"Golden Epic!"The tavern keeper's deep voice echoed in Sean's mind again.Not a Legendary card…Sean felt a flicker of disappointment. Praying to the "God of Card Dealers" had clearly done nothing. But he composed himself and turned his attention to the card:Blood KnightQuality: Golden Epic Cost: 3 Mana Attack/Health: 3/3 Battlecry: All minions lose Divine Shield. Gain +3/+3 for each minion that lost Divine Shield. Race: Blood Elf Flavor Text: Blood Knights draw their holy power from the Sunwell, so don't mistake it for a sunbathing spot.A 3-mana minion card—meaning Sean couldn't summon it until Level 30. But as a golden card, it possessed the Hero Trait:(Hero Trait: Golden cards are preferentially selected from Azeroth heroes not yet in Hearthstone's card pool. These heroes have extraordinary potential, able to level up through training (max level cannot exceed the summoner's level) and learn spells from the card pool.)The Blood Elf race and the most famous unsummoned Blood Elf hero? Kael'thas Sunstrider, of course.Could this Blood Knight be Kael'thas?Sean's earlier disappointment vanished, and he nearly laughed aloud. In his past life, his first Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos hero had been Kael'thas as a Human player—he knew the prince intimately. The possibility of summoning him spurred Sean's motivation to grind levels.Must reach Level 30 soon.He nodded in satisfaction at the golden card.
Absorbing the cores had taken time. By the time Sean opened the card pack, his carriage had reached their lodging."Lord Sean, we've arrived," Windsor knocked on the carriage door."Got it." Sean opened the door, stepping out with a radiant expression.Steward Henry, waiting at the lodge entrance, frowned in confusion—why was his lord so cheerful? But he dared not ask, bowing deeply: "My Lord!""Good work, Henry." Sean clapped his shoulder, eyeing the lodge. "This belongs to the River Count, right? I only asked you to try renting it, but you actually managed it!"The lodge was unchanged from his last stay, filling him with warmth.Henry preened at the praise. "Even better—luck was on our side. We rented it for free!""Free? How?" Sean tensed. There's no such thing as a free lunch. The River Count offering free lodging reeked of conspiracy. His expression sharpened: "Henry, detail everything that happened since arriving in Yorn. No omissions."Henry explained hurriedly: "Yesterday at Golden Wolf Fort, I met Lady Jessica Rivers. She offered the lodge for free… but only for half a month. We must leave after that. I don't know why."Sean's brows furrowed. "Is Jessica Rivers infatuated with me? No—if she were, she wouldn't set a 15-day limit. This is to prevent us from staying long. They want us gone in half a month."He turned to Henry: "Rent other lodgings in my name nearby. Go and return quickly.""Conspiracy smells in the air," Windsor murmured beside him."No kidding. We'll wait for Henry's news," Sean replied with a bitter smile.
Ten minutes later, Henry returned, face gloomy."Well?" Sean asked, seated in the hall with Windsor."You were right, My Lord," Henry said. "No one nearby will rent to us.""As I thought—the Count doesn't want us staying in Yorn," Sean told Windsor and Henry.Windsor frowned. "Your luxury goods plan needs time. 15 days is too short.""Why would they block us?" Henry wondered.Sean rolled his eyes. "Who knows? We'll take it day by day. I'll ask around in the next half month. Now, I'm off to bathe."He stretched and left for the bath. Compared to the River Count's power, his own forces were like ants to an elephant. If the Count wanted them gone, Sean had little choice but to comply—no great loss, really.
After his bath, Sean changed in his bedroom, gazing out at the familiar scenery: the spire of Yorn's Holy Light Cathedral, and the dwarf blacksmith at the corner of Diagon Alley pounding iron. The scene felt like a lifetime ago.Seeing the dwarf reminded him of the dozen barrels of spirits he'd brought. Might as well pay the old dwarf a visit with some liquor.He'd just opened his bedroom door when Henry rushed toward him, panic on his face."Henry, what's wrong? Is it an emergency?" Sean asked. Henry was usually composed—this was the first time Sean saw him so flustered."Lord Lucio has arrived, My Lord!" Henry exclaimed."So? No need to panic—""Not just Lord Lucio," Henry added. "Lady Jessica Rivers is with him."Sean's eyes narrowed.Troubles, it seems, have only just begun.