As Arthas tirelessly rode towards Stratholme, Galen had already arrived in this largest city in eastern Lordaeron ahead of him.
This city once housed nearly two hundred thousand people, covering a vast area. It was not only the capital of the Northern Autonomous Province but also boasted the largest port in the north. During its heyday, trade ships from the high elf kingdom frequented this place.
But now, everything had changed!
The once bustling city had become desolate. The local nobles were completely bewildered, unable to understand why Stratholme had lost so much of its population in such a short time, leading to the city's near paralysis!
Not long ago, during the trial of Tirion Fordring and the execution of orcs, the main gate of Stratholme was breached by a group of orcish suicide fighters. With Uther's Knights of the Silver Hand and Dathrohan's Stratholme Brigade present, the situation was brought under control, and there were virtually no civilian casualties besides soldiers.
Originally, the nobles thought everything had settled down after burning the orc corpses, but the situation unfolded far from over.
With Uther leading the Knights of the Silver Hand away, rumors quickly spread throughout the city, pointing fingers at Stratholme's garrison. A large number of citizens questioned the guards, accusing them of being overpaid and useless, incapable of protecting Stratholme's safety!
Soon after, news of plagues and undead resurrections began to emerge in Eastweald. Dathrohan had no choice but to lead the remaining paladins out to investigate and suppress the undead.
With Dathrohan's departure, Stratholme's decline quickly began. First, a large number of properties were sold below market price. Even the Stone Raven Inn, with its prime location, appeared on the list of secondhand properties.
The nobles didn't think much of it. Relying on their ample funds and authority, they bought up properties to the maximum extent, almost fighting tooth and nail.
While the nobles and authorities were preoccupied with these interests, a large number of citizens secretly left with their families!
First, it was the people around King's Square and the market district, followed by the residents around Elder Square and Festival Lane. Only when the nobles discovered that the city had become desolate did they realize that this was an organized and premeditated migration!
But it was all too late. By the time the nobles, at the urging of Baron Rivendare, issued measures to close the city gates, only half the people remained in the city!
Galen overlooked the entire city from Onyxia's back and saw only a dim scene, with an aura of darkness shrouding the entire city!
"This city is finished. Unless the Knights of the Silver Hand are immediately deployed in full force, along with the support of two regular legions, to seal off the entire city as quickly as possible, and then arrange for priests to purify the plague within each individual!"
"Hey, Master, for Lordaeron, this city is finished, but for you, it's just grown some rotten flesh. As long as my brothers and I take action, or if the Templar Knights lead tens of thousands of priests from the Cathedral, we can control the outbreak of the plague."
Onyxia, in her dragon form beneath Galen, spoke in a buzzing voice. Fortunately, they were high in the sky and had cast an invisibility spell, so they didn't have to worry about being discovered.
At this time, there was only one person and one dragon. Ilucia was dropped off halfway by Galen, who gave her two teleportation wands and sent her to be the liaison between Hearthglen and Sanctum.
The farmers were arranged by Galen to take the refugees to Hearthglen for refuge. How could Galen not know that they lacked food?
Since Tyran and the others were graduates of his training camp, Galen was exceptionally good to his own people.
"I have saved those I could save. Some of the remaining people are corrupted nobles, and some are citizens who are reluctant to leave their homes. It's hard to persuade those who are destined to die. They must bear the consequences of their own choices."
Galen silently finished this sentence, then closed his eyes and began to sense the energy field in Stratholme.
He needed to find Mal'Ganis's location so that after he pretended to be killed by Arthas, he could capture his soul and prevent him from returning to the Twisting Nether.
However, after Galen carefully searched around, he found nothing.
It shouldn't be. With my sensitivity to fel energy as a Holy Light demigod, I should be able to detect even a little devil hiding in the sewers!
Undeterred, Galen rode Onyxia over Stratholme again, but still found nothing!
Unless!
He hasn't arrived in Stratholme yet!
It seems he can only wait for Arthas!
Arthas led a team of five hundred people, rushing along the road. On the way, he passed more than a dozen farms. From afar, he could even see huge steamers placed on the land of those large farms, constantly emitting green gas!
Arthas was tormented. He had already learned that these steamers were plague-spreading steamers from the Cult of the Damned, and the farmers of Lordaeron thought they were sacred devices to increase grain production!
Relying on these steamers, the plague had already spread. At least the villages along the way were all empty, with no living people except for wandering ghouls.
The good news was that the large towns in Eastweald, such as Darrowshire, Corin's Crossing, Tyr's Hand, Light's Hope Chapel, Haven, etc., were still under the control of the nobles and Lordaeron officials, maintaining basic operations.
After warning them that the plague was spread through grain, Arthas hurriedly headed to Stratholme.
As Arthas climbed the last hill, he saw Stratholme from the height of the city walls...
The city was desolate, and there was not a single pedestrian on the streets. Arthas didn't know if this situation was good or bad, whether the plague in the city had spread.
How much he wished he had overheard his father cursing those brainless nobles in the palace, that they could have a flash of inspiration, discover the problem with the grain, and directly control the plague...
Unfortunately, fate did not grant his wish. Arthas smelled a strange, unique aroma of baked bread in the air!
This was wheat mixed with the plague of death!
The aroma was added to better attract the living!
That was all magic and cruel tricks!