"What about you? What are you thinking?" Kael'thas asked in return.
Krasus sighed, "Nekros will personally guard Grim Batol with the demon soul, and no Dragon will dare approach, not even me."
He looked at the Elven Prince, "Kael'thas, you are the only one I can trust and who is willing to help me. This matter can only rely on you."
The relationship between Dragons and mortals was not harmonious; there was a lack of trust between them.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered seeking help from mortals, but there were few who truly had the ability to rescue Her Majesty the Queen, and all of them were leaders of major powers, all politicians.
He only needed to find a way to rescue Her Majesty the Queen; politicians had much more to consider.
Currently, the Alliance and the Horde were in the thick of battle, and there were many conflicts within the Alliance itself, which had only temporarily formed a united front due to the Horde's existence, with much discord between them—
If it weren't for Marshal Lothar's identity as a "descendant of Thoradin the Great," his powerful personal charisma, and Turalyon's rallying cry, it's hard to say if there would even be an Alliance.
Setting aside whether the leaders of various nations would be willing to allocate significant manpower and resources to help him rescue Her Majesty the Queen in such a tense situation.
Even if they were willing, he wouldn't dare to trust them; who knew what those people would be plotting behind his back!
Who could guarantee they wouldn't have ulterior motives during the rescue process?
Who could guarantee they wouldn't covet the power of the demon soul?
Compared to those politicians, Kael'thas, who was solely dedicated to magic, was purer, more trustworthy, and more capable.
This point had been proven in the past two major wars.
In fact, he wasn't absolutely confident in Kael'thas either, but he truly had no better candidate.
"First, rule out a frontal assault."
Kael'thas had already considered this issue and said, "Grim Batol is a city built by the Wildhammer Dwarves, nestled in the mountains, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Even with an army of one hundred thousand, a frontal assault for two or three months might not break through, let alone..."
He sneered, "Once our army presses in and corner the Orcs, that madman Nekros is very likely to kill Her Majesty the Queen in despair."
"We cannot afford this risk!"
Krasus's expression was solemn, "You are right. Grim Batol's defenses are no less than Ironforge's. The Orcs have been attacking Ironforge for months and still haven't breached its gates. We don't have that capability either."
Kael'thas extended two slender fingers, "Then there are only two paths left."
"Either find a way to lure Nekros or Her Majesty the Queen out of that turtle shell."
"Or send an elite squad to infiltrate Grim Batol, kill Nekros, and seize the demon soul."
Krasus frowned deeply, forming a 'river' shape, "Lure them out individually? Impossible."
"We successfully rescued those enslaved Whelps. If Nekros isn't an idiot, he'll immediately understand that we already know the Queen's captivity location."
"He will never, ever let the demon soul and Her Majesty the Queen leave his sight for even a second!"
Kael'thas nodded, "To get them to leave Grim Batol, the most reliable plan is to defeat the Horde army on the front lines, putting Orgrim in a desperate situation. This might lead him to order Nekros to enslave Her Majesty the Queen for reinforcements, however..."
He spread his hands helplessly, "In the short term, we simply cannot achieve that."
Without rescuing the Red Dragon Queen, the Horde would have an endless supply of Dragon Riders and control of the air, making it incredibly difficult for the Alliance to achieve a decisive victory on the front lines.
And if they couldn't severely wound the Horde on the front lines, forcing Orgrim into a desperate move, it would be almost impossible to lure Nekros and the Red Dragon Queen out of the Grim Batol fortress.
It was a dead end, unresolvable.
Krasus took a deep breath, "Then we can only send an elite squad to infiltrate Grim Batol, and the number must be small, because the more people there are, the easier it is to be discovered."
Kael'thas, of course, agreed, "Ten people at most, preferably no more than five."
With too many people, the team would be difficult to manage.
Too many disparate minds, hard to control, very prone to problems.
If even one Brann Bronzebeard or Lorewalker Cho caused a commotion, then what awaited the entire squad would be a frantic siege by thousands of Orcs, Trolls, Ogres, and even enslaved Red Dragons.
Even a legendary mage would be in great danger in such a desperate situation.
Krasus pondered in his mind, his brows furrowed, "If it's five people, they must be at least Master-level; Legendary would, of course, be best."
Grim Batol was now the Dragonmaw Clan's stronghold.
According to the Whelps' feedback, there were at least twenty thousand elite soldiers, over a hundred Warlocks alone, and many enslaved Dragonflights, making it not so easy to infiltrate.
Nekros himself was a Great Warlock approaching Legendary status, surrounded by numerous elite guards, making the challenge too high.
A squad below Master-level simply wouldn't be enough.
Moreover, Grim Batol had been cursed by the Dark Iron Sorceress Modgud, filled with a dense shadowy aura that would corrupt creatures entering it, making it difficult for those below Master-level to resist.
Kael'thas smiled, "Leave the task of forming this elite squad to me."
He already had suitable candidates in mind.
"There's another problem."
Krasus's voice held an uncontrollable fear, "What about Deathwing? Who will deal with him?"
Deathwing was the biggest mastermind behind the scenes.
He couldn't confidently entrust the demon soul to the Orcs; what if the Orcs enslaved Dragonflights to deal with him?
Deathwing was very likely to send his capable lieutenants to guard Grim Batol, or even be there himself.
Even if he wasn't there, he would constantly monitor Grim Batol, the demon soul, and Her Majesty the Queen.
Any major disturbance there would not escape his eyes.
As long as Nekros was killed and the demon soul seized, they would inevitably have to face Deathwing.
In front of Deathwing, let alone five Masters, even a hundred wouldn't be enough to kill.
"Deathwing's power surpasses that of the Dragon Aspects, Elemental Lords, and other high-ranking demigods. Even if all the High Elf and Human Masters and Legendaries united, they might not be able to contend with him."
Kael'thas looked at the Red Dragon mage, "To deal with Deathwing, we can only rely on the Dragonflights themselves; only the four Dragon Aspects working together!"
The so-called Dragon Aspects were actually the Dragon Kings of the Dragonflights.
Krasus frowned deeply, "As long as the demon soul is taken away, Her Majesty the Queen will regain her power and free herself, but the other three Dragon Kings..."
He shook his head, "The relationships between Dragons are not close. I haven't seen Nozdormu, Ysera, and Malygos in hundreds of years, let alone..."
He said with a bitter expression, "The demon soul also has a terrible restraining effect on them. To ask them to risk being weakened by the artifact, or even severely wounded by Deathwing, to confront that most powerful traitor, honestly, I have no hope."
"Moreover, I don't think the four Dragon Kings combined can stand against Deathwing."
To create the demon soul, the four Dragon Kings lost most of their Aspect powers.
And the incredibly cunning Deathwing, not only paid no price in power, but after his corruption, his power became even more ferocious, twisted, and mighty.
With this shift in power, even if the four Dragon Kings united, they would likely not be a match for Deathwing.
Kael'thas smiled, "That's not difficult. You just need to tell them that I have a way to destroy the demon soul and restore their powers, and they will surely come."
"What? You have a way?" Krasus was greatly astonished.
The demon soul contained most of the four Dragon Kings' Aspect powers and was the most powerful artifact in this world.
Even high-ranking demigods couldn't destroy it, yet Kael'thas had a way?
Kael'thas smiled without speaking.
Krasus took a deep breath, "Alright, I believe you. I will go see the three Dragon Kings right away and convince them no matter what!"
He called his two companions, "Valastrasz, Crystalline, you two immediately return to the Dragonblight Temple, close all the gates, and prevent the Orcs from attacking, stealing Dragon eggs, and enslaving more of our kin!"
Over a hundred Red Dragons left in unison.
"Your Highness, I must also go. I just received intelligence that the Horde Fleet has been sighted near Kul Tiras, as well as Menethil Harbor and Southshore."
Daelin walked over to bid farewell.
The Alliance nations had different missions; his mission was to intercept the Horde Fleet at sea, ensure clear shipping lanes, and prevent the coast from being harassed by the Horde.
Kul Tiras's three major fleets had been away for too long, and the few dozen warships of the Fourth and Fifth Fleets alone were far from enough.
The aftermath work was still proceeding in a tense and orderly manner.
The prominent figures of Quel'Thalas, meanwhile, gathered at the Sunstrider Royal Court to hold a post-war meeting.
The atmosphere of the meeting was completely different from before the war.
The Silvermoon Council members, who had previously questioned Kael'thas and secretly obstructed him, now had faces full of the most sincere praise and flattery, though only on the surface.
"In this battle, under the wise leadership of His Majesty the King and the sagacious command of His Royal Highness the Prince, we, Quel'Thalas, achieved an unprecedented and glorious victory, worthy of being recorded in history!"
An elderly council member, whose beard trembled with excitement, spoke in a booming voice.
"Indeed! The great achievements of His Majesty and His Royal Highness should be cast upon the most powerful magical artifacts, inscribed upon the runestones that guard the kingdom, and embroidered upon the eternal walls of Silvermoon City!"
Another council member, not to be outdone, used every ornate word he could find.
"May the light of the Sunwell forever remember this moment, enduring for all eternity!"
"His Royal Highness the Prince is one of the greatest guardians in the history of Quel'Thalas, and a well-deserved hero and pride of the High Elves!"
Flattery rose and fell.
The situation had changed!
Previously, Quel'Thalas was isolated, with High Elves having little interaction with other races, and the kingdom's highest power structure consisted of the King and the Council.
The Silvermoon Council, controlled by several major families, stood in opposition to the Sunstrider family, with neither giving way.
For thousands of years, it had always been this way; neither could truly overcome the other.
The guard forces, mage forces, and priests came from diverse backgrounds, including members of the Sunstrider family, members of the Silvermoon Council families, and numerous members of smaller families.
The Ranger forces were firmly controlled by the Windrunner family, always maintaining neutrality and helping neither side.
However, with the return of His Royal Highness Prince Kael'thas to Silvermoon City, everything changed.
He first demonstrated powerful diplomatic skills, drawing in human mages from various kingdoms, and setting a great fire in Zul'Aman, making them recognize the value of Kael'thas as a "member of the Kirin Tor's Council of Six."
He then single-handedly killed Zul'jin, clearly showcasing the strength of a legendary mage.
A great war completely established the Prince's exalted status, second only to one and above all others, a position no one could now shake.
All of these were related to magic; although they shocked them, they did not exceed their capacity to accept.
After all, they had long known Kael'thas was a rare magical genius, so such abilities were not out of line.
But everything that happened next made them truly feel another kind of "power" from Kael'thas.
Kael'thas actually personally visited the Chief High Priest, the General of the Guard Forces, and the Ranger-General, lowering himself to "request" assistance.
This allowed him to connect with rising stars of the kingdom such as Liadrin, Lanathel, the three Windrunner sisters, Lor'themar, and Halduron, bringing them under his command.
And after the war, he personally advocated for their merits, thereby gaining the support of those important figures.
As a result, the highest power structure of Quel'Thalas began to become unbalanced, with the Sunstrider family completely overshadowing the Silvermoon Council.
If it were just like this, they would only be at a disadvantage.
High Elves have long lifespans, with infinite possibilities in the future, and they still had a chance to turn the tables.
However, the recent great war made all of that impossible.
Kael'thas not only brought in the Kul Tiras fleet but also gained the support of the Red Dragonflight!
The relationship with the Grand Admiral would undoubtedly significantly raise Kael'thas's standing in the Alliance, giving him greater influence.
And the support of the Red Dragonflight seemed even more direct and practical:
Over a hundred Red Dragon Whelps, at least equivalent to over a hundred high-ranking mages.
And three adult Red Dragons, who had lived for thousands of years, were truly legendary in their power.
This was an extremely powerful force, even surpassing the Silvermoon Council—
After all, even if their several major families combined, they couldn't produce three legendary powerhouses!
It could be said that Kael'thas, whether in personal strength, domestic influence, international connections, or unparalleled prestige, had completely surpassed King Anasterian, becoming the undisputed core of power in Quel'Thalas.
If Kael'thas truly wanted to move against them, it would not be difficult, if not as easy as turning over his hand.
From this day forward, the Silvermoon Council would be completely relegated to a subordinate body of His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Prince.
As long as His Royal Highness the Prince lived, there would be no chance of a comeback!
In this situation, they naturally had to bend their flexible bodies, turning quickly, fearing that if they turned too slowly, they would face reckoning.
"True victory is never the achievement of one person."
Kael'thas spoke earnestly, filled with emotion: "It is His Majesty's guidance, and the strong support of all you esteemed council members."
"It is General Salorian's valiant fight, General Lireesa's strategic planning, and Lady Liadrin's comforting Holy Light."
"It is the rangers' woven arrow rain, and even more, the brilliance forged together by the courage, wisdom, sweat, and even lives of all High Elf citizens who fought on the front lines and held the rear."
His gaze swept across the room, and he spread his arms: "This great victory belongs to all High Elves who fought for Quel'Thalas, and to this land we deeply love!"
"Haha, Kael'thas is right!"
Anasterian let out an unprecedented hearty laugh, his wrinkles smoothing out as if he had grown hundreds of years younger, his heart filled with an unprecedented sense of ease.
For seven thousand years, the Sunstrider family had been constrained by the Silvermoon Council.
Back then, it was these old stubborn individuals who insisted on opposing him, which led to a lack of unified power, unfulfilled spirit, and ineffective execution of commands, to the point where they couldn't defeat the Amani Empire and suffered repeated defeats.
If the Troll army hadn't attacked Silvermoon City, the Silvermoon Council probably wouldn't have approved his proposal to seek help from humans!
How many times had he woken up from dreams wanting to draw his sword and cut down those guys.
How many times in royal council meetings had he wanted to ask: In this Quel'Thalas, am I the master, or are you?
But he couldn't.
Politics is the art of compromise, a winding path forward through constant pulling and balancing.
Although the Sunstrider family was royalty, they could not completely suppress the combined strength of the other major families.
Without absolute power, one could only compromise.
It had been nearly three thousand years, and this was the first time he had seen the proud Silvermoon Council bow their heads.
At this moment, he felt vindicated for the first time, and his mood was never so unburdened!
"Perhaps it is time to consider entrusting the crown and the heavy burden to Kael'thas."
"After all, I am truly old, and it is time for me to enjoy some peace."
"Kael'thas is more capable than I; he will surely lead Quel'Thalas, lead the High Elves, towards an even more glorious future."
Looking at his tall and confident son, Anasterian's eyes were filled with relief and anticipation.
"Your Majesty, esteemed sirs, the true war is not over; it has only just begun."
Kael'thas said in a deep voice: "Although we have won this battle, remnants of the Horde Fleet still exist, the Horde army still threatens the security of the entire Eastern Continent, and the Amani Trolls in the south are still hiding in the mountains."
"Now is not the time to relax; there is still a long way to go until true victory!"
Silence fell across the room.
Everyone looked at Kael'thas simultaneously.
From now on, no matter where he was, he was the core of power in Quel'Thalas, the focus of the High Elves' attention.
Anasterian, who already had thoughts of abdication, smiled: "Kael'thas, what are your proposals? Speak freely."
"Thank you for your Majesty's trust."
Kael'thas bowed slightly and spoke eloquently: "The Horde Fleet suffered a crushing defeat, with few remaining, and will likely concentrate in the southern waters of Lordaeron to transport personnel and supplies, ensuring logistics and retreat routes, but we cannot rule out the possibility of them retaliating against us."
"I propose that the Quel'Thalas fleet should be dispersed along various coastlines, constantly patrolling to prevent Horde harassment."
Anasterian nodded: "General Salorian, go at once; do not delay."
"Understood!" Salorian quickly agreed.
Kael'thas continued: "After their crushing defeat, the Horde is highly likely to send people to contact the Amani Trolls, seeking an opportunity to cause trouble; we must be vigilant."
Anasterian nodded: "Indeed, let's proceed with the original plan. General Lireesa will lead troops to clear out the Trolls and patrol the southern border to ensure its security."
"Understood!" Lireesa said.
Kael'thas's gaze swept across the room, finally resting on Anasterian, his tone solemn: "Now that Zul'Aman has been breached and the Horde Fleet destroyed, the security of Quel'Thalas is assured, and it is time to fulfill our promise."
"Your Majesty, I propose that we quickly dispatch twenty thousand elite troops, forming a mixed force, and march south!"
Anasterian nodded: "That is appropriate, but to which battlefield should they go? Lordaeron?"
"No, not just Lordaeron."
Kael'thas opened a map, pointing to three locations: "Besides Lordaeron, there are also Aerie Peak and Stromgarde!"
At these words, Alleria, who stood behind Lirath Windrunner, suddenly brightened, her eyes shining with admiration.
She hadn't expected the Prince's strategic vision to be exactly the same as hers!
Anasterian and the council members, however, looked puzzled: "Why? If I were Orgrim, I would definitely concentrate all forces to attack Lordaeron, to decide the outcome in one decisive battle."
"Your Majesty is wise, Orgrim will certainly do that, but precisely because of this, we should divide our forces into three routes."
Kael'thas looked at Alleria and said with a smile, "I imagine General Alleria shares this thought, am I right?"
"Yes, Your Highness." Alleria stepped forward, bending into an elegant and sharp military salute, her graceful figure appearing even more heroic in her battle armor.
Anasterian asked curiously, "Why?"
"Because the orcs are brave and skilled in battle, and they are most effective on the front lines."
"What we High Elves are best at is outdoor combat in complex terrain."
Alleria said, "Of course, we must send a portion of our forces to support Lordaeron, otherwise, it would be difficult to explain to the Alliance."
"But on the other hand, we should also send two large armies deep behind enemy lines to cut off the Horde's north-south connection, making the three hundred thousand Horde troops on the Lordaeron continent isolated!"
"As for why Stromgarde and Aerie Peak…"
She thought for a moment and said, "Stromgarde occupies the vital passage between the northern and southern continents. Relieving Stromgarde will allow us to send troops to control Sador Bridge."
"And eliminating the Horde in Aerie Peak will bring the Wildhammer Dwarves there into the Alliance. The Wildhammer Gryphon Riders are the true overlords of the sky, perfect for dealing with the Horde Dragon Riders."
Kael'thas smiled, "Not only that, there are deeper considerations."
Alleria looked confused: "There's more?"
"Haha, General Alleria, you are a genius in military matters, but still a blank slate in politics!" Anasterian couldn't help but laugh heartily.
The other shrewd council members also showed knowing and meaningful smiles on their faces.
Sending troops to Stromgarde and Aerie Peak was, of course, not merely about winning the war more effectively; it also involved international relations and post-war interest distribution!
Stromgarde was the ancient capital of the Arathor Empire, and also the current capital of the Stromgarde Kingdom.
Helping to relieve Stromgarde would not only gain the deep friendship of the Thoras Trollbane family but also secure crucial influence and practical benefits for Quel'Thalas in future issues concerning the ownership of Southshore and the territorial division of the Alterac Kingdom.
This was a long-term political investment.
The world was vast; the High Elves couldn't always remain confined to the small subcontinent of Quel'Thalas.
To gain sufficient benefits, especially land, from humans after the war, they had to seek allies among the human kingdoms.
Lordaeron was the strongest, and Terenas was shrewd; it would be too difficult to gain benefits from him.
Compared to that, other countries were easier.
Kul Tiras and Stormwind were too far away, the Archmages of Dalaran were not interested in land, and the ones truly capable of contending with Lordaeron for ownership of the Alterac Kingdom's territory were Gilneas and Stromgarde.
The human nations would never allow the High Elves to share the Alterac Kingdom.
But if the High Elves were willing to help Stromgarde contend for the ownership of the Alterac Kingdom after the war, then the nobles of Stromgarde would certainly not mind helping the High Elves acquire land in other places—
For example, some areas in eastern Lordaeron occupied by trolls.
And helping the Wildhammer Dwarves would not only gain a powerful aerial ally but also allow them to extend their influence into the Hinterlands, and even establish ties with the Bronzebeard Dwarves, who had an excellent relationship with the Wildhammer Dwarves, potentially even interfering in internal dwarven affairs.
Most importantly:
Rescuing the Red Dragon Queen in Grim Batol also required the help of the Wildhammer Dwarves.
After all, that city was once their territory!
"In that case, let's…"
Just as Anasterian was about to formally issue the order, a royal guard quickly entered the hall and reported:
"Your Majesty, an human Archmage calling himself 'Khadgar' is requesting an audience outside!"
Anasterian raised an eyebrow: "Khadgar? What is he doing here?"
Everyone else also looked puzzled.
Khadgar's identity was special; he was the disciple of the Archmage Medivh and a good friend of Alliance Commander Anduin Lothar, having once entered Karazhan with Lothar to kill Medivh.
Khadgar's identity was very awkward.
As Medivh's disciple, Khadgar wielded the legendary staff of Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian.
Atiesh was the inherited staff of the Tirisfal Guardians, and its wielder should, by rights, be the Guardian of Tirisfal.
However, the Tirisfal Council no longer existed, so Khadgar's identity as such could naturally not be recognized.
After killing Medivh, Khadgar returned to Dalaran, focusing on magical research and rarely interacting with others.
In the war of Zul'Aman, Khadgar also contributed his strength; his profound mana and excellent magical attainments were no less than any seasoned Archmage.
What was he doing here?
"It should be related to the war in Lordaeron."
Kael'thas said, "Your Majesty, summon him in, and we will know."
Anasterian nodded: "Let him in."
A moment later, the white-haired Khadgar walked hurriedly into the Sunstrider Royal Court.
He looked travel-worn, and his Archmage robe still bore traces of the arcane ripples left by his teleportation.
He first bowed to Anasterian with a standard Archmage salute, then his gaze eagerly fixed on Kael'thas:
"Your Highness, Archmage Antonidas has ordered me to come urgently for aid, and to implore you to immediately proceed to Lordaeron Royal City to attend the Alliance's supreme military council!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Kael'thas's golden eyes: "Why you? Khadgar, haven't you always been researching magic? If the Archmage was inconvenient to come, he should have sent his student instead."
Khadgar's expression was grave: "An hour ago, a hundred thousand Horde troops gathered at Lordamere Lake and attacked Lordaeron Royal City from the southern wall."
"The battle is now in full swing, and thousands of spells have disrupted the arcane energy of Lordaeron Royal City, making that space-time unstable and difficult for spatial mages to cast."
"Not many were able to teleport out; they were dispatched to various nations for aid, and the one sent here was me."
As a disciple of an Archmage, he was proficient in nine schools of magic, a true all-rounder.
In recent years, due to the Dark Portal, he had been researching teleportation spells and was a true master of teleportation.
His attainments in teleportation spells ranked steadily among the top three of all mages in Dalaran.
"What?"
"The Horde army actually abandoned entering Tirisfal Glades and attacked the city directly from the south?"
Everyone's expressions changed; Orgrim's decision was completely unexpected.
Lordaeron Royal City was too important!
It was the political, economic, cultural, military, and religious center of the entire Eastern Continent. Most of the nobles of the Lordaeron Kingdom and almost all the nobles who fled from Stormwind were inside.
Moreover, the east and west sides were continuous mountains, the south was Lordamere Lake, and the north was the flat Tirisfal Glades.
Once it fell, the Horde would possess a super-large military fortress, easy to defend and difficult to attack, capable of marching north at any time to occupy Tirisfal Glades, slaughtering the millions of civilians there, and obtaining enough provisions to feed a hundred thousand.
It could also completely cut off communication between northern cities like Silvermoon City and Stratholme, and southern cities like Dalaran, Gilneas, and Stromgarde, dividing the Alliance into two, unable to combine forces.
Then, the Horde could rely on the natural defenses of the Alterac Mountains to attack Andorhal and Stratholme from the north, and threaten Gilneas and Dalaran from the south.
They could even build shipyards in northern Tirisfal and, relying on the massive resources of Lordaeron and Tirisfal Glades, build warships to attack Kul Tiras and Quel'Thalas.
By then, the Alterac Kingdom, due to its position within the powerful influence of the Horde, would also shift from "seeking self-preservation" to a complete defection.
Wherever the Horde's forces marched, the Alliance would suffer a complete rout!
Kael'thas's expression was as usual, because in the history he knew, the Horde army had done exactly that.
This decision was still correct, but it ultimately failed due to Gul'dan's betrayal.
Only…
He was somewhat puzzled: "After the Alterac Kingdom's betrayal, Lordaeron wouldn't have been unprepared, would it? How could they allow a hundred thousand Horde troops to march straight in? That's a hundred thousand troops, not one hundred or one thousand."