Chapter 614

Chapter 614: Farewell to the West

Though far from the coast and occasionally encountering turbulent waves, the Night Elf’s small sailboat remained remarkably stable and swift, almost as if enchanted.

Not only Jesse felt curious; Greed and Vereesa were equally amazed. Yet none considered asking the two Kaldorei crew members, who clearly resented transporting outsiders and showed little friendliness toward them.

Two weeks later, the coastline reappeared—undoubtedly the Tanaris Desert, stretching golden under the sun.

The Night Elves rowed the three ashore before sailing away, vanishing swiftly.

Following the coast north for nearly three days and nights, they reached Steamwheedle Port. That evening, they secured a tavern room to rest.

At the trade house, Jesse bought several large Kodo hide scrolls at ten silver coins each. He needed durable copies that wouldn’t fray from dampness or rough travel.

Back in the room, Molofeel sat watching him from the table. Greed and Vereesa already slept in the beds, leaving only the floor.

The ship to the Eastern Continent would arrive in over a week, so the trio savored a beach holiday.

By day, they sunbathed alongside goblins; by night, they sampled desert specialties. Occasionally, they indulged in costly treats from Kalimdor’s interior: Mulgore Strider meat, Barrens Cloud Serpent, sweet potatoes, fragrant Terabim bananas, and Angoro berry soup so aromatic its scent drifted beyond the shop.

Though pricey, most dishes cost mere silver coins. For Jesse and Greed—soon to collect gold coins by the dozens back home—skipping these exotic flavors over trifling sums made no sense.

After such an arduous journey, they deserved this reward.

For a fee, one could even taste Centaur meat. Having met Centaur, none of the three cared to try. Now Jesse realized what that broad, dark-brown rug at the trade house truly was—he’d long puzzled over what six-legged mammal could yield such hide…

All joys end. When the Eastern Continent ship *Destroyer of the Great Maelstrom* neared Steamwheedle Port, they knew their Kalimdor departure had come.

Boarding the vessel, Jesse gazed back at the golden continent. Unlike his first arrival—a foreign land bristling with peril—it now felt like an ancient realm woven from passion, blood, and sweat.

This journey hadn’t just confirmed his game-learned knowledge; it had shattered the stereotypes imprinted by those pixels.

Truthfully, his entire twenty years had unfolded this way—not solely in Kalimdor.

Over a month later, *Destroyer of the Great Maelstrom* docked at Booty Bay. Ashore, the trio exchanged glances. Pirates, sailors, goblin merchants, travelers, and locals surrounded them. Compared to these folk, the three felt like shipwreck survivors who’d trekked for weeks to reach civilization—truly in a sorry state.

In Kalimdor, everyone looked equally ragged; they’d felt normal there.

Shedding grimy gear and outerwear, they bathed thoroughly and changed into plain clothes. At The Salty Sailor Tavern, they rested briefly.

Unsurprisingly, the tavern had no vacancies. Vereesa and Greed headed to Booty Bay’s Reliquary outpost for lodging, while Jesse sought the Goblin Collector Pucodyaz. He would report their Kalimdor findings on Dethmoora Darkeye and return the Eldre’Thalas dagger.

Treading the soft sand of this familiar shore, Jesse almost imagined himself back in Steamwheedle Port.

But the dense emerald canopy of Stranglethorn Vale ahead reminded him: this was the Eastern Continent. Kalimdor lay worlds away.

“Lost?” barked a Goblin Sentry. “Not your path, human. Got rage? Go back to Booty Bay—drink, find a girl. Stir trouble here, and you’ll lose your life!”

“I seek Pucodyaz,” said Jesse. “Tell him Warlock Slovakia brings news from Kalimdor. About Dethmoora Darkeye and her Eldre’Thalas ritual dagger.”

“Hold on,” the goblin stammered. “Dethmo-what? Say again—”

“Slovakia’s back with his dagger. He’ll see me.”

“…Fine.”

Doubtfully, the sentry conferred with goblins near a dinghy. One rowed toward a distant ship.

Much later, as dusk threatened, the dinghy returned. A lavishly dressed goblin merchant leaped ashore—Pucodyaz himself.

“Warlock! Mr. Slovakia—alive?!”

Splashing through shallows, he rushed to Jesse, flinging his coat aside to thrust out a hand. “Pucodyaz. Recall my name? Goblin names aren’t that hard.”

Jesse shook his hand, eyeing the sentry retrieving the coat. He produced the Eldre’Thalas dagger wrapped in elven cloth. “We found Dethmoora Darkeye in Kalimdor.”

“Dethmoora herself?” Pucodyaz ignored the blade, eyes bulging. “Impossible! I dispatched countless mages who only ever—”

Abruptly, his expression shifted. Leaning close, he whispered, “Then again—you’re the professional. Right, Mr. Seso?”

Jesse wasn’t shocked. A dark-magic-obsessed magnate with spies spanning continents? Hiding proved difficult—especially without active concealment, just low visibility.

“Dethmoora mastered demonic lore because she *is* a demon. She invaded with the Burning Legion millennia ago and stayed. Those books she wrote—”

“—were pleas for allies! To summon more Legion into Azeroth! Another Dark Portal!” Pucodyaz cut in fervently.

Jesse conceded the collector’s insight. Strictly speaking, Medivh’s Dark Portal mirrored Dethmoora’s scheme. But Medivh had Sargeras directing him and Kil’jaeden aiding—no wonder her solo plot stalled for ages.

Jesse summarized Eldre’Thalas’s state and Maraudon’s Satyrs. The goblin’s excitement swelled. “More secrets in that elf-ruin than I dreamed! I’ll fund deeper expeditions. Rumors say Ogres plan to assault it—true?”

“Gordunni Ogres breached the outer defenses. Without that, we’d never have slipped inside, Mr. Pucodyaz.”

The goblin nodded fiercely. “Action now—no, overdue! Damn, I’m itching… This dagger’s paid for itself tenfold. Again, Mr. Seso, my eye for talent proves true.”

Jesse almost inquired about the Eredar Necromancer—but seeing Pucodyaz still excited, he swallowed the words.

Concerning Ulthalesh’s scythe? Fewer knew, the better—until he wielded power to pursue it. Especially this goblin collector. If he caught wind of Jesse’s clues… nothing good would follow.