Chapter 943 943 How Did He Do That?
Wolfe and Thorin walked down the streets toward the hotel instead of taking a carriage, and Wolfe could see that the shining axe on the Dwarf’s back was getting all sorts of attention from the Nobles they passed.
It wasn’t particularly special, other than in craftsmanship, to Wolfe’s eyes, but it was a Rank Three magical item, which was stronger than Thorin should have been able to make.
Just for safety, Wolfe cast [Kind Intentions] over the forge as they left, making sure nobody broke in and smashed this one. Not that it would be easy to do with a Dragon Stone forge, but wrecking the building itself would be a delay to Thorin’s work.
It wasn’t uncommon to carry weapons into the restaurant, but a battleaxe wasn’t a common one, and the hotel concierge seemed uncertain whether to ask him if he wanted to check it or to let him keep it on his back as Thorin entered behind Wolfe.
“My Ladies should already be at their table.” Wolfe informed the Host at the restaurant door.
“Of course, Saint Noxus. Please follow us. I will fetch a weapon rack for your comfort.”
The server brought over a stand with hooks for weapons to hang, which attached to the back of Thorin’s chair, out of the way, but visible to everyone who passed by, so he could show off his work.
Wolfe wasn’t sure if he should be amused by the fact that this happened so often that they custom-made a tool for exactly this purpose, or concerned about the egos of the local Nobles.
“Master Thorin, we have heard great things about you. Did you have a productive evening with Wolfe?” Ella greeted them.
“Indeed I did. He helped me with some upgrades to the forge to improve efficiency. I mostly make armour, but with these upgrades, I should be able to make a wider variety of formerly time-consuming mechanical tools at a reasonable price.” Thorin replied politely.
That magical hammer was going to cut entire days out of the construction time for some items. Forging and flattening metal for spring packs used to take all morning if they didn’t have an old one to weld back together and temper, but with the new tools, they could make a fresh one in under an hour.
But it wasn’t the promise of tools that was drawing people past their table. It was the master crafted axe.
“Master Noxus assisted me in forging a pair of magical alloys that I had previously been unable to create. This axe head is one of them, while the other is somewhat more valuable, and my supply is limited.” Thorin explained to satisfy Cassie’s curious looks at the back of his chair.
“Congratulations. I hope the cost didn’t bankrupt you.” Ella joked.
“Not at all. I have agreed to find him a proper journeyman Artificer to return with you as an instructor for the Artificers of your hometown.” Thorin replied before he realized the level of colossal mistake that he had made.
Half the people in this room wanted to get in with Wolfe for the benefits, or simply to see his world, with all the wonderful magics that they had heard about, and even more of them had multiple relatives that would love the chance, but were living in other cities.
Thorin hadn’t realized it yet, but he had just been volunteered to be the one that would field all those requests, bribes and potential favours while the choice was made.
“Well, we’re here until the end of the Seminars, so you’ve got some time.” Cassie agreed.
Thorin smiled, blissfully unaware what his next few days would look like, but after a moment, Petros came over with a drink in his hand and a smile on his face.
“Do you have space for one more?” He asked.
“Always. The more, the merrier. How was your day teaching magical theory?” Cassie asked.
Petros chuckled. “Well behaved. I teach children, and they’re utterly terrified of me, so they don’t dare to misbehave. I hear that your class got a bit rowdy today.”
Ella smirked. “Nothing that we can’t handle.”
Wolfe gave her a curious look, and Ella gestured for Cassie to complain.
“A number of the Nobles were upset that we weren’t making time for more charms, and they decided that the afternoon class might be more appropriate as a crafting session than a learning one.
It was settled quickly, but the old professor is rather upset about the interruption, and he’s been on a rampage making complaints to their families all evening. I’ve seen at least six letters with his seal on them enter the dining hall already.” Cassie joked with a soft laugh.
It probably wasn’t an overstatement, some of the young Noblewomen in the room looked like they had just been chewed out by their families, and didn’t dare to look toward the table Cassie joked with a soft laugh.
It probably wasn’t an overstatement, some of the young where Cassie and the others were sitting.
Petros turned to Thorin. “Did you make it to Rank Three, old friend? I had thought you were permanently stuck.”
Thorin nodded. “Saint Noxus helped me out a bit with a forge upgrade, and it gave me inspiration for the new Masterpiece, which allowed me to advance.”
The Rank Eight mage rolled his pale blue eyes. “Of course it was him. I should have expected that. Congratulations on the new forge, as well as the advancement in Rank. Being able to make Rank Three items is going to turn your finances around in no time at all.”
Thorin nodded. “That it will. Having him drop by has been a real pleasure, even in class. He shamed the Nobles into making plans for bath and laundry houses for the Commoners.”
That made Petros chuckle. “You two really are on the same page. How many times have you suggested to them that cleanliness would reduce illness among the commoners?”
Thorin’s burst of laughter startled many of the nearby diners. “Oh, he didn’t mention their welfare, he went straight to not having to smell them anymore and the possibility of stealing skilled workers from those who didn’t make the improvements. Hitting them in the bottom line was much more effective than appeals to the common good.”
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