Varian's hand trembled, his calm expression almost cracking. He steadied his hand, and the million-gold note fortunately didn't fall to the ground; picking it up like that would have been too undignified for a King.
Arthas, sitting beside him, almost burst out laughing. He had already felt that Vancleef seemed overly nervous, and it turned out he was afraid Varian would smash his cup as a signal, and then dozens of Royal Lion Guards would rush out from behind the curtains to hack him to pieces.
Varian was speechless. What did his subordinates think of him? A tyrant? Or a foolish ruler? Would he just chop down a citizen of the Kingdom if he disagreed with them? He'd be more likely to chop down those cancerous nobles!
"Look up carefully and see what this really is?"
Vancleef thought, 'Why do I need to look? Isn't it just a sharp sword?' But he still raised his head at Varian's command.
However, after looking up, he was instantly bewildered. Where was the sword? Why was it a piece of paper?
"Are you afraid I'll kill you? How could I possibly do such a thing?" Varian suddenly felt that the people of the Kingdom might not trust him enough if they thought of him that way.
"This is one million gold coins, redeemable at the Black Gold Merchant Guild. Even if you don't trust me, you must at least recognize the Black Gold Merchant Guild's emblem, right?"
Vancleef tremblingly took the heavy note. In his eyes, this was not just a piece of paper, but the hope for many workers in the Stonemasons Guild to survive!
Tears involuntarily welled up in his eyes. Vancleef also knew that the Stormwind Kingdom's financial situation was not good, and the King could only ask the nobles for money. But what good was it if only he knew? Others would only think that the Kingdom owed them their wages!
Vancleef was also forced into a corner; if he didn't represent the workers to demand wages, the workers wouldn't be able to live. But if he did demand them, it would escalate the conflict between the King and the nobles.
The Stormwind Kingdom had just gotten back on track and truly couldn't withstand major changes. Vancleef deeply loved his country and was willing to give everything for it and his compatriots, so he bore immense mental and material pressure every moment.
Coupled with Onyxia's later guidance, the engineer Edwin VanCleef eventually "died," replaced by an extreme ruffian, the leader of the Scarlet Crusade, the wanted criminal of Stormwind, Edwin VanCleef!
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I misunderstood you." Vancleef could hardly imagine how much effort Varian had put into getting this money. "On behalf of all the workers of the Stonemasons Guild, I thank Your Majesty for your benevolence!"
Varian waved his hand. Vancleef's reaction made him begin to reflect on whether he also had shortcomings. "You shouldn't thank me, but rather this person, Prince Arthas of Lordaeron."
Only then did Vancleef notice that another handsome blonde man was sitting beside Varian. He maintained a gentle smile, which made people unconsciously relax.
The overly nervous Vancleef had not even noticed Arthas's presence just now. He quickly bowed to Arthas, "Thank you for your generosity, Prince Arthas Arthas!"
"No need for formalities. I just don't want to see the people of Stormwind become sacrifices to certain individuals' schemes," Arthas observed this current engineer, future master rogue, "This million is what I lent to Varian, and he agreed to 'repay' it with some things."
Vancleef guessed that this was mostly related to him, otherwise Arthas wouldn't be telling him these things. So he respectfully listened to Arthas's next words.
"You are a capable engineer, and I recently have some engineering projects that need someone to oversee them. Don't worry about the compensation. I want to ask if you can find workers willing to undertake this project?"
This was no problem, and even a good thing for Vancleef and his colleagues. Most of them still planned to make a living as stonemasons. "I am willing!"
"Don't be so quick to agree. These projects I mentioned are not within the Stormwind Kingdom, nor even on this continent. You'd best find some colleagues willing to travel overseas with you."
"That's easy." Vancleef nodded without difficulty. A significant portion of them were victims of the Orcish Wars, alone in the world, and wouldn't care about drifting. As long as they could have a stable meal, they could set off immediately.
"Do you have any problems yourself?"
Vancleef hesitated for a moment, then said, "I might need to tell my wife first."
Arthas and Varian exchanged glances. Varian nodded to him, and Arthas understood. "In that case, why don't you bring your wife to Lordaeron? As my Chief Engineer, I will provide a mansion as your new home."
Vancleef had originally intended for his wife and child to remain in Stormwind, but Arthas's next words startled him. "Don't be so quick to refuse. Once you receive this payment and distribute it to the workers, those schemers, unable to deal with the King of Stormwind, might turn their attention to you. You should be aware of this, right?"
"Move your whole family to Lordaeron, and I can protect you from retaliation in this storm."
"I understand, Prince Arthas. Your will is my desire."
After Vancleef left, Varian, completely bewildered, asked Arthas, "Why do you value this 'Chief Engineer' so much?"
"This fellow was formerly a colleague of Matthias Shaw. He was part of the elite group personally trained by Shaw."
"But you shouldn't lack such talent, I heard... you also have those from Ravenholdt?" Varian was still a bit unclear. Matthias Shaw was his intelligence advisor and the highest-ranking officer of Stormwind's SI:7.
(Equivalent to Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
"But a talent who can simultaneously handle intelligence gathering and architectural design, those master assassins of Ravenholdt cannot cultivate that."
Arthas's next target was not on the Eastern Kingdoms continent, so he needed to build a bridgehead and his intelligence master. Vancleef alone could handle both jobs—not to mention, Vancleef's daughter was also a born assassin.
One investment, long-term returns.
"In any case, you've done Stormwind a great service this time," Varian's words carried sincerity, "As long as I am the King of Stormwind, the Stormwind Kingdom will always be Lordaeron's loyal ally."
"Then may our friendship last forever."
The two men clasped hands tightly. Unknown to them, this friendship forged the greatest unified empire in human history.
After dealing with Vancleef's matter, it was already midnight. Before Arthas returned to his guest room, Varian told him something.
"Kul Tiras and Dalaran will also send envoys, and it's the same person."
Arthas's eyes lit up, but then he immediately said somewhat guiltily, "I haven't... uh, seen her in a while."
"I think she might really be angry with you. Lordaeron isn't far from Dalaran, yet you haven't visited for an entire year."
"I truly couldn't get away." Arthas was also helpless; even by carriage, it would only take a few days to reach Dalaran, but he simply didn't have the free time last year.
"What good does telling me do? Think about how you're going to explain it to her tomorrow."
...
Stormwind, Prestor's manor.
Countess Katrana reclined on a soft couch, holding a glass of red wine. The crimson liquid glowed alluringly in the dim light.
"Lord Howard, what do you think of that human Prince Arthas?"
The Countess's knight attendant stood at the doorway, answering his mistress's question in a booming voice, "He is strong, at least among humans."
"Oh? Even my most valiant knight thinks a human is formidable?" Katrana sipped her red wine, her tempting red lips appearing even more alluring against the wine.
The knight named Lord Howard did not speak this time, standing still like a wooden post.
"Heh, but even a fellow like that is merely a puppet of desire," Katrana recalled Arthas's burning gaze, unable to help but sigh with a laugh, "He's not even as good as Bolvar."
Draining the red wine in her glass, Katrana licked her lips, still wanting more. "How amusing, humans are truly interesting creatures. Perhaps I can play here a bit longer."
But as soon as the thought arose, she suddenly shivered—because she thought of her completely insane father. He was no longer the wise and benevolent Earth Guardian he once was. If she delayed too long in Stormwind, nothing good would await her.
However, the Black Dragon Princess then remembered that the mad Earth Guardian had been severely wounded and fled after being besieged by the other four Dragon Aspects in the Battle of Grim Batol a few years ago. He probably wouldn't have the energy to bother with her now, which made her sigh in relief.
Her filial affection for her father had long vanished along with that corrupted bloodline. Now, only hatred remained. She hated the father who had turned the Black Dragonflight into monsters, but due to the Earth Guardian's immense power, she could only obey her father's commands.
Playing in Stormwind for a few years shouldn't be a problem, right? Her father was badly injured and would likely need a long time to recover.
She just needed to keep an eye on her annoying brother and prevent him from tattling to their father.
Thinking of this, Katrana, in her guise as Onyxia, showed an expression of enjoyment—although she was a dragon, she very much enjoyed the luxurious life of human nobility.
The encounter with Arthas today made her feel that she could perhaps add fuel to the fire in the relationship between Stormwind and Lordaeron.
"Arthas, heh, let's see what new tricks the Prince Arthas of Lordaeron has up his sleeve?"