chain, excluding humans, of course. The Murloc population may be large but their average Combat Level, as a whole, was fairly low.


    Although the Murlocs listed above ranged between Combat Level 3 to 5, these were battle classes of the Murlocs that had equal footing to the Warriors, Mages, and Paladins of the Humans. In fact, the majority of regular Murlocs were similar to regular Humans, scoring Level 1 in Combat Level.


    Only a handful exceeded Combat Level 3.

 Chapter 30锛欿obold Army

    Murloc Tidehunters and Murloc Raiders were comparable to Rogues while Bluegill Warriors was equivalent to Warrior. The Grimscale Oracles, Coldlight Oracles, and Coldlight Seers were Casters.


    The ratio of battle classes to regular Murlocs was similar to that of the Humans. It was a common sight to see dozens of Murlocs forming a group with only one Grimscale Oracle or Coldlight Oracle and two to three Murloc Tidehunters, Murloc Raiders, or Bluegill Warriors. It was also common to find a Coldlight Seer in a combination of several small groups or a large group.


    As for the powerful Murloc Warleader, there was no guarantee of encountering one within several miles of Murloc Shallow.


    A Murloc Warleader, as the name suggested, was the leader of an army of Murlocs. How many Murloc groups would need to band together in order to gather enough Murloc battle classes to form an army?


    So far, the most powerful battle class in Murloc Shallow seemed to be the Coldlight Oracle.


    Despite that, it would not be an easy feat to clear the Murloc Shallow Dungeon.


    The absence of clear conditions made the Dungeon difficult to beat as this usually meant that one had to work hard and massacre all the Murlocs, unless the Spatial Garrison decided to show mercy by announcing a Quest.


    No matter how low the ratio of Murloc battle class was, there were dozens, if not hundreds of battle classes in the entire Murloc Shallow. Sean shivered at the thought of dealing with over a hundred of these battle classes.


    It was an impossible mission.


    With his hand on his forehead, Sean sighed deeply.


    Sean tried his hand at it. With a swoosh, a knuckle-sized Fireball crashed into a Murloc Raider, sending it to its doom.


    However, a large group of growling Murlocs bolted towards Sean thereafter.


    "OMG, the Murlocs share Aggro! Hit one and the entire group comes?"


    Without another thought, Sean made a run for it.


    In Murloc Shallow, where there was no place to hide, he was in danger of being spotted by Murlocs no matter which direction he chose. Hence, having considered the disparity in strength and finding no hope, Sean dashed straight for the spawn point. He left Murloc Shallow and returned to reality.


    This was Sean''s first taste of failure. It had also cleared Sean''s swollen head.


    "Indeed, these so-called Dungeons aren''t really Dungeons! I''ll actually die if I perish in one of them. I must take caution, my life is more important than anything else!"


    Sean was ashamed by his reckless act. After partaking in 3 seconds of humility, Sean closed his eyes and pondered in silence.


    Compared to Kobold''s Nest, the difficulty of Murloc Shallow was on a whole new level. With Sean''s improved abilities, Kobold''s Nest would not be an issue. However, Murloc Shallow seemed absolutely impossible at his current power level.


    Nonetheless, was it really so?


    Sean put on his thinking cap and was conflicted.


    In the very beginning, there had only been one option above the Gate of Spacetime; Kobold''s Nest. This was a Dungeon that Sean was capable of completing.


    Due to the Class Advancement Quest, the Stromgarde Keep of 2800 years ago had appeared as a second option. Obviously, the Class Advancement Quest was completable.


    The option to Murloc Shallow had not come after Sean''s completion of the Class Advancement Quest, rather it had appeared after he had cleared Kobold''s Nest. Perhaps this was a sign that the Gate of Spacetime, or even the Spatial Garrison itself, believed that Sean already possessed the ability to clear Murloc Shallow after completing Kobold''s Nest.


    Nevertheless, Sean had not obtained anything apart from some White Common Equipment, Kobold Shaman''s Staff and Dalaran Apprentice''s Robe, as well as 2 Stat points after clearing Kobold''s Nest. What caused the Spatial Garrison to think that he possessed the ability to clear Murloc Shallow?


    Oh, right. He was in possession of one more item...


    "Kobold War Horn (Westfall)!"


    Sean''s eyes lit up.


    Could it be that the Kobold War Horn was the deciding factor for clearing Murloc Shallow?


    The Kobold War Horn was only effective on Kobolds. This meant that...


    Sean abruptly stood up.


    The situation in Westfall came to mind. The distance between the Kobold-dominated Jangolode Mine and the Murloc-dominated Gold Coast was not large. Then...


    Perhaps, there was a community of Kobolds living a stone''s throw away from Murloc Shallow?


    At that thought, Sean eagerly entered the Spatial Garrison and arrived before the Gate of Spacetime.


    A certain amount of Garrison Resources was required to enter the Gate of Spacetime. Sean was unclear as to the amount of Garrison Resources exhausted nor how the cost was calculated.


    His first trip had cost 10 points of Garrison Resources while the second time was the same. His trip to Murloc Shallow, however, cost 15 points of Garrison resources.


    He had already entered once so his second time almost wiped out all of his already scarce Garrison Resources. The moment he entered Murloc Shallow, Sean immediately ran in the opposite direction of the Murlocs.


    Sean may not have the constitution of an adult Human, but he had enough strength for the journey. Half an hour later, Sean came across a mine. There were two Kobolds guarding the entrance.


    Sean dithered for a while but soon made up his mind and pulled out the Kobold War Horn.


    The reason behind the hesitation was that the Kobold War Horn was limited to Westfall. Although it might have some effect on Kobolds outside of Westfall, the results would not be as promising.


    His subsequent decision was due to the realization that Murloc Shallow somewhat resembled part of the Gold Coast. The mine before his eyes also shared similarities to Jangolode Mine... Even though there were distinct differences to the styles and features between here and Westfall.


    Could it be that Sean''s current location was actually Westfall''s Jangolode Mine?


    Just that it was not in the same timeline. Perhaps, it was the Westfall of a different space and time?


    Sean did not know what exactly was going on, but he planned to give it a try.


    Even if he were to fail in his attempt, the Kobolds were incapable of catching up to him. He could still make it back to the spawn point.


    With that thought, Sean sounded the Kobold War Horn.


    Luck always sided with transmigrators.


    After sounding the Kobold War Horn, the eyes of the two Kobolds in front of Jangolode Mine turned red. Hurling their trashy mining shovels to one side, they bolted towards Sean and fell on their knees with a thump. They kowtowed towards Sean, mumbling in the Kobold language.


    "!@#@!#��%#��..."


    Though Sean could not understand a single word, it did not stop him from starting his plan.


    Sean growled out loud. His fiery voice ignited a flame within all the Kobolds who heard him.


    Aged Kobolds, young Kobolds, adult Kobolds, they all dashed out of the mine.


    These Kobolds were of one mind, under the leadership of a great warbringer, they would restore the glory of the ancient Kobolds of Westfall!

 Chapter 31锛歁urloc Defender

    Sean took the lead and began running.


    The Kobolds tailed behind him.


    Sean began to slow down while the Kobolds started to pick up speed.


    Old or young, the Kobolds overtook Sean and charged forward.


    Not sparing a second, Sean continued blowing the Kobold War Horn.


    Fury raged, blood boiled, weapons swung, Kobolds roared.


    Several hundred Kobolds charged into Murloc Shallow.


    Yes, the Kobolds could not compare to the Murlocs in terms of individual strength.


    Yes, the Kobolds could not compare to the Murlocs in terms of battle classes.


    Yes, the Kobolds could not compare to the Murlocs in terms of numbers.


    Yes, the Kobolds could not compare to the Murlocs in anything.


    Nevertheless, the Kobolds, right there and then, had enough unity, courage, rage, and hot-bloodedness.


    Threads of several hundreds bunched together were stronger than a steel wire.


    The Kobolds were a steel wire ready to strangle all the Murlocs to death.


    By the time Sean arrived at Murloc Shallow, huffing and puffing, his jaw dropped wide open at the horrifying sight of Murloc Shallow.


    What were the right words to describe?


    Murloc Shallow, a sea of blood!


    Fresh blood dyed the shores of Murloc Shallow red. The Kobolds had bravely charged ahead, and now many had been frozen by Frostbolts and Frost Novas, killed by Backstabs and Sinister Strikes, while others had been crushed to pieces.


    However, the Murlocs had suffered worse.


    Due to the ambush, the Murlocs had not built a defensive line, preventing them from executing an effective retaliation.


    The Murlocs had been scattered by the Kobolds. Group after group was assaulted, leaving even the Coldlight Seers powerless to intervene.


    In fact, several Coldlight Seers had met their end.


    This was a perfect example of a lose-lose situation.


    By the time the Murloc massacre was complete, there were only a dozen or so Kobolds left. Beaten black and blue, they were heroes of the bloody battlefield.


    Even Sean could not help but cheer for them.


    Nevertheless, it was not the time to cheer.


    Though the Murlocs nearby may have been slaughtered, other Murlocs a short distance away had finally come to the senses and were fast approaching.


    How could the surviving dozen or so Kobolds defend against these vicious Murlocs? They were soon wiped out.


    Sean was disappointed.


    So calling upon an army of Kobolds was not enough to annihilate the Murlocs?


    Just then, crabs towering tens of centimeters crawled out from the seabed and charged towards the Murlocs at great speeds.


    Their sturdy claws crushed the Murlocs into pulp.


    As their shells had high Water Elemental Resistance, they were able to resist the Coldlight Oracle and Grimscale Oracle''s Ice Elemental Spells.


    They were the legendary Hungry Crabs, natural enemies of the Murlocs!


    "So this is the real aid for clearing Murloc Shallow!" Flabbergasted, Sean heaved a deep sigh.


    Of course, the Kobolds brought by Sean had played a huge role. Had the Kobolds not caused a blood bath by killing a large number of Murlocs, there would not have been enough Murloc blood to draw out this many Hungry Crabs. Here was the true strategy for completing Murloc Shallow.


    The Murlocs had met their true enemy.


    It took less than half an hour for the Murlocs to be completely wiped out by the Hungry Crabs.


    However, this was not the finale.


    A kilometer away, a Coldlight Seer that had managed to slip away stood above something similar to an altar. It was chanting an ancient incantation.


    A loud growl from the depths of the sea followed suit, prompting Sean to lift his head and shift his gaze.


    Far away, far off the coast, a giant wave rushed over. A huge, blue and red monster, rode the wave with a terrifying trident in its hand.


    It had a huge build, firm muscles, tough skin, and a thick tail.


    "Murloc Defender!"


    Sean''s eyes popped wide open.


    He used Appraisal Sight on the Murloc Defender but came back empty. This horrifying Murloc Defender surpassed Class Level 6. Surely, its Combat Level was high.


    Sean could not estimate it.


    He turned to make a run for it.


    Just then, Murloc Shallow''s Dungeon Quest finally showed up.


    [Immediate Quest: Skoda the Murloc Defender''s Fury!]


    [A Coldlight Seer has summoned Murloc Shallow''s defender and master, Skoda the Murloc Defender. This horrifying Naga Warrior was once Lady Vashj''s personal bodyguard. Although it was ousted by a new Murloc Defender in a battle of survival of the fittest, it still possesses the ability to bring many beings to shame. Defeat it, kill it, prove yourself!]


    [Quest Reward: Gather]


    [Note: With Gather in possession, you''ll gain the ability to collect spoils from enemies killed.]


    Sean stopped in his tracks and turned around to face the intimidating Murloc Defender.


    "Murloc Defender? You think you''re all that? I''m not afraid of you!"


    What was a natural enemy?


    A natural enemy ignored its opponent''s strength. The desire to kill was in its blood, and the difference in size between it and its opponent was of no consequence.


    Hungry Crabs were the Murlocs'' natural enemy.


    One look at the Murlocs, and the Hungry Crabs went on a killing spree. It did not matter whether the Murlocs were larger or outnumbered them.


    They were successful in annihilating the Murlocs.


    Their attention was now drawn to the escaped Coldlight Seer, as well as Skoda the Murloc Defender riding on the wave.


    Despite how powerful the Coldlight Seer was, it was still a Murloc.


    The Murloc Defender may be a Murloc in name, but, in truth, it was a Naga.


    Nonetheless, the Murloc Defender and the Murlocs shared a tiny resemblance in appearance. Needless to say, it had been summoned by the Coldlight Seer.


    So, of course, the Hungry Crabs considered themselves to be a natural enemy of the Murloc Defender.


    It did not matter whether the Murloc Defender was huge, strong, or terrifying.


    As a natural enemy of the Hungry Crabs, they had no cause for fear.


    The Hungry Crabs charged towards the Murloc Defender, killing the Magic-exhausted Coldlight Seer along the way.


    Imagine an army of ants marching towards you.


    Isn''t it funny?


    They would all be crushed with a single stomp.


    However, what if it was an endless stream of ants?


    What if these ants were not your average ants but giant ants that could kill an elephant?


    Although the Murloc Defender was many times more powerful than an elephant, the Hungry Crabs were countless times more powerful than ants.


    That said, the Murloc Defender had no fear.


    Because it would not permit itself to fail again.


    Ever since it was defeated by that d*mned Naga Warrior and stripped of its position, Skoda could no longer stand alongside the great goddess, Lady Vashj. His strength had dropped by several levels and the once proud Naga Warrior was now an Adventurer.


    Nevertheless, He was still a Murloc Defender. Murloc Shallow was its territory and it would not allow anyone to enter!

 Chapter 32锛歍hree Chests

    Skoda the Murloc Defender made a move.


    The giant wave churning under its tail rushed from behind the Murloc Defender, washing the army of Hungry Crabs into the sea.


    The Hungry Crabs managed to survive due to their natural connection to water, but the heavy impact from the giant wave knocked them unconscious and inflicted internal injuries.


    At the swing of the Murloc Defender''s trident, the wave, drawn by a mysterious power, formed a large maelstrom, eliminating the Hungry Crabs within.


    However, there were far too many Hungry Crabs and there was a limit to the Murloc Defender''s Mana.


    The casting of Spells again and again led to the Murloc Defender''s Mana bottoming out.


    As a result, the Murloc Defender began to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the Hungry Crabs.


    Although it was thick skinned, it was soon beaten black and blue.


    Although beaten black and blue, it remained valiant in battle.


    Although it was valiant in battle, its injuries grew severe.


    Although its injuries were severe, it managed to defend against the Hungry Crabs'' attack.


    The Hungry Crabs in this region were limited in number, after all.


    Skoda the Murloc Defender finally defended its honor and did not succumb to another defeat.


    It may be weary, it may be riddled with scars, it may have run out of Mana, it may not be able to withstand another blow, but it was victorious.


    Skoda could finally return to the depths of the sea and treat the pain on its body and heart.


    Unfortunately, a 10-second Spell came its way.


    "Swoosh!"


    It was a Fireball, though it was not significant and could be easily put out by a single wave of the Murloc Defender''s arm.


    However, the Murloc Defender currently had lacerated flesh, was severely mutilated, and had exhausted its Mana, which meant it was incapable of fighting back.


    The Fireball struck the Murloc Defender, roasting its flesh like a barbecue.


    It did not stop there.


    Immediately after casting the Fireball, Sean started firing Arcane Missiles.


    One after another Arcane Missiles struck the Murloc Defender in the same spot on its chest. The extended attack caused sharp pain to its chest, until finally, it could feel no more.


    The Murloc Defender opened its mouth in an attempt to speak but no words came out.


    The Murloc Defender went down with a bang.


    In the end, the Murloc Defender had not protected its honor, but to fall in battle was still a worthy death. It managed to release itself from the shadows of defeat as it departed this life. Death had cleaned out all existing restraints and commitments.


    Sean let out a long sigh.


    Having exhausted his Mana and strength in a short span of time, Sean fell back onto the ground and took a break for 5 minutes.


    Out of the three-hour time slot, there was only half an hour left on the clock. Sean had no time to waste.


    It was then that Sean heard a melodious prompt.


    [Ding!]


    [Immediate Quest: Skoda the Murloc Defender''s Fury (Completed)]


    [Reward: Gather]


    [Note: Only applicable in the Dungeon.]


    A piece of information appeared in Sean''s mind.


    Sean swiftly walked towards Murloc Shallow.


    The thousands of corpses belonging to the Murlocs, Kobolds, Hungry Crabs, and Skoda the Murloc Defender had left a significant amount of wealth for Sean.


    It was impossible for Sean to collect them all. Hence, he picked the most important ones to gather.


    Skoda the Murloc Defender was the first.


    This Class Level 6 Naga Warrior had dropped many great items for Sean.


    [Intact Naga Hide x 1, Naga Claws x 2, Intact Naga Scale x 120, Trident x 1, Murloc Defender Charm x 1]


    Naga Hide could be made into top quality leather armor, Naga Claws could be used to make claw-like fist weapons while Naga Scales would make a good top quality scale armor.


    Most importantly were the two pieces of Equipment.


    [Skoda''s Trident, Green Quality, Uncommon Equipment. Strength +10.]


    [Fortified Magic: Wave Maelstrom. Summons huge waves from the Elemental Plane of Water to form a high velocity maelstrom that will kill enemies.]


    [Murloc Defender Charm, Green Quality, Uncommon Equipment. All Stats +1.]


    Sean was able to equip the Murloc Defender Charm but had no use for the Murloc Defender''s Glory, albeit he could trade it in for a large sum of Gold Coins.


    Sean seemed to regain his spirits and strength after putting on the Murloc Defender''s Charm. Thus, he continued to loot.


    Sean''s first targets were the Casters such as the Coldlight Seers, Coldlight Oracles, Grimscale Oracles, and Kobold Shamans. He ended up with a haul of 15 White Common staves and a Green Uncommon staff.


    Apart from these, he collected a few tattered and dirty robes.


    Sean then turned his attention to the battle classes of the Kobolds and the Murlocs before gathering from the larger-sized Hungry Crabs. He obtained many Murloc Scales, candles, iron weapons, shells, pearls, gold ore, and some random gems from the looting.


    Finally, Sean transported 3 chests from the Murloc camp and made it to the spawn point with a few minutes to spare. He left Murloc Shallow.


    Lying on a soft bed in a room on the second floor in Lion''s Pride Inn, Sean was grinning from ear to ear.


    The journey to Murloc Shallow may have been a risky and difficult one but Sean thought the final rewards were well worth the risk. The trip left nothing to be desired!


    Besides the top quality materials and two pieces of Green Equipment retrieved from Skoda the Murloc Defender, he was in possession of plenty of other materials and pieces of Equipment that he had collected from the Murlocs, Kobolds, and Hungry Crabs. Additionally, there were the 3 chests.


    These 3 chests were not some Beginner''s Crates from the Spatial Garrison but actual chests. They were storage chests gathered by the Murlocs from sunken ships in Murloc Shallow. Inside was treasure recovered by the Murlocs.


    Sean rubbed his hands and began the comfortable job of opening chests and looting Equipment.


    The first chest was built with solid wood. There were no signs of water damage despite being submerged in water for several years. The material, comparable to a thousand-year agarwood boasted a rich sense of antiquity and was paired with an ancient metal lock, though there was no key.


    Sean took out a worn-out hammer obtained from the Kobolds and pounded the lock, breaking it.


    He opened the chest and was blinded by shimmering gold, silver, and copper...


    It was a whole chest of Gold, Silver, and Copper Coins!


    The varying designs of these coins dated their origins to different kingdoms, races, and time periods. Sean even spotted a familiar pattern. It was a Gold Coin from the Empire of Arathor!


    Sean buried his hands inside the chest, grabbed a hold of a bunch of coins, and lifted them up. The interplay of three different twinkles blinded him.


    "Haha, I''m rich, I''m rich!"


    Sean laughed out loud as he counted the money.


    One coin, two coins, three coins...


    It was a total of 42 Gold Coins, 365 Silver Coins, and 2475 Copper Coins!


    Indeed it was a substantial sum but Sean still felt he was a poor wretch at the thought of Gryan Stoutmantle spending 800 Gold Coins on Lightforge Armor.


    The second chest was next.


    This was a chest made out of iron. The fine metal prevented it from rusting while retaining its exquisite design and alloy lock. It was a work of art.


    He was welcomed by the gentle glow of various colors in the second chest. Within the glow were fine and round pearls.


    Sean laughed even louder.


    "Hahaha, I hit the jackpot! I really hit the jackpot!"


    The chest of pearls was worth way more than the chest of coins!


    Amongst the multicolored pearls, the Black Pearls, Silver Pearls, Gold Pearls in particular were more expensive than regular pearls. These were the finest of the fine and popular among women and Jewelcrafters.


    Sean could envision sacks of Gold Coins flying towards him.


    With these two chests a success, Sean was looking forward to the third chest.


    Nervous and anxious, he turned his gaze to the third chest.

 Chapter 33锛歋pectral Reins

    The third chest was made from obsidium. Entirely pitch black, complicated Runes were written over it using Truesilver Powder. It was adorned with Blue Sapphires, Star Rubies, Moonstones, and Lapis Lazuli as well as sealed with an Adamantium Runic Lock.


    Obviously, it was impossible for Sean to crack open the Runic Lock with a hammer. His lack of knowledge in the study of Runes made it impossible for him to decipher the Runes on the Runic Lock.


    Hence, the contents of this unopenable chest were temporarily unobtainable.


    Although he was unable to access the highly anticipated treasures due to the Runic Lock, Sean was not the least bit disheartened.


    There was an even bigger reward awaiting him. It was the reward for clearing Murloc Shallow.


    As a Dungeon with a higher difficulty than Kobold''s Nest, the reward for completing Murloc Shallow would definitely be more valuable than Kobold''s Nest.


    [Ding!]


    [Congratulations on successfully killing Skoda the Murloc Defender and clearing Murloc Shallow, Commander. Overall Rating: A. Do you wish to collect the reward?]


    Obviously, the answer was Yes.


    His rating this time was higher. Instead of a C, it was an A. The reward for clearing the Dungeon had to be a lot better.


    [Clearance Reward 1: 4 Stat Points.]


    Of course Stat Points was above everything else.


    At 4 points, the Stat Points were double that of the previous reward. He wondered where he should add them.


    Let''s take a look at Sean''s Stats.


    Strength 5, Agility 7, Stamina 10, Intelligence 12, Spirit 19.


    With 5 points of Strength, he was on the low end of the spectrum, even paling in comparison to a young Human of the same age. Strength was the deciding factor for physical attacks and the number of items a character could carry. Equipment, in fact, had some weight to them. Sean''s staff, for an example, weighed several kilograms. If his Strength was too low, it would prevent Sean from carrying it.


    7 points in Agility was fairly low but was considered normal for Sean''s age. Agility determined a person''s reflexes as well as running speed. Nothing was more important than fleeing in critical moments! Moreover, reflexes mattered in battle and very often decided life and death situations.


    10 points in Stamina put Sean higher than his peers and placed him on the level as an adult Human. Stamina dictated endurance, recovery, immunity, etc. In other words, it revolved around survival. Thus, its importance could not be exaggerated.


    Sean''s 12 points in Intelligence was greater than average. However, Intelligence did not represent a person''s wisdom, rather their Mana''s max limit. The higher the Intelligence, the larger the Mana pool. This Stat was crucial for Casters. Without a high enough Intelligence, one might not have the Mana to cast High Rank Spells. Knowledge would be pointless without it.


    19 points in Spirit meant it was a high Stat. Spirit played a part in a Mana''s recovery rate and control over Magic. The higher the Spirit, the faster the Mana recovery. Needless to say, it was undoubtedly important to gain control over Magic.


    Out of these five major Stats, none was less important than the other.


    Sean gave it a thought before deciding to increase his Intelligence.


    Strength, Agility and Stamina could be enhanced quickly through food consumption and exercise. Sean decided from then on to strengthen himself through physical exercise and partaking in an all meat diet; pork, lamb, and beef.


    As for his Spirit, it was already at a good enough level. There was no need to improve it, hence it was not part of his considerations.


    With 4 Points added to Intelligence, Sean''s Intelligence was now at 16 points. His Mana capacity had increased by one-third.


    [Clearance reward 2: Wheel of Fortune.]


    It was yet another Wheel of Fortune. Nevertheless, the rewards up for grabs were higher quality.


    First was a random 300 Garrison Resource points. The volume was triple the previous amount. It was still the most undesirable item among the six slots of the Wheel of Fortune. Now that Sean was wealthy, could he not gain 300 Garrison Resource points by spending just a small amount of money?


    Next was a scroll glowing in blue that came with a short description; Random Alchemy Recipe. Sean was not an Alchemist so he had no use for this recipe.


    The third slot was a random Medium Garrison Structure Blueprint. Now that he was loaded, Sean was a man of vision. With Garrison Resources easily obtainable and the construction of the Town Hall soon to be completed, he would be able to build various structures. Hence, he was in need of Blueprints.


    The fourth slot was a pair of blue reins, called Spectral Reins. It could be used on any creature that was no more than Combat Level 10, taming it as a mount. As a result of the spectral attachment, the mount''s abilities would see varying degrees of improvement.


    The fifth slot was an item shaped like an eyeball. Its name and Stats were unknown.


    The sixth slot was a spell book.


    "A spell book!"


    Sean was hot with emotions.


    Previously, Sean had grieved a whole 3 minutes when he missed out on the spell book. This time, he would probably be down in the dumps for a whole 5 minutes if he were to fail!


    No way!


    "Oh, Goddess of Mercy, Queen Mother of the West, God, Allah, Holy Ghost, Buddha... bless me!"


    Sean had completely forgotten that this was not Earth. Rather than praying for divine intervention from gods, goddesses or Buddha, he would be better off praying to the Titans.


    He then spun the Wheel of Fortune.


    The air was heavy with anticipation as the indicator pointed to...


    Spectral Reins!


    Argus'' Smithy.


    Oh right, Argus was the middle-aged Blacksmith who had sold the Truesilver Champion and Lightforge Armor to Gryan Stoutmantle. He was also the owner of Argus'' Smithy.


    Based on the information Sean had obtained from Old Saldean, Argus was a Grandmaster Rank Blacksmith with Master Blacksmithing knowledge. His reputation for forging a large number of fine armor and weapons had made him one of the best Blacksmiths in Stormwind City.


    Sean was here today because he wanted to swindle some money... Oops, slip of the tongue, he had a huge business deal to discuss with Argus.


    "Hello, Grandmaster Argus, how do you do? I''m pleased to see you again. I can still remember your great bearing and the impression you left. How kind, benevolent, and generous you were yesterday, selling the Truesilver Champion and Lightforge Armor to Sir Gryan Stoutmantle at a generous price. All to support law and order in Westfall. I''m really touched. It spoke to many hearts and drove people to tears!"


    The moment Sean turned up at Agrus'' Smithy, he began licking Grandmaster Blacksmith Argus'' boots. There was only one purpose in mind, to gain an advantage for upcoming negotiations.


    Who did he think Argus was?


    Argus had been in Goldshire for 10 years and, before that, had wandered throughout the Eastern Kingdoms for 10 years. He knew when someone was bluffing from a single look. Even Gryan Stoutmantle, the old cunning soldier, was incapable of outdoing him. It was an impossible task for Sean.


    Blacksmith Argus immediately read Sean''s intentions when he shifted his eyes. Without lifting his head, he continued forging and coldly said, "Say what you want. Do it quickly."


    Sean was caught off guard by Argus'' words. His natural-looking smile stiffened for about 30 seconds before he chuckled in embarrassment, "About that... Grandmaster Agus, I have a business proposal."


    Giving Sean the side-eye, Agus arrogantly said, "Go talk to my apprentice. I have no interest in small business deals."


    A Blacksmith Apprentice put down his hammer and walked towards Sean.


    Sean quickly stopped the Blacksmith Apprentice and smiled apologetically, "Grandmaster Agus, I''m talking about a huge business deal."

 Chapter 34锛歋ale

    Argus shot another glance at Sean, lasting for a good 3 seconds before he turned away in disdain. "I''m too busy forging Guard Sets for Old Gryan, I don''t have time for you. What kind of huge business deal would a little brat you have? Go play somewhere else, I don''t have any sweets for you here."


    Sean went ballistic, mentally trying to figure out which of his body parts made him look like a little brat. Was it his eyes or mouth?


    Fine, he might be pretty young, but surely, not at the level of a little brat? He was at least a young man, right? Old grandpa Argus sure had bad eyesight.


    Sean made no secret of his displeasure. He lifted a leg to walk away, but not without mumbling under his breath. "I guess he doesn''t want top quality Scales and Naga Scales. What an idiot to reject a huge deal..."


    Before he could finish, a loud bang was heard and a tall and sturdy man suddenly appeared in Sean''s line of vision. It was Blacksmith Argus. This guy, after throwing his hammer onto his desk, had run towards Sean and blocked his way in less than 2 seconds.


    There was more to him than meets the eye!


    Taken aback, Sean cast Appraisal Sight on Argus and discovered that the guy was a Class Level 6 Mid Rank Warrior with a towering Level 8 for his Combat Level. Who would have known?


    "Little guy, what did you say? Do you have Naga Scales? For real?"


    Sean was startled by Argus but quickly came to grips with the importance of Naga Scales to Argus. Well, if such high quality materials were used to forge scale armor, it would at least be Blue Quality armor. Argus was definitely inspired.


    However, Sean was unhappy about the contempt Argus had shown him. Hence, he shook his head. "You heard wrongly. I don''t have any Naga Scales. What is a Naga Scale by the way? Can it be eaten? I''ve never heard of such a thing."


    Sean was ready to leave and had started joking around.


    Nevertheless, Argus coldly smirked, "Little guy, I don''t care where you obtained your Naga Scales but I can tell you that nobody in Goldshire, except for me, can handle or accept them. Are you planning to save them for your old age?"


    At these words, Sean was infuriated. "You''re old! Your whole family is old! I''m younger than 15 years old, alright? Anyway, I''m not selling any longer, you''re not the boss of me!"


    Having failed his scare tactics, Argus immediately adopted a cheeky demeanor. "Haha, don''t act like that, little brother. I was at fault earlier, just think of it as gibberish, okay? Look, sell the Naga Scales to me. We can talk about price..."


    Who would say no to money?


    Moreover, besides Argus'', Sean had nowhere to sell the Naga Scales. Hence, he stopped in his tracks and turned to face Argus with a doubtful look. "We can talk about price? You''re not going to con me, are you? The memory of you deceiving Sir Gryan yesterday is still fresh on my mind!"


    Despite having been exposed, Argus was not furious at all. It was plain to see that the thickness of his skin had surpassed that of a wild boar and reached the level of a wild rhino.


    Argus pulled Sean over and patted on his chest. "Little brother, you should hear what others have to say about me, a Grandmaster Blacksmith! Everyone calls me the pure, kind-hearted Argus! Little brother, little brother, don''t you worry, I won''t con you!"


    Blinking his eyes, Sean was sceptical. "You''re really not going to con me? I heard things about you that say otherwise! I''ll have you know that I came with Old Man Saldean and I know Sir Gryan! Don''t try to lie to me!"


    Argus swiftly smiled obsequiously. "Haha, no way! You''re the child fostered by Old Saldean? Let me tell you, I''m good friends with Old Saldean. I''m the one that made his farming tools! Relax, I will treat you properly!"


    Sean gave it a thought and figured Argus would not dare try him before answering, "Alright then, wait right here. I''ll bring the stuff over."


    Argus. "..."


    After a while, Sean rode on a horse carriage from Lion Pride''s Inn, bringing a carriage of items with him.


    Argus went gung-ho over the sight of a carriage full of items. His jaw dropped wide open. "This-this many Naga Scales?"


    Sean curled his lips. "Nah! You think I ransacked a whole Naga Lair? It''s mostly Murloc Scales on the carriage, only a handful are Naga Scales."


    Sean grabbed a bag from the carriage and handed it over to Argus. "Here you go. Along with 120 Naga Scales, there''s also two Naga Claws and a Naga Hide."


    Upon receiving the bag, Argus pulled it open.


    Naga Scales, the size of palms, shone with a dazzling light. Each scale had a flow of powerful Mana.


    Stroking the Naga Scales, Argus abruptly lifted his head and said, "Little brother, where did you obtain these? I don''t recall any Nagas around here."


    Sean lifted his brow. "I happened to pick them up, alright?"


    Argus replied, "Okay okay, wherever you got them, that''s none of my business. Great stuff, this is great stuff. Look at these scales, smooth and firm. There''s also Mana circulation on them. They are top notch materials! The two claws can be made into claw-like fist weapons. This hide is perfect for leather armor. It''s a shame I''m not a Leatherworker..."


    Sean cried, "Let me say this first, these items, along with the carriage of Murloc Scales are being sold as a set. Nothing can be left out."


    Of course Sean was going to sell everything as a set. Otherwise, where was he going to sell the Naga Hide?


    The only Leatherworker and Skinner in Goldshire was an oddball. Sean was worried that he might be skinned if he were to sell the item there. It was said that the Skinner skinned children alive...


    Though Argus was unopposed to the idea, he felt it was beneath him. "The carriage of Murloc Scales isn''t worth much. A Copper Coin each... As for these Naga Scales, 10 Silver a piece. What do you say? And these two claws..."


    "Hold up, hold up, I''m not selling anymore!" Sean cut Argus off and fastened the bag, preparing to leave.


    Who was he kidding!


    These were Skoda the Murloc Defender''s scales, not some average Naga Scales. Its peer, Slardar the Murloc Defender was a famous Naga Hero and although Skoda was inferior, it did not lag far behind.


    Its Combat Level was at least Level 10!


    Without the thousands of Hungry Crabs in Murloc Shallow charging ahead, unafraid of the danger, would Sean have been able to finish Skoda off?


    These scales were 10 Silver a piece?


    No deal! No deal!


    Argus was flustered by Sean''s firm attitude. He pulled Sean aside and smiled apologetically. "There''s room for negotiations. There''s always room for negotiations. How about 20 Silver? Oh, no, my bad, my bad. 30 Silver, 30 Silver! Don''t leave! 40 Silver, 40 Silver it is! I''m losing money here! It won''t be worth that much even after it''s forged into scale armor... Alright, an honest price, 50 Silver a piece! I can''t go higher than that!"

 Chapter 35锛歋patial Garrison鈥檚 Major Upgrade

    With a firm look on his face, Argus was not willing to budge.


    Sean deliberated in his mind. 60 Gold Coins for 120 Naga Scales was not a small amount. A set of Lightforge Armor, consisting of 8 pieces of Equipment, was sold for 800 Gold Coins. Even if that price was a bargain, the highest it could go for would probably be around 1000 Gold Coins, making it slightly more than 120 Gold Coins a piece. These scales alone were not enough to forge scale armor, Argus still needed to add in more materials as well as factor in his profits...


    Based on this calculation, 60 Gold Coins was a fair price!


    Hence, Sean nodded in agreement. "Alright, it''s a deal. The 2 Naga Claws and the Naga Hide..."


    Now that the price of the scales was settled, Argus relaxed his muscles. He chuckled. "For the Naga Claws, I''ll give you 10 Gold a piece. Trust me, it''s a good price. Honestly, I''ve got no use for the Naga Hide. I''d have to trade it to a Leatherworker. I don''t know the market price... How about 10 Gold Coins?"


    Sean immediately shook his head, "No can do! This is an entire Naga Hide, how can it cost the same as a claw? Are you taking advantage of me because I''m young? 20 Gold Coins, no less than 20 Gold Coins!"


    Argus hesitated for 10 seconds before clenching his teeth. "Fine, little brother. For the sake of Old Saldean and Gryan, I''ll agree to that! 60 Gold Coins for the Naga Scales, 20 Gold Coins for the 2 Naga Claws, and 20 Gold Coins for the Naga Hide. Don''t bother counting the Murloc Scales. It''d take all day! I''ll give you 10 Gold Coins for all of them, bringing the total to 110 Gold Coins!"


    A single scale could be sold for a Copper Coin, which meant that 100 pieces cost a Silver Coin, and 10,000 pieces cost a Gold Coin. Since there were less than 100,000 Murloc Scales in the carriage, he had made a profit!


    Sean had the sudden realization that Argus was the most adorable person in the world. With the deal closed on the spot, Sean rode the horse carriage back to Lion''s Pride Inn.


    He was unaware that when he left, Argus let out a sinister smile.


    "I said you''re a little brat, what do you know? Such high quality Naga Scales are worth at least a Gold Coin a piece! With 120 pieces, I can make 2 suits of scale armor, maybe more, and sell them at 200 Gold Coins a piece! The 2 Naga Claws can be made into a pair of claw-like fist weapons that can, at the minimum, be sold for 100 Gold Coins. This Naga Hide is worth more than 50 Gold Coins to a Leatherworker. I''ll pocket no less than 200 Gold Coins from this sale, about the same as selling 500 Guard Sets to Old Gryan. What a lovely little brat...


    "You have to come often, little brat!"


    Sean had no clue that he had been conned by Argus. He was still convinced that, even if he had not made significant profits, he had not been lowballed.


    After returning to Lion''s Pride Inn on the horse carriage, Sean immediately sought out Old Saldean to ask about locations that sold leather, wood and stone.


    Old Saldean believed that Sean intended to build a house, hence the questions. Since he planned to have Sean take up an apprenticeship under the Engineers in Goldshire, Old Saldean assumed that the boy wanted to familiarize himself with the market before learning the skills required to become a real Engineer. Eventually, Sean would be able to earn enough money to build a home in Goldshire.


    Honestly, Old Saldean put too much thought into it.


    Over the years, Old Saldean had become acquainted with many people in the area. This included a number of carpenters and stonemasons. One by one, he introduced them to Sean with great enthusiasm.


    "Oh Sean, you have to remain on good terms with the people to live in Goldshire. They will take care of you on my behalf. Tomorrow I''ll take you to meet Old Harry, an Engineering expert. He''s the best Engineer here..."


    Sean nodded in response and waited until Old Saldean was done speaking before departing in search of a friend of Old Saldean to purchase a large amount of leather, ore and wood. He then hid in his room and began converting the items.


    After converting 10 Garrison Resources, Sean immediately built the Gate of Spacetime and entered a new Dungeon, Redridge Mountains. He had no intentions of clearing the Dungeon; instead, he embarked on a converting frenzy. Apparently, when inside a Dungeon, converting Garrison Resources had no impact on Mental Energy. Sean could not see the logic behind it.


    Soon, Sean managed to convert all the items into Garrison Resources. He then entered the Spatial Garrison and decided to construct a Town Hall.


    [Level 1 Town Hall, in construction. Construction time: 1 day.]


    This day, Sean was not in the mood to do anything. Filled with anticipation, he could neither eat nor sleep well, leaving him pretty haggard.


    It was only at the sound of a melodic prompt that Sean reentered the Spatial Garrison with a joyous look on his face.


    [Ding!]


    [The construction of a Level 1 Town Hall is completed. Congratulations Commander, the Spatial Garrison is upgraded to a Level 1 Spatial Garrison, unlocking 1 Large Plot, 2 Medium Plots, and 3 Small Plots.]


    [Hint: Large Garrison Structures can be built on Large Plots, Medium Garrison Structures can be built on Medium Plots, Small Garrison Structures can be built on Small Plots.]


    [Fixed Garrison Structures unlocked: Fishing Shack, Herb Garden, Lunarfall Excavation, Menagerie. For further information, please check the Spatial Garrison.]


    [Garrison Structure Quests unlocked. From now on, Garrison Structure Quests will be distributed randomly. Garrison Structure Blueprints, Garrison Upgrade Blueprints, Garrison Expedition Blueprints, etc will be awarded upon completion of the quest. For further information, please check the Quest Interface.]


    [Follower Interface unlocked. From now on, the Commander may obtain Followers through various methods. For further information, please check the Follower Interface.]


    [Ship Interface unlocked. The Commander may obtain Ship Blueprints, Ship Parts Blueprints, etc by completing Garrison Structure Quests. For further information, please check the Ship Interface.]


    A series of information prompts bombarded Sean.


    It took Sean a long time before he could calm himself down. He wasted no time in checking his Spatial Garrison.


    The formerly desolate Spatial Garrison was now filled with 10 Plots. Each Plot was surrounded by a ring of light.


    Among them, the four biggest rings of light belonged to the Fishing Shack, Herb Garden, Lunarfall Excavation, and Menagerie. There was one slightly smaller ring, which was used for a Large Garrison Structure while another 2 smaller ones were reserved for Medium Garrison Structures. The three smallest rings of light were for Small Garrison Structures.


    All the buildings within the rings of light required corresponding Blueprints to construct.


    Out of all 10, the 4 Fixed Garrison Structures ��the Fishing Shack, Herb Garden, Lunarfall Excavation, and Menagerie came with their respective Blueprints. Hence, they could be constructed as long as the Garrison Resources requirement was met.


    The Fishing Shack required 100 Wood and 100 Stone to build. A fishing shack and lake would be available upon construction. As all sorts of fish spawned in the lake, fresh seafood could be obtained through fishing. Apart from seafood, various unexpected items could also be fished from the lake.


    The Herb Garden cost 100 Wood and 100 Stone to build. The construction would see the birth of a small herb garden that can be used to grow all kinds of miraculous herbs.


    100 Wood and 100 Stone would construct the Lunarfall Excavation. A small excavation site would appear after construction. Different types of ores would be readily available.


    As for the Menagerie, 100 Stone and 100 Wood was needed to build a pet menagerie. It was a place to train loyal pets to assist in battle.


    In order to build a Large Structure, 2 Medium Structures, and 3 Small Structures, Sean had to clear quests to obtain Blueprints.


    At the moment, Sean was already in possession of a Small Blueprint, the Golem Factory.

 Chapter 36锛歍ower of Azora

    The construction of the Golem Factory would use up 100 Wood, 100 Stone, and 100 Iron. Sean had amassed sufficient Wood and Stone. As for Iron, he had gained a large amount of iron goods from the battle in Murloc Shallow and, the day before, had converted them into Iron. He had enough to fulfill the requirement.


    As a result, Sean was able to begin construction on the Golem Factory.


    The 4 Fixed Garrison Structures may seem pretty good, but Sean was most in need of a Garrison Structure capable of improving combat effectiveness, and the Golem Factory was able to do just that. Although the Menagerie could also fill this role, after it was constructed, any pets still had to be nurtured and trained. Thus, Sean ignored it for now.


    Sean chose to construct the Golem Factory.


    The construction of a Level 1 Small Structure followed the default construction time of 1 day. Sean had to resume waiting.


    Except for usual Ultimate Quest, there were no new quests in the Quest Interface. However, the newly unlocked Garrison Structure Quests did present quite a bit of information.


    A Garrison Structure Quest, as its name suggested, was a quest related to Garrison Structures. The quest, depending on the completion rating, awarded Garrison Structure Blueprints, Garrison Upgrade Blueprints, or Garrison Expedition Blueprints, etc, of various qualities.


    For example, should the completion be rated A, it was possible to receive an Epic Quality Garrison Structure Blueprint as a reward. If the completion was C, perhaps a Rare Blueprint would be rewarded instead. Sean did not know what the difference between varying quality Blueprints was.


    The Follower Interface was a newly unlocked interface.


    This interface displayed information regarding Followers.


    Alongside the gradual upgrade of his Spatial Garrison, Sean could recruit Followers of different levels and responsibilities. The method to gain Followers was rather peculiar.


    Followers had to be recruited by Sean in the real world. Once the recruitment of a Follower is confirmed, a contract is made between Sean and the Follower. After the creation of the contract, the Follower is granted partial authority within the Spatial Garrison. The Follower will also be restricted by the Spatial Garrison, unable to reveal anything about it. Not even through souls.


    Sean could recruit a total of 25 Followers.


    These 25 Followers would be assigned to different roles. Additionally, the power of a Follower was limited by the Spatial Garrison.


    A Level 1 Spatial Garrison, as an example, limited the maximum power of a Follower to Low Rank, no more than Class Level 5. Sean would not be able to recruit someone at Class Level 6 or higher.


    Hence, Sean had already begun determining possible Follower candidates...


    Old Saldean was still occupied with sales while Gryan Stoutmantle, along with his minions, was busy either rushing the forging the Guard Sets at Argus'' Smithy, or negotiating reinforcements to Westfall and military weapon purchases with Marshal Dughan in Goldshire''s Town Hall.


    Paul and Heller accompanied Old Saldean, while the Level 4 Warrior, Donald, followed along. Only the middle-aged Thief, Rick, fooled around all day. The man simply wandered around the town.


    Struck by a thought, Sean sought out Rick.


    "Brother Rick, I think it''s about time to make good on our deal?"


    Half-leaning against a wall, Sean toyed with an exquisite dagger in his hand. It was the piece of White Equipment that he obtained from the Beginner''s Crate. Apart from a sharp edge, it was practically useless.


    On the pinkie of Sean''s right hand was a ring emitting a blue shimmer. This was the Mage Saint''s Ring. The golden badge hanging on the chest of his coat was his Arathor''s Gold Medallion.


    Although Sean was confident in his judgment, he was open to another possibility �� that Rick tricked him and had no intentions of taking him to meet the Mage.


    If that were true, Sean did not mind teaching Rick a lesson before heading off by himself to the Tower of Azora to meet the famous Mage, Theocritus.


    Yes, in fact, Sean had already figured it out.


    The most popular spot in Elwynn Forest for Mages to gather was the Tower of Azora, situated in the east of the forest, south of Eastvale Logging Camp and Stone Cairn Lake bordering Redridge Mountains, Duskwood, and Deadwind Pass.


    A group of Independent Mages had gathered at the ancient Mage Tower in the hopes of avoiding Stormwind City''s politics. The leader of these Independent Mages was Theocritus.


    If Rick was indeed acquainted with some Mage in Elwynn Forest, he was positive that the Mage was a member of the Tower of Azora, perhaps even Theocritus.


    It was a pity that, because of Theocritus, the Tower of Azora refused all visits from outsiders, including Mages, unless the person went through a background check or had a recommendation.


    Sean had placed his hopes in Rick.


    Rick, in turn, did not reject Sean''s hand of friendship.


    Ditching the cigarette in his mouth, Rick let out a puff. He sized Sean from head to toe for some time. When Rick spotted the badge on Sean''s chest and the ring on his finger, a hint of greed flashed in the Adventurer''s keen eyes.


    His greed only flashed for a short while and was immediately suppressed because Rick had realized that there was a problem.


    ''Just who is this young man under the age of fifteen? Why does he possess such a high level trinket and a ring that has powerful Mana circulating through it? The fact that he wishes to be acquainted with a Mage, could it be that he''s secretly a Mage?


    ''Most importantly, how capable is this undercover Mage? Can I defeat him? Am I able to steal the ring and badge from him? Where did he hide his staff?''


    The pupils of Rick''s eyes shrunk.


    Rick was suddenly aware that the indurium dagger in Sean''s hand was missing. Despite being Level 4 Rogue and having keen senses, he could not tell where Sean had hidden the indurium dagger.


    Could this young man, who had clumsily played with the dagger, actually have skills that were faster than his eyes could see?


    Rick tossed his cigarette butt aside and laughed apologetically. "Haha, Sean, I did not take the task lightly. I can assure you that the Mage is in the Tower of Azora in Elwynn Forest. I can take you to see him but the journey to the Tower of Azora is quite a distance. It''ll take at least two to three days..."


    Seeing that it was indeed the Tower of Azora, his desired location, Sean answered, "That''s fine, no problem. Old Man Saldean needs more time in Goldshire anyway. We should make it in time if we move quickly. Shall we leave now?"


    Rick chuckled. "Alright, let''s depart now."


    Rick definitely possessed remarkable abilities and had acquired two horses. Who knew whether he stole or borrowed them but one thing was for sure, he certainly did not buy them.


    A horse was at least 10 Gold. Rick would not be willing to spend that kind of money.


    To sum it up, this morning, Sean and Rick left Goldshire on horseback, heading towards the Tower of Azora.

 Chapter 37锛欵xchange between Mages

    During their journey, Sean toyed with the indurium dagger in his hand every now and then, making it appear one second and disappear the next. Rick observed him, completely on edge. No longer daring to underestimate Sean, Rick banished any ill intentions towards him.


    The duo set up camp by the road when night fell. Constantly keeping a watchful eye, Sean started Meditating instead of going to sleep. To Rick, this further confirmed Sean''s extraordinariness as well as improved his opinion of Sean.


    The construction of the Golem Factory was completed in the morning of the next day. Sean went to check on it right away.


    Although the Golem Factory was built and came with a complete Golem production line, the only type of Golems that could be produced were Harvest Golems.


    Though Harvest Golems could be up to Level 5 in Combat Level, to Sean, they no longer helped increase his combat effectiveness. Other Golems, on the other hand, could only be produced after exhausting a certain period of time and Garrison Resources on research.


    The Golem Factory provided several different Golem options, including Prototype Death Reapers, and Little Mechanical Squirrels but despite that, Sean was displeased. There was one type though, that lit Sean''s eyes up.


    [Harvest Warden, upgraded version of a Harvest Golem. Possesses a more advanced attack and defense, flexible attack strategies, and complex intelligence program. Combat Level 7.]


    This Golem type met Sean''s current needs. Being at Combat Level 7 meant that it had a higher Combat Level than Sean did. Of course, this rating took into consideration the Gole''s low intelligence. If it were based solely on its attack and defense, its Combat Level could potentially be even higher.


    It would be perfect, if it were not for the 400 Garrison Resources building cost as well as the construction time of 7 days.


    Clenching his teeth, Sean exhausted the last of his Garrison Resources and selected ''Research'' on the Harvest Warden.


    It was the noon of the third day when Sean and Rick finally arrived at the Tower of Azora.


    From afar, the seven-story tower could be seen towering over the forest. Standing over 40 meters, it was taller than the surrounding trees.


    The bottom half of the tower was a stone structure while the top half was made of wood. The middle section of the tower was narrow, a contrast to the spaciousness of the top and bottom layers. It was different from a traditional Mage Tower. To a certain extent, this tower did not resemble a Mage Tower devoted to research, but rather an arrow tower built for attack and defense.


    Rick pointed at the Tower of Azora and gave a brief introduction. "It''s said that the master of this Mage Tower is a High Rank Mage named Azora. Though the Mage Tower has been around for a long time, no one has any idea where Azora disappeared to. Several years back, Sir Theocritus came to the Tower of Azora in an attempt to escape Stormwind City''s politics and was later joined by many other Mages. There''s probably about twenty to thirty Mages residing in the tower, as well as dozens of their companions and servants."


    Sean nodded solemnly.


    Twenty to thirty Mages were not a small number. The Stromgarde Keep of 2800 years ago had only trained 100 Novice Mage and, after uniting with the Elven Mages of Quel''Thalas, had managed to turn the tables in the war against the Trolls. They had summoned Skyfire to set the entire Troll army ablaze.


    In other words, the existence of twenty to thirty Mages in the Tower of Azora would be a formidable force. Even Westbrook Garrison, which had thousands of soldiers, might not be able to survive an all-out attack from the group.


    Nevertheless, the majority of these Independent Mages had secluded themselves so that they could dedicate their lives to researching Arcane energy and had no interest in combat. Why else would they be here avoiding Stormwind City''s politics?


    Rick said, "Sean, the person I''m bringing you to meet is Sir Theocritus, the head of the Tower of Azora. We had an amicable relationship prior to him leaving Stormwind City, you could even say we''re old buddies. Of course, Sir Theocritus is a powerful Mid Rank Mage so please remain courteous and humble towards him. Try not to anger him. After all... He doesn''t have the best of tempers..."


    Sean nodded and answered, "No problem, I''m well-tempered."


    Upon arriving beneath the Tower of Azora, Rick had Sean waiting there while he walked up and knocked on the door. He greeted the servant at the door but their conversation thereafter was inaudible.


    The servant closed the door, seemingly to speak to Theocritus. Several minutes passed before the door was opened once again. The servant gestured them in.


    Rick signaled for Sean to enter.


    Sean removed his bag and followed Rick into the Tower of Azora.


    As it was Sean''s first time inside a real Mage Tower, he took in the sights along the way.


    The Tower of Azora was a circular tower, inside was a spiral stairway that reached all the way to the top. The wooden stairway, built from a sturdy and secure timber, looked rather charming after a good polish and coat of paint.


    Encircling the wooden spiral staircase were circular corridors. The outer edge of the corridors led to rows of rooms. There were 7 floors and each floor contained approximately ten rooms.


    "The first floor is reception, and the second floor is the servants'' accommodation. The third floor is reserved for our companions, while the fourth floor is for Low Rank Mages. The Mid Rank Mages reside on the fifth floor, the sixth floor is the laboratory, and seventh floor, the roof. I heard that it''s where the Tower of Azora''s most valuable treasure is kept but I''ve never been there, so I don''t know what it is."


    While they walked, Rick introduced the place in a low voice. Even Rick could not help but appear reserved in the Tower of Azora. Sean, on the contrary, looked at ease. As a Mid Rank Mage, Theocritus was indeed a respected and revered presence but Sean had seen far greater Mages. Hence, his relaxed demeanor.


    The servant escorting Sean and Rick knew his place and spoke no more than he should. Sean was unable to pry any information from him.


    Nonetheless, it did not concern Sean as his purpose was not to pry. He was here to get to know the Mages in the Tower of Azora and perform some trades. If it were at all possible, he might come across a rare opportunity to use the Eye of Azora.


    The Eye of Azora was placed on the seventh floor. It was the treasure that Rick did not know about.


    The servant led Sean and Rick to a room and requested that they wait a moment. Theocritus was in the middle of an important experiment that could not be disrupted or all the effort put into it would be wasted.


    After expressing his understanding, Sean casually used Appraisal Sight on the servant. He had an unexpected discovery that even though the servant had no Class, he was proficient in all kinds of professions �� Tailoring, Cooking, etc, albeit they were not that high level.


    It was clear that Theocritus was a man of indulgence.


    After the servant''s departure, Sean conserved his energy by closing his eyes in wait for Theocritus.


    It was not long before a sudden explosion rocked the Tower of Azora and was soon followed by a series of curses coming from the top of the tower. It was obvious that someone had blown a fuse after their experiment went wrong.


    Sean threw a glance at Rick. The latter nodded with a bitter smile.


    It was plain to see that their arrival was ill-timed. Theocritus was definitely in a foul mood today.

 Chapter 38锛歍heocritus

    After some time, a fifty-year-old Mage entered through the door, and the cold look on his face suggested that he was in a bad mood.


    When the Mage saw Rick standing up as soon as he entered, he said politely, "Rick, my old friend! Didn''t I tell you not to bring anyone here? I don''t welcome outsiders, not even you! Why are you here when you should be fleeing to Westfall? You��"


    Before Theocritus finished his sentence, he noticed Sean and was startled. He frowned while asking half-questioning, half-affirming, "A Low Rank Mage?"


    All Casters could sense wandering Spell Energy, and could determine a person''s real strength through their Mana. Needless to say, it was very difficult for a Low Rank Mage to judge a High Rank Mage''s strength, but since Theocritus was a Mid Rank Mage, he could tell Sean''s Level with a glance.


    Of course, Theocritus was not going to bluntly say that Sean was a Low Rank Mage; that would be impolite. Although Theocritus was far from Stormwind City, being an old Mage who had lived in the city''s Mage Quarter for decades, he was well aware of the etiquette between Mages.


    Rick looked at Sean in surprise.


    He had already made an early judgment, but was still surprised when he really found out that Sean was a Mage.


    Rick had lived in Saldean''s Farm for a long time, and he was certain that nobody at the farm knew that Sean was a Mage.


    Sean''s hidden abilities and various mysteries filled him with amazement and admiration.


    Sean immediately got up to perform a Mage''s salute to Theocritus before responding, "Greetings, Mid Rank Mage Sir Theocritus, I''m Sean, an Independent Mage."


    He pointed out his identity openly - an Independent Mage.


    Theocritus despised Stormwind City''s politics, so he naturally disliked Court Mages or Battlemages who served the government. On the other hand, he might be more fond of Independent Mages like Sean.


    After all, in the beginning, there had not been many Mages at the Tower of Azora. Most of them had come to seek shelter from Theocritus after learning of his reputation, as well as to study Arcane Magic.


    As expected, Theocritus became more at ease after hearing Sean''s introduction, so he gestured a Mage''s salute too. "Mage Sean, why have you come to the Tower of Azora?"


    He got right to the point!


    Sean realized that he could not identify Theocritus''s specific Level through Appraisal Sight, which meant that the Mid Rank Mage had a high Level, and was probably close to being a High Rank Mage. He quickly replied, "Well, I only recently became a Mage and I''m Independent. I''m not acquainted with other Mages yet, so I''d like to associate with you and the other Mages here. We can exchange materials and improve together."


    Theocritus nodded.


    It was what he had expected because this was how Mages communicated with each other. Those who pursued truth and knowledge were not bothered about Gold and Silver, they were only interested in Magic.


    That said, Theocritus had a feeling that Sean''s identity was not as simple as was claimed. For all he knew, Sean was a Mid Rank or High Rank Mage''s Apprentice. This was because the badge on Sean''s chest and the ring on his right little finger were not common items. They contained strong Mana, as well as powerful Enchantments.


    Even Theocritus did not have many of those items.


    After some thought, instead of calling the other Mages, he invited Sean to sit before asking, "What would you like to trade? Don''t worry, I basically have everything that a Low Rank Mage needs. Though, I don''t know what you can offer us."


    Unlike Argus and Gryan, Theocritus was clearly not a cunning man. While he was hot-tempered, he was also straightforward. As a result, Sean was more comfortable communicating with him and was not worried about being fooled.


    ''What a joke! I''m known as Sean Connery, how humiliating would it be if I''m the one always getting fooled? I can''t embarrass myself!'' Sean wondered.


    Sean proceeded to place his bag on the table, and gestured for Theocritus to open it.


    Theocritus looked at Sean hesitantly.


    The huge bag looked like it weighed at least 10 kilograms. Though Theocritus had no idea what was inside, he could tell from the strong Magic it carried that there were some Magic Items, and that they were not too bad.


    ''Is this young Mage going to trade these items?''


    After hesitating for a while, Theocritus opened the bag.


    The first item that came into view was a staff.


    Its style was different from a regular staff as it was only the length of one''s forearm, which made it unsuitable for Humans. Theocritus picked it up, inspecting it for some time before looking at Sean to ask, "Is this�� A Murloc''s staff?"


    Sean nodded, a smile on his face. "Sir, you''re very knowledgeable indeed, it was used by a Coldlight Seer. It can''t compare with a Human Mage''s staff, but it''s still a staff. Would you be interested in it, Sir Theocritus?"


    Theocritus nodded as well. "The staff is too small, but the workmanship is excellent. IUt''s definitely a fine product. Besides, it''s useful for ordinary Mid Rank Mages, not to mention Low Rank Mages. Although it''s not long enough, it can be mounted on an ordinary staff. Mage Sean, are you really going to trade this?"


    Sean smiled as he nodded.


    Theocritus found it strange that Sean was willing to exchange something so useful instead of keeping it for himself, but he did not ask more questions. Theocritus nodded then put the staff down before opening another bag.


    In actual fact, excluding the staff, there was only one thing left in the bag. It was wrapped in a separate bag.


    When Theocritus opened the other bag and saw what was inside, he gasped.


    Rick, who was watching, almost sprung up from his seat. His heart was pounding as he thought to himself, ''I actually had no clue that Sean carried something so valuable! I would''ve taken the risk and fought him! Even if I might die��''


    Yes. All the items in the bag that weighed tens of kilograms were pearls! Pearls from the sea!


    Theocritus squinted his eyes while picking one up to feel it.


    The pearl contained a faint Water Elemental, as well as weak Arcane energy. In other words, it was not a common pearl, but a Magic Item. Even though the pearls were Magic Items of the lowest Level, there were at least a hundred of them in the bag?


    Perhaps a thousand?


    A thousand Magic Items were very, very valuable, and could not be measured with money.


    In truth, Sean had never intended to exchange the pearls for money. Instead, he had planned to trade them for something that he wanted dearly, but had not yet acquired.

 Chapter 39

    After a long time, Theocritus finally looked up to ask, "Mage Sean, what would you like to trade all this for? A staff? A robe? A trinket? A ring? A pendant? A piece of Magic Equipment, perhaps a reagent?"


    Sean laughed then replied, "I''d like to trade for a spell book."


    Theocritus''s expression after that showed that he had expected it.


    It was an easy guess.


    Since Sean was willing to trade a staff that could barely be used by Mid Rank Mages, how could he lack common Magic Equipment? Obviously, he needed something that was more valuable than a staff, something that was more important to a Mage - a spell book!


    After thinking carefully, Theocritus said, "Mage Sean, the items that you''re offering�� They''re definitely worth more than a Low Rank Mage''s spell book. As for a Mid Rank Mage''s spell book, it doesn''t matter if your items are valuable enough, even if they are, I can''t trade one to you. After all, I need them too�� You''re giving me a hard time."


    A spell book was an extremely valuable Magic Item. Not only did the production of a spell book require rare materials and profound magical knowledge, but it also consumed a substantial amount of time, energy, and Mana. Therefore, a Mage would normally create only one spell book, which would likely stay with the Mage for the rest of his life.


    It was not easy to exchange for a spell book.


    Fortunately, Sean was not going to make things difficult for Theocritus because he was not going to exchange for a real spell book.


    Sean smiled as he stood up to respond seriously, "Sir Theocritus, you''re mistaken. I''m not looking to trade for a real spell book, I''d like a transcript. It doesn''t have to be a real Magic Item, it just needs to have a copy of a real spell book''s contents. Of course, an ordinary transcript isn''t worth all the items I brought, so I need one that''s of worth, one''s that''s at least��


    "A High Rank spell book''s transcript, or rather��


    "The Book of Azora''s transcript!"


    The Book of Azora!


    Theocritus sprung up from his seat upon hearing the name. He was clearly shocked and confused.


    Though he was not wielding a staff, he gathered rich Arcane energy in his hands. He was prepared to strike a fatal blow.


    Theocritus''s eyes shone with disbelief as he said slowly, "Mage Sean, how did you know that I have the Book of Azora!"


    Sean grinned. He was not at all surprised that Theocritus suddenly freaked out.


    He did not make a move, and was even more relaxed now that his assumption was verified. After returning to his seat, he explained, "Sir Theocritus, you don''t have to be so shocked. Honestly, it was just a guess. I didn''t actually think that the High Rank Mage, Azora, left a spell book behind, nor that said book would now be in your hands."


    Sean explained his logic.


    A Mage Tower was usually named after its builder or the occupant. For instance, Karazhan was also known as Medivh''s Tower because Medivh was the occupant.


    Hence, Rick said that the Tower of Azora was built by a High Rank Mage named Azora.


    Sean was more certain of this than Rick. After all, the Mage Tower was not the only thing named after Azora. The precious Magic Item at the top of the tower followed the same naming style.


    Hence, it was obvious that the Mage Tower was built by a different Mage.


    Although Sean could not predict the Mage''s Level, he was confident that the Mage was a High Rank Mage.


    Would it not make sense that the person who created the Eye of Azora, an intriguing Magic Item, was at least a High Rank Mage?


    Sean was unsure whether Azora had left a spell book, so it was merely a guess. If Azora did leave one behind, according to Mage custom, it would be named the Book of Azora.


    Rick had also mentioned that Azora had disappeared a long time ago, and that Theocritus, who had appeared in Elwynn Forest one day, had taken over the Tower of Azora.


    Here came the question.


    Why had Theocritus taken possession of the Tower of Azora?


    It was worth noting that the builder or occupant of any Mage Tower would take protective measures by carving Runes, leaving Watchers behind, and so on. The safeguards in a Mage Tower left by someone who was at least a High Rank Mage must be very strict, so how did a Mid Rank Mage like Theocritus gain ownership so easily?


    Perhaps there was some unexplained relationship between Sir Theocritus and Azora.


    Had Theocritus really left Stormwind City to avoid the city''s politics? Perhaps there was more to it than that?


    Maybe he had actually left Stormwind City to inherit the Tower of Azora?


    Who could guess the truth?


    Sean could not.


    That said, there was one thing that he was sure of.


    Since Theocritus could enter and explore the Tower of Azora, if Azora really had left a spell book, it was most likely in Theocritus''s possession.


    Of course, all this had merely been a hypothesis.


    Sean was deceiving Theocritus.


    He did not expect any of it to be true.


    However, Theocritus actually did possess the Book of Azora!


    On Elwynn Forest''s main road, Sean and Rick each rode a horse as they slowly headed towards Goldshire.


    Throughout their journey, Rick wanted to speak a few times, but was hesitant.


    Sean did not bother about him. He had a pleased smile on his face as he opened the leather book in his hands.


    Yes. He had finally acquired the Book of Azora''s transcript, and was very satisfied.


    The thick leather book recorded over thirty practical Spells from the lowest-ranked Frostbolt, Arcane Missiles, and Fireball, to the higher-ranked Arcane Explosion, Blink, and Counterspell. It even contained the highly ranked Polymorph. The book''s contents were complex yet comprehensive.


    Similar to most Mages, Azora was not a Tri-elemental Mage like Khadgar as he only focused on Arcane Magic. As such, the Spells that were Mid Rank and above were all Arcane spells.


    Even so, Sean was extremely content.


    The transcript was very important for Sean who only knew Arcane Missiles, Fireball, and Frostbolt at the moment. It basically paved the way for him to learn Spells in the future.


    Sean had given up the Coldlight Seer''s staff and a whole box of pearls for this.


    However, it was worth it.


    How could worldly possessions be more important than knowledge?

 Chapter 40

    Sean read page after page of the leather book, and was so immersed in the ocean of knowledge that he had no idea that a thief whose face was covered in red gauze was eyeing him.


    Brady was a professional Rogue. Between Outlaw, Subtlety, and Assassination, he specialized in Assassination, so he was also known as an Assassin.


    Being a professional Assassin, although Brady belonged to the Defias Brotherhood, he was different from the older members. He did not use to be a ��Stormwind City Stonemason��, nor did he have an assortment of skills. The only thing he knew was how to kill, which was the exact reason he had perfected his assassination abilities. His results were outstanding.


    For example, three years ago, he killed a teetering gray-headed elder who had returned to Moonbrook after wandering for 18 years, only to realize that Moonbrook had already been taken over by the Defias Brotherhood and the Undead;


    For example, a year ago, he killed a 5-year-old boy who lost his way in the woodland. The boy had even asked for candy, which was very foolish and cute of him;


    For example, half a month ago, he killed a boar on a farm nestled in the south of Elwynn Forest. He ended up being chased by a 40-year-old fat woman on the farm, and was also pursued for half a month by a boar raised by that woman.


    Yes. Brady had been pursued by the pig for half a month.


    Would Heaven pity him? Even though he was a professional Assassin, he was thin and short, which made him look weak when compared to that detestable pig!


    The Assassin had three good qualities �C his face was covered, his body seemed weak, and he looked easy to defeat��


    Each time Brady recalled the pig��s build, he felt that he had been living under a rock.


    That said, Brady could not be blamed.


    Have you ever seen a boar that was 1.5 meters tall, and weighed over 400 kilograms? Most importantly, the boar was not wild. She was domesticated, domesticated, domesticated��


    On top of that, she even had an extremely adorable name �C Princess!


    On that dark and windy night, the hateful fat lady had yelled louder than a lioness in Stranglethorn Vale, ��Princess! Gore him!��


    With that, Brady was forced to escape.


    The malicious domesticated boar that had a black mouth, tusks, yellow bristles, and was known as Princess, had since become Brady��s nightmare.


    Brady had been fleeing for half a month, but he still could not get rid of that domesticated boar. Whenever he stayed in a place for more than half an hour, the boar would definitely pick up his smell, and immediately go after him.


    Why on earth did that boar have such motivation? Could it be that the boar that Brady killed was her lover?


    Upon thinking of the dead boar��s thin body, as well as the domesticated boar��s huge body, Brady could not help but observe a moment of silence for the dead boar.


    He stood in silent tribute for three seconds.


    That was because his eyes lit up after three seconds.


    In the distance, Brady noticed two men on horses were heading in his direction down the main road.


    He caught sight of a familiar middle-aged man on one of the horses, and based on his five years in his chosen career, he could tell from one glance that the man was a fellow in the same field. While the middle-aged man was not an Assassin, he was certainly another associate of Rogues �C a Thief.


    ��A companion!��


    Brady cried with joy.


    After half a month, he had finally found a companion!


    ��Why is he traveling on horseback? Why am I being chased by a domesticated boar?


    ��This is too unfair!��


    Brady got so emotional that his tears wet his clothes.


    He soon noticed a teen around the age of fifteen on the other horse. Although the teen had slightly sharp ears, and a rather weak physique, he was a teen around the age of fifteen.


    ��Hold on. A teen around the age of fifteen, and a weak physique��


    ��He��s reading a book, which means that he��s distracted��


    ��Most importantly, he��s riding a white horse��


    ��A white horse��


    ��A white horse!��


    Brady was shocked.


    ��This is a heaven-sent chance!


    ��If I steal the white horse, I can ride a galloping horse, and I��ll be able to enjoy a prosperous life�� I��m sure that that nasty domesticated boar can��t run faster than a horse, can it?


    ��It surely can��t!��


    Brady was on cloud nine. He was blessed by god after all.


    He held the dagger in his hand tightly.


    Of course, an Assassin had to use a dagger.


    The dagger was the most valuable item on Brady. He had spent all his savings to purchase it from a bad Thief whose face was covered��


    Speaking of which, why were the bad Thief and the middle-aged Thief who was riding the white horse so alike?


    Okay, back to the topic.


    The dagger was extremely sharp, but Brady did not plan to use it because the most important and suitable skill for stealing a horse was not killing someone with one strike, but to kick, kick, kick��


    Brady waited for the perfect timing, then leaped up to send a flying kick at the teen!


    Sean was distracted.


    He was immersed in the deep knowledge of the leather book and was completely distracted.


    It was then that Brady hit the thin Sean with the most stunning kick that he had ever done in his life, which sent Sean flying away. Next, Brady sat atop the white horse, squeezing its belly with his legs as he shouted. The white horse galloped away.


    Luckily, Brady had not chosen to kill Sean, or the transmigrator��s story would have come to an end, and so would this novel��


    Besides that, Sean was fortunate to have 8 points of Endurance, so apart from his chest that hurt a little, and his clothes that were slightly dirty, he was not really injured.


    After standing up to clean his clothes, Sean was enraged.


    ��What a joke! I��m Sean, the High Commander of the Spatial Garrison, yet my white horse was stolen by a little thief? How can this be!��


    A staff appeared in Sean��s hand when he reached out, and he began casting a Spell.


    Arcane Missiles!


    Perhaps because Sean��s Rage was already at 100 points, the Arcane Missiles guided by him were clearly twice the size of the previous ones.


    Fist-sized Arcane Missiles zoomed toward Brady.


    However, the white horse was too fast and Sean had reacted too slowly. By the time Sean had cast Arcane Missiles, the white horse had already galloped 30 meters away. Could the missiles catch up to it?


    They could not!


    A boar��s grunt was suddenly heard at that moment. It was deafening, like a thunderbolt out of the blue, a collapsing mountain, the detonation caused by the Wisps on Archimonde on Mount Hyjal, the big explosion of the Well of Eternity��


    Boom!


    A big and tall boar that settled on the main road glared and roared furiously at Brady and the white horse.


    The white horse was so terrified by the domesticated boar that it halted. Sean swore that the horse had never been so obedient.


    On the other hand, Brady, who was frightened to death, was close to falling off the horse. Fortunately, he grabbed the reins in time, and was hanging on the horse��s neck�� He was still alive.


    Brady was baffled.


    ��It��s that domesticated boar again! Why is she still haunting me? She��s going too far, isn��t she? What is this hatred that drives her to pursue me for half a month? Grandaunt, please let me go!��


    Brady hurried onto the horse��s back again, then nudged it to gallop away.


    Even without his signal, the white horse knew that it had to run. In the short life that the white horse had lived so far, it was its first time meeting such a fearsome�� Domesticated boar.

 Chapter 41

    However, Brady was wrong.


    The white horse turned and galloped away at the fastest speed that it had ever achieved, but the domesticated boar��s speed was way faster than Brady had imagined.


    When the boar ran like mad, her feet that stomped hard caused soil and dust to fill the air behind her, and the earth was shaking. She caught up to the white horse in a flash, then lowered her head before goring the horse��s butt.


    Boom!


    Could you imagine a boar that weighed at least 400 kilograms crashing swiftly into the butt of a white horse that was at most 150 kilograms?


    It was not the prettiest scene.


    The white horse whined before collapsing to the ground. It did not even get its chance to sing ��Conquer�� (TN: A Chinese song by Na Ying, a female singer from China), and its short life as a horse, that had lasted for only a few years, ended just like that. Moreover, it had not managed to find a girlfriend before it died, which was very depressing.


    This time, Brady was not able to grab the reins in time. Before he could react, his thin body flew off the white horse, and he landed head first. Due to the close contact with the ground, Brady��s neck twisted, and he breathed his last.


    Two lives were gone with one hit!


    Sean was dumbfounded.


    Rick was dumbfounded.


    The white horse that was Rick rode shivered.


    The domesticated boar lifted her head proudly.


    It was at that moment that the Arcane Missiles cast by Sean struck the boar.


    Yes. It was such intimate contact that they hit her face, her face, her face��


    Sean widened his mouth, and had a feeling that things were going to be terrible.


    The domesticated boar had never expected missiles would hit her face during the proudest moment of her life.


    Although the Brass Collar on her neck glowed, releasing an invisible Mana Shield that blocked the Arcane Missiles, the domesticated boar was furious.


    ��How dare someone hit my face?


    ��In the Domesticated Boar Contest in Elwynn Forest, I was the champion of the beauty contest, fighting, running, push-ups�� I was the champion in everything, and the sole winner for each award!


    ��Can��t you see that the Brass Collar on my neck is a reward for being in the first place?��


    The top domesticated boar in the whole of Elwynn Forest, the mighty Princess, was enraged.


    She lowered her proud head, then thrust her feet against the ground. She was ready to teach the fellow who infuriated her an unforgettable lesson.


    Upon seeing Princess thrusting her feet against the ground, Sean knew that it was bad.


    After using Appraisal Sight on the domesticated boar, Sean realized that it was going to be worse.


    ��Isn��t that just a domesticated boar? Why is her Combat Level as high as Level 8!��


    Yes. The domesticated boar had a Combat Level of 8. If she was compared with a Warrior, she would be at least a Mid Rank Warrior with a Class Level of 6.


    How could there be such a terrifying domesticated boar!


    Some information then surfaced from Sean��s memories.


    ��Oh god, this boar, this boar, could she be the most famous boar in Elwynn Forest, the legendary Princess?��


    Princess was just her name, it was her heroic bearing that truly left a deep impression on every human player.


    Back then, she and her two little brothers were very tough to mess with, very fascinating, very sexy��


    Okay, they were actually very fearsome.


    Sean knew very well that if he challenged Princess in his current state, losing was going to be the only outcome.


    ��I��m screwed.��


    Sean wanted to cry, but had no tears.


    When he turned to look, he realized that Rick had run away, away, away��


    ��Shameless Rick, when I see you later, I��m definitely not going to forgive you!�� Sean gritted his teeth angrily.


    ��Am I going to face the domesticated boar alone?


    ��Is my transmigrated life going to be ruined by the boar��s feet?��


    All of a sudden, Sean recalled an item.


    A good item.


    A good item that he acquired from the lucky draw upon completing Murloc Shallow.


    Sean thought that he would not be using the item any time soon. He never thought he would use it at this moment, on a domesticated boar.


    ��Spectral Reins, Blue Quality, Rare Equipment. It can be used on any creature that was no more than Combat Level 10, taming it as a mount. As a result of the spectral attachment, the mount��s abilities would see varying degrees of improvement..��


    Sean got into position after retrieving the Spectral Reins.


    Once the domesticated boar was in his face, he made a nice dodge, then threw the Spectral Reins around the boar��s neck.


    This was definitely the best move that the young Mage had done in his whole life.


    The Spectral Reins were worthy of being a product from the Spatial Garrison, and were definitely of fine quality.


    After the reins were looped around the boar��s neck, she stopped very quickly. She turned around and struggled for a while, but soon became extremely calm.


    Next, she walked toward Sean elegantly, then bent her front legs slightly to motion a standard pig��s salute.


    From then on, the domesticated boar named Princess became Sean��s first mount.


    Among the many striking titles that Sean would attain in the future, the most striking one, and the first of them all, was finally born.


    [Boar Rider Mage, Sean Feathermoon!]


    The Spectral Reins�� effect was so immediate that the domesticated boar was subdued in no time. Due to the spectral attachment, the boar��s abilities underwent a considerable change.


    [Name: Princess]


    [Race: Domesticated boar]


    [Stats: Strength 22, Agility 25, Endurance 20, Intelligence 2, Spirit 5]


    [Class: Mount]


    [Equipment: Brass Collar (Green Uncommon Equipment, the first prize of the Domesticated Boar Contest in Elwynn Forest, Spectral Reins (Blue Rare Equipment)]


    [Skills: Twiddle cabbages, Kick at the sky, Charge with lowered head, Dash with full Rage, Growl like a lion]


    [Move Speed: 80]


    [Combat Level: Level 10]


    Yes, you saw it right! The addition of Spectral Reins raised the domesticated boar��s Move Speed up to 80, which was much higher than a War Horse��s Move Speed, 60. On top of that, the boar��s Combat Level had jumped to Level 10.


    Although Sean felt disappointed with the mount��s Race, appearance, and temper, he was satisfied with her Stats and Skills. At the very least, riding a domesticated boar was more flashy than riding a common War Horse.


    Sean got onto the boar, then yelled as he whipped the reins. With that, the domesticated boar thrust against the ground, and ran toward Goldshire at the speed of light.


    ��Charge! Catch Rick the traitor who escaped! Gore his butt! Kick his face! Teach him a good lesson!��


    When the Boar Rider Mage arrived in Goldshire, he instantly attracted everyone��s attention. Many people ridiculed the domineering Princess, as well as the soft Sean.


    ��Hey! Isn��t that the orphan who came with Old Saldean? He��s actually riding a domesticated boar? Oh my god, how heavy is that boar? It weighs at least 270 kilograms, doesn��t it?��


    ��Nonsense! It��s at least 360 kilograms! This is the biggest boar I��ve ever seen, and even the boar king that roams in my farm isn��t as heavy!��


    ��How did Little Sean subdue the domesticated boar? It��s simply unbelievable!��


    ��Sean the Boar Rider! Mm, this is a good title, it sounds great! From now on, everyone should call him Sean the Boar Rider!��


    ��Oh right, what��s Sean��s family name? Who knows? I think Sean can come up with his own. He can be Sean Boarrider, what do you think?��


    ��Great idea, great idea!��

 Chapter 42

    Sean almost cried.


    ��Oh god, how embarrassing would it be if I introduced myself proudly as Sean Boarrider in the future?


    ��I��m the Spatial Garrison��s Commander, I can��t be embarrassed like that!��


    After tethering the domesticated boar at the stable, the thick-skinned Sean went upstairs to look for Old Saldean.


    ��What? Rick didn��t return? That b*stard, he must��ve just escaped!�� Sean stomped angrily when he heard that Rick had not returned.


    Old Saldean comforted him, ��It��s okay, as long as you��re fine. Oh right, how did you subdue that domesticated boar? It��s my first time seeing such a huge one!��


    Sean giggled. ��Rick and I visited Sir Theocritus at the Tower of Azora. He noticed that I��m gifted and talented in Magic, so he decided to teach me some Spells. He even gave me a present, Enchanting Reins. I used the reins to conquer the domesticated boar.��


    Without batting an eye, Sean used his conman skills to make up a story quickly.


    Old Saldean was surprised. ��What? Are you a Mage Apprentice now? Oh god, this is great, this is great. An honorable Mage is more presentable than an Apprentice Engineer! Oh right, are you going to learn from Sir Theocritus? Should I prepare some Gold for you to thank your teacher? You must get along with him, I heard that he doesn��t have a good temper����


    Although Sean was having a headache from listening to Old Saldean nag him, he had a warm feeling inside his heart. Old Saldean cared about him very much!


    This meant that Saldean��s Farm was his home!


    Sean smiled happily.


    As their conversation continued, Old Saldean was delighted to know that Sean did not need to stay at the Tower of Azora, and that he was going to study by himself at Saldean��s Farm. After going on for a while more, Old Saldean returned to work.


    On the other hand, Sean rode Princess the domesticated boar to Argus�� Smithy.


    ��What? You want me to smith battleplate for that domesticated boar? Sean, are you sure that your head wasn��t gored by the boar?�� Argus exclaimed upon hearing Sean��s request.


    Sean quickly shouted, ��You��re the one whose brain was gored by a boar! That boar is my mount, my mount, okay? What��s wrong with smithing battleplate for my mount? Do you not want business? If you don��t want to do it, I��ll look for someone else, okay?��


    He turned to leave.


    Argus immediately pulled him back, and smiled at him apologetically. ��I��ll do it, I��ll do it, of course, I��ll do it! What kind of battleplate would you like for your War Horse�� Uh, no, War Boar? A Hauberk? Scale armor? Plate armor? How about I smith a Scalecloak with the scales that you sold me?��


    Sean laughed and said derisively, ��F*ck off! Keep those scales for yourself, I don��t want that junk. You��re the smithing master, so you decide how it should be smithed. My one request is that it must be good enough! You must know that a mount��s battleplate directly influences the mount��s and my safety!��


    Argus nodded. ��Of course, I��m a master in this field! Alright, you don��t have to worry. I��ll design and smith it personally. I��ll even use the best materials for you, a mixture of steel and mithril, so it��s guaranteed to be solid, durable, and tough. That said, I��m afraid that it won��t be cheap. After all, the boar is quite huge, so a lot of materials are needed for the battleplate.��


    Since Sean had quite a sum of Gold left, he had enough to smith battleplate, thus he said, ��As long as it doesn��t cost more than 50 Gold. I need it fast because we��ll be leaving in two days with Sir Gryan and the others.��


    Argus laughed out loud. ��Don��t worry, they��re not especially rare materials, so 50 Gold is enough. I��ll be smithing it personally, you may come to collect it after two days, and I��m sure that you��ll be satisfied!��


    Sean had nothing to do after leaving Argus�� Smithy, so he stayed at Lion��s Pride Inn to meditate, and to learn some Spells. After two days, he returned to the smithy.


    ��Sean, take a look at how exquisite, how beautiful, and how gorgeous this battleplate is! Come, come, put it on your domesticated boar!�� Argus laughed happily, then instructed his Blacksmith Apprentice to help put the battleplate on the boar.


    The battleplate weighed at least 100 kilograms, and it wrapped the domesticated boar tightly. Other than the eyes, the nose, and the mouth, all other parts were completely covered.


    Argus was right. It was an exquisite battleplate of Green Quality, and had an extremely strong defensive ability. Although it did not have extra attributes, Sean was very pleased with it.


    ��45 Gold, it��s not expensive at all! Are you happy with it, Sean?�� Argus mentioned.


    Sean nodded and tossed a coin bag to Argus, then rode his domesticated boar back to meet Old Saldean and the others before heading to Westfall.


    Under the vast sky, on the boundless plains, a boar herder was seen when the wind blew, and when the grass lowered.


    A boar herder was a boy who herded boars.


    Ever since returning to Saldean��s Farm, Sean started his boring life as a boar herder.


    Yes. Although Princess ,the domesticated boar that had been tamed as Sean��s mount, had lived a luxurious life for more than a year on a farm in Elwynn Forest, it was in her nature to long for freedom. Perhaps twiddling cabbages used to be her favorite thing to do, but she was tired from twiddling so many cabbages.


    The domesticated boar swore that she would invest in a twiddling business of various plants for the rest of her limited life as a boar.


    Her goal was great, the process would be enjoyable, and her future would be bright.


    Thinking he should become familiar with his mount, Sean began his herding life.


    Even though Westfall was not peaceful, Sean was a little master with a Combat Level of 6. Besides, since he had a domesticated boar whose Combat Level was Level 10, there were not many people or creatures that would provoke him in Westfall.


    Westfall was quite barren, after all, and the place fit the lyrics ��You are wind and I am sand, we��ll go around the ends of earth sentimentally�� (TN: Song lyrics from ��You are Wind, I am Sand�� by Ruby Lin). It used to be covered in greenery, but it had now become dry and barren, hence the domesticated boar became impatient after twiddling for a while.


    Sean was not going to treat his first mount poorly, thus he rode her toward the crooked river between Elwynn Forest and Westfall.


    Both sides of the river were lush due to nourishment from the river��s water, so the domesticated boar would be occupied for a long time.


    Time passed day after day.


    The domesticated boar twiddled cabbages for three days while Sean rode on her back to read and study Spells.


    Finally, he learned Frostbolt.


    Sean, who had learned three Low Rank Spells, finally advanced from being a Level 1 Mage to being an honorable Level 2 Mage.


    At last, the second Golem that could be produced from the Golem Factory, the Harvest Warden, had been researched successfully.


    Sean entered the Spatial Garrison right away as he planned to produce a Harvest Warden. It was then that he made the shocking discovery that a considerable amount of materials were needed to produce a Harvest Warden that had a Combat Level of 7.


    ��Does this mean that I have to get discarded Harvest Golems?�� Sean looked up at the sky as he asked.

 Chapter 43

    Indeed, Harvest Wardens may require a high volume of Garrison Resources to produce, but by modifying Harvest Golems, even if they were discarded Harvest Golems, the Garrison Resources would be saved.


    After all, Harvest Wardens were the upgraded version of Harvest Golems �� the foundations remained the same.


    Left without a choice, Sean returned to Saldean��s Farm and retrieved the three scrapped Harvest Golems from the warehouse, placing them into the Spatial Garrison. He then exhausted a small amount of Garrison Resources before selecting Modification.


    The modification took a day. As it was an assembly production line, 3 Harvest Wardens could be produced simultaneously. There was no need for them to be produced one at a time.


    Sean spent that entire day idle, and he woke up the morning of the next day to a large mass of people in Saldean��s Farm.


    Upon closer inspection, he found the people were in battle formations, well trained, and dressed in uniform Equipment sets. Identical two-handed swords were strapped on their backs. The Equipment sets and swords were extremely familiar.


    ��It��s the Guard Sets! The Guard Sets forged in Agus�� Smithy for Gryan Stoutmantle? So these people are soldiers from Sentinel Hill? Since they��re all here, they must be ready to take action!��


    Sean mumbled to himself.


    The soldiers numbered at least a hundred and fifty. That was half the size of Sentinel Hill��s army.


    There was only one reason why half the army would be dispatched from Sentinel Hill, and that was to wipe out the Murlocs and Kobolds. This was, ultimately, the main reason why Old Gryan had had the Guard Sets forged.


    Meaning to say, the war against the Murlocs and Kobolds had finally begun.


    Sean was itching to get involved.


    The past Sean would have fled as far as he could from such a war. However, Sean had grown bold thanks to his skills. It was the fearlessness that came with youth as well as nerves of steel that had been fostered by the Murlocs in Murloc Shallow. As if possessed by the heroic spirit of Zhao Zilong[1], Sean wanted to charge into battle on his boar and go all out.


    With a domesticated boar as well as 3 Harvest Wardens, the Murlocs and Kobolds were no match for him.


    Moreover, Sean was not done with the Kobold War Horn (Westfall). What would be the point of using the horn when all Kobolds were destroyed?


    He had to contribute.


    On one end, Sean wanted his share of the action. On the other end, Old Gryan had Sean on his mind.


    Although Old Gryan was not able to obtain any useful information from the last round of questioning, his keen senses, sharpened from dozens of years of experience, warned him about Sean.


    Old Gryan was somewhat suspicious that the little brat, Sean, was hiding something from him. Bringing the lad along to wipe out the Murlocs and Kobolds was surely the right call!


    The old and young foxes got together, both harboring their own intentions. The pair was ready to go, and were singing the same tune. After replenishing their food and water in Saldean��s Farm, the large group set out.


    Yes, although Old Saldean was concerned for Sean��s safety, he finally gave in after Sean patted his chest, assuring the old man that he was only there to broaden his horizons. Old Gryan had also patted his own chest, promising to keep Sean out of harm��s way.


    An army of a hundred and fifty followed behind, as Sean, on a domesticated boar, and Old Gryan, on a War Horse, rode side by side in the front.


    Struck by a thought, Old Gryan tried to pull a fast one on Sean. ��Oh Sean, you��re truly amazing! I really couldn��t tell. It��s only been a few days and you��ve somehow become that old Mage, Theocritus�� apprentice? Wow, and you received a few awesome Magic items, and tamed a great mount. I��m envious.��


    Sean could tell something fishy was going on. In fact, he had been on guard against the old fox. Hence, he immediately replied, ��Nah, I can��t beat you, Old Gryan! You��re such a smooth-talker, Old Man Saldean and the other practically handed you over five thousand Gold Coins.You spent some of it on a few lame Guard Sets and then pocketed the rest. With such tricks up your sleeve, it��s a shame you��re not a mechant.��


    Initially, Old Gryan was exceedingly proud but as Sean continued to ramble on, Old Gryan��s face turned from red to black. In the end, he furiously yelled, ��Bullsh*t bulls*t! Bullsh*t! What lame Guard Sets? What do you know? I��ll have you know that although the Guard Sets are an eyesore, they��re better than the other flamboyant Equipment sets! And, and, what do you mean I pocketed the rest? I did not embezzle a single coin!��


    Sean nodded. ��Yes yes, you did not embezzle a single coin, only several thousand.��


    Old Gryan was about to fly into rage and run his mouth when he suddenly stopped. Glaring intently at Sean, Old Gryan responded, ��B*stard, don��t change the subject and distract me. Regardless, you have to come clean today. Why would the Kobolds go to the Gold Coast to fight the Murlocs? Don��t tell me that you don��t know. I have someone investigating that for the next few days. Don��t think for a second you��re in the clear!��


    Sean curled his lips, mumbling in his head that he would write his name backwards and declare that the Spatial Garrison was his secret weapon if that were the case.


    Yet, his lips spoke, ��Sir Gryan, don��t try to put words in my mouth. I really don��t know anything.��


    Old Gryan stared at Sean for a long time. He had to admit, Sean was fantastic at keeping his cool �� he was not blushing, his heart had not skipped a beat, and he did not have wandering eyes. Sean gave a look to Old Gryan, as if saying that Old Gryan had nothing on him. Changing emotions like a seasoned actor, Old Gryan��s face was now beaming.


    ��About that, Sean�� You know supporting a whole army isn��t easy for me. Conning�� No, begging for five thousand Gold Coins wasn��t easy, traveling all the way to Goldshire to forge Equipment wasn��t an easy feat either. I can��t take too many losses when fighting the Kobolds and Murlocs, right? Moreover, the people under me really have it hard in life!��


    Old Gryan��s eyes miraculously welled up with tears, which flowed down his cheeks. ��Let me tell you, we have in our army, a boy named Ryan. He��s been without a father since the age of three and lost his mother at four years old. He survived by begging on the streets at five and started to steal at the age of six�� All to survive! He then joined my army due to his hatred for the Kobolds and Murlocs but has never enjoyed a full meal or a good night��s sleep. I��m ridden with guilt!


    ��Let me tell you something else. Celtic, a member of our army, has a childhood dream. He wants to use the best Equipment and become the most powerful hero, all to protect Stormwind City and the world! He��s part of this group. If we were to face the Kobolds and Murlocs head on, his short life may perhaps come to an end, thus it��d be the end of the road for his dream of being a hero��


    ��Let me tell you something else. Somerkelly, another member of our army, is a wonderful lady. Life has ruined her good looks, and the tough wind and sand has turned her tender skin rough. She is prepared to kill the Kobolds, whether in harsh winds or drizzling rain, all for the betterment of people in Westfall.


    ��Let me tell you something else����


    [1] Zhao Zilong is a hero from Chinese folklore who fought for justice and the rights of citizens in ancient times

 Chapter 44

    Sean was about to lose his mind listening to Old Gryan��s stories.


    Old Gryan was a versatile man. Not only was his skin thicker than the city��s walls, he had the gift of the gab, making up stories better than Sean ever could. Old Gryan fabricated dozens of stories at the expense of dozens of people��


    Yes, Sean did not believe a word Old Gryan said.


    However, deep down, Sean began to sigh.


    Although Old Gryan��s words did not ring true, they were all likely scenarios.


    Sean was a kind person, after all.


    He had to do something for the sake of the people of Westfall, his friends, and Old Saldean. Acting with a little more caution would not harm him.


    Old Gryan may go to great lengths, but it was still all for the people of Westfall!


    After giving it a thought, Sean cut Old Gryan off and nodded.


    Just when Old Gryan thought he had Sean wrapped around his little finger and ready to spill the beans �� the truth and all his trump cards�� Sean spoke.


    ��About that, Sir Gryan, if I��m able to think of a way for the Kobolds and Murlocs to fight amongst themselves�� What will you offer me?��


    Gazing at Sean��s sincere face, which held no shame despite what had been said, Old Gryan was filled with respect and admiration towards the Half-Elf.


    For Sean to ask outright what was in it for him, the young man sure had thick skin�� At least half as thick as Old Gryan��s!


    Old Gryan thought about it before holding up a finger.


    ��Half of all the profits?�� Sean was living in a fantasy.


    ��Young man, you��re dreaming.�� Old Gryan wagged his raised middle finger in front of Sean. ��One tenth. You get 10% of the returns from Jangolode Mine. You��ll be paid annually. I��ll be in charge of the mining so you can just wait for the money to come in. What do you think? Pretty good, right?��


    Sean rolled his eyes. ��Good? How so? Why can��t I be responsible for mining and you take 10% profit?��


    The annual output of ore from Jangolode Mine may not compare to the Deadmines, but it was still the second largest mine in Westfall. The annual Gold output was definitely an astronomical figure. Otherwise, Old Saldean and the others would not have agreed to fork out five thousand Gold Coins. It was all for 40% of the profits in Gold from Jangolode Mine and the loot from the Gold Coast.


    In fact, 10% profit from Jangolode Mine was a substantial amount, but Old Gryan was at his mercy at the moment. To avoid any regret at a later date, he was obviously going to fight for more. There were no do-overs with regret!


    Hearing Sean��s words, Old Gryan cried out loud, ��Sean! You think 10% of the profit is small? You know, Old Saldean and all the other farmers will only receive a total of 40%. When it��s averaged out, the amount is still a lot less than what you��ll receive! Sean, listen to my advice, you need to learn to be content!��


    Sean curled his lips. ��Grandpa, I��m not insatiable. I don��t have a problem with 10% of the profit from Jangolode Mine but I want to be paid on a weekly basis. Additionally, after winning the war, all looted Magic items will go to me!��


    Sean could see through Old Gryan��s little game with a glance.


    Paid annually?


    No way!


    The vital issue was Old Gryan assuming full authority for the mining! Who knew if something fishy would happen behind the scenes! What if the profits were ten thousand Gold Coins but he reported it as mere one thousand Gold Coins? It was not as though Sean would be in the position to argue.


    Hence, being paid on a weekly basis was a more secure option. With the time span being only a week, Old Gryan would not have much time to falsify the account entries. Secondly, he would be able to identify the problem early if Old Gryan did make falsified records. Early detection meant early prevention.


    Also, the Jangolode Mine was only a tiny stream of cash. The spoils of war was the real jackpot. Thus, Sean wanted in on it no matter what.


    Based on Sean��s requests, Old Gryan could tell that this scheming young fox had seen through his plans. He had no choice but to play along with Sean��s rules. He would still go ahead with falsifying the accounts and at worst, would look for someone who knew the ropes so the books would look good. The young fox would not suspect a thing��


    As for all the looted Magic items��


    Old Gryan thought about it before finally nodding in agreement.


    He was in a tight spot as Sean��s requests were fair and reasonable!


    As the sole Caster in the army, he had an irreplaceable role in this war. His request for all looted Magic items was within reason.


    Unable to make a logical rebuttal, Old Gryan had to dance to Sean��s tune.


    The negotiations came to a satisfactory conclusion in a joyous and relaxed atmosphere. Sean and Old Gryan explored further options for their long-term cooperation and had only sincere well wishes for their profound friendship.


    Soon, Sean and Old Gryan parted ways, with one party headed towards Jangolode Mine while the other made his way towards Gold Coast.


    This was one of the terms discussed by both parties.


    Sean would take action and get the Kobolds in Jangolode Mine to attack the Murlocs on the Gold Coast. However, the method he used was proprietary and had to be kept a secret. Old Gryan was not to steal Sean��s unique skill in any way or the deal was off.


    Sean did not put any weight to Old Gryan��s promises. Hence, he decisively adopted the most simple and effective method of evasion.


    Sean rode off on his domesticated boar.


    Indeed, the most simple method was to get to Jangolode Mine and dispatch the Kobolds towards the Gold Coast before Old Gryan could come up with a plan. This way, any schemes and trickery would crumble under absolute strength.


    In any case, the domesticated boar charged faster than any regular War Horse!


    Once again arriving at Jangolode Mine, Sean was exceptionally calm. This was a walk in the park to him. Not only that, his overall strength had increased significantly.


    Holding the Kobold War Horn and assuming a seemingly cool pose, Sean sounded the horn. All the Kobolds guarding the entrance of Jangolode Mine as well as the multitudes within the depths of the mine were lured out. A total of several hundred Kobolds gathered in front of Sean. Sean felt as though he was giving a speech in the school hall.


    With his hand still on the horn, Sean began preparing the Kobolds for war.


    The Kobolds had below average intelligence, even lower than that of a toddler��s.[1] Sean could easily mobilize them and raise their morale and enthusiasm by telling them that the Murlocs were the eternal enemies of the Kobolds. The Kobolds would live happily as long as the Murlocs perished.


    With the Kobold War Horn about to give out at any moment, Sean immediately ended the preparations. Squeezing the boar��s belly with his legs, Sean dashed towards Gold Coast.


    Following behind him were several hundred Kobolds, shouting, ��Defeat the Murlocs, free the Kobolds!��, as they marched towards the Gold Coast.


    These were all the Kobolds in Jangolode Mine, but not all of them in Westfall.


    Ever since the last battle, a large number of Kobolds had been stationed near the Gold Coast vanguards and scouts in order to prevent the Murlocs�� vengeance.


    These scattered Kobolds joined when Sean and the Kobold army passed through.


    All things tended to flow in one direction, much like all rivers led to the sea.


    By the time they reached the Gold Coast, the army of several hundred had grown to over a thousand.


    Thus, the war had finally begun!


    [1] Author made a typo here, we have corrected it to fit the context

 Chapter 45

    Over a thousand Kobolds in the vast yet scarcely populated Westfall could be considered a massive army. Fortunately, it was an army of Kobolds instead of Humans. An army of over a thousand Humans was enough to set up an independent and influential regime.


    Sean took the lead and was the first to charge into the Gold Coast.


    With the domesticated board clad in Steel Battleplate, she charged ahead like an armored tank, bulldozing dozens of Murlocs. Riding the boar, Sean blasted a Grimscale Oracle to pieces with some long-prepared Arcane Missiles.


    Sean then squeezed the boar��s belly with his legs, prompting the domesticated boar to cross the battlefield into the boundless ocean without regard for the incoming Murlocs from both sides.


    Yes, Sean did not intend to participate in the war between the Kobolds and Murlocs. His true purpose was to traverse the boundless ocean towards an island less than a kilometer off from the Gold Coast. There, on that island, was something Sean desired to possess.


    It was��


    Captain Sanders�� Hidden Treasure!


    Captain Sanders was a famous seafarer and owned a sturdy merchant vessel. He had once sailed the entire Eastern Kingdoms, traded with the Booty Bay Goblins, and spoke freely with socialites in Southshore about his grand plans for future sea navigation.


    Unfortunately during one of his voyages, his vessel came too close to the Gold Coast in Westfall, and he was buried under the boundless sea.


    It was said that Captain Sanders left behind a large sum of treasure but no one was able to unearth it. Although Captain Sanders did leave clues to the treasure, these clues were quite hidden.


    In the game, it took a series of quests to reach the island in order to find a chest. Inside the chest was a silver bar, a gem pouch, a belt, and a shirt. This was the treasure of Captain Sanders.


    That was in the game though.


    Sean refused to believe that that was all the treasure left behind by a famous seafarer.


    He was more inclined to believe that within the treasure were other more valuable items.


    Hence, his presence on the island.


    Because he knew the hidden treasure��s location, Sean omitted the whole tedious journey of discovery and swam straight to the island bearing the treasure.


    Oh, it was not Sean who was swimming but the domesticated boar��


    Indeed, the domesticated boar knew how to swim and was highly skilled at it too��


    Once they stepped foot onto the island, Sean began to look around and was able to locate the chest.


    Although the chest was locked, Sean did not intend to open the lock conventionally. With a swing of his hammer, the lock was smashed open.


    Sean pushed open the chest and found his prediction to be right on the money.


    Yes, instead of a silver bar, there were 10 gold bars. The gem pouch was filled with gems, while the belt and shirt were so torn, they could not be worn��


    Apart from these, there was also a ring shimmering in blue!


    Holding up the ring, Sean let out a satisfied smile.


    [Captain Sanders�� Returned Band, Blue Quality, Rare Equipment. Strength +5, Stamina +8]


    [Not only did Captain Sanders require a sturdy vessel for his long voyage, great Strength and persistent Stamina were also vital. Put it on, treasure it, and forever believe that Captain Sanders will return.]


    Sean was not convinced that a Human dead for god-knows how long was capable of returning to this world.


    Even if he were to make his way back to this world, the ring no longer belonged to him, but to Sean.


    Sean looted the chest contents clean. He wore the ring on the pinky of his left hand and together with his Mage Saint��s Ring on his right hand, they made a pair. He then got onto the boar to return to the Gold Coast.


    On the Gold Coast, the battle had grown fierce.


    As the two of the largest sentient species in Azeroth, the number of Kobolds and Murlocs that participated in the battle had reached a certain magnitude.


    Especially the Murlocs.


    There were at least several thousand Murlocs on the Gold Coast, and though the majority of the Murlocs had failed to race and join the battle, due to the Gold Coast stretching over several hundred kilometers, the Murlocs that were in battle still numbered no less than two thousand.


    The Kobolds did not fare well against the Murlocs in terms of combat effectiveness. Moreover, the Murlocs had the home-field advantage. Nevertheless, the Kobolds had attempted an ambush! It was an ambush!


    With the first round of attacks, the Kobolds had taken at least three hundred Murloc lives.


    What came next was a never-ending brawl.


    Real war was different from a fight between children. Whether in numbers or in battle intensity, they were completely different.


    This was a bloodbath. With each strike, a life was ended. It was cruel and sad.


    ��Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!��


    It was an exchange of Fireballs and Frostbolts between the Kobold Shamans, Murloc Oracles, and Murloc Seers. When one party cast a Frostbolt, the other blocked with a Fireball, and vice versa. It looked like a friendly game between them.


    Sometimes they were so engaged, they forgot to watch their backs.


    Regardless how powerful a Murloc Seer was, when a Kobold Warrior came up behind them with a sword or axe, it was completely defenseless.


    It was an interchange of weapons among the Kobold Warriors and Murloc Warriors. Hammers and axes clashed, while knives and swords flashed through the air. These weapons, as well as various others made from scrap metal, formed a horrendous symphony.


    The Casters would often offer special care with their spells, causing chaos throughout the battlefield.


    The battle finally came to an end two hours later. As expected, the Kobolds had failed in their ambush attempt and were almost completely wiped out by the Murlocs. Due to the declining effect of the Kobold War Horn, the remaining few began to scatter out of fear after the initial frenzy wore off.


    Meanwhile, the experienced and astute Old Gryan had led the hundred and fifty armed soldiers under him to lay in wait along the path the Kobolds would eventually retreat down.


    Individual combat effectiveness was not important for a Commander. What was needed was the ability to boost army morale and command in battle.


    As an experienced Commander, Old Gryan knew this.


    ��In the name of Knights of the Silver Hand��s Captain! In the name of Sentinel Hill��s Marshal! In the name of the People��s Militia��s Commander! In the name of Gryan Stoutmantle! Vanquish the Murlocs!��


    Equipped with golden shimmering Lightforge Armor, holding a silver shimmering Truesilver Champion, and riding a golden shimmering War Horse, Old Gryan emitted a shimmering light as he placed various blessings on his soldiers.


    Blessing Ritual!


    Blessing of Kings!


    Enveloped by various blessings, the fearless and robust hundred and fifty soldiers charged towards the fleeing Kobolds.


    These people yelled their names, their father��s names, their father��s father��s names, and even the names of their wives and loved ones at the top of their lungs. These names granted them strength, granted them the courage to charge ahead, granted them the hope for victory.


    The hundred and fifty soldiers, under the leadership and blessings of Gryan Stoutmantle, pounced like a pack of hungry wolves towards the sheep-like Kobolds.


    The Kobolds were completely finished off in a few breaths!


    Gryan Stoutmantle swung the Truesilver Champion in his arm and shouted, ��Don��t stop! Don��t cling onto the junk of the Kobolds! Don��t remain here! Pursue the Murlocs! As long as they are around, they will forever be a threat to Westfall!��


    Old Gryan had built up prestige with these people. The soldiers listened to his every word.


    With blood-shot eyes, the hundred and fifty soldiers bravely invaded the Gold Coast.

 Chapter 46

    Meanwhile, Sean, atop his domesticated boar, had swam towards the Gold Coast and only just arrived when the scene unfolded.


    With his right hand pulling on the reins, left hand holding a staff, and legs clamping onto Princess�� belly, Sean began to mumble random incantations, summoning his 3 produced Harvest Wardens to the Gold Coast.


    Mages were moving cannons, after all!


    Frostbolt!


    Fireball!


    Arcane Missiles!


    Sean alternated between the only three combat spells he had , using them to kill the Murloc Casters one by one.


    In contrast to Sean, the domesticated boar was domineering beyond all reason.


    With the help of its unparalleled tonnage, incredibly vicious strength, extraordinary speed, and unique skills, the domesticated boar struck an eternal, multigenerational, unforgettable fear on the Murlocs.


    In terms of the lethality, Princess the domineering domesticated boar was the real killing machine!


    Oh wait, Princess was a boar, not a machine.


    The true killing machines were the three Harvest Wardens.


    The domesticated boar may pant from exhaustion, but the three Harvest Wardens could go on forever.


    The upgraded and updated Harvest Wardens were not only equipped with the Harvest Golem��s indestructible claws, they also possessed an impregnable wooden armor.


    It was an epoch-making leap from straw to wooden armor, raising the Harvest Warden��s defense to a whole new level.


    Though merely wooden armor, it was made out of specially treated custom compressed particle boards produced by the Spatial Garrison. After going through at least thirteen treatment processes, the armor gained resilience and durability comparable to steel as well as natural resistances that steel did not have. Neither Fireballs, nor Frostbolts were capable of setting them ablaze or freezing them.


    The Harvest Wardens were also equipped with specialized Warden Longswords.


    This was indeed a long sword. It was three meters long, and when paired with the Harvest Warden��s build of over three meters, it was basically the height of three people standing on top of each other, or perhaps the miniature version of Gipsy Danger in Pacific Rim.


    Based on the evaluation of the Spatial Garrison, these three longswords were Green Quality Uncommon Equipment.


    Swords out!


    The killing machines conquered everything in their path! There were no Murlocs that surpassed Combat Level 7 on the Gold Coast!


    The Casters and Warriors were powerless against the Harvest Wardens�� longswords.


    In short, the Murlocs were doomed! The Murlocs on the Gold Coast were doomed!


    The remaining few Murlocs were massacred by Old Gryan��s one hundred and fifty men, Sean, the domesticated boar, and the Harvest Wardens.


    The Murlocs tried to make a run for it but only a handful managed to escape.


    ��Old Gryan, go after them with your men! This is a golden opportunity! Get them while it��s hot!�� Sean yelled at Old Gryan.


    Old Gryan sneered. ��You think I��m stupid? I��ll be pursuing while you comb through the battlefield? Soldiers, loot the battlefield! Don��t let that young fox rush ahead of you!��


    At Old Gryan��s words, the weary but excited soldiers began to bag everything before their eyes. Carrying arms full of junk, they immediately tossed aside the stuff in hand at the sight of better items.


    Forgive them, they have been in poverty for far too long!


    The corner of Sean��s mouth was twitching.


    He knew it would come to this!


    As a pair of arms could not amount to several hundred pairs of hands, Sean resigned himself to his fate. Even if he were to join the bandwagon, how many items could he loot? Never mind, at least he retained his poise.


    Clamping the boar��s belly with his legs, Sean approached Old Gryan with a smiling face. ��About that, Sir Gryan, I went through a lot of trouble, not only did I get the Kobolds to attack the Murlocs, I saved you a lot of trouble by leading such a great force to battle. I did more than my share! Look, why don��t you increase my commission?��


    The moment Old Gryan heard it was about money, he refused without a second thought. ��No way! I��m not giving you any more money! How can you go back on your word?��


    Sean chuckled. ��No, I��m not going back! I was just thinking, you know, I��m not young anymore. I want to build a Mage Tower but I don��t have any men under me. How long will it take me to build the tower if I can only rely on myself? So����


    Old Gryan gave Sean a side glance before answering, ��So you want my people to help build your Mage Tower? Sure, just pay up!��


    Sean waved his arm. ��Money��s no issue! Just deduct it from my share of Jangolode Mine, including the materials as well! Deduct everything from there!��


    The corner of Old Gryan��s mouth twitched.


    He had had it with this young fox��s scheming��


    After giving it a thought, Old Gryan finally complied.


    Old Gryan said, ��Alright, but I have one request�� The Mage Tower will be built in between Sentinel Hill and Saldean��s Farm. Don��t refuse just yet, hear me out. With the Kobolds vanquished and the remaining Murlocs to be taken care of later, that leaves us with one last enemy, the Defias Brotherhood. The leader of the Defias Brotherhood is Edwin VanCleef. The guy may be stubborn but he��s not stupid. He��ll surely figure out a way to deal with us.��


    Old Gryan blessed Sean before continuing. ��We will be able to help each other out any time with the Mage Tower established between Sentinel Hill and Saldean��s Farm. You��ll also be able to swiftly lend a hand if anything happens to Saldean��s Farm, isn��t that great?��


    Sean nodded.


    He had to admit that Old Gryan had a brilliant idea.


    Even with the Mage Tower established, it would not have much defensive ability if Sean were alone. At critical moments, he would still need aid from Old Gryan. Hence, Sean nodded in agreement.


    Thus, the curtains came down on the war.


    The final clearing of the battlefield rested in the hands of Old Gryan. The mission to pursue the remaining Murlocs also laid on his shoulders. The developmental work in Jangolode Mine was also left to Old Gryan. Sean suddenly had a lot of time in his hands.


    As he had some leisure time, Sean began to occupy himself with his own business.


    Out of the three hundred soldiers under Old Gryan, the remaining hundred and fifty soldiers that did not participate in battle were either incapable of combat, wounded, or composed of the old, weak and handicapped. Although these people might not make a strong fighting force, they were competent enough to perform carpentry, craftsmanship, and masonry.


    With that, building Sean��s Mage Tower began systematically.


    These soldiers showed great enthusiasm after Sean offered rates that were double the market price. It was not just them, many vagrants in Saldean��s Farm took part in the construction.


    There were even a few from Stormwind City��s Stonemason Guild amongst the vagrants that ended up on the streets because they were unwilling to join VanCleef in the underworld.


    Their specialized talents in construction led Sean to entrust them with important roles as the Mage Tower construction��s Chief Engineers. Sean offered them five times the salary of the others.


    There were people assigned to extract wood and stones. Furlbrow��s shredder finally came in handy.


    Whether it was chopping, polishing, transporting, or construction, everyone had their respective roles. Based on the Engineers�� estimations, it would take around two months to finish the project.


    The reason why it was a two-month long project despite having over a hundred workers was that Sean had huge ambitions.


    Yes, he turned his nose up at the 7-story Mage Tower in Elwynn Forest and wanted a 24-story tower instead. With each floor measuring at 4 meters in height, a total of 24 floors would mean that the building would be almost a hundred meters tall. It would definitely be the tallest building in Westfall.


    From a bird��s-eye view, the entire Mage Tower would be shaped like a pentagon. With each corner of the pentagon connected by lines, it would make a standard pentagram that represented both mystery and Magic.


    The Mage Tower would grow narrower with each floor. The first floor would measure 30 meters per side, while by the 24th floor, each side would only measure at 10 meters.


    This day, Sean was grazing his boar near the Mage Tower when an unexpected person appeared.

 Chapter 47

    The person coming his way was Rick. The same Rick who had abandoned Sean and fled in the face of the domesticated boar.


    The guy was not looking his best �� He was skin and bones, and had wounds all over his body. His eyes spoke of exhaustion, helplessness, disorientation, and�� animosity.


    However, that was not the main point.


    More importantly, this guy brought along a young lady who was no more than ten years old. The young lady had her hands tied behind her back and a piece of white cloth stuffed in her mouth, to prevent her from running away and screaming.


    To Sean��s surprise, the young lady may be young and at an innocent and impressionable age, but her eyes revealed maturity beyond her years.


    ��I say, Rick, were you feeling bad and felt you did something wrong by ditching me the other day? So, covered in bruises and cuts, you kidnapped a young lady as an offer of apology to me, in the hopes that I let you off the hook and won��t unleash Princess on you?��


    At the pull of its reins, the domesticated boar let out a thundering roar, sending shivers down Rick��s spine. On the contrary, the girl with her hands tied behind her back showed no fear. Her eyes were unyielding and full of hate.


    Throwing a glance at the domesticated boar, Rick was certain that Sean was only giving him a scare and was not really going to unleash the boar on him. Hence, he unclenched his butt muscles and smiled bitterly. ��Sean, I know you��re a great Mage, and one powerful enough to vanquish the Kobolds and Murlocs together with Sir Gryan. That��s why I��m here to seek refuge!��


    He said it in such an impressive and matter-of-fact manner. Nevertheless, it was sound reasoning. Rick fled to Sean because he was strong.


    Sean suspected that he had hearing problems to be hearing this.


    Did these words really come from Rick��s mouth?


    Could the words of a habitual thief be trusted?


    Scanning Rick with doubtful eyes, Sean asked with a sceptical tone, ��Rick, do you think I��ll believe you? Do you think I��m stupid?��


    Rick was not surprised by Sean��s reaction. He fell back on his bottom and pointed at the young lady beside him. ��That��s why I brought her here. It��s to gain your trust, sigh!��


    Sean was taken aback for a moment before carefully sizing up the young lady.


    The young lady in a long hemp dress had abnormally pale skin, as though she had been living in an environment without constant sun. Moreover, she was not in good shape and seemed to be suffering from malnutrition.


    Based on appearance alone, she was no different from any regular young lady. Although she was pretty, she was not fully grown. Most importantly��


    Sean gazed towards Rick with a serious look on his face. ��Rick, I��m not a lolicon.��


    Rick was perplexed. ��What��s a lolicon? Whatever, that��s not important. Sean, she��s Vanessa, Vanessa VanCleef, daughter of Edwin VanCleef. Someone in Westfall is bound to recognize her. Ask around and you��ll find out. Now that I��ve brought her here, surely you can start trusting me and hear what I have to say about the past few days?��


    Sean was stunned.


    What?


    Vanessa VanCleef?


    This young lady was Vanessa?


    What the!


    What the hell!


    Sean immediately threw the young lady a Sight Appraisal.


    [Name: Vanessa VanCleef, daughter of Edwin VanCleef]


    [Stats: Strength 3, Agility 5, Stamina 4, Intelligence 9, Spirit 10]


    [Class: None]


    [Skill: None]


    [Equipment: None]


    Without the presence of a Class, Skills, or Equipment, this was the so-called triple flat girl[1].


    The real issue was �� was she truly Vanessa VanCleef?


    Sean took a deep breath in before letting out a long sigh. He was overwhelmed with shock and�� emotions.


    In the original story, Edwin VanCleef was eventually assassinated by a group of people that Gryan Stoutmantle dispatched. The Defias Brotherhood then fled, breaking up the whole organization.


    Vanessa had witnessed the death of her father with her own eyes, the innocent and naive girl became an avenger in the form of a gorgeous lady that buried bitter enmity in her heart.


    She then arrived at Old Saldean��s Farm and was adopted by Old Saldean. Her name was changed to Hope Saldean.


    What a beautiful name!


    Old Saldean must have wanted to let Vanessa know that as long as she was alive, there was still hope. There was no need to be frustrated with life as there was always hope for the future. Sean guessed that Old Saldean at the time had probably recognized Vanessa and knew of her story.


    The reason he adopted her was because he was kind and had hope for her.


    In his eyes, she was merely a young lady without a home to return to. That was all.


    However��


    ��Hope? Is that what I was supposed to feel when I saw my father decapitated by your henchmen?


    Hope is a cruel joke, played upon us by a harsh and uncaring world. There is no Hope, there is only Vanessa. Vanessa VanCleef.��


    Indeed, Vanessa had hid all hatred inside her.


    She had amassed power behind the scenes, contacted his father��s former subordinates, and publicized Stormwind City��s evil deeds amongst the Adventurers in an attempt to earn their support. Five years later finally saw the resurgence of the Defias Brotherhood. Vanessa rescued Ripsnarl, occupied the Deadmines, and continued the construction of the juggernaut!


    During this period, Gryan Stoutmantle and the People��s Militia were serving under the banner of Stormwind City, assisting in the attack on Northrend.


    Gryan Stoutmantle was an impartial man. He would not cast aside the Paladin code due to old grudges. Everything he did was to protect the people.


    Nevertheless, this did not matter to Vanessa.


    She believed Gryan was wrong.


    ��If a person accepts amnesty from Stormwind City, it means he has renounced his people.��


    Perhaps Vanessa had once wavered, stuck at the crossroads between animosity and gratitude towards Old Saldean for raising her. Perhaps it was the fact that Gryan had enlisted that led her to let go of that last bit of hesitation and venture down the path of no return.


    Vanessa may not be as great of a Rogue as her father was, but she had far superior intelligence, especially when it came to vengeance and leadership of the Defias Brotherhood.


    She united the refugees in Stormwind City.


    She recruited a powerful Ogre Mage, Glubtok.


    She recruited a Goblin Engineer, Helix Gearbreaker of the Bilgewater Cartel.


    She ordered the engineers under her to perfect and upgrade the Foe Reaper 5000.


    She freed Admiral Ripsnarl.


    She even pushed Cookie to the forefront, making him the Captain of the juggernaut, even though it was only in name.


    Even when the Deadmines were breached again, she played everyone like a fiddle and made a cunning getaway by playing her cards well and putting her weaponized neurotoxins to good use. She burned the juggernaut before making her escape.


    [1] A triple flat girl is a term widely used by otaku. It describes a girl who��s unspeaking, unfeeling, and unexpressive. In this case, Vanessa is described as a triple flat girl because she has no Class, Skills, nor Equipment

 Chapter 48

    Sean had always thought that Vanessa was one of the truly wise people in Azeroth. He had been interested in her, and had strong compassion and respect for her.


    Therefore, his face darkened upon seeing Rick tying her up.


    Sean questioned, ��Rick, tell me what exactly is going on! If I��m not happy with your answer, I��ll kill you!��


    Rick did not expect the sudden change in Sean��s attitude, but it was unimportant at the moment.


    He told Sean about his recent encounters.


    Rick used to be a member of Stormwind City��s Stonemason Guild, and was a very smart architect. His Grandmaster Rank Profession Level was second only to Edwin Vancleef, hence Sean could not perceive him through Appraisal Sight.


    During Stormwind City��s reconstruction, Rick was in charge of the Mage Quarter. It was then that he got to know Theocritus, as well as a number of other Mages.


    Later on, due to the arrears of wages from Stormwind City, Edwin VanCleef, along with the majority of the members of the Stonemasons Guild formed the Defias Brotherhood, which was part of the Lady of the Black Dragonflight��s schemes. Nonetheless, a number of stonemasons still chose to leave on their own.


    Rick was one of them.


    He had been roaming about for years.


    Rick was disappointed by VanCleef��s actions, and he hoped that the person who was once his friend and his superior could mend his ways instead of being ruled by anger and vengeance.


    He did meet VanCleef a few times, but was always thrown out.


    ��If you don��t join us, don��t try and stop us! I��ll kill you if you do this again!��


    Rick was dispirited by VanCleef��s attitude.


    A few days ago, he decided to give it one last shot.


    This time, he was terribly beaten up by VanCleef, so much so that he was almost killed.


    Right then, Rick noticed Vanessa, and was struck with the idea to kidnap her before escaping the Deadmines.


    Rick sighed after finishing his story. ��That was what happened. I��ve been escaping with Vanessa until I met you. Once I recalled that you��re a Mage, I decided to turn to you.��


    Sean fell silent for a long time, then he asked, ��Rick, do you hate VanCleef?��


    Rick answered, ��No, I don��t. No matter how he treats me, he��s still my old friend. Besides, he has his reasons, Stormwind City was too cruel! It was the city that treated him unfairly, not the other way round!��


    Sean let out a sigh.


    All of Westfall was a downright tragedy, and one of the sources of this tragedy was a horrible person.


    Sean decided to do something.


    He shook his head at Rick. ��Actually, Stormwind City wasn��t the one that treated you unfairly. It was another person, or rather, a dragon.��


    Rick was startled as he could not understand what Sean meant, so he asked, ��Sean, what do you mean?��


    Sean replied, ��This was what actually happened.��


    A long time ago, the famous big boss in Azeroth, Deathwing Neltharion, tasked his daughter, Lady Onxyia of the Black Dragonflight, with disguising herself as Lady Katrana Prestor. She infiltrated Stormwind City��s high management, then adopted political measures to cause chaos.


    She played a part in King Varian��s disappearance, Stormwind City��s refusal to pay the Stonemason Guild, as well as VanCleef��s act of bringing members from the Stonemason Guild into the Defias Brotherhood.


    In short, she was the one who single-handedly fomented the tragedies in Stormwind City and Westfall.


    Sean concluded at last, ��So if you��d like to hate someone, you should be hating Lady Onyxia of the Black Dragonflight because she��s the real culprit.��


    Onyxia!


    Lady of the Black Dragonflight!


    Rick widened his mouth.


    He was not an ignorant person.


    Back when he was involved in rebuilding Stormwind City, he had heard of the dragons from the Mages.


    They were powerful and fearsome creatures! A mature dragon had strength equivalent to a person in Grandmaster Rank, and was tens or hundreds of feet long when it soared in the sky to overlook the earth.


    It turned out that the real enemy of Rick and the members of the Defias Brotherhood was a dragon, on top of that, the strongest one in the Black Dragonflight, the Lady of the Black Dragonflight?


    Rick looked disheartened for the first time, and was even more disheartened than when he failed to convince VanCleef.


    ��Sean, I trust that you��re telling the truth. There��s no reason for you to lie to me, though I don��t know how you knew about it. But, but what can we do? How can we kill a dragon? How can we take revenge!��


    There were tears in Rick��s eyes.


    Men would only cry when they were deeply hurt.


    Sean smiled as he responded, ��There��s actually a way.��


    Rick held his tears back upon hearing that, and quickly grabbed Sean��s arms while asking impatiently, ��Do you have a way? Can you take revenge for us? Can you kill Onyxia for us?��


    Sean chuckled. ��Perhaps you can��t kill a dragon, but it doesn��t mean that the entire Stormwind City can��t do it. Try to persuade VanCleef to reconcile with the city. As long as you join hands, you��ll definitely kill Onyxia, I promise!��


    Rick was stunned when he looked at Sean as he suddenly felt that the teen, who was not even fifteen years old yet, had the power to convince people. Sean was out of the ordinary, his ears were slightly sharp, and he was a Half-Elf who was so secretive that nobody knew he was a Mage. Moreover, Sean��s background was mysterious, and he knew plenty of secrets��


    ��Sean, as long as you kill Onyxia, I swear to follow you for the rest of my life! I��ll go look for VanCleef now, and I��ll definitely convince him! I��ll leave Vanessa to you, please take good care of her as she��s my best friend��s daughter!�� Rick suddenly kowtowed at Sean.


    Following that, he ran away quickly. He was either in a hurry to deliver the message to his best buddy, Eddie VanCleef, or was afraid that Sean would reject him.


    Hence, Sean had no choice but to reluctantly accept a quest.


    It was not a quest from Rick, but one given by the Spatial Garrison.


    [Side Quest: Raising a Young Girl]


    [Educate Vanessa VanCleef so that she becomes an outstanding, upright person who will be helpful to society.]


    [Note: Hehe, Sir Commander, since she��s your first important female character in Azeroth, shouldn��t you be more careful, and take better care of her? Raise her well, there��ll be generous rewards!]


    [Quest Criterion: Unknown]


    [Quest Reward: Unknown]


    [Quest Time Limit: Unknown]


    After looking at the quest��s descriptions, Sean lifted his head at a 45-degree angle to look at the sky while asking, ��Is it really okay that you��re giving me a quest to raise a triple flat girl without giving me any context?��

 Chapter 49

    Sean considered himself an honest and trustworthy person who kept his promises, hence he was determined to complete the quest, whether he was willing to or not.


    Firstly, he needed to free Vanessa VanCleef.


    Sean jumped down from the domesticated boar, then approached Vanessa before reaching his hand out to remove the white cloth in her mouth. Next, he went behind her to untie her hands.


    Once Vanessa stood up, Sean walked to her front, then smiled at the pitiful little girl. ��Vanessa, did you listen to the conversation between Rick and me?��


    Vanessa was clearly calmer and more mature than her peers. She looked up at Sean, and replied with a tender voice, ��Vanessa saw everything, and Vanessa is willing to follow you, Big Brother Sean. You��re going to protect me, right?��


    Her unexpected composure and maturity caused Sean to think of her more highly than before. He nodded. ��Follow me. Before your father brings you home, just follow me. You��ve come a long way with Rick, are you hungry?��


    Vanessa nodded.


    Sean grinned, then reached his hand out to her. ��Come, I��ll bring you to eat.��


    After Vanessa gave Sean her hand, they walked toward Saldean��s Farm together.


    When the domesticated boar looked up at Sean and Vanessa, she thought to herself, ��Why does Master like a thin girl like her? Based on my aesthetic point of view, I��d only be interested if she��s fleshy and weighs at least 100 kilograms, but Master��s standards have always been like this, so maybe it��s better this way.��


    The domesticated boar twiddled some fresh grass one last time before catching up to Sean and Vanessa.


    After returning to the Saldean��s Farm, the Saldeans grew very fond of Vanessa. The little girl was actually very smart. She was not full of hatred as she would be in the future, and was very sweet when she greeted the elders.


    Seeing as they got along with each other well, Sean was relieved.


    A week passed in the blink of an eye, and there was a huge change in the Spatial Garrison.


    With the soldiers�� help these days, there was ample Wood and Stones. Sean turned the substantial amount of materials into Garrison Resources, and began building different Facilities at full speed.


    A Fishing Shack, a Herb Garden, a Lunarfall Excavation, and a Menagerie.


    The Four Facilities were set to be built at the same time, and were done together too.


    Beside a lake whose depths was unknown sat a simple Fishing Shack, and the lake itself contained various species of fish. They could not be caught by hand or by using fishing nets. The only way to catch them was with a hook and line.


    That said, nobody else was in the Spatial Garrison other than Sean.


    This showed the importance of the Follower Interface.


    Each Fishing Shack could have 25 Followers assigned to it. Based on the Follower��s Fishing Level, the Fishing Shack would automatically produce different types of fish every day. The higher one��s Fishing Level, the more precious and plentiful the fish produced.


    Needless to say, it was possible that random items were fished up too. For instance, scraps, materials, Garrison Resources, and pieces of Equipment.


    A variety of herbs were planted in a land that was surrounded by fences. There were Silverleaves, Peaceblooms, Earthroots��


    Followers could enter the Herb Garden too, and according to one��s Herbalism Level, assorted herbs were automatically gathered on a daily basis in different amounts.


    Mixed ores were found in a small Mine. Gold ores, silver ores, iron ores, copper ores��


    Once a Follower checked in, miscellaneous ores were automatically collected based on the Follower��s Mining Level.


    Finally, it was the Menagerie.


    The Menagerie was the only Facility out of the four fixed ones that could be used without needing a Follower. When pets were captured to put in the Menagerie, they would be tamed, and would undergo highly efficient training to help them grow as fast as possible. In the end, they could either help Sean in fights, or could be used for other matters.


    Pets had a total of 25 Levels. Other than Levels, they were also categorized into Qualities, which were White Common Quality, Green Uncommon Quality, Blue Rare Quality, Purple Epic Quality, and Orange Legendary Quality.


    A pet��s Quality would be the same as when it was caught until it advanced to Level 25. At Level 25, the pet��s Quality could be improved through different paths. Theoretically, a Level 1 White Quality pet could possibly advance to become a Level 25 Orange Legendary Quality.


    The current Menagerie was only at Level 1, hence it could only house 5 pets.


    Sean felt that it was time for a pet-catching spree.


    Apart from the four fixed Facilities, Sean went to the Gate of Spacetime twice during the past few days to clear two new Dungeons. One was Spider Nest, the other one was Dirty Sewer.


    The Spider Nest Dungeon was tougher, with a difficulty that was roughly between Kobold��s Nest and Murloc Shallow. Most of the monsters were spiders with a Combat Level of 3 and below, but there was a Broodmother at Combat Level 6 that made Sean suffer for a long time.


    Additionally, at least half of the spiders in the nest were poisonous��


    Fortunately, Sean had great stamina, so he managed to withstand the process. After killing the Broodmother, he obtained a consumable pearl that was known to be an antidote. Sean��s Poison Resistance increased by 3 points after he took it.


    The final rating was B, and Sean received 4 Stat Points, all of which he added to his Stamina. He later acquired a Green Quality Pet, the Crystal Spider, from the Wheel of Fortune, which was quite a surprise.


    In comparison, the Dirty Sewer Dungeon was easier, only slightly more difficult than Kobold��s Nest. The monsters in the Dungeon were all Giant Sewer Rats with a highest Combat Level of 3, and each of them was thrice the size of a normal rat. Although they looked fearsome, there were not many of them. Nonetheless, it was quite time consuming, and the sewer was a rather disgusting place to be in��


    In the end, Sean was not rewarded with Stat Points even when the clearance rating was A, which made him realize that not all Dungeons gave them as a reward. He would only receive Stat Points from Dungeons that had a difficulty that was on par with his strength, thus he would not obtain any if a Dungeon��s difficulty was much lower than his strength.


    Furthermore, the rewards contained in the six slots from the Wheel of Fortune were not of a high grade as they were of the same grade as the ones from Kobold��s Nest.


    This time, Sean��s luck was only average. He drew a hundred Garrison Resources, but they were better than nothing.


    After researching Harvest Wardens, the Golem Factory studied Reinforced Multifunctional Shredders and Reinforced Multifunctional Quarry Machines. Sean immediately produced a few Shredders and Quarry Machines to speed up the felling and quarrying processes. This would enhance the Mage Tower��s construction speed.


    On this day, Sean was grazing his boar near his Mage Tower, and was letting his first pet, the Crystal Spider, hunt at the same time. All of a sudden, a familiar person appeared again.

 Chapter 50

    The person who came was Rick.


    This time, Rick was not badly beaten up by his best buddy, but the sullen and dejected look on his face was clear as long as one was not blind.


    ��Rick, what is it? Did VanCleef reject you? Or did he not believe that Onyxia��s your real enemy?�� Sean asked as he was puzzled.


    ��Is VanCleef a fool?�� He wondered.


    Rick smiled bitterly. ��VanCleef believed me. He��s not dumb, and has always had his own channels and informers, so he��s aware of the movements in Stormwind City better than anyone else. After hearing what I said, VanCleef linked it with many other clues, and believed me very quickly. The problem is that he doesn��t trust Stormwind City!��


    ��I knew it!��


    Sean frowned. ��He doesn��t trust Stormwind City? Is he thinking of destroying Onyxia himself? Does he really think that the Defias Brotherhood is powerful? Does he have a way to defeat the flight-capable Lady of the Black Dragonflight? Heh, she��s a legendary creature!��


    Rick sighed. ��VanCleef is actually a very proud person, and he��s also very stubborn�� He said that even though Onyxia��s the culprit, the fact that Stormwind City was manipulated by her so easily can only mean that the nobles are her accomplices. He��s not going to let the mastermind and her accomplices off!��


    Sean crushed him after hearing that. ��Does he want to fail in his revenge? Is he out of his mind? Onyxia and Stormwind City, which one of those can he defeat?��


    Onyxia was a legendary creature, and her lair had plenty of whelps and drakes that were at least the equivalent of someone with a Mid Rank Profession. Even if she did not make a move herself, VanCleef would suffer a huge loss. Besides, Onyxia, who was in Stormwind City, almost had control over half of the city. How could VanCleef go against her just like that?


    In that case, going against Stormwind City was not to be mentioned. It would only be a vain attempt if VanCleef actually thought about building a juggernaut to blow up the city. So what if he was skillful enough to build a tough one?


    Before it could get close to Stormwind City, it would probably be noticed by the Sentinels and the Gryphon Riders! For all VanCleef knew, his juggernaut would be blown up first!


    Moreover, Stormwind City had numerous Mages. They could easily cast a few large-scaled Spells together to destroy the juggernaut, and what could VanCleef do?


    The Defias Brotherhood seemed huge and powerful as they had infiltrated Stormwind City, Westfall, Elwynn Forest, Duskwood, Redridge Mountains, and some other places. It had wormed its way into almost every corner under Stormwind City��s governance.


    However


    That was because Stormwind City was in a mess at the moment, thus nobody had the energy to deal with them. If the city was serious about handling the issue, SI:7 could simply uproot the Defias Brotherhood until nothing was left of them.


    Never overestimate the Defias Brotherhood. It was an organization that had only been established by a bunch of stonemasons a few years ago, so how capable could it be?


    Rick felt very helpless too. He said with a frown, ��That��s what VanCleef said, but he also said that he won��t join hands with Stormwind City unless����


    Sean sneered. ��Unless what?��


    Rick smiled bitterly. ��Unless King Varian apologizes to him personally.��


    ��What?��


    Sean inhaled deeply.


    He finally understood how stubborn and proud VanCleef was, as well as how deep his hatred toward Stormwind City was.


    ��He��s asking King Varian to apologize to him?


    ��VanCleef, are you dreaming?��


    Leaving aside the fact that King Varian had, at the moment, been split in two by the Lady of the Black Dragonflight through Dark Magic; the strong-willed one was sent to Orgrimmar by Rehgar Earthfury to become a professional gladiator, whereas the cultured and reserved one was still in Stormwind City, but was being deceived and manipulated by Onyxia. There was no way that he would apologize to VanCleef.


    Even if King Varian was intact, how could an arrogant, tough, and hot-tempered person like him apologize to VanCleef if he was at fault? On top of that, his wife, Queen Tiffin had been killed by Stormwind City��s Stonemasons.


    The enmity between VanCleef and King Varian was complicated and had too many ends to tackle. It was good enough that it had been suppressed thus far, so getting the latter to apologize to the former was out of the question!


    That said, it was not exactly impossible��


    Sean thought of somebody.


    King Varian��s only son, the young prince, Anduin Wrynn was only 9 years old at the moment, but was very knowledgeable, and opinionated. Varian highly valued his son��s point of view��


    Another person who could influence Varian was Jaina Proudmoore, the Ruler of Theramore. She was a powerful Archmage, and a person who was misunderstood and blindly believed in by many��


    If Anduin was aware of everything, if a meeting with Jaina could be done, if King Varian��s strong-willed half could be saved, if his cultured half could be convinced, there was a slight possibility that Varian would apologize to VanCleef��


    Then again, if all of those could be achieved, VanCleef��s involvement in killing Onyxia would not be important at all.


    Nonetheless, if VanCleef could let go of his strong hatred, the Defias Brotherhood would, in turn, stop burning, killing, and pillaging. With that, Westfall��s public safety would finally be on the right track, and the people in Elwynn Forest and Duskwood could live comfortably��


    ��So am I supposed to make a trip to Stormwind City? But how can I meet the young prince, Anduin, and how can I visit Theramore to meet Lady Jaina? Traveling by a gryphon isn��t feasible because that was just in the game. Not to mention that Westfall did not have flight paths, nor did it have large-sized war creatures like gryphons. The beasts wouldn��t fly from Westfall to Theramore without eating or drinking anyway��


    ��The two places are separated by an endless sea! If a comparison has to be made, it��s equivalent to the Pacific Ocean or the Atlantic. Show me how you��re going to fly?


    ��So, the way to travel from Stormwind City is by boat.


    ��Okay, now comes the problem.


    ��Stormwind City is still under Onyxia��s control. Almost everyone in the high management has been fooled by her. It��s impossible to leave by boat without being noticed by her, unless we can hook up with a real member of the high management��


    ��But looking at the current Stormwind City, who can be trusted? Who can still be trusted?


    ��Regent Lord Bolvar Fordragon?


    ��Though he��s a Paladin, he was hoodwinked by Onyxia too��


    ��Archbishop Benedictus from the Cathedral of Light? He��s the real mastermind, the one who��s actually behind Onyxia��


    ��This is a mission impossible!��


    Sean complained to Rick, hoping that Rick would get rid of the thought. At worst, they could wait for King Varian to return, and for Onyxia to be executed before finding a way for VanCleef and King Varian to make peace.


    However��


    Rick replied after hearing what Sean said, ��Actually, you know that I was involved in Stormwind City��s reconstruction, right? I was acquainted with quite a number of people from the city��s high management����


    Sean shook his head. ��How high? As high as Onyxia?��


    Rick answered, ��Not that high, but there��s someone who has high status, and has quite a lot of authority. Most importantly, he��ll definitely be willing to help VanCleef and King Varian reconcile because not only does he know VanCleef personally, but he used to be very close to VanCleef����


    Sean��s eyes lit up. ��Who��s that person?��


    Rick uttered with a look of admiration and yearning, ��Mathias Shaw!��

 Chapter 51

    There were many well-known Rogue organizations in Azeroth, for example, Ravenholdt, the Syndicate, the Defias Brotherhood��


    SI:7!


    SI:7 was not the most powerful Rogue organization. It did not have the most members, was not the oldest organization, and was not even the most reputable one, but it was definitely the most effective and the most capable Rogue organization.


    SI:7 was also known as the Stormwind Assassins. It was established and led by Stormwind City, and specially formed to carry out secret missions that were not achievable through legal means. For instance, assassinating nobles, eavesdropping on war plans, and various other missions.


    The organization that had roughly 2500 members and had infiltrated every corner of Stormwind City��s sphere of influence. Wherever there was a group of people, there was definitely an Assassin from SI:7.


    Mathias Shaw was the current leader.


    SI:7 viewed themselves as a hand grasped around a knife, dividing the organization into five branches.


    Mathias Shaw and the other leaders made the Thumb as they were in charge of the management and leadership.


    The leadership consisted of about 30 experienced Rogues, who were in charge of making major decisions, and managing the other four Fingers by leading, training, taking reports, and even running the books and making sure salaries were distributed.


    The next two Fingers of the hand were made up of the highest-level members, which consisted of roughly 500 Thieves each.


    The First Finger, the highest level an assassin could reach before leaving one��s life behind to become a leader in the Thumb, would be dedicated to assassinations,their targets being anyone from rival military leaders to corrupt Priests.


    The Second Finger was committed to material ��acquisitions��, either retrieving a stolen item to return to its rightful owner, or taking a particularly powerful item from a politician who could not be killed outright.


    The 500 or so Rogues who made up the Third Finger were experts in espionage, often cooperating with the Thieves from the First and Second Finger to gather information, read and remember scrolls instead of stealing them, and to serve as lookouts and diversions while the others carried out their missions.


    The Fourth Finger made up the largest but the lowest level. The 1,000 Rogues were the jacks of all trades �C they usually managed things like burying victims, hiding corpses, as well as establishing alibis. Their job was to make sure that the Stormwind Assassins�� identities were not discovered, and they were also in charge of recruitment.


    Being able to lead a group of Assassins with 2500 members under his command, directly participating in huge events that were unknown to other people, giving countless assassination orders to kill people who were hard to kill or from other intelligent Races, Mathias Shaw was definitely one of the real members of Stormwind City��s high management.


    Sean believed that a person like him could definitely send anyone to Anduin, and could also bring anyone to Theramore to meet with Jaina.


    What relationship did VanCleef and Mathias share?


    Rick mentioned, ��VanCleef was trained by SI:7 for many years, so he��s known Mathias Shaw since they were young. They had the same mentor, Wolfson Fullmore, the most powerful Assassin in SI:7.��


    Okay, Sean was completely unfamiliar with the name, but the name was definitely one that resounded in the ears of every SI:7 member, as well as the real members of Stormwind City��s high management.


    The mighty Assassin was truly the number one master in SI:7. He was a fearsome Rogue master, a Grandmaster Assassin, a Grandmaster Thief, a Grandmaster Warrior��


    Wolfson Fullmore, the aged elder, had always been guiding and grooming Mathias Shaw. Mathias owed all his achievements to him.


    Okay, Wolfson��s name could be forgotten for the time being because he would not appear yet, but he would show up in the future.


    All in all, after finding out about the relationship between VanCleef and Mathias, Sean thought about the possibility carefully.


    Yes, there was hope!


    ��Since there��s hope, let��s give it a shot! But before this, I must talk with Old Gryan,�� Sean said.


    At Sentinel Hill, Sean noticed that the whole area was also under construction. The laborers were not soldiers from Sentinel Hill, but Adventurers who had been recruited.


    The original Sentinel Hill only had walls around, a simple stone-made Town Hall, an old Barracks, and a few short Arrow Towers. Those were all it had, and it only provided 5 Defense points.


    On the contrary, the new Sentinel Hill started taking the form of a military base after the laborers completed the reinforcements.


    The walls became studier and taller, a gate was being set up, the number of Arrow Towers increased from 2 to 4, the Barracks was being renovated and expanded, the Town Hall was under construction, and all kinds of other Facilities were beginning to take form.


    Hundreds of elite soldiers, who were fully armored, patrolled Sentinel Hill��s periphery.


    Not far away, a certain soldier who had a captain��s rank, was training a bunch of new recruits. The new soldiers were clearly dressed differently as they had rugged clothes and broken longswords, making it obvious that they were newly recruited.


    ��F*ck, Old Gryan, what��s going on? You sent your soldiers to fix my Mage Tower, but recruit laborers to rebuild Sentinel Hill? What��s with that bunch of new soldiers? Are you starting to recruit again?�� Sean squeezed his boar��s belly with his legs, then hopped off in front of Old Gryan.


    Old Gryan stood in front of the Town Hall. He wore a casual outfit and was not carrying the Truesilver Champion, which made him look more like a rich man than a heneral��


    Okay, he had a lot of money now, so he was considered a rich man.


    Upon seeing Sean��s arrival, Old Gryan laughed. ��Haha, Sean, don��t you understand? Do I look like I��m hiring laborers? These are all newly recruited soldiers! Hehe, I��m rich now, so shouldn��t I be recruiting as many new soldiers as I can? Am I supposed to count on the 300 men under my command to go against the Defias Brotherhood? Hehe!��


    Sean thought to himself, ��That��s true. Even if you sent people to kill VanCleef, you can��t destroy the Defias Brotherhood, and they��ll only go into the dark, which will make it harder for you to go against them in the future. The recruitment of new soldiers is imperative.


    ��But there��s an issue����


    Sean asked as he was confused, ��Since you��re planning to rebuild Sentinel Hill, and it��s obvious that the workload is obviously higher than what��s needed for my Mage Tower, why did you send your soldiers to me? Isn��t it going to delay you?��


    Old Gryan giggled. ��It won��t, it won��t! Hehe, don��t you know how close we are? We swore to live or die together, and we��re the best of friends despite our age difference! Who should I be helping if not you?��


    Sean sneered. ��Stop it! Do you think that I don��t know who you are? Will you do something that won��t benefit you? Tell me, why exactly did you do that?��


    Old Gryan��s face reddened. He gestured to Sean to get closer to him before whispering, ��The soldiers that I sent you were mostly old and weak, their work efficiency is low, and they can��t do things well, so I��m not going to let them rebuild Sentinel Hill. I sent them to you because�� I can earn a large sum of money, hahaha!��

 Chapter 52

    ��F*ck!��


    Sean glared at Old Gryan, and had the urge to kill him.


    That said, Sean was in Old Gryan��s territory at the moment, and there were plenty of soldiers around. Besides, although Old Gryan was not armored and did not have the Truesilver Champion with him, he was at least a powerful Mid Rank Paladin, perhaps even a High Rank Paladin. Given the close-range, Sean knew that he would not stand a chance if he planted a Duel banner, so he gave up on that thought.


    In any case, he had plenty of chances in the future, so he could definitely make Old Gryan bow before him while singing the song ��Conquer��!


    Sean convinced himself with the ��Ah Q mentality��[1], then started getting to the point.


    Old Gryan widened his eyes upon hearing what Sean had to say. ��What? What did you say? King Varian was split into two? The Lady of the Black Dragonflight caused chaos in Stormwind City? Even Regent Bolvar Fordragon was fooled? F*ck me, is that true?��


    Sean rolled his eyes. ��It��s fake.��


    Old Gryan quickly smiled apologetically. ��Even if I trust nobody, I trust you, Sean. You��re right, you��re right, I believe what you said, okay? Oh no, oh no, this is terrible. If something happens to Stormwind City, everything will be doomed!��


    Sean sneered. ��Old Gryan, are you that timid? Why are you afraid because of such a small matter?��


    ��A small matter?!��


    OId Gryan yelled, ��Did you say that it��s a small matter? Do you know what it means? Among the Seven Human Kingdoms, Lordaeron is doomed, Kul�� Tiras only has Lady Jaina, Gilneas is walled off from the rest of the world, Dalaran fell to ruins, Alterac only has a bunch of weak-willed nobles left, and Stromgarde left the Alliance, so Stormwind City is the Humans�� only pillar! If Stormwind City is done for, the Humans are doomed!��


    Once Old Gryan was done venting, Sean responded quietly, ��I didn��t think that you��re so miserable. Did you forget the slogan? Stormwind City never falls! Trust me, Stormwind City won��t be doomed, neither will the Humans. I��ll head to the city to look for Prince Anduin, I��ll help Bolvar Fordragon regain his consciousness, I��ll seek assistance from Lady Jaina in Theramore, I��ll find the missing Marshal Reginald Windsor, I��ll help King Varian return, I��ll eliminate Onyxia, I��ll����


    Sean took a deep breath before declaring, ��I��ll save Stormwind City!��


    He had never felt so righteous and heroic. It was as though he had a white halo on his head, and his body was releasing pure light.


    At that moment, he was not a Mage, and not a Commander, but a��


    Psychic!


    In reality, Sean was not a psychic, though the person in front of him was a psychic�� Oh no, a Paladin who had a halo on his head, and whose body could release light at any time.


    Therefore, Old Gryan rolled his eyes without taking Sean��s declaration seriously.


    Nonetheless, what Sean mentioned was actually possible. Old Gryan replied after pondering for a while, ��Sean, if you��re determined to do this, you must be careful. I��ll supervise your Mage Tower��s construction personally, and send some men to keep watch over Saldean��s Farm, but I can��t follow you to Stormwind City.��


    Sean chuckled. ��Of course, you can��t be going to Stormwind City. You have to go against the Defias Brotherhood, and Westfall can be short of anyone but you. You don��t have to worry about Saldean��s Farm because I��ll station some Harvest Wardens, as well as Princess the domesticated boar. With them around, the farm��s safety is assured. I just hope that when I return, you won��t steal my share of Jangolode Mine.��


    Old Gryan patted Sean��s shoulder as he said seriously, ��You must return in one piece, or your share will really become mine!��


    Sean laughed out loud. ��Don��t worry, I��m here to travel Azeroth, so I won��t be leaving so soon!��


    Following that, Sean turned around to get onto his boar, then waved at Old Gryan before squeezing the boar��s belly with his legs. With that, the domesticated pig ran toward Saldean��s Farm.


    Behind him, Old Gryan did a standard Paladin salute at Sean while mumbling, ��Stormwind City never falls. Sean, you must stay alive!��


    Needless to say, Sean was not going to bid farewell so soon. He decided to tread on muddy water because he knew very well the changes that would take place in the next few years. Sean was aware that King Varian was fated not to die, Onyxia would certainly face her death, and Stormwind City would stand tall.


    Instead of adding brilliance to perfection, it was better to offer help in times of need. By becoming friends with King Varian during his worst, as well as Prince Anduin, who was still young and naive, Sean would certainly have endless benefits during his future life in Stormwind City.


    Sean was not a businessman who disregarded legal ethics to increase profits. It was true that he knew the benefits that he would likely receive in the future�� But he was truly fond of King Varian and Prince Anduin, and he really despised the Lady of the Black Dragonflight!


    Hence, he was willing to give this a shot. As long as he was careful, nothing dangerous would happen.


    These past few days, the Golem Factory had produced a few Harvest Wardens. Sean left them and his domesticated boar for Old Saldean, and claimed that he was going to the Tower of Azora in Elwynn Forest to learn from Sir Theocritus for a long time. He did not tell Old Saldean the truth.


    Sean was afraid that Old Saldean would be worried.


    After getting everything done, Sean set out to Stormwind City with Vanessa and Rick.


    They traveled on two brown horses, one for Rick, the other one for Sean and Vanessa.


    Being in Sean��s arms, Vanessa felt a sense of peace for the first time. Her father, Edwin VanCleef was completely blinded by hatred, so he neither took good care of nor loved his daughter as he should. Vanessa had always been very independent and never relied on anyone.


    Sean was the first person who made her feel like she could rely on someone.


    From Saldean��s Farm, they passed by Furlbrow��s Pumpkin Farm, the Jansen Stead, and Westbrook Garrison before staying a night at Goldshire. The next morning, they arrived at Stormwind City.


    Standing in front of Stormwind City��s gate, they looked up at the majestic walls, as well as the solid gate. Beyond the gate stood the statues of five famous heroes, which was quite an awe-inspiring view.


    Yes. Perhaps Stormwind City seemed small and simple when compared to the skyscrapers of the thousand or ten thousand cities on Earth, but it was the quaintness that gave Sean a strong historical sense and a long-lasting heroic spirit.


    When Rick looked at Stormwind City, the city which he had not returned for years, the city which was rebuilt by him and his partners, he took a deep breath, and inhaled deeply again.


    Everything remained the same, but the people had changed.


    Vanessa had seen Stormwind City when she was young, but had no memories of it. While leaning against Sean, she said to herself, ��This is father��s proudest accomplishment, it��s also the accomplishment that he wishes to destroy.��


    After remaining silent for a long time, Sean suddenly laughed. ��Stormwind City, I��m here!��


    [1] A term of mockery that describes a narcissistic individual who rationalizes every single actual failure he faces as a psychological triumph

 Chapter 53

    ��This is the Valley of Heroes, the path you��ll walk down as you enter Stormwind City. It is a corridor of heroes with five statues on either side. The five heroes �� High General of the Alliance Expedition, Paladin Turalyon; his wife, a High Elven Ranger, Captain Alleria Windrunner; Supreme Commander for the Alliance Expedition, Archmage Khadgar; Dwarf Gryphon Rider, Kurdran; and Sons of Lothar��s Force Commander Danath Trollbane �� who traveled through the Dark Portal.


    ��This is the Trade District, Stormwind City��s trade center. This is one of the biggest centers of commerce in the whole of Azeroth. The outside world can��t possibly imagine how thriving the place is. Banks, auction houses, inns, and a variety of shops. Anything you can think of, they have it.


    ��On the left is the Mage Quarter. Sean, you would know. The place was once flooded with thousands of Mages, making it the city with the second largest amount of Mages in the world, secondary to the Magical Kingdom of Dalaran. After the destruction of Dalaran, the place became the center of Human Arcane research. However, the Mages here are too absorbed with power and reject Mages who don��t play by their rules. That was why Theocritus left.


    ��Up ahead, across the river is the Cathedral Square. There stands one of the major churches and the largest cathedral in the world �� the Cathedral of Light. The other two churches that are equally famous are Light��s Hope Chapel in Eastern Plaguelands, and Northshire Abbey in Elwynn Forest. The Cathedral of Light is a structure second only to Stormwind Keep in Stormwind City, and a religious hub for the Humans.


    ��Further ahead is Stormwind Harbor. It is the world��s largest harbor. The large vessels berthed there are capable of reaching most harbors in the world. If we want to travel to Theramore by sea, we��ll have to take a ship from there.


    ��By the Cathedral Square, separated by a river is the Stockade. Oh right, there are two prisons in Stormwind City. The Stockade is for holding regular criminals while the Vault is reserved for special criminals, like Ogre Mages, Gnoll Leaders, and other unknown entities.


    ��There��s also the Dwarven District, a place for the Dwarves. Yes, there are many Dwarves in Stormwind City because of the close relationship between the city and the Dwarven capital, Ironforge. Did you know that there��s a tram in the Dwarven District that leads straight to Ironforge? Do you know what a tram is? It is a magical means of transportation that is quicker than gryphons!


    ��Stormwind City��s most important structure is Stormwind Keep, also known as Castle Stormwind. The keep houses not only the royals but many nobles as well. I��ll let you in on something. Stormwind Keep has escape tunnels. If anything were to happen in Stormwind City, the people inside are able to escape using these tunnels�� Haha, don��t worry, Stormwind City will never fall!��


    Rick talked throughout the entire journey.


    With animated expressions, he flaunted the masterpieces he and his partners worked on to Sean and Vanessa.


    Although Sean had visited Stormwind City numerous times in the game, the Stormwind City presented before his eyes was different from the game.


    The game had shown him a simplified version, the real Stormwind City was way livelier.


    Stormwind City! Stormwind City!


    This place was the only remaining political, economic, cultural, religious, Arcane research, and long-haul trade center of the Human race. Erected amid land and water, it was Stormwind City that would never fall!


    Rick led Sean and Vanessa past the Trade District towards the right end of the city. Past a bridge and across a river, they arrived at a district with a different kind of vibe.


    ��This place is Old Town, the part of Stormwind City that did not get destroyed. We didn��t rebuild the place. All we had to do was a few repairs to restore its original appearance. This was done to ensure that the people remember the disaster that once befell on Stormwind City. The place we��re heading to, SI:7, is here.��


    Rick brought Sean and Vanessa past Old Town. They went out of a city gate and arrived at an ancient-looking house.


    ��This is SI:7. Bet you never expected that, huh? The famous SI:7 is not in Stormwind City itself but located outside the city, between the city wall and the mountains.��


    Rick instructed Sean and Vanessa to wait for a while before walking up to the entrance of SI:7 alone. He was quickly met by a person. It was unknown what their conversation was about but Rick was soon ushered in by the same person. After a brief moment, Rick walked out.


    ��Follow me.�� Rick drew close to Sean and Vanessa. They then strolled along the city wall to another direction.


    It was several hundred meters on foot by the time they entered a grove. From afar, Sean saw a middle-aged man in casual wear standing amid the woods with his back facing them.


    ��That��s Mathias Shaw.�� Rick muttered, ��He looks the same as before, never changing.��


    Sean cast Appraisal Sight on Mathias out of habit. He was not surprised at the lack of information. Mathias��s ability and skills may be a mystery to Sean for now, but despite not knowing, Sean could guess that Mathias was a High Rank Rogue, the kind that was close to a Grandmaster Rank.


    Sean decided to say a few words to break the silence.


    It was then that Mathias suddenly spoke.


    ��Sean Saldean, an orphan adopted by Old Saldean, a farmer from Saldean��s Farm in Westfall. Though his background is unknown, he had a sudden extraordinary display a month ago and was considered an Engineering genius. Two weeks ago, he revealed his identity as a Mage. He has a great relationship with Sentinel Hill��s Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle and assisted Gryan in wiping out the Kobolds and Murlocs in Westfall. He began building his own Mage Tower a week ago.


    ��Vanessa VanCleef, daughter of the Defias Brotherhood��s leader, Edwin VanCleef. She was brought out of the Deadmines by Rick a week ago and has since resided in Saldean��s Farm.


    ��Rick, why have you brought these two to come meet me?��


    With that, Mathias Shaw slowly turned around. He swept a glance at the trio with a pair of clear eyes that seemingly saw through everything.


    However��


    Sean sneered inwardly.


    Trying to one-up him?


    Did he think he was all that?


    Sean bet that Mathias was unaware that although Sean was adopted by Old Saldean, his last name was Feathermoon, rather than Saldean.


    Mathias had gathered some incorrect intel yet he still put on an act. All he did was embarrass himself.


    Sean cleared his throat and answered, ��Mathias Shaw, the current leader of Stormwind��s SI:7. His grandmother, Pathonia Shaw was the founder of SI:7. His mother was a First Finger Assassin and died on a mission. He was brought up by Pathonia from the age of four and was made a Fourth Finger by the age of 10. He became the youngest member in the guild.


    ��Mathias slowly climbed up the ladder, spending much more time at every level than most. When he was 30 years old, Pathonia handed the reins over to him. Mathias attempted to make improvements on her organizational structure, but after a few months, he came to accept that her structure was flawless, and all he needed to do was run the already well-oiled machine.


    ��He has deep brown eyes, is rather diminutive, and doesn��t have an imposing stature, very unassuming for a guild leader of Assassins. His first successful kill was the target his mother failed to eliminate.


    ��His teacher is Wolfson Fullmore, a Grandmaster Rank Rogue.��


    Sean gently lifted his head with a smile. He was filled with a sense of delight to see Mathias Shaw surprised. He continued. ��I wonder, compared to the legendary Assassin, Garona Halforcen, how do you fare?��

 Chapter 54

    The legendary Assassin, Garona Halforcen, once assassinated the former king of Stormwind City, Llane Wrynn, and one of the greatest Mages in the world, Medivh, the Last Guardian. She was Azeroth��s most notable Assassin and there was no one that could rival her.


    Even Mathias Shaw��s teacher, Wolfson Fullmore, let alone Mathias, paled in comparison to Garona.


    The fact that Sean compared her to Mathias was obviously to take a shot at him.


    Nevertheless��


    Mathias had an experienced sharp tongue. He merely glanced at Sean before answering in a calm manner. ��Garona is, of course, brilliant as an Assassin but I��m not just an Assassin, I am also the leader of SI:7. How can you compare an apple to an orange? As for the information you brought up, I��m guessing Rick told you?��


    With that, Mathias threw a glance at Rick.


    Rick looked towards Sean in surprise.


    Rick knew well that he never said much about Mathias to Sean. In fact, he was unaware of most of the information himself. How did Sean find out?


    It once again raised Rick��s opinion of Sean.


    Sean curled his lips.


    Apart from Mathias�� teacher being Wolfson Fullmore, Sean had long known about him. There was nothing strange about it. Any Warcraft player was well-versed in his history. Mathias was in over his head.


    However, there was no need to explain himself. Sean would let the misunderstanding continue. Rick did not jump out to explain, so why should he?


    His purpose here was not to one-up Mathias. He was here on business.


    Sean shot a glance at Rick, prompting Rick to return to his senses. The latter said to Mathias, ��Mathias, it��s about this. We received news that King Varian����


    Rick revealed everything about the situation involving King Varian, Stormwind City, and Lady Onyxia to Mathias.


    In the beginning, Mathias maintained his cool, as though he would not lose composure even if he was faced with an avalanche. He did not budge when hearing about the death of King Varian. It seemed he would still remain calm when in front of a bare woman.


    However, the moment Rick spoke of King Varian being split into half and Lady Onyxia taking control of Stormwind City, Mathias�� face finally showed color.


    ��Why bother to act cool? You think you��re Lord Guan, Liu Bei, or Zhuge Liang[1] with guts, maturity, and godlike predictive ability? There is so much in the world that you don��t know about!��


    Sean took delight in Mathias�� downcast expression. Upon realizing this, Sean immediately called for the merciful Buddha to silence his childish thoughts but continued to chuckle to himself.


    Rick finally finished what he had to say and concluded, ��Sean told me all this.��


    The guy had completely removed himself out of the picture. Sean had told him everything. He was merely a sound recorder so it was no fault of his if there was a mistake.


    Alright, maybe Sean should not be thinking that everyone was an unscrupulous merchant. The lovely Vanessa and Anduin were definitely not unscrupulous merchants. He would bet a dime on it.


    Mathias turned his gaze towards Sean for a whole minute before asking. ��Boar Rider Mage Sean, what Rick has told me. Is it true?��


    Boar Rider Mage?


    Boar Rider Mage!


    Boar Rider Mage��


    Mathias was dead serious.


    Rick was red in the face from holding back.


    Sean had the urge to kill Mathias.


    F*ck, what kind of title was that?


    Boar Rider Mage? What the hell?


    It was impressive and domineering to hear others with Dragonkiller or Dragon Rider titles. Why gad he received such an idiotic title?


    Boar Rider Mage�� Even riding an ox was better than a boar!


    Suddenly, Mathias added. ��Oh, sorry, I didn��t say the full title. That��s disrespectful to you. I should address you as Domesticated Boar Rider Sean. This is accurate, right?��


    Domesticated Boar Rider Sean��


    Sean turned glum.


    Mathias must have done it on purpose. He must have.


    Just because Sean had disclosed detailed information about Mathias, exposed his lack of intel, made his work seem like window dressing, and revealed the fact that he was a dog in a manger, Mathias held a grudge against him. Hence, the personal attacks. How shameless!


    Since Mathias had no sense of shame, Sean was not going to hold back on him!


    Humph, revenge was a dish best served cold. Sean was going to have King Varian stir some trouble for him once he managed to get on King Varian��s good side.


    Sean happily made up his mind.


    Knowing it was not the time to deal with Mathias, Sean decided to let Mathias off the hook for now. Although, on the surface, it seemed like Mathias had won, the truth was, he was not the least bit bothered by it.


    Why bother anyway?


    Whether it was Boar Rider Mage or Dragonkiller Hero, at the end of the day, they were only names. Sean was in pursuit of truth, knowledge, and a peaceful and indulgent life.


    In short, the good-natured Sean let out a dazzling smile at Mathias and replied, ��Yes, Sir Mathias, everything Rick said is true.��


    Mathias nodded. ��Here��s the problem. How did an underage Half-Elf manage to discover these secrets? Even SI:7 only ever suspected these events and have no concrete evidence. That��s right, Lady Katrana Prestor��s conduct for the past few years has caused us to wonder but how do you know that she��s Lady Onyxia?��


    Sean scratched his head.


    This was indeed a troublesome question. Nonetheless, Sean was here and had figured out a countermeasure.


    Yes, there were many things that were inexplicable, such as why he knew many of the issues, and why was he unknown for ten-odd years and suddenly emerged as a Mage. Others were unaware of the Spatial Garrison��s existence, thus surely many assumptions had been made.


    Sean only needed to validate the most convincing assumption.


    With that, Sean straightened his back and waved his fingers. A Mage Saint��s Staff appeared in his hands.


    While Mathias was taken aback, Sean proudly responded, ��A month ago, I encountered a mysterious person in the form of a raven. He told me everything and took me as his apprentice, granting me knowledge of Arcane.


    ��He had me come here and seek you out. He taught me how to save King Varian and Stormwind City.


    ��He told me everything. I trust that you��ll believe every word I say and won��t cast any doubt on me. After all, the mysterious person in the form of a raven, my teacher, has a rather outstanding name.


    ��He is Medivh.


    ��Medivh, the Last Guardian.��


    [1] Lord Guan or Guan Yu, Liu Bei, and Zhuge Liang are heroes in the history of China for their military strategies and wisdom in leading the country

 Chapter 55

    Sean did not carry any burden on his consciousness for fabricating a teacher. He had even claimed a couple of days before that Theocritus was his teacher. Saying that Medivh was his teacher now was on a whole new level.


    Who was Medivh?


    He was the Last Guardian of Tirifal and the only child of Aegwynn, the strongest Guardian in history, and Nielas Aran, the strongest Court Mage in history. He inherited most of Aegwynn��s magical powers and trained for years with Nielas. He killed his father at the age of 14 and his mother at the age of 43, having been possessed by the spirit of the Dark Titan, Sargeras, before his birth. He opened the Dark Portal at the age of 44 and was killed at the age of 47.


    The legendary life of this legendary Mage would leave one gasping in amazement!


    Sean took cover under Medivh��s name and man, it was quite a huge name he used to cover his tracks.


    Most importantly, he had claimed that Medivh was his teacher. Regular civilians may not know who Medivh was but Mathias was not only aware of who Medivh was, he knew the story like the palm of his hand. This led to an issue �� Mathias was starting to become convinced of Sean��s identity.


    Why was that?


    Because Medivh, the Last Guardian, was the biggest prophet in the history of Azeroth!


    A bunch of people grew suspicious when Medivh dabbled with Shadow Magic experiments in Karazhan. Medivh had even contacted Warlock Gul��dan from Draenor, another planet, and together, they opened the Dark Portal.


    Then came the legendary Assassin, Garona, the young Khadgar, and the future Regent Lord of Stormwind City, Anduin Lothar.


    The trio teamed up and killed Medivh while he was at his weakest, torn between good and evil. Medivh��s powerful soul still remained and had wandered the Astral Plane for years. He was then resurrected by his mother, Aegwynn using the last of her Mana.


    After breaking away from the dark side, Medivh realized that his past actions had brought great disaster to the land and its inhabitants. He put upon himself a heavy responsibility to atone for his sins and to save the world. Medivh transformed into a Blood Raven, using either a Druid skill or a Mage��s Polymorph spell. Draped in a black cloak, a hood over his head, and with Atiesh in his hand, Medivh embarked on a journey to become the strongest prophet in history.


    He went to notify Thrall, leader of the Orcs and later, King Terenas of Lordaeron about the prophecy of the Burning Legion��s second invasion. While the Orcish Horde set out for Kalimdor, King Terenas of Lordaeron brushed Medivh��s warning off as nothing important.


    A sudden plague swiftly swept across a northern city in Lordaeron. Prince Arthas of Lordaeron massacred the beleaguered city in order to stop the spread of the plague. Stratholme was in chaos, bones piled up everywhere.


    Medivh, the Prophet, made another appearance but this time, Prince Arthas refused to listen. The youthful prince was blinded with vengeful rage. It was not long before King Terenas was killed by his son and soon, Lordaeron collapsed. The terrible plague continued to spread.


    Meanwhile, a small handful of Humans followed the female Mage, Jaina Proudmoore, setting sail for Kalimdor under the guidance of Medivh. They became survivors of the fallen Lordaeron and formed an alliance with the Horde that had also arrived in Kalimdor, In the end, they joined forces with the Night Elves to defeat the Burning Legion��s invasion.


    They fought with all their might before Archimonde could make it to the Tree of Eternity. In the final hour, Malfurion blew on the Horn of Cenarius, calling on thousands of Wisps to detonate on Archimonde, wounding him. They then borrowed the power of the World Tree to blast Archimonde to death. After the battle, Nordrassil was no longer eternal, nor did the Night Elves have immortality. Nordrassil became a regular huge tree. It was a huge price to pay to shatter the demons�� dark plans.


    With that, Medivh, the Prophet, completed his mission and handed over the duty of defending the world to the people of Azeroth. As the great battle drew to an end, a low middle-age male voice, wise and prescient, echoed and lingered in the hearts of every man in Azeroth.


    Alright, actually, due to the geography, population details, historical fog, those who were in the know about Medivh��s legendary deeds were actually few in number.


    As the leader of SI:7, Mathias was one of the few.


    Mathias had vanished and nobody knew where he went.


    Medivh was once great friends with Stormwind City��s former king, Llane Wrynn, and Regent Lord Anduin Lothar. Surely, he was concerned about Stormwind City. With the King Varian Wrynn in danger and Stormwind City at the risk of being overthrown, it was high time that Medivh, as the strongest prophet, took a stand.


    After all, why wouldn��t he?


    As for why he knew that King Varian and Stormwind City were in trouble?�� He was Medivh, the Last Guardian, the strongest prophet! Why wouldn��t he know?


    Now, someone has stood up, claiming to be an apprentice of Medivh. He, with a questionable origin, became a Mage out of the blue, moved through ranks at an alarming rate, and somehow knew about a lot of secrets.


    Could he be trusted?


    Mathias was not one to trust anyone easily. However, from the intel he had gathered, and the suspicions that had developed after analyzing said intel, Mathias was 80% certain that the Boar Rider Mage��s words rang true.


    Then, whether or not the Boar Rider Mage was Medivh��s apprentice was not currently a priority.


    Mathias struggled internally for dozens of seconds before choosing to believe Sean for the moment.


    Letting out a few coughs to clear his throat, Mathias extended his right hand in an attempt to give Sean a good pat on the shoulder in commendation but Sean instinctively dodged him. Mathias then reached back and grabbed his chin instead. He said,


    ��Sean Saldean, your courage, wisdom, intelligence, and sense of responsibility over Stormwind City��s safety is commendable. Believe me, once the dust has settled, I will have King Varian greatly reward you. Now, tell me, what prophecy does the great Prophet Medivh have for us? What should we do?��


    Sean emotionally sighed at Mathias�� thick skin. He rubbed his tummy and shyly replied, ��About that, I��m hungry�� Can I eat something before we talk?��


    No man could live without food.


    Mages with Conjure Refreshment-sort of spells were all bullsh*t.


    Mages were proficient in Conjure Water because they could summon Water Elementals to materialize into water. Hence, they would not die of thirst no matter where they went.


    However, Mages were incapable of summoning a good meal at the wave of their sleeves! Unless there were delicacies readily available, Mages could then use Summon from the Conjuration school to summon over those delicious delicacies�� Now that was logical!


    While Mathias remained speechless, Sean, Rick, and Vanessa leisurely ate their fill.

 Chapter 56

    Sean let Mathias in on his plans after the meal. Mathias pondered over it for a long time but found that even a smart and wise man like himself could not think of a better idea. In the end, he agreed to Sean��s plan.


    Not one to dilly-dally, Mathias brought the trio to meet with Bolvar Fordragon.


    Of course, Bolvar Fordragon was currently the Regent of Stormwind, and a man of such authority could not be seen so easily. Fortunately, Mathias had his ways.


    After experiencing a series of events that could cover at least three chapters in this story, Sean finally met with Bolvar Fordragon.


    The Regent of Stormwind had lived quite an extraordinary life. Born to a noble family in Stormwind City and with his mother famous amongst high society, Bolvar Fordragon, as expected, rose through the ranks of Stormwind City.


    He was dubbed the Lord of Stormwind City. With Stormwind City his territory, Bolvar was the Highlord; the first Highlord and leader of the Lords within the city. As one of King Varian��s chief advisors, Bolvar did whatever he could to assist the king in governing Stormwind.


    In the original history, Bolvar would soon become a faction leader and command the Valiance Expedition in an assault against the Scourge in Northrend.


    That was the most glorious yet most painful moment in his life.


    When a head-to-head in battle with the Lich King, Bolvar and the Valiance Expedition he led were infected with a new form of plague in front of the Wrathgate. The entire Valiance Expedition was wiped out. Even Bolivar was infected and nearly died.


    It was then that the Dragon Queen of the Red Dragonflight appeared.


    To put a stop to the spread of the plague in Northend, the Dragon Queen released the Flame of Life, burning down the plague. There was nothing that could withstand such a scorching temperature.


    Almost every Warrior perished, burnt ashes and bones. Bolvar also succumbed to the scorching flames. He was tortured by the flames but remained on the edge of life. It would have been better if he had died.


    To make things worse, he was captured by the Lich King.


    Back in Icecrown Citadel, the Lich King tortured Bolvar, aiming to break his will and corrupt him into servitude. All in an attempt to transform him into the most powerful Death Knight in the Lich King��s army.


    However, Bolvar was able to resist the Lich King with his strong will and spirit.


    Later, the Crusade led by Tirion Fordring attacked and vanquished the Lich King, leading to Bolvar��s release. Unfortunately, in the absence of the Lich King, the Scourge would need to be controlled and restrained. This resulted in a squabble over a piece of Equipment occurring in Icecrown Citadel.


    Both Old Fordring and Bolvar wanted to sacrifice themselves.


    In the end, Bolvar put on the Helm of Domination and became the new Lich King.


    ��The dragons�� flame sealed my fate. The world of the living can no longer comfort me! Place the crown upon my head, Tirion. Forevermore, I will be the Jailer of the Damned!


    ��I must be forgotten, Tirion! If the world is to live free from the tyranny of fear, they must never know what was done here today! Tell them only that the Lich King is dead, and that Bolvar Fordragon died with him.��


    This was definitely a moving story and had led to an interesting phenomenon, Bolvar Worshipping.


    ��24 years ago, Bolvar used the Light to bless my mother in a raid and I was born.��


    ��Long, long ago, only one man, Bolvar, existed in this world. One day, he saw a lizard�� and the dragonflights were created.


    ��Bolvar once used Judgment of Command in Draenor. The location was Netherstorm Continent. Of course, it��s no longer a continent.��


    ��Bolvar can count from 1 to infinity, twice.��


    ��Bolvar��s personal life story is G rated.��


    ��Bolvar never bothered to learn Blessing of Sacrifice because he can instantly kill Mages, even when turned into a sheep.��


    Et cetera.


    Nonetheless, the present Bolvar was healthy, and sitting in front of Sean.


    Mathias had indeed played his cards well. He managed to steer clear of Lady Onyxia��s surveillance and brought the trio to see Bolvar Fordragon.


    The meeting venue was Stormwind Library.


    ��Mathias, what brings you here?�� Bolvar was flipping through a book. Sean��s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the book and realized it was a book about the way of the Holy Light. The author was Uther the Lightbringer.


    Mathias took a step forward and answered, ��Highlord, I brought these three with me. They have an important matter to report.��


    ��Oh? How important?�� Bolvar closed the book in his hands and turned his gaze to Mathias, sweeping a glance at the trio along the way. He replied, ��A Mage, a Rogue, and a girl?��


    Mathias immediately introduced Sean and the duo before repeating what Sean had said.


    ��Hmm? So you��re saying that Lady Katrana Prestor is actually a member of the Black Dragonflight?�� Bolvar frowned and mumbled, ��Dragons, masters of disguise. From what I know, an adult Dragon can transform into a human and look no different from one����


    Sean stepped forward. Looking at Bolvar in close range, he said with respect, ��That��s right. My teacher said that Lady Onyxia of the Black Dragonflight is the first Black Dragon to achieve Legendary Rank. She is more powerful than an ordinary Black Dragon, and more treacherous.��


    Bolvar turned to glance at Sean before asking. ��So you say that your teacher is Medivh? Describe his appearance.��


    Cameras did not exist in this world. Although there were spells and technology capable of capturing a person��s image, these were rare. Bolvar had seen Medivh before and if Sean was able to describe Medivh��s appearance, it proved that he most likely had come across Medivh. If he could not, then whatever Sean had said was a lie.


    It may be an old trick in the book, but it was still effective.


    Nevertheless, Sean was not afraid.


    After meeting with famous characters such as Old Saldean, Theocritus, Gryan Stoutmantle, and Mathias Shaw since his arrival to this world, Sean found that they were more or less the same in terms of looks compared to the game. Medivh��s appearance should be in the same way.


    Hence, based on his memory, Sean began to recount Medivh��s appearance in the game, and�� he passed.


    Bolvar nodded before adding. ��Young Mage, I will believe you for now. The Light will not forgive you if what you speak is lies!��


    Sean smirked inwardly.


    He was a Mage, so what did the Light have to do with him?


    With Sean��s identity ascertained, Bolvar made a prompt decision. ��Alright! Sean, I will arrange for you to sail on a ship to meet with Lady Jaina in Theramore. Seek help from her to search for King Varian! Mathias, I��ll still require your help here. Make arrangements to probe for any information on Windsor and the Blackrock Clan. Stormwind City needs Windsor, we must rescue him!��

 Chapter 57

    VanCleef intended to destroy Stormwind City with a juggernaut. Although it was an impossible dream, VanCleef believed that his juggernaut, in some way, was capable of penetrating Stormwind City��s naval defenses.


    After some simple logical reasoning, Sean came to the conclusion that the vessels of Stormwind City were not fit for combat.


    Yes, they were not fit for combat because Stormwind City itself was not a naval power, but rather a center of trade. Hence, the city��s vessels were built for commercial purposes.


    The trio �� Sean, Rick, and Vanessa, boarded a commercial vessel that Mathias had arranged for them. To not attract attention, it was a real commercial vessel with the captain ready to set sail to Theramore for trade. Sean��s trio were merchants traveling together.


    Alongside Sean and his party, were another two people.


    One of them was Prince Anduin Wrynn, currently aged 9.


    Yes, Highlord Bolvar Fordragon had secretly placed Anduin Wrynn on the vessel. Prince Anduin was at risk now that Lady Onyxia was in control of Stormwind City. Secondly, the chances of convincing Lady Jaina would be higher with Prince Anduin around.


    The Prince Anduin that was left behind in Stormwind City was a mere illusion produced by a High Rank Court Mage. Lady Onyxia would not discover this as long as she remained a distance from Anduin.


    Apart from Prince Anduin, there was one more person. He was a First Finger Assassin. His mission was to escort Prince Anduin safely to Theramore until they met with Lady Jaina. Of course, he was also tasked with another mission �� to keep a watchful eye on Sean��s party.


    Alright, he was merely a cameo. There was no need to bother with him as he has no scenes in the book.


    Traveling from Stormwind City to Theramore, across the boundless sea, was not just a switch of an interface. This tiny commercial vessel sailed at moderate speed and in the captain��s words, it would take at least a month.


    A month��


    Sean could blame Mathias for not arranging a large vessel as there was only one ship on course to Theramore during this period.


    Bored out of his wits. Sean took out the transcript of the Book of Azora and quietly studied its Arcane knowledge.


    When he was weary from reading, Sean would enter Dungeons through the Gate of Spacetime, fight some monsters, and earn some Garrison Resources.


    Although there was currently an absence of new Dungeons in the Gate of Spacetime, Sean was able to endlessly access cleared Dungeons. However, there would not be any Stat Points or rewards for clearing them.


    Nevertheless, Sean could still obtain many items from the Dungeons, such as ores, pearls, shells, and worn-out robes and staves from the Kobolds and Murlocs Casters.


    They may not be worth much, but at least they paid for the trip.


    Talking about the Dungeons, Sean would at times suspect that the world in the Dungeons were not in the same timeline as the world Sean was in.


    Azeroth had multiple timelines, they could also be called parallel worlds.


    In other words, everything that Sean experienced in the Dungeon had no effect on the present-day Azeroth. Based on the Bronze Dragonflight��s explanation, those timelines Sean went to in the past were a mistake and destined to lead to destruction.


    If that was not the case, Sean was worried about the day he met Meryl Winterstorm in current day Azeroth. He would not be able to explain himself then.


    During their time on the ship, the relationship between Vanessa and Anduin grew and they soon became inseparable best friends due to their similar ages and different genders.


    The duo were constantly in conversation, talking about life and ideals. They only argued about who was older.


    Vanessa wanted to be the older sister while Anduin fought to be the older brother.


    The duo were unable to convince each other and finally sought Sean out for him to decide.


    How would Sean know which of the kids was older?


    With no way out of it, Sean ruled Vanessa was to be the older sister and Anduin the younger brother based on the premise of who was most knowledgeable.


    Vanessa was beaming with joy but Anduin fell into a depression for a few days.


    He was a kid, after all. Anduin soon returned his happy self. However, he no longer stuck to Vanessa. Instead, he would hang out with Sean and ask a lot of questions.


    Prior to this, the furthest place Anduin had ever been to was Northshire Abbey. Other than that, he had never been outside of Stormwind City. Naturally, he was inquisitive about everything.


    ��Why is there such a vast sea in the world?��


    ��What bird is that in the sky? Why is it smaller than a gryphon?��


    ��What do you think the clouds in the sky look like? Does it resemble a lion?��


    ��Brother Sean, what is Westfall like? What is Duskwood like? How about the place we��re heading to, Theramore?��


    ��I heard that Aunt Jaina is the greatest female Mage in the world! Is she beautiful? I saw her when I was little but I��ve since forgotten what she looks like!��


    ��Brother Sean, you��re a Mage too. Who��s better? You or Aunt Jaina?��


    ��Brother Sean, I heard that your teacher is Medivh? Who is Medivh? Is he good? Why haven��t I heard about him?��


    ��


    Do you know what the ��I Wonder Why��[1] book in human form was like?


    Anduin was one!


    This little brat asked about anything his eyes saw, leaving Sean pretty stressed out. The little guy was one extremely mischievous child too. His questions may be random but some questions were mixed in with things that were on his mind.


    For an example��


    ��Brother Sean, why are we looking for Aunt Jaina? Why are you taking me to her�� Why isn��t it someone else?��


    Sean had had it.


    Vanessa, on the other hand, was godsent. She remained quiet the entire trip. She would not speak unless spoken to. Sometimes, she would sit on the deck to stare in the direction of the Deadmines for a whole day.


    There was once when she crept off to find Sean and asked, ��Brother Sean, do you think my father will seek vengeance? Lady Onyxia is a member of the Black Dragonflight, a dragon who can take flight! I��m scared, I��m so scared�� I don��t have my mother anymore, I can��t lose my father too����


    Sighing, Sean extended his arm to stroke Vanessa��s tiny head. He empathized with her deeply.


    If his purpose for coming to this world was to change history, then let it begin with Edwin VanCleef.


    Sean would do his utmost to let him live! He would try his best so that Vanessa would not lose her father!


    The sea breeze caressed his mane, carrying with it a warm but salty embrace.


    Sean gazed in the distance, where an island started to take space. HIs heart was filled with never-before anticipation.


    It was on that island that he would meet Jaina Proudmoore, the first female protagonist of World of Warcraft and the eternal main lead.


    On that island, was where he would encounter Aegwynn, mother of Medivh, the most powerful Guardian in history, and the strongest Human Mage.


    Theramore, here he comes!


    [1] A children��s book answering a hundred thousand questions a toddler might be curious about.

 Chapter 58

    This was an ancient isle, and a young city.


    This was a water city that was surrounded by water on three sides, and a trade capital that was accessible from all directions.


    This was the last proof of Kul Tiras���� the Maritime Kingdom �� existence, and was also the new home built by the Lordaeron survivors�� hard work.


    This was Theramore.


    Theramore was located in Kalimdor��s Dustwallow Marsh, was close to Durotar �� the Orcs�� capital, faced Stormwind City �� the Humans�� capital �� that was across the ocean, and had main ports that merchant ships could connect to. Although its military power was weak, due to Lady Jaina, the small city had become neutral ground for the Horde and the Alliance.


    Jaina advocated for peace and moderation between the Horde and the Alliance at the expense of her father��s life. She had since been hated for her role in her father��s death, and remained in Theramore.


    Perhaps instead of saying she remained, it was more accurate to say she was exiled.


    It was impossible for the Horde and the Alliance to accept Jaina, hence she was isolated on the island with nobody to rely on.


    That said, now that Stormwind City was in trouble, they needed to seek her help. They were hoping that she would lend them a helping hand.


    Sean lamented as he looked at the not so majestic Theramore from the harbor dock.


    Since he had not revealed his and his companions�� identity, they entered Theramore after a simple inspection, like any other normal merchant.


    Soon enough, the First Finger Assassin from SI:7 employed a unique method to find the SI:7 members in Theramore, then contacted a high-ranking official in the city through those members, and finally got in touch with Lady Jaina through that high-ranking official.


    That night, Sean and the others met Lady Jaina in Theramore��s Town Hall.


    There were only two people in the Town Hall, one was Lady Jaina, and the other one was a female High Elf.


    Lady Jaina was already a renowned Archmage at this time. She was an expert in Teleport, and had mastered Frost spells. She could summon a massive amount of water elementals at once, making her equivalent to a small army.


    It was rude to reveal a lady��s age, but Sean would like to note that Jaina, a 27-year-old Archmage, was so talented in magic that she was simply astounding.


    Nonetheless, Sean did not pay too much attention to the lady who was admired by many, he fixed his gaze on the female High Elf.


    Sean could not describe the High Elf��s appearance.


    She did not look young, and in fact, she was much older than almost all of the High Elves.


    The High Elf seemed weak, but the truth was that only very few in this world were more powerful than her �� though she was not at her peak anymore, and was much weaker than when she was at her best.


    Even after passing on most of her Mana to her son, and after reviving her dead son through the leftover Mana that she used to maintain her youth, she was still powerful enough to not be seen when using Appraisal Sight.


    At the very least, the High Elf was still a High Rank Mage.


    Besides, her hundreds and thousands of years of life experience allowed her to have great insight into the world, thus nobody could hide their real thoughts in front of her, not even Sean.


    The High Elf used to be the most powerful existence among the Humans. She was a former Guardian of Tirisfal, and she killed Dark Titan��s body on her own. The reason she asked the Council of Tirisfal to establish an organization was to regain possession of her extraordinary power.


    She was not an ordinary person as she was a man-made deity.


    She was also a mother.


    She was the mother of Medivh, the Last Guardian.


    She was Magna Aegwynn.


    After seeing Lady Jaina in the distance, the First Finger Assassin from SI:7 left because he had completed his task. With Lady Jaina around, Prince Anduin would not be hurt.


    Jaina stood in front of the podium to look at the people in front of her as she said, ��Tell me why you��re here. A young Mage, a cunning Thief, an adorable little girl, and�� Little Anduin.��


    Anduin responded softly, ��Are you�� Aunt Jaina?��


    Jaina instantly smiled when she heard the way Anduin addressed her. She bent forward to caress Anduin��s head while replying, ��Little Anduin, I��ve known your father since we were children. He��s a mighty king, he��s sometimes elegant, and sometimes violent. He��s also a brave Warrior. Why did you come here instead of staying by his side?��


    Anduin��s eyes reddened right away as they were teary, and he began crying once he threw himself into Jaina��s arms.


    ��Sob, sob, sob, Aunt Jaina, they didn��t tell me, but I guessed it myself. Something bad happened to my father, sob, sob, sob����


    Jaina did not expect this to happen at all, so she quickly comforted Anduin while glancing at Sean.


    Although Rick was older and looked more mature than Sean, Jaina could tell that Sean was the leader of the group because he had been very calm even when he was standing in front of her.


    Sean motioned a standard Mage��s salute, then retrieved a letter to pass it to Jaina.


    ��This is a handwritten letter from Highlord Bolvar Fordragon that has a detailed description of everything that has happened in Stormwind City lately, please take a look at it,�� Sean said.


    Jaina looked at Sean in confusion before accepting the letter. Only after making sure that the seal was normal, the letter was not opened, and that the words ��For Lady Jaina�� on the cover was indeed Bolvar��s handwriting, she opened the letter.


    After just a minute, Jaina��s face changed.


    When Jaina looked at Sean again, she noticed that Sean was still smiling plainly, so she passed the letter to the female High Elf �� Aegwynn. The High Elf��s appearance was a simple Illusion.


    Aegwynn was done reading the letter very quickly, and she maintained a straight face.


    Even though what was described in the letter was truly frightening, Aegwynn had encountered many incidents that were more terrifying, so nothing could actually make her restless apart from her son�� And her grandson.


    Jaina inhaled deeply to recollect herself upon noticing that Aegwynn had finished reading the letter.


    She then looked at Sean and spoke in a strict tone, ��Is everything mentioned in the letter true?��


    ��They��re all true.��


    ��Lady Katrana Prestor is actually Lady Onyxia of the Black Dragonflight in disguise?��


    ��Yes.��


    ��King Varian was split into two using Dark Magic?��


    ��Yes.��


    ��Marshal Windsor is being imprisoned at Blackrock Spire?��


    ��Yes,��


    Jaina asked a total of four questions, and Sean answered them accordingly.


    Jaina asked the questions very quickly, and Sean answered them without hesitation.


    Jaina did not see a bit of hesitation from Sean��s face at all, and she could tell from her vast experience that he was not lying.


    However, Jaina asked the last question,


    ��Are you really a student of Medivh?��


    Sean hesitated this time.


    He looked at Aegwynn and noticed that her facial expression was still the same, her eyes were kind and gentle, then he replied,


    ��Yes!��

 Chapter 59

    After watching Sean and his companions leave the Town Hall, Jaina held her staff and lowered her head as she mumbled, ��Medivh��s student? Is this real? Is he helping us?��


    ��Jaina.��


    Aegwynn called out to her and shook her head. ��Medivh disappeared after the Battle of Mount Hyjal, and nobody knows where he went. He has already completed his mission for the world, so unless he��s willing, he no longer has anything to do with this world. Believe it or not, I can��t even find him.��


    Jaina respected Aegwynn greatly, so she was rather dispirited after hearing her words. She sighed before asking, ��Was the Half-Elf Mage lying? Since he��s not Medivh��s student, his words must be fake?��


    Aegwynn shook her head again. ��That��s not necessarily the case. Medivh isn��t the only one who understands Azeroth��s timeline very well, there��s also the Bronze Dragonflight who are in charge of safeguarding the timeline. In terms of predicting calamities in this world, they��re actually more dependable than Medivh.��


    Jaina furrowed her eyebrows when she heard that, and she questioned, ��Do you think that the Half-eElf Mage is connected to the Bronze Dragonflight? If that��s the case, what exactly is the Bronze Dragonflight��s goal? What��s their standpoint?��


    Aegwynn shook her head once more. ��Perhaps he��s related to the Bronze Dragonflight, perhaps he��s related to the Infinite Dragonflight, or perhaps he��s related to other creatures. The universe is vast, filled with countless stars and creatures, who can actually know about everything? Even the Titans can��t. None of that is important, the important thing is, what do you think, Jaina?��


    Seeing as Jaina was pondering with her head lowered, Aegwynn advised, ��Ever since your father, Daelin, died, you made the choice to be the link between the Horde and the Alliance, and to maintain peace even if others reproach you. In that case, you should know very well that Varian��s safety is more important than your father��s safety back then, and that it has a higher chance of changing the world��s structure.��


    Jaina was not the young and naive teen that she used to be. She was presently the Ruler of Theramore, and she bore a huge responsibility. Needless to say, she knew that if Varian could not return to Stormwind City, not only would the city face destruction, but the fragile peace between the Alliance and the Horde would instantly crumble. If that happened, Theramore would once again become the public��s target for criticism. Could she still remain as the bridge between the Horde and the Alliance?


    Definitely not.


    Therefore, Jaina knew what she should do without having to think about it.


    ��But who knows where King Varian is now? How can we find him? Can you not see through this?�� Jaina looked at the female High Elf.


    The female High Elf smiled plainly. ��I don��t know the timeline very well, and I��m not adept in prophecy spells. Besides, I��ve lost almost all of my Mana, so I��m not even as good as you. How would I know where Varian is? But someone probably knows.��


    Jaina responded, ��Are you saying�� That Half-Elf Mage?��


    Aegwynn nodded. ��Since he knows many hidden secrets, it makes sense that he actually knows more.��


    Jaina immediately made a decision. ��I��ll summon him tomorrow morning to ask if he knows King Varian��s whereabouts. Is there really a Dark Magic in this world that can split a person into half? Not a mirror image, not an illusion, but a person who��s really split into two?��


    Aegwynn replied, ��The world is huge, so nothing��s too strange. The Dragons have been Azeroth��s guardians since ancient times, so they know more about this world than we do, and they understand the Arcane and Darkness very well. In particular, ever since Neltharion, Leader of Black Dragonflight, became Deathwing due to corruption, the Black Dragonflight��s research in Dark Magic has exceeded everyone��s expectations. It��s not impossible that a Dark Magic that could be used to split someone into two was researched.��


    Jaina was anxious. ��What can we do? We must find the two King Varians and merge them together, there can��t be two Kings of Stormwind in this world!��


    Aegwynn smiled gently. ��Why not? The brave Varian pursues his dream as a Warrior while the meek Varian remains as the king, isn��t that great? Okay, don��t worry, there must be a way. Let me think, let me think.��


    Jaina trusted Aegwynn deeply, so she believed that Aegwynn would certainly find a way if she tried hard enough. After all, Aegwynn was one of the most powerful Mages in this world.


    ��I��d like to confirm if the Lady of the Black Dragonflight is actually causing chaos in Stormwind City. Bolvar mentioned in the letter that her lair is in a cave located in the south of Dustwallow Marsh. I��ll go check it now, and I��m sure that I��ll find out before tomorrow morning,�� Jaina informed.


    ��Be careful, the Lady of the Black Dragonflight is a legendary creature, after all, so you won��t be her match if you��re on your own. I��ll start thinking about how to merge Varian��s bodies.�� Aegwynn nodded.


    The two women, who played decisive roles in Azeroth, began their tasks after a simple conversation. A clear and melodious voice was heard, then a strong Gryphon carried Lady Jaina to the Wrymbog in the south of Dustwallow Marsh.


    It was a peaceful night.


    The next morning, Sean and the others were summoned by Jaina.


    In the Town Hall, Jaina had a poor complexion and her eyes looked weary, which made Sean suspect that she had been up to something yesterday night.


    Aegwynn, who was standing beside her, did not look so good either.


    ��Lady Jaina, are you alright?�� Sean asked softly after motioning a standard Mage��s salute.


    Jaina waved her hand. ��Sean, I��m fine. I made a trip to the Wrymbog last night and found the lair, there are plenty of Black whelps and drakes, but Onyxia wasn��t there. You��re right, Onyxia hasn��t been honest.��


    Sean��s eyes lit up.


    ��Jaina went to the Wrymbog last night? She probably believes me now, right? But since Aegwynn��s around, she probably saw through my little trick of pretending to be Medivh��s student, right?�� Sean wondered because he knew from Aegwynn��s look yesterday that she definitely saw through him.


    However, neither Aegwynn nor Jaina exposed him�� Why?


    Sean could not figure it out.


    Therefore, he did not know what to say, and only stood quietly while waiting for Jaina to ask him questions.


    Before long, Jaina sighed and asked, ��Sean, where��s King Varian now? You said that he was split into two by Dark Magic, what happened after that? What happened to his body? Why didn��t he return to Stormwind City? Did something happen to him?��

 Chapter 60

    It all began with Jaina.


    After becoming the bridge between the Horde and the Alliance, Jaina invited both parties to sign a peace treaty, King Varian was one of the participants. Hence, King Varian became a thorn in the flesh of the Lady of the Black Dragonflight, who intended to intervene in the negotiation between the Horde and the Alliance.


    Through her schemes, King Varian was kidnapped and split into two. The kind and weak Varian returned to Stormwind City to remain as the king, but was bewitched, whereas the brave and fearless Varian ended up being swept away to the shores of Durator, and was going to become a crocolisk��s dinner.


    Rehgar Earthfury, an extremely powerful Orc Warrior[1], witnessed King Varian killing the crocolisk. Shocked by King Varian��s bravery, Rehgar brought him back to his arena, and put him together with two slaves, forming a 3v3 team.


    Varian killed an Orc Blademaster easily, and became Rehgar��s treasure. He was also called ��Lo��Gosh��, which meant ��Ghost Wolf��. In fact, he was a man who was favored by ��Goldrinn�� the wolf demigod.


    Later on, Varian formed a new team with two legendary beings, the Druid, Broll Bearmantle, and the Assassin, Valeera Sanguinar. It was truly an unparalleled gladiator team.


    The team won the tournament in Dire Maul��s ring under King Varian��s lead, who then escaped��


    Okay, that was all that Sean told them.


    Sean concluded after finishing his story, ��In short, the current King Varian has become a famous gladiator who��s gaining honor for Rehgar��s team. He��s definitely in a large-scaled arena now, either the Circle of Blood Arena, the Dire Maul Arena, or even other arenas����


    Jaina exclaimed when she heard what he said, ��What? Varian became a gladiator?��


    She and Aegwynn looked at each other in disbelief.


    The King of Stormwind, who was also the Alliance��s High King, actually became a gladiator? Although Varian was indeed one of the most powerful Warriors, someone who loved combat, he could not actually become a gladiator! How could Stormwind maintain its magnificence? How could the Alliance maintain its dignity?


    More importantly, life or death was not discussed in the arena. As powerful as King Varian was, there was a probability of him making a mistake, and it would be a huge issue if he actually died in the arena.


    Sean added, ��That��s all I know, I have no idea which exact arena is King Varian at now.��


    Jaina took a deep breath to calm herself down, then expressed firmly, ��No matter which arena he��s at now, I��ll find him! Please take a rest here while I go search!��


    Being Azeroth��s first female diplomat, Jaina��s tricks must not be underestimated.


    The news was heard from Orgrimmar after three days �C Rehgar was heading to Dire Maul��s Arena with his gladiator team to participate in a gladiator tournament. The team members include a strong Human Warrior, a powerful Night Elf Druid, and an agile Blood Elf Assassin.


    Therefore, unquestionably, the three members were King Varian, Broll Bearmantle, and Valeera Sanguinar.


    Without further ado, Jaina was going to set out for Dire Maul��s Arena to save King Varian.


    However, Sean stopped her.


    He smiled bitterly when Jaina cast a questioning look at him. ��Lady Jaina, I admit that you��re very powerful, and that you��re a rare Archmage, but are you sure that you can save King Varian from Dire Maul? Do you know that Dire Maul has hundreds and thousands of High Elves, uncountable Ogre Mages, as well as evil and fearsome Satyrs? There are Ogre Mage leaders who aren��t much weaker than you, and plenty of strong gladiators. Besides, Rehgar isn��t an easy match as he��s extremely powerful. Lady Jaina, please don��t be reckless.��


    Jaina widened her beautiful eyes as she was surprised.


    It had been long since someone gave her such a remark. ��This Half-Elf in front of me actually said that I��m reckless? This is simply�� A joke!��


    Jaina was about to argue when Aegwynn stopped her and said, ��Jaina, Sean��s right, you��re being quite reckless, this isn��t an easy problem to handle. Dire Maul has been separated from the world for more than ten thousand years. Even though it has been slowly opening up to outsiders these past few years, nobody is certain of the exact situation on the inside. We need to plan this carefully.��


    Following that, Aegwynn looked at Sean with her beautiful eyes that were filled with wisdom and kindness. ��Young mage, do you have a good suggestion?��


    Sean did not expect Aegwynn to treat him so politely, which really disrupted his tempo.


    After a moment of hesitation, Sean replied embarrassedly, ��I don��t have a good suggestion, but I have a bad one�� You know, I��m a Half-Elf, but you don��t know what my family name is. In actual fact, my full name isn��t Sean Saldean, it��s Sean Feathermoon.��


    Aegwynn��s eyes lit up. ��Feathermoon? Shandris Feathermoon��s Feathermoon? Feathermoon Stronghold��s Feathermoon?��


    Sean nodded.


    A smile was seen on Aegwynn��s face.


    She figured out Sean��s idea easily.


    Feeling guilty from being stared at, Sean lowered his head shyly.


    Jaina frowned. ��Mage Sean, are you saying that you��re from General Shandris Feathermoon��s clan? What exactly is your relationship with her? Are you trying to tell me that you can seek help from General Shandris to help us save King Varian?��


    Shandris Feathermoon was another legendary figure, and was said to be the last member of the Feathermoon family��s bloodline for ten thousand years.


    Outsiders might not be aware of this fact, but the Night Elf elders who have lived for ten thousand years, Aegwynn who had rich experiences, and Jaina who was extremely close to the Night Elf leaders, knew very well that almost everyone from the Feathermoon family died in the War of the Ancients ten thousand years ago. Shandris Feathermoon, who was only a little girl then, was one of the few survivors, and was favored by Tyrande Whisperwind, a high priestess, and became a member of the Sisterhood of Elune.


    Shandris Feathermoon soon grew up to be a general who held great responsibilities, and after Tyrande Whisperwind established the night elven Sentinels, she became the General of the Sentinel Army.


    The legendary figure was exceptionally powerful, and it was said that she could easily eliminate an entire elite team. Only a few people such as the legendary Archdruid, Malfurion, the Demon Hunter, Illidan, and the Priestess of the Moon, Tyrande, were superior to her.


    [1] Rehgar Earthfury is known as a Shaman in Warcraft lore, however the Author wrote that he is a Warrio