The Dictator's Offer

Two nights before the final, Jorgen visited the uppermost level of Booty Bay for the first time. A loft shaped like a ship's bow protruded from the cliff, and he climbed up the red sandalwood stairs accompanied by four goblin guards. This was the home of Silversnap, the founder of Booty Bay and sponsor of the arena fights. Half an hour ago, he had sent the four guards to find Jorgen at the Sailor's Rest Inn and bring him here.

Although his weapons had been confiscated, Jorgen was not worried about his safety. If the goblins wanted to get rid of someone, they would not go to such trouble. All races ritualized killing acts, such as elaborate public executions, or special ways of personal revenge, but not goblins. Perhaps this was because they handled everything as briskly and conveniently as cash transactions.

Jorgen entered the top floor of the loft and saw Silversnap sitting behind a small desk, legs crossed on top of a large plate of caramel pudding, the gems on his shoes very dazzling. Next to him stood another similarly dressed goblin. Upon seeing Jorgen, Silversnap took the spoon out of his mouth, put it back on the plate, and flicked it with his fingers to make a crisp sound.

"Ah, Mr. Jorgen," he instructed the guards to leave, "who would have thought you'd patronize this place too? If this is also one of the achievements of my hosting this arena fight, it's really... Livigaz, how should I put it?"

"Exciting." Said the goblin next to him.

"Yes, exciting. You looked much better last time we met. The MI7 is not a suitable place to work."

"Last time we met, you were a little taller." Jorgen said.

A year ago, Jorgen had led a dozen men to search suspicious ships hiding fugitives in Booty Bay port, but was stopped by Silversnap. "Gentlemen, I fully support your work. But these freighters will sail in ten minutes, so I can only give you ten minutes to search. This is precious food destined for hungry children all over Azeroth. " Silversnap, making strange speeches, had hundreds of armed goblin guards behind him, and Jorgen could only retreat with his companions. This was just one of many times MI7 had lost out in Booty Bay. Stormwind had sent officials to negotiate an agreement with Silversnap to approve ship searches, but were repeatedly refused.

"No trade, no boarding my ships." He always left this sentence at the end of each negotiation.

At this point, Jorgen saw that the four guards had all left the room.

"What, Silversnap, where did your caution go?" he said.

"I value personal safety, but I don't need them. Because I have a better bodyguard." Silversnap raised his voice. "Vossuva, come say hello to Mr. Jorgen."

A side sliding door opened and an ogre emerged from the small room, coming before the goblin's desk. His broken right tusk was very conspicuous, carved with intricate patterns.

"Don't you know him? Broken Tooth Vossuva, a revered witch doctor, who will face Brego Bloodthroat in the final. Oh, I should say Brego challenged him."

Jorgen had naturally heard the name. Before Brego attracted attention with a string of overwhelming victories, Vossuva was the most discussed championship favorite, as he had been famous for at least twenty years. It was said that he had long traveled to remote corners of Azeroth, and many adventurers considered it an honor to meet this ogre, who was both a hunter, assassin and witch doctor. Some had speculated that he had already died in the wild, but now his high-profile appearance in Booty Bay was somewhat unexpected.

"Vossuva, you're in the MI7 files." Jorgen said. "It is said that you have always been a loner who likes to spend all day grinding poisons in caves. No one expected you to be with Silversnap, you know, goblins are all party animals. "

Vossuva walked over to Jorgen. Even hunched over, he was still a head taller than Jorgen. He held out his right hand.

"Hello, Mr. Jorgen. Let us shake hands according to human etiquette. I sincerely welcome every honored guest of Master Silversnap."

Jorgen shook Vossuva's hand. Around his body was the most complex mixture of medicinal herb scents Jorgen had ever smelled.

"Yes, just like that. Now, let's shake hands like humans again."

His knuckles pressed tightly into Jorgen's palm, slowly shaking his hand up and down.

"Your soul must be very careful, don't be impatient, Mr. Jorgen, your wrist is too tense. Let's treat each other with courtesy; don't shake too fast or too hard. Otherwise, I'm not sure some of the things in my fingernails will seep out. They are all very disobedient, and I have barely managed to hide them. They will swim into your bloodstream and spine, which won't feel good at all. So now let's carefully let go of our hands. Don't be impatient."

Vossuva released Jorgen's hand, returned to the desk, and stretched slightly, looking down at him.

A very clever threat, Jorgen thought.

"See, this is Vossuva, a man of courtesy." Silversnap said with a dry laugh, scooping a spoonful of pudding to eat.

"You haven't said why you called me here yet. Don't tell me it's just for us to meet?"

"Of course not, Mr. Jorgen." Silversnap put his legs down. "I have important words to speak with you."

"Speak."

"You chose the wrong time to come here."

"Oh? Didn't you just say welcome me?"

"Livigaz, read to Mr. Jorgen what I had you prepare."

Livigaz took a file from behind and began to read. It was a series of simple expense reports involving huge amounts. The transactions were mainly weapons and equipment, as well as arena fight expenses. Two minutes later, Silversnap waved his hand to indicate for him to stop.

"This is my major spending over the past three months, Livigaz read about half. Any thoughts?"

"Everyone knows you're rich. You don't need to prove it to me separately."

"Don't pretend, Mr. Jorgen. Why don't MI7 people speak more directly? You noticed what I'm trading in, Mr. Jorgen. You've heard it all."

Jorgen secretly calculated the total amount of weapons trading in the transaction records. "From what I hear, you're building an army."

"Yes, an army! I like that word. Not bodyguards, not guards, an army. To be honest, I've nearly depleted my life savings - I almost threw the maintenance fees for this loft out. I have made huge sacrifices, Mr. Jorgen."

"Who are you going to war with?"

"I am a peace-loving person. I want a stable Azeroth where everyone makes money happily. Even if that's not possible, I at least want a place free from the world's strife, a heaven on earth where all races can trade equally. It is with this in mind that I established Booty Bay."

"Equality, heaven? Booty Bay? Silversnap, I've never heard such a boring joke. A place that regularly collects nameless corpses and throws them into the sea can be called heaven?"

"This is the difference in our perceptions. Here, everyone chooses their own way of life and takes responsibility for it, that is the fairest law. Believe it or not, those in the lower levels chose to be there. I, Silversnap, as the creator of such a world miracle, have a duty to defend it from the foolish racial strife."

"Simply put, you want to be a king."

"Talk of kings! You underestimate my intellect, human!" Silversnap suddenly became excited. "My name, and my army, will lead Booty Bay to eternal prosperity. Soon you will thirst to enter this heaven, willing to kneel and grind your knees all day. A strong protective force needs a strong leader. Unfortunately, the vulgar people of the world view us goblins as lacking a heroic and dignified image. I have come up with a brilliant solution to this: the arena fights. Vossuva will easily win the championship, his fame will spread throughout the world, giving him the true qualities to lead my army in the future. "

"Undoubtedly, Master Silversnap." Vossuva said.

Jorgen knew Silversnap's words were not groundless. From Banje's mention of underground casino bets, the influence of these arena fights could be inferred. On the surface, they were just a large-scale entertainment in Booty Bay, but in the underworld of all Azeroth, their influence would be unprecedented. However, what really surprised Jorgen was that a goblin businessman had the idea of becoming a dictator.

"Hmm ... truly remarkable planning, I admire you from the bottom of my heart. Why am I fortunate enough to know these things?"

"Now Booty Bay is at its most prosperous eve, and you, an MI7 man, are here. You know what I'm thinking? Although I'm still not sure what you're here to do, I'm thinking: MI7, Stormwind, doesn't want to see us prosper. This makes me very, very angry. But my heart is still magnanimous. This is the choice I give you: depending on your performance, you may have the opportunity to become the first human to spread my great beliefs, or you may become a corpse, and my words here will be enough to redeem your soul. Whether this future heaven will have a place for you is up to you."

"I never thought there'd be a day when I was wooed by goblins."

"You're different from ordinary humans, Jorgen. Deep down, you actually agree with me. Although I have Vossuva, I still need others to embody the concept that Booty Bay will be a heaven for all races. To be honest, after our unpleasant encounter a year ago, I considered that I did not want to see you alive again. To ensure I didn't mess up, I had people investigate your background. Your experience is truly glorious, Jorgen, and you are not that old dog of MI7."

"Don't trust me," Jorgen said, "I warn you, don't trust me."

"You're right, you're still far from earning my trust, which is why I'm giving you time. You need a heaven, Jorgen, because you are a lonely man ... very lonely. I know someone once made you less lonely, but ... that's the past. "

Silversnap's words became more and more beyond Jorgen's expectations. He felt a heavy voice echoing in the depths of his mind. Ever since shaking hands with Vossuva, things had started to get strange.

"What do you think you know about me?" He was somewhat agitated. "You know nothing about me."

"Let me give you a hint," Silversnap said, "let me think ... oh dear, I forgot again. Livigaz, how do you pronounce that name?"

"Bossia Wislanzo."

This syllable stabbed into Jorgen's brain like a nail.

"Right, right ...! Beautiful name, I like it. Don't pretend, Jorgen. Like all vulgar humans, you have always looked at me with contempt, but at this moment I see a gleam in your eyes. Had it not been for this massive arms deal, I would not have found her ... simply put, I know where she is."

Arms deals. Goblin arms deals would never be any official channel. The ominous word connected to Bossia confused Jorgen's mind. Two years ago, Bossia had abandoned her paladinhood to go to the front lines, and should have become an ordinary foot soldier.

"Where she is isn't so safe ... I shouldn't say more."

Jorgen unconsciously took a few steps forward. Vossuva stepped up to stop him.

"Your soul must be careful, Mr. Jorgen, I have warned you before." Vossuva's right hand was on the hilt of the short knife at his waist.

"The opportunity for choice is yours, Jorgen. Shortly after the final, I will ask for your answer. I will remind the Sailor's Rest to take care of you, especially that waitress, she will never complain that you don't eat fresh shark liver every morning again. I can see you're in a dilemma, don't worry, I understand. You can leave now, my men will give you back your weapons. Go back and get a good night's sleep. "

After leaving the room, Jorgen took his J-dagger from the guards' hands. Before putting it back in its sheath, he had the impulse to grasp it and rush back into the room, though only for a moment. To avoid thinking back two years, he tapped his temple with the hilt of the knife.

You're wrong, Silversnap, terribly wrong, Jorgen thought. The mad goblin businessman knew he was not the old man's dog, but failed to deduce that he would not become anyone's dog.

Jorgen went down the loft and stood on the edge of the plank, overlooking Booty Bay. What he saw was like a giant tree growing from the seabed, rotten from the roots up; gradually darkening and decaying from the upper level to the lower level. This was definitely not heaven. Silversnap, before seeing heaven, you might want to take a good look around you, it's all hellish scenes.