Chapter 198 -196-The Past of the Dwarven Craftsman
The laughter persisted for quite some time before finally subsiding.
Seeing Ethan still standing at the counter, Tavern Owner Wak hurriedly explained, "Newcomer, I wasn’t mocking you. It’s all about Henry Powell, that rascal."
"So you know Henry Powell?" Ethan asked, a spark of elation rising within him. He hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly.
"Know Henry Powell? You might want to rephrase your question," a bar patron interrupted before Wak could answer. "Ask instead how many locals don’t know Henry Powell. He’s a legendary character. The mere mention of his name brings joy to everyone."
The crowd of drinkers then erupted into a cacophony of chatter.
"Henry Powell came to this town a decade ago. Back then, he looked like an impoverished blacksmith. But he always had the most fascinating stories to tell, so the townspeople welcomed him warmly. Wak here was the most enthusiastic of all. For a time, Henry Powell turned this tavern into the liveliest place in town."
"And what happened after that?" Ethan couldn’t help but ask, driven by his curiosity. The story so far seemed rather mundane—nothing that would provoke laughter.
"Ah, what happened next?" The storyteller burst into laughter, unable to continue.
Observing this, Wak picked up the thread of the narrative.
"My dear guest, allow me to continue. Once Henry Powell settled down here, his favorite pastime was to frequent my tavern. He couldn’t afford the drinks, of course, so he paid in stories. Outlandish tales, mind you. One minute he was journeying into the molten heart of the earth with some formidable adventurer, the next he was in scholarly debates about the art of smithing. He even claimed he’d almost crafted a divine artifact."
"Needless to say, the townspeople didn’t buy any of it. They thought Henry Powell was all talk."