As more time passed, Andreas felt that his decision to leave a memo while his memories were still fresh was a very wise one.
Over 9,000 years had passed since he transmigrated to Azeroth. As he gradually integrated into this world with the company of family and friends, the memories of his past life were slowly fading from his mind like dreamlike mist.
Andreas might still subconsciously recall certain major events closely related to his own interests when he encountered them, but for most so-called historical events, his memories were as blurry and hazy as looking at someone through frosted bathroom glass.
"So that's how it is..."
Putting down the memo in his hand, Andreas exhaled a heavy breath. "Has it already come to this?"
Although the memo didn't specifically mention the details of this event, the entry regarding Aegwynn clearly recorded her "great achievements."
She would fight a great battle against the demon king Sargeras in the icy plains of Northrend in the north, ultimately winning a hard-fought victory.
"Victory... Heh~"
Reading the other entries about Aegwynn as well, a look of mockery appeared on Andreas' face.
Even though he knew what would happen next, after some consideration, Andreas decided to let nature take its course and not deliberately try to change or prevent it.
As the Burning Legion recovered its strength over ten thousand years of recuperation, it was inevitable that Sargeras would find every possible way to return to Azeroth.
Even if this particular plan was stopped, the Fallen Titan would not give up easily; he would continue to infiltrate Azeroth through other means.
Rather than letting the future veer off in an unknown direction beyond his control, it was better to let things follow their established path in this matter. At least this way, Andreas would know exactly whom he should guard against and monitor.
"The Guardian of Tirisfal?"
Looking at the waning crescent moon outside the window, Andreas chuckled and whispered to himself, "From the moment this title fell upon Aegwynn, it began to become an incredibly ironic title."
"A Guardian who actively opens the gates to foreign enemies—and both mother and son across two generations, at that. There should be a limit to self-conceit."
...Under Andreas' observation, although Aegwynn successfully killed the traitor of Dalaran, the consequences the traitor had already caused began to spread at this time.
Shadows of demons began to appear on the cold wastes of the Borean Tundra, and the strength of the demon commanders among them far exceeded any human powerhouse Aegwynn had ever seen.
Aegwynn wasn't afraid of one-on-one combat, but the demons clearly wouldn't be so chivalrous as to duel her. Swarming her to complete the mission with maximum efficiency—that was the standard of the Burning Legion.
Unable to face an entire demon vanguard alone, Aegwynn followed ancient records left by the Tirisifal Council and went alone to the island of Crystalsong Forest to seek help from the Blue Dragonflight.
Learning that demons had once again entered Azeroth in organized units after many years, Malygos, who was busy raising dragon whelps in The Nexus, immediately heightened his vigilance.
He took the initiative to go to Wyrmrest Temple to convene a meeting of the Aspects, but unfortunately, only he and Alexstrasza were present.
Having sensed the complete death of C'Thun, Yogg-Saron and NZoth simultaneously developed a sense of crisis.
They began to blatantly increase their infiltration of the Emerald Dream, attempting to first corrupt this mirror world of Azeroth and use it as a foundation to influence the physical world of Azeroth.
Compared to NZoth, who was hiding in the deep sea with limited reach, Yogg-Saron, who occupied Ulduar, was more composed and confident.
Yogg-Saron, the thousand-mouthed demon, sent a large number of Faceless Ones servants at once to attack the Emerald Dream. The Green Dragon Queen Ysera was currently busy leading the Keepers within the dream to resist the attack from the Old Gods.
Cenarius and Goldrinn, whose injuries had long since healed, were also summoned by Ysera to assist. Most druids, including Malfurion, had also submerged into the dream to join the battle against the army of Faceless Ones.
On the surface, Yogg-Saron's power seemed unrivaled for a time, single-handedly instigating the first great war within the Emerald Dream.
But at this moment, Andreas was more wary of NZoth, who was lurking in the back.
One couldn't say Yogg-Saron lacked brains; when the power one wields reaches a certain level, for things that can be simply crushed with power, a normal person won't waste more brain cells thinking of strategies.
Strategy is usually something one actively seeks and considers when at a disadvantage; what the strong need to do is simply prevent the enemy from using strategies to limit them.
Between NZoth and Yogg-Saron, Yogg-Saron, who had corrupted the Titan Keepers and almost controlled all of Ulduar, undoubtedly held the absolute upper hand.
But NZoth, that old schemer, was no pushover either; the lord of nightmares from the original history was his creation.
There was cooperation between the Old Gods, but even more competition.
There was only one Azeroth. Even if they worked together to break free of their seals, they would eventually have to fight each other for control over the planet.
The fact that NZoth and Yogg-Saron had previously left C'Thun to his fate was proof of this. These two guys probably thought C'Thun wouldn't die so easily and didn't even send symbolic reinforcements, indirectly assisting the Azeroth Allied Forces in successfully crusading against the thousand-eyed demon.
Without the help of the Green Dragonflight, the Bronze Dragonflight King Nozdormu had been missing for nearly ten thousand years, and the Black Dragon King... went without saying.
The only Aspects who finally arrived were Malygos and Alexstrasza, who acted as a semi-host of Wyrmrest Temple.
The Bronze Dragonflight and Black Dragonflight sent their own ambassadors, and the Green Dragonflight didn't even have anyone to bring a message, which showed the intensity of the battle in the Emerald Dream.
As a Mortal power in Northrend friendly to the dragonflights, the city of Shandaral naturally received an invitation from Wyrmrest Temple. The Mayor of Shandaral then forwarded this invitation to the High Council of Astranaar via teleportation.
"Regarding the invitation from the dragonflights, discuss it among yourselves and see who will go,"
Andreas said with a deliberately disinterested attitude. "Although the number of demons is significant, this force is clearly just a secondary army, without even a single decent, well-known general."
Tyrande also nodded in agreement. "Actually, the dragonflights alone could handle this sudden incident. However, since Wyrmrest Temple has sent an invitation, we must give a positive response."
After thinking for a moment, Tyrande took the initiative to say, "I'll go this time. I've been stationed in Astranaar for too long, and I want to get some proper exercise."
Maiev and Andreas had no objections. Maiev added, "Take Jarod along as well, and let him reacquaint himself with his old rivals from nearly ten thousand years ago."
Since Jarod took office as the Military Chief, his daily attitude had remained relatively passive, except for the War of the Shifting Sands over 100 years ago. This was a good opportunity to use the Burning Legion's announced return to stimulate his initiative.
"Very well. I'll go prepare first. Maiev, have Jarod meet me directly at the teleportation tower."
Seeing Maiev hurry out with her head down, Andreas shook his head and smiled silently. 'Heh~ what a brother-obsessed sister.'
Just after seeing off Tyrande and Maiev and returning to his private office, Alfonso suddenly slipped in unnoticed.
"Lord Andreas, important intelligence has arrived from Suramar."
Andreas' gaze sharpened. "Continue."
"Yes," Alfonso reported fluently with his head bowed. "The Moon Guard stationed there are making unusual moves. They have established contact with the escort troops for exiled prisoners within Suramar City through special channels."
At the Moon Guard Fortress in Suramar, Andreas had long suspected that these stubborn Moon Guard had some secret dealings with Suramar City; after all, the ancestors of most Moon Guard in this fortress came from Suramar.
The Moon Guard was an elite garrison force composed of Arcanists. Before the War of the Ancients, they primarily held the responsibility of guarding the capital, Suramar.
After The Sundering, Suramar sank into the seabed, and the Moon Guard Fortress completely lost contact with the capital.
Due to their ambiguous stance during the great war, they were unable to integrate into the new Night Elves' national system like the Highborne of Black Rook Hold, and had remained isolationist for thousands of years.
Even though the Moon Guard Fortress was situated on a ley line node, it was unrealistic to maintain their own defense system for thousands of years without interruption. Andreas speculated that these Moon Guard must have had contact with Suramar City long ago.
Suramar had been completely closed off to the outside world since the start of the War of the Ancients. Their only chance to contact the outside was when they exiled prisoners from within the barrier.
Through the interrogation of the Fal'dorei spider-people, Andreas roughly understood the principles of Suramar's so-called exile mechanism.
Simply put, it was a way for the Suramar high-ranking officials to dispose of the surplus "useless" population.
By keeping themselves sealed within a narrow barrier for a long time, the resources Suramar could utilize were ultimately limited, whether it was food or magic.
At its peak, Suramar was extremely prosperous and was known as the Jewel of the Night Elf Empire. Today's ruins of Suramar's outer districts were once under the city's jurisdiction, and even the Moon Guard Fortress was a satellite city of Suramar.
But as Archmage Elisande raised the barrier to shroud the city's core, all the people within the greater Suramar area were forced to squeeze into this increasingly cramped sanctuary, and the pressure of resource rationing was bound to grow day by day.
The people of Suramar, now renamed the Nightborne, used the eye of amanthul, one of the Pillars of Creation, to create a new source of magic—the Nightwell, and the residents of the city all gained a form of immortality.
Immortality meant an extremely low population growth rate, but for an already overpopulated Suramar, thousands of years of population growth had begun to make them feel overwhelmed.
Out of necessity, to maintain the normal operation of Suramar, this periodic purge called Exile was authorized by Archmage Elisande.
Whenever Suramar's management felt the population pressure was too great, they would use various pretexts to exile "prisoners" from the barrier, leaving these exiles to fend for themselves in the abandoned ruins of Suramar.
The background of the exiles was quite complex; some were prisoners who had truly violated the law but whose crimes did not warrant death, but there were also many civilians arrested on trumped-up charges.
The reason for their arrest was singular: they could not make a sufficient contribution to Suramar's social productivity. Simply put, they were lazy.
Among those exiled, they were either lazy, stupid, or wicked.
The lazy and the wicked were pre-selected, while as for the stupid... most of this group were from noble families in Suramar City, stuffed into the ranks of the exiles because they had lost to their rivals in the struggle for interests.
The last Fal'dorei leader was a descendant of a noble family, and she knew the ins and outs of the exile mechanism perfectly. Maiev had interrogated almost all the information she knew before sending her on her way.
The events in Northrend were handled entirely by Tyrande, and Leticia, who was bored out of her mind, coaxed Aurora, Onyxia, and Celeste into going along to watch the excitement.
With Fandral and Maiev continuing to preside over the Council, and Shandris temporarily taking over Jarod's duties to manage military affairs, Andreas came to Suramar with Vastann and his newly officially accepted young apprentice, Niana.
It was Niana's first time leaving Moonshadow's Rest and Astranaar for a completely new region. As soon as the girl stepped out of the portal, she was as excited as a restless husky, looking around at everything.
Vastann was just brought along by Andreas incidentally. In fact, after the War of the Shifting Sands ended, this spokesman for Goldrinn had wanted to return to Suramar to continue fulfilling his duties, watching over the growth of the Arkandor in the ruins of Falanaar.
But Fandral had stubbornly used all sorts of shameless excuses to keep Vastann in Astranaar for over 100 years.
With Andreas heading to Suramar this time, Vastann finally found a reason to leave, and under Fandral's tearful gaze as he bit his handkerchief, he finally obtained his liberation.
*Inhale... Exhale...*
Vastann took a deep breath outside the portal room in the ruins of Falanaar. Because the wilds of Suramar were filled with a fair amount of free-floating magic, the air was somewhat different from that of Astranaar.
Vastann never considered himself a mama's boy... or rather, a daddy's boy?
Although he was very grateful for Fandral's affection, this excessive doting was something the long-grown Vastann found very difficult to adapt to.
If he had a choice, he would rather continue being stationed out in Suramar. This way, he could at least escape Fandral's excessive care and decide the course of his life with his own will.
"Uncle Andreas, I'm going to report for duty first. I hope you can successfully achieve your goals on this trip."
Watching Vastann politely bid farewell and depart, Andreas sighed with some emotion. 'He really has grown up. Through this child's gradual maturity, I can truly feel the change in history.'
In the original history, Vastann should have been tragically dismembered during the War of the Shifting Sands, causing the son-obsessed Fandral's mind to completely break, leading him down a path of no return.
However, in the timeline Andreas was in, this problem no longer existed.
Wielding an artifact, Vastann was now a standout among the younger generation of the Cenarion Circle. Only his fellow disciple Feren and a few recently emerged rookies could barely keep up with his pace.
Incidentally, among this batch of rookies were two names that Andreas had found recorded in his memos.
Naralex and Leiana.
According to the records in the memo, Leiana was supposed to be Vastann's rightful wife.
Due to the changes in the timeline, the two had only recently met, but some sparks of love had already begun to fly between them, making one marvel at the inertia of history at certain times.
Naralex was quite famous. Anyone who had cleared the 5-man dungeon, Wailing Caverns, should have some impression of the Druids of the Fang and his name.
Naralex was not of the same generation of youths as Leiana; he had been a member of the Cenarion Circle since its founding.
But he was still very green at that time, and it wasn't until around the War of the Shifting Sands that he began to make a name for himself, coming to the attention of high-ranking officials like Andreas and Fandral.
The scattered thoughts in his mind flashed by, and Andreas patted Niana, whose eyes were wide with wonder as she admired the surrounding scenery.
"Let's go. We'll head to the Moon Guard Fortress first. Prisim should already be waiting for us."
"Yes! Mentor!"
"Don't be so nervous." Seeing Niana's somewhat stiff movements, Andreas smiled and waved his hand. "Just keep a calm heart. This world is very large, and you will have many more opportunities to slowly get to know her in the future."
"Now, follow me and try to make contact with Suramar, which is known as the Jewel of the Night Elf Empire."
Looking up at the giant purple eggshell in the distance, Andreas smiled meaningfully. "I hope these former compatriots can be sensible. After all... times have changed."
Falanaar was not far from Moon Guard Fortress; one only needed to travel north along the Confluence to reach it.
When Andreas and Niana arrived at Moon Guard Fortress, the fortress belonging to the Moon Guard had already had its defensive barrier forcibly opened.
More than a dozen Highborne, gorgeously dressed in magic robes, were tightly bound in the core area of the fortress. Prisim, still wearing her signature red hood, silently stood guard beside them. The Rogue Scouts under her command watched over the high-ranking officials of Moon Guard Fortress with sharp eyes.
"You've worked hard, Prisim."
Aside from reporting on her work, Prisim was a taciturn person and was not skilled at flattering her superiors.
Prisim nodded gently toward Andreas and stepped aside, leaving him enough space. A handsome Highborne man, his face showing shame and indignation, was kneeling before Andreas with his hands tied behind his back.
Andreas chuckled as he squatted down in front of this "noble" mage with long, silver hair. "Hehe~ Isn't this Lord Augustin Moon-scar? What kind of trouble are you causing now?"
"Let me go! I haven't done anything!"
A flicker of unnaturalness flashed across Augustin's eyes. He struggled and shouted, putting on a brave face, "If you want to condemn someone, you can always trump up a charge! If you want to annex Moon Guard Fortress, just say so. Why use such despicable means to humiliate us!"
Andreas watched the man still refusing to admit his mistake and shook his head wryly.
Raising his hand and waving toward Prisim, Andreas said mockingly, "It seems our Lord Moon-scar won't shed a tear until he sees the coffin. Prisim, show him something concrete."
"Yes."
"Mph!"
An elf wearing exquisite enchanted light armor was brought in from outside the door, gagged and supported by two Scouts. When Augustin saw this elf with dark purple skin, his expression froze, and then he lowered his head sullenly.
This elf's appearance was very similar to that of the Night Elves, but with subtle differences.
His skin tone was darker than the pale purple of the Night Elves, and compared to the well-proportioned Night Elves, his physique appeared more slender. Shiny Arcane Runes were etched onto his face and exposed skin.
"It seems you understand where you exposed yourself. Do you know how to write the word 'fool'?"
Andreas still wore a benevolent smile, reaching out and gently patting Augustin twice on the cheek.
"I am truly ashamed of you. The Moon-scar Family was, after all, one of the great noble houses during the Night Elf Empire era. How could your generation turn out to be so worthless?"
"What benefits exactly did Suramar give you? Enough for you to abandon your current privileged and peaceful life just to help them keep secrets from me."
"Privileged?"
Hearing this, Augustin, who had originally lost the will to resist, raised his head again and retorted indignantly, "You won't even give us the authority to freely absorb the magic of the Well of Eternity, and you call this privileged?!"
"The conditions offered by Suramar are simple: unlimited magic. Absorb as much as you want. Do you have the guts to offer that!"
Andreas sneered and stood up. "Idiot. This rule wasn't specifically aimed at you; all Highborne living in the Night Elf Republic must abide by it."
"Furthermore, there's a reason why we don't allow you to absorb magic recklessly. Living in the Outer District of Suramar, can't you see the Wretched wandering in the wilderness? Do you want to become one of them later?"
"Or perhaps you are confident that, as an outsider, you can outplay the old foxes of Suramar in political struggles? Who gave you the courage? Is your surname Liang?"
"Do you really think that when it comes to magic, the more you absorb the better? How did your elders educate you?"
"You!"
"That's enough."
Andreas waved his hand in disappointment, cutting off Augustin's weak rebuttal. "I don't want to hear your justifications anymore. You have lost all usefulness... Prisim."
Receiving Andreas' instruction, Prisim immediately used Shadow Step to instantly move behind Augustin, and a swift dagger engraved with a blood groove plunged into Augustin's heart from the back.
"Ugh!"
Andreas' decisiveness completely exceeded Augustin's expectations. He stared wide-eyed at the expressionless Andreas in front of him, unable to utter a single word before rapidly losing blood due to the specially constructed dagger. He quickly lost all strength and fell forward onto the ground in despair.
"This..."
Seeing someone die right in front of her for the first time, Niana covered her mouth, nearly crying out in alarm. The other bound Highborne nearby also showed expressions of terror.
Andreas, his face still stern, spoke to the pale Junior Apprentice, "Niana, remember one principle."
"I can tolerate anyone questioning me personally, or misunderstanding and cursing the policies of the High Council, but I always have a zero-tolerance attitude toward traitors."
"They might betray you once for their own gain. If you are soft-hearted and forgive them, it's very likely they will do it a second and third time."
"But..." Having gone through the baptism of the illusion, Niana managed not to retch on the spot. She quietly questioned, her face pale, "Mentor, didn't you say Suramar was our kin? These people... shouldn't count as betrayal, right?"
"I did say that, but that refers to the past tense and the future tense, not the present tense."
Andreas signaled Prisim, and the Moon Guard present quickly executed everyone, leaving only the armored man whose legs had turned to jelly.
Seeing Andreas' decisive and ruthless side for the first time, Niana's ingrained impression of her mentor as gentle and lacking in boldness began to shatter.
Although she still found it somewhat unacceptable, Niana finally understood why Andreas had been able to sit in the position of High Council Speaker for thousands of years.
A national leader who only knows how to tolerate is absolutely unqualified. Of course, being relentlessly rigid is not a long-term solution either; balancing firmness and flexibility is the right path—being tough when necessary and showing clemency when required.
Andreas used concrete action to teach his rookie apprentice a lesson. Although she might not fully agree with his methods, at least the child now had a general understanding of his style.
Andreas, having struggled in Azeroth for nearly ten thousand years, was definitely not a pedantic man of unconditional benevolence; otherwise, it would not have been so easy to firmly suppress the power-hungry Tyrande for thousands of years.
Turning to look at the slender elf in light armor, Andreas' face had returned to a gentle smile, as if he were not the one who had just ordered the execution of the traitors.
"This one... A Nightborne, is that right?"
Smiling, Andreas squatted down in front of the trembling Nightborne and ripped off his gag. Andreas asked kindly, "Can you tell me the details of your transaction with Moon Guard Fortress? What did Suramar want to obtain from Augustin?"
If the previous scene hadn't occurred, this Nightborne would never have imagined that the seemingly gentle Andreas would suddenly resort to killing.
Although the tactic of "killing the chicken to scare the monkey" was old-fashioned, it was undeniably effective.
The Nightborne had lived pampered lives within the city of Suramar for nearly ten thousand years. Aside from engaging in political struggles where they framed and reported each other, they rarely encountered a "butcher" who would take a life without a second thought.
"I'll talk, I'll talk! Please don't kill me!"
The smile on Andreas' face became even more radiant, causing Niana, who stood not far across from him, to feel a chill in her heart, let alone the Nightborne involved.
"Don't worry, we won't just kill you. You are the first Nightborne we have seen with our own eyes."
"Come, tell us everything you know. Depending on the value of your intelligence contribution, I will not only refrain from punishing you but will also give you a reward."
'Sugar and whip...'
Niana, as an observer, could calmly discern Andreas' rather shallow pressure tactics, but as the person directly facing the pressure, this Nightborne quickly spilled all the information she knew like beans.
As expected, Suramar had already learned of the Night Elf Republic's existence from the news leaked from Moon Guard Fortress.
However, the Suramar leadership, led by Elisande, maintained a very ambiguous attitude, neither sending people to make contact immediately nor displaying a clear state of alert.
At least, not on the surface.
The transaction between Suramar and Moon Guard Fortress was simple: the city's magnates promised Augustine that as long as they continued to provide Suramar with intelligence about the Night Elf Republic, they would allow the Moon Guard to send their families into Suramar to enjoy prosperity first.
This intelligence was not limited to the Night Elf Republic's movements in the Suramar region; it also required information on all aspects of the entire nation, including military, political, and cultural.
This clearly treated itself as a nation on par with the Night Elf Republic, planting covert agents through defection, and the intent to resist was already clear.
"Hmm..." Andreas stroked his chin in thought, "Who made this decision? Elisande herself? Or did her advisors act on their own initiative?"
Suramar's political system was rather peculiar; the city's leader was not titled Mayor, Governor, or Governor-General, but rather Archmage.
There was also no such thing as a city council in Suramar; Elisande invited outstanding talents from all strata of Suramar society to serve as her advisors.
Each of these advisors held immense, non-overlapping authority, and when Elisande was in seclusion, they could even make decisions on her behalf, provided they reached a consensus.
"It was... it was Advisor Fandos, and the other advisors also adopted a tacit wait-and-see attitude."
"What about Elisande herself? Did she also approve of this proposal?"
As someone who controlled the Pillars of Creation and could effectively utilize them to some extent, Andreas valued the Archmage's attitude most.
If Elisande also agreed to the advisors' exploratory confrontation, peacefully subduing Suramar would likely be impossible.
The Nightborne Spellblade shook her head like a rattle-drum. "The Archmage rarely participates in political decisions. She spends most of her time in seclusion guarding the Nightwell, but every time the Archmage emerges, she brings correct guidance to our people."
Andreas nodded thoughtfully, 'Insights gained from peering into the timeline...'
The Pillar of Creation held by Elisande was called the eye of amanthul. As the name suggests, it was the eye of amanthul, Father of the Gods... just kidding, of course.
The eye of amanthul was a powerful purple gem that possessed some of the Father of the Gods' authority. Utilizing this gem could peer into fragments of the timeline and even, within a small range, alter the flow and speed of time.
Elisande had studied the eye of amanthul for even longer than Nathalas, the Ghost Dean who previously controlled the Tidestone, and as someone already known as an Archmage ten thousand years ago, her research progress should also be considerable.
After being inspired by the Ghost Dean, Andreas also attempted to further develop the usage of the tear of Elune and the Tidestone, and had already achieved significant results.
However, compared to Elisande, there was probably still a considerable gap.
Of course, this didn't mean Andreas lacked confidence in defeating Elisande, but a battle with this senior would certainly not be easy, so it was best to avoid it if possible.
Through her use of the eye of amanthul, Elisande was like Doctor Strange, constantly searching through countless timelines for the most suitable development path for the Nightborne.
But Andreas did not advocate for this method of guiding the people.
The flow of time and the composition of timelines were extremely complex; even Amanthul himself could not fully grasp them, otherwise the Pantheon would not have been so easily wiped out by Sargeras.
According to the Nightborne Spellblade, although Elisande nominally held the title of Suramar's supreme leader, she spent most of her time immersed in sifting through timelines, with political affairs largely handled by her advisory council.
As Suramar's leader who decisively cut ties with Azshara and distanced herself from demons ten thousand years ago, Elisande's courage and foresight were not lacking.
The selection of advisory council members was not limited to the Highborne but was open to all social strata.
Unfortunately, due to the control of the major noble families, most advisors ultimately could not escape their Highborne backgrounds.
The two advisors with the strongest resistance and antagonism towards the Night Elf Republic both came from Suramar's noble families, and they harbored a strong inherent hostility towards this nation controlled by "commoners."
"Advisor Fandos and Advisor Aethaus were the most active in this proposal, while the other advisors all abstained."
Andreas nodded noncommittally. "Tell me about this advisory council. Who exactly are Fandos and Aethaus?"
The Nightborne Spellblade readily introduced, "Advisor Fandos is a genuine Arcanist; his Arcane talent is exceptionally outstanding, and his strength in Suramar is second only to Archmage Elisande and Chief Arcanist Thalyssra."
"Advisor Aethaus is Suramar's Astrologer. He spends most of his time engrossed in exploring the cosmos. It is said that he can draw energy from these unknown planets by channeling the power of the Nightwell."
'Oh?'
Andreas raised an eyebrow slightly; such behavior was extremely dangerous.
The universe of Azeroth was not solitary; exploring the stars could easily attract the attention of Void forces and the Burning Legion if one was not careful.
"The advisory council is led by Chief Arcanist Thalyssra. Besides Fandos and Aethaus, there are also Melandus, the leader of the swordsmen who came from commoner origins, Auriel, the Spellblade General, and TelAn, the Botanist."
"TelAn is one of only two advisors from commoner backgrounds. Perhaps due to the ostracism and pressure from Fandos and Aethaus, in recent years, his indiscriminate use of the Nightwell to modify and strengthen his body has made him seem somewhat... eccentric?"
Andreas mused, "Botanist... Is this TelAn a Druid?"
"He used to be, but due to the staunch opposition of the Highborne led by Fandos against'savage' Druids joining the advisory council, TelAn, under pressure, abandoned his Druid identity and instead called himself a Botanist."
Andreas nodded. "I think I understand."
Turning to Niana, who also looked thoughtful, Andreas deliberately asked, "Niana, if we can send people to infiltrate Suramar, which of these advisors do you think we can win over, and which ones need to be eliminated?"
Suddenly asked such a question concerning diplomatic decisions, Niana couldn't help but be startled, but with her naturally bold heart, she quickly calmed down.
"I believe Fandos must be eliminated first. Aethaus remains to be observed. TelAn and Melandus are the two who should be won over most. As for the others... I'm afraid I can't tell."
Andreas smiled and nodded. "For the amount of knowledge and intelligence you currently possess, that's not bad. A 75, I'd say."
He kindly patted the shoulder armor of the Nightborne Spellblade in front of him, and the poor Nightborne flinched at Andreas' movement.
"Nightborne, what is your name?"
"Netara, Netara Nightglow, sir."
"Very good, Netara."
Andreas chuckled, enticing her, "Now you have an opportunity to render a great service. I need you to package us as Moon Guard family members from Moon Guard Fortress and bring us into the city. Can you do that?"
Niyana Starscar looked amusedly at the mournful expression on the young Nightborne's face.
'Does he have a chance to say no...'
In the end, Netara reluctantly agreed to Andreas' request. Circumstances were stronger than the man, and he didn't want to die young so quickly.
Moreover, there was an implicit reason that prompted him to agree to Andreas' proposal.
Although the Nightglow Family was considered a Highborne family, it had been in decline for many years.
He actually didn't agree much with the situation where major nobles controlled the political landscape.
When Elisande wasn't secluded as frequently, these advisors could still work diligently, striving to create better living conditions and development space for the people of Suramar.
But as the Archmage spent her days immersed in the Nightwell, the advisors' authority was significantly strengthened, and some people began to show their true colors.
Although restrained by the fair-minded Chief Arcanist Thalyssra, the Highborne faction didn't dare to go too far, but their covert interference in the selection of the Exile Squad had largely been confirmed.
Any political opponent who crossed the Highborne faction would be banished under fabricated excuses after their defeat, left to wander and perish in the wilderness surrounding Suramar due to a lack of Arcane power.
While the Night Elf Republic's advocacy for equality among all professions inevitably harmed the interests of the nobles, this was an opportunity for the Nightglow Family, which hadn't enjoyed many benefits anyway.
If they could earn merit in this operation, as Andreas suggested, and successfully help Speaker Moonshadow reclaim Suramar, the status of the Nightglow Family, acting as collaborators, would naturally rise.
Although they wouldn't have noble privileges like in Suramar, at least the family's future development would surpass its current state.
The world rushes in pursuit of gain, and the world scrambles for profit.
Those who act purely out of passion are few; most people navigate the world seeking various benefits.
Netara saw a better development prospect in the open and inclusive Night Elf Republic than in the closed and conservative Suramar, and that was enough. Whether for Suramar's sake or his family's interest, he decided to step up and take a gamble... Highborne clothing was extremely complicated to put on. After repeatedly buttoning wrong, Andreas finally gave up the struggle, allowing Prisim to silently help him straighten his clothes.
"...Who invented these counter-intuitive clothes? Don't they find it troublesome to wear?"
Prisim ignored Andreas' murmuring complaints and, after helping him dress, retreated back into the shadows.
Just then, Niyana Starscar also finished dressing with the assistance of a Moon Guard Fortress maid. The two didn't bother checking each other's attire and, urged by Netara, immediately set off to return to Suramar.
"I've been out long enough. Any longer might arouse the suspicion of Captain Auriel."
This group of half-genuine Moon Guard family members quickly departed under Netara's lead, arriving at a hidden Teleportation Platform east of the Moon Guard Fortress to rendezvous with other Spellblades awaiting orders. The group was then directly teleported outside the barrier of Suramar City.
Netara, as the leader of this Spellblade squad, used the Pass Talisman he received before leaving the city to lead the group through the purple, semi-transparent barrier into the urban area.
"Ah~"
Andreas and Niyana Starscar subconsciously took a breath after entering Suramar's Inner City.
They were not the only ones; everyone visiting Suramar for the first time made a similar gesture.
'Such dense Arcane energy. Do the Nightborne just let the almost materialized Arcane power permeate the city? Is there no management?'
After entering the city, Netara first respectfully handed over the group to a female Spellblade dressed in magnificent Enchanted Armor. Based on his address, this person was the Spellblade Commander Auriel, also a member of the Highborne.
The unique profession of Spellblade, which uses both sword and magic, did not exist previously. Auriel was the creator of the Spellblade profession, and with Elisande's support, she gradually popularized this new Combat Class throughout Suramar.
While the genuine Moon Guard family members in the group were marveling at the prosperity of Suramar City, Andreas keenly sensed that something was wrong.
"Niyana Starscar, raise your guard."
He squinted, observing the strange positioning of the surrounding guards. This encircling and watchful stance was not mere routine precaution; it carried a rather subtle aggressiveness.
'Exposed? It shouldn't be this fast. So... was Suramar just using the reception of Moon Guard family members as a pretext to deceive the Moon Guard Fortress from the start?'
Before the Moon Guard Fortress completed its mission, the advisors led by Fandos would not easily allow the family members themselves to enter the city.
These Moon Guard family members from the Moon Guard Fortress would likely not be easily killed, but they would certainly be isolated in a specific area of the city, regularly forced to write false letters describing peace and prosperity within the city, which would be sent to the Moon Guard Fortress to calm the restless emotions of the Moon Guard.
Andreas' momentary speculation contained a lot of subjective thought, but he had guessed Fandos' intentions almost perfectly.
Although Auriel didn't think highly of the fervent aristocratic fundamentalists led by Fandos, since this resolution had passed within the Advisor Council, she would not openly challenge it.
At the very least, these people's lives were temporarily safe, and they could indeed live inside Suramar City, which was filled with Arcane energy.
Before Andreas gave the signal, Prisim and the Scouts mingling in the crowd showed no abnormalities.
These professional Scouts, who knew how to talk to anyone, quickly blended in with the genuine family members. The two sides gathered together, laughing and chatting, seemingly full of aspirations for a beautiful future life.
Auriel glanced at these people with pity and, expressionless, ordered Netara, "Hand them over to Fandos' people. Our work here is done."
Netara, who was unaware of the internal situation, was stunned. "Fandos? But aren't we supposed to..."
A flash of irritation crossed Auriel's eyes. "No buts. Obey the order!"
"...Yes."
Ignoring Netara's conflicted inquiring gaze, Andreas pulled up his hood and moved silently among the chattering group of family members, secretly observing the dignified Auriel out of the corner of his eye.
'Spellblade Commander Auriel seems to have a righteous martial character and harbors some subtle dissatisfaction with Fandos. This might be exploitable.'
On the first day of entering the city, Fandos didn't overdo it. Although the residential area arranged for these family members was located on the eastern barrier border, far from the city center, he had at least fulfilled his promise to the Moon Guard.
Following a stealthy operation by Prisim, Andreas and the others were "accidentally" assigned to the same architectural complex.
"Uncle, what should we do next?"
After settling down, Niyana Starscar asked worriedly, "The situation seems quite different from what we expected, and there are too many guards watching us."
"Keep calm."
Andreas lay comfortably on the simple wooden bed, subtly observing the surveillance outside through the window.
"A plan is just a plan. During execution, you will always encounter many unforeseen and unavoidable factors. Just learn to adapt. Events that proceed smoothly exactly according to the predetermined plan are actually rare."
"If my deduction is correct, Fandos won't let this group remain comfortable for long. He will soon send people to execute the next phase of the predetermined plan."
"Change can bring crisis, but it can also bring opportunity. In short, let's rest up and wait to see how things unfold."
While Andreas and the others infiltrated Suramar City by special means, fierce fighting was erupting far away on the frozen continent of Northrend at the world's northern pole.
The fel flames of the Burning Legion ignited the sunless sky; the scene Andreas had once shown Niana in an illusion was now being played out for real on the soil of the Borean Tundra.
Brilliant auroras interwove with eerie green fel, and, laced with the reek of blood and fire on the ground, the once-quiet, frigid Borean Tundra blazed with scorching heat under the clash of two wills.
On a low hill north of the Borean Tundra, near Sholazar Basin, Tyrande and Jarod stood atop the rise, using a telescope to watch the distant battle.
The Dragonflights held absolute advantage; the small demonic army was of poor quality, far inferior to the elite demons of the War of the Ancients.
Defensive troops dispatched from Suramar City and Wintergrasp silently pitched camp in the frozen earth behind the two commanders.
Because Suramar City lay in the remote Arctic, most of these newly rushed troops had not experienced the brutal war against demons more than nine thousand years ago.
This was their first encounter with a demon army of any scale; the savage, blood-soaked aura the demons exuded left the soldiers' faces grave.
Once the camp was set, the soldiers mostly huddled around fires for warmth and small talk; a polarizing veil draped over the camp hid the firelight from the night, and for the moment the Burning Legion had no inkling that a Night Elf army had appeared on their flank.
'How in the world did these demons show up?'
'Word is a high-ranking human mage in Dalaran was seduced by demonic power and secretly studied fel within his own city, drawing them here.'
'What's that got to do with us in Northrend? Dalaran's all the way over in the Eastern Kingdoms—why would demons run to the Arctic?'
'Who knows? Maybe they figured it's sparsely populated, good for skulking about. Looks like they were right—if that human traitor hadn't been exposed by accident, who knows how long their trail would've stayed hidden.'
'Hmph—so they think Suramar's an easy mark?'
'Tomorrow we'll give them a lesson they won't forget!'
Jarod happened to pass by and overheard the soldiers' low-voiced chat, the corner of his mouth curling in a faint smile.
Though Suramar's troops were new to demons, they were no raw recruits; years of skirmishes and full-scale clashes with the Drakari Trolls had seasoned them.
The solid morale gratified Jarod—at least he wouldn't have to pit a pack of green rookies against the Burning Legion.
Tyrande had brought more than Jarod to Northrend; she'd also borrowed several senior officers from the Sentinels through Shandris, among them the rising Daelin Summermoon.
Now a colonel, he commanded a Sentinel brigade of roughly ten thousand, though his own regiment hadn't made the hurried voyage.
'Within our current observation range the Burning Legion numbers fewer than ten thousand,' he reported. 'The demons are of many kinds, their battle prowess uneven; it's hard to quantify the destruction they could unleash.'
Commanding troops again after so long left Tyrande excited, but with Jarod beside her she wasn't so reckless as to charge in.
Thanks to Andreas' years of example, the Night Elf Republic's forces had long since learned to secure supply lines, maintain communications, and gather intelligence first.
Daelin's report didn't surprise her; the Burning Legion was a loose horde of countless demon species, and expecting such chaotic creatures to form disciplined ranks like Mortals was nigh impossible.
'What's their composition? Which demon type dominates?'
Though Daelin hadn't fought in the War of the Ancients, his mother—once Shandris' deputy—had drilled him well on the Legion's menace and demon breeds.
Now puzzlement clouded his face as he answered, 'Perhaps because they're pressed for time, the force is mostly lesser troops—imps, succubi, voidwalkers—led by a sprinkling of Dreadlords as officers.'
Tyrande's brows lifted in surprise. 'No Pit Lords?'
Pit Lords ranked among the Legion's mightiest, their raw destruction surpassing even the Eredar who served the trio of Legion overlords.
'None. Just a handful of Fel Guards and Doomguard; our scouts didn't spot a single Eredar in the army.'
Tyrande and Jarod exchanged glances, both baffled.
Jarod rubbed his chin thoughtfully. 'So this vanguard's combat strength should be mediocre. Why are the Guardian of Tirisfal and the dragons acting as if doom itself were at the door?'
Daelin's expression turned odd. 'Well… the Wyrmrest Temple sent word that the current Guardian, Magna Aegwynn, spotted a demon over twenty meters tall behind the enemy lines.
'Aegwynn searched the Tirisfal Council's ancient records—obtained from the High Elves—and provisionally labeled this red-skinned, curved-horned, flame-wreathed giant… Sargeras.'
'…Huh?'
Tyrande's eyes flew wide. 'You're saying Sargeras? This has to be a joke, right?'
Both Jarod and Tyrande had lived through the War of the Ancients; Tyrande herself had once glimpsed Sargeras at the Well of Eternity.
Though only a fleeting look, the Fallen Titan's terrifying majesty had seared itself into the High Priestess' mind—no Azerothian being, demigod included, could match that power.
Daelin gave a wry smile. 'I wish Aegwynn had been mistaken, but the Wyrmrest Temple verified it personally—the demon's identity is confirmed.'
'It is indeed the founder of the Burning Legion, the sovereign of innumerable demons—the Fallen Titan Sargeras.'
'This…'
Even Jarod gaped. 'Impossible. During the War of the Well, Sargeras needed the Well's vast power and ages of effort just to tear through Azeroth's barrier and enter the world.'
'How could a lone human mage and a bunch of minor demons summon Sargeras so quickly?'
Surprise wasn't limited to Jarod; Malygos, stationed at the Wyrmrest Temple, had repeatedly doubted his own eyes.
Though his mind had been clouded in the Well's final battle, he still remembered the Fallen Titan's visage.
The fiery-bearded giant was unmistakably Sargeras—yet the energy radiating from this one differed vastly from the demon king who had nearly slain him millennia ago.
Out of caution, Malygos extended an invitation to the Night Elf Republic, asking those who had fought at the Well and retained clear memories to come and verify.
As the saying goes, the newborn calf fears no tiger.
When Tyrande prepared to teleport with Jarod to the Wyrmrest Temple for parley, news arrived that the demon king himself had appeared—and the Guardian of Tirisfal, Aegwynn, had already charged out in high spirits, her newly forged Elunarian staff in hand, heading straight for Sargeras.