Chapter 82： Grim Batol Shrouded in Shadow

In the early morning, Jess arrived at Marin's study early.

Since being allowed to become an apprentice, he felt that the flowers, plants, bricks and tiles in the mage district seemed a little more beautiful than before. The content of the conversations of those little kids chatting idly in the mage district was also not so annoying.

Pushing open the door, he even wanted to whistle a little tune.

Just as he puckered his mouth, he saw Amy Marin cleaning.

"Amy... Ms. Marin?"

Amy turned around and seeing Jess, she said in surprise, "I thought you wouldn't come, so I took the initiative to come and help my father clean. You know he will definitely not do it himself."

Jess raised his eyebrows. He didn't expect that when he changed from an assistant to an apprentice, it meant that he didn't have to do the work here anymore.

It turns out that the mage district is really strict in distinguishing between assistants and apprentices.

"But your father still pays me. Of course, this payment also includes coming here to clean in the morning." Jess said, "Don't you forget? I still need help with the red dragon problem. Since I have nothing to do, I'll help him clean."

"That's great. Thank you, Jess. I thought that from now on I would have to be his cleaner for free again." Amy leaned the mop against the table and said, "I still have an enchanting class later. Now I can prepare without being in such a hurry."

Not long after Amy left, her father entered the door. Seeing Jess still working, he was also curious.

"I thought you wouldn't come. I specially told Amy to come and check last night."

"I should at least finish this month." Jess stood up, pretending to be very tired. He bent down and deliberately tilted his head to make the cervical vertebrae crack.

Marin smiled and sat on the table and said, "Strictly speaking, you are not an apprentice yet. It is also proper to continue to complete the tasks of an assistant. However, at noon today, I will go to Master Andomas to complete the formal procedures for you to become an apprentice. Tomorrow morning you don't have to come to do these chores anymore."

Jess nodded. The old mage continued, "But if you are still willing to help, of course I welcome it. And I will not shortchange you for this month's payment. For the future payments as well. I don't lack the money to hire a dedicated assistant again, Mr. Jess Sessor. Even if you are not an apprentice, my expectations for you are far more important than the work of an assistant."

"By the way, you know that Master Morgans has returned, right? He exchanged with another mage to fill the vacancy in Stonefort. Master Andomas hopes that he will return to Stormwind City to discuss a special plan, that is, the investigation mission of the great wetland in the north of Khaz Modan."

"Grim Batol?" Jess asked.

"Do you think the orcs are hiding in Grim Batol?" Marin asked casually.

Jess said, "Isn't it said that the old capital of the Wildhammer dwarves, Grim Batol, is in the highlands in the northeast of Khaz Modan? I'm just guessing..."

Marin thought for a while and said, "It's hard to say which one the orcs are more worried about, the horror in Grim Batol or the pursuit of the Alliance. Have you heard of the old stories about Grim Batol?"

"I've heard some, about ancient magic artifacts and dwarf witches." Jess said.

Jess knew these things even better than Gerred and Marin. The magic artifact held by the dwarf witch, that is, the wife of Sorisian the Witch King, Modgud, is an ancient weapon named "Sharatas".

According to legend, this dagger is the remaining limb of a dead ancient evil god. For countless tens of thousands of years, its power has been passed among countless ancient tribes, old empires and mysterious groups.

Every time it is taken over by a new force, a tragic extinction and massacre will soon follow. And the most recent one is the disaster of Grim Batol 200 years ago.

Marin said, "Finding the specific location of Grim Batol is currently only an alternative goal. If we find traces of the Dragonmaw orcs or small hiding places deep in the wetland, and are certain that the Dragonmaw clan still has other larger bases, then we will turn our attention to the highland areas further east. Or, as you said, target the legendary Grim Batol."

"The Dragonmaw orcs have the ability to control red dragons, so there must be warlocks. And they also cooperate with black dragons..." Jess muttered to himself, and then looked at Marin: "If they are numerous and occupy Grim Batol like the orcs of the Blackrock clan occupying Blackrock Tower, don't we need an entire army to be safe?"

"You are right." Marin said, "So if we have to go there, it is the worst case. At that time, we must notify the Kirin Tor, because this kind of task can never be completed by the Wizard's Sanctum alone. It may require the joint assistance of multiple forces. Not to mention that if the Dragonmaw orcs have the ability to occupy Grim Batol, then they must have a way to solve the pollution of Grim Batol. Maybe they have power that we cannot predict. Perhaps it is also related to their ability to be helped by black dragons or control red dragons."

Although the basis for the guess is not very accurate, Jess still admires the acumen of this old mage.

Speaking of this, Marin moved his eyebrows and said, "However, the wetland in the north of Khaz Modan is a vast place beyond your and my imagination. Even the local dwarves dare not say how well they know there. So the investigation mission may last for several years. By then, the situation may change, and we don't need to think too much about it so early."

So, when did the Grim Batol rescue operation of Rhonin and Vareesa Windrunner, and Falstad of the Wildhammer start?

Jess can't remember anymore, but if it hasn't happened yet, it won't be many years.

Perhaps it is precisely because the wetland search mission of the Wizard's Sanctum has no results that Krasus, the red dragon mage, locates the most likely hiding place of the orcs in the legendary Grim Batol and thus launches the rescue mission.

Now no country in the entire Alliance can organize an army to attack a fortress city like Grim Batol. A frontal attack on the Dragonmaw clan is definitely not realistic. Maybe this is also why Krasus wants to urge the Kirin Tor to form an elite team to launch a sneak attack on the Dragonmaw orcs.

No wonder Rhonin would think this is a completely suicidal mission. In his previous life, Jess didn't have much real feeling for this story. He just focused on the spark of love between Rhonin and Vareesa.

However, after experiencing the battle with the orc shaman in Redridge Mountains, listening to Gerred tell the dark history of Grim Batol, and seeing these mages avoid and be extremely cautious about looking for Grim Batol, he probably understands why Rhonin immediately became one of the most powerful grand mages of the Kirin Tor after the mission to save the Red Dragon Queen.

This is indeed a great feat that can shock the entire continent.