Chapter 142: A Day with Khadgar

Just a moment ago, everyone's faces were pale with fright.

In the next second, their faces were filled with boundless joy.

"Your Majesty is unharmed!?"

"Father!" Young Varian almost burst into tears.

"I'm fine," Llane replied, still visibly shaken.

Everyone's curiosity was about to explode. They knew that Llane was not wearing armor. He was only dressed in a short, white shirt adorned with gold trim, and an undergarment.

The queen hurriedly approached, kneeling down and gently tearing open Llane's outer clothing to reveal the secret underneath.

"What is this?"

Pairs of wide eyes stared at the inner lining that had somehow withstood the dagger thrown by a powerful assassin.

The fabric was as pure white as snow, emitting a faint, cool aura.

Lothar reached out, putting on thick gloves to remove the daggers, as he had to be cautious due to rogues' fondness for using poison.

"Iceweb Spider Silk!?" Lothar, with his vast knowledge, recognized the material of the inner lining.

"Duke gave this to me, said it was something called Kaela," Llane stuttered, still shaken. "I just thought it felt cool when I wore it."

"Kevlar!" Windsor corrected, "It was specially crafted by Duke Marcus, woven from Iceweb Spider Silk and several other magical materials. Its protective power is even greater than that of chainmail."

The nobles were instantly abuzz.

So powerful? They had seen Llane's inner garment, which was incredibly lightweight and comfortable, but they hadn't expected it to possess such formidable protective capabilities.

Nobles on the battlefield prioritized their own safety. They typically wore heavy plate armor on the outside, chainmail in the middle, and often a leather armor on the inside. Such attire provided formidable protection but was unbearably hot during the peak of summer, causing the wearer to be drenched in sweat after just a short horse ride under the sun.

Even wearing the most minimal leather armor was still scorching.

Now that Duke had introduced such a lightweight and highly protective garment, it was a game-changer.

"No matter the cost, even if I have to squeeze more money out of that vampire, I must acquire one of these for myself," thought nearly every noble present.

Llane took a deep breath and looked at Windsor with the typical gaze of someone who had just survived a close call. "Was this Duke's command?"

"Your Majesty is wise," Windsor sheathed his sword and lowered his head.

If it hadn't been for Duke's command, Windsor's reaction would not have been so swift. His reflexes even surpassed those of the ever-vigilant Lothar.

Llane, without further inquiry in front of the crowd, stood up and declared, "I hereby announce that, in recognition of Duke Marcus's meritorious service in saving the king, he shall be promoted to the rank of Earl. Reginald Windsor shall be promoted to the rank of Knight."

Upon hearing this, everyone cheered for the king's wise decision.

Why was Duke only promoted to Viscount after slaying the demon-infused Medivh? It was because a group of nobles had obstructed his promotion, citing various reasons like spoiling the young and Duke's mysterious background.

Now, even in Duke's absence, his product and his man had saved the king once again.

There was no room for refutation, and the nobles had to begrudgingly accept the promotions. Who could blame them for not being the first to save the king?

Throughout history, such great achievements have always been the quickest route to promotion.

Moreover, with the orc army at the gates, it was a time when Llane's leadership and charisma were needed more than ever. Nobody would want to stir up trouble at such a moment.

Seeing everyone praising Duke, young Varian's eyes sparkled with admiration like a fan's.

Unbeknownst to him, this Duke Marcus, not much older than himself, had become another idol in Varian's heart.

Today, the fickleness of the orcs and the strategic control of Duke from thousands of miles away had left a profound impression on Varian. Varian couldn't compare his beloved uncle Anduin with Duke, as they were two completely different types of heroes.

Anduin was brave, strong, and full of masculine energy. He was courageous, resolute, and never lost faith or courage, inspiring everyone around him.

Duke, on the other hand, was wise and resourceful, excelling in commerce, understanding, and tactics. He was mysterious and powerful in magic, never lacking in courage.

Previously, some people compared Anduin Lothar and Duke Marcus to the twin pillars of the Kingdom of Stormwind. Varian didn't believe it at first, but from today on, Varian made a small decision.

At this very moment, what was Duke, who was unknowingly pushed to the forefront, doing?

Regrettably, he was having an argument.

"Damn, why are you so stupid? My god, how did you become a grand earth mage? Even the apprentices in Dalaran under ten years old have learned these basic arcane knowledge, and you don't understand?"

"Yes, yes, I am a wild mage who came from an unconventional path. Please teach me well, Master Khadgar!"

Bright light gathered from all directions, strands and beams weaving together into a semi-transparent, azure humanoid figure. As arcane energy spewed out from the magic circle next to Duke, the entire figure was filled in an instant.

This slightly translucent figure removed his hood with his right hand, revealing a remarkably young face.

He was none other than the former spy of the Tirisfal Council, Medivh's apprentice, and the one who would become one of the most powerful mage gods in the future if he hadn't died – Khadgar.

As Medivh said before his death, Khadgar was indeed a good helper.

The first and most straightforward problem Duke faced when the whole of Karazhan was pulled into the void by Medivh's spell was that he had no food.

If the hero who defeated Sargeras and inherited the legacy of the greatest mage of his time, Medivh, starved to death in Karazhan, it would surely become the biggest joke in all of Azeroth.

Lonely and desperate, Duke almost drove himself insane, but fortunately, he remembered that he still had Khadgar. So, after paying 5 points of soul power through the system sprite, Khadgar 'revived' as a ghost-like figure in the state of a shade.

Khadgar still had his own intellect and could still cast spells, but unfortunately, all his soul power had to be provided by Duke. If Duke were displeased, extinguishing Khadgar's soul would only take a moment.

Of course, Duke wouldn't let a talent like Khadgar vanish in smoke.

So, after a round of ruthless 'bargaining,' Khadgar became Duke's steward in Karazhan, a teacher in some magical fields, as well as a minion, cannon fodder, and the like.

In public, Khadgar had to call Duke "Master."

In private, he still had to call Duke "Master."

Well, in a sense, Khadgar was no different from a slave.