Chapter 15: Justice Is Still Waiting for Us to Uphold! |
Varian wanted to say something, his lips moved slightly, but in the end, he remained silent.
Under the moonlight, Allen turned to the maid's skeleton and softly finished asking the remaining, less crucial questions.
The maid answered them one by one, her voice growing fainter and fainter, finally dissolving into a sigh as she slowly lay back down in the coffin.
Allen picked up the shovel.
This time, he personally shoveled the earth back, one scoop at a time.
After filling it in, he stood in place, facing that simple wooden marker—Emily Barker, a poor soul he had never known yet whose peaceful rest had been disturbed because of him—and bowed deeply.
"Thank you," he said softly. "Rest in peace."
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By the time they returned to Stormwind, the horizon was already tinged with the pale light of dawn.
Varian and Shaw stood opposite them. The two groups looked at each other across the morning mist for a moment.
"Well... we part ways here, then," Varian's voice was somewhat dry.
Allen nodded, saying nothing.
They turned and walked off in different directions.
Inside the inn room, Allen sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the gleaming gold coin in his hand.
It was the deposit Wen Lei had given him—one gold coin.
Wen Lei was packing his belongings. Sensing Allen's silence, he turned his head.
Allen stood up and walked over to Wen Lei.
"I'm sorry," his voice was very light. "Stalvan might not be the person you're investigating. But I must find him."
He extended the gold coin towards Wen Lei.
The meaning was clear: he couldn't continue helping Wen Lei maintain his cover in Stormwind.
The previous deposit was being returned.
Wen Lei looked down at the gold coin, then up at Allen.
Then, he smiled and said in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Don't get it wrong. I'm the employer." A hint of teasing laced his voice. "The job isn't finished yet. I'll only give you the remaining balance after we find Stalvan."
Allen looked up in surprise.
The truth about Stalvan's crimes wouldn't be fully revealed until the classic era of World of Warcraft. In the 8th year after the Dark Portal, a high elf mingling in Stormwind had no logical reason to be here for this case.
Wen Lei closed Allen's hand, which held the coin, and pushed it back. Allen felt an inexplicable warmth.
Of course, he was referring to the gold coin in his palm.
Stella came through the door carrying a large bundle of engineering parts, just in time to see the two men standing close together. This scene painted her small face with deep suspicion.
But she still bounced over to Allen, looked up at him, her large, azure eyes filled with seriousness:
"Benefactor! I'm willing to come too! I will definitely help you!"
Allen looked at these two people, one tall and one short, opened his mouth to say something, but in the end, just nodded.
"Alright," he said.
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The next morning.
Stormwind Keep.
Varian sat by the window, gazing motionlessly at the rising sun outside.
He had been sitting like this for a long time.
Shaw stood behind him, looking at his king's profile. That face was furrowed with worry, his eyes distant, lost in thought.
"Your Majesty," Shaw spoke softly, his tone admonishing. "You should have your breakfast."
Varian did not respond.
Shaw sighed and continued:
"Still thinking about last night? Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness, but for the king of a nation to involve himself in such a minor case is a waste of your energy and time. Even if the case is solved and that Stalvan is caught, the nobles of the Regency Council won't think any higher of you for it—they'll just think you're neglecting your duties, playing these small-time games."
He paused, his tone growing more earnest. "You are the King of Stormwind. Your energy should be focused on governing the kingdom."
What Shaw said was very reasonable, but Varian kept recalling Allen's eyes, those eyes that revealed disappointment.
That look... it was as if to say, 'So you're just like that after all.'
Just then, the door was gently pushed open.
A figure entered. It was a young woman with long, golden hair cascading softly over her shoulders. Her features were gentle, her eyes and brows carrying a tender smile. She wore a light blue gown, her abdomen slightly rounded, clearly pregnant.
Seeing this, Shaw tactfully bowed and withdrew.
The woman walked behind Varian and gently reached out her arms, embracing him from behind.
"What's wrong?" Her voice was as soft as a March breeze. "Something on your mind?"
Varian's body stiffened for an instant, then relaxed.
He raised his hand and covered the back of hers, gently stroking it.
"No, it's nothing, my love," he said.
The woman smiled. She released him, walked around to face him, leaned down slightly, and pressed her forehead against his.
"Don't I know you?" Her voice was light, full of affection. "Although I don't know what happened, I want to tell you..."
She straightened up, cupped his face in her hands, and made him look into her eyes.
"These past two days... I feel like you've returned to how you were when your father was still alive." A gentle light shone in her eyes. "So full of vitality, so full of passion, so... like you're doing what you truly want to do. I don't know the reason, but I quite like it."
Varian was stunned.
Tiffin Wrynn—Queen of Stormwind, the love of Varian's life—smiled at him, a smile that shone into his heart like sunlight.
She turned and left, leaving Varian alone by the window.
The sunlight outside streamed in, casting dappled light and shadow on the floor.
Varian looked out the window, his gaze passing over the rows of rooftops, over the towering city walls, over the lush green Elwynn Forest in the distance, looking towards some unknown place.
What was he thinking?
Perhaps even he himself didn't know.
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The Pig and Whistle Inn.
Wen Lei had hired another large carriage, which was now parked at the inn's entrance.
It was a spacious enclosed carriage. Four sturdy horses were already harnessed, snorting impatiently.
The three of them were packing their luggage in the room.
To be precise, Allen was helping Stella pack.
The amount of stuff the little blue-haired gnome had brought was astonishing. Engineering parts large and small, a thick book of blueprints, and a pile of metal lumps whose purpose was unknown, all spread out messily across the bed.
Allen stuffed them into the bag while muttering under his breath, "Are you moving house or going to war?"
"They're all useful!" Stella declared righteously. "You never know when they might come in handy!"
Wen Lei leaned against the doorframe, watching this scene, a slight smile playing on his lips. He asked:
"So you're that certain Stalvan is in Duskwood?"
Allen's hands paused for a moment, then he continued packing.
"I've been to Darkshire before," he said, his tone calm yet firm. "I heard that two or three weeks ago, a strange madman appeared in the woods north of Darkshire. After committing his crime near the lumber camp in eastern Elwynn Forest, it's highly likely Stalvan fled south along that road into Duskwood. It's very logical. And the timing matches up."
Stella, hugging a large bundle of engineering supplies, pretended to think, nodding seriously. "That's what I think too."
Wen Lei said with a laugh, "Then if we're wrong, how about you cover the travel expenses, Stella?"
Stella's face fell instantly, her pretty features collapsing. She hurriedly changed her tune: "Well... I think we can't jump to conclusions just yet!"
Allen, however, was very firm. "Trust me. I have a feeling Stalvan is definitely hiding in Duskwood."
"Really? Then it seems we'll solve the case soon," a hearty male voice suddenly sounded right by his ear.
Allen looked up in surprise, following the sound.
Then, he froze.
At the inn's entrance, the sunlight was just right.
A youth sat astride a tall white horse. The horse was snow-white all over, only its mane and tail were silver-gray, gleaming in the sunlight.
The youth wore a set of dark blue casual clothes, yet it couldn't hide the innate heroic air about him.
Sunlight spilled from behind, gilding his silhouette with a golden edge.
He sat on the horse, leaning forward slightly, looking at Allen with a spirited and triumphant gaze, a smug smile playing on his lips.
"Va... Wow, Mathias?" Allen almost blurted out the real name but managed to correct himself in time. "What are you doing here?"
The smugness on Varian's face intensified. He tugged the reins, and the white horse reared up with a proud neigh, the pose extremely dashing.
"What are you talking about?" he said loudly. "This is the first big case we're working on together! How could I miss it?"
But immediately, he switched to a mysterious expression, lowered his voice, looked around furtively like a thief, then leaned closer to Allen:
"I suggest we leave quickly," he winked. "Because I snuck out without telling my cousin!"
Allen looked at his face, which was practically screaming 'Come on, praise me!', and for a moment didn't know what to say.
Varian straightened up, flicked the reins with flair, and turned his horse around.
The sunlight shone upon him. The white horse's mane flew in the wind. He looked back over his shoulder, extending his right hand towards Allen—
"Let's go," his smile was so brilliant it seemed capable of dispelling all gloom. "Justice is still waiting for us to uphold it!"