Stormwind Wizard God-Chapter 829: The Art of Infiltration

Operating covertly behind enemy lines, employing cunning deceptions, and dismantling heavily fortified strongholds from within—these were the undisputed specialties of the Eredar Twins. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

There was a saying, a lament, that captured the essence of the Twins’ existence:

Born of humble means, Cast into enemy camps on a whim. Through countless battles, never defeated, Yet never truly victorious, Never knowing true camaraderie. Often found embracing atop mountains of flame... Thus, the meaning of this life remains elusive. And so, this existence is forever bound to a lowly state.

This verse, penned by an anonymous observer, subtly underscored the Twins’ often unappreciated role within the Legion. Whenever a direct assault faltered, forcing a strategic detour, the Twins and other infiltrators were deployed behind enemy lines. Once they successfully breached defenses and opened the path, the main forces would surge in, unleashing their brutal, destructive rampage, leaving no glory for the Twins.

This was an unavoidable reality. The vast majority of the Burning Legion comprised brute-force warriors who championed violence and annihilation. When confronted with obstacles, they would merely bellow outside defensive magical barriers. Only a select few were willing to apply cunning and strategy to achieve their objectives.

Now, the Eredar Twins had arrived. Duke was absolutely certain that their presence was an anomaly in the historical record. Their purpose, he knew, was to monitor him, the supposedly unreliable Legion lord. However, before they could begin their clandestine observation, Duke had preemptively exposed them, asserting his authority. Even though he had deliberately suppressed his power to pass through Azeroth’s magical defenses, his mental fortitude remained largely undiminished. Duke had unleashed a potent, enhanced version of Mental Whiplash. Could any ordinary elite demon possess the same mental resilience as the Twins? This was precisely why the Twins’ anger was a mixture of genuine frustration and calculated performance.

Yet, despite their initial annoyance, the Twins were also pragmatic. They had entered the scene to prevent Duke from causing unforeseen complications. In truth, after Duke’s infusion with fel energy, his connection with Queen Azshara, and the successful opening of the portal, the likelihood of Duke’s betrayal, in the eyes of the Burning Legion’s high command, had already significantly diminished.

The Eredar Twins were not truly angry. They swiftly reverted to their true forms, eager to ingratiate themselves with Duke, the rising overlord who clearly had a bright future within the Legion.

Alesis’s eyes shimmered with seductive charm as her soft hands gently clasped Duke’s left hand. "Hey, Infernal Affairs, Master Kil’jaeden is quite pleased with your performance this time."

Queen Sarolas leaned directly onto Duke’s right shoulder, purring, "Since Master Kil’jaeden is in such a good mood, we went to great lengths to secure these treasures for you, because you made us sisters proud!"

With a synchronized flourish, the Twins conjured three treasure chests, each pulsating with powerful magical energy, before Duke. The consummate actor, Duke immediately embraced his role. Like a greedy miser—or, rather, a ravenous beast—he lunged, tearing open the chests with feigned delight and exclamations of surprise.

The Eredar Twins, their hands suddenly empty, wore a fleeting expression of frozen embarrassment. This brute clearly has no interest in Eredar females! He seized the opportunity to escape! But the Twins were seasoned professionals, masters of infiltration. Failing to seduce Duke was a minor setback, easily dismissed, especially since they now understood his weakness.

Alesis’s voice, smooth and alluring, chimed in at the perfect moment: "Originally, Lord Kil’jaeden instructed us to choose two pieces first, with the remaining one for you..."

Queen Sarolas continued their synchronized act: "However, seeing that you’ve just been promoted to Void Lord, and your equipment is somewhat lacking, we sisters reluctantly decided to give them all to you."

Duke, the actor, feigned a look of profound embarrassment.

Oreseth added, her voice dripping with significance, "This is the equipment every lord dreams of."

Queen Sarolas sighed dramatically, "Oh! I truly didn’t want to part with them..."

The Eredar Twins’ performance was so transparent, so perfectly choreographed, that Duke couldn’t possibly misunderstand. Had he chosen to play dumb, to attempt to keep all the equipment, they undoubtedly had a contingency plan to deal with him. Even though Duke was the leader of the ’Moralless Cult,’ when it came to the matter of soul corruption, his moral integrity remained surprisingly high!

Duke immediately smiled, his voice laced with sincerity. "I owe my current standing entirely to the support of you two Eredar sisters. If there is anything, anything at all, I can do to assist you, please do not hesitate to ask." He said this while clutching all the equipment from the three chests tightly in his hands, his posture clearly conveying: I won’t give you the equipment, and I won’t give you my life, but anything else is negotiable!

Seeing Duke, who resembled a miser guarding his hoard, the Twins smiled brightly. "Haha! It’s not truly an order," Alesis began, "but we simply hope that Infernal Affairs can provide as much information about the enemy as possible, so that we may better serve Master Kil’jaeden."

What the Twins sought was never mere destruction or brute force. The Burning Legion was teeming with reckless, muscle-bound brutes. No matter how cunning the Twins were, they could never surpass a frontline general like Mannoroth, much less stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a titan like Archimonde. They built their influence, their wealth, on intelligence.

Upon their arrival, they were immediately struck by the situation. Years of clandestine operations allowed them to instantly perceive that Xavius, the very general pushing for the Burning Legion’s arrival, was utterly subservient to Duke. Furthermore, all signs indicated that Duke had, in a mere two days, gained control over almost the entirety of the high elves.

This was advantageous for the Legion, but for the Twins, it meant losing a critical entry point for intelligence gathering. Any further information would undoubtedly have to pass through Duke. The Twins, ever pragmatic, straightforwardly proposed an exchange of interests to Duke. What reassured them was Duke’s immediate agreement.

"No problem. But two days is too short. I had to prepare the summoning spell and gather intelligence, so this information is definitely incomplete. It’s just a general overview, much of it derived from Xavius’s own accounts." Duke produced a thick piece of parchment from his robes. Upon it was a lengthy list of names, written in Eredun, complete with corresponding brief introductions.

The Twins’ eyes gleamed with delight. The list contained names like Latosius, the supreme leader of the Moon Guard, and Ravencrest, the lord of Black Crow Fortress. Of course, there were also various other lords’ names, all of which served as crucial beacons in the darkness for the newly arrived Twins. Whether Duke had concealed anything could be easily ascertained with a simple investigation. Duke wouldn’t risk deception on such a matter.

The Twins, however, had no inkling of Duke’s deeper, more sinister intentions. Admittedly, these individuals, who appeared so vital, were indeed pillars of the night elf society. But many of them were merely supporting characters in the grand tapestry of original history. For example, had Latosius not kneeled, Illidan would never have ascended to his future prominence. Outsiders like the Eredar Twins could never comprehend such subtle historical nuances. Moreover, among Queen Azshara’s political adversaries, these were precisely the ones who made the most noise.

Ultimately, they were all historical cannon fodder. Duke felt not a single pang of remorse in selling them out.