The sun has risen, but Alex Barov's heart is still as cold as the ice on the snow-capped mountains that never melts all year round. New·dagger··net·head·fa． xinbiqi．
The long conversation all night long, King Aiden's confession, made the Grand Duke feel at a loss as if he was falling from a high altitude.
Conspiracy or sincerity, trick or redemption, Alex can no longer tell.
A candlelight dinner for two old men, no servants, no maids.
Alex and Aiden seem to have gone back thirty years ago, to the time when they were both local ruffians together.
You help me get the chili sauce, and I hand you the pepper, a rare harmony during a meal.
After about eight minutes of fullness, Aiden began to talk, telling Alex all his plans.
Terenas Menethil II and Genn Greymane are using the alliance to fight against dissidents.
The seemingly just alliance, the seemingly just strategy, hide the grain of conspiracy under the sun.
As the first area that humans arrived when heading north, the Hillblade Hills area has a high degree of development and abundant supplies. It is the foundation of the Kingdom of Alterac. However, in this war, the Hillblade area, as the main theater of war, was also the area with the greatest losses.
Aiden tells Alex that an invisible undercurrent has already swept through the Kingdom of Alterac. Nobles were unreliable, merchants were unreliable, farmers were even more unreliable, and the only reliable soldiers and knights suffered heavy casualties.
Terenas and Genn seem to have mobilized a large number of troops to join the Alliance and provide unified command, but they are all farmers and civilians, while the ones sent out by Alterac are all professional soldiers.
This means that after the war, the Kingdom of Lordaeron and the Kingdom of Gilneas will gain a large number of warriors baptized by blood and fire. The Kingdom of Alterac will pay a pain that cannot be erased even in two generations.
Aiden told Alex that throughout the early stages of the battle, it was Alterac's professional soldiers who were on the front line and saved critical situations countless times. Under the attack of the orc wolf cavalry, it was the Alterac cavalry who fought bloody battles to hold back the frenzy from the Horde.
And Terenas and Genn actually tried to choke Alterac's throat over the food issue.
Aiden's eyes turned red as he spoke, and he told Alex a secret.
In order to stabilize the alliance, Anduin Lothar and Aiden reached an agreement. The secret agreement stipulates that Aiden will unconditionally support Lothar and provide help in the subsequent reconstruction of the Kingdom of Stormwind, while Lothar will provide asylum for Aiden and the Kingdom of Alterac.
To supplement this agreement, Aiden planned a deception to prove his sincerity to the blood descendants of Emperor Thoradin. In the plan, Aiden would pretend to surrender, lure the tribe into the rugged mountain roads of the Alterac Mountains, and then work with Lothar's ambush to eliminate the orc in the mountains.
This not-so-glorious plan can bring fame and prestige to Aiden, while Lothar, who has done bad things and received benefits together, promises to provide special care to the Alterac soldiers in the Alliance and reduce their casualties.
Aiden was a little drunk, and he shook out all the unspeakable things that should have been rotting in his stomach.
It turned out that under the financial constraints, Aiden had fooled Lothar and the Alliance in the second batch of recruitment plan. Of the original recruitment quota of 5,000 people, Aiden only recruited less than 2,000 people.
"Lothar brought me a message. The battle situation has changed. The originally promised reinforcements will not be able to come. And the orcs also brought me a message. They are very happy. They are coming soon. What area should I use to block those gangs? The tribe's livestock? Alex, tell me, what should I do? What should Alterac do?" Aiden looked extremely painful.
"I still have 1,000 soldiers in Keldaron. Let the nobles from all over the country recruit attendants. Alterac can gather at least 5,000 soldiers. You still have the Royal Knights of Alterac, and you still have me!" Ali As a member of Alterac, X made his own guarantee.
So overnight, the monarch and his ministers had a great time, as if the barrier between them had disappeared.
However, at the court meeting the next day, in the council hall that could accommodate 500 people, Aiden, who was wearing an iron crown and sitting on the Iron Throne, slapped Alex hard.
"Everyone, Lothar fabricated false news to deceive us, and the Alliance has turned its back on us, and Alterac is in danger!" Although Aiden's face was pale, his voice was full of energy, and he did not look weak or aging at all.
When many noble officials in the council hall exclaimed in surprise at His Majesty the King's words, Aiden stood up and walked to Alex's side and held his wrist.
"The Grand Duke and I talked all night long and finally made a difficult decision. For the future of Alterac and the future of everyone here, Alterac will leave the Alliance and join the Horde." After Aiden finished speaking, the scene immediately Chaos arose.
"Alex, one night is enough to do too many things. As long as you cooperate, I guarantee that both this crown and that throne will belong to Carlos. If you don't cooperate, then I can only express my regrets." ."
After whispering this to Alex Barov, Aiden Perenold raised his free hand and waved, and armed guards who had been prepared poured into the hall.
The discussions and arguments among the officials and nobles quickly died down.
After waiting for a while, the quietness of the needle drop could be heard in the spacious meeting hall.
"Everyone, I know you have questions, but put your questions aside first and let us invite an envoy from the tribe."
When Aiden finished speaking, three mysterious men in gray robes walked into the hall from the side door.
As they pulled down their hoods, they heard gasps, forming a clear wave in the silent hall.
"Everyone, I'm glad to meet you all. First of all, allow me to introduce myself. I am Guo Senstanda from the tribe." A strong bald-headed orc introduced himself in proficient common language.
"I know that many people mistakenly believe that we orcs are barbaric, bloodthirsty, unreasonable, and even cannibals. But I want to tell you, these are all slanders, illusions, and remnants of the Southern Kingdom. The slander of selfish desires! Today, I, an orc, Guo Senstanda from the tribe, brought peace and hope to everyone in Alterac!" the orc envoy stated impassionedly. "The Alliance's defeat is inevitable, but the Horde welcomes new friends."
Afterwards, the orc named Guo Senstanda introduced the benefits of joining the tribe to everyone present.
The most important point is that after the Alliance is defeated, Alterac will lead the post-war human world as the Horde, and the Alterac nobles will become the world's nobles.
What a wonderful promise, being equal to the orcs and higher than other humans. All the nobles of the Alterac Kingdom present did nothing but follow their king.
"Now, sign the contract and agree to the Alterac Kingdom joining the tribe. Come forward one by one." Aiden winked, and an attendant immediately brought out the high table, contract and writing tools.
Under the leadership of Aiden, his followers rushed to sign their names on the contract. The Duke faction is watching their leader, Alex Barov. As for the neutralists, they frowned and were at a loss.
Gradually, one-third of the noble officials signed their names on the contract. Aiden winked, and the undercover agent lurking under Alex stood up and signed the contract.
The situation slowly turned to Aiden's side, the neutral faction wavered, and herd mentality took over. More and more people signed the contract, and Alex's Duke faction became a minority.
"Your Majesty the Duke?" Someone began to ask Alex, but the Grand Duke clenched his hands into fists and remained silent.
"My lord, you should be a wise man among mankind. Join the tribe. There is a lot to do in the vast world!" Guo Senstand advised.
"Alex, sign it, it's all for Alterac." Aiden walked to the senior teacher's desk, picked up the pen, turned back to Alex, and put the pen into his hand.
"My lord, the Grand Duke, what should I do?"
"Sign it!"
"You can't sign it!"
"Orcs can't be trusted!"
"Your Majesty, for the sake of Alterac, let's sign it!"
"Your Majesty, we listen to you!"
Amid the noisy persuasion, Alex looked uncertain.
"What about the price, Aiden, haven't you ever thought about the price of betraying the alliance?" After a long time, Alex asked.
"I'm the one who betrayed you!" Aiden suddenly roared angrily.
"That's not a reason." Alex shook his head calmly.
"That's enough for me! Guard, please go and sign, the Duke!" Aiden suddenly had no patience to play any more amiable tricks.
Soon, four guards came out and walked to the stiff Duke Alex.
"Your Excellency, please."
Seeing that Alex didn't move, someone tried to push him, but his companion pinched his wrist.
"enough."
"What are you doing, executing His Majesty's orders?" The guard who was holding his wrist snapped at his companion.
"I've said enough."
Taking off his visor, Carlos threw the controlled guy out.
"Carlos!" Alex looked at his son in surprise, completely expecting that he would appear here.
"His Majesty the King, or should I call you Uncle Aiden? As a king, you are unqualified." After Carlos said this, he turned around and faced his father. He bent down and took out the pen from Alex's hand. , break into two pieces and throw aside. "You taught me that a man can bend for life, compromise for his family, and lie for his career, but he must never forget that he is a human being for the sake of power. I am proud of you, my father."
"You shouldn't have come, we have already lost." Alex took a deep breath, smiled helplessly at his son, and turned to look at the two remaining guards behind him.
While the father and son of the Barov family were talking, Aiden walked back to the Iron Throne step by step and sat down.
"Carlos, you came just in time, so let's sign it together. Guard, prepare a new pen and make it stronger." The king ordered.
Carlos walked slowly to the higher education table where the contract was placed, slowly rolled up the contract and put it behind him.
"My dear nephew, what do you mean by this?" Aiden asked with interest, holding his chin in one hand.
"Incriminating evidence," Carlos replied.
"Oh? Then who do you want to hand it over to?" Aiden continued to ask.
"It's not you anyway. Please allow me to call you your Majesty for the last time, Your Majesty Aiden, you are under arrest." Carlos replied.
"Go talk to the guards and remember to stay alive. I want to know who betrayed me."
After speaking, Aiden waved, and more guards rushed into the hall.
"No one betrayed you, Your Majesty. It's just that they chose justice and chose me."
Carlos also waved, and the guards with white silk ropes tied to their sword hilts and gun heads took action in advance and pointed their weapons at their former companions.
"Traitor, former Baron Carlos, you will be judged in the harshest manner!"
Seeing the unexpected change in things, Aiden couldn't help but stood up from the Iron Throne and pointed at Carlos.
Faced with Aiden's accusation, Carlos took out a dark brown cloth belt from his waist and tied his loose hair into a high ponytail.
"You have no right to judge me, because I am righteous!"
