Since the emblem is so old and has a signature, it must be an old style...... Just now, Vicol suddenly recalled a memory from many years ago.

At the time, he and his brother were only fourteen years old, and when they were carrying a rabbit that they had barely brought to sell, they happened to encounter the body of a man who had been killed by the Ice Rock Man and was to be sent to the cemetery for burial. Just before the funeral, his brother Videl pulled the man's emblem of a snow crow on his chest out of curiosity.

Because his brother said that he would dream of getting it in the future, Vicol remembered everything else very well. And on the back of the badge, there was absolutely no name - which is why the always suspicious Vicor did not feel the slightest disobedience when he received the badge two days ago. And it was precisely because of the subconscious in his heart that he concluded without thinking that this person had died recently after hearing the elf's description.

However, now it seems...... Not at all. Taking a sharp puff of his pipe to calm his mood, Vicol gestured to the elf not to disturb his train of thought for a moment, and then sorted out the logic that led to the terrifying truth. The elf, on the other hand, nodded, exerting his empathetic abilities in time.

Remembering the experience that had taken place ten years ago but was still fresh in his mind, Vicol's heart beat wildly, and he compared his pendant with it again: even if his memory was wrong, it was impossible for the emblem handed to him to be a forgotten name, right? Even the shape of the silver chain is exactly the same. Since each pattern is engraved so carefully, how can it be that only important names are missing?

Ten years have passed since I saw the man's emblem. It can be seen that a long time ago, there was no signature on the back of this badge. Ivan Myrton, the bearer of this emblem, must have become a snow crow before - no, at least twenty-two years ago, to be precise.

Thinking that the smell of tobacco had inspired him, Vicol's heart began to calm down, and his brain raced: for it is conceivable that the design of the badge worn by the snow crow, who was loyal to the Metz family, must have been due to Balvo Metz's personal preference. In other words, it is very likely that from the day the current lord ascended to the throne twenty-two years ago, all the badges that were issued by the later lords became this new style.

This definitely makes sense, as each lord seems to have a written rule - the design of the Snow Raven emblem needs to be changed. However, the current Lord Mace is extremely nostalgic, so he is reluctant to change the overall design, and only removes the rear name that would not normally go unnoticed, but it seems that he will do it.

Thrilled and trembling at the discovery, Vicol involuntarily quickened his breathing, nearly burning his pipe and choking on the smoke. Hurriedly taking it away from his mouth for a moment, the snow crow endured the dizziness caused by the impact of the "truth", and said to the elf in a trembling tone: "Long wait, Mr. Ranger." ”

"Your face is as bad as a potato. Raising his head that had been staring at the two emblems in a daze, Cyberdat put on his signature smile: "What did you find?"

"I'll ask. Suddenly remembering that the elf belonging to the long-lived Eborn had a good memory, Vicol coughed and said, "Do you remember the appearance of that corpse - for example, if you stand in front of him, can you recognize the other person?"

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid not. Without hesitation, the elf knocked directly on the table with a regretful expression: "I really didn't remember that face at that time...... Now I don't have any impression at all. ”

"Okay...... But you won't believe what I'm saying. Because I think I'm a little stupid myself. Pinching his temples, the disappointed Snow Crow suddenly felt a little hot and unbuttoned his coat: "The emblem you picked up is the style from at least twenty-two years ago." Awarded by the previous Lord of Neverwinter. So the person who received the emblem would certainly not be very young if he were still alive now—just like the old blackened silver badge. ”

"Twenty-two years?" seemed to want to ask, but the elf was silent for a moment, and then said, "Please continue." ”

"Think about it. If the bearer is not dead, it can only be explained that he lost the emblem and was picked up by another person. And that guy somehow went to the Divine Wood Forest so far away, and then died there. If this is the case, then Ivan, who has lost his insignia, will definitely ask the lord for a replacement. ”

"Reissue?" An expression of understanding something, the elf seemed very interested: "The reissued badge must be a new style." You want to ask the lord if he has any reissue records for him over the years to confirm if the person is a replica?"

"Exactly. I'm going to tell my lord all about my suspicions and ask him to help with the investigation. Nodding, Vicol added, "If there is a record, of course everything will be fine." If there is no record, the replica must be wearing the same copied badge - in fact, it is good to check if the badge is old, but that risks making the replicator suspicious in advance. ”

"That's a good idea. Crossing his fingers, which were still fiddling with his short beard, the elf pressed his elbows on the table: "But listen to your tone...... It seems that once it is confirmed that he is a clone, it will be very bad?"

"You can see this?" Originally still struggling with whether to say the next inference, Vicol was stunned for a moment, and then decided not to hide it anymore: "Indeed, but this is too ridiculous to say...... If the corpse you see is the deity, then he must have been dead for many years. ”

"The clone before Winter's Breath begins?" The expression was a little gloomy for a moment, and the elf suddenly proposed, "Then he must have nothing to do with Black Ice, he was created by someone in some other way to steal information - because it is obviously easier to expose the spell puppet than to pretend to be in person, and it is very labor-saving." ”

"You said there was a mage involved in the spy plan?" Knowing nothing about the spell, Vicol bit his pipe and exclaimed in great confusion, "This spell is as simple as that? In the last ten days, there have been many clones in Eternal Winter City." ”

"I don't know if the Black Ice Spell can easily create clones, but this technique is extremely rare in the well-known wizardry world. Few people can control it. After a moment of indulgerence, the elf said again: "Actually, according to the information you told me, it seems that only the black ice mage has the ability to create clones and lay black ice. As long as you find a way to deal with him, the spell creations, including the clones, should all disappear. ”