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The rescued civilians collapsed to the ground, weeping and incoherently recounting the tragedy of their village being destroyed and their loved ones being massacred.
Chapter 99 Uther leads the people across the river and arrives at Southshore.
"Waaah, may the Holy Light protect us."
"It is Lord Uther, the great Lightbringer Uther."
"My lord, have you come to save us?" Dozens of civilians knelt on the ground, looking at Uther and the paladins present with excited expressions.
Upon seeing Uther, these commoners immediately felt saved and hope returned. After all, he was the renowned Lightbringer, and all those present were paladins.
The surrounding paladins looked at each other, unsure how to respond. Strictly speaking, they were now just a group of defeated soldiers, but at least they had found an organization and had a goal to move forward, while these civilians didn't even have a goal.
Rhodes turned to look at Uther. To be honest, these civilians were a complete burden, utterly useless. In times of war, these civilians were the most unfortunate and miserable.
But if you really say you'd abandon them, neither the paladins nor the female mage present could do it.
Even Uther, a believer in the Holy Light, couldn't do it, and neither could Rhodes, a modern man.
“Let’s take them with us, Rhodes,” Uther said, looking at Rhodes.
“I understand, but you need to be prepared. We don’t have much food and supplies over there either. We’d better get support from the Alliance,” Rhodes said.
If the alliance cannot provide supplies, then this group will not be able to go overseas, and will have to disband within half a month at most.
“There will always be a way, come with us!” Uther’s voice was firm and unwavering, carrying an undeniable authority. “We will protect you to Southshore, where there are ships and hope!”
"May the Holy Light bless you, my lord."
"Thank you for taking me in, Sir Knight."
"Please, my esteemed paladins, and Lord Uther, my family is in a town dozens of kilometers away. Please go and save them."
The place is now besieged by the dead and needs your help. My son is only five years old.
Some expressed gratitude, while others cried for help. The disaster swept across almost the entire Lordaeron, forcing many to separate from their families.
Seeing Uther was like seeing a glimmer of hope for everyone, but going to the distant place to rescue him was almost impossible; Uther, Rhodes, and the others didn't have the time or the resources.
Ultimately, Rhodes, Uther, and the paladins present all chose to ignore the fact that they could accept the civilians here, but could no longer go to the distant lands to provide aid.
Some civilians from afar began to curse and vent their anger, blaming the great paladin and the great messenger of light for not being willing to come to their rescue.
But they had no choice but to plead desperately. In the end, they resorted to desperate pleas, but no matter how much they pleaded, the outcome would not change. They had only one choice: either follow the group or leave.
At this time, Rhodes could not afford to delay the main force's operation because of some minor issues.
"You executioners! You are unworthy of being called paladins! You are not worthy of the Holy Light's favor! How dare you stand by and watch someone die!" someone shouted angrily.
Most people joined the group, but a few stubborn individuals insisted on going far away to find their families, embarking on a journey of no return.
The group only traveled a dozen kilometers that day. At noon, the female mage used a teleportation spell to bring back several wounded soldiers, as well as personal letters from Uther and Rhodes, to Princess Galiya to explain the situation.
On Rhodes and Uther's side, the rescued civilians joined the group with great gratitude, but this was just the beginning.
The next few days became a recurring cycle of rescue and marching. As they moved along the road, they constantly encountered refugees being chased by undead squads or survivors shivering in the ruins.
In every encounter, Uther stepped forward without hesitation, and the Knights of the Silver Hand tore the undead apart with fearless courage and divine power before taking in these civilians.
The team grew rapidly like a snowball, with new people joining every day and people requesting rescue every day. Rhodes saw that Uther was getting more and more exhausted each day.
Almost every day he had to turn down more than a dozen civilians who came to him asking for help for their families, which caused the Lightbringer immense pain.
Uther gripped his Silver Hand warhammer tightly, cursing Arthas and the Lich King behind him countless times in his heart.
Among those who joined the team were some retired soldiers who had originally been separated from their original units; these people were quickly incorporated into the team.
"Don't be so distressed, Lord Uther. Sometimes you have to make choices. This disaster has swept across Lordaeron, and we can't save everyone."
"We must now hurry to Southshore and meet Princess Galya, then obtain the Alliance's help to cross west to Kalimdor." Rhodes intended to comfort the Lightbringer.
You can't be a saint in chaotic times! Rhodes was really worried that Uther would suddenly find him and say, "I want to fight here, I want to protect civilians here, and establish shelters."
“I know the situation, child. I fought in World War II, and I know how cruel war is,” Uther said with a wry smile, seemingly seeing through Rhodes’ thoughts.
He did have the urge to stay, but he knew it was a mistake, no different from staying in Andorhal to save the civilians and members of the Knights of the Central Order.
As long as the undead know he is here, Arthas will lead his army to him. The civilians who follow him will only face death. Their only hope is to take these people to Southshore and board a ship to Kalimdor.
"You understand, Lord Uther, but we need to speed things up." With civilians slowing us down, our marching speed will be greatly reduced.
The good news is that Arthas has already headed to Quel'Thalas with his ashes, so at least the main undead army won't come. Otherwise, Rhodes wouldn't have agreed to rescue the civilians.
“I understand that some of these refugees have brought horses, which will increase our speed and allow the elderly, women, and children to ride,” Uther said.
On the third day, they rescued dozens of farmers from an abandoned mill besieged by undead. The paladins joined forces to eliminate the undead and save the farmers.
They also obtained some wheat from the abandoned mill, which at least solved the food problem for the team.
On the fourth day, a small squad of Lordaeron militia that had broken away from West Wilder joined them, bringing news of hellish events further north.
That place should now be called the Western Plaguelands, but the good news is that Light's Hope Chapel has not yet fallen, and a large number of Silver Hand members are still holding it.
Some paladins suggested going to Light's Hope Chapel, but Rhodes and Uther refused outright, saying that nothing would happen at Light's Hope Chapel.
The spirits of many paladins slumber there, and even Arthas dared not easily provoke them.
On the fifth day, at a crossroads they encountered an even larger group of refugees, consisting of several dilapidated wagons, including a few surviving low-ranking priests whose faint holy light became a source of comfort.
On the sixth day, they routed a patrol of undead (led by a cultist of curses) that was trying to ambush them near a burned-down outpost, rescuing hundreds of women and children who were hiding in a cave.
On the seventh day, the exhausted but determined team, after repelling a sizable pursuit by a mix of ghouls and abominations, finally saw the outline of Southshore Town on the distant horizon—a symbol of the ocean and hope.
Eight days had passed since Rhodes and the others set off to rescue Uther. Because civilians had slowed down the procession, it was only then that they arrived at their destination.
The sight of the massive refugee caravan (which had swelled to over three thousand people) stumbling into view of the sentries on the outskirts of Nanhai Town caused a huge sensation.
The ragged, emaciated crowd resembled an endless scar, winding along the road leading to the town.
At the very front of the procession, the iconic armor, weathered yet still gleaming with unyielding light, and the silver hand warhammer symbolizing protection and justice, elicited incredulous gasps from the guards on the watchtower:
"Lightbringer! It's Lord Uther! They're alive! They brought back... Good heavens, he brought back so many civilians!"
The news spread like wildfire throughout the entire South Sea Town.
When Rhodes, Uther, and the Silver Hand knights, wounded yet still standing tall, arrived at the town entrance with a vast, hopeful yet sorrowful procession of over three thousand refugees, the entire town erupted in celebration.
Princess Galya, surrounded by Mrs. Proudmoore and the priests, came out to greet them with tears in her eyes.
"Lord Uther, and Rhodes, it's so good to see you both."
The shadow of Arthas' betrayal and the despair of the fall of the royal city were somewhat mitigated at this moment by the miracle of Uther's survival and the return of a large number of survivors.
The crowd erupted in cries of relief, shouts of gratitude to the paladins, prayers of uncertainty for the future, and prayers for the last princess of the Menethil family.
Uther looked at the scene before him, a scene both devastated and vibrant with life—the exhausted knights, the princess who had survived the ordeal, Rhodes who had fought alongside him through countless battles, and the more than three thousand pairs of tearful eyes behind him, their hopes pinned on them—a heavy sense of responsibility and a rekindled fighting spirit overwhelmed all the sorrow and exhaustion.
He raised the Silver Hand warhammer high, and holy light burst forth from its head, gently bathing the weary crowd and dispelling the gloom of despair.
His voice was no longer hoarse, but filled with a rock-solid determination, resounding above the bustling harbor of Southsea Town:
"People of Lordaeron! The Holy Light has not abandoned us! As long as the flame of life has not been extinguished, hope will endure! We have survived, we have come here!"
This is not the end, but a new beginning! We will be heading to the continent of Kalimdor.
For the departed, for the living, for the future of Lordaeron, we will rebuild our home!
Chapter 100: The Unconventional Uses of Gold and Diamond People, and the Goblin Who Sells Everything
“Lord Uther! Rhodes! Thank the Holy Light, you have returned safely! And so many of your compatriots…” Calia’s voice choked with emotion as she looked at the endless mass of people before her, feeling both relief for the rescued and immense pressure about how to settle them.
The town of Nanhai was not large to begin with, but the sudden influx of thousands of refugees immediately strained its resources.
“Your Highness, we have fulfilled our mission.” Uther knelt on one knee, his voice steady but unable to conceal his exhaustion. “We brought back the last embers of the Silver Hand, and the indomitable people of Lordaeron, but the current predicament…”
The princess has tens of thousands of people here, and with the people she brought along, the situation is not good!
“I know, Lord Uther, please rise.” Calia helped him up. “We are doing our best to settle them. Kul Tiras has provided some assistance, but the shortage of food, medicine, clean water… is too great. Moreover, the ships available in the port…” She glanced worriedly at the anchored fleet. Transporting so many people across the endless sea would require astronomical logistical supplies.
Rod looked around and saw that the makeshift tent area was crowded with people, and the cries of children and the groans of the wounded could be heard everywhere.
“Your Highness, the most urgent task is to stabilize morale and organize production for self-help. Among the refugees we have brought are farmers, artisans, and even retired soldiers. We can organize them to clear the ruins, strengthen defenses, and try to cultivate or fish in nearby safe areas. At the same time, we must seek stronger external assistance as soon as possible,” Rhodes said.
Calia nodded: "You're right, Rhodes, I need your and Lord Uther's help."
These days, she has gradually transformed from a pampered princess into the leader of this country and the backbone of the nation. Previously, she had never participated in any political affairs and had no idea how to manage a country or appease the people.
If it weren't for Rhodes and Jaina's help, plus the assistance of some officials in their own country, she wouldn't know what to do at all.
After exchanging words for a while, the group arrived at the makeshift command post.
"Gentlemen, our most urgent task now is to find logistical supplies as soon as possible, otherwise our resources here will not last ten days," Princess Galiya said.
"Let's see where we can find logistical supplies. The situation isn't good for the various races in the alliance either."
"Even if the dwarves of Ironforge and Stormwind wanted to provide support, it would take them one or two months to transport their supplies over."
I even doubt they've received news that Lordaeron has fallen, and Gilneas is now completely isolated, with high walls erected.
"Perhaps we can ask Quel'Thalas for help; the high elves are always wealthy."
“Those elves won’t help us. At most, they’ll treat us as refugees. During World War II, they only sent a symbolic force.”
The crowd started arguing amongst themselves, with some suggesting appealing to the Stormwind and Ironforge players, others to the High Elf players, and still others suggesting waiting for reinforcements from Dalaran or Stromgarde.
“Actually, I have a solution. We might be able to buy some supplies from someone. I know a group of creatures who can buy anything from you as long as you have money,” Rhodes, who was standing to the side, said.
“Regent Rhodes, you’re not talking about goblins, are you? But we don’t have that many funds right now,” a nobleman from Lordaeron asked.
They are an extremely greedy race, yet they control all kinds of resources and even once led humanity in certain areas, especially in engineering and manufacturing.
Goblins engage in all sorts of commercial activities throughout Azeroth, dealing in arms, people, minerals, and food—these little green creatures will do anything that can make money.
The most famous saying is that time is money, my friend. Humans occasionally make some trades with goblins, but they don't have much interaction with them.
Humans dislike these little guys because they had traded with orcs during the Second and First Wars, and these guys would do anything for money.
“Regent Rhodes, do you have any ideas?” Princess Galiya asked.
Currently, it seems that only goblins can help them gather resources in a short period of time.
"Don't worry, all the funds for the transaction will be provided by the Titan Guardians. The Guardians have promised me that they will definitely help us humans cross the sea to Kalimdor," Rhodes said with a smile.
After acquiring the manufacturing plant, you not only gain new units, but also two scarce resources: gold and diamonds. Diamond people are creatures even taller than gold people, reaching a height of 6 meters. They are stronger than gold people in terms of defense, health, and melee combat.