A month has passed since the coronation ceremony, and the Kingdom of Lordaeron has absorbed the territories of Stromgarde and Dalaran. The larger the territory, the more land it can control. Resources will also be richer, and with money, one can recruit soldiers and buy horses.
With Lunara leading the Dryads, the purification speed is incredibly fast, specifically targeting the characteristics of the Undead Scourge and Fel Energy corruption. Lordaeron also has an expert specializing in Fel Energy and Plague, who is also a beauty, Ilucia.
By sharing research findings with these Dryads, analysis revealed that these Plagues are all magically created, with natural death energy mixed in. As long as the death energy is deciphered, the Plague can be destroyed, and the natural life essence of Dryads and Druids is excellent for deciphering it.
Death can turn life into undead, and life can also turn undead into fertilizer to nourish nature.
This way, it doesn't take too much time, skipping intermediate steps and jumping directly to the final one. There's no need for research and sampling, just figuring out how to transform it. Direct obliteration is purification, turning it into fertilizer is also purification, as long as it can be purified.
With the two working together, the recovery speed is already very fast. Major towns have been completely rebuilt, as the original model is no longer suitable. This is a good opportunity for a large-scale demolition. However, the top priority is to restore land production. Living spaces can be simpler, which is understandable, as making commoners suffer a bit is already standard practice.
On this day, the Gnome leader, High Tinker Mekkatorque, personally came to the Royal City to express his gratitude.
"Your esteemed Majesty, thank you for the Alliance's help. Gnomeregan has now been reclaimed, and the Troggs have been driven out. All Gnomes pay their highest respects to you. Now that Gnomeregan is fully recovered, the production of engineering products can continue to increase, and the Gnomes will be Lordaeron's most loyal allies."
"No need for politeness. Since you've joined the Alliance, you should enjoy the benefits it brings, including military support from the Alliance in addition to tariffs. The Alliance exists to protect the races on Azeroth who are willing to guard the world."
"It is commendable that the Gnomes, despite their own difficulties, dispatched troops to support the Battle of Mount Hyjal. Therefore, please have no worries and fully enjoy the advantages the Alliance offers."
"Next, the Alliance will wage war in two places: one is Northrend in the north, where the climate is cold, and your machines might freeze, so you need to consider this. The second place is the Tanaris Desert in southern Kalimdor. Fighting Abberant insects is just the basic, behind them is C'Thun, an Old God."
"If left unchecked, the insects will devour everything in the world. The Old God will also use whispers to tempt normal people into corruption, which will affect all of us, and he has already made his move, which is a declaration of war."
Arthas didn't stand on ceremony with him; it was clearly an order. The Alliance wasn't so easy to join; it was a preparation for war.
He could indeed fight across the entire world alone, but there was no need. The scope of the Tanaris Desert alone is larger than Australia. With such a vast insect hive, how many insects are there? He couldn't kill them all by himself; most of his time would be spent traveling.
This is where the importance of an army stands out. With an army, he wouldn't need to act personally. He could just command from behind the scenes, and there's strength in numbers. If he did everything himself, wouldn't his title as Prince be meaningless?
Don't even call him a Prince; just call him a farmer.
Mekkatorque was somewhat surprised to hear this. Rationally, starting a war lightly is dangerous, but emotionally, starting a war for revenge for one's father is only human nature. It's hard to say right or wrong. If one truly wanted to discuss it, the focus should be on whether this battlefield could bring benefits.
"Your Majesty is the leader of the Alliance. As long as the members agree, then it is acceptable. I personally support Your Majesty."
The Alliance had essentially become a one-man show, no longer requiring discussions for everything as before. Basically, Arthas decided what to do and then distributed tasks, which seemed very dictatorial.
If the leader is a wise figure, then such a model is actually very efficient. One only needs to follow orders and doesn't need to waste time bickering and procrastinating. The council system is actually quite backward, a product of outdated times.
This is only adopted when everyone's strength is roughly similar, with some highs and lows, but generally maintained within a certain range. The weak don't worry about being completely consumed, and the strong also have the opportunity to slowly draw blood.
Now all of this has been broken. Within the Alliance, the Blood Elves will definitely support Arthas, the Night Elves also support Arthas, and the Dwarves will support Arthas due to Arthas's mentor-disciple relationship with Muradin.
The Gnomes have no choice but to support him. They just reclaimed their capital with his help, preventing them from becoming pitiful homeless creatures. At this point, they certainly cannot object, and there are still many issues to address after the capital's recovery.
The immediate priorities are logistics and food reserves, which still require the Alliance's assistance for now.
There are still toxic gases and radiation in the lower levels of Gnomeregan, and the surrounding Khaz Modan Mountains are high mountains, not suitable for cultivation. Only unique wheat can survive there.
However, most of this wheat is taken by the Dwarves to brew alcohol. As they say, they can skip meals, but they cannot skip drinking. Being addicted to alcohol is an old tradition; if you don't drink, you'd be embarrassed to call yourself a dwarf.
"They will all support it, and Mekkatorque, how would you explain the phrase 'exhausting military resources'?
Arthas's expression was somewhat playful. He unhurriedly poured him a glass of wine, raised it, and clinked it. This aura was completely suppressive, the dominance of a superior over a subordinate.
His youth was undeniable, but so was being the youngest demigod. Once strength reached a certain level, it really didn't matter. Aura relies on strength; without strength, it's nothing, and you can't hold your position.
"What 'exhausting military resources'? Your Majesty, your words are profound, much harder than turning a screw. I don't understand these things, please tell me, Your Majesty."
Picking up the wine glass and clinking it symbolically, Mekkatorque laughed heartily, attempting to bridge the distance between them. Since he couldn't object, he might as well build a closer relationship; this was certainly better than other situations.
"Being in a long-term war without corresponding means to sustain it, unable to obtain sufficient benefits, and thus unable to maintain the war, leads to national decline. Warriors die off, commoners are filled with grievances, and the foundation is unstable—this is what 'exhausting military resources' means."
"Uh, Your Majesty, then what benefits can be gained from fighting in Northrend and the Tanaris Desert?"
Following the other party's words, it doesn't matter if you don't know how to speak, as long as you know how to respond.
"After processing, the corpses of Abberant insects can yield many precious materials. Their carapaces can defend against magic impacts and are very lightweight. Their internal organs, after processing, are also a delicacy. Moreover, if controlled properly, we can provide adventurers with an opportunity to train, or cultivate our own professional fighters."
"The Lich King in the north is indeed poor, but he is certainly going to die. This advance also involves the Nerubians army controlled by the Lich King, as well as a hollowed-out underground city. It contains rich cold-region ores and plants, which will greatly help your research and development."
"And sometimes, it's not always about profit. What if I told you the Lich King is preparing to destroy the world by other means? Do you think we can stand by and do nothing?"
This question was somewhat profound. Simply fighting was certainly not an option. If war could bring profit, then it would be much more acceptable. Otherwise, constant pay without reward would probably only be endured by the Mantid race.
The Undead Scourge could also do it, but what meaning would such a world have?
"Your Majesty, since you say we should fight, then let's fight. We can dispatch armored troops to the front. If convenient, I will send an advance team to the Alliance's position in Northrend to investigate the local environment, which will help in creating suitable machinery."
Mekkatorque patted his chest in assurance. When you take someone's food and money, it's time for the Gnomes to fight for the Alliance again.
After seeing Mekkatorque off, just as he was about to go for a walk, he saw his wife enter.
Sylvanas didn't like wearing noble gowns, preferring light and simple Ranger casual wear. The difference from before was that she didn't wear a hood but chose to tie her long hair into a single ponytail. Her golden hair was intertwined with silver, creating a unique charm.
She wore a pair of Ranger high-top combat boots and light blue protective armor. Inside, a casual outfit appeared light and comfortable, also concealing her figure. Elves used to prefer light clothing to show off their beautiful physiques, but now that she was married, she certainly couldn't do that anymore, and her husband wouldn't allow it.
"Husband, we need to talk about Vereesa. She's been a bit off lately. She acted strangely in Gnomeregan and was trying very hard to show off and push herself to improve."
Saying that, she sat on the other side of the sofa, snuggling close to her husband. Her eyes constantly scanned him, her pretty face leaning in, looking him up and down and side to side.
This action made Arthas roll his eyes a bit. What was this about?
"What are you doing?"
"Just seeing what charm you possess. I don't know how you tricked me into marrying you back then, humph, you big scoundrel."
It was rare to see Sylvanas act coquettishly; this feeling was quite strange, and also very warm. At least it wasn't that cold attitude, which was already quite good. To expect the Queen to act like a little wife seemed a bit much; her personality wouldn't allow it.
"Ahem, how can you say 'tricked'? We have a telepathic connection. It's because we both felt that dream-like scene that brought us together."
Arthas really wanted to know why Sylvanas also had such a feeling. Could it be that she also experienced the timeline?
Sylvanas picked up her husband's used wine glass, her eyes narrowed as her expression fell into recollection.
"I haven't seen those scenes, I just felt an instinctive aversion. You were just like that, deceiving me back then. Now I've fallen in love with you, and even if you tricked me, I accept it. Who told you to be my husband?"
With that, she gently stroked his cheek, her red lips pursed, and a seductive smile curved at the corners of her mouth.
"Tell me, the timeline you mentioned before, was it changed, right?"
There are many timelines, with many branches, each corresponding to the development and changes of key events. There's Arthas becoming the Lich King, Jaina voluntarily becoming the Lich King to save her beloved, machines ruling the world, or the undead ruling the world. It goes without saying that no single one exists.
Now, the problem of time travel has been completely fixed. No one can play this game anymore. Traveling through worlds, virtual worlds—this was truly too shameless, a BUG-level existence. Fortunately, Arthas succeeded, otherwise, the consequences would have been hard to say.
Arthas thoroughly enjoyed his wife's gaze, which held a hint of adoration mixed with tsundere. She clearly liked it very much, yet she pretended not to, and then became somewhat annoyed when exposed.
"It's resolved; such things won't happen again. It sounds incredible, but I just found it a bit disgusting. Such a dangerous method would make me lose you, and I don't want to lose you; it would break my heart."
"Sylvanas, from the first moment I saw you, I knew I had to marry you and make you my wife. I really like you. At that time, there was a sense of indebtedness. In my dream, I became the Lich King, leading the Undead Scourge to attack Silvermoon City, and resurrecting Kel'Thuzad with the Sunwell. And you, as the Ranger-General, stood before me. Although the undead were powerful, you still used the forest terrain to block me for a long time, which made me resent you. Therefore, after killing you, I resurrected you as a banshee to obey my commands."
"Do you know, that timeline was recognized by the Pantheon Titans as the most correct one. Now all of that no longer exists, and they will surely try to change the timeline back if they find out."
This was the first time Arthas had told her about that timeline; it sounded quite incredible.
"Became the Lich King? Why did you become the Lich King?"
Sylvanas rested her head on his shoulder, one hand holding his, fingers tightly intertwined, palm against palm, giving and affirming her thoughts in this way.
"I've always stood by your side. You are my husband, so no matter what we face, it's not just your burden, but something we face together. If you don't want to say it, you don't have to; it might make you feel better."
Daamn, Queen Sylvanas has learned to be caring now? Has the sun risen from the west? It's indeed quite strange, and also rather nice.
Could Arthas still hide it? Naturally, he described that story from an observer's perspective, how he, due to his youthful impetuousness and the pressure of inheriting the kingship, desperately wanted to do his best.
The result was recklessness and increasing stubbornness, coupled with the Alliance's lack of Pay attention to (attention/importance) to the matter, and the occurrence of the Stratholme incident. He personally killed civilians who had not yet been transformed into undead by the Plague. To avoid being overwhelmed by the surging undead army, he was forced into a race of slaughter.
This was cruel, bloody, and filled people with disgust. Yes, disgust for the beastly instigator behind it.