Chapter 209: Marshal Stoutmantle

Duke had no idea that he was being plotted against by the queen and Bolvar, a seemingly loyal but actually devious fellow. If the scheme succeeded, he would've been sold out and even helped them count the money.

After returning to Southshore, Duke was swamped with work.

He only had a brief conversation with the legendary mayor of Southshore, Henry Maleb, before he was buried in a mountain of paperwork and assorted requests in his temporary residence - a wooden house with a living room, a dining room, and two bedrooms. Clearly, Bolvar had never played "SimCity" and knew nothing about urban planning. His territory had been passed down through generations. Bolvar was primarily a warrior, and he was not proficient in civil affairs, which ultimately fell to Duke.

Knowing that Duke had strict requirements for urban planning, major decisions still required his approval.

Duke started by using the decree from the Lord of Barov to pressure Mayor Maleb.

"Your lord, Lord Barov, allows us to establish refugee camps and related facilities anywhere in the Hillsbrad Foothills."

Then, Duke gathered the civil servants from the former Stormwind City and, with a stroke of his pen, circled all the grasslands along the hundred-kilometer road between Southshore and Hillsbrad Farmstead. He decided to reclaim the land as his own and convert it into farmland.

Next, Duke ordered Windsor to gather manpower to clear the snowmen in the cave north of the road. These three-meter-tall humanoid creatures posed a significant threat to the refugees of Stormwind Kingdom.

Along the way, a mine called the Jade Mine was also "graciously" taken by Duke.

Finally, Duke was visited by two unexpected figures, his followers Edwin VanCleef and Gryan Stoutmantle.

"Esteemed Duke Marcus, Gryan Stoutmantle, the Sheriff of Westfall, salutes you."

Duke was startled to see the middle-aged man with grayish-white hair standing before him.

He had been keeping an eye on Gryan Stoutmantle because, according to history, the man would eventually rise to the rank of marshal. He was one of the few grassroots heroes who managed to climb to the highest echelons of the beleaguered Stormwind Kingdom.

Unlike the historically deceased Windsor, Gryan could be considered a late bloomer, and up until Duke's arrival in this world, Gryan was still doing well in his position as marshal.

Gryan was born and raised in Westfall.

In 'history,' when Stormwind City fell, he followed Lothar to Southshore and then joined the first generation of paladins led by Uther the Lightbringer. At that time, he was mainly active in the holy city of Stratholme.

Later, when chaos spread across Lordaeron, and news of the Defias Brotherhood causing trouble in Westfall reached him, Gryan returned alone to Westfall to help his fellow countrymen.

Since Stormwind City did not send any aid to Westfall, Gryan was furious and donned his armor once more, rallying the people of Westfall to form the Westfall People's Army to fight against the Defias Brotherhood.

After the Brotherhood was defeated and Varian returned, the Northrend expedition began.

Stoutmantle's People's Army participated in the northern expedition and became part of the regular army, renamed Moonbrook Regiment. Gryan himself reentered the military rank system and was promoted.

After the Northrend expedition, the old man returned to his hometown to help rebuild, but soon after, the great catastrophe occurred, and the remnants of the Brotherhood rose again.

Through these tumultuous events, Gryan Stoutmantle managed to climb his way up to the rank of Marshal.

Well, anyway, Duke knew that Gryan was an exceptional person, no doubt.

Now, the second thing this future Marshal said was:

"Your Grace, after talking with your follower, Mr. VanCleef, I believe we can open up a battleground behind enemy lines in Westfall, disrupting the orcs' control over the area. This would prepare for King Llane's counterattack on Stormwind City in the future."

"Pfft!" Duke spat! He really spat!

He accidentally spat out the water he had just drunk in front of VanCleef and Stoutmantle. Although he turned his head, he still spat.

What kind of joke was this?

These two historical friends who loved and killed each other, were actually telling him they wanted to join forces and create a battleground behind enemy lines in Westfall?

Hey! VanCleef! Do you know that in 'history,' the mission to take your head was issued by Stoutmantle himself…

Duke couldn't help but complain internally, but after thinking for a moment, he immediately understood Stoutmantle's reasons.

Duke wiped the corner of his mouth with a serious expression, using a handkerchief, "I apologize for my rudeness. I didn't mean to mock you; I just happened to think of something."

VanCleef and Stoutmantle both looked down at the non-existent ants on the floor, pretending not to see the scene of Duke spitting water. Duke had become a very important figure now, and the fact that he could make time to see them was entirely because of VanCleef's face. Stoutmantle, who was currently just a local sheriff, didn't dare to say anything, and could only hold his doubts in his stomach.

Duke interlocked his fingers, resting them on the tip of his nose, covering half of his face with a serious expression, "Please note, before going to Lordaeron to seek support, King Llane issued an order that in order to deal with the orcs' possible further invasion, all Stormwind troops will be reorganized and are forbidden to leave Hillsbrad Foothills. Alright, I want to hear your reasons. The real reasons."

The two looked at each other, and Gryan Stoutmantle spoke first.

"Your Grace, I was born and raised in Westfall. I am very familiar with everything about Westfall. It is true that the King issued an order for the people of Westfall to take refuge, and you sent ships to transport the people of Westfall. But in reality, at least nearly ten thousand people refuse to leave their land, hiding in various caves, living off their stored food temporarily. They need the support of the kingdom. The kingdom will also need their support when counterattacking Stormwind City in the future. Just as when Stormwind City was besieged, it was the food from Westfall that helped support Stormwind City."

After Gryan finished, Duke turned his gaze to VanCleef, "What about you?"

"Master…" It seemed a little difficult for him to say, but VanCleef still spoke, "Ever since I left Stormwind City, I've been wanting to do more for you, Master. Shortly after arriving here, I passed the [Rogue] profession test. The instructor said I was a rogue prodigy that appears once every fifty years. So, I thought that if I led a team of rogues, it might be more helpful to you, Master."

Duke sighed internally. Talent was indeed talent. VanCleef was born to be a rogue.

But history had already been completely changed, and the Defias Brotherhood, who everyone used to hate, would never appear again. So it wasn't surprising that Stoutmantle followed VanCleef.

Everyone knew that Duke could recruit ten thousand private soldiers, and as long as he agreed, he could bypass the king's ban.

Duke thought for a moment. "Alright!"