"Can Your Highness really tame those Orcs?" Darius asked another question. He often heard his daughter talk about Arthas and had intended to match the two of them, but today Arthas had become engaged to Jaina. It seemed impossible for his daughter now, which was a bit of a shame.
Arthas shook his head and then nodded. "I wouldn't call it taming. I can accept any race living on Azeroth. But the prerequisite is not through invasion. They can live on this land, provided they atone for the war crimes they committed. It just so happens there's another war coming up; they'll be quite useful then."
"War? What other war?" Old Mograine was curious. As a Paladin, although he was weary of war, he would never hesitate for the sake of humanity.
In the distance, the singing and dancing continued. Noblewomen and socialites wore high heels and silk stockings, showing off their graceful figures. Many socialites were also wearing the recently released cheongsams. The hem of the dresses split at the thigh, revealing long legs in black silk. While no bare flesh was exposed, it left much to the imagination.
"The proxy war for the Demons isn't over yet. They are constantly trying to find new energy sources to open a portal and invade our world. The Orcs were merely a pawn. Furthermore, our world faces significant internal threats, especially those damned Insectoids. Hidden within the Endless Sea to the south is a massive landmass, larger than the entire Eastern Kingdoms and Stranglethorn Vale combined. That continent also hides hideous monsters that have broken free from their seals. There are far too many threats. These wars require massive amounts of manpower and resources, which is why I chose to recruit those Orcs. Humanity alone cannot handle these tasks."
War was no joking matter, and he wasn't being an alarmist, though it did sound somewhat fantastic.
"Is it really that serious?" Fordring asked in a steady tone. He didn't doubt the Prince's words, but such a battle felt quite distant from them.
"It is. Not everyone agrees with such a war. We do have other allies on that other continent!" Arthas suddenly raised his glass and laughed. "Don't be so pessimistic. Things aren't too bad yet; we have time to prepare. I will go and lead the vanguard this time. If things go well, the Alliance won't even need to be mobilized. Things will remain as they are, and life will go on."
The group took a sip of their wine, each calculating their own small interests. Some were hesitant, some unwilling to fight, and some saw an opportunity for investment.
"Your Highness, I wish to contribute this time. However, Gilneas was attacked by a secondary Orc force, and there is much reconstruction work to oversee. Let Garona help you. She is very skilled at logistics management and is also an excellent commander. No matter what role you give her, she can handle it. Your Highness, this is my small contribution. Please accept it and look after Garona for me; she is very talented but has much to learn, and she can be of help to you." Darius spoke in an earnest tone, without too much flattery.
To him, letting his daughter work with Arthas wasn't necessarily about giving her away. Darius's territory was in Silverpine Forest, bordering Lordaeron, which meant he needed to maintain a good relationship with Lordaeron. Seeing Arthas's rising momentum, it was only beneficial to invest now and build a good rapport.
Moreover, in the worst-case scenario, even if his daughter didn't marry him, if something were to happen between her and Arthas, it wouldn't be a bad thing. If she were to get pregnant, the child would still be the heir to the Crowley family, and because the father was Arthas, they would maintain a good relationship with Lordaeron. No matter how he looked at it, it was a guaranteed win. As for an alliance through marriage? The Crowley family didn't need Garona for that!
The other high lords realized what was happening and inwardly cursed Darius as an old scoundrel; such calculation was truly despicable. Yet, they couldn't find any fault with it. He was right—this was just a form of support and had nothing to do with anything else; it was just helping the Expeditionary Force.
"Very well, then I thank the High Lord." Arthas accepted with a smile. This was a good thing, so why refuse?
"I'll have Darion come and help Your Highness. He is a brave warrior who has killed many Orcs on the battlefield." Old Mograine also chimed in. If he didn't have a daughter, then a son would do just as well. As a noble Paladin, he disdained using marriage as a tool.
"Fine, thank you as well." Arthas didn't refuse. These were all good helpers, and with their assistance, many things would be easier to handle.
Other lords also began trying to push their people onto him. Arthas didn't accept everyone, merely saying he would consider it and give them an answer later. Not just any random person could join; he only wanted elites who could actually help him. Useless people looking for a free ride could get as far away as possible.
On the other side, Queen Lianne was handing out Lady's Cigarettes, made from Peacebloom and Earthroot, to the other socialites and noblewomen. "This is a type of cigarette my son invented, made from medicinal herbs like Peacebloom. You can all give it a try. Like this—once lit, put it to your lips and take a puff. Inhale the smoke and feel it swirl. Isn't it refreshing? It's as if your mind has been cleared."
The profit from cigarettes was immense. Whether for men or women, smoking wasn't necessarily bad, but smoking low-quality tobacco was. These Tranquil Blossom Cigarettes were specially blended and didn't have the foul smell of tobacco; instead, they left a faint, pleasant fragrance. The taste had been adjusted several times before the production process was finalized.
This was merely a preliminary test and promotion. If the results were good, they would go straight to market. This was how new products were launched—high heels, silk stockings, cheongsams, and so on were all promoted first and then sold like wildfire. These garments could continuously harvest gold coins; as long as new styles were introduced and more parties and fashion shows provided exposure, a virtuous cycle could be formed.
Arthas knew all too well how those high-end brand chains of the past had monopolized markets to make money. To be honest, the costs weren't high, but the brand effect and reputation added a massive premium to the price.