Chapter 161 I See

"Then what is your purpose in helping humanity? Judging by your past conduct, you are certainly no altruistic elf asking for nothing in return."

A faint, ambiguous smile hung on Anasterian's lips, as if he had complete insight into everything about Patrick.

Patrick answered without a care, "Your Majesty Anasterian, I believe only the victors are qualified to share the spoils of war. Don't you agree?"

"Oh," King Anasterian nodded in agreement, but then said intriguingly, "That makes sense, but are you certain the Lordaeron Alliance will emerge victorious?"

"I cannot be certain. However, even without victory, what do I stand to lose? Quel'Thalas has the Sunwell; what do we have to fear? Perhaps we ought to worry that the orcs might grow strong and prosperous after wiping out humanity, but we have Ban'dinoriel, do we not?"

Patrick knew that all high elves believed the Sunwell and Ban'dinoriel were invincible. With this impenetrable shell, the high elves could simply retreat into the Eversong Woods and remain safe. Patrick merely leveraged the king's own mindset to justify his words. After all, as the king of the high elves, Anasterian's adoration for the Sunwell was boundless.

"You are too cunning to seem like an elf." Patrick's flattery was well received by Anasterian. "Then what do you hope to gain from humans? I hardly think there is anything humans possess that would catch the eye of the Silvermoon Council."

"I certainly have little regard for human trinkets. However, Your Majesty, the expansion of House Cabaltron and the founding of the City of the Sun—all their consumption and provisions are basically obtained through my trade with humans. The Sunwing, Windrunner, and Dawnstar noble houses have never ceased their suppression of House Cabaltron. If I do not forge a different path, do you believe those four councillors would simply allow me to rise?"

In truth, everything Patrick said was a mere pretense, and he had not even revealed half of the core issue. Lordaeron would fall in the future; Patrick simply wanted to accelerate the circulation of the gold coins in his hands and convert them into supplies to prepare for future contingencies.

More importantly, the City of the Sun was experiencing rapid development. The consumption of various supplies was immense, and the flow of gold coins was like an endless river. Price inflation was an unavoidable consequence. What was the best way to tightly control the inflation brought about by rising prices?

First was war, to divert internal economic pressure—much like a certain star-spangled nation. Second, nothing more than frantic consumption: running to other countries to buy wildly and buy up everything, draining other nations dry. Everyone knows who does this without needing to be said. Third, collecting seigniorage from other countries, making foreign nations bear the burden of one's domestic inflation.

For instance, a hundred-dollar bill might cost only a dollar to print, yet it could purchase a hundred dollars' worth of goods and circulate worldwide; the ninety-nine-dollar difference was seigniorage. This, too, was a practice heavily favored by that same star-spangled nation.

Once the economic problems of the City of the Sun vanished, it might look like stable development, but in reality, the growth rate hidden beneath those factors was utterly staggering. Issuing paper currency and playing finance in this world was impossible; Patrick could only rely on continuous purchasing to disperse the City of the Sun's inflation while simultaneously accumulating vast quantities of basic supplies.

What use were gold coins? Gold coins were very useful; countless living beings undoubtedly bowed down before wealth. However, to the skeletons and zombies of the Scourge, the utility of gold coins was no different from mud on the ground. That was why Patrick spared no effort in trading with Lordaeron, selling ordinary goods, handicrafts, and local specialties in exchange for Lordaeron's various supplies.

Of course, it was impossible to explain all this to Anasterian. The world lacked these concepts, so the excuse had to be framed as being for the development of the City of the Sun.

Furthermore, maintaining a higher profile among the Lordaeron populace was also a good harvest. Once Lordaeron's humans became familiar with the elves, future cooperation between himself and the remnants of Lordaeron could proceed much more advantageously.

Anasterian showed little expression upon hearing this, seemingly tacitly approving of Patrick's approach. In Anasterian's view, Patrick's actions were hardly objectionable. As long as he did nothing to harm the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, Anasterian saw no reason to object.

……

"Your Majesty, the orcs have been defeated, and the emergency in the capital has been lifted. Alliance Commander Anduin Lothar has already led his troops in continued pursuit of the orcs, and many Lordaeron soldiers have responded to the call." Having said this, the Chancellor of the Kingdom of Lordaeron let out a long sigh of relief.

When the orcs launched their assault on the capital of Lordaeron, the entire kingdom had been on edge; some women had even begun to weep, unable to bear the thought of their fate should the capital fall. After all, the disastrous state of Stormwind was there for all to see—once the city walls were breached, their own ends could be easily imagined.

"It is fortunate that Lothar discovered the orcs' movements in time and rushed back from Quel'Thalas to rescue us. Otherwise, relying solely on our garrison, being breached would have been only a matter of time," the aging king murmured with a mixture of lingering fear and emotion.

The Chancellor then delivered a piece of shocking news: "Admiral Daelin Proudmoore's son, Derek Proudmoore, has fallen in battle, and his entire fleet was wiped out, perishing at the hands of the Horde's red dragonriders. Not even a handful of ashes was left behind for Admiral Proudmoore."

Terenas's face was filled with sorrow. He had long known Daelin and Lothar, and Lordaeron shared extensive ties with Kul Tiras. Learning that Daelin had lost a son in his twilight years weighed heavily on Terenas's heart. "My old friend, he should not have suffered such a heavy blow. Where is Daelin now?"

"He has led the combined Kul Tiran fleet out to sea to hunt down the remaining Horde."

"Issue a national proclamation expressing our condolences to Admiral Proudmoore. Lordaeron will forever remember his contributions to the Alliance."

The Chancellor's expression shifted, his aged face growing solemn. "Your Majesty, there is a matter I wish to report to you."

Noticing the Chancellor's expression, the aging king realized something unusual was afoot. Terenas waved his hand, signaling the surrounding attendants and guards to withdraw.

Seeing that everyone had retreated and only the two of them remained in the grand hall, the Chancellor spoke: "Your Majesty, don't you feel that Anduin Lothar holds far too much control over the Alliance forces?"

"Why would you harbor such a thought?"

"I must admit that Anduin Lothar made monumental contributions in the battle for the capital, and the Alliance forces under his command are brimming with high morale and ambition. His leadership and troop cohesion are second to none across all human kingdoms; none can compare."

Having offered his praise, the Chancellor turned to the main point: "However, Your Majesty, according to reports from the Chief Military Officer, after numerous battles, the Alliance soldiers have begun to show absolute loyalty to Anduin Lothar, universally acknowledging him as this regent from the Stormwind Kingdom. This hardly seems favorable to the Kingdom of Lordaeron."

"..." Terenas thought back to the day the orc army retreated and the scene when he and Lothar met. The Chancellor knew Terenas had been persuaded; no monarch wished to see their throne threatened.

"Your Majesty, here is a deliberation report from the House of Nobles. Please look it over."

Terenas accepted the parchment, studying it for a long time. After an internal struggle, he asked, "What do you intend to do?"

The Chancellor knew Terenas had accepted the nobles' report. "Lordaeron will not bear the stigma of betrayal; we merely need to make slight adjustments to our military deployment. Word from the front lines indicates internal division has arisen within the Horde. Driving back those green-skinned orcs will be effortless. While Lothar pursues the orcs, logistical constraints will force him into a decisive head-on clash with those beasts. Even if he emerges victorious, it can only be a pyrrhic victory, and the orcs will not miss the opportunity to slay the enemy commander."

Finally, the aging king placed the parchment into a brazier and burned it to ashes. "Take care not to overdo it."

"This subject takes his leave."