Chapter 390: Incomprehensible Conditions

The harsh sound of metal clanging echoed, and every orc dropped their shoulders as if pardoned, taking their equipment and retreating back to their camp.

On the city walls, every elf's mouth gaped open in disbelief, stunned witnesses to this miraculous scene.

They're retreating?

A mighty army of a hundred thousand, scared off by a single banner?

What kind of banner is this?

By the light of the sun, could this be the legendary banner of the Titans?

On the city walls, the elves, still oblivious to what was happening behind them, were about to explode with curiosity. They all turned their questioning gazes to General Alleria Windrunner, who had shot the entire war banner five hundred meters away.

Alleria ignored their gazes, just muttering to herself.

"He did it."

"Yes, he did." Windsor was the first to respond.

"Hehe! Our new 'master' seems to be capable of anything, doesn't he?" Sylvanas rebelliously 'twisted the knife'.

"Only you and big sister agreed to serve him." The calmest of them, Lirath, retorted.

Alleria gave a dry, bitter smile, "Silly little sister, we've all run away, and you two still won't leave. You're hurting yourselves."

Sylvanas grabbed her younger sister's neck under her arm and started to chuckle, "If you're really that unwilling, you shouldn't have followed me and big sister riding our hippogryphs across half of Silvermoon City, demonstrating to the councilors."

Lirath fell silent, tacitly admitting that her second sister had seen through her thoughts.

At this moment, those most shocked were the councilors watching the live mirror broadcast, as well as King Anasterian and his son.

They retreated?

Just like that?

Although it seemed the trolls were reluctant, they did retreat in the end.

One banner scares off a thousand troops?

No! This is one banner scaring off a hundred thousand troops!

If it weren't for the fact that they knew humans and orcs had been at war for over a year, sacrificing millions of lives in the process, and that their hatred for each other was too deep to dissolve, the elves would definitely think the orcs and humans were colluding to trick the high elves.

Of course, the unease and fear on the faces of the orc warriors couldn't be faked.

Regardless of whether Duke used his notorious reputation or something else, he did it. Even if the negotiations between Quel'Thalas and the Alliance fail in the end, at least Duke has bought them the most precious time.

Whether the high elves like it or not, the whole of Quel'Thalas is now in a state of war. Every three days, they can train 100 qualified ballista crew members from civilians who have never experienced battle; transform 1,000 craftsmen from other jobs into war machine craftsmen; and have the construct craftsmen produce 50 more arcane guardians.

The high elves were actually stunned by the war. When they truly tap into their war potential, they can hold on for a while longer.

Of course, without Duke, they still can't hold on for long. The most important reason is that their territory fell too quickly, with nearly half of the citizens outside Silvermoon City being slaughtered or blocked by the Horde's army. When the troll headhunters eliminate all these resistors, the disadvantage of the elves' small population will be magnified.

The elves, with their small numbers, simply can't resist the Horde's onslaught.

Now everything is different. Although the shadow of war has not completely dissipated, at least everyone can see the light of hope, even if that glimmer of hope comes from a human named Duke.

In the hall, King Anasterian Sunstrider spoke, "Sir Marcus, your reputation is so great that every witness is astounded. I must admit, despite your youth, you indeed possess the power to lead this terrible racial war. Let's use this as a basis to start negotiations."

With a wave of the Sun King's hand, a magical device under Duke's feet activated.

Don't misunderstand, it's not a magical trap, but simply a rising platform.

One level, two levels... a total of nine levels, elevating Duke to the same height as the Sun King.

A rectangular table appeared between the Sun King and Duke, with the Speaker of the Silvermoon Council, Mordent Evenshade, only able to sit beside the Sun King.

Duke, on the other hand, had Illyria sit beside him, acting as a secretary.

Once the setup was complete, the other councilors could only listen from a lower level, and it seemed they wouldn't even have the right to speak. This was the Sun King's punishment for the councilors after regaining control of the country.

Sitting down, Duke's first words were, "Before the negotiations officially begin, I have a small personal request."

"Speak."

"I have great admiration for your Ranger-General Alleria Windrunner and her ranger family. After the war with the orcs ends, I will have half of Elwynn Forest, so I need an excellent ranger team to help me manage my forest. I wonder if Your Majesty could bear to part with them?"

A small request?

Perhaps this is your biggest goal, isn't it?

A glint flashed in Anasterian's murky eyes, "Elves are free. We allow different opinions and lifestyles. Just as over six thousand years ago our Night Elf brethren could not accept our pursuit of magic, we agreed to let them leave. For those elves who wish to live a different life, we will not overly insist."

"Thank you in advance."

"But I also have a small condition."

Duke narrowed his eyes, his deep black pupils bursting with a 'don't blame me for flipping the table if you're too excessive' look, "Speak."

"Until the main force of the Horde is driven out of Eversong Woods, every Windrunner must continue to wear the badge of Quel'Thalas."

"Agreed." Duke knew this was the pride of the high elves at play.

The Sunstrider royal family has no princesses, so there are no marriage alliances. Now, even if they lose face, it's not a big deal. But if everyone knew that they got reinforcements by selling off their own general, could the Sunstriders still lead this country?

Contrary to the expectations of the Sun King and the Silvermoon Council, Duke did not make any harsh demands, such as territory, or a large amount of magical literature and magical knowledge that the high elves treasure.

Instead, he proposed a lot of things or requests that the elves couldn't understand:

First, the Alliance of Lordaeron urgently needs mages: After ensuring the safety of Eversong Woods, Quel'Thalas must dispatch a mage group of no less than 20 Dawnstar Mages and 5 Moon Mages to participate in the war against the orcs. The mage group will directly obey the current Alliance Marshal and Deputy Marshal, and their service period will last until the Dark Portal, the channel for the orcs to come to Azeroth, is closed.

Second, technology: Duke didn't want magical knowledge, but instead asked for a lot of data on arcane constructs, as well as tons of magical crystals. Of course, these crystals are a fortune for Dalaran, but for Quel'Thalas, which possesses the Sunwell and can mass-produce magical crystals, it's a drop in the bucket.

Finally, he asked for the legal right for high elves and humans to intermarry and reside.