Chapter 461: Still Holding On To Dignity, Huh?

If the Red Dragon Queen could conjure up a World Tree, then breaking a small curse would be a piece of cake.

"Duke has hope!" Nobody voiced it, but everyone present thought so.

Even King Terenas hinted at Llane with a grin that if his people saved the Red Dragon Queen, Llane and Duke would owe Lordaeron a life-debt.

It was clearly an opportunistic move.

Using the rescue as leverage, the proposal to have Duke serve Lordaeron after his recovery was undoubtedly a bit underhanded. If Llane were a cunning ruler, he would never let what he couldn't have fall into the hands of others.

But Llane was a benevolent king.

When Terenas made this request, he didn't think of Duke's usefulness, but of everything Duke had done for Stormwind and the Wrynn family.

Llane almost gritted his teeth and said, "As long as your people rescue Alexstrasza and she saves Duke, and if Duke is willing to pledge loyalty to you, then I won't oppose his transfer. However, Duke is a true talent, I hope he at least attains the status of Grand Duke in Lordaeron. Moreover, regardless, Karazhan is my personal fiefdom to Duke, I will never take it back."

Terenas was simply overjoyed, originally just saving the Red Dragon Queen, but now there was a chance for a two-for-one deal.

Imagine, the Red Dragonflight, for their queen, even submitted to the filthy, crude orcs, becoming the orcs' mounts. If Lordaeron saved the Red Dragon Queen, wouldn't they at least be able to form a Dragon Knight legion?

Adding Duke and the magic books in Karazhan's grand library owned by Duke, you can imagine, in less than ten years, Lordaeron will become the most powerful country on the Eastern Kingdoms continent, with overwhelming deterrence.

Perhaps without war, they can annex the various countries in the name of the Alliance, completing a great cause as great Emperor Thoradin, no, even greater than Emperor Thoradin. After all, the Alliance includes two dwarven kingdoms and a high elf kingdom!

While King Terenas was counting his chickens before they hatched, Duke seemed to be making arrangements as if he were settling his affairs. He summoned almost everyone around him.

First, he asked Llane to officially issue a royal decree, declaring the Duke of Bloodsail, Farewell, as an official Duke of Stormwind, and secretly had the kings of various countries sign pardons, confirming that the crimes committed by the Bloodsail Buccaneers against the Alliance have been atoned for.

As a price, all fleets belonging to Stormwind will obey Grand Admiral Daelin until the war with the orcs officially ends. Even if all are used as cannon fodder, there will be no complaints.

In fact, everyone knows that Daelin will absolutely not be so ruthless.

Next, Duke, just in case, had Duke Barov transfer the deed of Southshore to Jandice, and registered Jandice as a countess of Stormwind. This was leaving a way out for the Barov family.

Jandice's two younger brothers are still missing, but this might become the biggest weakness of the Barov family. Now the Alliance still needs Alterac. The soldiers of Alterac are also fighting bravely to wash away their country's disgrace, but what about after the war?

Jandice looked at Duke many times, her eyes red. In the end, a thousand words turned into a deep bow, no one knew what decision this seemingly weak lady of the Barov family made in her heart.

Finally, Duke handed over the arrangements for Westfall and the contact information for the Naga and Murlocs to Llane and Anduin.

"The Windrunners yearn for freedom. If I'm not around, they won't serve Stormwind. Let them do as they please at that time." Duke told Varian.

"No, Duke, you won't die. King Terenas promised me, his special forces will definitely rescue Alexstrasza."

Duke didn't answer immediately, but asked, "What deal did you make with old man Terenas? You don't think that if he could save my life, you'd agree to let me go to Lordaeron, do you?"

Varian is not a good liar, and Duke's question made him confess.

"I'm sorry, I thought it was the best for you."

"Your Majesty."

"Call me Llane," King Llane insisted.

"Alright, Llane, let me give you a private tip. Even if I die, I will not pledge to Lordaeron. Not for anything, just because I despise Terenas. I'm also not interested in serving Arthas." Duke shrugged, "It's that simple."

"..." Varian was speechless.

"..." Anduin was speechless.

Duke clapped his hands, "Alright, even if we take a step back, if anyone in this world can save Alexstrasza, it won't be Terenas. Because this is the realm of dragons, it's also a mysterious realm."

Anduin suddenly thought of something, "Then why wouldn't Antonidas..."

Anduin shook his head at Varian again—Antonidas needs to be responsible for all of Dalaran. He can't risk his life for a foreign duke.

At this time, Duke looked calm. But it was Vereesa by his side who couldn't stand it anymore.

"Duke, since the people of Lordaeron are unreliable, we should find a way to bring the elder and second sisters back, and then we'll make a breakthrough ourselves. We can go to Kurdran, he will definitely agree."

What Vereesa said was exactly Duke's current predicament.

He had previously agreed to send the Windrunners to help Lordaeron wipe out the remnants of Grom's Warsong Clan, resulting in the most reliable Alleria and Sylvanas, along with Liadrin, all being borrowed.

Because they had to conduct high-speed mobile warfare in the jungle, Alleria and the others didn't bring along any cumbersome mages, resulting in not being able to find help at a critical moment.

They had just entered Tirisfal Glades a few days ago, having previously agreed to regular contact once a week. If they waited for them to return, they would probably only be able to collect Duke's body.

Now, out of the six greatest rangers of the time, only Vereesa remained by Duke's side.

Duke always felt a sense of malice from the goddess of fate.

Duke wasn't recalling the process of saving the Red Dragon Queen for the first time. In the past, when he learned about this epic and moving story, he was always filled with admiration, always inevitably thinking, if he were to participate in this grand history, what would he do?

Could he, like the protagonists of this branching story, use various nearly great powers to create such a miracle?

But when he truly had to participate in this 'plot', he felt a slight hesitation.

Suddenly, he chuckled bitterly.

"It turns out, I still haven't let go of life and death (dignity), huh!"