Chapter 178: The End of a Decaying Era

The loyal and brave ministers of the Stormwind Kingdom raised their swords high, feeling the fervor in the eyes of their beloved king. Unconsciously, their breaths and their spirits synchronized with his.

It was an inexplicable connection of souls.

One by one, they entered a mysterious, trance-like state. It was as if they had transcended time and space, witnessing the first stone being placed by their ancestors in this strange and fertile valley, declaring it to be Stormwind City.

They seemed to see their ancestors overcoming all obstacles, the colorful insects scurrying away from the lush grass beneath their feet, and this land becoming a paradise for humanity.

They also seemed to see King Llane Wrynn, the inheritor of their ancestors' will, about to make a great decision that would change the fate of the entire kingdom.

The usually noisy council chamber was filled with a sacredness both familiar and foreign, akin to attending mass in Stormwind Cathedral, listening to the Archbishop's teachings, and feeling the gaze of the ancient statues on either side. These great pioneers' gazes, crossing a thousand years of time, silently watched Varian.

Serene and sacred.

The loyal and brave ministers chose to listen, while the treacherous nobles gave up their rebuttals.

Absolute silence fell upon the council chamber, and the whole world seemed to quiet down for a sacred answer.

Llane's eyes widened, the depths of his azure pupils filled with an exalted clarity. The millennia-old Stormwind Kingdom flag, with its blue background, golden border, and golden lion, radiated a brilliant glow behind him.

His voice was clear, magnetic, penetrating, and carried an irresistible authority.

"I, King Llane Wrynn of Stormwind, hereby declare – the 20 noble families led by Duke Feralas have abused their power, become corrupt and decadent, conspired with demons, and tarnished the fair and just name of the nobility, bringing shame upon them. I hereby abolish the titles of these 20 families, demoting all remaining nobles to commoners. Their ill-gotten gains shall be distributed to the meritorious soldiers of this battle as a reward and an example."

"I declare – anyone, regardless of their background, age, race, or gender, who has made great contributions to the Stormwind Kingdom, shall be granted noble status! Similarly, anyone who dares to betray the interests of humanity will be pursued by the Stormwind Kingdom no matter the distance! Reward the meritorious, punish the guilty! Anyone who violates this oath shall be executed, regardless of their origin or status—"

The declaration sent shockwaves through the room, and everyone's faces were filled with intense shock.

Varian's courage and resolve had reached such heights!

No king had ever dared to strip half of the kingdom's nobility of their titles in one fell swoop, but Varian did!

No king had ever dared to tie the highest position directly to merit, but Varian did!

No king had had the courage to so freely employ talent without regard for convention, but Varian did!

Although it was the Duke's actions that had led to the shocking loss of the nobles, forcing Varian's hand, and though the Duke had taken advantage of the crisis to force Varian into action, in the end, the decision was still Varian's to make.

Llane made the most enlightened decision – no, it was beyond enlightened, beyond even the Duke's expectations. It was the realm of greatness.

With these three points, as long as the Stormwind Kingdom did not truly fall, and as long as Varian's bloodline and policies continued, Varian would undoubtedly leave the most indelible mark on the history of humanity in Azeroth.

Everyone present felt their souls attain a mysterious elevation at that moment. If resisting the Horde invasion was a glorious hymn, an epic that didn't originally belong to one person, then at this moment, there was only one protagonist—Llane Wrynn.

"For humanity—for Azeroth—" Llane shouted.

"For humanity—for Azeroth—" Duke, Anduin, and others echoed in unison.

The fervor lingered, and the chests of every valiant warrior heaved intensely. They looked at each other and saw the same smiles.

Varian's cold gaze swept over the nobles who had just attempted to pressure him: "Gentlemen, you may leave. It's time to discuss confidential military matters, which do not concern you."

Lothar and Duke Fergus stepped forward, one to the left and one to the right. More than a dozen royal guards formed a fan shape around them.

The nobles pursed their lips, and their brows revealed an uncontrollable fear. Ultimately, they did not protest and left the scene quietly.

This moment was later painted by a future artist based on eyewitness accounts, creating a renowned masterpiece that sold for 3 million gold coins at auction. The painting was named "The Curtain Falls on the Age of Decay."

After the nobles left, the spacious hall seemed empty. Varian and his entourage moved to a smaller, more private conference room.

Including the guards, there were fewer than 20 people present.

But these individuals would become the core of Stormwind Kingdom's power—if the kingdom could continue to survive.

Just now, Bolvar had firmly stood by Duke's side, but now he was the first to attack: "Oh, my wise Archmage Marcus, although I'd like to be grateful for the fifty or so ships you brought to the kingdom, we can't hold on much longer. While you and Lothar were saving the day, the kingdom lost nearly 3,000 elite soldiers. This is the total number of those who died and those who can no longer fight."

Everyone's faces darkened. Training a qualified soldier took too long, and the kingdom couldn't afford this rate of attrition. Even if the transportation of military and civilians could be nearly doubled, the current situation was that the defensive line might collapse before then.

Varian walked over, placing a hand on Duke's shoulder, and calmly looked into Duke's eyes: "I won't consider your actions just now as an attempt to force me into a decision. Stormwind Kingdom has been sick for a long time, and you just gave me the resolve to cut away the decay. But the kingdom's rebirth still relies on the efforts of your generation. I think that given the flawless answers you provided me earlier, you won't disappoint me this time, right?"

If Duke had perfectly pushed the nobles away but couldn't come up with solutions during the following military council, causing the Stormwind Kingdom to fall, that would be truly laughable.

But Duke was Duke!

A miraculous man who would never let those who supported him down, no matter the circumstance.

Duke casually chuckled: "You will certainly not be disappointed, Your Majesty. First, allow me to introduce an important guest to you. Please welcome my follower Itana and the guest she has brought."

Varian nodded with a faint smile.

The door to the conference room opened, and soon, a freckled woman wearing the Stormwind royal mage robe entered with a guest.

The guest made many high-ranking officials of the Kingdom of Stormwind's faces stiffen.

Because the so-called guest was actually a goblin.