Chapter 440: Prelude to the Counterattack

What?

Gul'dan betrayed Orgrim?

For most of the Alliance's high-ranking officials, this was an unthinkable event. It was as absurd and laughable as if someone told them that Duke had betrayed Lothar. They were of the same bloodline and had always cooperated closely.

How could this happen?

But the image before them forced them to believe.

"This is an image that my subordinate Daniel risked his life to transmit," Duke explained.

The first thing that came into the leaders' view was a vast sea and a desolate beach.

Most people were a bit confused about this beach, but King Thoras Trollbane of Stromgarde recognized this coast.

"Is that the Cliff of the Watcher?"

"Correct!" Duke affirmed.

The Cliff of the Watcher was in Hinterlands. The sea in everyone's view grew larger, and looking into the distance, they could see some ships setting sail near the shore. They were ugly, garbage-like ships that everyone recognized as Horde transport ships. Those hateful ships that brought the Horde from another continent to here.

Although the Kul Tiras navy and the Bloodsail navy belonging to the Kingdom of Stormwind sank most of them in the depths of the Endless Sea, the remaining half still brought a lot of destruction and death to the Alliance.

A large number of orcs were either on the beach or had their feet in the shallow water. They were pulling the long oars with all their strength to move the ships. Each ship had an ogre in the middle, beating a drum to set the rhythm for exertion. The orcs followed the rhythm and pushed the ships into the sea.

Seeing this, some Marshals began to speak: "Their Warchief is leading the army to attack Lordaeron City, but they are in Hinterlands. Heh heh."

By this time, everyone had a meaningful smile on their faces.

Then a red dragon flew by. Everyone recognized it as a Horde red dragon rider. He was circling in the sky, seemingly observing the scene below.

Following the direction of the approaching red dragon, everyone saw a familiar figure on the first ship - Gul'dan, the demi-god level warlock.

Whether the Alliance was willing to admit it or not, this was a very dangerous guy. At least this guy had a record of fighting a draw with Antonidas in Southshore. After Duke repeatedly emphasized that this guy was the one who conspired with Medivh to open the Dark Portal and brought millions of orcs here, Gul'dan had always been a more dangerous enemy in the Alliance's enemy list than Warchief Orgrim.

At this time, Duke beckoned, and Jandice, who had been standing behind Duke, stepped forward.

The orc dragon rider controlled his mount, flew to the front of the ship, and roared a sentence in Orcish at Gul'dan.

Jandice immediately translated: "What are you doing with these ships?"

The dragon rider continued to let his mount follow the ship while waving his free hand. The Warlock King seemed confused and raised his hands in bewilderment. The dragon rider let the dragon fly closer to the ship and roared two more sentences.

Jandice continued to translate: "Turn the ship around and go back! The Warchief's main force is in Lordaeron, not across the sea!"

The dragon rider shouted again. Gul'dan still gestured that he couldn't hear clearly. This time, when the guy flew directly to the top of the ship, less than thirty meters away from the warlock, Gul'dan's hand suddenly stretched forward, and two green rays shot out, one towards the dragon rider's chest and the other towards the red dragon.

Severe pain erupted simultaneously in both the dragon and its rider.

The world around the dragon rider turned black in an instant, a huge sphere of dark magic energy, clearly sucking the life from the two of them at a rapid pace.

By the time the dragon rider fell from his saddle, he was already a dried corpse. The red dragon wasn't much better, its massive body visibly shriveling at a visible rate. Just as it was about to plunge into the sea, it was suddenly caught by a huge net.

Several massive two-headed ogres hauled the nearly powerless red dragon up, killed it with a club, and then skillfully began to dissect the dragon's body on the deck. Clearly, they had done this kind of thing many times before.

The video ended there.

Jandice obediently retreated behind Duke, who then spoke: "This is an image from early this morning. In fact, since this army began to withdraw from Quel'Thalas, I have had the people of Khudran follow them from a distance."

King of the Wildhammer Clan nodded in agreement.

A confident smile appeared on Duke's face: "For the Horde, this act is nothing short of treason. Of course, whether Gul'dan has really betrayed them, we have not yet received the final confirmation. But we can be sure that in the upcoming battle around Lordaeron City, the Horde will not receive any magical support. Yes, no warlocks! No terrifying two-headed ogre mages! All they have are a bunch of muscle-bound brutes who only know how to swing axes and clubs!"

"Haha! That's great! I've been itching to take those guys down. Finally, we can have a good fight." The slightly crude Khudran laughed loudly in the unique loud voice of the dwarves.

"If we can take down these two main forces of the Horde, Stromgarde will be saved," King Thoras sighed in relief.

King Llane clenched his fist more reservedly. In fact, he was more eager to eliminate the Horde than anyone else. The fall of Stormwind was an eternal pain in his heart. As long as the Horde was not defeated, the Kingdom of Stormwind, located on the southern continent, could not be restored.

Of course, the happiest was King Terenas!

Being caught in a siege was the most bitter experience for him. The vast territory of Lordaeron would be cut off, and he didn't know what kind of devastation would occur in various places.

Terenas was still mature and steady: "Well, I suggest we urgently summon Marshal Lothar to discuss this matter."

"Of course, I suggest that we strengthen the city's defenses as a priority and wait for Marshal Lothar's arrival," Duke's statement was naturally considered reasonable and was unanimously approved.

After the meeting, outside the venue, Duke was met by an unexpected person - Prince Arthas of Lordaeron.

"Lord Marcus, may I have a word with you?"

Duke hesitated slightly, but still nodded. They sat down in a side hall, and Arthas, seemingly venting his frustration, spoke his mind.

"On the night I abandoned three thousand civilians, I received a long letter of reprimand from my father. He scolded me for not yet learning how to be a king. A king should put the people first. Although I think my father is right, I still believe that my decision that day was not wrong. There is no comparison between the lives of three thousand civilians and three hundred thousand people."

Duke spoke calmly: "Do you love your father, your sister?"

"Of course!" Arthas answered without hesitation.

"What if the enemy captures your father and sister, forcing you to choose only one to survive?"

"No! I will never let such a two-choice situation happen!" Arthas suddenly became angry.

"That's right, as a king, your first duty is to prevent the worst situation from happening."

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