News in the Tavern

That guy wasn't an ordinary man.

The owner watched Wes, who remained calm and ignored the greedy pirates, and thought to himself.

"What would the guest like to ask?" The owner's attitude had clearly become more respectful as he handed Wes a glass of rum.

"Jack Sparrow." Wes spoke slowly and unhurriedly, his voice clearly audible amid the tavern's clamor.

"Jack Sparrow? He's looking for the captain of the Black Pearl." A pirate said in surprise, his words like a pebble thrown into a still lake, instantly stirring ripples throughout the tavern.

Hearing that familiar name, the other pirates immediately grew excited. They turned their heads, whispering among themselves as discussions rose one after another.

"That's a famous pirate!" another pirate added excitedly.

They spoke as though discussing a legendary figure, someone they both feared and admired.

The pirates recalled all sorts of tales about Jack Sparrow—his thrilling adventures and astonishing feats.

At that moment, the tavern was thick with the pungent scent of rum. Smoke curled through the air, and the dim lights flickered unsteadily, creating an atmosphere both mysterious and dangerous.

"Looks like that guy's quite the celebrity." A faint smile tugged at Wes's lips. His gaze remained fixed on the owner, as though silently conveying an expectation.

"You won't disappoint me, will you?"

His eyes were deep, carrying a power that seemed almost capable of seeing through a person's heart.

Outside, waves relentlessly crashed against the shore with thunderous roars. The sea wind howled past, carrying the salty scent of the ocean, as though adding a touch of nature's wildness to the tavern's tense atmosphere.

As Wes and the owner faced off, the tavern's noise gradually died down. Every gaze focused on the two of them, waiting for the answer about to be revealed.

The owner wondered to himself why Wes was so interested in Jack Sparrow. He tried to gauge the true identity and intentions of this mysterious visitor.

Driven by the gold coins, the owner decided to tell Wes some less important information.

Just as he was about to speak, two pirates staggered over.

One of them was red-faced, his eyes clouded with drunkenness. He gripped a flintlock pistol, its barrel aimed directly at Wes's forehead with an aggressive air.

The other pirate was even more brazen. He casually picked up the glass of rum from the counter, a domineering smirk curving his lips as he shouted, "What? Is this kind of liquor not good enough for a noble lord?"

"My name's Bucky. I used to serve aboard the Black Pearl." As soon as Bucky finished speaking with a hint of pride, the pirates in the tavern erupted in startled cries.

The tavern now resembled a noisy nest.

The air was saturated with the overpowering, nearly suffocating smell of rum, along with the stench of sweat from the pirates and the salty fishiness of seawater. The entire tavern seemed to have become a vat filled with every sort of pungent odor.

Bucky thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention. He lifted his chin slightly, excitement gleaming in his eyes, while the muscles of his face trembled faintly with pride.

Everyone's eyes were on him, as though he had instantly become an important and awe-inspiring figure.

"Hand over all your gold coins." Bucky let out a loud drunken belch, and a strong stench of alcohol instantly spread through the air. He continued, his words carrying a trace of threat and greed, "Then I might consider letting you go."

Wes could not be bothered to speak with such an utterly foolish man. He merely gave a light wave of his hand, the movement elegant yet powerful.

The pirate pointing a gun at his head was struck by an invisible force and instantly sent flying.

The pirate's body arced through the air before crashing heavily onto several tables. Glasses and bottles rolled from the tables, shattering with crisp cracks.

The pirate never got back up after hitting the floor. The surrounding pirates stared at the scene in terror, scarcely daring to breathe. Some had their eyes wide with disbelief, while others gaped as though they could fit an egg in their mouths.

"What happened?" one pirate asked in a trembling, terrified voice. His voice echoed through the tavern, stirring unease.

"What the hell happened??" another pirate cried in panic, involuntarily backing away several steps.

"A Wizard!! He's a Wizard!!" A well-traveled pirate shouted, unable to conceal the panic in his voice.

According to the rumors, Wizards were even more terrifying and evil than pirates.

The pirates in the tavern all rose in panic, scrambling to get as far away from Wes as possible. It was as though they had seen a demon from Hell.

Wes immobilized Bucky with the Petrification Curse. Bucky struggled desperately, his facial muscles twisted, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes filled with terror and despair, but he could not move an inch.

As Wes approached, Bucky's heart filled with regret. He had been cautious for most of his life, yet he had acted recklessly because of a momentary drunken impulse.

But now, it was already too late.

Wes's black pupils were like deep whirlpools. Bucky's eyes instantly became vacant, as though he had lost his soul.

Wes used Legilimency on Bucky, directly reading his memories.

But the result disappointed him. Bucky had indeed once served as a sailor aboard the Black Pearl, but he had left the ship long ago and knew nothing about Jack Sparrow's whereabouts.

"What a waste of time." Wes frowned slightly and turned his gaze toward the tavern owner, his eyes full of expectation and authority. "I've already been disappointed once."

At that moment, the tavern owner viciously cursed Bucky and the other pirate's ancestors for eighteen generations in his heart.

His face was pale, fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, and his body trembled slightly. He forced an ugly smile and said:

"Of course I won't disappoint such an esteemed Wizard."

The owner did not dare conceal anything. He knew full well that this mysterious Wizard was not someone he could afford to provoke.

He told Wes everything he knew about Jack Sparrow, hoping to placate the powerful Wizard's dissatisfaction.

Ever since defeating Davy Jones, Jack Sparrow had vanished from the seas. Only a scattered few had seen him, but everyone believed that a man as restless as him had to be plotting something big.

Hector Barbossa had encountered Blackbeard Edward Teach while sailing the Black Pearl. He was defeated by the latter and lost a leg, leaving him no choice but to seek refuge with the British Royal Navy and become a legitimate privateer.

"That's all I know." Afraid that Wes would not believe him, the owner nearly swore on his own mother.

His eyes were full of tension and unease, terrified that Wes would be dissatisfied with his information. Even his voice trembled slightly. "Really, great Wizard, I wouldn't dare lie to you."

"So this was the time," Wes murmured. He already knew when he had traveled to. "The Fountain of Youth?" He spoke softly, as though weighing some momentous decision.

Wes took out another gold coin and elegantly tossed it to the tavern owner.

"Your information was useful. This is compensation for the broken tables and chairs." With that, Wes rose and left the tavern.

The pirates blocking his path quickly moved aside, afraid of angering this mysterious Wizard.

The tavern owner stared conflictedly at the two gold coins in his hand. He feared they might have been cursed, but in the end, he could not bear to part with them and carefully tucked them into his money pouch.

"I need to spend them quickly. Even if they're cursed, the curse will pass on to someone else." Muttering to himself, the tavern owner hoisted up the petrified Bucky and threw him out onto the street.

As for whether Bucky would starve to death, be eaten by some animal, or hold on until the Petrification Curse wore off, that would depend on his own luck.