Chapter 231: Unsettled Murlocs

After Duke left, the six council members returned to their previous six-member council state.

"What do you think?"

"The authenticity of the information is quite high, and it matches a significant portion of what we've gathered. Clearly, Duke Marcus wants to cooperate with us sincerely. The problem is, he's extremely cautious about our Dalaran, even displaying a slight hostility."

"He might know about Khadgar's identity."

"Alas—"

"Let's discuss the Karazhan issue later. The current biggest problem is the orcs, who are trying to destroy the entire human race and all other intelligent life on the planet. I suggest forming an additional mage squad to participate in the attack on the Horde. This will require one more council member to lead."

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

Three voices simultaneously: "Agreed!"

"Then it's unanimously approved. Alright, who's going?"

"Sorry, my status is a bit sensitive, and my father hasn't approved yet." Kael'thas was a bit embarrassed.

"No problem, I'll go." The speaker was Krasus.

Along with Kel'Thuzad, who had already stepped down, these two high-ranking mages with peculiar fates officially participated in the Second Dark Portal War.

Upon returning to Lordaeron, Duke received the news: Dalaran was willing to send an extra mage squad to help, and even an additional Kirin Tor council member would lead the team without any extra requirements.

Lothar gave Duke a big bear hug on the spot, nearly strangling him.

"Uh, I didn't actually... do anything!" Duke complained.

"No, just by making the trip, you've made the greatest contribution to the Alliance. You don't have to say anything; I know." Lothar was so moved that tears were about to burst out.

"..." Duke was amazed at the effect of his intimidation act in Dalaran.

Thinking about the strong hand the Horde would have soon, Duke felt that his side wasn't good enough yet.

Duke had returned, eager to watch the first generation of paladins play with magic transformations, which would be explosive.

However, a message ruined Duke's mood.

Vara sent word— the murlocs were unstable.

At that moment, Duke felt as if he'd been drenched by a wave. Honestly, the murloc legion had always been Duke's corenerstone. Regardless of the ensuing wars on the continent, even if the Scourge rampaged across the land, or Arthas committed patricide, regicide, and destroyed the entire continent, Duke could always hide in the center of the sea as an island lord, shouting, "I shall be the Pirate King!" At least he wouldn't become a ghoul.

Now they were saying the murlocs were unstable?!

Duke took a short break, told Anduin there was a murloc issue in Southshore, and teleported away.

Southshore originally had no teleportation point.

However, as the successor of the stargazing mage Medivh and a fanatical fan of high-mobility blitzkrieg, Duke had drawn a huge teleportation circle in his temporary wooden house before leaving Southshore.

In front of Anduin and General Daelin, Duke raised his hand, and countless blue runes floated from his hand, swirling and dancing in the air, forming continuously spinning rune ribbons. A massive magic circle with a diameter of over three meters spread under Duke's feet, dazzling everyone watching.

In the next instant, Duke's figure seemed to be sucked away by a small black hole, disappearing on the palace lawn.

Daelin shrugged, "Mages are so convenient. When my Jaina baby has finished her training, I'll have her take me for a spin too."

Lothar rolled his eyes, "Did you eat dinner last night?"

"Uh, of course. Why do you ask?"

"I just wanted to tell you that teleportation for mages below the Sun mage level is pretty awful. There's over a 30% chance of dying en route, and even if successful, you might end up puking everything you've eaten since yesterday."

"…"

Duke appeared in Southshore.

The brilliant magical light startled quite a few guards, and Marco's son even scampered over, having been awoken, to ask if everything was okay.

Duke sighed slightly. As his power grew, he immediately realized how thin his forces were. Sending just a few people out meant he had no one left to command.

VanCleef had gone to Westfall, Windsor went to Stratholme for baptism, Marco and Vanessa stayed in Lordaeron, Itana, whose father was a clerk, was employed by Duke as an internal affairs officer, and Daniel was still across the sea playing reconnaissance.

Duke wondered if he should find an opportunity to recruit a few more minions for support.

At that moment, Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle of the Gryphon Legion arrived with his guards.

"Ah! It's Duke Markus. Perfect timing. Your naga said you were on your way back, and they've requested to come ashore." Llane hadn't returned to Southshore yet, and Bovar had been reassigned, so Marshal Stoutmantle had temporarily become the highest commander there. He was visibly relieved to see Duke.

"Oh, Vara? Please have her come over."

Soon after, Vara arrived with two burly male naga.

"Master," Vara and the male naga bowed respectfully.

Duke deliberately spoke in Murloc language, "What's the matter? Are the murlocs planning to rebel?"

"No, Old Blind-eye and several other murloc leaders have repeatedly requested to see you, Master. They say there's a prophet who insists on meeting you. I can't hold them back because tens of thousands of murlocs are 'requesting' along with them."

"You can't hold them back?" Duke was taken aback. The naga's control over the murlocs was absolute, much like how a tiger can easily subdue a lamb.

Duke stroked his chin: This so-called prophet seems interesting!

"I'm sorry, I didn't dare use too much force, considering I haven't yet subjugated all the naga forces on the Hillsbrad Foothills coast."

"Oh?"

"It's the 'Razorfin' naga tribe operating to the east of Southshore. Without the help of the murlocs, it would be difficult for the Scalesurge tribe alone to complete your task." Vara's body trembled slightly as she spoke.

The longer she followed Duke, the more she realized the extent of his power and influence.

Vara was not an unintelligent creature; on the contrary, it was precisely because of her intelligence that she could better comprehend Duke's status and power. To Vara, the hundreds of thousands of humans, nearly a hundred thousand soldiers, and the fleet of over a hundred warships all answered to Duke.

Duke's command that the naga and murlocs were allies was one that tens of thousands had to obey. If murlocs harmed humans without reason, they would be severely punished. But a few days ago, a Stormwind officer, in a bad mood, insulted a male naga as a monster and even stabbed the naga.

The result was that Duke ordered the man to be whipped twenty times in front of tens of thousands of people, including Vala.

Most humans accepted this but could not understand it. Only Vala's loyalty quietly rose to its fullest value.

In Vala's eyes, Duke was the actual human king.

Vala bowed. "Master, I strongly recommend first appeasing the murlocs, and then going to deal with the

Razorfin naga. After all, there are also quite a number of murlocs under their command."