"How fares the North? Have those envoys dispatched by the Lich King to oversee Angerboda been dealt with?" Galen inquired, his tone carrying a hint of urgency.
The situation with Ymiron's wife, Angerboda, was complex. Sensing the Lich King's growing power and offering of a potential end to their curse in exchange for service, the Dragon Queen had chosen to align with the Scourge. The Lich King had promised that any Vrykul generals, ancient heroes, or brave warriors who fell in battle would become the Scourge's "Chosen Ones!" However, the grim reality was that these living Vrykul, or their corpses, were taken in droves to the Altar of Sacrifice in Icecrown under the watchful eyes of the Val'kyr, twisted into an undead Vrykul army known as the "Ymirjar."
"Great Lord, Prince Keleseth, the Scourge's envoy, has already had his neck snapped by my own hands and now adorns the highest peak of Utgarde Keep!" Ymiron declared, a hint of grim satisfaction in his voice. He then frowned. "Great Lord, according to Angerboda, it wasn't just our Vrykul who chose to join the Lich King, but also a significant number of Frost Trolls."
Galen was well aware that the Frost Trolls of Gundrak were also likely ensnared by the Scourge. While he had deliberately slowed the pace of the Crusade's advance, if the core forces of the Crusade and the Alliance remained idle, he could certainly deploy his vassals to take the initiative. This reminded Galen of the mercenary contracts in "Mount & Blade"... Let the vassals conquer the land, and I shall be responsible for its acquisition from the rear! Perfect.
"Ymiron, set aside those undead matters for now. Return and gather your troops, then begin your infiltration of the north. If you encounter any crazed Furbolgs, eliminate them, but leave the normal Furbolgs unharmed. Once you have established a foothold in Grizzly Hills, seek an opportunity to strike at Zul'Drak!" Galen's command was clear. "Remember, restrain your people. No indiscriminate slaughter of the Furbolgs!"
"As you command, Great Lord!" Ymiron affirmed.
Galen's specific reminder was not without reason. The Dragonflayer clan had a history of conflict with the Furbolg tribes! Fifteen thousand years before the opening of the Dark Portal, the ancient Dragonflayer Vrykul clan was entrenched in the southern regions of ancient Northrend, and the ancestors of the current Furbolgs, the Zao'g Bearmen, had posed a significant threat to the Vrykul's dominance. Under Ymiron's command, the Dragonflayer Vrykul had launched a fierce offensive against the Zao'g Bearmen, and after a series of brutal battles, they had finally driven these bear-like creatures into the dense forests of central Kalimdor. Ten millennia had passed, yet the Vrykul remained the same aggressive people, and Galen worried they might not be able to restrain themselves from engaging the Furbolgs of Amberpine Lodge.
After dismissing the Vrykul king, Galen's thoughts drifted back to the two beauties awaiting him in his room. Unfortunately, upon his return, Alleria and Sylvanas were already fully dressed. Galen could only suggest a… serious sparring session instead.
In the following weeks, Galen remained with the Windrunner sisters in Howling Fjord. Regrettably, the passionate scene of their first night did not repeat itself. At most, either Alleria or Sylvanas would spend private time with him. In his leisure hours, Galen also oversaw the progress of the Alliance nations in developing their colonies, offering guidance and assistance where needed. Only three large detachments of Farstriders had been deployed this time, and with Howling Fjord currently secure, Kael'thas turned a blind eye to the Windrunner sisters' temporary absence from their duties. He even exceptionally appointed Lirelle as the temporary commander, tasking her with leading three Farstrider ranger squads on patrols near Niflevar, with the added benefit of hunting game and collecting furs in the wilderness. Kael'thas was pleased to witness the blossoming romance between Galen and the Windrunner sisters. With his keen perception of Galen's strength and influence, he had already foreseen that his confidant would shape the future of the world. His queen being two high elves would greatly benefit the kingdom of Quel'Thalas, ensuring their participation in future opportunities. For this reason, Kael'thas even harbored a fleeting concern that the Windrunner sisters' lifespans might not match Galen's… But that was a distant future. Kael'thas knew that if he himself failed to achieve a breakthrough, he might not even outlive the Windrunner sisters!
After a month of respite in Howling Fjord, Galen finally grew restless. Such a prolonged period without stirring up some kind of trouble felt… incomplete. Passion! A true man was born into this world; how could he remain immersed in a gentle embrace day after day? Therefore! Galen decided to take his "gentle embrace" on an adventure!
After a brief mental survey, Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord were securely within Alliance territory. Grizzly Hills was somewhat tense due to the Vrykul incursion. Zul'Drak teemed with trolls. Storm Peaks and Icecrown Glacier were the lairs of two significant enemy factions. Dragonblight was a barren, uninviting ice field. Galen's final destination became Wintergrasp and Crystalsong Forest. These two areas were neutral zones, lacking overwhelming forces, offering opportunities to enjoy the scenery and perhaps uncover some forgotten treasures!
Beneath the mountains east of Wintergrasp Lake, Galen established a camp with the Windrunner sisters. It was a circular plateau, as if an entire mountain range had been cleanly bisected. The surrounding peaks were perpetually capped with snow, and the ice on the lake was at least three meters thick! After helping them build a few snowmen, Galen suddenly conceived the idea of cutting through the thick lake ice with them, and the three of them worked together to construct a makeshift ice house. They lay within their icy shelter, gazing at the azure Northrend sky, sharing whispered secrets.
"Actually," Galen said mysteriously, seeing that he had piqued their curiosity, "the real reason I brought you here is to find treasure!" He continued, "In this lake surrounded by mountains, there lies a hidden treasure!"
"Treasure!" Sylvanas exclaimed, her excitement palpable. She propped herself up on one elbow, leaning over Galen's chest, her eyes burning with anticipation. "What kind of treasure? What riches await?"
"It is said to be a treasure trove left by the Titans. As you know, Titan creations contain immense power, which would be of great benefit to our own strength."
Alleria also showed keen interest. After all, no one would object to acquiring more treasures! "Tell us more!" she urged.
"It is a vast Titan building complex," Galen elaborated, "containing the ruins of a Titan temple and the home of a simple and honest guardian named Archavon, along with his giant brethren! And those elemental crystals you see scattered across the lake?" Galen picked up a piece of ice elemental crystal. "These are high-grade artifacts! Even these remnants outside represent a significant wealth. One can only imagine how tempting the contents of the treasure trove must be!" In his previous life, this area had been a contested battlefield between the Alliance and the Horde. The memory was hazy, and Galen couldn't recall the specific treasures within the vault. But he was certain that several treasure vault guardians resided within, and subduing them alone would be worthwhile! Furthermore, accumulating the massive resources around Wintergrasp Lake and establishing a sub-base here would undoubtedly yield substantial profits.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Sylvanas exclaimed, her eagerness brimming. "Let's quickly unearth these treasures!