Lady Ashvane took the wine from Arthas and sat on the sofa, casually crossing her legs. Her attire resembled that of a seafarer, a jacket and shirt struggling against her ample bosom, topped with a coat trimmed with fox fur.
Her well-shaped legs were clad in tight trousers, and she wore solid boots, exuding both the charm of a wealthy socialite and the competence typical of a strong woman. Pretty wealthy women like her don't even know how many nobles would want to worship her—even washing her feet would suffice—but no one has succeeded. This indirectly showcases her allure, the beauty of a voluptuous mature woman is displayed to perfection.
"What is it, little prince?"
"My father allowed me to join Uther and the others. Those orcs are strong and also very promising as slaves. Rumor has it they come from another world—one we know nothing about. They bring with them unknown weapons and treasures. I'll chop off their heads and offer their treasures to my dear aunt." Arthas said earnestly, he was very poor, and in desperate need of money. If he could find a way to earn it himself, it would be a sure profit for him and an essential foundation for developing his own power and subordinate army!
"And I also need my aunt's support; Aunt, can you guess what I learned from the Holy Light just now?"
Speaking of treasures, the business-minded lady noblewoman was no longer sleepy. She took a hearty drink of wine and said, "My little prince has a good heart; war is no joke, you must pay more attention to your safety. As for treasures, there's really nothing special; being alive and safe is the biggest treasure for your aunt. Whatever you want, just tell your aunt, and she'll take care of it!" How many nobles would want to hear those words?
Sharing in a business venture would mean a year's income for them, which shows how great the profits in trade are! Unfortunately, maritime trade is highly risky and not everyone can dabble in it. Without any children, Lady Ashvane indeed considered Arthas her own; this nephew had a sweet tongue and was very polite, very close to her. If Arthas weren't the only son of her sister, she might have considered adopting him because she liked him too much.
"I want two escort ships to command, equipped with enough cannons." Arthas was very aware of the destructive power of firearms in mortal combat.
The Kul Tiran fleet relied on cannons and crossbows to fend off various sea beasts; personal magic and martial skills weren't of much use at sea unless one was a hero. "No problem, I'll send you five escort ships to command right away. But you must return them after the war is over!" The noblewoman said with a charming smile, her voluptuous figure paired with a mature allure made Arthas' heart race faster.
"Thank you, aunt! Come to my room tonight; I'll tell you some secrets then," Arthas said before hurriedly escaping, fearing that his arousal would be discovered.
"Hehe, what an interesting little guy," the noblewoman chuckled, clearly noticing Arthas's situation, and felt a bit proud of her own charm!
Back in his room, Arthas picked up a quill and started writing notes on a blank page. The South Sea Box, Sin'dorei, Red Dragons, Dwarves, Trolls, etc., were all crucial points in the Second War against Orcs. Since he understood the plot, he had to gain as many advantages as possible before the story diverged from its original course. Wanting to benefit from the plot would inevitably skew the storyline; that was a given, so figuring out how to make the most of it was the key.
Halfway through writing, Arthas picked up his sword and shield and started practicing in the courtyard. He was passing the time, but also improving his skill proficiency. Paladins have three talents: Retribution specialization is for damage output, Holy specialization is for healing support, and Protection specialization is for tanking. Arthas chose Protection specialization out of fear of death; one death would mean losing everything, so he opted for Protection.
Maximizing survivability would make opponents feel disgusted by not being able to kill him, while he could still tire them out.
"Consecration: Creates a 5 square meter area of holy light on the ground, regaining 1% of your health per second when standing on it, reducing damage taken by 5%, while enemies standing on it take an extra 10% damage. (Unranked)"
"Avenger's Shield: Throws a shield made of holy light at an enemy, causing it to bounce three times and deal 150% attack damage. (Unranked)"
"Judgment Hammer: Throws a holy hammer at a single target, dealing 200% attack damage and generating a point of holy power. (Unranked)"
"Holy Shield Strike: Consumes three points of holy power to strike enemies within three meters ahead, dealing 150% attack damage. (Unranked)"
"Divine Blessing: Consumes a point of holy energy to heal yourself or an ally, equal to 20% of your maximum health. (Unranked)"
Starting with these six skills means he has healing, protection, and output. Arthas wasn't sure how other paladins were, but at least his paladin was similar to the game; it wasn't peak damage, but definitely very tough. Looking at the skills that required levels to unlock, he felt a tinge of anticipation for the future. After practicing for an hour, Arthas discovered the difference between reality and the game.
Skills in the game have cooldowns, but in reality, they don't; as long as his stamina allows, he can use them without limit. Moreover, holy power has a certain effect on stamina recovery, so after sweating profusely for an hour, he still felt energized. Returning to his room, after being attended to by the maid, he took a bath, sinking into the tub, squinting while thinking about how to gain the most benefit from this war.
Suddenly, two small hands reached around from behind, caressing his chest muscles and kneading his shoulders. The touch was skilled and powerful, unlike the soft feelings from the maids. Arthas opened his eyes and turned around to see none other than his Aunt, Lady Ashvane!
"Aunt!"
"You little rascal, what's so surprising about this? It's not like you haven't seen it before." The noblewoman's face was flushed, and she spoke with a strong scent of alcohol; who knows how many bottles she had drunk! While she spoke, her delicate hands continued to knead Arthas's shoulders, finishing the maid's work!