Shadow Trails in Azeroth

Starting from the Western Wilds and heading north, passing through the vast sea of ​​Khaz Modan, this voyage would only take three or four days to complete under normal circumstances.

But because there was currently a Kul Tiras fleet transporting wounded soldiers and war supplies in the eastern continental waters, Black ordered Captain Grayson to sail along the rugged coastline.

As a result, the time it took to complete the voyage was doubled.

It took them eight days to reach Palatine Bay from the Western Wilderness. From Palatine Bay, they used the ocean currents to advance to Tol Barad, an island outside the eastern continent.

The ship "Force of Jotunheim" is extremely fast in a tailwind and can easily reach a speed of fifteen knots.

Now with the blessing of ocean currents, it should have taken three days to reach Tol Barad, but thanks to Captain Grayson's superb navigation and sailing skills, it only took less than a day to reach this big island.

The black dragon-headed long boat cuts through the waves, the sea breeze fills the sails.

Pushing the ship to open up white water marks in the sea water, amidst the splashing water, Blake, wearing the Pirate King suit, was holding a bottle of wine, stepping on the bow and side of the ship with his left foot, looking forward to the vivid scene in front of him. islands.

"Quack gua gua~ gua gua gua~ gua gua gua gua~"

On the side of the ship on both sides of him, a group of murlocs were sitting there, enjoying the sea breeze and waves. Under the leadership of Benbolba who stood on the dragon head carving in front of the ship, they sang the songs of the murlocs.

Looking at the way they shake their heads and sway their tails, they seem to be very, very happy.

But in fact, to the ears of the two humans, Blake and Natalie, it was actually a group of murlocs neighing in unison to a weird tune, but it wasn't unpleasant at all.

Probably because Ben Bolba is more musically gifted.

The dagger in its hand kept waving, like a music conductor. As its claws were waved, the fishmen's voices became louder.

When the claws fell, the sound turned into a low tone.

This scene is very interesting.

There were also some fish people who clung to the hull of the fast-moving dragon boat and waved the sea water with their feet. In this way, they "hitchhiked", but they soon attracted the "attention" of the sharks in the nearby waters.

A ferocious big black shark rushed up from the sea with its head and tail wagging, intending to devour these hitchhiking murlocs, but it charged fiercely, and before it could open its mouth, a purple figure jumped from behind the warship. And down.

"Mglrgrgrlm!!"

Amidst the ear-piercing war roars, sharp black battle axes slashed into the water. Under the howl of the old blind man, the group of fishmen clinging to the hull of the boat also rushed into the water screaming.

In less than a minute, the shark was torn into several pieces by the "completely changed" fishmen using sharp weapons underwater. The old blind man also grabbed a big shark fin and climbed onto the warship.

It presented this delicacy to the pirate master with a wink.

But Blake had eaten a lot of seafood during the voyage these days, and he had no appetite at all. He held his pipe in his mouth, waved his hand, and threw the piece of shark fin to another fishman next to him.

He was the very clever one from the Long Beach murloc tribe, and the first murloc to follow Benbolba.

It's called "Cookie."

He is a weird fish-man who likes to cook things in big pots. He is also good at fighting. He was promoted by Benbolba to become the third-in-command of the Guala Guala Pirate Group, and he also serves as the chef of the fish-man pirate group.

As long as this guy doesn't mess around, the soup he cooks will taste good.

Blake had tasted it himself.

"Tol Barad, I still remember that Dailin said more than once that he wanted to buy this place from the Kingdom of Stromgard and use it as the border of Kul Tiras on the eastern continent."

Blake ignored the fishmen's actions of dragging the shark onto the deck and cutting its flesh and blood for food. He held his pipe in his mouth and looked at the island beach that was getting closer and closer in front of him.

Said to Natalie Serling, who was wearing black next to her:

"In fact, it's not just Dailin who thinks so. Several kings before him thought that it was not a good thing for Kul Tiras to be isolated overseas for a long time and keep distance from other human kingdoms.

The top leaders of that country have been trying to strengthen their connections with the eastern continent, but they are suffering from the lack of a suitable location as a node for power projection.

The islands off the eastern mainland are either too small or too desolate to be suitable for long-term garrisoning. "

The pirate blew out a smoke ring and said:

"Only Tol Barad is the most suitable. The combined area of ​​the two islands in the north and south is comparable to Tiragarde Strait, and the island has fertile soil, forests, swamps, lakes and other terrains.

They even secretly sent people to explore and concluded that the resources of this island were enough to support Kul Tiras stationing a fleet here for a long time.

Once this island is used as a home port by the Kul Tiras Navy, it means that the ocean island country can send thousands of its warriors to every hotspot in the eastern continent within ten days at most.

It also means that they have enough power to interfere in the affairs of the eastern continent.

A complete fleet is enough to secure key benefits for Dailin and Kul Tiras on the mainland at critical moments.

Kul Tiras will no longer be a distant place in the minds of the humans of the Eastern Kingdoms.

Its influence will truly penetrate into the heart of human civilization. Relying on this island, Kul Tiras will become an important pillar of strength for human civilization!

What a genius idea. "

"Well, even though I don't understand politics and military affairs, I was deeply shocked when I heard such a plan."

Natalie Serling nodded.

The archbishop pulled up his hood, folded his hands on his abdomen, held his canon, and said to Blake:

"No wonder Kul Tiras has continued to grow stronger in the past hundred years. In addition to the power of the navy, the country's top leaders also have enough wisdom and overall perspective."

"Right?"

Blake laughed, and he turned back to Natalie and said:

"Their idea was great and perfect. But now, it's mine!"

The pirate opened his arms on the bow deck, as if to embrace the island in front of him, and said loudly:

“Tol Barad Island will be my and my fleet’s home port in the eastern continental waters, and will also be our support point for intervening in the affairs of the human kingdom.

I will build a force here and leave enough power here.

I will develop this island, and when the time is right, I will even build a country here, a country controlled by pirates.

At the beginning of the war, the orcs had smashed all the garrison forces belonging to the Kingdom of Stromgard on the island. They burned the castle on the island and burned all the warehouses and farms.

After the forced withdrawal of Alliance forces, the island has entered its emptiest moment ever.

After most of the alliance's military forces were attracted to the southern battlefield of the eastern continent, the island almost entered an undefended state. It's like a fruit available for anyone to take.

What a pirate ecstasy!

I have already begun to do this. Although my subordinates are incompetent, I think that completing the initial occupation at this stage should not be a big problem. "

"Wait, Captain!"

Natalie immediately objected.

The archbishop frowned and said:

"As you said before, Kul Tiras has been trying to buy or seize this island from the Kingdom of Stromgard, but they have such a powerful navy and have been unable to do so.

This shows that the Kingdom of Stromgard is not willing to give up Tol Barad to Kul Tiras, right?

If even Kul Tiras cannot obtain control of the island through normal channels, then we, a group of pirates, and I think the Trollbane royal family will not be able to do so easily."

"No, no, no, you misunderstood a concept, my ship's doctor."

Blake shook his head and patiently explained:

"Tol Barad is not the core interest of the Kingdom of Stromgard. The Arathor people have rarely set foot on the sea since they occupied the Arathi Highlands.

The Arathi do not like the sea, preferring to roam their highlands.

The Trollbane royal family has only always used this island as a garrison. They have not even developed large-scale land here because it is in the outer sea and is too far away from Stromgard's territory.

The reason why Stromgard did not hand over the island to the Kul Tiras was purely due to political considerations, because the Kingdom of Gilneas, which is closer to the island, has also been seeking control of Tol Barad. right.

The waters off that island are dotted with terrible rocks, which they call the ‘Biting Reef’.

The existence of these things means that although Gilneas is a peninsula, there are only a handful of available ports.

The Greymane royal family has also been seeking domestic commercial power to enter the South China Sea route. They have seen the success of Kul Tiras' naval strategy.

The profits that Kul Tiras can extract from the South China Sea trade routes every year are enough to make other kings go crazy with jealousy.

If Gilneas wants to reach the ocean, it needs Tol Barad.

As long as the Trollbane royal family sells this island to any party, it will offend the other party. But Stromgaard did not want to offend either country.

The matter therefore remained unresolved, and the island became a hot potato in the eyes of the Highlander King. Now it is occupied by a group of pirates. They say this is unforgivable, but in fact, they don't know how happy they are.

This meant that their diplomatic troubles became my troubles. "

Blake clicked his fingers, and when the fast-moving dragon-headed warship made a beautiful turn and sailed towards the temporary dock outside Tol Barad Island, he said to Natalie beside him:

"So, as long as we can withstand the pressure from both Gilneas and Kul Tiras.

Turning the long-term occupation of this island into an established fact, the Trollbane royal family will be happy to sell this troubled place for a high price. "

"Just relying on a group of pirates to withstand the siege of two countries at the same time?"

Natalie's eyes widened and she said:

"This is a bit too much"

"Shhh."

Blake turned back, made a silent gesture towards her, and said:

“It sounds scary, but it’s actually pretty simple.

These two countries will soon face their own troubles. They don't have the time or energy to stop us from occupying this island.

Do not worry.

I've arranged everything.

This sea, which has given birth to countless wealth and disputes, will soon become lively. The seeds of chaos have been planted by me. Chaos is not a good thing.

But it can give birth to vitality and strength, and it can give birth to a great era.

I have heard the cries of those unwilling to be left alone.

To hell with peaceful times!

On the stage of this sea, I will join those challengers to wave my sword at the King of the Sea and snatch his crown! Take his throne!

O invincible king of the sea, my father.

The era of challenges and chaos has come, listen to the echo of the bell, take your ship, take your sword, amidst the sound of waves and the roar of the storm.

Let’s show off! "

"It's the captain! The captain is back!"

When the Dragon Head Battleship sailed into the abandoned dock outside Tol Barad Island, Nat Pagle and his good friend Hal, who were fishing on the dock, saw the strange-looking ship at a glance.

But before he could stand up, bursts of cheers rang out from the ruins of the village behind.

A group of foxes rushed out of the tavern, as well as several large orcs, and some trolls were whistling and shouting at the dock.

There were also human "sailors" who were not familiar with Blake, and they also poured out from various places and watched the ship approaching the dock with piercing cheers.

In this scene, which was like the debut of a superstar, Blake Shiran jumped onto the top decoration of the dragon-headed warship.

He wore a pirate hat, a pirate windbreaker, and an eye patch. He let his golden hair blow in the sea breeze, and then reservedly stretched out his hand and waved several times to his incompetent subordinates.

The result was even louder cheers.

Especially a bunch of losers.

Seeing the captain returning with a ghost ship, they were always in danger of being discovered by the Kul Tirans, and it was as if they had suddenly found their backbone.

Evil Eye and Zalak, who were better at acting, even shed tears of emotion on the spot, even crying. The skinny boy Kanrezad holding the staff next to him looked disdainful.

"Hello everyone, losers, your great and vicious captain is back!"

In the sea breeze, Blake opened his hands and shouted loudly to a group of undead pirates on the dock in front of him:

"What are you all doing here? Don't you have to work? The leaders stay, and the rest go to work, you bastards! It seems that you are really tired during my absence!"