"Stormwind needs you more. A king must have a foundation to stand firm. Varian, you don't want Auntie Taria to worry about you, do you? Stay here to welcome your people back. Food, shelter—these are all problems you need to solve." Arthas had no intention of taking Varian with him, mainly because many details of Stormwind's reconstruction required Varian's coordination.
"That's right, Your Majesty. The reconstruction of Stormwind cannot proceed without the support of the royal family," Omiya chimed in, her enthusiasm soaring. After taking on this project, she estimated she could make a profit of at least three million gold coins! And that was pure profit. If she made some budget cuts in less important areas, she could earn even more!
"Alright, I'll listen to you this time." Varian knew this was the best course of action; he was just in a rebellious phase and wanted to try something different.
The Gnoll, Geo, took his subordinates to find the other Gnoll tribes in the forest. He would find their chieftains, kill them, and become the clan's new leader, absorbing their Gnolls. Those willing to cooperate were spared. Those who weren't could go to hell and reflect on their choices.
The plan was to subjugate the local creatures and then coordinate their actions. This would ensure that the reconstruction of Stormwind would not be disturbed and would also increase the labor force. Most Gnolls would rarely attack as long as they had food, and now such an opportunity presented itself. Setting aside their grievances to sit down and talk for a job opportunity—of course, no Gnoll would object. Because those who objected were already dead!
Hailey was doing the same, leading the Naga to subdue one scattered Naga clan after another, while also dominating and enslaving the nearby Murloc tribes. They fished and gathered seaweed from the coastal waters to build up food reserves, all while surveying and mapping the area.
"My love, are we traveling to the Redridge Mountains by the mountain path? It's been raining constantly, and even the roads in Elwynn Forest are difficult to traverse. I'm afraid it will take us half a month, or even longer, to get there," Alleria said as she walked over, a longbow on her back. The tall boots she wore gave her a capable and crisp look. She possessed the full figure of a young matron and the heroic spirit of a strong woman, a combination that was incredibly eye-catching.
Arthas greedily drank in the sight of his wife's stunning face, which was both beautiful and heroic, yet not without a touch of charm. "No, we'll use a Portal. I'm searching for a convergence of Ley Lines over there. I'll be able to establish a stable Portal soon."
Establishing a stable Portal required the joint effort of at least five magi; it wasn't something one could do by simply opening a door at will. This was reality, not a game. But Arthas wasn't bluffing. One of his skills allowed him to create a Portal that could be maintained for ten minutes, just like in the game. Arthas himself didn't have much magical power, and his Arcane magic leaned toward support, but this support was practically heaven-defying. It didn't have a direct, visible impact on his combat power, but its influence was undeniable.
Imagine, in the middle of a duel, instantly summoning a troop of soldiers to assist you. While it wouldn't kill the opponent directly, an entire army could certainly overwhelm a single person. This was the supportive charm of the Arcane. Teleportation saved time, and the time saved could be used to do more things. Wasn't that more meaningful?
However, Arthas couldn't perform short-distance Teleportation at will; he wasn't a professional mage, after all. But being able to perform safe, long-distance Teleportation was more than enough. Just like now, saving half a month of travel time—this was the benefit of the Arcane.
Sylvanas, however, let out a sneer from the side, though she said nothing more.
"It seems Sylvanas doesn't believe what I said. How about we make a bet?" Seeing the untamable Sylvanas, another idea sparked in Arthas's mind. He wasn't afraid of her ignoring him, only of her giving up. That would ruin the fun of taming his prey.
Sylvanas raised her long eyelashes, her tone somewhat hostile. "What do you want to bet?"
"Let's bet on whether I can open a Portal to take us to the Redridge Mountains. If I succeed, I win. If I fail, you win. The loser has to do one thing for the winner, as long as it's within their power. How about it? There won't be any boring conditions like telling the other person to commit suicide." Arthas's smile was incredibly brilliant, but in Sylvanas's eyes, it was utterly detestable.
"You're not scared to bet, are you? I'm a Paladin, completely clueless about magic!"
"Hmph, what's there to be scared of? I'll take that bet." Sylvanas didn't believe Arthas at all. Just as he said, a Paladin wanting to open a Portal? What a joke!
Only Alleria watched with a gentle smile, making no move to stop them. During their time on the ship, Arthas had confessed to her that her younger sister seemed to have some misunderstanding of him, and there might be some friction in the future. He had asked her not to say he was bullying his sister-in-law when the time came.
There was another thing Alleria didn't mention: she could feel her husband's ever-growing libido. Every time they made love, he nearly turned her inside out. She wished there was another woman who could help share the burden. If her husband were to make a move on her own sister, she probably wouldn't stop it. It would bring the family closer.
They arrived at an open space within Stormwind. At this moment, the city was covered in scorch marks, and Orc Peons were still hard at work clearing the debris.
Arthas stood in what was the Mage Quarter in the game. The Ley Line Energy here was the most concentrated, making it an ideal spot for a Teleportation point. It was no wonder this had become the Mage Quarter; mages needed locations with abundant Ley Line Energy to better research magic.
Sensing the Arcane energy flowing in the air, Arthas drew his longsword and pointed its tip at a spot in front of him.
Jaina was beside him, accompanied by Calia, as well as the two handmaidens, Illucia and Vanessa. The four of them were almost inseparable from Arthas; wherever he went, he would bring them along. A group of young girls was a feast for the eyes, especially when they were so stunningly beautiful.
As a mage, Jaina watched her fiancé with curiosity. Lordaeron had previously announced the marriage between Arthas and Jaina, and Kul Tiras had agreed, so the two were already engaged. If Arthas wanted to violate her, Jaina couldn't resist; she would have to obediently spread her legs and be taken. However, up to this point, Arthas had only made Jaina give him oral sex. Rather than fucking her, he preferred to train her properly and devour her later. Now was not the time. What he wanted was a powerful archmage, not a Jaina who had been reduced to a fleshlight.