"Still can't find the traitor? Take your time, no need to rush. Since the traitor has made a mistake, they definitely won't act recklessly again." Arthas shook his head; all of this was made up by him to lay the groundwork for the future. If the Alterac Kingdom truly acted like a traitor in the story, then he couldn't be blamed; he would definitely swallow them whole.
Annexing neighboring lands is a very undesirable and disgraceful act. It can only be done within the law, which is a slow process. Arthas had no time to wait; such a cautious method would take more than a decade or two to achieve, which was too slow. The Burning Legion didn't give him that much time to develop; he still had to go to Kalimdor. So, talent was the most important thing. He could plunder the commoners of the Alterac Kingdom to serve as his subjects. As long as he had enough prestige, and let people promote his lord's misdeeds, wouldn't those commoners run to him seeking to be his subjects?
Following a good lord was truly a stroke of luck, it wasn't a joke. Arthas was deeply disgusted by all the traitors; what could be more detestable than being a traitor? The people present were clever, and upon hearing Arthas speak, they knew he had a plan. On the surface, they remained calm, but internally they calculated quickly about whom the real traitor might be.
At that moment, a messenger walked in and handed a sealed document to Lothar; it was encrypted with magic to prevent the orcs from opening it. Lothar opened the scroll and looked at its contents, his brow slightly furrowed.
He then looked up at Arthas, "Your Highness, I'm afraid you must return to Lordaeron; Naga are currently attacking the farms along the shore. His Majesty King Terenas wants you to handle this matter; time is of the essence. Your Highness, the food produced by the farm is crucial for the Alliance's logistics."
"Naga? How could there be Naga!" A hint of skepticism flashed in Arthas's eyes; it was strange since the Naga didn't appear in the story. This was unbelievable.
"Are you sure the information is true?"
"Yes, it bears the seal of King Terenas." Lothar was certain and would not be mistaken.
"Alright, I will set off back to Lordaeron." Arthas nodded; with matters at home, he definitely had to return to handle them.
"Master Antonidas, please activate the portal to send His Highness the Prince back to Lordaeron; it is urgent, I beg you." Lothar then said to Aurelia, "Aurelia, the Horde may have allied with the forest trolls; you are their old rival, and I need your help to find their whereabouts. What are the orcs and trolls plotting? I feel their attack is illogical; it seems fierce, but they aren't showing their full strength. This feels different from when I encountered them in Stormwind; they must have other intentions." Due to the needs of the Alliance, Aurelia did not follow Arthas but continued to fulfill her duties, helping the Alliance resist the orc invasion.
She firmly believed that if these barbaric orcs were not stopped, once the Alliance was defeated, Quel'Thalas would also inevitably fall. Even with the Sunwell's presence, she didn't believe Quel'Thalas could really hold out; the principle of mutual destruction was not understood by those nobles elves.
"Your Highness, please prepare." Antonidas was courteous to Arthas; he was beginning to age and didn't know how long he could live. Given Arthas's potential, becoming king was only a matter of time, especially since his apprentice Jaina was in a relationship with Arthas. Out of affection for his apprentice, he paid special attention.
"Thank you, Archmage," Arthas said, placing his right hand on his chest, smiling gently at Aurelia, giving her a reassuring expression. After a moment of blur, Arthas returned to the royal palace of Lordaeron.
There, royal mages awaited him; these mages were quite powerful, even at a top level in Dalaran. Mages were proud and would not lower their heads easily; they all came from common backgrounds and received the patronage of nobility, with nobles funding their study of magic. Magical materials, courses, and items all cost money, so every mage needed substantial wealth to accumulate. Those without money had no choice but to sell themselves to nobles, benefiting both parties. These mages were supported by the Lordaeron royal family, and after becoming accomplished, they served Lordaeron for life.
Nodding slightly to a few mages maintaining the teleportation array, Arthas walked towards the palace hall.
The hall was styled like a Roman Imperial assembly hall, with the king seated on the throne, surrounded by layers of small balconies, each occupied by a noble, fully utilizing their advantages. Speeches could be amplified by echoes, making the atmosphere feel more participatory.
Terenas sat on the throne like the end of the Frozen Throne, wearing a crown adorned with splendid jewels, one hand supporting his face, looking a bit drowsy. On a nearby platform, a high lord was giving a passionate speech, mostly praising Terenas and requesting support for his territory.
Bang! Arthas was followed by two attendants as he forcefully pushed open the heavy inner doors, each weighing about two hundred pounds, which he shoved open violently. With his increasing level, his strength had also grown; this manifested not just in combat but in his daily life, enabling him to lift heavier things and recover faster.
Upon reaching Terenas, with golden hair and battle-scarred armor, Arthas drew his sword and knelt on one knee, saying, "I pay my respects to Your Majesty."
"Oh, my child, you have returned. It seems you are in good spirits, very good. You have done well; you made a significant contribution to the Alliance by eliminating the threat of the red dragons and allowing them to purge some of the orc scourge. Wonderful. Child, what rewards do you desire?" Terenas was quite pleased with his child; a strong child brought honor to him as king, allowing him to wield power effectively, as the foundation of power is strength, followed by cunning.
"This was what I should do, Father. I have an agreement with the guardian dragons; after the war, I need to help them fight evil on the other side of the sea. If I can do even better, I can request a reward from the guardian dragons to extend our longevity." Arthas proposed a benefit that Terenas, this lenient father, could not refuse.