Chapter 94: The Unfortunate Veteran

That night, when passing by Westfall Station, Jess went to take a look at the military camp.

Compared to when he came here with Greed to transport food a month ago, the scale of the camp had even shrunk a bit. It was said that it was because some soldiers had gone to Redridge Mountains to help clear out the gnolls.

He observed for a while, especially looking towards the vicinity of that solitary tent. The strange soldier did not appear.

"What are you looking at here?" A warrior holding a wet soldier's shirt in his hand walked over from the side and asked, "You look sneaky. What are you up to?"

"I want to find the commander here." Jess said, "I have something... a relatively important matter to report."

The soldier said, "What's the matter? Just tell me. The captain has gone on a reconnaissance mission to the south. When he comes back, I can tell him."

This soldier was bare-chested. He seemed not much older than Jess. He had a righteous face and a hint of anger. Probably, he also regarded Jess as a thief or something.

"Do you know the person who sells scrap iron in your tent?" Jess asked.

"I know." The soldier replied, "Eigmont. He is the most senior warrior here. He has been a soldier even longer than the captain. He was injured before, so he doesn't go to the front line now."

"He said he was a deserter." Jess said.

"Did he tell you that?" The soldier scratched his head and said, "What's wrong with him? I suggest that if you have any conflict with him or something, don't come here to cause trouble, brother. No one will help you."

"I have no conflict with him." Jess said, "Do you know about his wife?"

The soldier suddenly grabbed Jess by the collar and pulled him close, asking, "Do you want to mock Eigmont? Who do you think you are?"

Jess grabbed the soldier's wrist and squeezed it hard. The soldier frowned, seemingly a bit surprised by Jess's strong grip.

"I am from the Wizard's Sanctuary, soldier. Please calm down." Jess warned.

The soldier noticed his ring and the stick on his back, and then glanced at the pocket on his waist. The slightly angry expression on his face dissipated a lot.

"Sorry." The soldier let go and said, "Eigmont takes good care of us juniors. As for his wife... he has no wife. If you are sincerely asking, then it's just something he imagined. Did he tell you that he has a wife waiting for him to return in that fishing village, and also say that his wife is even more beautiful than Queen Taria..."

At this point, he paused and said, "You know the rumors about those mermaids at sea, right? Those mermaids can absorb people's spirits. I don't know if Eigmont is like that, but according to his description, we all think so. Why are you so interested in this matter?"

"I am investigating the situation of murloc migration and their relationship with gnolls." Jess said, "Your Mr. Eigmont told me before that he has a wife living in that fishing village. I planned to consult the seaside residents like them, but I found nothing after going there, so I planned to come back and ask."

"So that's it." The soldier said, "I'm sorry. Because some people at the station like to mock Eigmont and his wife's story, so I misunderstood you. As for Eigmont... We think it's because he was bewitched by those mermaids that he did something wrong on the battlefield. Do you think it's possible, Mr. Mage? You people must know much more than us in this regard."

"Mermaids can indeed bewitch people's minds with their voices." Jess said seriously, "As for whether soldiers will be bewitched and become timid... I can't say. But I guess a soldier who has been bewitched by mermaids will definitely be like a different person."

"I knew it." The soldier said.

After the young soldier left, Jess looked at the firelight of the military camp. At this time, the strange veteran soldier who limped just came out of the tent and slowly walked towards the separate tent where old and worn-out weapons were stored. Along the way, he seemed to be muttering to himself, but nothing could be heard at all.

Jess understood in his heart that the chance of the veteran being a deserter because he was bewitched by Nagas was not high. If he was harassed by Nagas on his way to Hillsbrad Foothills, would the Nagas follow him all the way across Baradin Bay and come to Westfall?

Could it be true love?

If the young soldier's guess was correct and the veteran encountered Nagas before becoming a deserter, then maybe the Naga sea witch in that fishing village had nothing to do with this veteran. In either case, it was no longer necessary to look for that veteran. Either his "wife" had already died a tragic death, or this veteran was just an unfortunate and pitiful person who just happened to lead Jess to an unlucky place.

The next morning, Jess returned to Stormwind City. He put down his things, took a bath in the canal, and then directly took a few scales and the torn bag containing herbs to the basement of the Slaughtered Lamb.

He didn't sleep well last night either. Considering that those gnolls were very likely making some kind of poison. Although it seemed like it was for dealing with murlocs, but what if they also planned to target Stormwind City?

Especially considering the gnoll uprisings in Redridge Mountains, the Fork in the Road, and Westfall Keep. Recently, it seemed that all the gnolls in the entire Stormwind Kingdom were planning to do something together.

Was this related to Hogger? Was Hogger the overall leader of all gnoll groups now?

Hogger was a powerful warrior, yes. But could he have enough intelligence to unite all gnoll tribes again to fight against humans after the Orc War?

After greeting Zarei, Jess walked into the back room. Looking at this deep, dark prison door leading to the underground shelter that could be called an "underground palace," he recalled how the Stormwind Kingdom in the game dealt with these troubles.

At the time node of the World of Warcraft game, that is, eighteen or nineteen years later, the power of gnolls was still rampant, but they still hadn't reached the major human settlements and directly endangered the rule of the Stormwind Kingdom. There was also no large-scale poisoning incident heard. Could it be that the gnoll alliance was frustrated in the middle?

Or was that alchemy room just an ordinary alchemy room that provided potions to treat diseases for the gnoll tribe and had no other purpose of making poisons?

Was Jess overthinking?

No, there was a huge turning point in the middle that couldn't be ignored, and that was Onyxia.

Since Onyxia's arrival, the internal unrest factors in the Stormwind Kingdom have been quickly incorporated and unified under her wings in a practical sense.

Perhaps the threat of these gnolls was eliminated by Onyxia as her political capital in Stormwind City...

Of course, all of this was just Jess's conjecture. Perhaps there was something wrong within the gnolls themselves, or perhaps there was something wrong with the hand behind the gnolls.

But for now, the threat was real.

Entering the alchemy room, Ursula was sitting in the corner reading a book. The crucible was not burning. There was a faint medicinal smell floating in the air, much clearer than when he came before.

Ursula looked up and asked, "You came back so soon?"

"No matter how long it takes, it's useless." Jess opened the bag and handed it to Ursula, asking, "Can you help me see what these herbs are?"

As soon as Ursula smelled the smell, she frowned and said, "Deathweed. It has been stored for a little too long. Otherwise, it wouldn't have such a smell."