Azeroth Shadow Trail

   Chapter 284 103. The end of one war is just the beginning of another war

   "Well, the food after the war can always soothe the stomachs and tired hearts of soldiers."

  In the dining room of the Lion's Pride Hotel, Duke Mograine, like the wind and clouds, ate the dishes on the table, grabbed a large glass of ale and drank it, and then let out a comfortable moan.

   As the saying goes, the strength of a warrior is directly proportional to his appetite.

   Judging by this standard, the Grand Duke of Mograine in front of him is definitely a hero among warriors and paladins. Under Shaw's gaze, the sturdy grand duke ate the food that five adults could eat in one go.

   is simply the best among the big stomach kings.

   "This Westfall stew tastes very good. It is worthy of the famous food of Stormwind Kingdom. Maybe I should invite a cook here to go back to northern Xinjiang with me."

  The Grand Duke laughed and said:

   "My two children will definitely like the taste."

   He drank a glass of wine, wiped his hands again, and said to Shaw, who was sitting across from him, drinking a glass of ale:

   "So, tell me, Shaw, what do you want to talk to me about?"

  Shore did not answer immediately.

   He put down the wine glass, and with his superhuman perception, he felt the surroundings for a while, and after confirming that there were no observers, he took out a rolled up piece of paper from his arms and handed it to the Grand Duke.

   The latter took it a little carelessly, glanced at it, and his eyes widened with anger, and there was a holy light in his hand.

   He looked at Shaw in front of him and said in a deep voice:

   "Is the source of this news accurate?"

"Um."

  Shore nodded and replied softly:

   "Just last night, it was sent from Northern Xinjiang through the private channel of His Excellency the Duke. Obviously, His Excellency the Duke is not willing to accept this commission.

   But please understand that Ravenholdt is an Assassin organization after all.

   Your Excellency the Duke can stop it for a while, but he can't control all the members. There will always be people who will accept this bounty, which is like a rebellion, for various reasons. "

   "Then who is the client?"

   Mograine looked at the line of words written on the note in his hand. Every character in this line of words made the anger in his heart unable to suppress.

   His tone was icy cold, obviously killing intent.

   "I would also like to tell you the answer, Your Excellency."

  Shore shook his head and said:

   "But without mentioning Ravenholdt's rules of conduct, let's say that the mastermind behind this commission, he or she, hid himself very deeply, and His Excellency the Duke must have searched for it.

   But he gave no information to prove that he also found no clues.

  I have already reported these matters to the great knight Uther, who is guarding Marshal Lothar. Last night, the defense force near the inn was doubled.

  I asked His Highness Varian, and he asked me to tell you about it, and His Highness believes that you are someone you can trust. "

   Duke Mograine is an old-fashioned aristocrat. Although he is not enthusiastic about these power struggles, he also knows how bottom line his "compatriots" are when playing tricks.

   Without even needing a hint from Shaw, Lord Duke thought about it and guessed that there were several people who had the motive to issue this commission, and they were all people of incomparable status.

   This situation makes people very angry, but also very helpless.

Obviously, it was the sword Lothar used to fight in the last battle of the Burning Steppes, as well as the legendary color of the sword itself, as well as the identity of Marshal Lothar and his supreme prestige in the alliance at this time. to the fragile nerves of some people

   "It's just a broken sword!"

  The Grand Duke smashed the note in hand, and he said extremely irritably:

   "I think they are all crazy. With Lothar's character, what if he holds that sword? How could someone like him give up his dignity and throw himself into the mud of politics?

   They were just asking for trouble about something that could never happen. "

   "That's what you say, Your Excellency."

  Shore took a sip and said:

   "But we can't penetrate the soul, and naturally we can't understand the thinking of those people. I'm not talking about this with you to provoke a battle between the great nobles.

   I just have a suggestion for you.

  I have discussed with my loyal highness. His Royal Highness Varian believes that it is not appropriate to send Marshal Lothar back to the northern border at this time, and he should be left in the Kingdom of Stormwind. What do you think? "

   "Well, very steady thinking."

  The Grand Duke closed his eyes, and after a few seconds of silence, he asked again:

   "What's the opinion of the Great Knight Uther?"

   "The Great Knight is also willing to stay in Stormwind Kingdom until His Excellency the Marshal is fully recovered."

  Shore coughed and said:

   "The secret letter has been sent to the church headquarters, and His Majesty's reply should come in the next few days, but I think those conspirators who are unwilling to let Marshal Lothar continue to live will not let the Marshal stay here forever.

   As long as that sword remains in the hands of the marshal, the conspiracy against him will never stop.

  With the character of a marshal, he will not let this provocation go, he will respond to it, and as a soldier, he will face those questions and gossip with dignity.

   My purpose of telling you this is right here. "

   Mathias let out a long breath and said:

   "The Marshal is in the Kingdom of Stormwind, and we can protect him, but once he chooses to go back to the northern border, MI7 will not be able to do it. At that time, we will need the support of the great nobles of northern border like you."

"Do not worry!"

   Duke Mograine snorted coldly, and he clenched his fists and said:

   "When Lothar wants to go back to the northern border, let him come back.

  If those black-hearted people want to harm him, they have to step on my body first! I would not allow them to do this to a true hero and great man.

  I also ask you to protect Lothar in this lost and found land.

   He is too old.

   The duel with Orgrim was too reckless. Although he finally won, it had a terrible impact on his body, and he might not be able to swing his sword as bravely as before.

   He gave everything for the league, and now the league pays him back. "

   "This is our duty, Grand Duke, you don't have to worry."

  Shore nodded.

   After a few seconds, he said:

   "After talking about business, I want to talk to you about a private matter.

   A few days ago, I received a piece of information. It is said that you got a strange trophy after a glorious victory on the battlefield of the Burning Steppes? "

"Um?"

   Hearing this, Mograine's expression became strange.

He says:

   "Is MI7's infiltration ability so strong? That thing was a windfall after drinking with a few adjutants. I don't remember I brought too many people there. Could it be that among my adjutants, there are also your spies?"

   "No no no, just an accident."

  Shore waved his hand, revealing the mysterious smile that is characteristic of intelligence workers.

He says:

   "You can fully trust your lieutenants, they are very loyal to you, but the point is that loot, a friend of mine who has studied shadow magic, entrusted me to ask you for that dark thing.

   He said he could pay you whatever you need in exchange for that thing. "

   "So generous?"

Lord    rubbed the beard on his chin, he showed a playful expression, stroked his fingers on the table, and said:

   "I thought that thing was worthless, it smelled quite evil, and I just touched it and was frostbitten by the darkness in it.

   My adjutant suggested that I drop it, or destroy it.

I was thinking of taking it back and showing it to His Majesty, but your 'friend' was so eager to exchange it, but it made me feel that this thing might be hiding a secret that I didn't discover. "

   Mograine laughed, slapped the table in a playful tone, and said to Shore:

   "As the Grand Duke of Lordaeron, I don't need money, my territory is big enough, I have my beloved family, and I have my faith.

  Look, Shore, I don't need anything from your friends,

   His offer was unappealing to me.

   So I decided, I want to keep this thing and study it slowly, just to satisfy the boring curiosity of a great nobleman. "

   Having said that, Shaw already understood that the Grand Duke refused this transaction.

   He didn't persuade him any further. Before leaving, Blake told him very clearly. If the Duke is not willing to change, then let him go, and there is still a chance to get it in the future.

   Thinking of this, Shaw felt that maybe he should remind the Grand Duke that he should upgrade his anti-theft power.

   But the reminder was ultimately unspoken.

   After politely saying goodbye to the Grand Duke, Shaw left the Lion's Pride Hotel, mounted a horse, and galloped in the direction of Northshire Abbey, but did not go to the sacred place.

   Near the monastery, he entered the forest, bypassed the dense forest, and finally came to a small manor.

   He walked into the manor, and he saw Pasonia Shore lying on a chair like an old man asleep and basking in the sun.

   Mathias didn't disturb grandma, walked forward, picked up the fallen blanket from the ground, and put it on grandma's legs very gently.

   "Your footsteps are too heavy, are you too tired?"

   She closed her eyes and basked in the sun, like Pasonia, who seemed to have aged a lot, suddenly asked.

   "Just so you can hear it on purpose so as not to scare you."

  Under the sun, Shaw moved to another chair, sat beside grandma, reached out and grabbed her only right hand and put it in his hand.

   This scene is very warm, like the mother-in-law and the grandson who are telling each other about the beauty of their family.

   The premise is that the relationship between the mother-in-law and the grandson is too distorted if you ignore the poisoned dagger hidden under the chair by Granny Shaw and the dagger in the other hand of Shaw.

   "Are you still adapting to retirement? Grandma."

   Mathias asked gently.

   "Good life."

  The silver-haired grandma Xiao Er rested her head on her grandson's shoulder. She yawned and said in a lazy tone:

   "So comfortable that I almost killed the three rookies you sent to spy on me last night, honestly, my dagger was less than three centimeters from their necks.

  How do you pick people? Mathias, deliberately let such a rookie dangle in front of my eyes, is it because I am afraid that I will be bored? "

   "I sent four people."

   Shore said softly:

   "Looks like someone is qualified. Besides, grandma, they're not watching you, they're protecting you."

   "I need their protection?"

   Granny Shaw sneered and said:

   "I'm thinking, should I accept that commission, my precious grandson, Lothar is very close to me, maybe I just need to draw a knife once"

   "Stop kidding, grandma, you're not good at this."

   Mathias stroked his grandmother's trembling hand and put it in his heart.

   He said softly:

   "You have served the Alliance all your life, you have your own bottom line, isn't that the reason why Ravenhold's legendary assassins have always despised you?

   You are a hero.

   No matter how much they slander you, you are the hero in my heart.

  Here is the place where grandpa is buried, enjoy your old age, I will protect you, just like you protect me. You don't have to worry about Marshal Lothar.

  The enemy is hiding in the dark and has launched a provocation of war.

   But we are also in the dark, this is a war in the shadows, I am preparing for this war, I believe, I will never go alone. They will see my power with their own eyes.

   The power that is destined to change the world, and has begun to do so. "

   Hearing this, Granny Shaw fell silent.

   After several minutes, she said:

   "I'm not worried about you, Mathias. It's not that I'm not worried about your skills, or your mind, I'm just worried about the 'bad friend' you made.

   Blake Shaw, or Derek Proudmoore, the ghost who came back to life. I couldn't figure out what he was going to do, and it made me feel uneasy.

   Playing with him is like dancing with a viper.

   He will teach you bad. "

   "Don't be afraid, grandma."

  Shore closed his eyes in the sun, feeling the warmth on his skin, and said softly:

   "I learn things very slowly."

   (end of this chapter)